Liftingfaces

Blog

  • Edward Gorey Meets Henri Matisse

    The art of Mel Kadel.

  • Recreating Fake Recreations

    The art of Amy Bennett.

  • Addicted to GEORGE R. R. MARTIN

    I am only on the second book in this projected seven volume fantasy epic, but I can already tell you that A Song of Ice and Fire is one of my favorites series’ of all time. Without getting into a detailed dissertation on why George R.R. Martin has reimagined the genre and brought a new way of looking at stayed archetypes, I will just say that this author knows how to create scenes. Each chapter is told from a different viewpoint of one of the central characters, and there are usually about six or seven characters we follow in each book. The format makes for sprawling, engaging storytelling, and the fantasy elements are not your typical trolls and dragons (though dragons do exist in some fashion).

    HBO has actually optioned the rights to this series, and has a plan to turn each book into a single season of episodes. No news on the development yet, but plans had been made to shoot this series in New Zealand were it to go into production. It would be a very special series, and HBO would be the perfect venue for it (for there is plenty of murder, warring, sex, and betrayal to go around for everyone).

    If you have avoided reading fantasy because you aren’t interested in wizards or hobbits, then this might be a series you should check out. There’s an alcoholic king, a sarcastic imp, a Tom Sawyer like young girl, and a foreign woman who isn’t too afraid of fire, to name a few.

    Go check out the first book now, and buy the rest while you’re at it.

  • Victorian Voodoo

    The art of Hew Locke.

  • Why Don’t I Love This?

    (BAZ LUHRMANN’S EPIC “AUSTRALIA”)

    Baz Luhrmann wrote and directed this upcoming film; Nicole Kidman (usually a solid actress) stars alongside Hugh Jackman; the story feels in parts whimsical, and in others epic. So why am I not thrilled for Australia to come out? Let’s start at the top.

    (1) I just had vision of Jackman coming out of a saloon full of banditos and carving a giant ‘C’ on another bandito’s blouse with his retractable metal claws, then proclaiming he is Zorro’s second cousin Carcayú (Wolverine en español).

    (2) Man, I hope Josh Hartnett and Kate Beckinsdale don’t have a kissing scene in this movie. It was hard enough watching it happen the first time in Pearl Harbor.

    (3) Marcus Aurelius would be proud. So would Ridley Scott. And the dozen or so multi-vitamin commercials that have also used this masterful cinematic hand-grazing-wheat moment.

    (4) “There’s a whole ocean of oil under our feet, and no-one can get at it but me!” Oh wait, that was a different movie, with a better actor. Whoops.

  • Grace Says “C’mon, Follow Me!”

  • The Forest Preserve

    The art of Anthony James.

  • Clamping Down, Donkeyman

    The art of Matt Duffin.

  • Sink of Blood, Crushed Veneer

    “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver.

  • A Week of Kindness

    The art of Sally Smart.

  • A Country Road, A Tree, Evening

    The art of Gerard Byrne.

  • Attractive Numbers

    The art of Alex Trochut.

  • Florabear With Four Hyenamoose

    The art of Ryan McLennan.

  • Hieronymus Bosch Meets Max Fleischer

    The art of Sam Gibbons.

  • TOP 5 INDIE BANDS

    (WHOSE NAMES CONJURE DEATH)

    5. Dead Meadow – Fuzzed out rock band, harkens to the 60’s without the nostalgic pomp.

    4. Death From Above 1979 – Bad ass two-man dance-punk band from Toronto, now defunct, made famous again by CSS a year ago.

    3. Death Cab For Cutie – Ben Gibbard and team continue to pump out catchy pop songs and ballads that stay in your head for longer than you like.

    2. Sun Kil Moon – Okay, so “kill” is misspelled in this band name, but that can’t stop Mark Kozelek from entering this Top 5. He could probably find a way to make it into every one of my lists.

    1. Dead Can Dance – Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard used to be married, and used to live in an Irish castle, and used to make some of the best music ever.

  • Quote of the Week #002


    “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw surprise parties.” –Mikey Teutul

  • Electric Birds + Noodle Faces

    The art of James Joyce.

  • R.I.P. Hufu!!

    My post about veggie burgers led me to a spoof product from a couple years back, designed to have some fun with the absurdity of soy and tofu-based product names.

    So if you’re “a cannibal who wants to quit,” then Hufu, The Healthy Human Flesh Alternative, is for you.

  • Finnish Folklorish

    The art of Sanna Annukka.

  • Bad Word Pairs #006

    “Veggie Burger”

    My disdain for veggie burgers has less to do with me being omnivorous, and more to do with the questions I’ve always had for the marketing toward vegetarians and vegans in general. Am I the only one who is insulted by the fact that most all vegetarian products are named and advertised as though its consumers were two years old?

    Whether we’re talking about Tofurkey, Rice Dream, Silk or Veat, I can’t help picture the marketing teams at these companies all gathered around their fake jiggling turkey in awe, and then coming up with the first word that came to their minds. Then they all giggled and then called the graphic designers to put some cute box art together for distribution.

    And I’ll close by saying I still don’t understand why vegans and vegetarians pine for meatless meats so vicariously. Isn’t the very idea of abstaining from eating meat to do just that? Why shape your tofu to look and taste like the thing you’re supposed to have given up? Just eat the vegetables, skip the veggie burger. Sheesh.

  • Lilda’s Cabbage Store and More

    The art of Anna Emilia Laitinen.

  • Why Haven’t You Listened to This?

    (“VIOLET HILL” FROM THE NEW COLDPLAY ALBUM)

    The new album is produced with Brian Eno, which Chris Martin says “will be the album I always dreamed we’d make.” If the bulk of the songs are anything like “Violet Hill,” then I will be anxiously awaiting the release.

  • Jetmen Don’t Worry ‘Bout No Rush Hour

    Step 1: Drop from cargo plane at 7,500 feet

    Step 2: Unfold your 8 foot wings.

    Step 3: Glide then fly at speeds of 200 mph

    Step 4: Show off for the ladies with a couple sweet tricks.

    Step 5: Land safely.

    Step 6: Be radically, totally awesome.

    Read more about the amazing jet man in this jaw dropping article. I want one!

  • TOP 5 “LOST” CHARACTERS

    (WHO ARE, AT THE TIME OF THIS POST, STILL ALIVE.)

     

    5. Hugo “Hurley” Reyes – He is the most naturally funny character on the island, and you can tell the writers enjoy writing for his character. He plays an integral role, and manages to stay clueless for the most part. For that reason, he is number 5 and not higher. But he is definitely responsible for several of my favorite scenes.

     

    4. Daniel Faraday – At first, I just thought he was remixing Brad Pitt’s character in 12 Monkeys. And I still think he is, to a degree. But the writers have made him into a highly likable character, new to the show for season 4, but feels like he’s been a part of the team all along. There’s a scene where he indicates a bond with someone on the island that really intrigued me. I hope they follow up on this.

     

    3. Desmond Hume – “See you in another life, brother.” Still one of my favorite lines of the entire series (right behind Jack’s “There’s a glass?” line). His accent and his demeanor resonate with me. He is somewhat of a rebel, and I like how important his connection to Penny and her father is becoming with every episode. I see exciting things for his future in the show.

     

    2. Benjamin Linus – I had the same gripe about Faraday as I did about Ben, in that his character still feels like a reincarnation of Kevin Spacey’s role in the film “Seven”. But it is also for this reason that he is my favorite character to watch. The only thing holding me back from a number 1 spot for him would have to be his affinity for whining, juxtaposed to his borderline psychotic ramblings. For a guy who reads Tolstoy recreationally, he sure is an interesting character.

     

    1. John Locke – To me, Locke embodies everything LOST has to offer a new viewer. He is easy to root for, and carries the most enigmatic qualities of the survivors. There are times you want to choke him yourself, and other times you are rooting for him with your fist in your mouth. Also, he comes off as the most distinctive superhero, a quality that personifies LOST in a lot of ways. And who knows how the guy keeps his head shiny bald episode after episode. Props to Locke.

  • Band Name Etymologies

    If you ever wondered how your favorite band got its name, here is a pretty comprehensive list of band name etymologies, citing mostly first hand sources for the bands’ origins. You’ll spend quite a bit of time here, be warned.

  • Woodland Fragments

    The art of Daniel Gustav Cramer.

  • The Children Are Happy

    The art of blu.

  • MUTO, a wall-painted animation

    Umm . . . I’m not really sure what to say here. A tremendous accomplishment? Raising the bar for bedroom doodlers and flip-book animators around the world?

    The fact that the piece functions on more than one level — blending and defacing a medium of permanence (street art) with another which thrives on the moment (animation) — sort of heightens the impact of the project for me.

    Thanks moxi for the link.

  • Grace Says “Hey, I’m Down Here!”

  • Benedictish Frankwiches

    Courtesy of The Gallery of Regrettable Foods by way of my buddy Matt Daly.