Sunday August 27, 2006 -- 8:15 a.m.

I've had a relaxing and peaceful month of August so far, which has been nice. The drowsy summer days have come and gone, one after the other, with little to disturb them other than the occasional thunderstorm and few decisions more pressing than what to cook that evening. After the chaos of the early months of 2006, the late summer has been a welcome change.

As of August 18th, Rudy and I have been married for 5 years. It really doesn't seem like it has been that long at all. We are just as deeply in love now as we were then and every day together only adds to our happiness. I won't go on and on because it would probably bore you all, even those of you who know both of us, but the anniversary meant a lot to us, as they all have so far.

We were actually married in Las Vegas, by an Elvis impersonator named Jesse Garon so we thought that for our anniversary we would take a trip back. It was an interesting time. I don't think Las Vegas has changed much since we were there 5 years ago, but I think perhaps Rudy and I have changed quite a bit. We had a good time, but we did less of the gambling and partying from 5 years ago and did a lot more wandering around staring at things and people and just relaxing by some pool in the hot hot desert sun. Well, except for Rudy who did bring along some money to gamble and lost it all, prompting this reaction...



We were gone a little under a week and it took us some time to get our internal clocks back in synch with this time zone and the regular old 40 hour work week which explains the lack of art, updates, emails, and phone calls. Well, now we are back.

I took lots and lots of pinhole camera photographs and Holga camera photographs while we were there. The pinhole photographs have already been developed and many of them turned out extraordinarily well. The Holga film is still being processed, but as soon as those are complete and I have title cards typed up I will be adding them all to the photos page of this site.

Summer is drawing to a close, and with the longer hours of darkness, the cooler weather, and the ebbing desire to go outside I will be spending more time at the drawing table. It's funny because for most of my life, after suffering from so many brutal west Cleveland winters in my childhood, I have wanted to move to someplace where it was summer all time. It didn't matter whether it was Arizona or Florida or Hawaii as long as it was hot and sunny all the time. Only now, after this trip to Las Vegas and the long calm of this past summer, I am realizing that my life would be so very different if I did indeed live somewhere warm. It is almost a certainty that I would draw much less than I already do, and I would probably be spending nearly all of my free time outside, either walking around or swimming or something else entirely. I might do a bit more photography, but strangely enough I would probably spend very little time developing or printing the film. I don't know now whether I would be happier, unhappier, or just different. Maybe in an alternate universe somewhere, there is a Matt that lives on some Caribbean Island and spends his days running a small jet ski rental business for tourists while living in a very small bungalow and drifting off to sleep each night to the sound of the ocean waves breaking on the sandy beach. No drawings, no sketchbooks, no comics, no cameras, no internet, just warm quiet breezes and summer stars overhead. It's an odd thought.

Before I go, here is your literature moment for the day. It is from a book I read many years ago and took with me to read again in Las Vegas. It is a novel of high fantasy, with seemingly no connection to the neon glitter of modern Las Vegas, but this sentence stood out as being both deeply hilarious and somehow very apt to the garish surroundings and the carnivalesque appearance and behavior of many of the people we saw wandering through the casinos and strolling about on the strip. Mostly, though, it is just a really truly funny passage.

"I have transcended that phase in my intellectual growth where I discover humor in simple freakishness."

from Lyonesse II: The Green Pearl by Jack Vance

Matt K.

Tuesday August 8, 2006 -- 8:54 p.m.

In honor of today, the eighth day of the eighth month, here is a special literature moment. It's a long one, but well worth it...

Conversation was never one of Mr. Flay's accomplishments and for some time he gazed mirthlessly ahead of him, and then, after what seemed an eternity to Rottcodd he raised a bony hand and scratched himself behind the ear. Then he made his second remark, "Still here, eh?" he said, his voice forcing its way out of his face.

Rottcodd, feeling presumably that there was little need to answer such a question, shrugged his shoulders and gave his eyes the run of the ceiling.

Mr. Flay pulled himself together and continued: "I said still here, eh, Rottcodd?" He stared bitterly at the carving of the Emerald Horse. "You're still here, eh?"

"I'm invariably here," said Rottcodd, lowering his gleaming glasses and running his eyes all over Mr. Flay's visage. "Day in, day out, invariably. Very hot weather. Extremely stifling. Did you want anything?"

"Nothing," said Flay, and he turned towards Rottcodd with something menacing in his attitude, "I want nothing." He wiped the palms of his hands on his hips where the dark cloth shone like silk.

Rottcodd flicked ash from his shoes with the feather duster and tilted his bullet head. "Ah," he said, in a noncommittal way.

"You say 'ah'," said Flay, turning his back on Rottcodd and beginning to walk down the coloured avenue, "but I tell you it is much more than 'ah'."

"Of course," said Rottcodd. "Much more, I dare say. But I fail to understand. I am a Curator." At this he drew his body up to full height and stood on the tips of his toes in the dust.

"A what?" said Flay, straggling above him for he had returned, "A curator?"

"That is so" said Rottcodd, shaking his head.

Flay made a hard noise in his throat. To Rottcodd it signified a complete lack of understanding and it annoyed him that the man should invade his province.

"Curator," said Flay, after a ghastly silence. "I will tell you something. I know something. Eh?"

"Well?" said Rottcodd.

"I'll tell you," said Flay, "But first, what day is it? What month, and what year is it? Answer me."

Rottcodd was puzzled at this question, but he was becoming a little intrigued. It was so obvious that the bony man had something on his mind, and he replied "It is the eighth day of the eighth month, I am uncertain about the year. But why?"

In a voice almost inaudible Flay repeated "The eighth day of the eighth month." His eyes were almost transparent as though in a country of ugly hills one were to find among the harsh rocks two sky-reflecting lakes. "Come here," he said, "Come closer, Rottcodd, I will tell you. You don't understand Gormenghast, what happens in Gormenghast - the things that happen - no, no. Below you, that's where it all us, under this north wing. What are these things up here. These wooden things? No use now. Keep them, but no use now. Everything is moving. The castle is moving. Today, first time for years he's alone, his Lordship. Not in my sight." Flay bit at his knuckle. "Bedchamber of Ladyship, that's where he is. Lordship is beside himself: won't have me, won't let me in to see the New One. The New One. He's come. He's downstairs. I haven't seen him." Flay bit at the corresponding knuckle on the other hand as though to balance the sensation. "No one's been in. Of course not. I'll be next. The birds are lined along the bedrail. Ravens, starlings, all the perishers, and the white rook. There's a kestrel; claws through the pillow. My lady feeds them with crusts. Grain and crusts. Hardly seen her new-born. Heir to Gormenghast. doesn't look at him. But my lord keeps staring. seen him through the grating. Needs me. Won't let me in. Are you listening?"

from Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake

Happy birthday, Titus.

Matt K.

Sunday August 6, 2006 -- 3:23 p.m.

It's been an interesting few days. Rudy and I went back to Columbus last Thursday night to see Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band with Black OX Orkestar at the Wexner Center for the Arts. Both bands are projects associated with the Godspeed You Black Emperor collective, although each is quite unique in its own right. Black OX Orkestar opened the show, playing a singularly unique set of what I could only describe as Yiddish post-rock with folk instruments. Two instrumentals, three pieces with haunting vocals, all lasting a little over 45 minutes. I wasn't certain at all what to expect from them, but they had an amazing, mournful and labyrinthine sound. I thought Silver Mt. Zion would have a difficult time following such an intense performance but they were equally amazing although quite different. Two guitarists, a drummer, a cellist, an upright bass player, and two violists with vocals from nearly everyone...it was nothing like any show I'd ever seen before. Even better, we ran into several friends at the show. Tom Williams was there solo, and we also saw Fred D., Caroline, Fred's sister Christy and the legendary Troy who I had never met but heard a great deal about. One long drive, two amazing performances, and time spent with 3 good old friends and 2 new ones. It was a good night.

Oh, and before the show, Rudy and I spent some time looking around the Wexner Center bookstore which always has incredible books and magazines that you generally can't find anywhere else in Ohio. We found this fascinating full color monograph of the paintings of Inka Essenhigh which we fell in love with immediately. Here are a few of her images...





There are many many more on her site so you should take a look if you are intrigued. Rudy also found some very cool stationery, and I made an astounding find. There, in front of me, sitting all by itself on a low shelf, was a copy of Brian Chippendale's "Battlestack Galacti-crap Foods!" Here is the cover...



It has a silkscreened cover and is filled with cheaply xeroxed pages of comics and drawings, apparently from a gallery show he did in the United Kingdom. I have heard about this zine many times but never dreamed I would be able to find a copy of it, especially here in Ohio. Sweet.

Friday was a long-ass day since we were both exhausted from the show the day before. On Saturday we fed some ducks and geese down at this pond in a nearby park, and today we went to the nearby Cox Arboretum and went on a long hike through one of the prairie trails. They have a butterfly house where all sorts of monarchs, swallowtails, and even some moths flutter all day around the most amazing flowers. We also spent some time in the bird blind which overlooks a small stretch of marshland. Although we did not see any herons or kingfishers, we did see a trio of non-mallard ducks, two absolutely enormous bullfrogs, and more turtles then you could possibly imagine. All of it under a mercilessly hot August sun with the deafening sound of cicadas ringing through the trees. A wonderful summer afternoon.

The only other announcement of not is that there are now covers for some of the PictureBox Inc. books I mentioned in my previous update. Here is the cover for Julie Doucet's Elle Humour...



Here is the cover for Brian Chippendale's Ninja...



And finally, the cover for the upcoming issue of The Ganzfeld which is also edited, printed, and distributed by Dan Nadel and PictureBox Inc. This issue features Japanese and Canadian artists and is titled, appropriately enough, "Japanada!" Check it out...



That's all for now. I feel like I've been spending a lot of time talking about other people's art and books on this site, so it is time I get back to my own work. I've got some things that have been marinating for a while, and I would really like to get started. See ya for now.

Matt K.

Tuesday August 1, 2006 -- 9:33 p.m.

There is just too much awesomeness awaiting you. I wanted to wait and post this in the first update in August so it would be up ALL MONTH and you would never forget the goodness I share with you. In no particular order feast your eyeballs on all this wonder...

AWESOME THING #1: Shawn Cheng (who is also one of the guilty parties behind one of my favorite group of artists in the world Partyka) and Zak Smith, an incredible artist as well, who lurks around with the Partyka crew from time to time, are working on this absolutely so damnably excellent project that I can barely contain my effusive enthusiasm even as I type this. It is called On the Road of Knives... and, as the two artists state on the site, "Zak draws something. Shawn draws something that will fight it. Zak draws his thing fighting back and maybe tripping over a statue. Then maybe Zak's thing kills Shawn's with the statue's head. Then Shawn draws a new thing. Zak's surviving thing attacks it. And so on. Though not exactly an exquisite corpse, it will be exquisite, and there will be many corpses." And Jesus H. Christ this is some right-on art! Drawing after drawing of cool-ass monsters fighting each other. You will all love it, I guaran-damn-tee it. I don't think I've been this thrilled about art I saw online in a long long loooong time. You must check it out. I would love to post some of the art here, but I want you to just go to the site and have it blast your eyes right into the back wall of your bony skull with the sickening splat of a stillborn calf hitting the barn floor. Here's the link again - On the Road of Knives...

AWESOME THING #2: And speaking of monsters, mine are on the way. Chloe and Yannick of Seripop, twisty freakish artists from Canada, our graceful northern sister, have put out yet another amazing series of prints entitled "Maximum Warriorz." They are a HUGE 36 inches by 24 inches! Big-ass riotously colored screenprints of monsters fighting. There are 4 in all, but this one might be my favorite...



They are only $40 each, but I also think they are selling the whole set for $125. I actually earned some mileage money from my job so I was able to snag the whole set without even dipping into a paycheck. So awesome. They are on their way to my door right now. Yes!

AWESOME THING #3: Continuing the monster trend, Aeron Alfrey, who maintains the best-named blog I have ever read The Mutated Skeleton Cave, is actually cranking out close to a thousand small 4 1/2 inch by 5 1/2 inch ink drawings of hideous little beasts and selling them for the ridiculously low price of $5 each, or $3 each if you buy more than 5. You can bet your sweet ass I bought some, and all 12 should be on their way to me soon. Here is one of those that I purchased...



You should buy a drawing for yourself because they are gruesome and wonderful and you will be helping an artist pay the bills, and you should also poke around The Mutated Skeleton Cave because there are hidden treasures around every click of the mouse.

AWESOME THING #4:Dan Nadel is the genius behind what I think might be the best publisher in the history of the known universe, PictureBox Inc. My top 5 favorite books last year were actually all published by Dan and PictureBox Inc., Art Out of Time: Unknown Comics Visionaries 1900 - 1969, Trenton Doyle Hancock: Me a Mound, Gore: Black Dice and Jason Rothenberg, PaperRad, B.J. and da Dogs and Free Radicals. You can see a little about each on the site. But the hits just keep on coming! First, Dan has announced the publication of Elle Humour by Julie Doucet (144 pages 7 inches by 8 inches, hardcover art book, November 2006), Wunderground: Providence 1995 - 2005 which I think is about the whole Fort Thunder scene, and (this one's for you Aaron!) Ninja by Brian Chippendale (144 pages, 11 inches by 17 inches, comics and drawings, November 2006). Also, I believe Dan will be working with Gingko Press to publish Nog a Dod: Prehistoric Canadian Psychedoolia which will collect art and drawings from Marc Bell (Shrimpy and Paul and Friends, Worn Tuff Elbow, The Stacks), Peter Thompson (The Chronicles of Lucky 'Ello), Owen Plummer and more. It's tentatively slated for November as well. Dan'll be pourin' gravy all on your brain. Damn this is a good year for books! I am soooooo grateful I have a decent job!

AWESOME THING #5: My good friend Kyle Wallace has launched an uber-sweet mp3 blog called bunnynoise which you should really check out. If I didn't actually know Kyle I would actually be angry at him for writing so well, having such excellent taste in art and music, and achieving this all at such a ridiculously young age. He's the real deal. I'm glad I met this kid. My world is better with him in it.

AWESOME THING #6: Anna and Meeloo, who are BonGout, have released the second issue of "Mollusk," their "encyclopedie de BonGout." Not really an encyclopedia, not really a periodical, just 96 pages of mindblowing art in full color. I was able to get the first one at the best gallery I've ever visited, Cinders Gallery in Brooklyn, but I had to buy this one directly from Anna and Meeloo. You should too. Sure, you'll have to pay extra shipping (they're based in Berlin) but their stuff is definitely worth every penny and they are cool as hell too.

AWESOME THING #7: My boy Johnny Ampersand got accepted into the graduate program at Xavier University. Congratulations Johnny!

August should be a busy busy busy month. Titus Groan's birthday is August 8th ("The eighth day of the eighth month...a heavy day") and Rudy's birthday is September 1st (she will be a gorgeous 31!), I want to do about a million drawings, I am taking an odd and exciting vacation to Las Vegas in mid-month (Las Vegas, the terminus of western civilization, the brightest star in the neon firmament of post-modernism) and lots of other stuff. Oh, and I need your help. All of you. I am going to frame a piece of art and put it in a very prominent place in our home. I think I have my mind made up, but I would love to hear what you think. All of you. Send me an email and tell me if you think I should frame the Seripop "Maximum Warriorz" print...



...or this print called "SuperNova" by Jeff Soto...




Last, people I owe emails to (and you'll hear from me really soon, I promise): Kyle, Stephanie, Charley, Brett, Mike, Steve B. and Sean. Sorry I've been gone most of July.

Matt K.