Record Cover of the Week

John Adomono: A Night at the Beachcomber

John Adomono (“Guitarist Fantastique”) is/was “a self-taught guitarist of quite phenominal virtuosity.” That’s one crazy-ass bull horned guitar he’s playing. The LP was recorded live at Don the Beachcomber’s Polynesian restaurant in the International Market Place in Honolulu.

Saturday Thrift Roundup

mug shot

four-eyes family

Won’t you give a child a name?

Here I am with my latest thrift store painting purchase. I was attracted to it by the child’s big eyes, glowing skin tone and freakishly small arm. Before I can add it to my online thrift store art gallery I need to give it a title. Won’t you help me give this child a name?

Frankentoys

According to 5 year old Sammy, this mutant toy is called Mr. Ugly Head and he chokes people. At Happen’s Toy Lab in Cincinatti, Ohio, children create their own toys from recycled toy parts. The non-profit program encourages kids and adults to share in the joys of artistic creation. In one hour workshops “trained toy technicians, skilled in the art of toy assembly” assist participants to realize their creations. Every toy created is photographed and posted in the Toy Zoo on the Toy Lab website along with a description of its function or special attributes. I really love this idea and if I was anywhere near Cincinatti I’d borrow a kid or two so I could take part.

Thrift Item of the Moment

Plaster Wall Fish

Just bought this lovely set at Goodwill. I’m inspired by a picture in the book Kitsch Deluxe of a wall covered with 300 sets of plaster flying ducks to do the same in my bathroom with fish. Here’s the rest of my fledgling collection:

Art For All

Saturday was the last day the Art Gallery of Alberta was open before it closes for a major overhaul (I’m not sure but I think it’s actually being demolished and a new building erected on the same site and not just a retrofit). The last exhbition in the concrete bunker was called “Free For All.” Anyone who wanted could exhibit up to 3 pieces of their own original art, the only restriction being that you had to be able to carry it through the doors.

Unfortunately (but typically) I waited ’til the last day to go – I would have liked to have come back a few more times to peruse the art at my leisure – but instead I tried to see it all in about an hour, dashing around the galleries giddily snapping photos.

It was a bit overwhelming, really. Just about every available inch of wallspace on the main and upper levels were covered from floor to ceiling – “salon style”.

I ran into my good buddy Marlena (whose work graces my house) and she directed me to two of her pieces. Then she asked me choose my favourite work in the place and made me pose for a picture in front of it.

I didn’t really look around much – I just pointed straight away to “Penis Guy” which caught my eye for some reason (I made up the title – the works were only labeled with numbers).

Then I encountered this dude named Tim Konrad who was lurking around trying to overhear people talking about his two-in-one painting (and failing miserably at being a spy – I was on to his game right away). From one side it’s a California raisin (which I mistakenly called Mr. Potato head – I hope he wasn’t offended), and from the other side it depicts a fire hydrant. Fun.

I was expecting to see a lot of “Sunday painter” stuff – like the banal mountain landscapes I find at thrift stores all the time – but I have to say I was very impressed by the quality and content of the work. And I love seeing entire walls covered in pictures – sometimes more is more.

Bowling for Trophies

There were even more trophies than usual at Value Village yesterday. This is the photo that inspired the name of this blog (hey, I had to call it something). I wanted something that was vaguely related to my interests in thrifting, pop culture, retro style, etc. but without too being too literal or obvious. Just so you know – this blog will rarely have anything to do with bowling.

Sign of Spring

For some it’s the first robin…