Fear of the Dark

Photo: http://www.benvenom.com/mixedmedia.html
Copyright Ben Venom

I saw this guy on one of my favourite blogs, my love for you is a stampede of horses, a while back. Metal bands have some of the most whack but cool-in-a-kitschy-way art, and teaming that up with quilting is just too good. And of course, artist Ben Venom is from the dirty south, and his artwork is a commentary on Southern lifestyles and culture.
Which explains why I took a shine to the whole thing.

Precarious Age

A few weeks ago while I was down in Sydney, I stopped in to check out part of the 17th Biennale of Sydney running at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Although on limited time (admittedly, it was a cursory 45min sweep), I did come across one artist whose work I stood in front of, stupefied and close to drooling.

Glassy, 2006
Mixed media, acrylic and resin on wood panel © Fred Tomaselli
Photo: James Cohan Gallery

Brooklyn artist Fred Tomaselli does some amazing stuff with collage and resin. Although I'm usually pretty skeptical about collage, as it brings back some ugly memories of cutting up pictures of JTT and various other 90's heart-throbs, Tomaselli's stuff is slick, psychedelic and comes across like an intricately detailed dream. However, web images don't really do his work justice, as the compulsive patterns and the spacey depth created by the resin only really translate up close and in person. Regardless, if it's his California upbringing--something he describes as having an "artificial, immersive, theme park reality"--that informs his work, then I'm taken. Because it looks super, super cool.

Big Raven 2008
Acrylic, photo collage and resin on wood panel © Fred Tomaselli
Photo: Erma Estwick Courtesy Courtesy James Cohan Gallery (New York)

The Biennale runs until the 1st of August, so there's still time to take a simulated acid trip just by looking closely at the Big Raven's eye(s).

DIG

I just realised... the walls of my room probably bear a striking resemblance to my brain.

There's nothing you can say to scare me anymore

Turrrrrrrrrrrri




Disposable cameras are so legit. I'd forgotten.

No chance of staying in any desirable way

Only because I'm so charming and easily confused.

I Don't Think We'll Get The Truth

From some kids with stickers on their boots.

The Valley: Dig Vigilante

Ghetto Balj CBD at the Lionel Apartments.

(Clancy's old place)

Finally having a scanner in my little ghetto cesspit is fairly legit. All those photos taken on Rosie's lomo cameras... It's been a fun experiment.

Rose is moving next door today, into this little underneath part of the house: Ashtray III.

So there will be space in my room and I'll start painting again I guess.

Can't think of anything better to do, really.

Apart from drink... and that isn't always a constructive occupation.

I can tell you what this is not.

It is not ideal.

Tell me: If you're so fucking smart, what would you do?

When it rains, it certainly fucking pours.

I am the son, I am the heir...

Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar.

The Smiths

The chance I had I kinda blew...