One Year On - Ring The Bell

I'm sure you've had your fill this week, but there's seldom a week goes by where I don't play a Songs:Ohia or Magnolia Electric Company album. It will be a year ago on Sunday, 16th March, that Jason Molina died at the tragically young age of 39, such an absolute shame. Anyway, I thought I'd post this film of him and the band recording their last album, Josephine, with the talent of Steve Albini at the controls. A great insight into two very talented people. The recent re-issue of Songs:Ohia's The Magnolia Electric Co. album (a classic), for it's 10th anniversary, comes with a great full acoustic demo version. Put the kettle on and turn the phone off!

Big Beast

This is the last of these from Jason Molina. I love the blatant (very!) nod to Neil Young. Tonights The Night, now there's a record... i'm glad Neil headed for the ditch!

Blue Factory Flame

From the Songs:Ohia album Didn't It Rain. It doesn't matter where you dip in to Jason Molina's music, there are NO bad albums. My favourites change all the time.



and a pretty nice cover by Barzin.

)

Coxcomb Red

I will convert you by the end of the week! It's 4 mins, you can spare that. You'll be a better person for it. Jason Molina had an amazing output, i loved all phases of his work. This album is a cracker though. It was tough picking between the title track and this one, but this always works for me.... and i like to sing along (very badly) to it... and under my breath, just to save any poor ears that might be around!

Riding With Ghosts

Philbeckian Delivery

Always nice to get a box of goodies! I recently bought a small batch of pots from fellow blogger, great potter and good guy, Ron Philbeck. They arrived yesterday and I'm always excited when unpacking. Pictures never do physical things true justice, just like looking at art in books and not in the flesh. This is the mug that started my mini shopping spree, i knew it belonged to me as soon as i saw it... it's a very 'me' mug. I love it!! Couldn't wait to get some coffee in it. 

If you don't eat off, or drink from something made by someone's hands with skill, thought and passion, then you are truly missing out on a very basic pleasure. You buy a mass produced mug and roll it over in your palm and what does it give you? Nothing. I hold these and i can follow the process of their very construction, how the handle was fixed, which way it was held to be dipped in the slip, the order the lines were trailed on. Then you have all the visual stuff, the variations in the glaze, the bleed of the oxides, the marks of fingertips. I often sit holding an empty warm cup in my hands for some time, following the ridges, finding little bumps and hollows. Find a potter you love and buy a pot. Please.

Ooooh, i wonder what's inside this packaging?
....THIS! it's a fantastic plate, i shall be eating off of it for the foreseeable future!

I also bought a great pasta bowl and a Yunomi with lots of lovely slip. Sorry i didn't get better photos of them all.

 Here's a better shot of the Yunomi that Ron had sent me, when looking at possible purchases. It got it's first run-out last night, great cup.

They will all be suffering from plenty of wear and tear, just how it should be. Art and function.

Thanks Ron!

Simple

Here are some very simple puppets that my big sister gave me a few years ago (she was going to throw them out, but wondered if i might like them... how long has she known me??) Clive had posted one very similar, in terms of simple construction, but i can't seem to find his post on the Artlog to link to, maybe i imagined it? (help me out Clive!). Only the arms are moved by two strings, but there's still loads of character and expression achievable. Are they from a particular story? and what Nationality? I can take a ball park guess in terms of East European, but if anyone can speculate more i'm happy to hear about it. Anyway, i like them. They hang on my home studio door... next to that little mirror that says "This Is Not You"on it .... and it's not  : )