The “You’re the Best” Edition :: Issue #091

 

:: :: Nothing’s ever gonna keep you down :: ::


Rusty's Electric Dreams

Rusty’s Electric Dreams, an inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff
Issue #091 :: The “You’re the best” Edition :: 06:29:2016

You’re the best…

Last week, I told you about some hate mail I got. So many of you sent me AWESOME emails full of praise and encouragement! Thank you!

I was so humbled by your notes. I am suffering much less now. 🙂

So, as I wrote about last week, I’m in between gigs right now and looking for paid work. Your feedback? Soooo many of you suggested that I start a Patreon. So, I’m going to start one. I want to continue doing this thing I do and take it to the next level. It might be hard to see, but I’ve been holding back on you. I have a lot of cool ideas, but I need to get on better financial ground to rock them!

You folks are the best,

 

Rusty Blazenhoff v 3.2
p.s. Did I ever tell you about that time I saw my teen idol, Andy Warhol, in real life? I saw him from across the street when I was younger. Years later, I found a photo of him that same day, from nearly the same angle, on the internet. More on that next week.

Praise: “I love getting your newsletter. It’s basically the only one I read and one of few that arrive. Thank you for sharing all the fun things you find, and thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences around getting unpleasant emails.”
–Daniel, RED reader

This space intentionally left thankful

As seen on the Internets

 

BIG EYED COWS

:: Marie Catoinette, a coloring book for grownups by former A-i-R Julie Jackson
:: http://amzn.to/28YvIee

:: This woman makes capes for unsung superheroes
:: http://www.loveyou2.org/tag/cape/ via

:: Angelyne is selling her hot pink Corvette on eBay (!)
:: http://www.ebay.com/itm/331889880403

:: This American Life: “Tell me I’m Fat”
:: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/589/tell-me-im-fat

:: Beer floats (ice cream and real beer) Thanks, Frank!
:: http://www.manmadediy.com/4298-beer-ice-cream-5-simple-beer-floats

:: Delynn’s “It could save a life” campaign
:: https://www.gofundme.com/itcouldsavealife

:: Leafcutter Designs is featured in Inc.!
:: http://www.inc.com/leigh-buchanan/leafcutter-designs-does-big-business-from-tiny-crafts.html

:: A funny, and cringeworthy, podcast where a son reads the porno his dad penned 
:: http://www.mydadwroteaporno.com/ Thanks, Dan!

:: I never knew about the 808 machine until this week, then I discovered this:
:: http://808cube.com/ Thanks, Glenn!

:: “My First Gay Bar”
:: http://www.nytimes.com/my-first-gay-bar-rosie-odonnell-rachel-maddow-alexander-wang-andy-cohen-share.html

Real things you can actually buy… in Prague


Cocaine-free cocaine vodka and cannabis-free cannabis candy

Cocaine-free Cocaine vodka and cannabis-free cannabis candy
photos by Absinthia who is in Prague!

Free to be you fashion

Hi! I’m Kitty Stryker. I’m a writer, a cat mum, a fat femme performer, and the community manager at Harridan Township – I asked Rusty if I could share something cool I’ve been working on, and she said yes! [It’s true! -ed.]

Shopping, for me, is often a nightmare. It’s so hard to find clothes that fit me that aren’t unflattering, especially clothes I can wear to work. When I watched Harridan Township be born, I was super excited to finally have options – not only in terms of style, but in how masculine or feminine I wanted to be that day. See, Harridan Township is an online department store with universal sizing, meaning you can shop from any of their 5 labels to create something uniquely you. As a fat person, finding a suit that could fit me was a dream. As a femme, finding a suit with pockets? Even better. I feel especially lucky that I got to be a model for one of the lines, showing people that yes, fat folks could wear these clothes and look cool too! [That’s her in the pink top! -ed.]

We have a Kickstarter right now, with perks ranging from tee-shirts and hoodies to blouses and 3 piece suits. I’m hoping we succeed, because I want everyone to have that same feeling of slipping into clothing that recognizes the beauty of body and gender diversity. It’s a big goal – $250,000! – but we think the time has come for a clothing revolution. I’m ready! [yay! –ed.]


Are you working on something cool too? Email me and tell me about it. I’d love to highlight some of the projects our amazing community is working on!

The Cosmic Muffin

 

The Artist Shag

Shag posted this photo of himself on Instagram, and captioned it, “Howard Hughes’ private plane was turned into a private yacht and rechristened ‘The Cosmic Muffin.’ Jimmy Buffet wrote a song about it. Only in Florida.” Cool!

Artist-in-Residence: Russell Sparkman

Russell Sparkman

About the Photograph
The emerging drone camera technology is effectively providing photographers with a tripod in the sky, and one of the most compelling views from this flying tripod is called the “Eye of God.” These views are particularly compelling because they are from vantage points that are higher than the highest tripod, but lower than typical aerial photography from helicopters or airplanes (often no more than 100 feet off the ground).

In this week’s photo, a fantastic abstract mosaic is created when a community garden is photographed from directly above.

About the Photographer
Russell Sparkman, CEO of digital marketing agency FusionSpark Media, Inc., was an early adopter of digital photography in the 90s, and authored a book called “Essentials of Digital Photography” in 1996. It was a natural evolution of Sparkman’s experience to start using drones, in this case a DJI Phantom 4. Sparkman is also co-founder of DroneVideoServices.com, a DBA of FusionSpark Media.


Think you’d like to be the featured Artist-in-Residence for a month? Email me for details. 

Events of note

Tiki Oasis parasol
[8/18-8/21] For mai tais, music, and monsters, head to this year’s Tiki Oasis
United States
[Now until 8/19] Tiny Book Show, a touring bookmobile of little books handcrafted by artists and writersAlameda, California
[Until 6/29] Island City Waterways: Waves of Inspiration, new landscapes with borax and shoe polish by Ginny Parsons at Rhythmix[7/3] Alameda Point Antiques Faire, 6 AM to 3 PM[7/4] The Mayor’s 4th of July Parade[7/8] Normal is Over, a Free Community Movie Screening at Redux, 6:30 PM to 9 PM [RSVP][7/9] 2nd Annual Super Hero and Villain Pub Crawl 8 PM

[7/9 The Brass Tax Prom: Enchantment Under the Sea, 7 PM to 12 AM [Tickets]

[7/15-7/16] Vau de Vire Society presents The Soiled Dove at The Taxiway at Point Alameda

[7/22] Vespertine Circus: Midsummer, 8 PM to 10 PM

[8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 8/24] Intro to Cultivating Compassion with Heidi Bennett, at Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden, 5 PM to 6:45 PM

[8/6] Free Edwardian Picnic Dance: 1906 at Lincoln Park, 10 AM to 4:30 PM

Barcelona
[3/2017] Spannabis

Belden, California
[7/1-7/4] False Profit Presents: Priceless 2016

Berkeley, California
[7/14] Rusty’s IRL Picnic, Codornices Park, Berkeley: meet near the concrete slides at 11:30 AM [Bring your lunch and a piece of cardboard if you want to slide]

[Until 7/17] Don Reed’s East 14th at The Marsh, Berkeley

Lake Iseo, Italy
[Until 7/3] Christo’s Floating Piers

Las Vegas
[Ongoing] Akhob, an immersive “Ganzfeld effect” experience by artist James Turrell at Louis Vuitton [by appt only: 702-730-3150]  HIGHLY recommended!

Laytonville, California
[7/8-7/10] The Cannabis County Fair 2016, 21+ [Tickets]

London
[7/1] Patti Smith and Massive Attack at Hyde Park

Los Angeles

Cool Places to Buy Weird Shit in Los Angeles

[Dates in Summer and Fall] Krampus mask-masking workshop

[7/22] See Jane Sing with Jane Lynch at Largo, $30, 8 PM [Tickets]

[8/14] BrunchCon LA at The Reef, 9 AM to 3 PM Thanks, Josh!

[Begins 9/13] 8-week long Neon workshop at Lili Lakich Studio, 6 pm to 9 PM

[Until 9/4] “Portrayals And Perceptions Of Gays In Hollywood” at The Hollywood Museum in the Max Factor Building

[10/1] Dolly Parton at Hollywood Bowl [Tickets]

[10/8-10/9] David Lynch’s Festival of Disruption at Ace Hotel via

[12/5-12/8] Henry Rollins at Largo

Marble Falls, Texas
[10/7-10/10] Camp Grounded, summer camp for adults

Mountain View
[9/24] Dolly Parton at Shoreline, 8 PM [Tickets]

New York City
Quirky NYC by Oriana Leckert:
“From Bumper Cars to Torah Taxidermy: A Guide to 25 of Brooklyn’s Most Unusual Museums”
“From Elevators to Outsider Art: A Guide to 16 Under-the-Radar Museums in Queens”

[Ongoing] Sleep No More at The McKittrick Hotel
[Ongoing] Jungle-Ized by Sound Collective, Free
[Ongoing] The Ferry Play on the Staten Island Ferry, $1.99
[Ongoing] More NYC events

[7/16-8/7] Mushroom Cure, “Inspired by a scientific study showing that hallucinogenic mushrooms may cure obsessive-compulsive disorder, Adam Strauss embarked on a program of vigilante psychopharmacology.” [Tickets]

Oakland

[Until 9/25] Altered State: Marijuana in California at OMCA

[Until 9/9] Kaiser Center Rooftop Garden Concerts, Fridays, 12 PM to 1 PM, Free Thanks, Jewelz!

[7/1] First Friday, a cannabis industry networking event across from Pine Knoll Park at Lake Merritt, 4:20 PM

[7/16] Cooking Cannabis with Aunt Sandy at Oaksterdam University, 10 AM to 2 PM

[8/9] Heather Gold’s YARN at Octopus Literary Salon, 7 PM to 9:30 PM [Tickets]

Palm Springs, California
[7/8-7/11] Yes and Yes Yes (YxYY) at the Ace Hotel, a “summer retreat for anyone who considers themselves a thinker, maker, creator, nerd, or weirdo.” [Tickets]

Paris, France
Editor’s note:
I had the good fortune to spend the night in an artist’s yurt. My photos from that visit are included in this show…in PARIS!
[Until 8/29] Habiter le Campement, Cité de l’architecture & du patrimoine au Palais de Chaillot

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Help!

Portland, Oregon
[8/11-8/15] World Domination Summit [Tickets]

San Anselmo, California
[6/25] Waking Dream – Show Opening Reception, “A time capsule back to the wild west & early days of Burning Man, and to sister project Desert Siteworks” 6 PM to 9 PM at Smith Andersen North

San Diego
[8/18-8/21] Tiki Oasis: “Monster Island”

San Francisco
“Best storytelling events in the Bay Area”
Upscale vs. Frugal SF
[Ongoing] Elsewhere Philatelic Society
[Ongoing] More SF events

[Through Sept] Midwayville, a mixed reality popup carnival at SoMa StrEat Food, 7 PM to 12 AM

[6/29] Phonographic Memory: “a storytelling event focused on vinyl records” 7 PM to 8 PM

[7/1] Austin Kleon: Keep Telling Yourself It’s Art at Mule Gallery, 6 PM to 9 PM Thanks, Robin!

[7/3] BBQ & Beats Day Party at Midway SF, 2 PM to 9 PM, 21+ [Tickets]

[7/7-7/18] Flower Piano 2016 at San Francisco Botanical Garden, A must see! [Schedule]

[7/10] Cocktail Robotics Grand Challenge at DNA Lounge [Tickets]

[7/10] A Salute to Chuck Jones, Selected animated 35mm films by Chuck Jones at the Castro Theatre, 12 PM to 3 PM Thanks, Jonathan!

[7/11] Tour NoiseBridge, a non-profit hackerspace for technical-creative projects, 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM

[7/13] Fireside Storytelling: “What Doesn’t Kill You” at Chez Poulet, 8 PM

[7/14] What You Talkin’ ‘Bout Allee Willis? at Vitellos E-Spot Lounge, 7:30 PM [Tickets]

[7/16] Drones & Drinks at iHangar, 6 PM to 1 AM [Tickets]

[7/17] Dark Garden Annual Corset Rummage Sale, 11 AM to 6 PM

[7/17] National Ice Cream Day at SoMa StrEat Food Park, 11 AM to 5 PM

[7/22] CCA MFA in Comics Presents: An Evening with Mariko Tamaki, 6 PM to 9 PM

[7/22] The Grand Newstand’s first anniversary and Kiosk Fest kick off, 6 PM to 9 PM

[7/22-7/24] J-POP Summit at Fort Mason Center [Tickets]

[7/23-7/24] Kiosk Fest

[7/23] The Murray Invitational. A Bill Murray Art Exhibition and Golf Party at Public Works

[7/23] Hugbomb by WhyTheNose?- 24 Hours of Worldwide Trust at SF Ferry Building

[7/23-7/24] The San Francisco Art Book Fair 2016 at 1275 Minnesota Street [Preview on 7/22]

[7/24] The Cannaisseur Series presents: Summer Soiree, 5:30 PM

[7/30 Learning to VJ with gifSlap at Gray Area Art & Technology Theater, 4 PM to 6 PM

[7/31] 3 O’Clock Rock (kid rock) show with Meshugga Beach Party and The Jet Stars at Treasure Island Flea Market, 12 PM

[8/5-8/7] Outside Lands, Golden Gate Park

[8/10] Fireside Storytelling: “Nerve” at Chez Poulet, 8 PM

[8/12-10/1] The Speakeasy: illicit bar, crooked casino, immersive theatrical experience at a discreet location near you [Tickets]

[8/13] Daylong Retreat with Michael Taft, 10 AM to 4 PM

[8/21] The New Pornographer’s at Stern Grove Festival, Free

[9/14] Fireside Storytelling: “Storyteller’s Choice” at Chez Poulet, 8 PM

[9/21-9/22] Dent: Space at Innovation Hangar

[10/1] Release party for Chicken John’s The Book of the Un at 111 Minna

[10/12] Fireside Storytelling: “Games People Play” at Chez Poulet, 8 PM

[10/13] Brian Wilson presents Pet Sounds – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary, 8 PM [Tickets]

[11/9] Fireside Storytelling: “Caught in the Act” at Chez Poulet, 8 PM

[12/14] Fireside Storytelling: “Hot!” at Chez Poulet, 8 PM

[10/2017] 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love

San Jose, California
[7/23] Blacklight Slide

[9/24] Art Party 2016 — An Occasional and Irrational San Jose Arts Fest, 6 PM

Santa Clara, California
[7/16-7/17] California Extreme, an “annual celebration of coin operated pinball machines, video games and other novelties you once found in game arcades. All games on display are set for free play.” Hyatt Regency Santa Clara Thanks, Jonathan!

SF Bay Area
[Ongoing] Best swimming holes in the SF Bay Area

[10/7-10/9] Art Car Fest [Crowdfund]

Santa Fe, New Mexico
[Ongoing] Meow Wolf [Read this] [Tickets]

[9/2] The 92nd Annual Zozobra

Seattle
The Obscure, the Charming and the Odd: Mark Pahlow’s Guide to Seattle

Spain
[7/4-7/10] Nowhere

Sun Valley, Idaho
[4/19/2017-4/22/2017] Dent 2017, a creative retreat for people who want to “put a dent in the universe,” as Steve Jobs once said. (Highly recommended!)

Tomales Bay, California
[7/30-7/31] Bioluminescence Kayaking-Salty Sound, “a 24 hour camping trip located on a kayak only group camp site”

Willits, California
[7/22-7/24] BEAVER, a summer camp for girls of all ages, hosted by me! [Cancelled, for now]

HEY YOU, YES YOU

If YOU would like to co-curate an issue of Rusty’s Electric Dreams, I’d love to hear your idea! Please email your awesome plans to: rusty@blazenhoff.com.

Know about a cool event? I can’t be everywhere and know about everything, so share it with me! I’ll do my best to include it in the next issue.


SpotMini Slips on a banana peel

“What does art do? It captures something we’ve all experienced and lets people know they’re not alone.”
“The things that make you weird and quirky are your biggest strengths as an artist.”


Wertzeen


FOMA LABS

Rusty’s Electric Dreams is a weekly inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff. These personally-curated missives are beacons to signal and celebrate the global tribe of weird, wonderful, and unconventional people (“the Others“).

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