Tag: artist

Introducing My Next Tattoo

I got my first tattoo on my first wedding anniversary with Maura. I’ve been trying to decide what to do for my second the moment I walked out the door of Exile Tattoo. I’ve toyed with various ideas – cephalopods, skulls/bones, mechanical parts, etc. and couldn’t really decide on anything. I also knew I wanted to have one of the many talented artists I know create it, but everything was up in the air until the Two Headed Beast approached me about coding their website.

The Two Headed Beast is Chris and Mirna Stubbs, two very talented artists, a designer (Chris), and an illustrator (Mirna). I told them I would code their site in trade for a tattoo design. Chris had designed some tattoos for himself and I have to admit that I was a little jealous. I explained my initial to Chris and after some design and critique back and forth, this is my next tattoo:

 

cephaskelamechYesterday we met with Chet at Mercy Seat and I have a tentative date set to start inking! He seems excited to work on Chris’ designs, yesterday he said “It’s not worth doing if it’s not a challenge”. It should take between six to eight hours in at least two sessions to complete.

In an email today, Chris sent me some fundraising ideas to fund our tattoos. They cracked me up and I had to add a few of my own! He’s getting one soon as well, after having designed mine, he went to work on an idea he’s been mulling around for a while for himself – Chris’ Tattoo. They’re both pretty big and very detailed, they’re not going to be cheap.

His list:

  • temporary lawn service: “grass for tats” (I call weed wacking)
  • donate blood. it will be symbolic of the needle in the arm thing.
  • 1st Fridays we claim a corner and give crash courses in web design/ photoshop on our laptops.
  • shoe shine stand
  • donate sperm… okay no
  • a non-violent bank robbery achieved through the annoyance of begging
  • counterfeit with bills that have subliminally printed the phrase “thanks for the tat honey”

I added a few more:

  • we sell advertising space on our bodies and get logos,etc tattooed in various places. Price depends on size and location…
  • scooter delivery service, delivering small items, not scooters
  • sell body parts, obviously not ones we’re having tattooed. Do we really need two of everything?
  • sell our hair for wigs and paint brushes, it’s big money and if there’s one thing I have in abundance, it’s hair!

I’m excited to have such an original piece on my arm (the left one) – Chris did such a great job synthesizing some of my favorite things.

Same as it Ever Was

This has been quite a concert season for us. First we saw Midland Theatre. Then we drove to Denver to see Sigur Ros at Red Rocks, followed quickly by Beck the next Monday at the Uptown. Sigur Ros was great, especially considering the location. Red Rocks is a beautiful place, and the sound was awsome. Beck was technically good, but he seemed burned out somehow, like it was just another day on the job.

It all pales in comparison, for me anyway, to last night’s concert. After a lifetime of being a fan, I finally saw David Byrne live! He is, by far, one of my favorite artists. He’s so original, and yet totally genuine. He seems to be truly touched.

One of the two first tapes – yes, tapes – I ever bought with my own money, back in junior high, was Talking Heads ’77 (the other was Joan Jett – I Love Rock ‘n Roll). I’ve loved his music ever since, whether as part of Talking Heads or his solo career.

In concert he looks like he’s really having fun. The audience gave him a standing ovation the moment he got on stage and by the end of the third song another one, worthy of a cheer for an encore. I think he and his band were truly taken aback by that – they looked a little surprised and touched. David Byrne smiled a lot, which is great to see. The first two encores at the end of the concert were expected, but the third looked totally impromptu.

The whole evening felt a little surreal to me – I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing him in person. And we had some great seats, center orchestra, just seven rows from the stage. Byrne played a great mix of material. I wasn’t sure he would since the concert was billed as an evening of him performing his collaborations with Brian Eno. Don’t get me wrong, I would have been just as thrilled to experience that, but he also included stuff from his own solo career as well as some Talking Heads material. It was the most incredible evening. I was in tears for a lot of it – overwhelmed by his presence. Anyway, enough gushing, here are some pictures (these and a few others are now on my Flickr Page):

David Byrne at the Uptown

David Byrne at the Uptown

And a couple movies:

Too busy to think

I’m swamped at work – the new semester starts next Monday and, just like every other year, everyone realizes that they need everything at the last minute. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining – I love my job, more than ever, but it’s wearing me out. The last two and a half weeks (is it only Monday??) I get home and crash, I can maybe stay conscious for a movie, but that’s about it. I can’t wait for the semester to actually start so that I can breathe again!

But that’s not what I set out to share. This is:

Two of my favorite musicians – David Byrne and Brian Eno – have collaborated again, thirty years after their first incredible collaboration. I’ve been listening to this as much I could all day and it’s great. Everyone that came into the office asked what it was – they were all really digging it.

AND David Bryne is coming to Kansas City in October! I missed him last time he was in town – I’m not going to make that mistake again!

Going to Nashville

Maura’s been working on some pieces for a show at Tag Art Gallery in Nashville and I think we’re going to try to make the opening! In the four years I’ve known her, we have yet to make it to one of her openings together. She’s been out in the studio a lot in the past two weeks, with the exception of last weekend of course) and she’s been doing a lot of super fun stuff! This is one of my favorites:

Day Of The Dead Dream

Visit her page on the TAG website for a preview of the work she’s displaying. Here’s more info about the show.

Another very cool piece:

A Look Inside The Robt World

I’m very excited about the trip. Nashville is an interesting place, but it’s also the first opening of hers that we’ve been able to attend! It should be a lot of fun!