SELF PORTRAIT THURSDAY!

SELF PORTRAIT THURSDAY!
7.26.12

Wake up, Craig!

I just woke up from a nap, which I never take. But I was up late last night watching a movie and woke up early this morning. So, you know how it goes.

I was falling asleep on the train last night. That never happens. I would’ve missed my stop if I hadn’t opened my eyes at the last second. (What if I had become one of those people who wakes up at the end of the line?)

But before I started drifting away on the train, I had a vision about my knit project. I imagined it being more than a photo project. Maybe it could be an installation, as well. With sound perhaps.

I can be ambitious, though. It happens. But more knitting will resume today.

xo
craig

CONCRETE LIFE

Whenever I am asked who my favorite artist is, I hesitate for a second because I don’t follow any visual artist too closely. I usually give a short list of people that always changes. But I always mention Cy Twombly. I say he’s my favorite. I love the abstract, noisy beauty of his artwork.

Up until recently I was going about my life very happy that Cy Twombly was alive and still making great art.

Then I sat in the salon chair a little while ago—we were coloring my hair—and started reading through a somewhat recent issue of Art Forum. They had a nice retrospective piece about Cy Twombly, and I wasn’t sure why they were paying such close attention to Twombly. But I was happy about it because I like him.

And then I realized that he had passed away this past summer.

Some fan I am…

So, let’s look at some of his pieces real quick.

I love these.

Back in Houston, there’s a Cy Twombly gallery that is practically on my old school’s campus. It was so nice to walk there between classes and just wander around the gallery admiring his work.

This is the kind of art I’d love to put in my home.

xo
craig

KNIT BONDAGE

Hello friends!

I am happy to finally share with you the results of my knit bondage shoot.

This project is something I’ve had planned for awhile now, but I needed just the right person to work with. That somebody was my friend Andrew Jordan, who photographed me wearing these pieces—and who gave me the extra confidence I needed to push myself further and show more of myself (literally).

Here are a couple more sample images:

You can view the entire collection here on my main site.

Enoy!

cubistliterature.com

I’VE WASTED ALL MY TIME

(NSFW)

Last night I tweeted that I’m making a zine… I’m pretty much done.

On Friday night I hung out with my pal David B., who gave me a zine. And it was very inspiring to me for some reason. I knew I had to make one of my own.

Here is my preview for you:

It is more of an art zine. Some words here and there.

You know me.

I will be giving this zine to close friends, some family members, and other people that are interested.

Will let you know when I’m completely done!

In other news, I’m almost (almost!) ready to show you the results from my secret shoot with my friend Andrew.

In the meantime, you can check out this other teaser:

Enjoy!

xo
c

DRAPE DRAPE

Late last night I drew something for you for Valentine’s Day:

I’m feeling a bit strange today.
Totally zoning out.

Like staring at a wall for minutes and then snapping out of it all of a sudden.

Random ideas and thoughts hitting me and then falling to the floor.

I didn’t get to bed until 5:30AM last night.

I watched a documentary about Basquiat before bed.

I like his art so much because I don’t think it’s pretentious.
It’s chaotic and beautiful, and that’s that.
And that’s all it has to be.

every little thing every little thing

Is this the kind of man I want to grow up to be? 

I'm not sure. 

edarem – filling a hole in the wall

edarem – the way people walk

But I think he's genius. It's hilarious.

The things he says are very interesting.

"Who has more fun than people?"

And it's fun to watch because he's really into what he's doing.

Yes, I can be easily entertained. I know this. 

That is because I think there is tons to be enjoyed/appreciated on very basic levels. 

On a related note, I enjoy people that create like children. This means that they create more based on feeling than anything else. They don't think about what others will think. Their minds are not stuck in meaningless theories and concepts. They don't constantly refer to their art frame of reference. There is no point because they are more interested in their own work.

Higher learning institutions (art schools and not) usually produce art appreciators, not artists themselves.

Which is okay…

But I want to see people/artists create their own world. I want to see others expressing themselves in their own way.

It is a good thing to be inspired by other great artists and such. 

It is not a good thing to recreate what they have done.

It is okay if you incorporate elements from others' works. That is inevitable.

The goal is to build on what has come before you.

Move forward and evolve.

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axis mundi

Today while transferring to F train from the N train, I thought I saw Heath Ledger.
And then I remembered he died.

Yesterday I went to PS1 with Lillian G. (aka Lazy Susan).
There is this really awesome exhibit called "WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution".
If you're in New York, you should totally check it out.

It's a multimedia exhibition, which I liked because it was interesting to see how all the different artists worked with their mediums.

Okay.
I'm having problems focusing right now.

I'll have better things to talk about.

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je dis merde à l’amour.

I'd never heard of Nas.
But this was brought to my attention this evening.

07954_11_122_760lo

07946_00_122_452lo

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I've been reading a lot of blogs/forum posts about it.

I don't really feel like making any statements about this on my blog.
But if you know me, then you probably know what I'd say about this.
(You probably don't know what I'd say about this.)

I feel it deserves to be looked at (REALLY looked at), though.
I don't think most people are doing that.

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DOT FRAUD!

I thought about making a list of my favorite bands.
But then I got stuck on the issue of Erase Errata.

I mean, they ARE one of my favorite bands, of course. But they're just not the same anymore.
They used to be a sort of experimental/art-punk band with somewhat political undertones.
But NOW their sound isn't as interesting and they're overtly political.

PAR EXAMPLE, this video from '02 (the year I first got into them when I saw them open for Bratmobile):

Erase Errata – Louisville 7/12/02

The recording isn't very good, so I'll include some audio of one of the songs they play in that segment:

11 A Thief Detests the Criminal, Elements of the Ruling Class

Erase Errata

So, it's political, I suppose, that song (which is from the second album, not the first, which is more "artsy"), but it's not as explicit as it is in their newer stuff.

PAR EXAMPLE:

This song ("Tax Dollar") from their newer album:

Erase Errata – Tax Dollar

I think it's just too political.

And I have nothing against bands/music being political—I mean, I also really like Sonic Youth and Le Tigre and other bands—but I prefer somebody's "message" to be downplayed and the music to be upplayed(is that a word?).

Being political in your art or music or whatever definitely puts an expiration date and other limitations on who's going to be able to enjoy it.

Does that make sense at all?

(Besides I'm also rather cynical when it comes to politics.
Rarely will you hear me complain about/discuss "hot topics" and such.)

Okay, I'm just going to stop there.
I could go on and on.

I just had to get that off my breasts.

Did you see these photos I took?

sunrays along the highway

broken windows—solo action

powerlineage

infant

graveyard view

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i am a jack

Here's a photo of Lazy Susan and me.
It's from a couple summers ago, I think. At this pool (night) party we were at.
(Oh, yes. My shirt came off. And so did my damn pants.)

PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY ALL THE TIME!

Here's another photo of Lazy Susan (along with some other photos from my first roll using the Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim):

Lazy Susan

cemetary, Austin, TX

cemetary sky

cemetary, Austin, TX

dark powerlines

little skyscraper

Those cemetary photos were shot across the street from Lazy S's house.

I found a family plot in that cemetary that belongs to the Blanton family. Apparently the Blantons are a rich family in Austin. And I believe the art museum there in Austin is named after the Blantons. Or maybe just one Blanton.

Anyway, I used to be neighbors with a Blanton. His name is Adam.
He lived across the courtyard from me.

He's really nice. But really awkward.

And so I thought he hated me.
But once he called me up and asked if I wanted to come eat spaghetti.
So, I guess he didn't hate me that much.

But I pretty much think most people hate me.
Not most internet people, though.

But most people I encounter in everyday life.

I don't know where I'm going to end up in life.

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