Category Archives: art

August 8, 2009 · 9:52 pm

Crotch Grabbing Elf

Paranoid-elf

So many images, so little time.

I took this shot earlier this month at the Brooklyn Flea. This place was a treasure trove of the bizarre. Looking through the shots of the summer this one was begging to be featured. After the Krazy Glued penis caper I could not help but think this little guy was awfully symbolic. Oh, and I saw this right after Michael Jackson died in the height of MJ fever. Any connection? Can’t you picture him in this get up?

This artifact begs a few questions:

1. Who designed this item, for mass market, no less? And for what purpose? I am thinking this could easily be one half of a nesting salt and pepper shaker from the 50’s. Like the dancing bears my mom had. Hey, Ma, do you still have those?

2. What is the significance of the crotch grabbing? Protection? Masturbation? Or simply the need to pee?

3. Why do I think that this little guy could star in a nightmare I will have real soon. One where all the weird stuff I have taken pictures of will come alive and start chasing me.

Oops, sorry, I probably should not let the inner workings of my warped mind out of the bag so candidly.

Oh, right, isn’t that what I have been doing here from the beginning?

The biggest question of all: Why did I not purchase this little guy?

Stay tuned for more oddities from the flea market on days I have nothing to write about.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

1 Comment

Filed under absurdities, art, carry a camera, humor, photography, products

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

July 15, 2009 · 10:38 pm

The Art of the T-shirt

Soaring-mmortal-Blazing

I love the summertime when people proudly sport their favorite T-shirts. In some circles, picking out the T to wear to an event is akin to teenage girls and their outfit obsessions. Come on guys, the ones who do this know who you are, I don’t think I have to single you out here.

This guy was surely standing in front of his dresser pondering the perfect message to wear to the Dark Star Orchestra concert at the beach on Governors Island. This is a very T-shirt appreciative crowd. What you wear is admired, and yes sometimes coveted, like jewelry at a bit yenta-fest Bar-Mitzvah.

I Googled the message on this shirt so I would not appear pop culture ignorant in this instance (heaven forbid). I could not find any reference to the Soaring Immortal Blazing or any other phrase like Golden-maned warrior, but hey, this could be so hip it is not Googleable. (Is that a word? If not it should be). Or maybe fringe. But nonetheless, not only did I not find it, I had to read this shirt 3 times to absorb the message.

Perhaps it is simply because I am unburdened by the gravity of my mission.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

8 Comments

Filed under art, carry a camera, fashion, New York City, photography, places of interest, t-shirts

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

June 28, 2009 · 8:31 pm

Harry Potter Landscaping

harry-potter-lawn

I have passed this house before and it never registered what those slates were up against the wall. If you look closely they are Harry Potter characters.

There is virtually no landscaping on this side of the house that faces the main road in a beach town, other than the lone red impatien planted by the brick wall.

Stopped at a red light it registered what this was and this image is the result of a split second decision to take the shot before we moved. For once, I was not driving.

I wonder what drove the homeowner to paint these slates and keep them as the sole adornment on their property.

Odd at best.

I find myself singing the Mysterious Ticking Noice video song in my head when I see this. Go ahead, what the video, there is nothing that is both more annoying or more addictive.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

3 Comments

Filed under absurdities, art, humor

Tagged as , , , , , ,

April 28, 2009 · 9:15 pm

Smile! There is no HELL

smile-there-is-no-hell

Obviously this person was not sitting at my desk today.

Just kidding.

This sign was held up right next to a group of religious fanatics when we were doing the campus tour at UW Madison. The lovely thing about this campus is that you feel as if you are smack back in the middle of the days where protesting was the norm. Actually, in Madison it IS the norm.

I loved this sign because the ones that he was next to were terribly hateful and he diffused them so well. They used words like fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate homosexuals (I suppose the butch gays were cool with them), thieves, covetous drunkards (again, those that did not covet were ok) and my favorite: swindlers.

While the zealots were shouting their hateful remarks he would hold this sign up periodically and the crowd would cheer. It was peaceful. And perfect.

Just another sunny day in the midwest.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.

For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

1 Comment

Filed under art, carry a camera, college touring, education, signage

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

February 8, 2009 · 10:46 pm

It’s an art school moron!

art-school

Ok, so now I am taking pictures of graffiti in public bathrooms. So what! It’s not like I am sitting on the toilet seat or anything. Jeez, don’t be so judgmental.

Sorry, I snapped there for a minute.

This out of focus commentary was found in the bathroom at a concert venue the other night. A very nice one I might add, tucked away in the sleepy town of Dix Hills Long Island at a place called Five Towns College. Twenty minutes from my house and I never knew this place existed. Go figure. Need to get out of the zip code more often.

So, back to the graffiti. I found this quite entertaining. “Why is this school so flippin’ ghey’!?” I had never seen the word ‘ghey’ before. As I have told the kids growing up, Gay is a sexual orientation, not an insult. Well apparently ‘ghey’ has nothing to do with being gay. Urban dictionary defines the word as ‘a derivation of gay meaning lame. meant to be non-offensive to individuals of a homosexual persuasion.’

The second line: “umm it’s an art school moron!”

Well, that about says it all. Writer #1, you have no business at an art school apparently, making you a moron.

Too funny.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.

For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

3 Comments

Filed under absurdities, art, carry a camera, music

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

January 23, 2009 · 8:50 pm

Goodbye Norma Jean

marilyn

“You had the grace to hold yourself, while those around you crawled”

Sir Elton, how about this bizarre rendering of Marilyn?

Hold herself? Is that what is going on in this painting? Are those supposed to be her hands, because I am thinking that it might be physically impossible for one’s hands to be in that position.

So then I thought, ok, maybe they are someone else’s hands. I mean, really, not such a stretch to think that someone would want to cop a feel of those bodacious tatas, right? But notice the french manicure. So  that would make it a woman touching her (not that there is anything wrong with that) but I have never heard talk of Marilyn Monroe being gay. Hey, you never know, my dear friend Frank tells me that everyone is gay except my husband because he knows that will freak me out.

Are you wondering if this is hanging in my house? Don’t be silly, we only moved in 20 years ago. You can’t possibly think that I have hung the artwork yet.

I saw this in the art supply store. The same one that housed the ever famous bustier pocketbook and the Ricky Martin lunchbox on its sale rack. This place is the mecca for tacky.

Note to self: visit Pearl Paint at least once a month for blogging material.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.

For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

1 Comment

Filed under absurdities, art, body image, products

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

January 15, 2009 · 11:36 pm

Celebrate the Changing of the Guard

original_image

In celebration of our new president, Paste Magazine has put up the most fantastic idea, Obambaicon.me.

Yes, that picture above is the ever fabulous and famous Mel. For those who don’t know her or follow me around the web, my avatar, or icon is a picture of the pup with sunglasses on. She is quite cool.

Obamaicon.me allows you to alter any photo to match the style of the iconic Obama campaign graphic. You can upload a photo or use the camera on your computer to snap a new shot. It also allows you to add a slogan.

Genius!

Thanks Joe Laves, for turning me on to this. If anyone cares to submit their version to me I will be happy to post them here. Send to a2zdes(at)gmail(dot)com.

And yes, the dog is a liberal democrat who is looking forward to change.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at Mid-Century Modern Moms and at 50-Something Moms Blog.

For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

6 Comments

Filed under absurdities, art, marketing, politics

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

January 8, 2009 · 7:57 pm

Lingerie or Purse?

bustier-bag_small

If I ever doubted why I carry a camera in my bag at all times this little frivolity confirmed my desire to always have one handy.

When I see an item like this I wonder if it were transported to a different context might it be seen as the hottest fashion craze? Hang one off the arm of an Olsen twin and these things would be flying off the shelves instead of hanging on the sale rack. The very same sale section where I spotted the Ricky Martin lunchbox back in October.

The odd thing is that these items were not found in a novelty store. I saw them at Pearl Paint, an art and craft supply mega-store that I always make excuses to visit as often as possible. This is the art supply store of my formative art student years. I simply feel better in those aisles with all those tubes and brushes. Yeh well, ok.

This bustier purse begs the question, “What art supply store buyer would make the choice to stock this item in the first place?” Going through supplier catalogs checking off inventory: oil paint, brushes, gold leaf, erasers, drawing paper, hot pink satin bustier purse with rhinestone accents, erasers, picture frames, clay… Sorry don’t see the logic here. Kind of like the Where’s Waldo of retail.

You know, looking at it now it is growing on me. I am kind of sorry I did not purchase it.

Hmmm, do you think it will still be there tomorrow? Seriously, this could MAKE any outfit at a North Shore Long Island Bar Mitzvah, no?

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at Mid-Century Modern Moms and at 50-Something Moms Blog.

For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

7 Comments

Filed under absurdities, art, carry a camera, fashion, humor, products, trends

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

January 2, 2009 · 11:42 pm

Art.

Ok. Art? Maybe.

I took this shot last summer in the Adirondacks. We were stopped at a light in a small town and there it was; perfect light on that yellow hydrant and the simple graffiti statement to the right.

What is the art here? The hydrant? The graffiti? The relationship of the two? Or the photo I took?

Or none of the above?

What? You think I have run out of things to write about? Hmmm, maybe THAT is the art.

What can you say about this image?

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at Mid-Century Modern Moms and at 50-Something Moms Blog.

For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

2 Comments

Filed under absurdities, art

December 31, 2008 · 3:49 pm

The Kafka Van

kafka_van_small1

Believe it or not, this van has been parked around the corner from my house for years and I have never thought to take a picture of it. I am sure the first time I saw it I was amused, but it became one of those weird things that are commonplace with routine. Still, not your average sight in a sleepy suburban town.

Now that I decided to make this my New Year’s post I had to give it some more thought.

I can’t help but wonder what the inside of this vehicle looks like. There are some makeshift curtains on the side windows. It looks like it was a school mini-bus in its first life which seems quite fitting. Not sure about the rack on the back, or is that apparatus used to keep the back doors bolted shut, like once you get inside you are not leaving so fast? Hmm, creepy.

What goes on in there? Is it piled high with German literature? What sort of weird activities could take place while driving around in a Kafka van? Do the occupants speak in run on sentences? Is there a sense of hopelessness when seated behind the wheel? Do other people think these things when driving by the Kafka van or is it just me?

I visited our dear friend Wikipedia and found out that good ol’ Franzy boy was an insurance man by profession. Not sure if that fits his aura, but hey, everyone has to make a living.

Here’s one more little interesting Wikifact about Kafka:

Prior to his death, Kafka wrote to his friend and literary executor Max Brod: “Dearest Max, my last request: Everything I leave behind me … in the way of diaries, manuscripts, letters (my own and others’), sketches, and so on, [is] to be burned unread.”[18] Brod overrode Kafka’s wishes, believing that Kafka had given these directions to him specifically because Kafka knew he would not honor them—Brod had told him as much. 

So, which one of you do I ‘assign’ the deleting (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) of all my blog posts upon my demise?

You will have to excuse me now as I need to go drive around and see if I can find where the Fellini convertible is parked.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at Mid-Century Modern Moms and at 50-Something Moms Blog.

For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

2 Comments

Filed under absurdities, art, carry a camera, humor, writing

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,