The Criterion Collection Release of Wes Anderson’s first movie, Bottle Rocket (which Owen Wilson & Wes Anderson wrote together) was one of the most exciting DVD releases of my life, partly because Bottle Rocket’s original cover was one of the most horrendous I have ever seen:
When I learned Ian Dingman (remember when we interviewed him?) would be doing the cover art for the Criterion Collection, I knew that Bottle Rocket would finally get the justice it deserved. And now that I’ve seen the work in real life, I am more than satisfied.
One reason I love this DVD so much is because my FAVORITE part of the film, when Dignan (Owen Wilson) shows off his “75-Year Plan” after Anthony (Luke Wilson) gets out of the mental hospital and they decide to pursue a life of crime, is an intricate part of the specialness of the Criterion Collection:
The DVD insert is both the “notebook” describing the 75-Year Plan as well as the DVD booklet, containing credits, little essays by the likes of Martin Scorsese, and extra drawings matching those in the movie, such as Andrew’s doodle of Inez and a map for their bookstore robbery.
Besides the booklet and the inside and outside of the DVD cover, Ian Dingman has drawn fabulous images for all the on-screen DVD menu pages.
The DVD itself has lots of special features and footage, like the original black and white short that started the whole thing. The DVD commentary is a bit of a bust (Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson can’t seem to remember anything about the film, but it’s entertaining enough if you’re a big fan), but the Making Of feature is pretty informative, and really gets into how these nobody-boys ended up making a movie that… failed miserably, but later became a kind of cult classic and started the careers of some great writers (Wes & Owen), a director (Wes), and actors (Owen, Luke, Andrew — the three Wilson brothers who all appear in the film).
Further Info:
on Amazon.com ($35)
At the moment. I’m sick of green. A kryptonite river. Harassment by trashy green tourists that walk at a snail’s pace. The burgeoning green grass of the Great Lawn at Millennium Park (YES, I AM A HATER. I have allergies.). Despite these negative green-laced events, green is one of my favorite colors, and frames five things that I am currently obsessed with.
1. Stickers and Donuts loves Maira Kalman. Featured in the NY Times this past Friday, The Robin Hood Foundation has renovated libraries in 62 schools throughout NYC. With the aid of Pentagram, a global design firm, the project commissioned several established artists (Maira Kalman, Cristoph Niemann, Stefan Sagmeister, Yuko Shimizu) to create murals for the libraries. I encourage you to flip through the slide show in the NY Times article, because the murals are amazing! Below is a picture from Cristoph Niemann’s mural. THE DINOSAUR’S TEETH ARE BOOKS!!@#@!#@!:
2. As my last post mentioned, I traded Chicago for NYC a few weeks ago. I had many new experiences (befriended a synthesizer-playing scientologist..which I THOUGHT WAS A NORMAL NYC THING, but after consulting with various natives, apparently it is an anomaly, went to the American Museum of Natural History and Babycakes…), and I notably visited Uniqlo for the first time! Chicago is imperfect in many ways, and here’s another complaint: There is no Uniqlo in Chicago.
Walking into Uniqlo is like sticking your head in a sanitary barrel of Runts. So many colors! All neatly stacked! I am convinced that Uniqlo is the best place to purchase excellent basics (and neat graffic t-shirts). I’m apathetic towards American Apparel: the sub-par quality clothes are overpriced, it often has questionable (borderline-costume-y) clothes, nothing fits me properly, and Don Charney disturbs me. Uniqlo has cheaper, better quality clothes, and they fit me! Also, if you purchase pants, they will tailor them within two hours for FREE! I returned to Chicago with half a suitcase full of Uniqlo purchases. (I reasoned that the sales tax is cheap in NY, and that THERE IS NO UNIQLO IN CHICAGO.)
3. Ira Glass, oh how I love thee. For me, Ira Glass falls in the “older male crushes of Tricia” category; a category which also includes Jarvis Cocker and Anderson Cooper. His voice is so melodious that when I listen to This American Life, I feel like a sorority girl listening to male a capella. I trudge through the voids between new episodes by catching up on the old episodes, which aired when I wasn’t yet cool enough to listen to the show. My current favorites: #328- What I Learned from Television (where Ira Glass gushes about being a die-hard OC fan, and his reaction to Seth and Summer’s conversation on This American Life) and #374- Somewhere Out There (full of unconventional love stories).
4. Whereas seemingly everyone was downtown getting drunk for St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday, I went to Knee Deep Vintage, a store that I have wanted to go to since I returned to Chicago. Knee Deep Vintage is the best vintage/thrift store that I have ever been to. Located in wonderful Pilsen (even the manholes are glorious, and you can get both Mexican hot chocolate AND chilli lollipops), Knee Deep Vintage is full of treasures. The store’s great selection is reflective of the owners’ exceptional taste. Apparently, they go on adventures across the country to gather things for the store (source: nice stranger who spoke to me on the train). Everything is priced reasonably, well-organized, and neutral smelling. I bought one navy and white dress (pocket!), AND THE MOST MAGNIFICENT KELLY-GREEN BELT. It’s made of lots of metal plates that are sewn on an elastic band. It’s a little heavy, but if I ever get attacked, the belt will be an effective weapon!!!
5. Yesterday, Kitsune Noir featured the new movie poster for WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. I am very excited for the release (I do, after all, own a Where the Wild Things Are journal), however, scary kids movies (Coraline, good grief) traumatize me. I am determined to find someone willing to see the movie with me.
I know several of my readers (and writers. and self.) are unemployed, and have wondered what to do with their new found time (besides, of course, looking for nonexist jobs, completely changing their future plans, and/or questioning the meaning of life). Well, how is this for a new column: Unemployment Project of the Week.
This week’s project: make a portrait of a portrait. This especially good for those of you, like myself, who have limited artistic ability. A portrait is hard, but if a portrait has already been made, an artist has already showed you the portrait-sitter’s most prominent and important features.
I am no artistic genius, but you can see I had fun with the above Frida paintings, took artistic liberties, and still managed to get something that is identifiable as the artist herself. To make these, I looked at a portrait of Frida Kahlo (far left, by Frida herself) and made two very different versions, the one in the middle is about 8×10 and in acrylic, and the one on the right is a little moleskin notebook sketch with watercolor.
You also don’t have to make a painting of a painting, you can make a painting of a photo, or any-which-way you choose. As you can see, I ruined this little cartoonish-painting (I suppose I could try and fix that left side of his face) I did on a business card-sized artist trading card. Nonetheless, you can tell who it is because it’s a famous portrait, so I was still pretty satisfied (expectations are low for the unemployed, alas).
And, finally, one of the most fun ways to re-create a black and white portrait is by making a linoleum print (pictured here hanging on my bulletin board with a nice little sharpie covering it). I think these are very eye-catching. Check out my sort-of old, but-still-completely-relevant linoleum print tutorial here.
Have fun with your portraits!
If you’re like me, and you find yourself suddenly unemployed, you may find yourself with a lot of time on your hands. So to help, I took a cue from Maria, and created this handy guide to things you can now put your new-found freedom to use doing. (And, if you feel so inclined, feel free to drop me a line if you just so happen to be an employer looking to hire someone.)
**Font used above is Birra Stout by Darden Studio
I’m on a pattern kick and have been for a while now. So while wandering around D.C. during my trip a couple weeks back, I couldn’t help but notice all of the cool patterns around the city. Here are just a few of the many that caught my eye:
I’m not sure yet how these will influence my work, but at the very least I’d like them to influence my fashion sense. Maria’s post on Ugly/Pretty got me thinking that most of these could make for some pretty cool tights or maybe a skirt…
Never expected this set of paintings and sort-of-poem by Maira Kalman to be in the Opinion section of the New York Times, but I am so happy. (I lover her artwork, esp her rendition of the The Elements of Style.) Anyway, check it out, it’s about the inauguration and has tons of lovely pictures.
Yesterday, Maria shared her Christmas loot. Past-Tricia thought, “Gee… I guess it would be appropriate to share what I received this holiday season as well.” Below is a selection of items that present-Tricia is currently enjoying.
Saucony Jazz sneakers – I’ve never owned Saucony sneakers, or worn sneakers with thumb-size soles. The soles honestly frighten me. I’m already not very graceful, and I forsee a lot of awkward plummets. I like these sneakers, though, and I’m going to test them out/power through the gigantic soles.
Imperfect Articles T-shirt (Mine is by Rob Davis and Michael Langlois) – This is the best T-shirt I have ever owned. Based in Chicago, Imperfect Articles is an exceptional shirt company that amalgamates fine art and fashion. The shirts feature the designs of upcoming and established artists, and are incredibly limited edition (only 30-50 pressings!!!). Given that each shirt is hand-dyed, screen-printed, and numbered, these shirts are truly works of art. I love how each shirt has a background story and is so unique. The work on my shirt (19/50!) is Teenagers from Mars, which features the lyrics to the Misfits song “Teenagers from Mars” in ARABIC!
Tea Forte – I’ve always admired the design of Tea Forte bags. They’re too perfect!
The Forever War by Dexter Filkins – Ever since my nectar-sweet friend Tina told me about Dexter Filkins, I’ve wanted to read The Forever War. Not only did I receive a copy, but it is signed by Dexter Filkins! And he wishes me good luck in the future. At the pace I’m going, I need a lot of luck. VERDICT: this is a wonderful gift.
Saraid Oxford by Jeffrey Campbell - My first pair of Jeffrey Campbell shoes! I have a wee penchant for Jeffrey Campbell shoes, because they are really neat. The designs are impeccably detailed and fun. One of my closest friends wore a splendid pair at graduation, which provoked me to more seriously consider getting a pair. I’m not sure where you can get mine, but I’ve provided a link of the shoes in black & white.
DeLonghi Espresso machine – I used to be a barista, and one of my favorite aspects of the job was the opportunity to practice making latte designs. I’m rather excited about this espresso machine, however, I’ve already invested a few hours in trying to figure it out, only leading to my FAILURE. I’m horrible at reading directions. In this particular case, when I start reading, I get too excited and can’t focus on the directions!
Snowshowers Jelly and Solid Perfume – I easily get sick of scents, but I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of Lush‘s Snowshowers. I am currently, and forever more, obsessed with the scent. A blend of champagne, orange, and cognac, Snowshowers is extremely refreshing! And I’ve recently learned that Lush Jellys are great. You can put them in the freezer to make them wobble like firm tofu, and pinch off a corner when you’re in the shower. I am new to Lush. I wonder if this enthusiasm is normal to a new Lush convert.
Okay, Ray Fenwick is not my boyfriend. I really just meant that as a general expression of love and affection for his art. Sorry. For the confusion. Sorry Ray. Sorry Ray’s possible significant other. Sorry everyone else. Sorry co-editor Tricia for soiling Stickers & Donut’s image as a reputable source.
Anyway, so I’ve been scouring Ray’s bright and beautiful web-site ever since my friend bought me some fantastically funny bookplates he made for Tiny Showcase. (He is a master of hand-lettering.) Then I realized I had admired some of his work on Threadless, and elsewhere on Tiny Showcase. Then I realized I was in love, which was also about the time I wrote the title of the post.
I love Ray Fenwick’s web-site, but there are several issues I have with it: (1) I want everything, (2) I cannot have everything, (3) I need help locating the things I could, potentially, have.
SO, to increase the problems presented by 1 & 2, and hopefully solve 3, I’ve collected some places where you employed people can purchase Ray Fenwick’s work so you don’t have to merely look at it lovingly on your computer screen, sighing occasionally.
By the way, the Ray Fenwick logo at the top of the image is from his webpage which you should visit. Because it has more stuff than I can possibly post here.
You’ve probably seen Jonathan Keller because he’s taken a photo of himself every day for TEN YEARS (he started when he was 22!) and, I have an unconfirmed suspicion that he has single-handedly started the “I Take a Photo Of Myself Everyday for X Days” YouTube boom. (If you want to do it yourself, this program might help.)
Anyway, the brilliant part about JK is that the video isn’t his only project. He is a project man. And, as usual, I’m having a hugely hard time selectively picking things to show you. Basically, I want to recreate his web-page on my web-page. Not practical. Or legal. So you should just visit it.
I wanted to ask Jonathan about a billion questions about his photo project, then decided not to, and then ended up asking a few anyway. Luckily, he has (quite humorously) answered photo-project FAQs (er, AQs) on his web-page (seriously, go read it, my interview is very informative, but this is funny!).
According to his web-site, five years ago he was quite the internet star (as interpreted by me based on the number of emails he received never mind his youtube views), so I imagine with about 1000 more photos under his belt he’s quite the star now. Moral of the story: I consider myself lucky that I even got through the massive spam filter I hope he now has installed in his email.
How would you describe your art projects to someone who hasn’t seen them?
Ah, my elevator pitch is a tough sell. Thankfully I can just pull out my iPhone and show people. In the event that I, God forbid, don’t have my mobile portfolio, I begin by saying that most of my projects lie near the intersection of design, code & craft and are dictated by some sort of logical system. But in my systems, logic does not beget sense. In fact, the end result is often an amplification of the simplistic nature of the system’s assumptions and interpretations. Accumulation, iteration and revaluing the mundane also factor in often. When that explanation leaves one befuddled, I say “I’ve taken a photo of myself every day for the past 10 years. There’s a video of it on YouTube.”
When that explanation leaves one befuddled, I say “I’ve taken a photo of myself every day for the past 10 years. There’s a video of it on YouTube.”
What’s with the “c71123″?
When I was 5 years old, my father asked me to remember the numbers of three cows (the ‘c’) that needed to be bred (he was a professional artificial inseminator). The numbers were 7, 11, & 23. Being the math/number dork that I was at that age, I set out to remember those numbers for as long as I possibly could. 27 years later they hold a certain amount of nostalgic appeal. I knew the odd alphanumerics would be available as a URL, while also subtly referencing spam and numbered email addresses like hotgirl69@email.com.
What’s your favorite project you’ve done?
My favorite project is perpetually the one I just finished and put up online. There is nothing more satisfying than getting work out there for others to see. Though, to answer the spirit of question, I’d say the Princess Peach shirt as it encompasses most of the interests I’ve been involved with since I was young while also achieving what I desire for all my projects.
Which is your favorite box bot?
Like most things subjective, it’s hard to choose a single one. Overall, I like the way the beer and cigarette packages turn out. Odd, since I’ve never smoked and drink rarely. If I had to choose one to be my friend, it’d have to be the Dos Equis bug, while my mortal enemy would be the ogre Mr. Guinness. I think I can safely say that my least favorite is Boston Lager. A black mark on the otherwise shining beer genre.
What project has gotten the most reception from the public?
It’s quite humbling to be able to say that millions of people have seen a project I created.
The Adaption to My Generation (a daily photo project) by far. Check out the number comments on my site for proof positive. I’ve been fortunate enough to be featured in some very public spaces online and off and it’s quite humbling to be able to say that millions of people have seen a project I created.
What’s your process for taking photos of yourself? (more…)
A couple of weeks ago, my friend and I tip-toed (him, metaphorically; me, literally) across the Gehry bridge to see the Chicago International Poster Biennial exhibition. My favorite poster was by Tomasz Boguslawski, a Polish artist and master of assemblage art.
Delicious.
In addition to being one of my favorite bands, Titus Andronicus is an often overlooked Shakespeare play. With this fantastically grotesque composition, Tomasz supremely captures the play’s gruesomeness. I love how he expertly molds the head based on the natural strata and contortions of the meat. The bone at the base of the neck suggests a spinal cord, and the strands of adipose tissue add further facial definition. The marginally sanguineous laurel serves as an integral component, and perfectly complements this piece. Complementary like sprinkles and icing. Or barnacles and whales.
This print is available at the Polish Posters Shop
