Album Cover: Ramones - Ramones

Album Cover 

Album: Ramones - Ramones

Released: April 23, 1976

Photography: Roberta Bayley

Art Direction: Toni Wadler

Models: Johnny, Tommy, Joey, and Dee Dee Ramone

"Once in a Lifetime"

Greenhouse Effect. Global Warming. Climate Change. Regional Weather Patterns. Call it whatever. One thing is for sure, something is happening to the earth and solutions, whether globally or regionally, have to implemented, and fast. Put aside politics and look at the issue as an inquisitive six year old. The "once in a lifetime" explanation, no longer works for something that is occurring more often. 

by Joan Chan (Just Comics)

Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: Dior Autumn/Winter 2023/2024

Creative Director: Maria Grazia Chiuri

 

via Christian Dior

Why We Need Smokers, Drinkers and "Fuckers"

I came across an interesting essay by American novelist Bob Shacochis, published in the August 1994 edition of PLAYBOY, that argued for the need of drinkers, smokers, and adulterers, "If Charles Darwin was correct, smokers, drinkers and libertines are doing the species a favor, accelerating the biological quest for perfection." 

Perhaps satirical, Shacochis implied how easy it was to live on the edge "drinking, smoking, and screwing" before the "priggish, middle-aged nation of naggers and health harpies" of the 80s and 90s. 

Reflecting on this, I would agree with Shacochis that, although drinking and smoking was not unusual and far from vice, sex became serious, and rightly so. AIDS was a new thing and people feared having sex -- protected or unprotected. And if they did have sex, they wouldn't talk about it as openly as perhaps today.

He acknowledged the futility of defending smokers, drinkers, and "fuckers." But added, "... who wants to live in a world without them, without their libidinous hunger, without their exalted obsessions? They take the joy and sometimes the pain of living to the very edge and shot back instructions, dire caveats, titillating weather reports."

 

PLAYBOY, August 1994, Volume 41, Number 8

Fernando Botero

Art Appreciation 

A while back -- like over 10 years ago -- I blogged about world-renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero, which you can read HERE. At that time, I was getting my feet wet in writing about artists and their work, and I feel I did an injustice of not giving more information about the artist. So, here we go. 

Fernando Botero was born in Medellín, Colombia on April 19, 1932. He is widely recognized for his signature style of creating larger-than-life figures with exaggerated proportions. 

Growing up, Botero was highly influenced by the Baroque style of the colonial churches and the city life of Medellín. At the age of 16, he had his first illustrations published in one of Medellín's important newspapers. The money earned from his illustrations helped pay for his primary education in Antioquia. 

In 1952, Botero moved to Bogotá. A few months later, he held his first exhibition at the Leo Matiz gallery. Around that time, he studied at the Academia de Bellas Artes in Madrid and was influenced by the works of artists such as Francisco Goya and Diego Velázquez, whose paintings showcased an intricate understanding of the human form. 

Botero developed his recognizable style, which he called "Boterismo," which exaggerates the proportions of his subjects to create a unique and highly recognizable visual language. These inflated subjects are recognized throughout the world. His gigantic sculptures can be found worldwide from Champs-Élysées in Paris, New York, London, and Madrid. 

Card Players, 1991

Broadgate Venus, 1989, London

The Hand, 1994, Madrid

Woman in the Kitchen, 1981

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/fernando-botero-paintings/card-players-1991

https://web.archive.org/web/20091027103119/http://www.dinero.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?idArt=15098

"The World's Worst Lover"

Fortunately, I have never been told I was the worst lover. 

The worst thing said was by an old girlfriend who commented how bad sex was but acknowledged it was our first time. Which was a true response. Our sex life was amazing; unfortunately, she was mentally unstable. Brings to mind when Trump once speculated about Lindsay Lohan, "deeply troubled" women are "great in bed." There's an ounce of truth in that, I think.

Alden Erikson, PLAYBOY (November 1995)

Body Art: Roustan - Chinese Dragon Body Painting

Artist: Paul Roustan

Model: Wen Li

via Roustan