If the Ross Sisters would have performed at PS122 circa 1987 they’d probably be regulars in Vegas a la Blue Man Group today. Certainly someone would have called me at High Performance magazine and said, “you really really really need to write about this group.” If they were performing today it would probably have a seriously negative impact on Lady Gaga’s career (assuming a contemporary audience would believe there was no computer manipulation involved). Anyway, I guess this is what sisters did before cell phones and texting. (Courtesy kottke.org)
Time of the year for all the interesting mushrooms to pop up around the place. Here’s a favorite:
These cherry red mushrooms open to about the size of a giant cookie from a fancy coffee shop. They push out of the ground looking like a big red egg before they open.
Underneath they turn a bright buttery yellow. It was one of these mushrooms that served as the basis for this digital artwork that hangs on the front of our garage.
There’s also this red, darker, blood red mushroom. Haven’t messed with it yet.
I did my first (perhaps only) graphic novel back around 1958. It was titled “Tip and Jack.” I remember wanting to name the dog “Gratuity” but decided that “Tip” fit better with the minimalist nature of the project. One critic suggested Tip was actually a small pony. I’m not averse to the ambiguity.
Just to allay any assumptions that I’ve maybe come to appreciate bourbon, dogs and art only later in life, I present several images from my first solo exhibition, held at the Refrigerator Door Gallery in Hayti, South Dakota circa 1958.
I’m pretty sure that’s a dog I’m with in this drawing since if it were actually a giant ant I probably wouldn’t be using a leash.
In case you can’t read my handwriting on the label, it says “Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Please drink responsibly.”
Bourbon, Dogs and Art is a blog by Steven Durland. It is mainly about bourbon, dogs and art (and chickens). BDA is also the name of his art studio. More about that and other bits of practical information available at durland dot com.
