Posted
by Jill Ensley
December 6, 2006 at 10:49 p.m.
I Sense A Theme Here
For the second time this week, I've smelled Church. Not the band, or the fried chicken, but Northland Christian Church from my childhood, a distinct odor of God (truly) knows what. So, I'm either getting a sign from up above (or down below, IF I BELIEVED IN THOSE THINGS) or I'm having a stroke. Either is just as likely.I've been in the Art & Design building for far too long today and I'm fighting the urge to either get another dose of caffeine or give it up and go home, hoping that I'll find my way back up here in a couple hours. I've spent a good six-seven hours in the sculpture department and I have only a lovely mold of my hand and arm to show for it.But while down there, it occurred to me (again) that sculpture is (to my knowledge) really the only department with a definite sense of community. Maybe it's because it's in the basement. Maybe it's the nature of the medium, all hands-on and power-tooly. Maybe it's the teachers. Or maybe it's because photographers and designers are a competitive lot and painters are, by nature, surly, hermit-like creatures. Oh, let's just say it, a lot of artists have 'tude and having to build shit is humbling and often intimidating in a way that just isn't the same in other mediums. Maybe it's that. Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of artistic mediums, I'm just noticing these little nuances and generalizing the hell out of them. Truly, there's something at play here. Another armchair sociologist (one with more time than me right now) could draw up grand theories on the behaviors in this little microcosm. Each department has its own feel, fluctuating with the instructors and students, but with an underlying distinct and definite current. Okay, enough of that b.s....Don't forget that tomorrow there is [this][1]And as a bonus for reading this far, here's a long list of Crap I Like (many selections culled from previous visits to Comic-Con and APE) All are work-safe...unless, you know, there happens to be a big pair o' boobulas on the front page that day. You never know....[Toothpaste For Dinner][2] Friggin HI-larious. Anyone who can come up with this shit on a daily basis is SUPERB in my book. I have a superb book. SUPERB. Damn that looks weird now.[Joe Sayers][3] (creator of one of my favorite [t-shirts][4] (it's the first one)) A nice guy whose simple drawings are THE FUNNY. He also wins for the best business card I've ever seen.[Bob The Angry Flower][5] I haven't read much, but what I have, is funny. A weird Canadian.[Tommy Kovac][6] More artsy, often slightly depraved, and a little on the Spooky side.[Alex Pardee][7] Great artwork, beautiful lines, and a nice guy to boot.[Arsenic Lullaby][8] Reeeaally wrong, but really funny. Nice guys too.[The Carbon-Based Mistake][9] Clever and funny. I have no idea...they might be pricks, but they're funny.[Craig Thompson][10]. Touching, often sentimental stories told with beautiful line-work. Try Goodbye, Chunky Rice to start. [Scott Morse][11]. I was first drawn to his work by Magic Pickle (seriously, what's more magical?) Another one with beautiful line-work, a definite confident style, with often touching stories. His latest work (color) seems to have taken on a Shag-like quality.[Jay Ryan][12]. Amazing screenprints and drawings. His use of color and sense of humor is quite wonderful. He's done a lot of poster work as well as cd covers (Andrew Bird among others).[Catia Chien][13] Finally, I found that little slip of paper with her name/website on it. I bought a [print][14] from her a few years ago and it's beautiful. Her work reminds me of classic children's book work, with more color, yet more sadness. MUY EXCELLENTE.[Wayne Chan][15]. He wins for second best business card. Haven't read too much, but it's funny and he does some signs for Trader Joe's, so he has to be awesome.And then, then there's [this][16], which is just WRONG.Soooo....yeah, I'm going home now. [1]: http://www.lawrence.com/events/2006/d... [2]: http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/ [3]: http://www.jsayers.com/ [4]: http://www.jsayers.com/tshirts.html [5]: http://www.angryflower.com/ [6]: http://www.tommykovac.com/ [7]: http://www.eyesuckink.com/ [8]: http://www.arseniclullabies.com/ [9]: http://www.thecarbonbasedmistake.com/ [10]: http://www.dootdootgarden.com/ [11]: http://www.allenspiegelfinearts.com/crazyfish/ [12]: http://www.thebirdmachine.com [13]: http://www.catiachien.com/ [14]: http://www.catiachien.com/index.php?sitepage=shopItem&itemID=25&itemParentID=1&PHPSESSID=d5883b9b5c76fe896194db0db2ad1482 [15]: http://www.turtlecomics.com/ [16]: http://www.menofmortuaries.com
Comments
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godjilla (Jill Ensley) says…
Wow, look...I'm pimping out other artist's wares at the gift-buying season and I didn't even mention all the crap I'm trying to sell. GO ME.
Dammit, acknowledge my generosity!
lori (anonymous) says…
I *love* toothpaste for dinner; but I think I like their other cartoon site, marriedtothesea.com, even better. Their Nataliedee is kind of hit and miss, but many of the cartoons adorne our lockers at work. And I now proudly carry around my knitting in my lovely "will knit for tattoos" Natalie Dee bag.
But I think I'm going to have to fill some stockings with a "Men of Mortuaries" calendar. It took me a minute to figure out that you can take their shirts off by dragging your curser over them. Why did they put the slender guy in between the two hulking fellows, though? It doesn't do him much good, he looks like the guy in those advertisements in the back of old comics; the comparison makes him look scrawny.
thetomdotdot (anonymous) says…
Warning: the following comment contains totally baseless presumptions. Wear proper apparel.
"Wow, look...I'm pimping out other artist's wares at the gift-buying season and I didn't even mention all the crap I'm trying to sell. GO ME."
I have always sensed in you the struggle between the creative socialista who likes to think in kindnesses and sweet talk and the starving capitalista who likes to - uhhhhh - eat. I pray every day you don't explode.
godjilla (Jill Ensley) says…
thetom, it's a delicate balance that would bring about instant implosion if I were it shunt a fellow artist to stardom or get a high-paying job where I don't have to worry about that pesky debt. Pray this doesn't happen.
I knew you'd pick up on those last few lines. But hey, when a girl makes t-shirts and cards, she wants to sell them so her utilities don't get disconnected.
lori, I have yet to check out Married To The Sea. But I definitely will soon. Now I have a speech to write that I should have written long ago. YAY! Everyone show up for the hilariousness!
And seriously, I'm intrigued by the Men of Mortuaries calendar, and it does go to a good cause. But....none o' them "beefcakes" appeal to me. Shallow (grave) of me. Bwa. ha. ha.
thetomdotdot (anonymous) says…
Hey! If I were it shunt an artist too! Go figger!
I am mortified that I didn't know of your tshirts and coffee mugs. I googled you a while back. Do I have to do THAT again, or will you post a link without offending your anti-self promotional sensibilities? Good lord in the sky don't make me work so hard.
godjilla (Jill Ensley) says…
thetom, are you channeling Lindsay Lohan again?
I'm putting the shirts up on eBay, if you're a good little buttplug, I'll post a link. Neener, neener. My goal for Winter Break is to get some kind of workable website up with my portfolio, then you can purchase prints all through the night. Awwww yeah, all-night hot print-purchasing session!
By the way, the opening (ha, I typed hopening first....beware, for it is...the hopening!) went really well last night. Finally met Mr. Loewenstein, who's as nice as nice can be. My speech was long and I was visably nervous, but it still went okay. After, had dinner with some good friends and then a "caucus" with the ICTDP. Awwwjeah, inside jokes are the best.
toreador (Michael Austin) says…
I need buttplugs for some good stocking stuffers!
godjilla (Jill Ensley) says…
....maybe I should make those. I did recently learn how to do mold-making. I could even make them in vinyl....or plaster, for those who don't like any resistance. You dirty, dirty birds.
Artsy buttplugs....somehow that interests me.
edie_ (anonymous) says…
Jill, you know how to make molds? I really don't but many years ago a friend and I conducted a DIY dildo making and butt plug making workshop. We started out making a clay shape.. After they dried we covered them in silicon caulk to make a sleeve mold. That dried, then we cut a small slit on the side of them to get them off the clay mold. Then you sew or glue the slit shut again...this silicon sleeve is the cast for the final product. Next we covered the inside of the cast with dishwashing liquid to keep anything from sticking to the sides. Finally, we filled the inside of the cast with more silicon caulk. We added glitter and sequins for decoration, but I'm sure there are ways to make them colorful. I think liquid latex would work much better, but it's so damn expensive. Anyway, it was really fun.
You could host a workshop like this and I bet you'd do a much better job than I did because you actually know how to do work with materials like this whereas I was just fueled by an enthusiastic zeal for the product and wanted to share my half-baked skills with the world. I think you should force Arts Center to pay you a bunch of money for teaching this as a class! ha! Think about it. Think about how much they totally NEED something like this in their summer program.
toreador (Michael Austin) says…
That would be such a hilarious gift. Artsy buttplugs personalized for the individuals in question. Hell, it seems small figures sell so well now, you could make small buttplug creatures. Or maybe corncobs and sticks, the possibilities are endless! Little Christmas tree plugs?
Okay, I am giggling too much now.
just_ducky (Claire Williams) says…
Kelly, I heard about your sparkly dildos and I think it would be hilarious for Jill to do a workshop. I would come. *hehe*
godjilla (Jill Ensley) says…
edie_, I was just in the LAC today and that is JUST what they need....a summer sex-toy-making class! Surely, a buttplug with a nice Kansas landscape is non-offensive and will draw top dollar.
I am just learning about materials, but this actually sounds like a great idea. Maybe a L.com buttplug-making party? I would like to see your "wares" some time.
And toreador, this is for you...
http://www.divine-interventions.com/b...
just_ducky, yar har! Just for that, you are soooo invited.
thetomdotdot (anonymous) says…
All of you.
Back away from the keyboards and go to church NOW.
Holy Baby Jesus, I pray its not too late.
toreador (Michael Austin) says…
Oh my...
I just kept browsing, but I feel so dirty now.