GO SOUTH: Alabama Chanin & Exploring the Quad Cities

I had no clue there was a "quad cities" in Alabama. Or that my destination Florence was 1/4 of it (the other 3 being Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia.) I was flying into Muscle Shoals to visit designer Natalie Chanin. Natalie is the lovely and amazing woman behind the brand Alabama Chanin based in Florence. She brought me there as a visiting artist and to lead a small seminar in the Alabama Chanin studio focusing on expanding one's small business network and brand. 


Upon landing at the tiny airport where the baggage claim was mere garage door (random side fact) I was met by June, one of many awesome Alabama Chanin employees. As we drove into Florence I was immediately drawn into the surrounding's. On the outskirts of Florence there are strip malls galore but as you move around there is a very charming downtown area and some pockets of cool old buildings. Aaron and I were talking after I got back and there IS something different about the South. I realized it's almost as foreign going there as a northerner as it is visiting Ireland as an American.









My time at the Alabama Chanin studio was fantastic. They did such a lovely post about the Thursday night open house and Friday's seminar. At my talk I shared a slideshow of current projects and people I've been working with. I has also made a handout with current inspiration. The handout included some of my favorite websites I follow, magazines I read and links to helpful business articles like Rena Tom's recent posts on Poppytalk.com & the Miss Modish Pitch Kit.

Over the weekend I was invited to stay for a Alabama Chanin workshop which was a massive treat for me. I rarely have time to sit and sew these days and it was great to connect with some of the other workshop attendee's who traveled really far to participate. I got a good start on a poncho, but still have some ways to go until I think it's complete. I should mention here if your not familiar with Natalie's company I suggest you take some time to learn more about what she is doing. Her framework for her business is really really inspiring.

Aside from spending some quality time with the Alabama Chanin team I was able to do some extensive exploring both on my own and with some locals. For starters I think I found almost every thrift store in the quad cities.We had dinner and beers at the Rattlesnake Saloon, a bar built into the side of a cave. Visited "the Wall" and the highlight was the Coon Dog Cemetery where I spent hours photographing the grave markers [blogged here]. I also has the pleasure of meeting some really lovely people including artist Butch Anthony who was in town over the weekend as well.




Back alley's of downtown Florence


In Florence make sure to get a malt at Trowbridges.


This is Charlotte Ingram, owner of "The Hi-Fi House". Her father was a sign painter & lettered this wall. We met and I learned her story when I pulled over to take photos of the building.



Tom Hendrix has spent the past 30 years building a stone wall for the memory of his great-great grandmother.




Offerings on the Wall.


Butch Anthony on his porch

A very heartfelt thank you to everyone I met in Florence, you know who you are if your reading this + love to Merrliee & Andrea who drove up from Birmingham to hang out. 

Full photo set of my very RANDOM photos from my quad cities exploration here.

PS: I went to Alabama almost 2 years ago and blogged about my trip here. There are some good travel tips for you good spot finders out there.

Pet Cemetery: Coon Dogs Only

"You must not know much about coon hunters and their dogs, if you think we would contaminate this burial place with poodles and lap dogs" -Key Underwood, the founder of the Coon Dog Cemetery in response to someone asking why only coon dogs are allowed to be buried here. 

When I pulled in and drove down the short road I realized I hadn't given much thought to driving out to the middle of nowhere alone. It was too late to turn back and for the next hour I did my best to photograph every grave marker and get a few rubbings of some unique headstones. It was pretty damp out from the hot rain earlier in the day so the rubbings were a semi-failed process, but I did get a few gems. I am so glad I made my way to this peaceful place. It was really special to see the love everyone had for their dogs and not creepy one bit in case you were wondering if there was any Steven King Pet Cemetery thoughts dancing around in my head. 







To qualify for burial in this unique cemetery, where more than 185 coon dogs have been laid to rest, it has been said that three requirements must be met [From the Coon Dog Cemetery website]:

1. The owner must claim their pet is an authentic coon dog.
2. A witness must declare the deceased is a coon dog.
3. A member of the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard, Inc. must be allowed to view the coon hound and declare it as such.

Apparently there are over 185 dogs buried on site. I don't think I got a photo of every one, but here are a few of my favorites:


























You can find the Coon Dog Cemetery 7 miles west of Tuscumbia on U.S. Hwy 72. Turn left on Alabama Hwy 247, and travel approximately 12 miles. Then turn right, and follow the signs.

View the full photo set 

P.S. thanks Natalie Chanin for the hot tip to this spot! 

Sam Macon: Psychic Conversation #9

Sometimes your best friend makes something so radical you want to tell the world.



Director Sam Macon works non-stop like no one else I've met. I couldn't ask for a better collaborator and seeing his most recent music video for Crocodiles released today on Nowness.com made me swell with pride. Wish I would of been home for the shoot so I could say I had a hand in this beautiful video.

I swear I could take screen shots of each frame & be happy. Sammy, I'm really hyped for you. 



 





 

Watch Crocodiles: Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)

Snake Cake

I'm off in mere moments to fly to Florence, Alabama. Who knew it would take THREE airplanes to get there. I am really excited to be the visiting artist with the inspiring Alabama Chanin. The only catch about this great opportunity is that I blew it when I booked the trip- departing on April 11th,  my man's 39th birthday. He was super understanding, but also reminded me that if he would of made the same mistake he'd never live it down (which may be half true). I did my best to make it up to him the last two days. Monday night there was a party at Monkey Bar and last night we had an amazing dinner at our favorite local Serbian spot tucked away in our neighborhood Three Brothers.


This is what 39 candles on a tiny cake looks like


 If you see Aaron this week wish him a Happy Birthday, no one deserves one more in my book.

Updates + Tom Stack & Beth Eaton

I don't think anyone actually noticed but we took off almost 4 months over at the gallery post-holiday season. I'm trying this new thing in my life which is attempting to not overbook myself. Attempting is the key word here. I knew that finishing up the Sign Painters book manuscript was going to be full on at the beginning of the year and honestly I was just really wiped out after the holiday season. Coordinating Art vs. Craft and doing the pop-up shop at the gallery really wipes a lady out. Then there is always the other work that only seems to appear when things are at their craziest. Any of you who work freelance know that drill.



During our down time at the gallery Aaron set up a "rec-room" with a ping-pong table a friend of ours generously donated that pretty much dominated the entire space. We scheduled the first exhibit of 2012 for April 20th, Spring Gallery Night. The opening is of course approaching way faster than I anticipated. A lot of people don't realize the back end of curating/promoting shows involves being way a head of the game; writing press releases, printing show cards and making sure everyone is on schedule. This is why I am book 6-12 months out. It makes living in the moment difficult sometimes.

Another element of our 2012 calendar at the gallery and my ATTEMPT at keeping things simple(r) is our shift to showing more local artists. This is a positive move on many levels but to be honest it was motivated by our budget. Honestly it's a little disappointing not because we don't have a plethora of local talent but because a large part of why I love having a gallery is bringing new work to the area. Getting people to see work they wouldn't otherwise. I feel that experiencing art in person is vital to perpetuating inspiration. We can only absorb so much from the computer screen and since a lot of things skip Milwaukee- bands, art, performances, etc. Sky High Gallery is my place to contribute to that physical interaction. I also hate that money keeps us from doing the things we love [insert fist shaking in air here]. Anyone who has worked with me knows that going over budget is something I am fantastic at. In another attempt to reel in my life and keep the gallery open the decision to work with local artists was made.





I have to be honest, it was pretty rad to be able to walk 10 minutes to do a studio visit with the upcoming artists in the show. Technically it wasn't a "studio visit" but it seems like the best way to describe my visit with Tom and Beth (at her house where her studio IS located) last week. I've worked with both of them in the past and those of you who live in Milwaukee are most likely familiar with at least one of their works. What's exciting about their show opening this month at Sky High is that they are collaborating. Tom Stack's sharp playful illustrations right onto Beth Eaton's hand built ceramics. One of a kind, hand-painted and made entirely in Milwaukee. There will be over 50 unique pieces of pottery along with 10 new paintings from Stack. It will be great to be back in the gallery game. If you are out for the night swing by for the opening. Otherwise, check out the gallery page for show details.



More photos here.

PS. Happen to notice my design overhaul here? Just this morning I painted the new blog header + fancy link buttons for the side bar. Over the weekend, Friday night to be exact, I updated my "about" section adding some more personal information and added my CV. Long over due & very simple. Please shoot me a message if you notice anything off or not linking correctly.

SOLIDARITY!

It's Monday mid-day and I just caught wind of this story that gave me the chills. Instead of paraphrasing the news the following has been lifted from the Pussy Riot website that I highly urge you visit to learn more about this important case. These artists need our support and attention.

"Pussy Riot" is an anonymous Russian Feminist Punk Band formed in October 2011. Through a series of peaceful performances in highly visible places, the band has given voice to basic rights under threat in Russia today, while expressing the values and principles of gender equality, democracy and freedom of expression contained in the Russian constitution and other international instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the CEDAW Convention."

On February 21, 2012 "Pussy Riot", Russian Feminist Punk Band, performs a 'punk-prayer' with chorus "Virgin Mary, Become Feminist / Virgin Mary, Hash Putin Away" at the altar of the Christ the Savior cathedral in Moscow. The 'prayer' lasts for less than a minute after which the band-members are removed from the church by the guards. 

The same day a montaged video of the 'punk-prayer' is uploaded on the Youtube, going viral with over 600.000 views.

WATCH IT:




Kathleen Hannah recorded this quick video explaining the importance of showing your solidarity and support that I think sums up the vital importance of this story.



twitter: @pussy_riot
web: www.freepussyriot.org