Mason Porn

Antique Odd Fellows Masks by Tops Design
I find the whole fuckery of masons in the US interesting. These institutions, in which many were built on the foundation of patriarchy, classism, racism and marginalization, are absolutely fascinating. The symbology, so much of it taken from the Moorish, North Africa and "Middle East" is represented so often. I am obsessed with decoding and admiring these amazing adornments produced around these societies.

Antique Masonic Estate Pin by Hudson Estate
Within themselves the masons have a class system as well, it. to me is not apparent to many, but there was certainly a system of levels and portrayal to have the masses of working class think they too could participate in this system.
In my work I seek to deconstruct the negative patriarchy and create with the secret society miscellany a beautiful explosion for women especially, fashion and expression using those sacred ethnic symbols.

"Friendship Truth Love" by The Hand of Fatima

"We Never Sleep" by The Hand of Fatima

He was a poet

"...and he could not commit to me. At least that was his excuse for being unfaithful, that he was an artist, a true lover of all. He was so willing to give all of himself to get lost in another, all to wake up in a random bed and do it again. Empty fool, he was. I smashed his mother's harp on my way out the door and left on a morning train."

New nostalgia in the shoppe...

May The New Year...

...shine its blessings on you...or a chubby, white cherub in a hot air balloon. xo

Peace out 2010, I am ready to say farewell to you!

More Therapeutic Purchasing

I didn't think I was the moose-loving type, but I like this moose, he's a bit militant, as for monkies...I adore them, especially chimps...as for little girls with big heads, just look at a kid pic of me and you'll see. I hate to say that I am a bit shocked on how I love these prints so, but I am. I am usually not so hipster-drawn, but screw labels anyway.
Now that ambrotype and those daguerrotypes rock my ghostly socks...can't wait to use them. I have soooo many things to put online in the shoppe, it's maddening.

When All Else Is Fuckery...

...buy some stuff you've had an eye on to cheer you...right? Even if your funds are low from disastrous business decisions, or the holidaze...or fuckonomy, you can find a way...right? How worse can it be, right? In Dali's autobiography he said that when he and Gala were at their broke ass-est they would still tip the most and return to their Montmartre apartment that they could barely afford...
So here's what I snagged thus far:

You know that postcard is awesome!! Nothing like some creep sneaking up on you watching you sleep on a hammock to give you "Sweet Dreams".

This little lovely is one of my favorites to collect, an antique "calling card" lithograph or "die-cut". This one has a poem that reads; "Of all that is near, thou are the nearest. Of all that is dear, thou art the dearest."

This is an antique photo of a faceless dude and a horse...I effing love this! It's as if he is death or something coming to take the horse...or his pay? It reminds me of the guy who played the devil in Dr. Parnassus. It gives me the inspiration to create assemblage art again.These are some dope vintage horse medals or "ornaments for the harness of cart-horses were first made in the late 18th century; they became very popular in the 1850s, replacing an older style of adornment with ribbons, woolen fringes, and tooled leather. In some areas brasses were still in normal use in the 1920s, and can still be seen at horse-shows and parades." This is a little French lovely from the olden golden days, porcelain and I cannot wait to get my hands on it...and all my purchases as soon as possible.

Tricks

I feel like her...how she looks at least. I'm a bit sad, and I will have to do some serious tricks to stay sane, get happy and make my way. How do we get back on a road, if the road we took was not good to us? Find a new one? I don't know, but I am swallowing swords for now.

Her Immigrant Mother

New piece in the shoppe featuring genuine tintypes. Something quite "forever" about a tintype, no? Even though the tintype is quite older than the buckles surrounding it, I am a lover of all things Art Deco...had to work with this assemblage piece.

Shotgun Wedding by Bayou Salvage

I am a serious long time lover of Bayou Salvage and this photo is off the damn chain. It is hard to compliment work that is already so gorgeous...but this is just GORGEOUS.
If not good enough, hows about some "Country Fried Leggings"?

Or, the "Clotille Cloche"?

Aëla Labbé

...and what wonder is this? i have been inspired and moved by the French photographer Aëla Labbé as a result of reading one of my favorite blogs Blood Milk. and for me these photos, nothing short of a breathing being that is still, represent to me an answer or commentary: so there is nothing wrong with the creative torture of a woman's soul. the absolute lust to design, create, manifest the art in ones head and share it...it's not abnormal? oh, okay...

Merci a Kaight NYC

Basically a fashion staple downtown has given me a great shout out on her fantabulous blog:
http://kaightnyc.blogspot.com/2010/11/these-coins-will-make-you-blush.html

AND...now carries The Hand of Fatima Design at the Orchard Street Location. Stop in, the Brothel Token Collection is buzzin'.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxxooxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxooxxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

What about this photo is not absolutely amazing?

Homeland-Indigenous

in·dig·e·nous
1: produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment

Photo: Vice Magazine

I pay my respects to the origins of this land and all lands. Thank you.

And in fashion, to Marc Jacob's "Navajo" hightop.


...and in matters of cinematography and journalism, I pay respects to filmmakers Jilann Spitzmiller and Hank Rogerson for the piece "Homeland".

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/witness/2010/11/2010117125155900568.html



Great blog shout out:nativeappropriations.blogspot.com

PERFORMA-The Red Party 11-5-2010

I sometimes forget to mention that I work for one of my dearest friends, and mentor Kyle Goen. Kyle is a fine artist who works out of his DUMBO studio in Brooklyn. I serve as his loyal assistant and get to learn his process while taking on tasks of management and we design certain projects together, it's a joy in my life seriously.

Most recently, one of the bigger projects Kyle was commissioned to work on was the designing and creation of the Performa Arts benefit named "The Red Party". PERFORMA is an institution founded by the amazing RoseLee Goldberg. It was hosted by Allen Cumming and honoured renowned visual artist and filmaker, Shirin Neshat. The party theme was Russian Constructivism, and Kyle based the work off of that period of time and style.



Kyle felt quite inspired to create a gift for Shirin herself...and in the Kyle Goen fashion, this took form in a five foot portrait which he hand-painted from a projected image he had recreated in halftones. On the day of the party we set up the instillations from 9am until 5pm, the banners, the canvas, the hundreds of hand-screened flags and finally the portrait. It wound up looking amazing.New York Times focused on, unfortunately not taking a single Anne Hathaway and Cindy Sherman were in the house showing support, and that is basically what the press from photo of the actual party....but the party was so fun, I was all pregnant in my red dress rocking out to Chica Vas who stole the show!
Marcus Hicks of SDN (Sara Dixon's Nova) Eco-Clothing Line

Alaina Simone curator at Damon Dash's DD172 gallery in Tribeca




Photo of Anne Hathaway and RoseLee Goldberg taken by: Amber DeVoss
Photo of Alaina Simone of The Dash Gallery taken by: Geraldine Visco