Jean-Michel Basquiat (American, 1960-1988)

1905-1906 Russian Underground Press

Blood and Laughter: Caricatures from the 1905 Revolution

"Sunday 9 January 1905: Hundreds of thousand of workers assemble in the streets of St Petersburg. They are in their Sunday best and accompanied by their elderly relatives and children. There are no banners or slogans though some carry icons or church emblems, for this is to be a peaceful demonstration led by an Orthodox priest, Father Gapon. They set off for the Winter Palace, bearing to the Tsar their petition for a constitution. ‘Sire!!’ it reads. ‘We workers have come to you to seek justice and protection. We are in great poverty, we are oppressed and weighed down with labors beyond our strength. We are insulted, we are not recognized as human beings…’

For two cold hours they stand waiting in the snow for Tsar Nicholas to appear and receive their petition. A shot rings out, and they stamp their feet. Another, and they laugh that it must be blanks. A third, and suddenly women and children slump lifeless int eh snow. Still they assure themselves that this must be a mistake, for the Tsar would not shoot down unarmed civilians. But now the gendarmes are galloping in the crowd, and the slaughter has begun. The shooting continues all day long. The dead are counted in the hundreds, the wounded in the thousands, their blood spilt on the Schlusselberg Highway, the Troitsky Bridge and the Nevsky Gates. But the police cart away the bodies so quickly that it is impossible to know the full toll.

source

Dash Snow

Dash Snow was one of the few modern artists alive that I found interesting... and now he's dead. I first heard of Dash Snow while reading this article in New York Magazine over two years ago. The article is great, I think you should read it. The journalist seems to be part of the story while researching of Andy's Children.

Dash Snow seemed like he belonged as a character in the movie "KIDS." A New York City delinquent, wild, and spontaneous. Spraypaint and Polaroids were his weapons of choice. I figured I'd introduce you to him if you'd never heard of him. Read the NYmag article. Here's an excellent collection of his work. RIP.

I Wouldn't Be Caught Dead Wearing That

Barneys NY removes ‘blood-spattered’ window display
By the Associated Press Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 09:11 AM

The luxury retailer Barneys New York has removed a window display that made it appear blood-spattered mannequins were fending off attackers.

Creative director Simon Doonan says it was installed in a vestibule window at the Manhattan store while he was away on business. He had it removed after an inquiry from the New York Daily News.

Doonan said he encourages creativity, but “this clearly crossed the line.”

The weird window display left some shoppers puzzled and others appalled.

A few shrugged off the edgy art in typical New York fashion. Says Joyce Sanders of Harlem: “I watch a lot of ‘CSI.’”

Six Hopeless Images

Courtesy of A.M. (click to enlarge)

Ghost in the Machine Series

More on flickr

New Banner

Nathanael made a new banner for the kiddies! Brad, you've been immortalized (until we change the banner again). Congratulations!

Banner Change

Hey, Pigs! I asked NathanaelMcDaniel to provide me with a new Banner pic for the site, to keep things funky fresh, and the dude abided. I think it looks great!

I still don't have internet at home, that's why I haven't been posting lately. I should have it by Saturday (or someone at Time Warner Cable will die).

Homeowners Need To Sleep

[source]

"We really can't have a divided convention."

"We even said maybe it's aliens..." Thanks, Tom.

"Worthless piece of paper"

Subway graffiti will find a way.

I made another Muxtape. I put Jimi between two chicks. heh-heh.