Gabe’s a very unique, funny and smart writer; check out all of his projects via his website etc.

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I can’t seem to fold this blog; though it sits dormant for months, and I haven’t been focused on any solo-projects to the point of sharing, I like having it here, just in case. I’m still working full-time-and-then-some at an alternative school/youth development org, and that consumes the lion’s share of my time and focus. Also still making music with Air War–we’ve written a batch of new tunes, and we are playing shows again after ‘shedding for the first half of 2011.

Another reason for my posting-decline was the crappiness of my old laptop. The Toshiba Satellite had served fairly well since my move to PDX in 2006, but had grown slow and ugly, battery long-dead, the half-broken-and-taped-up AC adaptor prone to slipping out and killing my work. I’ve finally upgraded… I have joined the ranks of the Mac-ists, and though the summer has offered plenty of non-productive temptations, I’m excited about the possibilities of this new rig, particularly in terms of music production. More projects on the horizon, maybe they’ll see the light of someday.

I’ve made a guest appearance at Constance, as curator of this month’s mixtape. Click my feet to listen, and follow the Mixtape link to check out the whole series, which is pretty great. A list of songs can be found below.

Download Made to Melt

:: songlist ::

Cluster : Hollywood

Miracles Club : Light of Love

New Musik : Hunting

Korallreven : Loved Up

Xeno & Oaklander : Shadow World

Tristeza : Manitas

Modulo 1000 : Curtíssima

The Pretty Things : Grass

Orphan Egg : Falling

Ilous : Pêle-Mêle

The Sylvers : What’s it all about?

Mo Dettes : White Mice

Sinn Sinnsamouth : A Diamond Ring

Mavi Isiklar : Iyi Dusun Tasyn (For Your Information)

Desmond Dekker : Shing a Ling

July : My Clown

Clube de Esquina [Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges] : O Trem Azul

Aphrodite’s Child : Loud, Loud, Loud

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Apologies also for the lull in posts. I’ve been busy taking apart mechanical watches and trying to pull together a performable set of songs, with the intention of making solo outings this summer.

This week I realized, while showing an art-inclined grad the glory of art-blogging, that a lot of my 2008 material is broken, particularly the tuneage. I’ll try to figure out what happen and fix the damage at some point…

Assignment was ‘Draw a turd on fire but make it look classy.’

And I’m really happy about this: to me it’s a pretty solid indication that innate ability isn’t quite as important as Practice. Skill isn’t pre-ordained, and either permanently available or forever out-of-reach. It can be earned, it can be lost, it can be regained.

Chops. Back to the woodshed…

This week I’ve been exchanging drawing assignments with a friend, via txt. I’ve really enjoyed drawing things I wouldn’t have thought of, in environments I haven’t normally drawn in (mostly at lunch, in various spots). Above: today was ‘divine friend in punk rock garb’. 4″ x 2.5″