Stitched Portraits: Meg White

(b. Dec. 10, 1974) Definitely the better half of The White Stripes and certainly its namesake, Meg is a powerhouse drummer and maintains a silent cool. I mean, Jack took HER surname when they married. After their marriage ended, they went on to become one of the most popular bands of the past decade. Since the breakup of the band a few years ago, Jack's been busy with a whole bunch of interesting projects and Meg remarried into Rock & Roll Royalty - Jackson Smith (son of Patti and Fred "Sonic").

If she every wanted to be the drummer in my band, I would be totally into that.

Meg White (mid-play):

Stitched Portraits: Margaret Hamilton

(b. Dec. 9, 1902) There were many exceptional people born on this date, but Margaret was exceptional among them. Before becoming an actress she was a dedicated schoolteacher with no patience for tomfoolery. Through acting she could afford to raise her son and throughout her life she fought for the strength of public education and advocated for animals.

Of course she is most well known as the frightening Almira Gulch (The Wicked Witch of the West). Later in her life she went on Mister Rogers' show to let the children know that it was just makeup. It's just makeup. Remember that.

Margaret Hamilton (as The Wicked Witch):

Stitched Portraits: Nicki Minaj

(b. Dec. 8, 1982) Celebrating her 30th birthday on the same day as Wind & Ghosts (an experimental music duo of which I am a part), she had me at first listen. Check her creep, here.

Nicki Minaj (Pretty, normal):

Stitched Portraits: Little Richard

(b. Dec. 5, 1932) Little Richard turned 80 yesterday! GREAT GOSH ALMIGHTY!!!

And for all the crazy sounds he's given us, all those crazy songs, and all those crazy ideas - the least I could do was stitch him on his birthday while watching Pee-Wee's Christmas Special (where he is featured, briefly, on ice skates).

Little Richard (oooEEEE!):

Stitched Portraits: Sarah Silverman

(b. Dec. 1, 1970) For her political ads, Jesus is Magic, and the biting satirical commentary that is her stand-up (including a brilliant bit in the documentary, The Aristocrats), Sarah Silverman is one of my favorite comedians. She's like a glittering shit.

Sarah Silverman (and coy smile):

Stitched Portraits: Shirley Chisholm

(b. Nov. 30, 1924) The first African American to run for President of the United States (and female too). At the time, 1972, she had campaign portraits with her picture that just read, "Outrageous!"

Fittingly, last Friday was the same day that I saw John Waters' Christmas Show at Lupo's. Recently he has talked about voting for Chisholm twice in the '72 election. That is right, he felt that she needed the votes so badly that he was willing to commit voter fraud to give them to her. I love that story and I love her - a trailblazer and a voice for the poor.

Shirley Chisholm (strong and proud):

Stitched Portraits: Viola Smith

(b. Nov. 29, 1912) One of the first female drummers, she played for a swing band - The Coquettes - in the 30s and 40s. She was excellent and killed it behind her kit. Later, she became a spokesperson for Zildjian. Still playing, Viola turned 100 last Thursday and I must thank a Powersful friend for the tip.

Viola Smith (at 100):

Stitched Portraits: Tomi Ungerer

(b. Nov. 28, 1931)

Children's books, anti-war posters, and erotic art.

Tomi Ungerer was an enigma on American culture of the sixties and seventies. There was a distrust from the public of a man who simultaneously wrote and illustrated children's and erotic books -  never mind the posters he created in protest of the Vietnam war (The image of the Statue of Liberty being shoved into a mouth was one of the more tame) For this trichotomy of a human being hailing from the Alsace region of France, life in the U.S. became trying in the early seventies. His books were frequently banned and purposefully not given to children. He eventually fled to a farm in Canada and lived for many years off of the land, farming and eating the livestock. He wrote a wonderful book about this time called, Far Out Isn't Far Enough, and a documentary of the same name was released this year. His style is unmistakable, his humor is rich, and he is one of my greatest heroes.

Tomi Ungerer (Classic pose):