Stagg Land

New Post {Old posts R cool 2} aka post cereal aka post modern post itz !

2012-01-26T20:41:00.000-08:00

A Minxy of the Candy kind got me Thomas Frank's Pity The Billionaire . {cue ol' El Debarge vinyl...oooo n' I like it}

On The One

2011-12-15T16:33:00.001-08:00

Jackson And Brown 2003

2011-11-24T21:11:00.000-08:00

Prince, Jackson, Brown...Again...

2011-11-23T21:09:00.000-08:00

Live Wire

2011-11-22T21:08:00.001-08:00

MJ

2011-11-19T18:11:00.000-08:00

Glitter Glove

2011-11-18T17:22:00.000-08:00

Yellow jacket

2011-11-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

My friend Tony's band "Yellow Jacket' has a video. Some of my art work is in it.

Paper n' Glue

2011-10-19T16:31:00.001-07:00

410

2011-10-13T03:39:00.000-07:00

416

2011-10-12T03:37:00.001-07:00

313

2011-10-09T05:51:00.000-07:00

Yellow Jacket

2011-10-08T05:40:00.000-07:00

Drawings for my friend Tony's band Yellow Jacket.

Make My Funk

2011-10-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

Spirit

2011-10-02T06:56:00.001-07:00

Cribbage

2011-09-30T07:38:00.000-07:00

Some say it's all in the cards. That may be so in the 52 pick-up of life. The cards used to be just cards and how you read them...but with the elevation of games trying to be sports, ideas of past times have changed. When some people speak about making decisions in their life the phrase "play that card" is a metaphor. Others also use the phrase for description "such a card" for a character, like a Joker. My father's father, Papa Frank used to save Joker cards and give them to my sister and I. It wasn't long before we built up a bigger collection than other things we were collecting like dolls or hotwheel cars. I never thought of the Joker collection till I went into Chicago's ol' World Tattoo Gallery and a clear glass table box displayed a whole series of card collections. The image of Batman DC comic villain The Joker has changed over the years rubbing off it's grease paint all over the film entertainment world. I've heard cool street types with the ever present game face say "pull yer card" with connotations of picking the Ace away from you and saying he knows you're hiding an Ace. Fortune tellers read your cards with spiritual auras of advice and readership. I've heard bluesmen read a regular deck of cards, like that of tarot cards, but reassigning the role of each suit to the tarot deck. So they have read the deeper meanings and interpretations of tarot with a playing deck of cards. I haven't had that feeling around the idea of a card deck until I watched the fortune teller character in HBOs Boardwalk Empire. Cards and numbers have a math finality I associate with the Bohemian world. Their decorations and potential for magical tricks are all there within themselves. Just like the Queen of Hearts-off with their heads! An updated feeling is sonically transcribed by the ever influential Motorhead with the song Ace of Spades. Being around the printing industry in the past I've cut, shipped, packed and stacked thousands of business cards. Cards of self description, trying to lure your wallet to open, or make some sort of attempt at communication with their residual reminder on a little rectangle of stockboard paper. Have greeting cards gone by the wayside of past generations that used to send hand write? My nostalgic self loves prayer cards and their hidden and obvious images of holy decoration. I like post cards and how they always cycle in and out of popularity with their famous celebs and exotic destinations. I've drawn and painted many images from cards. My thoughts were over by a deck I saw on Sheffield Avenue of Salvador Dali's interpretation of the Tarot. Years later, I saw stacks of those same cards in his Sarasota Florida museum. the same feelings overwhelmed my insides from the past. Its difficult for me to admit that the cards are just cards because an entire universe of feelings and emotions are associated within all types of cards both good and bad.

Kitchen Painting

2011-09-19T08:57:00.001-07:00

Our Lady Of Flora

2011-09-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

Spontaneous Combustion

2011-09-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

These are some old covers I did for a zine....called Spontaneous Combustion in the 1980's.

Rec Room

2011-09-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

New Pics

2011-09-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

Tony's band in Pilsen "Yellow Jacket"

2011-09-01T10:05:00.001-07:00

Winter

2010-12-19T13:56:00.001-08:00

We Are Fine

2010-10-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

We had a fire, no one hurt...for more details please visit Candy's blog...at interent cafe...no computer we are staying with family and fine. Will call when I can...special shout out to Chicago fire fighters...Chicago police force, American Red Cross and the cleaning product "simple green"...

And to our friends and family thank you for your support...we love you and glad to be alive!

3 Small Ones

2010-10-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

Little Big

2010-10-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

From Amazon: Little, Big tells the epic story of Smoky Barnable -- an anonymous young man who meets and falls in love with Daily Alice Drinkwater, and goes to live with her in Edgewood, a place not found on any map. In an impossible mansion full of her relatives, who all seem to have ties to another world not far away, Smoky fathers a family and tries to learn what tale he has found himself in -- and how it is to end.

I took a long time to read this novel. I finally finished reading John Crowley's Little, Big! I have to thank my friend Andy for wakein' me up to it. It took me longer to read than it should have-only because silly American life got in the way too many times. I highly recommend this book. It is very magical. A helpful chart is included upfront if you want to keep track of all the characters and their relationships to one another. When it comes to fantastical fictional worlds-I usually get lost in the worst way-not this time-every corner had brightness n' darkness with magic. It is a huge wonder.

Sunday Busking

2010-10-04T08:54:00.001-07:00

The Alleyway

2010-09-27T06:04:00.001-07:00

My Way

2010-09-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

This song is inspired by Candy's blog post today...

Tonight

2010-09-24T08:20:00.001-07:00

Stuff

2010-09-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

A friend, Alexis, art work at local coffee shop, Beans and Bagels.

Grandma Stagg, R.I.P.

2010-09-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

* Grandma Stagg was known for her little chocolate chip cookies that packed more chips than cookie.
*Grandma made the best homemade kolaches. ALL FLAVORS.
*Nothing in the world will ever taste like the Polish sausages (both fresh and smoked) from the basement oven and broiler at Grandma's.
*Don't even get me started on the little Easter lamb cakes and other baked kitchen goods from Grandma's.
* When Grandma got her cute lil' baker oven mitts on peezel pastry machine...it was a factory phase.
* Grandma leaves a super woman legacy
-she spoke fluent Polish
-she was very spiritual
-she raised two great girls into women and two great boys into men
-she took care of my Grandpa ("Papa Frank) at all times...at all costs
*she loved the freshly fallen snow (with no footprints
*all the neighborhood children loved visiting
* her favorite part of the newspaper and magazines were the editorials
*she loved to surround herself with family
*lots of chicago style AM radio polkas were played in her kitchen.
*her favorite movies were "The Apple Dumpling Gang"
*her favorite tv shows had to have a "Everybody Loves Raymond" style
* Grandma saw lots of change in one lifetime ( c'mon cobblestone and brick streets with horse and buggy to now...in Chicago of all places
*Now Grandma gets to see her ol' black kooky poodle named LUCKY, her son, my Uncle Bobby, and Papa Frank her husband forever in spirit
*Grandma's favorite color is purple.
* Don't even get me started on Stagg Bread.

HAPPY HEARTS CLUB FOREVER GRANDMA!!!

This Week In Oil Paintings

2010-08-31T11:24:00.001-07:00

Headbanger

2010-08-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

Machete

2010-08-21T16:47:00.001-07:00

Cool Ad

2010-08-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

Out On The Street

2010-07-30T10:14:00.000-07:00

Sunday

2010-07-29T10:09:00.000-07:00

Thursday

2010-07-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

Enjoying Soccer Last Month...

2010-07-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

Tree Story

2010-07-12T11:45:00.001-07:00

Looking For Elvis

2010-06-30T07:44:00.001-07:00

Diaperman, R.I.P.

2010-06-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

Original P-Funk Guitarist vocalist and Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer Garry “Diaper Man” AKA “Starchild” Shider passed away of cancer today (June 16th), a little over one month shy of what would have been the artist’s 57th birthday. from here

Painter Of Light Infomercial

2010-06-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

Notice how Thomas Kinkade wears a smock and how he holds his paint brush. He's not actually in his studio or painting, but he has the costume because thats what the customers want.

Notice the painting changes as the light dims. Why didn't I think of that?!

Fuzzzdddd

2010-06-09T11:32:00.001-07:00

Chicago Is Hard On Carts

2010-06-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

We lost a cart last week, and our friend Tricia is going to Europe next week to travel and gave us her hand=me=down cart. I took it to Trader Joe's and off came a wheel first time out. Candy had bought another cart when she was out getting groceries so at least we still have one new one. We really use a cart for walking with our art work for busking and on two or three market trips a week.

It was another beauttiful day. I wore my stylin' black kinda RUN DMC 80's fedora atop my noggin and took my pull over sweater and green army jacket coat just in case. On I was to Broadway Ave. in search of a new spot for busking. The sunny side of the street was a great location to set off the "new" tarot themed paintings amonst the others for sale. I got some evil stink eyes as well as some happy passer-bys. One cute elderly lady even gave me a lil' pockey size bible thingy. A lady approached me with clownish make up showing me sidewalk chalk constantly telling me how much my art was like hers. All par for the course as she walks into traffic without looking I guess then this crabby croak sarcasticvally asks me to move-as I looked towards the way of this ungodly sound-I see this lady waving her cane at me repeatingly barking orders-I stand up for myself and tell her in my nice-nice tone (of all time) that I have a vendors licence and the storefronts I'm in front of are for rent or lease...this sets her off on a serious crank about "not on her building and she has had it and is calling the police". I calmly move on.

Now I know why very sucessful record stores, gift shops, and trendy clothing joint all moved-it's because of the barking croak of the scary waving cane. I consider other "test" spots but the traffic just ain't happenin'! Onward north on Broadway near the parking Garage-most everyone is cool there. A street like bycycle guy hangs out-we're talkin-and a silent whirring sound arises-from nowhere-it's a policeman on a segway. He was sooo cool! Liked my licence and everything. Then I make two sales to a serious like collector-things start pickin' up. Another man is totally wow=-ed by the vibrancy and colors. he starts singing praises about my talents and "grace". A little girl picks out a painting for her room. Now I'm all full of myself until out barks this grey hair moustache guy barks out "what's this?" I gave him prices as he laughed to himself about my answer-and one-upped us both (for this was his goal) by saying "this is your art-I kinda like the political one"-he goes into this whole story about not having either money or wall space...due tohis too cool for school attitude. I just listened and then he wished me luck. I thanked him saying I need A LOT OF IT! Time goes by I meet an ol' friend. Another customer buys another painting-and I can even make change from previous sales. These two friends were talking to one another and introduced themselves to me. I was laughing out loud they were very funny and one of them bought a painting. What a great experience I thought until I looked up into the clouds. it didn't look pleasant. I hussled it home only to pass the Chicago celebrity that was on Southport Ave...the one and only Ronnie Whoo Hoo. I also saw the infamous Chicago celebrity Rod Blagojevich jogging right down the street from our house. Time to stop and put on the sweater and jacket. I make it inside before the bad winds and storms.

Slow Jam The News

2010-05-27T07:55:00.001-07:00

Fallen Soldier

2010-05-25T05:37:00.001-07:00

We use this cart for everything...but I use it a few times a week for busking. Insert Taps.

Drums...

2010-05-18T10:18:00.001-07:00

In The Hood...

2010-05-17T21:27:00.000-07:00

Lena Horne R.I.P

2010-05-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Hamburglers

2010-05-07T13:49:00.000-07:00

We went to see some friends bands play a few days ago. Candy took lots of pictures on her blog but here is a video she made two years ago.

Book Club Meet Up

2010-05-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

A friend of Candy's from one of her online bookclubs was in town and we went out for an evening with her. she was a real live wire and had had a "foodie weekend'. We talked about the bookclub, about living in NYC, about sisters, about more food and we took her to a neighbourhood place we like... Mixteco. She had been to see Anthony bourdain speak at the Chicago Theatre and to eat at "the best restaurant in North America" Althea. What a great evening. We also talked about how weird it is that people now take pictures of food.

Art and things In Chicago

2010-04-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

One of my good friends has been blogging. Please stop by and say hello to him at his blog..... He is very active making art and working on writing about art, nice blog Marty!

Cards Pt. 2

2010-04-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

Go Blackhawks!!!

2010-04-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

There ya go wifey!!!!

Cards Pt. 1

2010-04-26T12:46:00.001-07:00

What Could These Two Possibly Have In Common?

2010-04-14T10:20:00.001-07:00

Malcolm McClaren, R.I.P.

2010-04-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

When I was in art school and didn't cut my hair and let all the curls go haywire ...all my hip-hopfriends used to call me Malcolm McClaren-plus they wanted me to dress like him sometimes. R.I.P. Mr. Malcolm McClaren

A good article from NME

NY

2010-04-04T13:18:00.000-07:00

God's Away On Business

2010-04-03T16:14:00.001-07:00

Getting Set Up

2010-04-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

It was a stunning Friday with the sun and good outdoor atmosphere. I took out my cart filled with artwork to busk in search of some cash. Going south outside the great Music Box movie house I smell serious burning-the smell goes away with each blast of lake breeze. Next I see three little boys with lollipops in their yappers and helmets atop their little boy heads. Two women are hardly paying attention to the boys-and yet-are still somewhat in charge between shopping talk between them both. I steer my cart around the sprawled about sidewalk boys and continue south. The burning smell grows stronger. I look up and the city garbage can is smokin'. As I get closer flames start licking up from the bottom. I leave my cart and walk into a real estate office. I point out the window and tell them I need water for the burning garbage can outside their storefront. All of these employees rush to the window as one goes to the back of her office for water. Next thing I know I'm carrying a large flower vase of water to the garbage can. After two full vases of water dumped into the burning waste the fire starts to die down. The three boys on their scooters of course head over to see the fire all eyes wide still with the lollipops in their lil' yapper traps. Of course they head towards the fire. i tell the boys to stay away as the smoke was going away...two go back to the adults and one stood frozen until being called a bunch of times to return to the herd. A police car goes by and the driver quickly looked the other way. I did my good gesture for the evening and moved on because all was clear. Never a dull moment busking.

My Kit

2010-04-01T07:37:00.001-07:00

Been busking a lot the last three weeks. This is my kit, something to sit on, (right now, a milk crate) bags for the art. Two of the paintings on the floor are collaborations that Candy and I made. Also some of her postcards are drying on the floor. I take lunch, buy a coffee, talk to lots of people. Weather has been great.

1072

2010-03-27T07:35:00.000-07:00

Last Weekend

2010-03-25T06:42:00.000-07:00

Sheena

2010-03-23T21:53:00.001-07:00

Be Everyones Pet

2010-03-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

Chooga Cane

2010-03-13T09:39:00.000-08:00

No Where To Run Nowhere To Hide

2010-03-11T18:43:00.001-08:00

Tearing Apart Chicago Corruption

2010-03-10T18:10:00.001-08:00

Superfast Jellyfish

2010-03-08T09:47:00.001-08:00

SttaggoleeShotBilly

2010-03-05T22:08:00.000-08:00

Hamburglars

2010-03-03T07:00:00.001-08:00

Costume Collection

2010-03-01T13:12:00.000-08:00

Deals Gone Bad

2010-02-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

Urge Overkill

2010-02-19T09:24:00.001-08:00

Jimmy Sutton

2010-02-18T10:01:00.000-08:00

Sounds By Naked Raygun

2010-02-15T10:56:00.001-08:00

Pegboy

2010-02-14T15:09:00.001-08:00

For Fishboy on 27th Street

2010-02-12T11:34:00.001-08:00

Fred Anderson

2010-02-09T09:16:00.001-08:00

Ken Vandermark

2010-02-05T12:02:00.001-08:00

Italian Beef Chicago Style

2010-02-03T06:52:00.001-08:00

Chicago OGs

2010-01-31T10:41:00.000-08:00

Pilsen

2010-01-29T18:09:00.000-08:00

Steppin'

2010-01-27T09:16:00.000-08:00

Stepping or step-dancing is a form of percussive dance in which the participant's entire body is used as an instrument to produce complex rhythms and sounds through a mixture of footsteps, spoken word, and hand claps. Though stepping may be performed by an individual, it is generally performed by groups of three or more, often in arrangements that resemble military formations.
Stepping may also draw from elements of gymnastics, tap dance, march, or African and Caribbean dance, or include semi-dangerous stunts as a part of individual routines. Some forms of stepping include the use of props, such as canes, rhythm sticks and/or fire and blindfolds.
The tradition of African American stepping is rooted within the competitive schoolyard song and dance rituals practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, beginning in the mid-1900s From WIKIPEDIA

Stephan Yerkey

2010-01-25T08:39:00.000-08:00

Wall O' Cereal

2010-01-23T08:10:00.000-08:00

Candy and I love Glenn's Diner right down the street from us. Good steak and lots of seafood.

Huge box of cereal.

More Stuff

2010-01-22T08:08:00.001-08:00

Son Seal Song

2010-01-22T06:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks Marty

2010-01-20T18:46:00.000-08:00

Pay The Price

2010-01-18T09:16:00.000-08:00

Art Ensemble Of Chicago

2010-01-17T11:04:00.001-08:00

Chicago's Poverty-This Ain't New

2010-01-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

Very good video of Brian Schodorf if you be patient through the ads...

"This film is an exploration of how the drug afflicted homeless population affects society as a whole with exclusive interviews with Chicago's top social and political leaders. Schodorf's relationship with the men allows the viewer to get a true inside look at what life is like as a permanent resident of the streets. Poverty in Chicago, also, investigates the devestating loss of over 150 lives in the winter of 2006 at the hand of a deadly heroin epidemic. "Ive told you. Now, I'm going to show you," says one homeless man who leads the crew through the most crime infested areas of Chicago's south and west sides, inside the drug trade itself"

An Artist Friend Survives Haiti

2010-01-14T20:21:00.000-08:00

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Susan Frame, an artist and employee of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago went to Jacmel, Haiti a week ago. Sadfly, Sue's friend who she went to work with on an art project last week...did not survive the earthquake.

The Outsider

2010-01-14T18:21:00.000-08:00

My friend Danny Mansmith is featured on page 59 of Modern Luxury magazine!!!!

Hustler's Video Paradise

2010-01-09T12:08:00.000-08:00

Studs Turkel Interview

2010-01-07T16:02:00.000-08:00

Roiko at The Billy Goat

2010-01-07T07:26:00.000-08:00

Danny Mansmith

2010-01-04T07:51:00.001-08:00