VISUAL ART

Rita: While Lolita adds pages to the local music history book, I want to examine the diversity of our musicians. I asked a bunch of locals to tell me who are musicians that create the best visual art. Here’s a sampling of my findings… MARK LIND (… & the Unloved): Without a doubt that would be my bandmate, Douglas Sullivan, from Ducky Boys. The guy is talented in so many ways, but visual arts is probably his best area. He actually makes replica movie props for fun. He’s designed and built several replicas of the Proton Packs from Ghostbusters and sold them to other collector nerds. He designs and builds his own elaborate Halloween costumes that put the professionals to shame. He actually helped design a part of a replica light saber that ended up being mass-produced and sold in places like Spencer Gifts after that abortion of a new Star Wars trilogy was made. In addition to all of this he does web sites, CD layouts, and oil paintings. I have one of his original paintings hanging in my bedroom and every unlucky lady that gets to see it always asks where it came from. *** GARY WALEIK (Big Dipper): Bill Goffrier is certainly among the best local visual artists. And what range: watercolors of tranquil New England scenes, pastels of Wichita architecture, oils of naked ex-girlfriends, depictions of alien spacecraft and the lovable creatures that fly them, even the fabulous cover of Supercluster: the Big Dipper Anthology (Merge, 2008). He can do it all! *** LEXI KAHN (LowBudgetSuperhero.com): I would love to have one of Asa Brebner’s pieces on my wall. He can do some excellent pen-and-ink that rivals Shel Silverstein, but I love when he builds stunning wall sculptures. He’s like a modern day Bosch, only his unique garden of earthly delights is constructed from old guitars, toys, and found objects. Joey Pesce is also really talented, go to pescesculpture.com and look up the piece called Spirit and Minions, which I think might be presently hanging from the ceiling of River Gods. *** TAD OVERBAUGH (The Kickbacks/ x-Dirty Truckers): John Brookhouse’s artwork makes your eyes crackle and pop with joy. Always inspiring. *** CHRIS BRAT (the Throwaways/ the Acro-brats): Well, I like all of Ian’s stuff that he’s done for flyers, CD art, and all that. DeBarge does great work over at Stingray, so he’d be another obvious choice. Paul Delano’s clever with the Photoshop skills and my boy Swid has been responsible for impressive graphics in wicked popular video games. But just the other week I drew a really kickass rendition of the Aerosmith logo with a Sharpie on a napkin at the Cellar, so I’m gonna have to give it up to myself. *** WILL DAILEY (Will Dailey): I am addicted to Rose Polenzani’s YouTube videos. They are creative, fun, musically astounding, and she keeps them coming. I am more addicted to them than dark chocolate. *** MATT HUTTON (Birdwatchers of America): Well, Ad Frank is a work of art in and of himself—does that count? *** ANDERSON MAR (Dark Sky Productions/ Paul Green School of Rock): I would nominate Walter Sickert (… & the Army of Broken Toys) for his quirkily morbid drawings containing hearts, squids, wire trees, television-headed monsters, and grotestesque bunny rabbits. *** FRANK ROWE (CLASSIC RUINS): David Sholl from Four Piece Suit does these Ashcan School style paintings of sensuous radiators leaning against each other in the sun. Some have erections (bleeder valves) and they all look totally at ease in a yard full of other radiators. In the titles, he calls them Rads. If you think about it, people and radiators are rather similar... sometimes warm, often hard. *** RAY MASON (Ray Mason Band/ Lonesome Brothers): There’s no doubt that the answer to this question is the one and only Asa Brebner! Soulful and terrifying beauty would be an apt description of Asa’s artwork. Get some now! Lolita: Okay, Asa is the first two get more then one nod, so we’re crowing him today’s king of musical visual artists. I’ve seen his art and I have to admit, you don’t forget his pieces after seeing them.