Category Archives: Art

Angriest Dog in the World

Posted on January 22, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Filmmaker David Lynch sadly passed away last week. I was today years old when I discovered that he had created a newspaper comic strip called ‘The Angriest Dog in the World’.  

Posted in Animation, Art, Film, USA | Tagged , | Leave a comment

heaped with shining hills

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

First Snow by Mary Oliver The snow began here this morning and all day continued, its white rhetoric everywhere calling us back to why, how, whence such beauty and what the meaning… The silence is immense, and the heavens still hold … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Restaurants, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A message that sadly needs repeating

Posted on January 10, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

As 2025 dawns, here in the United States we face the prospect of a four year (or more) reign of Christo-Fascist zealots. But the world has seen it all before. The League of American Writers was formed by artists, authors … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Freedom of Speech, History, USA | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Waiting for the Barbarians

Posted on January 6, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

The great performance artist Laurie Anderson and company presented a concert of new works inspired by poet C. P. Cavafy. Filmed at the Saint Thomas Church in New York City, the performance is commissioned by the Onassis Foundation. About “Archive … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Film, Music, Restaurants, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“They’ve been going in and out of style”

Posted on January 5, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Continuing a tradition started in 2016, Chris the Barker has made another collage frequently updated and up to the last minute to eulogize Olivia Hussey and Jimmy Carter, in tribute to those passed away this year. The field more crowded than … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Film, History, movies, Music, Restaurants, Theater, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Bookstore Tourism, Season Art, End of the Year Mischief

Posted on December 28, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

The Poetry Pharmacy is a new London bookshop, on Oxford Street, offering tonics for all sorts of emotional ailments. Calm, comfort, inspiration: whatever you’re searching for, there’s a book of poetry, philosophy or psychology to help you find it. “…because … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Art, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Museums, Tourism | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Holiday Cheer

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Way back in 1993, the American Beat writer William S. Burroughs wrote and narrated a 21-minute claymation Christmas film which was produced by Francis Ford Coppola. And, as you can well imagine, it’s not your typical smarmy holiday flic. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Art, Film, Restaurants, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Snow Patrol

Posted on December 22, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

We finally had our first snowfall of the season, which reminded me of this series of snowy woodblock prints by Kawase Hasui. Maybe it had something to do with my purchase of some very expensive plane tickets for a Japan … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Art, Asia, Tourism | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Used Books and Stuff

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I wish that I had this sign years ago when I was selling used books and collectibles at a flea market. While I’m not hawking any secondhand books here, I do have some stuff to share as usual. Overall European rail operators do … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Public Transport | Tagged , | 2 Comments

A Wonderland for Christmas

Posted on December 16, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Just in time for Christmas, the NYRB Kids imprint has published a new edition of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by the Finnish author and artist Tove Jansson. Jansson is most famous for her Moomin books, which remain … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Restaurants, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment