The Fridge: DC

A long, long time ago, we visited D.C. for the Crafty Bastards show. It rained hard. And it's an outdoor show. And it was my birthday. And I still had a fantastic time. (Crafty Bastards rules that much - for the record). 

While we were in town, we stumbled across a cool art gallery in an alley called The Fridge. I took a few pictures of the murals on the building - and on some boarded up buildings leading up to it. 

Enjoy: 

Art I like: Jesse Link

I saw Jesse Link's art for the first time this year at Bumbershoot. I remember just stopping and staring. I stumbled across his work again in Cafe Vita on Capitol Hill. I took a few pictures because I really wanted to share the magic. Enjoy.

My photographs don't really do the work justice. If you want to see more, you can read Jesse's blog or visit his Picasa album.

Good evening.

New Obsession: Swap-bot.com

I like getting stuff in the mail. I like mailing stuff through the post office. I like stamping things. I like putting things in envelopes. I like writing crazy things on paper and sending it to people. I like the mail. I like everything about it.

I also like crafts. I like making crafts. I like seeing what crafts other people make. I like it when other people give me crafts.

I especially like it when people make crafts and then send them to me in the mail. 

So you can imagine my delight when I discovered Swap-bot.com. It's a website filled with Swaps that you can sign up for. You send someone something. Someone sends you something. A swap. It's magical.

I registered right away and then signed up for a newbie swap. You have to build up your swap cred a little bit as many swaps require you to have already swapped a minimum number of times. This weeds out the folks who won't follow through on their swap obligations. (shakes fist at the dumb monkeys who mess up the swaps!)

The swap I signed up for is right up my alley: Big, Fat, Stuffed Envelope Swap. Oh yes. Oh, yes. I can't wait to get it! I'll do a post later that shows ya what I got (and if I've really got it together -- what I gave). In the meantime, sign up for Swap-bot.

bARTer Sauce Trade: Holy Souvenirs Batman!

The Sauce did a trade recently with Jessamyn. She rules. She once traded me a brain scan. OF HER BRAIN! What? Yes, it's completely true.

This time she came through with what I call: Holy Souvenirs Batman! It's a bunch of little religious medallions. I like 'em. Even though I'm not religious. They're pretty and the thought behind them is nice. They came in a pretty red, velvet box.

And I must say, I'm pretty proud of my photography here. I like the maroon next to the aqua blue. I like the medallions spilling out of the box. In general, I just like them I guess. There, I said it.

And if you don't agree - leave a comment here and I'll send you some examples of my first attempts at taking pictures for my Etsy shop. Wow. They're really, really terrible. So I guess I'm just saying -- I've learned a bit in the last couple of years.

In exchange, Jessamyn got a carnival horse made from sequins on black velvet. She seemed happy about it.

If you're wondering what the heck this bARTer Sauce thing is - read on:

bARTer Sauce is an experiment in trading for art and odd objects. Whatever I get, I trade for something else -- and everyone I trade with has to tell me a story. I document it all on my website.

Now, trade me something.

This is what 24 hours worth of movies in one weekend will get you

I'm sick. It started with a sore throat that I started feeling moments before beginning an hour long trampoline aerobics class. After an hour of bouncing around...well...I didn't feel any better. Woke up the next day with a brain cloud, and now finally, I'm at the booger stage. It's been a long weekend. I've watched no less than 8 movies. Pretty much in a row. The only conversation my husband and I have had consists of me whining, "I don't feel so good." and "I'm dying." Over and over. I try to alternate them so it's not too repetitive, but I can tell it's wearing on him. In any case, during my 20 or so hours of marathon couch time, I've managed to create this: Yes, I multi-task even while sick. It's a curse. The pattern is from Sublime Stitching. It's artist series #10 Tara McPherson. If you know anything at all about the Indie Craft Movement, you know that Jenny Hart, owner of Sublime Stitching is a true inspiration. She is one of the first folks I think of when I try to pin down who started the craft revolution. In short: she rules.

Art that Speaks to Me - About COFFEE!

Sometimes you see a painting that takes your breath away. That's what happened when I saw this painting in my JanetPlanetArt's Etsy shop.

I met Janet awhile back after a friend recommended her Encaustic Painting class. I didn't need to be told twice so I signed up right away and then spent a lovely afternoon painting things with beeswax.

It was awesome. Although I have to be careful where I hang my creations because Mr. Gale swears that they smell like sex. Don't ask me. I just married him.

So -- back to the painting. I love coffee. So much. Sometimes I lie awake at night -- excited for it to be the next morning so that I can have more coffee. Mmmmmmmm....

And now I have coffee that says, "I believe in you." I brought it to work and my co-workers insist that the coffees are saying that to each other -- not to me. I told them to eff off and that I could interpret it any way I want. Jerk-butts.

Newest bARTer Sauce Trade: Mondo JubJub

bARTer Sauce's added a new trade to the family of currently available objects.

I gave Nik (a frequent Sauce trader and proprietor of scary-art.com) a painting I called "Proud Green Boobs" and a huge metal bra to cover some huge boobs that I call "Full Metal Bra."

He gave me this painting called "Mondo JubJub" and a book called "Aku Aku: The Secret of Easter Island."

Read Nik's answers to my "interview" questions.

"What's bARTer Sauce" you ask. What's bARTer Sauce?!

bARTer Sauce is an experiment in trading for art and odd objects. Whatever I get -- I offer up for trade for something else. And everyone I trade with has to tell me a story. That's pretty much the poops of it.

Sauce Traders

Some of the folks that I've traded with through bARTer Sauce send me updates on their shows and such. Now, I have so many of them, that I have to do a whole blog post about them. Rebecca DeVere won Best Local Artist: rebeccadevere.com Voters have no trouble recognizing the artistic talent of local artist Rebecca DeVere. DeVere began her long and fruitful artistic career at 9 and has since produced a wealth of beautiful works, including many eye-catching mosaics. http://www.425magazine.com/article_read.php?articleid=137 Temple Terkildsen's Tasteful Nature Show!

Signature nightscapes, jellyfish, totem animals, seascapes and a handful of collaborative pieces...

Will has an experimental band called PillowSniff.

I told him it sounded like NPR with a beat. Kelly Lyles has a show at 2 Bells through 11/30/09. 2313 4th Ave (Belltown, Seattle) Check out the details on Facebook. Stacy (General Chaos) I just wanted to let you know that I am displaying some of my paintings at Hansen's Florist (4252 Fremont Ave N.) Nik's Show: Check out his art show online since you missed it in person...and since you probably don't live in the same state where it is.

Shower Art - Don't put it in your Facehole

It's Shower Art. Don't eat it.

Don't rub it on your body like soap.

Don't wear it like a belt buckle.

Just hang it in your shower and giggle once a day.

And...if you can tell me what's wrong with the Shark Week Shower Art -- you win a prize. But only if you're the first one to figure it out. Leave your guesses here as comments.

Rock on.

Have a super Tuesday.

My Girl Crush on Betsy

The cutest lady in the world just traded me "Lord Bratnose" for the Glitter Cats. Betsy cans things. She cooks. She's adorable. She sews the most amazing skirts. She has a super cute blog. She has a super cute Etsy shop. And another super cute Etsy shop. She embroiders things with scary twin ladies who can explode birds with their minds. See. Cute. Cute. Cute. If Doug and I ever considered Polygamy -- I think Betsy would be one of our top choices for second wife. What? So anyway, here's the crazy beaded eagle on black velvet that Betsy-face traded me for bARTer Sauce. Did I mention Betsy named him Lord Bratnose? I have no idea why. What's bARTer Sauce? It's an experiment in trading for art and odd objects. Whatever I get -- I trade for something else and everyone I trade with has to tell me a story. I document it all on my website: http://www.bartersauce.com. And now -- we have a Facebook Fan Page. "Who doesn't," you say? Well, yeah, that's a good point.

New Shower Arts...

Some new Shower Arts for your viewing pleasure. Go ahead: waste your Friday. Waste it.

bARTer Sauce: High Tech Ass

This awesome Cyber-donkey is up for trade in my bARTer Sauce project. If you've ever wanted a toy donkey that had a bunch of buzzers and lights attached to him, and then got broken -- this is for you.

Read more about the story behind Cyber-Donk.

bARTer Sauce is an experiment in trading for art and odd objects. Whatever I get, I trade for something else and everyone I trade with has to tell me a story. I document it all on my website: bARTerSauce.com

I just made...

some cards with that have "I do what I want robot" printed on them.

They crack me up.

Urban Craft Uprising ....it's air conditioned

If you're in Seattle right now, you know one thing: it's freakin' hot. It's hot. Super hot.

So cool off this weekend at Urban Craft Uprising. Over 100 indie vendors in one giant, air-conditioned place.

It's gonna rule. Plus it's free. Plus, if you get there early enough, you'll get a swag bag filled with awesome stuffs.

bARTer Sauce EXPLODED

For some reason there has been a renewed interest in bARTer Sauce, my experiment in trading for art and odd objects. The idea is that whatever I get, I trade for something else. And everyone I trade with has to tell me a story. This past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of trades and trade offers. Ba-zang!

Here's what I got from Will recently (click on the links to read the stories that came with each item): 

A Russian book (Will got Wedding of the No Face Couple in Exchange)

A French Telephone (Will got Terror for Terror in exchange)

This Weird Orange Cross with stuff smooshed into it all over (Will got the Stuffed Dooky Kiss in trade). This cross also came with a somewhat heart-wrenching story about a man named Phil who advertises his "skills" on matchbooks. 

And finally, the pride of pack 314: A trophy shaped like a totem pole commemorating the 1979 Cake Bake. Woot! (Will received a slightly broken Hugs for Jesus statue in exchange)

I'm afraid I had to make an example of Will. You see, many times people I'm trading with send along "extras" with their trades. Things that are odd, yes, but that now I have to deal with. You see, part of the idea behind bARTer Sauce is that I trade for odd things -- BUT THEN I TRADE THEM AWAY -- to other people. For them to enjoy (translation= "deal with"). 

Will was no exception. In fact, the trophy and the book were not sanctioned trade items.  So here's what happened (and what will happen in the future to all Sauce traders who send me "extras"): I "punished" Will by sending him one bARTer Sauce item (of my choice) for each "extra" he sent me. At first Will did not understand this punishment and set about trying to tell me what to send. He did not understand at all. 

You see, this was an opportunity for The Sauce. An inventory overhaul opportunity. And I took it. Will received the Hugs for Jesus statue, which, while hilariously named, is not all the wonderful to look at -- now especially since he arrived a bit worse for the travel and was in several pieces. 

Enjoy Will! Enjoy!

The Art of Comedy - Featuring Nicolas Caesar

The Art of Comedy

Thursday July 2, 2009

6-9 PM

The Comedy Underground

109 South Washington Street (in Occidental Park)

Seattle WA 98104

The Comedy Underground presents The Art of Comedy. This gallery show takes place in the lobby of the world-famous Comedy Underground and features artwork that is either humorous in nature, or made by stand up comedians.

This month we feature the artwork of Nicolas Caesar.

Nicolas Caesar: http://www.scary-art.com/

B. 1973, Santa Clara, CA

Nicolas Caesar was a shy child born in the California suburbs. Fuelled by monster comics and classic horror movies - he sought to capture them through illustration, sometimes even trying to trace the flashing images from his television.

Between a compulsion to collect and compulsion to create he started building sculptures in his High School years. His creations consisted of everything from paperclips, bones, broken toys, to anything and everything he found walking the streets of San Jose. The more he walked the more his creations grew.

In 1992 he began showing his art as backdrops for local industrial bands at the late Cactus club in San Jose. As his reputation grew he then expanded his showings to San Francisco, becoming a staple in the growing fringe culture of goth/industrial/bondage clubs. "They were the only ones who would have me, every gallery I approached thought my art was (physically) dangerous".

In 2003 Nicolas returned to painting as a friend said "It's easier for someone to hang a 16x20 painting in their one bedroom Bay Area apartment than it is to make space for a inanimate roommate". He debuted his paintings in April 2003 at The Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco and sold every one. Now you can find him painting 24/7.

Considered by most as a dark outsider folk artist; Nicolas Caesar makes it clear even though he's now accepted and embraced by cutting edge galleries, he wont turn down a show in a donut shop. Nicolas Caesar is married to photographer Sarah Karas and they live in the Bay Area's Castro Valley. They have a hermit crab named Pee Wee.

Two New bARTer Sauce Trades

Nik, a long-standing member of the bARTer Sauce family traded me this Super Stripey Pig and this Technocolor Chicken for a Box of Regrets and 2 Empire Carpet Man Bobble Head dolls. See. Then, my friends Kristen and Andy came to visit and Kristen traded me this Gumball Kitty Cat Feeder for my Vintage Farting Duck. See. All in all, a good, good, good, phase of bARTer Sauce. Are you wondering what the heck bARTer Sauce is? bARTer Sauce is an experiment in trading for art and odd objects. Whatever I get, I trade for something else. And everyone who trades with me has to tell me a story. I document it all on www.bartersauce.com. Join us. See what I currently have up for trade.

Vintage Video Game Paintings

bARTer Sauce normally trades everything that comes through the inventory for something else. I made an exception once and just gave something away. For charity. Don't judge me. I make the damn rules people. I make the rules.  My friend & ex-roomie Val is involved with SketchFest and they had a fundraiser. I had lots of drinks at said fundraiser. 

At one point in the evening the auctioneer said he wanted to try something different. He told the audience that we could offer up services or things that we own to the other people at the fundraiser. If the thing got a bid of a certain amount -- then we kept going. There were all kinds of cool things -- like for example, I got grant writing help from Brett Fetzer for $75. Worth every penny. 

I offered up the receipient's choice of any bARTer Sauce item I have in inventory. 

Yes, it's true: I'm sure no one had any idea what I was talking about. 

Yes, it's true: I bid on way too many things. 

Yes, it's true: Val liked her paintings. Can't you just tell by the look on her face?

Val came to pick up her item at the last First Thursday Art Walk. She chose two paintings by Sean Leary that both have a kind of 80's video game theme. Awesome!

What's bARTer Sauce?

It's an experiment in trading for art and odd objects. Anyone can participate as long as you tell me a story. Check out everything that's currently up for trade.

Do you love free stuff? Me too.

My pretty friend Betsy did a pay it forward-ey thing on her blog the other day. She said if you left a comment she would send you something awesome in the mail.  I LOVE getting things in the mail. So so much. So very much that I send out letter upon letter to friends who rarely write back (you know who you are you monsters) just so that I have HOPE (however slim) that someday I will get something great (or not great - I'm not picky) in the mail.

I order things online (can you say http://www.etsy.com) so I'll get neat stuffs stuffed in my mailbox. And I've devoted the last three years or so of my life to bARTer Sauce - a project that ensures I'll be getting interesting packages from all over the country. I'll do anything for mail. INCLUDING giving away neat stuff myself. That was the only requirement from Betsy - if you get something from her you have to make the same pay it forward-ey offer on your blog. So here it is. If you want a special surprise in the mail just leave a comment on this blog. Then, send me a link to your blog post offering up free surprises to others and you'll get something in the mail from me. What will you get? It's a surprise - but it might be one of my Tater Bot cards. Maybe - just maybe.

What do you get when you put Urban Craft Uprising and Comedy Underground together?

The Art of Comedy that's what. Urban Craft Uprisingand the Comedy Underground are teaming up to bring you the Art of Comedy. When the Comedy Underground decided to open it's doors to local artists who use humor and beguiling sensibilities in their work, they called on Urban Craft Uprising, organizers of the largest indie craft show in the Pacific Northwest. Twelve of the funniest indie crafters and artists in the city will be showing off their talent in the Comedy Underground lobby located at 109 S. Washington St. (at Occidental), followed by a full night of comedians bringing the funny. Please join us during the First Thursday Art Walk for our first curated event, March 5th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. At 9:00 the funny continues with headliner John Roy. John has appeared on Comedy Central's "Premium Blend" in the 2005-2006 season, and a November 2005 episode of CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson." John appeared in several episodes of NBC's "Last Comic Standing" where he advanced to the semifinals of the reality show/ competition. In January, 2008 John made his debut performance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Tickets for the comedy show can be purchased in advance at http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/VenueListings.action?venueId=underground. Come for the Crafty, stay for the Comedy. http://www.urbancraftuprising.com/ http://www.comedyunderground.com/