What I'm Peepin'

From Electric Literature's Recommended Reading, author Nell Zink (best penname, if it is one, EVER) and her story "The Wall Creeper."

"I’ve never met anybody I can be entirely sure I’ve actually met.” - See more 

Also, child bride of Christ Carabella Sands had a new story published called "An Antelope Explaining to an Antelope How to Hunt an Antelope"
I think I get it, but I don't really and it's okay because she also draws really sexy carrots and any gal like that is a keeper. 
















Also, writer Juliet Escoria is a brilliant, witchy wonder:
Animal Cruelty by Juliet Escoria from Juliet Escoria on Vimeo.

Ladies is killin it in art.

Why Baltimore is Awesome Right Now

1. The LED Art Board.
Not that it needed it, but this project is putting our lil city on the map of best cities for art. It's a near-decade-long vision of artist Will Shanklin and features the art of Baltimore artists alongside the ads that make the whole project possible. It's a vision of beauty in the night sky overlooking 83 and the Station North Arts District. After you're done blowing your mind on it, you can see a show at Metro Gallery, get swank food at Chesapeake, Plaza Theatro, see a movie at the Charles Theatre or a play at Yellow Sign Theatre or the Chicken Box, or get coffee at Kanteen, a crepe at Sophie's Crepes, a burger and sundae at Lost City Diner, delicious Jamaican food at Caribbean Paradise or a drink at Club Charles, the Depot, (Gatsby's?), or drugs at the after-hours underworld 1722. There are links on the website to the artists' individual pages where you can view and buy their art. Check it out.

By Will Shanklin featuring yours truly as the space babe!

2. Fields Festival!
It's this weekend and I already have my bodypaint. I've only lived in the city a few years, but I don't remember anything like this happening. A ton of acts, the weird and the internationally-known, from our humble city will be performing in a campground that apparently also has lots of witch conferences. I long burned out of the big-name wannabe Woodstocks of my late teen years, but this festival feels like the real deal, ie. not a money-making scheme by big corporations or record companies, but a genuine effort to bring all of Baltimore's weirdos out in a big field together to play.

3. My Talented Friends.

For example, Carabella Sands who's always killing it, but is also heading up an offshoot project from the LED Art Board wherein artists are paired up with others to draw each others' portraits! It's happening tonight so I should have some good pictures by then to help fill this out.

Juliet by Carabella

Timmy by Carabella

Carabella by Bounge

Additionally, a new track from Bounge is up today! This is the musical project of Rebecca Drumm who is one of those Baltimore artists that works works works and you won't see her for weeks and then BOOM, she's got art coming out everywhere. This is the new track which you can download free: 

but then she is an amazing painter as well:

In short, I made the best decision of my life when I decided to move here.

"Monsterhead" Music Video

About a year in production, I'm pleased to finally present my first music video, featuring the talents of Will Shanklin, Madeleine Buck, Whitney Morell,Carabella Sands, and Simona Stankeviciute! So lucky to get to work with some of Baltimore's finest artists. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbGSyBQamfE&feature=youtu.be

The Brilliance of Others

If I can be egotistical about anything, it's how freaking talented the people around me are. Musicians, artists, wordsmiths, they are mythical creatures that exist in a world of extraordinariness I am just lucky enough to stand next to. Here's a few of these examples.

Ms. Sands

This lady Carabella Sands is truly among the faerie people. She evokes whimsy, punctured innocence, devilish obsession with small things. She is my muse, my flame. This is her flickster.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76784199@N05/
 

Then recently, I also was lucky enough to watch my friend record and produce this album by a couple of Aussie-expatriate-turned-Baltimoreans calling themselves Smoke Bellow. Beautiful album.

Smoke Bellow--Old Haunts

Narcissa at the farmer's market

And then just the other day, my newly-Californian Narcissa launched her blog concerning hydroponic sustainable gardening, reasons to run, and advocating food rage. 

Exploring in Paradise


Another friend of mine, Michael Voorhis (not "Matt" as the tag suggests), read from his novel Jaw Pieces on the MICA radio show Sound Curtain. It's beyond extraordinary.

http://soundcloud.com/the-sound-curtain/matt-voorhis-jaw-pieces


 Then, yes, I do actually have an opportunity to self-promote. This isn't a game-changer, this isn't poetry, this is barely even good, but I did read it on Sound Curtain a couple weeks ago. I also read it once at the weekly Artichoke Haircut open mic. It's fun to read.

I'm a slave 4 U

http://soundcloud.com/the-sound-curtain/juliana-converse-good-service

Narcissa may be in a sensory paradise of sun and sand and fresh air, but we've been watching Baltimore experience an artistic renaissance that I venture beats the hell out of our Big Red Delicious Protruding FameRocket TimeWarner Machine.

Listen--look--be inspired.

Long live art for art's sake.