BROTHER FLOWER

Hard not to stop when you see a little gem like this along the back roads. I will say I was distracted by the sudden hail following the sudden sunshine following the sudden snowfall following the sudden wind gusts, and had to make a quick u-turn after passing it. Wild weather up there this time of year.

We made our way into the shop and found it empty. Walked over to the adjacent cabin and gave a timid knock – I know you city folks like to plaster your walls with flea found taxidermy but it’s sometimes hard to know what to expect of a man who litters his home with dead things, dead things he most likely made that way. Old man got off the couch with rifle in hand. I got to admit my stomach sank a little. He put in the closet and shuffled to the door to greet us. Couldn’t have been an nicer, gentler old man. I think he started in the 1980s to keep busy. I can get on with a carver having been a stone carver myself in a past life. We chatted him up a bit, bought a few $10 feathers and headed down the road – all sunshine.

BIG SKY CITY

HILL COUNTRY

A few clips from the Alan Lomax Archive.

DOWN GRADE INTO THE VALLEY

Once, my old man and I went on a hike through Hetch Hetchy and the Yosemite Valley. It was my first time there and easy to see why so many consider the Valley, regardless of overwhelming amount of tourist, a true wonder of the world – one of the most beautiful collections of wild terrain. Who says it better than John Muir:

“But no temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. Every rock in its walls seems to glow with life. Some lean back in majestic repose; others, absolutely sheer or nearly so for thousands of feet, advance beyond their companions in thoughtful attitudes, giving welcome to storms and calms alike, seemingly aware, yet heedless, of everything going on about them. Awful in stern, immovable majesty, how softly these rocks are adorned, and how fine and reassuring the company they keep: their feet among beautiful groves and meadows, their brows in the sky, a thousand flowers leaning confidingly against their feet, bathed in floods of water, floods of light, while the snow and waterfalls, the winds and avalanches and clouds shine and sing and wreathe about them as the years go by, and myriads of small winged creatures birds, bees, butterflies—give glad animation and help to make all the air into music“.

MADE HERE – UPSTATE

Next chapter in the Made Here video series is on the girls from Upstate. Kalen and Astrid have a unique take on Shibori and dip dyeing to create beautiful one of a kind psychedelic scarfs in their Brooklyn apartment. Last Spring we went to hang out with them and their friends, listen to Stevie Nicks and dye some fabric. Here is the result. Thanks to Hello Mtn for writing the song just for it. Anyone else interested in possibly providing some music for future videos please email me.

GOTHIC SUMMER

I love this, strangely

SITTIN’ ON A RAINBOW

A few pieces from Wes Langs‘ upcoming June 23rd show, Sittin’  On A Rainbow, created during his month long stay in room 34 at the iconic West Hollywood hideaway.

COWBOY NATE OF TOPANGA CANYON

THIRTY THOUSAND FEET ABOVE THE DESERT FLOOR

It’s a great time of year to visit my favorite store, RTH of Los Angeles. Ol’ Rene has some new and beautiful things in for summer. Stop by when you get a chance.        537 North La Cienega.

THIS IS NOT AMERICA