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Various Links to Art, Iris, Music, and Other Interests
If I have forgotten and you don't see a link here, or there's a better link I apologize. Please let me know.
Artists and Art Stuff
Al Bright - My former painting professor and mentor at YSU. He truly was a painter with the soul of a jazz musician. It's impossible to put into words what he instilled in me and countless other students through his embrace of developing one's own unique voice in art-making.
Alex Grey - Best known for his art adorning the albums of the band Tool and his body of work titled Sacred Mirrors - also the cover-art on the book DMT: The Spirit Molecule by Rick Strassman. I hope to someday make the trek up to his gallery, The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors - a visionary architectural wonder in itself - located in upstate New York.
Andy Goldsworthy - A fantastic land artist that always has amazed me with simplicity and execution. His ability to turn something like a pile of twigs into something sublime has always befuddled me.
Angela Haseltine Pozzi - Cool sculptures constructed from sea trash washed that has ashore. Always enjoyed visiting this gallery when in Bandon, Oregon.
Antoni Guadi - Hands down my favorite architect. He lived from 1852 - 1926. Psychedelic! I was enthralled by his work throughout the city of Barcelona when I was there in 1998. It is a dream of mine to visit the famous Sagrada Família basilica when it is completed, 100 years after his death, in 2026. It's been under construction since 1882! I wrote a decent paper, once upon a time, about Guadi for an Architectural History graduate class.
Blythe Eastman - A wonderful ceramicist that makes uncanny pit-fired clay sculptures of animals. Her bears and dogs are worked with complete restraint and as little fuss as necessary, yet contain everything and more of what the form should be. My mother-in-law and I own a few.
Bruce Riley - Awesome artist that makes vibrant fluorescent paintings in layered translucent resin. Completely mind-blowing incredible. Video of technique.
Chen Chi - One of my favorite watercolor artists.
Christopher Leeper - Without his wisdom and teaching methods for watercolors I would not be the painter I am today. Value, value, value...it doesn't matter what hue. You only get one or two shots with watercolor and everything else is over-worked.
Dragana Crnjak - My painting professor that guided me through my final years of my BFA. Dragana is an associate professor at YSU. She always encouraged and opened my eyes to art-making and reigned my eclecticism into focus. Her installation work is incredible.
Drew Roulette - Bassist from the band dredg. Great artist.
Emil Janel - He was a painter, but I believe his wood carved characters are sublime in their liveliness captured by a minimal underworked touch. Joanne, my mother-in-law, really likes his work too.
George Rhoads - Kinetic artist known for his "ball machines" - when he was younger my son loved to sit in front of his piece at the Butler any time we took a visit.
Hieronymus Bosch - Could there be a more surrealist or psychedelic painter? What's incredible about this artist is that he painted in the late 15th century, some 400 years before the birth of the surrealist movement in 1924.
Jago Jacopo Cardillo - A modern day Michelangelo sculptor. Stunning art.
John Guy Petruzzi - Easily one of my favorite painters. We attended YSU at the same time watching each other grow with the craft, and he is now a painting instructor there. His knowledge on birds, endangered animals, and the environment is vast and a big part of his art.
Klea McKenna - Terence McKenna's daughter is a fantastic photographic artist. I discovered her work because of the art-book she published on her father's butterfly hunting expeditions. Phenomenal.
Mark Kistler (Commander Mark) - When I was younger I used to love sitting at my grandmother's house watching Mark Kistler's Imagination Station and The Secret City Adventures on PBS. Both, were TV programs, geared to a children's audience with space themes etc., that taught you how to draw. Mark starred as Commander Mark and was great at teaching simple shading and drawing techniques. It was a bit cheesy and hokey, but I didn't realize that at the time. Anyway, this guy is still around and has taught millions of children basic drawing skill. Pretty good gig.
Paul Ching-Bor - I truly love this city-scape watercolor artist and all the steely blues and grays.
Peter HappelChristian - A great photographer and former professor of mine. He really showed me the ropes with simple digital editing techniques in photoshop. I am eternally grateful for this.
Scott Petrony - An old high school friend, former bandmate, and artist living it up in Las Vegas now! Good tattoo artist and has published a few books as well.
Sean Butler - My high school art teacher. He let me get away with anything along with my dude Jon Dean. There was lots of “reprogramming” to be done amongst our lesser peers, or so we thought. He encouraged the development of my drawing skills immensely and I am forever thankful for that encouragement.
Shana and Robert ParkeHarrison - One my favorite photographer(s) - they are a duo photography/art couple. I love their Architect's Brother series.
Art Stuff
The Butler Institute of American Art - Gem of Youngstown, and the first art museum devoted to American art.
The McDonough Museum of Art - Another gem of Youngstown. This modern art museum is directly across from the Butler and is a wonderful museum architecturally. Around half of the yearly exhibits are devoted to the use of the YSU art department and various student or faculty shows. It is where my Graduation Exhibit was displayed in 2009.
Northeast Ohio Rocks facebook group - "the largest community-based rock painting group in the World with an estimated 6 million painted rocks creating smiles and chain reactions of kindness around the World."
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Iris Websites and Resources
(I've received many orders or have interacted with and highly recommend many of the great iris farms listed here)
Bluebird Haven Iris Garden - A fantastic resource for hundreds of historic iris.
BlueJ Iris - Located in New Mexico, recently moved their entire farm from Nebraska. Huge selection.
C and T iris Patch - Located in Colorado, I've received several accommodating orders from them.
Chapman Iris - Canada's oldest and largest iris farm. I've not yet purchased iris directly but one thing I do know is that you will find cold-climate hardy iris. Chuck Chapman is also known for the "Happy Seed Method" of stratification and germination of iris seed.
Clary's Petals and Wings - Farm just outside of Columbus that I hope to visit one of these years - not many large iris operations, that I know of, close by. Clary's offers plenty of varieties through their facebook page.
Crafton Hills Iris - The views of their California garden are spectacular. It has to be fun to work on the staggered hillside full of raised beds! Must admit, I am a bit jealous.
The Dwarf Iris Society - A new websitesite devoted to the little guys and built by Tom Waters
Ensata Gardens - located in Michigan, they specialize in Japanese Iris (Ensata), Siberian Iris, and other Species Iris such as Pseudata and Pseudacorus. (Pseudata are a fairly new species hybrid that have come from the combining of the genetics of Iris Pseudacorus, the water-loving 'yellow flag' from Europe, with Japanese iris. Interesting stuff.)
Indian Creek Iris - Nebraska. David Toth, an iris friend, has a huge selection of all things, especially Novelty iris such as broken color, and space-agers.
Keith Keppel Iris - Oregon. A “rock-star” of iris hybridization. Very generous.
Mariposa Iris - I really enjoy the musings of Doug Karanowski and his stories of naming iris and his breeding programs. Unique for sure and I am thoroughly entertained. Looks like a beautiful place to live and garden in the mountains right next to Yosimite National Park.
Mid-America Iris - Salem Oregon, Perhaps some of my favorite stuff being done in iris hybridizing, and a beautiful website. I really admire the work Thomas Johnson and Paul Black have done, in fact I refer to them as “rock-stars“ in the iris world.
Mt. Pleasant Iris Farm - Chad Harris specializes in Iris ensata (Japanese) varieties, Iris laevigata, and new species hybrids of pseudata Iris.
Rainbow Iris Farm - I've not ordered from them, but I need to since they have a few Willot varieties that are rare.
Reticulatas - A species of iris that are diminutive at around 4'' to 6'' tall and bloom extremely early with snowdrops and crocuses. Alan McMurtie has spent decades hybridizing them and has documented the process. Inspirational and educational for sure.
Schreiner’s Iris - My first iris orders always included Schreiner‘s. They have a long family history and a massive site and a glorious display garden that is something to behold. One day I’ll make the trek to Salem Oregon during bloom season!
Sutton's Iris Farm - Located in Idaho, I’ve received great orders from them several times, and they have many areas of focus especially on rebloomling iris.
Stout Gardens - Oklahoma - great selection and many of Tom Burseen's hybrids and more.
Winterberry Iris Garden - superb customer service and communication and great rebloom lines for colder regions. Located in Virginia. Lots of great info here too.
Informational and Society Iris sites:
For info on iris flowers the American Iris Society is a great resource especially their Iris Encyclopedia (wiki)
The Dwarf Iris Society - brand new site for the little guys/gals
Dwarf Iris Society Facebook Page
Good list of iris terms and abbreviations from Winterberry Iris Garden
Another good list of iris terminology from Chapman Iris
Chuck Chapman's "Happy Seed" germination method.
American Iris Society blog - World of Irises.
Growing Iris from seed info by Tom Waters
Region 6 website - Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan comprise region 6 of the American Iris Society. USDA Plant Hardiness Zones range from 4 to 6 in the region. I happen to be located beautiful 6a, meaning we hit an average annual minimum extreme temperature low between -10°F -5°F. The Region 6 website is very nice and features many of the hybridizers in the area, their seedlings, as well as a seedling of mine that was awarded "Best Seedling of Show" or as they've listed it "Seedling Judged Most Worthy." Either way, I'm honored.
Telp.com - a great site on iris genetics run by Tom Waters
*plenty of groups and pages can be found on Facebook that have true professionals that are willing to engage everything from genetics to culture or just sharing garden photos and personal hybridizing ventures. There is a great community around iris flowers and I’m glad to be a small part of it. Iris Addicts Anonymous is a great general group along with Lovers of Iris Daylilies and More. And for a more involved enthusiasts working on hybridization, Iris Hybridizers and Iris Hybridizing are indispensable resources with experts abound.
SIGNA seed exchange - lots of info on various species and rare iris plus seeds for sale from around the world.
Daffodils:
My second favorite flower. I've done a little hybridizing with them... no real results yet.
The American Daffodil Society - Not a member...yet.
Daffseek.org - If you are a daffodil nerd you will certainly find yourself perusing this data base.
Others:
Dryad Nursery - Exciting work in hybridizing Snowdrops and miniature daffodils
Edgewood Gardens - Snowdrops and more. Article on John Lonsdale and hybridizing snowdrops.
Brent and Becky's Bulbs - I've ordered from them and was beyond pleased with labeling and packaging, not to mention the vast selection of daffodils and plenty of tulips and other bulbs.
Music
For this list, I'm mostly trying to compile the oddities, lesser-known, or regional musical influences. I could list all my favorite 90's rock bands or metal stuff, but that's no fun. And yes, like any typical Xennial, many of my links are to Youtube since that's how I listen to a lot of music. I'd like to add a true local music section and will work on that if anyone cares to send me some suggestions. I know some great local talent has been forgotten or left off this list.
Ari Hoenig- A modern Jazz drummer phenom. He's also developed a weird drumstick with shakers and bells inside called Tangereens.
Baroness - The color themed albums not only rock but have beautiful artwork from lead singer John Dyer Baizley.
Benny Greb - Total asshole! Dude is murdering the drums on a complete other f-ing level! Listen! Love it. More Benny Greb - Moving Parts.
Better Call Saul Theme - This full version of the song by Little Barrie is pretty rad. And just because this was on a recent episode - Labi Siffre - I Got The...
Between the Witches - superb instrumental local music. Live show.
Billy Cobham - This dude really is a God. The short-lived and briefly re-united ultimate fusion group he helped form, Mahavishnu Orchestra, are godly too.
Bottom Dollar String Band - Bluegrass band my cousin John Ohlinger plays in. Good vibes.
Coinmonster - Awesome proggy metal band from Y-town. Not sure what I can compare them to other than Primus. An insane live show with an incredible drummer cramming fills into every pocket of a song as possible and choking cymbals with his toes!
Devin Townsend - The 2019 release, Empath, is just epic, especially the lighter cuts like Why?
Don Caballero - Instrumental noise with a badass drummer. And lots of loop pedals.
dredg - Certainly a band that should be enjoying even more popular success than they have.
Failure - Fantastic Planet was an incredible album (as was the French film La Planète sauvage made in 1973, the band takes the title from. It‘s an animated sci-fi surrealist masterpiece.)
Felix Martin - Dude plays a 16-string doubleneck! Enough said. Virtuoso.
Irepress - Beautiful and brutal instrumental djent metal from Boston. My guitarist Robert Magallon turned me on to these dudes with 2005’s Samus Octology. Drummer has also been a part of the better-known band Bad Rabbits and the funky soulful group The Eclectic Collective - for which the only comparison I can think of is 311.
ivet Talented local rock band in the vein of Helmet and Quicksand. Probably my first live local band experience seeing them at Cedars in downtown Youngstown. They really should have gone further.
Jessica Lea Mayfield - A regional artist from Akron Ohio that has seen success touring nationally. Hailing from Kent, Ohio, her 2014 album, Make My Head Sing, is a perfect exploration into a heavier sound than her previous folk roots. Kudos to her for speaking out about being abused and for being vocal about it.
Julianna Barwick - Ethereal minimal electronic music that is made of her multilayered vocals on a loop machine. Great soundtrack material.
Mestis - Instrumental prog jazz metal band with Latin and classical guitar flavors coming from, Animals as Leaders guitarist, Javier Reyes. Great stuff, especially since Eric Moore, of Suicidal Tendencies and T.R.A.M., plays some killer drums on a few tracks off the latest record Eikasia.
Mutoid Man - How can you not like a band with such a rad name? Great 3 piece.
Nick Miller - Please check out my former bandmate/lead singer in both Aura and Alias X and all of his various musical projects. Dude has some pipes! Love ya, music brotha.
Omar Rodríguez-López Group - Pure fire! Guitarist for Mars Volta and At the Drive In - side project group.
Plini - This instrumental album is just sick! Drums are proggy awesomeness, guitar is next level, and the bass is terrific especially the Wah effects or whatever is making those tones.
Pulse Ultra - Loved this band. My good friend Dean called them Tool-ubus: Tool mashed with Incubus. I'd have to agree. While they were a short-lived and largely unknown nu-alt-metal act in the early 2000's I still always enjoy putting on this album for the great Whammy pedal guitar and exceptional drumming energy.
Quicksand - Cool band with that early 90's NYC post-hardcore sound like Helemt - only they are back at it now. The best boss I probably ever worked for, delivering pizzas, turned me on to this band. Thanks Mike. Early stuff.
Rick Beato - Just because his youtube channel is so interesting and informative. Every musician should be learning a thing or two from his channel. His "What makes this song great" videos are very enjoyable and informative.
Super Mario Odyssey - The Wooden Kingdom musical theme is all kinds of rad for a Mario game musically. And finding this link just let me discover the original song it is based on - Cuchy Frito Man by Cal Trader.
Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov - Classical Masterpiece. I used to hold my son and rock him to sleep with this playing.
Sigur Rós - Icelandic atmospheric minimalist rock at its finest.
The Cancer Conspiracy - Great instrumental mathy goodness that not many have heard of.
The Eclectic Collective - funky soulful rock project from a few of the members of Irepress from
Boston.
The Oxford Coma - Another band my guitarist, Robert Magallon, told me about. Good mix of stoner rock, with psychedelia and noise rock with some grit.
The Planets - Classical Masterpiece by Gustav Holst. I used to hold my son and rock him to sleep with this playing. He would usually be asleep by the end of Venus.
Thornley - Always liked this band especially after hanging with them after opening for 'em back in the day in my band Alias X. A pop version of Chris Cornell/Soundgarden?
Tool - Yep, I'm a pretty big fanboy. Changed my life and thinking with their art on many levels. Fourth eye usually has the best Tool news/updates.
Tom Waits - Bone Machine is lyrically great and hauntingly good on the ears instrumentally.
T.R.A.M. - Eric Moore is one of my favorite drummers. The fact that he's worked with Tosin Abasi, the virtuoso guitarist in Animals as Leaders, is even better. If you want to know why I like this dude as a drummer check out Eric Moore rocking the drums.
Trioscapes - Jazz rock metal fusion instrumental three piece - bass, drums, and sax. Fantastic. Their other project Nova Collective are great as well.
Volto - Danny Carey of Tool jazz fusion side project. Killer stuff.
Other
I feel fortunate to have a long-time friend, and former, bandmate that is currently doing work in the field of psychedelic research. That person, Jon Dean, is currently finishing his doctoral thesis at the University of Michigan Medical School - Center for Consciousness Science, on the role of the prefrontal cortex in the regulation of consciousness on rats under anesthesia. Heady stuff, literally. He has also contributed to research concerning the biological functioning, and ascertaining the presence of certain psychedelic compounds (in rodents brains), with hopes to be involved in future human studies. I hope I've stated most of that correctly and succinctly, I'd like to think, at the very least, I get the gist of it.
This area of study is one that is thankfully becoming less esoteric, every day, because of those willing to open their minds, set aside prejudice, and investigate a truly fascinating piece of our existence as conscious beings. It's definitely cool having someone "in the know" in this field. Jon is truly pursuing subjects that we were both keen to learn as much as we possibly could about, and found interest in, starting over 20 years ago. I can't begin to fathom the amount of time and work he has put in to, what I believe, is a meritorious pursuit in this time of renaissance in psychedelic research.
I'm providing the links to several articles and scientific studies my friend Jon Dean has been involved in and graciously supplied me with. I'm also including a podcast with comedian Shane Mauss he recently took part in, and this local newspaper article.
Here's a small excerpt from that Vindicator article and deserves a, shall I say, fuckin' A!:
[Borjigin, the director of Summer Undergraduate Research in Physiology at the University of Michigan, said Dean’s work is the first that revealed the existence of DMT-producing neurons in the neocortex of the mammalian brain.
“His work is also the first to reveal the production of DMT from living rat brains at the concentrations on par with other classical neurotransmitters. His data suggests that DMT may have a functional role in the brain,” Borjigin said.]
I couldn't be more happy for him doing what he is passionate about and contributing to the progression of study and research that is long overdue, which has been constrained by ill-formed public stigmas and the tired research-impeding regulatory scheduling of certain compounds. Keep fighting the good fight brother!
- Biosynthesis and Extracellular Concentrations of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in Mammalian Brain
- Differential Role of Prefrontal and Parietal Cortices in Controlling Level of Consciousness
- And because Jon also sent this my way, and it's probably pretty damn good (can't go wrong with the McKenna brothers), even though I haven't had a chance yet to watch it myself: A Tribute to Terence McKenna — Hosted by Dennis McKenna
A few articles I just found related to this stuff whilst writing about it:
Psychedelics: Where we are now, why we got here, what we must do
Johns Hopkins Scientists Give Psychedelics the Serious Treatment: