Rita Ackermann : Sirens with Engines

I love Rita Ackermann. I love her because she recalls all that was romantic and nostalgic about the 90's -- in a sacred way. My network of friends and my atmosphere/community absorbed her art in a way that made it seem all ours. It's got to be the identification with the innocent siren, the naive doe in the midst of chaos. Strong emotional ties there. In my memory, the past 10 years' events have been about surviving insanity. (and now i'm glad to say, thriving-ish in insanity) I'm glad Rita Ackerman has the emotional antennae to detect for herself foremost, and offer her images for those who are hungry for evolution.

Here's some images from the new Purple. Totally worth reading cover to cover!



Mr. Zahm did an amazing interview with her. ANd hello!? a kick ass photo her in a Mark Fast mesh/crochet dress and patent Pam Hogg no heel shoes with none other than Ms. Lizzi Bougatsos (love). I had no idea how much Rita and Lizzi did together art/happening/performance art-wise.
Reading the interview reminded me of the casual story telling style I loved so much in old zines. That sort format really helps break down recent art history in basic digestible bits while shedding pretension. It's a way to recollect 'the way it was' bleeding into 'the way it is'. All together you see there's room for so much more art.

Yeah, so much more art. There's also a feature later in the same magazine with photos by Ackermann, words by Jeff Rian. It's a story about Marfa, TX, featuring her sewing on the hood of a car. So awesome....

Loved to Life and Death

Just returned from a week of ceremonies celebrating death and life. First a military funeral in El Paso, TX then a bar mitzvah in Pleasanton, CA. Me and the fella had a chance to escape the fam for the night to San Francisco to visit my great friends Ben and Jade.

After eating tons of pizza, bad chinese and nachos for 3 days I was dying for some hippy food. We wound up at a raw food joint,Cafe Gratitude. I loved it, bought their house made hot sauce and had a yummy shot "I am firey", I've been making at home ever since: noni, ginger, lemon, turmeric, cayenne, apple cider vinegar & agave..mmmmmm.

Consummately stylish, Jade was sporting a fierce crystal jewel on her tooth. "I want one!", I said immediately. Jade was on the horn in seconds flat arranging the bedazzling. Jade in a frenzy of texts and calls says, "Foxy is working an Edwardian costume ball. Costs $30 bucks and you have to wear a costume. But she said she'd do it in the alley."

When we arrived at the venue, skipped past the alleyway and walked in with the staff, up three flights of stairs to a goth-metal band playing on a stage set in hell. Foxy the talented young lady, brought her tooth bling kit for such occasions. Before you know it I'm plopped down in a make believe purgatory with a foxy lady rooting around my mouth.



...and TA-DA!


Also displaying their wares was Loved to Death, which is my new favorite thing. Love taxidermy, especially happy they use all the throw away bits in their pieces.

I bought a squirrel foot hair pin for $30.

The foot was handsomely packaged in a a mini coffin!

Jewels x 3

Have I told you it's day 3 of a freeze-in here in Portland? Cabin fever makes fashion fever.

I have 3 fantasy rings, yet to be found:
1. A solid, heavy gold ring with white enamel for the fur, and red enamel for the blood of this creature:

Option 2: bloody paws wrapped around the finger. Can be worn together. I found this in a mall in Harajuku, Tokyo. It was about 300 smackers. I forgot to ask for the designer's name!
2.Lion head biting finger ring. This is a scarf/brooch ring:

But imagine the teeth wrapping around the top and bottom. I've seen it before. I'll keep my peepers peeping.
3. A ring like Kenneth Jay Lane pyramid stud ring but in mammoth ivory and a gold cap on top!
(see DSS jacket below)