Kesey Party 1992

Ken Kesey

Hokum Scorchers (Lou Reimuller and Amy Crehore)

Okay, so Jerry Garcia got sick in August of 1992.The Grateful Dead were supposed to headline an event called "Field Trip" in Veneta, OR, but they cancelled due to illness. So, the musicians that were also supposed to play at the event headed out to Ken Kesey's property. My band, The Hokum Scorchers, played music for 20 minutes on a makeshift stage in a field next to Kesey's house. All the food was gone when we got there, so we played on an empty stomach. I think they paid us $5.

Here's my badge (front and back views above) sporting Kesey's own psychedelic artwork. I believe Gus Van Sant was there that day, too, filming the part where Kesey read his childrens' book on stage (wearing a bear costume).

Unfortunately, Kesey's outfit caught on fire as he was doing his thing. I think I heard him scream, "Turn the cameras off!!". My memory is foggy, but I know that I wore my vintage Foster Grant sunglasses like I always do when we play hokum music. I remember asking Ken Babbs if Robert Stone was there because I had just illustrated a story of his for Esquire magazine. "Nope, he's not here, but Timothy Leary is supposed to show up". I remember knocking my microphone completely off the platform. Ka-Plunk! Everyone in the audience was stoned, so it really didn't matter what anyone did on stage. We walked past an old junker on our way out...it was "Further", the original hippie bus (photo above). Later, we would get to play music on Ken Kesey's float in the annual Eugene parade. He made us do a version of the song "Gloria". It must have been one of his favorites. There is a film of that somewhere...

The Art of Amy Crehore

P.S. I posted this story 3 years ago, but I am posting it again this morning as I head out to see the Eugene Celebration parade. I will always remember riding on that float with Ken Kesey who was dressed in his shaggy bear costume. Standing at the front of the float, he almost hit his head on a tree limb as we made our way down the streets of Eugene, OR. There is now a statue of Kesey in the middle of town. He is reading a book to children.

The Paternal Suit by F. Scott Hess

The Paternal Suit consists of over 100 paintings, prints, and objects created by artist F. Scott Hess as his own "family heirlooms" and presented as legitimate historical artifacts. It opens tonight: Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, watch video and see more images here: LINK 

Exhibit runs: Aug 24- Oct 6, 2012

161 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401
 843.953.HICA (4422)

Wonderful idea and execution, with a good dose of humor.

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Geishas as Bathing Beauties (1900)

These geishas-as-bathing-beauties (1900) came from Okinawa Soba flickr

(featured on retronaut blog today)

 These are inspiring to me as I have been painting bathers for a while. So charming!

 

The Art of Amy Crehore

Fantasmagorie 1908 - Early Animation

This film is by French artist Emile Cohl 

Here's another link.

(Thanks, Moira Hahn for Youtube link)

Royal French Ballet 1620s

Click to enlarge image

The Hazardous Perrette and a Cat, Daniel Rabel 1620s Royal French Ballet

Ballet des Fées de la forêt de Saint Germain

Music Recital for grand Ballet.

More illustrations like this at BibliOdyssey

The cat above reminds me a lot of my little pierrots that I painted from my imagination in 2004-2005.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Kusama and Cornell

 Yayoi Kusama with Cornell 1970

(he looks a little like he's choking her, but she looks happy)

Yayoi Kusama Age 10 1939

Blouin Artinfo has more photos of Kusama (that's where I got these).

Link to my recent boingboing essay on the book about Joseph Cornell, Utopia Parkway.

Kusama and her relationship with Cornell is mentioned in the book.

The photo (above) was taken in 1970, he died in 1972.

Ladies on Bicycles 1899

What am I up to?

Here are some details of a larger oil painting that I am working on.

These are just some quicky ipod glimpses of the unfinished work.

The temporary title is "Fig Leaf Parasol".

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Painting of the day by Ilya Repin

 I like this painting by Ilya Repin called "Dragon-fly". It is a portrait of the artist's daughter, Vera Repina (1884, oil on canvas). More about Repin here. He was born on August 5, 1844, so it's his birthday today. He was a great Russian realist painter.

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My essay about Utopia Parkway (the book) for Boing Boing

I wrote an essay about one of my favorite books- Utopia Parkway, The Life and Work of Joseph Cornell by Deborah Solomon (shown above)- for Boing Boing's Enthralling Books series. It is an absolutely wonderful biography of an eccentric man who became a great American artist.

Here's the LINK to my essay.

Here is a link to the works of Joseph Cornell. (artnet)
One thing that touched me about Cornell, which I failed to mention in my essay, was how he cared about and related to children. Shortly before he died in 1972, he had a show at Cooper Union School in NYC. This show was just for children and his works were hung at the child's-eye level. He actually attended the opening and they served cherry coke and brownies (which I am sure he gladly scarfed down). Shown here are a few pictures of the event (from A Joseph Cornell Album - Viking 1974- courtesy Dore Ashton/Denise Hare). You can see more photos at: Stopping Off Place Blog

The Art of Amy Crehore

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Historic Mechanical Instruments and Figures

Watch this amazing "clown illusionist" in action - the Morris Museum website (follow the link below) has sound clips and video clips of 22 historic mechanical figures and instruments from the Murtogh D. Guinness collection. You can visit a permanent collection of these (700 objects) if you live near Morristown, NJ. (I used to live near there myself, but this collection was not available at the time.) 

 LINK

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Photos of the Day: Brigitte Bardot 1953

Retronaut has 12 stunning photos of Brigitte Bardot on the beach at Cannes in 1953 (from LIFE magazine archives). These really show her personality. 

LINK

I am working on paintings with swimmers/bathers lately, so it is nice to see these. Stay tuned to this blog for another new painting of mine to be posted soon.

The Art of Amy Crehore

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Herge and Luke Davies

When author Luke Davies was a young boy he corresponded for a few years with none other than Herge himself, the creator of Tintin. Read his surprising story and see a collection of letters and drawings here:

 LINK (theage.com.au)

Luke is a fan of my art, too. Thanks, Luke!

The Art of Amy Crehore 

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Wedding Waltz by Eleni Karaindrou

Just for your quiet listening pleasure today.

Rare Footage of Frida, Diego and Trotsky 1938

(Thanks, T. Tex Edwards and openculture )

Joni Mitchell, Mama Cass and Mary Travers Sing Together 1969

Robert Schwartz Paintings on View in San Francisco

( Click to enlarge) The Tight Fit 6" x 7" 1993 by Robert Schwartz

A Clay Horse on Wheels 6.5"x8" gouache on paper 1994 by Robert Schwartz

One of my favorite artists, Robert Schwartz (deceased),

 will be part of a show with sculptor David Beck

opening on Friday, July 13, 2012 5-7pm at

Hackett/ Mill

 201 Post Street, Suite 1000, San Francisco, CA

July 13- September 28, 2012

Don't miss seeing these small gouache paintings if you live nearby.

I saw his work a couple years ago at Hackett/Mill and it is amazing.

I'm lucky to own a book of his work: "Dream Games".

Looks like you can still get one through amazon ,but it is expensive.
Here is a link to more work by Robert Schwartz (a show last year at Babcock in NYC).

Art of Amy Crehore

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Polka-Dot Kusama Clothing Line Unveiled

To coincide with the Yayoi Kusama Retrospective at the Whitney Museum:

Vuitton and Kusama Collection 

(slide show, Vogue)

Kusama is 83 years old.

Sometimes Mothers Are Furniture

I'm jumping on the "hidden mother" bandwagon. These Victorian portraits are too good to pass up: mothers are hidden under blankets and curtains, literally becoming pieces of furniture, just to get their kids to stand or sit still for a cabinet photograph (which took a lot longer to shoot back then).

For more examples follow LINK , LINK , Hidden Mother flickr group.

Thanks, Carlos Lara 

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Photo of the Day

I found this photo here: LINK 

Sculptor (above) is making the prototype for the mold for mannequins like the one Lou Reimuller used to build his Teenar, girl guitar (below). Right now, Lou is finishing up Tickler Uke #3, a beautiful custom concert ukulele (that I designed).

The Art of Amy Crehore

Some Photos From Recent Trip to L.A.

Kirsten Anderson (of Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle) and artist Joey Remmers pose in front of a magnificent Nick Brandt photo at the Kingdom Animalia show in Anaheim Hills, CA on Friday evening, June 29th, 2012. (See my previous blog post for more details and info: LINK  )

I'm standing in front of a wall of paintings (my "Blue Mirror" painting is to the left of my head) at the Kingdom Animalia Show. It was a lovely opening - lots of excellent animal-themed works complete with fabulous food and ice sculpture- to benefit the Big Life Foundation.  LINK to artwork.

Back at the hotel. It had an ocean view from the terrace.

I got lucky on Saturday. Artist Joshua Petker was having an artist talk about his show ("Adrift") with Howard Fox (who was LACMA curator of Contemporary Art for many years) at LeBasse Projects. Wonderful show. Great people. Thank you Beau Basse.

On Saturday, I also got to see an amazing show of paintings and ceramic sculptures by Allison Schulnik ("Salty Air") at Mark Moore Gallery. I blogged about her animations earlier (Hobo Clown and Mound ). They were showing "Mound" in the back room.

The Art of Amy Crehore (website)

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Don't Miss: Kingdom Animalia Art Exhibit, June 29th, 2012 Anaheim Hills, CA

My new painting "Blue Mirror" shown with the frame (20 5/8" x 20 5/8" framed) ©Amy Crehore 2012 (CLICK TO ENLARGE).
See also previous post: "Blue Mirror" 16" x 16"oil on linen: LINK

 This ad for the exhibit features a splendid B & W image by artist Femke Hiemstra. Shown below is an exquisite B & W photo of elephants by amazing photographer Nick Brandt who founded the Big Life Foundation  in response to a dramatic escalation in poaching of African animals. If you are in the area on Friday night, June 29th (7-10pm), please stop by Land Rover, Anaheim Hills, CA (5425 E. La Palma Ave) for a very special exhibition to benefit Big Life Foundation. Artist James Jean will be signing a special print at the show.
I will be going to this opening. Hope to see you there!


 Kingdom Animalia
June 29-July20

"Elephant Herd Crossing Lake Bed in Sun" ©Nick Brandt 2008

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New Painting: "Blue Mirror" by Amy Crehore for Kingdom Animalia Exhibit

PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Here's my painting for the upcoming Kingdom Animalia art show. It is called "Blue Mirror", 16" x 16" oil on linen (© Amy Crehore 2012). This just a quick digital shot (above), but you can see this painting with its frame HERE (in a photo that shows more texture, detail and vibrancy of color using real film).

Check out this amazing list of artists (below)! If you are near Anaheim Hills, CA on the night of June 29th, 2012 please don't miss this wonderful show to benefit Big Life Foundation. I will be there along with many others!

The show will take place at Land Rover Anaheim Hills, 5425 E. La Palma Ave. Anaheim Hills, CA 7-10 pm.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

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Peek at Tickler Ukulele #3 (Crehore)

Here's a sneak peek at the shimmering green end graft of Tickler Ukulele # 3 (concert uke built by Lou Reimuller). This is just one of the special details on the new uke that I designed. It is almost ready for me to paint a design on the front.

I know it has been a long time since Tickler #2, but it will be worth the wait.

The Art of Amy Crehore

The Sky

I think the sky itself is a perfect work of art. I have been looking at and trying to paint it lately and, I have to say, that I have never had more fun. Here is a quick ipod photo of just a detail of a new painting that I recently finished for a show in CA at the end of June. I will be blogging more about the show very soon and posting my completed work of art. I am glad to be finished with it as I spent quite a few weeks of intense painting. That is why I have been so quiet lately! This group show is going to be amazing and I can't wait to tell you more about it.
Kingdom Animalia

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Photo of the day: Phantoms of Venice

Costumes created by Salvador Dali for a ball in Venice 1951

LINK

Click photo to enlarge

Scene from Ghost World: Devil Got My Woman

I wrote a little essay about the movie Ghost World for Boing Boing's Mind Blowing Movies series.
 LINK

 Here's the scene where Enid discovers Skip James' "Devil Got My Woman" for the first time, a record she got at Seymour's yard sale.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Hokum Scorchers songs

Picture of the Day by Prins Eugen (1896)

"The Cloud" by Prins Eugen, Swedish painter of royal birth, 1896. I've been looking at a lot of landscape painting lately. This one is amazing. Read about the painter here:

LINK

(Thanks Janet)

The Art of Amy Crehore

What am I working on?

This is a small detail of a larger painting that I am working very hard on for an upcoming show. That is why I haven't been blogging much this past week. I still have a ways to go. (Above: grainy ipod photo of detail of unfinished work.)

The Art of Amy Crehore

Art of Amy Crehore

Julie Heffernan talking about her art

Here is the artist Julie Heffernan talking about the meaning of her work at her recent Oklahoma City Museum of Art retrospective. Her paintings are so ambitious and layered. It's good to see a great women painter being featured in a museum show.

Upcoming Show: Kingdom Animalia

Click on image to enlarge.

Artist Joey Remmers and Kirsten Anderson (owner of Roq La Rue Gallery) have curated a fantastic show called Kingdom Animalia to support the Big Life Foundation. I am honored to be included in this group of wonderful artists. Here's a link to more info about the show which will take place in Anaheim Hills, CA, June 29th, 2012: LINK 

Big Life Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of Africa's wildlife and ecosystems, was established by the amazing photographer Nick Brandt. Here's the LINK

Show line-up includes recognized artists from around the world: Amy Crehore, Amy Sol, Ana Bagayan, Brad Woodfin, Brian Viveros, Camille Rose Garcia, Christian Van Minnen, Chrystal Chan, Craig LaRotonda, Dan May, Dan Quintana, Dave Cooper, Heidi Tailleferr, Henry Lewis, Glenn Barr, Greg Simkins, James Jean, Jessica Joslin, Joe Ledbetter, Joey Remmers, Kim Thompson, KMNDZ, Kris Kuksi, Krista Huot, Lindsey Carr, Lola, Madeline von Foerster, Marco Mazzoni, Mark Dean Veca, Mark Garro, Mark Ryden, Marion Peck, Martin Wittfooth, Melissa Forman, Mia Araujo, Michael Page, Nathan Ota, Nathan Spoor, Naoto Hattori, Nick Baxter, Nick Brandt, Nicola Verlato, Paolo Guido, Sam Wolfe Connelly, Seamus Conley, Scott Musgrove, Shag, Shaunna Peterson, Suzanne Falk, Ti Kunkit, Tom Bagshaw, Travis Louie, Ver Mar and Yumiko Kayakawa.

I am currently working on my painting for this exhibit. Stay tuned for more news about this show!

The Art of Amy Crehore

Huge list of things that you can no longer send to Italy by U.S.P.S.

1. Albums of any kind (of photographs, postcards, postage stamps, etc.
2. Arms and weapons.
3. Articles of platinum or gold; jewelry; and other valuable articles (unless sent as insured Priority Mail International parcels)
4. Artificial flowers and fruits and accessories for them.
5. Bells and other musical instruments and parts thereof.
6. Cartridge caps; cartridges.
7. Clocks and supplies for clocks.
8. Compound medicaments and medicines.
9. Coral mounted in any way.
10. Ether and chloroform.
11. Exposed photographic and cinematographic films.
12. Footwear of any kind.
13. Haberdashery and sewn articles of any kind, including trimmings and lace; handkerchiefs; scarves; shawls, needlework including stockings and gloves; bonnets, caps, and hats of any kind.
14. Hair and articles made of hair.
15. Human remains.
16. Leather goods.
17. Lighters and their parts, including lighter flints.
18. Live bees, leeches, and silkworms.
19. Live plants and animals.
20. Nutmeg, vanilla; sea salt, rock salt; saffron.
21. Parasites and predators of harmful insects.
22. Perfumery goods of all kinds (except soap).
23. Playing cards of any kind.
24. Postage stamps in sealed or unsealed First-Class Mail International shipments.
25. Radioactive materials.
26. Ribbons for typewriters.
27. Roasted or ground coffee and its substitutes; roasted chicory.
28. Saccharine and all products containing saccharine.
29. Salted, smoked or otherwise prepared meats; fats; and lard.
30. Tobacco.
31. Toys not made wholly of wood.
32. Treated skins and furs.
33. Weapons of any kind and spare parts for them.

Recently I wanted to mail someone in Italy a t-shirt and a couple of postcards, but I found out that they are prohibited! I don't know if this big list of prohibited items signals increasing problems with the U.S. mail or problems with the Italian customs office or both. Either way, it's not looking good. Also, one must fill out all U.S.P.S. customs forms at home on a computer (including the weight of package and phone number of recipient) and print it out before taking it to the post office. NO MORE hand-written forms!