Overheard at the Record Store – Part 2
Posted on | July 2, 2009 | No Comments
“This album has a good saw on it.”
“I am so down with a good saw.”
“You have to understand-it’s a play on the inherent facist nature of pop music.”
“Cool. Want a Zot?”
“Are you OK?”
“Yeah, I’m cool.”
“That’s good, but I’d feel better if you got up.”
“This is pretty epic right here dude.”
“It is quite epic.”
“That was the day I made a whole suit out of seaweed for myself.”
“It sounds too much like “More Than a Woman.” I don’t want to risk it.”
“Let’s have a nerd-off.”
“Theater geeks make the best housemates.”
“Will you turn it up a pinch?”
“Shit yeah-Let’s party.”
“She doesn’t want to be called Rockabilly. She prefers Car-Enthusiast.”
Read more Overheard at the Record Store
Mari Stauffer – Looking Closely
Posted on | June 22, 2009 | 1 Comment
The creative vision of bay-area artist Mari Stauffer is “to find in her art career a harmonious blend of environmentalism, science, nature and education.” In pursuing this vision, Mari is expressing the scientific, educational and artistic tendencies that are nestled snugly in her DNA.
Born in 1975 in Malaysia, to a Swiss father and Iban (native of Borneo) mother, Mari’s exposure to science and art was immediate and omnipresent with a family tree chock full of geologist and artists. Raised to respect and appreciate the natural world, Mari finds happiness and peace in relying on nature as the subject for her paintings and drawings, including the more enigmatic realms of paranormal, quantum physics and astronomy.
How and when did you begin to realize your artistic tendencies?
I know it may sound like a cliche, but I really don’t remember there being one specific time that launched me into the visual arts. Ever since I can remember, I have always loved trying to visually reproduce the things I see around me, as well as things in my mind. I just don’t know of a time when I did not draw or paint. I give a lot of credit to my parents who unconditionally support me, and always encouraged me as a child by enrolling me in art classes and buying me art supplies.
Coming from a family of artists and scientists, it’s no wonder that the natural world plays a dominant theme in your creations. How does science and your exposure to it influence your outlook and approach?
I feel very lucky to have grown up around both fields of art and science. Geology runs deep in my family-my grandfather (Swiss-father’s side) was a geologist with Shell, my uncle is currently, my father is a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, and my sister is currently working on her PhD in geology. I was raised by both my parents to respect our planet and to realize just how fascinating and amazing nature is. I am really amazed every day by the complexity, beauty, and patterns we find on our planet and in the universe!
I also feel that the more one knows about science, especially the earth sciences, the more of an environmentalist and conservationist one becomes. My mother is from an indigenous tribe on the island of Borneo who, like indigenous peoples all over the planet, are constantly battling corporate/government deforestation and destruction of rainforests. I therefore hold these issues of conservation and this respect and fascination with the natural world very close to my heart. My favorite subjects for my art are definitely plants, animals, and natural landscapes (including space scapes).
Can you talk about your Endangered Spacies™ collection and how it came about?
Environmental issues really have always been something I think about, and it all came to a head when I watched Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”. I came to realize that indeed [the climate crisis] is critical, and I felt compelled to somehow weave it into my artwork (which had been mainly surreal, fantasy and representational until then) even more.
There is currently a lot of environmental art out there. While I completely respect the shock tactics some artists take in portraying horrific images of current or potential scenarios (a bloody & bludgeoned harp seal baby lying on an iceberg, for example), it is not my style. I imagined where (not very realistically of course) humans would then put all these species whose habitats were/are disappearing. If there’s no room for them on Earth, how about space?
It’s not a suggestion of mine, but rather a sad commentary on how many species we are losing due to certain companies and groups of people being pretty shortsighted about their actions. If I get one person to think “huh-I didn’t realize polar bears were endangered” then I’ll be happy. I also, though, just really enjoy painting these creatures, and putting them in the environment of space. I wanted to do it in a whimsical style, therefore my cartoon-ish look to the planets, stars, and animals, and I hope it makes it more accessible to a wider audience. I feel best when my artwork is somewhat educational.
What is your ideal workspace and medium?
Ideally, I like to work in watercolors either in my bedroom or studio room on my drawing table, but one of my favorite ways to paint in this medium is outdoors with my subject(s) right in front of me! For acrylics, I love working on my easel in my studio, with all the blinds open, and lots of light. Usually, wherever I work, music in the background is playing, as it helps to inspire me greatly. Probably my favorite medium (which was my emphasis in college) is still watercolor, coupled with pen & ink. There can be a beautifully unpredictable element to it when you let the elements do their thing (water, gravity, wind). I am most comfortable with this medium.
Do you work from sketches or do you let the images emerge spontaneously on the canvas?
I very often work from sketches, especially if I’m working in watercolor. I get inspired at inopportune times, so a quick sketch is always a good idea…sometimes I end up liking the sketch better than the painting. With acrylics, it’s possible to paint over things, so sometimes I go straight to the canvas with this medium. It also depends on the style and subject of the painting.
There are a lot of micro-details in your paintings. Where does your appreciation of these details come from and how does it inform your work?
I have always loved using nature as a subject, and this is especially true with plants. I am fascinated to no end with patterns in nature. There are patterns on the microscopic level that are identical to ones on the enormous, cosmic level. I have always been enamored with looking closely at plants, and how much complexity and pattern and order can be found in just one leaf of a plant…sometimes, there’s even a whole tiny insect hanging out on the leaf not visible before! Beyond this fascination, I just have always loved to be really detailed in most of my work…it’s just comfortable for me. The few public murals I’ve painted (which I thoroughly enjoyed) I think proved to me that I am just most comfortable working in the small to medium size range when it comes to paintings.
Besides painting, what other forms does your creativity take?
Wow…that’s a good question! Well…my sister gave me a great digital camera a few years ago, and I started using it to take pictures (some super-close-up ones) of plants, landscapes, and sometimes animals to use as photo-reference for paintings. This turned into a thoroughly enjoyable hobby in itself for me!
Currently selling greeting cards of her work, as well as showing and selling paintings in the greater bay area, Mari continues to work on her art, with the ongoing vision of connecting her passions for science and art by illustrating children’s books, field guides, and educational materials.
For more information check out Mari’s Flickr page or get in touch with her at mari.stauffer@gmail.com
Billy Bang – VIETNAM the aftermath
Posted on | June 15, 2009 | No Comments
This is the most powerful and haunting album in my collection. I’ll go months or a year without putting it on because it is so far beyond the “music as entertainment” notion. The time and place have to be just right, because this is something that you want to slowly absorb and reflect upon. It will transform you.
Jazz violinist Billy Bang has created this courageous and emotional soundscape that reinterprets the sounds and experiences of his time in Vietnam while exposing and confronting the demons he brought home and carried with him for 30+ years.
Rather than try to tell you where Bang is coming from, I’ll share with you some excerpts from his introduction to the album in the liner notes.
“My inability to bravely confront my personal demons, my experiences in Vietnam, has been a continuous struggle. For decades, I’ve lived constantly with my unwillingness to deliberately conjure up the pain of these experiences.”
“By allowing these awkward and unfathomable feelings to lie dormant in some deep dark place, I was somehow able to tolerate my frankly vegetative way of living. It was preferable somehow – and safer to let these monstrous thoughts imbedded in my unconscious to remain in that state – inactive.”
“The possibility of getting rid of the dark side that forever haunted me outweighed the pessimistic thoughts I had carried with me all those years. I knew I was faced with the monumental task of transforming my Vietnam experience, and all it’s attendant emotions, into a solid body of music.”
“To write eloquently of my trials and tribulations…has been a supreme challenge.”
Somehow Bang, in confronting his own demons, has made an album that is filled with breathtaking beauty, incredible pain, innocence, confusion, fear and… I’ll say it again – breathtaking beauty.
I sincerely hope that Billy Bang and his band found some peace through this project, and that it continues to ripple out and be a source of strength and healing. It is such a massive, emotional undertaking that he willingly and lovingly took on. This under-the-radar masterpiece is a gesture of healing and an acknowledgment of the sweet fragility and utter magnificence and resilience of the human experience.
Au Revoir Simone – Still Night, Still Light
Posted on | June 9, 2009 | No Comments
Three voices, three creative minds and three vintage Casio keyboards are the elements that form the outstanding Still Night, Still Light. The third album from Brooklyn-based trio Au Revoir Simone is an electro-indie-pop universe, filled with stories of love, heartbreak, patience and acceptance, sung from the perspective of the relatable and familiar “I” to the elusive, yet unforgettable “you.”
The band’s pixie appearance and harmonious melodies juxtapose with the dark thread of loneliness that runs through their songs, with lyrics that revel in the discord that shapes an empty night and the confusion of shifting love.
Don’t let the deceptively simple approach of Still Night, Still Light fool you. The lyrics paint a picture of intricate emotionality, while the minimal, dreamy melodies provide the audience the space to translate and contemplate the relevance of those pictures in our own lives.
Overheard at the Record Store – part 1
Posted on | June 4, 2009 | 1 Comment
“Dude, the new Whitesnake kicks ass. It seriously kicks ass bro.”
“I like lacy gothic girls – not rubbery.”
“Sir, I know what a train is. Please stop.”
Youngster holding a record: “Dad, look at this big cd.”
“I smoke outside. I don’t care about my lungs but I don’t want to ruin my records.”
“Someone told me that Sublime doesn’t spell their name with an S. Is that right?”
“Drunken sincerity always falls short doesn’t it?”
“I have brothers. They’re gross and offensive, like you.”
“He looked like a thug but I think he was just mental.”
“This is one of those bands that, thank god no one knows about, so I can keep them private.”
10 Things You Should Know About Patsy Cline
Posted on | May 29, 2009 | 2 Comments
1. “Crazy” is said to be the most-played jukebox single of all time.
2. Loretta Lynn named one of her daughters after her.
3. Patsy was the first female country star to cross over into the pop charts.
4. She only released 3 albums before her death in 1963.
5. She was known to be so moved by songs that she would sing them with tears rolling down her cheeks.
6. She’s the reigning queen of Hillbilly Heaven.
7. At the height of her fame, she was tragically killed in a plane crash. This was a short time after she barely escaped death in a head-on car collision.
8. She played a big role in paving the way for women to assert themselves in the Nashville music machine.
9. Everything you know by Patsy Cline was recorded before she was 31 years old.
10. She truly lived, sang and died the blues.
Patsy Cline was truly one of the greats. Take a minute to revisit her treasure chest of songs and you will certainly find something that touches your soul.
Horse Feathers – House With No Home
Posted on | May 19, 2009 | 4 Comments
My long-running appreciation of quiet, introspective songcrafting is filled with gentle melodies by Damien Rice, M. Ward, Nick Drake, Iron & Wine, Mary Gauthier, Ferron, Anne Briggs, Bon Iver etc. There’s something about the practice of exorcising the deeper and sometimes darker aspects of a life into a song where they are safe and still and observable.
Three piece, multi-instrumentalist band Horse Feathers brings together sparse acoustic guitar, pleasantly simple melody lines, swirling and jabbing strings and whispery harmonies to create a pocket of space that inspires thoughts of soft, dark nights, trouble in mind and old-time souls.
House With No Home weaves banjo, drums, zither, saw, trumpet and several other instruments with grace and agility, leaving space around the heart of the songs to establish a matrix of support that lovingly presents them as delicate treasures with soft centers for us to explore.
Questions for Anthony
Posted on | May 14, 2009 | 2 Comments
by Anthony Johnson
Hello awesome readers! I am going to make my column, Anthony’s World of Skateboarding based on what you, the reader want to hear, not always what I feel like rambling about. Please give me input on what you would like to hear about from me…life as a professional skateboarder, the skateboarding industry, how to get sponsored, skate photos and filming tips, news about other pros, trick tips, product information, anything at all. Just let me know and I will get on it!
Thanks and have a pleasant day!
Break Boundaries. Live Life.
Posted on | May 8, 2009 | 2 Comments
by Anthony Johnson
I know that time is precious in our extremely busy world. To whoever is reading, I challenge you. Next time you find yourself in front of your television, flipping channels, turn it off. Walk around your block. Pick up a book. Bake some muffins. Attempt to make your favorite Indian dish. Go to your local thrift store and buy a pair of $5 roller skates and use them. Join a coed volleyball team. Register for a night class. Drive to Vegas. Drop your pants and swim in the ocean. Go buy a hummingbird feeder. Play badminton with your mom. Plan a bbq. Send a surprise postcard to an out of state friend. Whatever you have always thought would be a fun thing to do in life and have not done, DO IT! Break boundaries! Get focused! Have fun! Laugh! Spread love!
I have a great aunt who moved to the USA from France when she was a young girl. She recently told me how she had always planned to go back and visit the places she and her parents had lived. She is now 89 years old and is unable to make such a trip. Her words of wisdom to me were “Do everything you want to in life before it’s too late.”
I know that this is Anthony Johnson’s World of Skateboarding, and I have far strayed from the subject of skateboarding, but I felt it had to be said. I promise my next entry will be more focused on skateboarding…in fact, it is in the works at the moment. Thanks for reading.
ALL LOVE!
Tags: Anthony Johnson > break boundaries > live life > Skateboarding
A Beautiful Stillness – The Art of Anthony Cozzi
Posted on | May 4, 2009 | 2 Comments
When you live in the Rocky Mountains, the natural world provides more than just a beautiful backdrop. It informs and inspires virtually every aspect of life and culture. Visual artist Anthony Cozzi’s work is no exception. Living and working in Denver, his magnificent creations celebrate the majesty of the Rockies and reveal the simple beauty of their inhabitants.
Cozzi works with photographs, illustrations and a well-stocked digital toolbox to create his pieces that range from breathtaking naturescapes to simply perfect one color prints. He graciously took the time to answer some questions for House of Cat, filling in some details on his technique, inspiration and the beautiful stillness of his creations.
Has nature always played a key role in your creations?
I think it has always played a key role, and even more now. I was born and raised in Colorado and I want my artwork to feel like it comes from here.
Most of your images are giclee prints. What is the benefit of giclee for these images?
I guess the thing I like most about them is they’re archival quality. I like the idea of my prints being around for a while. Plus, if you find the right printer your prints will turn out a lot more vibrant and colorful than a standard art print.
When did you start creating in this style? What got you into it?
A major contributor to my current style is the work I did with Nobot. They were a record company located here in Denver. They ended up shutting down around 2006. When Nobot was around they had a very natural and organic style to their electronic music. I tried to carry those attributes into the design and the branding of the company.
You were recently featured in the Denver ARTCRANK show. Can you tell us a bit about it and the piece you made for it?
ARTCRANK is a showcase of affordable bicycle-inspired art, originally started in Minneapolis. I was invited to the Denver edition of ARTCRANK by Josh Wills, the curator for The Fabric Lab and Plastic Chapel. Denver is the first satellite location to host ARTCRANK, with plans to expand to other cities.
My piece is called DROP SEQUENCE. It’s an 18×24″ screenprint I did specifically for the show. I have been into BMX since I was young, so it just felt right to do a BMX themed print. The idea for the design came from BMX magazine layouts that show a sequence of photos demonstrating a particular trick. I wanted my piece to capture that look and feel. The response to my piece was amazing, I sold all 20 prints I had on sale.
Editor’s note: Anthony has released the second edition of Drop Sequence and is now taking orders at SnowBlinded.com
What has been your experience with screenprinting? Do you print your own pieces?
I love screenprinting. When I was younger I worked at a screenprinting company that made t-shirts for tourists. But I don’t personally print any of my work. I’ll leave that to the experts. I have a great screenprinter out of Portland called Seizure Palace.
What tools do you use to create the effects that you do?
I mainly use pencil, paper, adobe photoshop, adobe illustrator, scanner and a camera. I do occasionally dive into my AutoCAD and 3D programs to render an element in a certain style.
How is the Denver art scene?
The Denver art scene is doing well. We have young nationally renowned artists choosing to live and work here in Colorado. Artists like Evan Hecox, Jason Thielke, Ian Millard, Scot Lefavor and Lui Ferreyra have paved the way for artists like myself.
What are you up to currently? What do you have planned for the future? Any shows you would like to promote…or new pieces for sale?
I’m a founding member of Plastic Sound Supply a local electronic record and art label. We’re having a record release party for Cacheflowe on May 8th at Beta Night Club.
I will have some new pieces for sale soon on my website and I’m also working on some t-shirt designs.
To get in touch with Anthony Cozzi and see more of his amazing artwork, check out SnowBlinded.com
Tags: Anthony Cozzi > Art > Art Crank > ArtCrank > Denver art > Drop Sequence > prints > SnowBlinded > snowblinded.com
