Saturday, July 26, 2014

Beth Allen: A Day in the Life of a Rock 'n' Roller



Oscar Wilde once said: "Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life". By taking the position that Artists set the aesthetics through which we perceive Life, Mr. Wilde presented a belief that Art affects the way we look at the world around us and changes our perception of Life. He insisted that "things are because we see them, and what we see, and how we see it depends on the arts that have influenced us".

I don't know anyone who more embodies this philosophy than the amazingly talented and incredibly witty Beth Allen. To be around her energy is to be engulfed in a vortex of creativity, mayhem and fun! Her interests in the macabre and the unusual permeates her artwork and activities. From horror movies, skateboarding, tattoos and taxidermy (her stuffed rats posed in Hawaiian outfits are unbelievable) to her creative expression as a guitar, singer and bass player in numerous bands, Beth's life reflects her voracious appetite of pop culture, her great sense of humor, coupled with a lo-brow aesthetic that accents her approach to her creative output.

Beth has played guitar and bass in bands such as Cockpit, The Loudmouths, The McCools, The Jaded Fucks, The Womentors (an all-female Mentors tribute band) and The Meat Sluts. She currently plays ukulele in Pineapple Princess and guitar in her Zombie band The Wastedeads with Shawn Smith who's also in the garage band The Krypters.

Her love of making art from recycled items can be seen in her "Litterboxes", "Cuddle Zombies" and "Barbie's by Beth", while her love of Vans evolved into her website Don't Come Knockin' which was created for "van-addicts, vanaholics and fans of vans everywhere". In her spare time, Beth is an aspiring cinematographer! Check out her recent documentary "A Night with the Juggalos".

During our photo shoot, Beth had a way of making even mundane house hold chores seem interesting. Getting ready for band practice, which included dressing up as a Zombie, Beth made it seem like a natural progression to then take the dogs out for a walk! I am thrilled to present to you a photographic documentation of a slice of Beth's life she has graciously allowed us a bite of. Her Life indeed is a work of Art!

1, 2, 3, 4,

Julie Pavlowski Green
July 26, 2014

 

















Saturday, July 19, 2014

Panda Bear from The Mask Series

"Panda Bear No. 1" from The Mask Series

It's no secret that humor plays a large part in my photographs. My motto is "You Can't Fake Having Fun" and the Mask Series is a testament to having as much fun as possible while making Art. The power of humor and the barriers it tears down can be seen in all sections of life. But for me, it reveals itself most clearly in the Arts. You can hear it in the music, you can see it in the painting, you can feel it in the line of the sculpture: the pure essence of joy cannot be contrived.

When I set out to create this series, I limited myself 2 rolls of 120 black and white film per subject and shot them only in natural light. Subjects were given a bag of masks and asked to choose one that most resonated with them. I have always felt that the selection of the mask revealed a little bit more about the individual: their tastes in design, form, nature and character identification. The selection process, I noticed, also set them more at ease by giving them a little bit of control over the project.

Yes, masking ourselves is a freeing experience, one in which we can allow ourselves to drop our guard even if only for a second. Humor can be a mask but in this particular instance, with each and every consecutive subject I photographed (33 total) the silliness of playing a different character and the joy of creating together produced what I consider one of my most important body of work.

Once again, two limited edition prints from this set are available through my Etsy store.

Long Live Silliness,

Julie Pavlowski Green
July 19, 2014


 


"Panda Bear No. 2" from The Mask Series

"Panda Bear No. 3" from The Mask Series

"Panda Bear No. 4" from The Mask Series

"Panda Bear No. 5" from The Mask Series

"Panda Bear No. 6 "from The Mask Series

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Synthpunk Sweethearts: Sex Crime


Sex Crime is seriously my new favorite band. They've got straight up rock n' roll sensibilities coupled with New Wave synth undertones, delivered at a breakneck speed, these sythpunk sweethearts are tops!

Watching this band perform a few months ago at The Redwood Pirate Bar downtown (which was a perfect backdrop to enjoy their nefarious ride), reminded me how fun going to see live music could be. Their shear enthusiasm was infectious and roused the crowd into a frenzy. Check out a song from their show here!

This is one Sex Crime you wont want to miss!

Julie Pavlowski Green
July 12, 2014
Julie Pavlowski Green: When did Sex Crime form?

Tim (drums/vocals): Over 900 days ago.

Cecilia (vocals/keyboards)We talked about doing this band forever before actually starting. We finally got our shit together in September 2012.

Holly (bass/vocals)When Ryan and Cecilia decided to ask me to join jerk forces with them....they were already rocking with Tim in Cecilia und Die Sauerkrauts so it was a couple of years before we actually started playing together but when we did I think we discovered something super stinky and tasty too!
JPG:  How did you find each other? 

T: We all volunteer at the same church, so it was inevitable that we would soon rock balls together.

C: Smelling each other’s butts !

H: We followed our noses...
JPG:  Is the music scene still thriving in Portland?

T: Currently music is illegal here but we're doing everything in our power to change that. Look what it's done for Colorado fer chrissake.

C: Fuck yeah ! Half of population in Portland is a musician or pretends to be!

H: The music scene in Portland over runneth....it's rich.  RRRIIIICCCCHHHHHH!

RYAN: (guitar/vocals)I'd say so. Lots of great bands, fun shows and parties.

JPG: What is the bands discography?

T: 3 45s and full length on the way.

C:  First 7” is on Danger Records (Paris). 2nd 7” is self released for our European tour in October 2013. We have a song on Portland Mutant Party 7” on Jonny Cat Records and we just recorded a new 7” for the same label. Working on the album now ! Hopefully out really soon !

H: A buncha rad shit....more to come!
JPG: Tell us about your mascot, Sung!

T: Sung is a worthless whore who gobbles the first pole she rolls into.

C: She likes to travel, making new friends and having her picture taken in weird places. Her modeling career is really taking off right now ! She is huge in Spain ! But she has a drinking problem unfortunately ...

H: She is such a princess....GAWD.  We love her fun loving ways!

R: She's shockingly good at foosball and can knock back more tequila than most heads I've met.

Tim


JPG:  What other bands have you been in?

T: Previous bands include The Angoras, The Epoxies, Perfect Look and currently The Suicide Notes.

C:  The No-Talents, Loud Mufflers, Cecilia & Ses Ennuis, Operation S, Die Sauerkrauts.

H: uh.....THE NEARLY DEADS, PIST'UNS, BRAINHOLE, JUANITA FAMILY AND FRIENDS and currently and the longest is THEE HEADLINERS (about 13+ years and counting!)

R: The Epoxies, Cecilia and The Sauerkrauts, The Procrastinators, The Rickets, The Weaklings, The Blackouts (no not that one), some other stuff...

JPG: What has been the craziest show Sex Crime has played so far?


T: Recently we played a zany humdinger here in Portland with The Briefs. Definitely up there with the best of um.

Cecilia


C: Definitely Funtastic Dracula festival that takes place in a UFO shaped discotheque from the 70’s and holds 1000 people. Opening up for the Briefs, was one of the wildest shows we played ! The Farfisa kept flying all over the place !!!

H: I think the Funtastic Dracula Carnival in Spain was definitely the funnest, kookiest party ever!!

R: Probably a tossup between a recent show in Portland w The Briefs and The Funtastic Dracula festival in Spain - the kids were getting pretty wacky...

JPG: How was your "Mission to Sun" tour in May?

T: We had a swell time, all the girls had their periods at the same time.

C: Killer !!!!!!!!!!!! So much fun with our buddies the Suicide Notes 




Holly


H: TOTALLY RADICAL!  Tourcation was a blast!!!  Killer shows, beach, buds, the best.  it was so great travelling with the SUICIDE NOTES, they rule!

R:  Awesome!

JPG: Where did you go? 



T: Los Angeles, San Pedro, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Eureka and my Moms house.

H: To your moms house and she was really nice.

JPG:  What is the significance of your black and red nail polish?



T: I don't wear that crap, it's for pussies!

C: Red flying elephant with a black velvet cape.

H: PURE EVIL

R: It was Tim's idea, but he's not telling.


Ryan

JPG:  Have you ever been convicted of a sex crime?

T: Never convicted, not yet!

C: Every day !!!

H: My motto is DON'T GET CAUGHT!  Also you should try everything you want to.  ALL OF IT.

R:  I almost had to register as a sex offender for peeing on a bush in bumfuck Ohio somewhere, but my record remains clean so far in that regard.

JPG:  Do you play any covers?

T: We don't play just any covers, just the really really good ones

C: There is "Goody Goody Bye Bye" by the Staff on our 1st 7”. We do cover Village People “synth punk” song "Food Fight" cause we think it’s hilarious. And also "N-N-N-N-Nervous" by The Skabbs (one of the most killer weirdo punk Californian band from the late 70’s) which will be on our new 7”.

H: The most awesome ones and most stupid ones we can find, Yes!


JPG: Who do you identify with as a band?

T: Lately I think it's more of a mid to late 70s sound...the very early stages of new wave..like a beefy Loggins and Messina.

C: The Twilight Zone.

H: I identify our stuff with the bat caver/new waver sounds I was into in high school (class of 1987, representing!)... Playing this kind of stuff makes me super happy and it's fun to be a punk!

JPG:  Tell us a story about your favorite Sex Crime song!

T: Recently I had to get up, shower and shave then go to work. I recently wrote a song about how much all those things suck...end of story.

C: The last song I wrote “I am an Observer” is a little story from Keith Richards “Life” book.

H: My fave song keeps rotating as we come up with new stuff.  Right now I just want to dive into the new stuff!  We have an album to put together....still coming up with junk.
Ryan making friends in LA
JPG:  What are you guys working on right now?

T: I'm working on my lats and my delts, I recently got calf injections and I wear booty pop underpants all the time. I'm working on being hot as hell, completely masturbateable. I'm also working on my ability to listen to others and respond to the needs of my friends and loved ones. And lastly, and I think I can speak for my fellow church going Sex Crimers, I'm constantly working on my faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

C: An album, another European tour, but right now, mostly going to the river twice a week and managing to stay pale !


Saturday, July 5, 2014

The Hayes Adobe - Exploring the Mojave Desert in Southern California


Twentynine Palms, 29 Palms or Twenty-Nine Palms. Any way you look at it, this city in the Mojave Desert in Southern California is indeed "A Beautiful Desert Oasis" and the northern gateway to Joshua Tree National Park. Home to The King of Surf Rock - Dick Dale and Allie Wrubel who wrote the hit song "The Lady of 29 Palms" back in 1947, Twentynine Palms has always attracted artists, musicians and independent folks for generations. It's broad brush stokes of muted colors in coral, wheat and sage set the backdrop to its expansive, remote surroundings. It is truly an Oasis of tranquility and a study in light and form.


My dear friend Karen Shelver turned me on to Twentynine Palms years ago. Stories of her Grandfather's homesteading adventures in the desert eventually turned into a visit when Karen lived out at the Adobe. Hand built back in 1936, it was if timed stopped when I entered the Adobe and the delicious, cool temperature (thanks to the swamp coolers) welcomed me in. That and a tall cold one from Karen!

Sally Sweet and Sandy Shelver
Sally Sweet and Sandy Shelver (Karen's Mum), graciously invited me and my family to stay with them recently at the Adobe so I could photograph the structure at different times of the day. They shared with me a brief history of their parents involvement with the community, as well as their own personal experiences growing up inside this hand made gem which their parents had built back in '36. Sally and Sandy also provided a detailed account of the construction of the Adobe and imparted stories of their parents hard work and determination which culminated in the 3 bedroom structure.


Born and raised in Pasadena, Theodore M. "Ted" Hayes was an educator who became the first teacher and principle for the Twentynine Palms High School. He and his wife Mary move out to the desert and began to homestead in what eventually became The Hayes Adobe.

When Ted and Mary first move out to Twentynine Palms in 1934, they lived at the Legion Hall which, back in the day, only had electricity until 9pm at night. Only on nights where meetings or a dance were held that the light stayed on until 11pm! The only phone in town was at the 29 Palms Inn... You had to be a very resilient, determined and resourceful individual to live out in the desert, much like the residents today.


Eventually, they purchased a 5 acre plot of land from Frank Bagley sometime between 1934 and 1936. Frank had obtained a 160-acre parcel of land from the Federal Government back in 1927. From 1863 - 1977, citizens of the United States had the opportunity to claim 160-acres in the Mojave Desert from the Federal Government if they could prove that they were improving the land within 3 years.

I learned about Frank and Helen Bagley when I purchased a copy of "Sand in my Shoe: Homestead Days in Twentynine Palms" by Helen Bagley from the local Historical Society years ago. It was a wonderful personal story of how The Bagley's began homesteading in the desert and I was fascinated by their tales of strength and survival, much like the tenacity Ted and Mary Hayes showed in building a life literally from the ground up. My friend Karen had noticed the book at my home and began to tell me about her Grandfather and his homesteading adventures in Twentynine Palms.


Hand building each brick, Ted and Helen began to construct the Adobe and eventually got high school students and friends like Bob Saunders to help in the construction of the their home. Manure and straw were added to the clay to strengthen the material. Unfortunately,  when it rained, it literally used to melt any exposed Adobe mud and they would have to start building bricks all over again. The mud itself was hauled up from the dry lake in what now is occupied by the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. They teated the Adobe with linseed oil to seal it and then painted it white with blue trip about two feet up from the ground. The main part of the house was livable within a year.

Hand hewn local timber was carved to make the doors, roof supports and lintel beams. Ted also hand forged and hammered the door handles and hinges. The very impressive fireplace heating system was something that Ted called a Heat-a-lator and worked by thermal conduction. Cold air would enter the vent near the floor, which then went up behind the heated bricks of the fireplace and warm air was release into the room through the hand built vents in the wall.

The unglazed brownish-orange terra-cotta roof tiles were also hand made by shaping the clay over the workers thigh. Sandy showed me one which had the impression of seams from the workers denim pants embedded in the clay. These tiles were imported from Mexico.

"Daddy's Testimony to Happy Hour" is a lovely organic piece of modern art adorning the courtyard wall. The wall has been added onto over the years and the whimsical patterns and materials embedded in the mud itself, are a testament to the joyful spirit and relaxation enjoyed by each successive generation. Karen had shown me a photograph of the wall when we first started talking about her Grandfather's Adobe and it was this creative wall structure that intrigued me the most. The spirt of independence and creativity thrived out in the dessert and I wanted to see it first hand!

Wallace in the desert

Hand made Adobes out in the Mojave Desert is one of the reasons I love visiting Twentynine Palms. It's as if you are allowed to go back in time and live a slower paced life, unencumbered by modern distractions. Sleeping in a structure made of earth IS grounding and gives one the sense of being closer to nature than ever before. This lovely Adobe erected during the depression is a gift Ted and his wife Mary created not only for themselves, but for future generations to enjoy. A place where you can stop awhile and let time and light wash over you.

Many thanks to my dear friend Karen Shelver for sharing her family and their history with me and to Sally and Dick Sweet, and Sandy and Jack Shelver for being such gracious hosts out in the desert.

May their pioneer spirt live on!

Julie Pavlowski Green
July 5, 2014