Art – nothing2it

March 4, 2018March 4, 2018

What Was I Thinking? – Stacye Wilson

That helpless feeling, the one where you swear you’re losing the battle for an idea, frantically looking for inspiration. You’re sitting there with Moon Pie eyes like a lost child in a crowded mall on Saturday morning. I think every artist at one time or another has been there. Putting themselves under pressure to perform, willing themselves to do that next great American masterpiece. At least we would like to think so. As a younger man I had that competitive nature wanting to exceed beyond my talent and of course my limits. Today, I seem to go with the flow to coin an expression. I am, at times, looking at myself wondering why I’m doing what I’m doing as an artist. If it’s not competitive what is it?

I know I can’t please everyone, I can try to make myself happy. I know that might sound self centered but so be it, I can live with that. I’ve been asked “what drugs are you taking?”, “where did you come up with that idea?”, I can’t pin point the answer because I truly don’t know. I can only say that with the availability of images online you get flash backs subconsciously. Nothing is truly new, just re-purposed when ran through my meat grinder of a brain. I apologize to those artists works I have ground up. I can make amens to those affected by telling you who I admire and flagrantly borrow from. These are not Picasso’s or Rembrandt’s just common hard working people with skilled hands, sharp wits and keen eyes.

Day 2 Stacye Wilson – Nashville, TN

If there’s a problem, yo, I’ll solve it. – Stacye Wilson

Admittedly Stacye is my confidante, muse and friend. I’ve known her for most of my life, but make no mistake she has the chutzpah going on. Her work is brutally honest. Her collage work is frank, colorful and pointed to say the least. The kind of work I wish I would have not only thought of, but done. She takes no prisoners and cuts and quarters her subjects like no other artist I know, but does it in a very congenial manner.

I have never, ever heard Stacye refer to herself as an artist. I think she is one of the best, an inspiration to me and I love her for it. Thank you Stacye! I look through her massive amount of work and wonder if she is a visual artist or a writer? Probably both and for crying out loud I laugh until I almost cry over some of her work. Her Common Sense Jesus makes you stop and think. Right or wrong, good or bad it’s classic in a wicked way.

Take my word for it and go see for yourself, her Instagram is a microcosm of her life. Capturing her days, thoughts and friends in a way only she can do it.

Stacye Wilson on Istagram

February 22, 2018

Gulp

‘Gulp’ is a short film created by Sumo Science at Aardman, depicting a fisherman going about his daily catch. Shot on location at Pendine Beach in South Wales, every frame of this stop-motion animation was shot using a Nokia N8, with its 12 megapixel camera and Carl Zeiss optics. The film has broken a world record for the ‘largest stop-motion animation set’, with the largest scene stretching over 11,000 square feet.

The animators: http://www.aardman.com
The sand artists: http://sandinyoureye.co.uk
The phone: http://www.nokia.com/n8

December 30, 2017

Ike’s Shoe Repair – Times They are A Changin’!

Springfield News-Leader –

The story of Refuel Coffee and Soda Bar, a 1920s-to-1940s themed cafe planned to open in 2016, begins almost a century ago.

In the ’20s, the tiny building at Central Street and National Avenue was a gas station.

As early cars grew larger and car ownership more common, small, first-generation gas stations like the one at 900 N. National Ave. fell out of fashion, replaced by bigger ones along wider streets. That’s according to Drury University’s dean of architecture, Robert Weddle.

Ike’s as of December 2017
The building that is to become Refuel, its footprint only a few hundred square feet, was repurposed over the decades.

For the 27 years ending in 2012, it was a shoe-repair shop, owned by Rev. Isaac J. “Ike” Jenkins.

Ike’s past photo by Dale Brueggemann

My family lived in the house just north of Ike’s when my brothers were children. I grew up on the north side and remember passing Ike’s mostly my whole life. Always loved the old neon sign out front. This post is my way of remembering Ike’s as it was. Thanks Dale Brueggemann for capturing Ike’s before the restoration began!

Dale has some very interesting photos, go visit his Flickr Page and see for yourself.

News-Leader full story

December 21, 2017December 21, 2017

2018 Abandoned Calendar On Sale

Just finished up the Abandoned in the Ozarks Calendar for 2018 just follow this link to get yours! Photos from across the Ozarks places like Galena, Protem, Cane Hill, Brighton, Greenfield and Bona to name a few. It’s a collection of photos I’ve taken featuring abandoned and endangered buildings that due to Mother Nature, lack of funds or care and soon will be lost to time forever.

It’s choked full of 12 months of abandoned goodness.

December 15, 2017December 15, 2017

A Simple Life In Appalachia

Ran across this video on youtube. I immediately was taken back by how this guy measured to build anything, he doesn’t use any tape measure or yardstick just his arms. Astonishing how the old timers did things. Give it a watch.

December 14, 2017December 14, 2017

Shadow Rock Hotel – Gasping for it’s Last Breathe.

Shadow Rock in Old Forsyth in the 1950’s and Shadow Rock now abandoned in 2017. The last photo shown is a postcard from 1956 which indicates the “Hotel” had The Flamingo Dining Room and the Circle Bar Tavern on premise. I look for another change in the near future. In the first shot you can see the motel being built.

Back in 2012, that’s almost six years ago, in September, representatives of Pensco Trust and Lincoln Trust stopped by to take a look at Shadow Rock Lodge located at the junction of Hwy 160 and 76 just outside of Forsyth, Mo. acquired the building and have already put a new roof on the building they plan to completely refurbish by 2012. Included in the sale was the motel/motor lodge that has been deemed structurally unsound and which in all likelihood will be razed to the ground.

According a Taney Times article published on December 28, 2011; Forsyth Mayor, Ron Potter stated that the two trust firms envision an open air restaurant on top of the lodge that would attract motorcycle and eco-travelers throughout the region.

From my point of view it’s completely pie in the sky, I think I saw a for sale sign on the property.

Photo – Springfield News-Leader

December 2, 2017December 20, 2017

Phillipsburg General Store

The Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation (Missouri Preservation) announced its 2017 list of historic Places in Peril on Friday evening, August 25, 2017 at a special “Unhappy Hour” event at the National Building Arts Center in St. Louis. Listed at #9 is…the Old Phillipsburg General Store in Phillipsburg,MO

Few small town buildings are as iconic as the old general store. The Phillipsburg General Store was constructed in the last years of the 1800s. It survived for many years as one of Phillipsburg’s largest buildings and now has the distinction of being the only historic building remaining in the village. The building also sat next to the railroad tracks, and trains supplied the store with the many provisions needed for the villagers and local farmers. Sugar and flour, crackers and other needed items were bought in bulk and put in sacks to take come. Dolls and garden supplies, tools, as well as rabbits and chickens were purchased in the store and taken home in wagons pulled by horses. In later years the adjacent Route 66 brought many tourists to this tiny town. The upstairs served a variety of the community’s social needs, containing a small theater, an office where a lodge was located and where the Woodsmen of America met, as well as other groups like the American Legion. After the lodges were gone, ladies set up quilt blocks where they constructed quilts for many families in the community. During the 1990s some rehabilitation work was completed on the old store and part of the building was used again for quilting and antique sales. But in the meantime, a building that has been cut off from the railroad and its iconic roadway is in danger. A roof leak in the rear of the building has caused extensive They hope to attract a buyer that is interested in renovation of this small town icon. Contact the owner: bcbender3@yahoo.com or 417.664.6520

November 14, 2017December 13, 2017

American Steel

Images from the past few years of covering car shows for Street Machine Nationals and some regional independant shows. Including the cars, people and events.

October 5, 2017November 14, 2017

2013 Street Machine Fall Nationals

The 2013 Street Machine Fall Nationals had a little bit of everything in regard to weather, from sunny and warm to rainy and cool. That didn’t dampen the turnout on Saturday, tons of great cars and trucks were on hand to shoot.

November 15, 2013November 15, 2013

Rumbleseat


Rumbleseat -The Sadies from Mike Roberts on Vimeo.

Rumbleseat is an animated short film based on the music of The Sadies set in a world created by animator and director Mike Roberts. Based on classic westerns and rockabilly culture, the film centers around a young man who finds himself in the back of a hot rod occupied by four sinister ghouls. From the Rumbleseat of their car, he journeys through moments of his life and realizes he must make peace with what he’s left behind and find insight as to what has led him to this strange world.

Sound by Urban Post
Produced by Duopoly Canada