Hungry Forest

Albatross : Number One Zine Review

2010-03-12T22:44:00.001-06:00

Albatross Number One is SO AWESOME. I repeat, 'SO AWESOME.' It is compiled by David Boone and it is a full sized collection of wisdom, meaningful articles, diy tips and techniques, and just alternative information you can't find in your normal every day zine/magazine. I'll list a couple of articles for preview:
- The Wisdom of Hunter-Gatherers by Peter Gray
- Anti-Civilization, and what that means... by Idzie
- Home Canning 101 By David Boone (I am making a copy of this article for my mom!)
- Beyond Capitalist Food Production: How and why I made a solar fruit dryer
- + more, more, more!

This is a really great zine for occasional reading. I read a couple articles every few days or so. I just kept it in my backpack and took it out from time to time. It is really interesting and you can read it just about anywhere. There are also very motivational quotes and poems.

Also, get this! Albatross is free for reprint and it is available online here.
Here's a link to their blog.
You can also reach David Boone at albatrosszine@gmail.com

Disconcerting 6 & 7

2010-03-12T22:23:00.004-06:00

Disconcerting #6 is a loose collection of prose and diaries of Janell Hoong's daily life from August to September 2009. Quiet and momentous, I enjoyed the pace of the zine. She talks about school, finding an internship, her beloved typewriter, and brush painting class! I love how she includes photos and random little drawings. 'The King of Fruits,' made me chuckle. I looooove durians even if they stink up the entire room. After reading this zine, it made me more reflective about daily life and I don't know, it made the whole day shuffling event more exciting.

Disconcerting #7 is text heavy and fantastic! The cardstock cover with the paper airplane outline was a treat to look at. This writing spans from October 2009 to February 2010. The first chapter, 'If at first it doesn't work, reboot,' was my favorite chapter! I received this little pocket sized zine at the beginning of the year and it made me think about how each individual has their own process of living. We are reminded so many times of our own extents and we have to deal with it, you know? I love the whole concept of life 'rebooting.' In fact, it fills me with a lot of hope. Another highlight moment in the zine was Janell's cute crush on the T-Shirt Supplier guy. It gave me that pit tingling sensation that little crushes plant into us. I really recommend this zine! It is not too heavy, not too light, just enough humor and altogether a worthy read.

If you'd like to get in touch with Janell:
me@janell.tk / janell.hoong@gmail.com

lochnell.tk (descriptions of all the things she has made)
janell.tk / janelloshea.etsy.com
janell.tumblr.com

Happy Birthday Hungry Forest Art Collective!

2010-03-12T22:10:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

Isn't it crazy, its been one year since we started this little shin dig! Sorry we haven't posted in such a long time... the crazies kept bothering us. Some annoucements... we're thinking about starting a distro within the collective more information to come if you want to cosign with us.

Odosketch

2010-01-06T23:00:00.003-06:00

Bored? Check out this fun sketch site. I really like the watercolor look. Sometimes photoshop is too much of a hassle. Odosketch simplifies it and you can start making really quite beautiful drawings, like this one!

To view drawing in motion, click below!

Activist's Arsenal

2010-01-06T22:39:00.005-06:00

Benjamin Weir and Kathy Tran just started a new project called The Activist's Arsenal. It's basically an informative flier archive for activists. All fliers are creative commons use and anyone is free to make copies and distribute them. The purpose of this project is to of course, be a resource to activists, but it is also meant to help activists get a better sense of design. Advertisers are soooo good at making 'informative' fliers. We feel that activists forget that at one point they too are selling a 'product.' Enough with the black and red text! Enough with the overabundant text and exclamation marks.

Physical binders with 'featured fliers' is hosted at Brave New Books and will be at Monkey Wrench Books.

Please check out our social networking site. Here you can upload photos and discuss with other members!

SUNDAY SOUNDS - Chiang's Sound Mix

2009-12-20T18:32:00.003-06:00

I sort of demanded this of Chiang! It's a fun, upbeat mix and perfect for working on my etsy shop.

Check out Chiang's work.

Mail Day from Shae!

2009-12-19T23:51:00.005-06:00

Oh my, I do love getting mail so much! It's so awesome getting to the mailbox and finding something that isn't an advertisement, a bill, or gunk. Shae sent me some interesting reads and sounds!

Tragikotatos is a collection of prose, dreams, and more. It is compiled from 8 years of writing, 30 journals!

She has taken one page from each journal and man, it is good. It can be inspiring, romantic, somber, depressing and quite quiet. I very do much enjoy it especially the way it starts:

"Note to Self at Seventeent:
Not every word can be brilliant; not every line a revelation. Sometimes roses must be red and violets must be blue. Don't think any less of yourself. Everything you write is real and good and justifiable. Don't let your lack of self-confidence, talent, genius, creativity, love get you down. You're all you've got. Peace be with you."

If anyone knows me, I reflect about the age of 17 an awful lot. Shae, you don't know how much I needed to read this first page. If you're an aspiring illustrator living in this century with internet access, it can be defeating and maddening. I was having one of those oogly, drooling, obsessive blog reading day about the world wide web's incredible talent and all of its artists' that is not mine. (That was a really confusing sentence to write and probably, read.)

I love the vagueness of this zine. The dreams are amazing. They read as how I feel as though I would dream of them. Does that make sense? I'm not even sure if they are dreams, but I'm going to keep believing they are:

"Mother calls you out arboreal with an empty package, hand past knee. call it all call it red and red and breathe it rough. North Carolina on the phone again."

Shae, I salute your documentation. It must have been so incredible to pull out all your journals and snap that picture of all of them.

Letters to Wassily:
I'm going to steal her description of this zine, because it is perfect and naturally to the dot.

The interviews are SO fun. I'm not really into poetry and occasionally read poems that people suggest, so don't get turned off if you aren't into poetry either. This goes for her other zine 'Pain Giver." It's almost an introduction to poetry. You'll find great quotes and chuckle once or twice about the niceties of an imaginary interview. I also enjoyed the dream treatments she has. I might even try it. She has a couple pages where she writes down keywords and what they symbolize.

If you're interested in reading her zines please give her an email at
peel_the_moon at hotmail dot com. You can also check out her livejournal.
"paingiver" and "tragikotatos" are available at black light diner distro

Shae is also a sensational singer and is in a band called '...y los dos pistoles." Shae, being the writer she is, wrote the lyrics to all their songs. They are from Florida and appears to have played a couple shows.
Check out their myspace here!

More exstensive review to come...

Ryan McGinely

2009-12-19T20:14:00.001-06:00

After looking through Ryan McGinely's portfolio I feel like I just went on a summer vacation of a lifetime. One word: incredible.

Outside of the Box! Lasers!

2009-12-19T20:02:00.000-06:00

I'm really enjoying this video. It was made by Joseph Pelling, a freelance animator and illustrator. It was the winner of the Digital Artist Awards 2009 animation category.

outside the box from joseph Pelling on Vimeo.

See more of his work on his:
vimeo
blog
website

Volthair One&Two Holiday Package - 1 Free Print!

2009-12-18T14:47:00.000-06:00

Woah, I'm so excited. I finally got around to doing this. Making copies and getting the packaging together. Also, I wanted to make some nice prints as a holiday gift. Whew.. and here it is, ta da!

This Includes:
Volthair #1: My intentions are Good
Volthair #2: The Crane Zine
One free print!
6 USD

Descriptions:

Volthair #1: My Intentions are Good: This first zine is about my first year of college, some of my tangent past, getting over my first boy attachment, meeting new and old souls, and searching for the sake of searching. Most of it's about trying. A dirty bathroom wall once said "my intentions are good." These seamless intentions within us are just life's tumbling events, that's all. 1/4 size, 50 Pages

Volthair #2:The Zine Crane is about the hot Austin summer of 2008 to the 2009 cold spring. It is about the young throws of unlikely love, the life of a pbs intern, a long road trip away from Austin, happenings, more happenings, feelings of death, the age of seventeen and the search for quality. It is furthermore, what are attempts to remember details and stories. Whenever anything seems disorienting, please know these are my hands folding and unfolding a crane. I am trying to remember my history and my experiences, fold by fold. 1/4 size, 48 pages

Email me if you're interested at volthair at gmail dot com!
You can also order them on my website!

I'm the Fox

2009-12-16T12:53:00.006-06:00

"I'm the Fox" is a zine celebrating woman and all that women can create.

It's based in our very own Austin, TX.

I'm pretty sure it's on hiatus now, but I plan on helping them get it back a'rollin.

Check it out at www.imthefox.com.

One of these pages is mine, guess which one (it's not hard)!

VFS: Box Animation

2009-12-15T15:03:00.004-06:00

I am so digging this. It's like a Take Away Show out of this world!!! I am so into boxes right now, it's not even funny.

Kudos to VANCOUVER FILM SCHOOL!

Box Animation from Jordan Clarke on Vimeo.

This blew my mind.

2009-12-12T10:45:00.004-06:00

Below is "Like This" by rumi , From ‘The Essential Rumi’, translated by Coleman Barks with John Moyne. It's amazing how someone so dead can speak so true to timeless ideas. This is beautiful, enjoy, and you can read more Rumi online here.

"Like This"

If anyone asks you
how the perfect satisfaction
of all our sexual wanting
will look, lift your face
and say,

Like this.

When someone mentions the gracefulness
of the nightsky, climb up on the roof
and dance and say,

Like this.

If anyone wants to know what "spirit" is,
or what "God’s fragrance" means,
lean your head toward him or her.
Keep your face there close.

Like this.

When someone quotes the old poetic image
about clouds gradually uncovering the moon,
slowly loosen knot by knot the strings
of your robe.

Like this.

If anyone wonders how Jesus raised the dead,
don’t try to explain the miracle.
Kiss me on the lips.

Like this. Like this.

When someone asks what it means
to "die for love," point
here.

If someone asks how tall I am, frown
and measure with your fingers the space
between the creases on your forehead.

This tall.

The soul sometimes leaves the body, the returns.
When someone doesn’t believe that,
walk back into my house.

Like this.

When lovers moan,
they’re telling our story.

Like this.

I am a sky where spirits live.
Stare into this deepening blue,
while the breeze says a secret.

Like this.

When someone asks what there is to do,
light the candle in his hand.

Like this.

How did Joseph’s scent come to Jacob?

Huuuuu.

How did Jacob’s sight return?

Huuuu.

A little wind cleans the eyes.

Like this.

When Shams comes back from Tabriz,
he’ll put just his head around the edge
of the door to surprise us

Like this.

Ruben Brulat - Photographer

2009-12-10T12:14:00.002-06:00

I can't tell you the feeling I felt when I viewed his photographs, but I guess I will try. What's the point of this blog if I don't, isn't that right? His photos have such a deep sense of loneliness that I or you can not even understand in ourselves! I almost felt like crying (what a way to start the day..). Many of his photos are self portraits. The one below is especially moving. Imagine the silence of the glaciers. He is completely naked and solid and slow, putting film into his camera, setting up the tripod, and it is incredibly cold. Beautiful manipulation of space. Excellent, excellent work, he makes me want to take some god damn pictures.
His website here.

Food For Thought

2009-12-09T01:25:00.002-06:00

It's tomorrow in Austin.

Ric Stultz

2009-12-09T01:18:00.008-06:00

Meet Ric Stultz. He makes sweet art. I like that he uses squid octopi things and deals with themes of new -vs- old, concrete -vs- organic, and also makes his work very aesthetically pleasing. It makes the viewer think, but it is also very nice to look at. Below are a few of my favorite pieces. You can see more at www.ricstultz.com.

An Unedited Mind by The Force of Nature

2009-12-06T11:11:00.008-06:00

An Unedited Mind is John Bobst's first perzine. 75 pages of unedited dreams, thoughts, feelings, insecurities, victories and more. It is a loud, bold, and interesting zine about being bi-polar, missing and not missing an ex-lover, the world, and alike. Part closure, part initiated self discovery, part healing, and part .. whatever enters his mind!

"I'm afraid my first zine is terrible. No one will like my funny stories. But I did them at this typewriter the only thing worth loving. because i spread my pretty wings with it...Then you can look at it and you will be reading a human being. Not just a piece of writing, you will be reading me."

My favorite parts are when he tells stories. The things he remembers while telling the stories are really funny. You know what I mean? The strangest details seem to crawl in when you are recalling a story and typing quickly to remember the story. They are so random and hilarious.

"I need to shower my armpits stink and I have to get dressed up in a suit and go to my cousins graduation today. she's not really my cousin. it's not really a graduation. it's a graduation party."

Then there are moments that really get to you. A confused individual asks so many questions. I think this is something many people can identify with. John has such tender statements that stand alone. I have highlighted them with a blue highlighter.

"I am a lonely person because most of my thoughts come back to the theme of love."

I would recommend this zine if you want to escape your brain and climb into someone else's. Take a dip into someone else's madness and thoughts.

If you want a copy of An Edited Mind, visit his blog!

The Waif of Persephone

2009-12-05T13:17:00.000-06:00

The Waif of Persephone from Nick Cross on Vimeo.

What can I say? Out of the kindness of humanity, Nick Cross shared his latest short film to the world wide web and I thank him. This is such a interesting and modern spin to a mythology tale. I remember reading about Persephone and thinking.. "so that's why we have different seasons.' After watching Nick Cross' short film on Persephone, the response is 'oh that's why we're oppressed.' It took him 8 years to make! I highly recommend this.

NZ Book Council - Going West

2009-12-01T11:47:00.003-06:00

My head is seriously splitting open as I type here. Why are people sooo cool? Why? I pledge to make something as cool and tedious as this, because it is killing me not to. Oh my god, the internet is a friend and a foe.

Put together by studio Anderson M

Craft Riot in Austin - December 5th and December 6th

2009-11-30T17:01:00.004-06:00

MORE INFO HERE

I want your lungs to stop working without me

2009-11-28T23:06:00.004-06:00

I think that I'm completely in like, just saying. My skin hates me right now, also, just saying. In any case, this is one of my favorite projects ever. It's called 300 love letters. I don't feel like explaining it, but it's super dope. I promise.

See it here: http://www.sleeptrip.com/300loveletters/2.html

Where is Liu Bolin?

2009-11-28T20:58:00.002-06:00

Can you believe it's just paint????

Humble Stumble Mumble

2009-11-27T22:10:00.002-06:00

I spent today stumbling upon. Stumble mumble jumble. That was a lie, today was playing guitar, going on adventures in the canyon on campus, lolly gagging, thinking about my typewriter, dancing, and cleaning my room for my upcoming couchsturfer. Anyway I found this really super duper cool project called “Album in a Day” which I want to start soon. You record an album in a day, no outtakes. I think it’ll do my perfectionist OCD ways some good.

Anyway check it out here: http://crapart.spacebar.org/

Kristen Lepore

2009-11-27T15:03:00.004-06:00

Just came back from watching Fantastic Mr. Fox... I know that stop motion is supposed to bring inanimate objects to life, but Wes Anderson has great, great characters with wonderful personalities. Stop Motion sort of hinders them from shining. Altogether, his humour is still intact, and it's a fine holiday film.

Anyways! Kristen Lepore does wonderful stop motion work. She is a freelance animator and she has a quirky style that I do so enjoy. Colorful, fun, and .. well, quirky!

Artsy Fartsy from Kirsten Lepore on Vimeo.

Sweet Dreams from Kirsten Lepore on Vimeo.

Black Heart Magazine

2009-11-25T10:02:00.008-06:00

At office and have nothing to do? Need the cutting news on porn and sexual desires? Black Heart Magazine is an online zine that has multitudes of sexy content. There are pretty hilarious stories on here.

"After the third round of sex, he ran his hands through my sweat-drenched hair, looked me dead in the eye and said, “I’ve dated a lot of hot chicks. You’re okay, though."

(FIVE DUMB THINGS SAID AFTER SEX: PART 2 OF 5, Emilia V. Edmonds)

This site is also pretty empowering for ladies. After reading an article telling Roman Polanski a thing or two about rape, I am thoroughly impressed. The site keeps up with the latest news as it promises. There's something for everyone: news to reviews, fiction, and more. Please check it out! I mean, come on, Parah Salin is a prolific writer here.

Manetas Websites

2009-11-23T23:25:00.002-06:00

Procrastination got you by the neck? Check out these artsy websites. Very interesting!

Website Here

December 10th: Red Bull Locally Thrown

2009-11-23T18:30:00.003-06:00

SIX LOCAL DJS:
DJ Manny
DJ Orion
PREPMODE
DJ BigFace
Richard Gear
DJ JE

TEN BANDS:
The Octopus Project
Riverboat Gamblers
LIONS
The Black & White Years
White Ghost Shivers
Nelo
The Lemurs
Brothers & Sisters
Black Joe Lewis
The Honeybears
The Story Of

$5 Suggested Donation

Surviving Sewanee Screening!

2009-11-21T18:52:00.004-06:00

Randal Riley (Director), Benjamin Weir (Original music, guitar)

Randal Riley (Director), Benjamin Weir (Original Music, Guitar) and Cindy Rho (violin)

The screening was fantastic. Not to mention, the wonderful cookies and beverages provided. Surviving Sewanee was a sentimental and gentle historical quest by Randall Riley. Obsessed with his great, great, great, I don't know how many more greats, grandfather's past, he brought his research and crafted a well told story.

Although this documentary showed me a glimpse of an individual's life during the civil war and beyond, the most fantastic scenes were of Riley eagerly sharing his knowledge about his ancestor. It made me think of my family and potential stories there are to be told. It was inspiring in that way. What sort of film do you imagine when you think of your ancestors?

Stop Motion by Kathy Tran

2009-11-17T21:53:00.004-06:00

Strange School Days from Volthair on Vimeo.

The Cat Piano by The People's Republic of Animation

2009-11-16T20:16:00.002-06:00

The Cat Piano from PRA on Vimeo.

The colors are simple and nicely done. The movement, lighting, all beautiful. But the most prized part of this animation is the dialog. Absolutely jiving.

Terri Timely

2009-11-14T22:15:00.006-06:00

Terri Timely is a directing team made up of Ian Kibbey and Corey Creasey. The have made many music videos for musicians such as Joanna Newsom and Laura Veirs. They have really, really impressive work and it reminds me so much of Michel Gondry. Saturated, tender, endearing, and warm. They also have a couple short films with stop motion incorportaed.

Here, have some film stills:

Please, please check out their website and watch, watch, watch

Synesthesia directed by Terri Timely from Mark Kirby on Vimeo.

ATX Converge Tonight at Mohawk's 11/14/09

2009-11-14T11:22:00.005-06:00

OUTSIDE STAGE:
11:00 - Moth!Fight!
10:00 - Black Cock
9:00 - Cowabunga Babez

INSIDE STAGE:
1:00 - La Guerrilla
12:00 - The White White Lights
10:30 - MISSIONS
9:30 - Butcher Bear and Charlie
8:30 - Capybara

UPSTAIRS:
DJs Hobo D + Orion

Cover is $7 at the door or $5 if you RSVP at atxconverge.com/rsvp
Website

Range Life Film Tour: Indie Comedies at the Alamo/ Dobie!

2009-11-11T22:56:00.002-06:00

11/14 2:00pm White On Rice (Screens at Alamo Lamar as part of AAAFF)
11/16 9:30pm Visioneers
11/17 9:30pm On The Road With Judas (Director Q&A included)
11/18 9:30pm Box Elder (Director and Cast Q&A included)
11/19 9:30pm Last Cup: Road to the World Series of Beer Pong
11/20 9:30pm Assassination of a High School President (followed by a performance by Capybara)
11/21 9:30pm Harmony & Me (Sneak Preview)
11/21 Impolex (Director Q&A included)

MORE INFO HERE

Loafers: Wear or Eat em'?

2009-11-08T22:51:00.003-06:00

This is a great design! I kind of want to do this to every thing I make.. somehow.

Original Post

The Father

2009-11-08T22:47:00.005-06:00

The Father from fla on Vimeo.

The Father
Short film

Director FLA
Line Producer NANA
Scenario, Editor, 3d artist FLA
2d artists FLA, Joe
Designers FLA, BOO
Music The Black Skirts (Dientes)

Uhh.. really sad, but really well done

.marmushka. / Marie Walgraeve

2009-11-07T11:22:00.002-06:00

She has the cutest drawings of my life. I want squeeze and hug all her characters. Simple and elegant, thin graceful lines, my pen is envious.

flickr
website

PREMIERE: Surviving Sewanee: The Samuel Mitchell Story

2009-11-04T00:57:00.002-06:00

In July I finished the soundtrack for the documentary Surviving Sewanee: The Samuel Mitchell Story. The premiere is going to be 8 PM Thursday, November 19 at Studio 501 in Downtown Austin. The address is 501 IH 35 Austin, TX 78702. The screening is free and open to the public, and there will be a full bar for whatever you want to drink!

You can download the full soundtrack here:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?eoljnmtt0mw

Skhizein (Jérémy Clapin,2008)

2009-11-03T22:19:00.001-06:00

This film is so awesome. It's stuck under my skin. I love the ending so much. Watch, watch, watch!

Skhizein (Jérémy Clapin,2008) from Stephen Dedalus on Vimeo.

Holiday Spirit

2009-10-30T20:56:00.010-05:00

So it’s the night before Halloween, don’t worry, I don’t have my costume yet either. I’m thinking Black Athena. This will involve a black top sheet as a toga and copious amounts of gold paint on card board, this will all happen tomorrow, maybe. Yes, a Halloween costume referencing a political and artistic movement seems slightly if not extremely pretentious, and, well, it is. But we must challenge the stereotype of Halloween as sexy or scary and transform it into clever, ironic and intellectual. Why? Because that’s how we do. Here are a few ideas for costumes that fit the aforementioned description, mostly, I didn’t come up with them.

Be an element or something else scientific. This costume would vary slightly depending on the element you choose. There are the basic elements that correspond with colors: Silver, Gold, Copper, ect. for those you could wear all of that specific color. And you could be Neon and wear all neon (although you could just end up looking like a hipster/80’s disaster). Maybe try puns like “Iron man” and “white like Chlorine”. Beyond that you’d have to muster up your own creativity. Step two, add some “nerdiness” to it, maybe some lensless thick rimmed glasses and a pocket protector (once again, watch out for looking like a fucking hipster). Finally, make a white square and write all of the stuff that are on the little element squares on it. Attach it to your front or back and there you go, pretentious. You can also label yourself in other ways to be something else scientific or mathematic. You can be Archimedes by being the literal “father of geometry”, you know, dad clothes, and a baby that looks a helluvalot like geometry.

Be a play on words/clothes. Be the Dewey Decimal System by wearing all white, printing out a gazillion little slips of paper bearing obscure Dewey Decimal classifications, and taping them to suitable objects and people. Be a Facebook/Myspace page: get a big piece of cardboard, cut out a space for your face. Decorate with typical Myspace/Facebook home page stuff. But, bring a Polaroid camera and ask people if they want to be your friend. Take a picture of them, and tape to your wall, and have them write their name on it. Be a trophy wife: paint yourself with gold body paint, wear a big "Stepford" wives blonde wig, dress and 1950's style apron, accompanied by the biggest diamond ring you can find.

Be something political. The death panel: get a few friends and dress up in business suits and scary mask, one friend should be a Grandma you can all chase after. Be swine flu: pig mask and medical facemask. Maybe black pants and a black hoodie too, to look sketchier.

Be something artsy fartsy. Put on a nice suit and a bowler hat. Make a cardboard cutout of an apple for a mask. You're a Magritte painting. Cover a bunch of white clothes in splatters paint— you’re a Pollock. Yeah, and a douche. Which is the goal, so you’re solid.

Bottom line, you can’t actually be anything literal. If someone can tell what you are without receiving a long and obnoxious opinion/explanation, you're not trying hard enough. Dressing up as a Warhol piece (especially a little known one) is much more pretentious than dressing up simply as Warhol. So that’s the way to go. Don’t get too drunk, and let’s not forget what Halloween is really all about.

Megan Whitmarsh

2009-10-29T21:53:00.006-05:00

Come on, who can't love Star Wars embroidery art? I'm a sucker for it all. However, I will admit, I am more of a Star Trek fan. Check out all her other cool art adventures dating from the 90s all the way to 2009! Extensive, I respect that.

Megan's website

New Collective Member-CJ Boyd!

2009-10-28T14:22:00.004-05:00

I am happy to introduce our newest member in the art collective, CJ Boyd.
He hails from Chicago, but is now nomadic, constantly playing shows all around the world.

myspace

website

H1N1 vaccine deceptions

2009-10-28T00:24:00.007-05:00

Today I went to Benchmark Research here in Austin and picked up a volunteer consent packet to register for their study for the H1N1 vaccine. I have done medical research as a test subject for 3 years before stopping this spring, but I am still on their mailing list and they are having trouble getting people to register for H1N1 studies. I wasn't supposed to leave with the packet, but since they didn't make me sign it right away, making me liable in court if the information gets out, I just left when the receptionist was getting a doctor and never looked back.

On to the important information. The study sponsor company is GlaxoSmithKline, which just got their vaccines approved by Canada for their national vaccination campaign.
The most notable things in this consent are right in the middle.

Page 7 states under it's list of side-effects, that Gillian Barre Syndrome is linked to the 1976 swine flu vaccine. It also states that people who get vaccines containing AS03 (Adjuvant System 03) also known as "squalene" report auto-immune diseases as side-effects!

On page 8 under the benefits of participating in the study section it states, "It is not known if the H1N1 flu vaccines you receive will protect you against the H1N1 flu, and the FluLaval (name brand for the seasonal flu) vaccine cannot be guaranteed to protect you against seasonal flu."

This is information that the media has been denying for a while now. Anyone who wants the PDF version of this consent form, email me at BenjaminPWeir@gmail.com

I have been working with iPIG (injection protection information group) for about 2 months now trying to get the word out about serious safety issues with this vaccine. This is a huge step.

erough said

2009-10-26T23:34:00.004-05:00

Missed the dog show this weekend :(

Ray Fenwick Voice Acting & Character Demo Reel 2009

2009-10-26T16:14:00.001-05:00

Ray Fenwick Voice Acting & Character Demo Reel 2009 from Ray Fenwick on Vimeo.

Can everyone please watch this three times in a row? The last voice just conjures up laughter. It has to be something in the frequency of his character's voice or something, it just makes it most natural for my throat to make a similiar laughing noise. Am I right? Or is it just funny the third time?

Questions asked.

Seattle pt. 4 (the SureShot + Tully’s)

2009-10-25T15:41:00.001-05:00

The next morning Kyle’s alarm went off early as promised, I think he pressed snooze at least five times, holding me each time he got back into bed. He said something about wishing that he could skip school that day. I fell back asleep and when I woke up, just before noon, he was gone. I walked around his flat for a bit, exchanged niceties with his roommate, and ate some cheerios. I also left him a note. He said that he collected notes from couch surfers, so I drew him a picture of a jellyfish (the only thing I can draw at all well) and wrote a kind if not slightly flirtatious thank you. I hope he liked it.

I left around noon and biked over to Odd Fellows, a café that Meg had recommended to me. It looked nice but not pristine, like the type of place an interior decorator would meet with a client. I ordered a cappuccino with soy and a fruit salad. I never drink coffee, but I figured that it was Seattle and I had an obligation to have at least one cup. I sat at my table, a waitress brought me water, I began working on my laptop, and did a bit of people watching, everyone looked very put together. My cappuccino came and it was as beautiful as it was delicious. I don’t think that I’ve ever had coffee that good. I worked more, wrote a little bit and my fruit salad came after a somewhat awkward seek and find game with the waitress.

So I paid like six or seven dollars for this fruit salad and it was definitely one of the most meager excuses for a meal that I’ve ever had. Pear, apples and a few pecans (are those a delicacy in the north?) maybe if I had sprung for the yogurt and paid the extra dollar I would’ve been more satisfied, or moreover less disappointed.

I left after a solid two hours of working and a bit of e-mail exchange. Slowly manipulating my way through the downhill street and sidewalk traffic I was in the biggest city I had ever been in, it felt much bigger than Houston at any rate, and downtown seemed to go on forever.

I wish that I could write this in a more suspenseful way, but creativity escapes me at the moment, I’ll do my best. Seeing H&M from the hill was a fantastic experience. I felt like I had found my Mecca, and so early in my trip. That may sound overly dramatic, but it was one of the best feelings I ever felt.

The shopping experience was great. For once I was not repulsed by everything I saw. Neutrals and knits were everywhere. It took longer for me to find the scarf than expected, but, well, let’s just say I’m wearing it now. I did a great deal of shopping and, save an unfortunate experience with the dressing room attendant, all went well.

I did have a conversation with one of my first attempts at a solid male friendship, Max Maller, while I was waiting for my shirt in a smaller size while I was in the dressing room. He’s at home now, in California, and it was nice to hear from him, it feels good to know that people care enough to call.

Well that was anti climactic. I got the scarf.

Appreciation Day

2009-10-25T13:09:00.005-05:00

1. Why did we settle for Disney, if could've gotten this?

Disney exploited us all! WTF, I am studying anime for a paper and this article made me love miyazaki some more.

2. ELY KIM
An asian yale student that makes really funny videos. Watch all of them on his vimeo account, especially Splendour Beach.

Wally & Me from Ely Kim on Vimeo.

3. DOGS, DOGS, DOGS
Go get some dog loving today. They are wonderful creatures and we should save all of them from being euphemized.

Seattle pt. 3 (Trabant Coffee & Chai)

2009-10-24T23:05:00.010-05:00

I am sitting at a coffee house in the U-District in Seattle, there is a female singer songwriter playing at the front of the room. I feel bad turning “Pico vs Island Trees” up so that I can’t hear her, but frankly, I have issues listening to music that I can play better unless it’s coming from a friend.

Kyle was stunning. This was partially because he bore an uncanny resemblance in both appearance and mannerism to a slightly more attractive ex-lover of mine. Also, he was an incredibly happy and bearded nineteen years that I was extremely excited about getting to know. I don’t meet many men under twenty-two or twenty-three that spark my interest. He looked like someone who would be my friend.

So we went up the elevator with my gold bike into Kyle’s flat, it was mostly boxes as he and his roommate were moving. There was something on television, vinyl leaning on a record player, a couple guitars and basses around, and he pointed out his huge sea foam green couch that I was to sleep on that evening.

We chatted, I can’t remember what we talked about, but it was one of those dynamic conversations that was about so much more than words said.

At a point he moved from the big brown chair to the couch with me. We sat on either side, feet near each other’s heads and legs that would be touching save layers of blankets. He was under a soft blue blanket and I was under a tie-dye one that he said he made. He sort of made. He tied the ends off at any rate. He told me that my feet were cold and I told him about my weird issues with feet. I don’t like them touching me. Kyle invited me back, apologizing for not being able to show me around, and began a list of all of the things that we would do next time. He made a joke about how “it was just the tip”.

I feel like we talked about sex a lot. And nudity. And his penis. Mostly his penis.

His roommate joined us a point, Conan was on. I can’t remember his name, but at some point all three of us had instruments in our hands but we were in no way playing together. I tuned the guitar for him; we talked about drugs and how he and Kyle were once in culinary school together. It’s funny how sometimes that which technically qualifies as small talk isn’t small at all. He went back to his room, leaving Kyle and me on the couch. We agreed that we were hungry, Kyle said he had Cheerios, the conversation shifted to his dying fish and how they got the glorious couch into their flat through the window. He told me about other couch surfers he’s had in the past and ex-roommate horror stories. I didn’t talk about my ex-boyfriend, not Jordan, the other one. I did tell him that he looked like Jordan, but I referred to him (Jordan) as “my friend”.

Kyle said that he was tired; at this point it had to be a good deal past midnight. I said that I wasn’t. He said that I could come talk to him until I was tired. A strange offer but one I was happy to receive.

We talked a bit, a very bit, maybe for fifteen or twenty minutes and he said that I would sleep in the bed with him if I liked. Of course I liked. He also said that he tries to make that offer to everyone, I pretended that this wasn’t true. I still like to pretend that this isn’t true.

I went into the living room to grab pillows and blankets and he asked me to turn the light off on my way back in. We laid a safe distance apart on the bed and talked for a while. He told me of his dream of opening his own food van selling pork rolls and homegrown tea, the perfect winter meal. I told him about how I would one day be a badass senator and touring musician. I never tell anyone the whole story. We got quiet and he asked to spoon with me, I don’t think I’ve ever had that request before. The night was beginning to take its toll on my alertness, but this feeling accompanied by the rush of skin touching made me sleepless in Seattle. I got a kick out of this.

xoxo,
April Kaplowitz

UGH

2009-10-23T21:09:00.006-05:00

I'm working on a new stop motion film. The way my creative work process goes is: 50 percent studying (via reading tons of design and film blogs) and 40 percent of actually making it and 10 percent of time wasting. It's really not the best work formula.

Anyways, this has been blogged a billion times already. Street art animators, BLU and David Ellis from the latest FAME Festival, made this badass thing.

COMBO a collaborative animation by Blu and David Ellis (2 times loop) from blu on Vimeo.

Seattle pt. 2 (Seattle Coffee Works)

2009-10-23T18:53:00.006-05:00

My sense of direction is best described as follows: take my hotness rating, then add a little negative sign to it, and there you go. To clarify, I’m super hot. I left for Meg’s house around six in hopes of getting to her place by six thirty, that was a total bust. In the car she explained to me that Portland is divided east/west by the river and north/south by Burnside. This is important to remember. I got extremely lost trying to find her house and after stopping to check my directions several times, and eventually calling her, we met at the Greyhound station at 7:30.

The reason I met her there was as follows: among our party was to be a girl coming in from some shit city in Oregon, where she was a freshman at some shit school (she didn’t seem to like to school too much at any rate), to meet us in Portland and then ride up to see her friends and family in Seattle where she’s from. She had “Franny and Zoey” with her but other than that and the fact that she was on the trip with us, there was nothing too remarkable about her. I don’t remember her name, so she’ll just be The Girl From Shitsville, Oregon.

When I walked up to Meg’s big green van, along with the lovely lady herself and The Girl From Shitsville, Oregon, there were two young men. One of them had been traveling, hitchhiking mostly I think, across ten states as he made a point to tell us. He also had an incredibly darling brown puppy. He was of regular height with a fantastic nose, and helped me put my bike in the van. His name will be Ten States. Best bike complement ever: “is that a bike or a spaceship?”, for clarity’s sake: I ride a gold fixie. And the boy other, Cameron (I remember his name), was incredibly handsome, had dreadlocks, and didn’t look like the typical street kid in that he was clean. I later found out that he had only been without residence for two days and used to live in suburban Portland. He hadn’t been traveling across ten states. I think that they were both twenty-four.

The ride was mostly quiet, but not uncomfortably so (I played DJ with my ipod and Meg and I bonded over Snoop Dogg) until we got to the rest stop. Everyone but me got shitty rest stop coffee and cookies, I just stretched my legs a bit. When we got back into the car and drove a little, Ten Sates was about to puke so we switched seats. He moved from the trunk where he was sitting to the passenger seat (he left his dog in the back) and I moved to the backbench with Cameron and The Girl From Shitsville, Oregon.

Ten States morphed into Chatty Cathy when he moved into the front seat relaying to us a the story about how his lady left him a few days ago stealing five out of his six pounds of weed. He also told us of his plans to make $150,000 growing pot, I believed him. He made sure to mention that he’s been held at gun point moving weight and his partner was shot in the face. This was in Seattle, a few blocks from where we were. Sweet, I’m in a huge city alone and now apparently there are dealers ready to shoot me in the face.

We were close to Kyle’s places in Capitol Hill so I called him, he made some joke about bringing booze, I felt guilt that I couldn’t, because, you know, I’m nineteen. He said he’d wait outside for me. Meg gave me great directions to Kyle’s house which was less than a mile away, and also a map. I hopped on The Golddigger (my bike) and was on my merry way. I got sort of lostish when in place of numbered streets there were treed streets, as in the streets were named after trees, like Olive. Olive Street, really?

I eventually, after circling twice, pulled up to Kyle’s place, I wouldn’t have known it had he not been standing behind glass double doors waiting. It was a certifiable flat, like I’ve never seen before. You had to go inside several doors and an elevator to get to his room. I felt so Big City.

xoxo,
April Kaplowitz

Seattle pt. 1 (Very Good Fellows)

2009-10-23T15:16:00.004-05:00

If I were to say that this trip was inspired by a scarf, I don’t think that it would be too much of a long shot. Of course, that doesn’t exactly capture the current sprit of the trip, but it’s sort of where it all started.

There is this amazing scarf at H&M, a knit circle scarf, and I fell in love with it long, long ago, before I moved to Portland actually. Now that I think of it, since my divorce in May, I’ve pretty much replaced romantic relationships with fashion. I am in love with fashion. Well there isn’t a fucking H&M in Austin or in Portland, so I made the decision months ago that when I had time off of school, I would go to Seattle and buy that scarf. Oh and to address the obvious, H&M is Swedish or something and doesn’t sell online in the US. But fall break rolled around I was, as par always, broke as a motherfucker, so I resigned myself to Portland fun. And Portland fun I had; I saw Islands and Toro y Moi (check him out!), went on fantastic bike rides, went to Jimmie Macks to see free jazz, spent way too much time in the radio station room spinning vinyl, turned nineteen, was part of a comically dramatic love triangle, did some studio-musician work, did laundry, cooked stir fry with curry sauce with a crust punk ex-street kid named Lily, drank copious amounts of tea and (deep breath) made my very first late night trip to Voodoo Doughnuts.

But then I saw that mother fucking scarf again. Online, looking at fashion, and the scarf slapped me right across the face. I was going to go to Seattle. I checked Craiglist rideshare (it just occurred to me that this was most probably inspired by a couple of friends/school mates who had rideshared there was to and from LA) and found a woman who was leaving Portland for Seattle on Thursday and coming back on Sunday, and she had room for a bike. I then completely and utterly spammed every youngish Couchsurfer in Seattle on the. Okay, so it wasn’t really spamming, but I sent out a ton of e-mails.

Everything ended up sorting itself out. I got a place to stay with a young man named Kyle in Capitol Hill for Thursday night, and then with a guy named Andy in the and his five housemates in the U District on Friday, and Saturday nights. The woman I was riding up with, Meg, was a 28 year old kindergarten teacher who had hitchhiked her way around Maui and traveled across the country in the same manner as myself. I later found out that she was also beautiful, a pastry chef, an ex-nanny, and a cyclist. There was also the possibility of a few other people driving up with us.

Until Later,

April

The Silent Prayer Project

2009-10-22T21:03:00.003-05:00

Are you in need of a really awesome happening that will make you really cool after you do it? The Silent Prayer Project is a music project created by Fatima Carbajal. This project has got me so excited. Fatima Carbajal is such an awesome artist. Experience the happening by downloading the file below.

The happening begins now.

This abstract video was created by Candace Lau using Fatima's "final" product track. Listen closely and enjoy

ABSTRACT AMERICA, An Experimental Short from Candace Lau on Vimeo.

The Eigenharp

2009-10-22T20:58:00.001-05:00

Today I saw a video for this new instrument called the Eigenharp. It has a lot of capabilites, and shows what you can do with a mix between multi-sequence coordination and technology.

Stuff Stuff Stuff Fest- pre parties

2009-10-21T20:09:00.002-05:00

RSVP INFO HERE on Ultra 2801

THIS WEEK:

New Collective Member-Candace!

2009-10-21T00:42:00.001-05:00

Everyone welcome Candace Lau to the collective. Here is an example of her work.

Murphy The Crab from Candace Lau on Vimeo.

Jehoaddan Elizabeth Strain

2009-10-18T17:38:00.002-05:00

She has astounding illustration pictures. It's like an installation picture. Witty, whimsical, and craftily bitter in a way.

Her Portfolio here

Holly Maguire

2009-10-18T00:39:00.003-05:00

Hypnotic patterns and designs are friends forever. I love these drawings so much. They are my heroes!

Here's her website for more

OSD OCD

2009-10-17T14:04:00.001-05:00

Online Status Doodle Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Is a collaborative drawing exercise. The concept of an 'online status' is fairly new. In a world where most people are reluctant to read more than 140 characters, online statuses claim the world wide web by storm. As people take moments in their day to announce their existence to their social networks, what satisfactions do they gain? Is it rubber band therapy or scoring social capital? And what does it mean to us? Do we know anything more about our friends than if we weren't subscribed to their online statuses? OSD OCD perhaps can give us a look about what we perceive from these online statuses. Or perhaps we just like doodling.

Join our flickr pool
or contact us if you want to participate. (we'd love it so much)

Austin Asian American Film Festival

2009-10-17T11:50:00.003-05:00

Hi Everyone,

I'm totally the graphic designer for the Austin Asian American film festival and I'm super excited about it. I hope everyone finds some time to check out one of their films. Oh man, their special guests this year was going to be the Asian people from ABC's series Lost, but it isn't happening because they can't leave Hawaii this time of the year.

The Austin Asian American Film Festival 2009 starts November 12 and goes through November 15, 2009, at the Alamo Drafthouse.

Find out more, see the schedule, get your badge or purchase tickets to individual shows @ www.aaaff.org

--Kathy

Ideas of Mountains

2009-10-17T10:37:00.001-05:00

This January 2010, the Creative Research Laboratory will present an exhibition entitled, Ideas of Mountains. This exhibition will be entirely composed of large scale, site-specific installation projects that employ the exceptional potential that our Eastside gallery space provides. As an incubator for the creative process, the CRL is pleased to invite all Austin artists, especially past and present students of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Texas, to share with the community the uncovered potential within our space. We are pleased to encourage wild experimentation across a multitude of media, in hopes to provide a venue for artists to better realize emergent art practices. This broad and open platform is a rare opportunity to reach beyond the normal scope of art making and to investigate the possibilities of creating something immeasurable.

Eligibility:
Open to all Austin artists, especially past and present students of the Department of Art and Art History. Collaborative projects welcome!

Open Call Begins:
October 12th, 2009

Deadline for Proposals:
November 23rd, 2009, Midnight

Artist Notification:
December 7, 2009

Installation Period:
December 21st, 2009 to January 21st, 2010

Exhibition Dates:
January 23rd –February 6th, 2010

Please submit the following information by email to crlab@austin.utexas.edu, or by mail to Creative Research Laboratory, ATTN: Ideas of Mountains, 2832 East Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Austin, Texas 78702

1) 3-5 images (72 DPI, no greater than 5 MB) of previous work made within the last 3 years labeled with your last name and title of work. If submitting more than one image of a selected work, please use title and number (Ex. Smith_My_Painting_1). If you are applying with a partner or numerous collaborators, please include at least 1 image of previous work from each person.

2) A written description of project proposal, including general concept, medium, estimated size, participants, etc. Please note here a general idea of materials and expenses surrounding your finished project. For example, if you will need monitors, projectors, sound equipment or perhaps 20 cans of purple paint. Please keep this under 200 words, if possible. Also, you may view a floorplan of the gallery space to use as a reference point for your proposal. You are welcome to include a JPEG (72 DPI, no greater than 5 MB) of your proposed project using this layout.

3) Current CV with contact information. If more than one artist is involved, include all participants' CVs.

Final Note
Please title all your files with your last name first, then the title of the document:
Smith_Proposal.doc
Smith_Layout.jpeg
Smith_CV.doc

For more information, contact Assistant Gallery Director Xochi Solis, crlab@austin.utexas.edu, or 512.322.2099. For information about the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Texas at Austin, contact Carolyn Porter, carolynp@mail.utexas.edu, or 512.471.3379.

Meet our newest member Ariel Kay

2009-10-16T22:58:00.003-05:00

She takes amazing photos and we love her. Maybe she'll write some more about herself. An interview? YES

We want more more&more. Check out her flickr.

5 things that won't leave my mind lately

2009-10-16T16:46:00.006-05:00

1. Henry Darger is so cool.
I watched In the Realms of the Unreal like six months ago and man, that man has a crazy mind. His drawings are innocent yet so bizarrely strange and twisted. I can't stop thinking about the opposite direction between his reality and his imagination.

2. Bovey Lee Paper Cut Outs

3. Great watercolour drawings. Check out the artist's flickr.

4. These incredible creatures by Super Ninon:

5. Chauncey from Madmen is the cutest dog ever. I don't know if I'll ever forgive Duck Phillips.

Lila Rasa Released!

2009-08-12T20:38:00.011-05:00

Here is something I have been waiting for for a long time. Matt Dill released his first full-length album Lila Rasa on August 4th. Matt is a good friend of mine, and ex-roommate. His music is a great mix of folk and electronic music. I have never heard another artist who blends these two genres better than Dill. Right now he is on tour with another friend, Doby Watson up to the northeast. They could use any patronage you are willing to give, and the best way to do that is just to purchase their mp3s online. The best part is, you just donate however much you want and they will send them to you. You can get the album from our friends the Orchid Collective in Chicago, Illinois.

I play on several songs on the album. Go listen to it for free at the Orchid Collective webpage and support our friends.

-Benjamin Weir

Volthair: Re-visiting the Flickr World

2009-07-14T19:03:00.003-05:00

Check out my new old flickr. Drove a stake into the ground (?) and decided to be more prolific in crapping drawings and okay drawings, and some good ones.

For the love of dog,

Kathy

Recording finished for Surviving Sewanee soundtrack!

2009-07-05T23:03:00.005-05:00

Good news everyone!

Today I finished recording the final versions of the soundtrack for Surviving Sewanee-The Samuel Mitchell Story. It's great to finally have that behind me since I have been working on it since about February. I will have the soundtrack up on the art collective website for free download once all the editing is finished which could take as long as 2 or 3 months. The film viewing party is expected to be sometime next spring.

-Benjamin

Update

2009-05-24T17:53:00.002-05:00

The past few weeks have been pretty busy. Kathy had to finish school and now she is on a two week vacation. Thank Darwin she gets back this week. I have been working a lot, as well as working on my own album. I just finished the long track on the upcoming album. It's 14 minutes and named The Hundred Year War. (hint: The Federal Reserve)

Besides my album, I have also been working on the soundtrack for Suviving Sewanee. I have all the songs written, and I just finished recording the final version of one. The whole soundtrack should be done by mid June. It turned out great for the style of music I was asked to write.

Anyway, we have been pretty busy, and there will probably be a few more weeks of busy-ness before we get back to consistent blogging again.

If you haven't Listened to Medusa yet, go download that shit. You have no reason not to...it's free.

Bedroom Electronica: JECAKALAFA?'s Medusa (No.1)

2009-05-05T21:15:00.004-05:00

Medusa (No. 1) is the first release by JECAKLAFA?. The project comes from the computer of St. Louis native and Hungry Forest Art Collective member, Caleb Weir. Medusa has obvious influences from bands like Battles, Tera Melos, and Kayo Dot, as well as early 20^th century post modern composers.

The album begins as electronic hardcore. One thing apparent from the onset is that JECAKLAFA? forgoes drum fills, and instead makes every drum beat and percussion noise vital to the weight of each song. Medusa goes back and forth between peaceful drone pieces, and chaotic hardcore. The effect is staggering. The back and forth nature only accelerates the further you delve into the album, reaching a climax with the true masterpiece of the album, Nothing. The eleven-and-a-half minute song explores classical experimentalism like few modern artists have attempted. The song has a “marching underwater” feeling that constantly builds, complimented with floating vibraphone and metal drone sounds. The true art of the song is the silences. Few and far between, for a split second, the listener is left feeling extremely tense before a wall of sound releases, and the listener’s whole body tension releases as well. In fact, the genious of the entire album may be the clever use of silences, along with the new form of minimalist hardcore drums. Medusa is a great first release by 18 year old Caleb Weir. Be sure to keep an eye out for more JECAKLAFA? releases in the future. Medusa (No.1) can be downloaded for free in its entirety at:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ounzzm0megm

Comic Project: Book Four (The Sound of Waves)

2009-04-24T15:23:00.003-05:00

This is the second Mishima book I have read. The first was his most popular, Confessions of a Mask which I thought was fairly decent. This second book, however, was extremely predictable. I was disappointed to say the least. It wasn't a terrible book, there was just no reason in there to read it. The story takes place on a small island off the coast of Japan in the 1940's. It's a love story involving the most beautiful girl in the village, Hatsue, and a poor but hard-working boy named Shinji. Obviously the father of the girl doesn't want them to marry. You can guess the rest, it's basically filler.

On to the comics!

Absence of Dialogue

Yasou the Intellectual

ZINE REVIEW: Mae Undead!

2009-04-23T15:17:00.006-05:00

An Undead Persona
by Mae Undead

From film to death, Mae writes as if she is tracking around in her brain adventurously. Her thoughts on relationships, friendship, family life is wonderfully detailed.

"you know the funny thing is that in real life, i am difficult to get to know simply because i am more cautious and tend to only talk about misc. surface things like music, films, sexual anatomy, etc. Zines are the gateway to my mind"

We inspect her desires, her dreams, and her life. She puts together sentimental pieces about her family, little momentous moments, and reflections about future, past, and present.

"The idea of losing a family member, just that simple idea, always makes me cry. The last time I saw him in the Phillipines, he said to me "I'm getting old" with a tremble in his voice and sincerely said he loved me. When I hugged him, he felt fragile."

Also, An Undead Persona includes good reviews, interesting black and white collages.

Can You Spot the Pattern?
by Mae Undead

This zine I hold a special place in my heart. It was one of the first zines I read in the the summer of 2008. I didn't think much of it at first, because I had so much things going on in my life at the time, but as time went on the more and more I realized about how much I thought about it.

"I finally realized the heart is just a cardiac muscle and not where your emotions are. It's always been in your head. Don't follow your heart."

She also writes that she is trying something new and writing whatever comes to mind and I can tell. In her piece called, "Blood Boiling," I can feel such raw anger at its freshest development. It made me think of that scene in Waking Life where a man screams and screams behind bars.

Really interesting drawings and printed on origami paper, this zine is pretty darn sweet. Can you spot the pattern? also includes reviews.

Contact her at youreinsanehoney at gmail dot com
or visit her rad distro here.

Comic Project: Book Three (How to Create a New Identity)

2009-04-17T15:26:00.003-05:00

This book was funny, to say the least. It was written by an anonymous author in 1983. The authors background is a private detective with several different fake identities. Throughout the book the author gives us several ways to obtain every vital document you need to create a new identity. After this he also tells us how to create an untraceable business, or a moving business to avoid paying taxes. He ends the book with these lines:

"I want you to remember always that my name is in the phone books of cities all over the country and throughout many nations of the world. Should you ever decide to leave one of my clients 'holding the bag.' I will find you and find you quickly. For while I have taught you everything you know, I haven't taught you everything that I know."

The guy who wrote this is my father...just kidding. But what if it was? Man would he be pissed at me.
ON TO COMICS!

William the Conquerer

How to Create a Completely New Identity

Zine Review: Erik and Laura-Marie Magazine #44 & Functionally Ill: Adventures with Mental Health (issue three)

2009-04-16T09:56:00.008-05:00

Erik and Laura-Marie Magazine #44:
Includes an extensive book and zine review, along with lucid prose and momentous poems. I'm rarely in the mood to read poetry, but Laura-Marie writes brilliant poems. They have the spiritual romanticism of sufi literature and the simplicity of James Joyce.

"We sit talking seriously, but dandelions don't care about us and talk about flower stuff."

Twelve Dreams was one of my favorite pieces, consisting of 12 descriptions of her dreams. The order of her words and the style she writes and wears, makes the dreams feel like mine and exactly the way I would recall them. For a second, after I had read the fourth dream, I thought "These could be my dreams, I will never really know."

IV
I lived in a field with an older man. There had been a prediction that he could leave me when the waters came, and one day water flowed through forrows in the field, and he was gone.

Overall, excellent composition, I would like to read another one of her works soon.

Functionally ill: adventures with mental health, issue three
A comprehensive zine about Laurie Marie's experiences and updates with her mental illness. From the discussion of therapy groups to pills, Laurie Marie does a fine job in describing her life. Although I find the majority of the zine interesting, the most fascinating read was the documentation of the voices within her mind.
I man with a cowboy accent says:

"He's a good boy- he chewed on the best things death. All for 75 cents..."

How appropriate for a zine that reminds me of David Lynch!

You can contact her at: robotmad@gmail.com
or visit her blog.

Comic Project: Book 2 (Ishmael)

2009-04-13T15:55:00.004-05:00

I want to start by saying it was really difficult to write comics for this book because I respect it so much. This book has left more of an impression on me than any philosophy book I've ever read. The books revelations aren't THAT groundbreaking, but it's all about the process to get to the revelations. I'll summarize what Ishmael says at some point early in the book: If you figure it out for yourself it will change your whole outlook, but if I just tell you, you will say "So?"

Well, enough of my poor attempts to explain why everyone should read this book. On to comics!

Freemasons

Conquering the Universe

On Defense

Hungry Forest's April EP

2009-04-11T23:19:00.005-05:00

Ah yes, it is finally April. Austin weather is madness; swirling winds, hailing, cloudy sunny days, and more. April is a popular month and possibly, an inspirational musical month, it gets lots of music. Here is a tribute to the month of April!

Avril 14th- Aphex Twin
Avery Island, April 1st- Neutral Milk Hotel
Avril En Mai- The Apples in Stereo
Matthew and his Apple Tree- April Kaplowitz (our own lovely hungry forest folk!)

I considered not putting Neutral Milk Hotel. Otherwise all the artists' names would have started with an 'A'!

April Kaplowitz is recording a new album and it sounds really good. It's completely bass and not to mention, rather quite boss. Think bossa nova video game, and layers of bass. Super, super, super sweet.

Ólafur Arnalds: Why has bedroom electronica become so awesome?

2009-04-09T11:26:00.011-05:00

A breathing, delicate cinematic experience, Olafur Arnalds from Iceland uses strings, keyboard, and ambiance to create his sounds. Fragile contemporary classical indie, the manipulation and the evolution of strings, it is very crafted stuff. A sweet reminder of Sigur Ros (considering he has opened for them a couple of times), Chinematic Orchestra and Max Richter.

Fok
0952

Book One of the Comic Project (Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town)

2009-04-08T17:08:00.012-05:00

Here it is, the first post for my Comic Project. This past week I read Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town by Cory Doctorow. The book was pretty interesting, and got insanely weird at around page 50. It's not Science-Fiction like Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. It borders on Fantasy and Surrealism.

Dumpster Diving 1

Clone

Brothers

Down and Out in the Mushroom Kingdom

Dumpster Diving 2

Renfield

The Silent Prayer Project with Fatima

2009-04-04T21:05:00.008-05:00

On Monday I sat down with Fatima Carbajal to talk about her music project Silent Prayer. It involved motivating 12 people to record without knowing what anyone else was recording.

What is a happening? It derives from the fluxus movement during the 60s. A happening is basically like a score, but instead for music, it is for art. It invokes improvisation and spontaneity. A happening is something that happens once and if the happening was replicated, it would not be the same at all. It is the idea that art isn't a painting on a wall. It doesn't have to be physical. In fact, it can be opinions, thoughts, and the very act of living. Think of John Cage's 4'33. Think of Paik destroying a violin. Get it?

Could you explain your music project?

It’s multilayered in different ways. It started off with this idea of a happening, and getting people to participate in actions that you would have them do. I really didn’t know where to start from. My teacher had given us this prompt of composing, like composing a score. So I took it pretty literally. I went and I composed a piece but took out all the staff lines. So you really didn’t have a reference how to read the music, what key it was in, or the tempo. They were just notes written out. So I sent it out in an email to a lot of different people and I asked them to read it, perform it, record it, and sent it back to me. I got about 12 different responses. And in between a lot of them had called and said “I don’t really understand what you’re saying, or what you’re telling me to do. What key should I play it in? Do you want me to write in the lines. You don’t have lines in it.” And I’m like, no, I definitely meant to do that. They approached it in a lot of different ways, and a lot of people didn’t perform it with their strong instrument. Like people who had a background in guitar ended up playing the piano, or vice-versa. And so it was really interesting. The entire time I had the intention of taking all the tracks that I got and stacking them on top of each other without cutting them, but just looping them until they covered the longest track. And so I just kind of let it happen from there, hoping that I would get something that would make sense in the end, and it kind of did.

How did pick the people who performed the piece?

Mainly, ‘cause I’m a Christian, and it’s called Silent Prayer, so my basis for it was this idea of a prayer and what it means to me, and what it has a definition of. I sent it to everyone on my Gmail list, but what was funny was that the only people who responded were mainly people that I knew from my church or from my faith, which was unexpected completely. I didn’t really have anyone specifically in mind, but it happened to be mainly those people who responded.

You kind of covered how you came up with the project. Is there anything you want to elaborate on?

Hmmm, not fully. I guess the meaning that I would say, that I don’t think many people got. I was trying to understand how, because it’s kind of crazy, this idea of like praying to God or a god. It’s like, “well there are so many people all at the same time praying. How can he listen to…” just like a little kid, I guess, trying to understand the concept. So I was like, well what does he hear when he hears all these different things coming. So I was trying to write out this prayer that had no meaning in it, and then trying to see how people gave it meaning. And then trying to see what this person would listen to by hearing all these different prayers.

How did the people react when they heard it? Has everybody heard it that’s played for it?

Not all of them, no. But, I’ve gotten a lot of really positive feedback from them. Some of them are a bit confused. They are like, “well there are just so many things to listen to, I wasn’t sure.” But a lot of them are surprised how well it pieced together at moments. How in the beginning it was slightly chaotic, but at the end it kind of all fell together.

What methods did you use to record these?

A lot of different ones. Well, when I sent the email out to people I was like, “You can use any recording device.” And then I’m like, no, that’s going to limit it. So I said, if you don’t have a recording device call me and leave me a message on my phone with the track. Use Garage Band, or…what else did I say? Oh, you can film it and I’ll extract the audio from the thing. Whatever you wanted to. Some people called me and they were like, “Don’t pick up your phone. I’m going to leave you the message of the recording,” so then they’d just call and do it. Some people had use of the recording studio in there [University of Texas Communication Building] to record audio, and they used that. My friend used Garage Band. My other friend, I think he used one of these [Mini Disc Recorder]. He had a mic and I think he connected it to his iPod or something like that. There’s like a way to do that. I never knew you could do that. And then they just emailed it to me, and I’d have the connection or voicemail and put it on Garage Band.

Are you planning on doing anything with this project now?

After I presented it to the class that it was due for, um, my professor and a lot of my other fellow students, they were really encouraging and they were like, “You should try to publish it.” And, “You should try to get it it out ‘cause it’s really cool.” Right now I’m contacting this professor, who actually just emailed me who might perform it in this music series at the end of the semester.

That’s cool.

Yeah, so we’ll see what happens.

Slient Prayer

Will Power project, and a new Joanna Newsom album

2009-04-01T17:38:00.005-05:00

Today is the start of a project in a series of projects I do. I call them Will Power projects. Last year in February I recorded a song a day for the entire month which I released on March 1st. Today, I started a different type of project. I am going to read 50 pages a day, then write a comic about my reading. I started off the project today with Cory Doctorow, but in the future I plan to read philosophy books, cook books, and completely boring computer program manuals. The really fun thing about this project that diverges from my last project in that I don't have a date to be finished. In theory I could go on forever. I'm not going to get too bent out of shape if I miss a day here and there due to life stuff, but if I start getting to lazy, I will declare the project finished. Once a week I plan to upload these comics to this blog, so check back for progress. Besides my music project last year, I have had projects where I didn't watch tv, ate only vegetarian meals, and went without listening to any music. All of which ended eventually. I would highly recommend going without music yourself. It helps you appreciate music much more when you finally give in. (I believe it took me 8 days.)

Now to what you really want to hear about. The word is Joanna Newsom played a secret live show under a fake name on Saturday. Witnesses say that she played for 2 and a half hours and played enough new music to make a double album. Seeing how this came out the day before April Fool's Day, I am a bit wary, but I have emailed the other act that supposedly opened for her to try to confirm her presence. I, for one, am praying this is true, seeing as I have played Ms. Newsom's previous albums enough to skew my Audioscrobbler ratings into thinking I love folk music.

"The encore of Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie concluded the night in the most beautiful way imaginable with its cooing chorus and wistful resolve punctuated by her rising and falling vocals. I’ll admit that while I enjoyed Y’s a lot, I favored Milk-Eyed Mendor a bit more, but after seeing her new material performed live I think it could easily be her strongest, most enjoyable album to date. I await with stubborn anticipation for these songs to be recorded and released because I really cannot wait to hear how this album turns out."

For more information go to: Naturalismo

-Benjamin

The Cohen New Works Festival Austin Texas: March 30th to April 4th

2009-03-31T17:08:00.003-05:00

The News Festival is a showcase of new work created by UT students at Austin. It's going on for a week and it's completely free! Tonight there is a video installation, multi-media, and dance performance called, 'The Shape of White.' Aerial and light projections will fill the air and transform the area in a stage where dance performance will take place. It starts at 9:15 at the bridge behind the Texas Exes Building.

The times and duration of The Shape of White are listed incorrectly in the catalogue. The lighting designer says the show is only 30 minutes and the actual times are:

March 31: 9;15-9:45PM

April 1: 8:30- 9PM

April 3: 9-9:30PM

Also afterwards there's a show afterwards called "Look, listen, look again!" It's a concept idea by J. Elissa Marshall and presented by Dance Action. Seven photographers chose their most meaningful or provocative photo. Seven musicians composed music inspired by that photograph. Seven choreographers created works inspired from the musical composition. The objective is to see if the end result is a reflection of the original art.
Tonight @ 9:45pm,

and

Thursday April 2 @ 9:30pm

Friday April 3 @ 6:30pm (60 min); Lab Theatre

Here's a schedule of all the other events!

Hungry Forest unofficial SXSW Show Re-Cap 3.22.09

2009-03-31T16:02:00.005-05:00

photo credited to Chiang Leng

Folks, there it was, our first SXSW showcase was more or less a success.

It was on the Sunday of SXSW week, March 22, 2009, and what a way to say good bye to our adventures. Matt Dill, our very recent member, and Angie, his girlfriend, drove into austin at the cusp of SXSW's goodbye. They shared a wonderful Saturday night on the Lamar Pedestrian bridge with us, met new Austin friends, and participated in our wonderful show at the gelataria.

The shop was awfully silent before the show started! A father and son, a man with a hat, and the ice-cream counter girl were our company, our family, and our beloved strangers. Finally Chiang, our lovely credited photographer and fellow Hungry Forest member shows up. The show began with a strange, warm, and enriching build up of ambience. Matt Dill's set was like hearing a combination of Ryan Adams and Ray LaMontagne. We might as well have been on a porch listening to the birds sing with Matt.

photo credited to Chiang Leng

Here's a little video I prepared for all you who didn't attend. Matt plays two songs: a completely ambient song and "a rose by any other name is not a rose."

Here's some pictures of Malachi Constant's set:

photos credited to Chiang Leng

People did end showing up towards the end of Matt's show and the beginning of Malachi Constant's. I ran into a fellow Student Farm Worker alliance member and Alex, our newest Hungry Forest member made an appearance! It was great. The end of the show was just as silent as the beginning of the set. The ice-cream counter girl moved the tables in as Malachi Constant said his goodbyes. We had our gelatto expressos, packed the little car up and drove home.

Please visit our website for future events and information!

Hungry Forest's top five FREE SXSW shows

2009-03-29T18:03:00.010-05:00

Austin's South By Southwest music festival is one of the greatest events of the year with potential of a lot of free art. Imagine hundreds of musicians, film makers, and more flocking into one city for one week. Think about all of the unofficial music going on! Popular indie blogs like Aquarium for Drunkards, Little Radio, Gorrilla Vs. Bear and more hosted lots of free day shows. Even SXSW had free official events at Auditorium shores with acts from M.Ward and Explosions in the Sky. Can you even imagine above all that how many local and smaller free events were going on as well? I have never seen our city lamp posts and walls so dressed up with flyers. Austin was burning with music, art, films, and creative energy for an entire week. With the huge capacity of people, the streets were rowdy and cops brought their horses down to sixth street. I guess that's the price of excitement.

Anyway, we've spent long hours thinking about our best shows this year and we came up with a list.

NUMBER ONE:
Tera Melos: Thursday 3.19.09 at Cedar Street Courtyard

There is not much you can say about Tera Melos that isn't spoken better by view of their live performance. They had, by far, the most powerful set of SXSW. I have to say, I went to the show a bit unprepared. I knew and loved their album Drugs To The Dear Youth, but I imagined that there were 5 or 6 people in the band. I was so surprised to see only 3 guys set up, that I thought it was a different band, but when they started there was no doubt who was playing. Glitchy, happy-hardcore filled the block on 6th street, and in turn, there was a great turnout for the Tera Melos set even though they were competing with some of the official headliners for SXSW. The singer, Nick Reinhart, had 18 pedals on a pedal board. Along with his guitar, he had a Micro Korg, a drum machine and a sequencer. So you can imagine my mistake in thinking 2 or 3 people do his job. He spent most of the time standing on one leg while stomping all his pedals with the other with amazing accuracy. While this was going on he was hammering on with his guitar along with occasional synth and drum machine sections as well as vocals. You would think this would distract from the other two members, but both shared the same intensity. The drums changed time signatures and tempo about every 10 seconds, and the bassists only added to the glitchy feeling with 12 pedals of his own, and skill and showmanship on top of it. Tera Melos played two great sets on Thursday, but the set in a parking lot on 6th street wins the prize as the best set due to crowd turnout and all ages access. -Benjamin

mp3:40 Rods to the Hogs Head

website
myspace
last fm

NUMBER TWO
Efterklang: Friday 3.20.09 @ The Danish Dynamite Day party at East 2nd Street

The Denmark SXSW party on Austin's east side was golden! What more can we ask for then great imported music, little cute dannish flags everywhere, free beer and an amazing performance from Efterklang? Efterklang brought the entire yard of people to their feet. When I first heard Efterklang last year, I thought they were an 'alright,' whimsicle band. I haven't done nearly as much research about them as I should have. However, after the first show I saw of them at sxsw, I am obsessed with a couple of their songs. (I saw them twice!) Watching Efterklang live is a totally new experience. It is like witnessing a puzzle be solved, a magnificent orchestra of simple sounds cascading and colliding. It was the perfect amount of grandiosity while keeping restraint, a similar combination between the Arcade Fire and Architecture in Helsinki. It was a beautiful day full of energy. Plus Lead singer, Casper Clausen, belted solemn lyrics while wearing rather amazing purple shorts. - Kathy

website
myspace
last fm

NUMBER THREE

AristeiA: Sunday 3.22.09 @ Lamar Pedestrian Bridge

The setting for the AristeiA show was perfect. It took place on the Lamar Pedestrian Bridge over Lake Austin at one in the morning. The band's sound resembled that of Red Sparrows or Explosions in the Sky, with some nice additions to the genre. However, the crowd was the worst crowd I had ever stood with. Most of the people enjoyed and cheered on the Portland band. Still, a few people in the crowd decide to yell things like "Don't play another song" and yelled band names like Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Explosions in the Sky, suggesting that AristeiA was just a copy-cat band. After a very brief set the band gave away sample cds. I decided I would listen for myself to see if the harsh criticism was deserved. Might of the Sword is a song that definately diverges from the bands normally post-rock sound. And after a review of their online tracks it's obvious that the members all understand their music well, and it seems they aren't just playing to ride the post-rock trend wave. I really enjoyed AristeiA's set but I will let you decide for yourself. -Benjamin

mp3:
AristeiA Live Song on Pedestrian Bridge
Might of the Sword

website
myspace
last fm

NUMBER FOUR

Theodore: Friday 3.20.09 @ Moon Jaw Records Day Party at Brave New Books

Theodore is one of the favorite local bands in St.louis, Missouri. They played a set for Moon Jaw Records in Brave New Books on the drag. The combination of watching a mellow band with free beer provided while being surrounded by books is a calm feeling. Also, not to mention the band decided to be courteous to office workers near the area. They played an entire set of only downbeat tunes! I nearly fell off my chair, because how relaxing the entire show was in contrast to insane sxsw festival outside. Besides the excellent atmosphere, Theodore's music had a strong similiarity to a very acoustic Ryan Adams, the tenderness of Tom Wait's music and even a portion of Jeff Tweedy. Also, their performance was great if not a bit awkward yet endearing. There is no doubt they that have skills. I mean, come one, the bass player could play a saw with a violin bow. You've got to give props to that, right? I also had to pleasure to meet the four young gentlemen who make up Theodore. They were humble and poignant in behavior. The look on their faces when they explained their newest project was completely genuine. Their newest album called, "Defeated, TN," was born when the band stumbled on upon a small packet of letters and belongings of a family in an abandoned house in Tennessee. Check it out. -Kathy

mp3:Home Tonight I Go LIVE

myspace
last fm

NUMBER FIVE
Jana Hunter- Saturday 3.20.09 @ Natrix Natrix House

(Artist rendering of what we believe Natrix Natrix House looks like in the light of day.)

Honestly, Jana Hunter was the best show we never really did see. There isn't much I can say about Jana Hunter except that she is a singer-songwriter from Houston, Texas and that her song about babies is pretty sweet. We arrived at the Natrix Natrix house a little bit after 11. We had some issues about directions to the house and thought we were running late. When we arrived at the house, it was dark and desolate. I figured that not many people would be out here and would be roaming downtown instead. The door was open, so, hey, I walked in. As I was walking in, I told my out of town friends from Kansas City, that house shows were were like this. And by 'like this,' I mean, house shows are awkward because everyone is pretending that it's a music venue, but in reality, it's a place where people live, eat, and do their daily life shit. Much to my embarrassment, I walked into the middle of the living room and everything was more awkward than necessary. I proceeded to have a thirty second conversation of how everyone was doing. A very sorry attempt of 'keeping it cool.' I finally ask, "hey, is Jana Hunter playing now?" A guy with a large hat said that the show was yesterday. I was mortified and completely embarrassed! Matt from Kansas City inquired, "So, you mean we just walked into your living room?" Everyone in the room laughs and the mood shifts from utter confusion to a show and tell party. Apparently, everyone has their own stories about walking into random houses uninvited. All in all, this is in our SXSW best shows, because we met new friends and they invited us to the bridge show where we saw AristeiA!-Kathy

Also since our blog is mainly directed for free art and celebrating DIY culture, Natrix Natrix is an awesome DIY independent record label located in Austin. Please check them out!

myspace
website

Kathy Tran: Flying Fetus Comics

2009-03-17T14:37:00.000-05:00

Flying Fetus Comics are back! Well, back into my life.

Love,
Kathy

Benjamin 23:03 3.5.09

2009-03-16T14:40:00.001-05:00

Hey again,

I know I wrote a blog entry earlier today, but I’ve neglected the site for so long that I felt I needed two updates. Lately I’ve been doing a lot of work on my album Sleep in the Hungry Forest. I’m almost finished with the longest song which will be about 16 minutes long. I’m also in the final stages of recording another two songs. That means I am at about the halfway point right now. I am hoping to be finished with the album by the beginning of April. I am also working on the soundtrack for Surviving Sewanee: The Samuel Mitchell Story. This soundtrack is shaping up nicely. But I may need some help. I can’t play the violin nearly well enough to record what I want so I am looking for someone to record with me in April. The parts shouldn’t be that difficult, unless you feel like getting fancy. If you helped, you would be free to help write the violin parts if you want, and your name would be on the credits of the documentary.

Benjamin 10:48 3.5.09

2009-03-16T14:39:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone,

We’re putting together the Hungry Forest’s first annual SXSW showcase! It’s going to be fun. I am excited to tell you my friend Matt Dill from Kansas City will be in town to play in the showcase. The showcase is going to be on the 22nd at Paciugo downtown. We found a great spot for the showcase considering how later we’re putting this together. We plan on having a booth where you can pick up free zines from Kathy. Kathy and I will also be hanging out at the SXSW Little Radio party at Red Eye Fly. We will be helping them film some of the bands. If you’re looking for something to do during SXSW week, come by Red Eye Fly. Little Radio’s party is free (no wrist-band required) and it’s 18+. Not to mention free bloody marys and PBRs. The party is March 18-20 from noon to 6pm.

Benjamin 10:11 2.4.09

2009-03-16T14:38:00.000-05:00

Hello peoples,

Last week I got offered a chance to write the soundtrack for a documentary. It’s set in the Civil War era so the music needs a folk sound to it. I never thought playing folk music in coffee houses was going to help me out until now! I will need to write about 40 minutes of music for this. Oh, and I also need to learn how to play the violin for the recordings. We will see how that turns out.
I’m also working on my next album named Sleep in the Hungry Forest. The album is almost completely written but I only have one partial track recorded. I am taking a different route this time. The album is going to be three tracks and the tracks will be a bit longer than my usual work. I am excited about this because it’s been a year since I produced a full album. This album will be much more put together than the last since I only had a day for each song last time. I plan to be finished recording by mid-March. Hopefully before South by South West. I have no idea about a release date though. I want to get in touch with free media advocates to promote the release as part of the movement. More info on that in the future.