bebien gileh

                                                                  BEBIEN GILEH
ORENG BEBIEN REAK GILEH KABBIH TADEK SE BERAS NYA ESON KADIRIK,TADEK SEH LAEN PERTAJE KENDEK?

Beautiful things happening at the tarpits.

I've been having stronger than usual feelings lately that I want to be enveloped by beautiful art and beautiful sounds and beautiful people. How lucky for me that Tarfest is happening tomorrow at the La Brea Tarpits and all of the above will be in plentiful supply. And for free. One can't beat beautiful things for no money at all.

I'm excited for:

Sounds by Saint Motel and Everest

Live art curated by the Merry Karnowky Gallery and featuring Deedee Cheriel, Edward Walton Wilcox, and Vox Humana artists Augustine Kofie and Shark Toof.

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, some of my favorites.

RIP Troy Davis.

The United States government--the one that aims to create peace in every other nation on this planet beside our own--should feel something far more devastating than shame for its actions yesterday.

I am not a religious person and I do not believe in an afterlife. But Troy Davis did. And so, Mr. Davis, I hope that you rest in peace.

[NY Times: Troy Davis Executed]

'On The Nail' Reading Tues 4th Oct 2011

Limerick Writers' Centre Present
Tuesday 4th Oct 2011 @ 8.00pm

Oct 'On The Nail' Reading
Upstairs@Foley's Bar, Sarsfield St, Limerick
(Limericks Newest Live Venue for Music and the Arts)

Organised by The Limerick Writers' Centre this popular monthly reading and open-mic continues to attract audiences with a mix of poetry, prose and music.

This month our guests are Stephen James Smith and Enda Reilly PLUS continuing on our '10 Minute Play' series. and open-mic.

Stephen James Smith is a remarkable performance poet and a bit of a legend in Dublin. Not only is he a former Cúirt International Literary Festival Grand Slam Poetry Champion, he is also the MC and organiser of the excellent weekly Glór Sessions in The International Bar. In 2009 he proudly represented Ireland at the Vilenica Literary Festival Slovenia and in 2010 at Wiersze w Metrze Poland. He is currently recording an EP of old Irish poems with musician Enda Reilly. Stephen is a truly hypnotic presence onstage. www.StephenJamesSmtih.com

Dublin singer-songwriter Enda Reilly writes in both English and Irish, and his Irish songs can be heard regularly on RTÉ Radio na Gaeltachta. 2010 saw Enda facilitating workshops with The Monaghan Song and Poetry Writers Group, culminating in production of their album “Hands Together”.
Enda also reaches out to younger generations through his Climate Change Songs Workshops initiative, introducing the art of song writing and environmental issues into schools and other groups. Enda performs “Spoken Word Sung Verse” with hard-working Glór poet Stephen James Smith, which is a unique mix of song and poetry performance featuring the poetry of the likes of Yeats and Kavanagh, as well as original works. He also plays regularly with the fun-loving collective known as The Lazy Band. His debut album “Oxygen 21″ is available on iTunes and can be heard and live tracks downloaded for free from http://www.endareilly.com/.

Everyone is invited to take part in the open-mic after the main event, poets, storytellers, musicians and writers . Even if you don't write you are welcome to bring something along to read. The night begins at 8.00pm and admission is free. So join us on the night and make this event something special.
NOTE: Our special authors book table will again be in operation, so if you want your book, CD's etc publicised make sure you are represented on the table. Contact Dominic Taylor at 087 2996409 to make arrangements.
The Limerick Writers' Centre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council of Ireland.
Further information contact: Dominic Taylor 087 2996409 email limerickwriterscentre@gmail.com web http://onthenailreadings.blogspot.com To view videos of the Sept reading go to: http://www.youtube.com/onthenailreadings

Tonight.

 

To be concise: Lykke Li makes beautiful sounds that I want to listen to.

Appreciating Richard's art in this digital age.

We live in a time when you can search for 'farm art' on Google (there was a reason at the time for my interest in agriculture art beyond time wasting on the internet, I assure you), come up with an image like this, fall in fast love with it, and then contact its maker via Twitter within minutes to inquire. Of course, sometimes the artist might reply to you with a complete loss of words himself for when he made it, where it is, or how I might get my hands on it. But, as I live in this modern time as well, I can drag it, drop it, and upload it to share with you all in this digital archive of Things. I. Love.

So, enjoy. And, you're welcome.

And, of course, thank you to Richard Hogg for creating a piece that moves me so. Even if he doesn't know where its original is.

Your girl got dicked by Ricky Powell. Photos on display.

 

 

 

Ricky Powell (well, his photos) are coming to LA. Actually, they're here. Tomorrow night, House of Exposure presents 'Dicked by Ricky Powell.'As the Beastie Boys so elegantly put it:

Homeboy, throw in the towelYour girl got dicked by Ricky Powell

Photos from $250 - $2000. 8 1/2" x 11" prints of the famous Basquiat/Warhol pic for $50. Lollipops with Basquiat and Warhols' sillhouettes. Priceless. But at this event, $10.

 

What? You want more news about future exhibits of awesomeness and limited edition wonders? Well, sign up for House of Exposure's mailing list.

'On The Nail' Reading Tues 6th Sept 2011

The Limerick Writers' Centre Present

Tuesday 6th Sept 2011 @ 8.00pm



Sept 'On The Nail' Reading

Upstairs@Foley's Bar, Sarsfield St, Limerick

(Limericks Newest Live Venue for Music and the Arts)



Organised by The Limerick Writers' Centre this popular monthly reading and open-mic continues to attract audiences with a mix of poetry, prose and music

.

This month our guests are Fred Johnston and Yorkshire poet CP Stewart PLUS Gabhar Theatre Company continue our '10 Minute Play' series with 'Less Than Fresh' by Limerick playwright Derry McGrath and directed by Dermott Petty

.

C.P. Stewart lives with his family in North Yorkshire. Formerly singer/songwriter with the cult band Laughing Gravy , his poetry has been widely published in Canada, Australia, Ireland, England and the United States. For two years he was the Poetry Editor of Sotto Voce Arts and Literary magazine (U.S.). A chapbook of his poetry, Taking it In was published by Koo Poetry Press in 2009.



Fred Johnston was born in 1951 and has lived in Spain, Africa and Canada. He has published poetry, criticism, novels and short fiction, and has been involved in organising various literary events for many years. A new collection of stories is due from Parthian (Wales) in Spring 2011; Orangeman, a collection of stories in French, appeared from Terre de Brume (France) in October 2010.



Gabhar Theatre Co present 'Less than Fresh' by Derry Mc Grath with Farncis Healy and Tom Muldowney

An unhappy customer Perry Hasset engages in verbal exchange with

Phresco Customer Service. headed by Veronica Moore

Francis Healy is an accomplished Actress, comedian, Radio and TV. Personality.Tom Muldowney is well know on the Limerick Circuit as the MC of the 'On the Nail' literary event, actor, raconteur and James Joyce aficionado.



Everyone is invited to take part in the open-mic after the main event, poets, storytellers, musicians and writers . Even if you don't write you are welcome to bring something along to read. The night begins at 8.00pm and admission is free. So join us on the night and make this event something special.

NOTE: Our special authors book table will again be in operation, so if you want your book, CD's etc publicised make sure you are represented on the table. Contact Dominic Taylor at 087 2996409 to make arrangements.

The Limerick Writers' Centre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council of Ireland.



Further information contact: Dominic Taylor 087 2996409 email limerickwriterscentre@gmail.com web http://onthenailreadings.blogspot.com To view videos of the Aug reading go to: http://www.youtube.com/onthenailreadings



The Limerick Writers' Centre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council of Ireland.

A lullaby by Little Joy.

To my friend who introduced me to Little Joy and to this song, I cannot offer enough thank yous. If lullabies were written for the children in all of us, I would ask to be rocked to sleep nightly to this sweet, sweet song.

Shed rather be scarred than be scarred with love.

Matisse on a Sunday.

I've spent much of my Sunday watching--on and off--the BBC Modern Masters episode on Matisse. I could have done worse, I suppose. I could have spent my day watching straight-to-DVD films with Heather Graham [like I did yesterday]. But today I opted for a little culture--60 minutes to be exact--drawn out with breaks and breakfast and naps. And the English accent of the BBC's narrator gives the pretense of grandeur and sophistication to my YouTube video streaming, I think, and sophistication and grandeur were exactly what my Sunday called for.

A few faves, newly appreciated after my studious Sunday telly watching.

Touched by a tot.

This week a child touched me. Not metaphorically, but really. She actually reached out and touched me. It happened on Larchmont. I was holding a bright blue wallet and she waddled on up--this adorable little girl--and she just touched my hand and stared at me and smiled. It happened on Thursday.

The world is a magical place for a child on a Thursday on Larchmont when a woman who must appear very old to her--and tall too--meanders down the street holding a fabulously bright color in her hand.

Music is my boyfriend.

At least it's about to be. I just downloaded Spotify. It's saying hello to America. So I figured the least I could do in the name of America, was say hello back.

I'm looking forward to seeing how/if/when the new service changes the way I consume music. Like, perhaps I'll start to appreciate Gaga or something. Though probably not.

Coveting: Death and the Maiden

Perhaps it is not every girl's desire to hang a 34" portrait of a skeleton in full embrace with a svelte blonde above her desk. But something's got to fill the space left by the removal of what was once a 5' tall upside-down Jesus which proudly and with great Jesus-like stoicism graced my now barren wall panel for nearly 4 years. And what better to replace one painted icon which made people incredibly uncomfortable than with another--equally awkward, if not sacrilegious--piece of art.

I want this print by Edward Walton Wilcox. I want it now. I want it framed and wrapped in a black bow that offers just a hint of the gothic nature of the subject inside. I want to enter my studio and fall asleep each night with the image of undying--or already dead as the case may be--love reminding me of life and living.

Death and The Maiden
giclée on canvas
edition quantity: 25
28” x 34”

Available at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery.

It's Saturday and your life is not that bad.

It's Saturday morning and I'm in Florida and it's humid as a sauna in a broke down spa in the Tropics. And I've complained a bit, I'll admit, in the last 36 hours about the temperature and the permanent dew that has affixed itself to my face and the hairs that won't stop frizzing, even on my arms.

But then I saw this picture this morning--from my air conditioned accommodations--and understood [though I already knew it] that the heat in Boca Raton, Florida is not that bad. At least not when you're merely hopping from hotel room to convertible to manse on the water.

The caption beneath this photo in the LA Times...

Peshawar, Pakistan — A young girl with her head partially covered with flies stands outside her family home on the outskirts of the city, in northwest Pakistan.

To be in your wee years, and to know flies on your small head--that is bad. That is terribly, cruelly bad.

[Image Credit: Fayaz Aziz / Reuters via LA Times]

Aug 'On The Nail' Reading: Upstairs@Foleys, Tues 5th Aug 2011

Limerick Writers' Centre Present

Tuesday 9th Aug 2011 8.00pm



Aug 'On The Nail' Reading

Upstairs@Foley's Bar, Sarsfield St, Limerick

(Limericks Newest Live Venue for Music and the Arts)



Organised by The Limerick Writers' Centre this popular monthly reading and open-mic continues to attract audiences with a mix of poetry, prose and music.



This month we launch issue 20 of Revival Literary Journal plus our guests are George Harding, Adam Wyeth and Gary King.



Gary King was born in Galway in 1963, where he still lives. His poems have appeared in magazines such as Poetry Nottingham, The Burning Bush, Poetry Monthly, Revival, Crannóg, West 47 and The Journal. A chapbook of his poems, Ambiguous Lights, was published by Over The Edge in 2004. He has been a featured reader at the O'Bhéal, White House and Over The Edge: Open Reading series. He was runner up in the 2007 Poetry Grand Slam at the Cúirt International Festival of Literature. In December he won the 2008 North Beach Poetry Grand Slam and his first collection of poems Pluto's Noon Sky was published by Doire Press in 2009.



Adam Wyeth, born 1978, lives in West Cork. He was a recent prize-winner of the Fish International Poetry Competition, 2009 and a runner-up in the Arvon International Poetry Competition, 2006. His poems have been anthologized in The Fish Anthology, Something Beginning with P , the Arvon 25th Anniversary anthology and Landing Places. His work has appeared in numerous literary journals, including Poetry London, Magma, The Stinging Fly and The Shop. He was a featured poet in Agenda and selected for the Poetry Ireland Introductions Series, 2007. He teaches Creative Writing and is on the Poetry Ireland Writers in Schools scheme. Wyeth also writes a regular column for the Southern Star. His first collection, Silent Music, was recently published from Salmon.



George Harding is a Corkonian who divides his time between Cork and Kinsale and was formerly in involved in the bicycle business in Dublin and Cork. His poems have been featured in various publications here, Britain and America. He is an environmentalist, bibliophile, and hurling fanatic. He is married to Nuala and has 3 children. His first collection 'My Stolen City' waspublished by Revival Press in May.

Everyone is invited to take part in the open-mic after the main event, poets, storytellers, musicians and writers . Even if you don't write you are welcome to bring something along to read. The night begins at 8.00pm and admission is free. So join us on the night and make this event something special.

NOTE: Our special authors book table will again be in operation, so if you want your book, CD's etc publicised make sure you are represented on the table. Contact Dominic Taylor at 087 2996409 to make arrangements.

The Limerick Writers' Centre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council of Ireland.



Further information contact: Dominic Taylor 087 2996409 email limerickwriterscentre@gmail.com web http://onthenailreadings.blogspot.com To view videos of the May reading go to: http://www.youtube.com/onthenailreadings

The Limerick Writers' Centre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council of Ireland.

Kate Bush danced like she wanted to.

30 some odd years ago, the music video hadn't yet developed its affinity for special effects, half naked girls, and cameos by film stars. It was unrefined and shot in one take in the woods with its star in a modest, long red dress and dancing like she's never danced before [and thankfully not many have danced since].

Questionable dance moves aside, the song is beautiful. And beauty's something modern day music doesn't always promise nowadays either.

The spectacular Ryan McGinley and his subject's spectacular butt.

Take away the spectacularness of the buttocks of the man pictured above and what you're left with (those of us who are decent and good and not completely sexually deviant and can take our eyes away from such perfect buttocks) is the spectacularness of this photograph by Ryan McGinley on display now at LA's new OHWOW Gallery.

Group Exhibition: Post 9-11
June 30 - August 27, 2011

OHWOW Gallery
937 N. La Cienega
Los Angeles, CA 90069

'On The Nail' Reading@The Loft Venue Tues 5th July 2011

'On The Nail' Reading @ The Locke Bar, Limerick

Tuesday 5th July 2011 8.00pm



(please note our new day, Tuesday, for the Summer months)



Organised by The Limerick Writers' Centre this popular monthly reading and open-mic continues to attract audiences with a mix of poetry, prose and music.



This month our guests are Tim Cunningham and Richard Halperin.



Tim Cunningham was born in Limerick in 1942 and educated at Limerick C.B.S. and Birkbeck College, London. He has lived in Limerick, Tipperary, Dublin, Trowbridge, London, Newark (Delaware) and, presently, Billericay. He has published and read widely. His first collection, 'Don Marcelino's Daughter' was published by Peterloo Poets in 2001 and reprinted in 2002 and 2004. His second collection 'Unequal Thirds' was published in 2006, again by Peterloo. His third collection, Kyrie, was published by Revival Press in 2008.



Richard W. Halperin’s first poetry collection Anniversary was published in 2010 and his second Shy White Tiger will appear in 2012 – both via Salmon Poetry Limited. In 2005 for UNESCO, he edited the free downloadable teacher education book Reading and Writing Poetry, in which fifty poets worldwide give their views on the subject.



Everyone is invited to take part in the open-mic after the main event, poets, storytellers, musicians and writers . Even if you don't write you are welcome to bring something along to read. The night begins at 8.00pm and admission is free. So join us on the night and make this event something special.

NOTE: Our special authors book table will again be in operation, so if you want your book, CD's etc publicised make sure you are represented on the table. Contact Dominic Taylor at 087 2996409 to make arrangements.

The Limerick Writers' Centre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council of Ireland.



Further information contact: Dominic Taylor 087 2996409 email limerickwriterscentre@gmail.com web http://onthenailreadings.blogspot.com To view videos of the May reading go to: http://www.youtube.com/onthenailreadings

The Limerick Writers' Centre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council of Ireland.

Parting is such sweet sorrow. Buh-bye for now KCMO.

On Friday night I said farewell--not forever, just for a hopefully brief amount of time which we won't even think about because it pains us too very much--to the people and places which I have become so very fond of over the last 7 weeks. On First Friday, which was to be my last Friday, I saw some things and some people. The things and people I saw included but were not limited to: musicians making music on the street wearing masks, attracting people, art--a lot of great art--by friends new and old[er], friends, crowds of people as or more excited than me to be outside on a beautiful night in KCMO, bakers baking bread at Fervere--one of whom sold me a loaf to take home to my mother in New York despite their being closed and us being in their way and all...

Thank you Kansas City for a totally rocking, life changing, mind-altering 7 weeks with you. You will not soon, not never be forgotten. Mostly because I intend to return to you sooner than later and possibly sooner than you'd even like.

The Impossible Girl lands in Kansas City.

Sometimes you see a band in a big stadium and the impact of the light show and the surround sound and the power of thousands of fans all swaying to the same beat proves overwhelmingly beautiful. And occasionally you sit on the floor of a small lingerie boutique and watch a girl and her guitar perform in the dressing room and you well up a little bit. Because that's pretty beautiful too.

Thanks to Peregrine Honig for hosting Kim Boekbinder at Birdies this week and introducing me to a great new artist. Kim Boekbinder is from NY and just spent several months in Australia and I discovered her in the Crossroads District of Kansas City, Missouri.

And thanks to Kim for penning a diddy about Facebook stalking. We all do it. No one should be ashamed...

'On The Nail' Reading Tues. 7th June 2011 9.00pm

'On The Nail' Reading @ The Locke Bar, Limerick

Tuesday 7th June 2011 8.00pm

(please note our new day, Tuesday, for the Summer months)



Organised by The Limerick Writers' Centre this popular monthly reading and open-mic continues to attract audiences with a mix of poetry, prose and music.



This month our guests are Gabriel FitzMaurice and Dave Rock.



Gabriel Fitzmaurice, whose roots lie deep in the strong literary tradition of North Kerry is poet, teacher, broadcaster, writer, translator, singer and raconteur. He was born in 1952, in the village of Moyvane, Co Kerry where he still lives. For more than three decades he taught and later served as principal at his local national school but is now happily retired. He is the author of more than forty books, including collections of poetry in English and Irish as well as several collections of verse for children. He has translated extensively from Irish and had also edited a number of anthologies of poetry in both English and Irish. In addition, he has published volumes of essays and collections of songs and ballads. He is a familiar voice on Kerry Radio where he hosts his own show. Gabriel has also been frequently heard on national television and radio speaking on education and the arts. A cassette of his poems, The Space Between: New and Selected Poems 1984-1992 is available.

He is a former chair and literary advisor of Listowel Writers' Week and is currently a committee member of Eigse Michael Hartnett. He is an award winner of the Gerard Manley Hopkins Centenary Poetry Competition and has twice represented Ireland at the European Festival of Poetry in Louvain, Belgium.

He has been called "poetry's answer to John B Keane" (Books Ireland) and his poems have been described as "comparable to Burns for their insight and lyricism" (The Irish Times ).



Dave Rock has been a featured performer at practically every main venue for poetry in Ireland. He was placed third in the Cuirt Literature Festival Grand slam and fourth in the All Ireland. His performing style is highly physical and expressive, and often very joyous. He combines slam pieces with traditional poetry. He has also been a storyteller for a number of years, working with traditional and his own invented folktales. He is the co-creator of the InkStorm workshops in creative writing and performing, which have had a ream of very successful events across Ireland and England. He has taught and facilitated both writing, storytelling and performing with children, teens and adults. He's currently designing a new breed of workshops. He's been published in a number of journals, and will be published in the rest! His chapbook, A Single Unstruck Match, was published in 2008. He's also an art photographer, with a number of successful exhibitions.

Everyone is invited to take part in the open-mic after the main event, poets, storytellers, musicians and writers . Even if you don't write you are welcome to bring something along to read. The night begins at 8.00pm and admission is free. So join us on the night and make this event something special.

NOTE: Our special authors book table will again be in operation, so if you want your book, CD's etc publicised make sure you are represented on the table. Contact Dominic Taylor at 087 2996409 to make arrangements.

The Limerick Writers' Centre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council of Ireland.



Further information contact: Dominic Taylor 087 2996409 email limerickwriterscentre@gmail.com web http://onthenailreadings.blogspot.com To view videos of the May reading go to: http://www.youtube.com/onthenailreadings

The Limerick Writers' Centre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council of Ireland.

How to make it in America.

When you're working on a show about America, it is easy to get patriotic. You see enough American flags and energetic fervor around them and you start to believe the hype. Which is a good thing. But America: Now and Here isn't just about hype and it's not about patriotism. It's about a dialogue and a conversation.

And it is probably not a coincidence that this song has been on repeat on each of my Apple music devices over the last several weeks.

Charles Bradley, I couldn't have started a more universally engaging conversation had I tried. Which I might have. But didn't have to. Cause this song does it so superbly.

Why is it so hard to make it in America?

Please enjoy Bradley's dance moves around 2:30 and 4:30 responsibly.

Days Off, Kansas City Style.

For some people, the weekend is defined by Friday night through Sunday evening. From this general assumption of what a weekend means comes the phrase 'Thank God It's Friday.' From that phrase comes the ABC Friday night television sitcom series from many of our childhoods, 'TGIF' (do we not all remember 'Family Matters' and 'Step by Step' sandwiched between or around 'Full House'? Oh gosh, we sure do). But for those of us who are in production, the weekend comes not very often or not at all and certainly not on the days others might expect it to.

Well, this past Monday and Tuesday, I got my first chance to enjoy a 'weekend' in Kansas City. And enjoy it, I did.

Some highlights.

Loose Park. Oh, how I love a park. I love, love, love a park. I'd heard some great things about Loose Park. It almost completely lived up to its expectations.

Near the Kansas City Art Institute...sponsored by H&R Block (um, oh wow, really?!)...this amazing public art piece. The irony is debatable. The art, super cool.

I swung by my friend, Beniah Leuschke's studio. He is a genius. He is a wordsmith. He is an artist. He is awesome and though this moldy seat does his work no justice, his work is rad and you must check it out.

I love Kansas City. I love my KC weekends whether they're on Saturdays or Mondays or once a month or only from 11 p - 5 a in the mornings. I will take advantage of every moment of free time I have here. I will weekend it up every hour I have off.

I put the I--twice--in Missouri.

When I signed on to manage production for an art tour I didn't really know much about, I figured I'd make the best of seven paid months exploring America. I'd take a couple of road trips on my days off, get to know the landscape of the Midwest, and write long entries into my yet untitled book during long nights to myself.

Three weeks ago I moved to Kansas City, still unsure of the city's placement on a map, let alone which state it belonged to.

Kansas City has turned out to be the kind of place that surprises you. It's not near the ocean and the street signs are poorly distributed. People are slow and they seem to want to talk rather than rush you through the line. Favors are asked in person and new friends drop by with gifts of strange fruits and common candies.

There are, amongst the barbecue establishments, a number of great restaurants in Kansas City. There are more independent coffee shops than Starbucks per the average block. People introduce themselves and then they run into you again and again and they probably remember your name.

I am currently living in Kansas City, Missouri. I am here for America: Now and Here.

The journey starts here. It starts on Friday.

Art in the streets of Kansas City.

I may be missing MOCA's Art in the Streets exhibit this month. But while I'm sad I won't see what Deitch throws together, I'm happy to report the Kansas City is presenting its own spectrum of art in the streets.

The big dog in town is Scribe. His art is fresh. It is unpretentious. It is unfettered by the inflated redonculousness that many LA street artists have fallen victim to.

 

A panel from Scribe's David and Goliath

Then there's KC's very own Alexander Austin. Curated and commissioned by David Ford, Austin has installed a mural size portrait of his signature Martin Luther King for America: Now and Here. The artist is quirky. He is kind. He is not much into 'schedules.' He dons a cowboy hat, it seems, all the time. And his work--well, it is incredible.

Are you out there, Rotko Petric?

In 1978, Rotko Petric created this sculptural piece of art. Rotko was in Kansas City from Yugoslavia. From what I gather, he was studying here. He knew KC artist Jim Leedy and Leedy, founder of the Leedy Voulkos Art Center, the hub of our America: Now and Here installation, kept this piece in his collection.

Walking through the Leedy Voulkos this week, I was informed that Petric's whereabouts are now unknown. Yugoslavia, the one-time kingdom, to later become 3 iterations of a Federal Republic, to finally become nothing of its former self, swallowed up any trace of Petric and the Leedys have heard nothing of the artist in years.

All that Kansas City's seen of Petric recently is this eyeball, atop a beautiful, armed, asymmetrical body of blue. Fantastic.

'On the Nail' Reading Thurs May 5th 2011 8.00pm

'On The Nail' Reading @ The Locke Bar, Limerick

Thurs. 5th may 2011 8.00pm

This Month (May) Launch of Revival Literary Journal No 19 PLUS Guest readers Patrica Byrne and Mae Leonard.

Patricia Byrne lives in Limerick and writes poetry, fiction and nonfiction. Her poetry collection Unstable Time was published in 2009. Her nonfiction book The Friar & the Felon will be published by Collins Press in spring 2012. The book tells the story of the Achill Island atrocity of 1894 involving the infamous James Lynchehaun, who was one of the influences on John Millington Synge in writing The Playboy of the Western World. Patricia writes a blog at http://www.patriciabyrnewrites.com/.

Mae Leonard is originally from Limerick now living in Co. Kildare: Writer, Writer in Schools/Libraries, Poet and Broadcaster. Winner of several short story and poetry literary awards including Scottish International, Francis MacManus, Belmont Prize etc. Publication: My Home is There, Tarzan Clancy, Six for Gold. Her new Poetry collection "I Shouldn't be Telling you This" will be launched on the night by Frank Prendergast. A collection of her Sunday Miscellany contributions is due out from Revival Press later on in the year.

Everyone is invited to take part in the open-mic after the main event, poets, storytellers, musicians and writers . Even if you don't write you are welcome to bring something along to read. The night begins at 8.00pm and admission is free. So join us on the night and make this event something special. NOTE: Our special authors book table will again be in operation, so if you want your book, CD's etc publicised make sure you are represented on the table. Contact Dominic Taylor at 087 2996409 to make arrangements. The Limerick Writers' Centre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council of Ireland. Further information contact: Dominic Taylor 087 2996409 email limerickwriterscentre@gmail.com web http://onthenailreadings.blogspot.com To view videos of the April reading go to: http://www.youtube.com/onthenailreadings

The Limerick Writers' Centre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council of Ireland.

Introducing America: Now and Here, Mark Bradford & a trip through the Midwest.

On Friday, I'll be leaving LA. Til the end of October. Yeah, you heard me right. That's 6 months on the road. The only thing that could tear this fairly new Angeleno (6 years is still new, right?) away from town for that long would be the sickest of projects. And this one's a doozy. America: Now and Here is a touring art show. And its participating artists are beyond, beyond, beyond.

As I travel through the Midwest this Spring/Summer/Fall, I'll keep you posted on my travels. And I'll also introduce you to the work of the amazing artists who've got pieces on our traveling caravan of American art. Some names you'll recognize (think: Chuck Close, Yoko Ono, Jasper Johns, Edward Albee, Jeff Koons, Damien Rice, Catherine Opie, Marsha Norman, and on and on) Some you won't. They are all incredible.

First up, meet Mark Bradford.

Soon, you'll be meeting Kansas City. Which may or may not excite you. I think it excites me.

Keep creating.

This week has been insanely busy. The kind of busy that makes you nearly lose your mind and want to crawl into bed for an undisclosed amount of time. The kind of week that certainly inspires no moves to be creative, no thoughts to pick up a pen or take a photograph or paint a picture. Because it would surely come out like poo. And no one likes poo. But sometimes creating poo is the beginning of something greater. And taking a risk is the only thing to do. And picking up a pen (or a keyboard) even though you're exhausted and would much prefer to fall in a heap is the only appropriate thing to do.

Mr. Brainwash agrees.

Join VOGUE + Sam Edelman + Yours Truly...

You have good taste. And you like hot shoes. Do you need any other reason to join me this Saturday at this VOGUE special event celebrating Sam Edelman's sick new Spring 2011 collection?

I'll be hosting. You'll be shopping. It will be a guaranteed amazing time.

Saturday, April 2
12 - 3 p

Nordstrom at The Grove
LA, CA

See you there!

xo * Jessie B. R.

Perez Hilton...children's author!?

The manchild who has made fun of every celeb on the this green Earth, has drawn cocaine smears on the mug shots of Hollywood's fast set, and made jabs at others' weights, lifestyles and levels of diminished talent, is now publishing a book. A children's book. A children's book that "celebrates individuality and self-acceptance, and is inspired by Hilton’s desire to promote equality in readers of all ages."

I have no words. Only this cover art. Please go ahead and design your own caption. Because I am completely and utterly speechless.

The town whose claim to fame was Split Pea Soup.

Santa Barbara is the kind of town--the kind resided in by rowdy University students and a tamer set of wealthy retirees--that one comes to either to relax or to engage in the most touristy of activities.

One such activity is wine drinking. But when traveling with my mother, an avid non-drinker, we were left to other, less fermented journeys.

In the town of Buellton, one will find Pea Soup Andersen's--an inn, a restaurant, and the claimant to Split Pea Soup innovation.

In next door Solvang, visitors can engage in all the delights of a Danish Village which hasn't changed since its founding in 1911 save the addition of perhaps 3 dozen more gift and candy shops. When I'd passed through Solvang in my first and last trip to Santa Barbara, I'd discovered that the restaurant responsible for the famed Danish dessert, Aebleskiver, closed at 3 pm.

I was resolved to make it in time this time. I didn't. But determined to try the Danish donut, we made a mad dash for the Red Viking Restaurant, the only other resto in town to fry up the doughy balls. While the dessert underwhelmed me, the victory of finally obtaining it did not.

Solvang is famed for nothing beside its donuts and pancakes. But while outsiders don't know it for anything else, Solvang-ites are apparently well aware of the delights of the outside world. The local memorabilia shop features a life size (aka pint size) cardboard cut out of the one, the only Justin Bieber, a child I'm fairly certain has never made it to the quaint village of Danish architecture and plentiful tourist traps.