This Sunday, the 19th, some friends of mine are helping shoot a music video at the Michigan League underground for Alex Winston, the next teen sensation! Seriously, this girl sings and play guitar too. If you want to hang around and be an extra in the crowd shots and be able to say “I was there when…” or just go and participate in something strange, let me know. No troublemakers please. It all happens between about 2-3pm.
The first ever Shadow Art Fair, held July 15th, 2006 at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti, was a resounding success. The next one is scheduled for December 2nd, and we’re looking to fill a small number of tables with some good work - especially work by local artists and work that complements what’s already represented at the Fair. Deadline for applications is October 15th. Apply here.
Thanks to everyone who came out for the End of Summer Bonfire. It was a fucking great time. And sorry again for the late start to those of you who couldn’t stay.
The other day I saw a refreshing wheatpaste on the south side of town:
I’ll be at the Wolverzine Fest all day tomorrow, sharing a table with my friend Eric who does nice screenprinted band posters. It’s free and open to the public. Stop by and say hi and I’ll give you a map to the bonfire….
Speaking of which: the End of Summer Bonfire has been moved to Sunday, because it’s going to be wet and hot tomorrow night and dryer and cooler on Sunday.
This started as a response to Vinh’s comment on the last post, but got long and so I think deserves its own post.
Yes, I got a little lazy and reprised last year’s cart decoration. The candles were sitting around from our Blackout Party. Plus, there’s something nice about people recognizing us from years past. A lot of peole did, and - ahem, judges - a lot of people said we were best decorated, too. (Not that I agree with them. Other carts were way cooler.)
But this issue of decoration brings me to the finish: the only unmodified cart that beat us was one of those tiny carts with a little 100-lb girl in it, pushed by a guy who confessed to running cross country and hearing about the race “like five minutes ago, man”. And it was totally UNDECORATED. Our cart was DECORATED, we were costumed, and it was little old me pushing a fine specimen of a tall and robust species we at the Bluish Barn like to call Homo Barringerensus, or Mikey. The next unmodified carts crossed a full minute later, as usual.
So I felt like we won, in spirit or something. I know it’s not REALLY a competition, but…. One win and two second places in four years: no, it’s not too early to call it a dynasty.
Some highlights: the cops blocking off the streets for us to get to the starting line; taunting all the water balloon throwers and getting hit square in the head by one of only a few giant ones; and the guy going around to everyone afterwards saying “Did you know who did this? The punks! It was the punks!”.
Maximum Summer. Top Secret Summer. Whatever you called it, it’s almost over. So it’s time for the annual End of Summer Bonfire!
last weekend in August, 11pm - ?
at the awesome bonfire spot, NOT at the Bluish Barn
Call or email me for details or directions.
If you have wood to burn, please bring it. If you’re walking up the path and you see the wood we dropped there, please pick up a log or two. If it’s raining, then we’ll do this Sunday instead. Call or email to make sure.
See you at the race tonight! Look for the cart and riders who look like this:
I’m playing a quiet and intimate show with Jay Mephi at 7pm tonight at the West Park Bandshell. We might do some Songs for Dead Blondes and some newer older stuff. After not having played for most of a year. Should be interesting.
Also tonight: premeire of Snakes on a Plane. Mikey and I will be going to the midnight screening at Showcase and throwing little rubber snakes around every time they mention snakes and being generally obnoxious. Join us.
…and in 2003, the lights went out.
This MONDAY (August 14) marks the three-year anniversary. Come relive the darkness.
the bluish barn
We’ve been changing what hangs on the front of our house almost every month since we moved in. We’ve had a few actual wreaths, a worn-out old tire (pictured), a bundle of barbed-wire, and presently a coil of copper wire. Now I’m running out of junk and places to store it. So…
We’re asking all artists and non-artists to make or find a wreath for our house. The only requirements are that it be vaguely circular and no more than 30 inches in diameter.
We will hang your wreath on our front porch for one month, maybe more. The neighbors who walk their dogs and cyclists and ballers who meet at the park and people parking their cars to walk to Casey’s or the train station will all walk by and see your work. Plus, we’ll put a picture here on the blog, a short bio if you want, and a link to your site.
Email timothy AT bluishbarn DOT COM if interested.
Last week, before our first outdoor screening, I walked around the block to talk to the neighbors I haven’t met yet who live within earshot of our backyard. If no one was home, I left this dorky little note:
Hello Neighbor.
We at [address deleted] (the “bluish barn house”) are planning on screening some films in our backyard this Thursday night and most Thursdays after that, through mid-Fall.
Each night will have a loose theme and will include a few shorts, often by local filmmakers, followed by a feature. We’ll post the schedule and more details soon at bluishbarn.com. Most attendees will be friends and people we know and trust. Of course, our neighbors are invited too.
The screenings will start promptly at the end of civil twilight (which is around 9:30pm mid-July; around 8:30 by September) so that we can guarantee they’ll end by midnight. We love this neighborhood and we understand that our neighbors are working people like ourselves who need a good night’s sleep.
If things get too loud – whether it’s a screening night or otherwise - or if you have special requirements one particular day or week, please call my cell phone at [number deleted]. We’re reasonable, and we can always turn it down or off altogether or move it inside.
Thanks, and we hope to see you soon.
Timothy
the Bluish Barn
So now you know what our neighbors expect of us. As guests at our free screenings, please act accordingly.
And please note: this means that the features will always start at a time that will allow them to end by midnight. So people who arrive late will not only miss the beginning of the film and the better seats, but, because of the way our backyard is laid out, they might have to walk in front of the seating area to get to the back. They might even feel too awkward about everyone looking at them that they turn away and abandon the screening altogether. And everyone watching the movie will see this happen. (Ahem, Alex.) Bottom line: it’s not fashionable to arrive late to movies. Not at our house.
