The Sinister Surf Club had me with the name. I love surf culture, as only a girl from Brooklyn could, and I love the word sinister. After reading about their self-proclaimed “pure-punk-rock” attitude, I was inspired to pick up my old copy of The Pump House Gang and see who I thought might win a fight. Conclusion? As the original Jackasses, the PHG would kick the SSC’s ass.

I first heard about The New York Earth Room  in the “Art Since 1960″ class I took as an undergrad at Parsons. A whole room full of dirt. Living, healthy, earthy, dirt that had been on view somewhere in Soho since (gasp) 1980. My immediate fantasy version of it  was ominous. A claustrophobic cross between a gallery, a dungeon and a terrarium. For some reason I pictured walls of dirt, walking on dirt, running my hands through dirt.  It had the basic ingredients of an artistic urban legend, including the claim that some guy actually had to rake it everyday and make sure that the worms were healthy and alive.

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I was recently given one of these delicately embellished rocks. (thank you Todd). I  love the intricate, obsessive lines and the idea of turning something like a big grey river rock into something a bit startling that begs you to pick it up. Of course finely crafted rocks are not something you need, but they make a pleasantly unexpected gift for people who love a decorative “thingy” here and there. And really, who doesn’t?

http://www.ashesandmilk.com/stone/

From Vivre sa vie by Jean Luc Godard. Which begins with the quote,  ”Lend yourself to others but give yourself to yourself.”