Friday, February 14, 2014

Where's Vern?

"Where's Vern", 2014
Colored pencil and ink
© copyright Mike Kraus

Katie and Vern are explorers from New York.  They like to get dressed up and see all their friends in the city.  So, the next time you are in the Big Apple, look for them in a crowd because they’ll be the life of the party.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

"All Entities Move and Nothing Remains Still"

"All Entities Move and Nothing Remains Still", 2014
pen, ink, and graphite
© copyright Mike Kraus


When is a place no longer home?  Is it when you no longer recognize the town?  Maybe it’s when all the institutions you were involved with have dissolved?  Or could it be when all your friends and family have fled?  Is the passing of time what makes it so “you can’t go home again?”

Monday, February 10, 2014

About Three Streets Down Memory Lane You'll Find Punk Rock Drive. Can't Miss It...

NoFX at Warped Tour '98 in Pontiac, Michigan.  We had backstage passes because of the 'zine.  One of these pictures has my friend Sandy in them, but I can't find her right now.  Fat Mike is probably taunting the crowd.

El Hefe doing the box jump exercise while playing guitar. 

El Hefe again 

I have to say these are pretty good shots considering that I was probably using a disposable camera.   

Best seats I've ever had for a concert.

Jim Lindberg, lead singer of Pennywise.

Randy Bradbury, bass for Pennywise

Now for shows slightly smaller than Warped Tour.  This is a show we organized at McGraft Park in Muskegon.  The officer sat in the parking lot behind the stage for about 45 minutes in his car while we had our performance.  Rapper's Guild was on stage when he walked up to the stage and stood their for a while.  After a couple of songs, he suddenly started to unplug all the microphones, amps, guitars, and all.  Was yelling about something.  We showed him our permits and everything to which he started making up nonexistent laws.  Eventually, the park manager got involved and we were allowed to go on with the show.

A meeting of the minds with J.T. Law, Rapper's Guild, and the Muskegon Police Department.  I forget who else played that day (sorry if it was your band).  I do remember trying to set this all up for a couple of bands touring from Florida or something.  We were suppose to meet in the Meijer parking lot beforehand.  They never showed up and never replied when I contacted them afterwards.  Weird show all the same...

Impromptu J.T. Law reunion show in the basement of the infamous Mastodon House in Kalamazoo.  

How many shows did I organize at Palmer Hall?

Fold at Palmer Hall in 2002.  

 Me, Nick Nummerdor, Jen Kelenske, Mike Nummerdor, and Jared Passinault in beautiful Michigan City, Indiana on our way to Chicago.

These were our mug/lost children shots.  If you've ever watched The Simpsons, you know what this town is like.  The nuclear power plant in the center of the city is only one similarity.

 Jared knocking back another Bubba Cola in the hotel

All of us at the Queers, Screw 32, Groovie Ghoulies, and Alkaline Trio show at the Metro in Chicago..  

Brandon "Bubba" Ogborn with a rocket launch behind him.  I forget how I came in possession of this photo, but I did.

Rick Johnson of the Wack Trucks, The Skeptics (The Ska Kings of Muskegon), and half the other bands that were on stage that night is getting ready to play at the Schism Zine One-Year Anniversary Show at the Walker Community Center in North Muskegon.  Rick's now in Mustard Plug http://www.mustardplug.com

Misled Youth on stage at the anniversary show. 

The Skeptics (?) on stage at the anniversary show.  

The Bounty Hunters headlined the anniversary show.  Unfortunately, I don't have photos of all the other bands that played that night.  There were 7+ bands playing to hundreds of people for six hours or so.  

Another batch of photos digitally preserved...

Friday, February 7, 2014

Good Night Factory


Good Night Factory, 2014
scratchboard
© copyright Mike Kraus


The Acropolis or Coliseum of the Industrial Age.  Ruins commonly found throughout the Rust Belt.  The upheaval that occurred as families left the manual labor of their farms for the power-driven manufacturing of monolithic corporations.  A complicated artificial bond that brought gains in efficiency, medicine, and life expectancy as well as ecological damage, dehumanization, and greater inequality.  A dysfunctional relationship that scars entire regions as production is automated or leaves for poverty-stricken districts desperate for menial wages.  What happens to people when we are no longer needed?

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Wilder Building

Wilder Building, 2014
pen, ink, and graphite
© copyright Mike Kraus


Buildings do more than shelter us from the rain.  They reveal human intelligence and purpose.  What kind of technology did it require in 1887 to construct Rochester's first modern skyscraper?  What was the architect trying to tell us using the Romanesque style?  It's on the National Register of Historic Places, so what does the Wilder Building mean to us today?  Something that is difficult to think about when speeding by the structure in a car.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Birch Forest

Birch Forest, 2014
Acrylic and ink
© copyright Mike Kraus


What’s black and white and red all over?  A birch forest of course.  Birch trees have always been a meditative source for me.  Growing up, there was one outside my window that I would look at while daydreaming.  And, when I needed to get away from the world I went to a grove of Birch trees to find refuge.  I’ve always found the unique and nearly insignificant white tree interesting.  

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Quesobago

Hiking at Thousand Acre Swamp (http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/newyork/placesweprotect/centralwesternnewyork/wherewework/central-thousand-acre-swamp.xml) in the Polar Vortex!  If there was ever a time for the Quesobago to appear, this was it (http://www.quesoforall.com/).

This is the first time we've been out here on a winter hike.  During the summer, it's so primordial.   You almost expect a dinosaur or something to pop out.  

More vines overtaking the trees. 

A clearing in the middle of the forest.  It appears to be old farmland.  You can't see it in the picture, but theirs an old stone fence just slightly in the woods.  In the summer, the grass and other plants are over your head.

Snow covered boardwalk leading into the pond.  Just follow the little animal prints. 

Megan stomping through the snow. 

Steve's Diner (http://www.simos.net/steve/) for lunch.  We've only visited for breakfast and we've been missing out.  This is the O.C.D. Burger with sauerkraut, fried pickles, swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing.  You had me at steak fries...

After eating that burger, time to burn off some calories with more winter hiking through Linear/Channing Philbrick Park.  With the fresh snowfall, it looks like a scene from Calvin and Hobbes.

Snow hanging out on the rocks in Irondequoit Creek 

The little island in Irondequoit Creek 




Well, if there's one dog ready for spring, it's Scout...

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