gin & lightning

could be another one requiring kleenex, but some laughs, too.

2008-07-15T13:41:01Z

in which human beings are actually pretty fucking amazing.

may 1, 1999 - july 13, 2008

2008-07-13T18:10:17Z

urbanfictions @ 2008-07-10T16:30:00

2008-07-10T20:30:29Z

OH HAI THAIR DOUCHEY McDOUCHERSON

urbanfictions @ 2008-07-09T14:53:00

2008-07-09T18:54:57Z

+

=
me winning every argument ever on ONTD.

i still maintain:

2008-07-09T17:30:58Z

there is no weird like french weird.

lots of mini posts today b/c my brain is all.... whatevered.

urbanfictions @ 2008-07-09T12:26:00

2008-07-09T16:27:57Z

whoever figured the shit out about swaddling, i owe you like, a billion beers.

JOY DIVISION-Transmission

2008-07-07T22:29:53Z

stuck in my head [thank you, CONTROL] and now dilly's new favorite song. prob b/c i make a very silly ian curtis voice for her.

urbanfictions @ 2008-07-06T18:27:00

2008-07-06T22:27:41Z

urbanfictions @ 2008-07-04T22:18:00

2008-07-05T02:36:17Z

please help me out, american ljers-- why is it whenever i see [on tv, mind] an american asked "why are you proud to be an american" 9 times out of 10 they answer "im free."

it seems strange to me, like, do a majority of americans think that no one else on the planet is 'free'? do americans in general not consider people in canada, spain, germany, france, england, ireland, australia, new zealand, finland, sweden, japan, norway, italy, scotland, greece, iceland, austria and so forth to be "as free"? it doesnt seem to me like "being free" is a quality that is unique to being an american; sadly not enough people are free in the way the bulk of the westernized world is, but a lot of people *are*.

im not being a smartass- im really asking, does the average american really percieve themselves as having a greater level of freedom from anywhere else in the world?

if someone were to ask me about why im proud to be canadian, id talk a lot about the happier side of our history/politics, id probably trot out something about tommy douglas, insulin, and romeo dallaire, and being proud to be part of that wickedness even though i had NOTHING to do with any of that although its still cool and im all happy that those are canadians who did cool things. i probably wouldnt say "because im free" even though i am.

why are YOU proud to be american? [or canadian, or finnish, or spanish, or puerto rican, etc.]

urbanfictions @ 2008-02-26T07:18:00

2008-02-26T12:19:21Z

interesting questions from speakdaggers for something else but i thought id share here

2008-01-22T19:52:28Z

1. Water towers, birds and pills. What is it about these objects that inspire you?

water towers: well, this is one is easy- water towers remind me of new york city, a place that i loved on sight. such strange structures in the most urban place; theyre like strange cake toppers, each one a different shape and size, held up on spindly legs... theres something so appealing about how they are shaped, as well. they also give SUCh a kick ass silhouette when printed in black and white. reminicent of rockets! secret places to swim! echo-y! fabulous all around!

pills- well this one is about my stuggle with anxiety disorder, which ive had for many years, but have not had medication for for almost 4 years now. i hid a lot behind the pills on the advice of doctors and so i like to explore how pills eclipsed all problems, and meditate on how the meds would help, potentially, if i didnt have to feel anything. ultimately i use the imagery in what i hope is a wry and humourous way, especially with works that have text behind them; under the massive colourful "make-me-feel-good" pill, is the truth, the panic, the fear.

crows- i just love crows. theyre so intelligent and funny and the silhouette appeals to me as well.

2. Do you listen to music when you create? What is the perfect creative setting for you to get your work done in?

sometimes i do, sometimes i dont. the best place for me to work is in my tiny study at my desk/easle where everything i need is within arms' reach. day is best, i work best alone, with a cat interfering. hey, i like a challenge :P

3. Name a few of your favorite artists.

most recently i am entirely too obsessed with vik muniz, i think everyone should go check out his stuff, he is AMAZING. van gogh is always an inspiration. brian jungen, also AMAZING and so inspiring. this summer i fell in love with works by sarah morris and felt a resonance with the work of piet mondrian. noraval morrisseau is precious to me and i mourned his recent passing deeply.

4. What are your preferred mediums to work with?

canvas + anything messy. i love the immediate texture tissue paper and gouache gives a canvas. acrylics are a must for me. i love the obnoxious shine and glare acetates give to a piece. ive recently learned to embrace lint and cat fur and actually make it a part of the work. i like it when things look dirty. so lots of fingers in the paint, dragging objects through paint in order to get texture. mmm. my fingernails are never clean!

5. Is art a hobby, profession or obsession for you?

its not a profession, not an obsession, but to call it a hobby misses the mark, i think. would i like to do this full time and be able to support myself, of course. but i dont want that pressure to create "on time" to make the bucks, you know? not to be all "oh arent i so fucking cool", but really, at this point in my life i cant NOT make art. its in my head, it needs to come out, and most of the time i dont want the canvases/pieces hanging around after im done making the art. so i charge enough money for the pieces to be able to buy more supplies and make more. its a great system.

6. If there was one style of art that you could take up what would it be?

pottery! looks like messy goopy fun. but the wheel feels restrictive, too. id love to learn how to sew on a machine; i think i could do a LOT more interesting things on canvas with sewing...