Southpaw Jones

Is This Interesting?
Thoughts/feelings that just might not matter:

That’s right, it’s official. Not that I ever had any doubt. My girlfriend Maggie is a member of Spank Dance Company here in Austin. Led by Ellen Bartel, they dress alike, move alike, fight over things, and fill rooms and public parks with graceful motion. It’s a beautiful thing.

A few weeks ago, the four dancers posed for artists at a Dr. Sketchy event, then at David Ohlerking’s Austin Figurative Gallery. The results of that second session were on display Saturday night.

The room was not air-conditioned. It was a hot, humid night. And representations of my lady were all over the place. Some quite realistic, others impressionist, a few abstract. Some were priced at $50, others $1500.

I’ll admit it. I’m not very visually engaged in the world around me, but I like standing in an art gallery from time to time. If you don’t feel like mingling - and who does? - you can just stare at something and pretend you have more of an analysis than, “That looks awesome! Neat-o-puskeeto!”

Art is a language that escapes me, and yet, I have clear likes and dislikes. I just can’t begin to tell you why like or dislike something. “Something in the way she doesn’t move affects me like no other patron.”

The ladies of Spank Dance Company were at the gallery, and they performed one of their dances to great effect. Of course, the already hot room was made all the hotter by everyone packing in to see them dance. And they were the sweatiest of all, dressed in their traditional black dresses, wigs, and striped socks.

Luckily no one passed out. We all just swooned a bit. Maggie and I bought two pieces by Miranda Mueller, who had several excellent canvases scattered on the walls. Yes, I went to an art gallery, watched a modern dance, and purchased a painting. I also drink V8 and whiskey from time to time, but never the same time. I’m an adult, you see.

Maggie moves with grace, ease, and character. She has a day job, just like me, but she doesn’t let that hold her back. She stays busy helping to make sure that Austin remains the coolest town since Atlantis. She is beautiful in 3D and 2D alike.

I would cut off an ear-and-a-half for her.

Van Gogh the distance.

Easel his painting.

If you gild it, he will come.

You see what she has to deal with?

Quotopia
Freshly-picked quotes from the ol’ reference collection:

I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.
Steve Martin

Online Museum of the Week
T-Shirts from Lollapalooza 2007:



Rhyme Thyme!
One clue whose answer consists of two rhyming words:

This letter is so sweet and kindly written! Who could have mailed it? Who was its…

Highlight here for answer: [tender sender]

Upcoming Show(s)
Where can I see Southpaw in the flesh?

Thursday, August 16th, 2007
8:00 PM
Matt the Electrician & Southpaw Jones
Flipnotics at the Triangle
4600 Guadalupe
Austin, TX
(512) 380-0097
http://www.flipnotics.com
The New Weekly Show!