Strange Closets

To woo a mate, male bower birds decorates their nests with all manner of objects, including vibrant berries and flowers. Interested females will visit many competing nests, often returning for a second look by comparison. It appears that bower birds even use the rules of perspective to arrange objects in order to emphasize or deemphasize [...]

The den is done, and I like the way it looks. More importantly, I like the way it feels. Having said that, the outcome was kind of an accident. There must be at least a few colors that don’t look good with Benjamin Moore’s brownish-blackish-grayish Iron Mountain hue, but I haven’t found one yet, so [...]

For much of the sixties, seventies and eighties, Batman’s costume had a big yellow logo around the bat.  Stylish?  Debatable, but I think most of us would say no.  Plus, the bright yellow circle made a pretty good target.  As comics took a so-called grim and gritty turn in the 80′s, the emblem also seemed [...]

While I’ve never bought the arguments against tattoos, my heart never, uh, burned for one until recently when I realized that getting inked might be a  good way to commemorate some big changes in my life.  Thankfully I’ve been too busy (and indecisive) to pull the trigger (although the gun has made its appearance and [...]

You’re so vain; you probably think this post is about me.  Oh hi there.  SuperReed and Supermom Stephanie’s Open House was so popular that I’ve decided to ride the gravy train.  Reed’s not the only superhero in town.  If you’d like a musical selection to accompany this post, please direct your attention to the sidebar [...]

Interesting . . . very interesting. Question; are these prints (which are available at the quirky funky online shop Mr. Kanes) Decoratus Absurdum? I could debate both sides of that pressing question.  If they aren’t D.A. (and please don’t misunderstand, I’m not there yet), do they perhaps fall into a new category all together? Eightytitus [...]

Michael Thompson photographed in his studio. Chicago artist Michael Thompson’s work ranges from elaborate erectors set to wooden assemblages of found objects to kites, one of which can be seen in the summer blockbuster, “the Dark Knight.” But Thompson is perhaps best known for his faux stamps, many of which have been sent through the [...]