Stitched Portraits: Mickey Rourke

There is one movie star that reminds me of my father. Mickey Rourke is exactly that man. I've also enjoyed him in every movie I've ever seen him (including Spun).

Aside from his ridiculous fashion sense (I call it 'Johnny Depp meets Robert Downey Jr. and they share a trailer park home and go ridin' every day'), his gruff delivery (even when he was young and strapping, he had it), his career as a boxer (twice in his life, the second leading to his really bad plastic surgery) - he is also a profound lover of his little dogs. He has chihuahua mixed breeds and he loves them like the closest family. He even thanked one in his Golden Globe acceptance speech.

Mickey Rourke and Loki, a chihuahua/terrier:

Stitched Portraits: Roald Dahl

I think we all owe a piece of our childhood to Mr. Dahl. His dedication to truth in his fantastic stories allows us all connect to them. Naturally, these stories have translated to some of the cutest films I've ever seen, i.e. Matilda, The Witches, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox...

During his lifetime he left a legacy behind, simply by keeping dedicated to the daily task of going to his writing shed, four hours a day, no matter what. His example was one of the driving factors behind this current stitched portrait project. Yesterday was his birthday and is now commonly known as "Roald Dahl Day" (September 13th). I celebrate him proudly.

Roald Dahl, a hero to the dreamers:

Stitched Portraits: H.D.

Hilda Doolittle was born on September 10th, 1886.
I came to know her in the period in my life between college and real-life. With a steady diet of the avant-garde, which included philosophers, poets, musicians, and painters - I came to H.D. through Ezra Pound. The heaviness of his Cantos led me to place it down and pick up End to Torment. Her imagery, profound and hurting, spoke to me and I fell in love.

H.D. (stone):

Stitched Portraits: Patsy Cline

My Grandmother simultaneously introduced and reminded me of Patsy Cline.

There is no singer that could deliver heartbreak as gracefully as she did.
And then my Grams certainly knew heartbreak.

Patsy Cline (Beautiful and Defiant):

Stitched Portraits: John Cage

'One summer day, Merce Cunningham and I took eight children to Bear Mountain Park. The paths through the zoo were crowded. Some of the children ran ahead, while others fell behind. Every now and then we stopped, gathered all the children together, and counted them to make sure none had been lost. Since it was very hot and the children were getting difficult, we decided to buy them ice cream cones. This was done in shifts. While I stayed with some, Merce Cunningham took other, got them cones, and brought them back. I took the ones with cones. He took those without. Eventually all the children were supplied with ice cream. However, they got it all over their faces. So we went to a water fountain where people were lined up to get a drink, put the children in line, tried to keep them there, and waited our turn. Finally, I knelt beside the fountain. Merce Cunningham turned it on. Then I proceeded one by one to wash the children's faces. While I was doing this, a man behind us in line said rather loudly, "There's a washroom over there." I looked up at him quickly and said, "Where? And how did you know I was interested in mushrooms?"'

- John Cage (from Indeterminacy, 1958; reprinted in Silence, 1961)
(Below, joyful):

Joy
Peace
Love

Watch
All three
Together for a truly
Cageian
High.

And, separately

For
A calmer
Cageian
Experience.

Stitched Portraits: Syd Hoff

The first book that I could ever read was Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff.

Hoff (the man) would have been 100 years old yesterday. He was known for his New Yorker cartoons and his easy to read books but also hosted a television show. An inspiring man...

Syd Hoff (with Danny's Dinosaur):

Stitched Portraits: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

I sometimes think that I could have done a full year of film directors...

Jeunet, along with Marc Caro, made one of my favorite films of all time with Delicatessen. A few years later, Jeunet focused his energy into one of the greatest films of all time - Amélie. I love him for that.

And I love him for his inventive quirkiness, his heart-wrenching ability to tell a story, and the use of Dominique Pinon in every single film...

Jean-Pierre Jeunet ("What'd YOU do?")

Stitched Portraits: George and Mike Kuchar

I've had to play catch-up on the portraits of the past few days because of a project that I had to really devote some time to, but I was too excited about the birthday that fell on August 31. For one, it is the first set of twins in the collection. And two, they are an amazing underground filmmaking sibling duo that have been making them since they received their first cameras at the age of 12. Friday would have been George's 70th birthday, but sadly he passed last year. Mike, however, is alive and teaching a filmmaking course at The Art Institute of San Francisco that his brother had previously taught for close to 40 years. Mike has graciously taken over for his brother.

Up until 1965, the brothers made films together, often with 8mm and 16mm film. However, when they began making pictures separately, they each made their best works:

George made Hold Me While I'm Naked in 1966.

Mike made Sins of the Fleshapoids in 1965 which majorly influenced John Waters, so thank you John, and thank you Mike.

Obsessions beget obsessions and become obsessions and more obsessions and if this project has taught me anything, it's that there are so many interesting people to find and it's worth all the digging.

George and Mike Kuchar (in the sixties, together, and happy)