Phantasmaphile

John Craig

            John Craig

You already know the work of John Craig, without knowing you know it:  he did the enchanting Neo-Victoriana album art for the Smashing Pumpkins' epic Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.  He also is a prolific illustrator, and a master of collage miracles.

Mediaeval Baebes

I wasn't raised with Christmas, so it's always been a holiday that sort of floated around me in a red and green haze.  But thanks to this guy, I've had cause to celebrate it for the last three years, and I have to say, there are some parts of it that are just lovely.  I've realized that for me, the key is finding my own little elements and rituals that resonate on a personal level, rather than force-feeding the mass-marketed version.  On that note, I have discovered an album of music that conjures up some real winter magic.  Mistletoe and Wine by the Mediaeval Baebes is a collection of traditional songs sung in various languages by a collective of beautiful, gothy women.  This is an album to listen to in a room filled with cloves and glittering candles.  (Though I have a hunch I'll be playing it year round as it sounds secular enough, and the songs are just so pretty.)  HAPPY HOLIDAYS, PHANTASMAPHILES!  Postings will be occasional at best until after the new year.  XO

Mike Worrall

Mike Worrall  "Sisters of Baroque"

Mike Worrall's paintings look like stills from costume dramas gone haywire.  I can't get enough of their dreamlike diaroma backdrops and overwhelmingly elaborate dresses. 

Via

"We Won't Break"

This video for "We Won't Break" by Zoot Woman is one of the coolest I've seen in a long time.  Boschian figures spring to life and rock out to the sounds of electropop.  Right on.

(Thank you, Johanna!)

Jodie Carey

Jodie Carey  "Femur"  2006

The materials Jodie Carey used for the above piece are "MDF, sugarpaste icing, ribbon, wire."  Carey turns vacuum lint into chandeliers, sugar into wedding cakes made of bones, and glossy magazine cuttings into funeral bouquets.  She is an absolute magician. 

Via 

Barnaby Whitfield

Barnaby Whitfield  "And Through the Sunset!"  2006

It is a rare thing to be able to capture the fantastical and grotesque with the hilarious, but Barnaby Whitfield pulls it off.  His pastel pieces are garish and gorgeous, and they will bring you warmth on this chilly December day. 

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Rasputina benefit show!

The always cello-riffic Rasputina will be playing this Sunday at Union Pool in Brooklyn.  The show is a benefit for the badass Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, an incredibly cool and important organization that empowers young females by teaching them how rock out.  The multi-act show starts at 6pm.

Lukas Kandl

Lukas Kandl  "Le Reve de Pegase"  1999

I'm surprised I haven't yet posted about Lukas Kandl.  I was introduced to his work via the magnificent book, Metamorphosis, put out by the Beinart Collective.  Kandl's paintings have all of my favorite elements:  flawless rendering, surprising imagery, and fantastical thematics.  Love at first sight.

Deity - Soft Opening!

A few months back, I posted about the stunningly beautiful new lounge, Deity, being built on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.  I am thrilled to inform you that this Friday evening, Deity will be opening its doors to the public for the first time with a soft launch, from 9pm-4am.  Local artists, friends, and neighbors are welcome.  They will be open again on Saturday, and then every Friday and Saturday night in December.  The official opening is on New Years Eve, and it would be a perfect place to ring in 2008 with decadence and mystique.  Do stop by for a visit!   

John Coulthart

John Coulthart  "Salome"  2002

John Coulthart is an amazing digital wizard.  He seamlessly blends various styles and media, and defies genre with his very own mystical sci-fi-horror-myth aesthetic (a clunky description at best, but a fitting one).  He recently did all of the design for the brilliant Mindscape of Alan Moore DVD, and will be one of the primary artists involved with Moore's upcoming Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic, which I am already salivating over.  I also wholeheartedly recommend you read his blog, which is chock full of inspirations and brain food. 

Happy Birthday, Matt Freeman!

Happy Birthday to my beloved Freemonster!  Go to Brooklyn and see his short play in the Brick's Holiday Theatre Festival, OK?

Jake Baddeley

Jake Baddeley  "The Fool"  2006

Putting Jake Baddeley's work on this site is a no-brainer.  His paintings integrate tarot imagery with religious iconography and other hermetic allusions.  Clever and beautiful.

Todd Klein and Alan Moore

Todd Klein and Alan Moore  "Alphabets of Desire"  2007

As some of you may know, Todd Klein is THE glorious go-to-gentleman for lettering in the comics world.  He has particular significance to me, because he lettered my two favorite graphic tales of all time, namely Sandman and Promethea.  He is currently offering a limited edition, signed print of a brand new piece by the miraculous Alan Moore called Alphabets of Desire.  I ordered mine, and am on pins and needles waiting to receive it in the mail.  If you want to read it in its entirety, you should order one, too.  Only 80 left, as of today.

Aganetha Dyck

Aganetha Dyck  "The Queen"  2007

This is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time.  Aganetha Dyck collaborates with bees to create honeycomb embellished homages to creativity.  Here, the lines are blurred between nature and artist, and the results are simply magnificent.

(Thank you, Charles!)