10 FAVORITE MOMENTS IN THE YEAR OF BAD LUCK

The Media just published a year-end issue featuring over 20 contributors from 2013. I published a photo essay of never before seen (that's right! NEVER! BEFORE! SEEN!) photos that depict some of my favorite moments from this year in music, arts and culture.

THE ARTICLE
THE ISSUE

Happy 2014. To infinity, and beyond.

[THROWBACK] 2011's ART TOP 5

"Death's Door" by Nina Hartmann, photo by the author

As we nudge up on the end of January, I've promised myself to celebrate the new year February 1st. I mean, I went to a killer party on the Real New Year's Eve, but January buzzed by as I hustled through my work day and home to writing and design gigs. Things have been hectic. So during the next week I'll be recapping 2011 and telling you about what's new in 2012 at Wisdom Tooth HQ.

To kick things off, here's a TOP 5 IN ART list:

Best Dan-Flavin-inspired boner
Jelsen Jargon, "Maman Said"
Repetition Repetition Repetition @ 17 Frost
(photos here)

Multimedia designer extraordinaire Jelsen Jargon hasn't shown in a gallery setting in years. He burst back onto the scene with clever and beautiful work at Repetition Repetition Repetition, which runs through January 2012.

Best monthly series
Dirty Looks curated by Bradford Nordeen
dirtylooksnyc.org

Curator Bradford Nordeen's roaming queer film night, Dirty Looks, combines contemporary and historical queer filmmakers as well as various other art-makers. Last year's program was hilarious, clever, tight, and never dull.

Best zine programming
Aimee Lusty's curated shows at Booklyn Artists Alliance
booklyn.org | aimeelusty.com

Booklyn has been taken over by young artist and zine-maker Aimee Lusty. Named gallery director in 2011, Lusty brought zine work to the gallery walls and re-examined how we use print in our artistic practice.

Best use of print media
OCCUPIED Wall Street Journal
occupiedmedia.us

In its most recent issue, the print companion to the Occupy movement doubled as a poster to be pasted around the city. With good design and a practical purpose, OWSJ has reinvigorated the purpose of print media in political movements.

Best one-night show
Summer of Hate (Nina Hartmann & Vinnie Smith) @ Youth Group Gallery
ninahartmann.com | collecteddust.blogspot.com

Hartmann and Smith's creepy-cool imagery was completely appropriate for a one-night-in-late-summer-show. Their prints brought to the surface all the terrible feelings that seep from our pores and our brains in the dogged heat.

TOPS 2010

MUSIC
 
1. Grass Widow - Past Time
2. Big Eyes - Big Eyes
3. Big Soda - Paper Rte.
4. Superchunk - Majesty Shredding
5. Zombie Dogs - LP
6. Marvin Berry & the New Sound - 7" (because it's my blog, and I can!)

ART

1. Andrew Hurst solo show at STOREFRONT
2. Raymond Pettibon, "Hard in the Paint" at David Zwirner
3. Austin Thomas, "Drawing on the Utopic" at STOREFRONT
4. Tamara Waite-Santibanez... always
5. Aimee Lusty, new works in drawing & collage

TOPS OF 2009: RECORDS, ETC

To tell you the truth, I don't think I buy enough records. Regardless, these are my tops music wise for 2009.

1. MARKED MEN - GHOSTS
2. SCREAMING FEMALES - POWER MOVE
3. CANADIAN RIFLE - VISIBILITY ZERO
4. ZOMBIE DOGS - LICK YR BRAINS TAPE + LIVE PERFORMANCE
5. RINGERS - HURRY UP AND WAIT
6. P.S. ELIOT - INTROVERTED ROMANCE IN OUR TROUBLED MINDS
7. TEENAGE COOL KIDS - FOREIGN LANDS
8. JOHN K. SAMSON - CITY ROUTE 85 7"
9. FATAL ERECTION - DEMO TAPE + LIVE PERFORMANCE
10. LAURA STEVENSON & THE CANS - HOLY GHOST EP

Some notable runners up:
FOREIGN OBJECTS - 7"
CLOAK/DAGGER - LOST ART

* I also posted this list over at TAKE IT SERIOUS, a message board for NYC DIY shows and happenings. If you're from the NYC area go sign up and post a top 2009 list or info about whatever shows you're booking!

SCREAMALES BEST OF

Jarrett D., friend of Cheeky and infamous drummer of Screaming Females, named "What the Heck" one of the best albums of 2009. Thanks Jarrett! We love ye!

THE SKETCHBOOK PROJECT / GHOSTS

Two things.

1. I entered The Sketchbook Project. It's going to be at 3rd Ward in Brooklyn on MARCH 13TH. Save the date, dudes! I am not the proudest of my creations but that's partially because I was working on a short time line / the wrong, sooner deadline. No apologies. You can find my entries here, on my flickr.

2. Marked Men "Ghosts" is ABSOLUTELY going to be on my tops for 2009. It has yet to leave my turntable, save for Neil Young at dinner.

TOPS 2008

+ TOP THINGS OTHER PEOPLE DID IN 2008

Canadian Rifle - HEALTH EP. I don't know if this came out in 2007 or something, but I didn't hear it 'til 2008.

Friends' new bands. Witches / Little Lungs / Psyched to Die / Loose Tooth / Homewreckers. They done good.

Screaming Females live. I think I saw them like 25 times.

On that note, Marissa Paternoster's artwork, over + over again.

Layla Gibbon's MRR columns.

Raymond Pettibon, the silkscreen cover he did for MRR #304, and his zine, The Major Arteries.

Cynthia's sweets.

ZINES: THE WORST, I Stopped Talking an Hour Ago, SHOTGUN SEAMSTRESS

POSTERS, ARTWORK + TATTOOS by No Guts No Glory. Especially the "MOM, I'M GONNA BE A METALHEAD FOREVER!" print, which is hanging in my living room.

The Ergs! last shows. Plus "Anthem for a New Amanda"

Hunchback + Screaming Females - split 7". So into these Neil Young covers.

Teenage Cool Kids - cassette w/ Queer Salutations CD + Remember Me as a Silhouette 7"

P.S. Eliot! Sweetest girls and seriously, you are missing out if you are not paying attention to this band. They just keep getting better.

Cult Ritual live at a house show at the Fest. Also, the 2nd EP that came out on Youth Attack is pretty great and has some amazing packaging.

I also listened to that dog.'s Retreat from the Sun over and over and over again, but that came out in 1997. And lots of Government Warning.

+ TOP THINGS IN MY WORLD 2008

1. FOR THE BIRDS: FEMINIST COLLECTIVE + DISTRO (and all the ladies that make it possible)

2. THE BIG SHE-BANG 3

3. Going to San Francisco + seeing Pinhead Gunpowder

4. Touring with Screaming Females [Cheeky]

5. Playing with Tobi Vail & Molly Neuman's new bands [Carnal Knowledge]

6. Playing for a bunch of little grrls at Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls [Carnal Knowledge]

7. Playing at The Fest [Cheeky]

8. My first and second vinyl releases ever. Both with Cheeky.

9. Playing with Dillinger Four [Carnal Knowledge]

10. Releasing The Big She-Bang! compilation

11. Christine visiting from Tucson (in August and now!)

12. Greenpoint, my new neighborhood

13. Sundays

14. Writing + drawing so much more than in 2007

15. Christmas at my folks' house

16. Burnasaurus. For many reasons, including really good friends being in town to ring in the new year, and old friend surprises, and new beginnings!

17. Brian Schleyer

18. The adventures of Apartment #4S -- an epic year [Sept. 2007 - Sept. 2008]. This includes any and all ragers, roof hang outs, rollerskating and/or skateboarding events, and cuddle sessions on the giant couch. And cooking with Kate.

19. Cheekend II with Tin Kitchen + Screaming Females

20. "Eviction Party" show -- Bad Dates, Each Other's Mothers, and Cheeky at McKibbin.

To a happy and healthy 2009!

MUCH LOVE / KW