Author: christopherbarzak
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Modern Ruins
One of my favorite sites on the internet these days is Shaun O’Boyle’s Modern Ruins. Full of photographic essays about places whose industries, way of life, or some other historical aspect, has fallen into ruin, it’s a beautiful way to preserve a particular swath of our cultural memory. My favorite is the Big Steel collection,…
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The Gift
Ever read Lewis Hyde’s famous book The Gift? It’s in its twenty-fifth anniversary edition this year, and it’s still relevant to artists living and working in what continues to be our increasingly commercial market culture. Hyde is a proponent for a creative commonwealth, of sharing and giving as an essential part of creation. His ideas…
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Dog Sees God, and so should you!
DOG SEES GOD: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead The Oakland Center for the Arts will present Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead on March 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28, and 29 at 8 pm, and March 16 at 2 pm. This is an “unauthorized parody” that features the Peanuts gang –…
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A request
Spring has come, finally, at least for today. Please stay!
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Making the news
The reporter from the Chicago Tribune that interviewed me did indeed end up writing a story that made use of a quote from me. However, the version with me quoted in it appears in the Kansas City Star, rather than the version in the Chicago Tribune, where the editor must have clipped it out.
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Where I’m Writing From
Greg Van Eekhout is always posting pictures from cafes where he writes, and I always like looking at his blog to see what sort of place the cafe is today, and what sorts of mugs or cups they use to serve coffee. I know, mundane, and yet it fascinates me. Maybe because I don’t write…
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Just in case
Been hard at work today on novel revisions, but also I finished reading my first Meg Rosoff book. This one was Just In Case, which I enjoyed thoroughly, except for a couple of things that posed problems for me as a reader. The book is about a boy named David Case, who changes his name…
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NYT in Youngstown
As mentioned in a previous entry, the city is populated with politicians and reporters at the moment, which is both interesting and creepy. On one hand, I think this region is deserving of more attention. On the other hand, it seems late in the game. But better late than never? I dunno. Maybe. Here’s an…
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Hello Kitty Hell
Ever been?