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Marcus Oakley
Jul 2nd
Here’s another great artist participating in the upcoming show I mentioned last week.
Marcus Oakley makes inviting pictures of ’70s musicians, talking animals, and still life. In addition to showing his artwork in our gallery, we represent him commercially at CWC-i. He’s worked with lots of awesome people over the years, including Paul Smith.
One of Marcus’s biggest influences is the music of the Beach Boys, as he discussed in this interview with Mary Jo Matsumoto. Lyrics from their songs often find their way into Marcus’s artwork, and he had their music played in the background during his last solo exhibition.
I admire the way that Marcus’s style is folksy, but not so cutesy, which makes it stand out among much of the nature-centric art that is everywhere these days.
Marcus actually has his own solo show going on right now in London (details here), so if you’re in the area, please check it out!
The World’s Biggest Stash?
Jul 1st
While we’re on the topic of my lovely mother-in-law, and while we happen to be visiting my in-laws for the 4th of July holiday, let’s take a peek at her awesomely huge yarn stash:
Viewing this stash is like walking into a gothic cathedral: it inspires those in its presence to renew their belief in God (or knitting, as it were).
The room itself is sort of separate from the rest of the house, and may be the quietest place I’ve ever been. Thanks to the yarn, it has recording studio-worthy soundproofing, so it’s just you, the yarn, and that unsettling sound of the blood rushing through your head.
Bonney has been collecting this yarn for years, bravely taking in stride her family’s varied remarks about it. Personally, I can’t help but feel honored to be in the presence of all this fiber. At the same time, I like the lived-in quality of the stash room – it reflects the way that Bonney actively uses her stash as a resource and inspiration, instead of an untouchable Museum of Yarn.
Though if she wanted to, I think she could start charging admission.
I feel obligated to say that this isn’t all of Bonney’s yarn. The living culture that is her yarn stash has long since spread down the stairs, and into several other rooms, where it’s started growing baby yarn colonies.
It’s easy to make fun of someone who has such an obscenely large collection of yarn, but really, aren’t you just deeply jealous? Not me, because I get free yarn!
The List
Jun 28th
Sometimes funny things happen to people who don’t have blogs.
My mother-in-law sent me an email earlier this week:
I was so wishing I had a blog on Friday. I was going to Concord and listening to the radio. I was kind of day dreaming when I finally realized they were reading a list of names. On and on they went, so I decided they were reading names of people from the area that were serving in Iraq or something along those lines. Then they said something like “Group D same sex.” What the heck?!?! I finally realized that I’d been listening to a list of lottery winners. “Winners” in the lottery for moose hunting!!!! They read names for an HOUR!!
She lives in New Hampshire, so I guess winning the moose lottery is a big deal there. Anyway, an amusing story. Unless you’re a moose.
Music I Have Bought and Liked Recently
Jun 28th
Since I seem to be covering my favorites in various media lately, why not music?
Return to the Sea – Islands
Amazon.com insisted that I wanted this album. Their music-pushing is a little annoying, but Amazon knows me all too well. I wasn’t too familiar with the Unicorns, from whom Islands apparently sprung, but they’re from Montreal, and maybe that’s about all we need to know. Even expecting to like this album, I was pleasantly surprised at just how listenable it is. There’s something good-naturedly bratty about its sound, which is fun.
Live Through This – Hole
Maybe you remember that Courtney love used to be known for her band in addition to her late husband and drug problem. This was actually one of the first CDs I ever bought (maybe the second), when I was about 14. Having lost it long ago, I just bought it again recently, after hearing that Ms. Love is working on a new album. Listening to it again, I’m not convinced that its subject matter is appropriate for a 14-year-old, but it’s certainly just as good as I remembered. A very tight, cohesive album, at once very pretty and disturbing.
Very curious to hear what’s coming next from her.
Neon Bible – Arcade Fire
This was another case in which it seemed like every media outlet was insisting that we all want this album, the follow-up to the hit Funeral. So I put off getting it until everyone shut up about it, and now I admit I feel a little late to the party. It’s dark, epic, and completely deadpan, which is refreshing. Maybe like a soundtrack to a hip and modernized Les Miserables. It seems that you just can’t go wrong with Montreal music these days. Is something in the water?
Wild Like Children – Tilly and the Wall
This one is a couple of years old, but I just recently got it. It’s upbeat indie-pop, with the unique accompaniment of tap-dancing throughout. I have to say, the tapping schtick gets to be a little much for me to listen to the album straight through, but it’s charming nonetheless – the songs themselves are clever, and certainly deserving of points for originality.
Also looking forward to the new Cornelius. (Anyone heard it?)
Teeny Tiny Lemmings
Jun 26th
I’m trying to take some time this summer to create a few one-off knitted pieces. Little landscapes or scenes are appealing because the possibilities seem endless, and it’s a great opportunity to incorporate some texture (you know, purling and cable patterns and maybe even a little lace), which I have been starting to miss lately after all the stockinette madness that my toys require.
My first effort is a little scene of itty-bitty lemmings jumping off a cliff. Here are the first two that I just knitted up (one is meant to be leaning over the edge, and the other dangling by one little paw):
This is by far the smallest thing I’ve ever attempted. And by the way, no need to be horrified at my subject choice – I checked, and lemmings do not typically make it a habit to hurl themselves off cliffs into the ocean. So this is just pretend mass suicide!
Here is a slightly better photo, with our couch standing in as the cliff:
I guess they’re a bit more convincing in person. Anyway, if all goes well, the finished piece will include knitted water, knitted cliff, and a small army of knitted lemmings in various stages of jumping.
