Discovering Shary Boyle’s work is like biting into a pretty little pastry, only to realize, as your taste buds tingle and your mouth starts to water, that what you’ve actually sunk your teeth into is a sumptuous three-layer cake.
Maybe you’re been beckoned by her vibrant yet vexing illustrations. You surf to her website and take them all in, reveling in these seemingly sacrosanct tragicomic scenes from some distant galaxy’s breathtaking fluorescent apocalypse. An instinct in the back of your mind warns you to run, RUN– but it’s too late: you’re been ensnared in Boyle’s wild world. Next it’s her sculptures that catch your eye, those oddly silent, secret-filled sculptures, and before you know it you’ve discovered her creeping, carefully understated paintings. And what’s this– she does live projection? Yes, you discover, she tours with Toronto musician Doug Paisley in a group called Dark Hand and Lamplight, accompanying folk singing stallion Will Oldham to taverns in Big Sur where she lights up an overhead projector and makes magic with entrancing illustrations.
Once you’ve digested all the sickly sweetness and savory sensations of Shary Boyle’s work, a deep satisfaction settles in your belly– followed swiftly by an insatiable craving for more.
In 2009, what makes a music magazine worth buying? The plethora of quality cyber sources dedicated to discovering just-breaking bands (and instantly downloading their music) have claim jumped the traditional music press’ function as vanguards of the cutting edge. Buying a mainstream music mag for their big interviews seems futile, because they all get transcribed online anyway. So what’s left?
Yeti magazine. Forgoing the faulty forced eclecticism of too many crowd-pleasing glossies, Yeti is lovingly curated by Seattle-based editor Mike McGonigal, whose impeccable taste serves as the living soul for this unique publication. Featuring a collection of unhurried, engrossing writings on obscure music, interviews with comic book artists, short stories, and stunning outsider art, Yeti is a handsome black and white book-sized zine that also boasts a highly listenable mix CD in every issue.
Musicians featured include everyone from Will Oldham to Abner Jay, Terry Riley to Vivian Girls and Tara Jane O’Neil. Jeff Magnum has published his illustrations as well as exclusive Neutral Milk Hotel rarities in Yeti. Carson Ellis, Brian Chippendale and Mingering Mike are just a few of the rad visual artists who have contributed illustrations, and their first issue, way back in the early 00’s, featured the official debut of indie folk stalwarts Iron & Wine. The eighth and latest issue of Yeti hits mailboxes on November 23rd, with a CD containing 80 minutes of rare music from rad artists like Ty Segall, Zola Jesus and Vaselines, along with 200 pages of excellent writing.
Lately, it seems like all the rad creative people and places in L.A. have become closely intertwined, like a cat’s cradle of overlapping awesomeness. Sure, an extensively detailed flow chart might help you get the picture– or you could just watch this astute new documentary from Lance Bangs! Family Portrait centers on the bookstore Family and spider-webs outward from there, touching on some of our favorite places in Los Angeles, like The Smell, Hope Gallery, and Ooga Booga, as well as the people who make those places great. Watch the rest of Family Portrait after the jump.
Part 1: An intro to Family Bookstore, the crazy range of items they stock, and the origin of the store’s name.
The Director’s Bureau is a commercial and music video house with a roster of talent responsible many of the sweetest things we’ve seen in recent years. Lana Kim is the wonderful person in charge of organizing the “music video” end of the operation.
In an attempt at making the most of her access to some really stellar bands, Lana began filming her own music video clip show out of a closet in the back of the Bureau and it became an internet smash. Once the closet got to small she took the act to streets – well hotels, and back yards and the rest is future music history.
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