David Stafford's Blog (201)

Amy Irwen sent me this CD with a duality all its own. On one side dire straits: time bombs and menacing shadowy figures, on the other the Fear No Art mandala, emerging from the center of a Frank Zappa vortex, all hand-made, which means many hours dipping into the gigantic vat of Mod Podge Amy keeps by her nightstand. And because I told Amy about the humble…

I received this today from Wen though I had to track the address down to identify them. It's really a suite of sweet pieces beginning with this…

…tender rendering of two farmers dancing as the mighty Sligo Creek meanders by in…

An interesting double sided bit of eco-politique. On one side the ever-popular children's illustration: "who is the fastest animal?" to which Raphael has added a new entrant: Climate Change Refugee, dead last. Observing all this, clipboard in hand, a corporate lackey trying to either monetize or weaponize some kidney stone of information they've extracted from…

In this corner wearing the blue and white of her native Greece, Katerina Nikoltsou. And in that corner Nancy Bell Scott and her Big Hair of Yesteryear. Let's put them into the Blog-o-Matic Blender and turn it up to 7.

Voila! Not too bad…

Dean's latest is all of a piece with this trend I've noticed: Classical Revivalism. (Based on a statistical sample of two). Parenthetical expressions may reflect the opinions of others. Authorial voice resumes here: Yes, but look at the other example: Indiana Roger's History of Art as expressed through the shape of a curvilinear phallus. (It…

Imagine for a moment Michael Harford's joy when he came across this wonderful book in some dank, cockroach infested cellar at an estate sale (some details may be inflated for purposes of drama). The cover alone, without the strangely modern title, would be worth the price of many sighs. But this, as it turns out, was a popular self-improvement book of its time.…

I received this spare bit of death-infused whimsey last March when Raphael 'L was in the throes of moving and I think she felt like the suitcases were calling the tune. Hence The Dancing Master. 

The envelope has a lovely painterly flair.…

I was strolling past the Museum of Extremely Large Paintings the other day and I decided to spend the $8 to get in. The new exhibit was a joint showing of Jay Block and Amy Irwen's work. Wow! I said to myself. Now there's a coincidence! The docent gave me a stern look as I snapped this picture. I had to slip her a fiver to avoid litigation. She was a decent docent, just doing…

 I hear the plaintive sounds of the metsästystorvi which means it's time to blog Carina's piece of August 2009, a mash up involving a national geographic travelogue colliding with a comic strip having its own deconstruction issues. As always, there's seems to be a lively animated wit behind it all. 

Here's the rotated version so you don't…

It's been so long since I received this I must guiltily admit that I can't remember whether I added and passed this piece but I thought it looked pretty good upon arrival. I hope you can view this large enough to get the effect that I got of staring down into a dark pool and seeing the various things floating on the surface with others in the center having sunk to the bottom.…

Diane Keys heard I was going through some tough times (It made the Elgin Gazetteer) and so she sent me this piece of toast which she said has helped her through some recent traumas. If you hit your zoom and enhance button you'll plainly see the dim outline of a head. Or the plain outline of a dim head. Anyway, Diane and a few impartial members of her family…

The tables are turned! For once I'm the one searching out an anonymous donor (though I have my suspicions.) This print on fabric was only the cherry on top of a boekie filled with diversions and detours including a list of medications and their dosages, some slides of architectural carnage which may or may not be transmuted into art at a later date, numerous…

Just trying to get my little start up going.

A great honor to receive a card from Richard Canard whose reputation for aphoristic wit rivals Nietzsche in pith, Bierce in ferocity and Henry Gibson for a third thing which escapes me at the moment. I'm not exactly sure what Richard is up to as this is my first Canard (technically then I am unable to say "O that old Canard") but I think one interpretation…

Oh gawd, will I ever catch up with my bottomless pile of incoming mail art?  (silence) I'm going to try to blog something every day until my fingers fall off my hands in protest. (I can see the Peanut Gallery assembling to watch that in high def). Anyway, here are two pieces of Alicia's which I don't think I've blogged. Alicia belongs to the Lenore Tawney…

Before we begin please chant with me The Banana Hymn of the Republic (Lyrics by Rebecca Guyver). In this way we invoke the good spirits of the Banana and avoid the evil ones of which there are some.

Rebecca Guyver sent me this wonderful accordion book…

(Le son d'un suisse clarine est entendu dans la distance. Just setting the mood here.) Janine, sent me this brief but gripping natural history of Vincent Van Gogh from youth to St. Remy. On the envelope a large insect demon which at one time belonged to Van Gogh. Thank you, Janine. I add my condolences to the many before me.

(Le fils d'onu credit…

Way back before the dawn of addams Rebecca Guyer said she'd like to be turned into a dress like Katerina N. I said, "Of course, but there are certain fees etc." She persisted. Finally, my will broken I emerged from the rubble and created.....the House of Rebecca.....voila!…

Who sent me this? Was it you, Rod Serling?

Angie had the jump on the Chinese New Year. I got this a while back but as our own Chinese New Year Horse was just finished last night I thought I'd share them both now. It's supposed to be a year of change. No comment. Let's hope, for the sake of those looking for work, that that is the case. Great piece, Angie. (What exactly is the technique here?…