#mmg janitor

[chrissophrase]

Karaoke Night

[artdjgblog]

Innerview: ? / The Pitch

December 2006 ​Photo(s): DJG & MMG (2003-2006)

Note: ​Interview about​ a​ fourth annual solo exhibition at The Brick​.​

​0​1) This is your fourth year, right? Correct, this is my fourth year of exhibiting solo at The Brick. Number five is already booked and possibly a mid-year show too, time and energy-willing. Next year is looking to be my busiest yet. Even though I work all the time, I’m still the laziest guy in my room…or woom. 2) How did the tradition start? Can it be called a tradition? In early 2003 I sheepishly approached Sherri Parr about making show posters for her Brick. After a couple months or so of building a relationship, I was scheduled to show by year’s-end. It’s the right fit for me (and the only show I do in Kansas City)…and four years-worth of pounding nails into The Brick bricks makes it easier with each hanging. The show keeps me on my toes…mostly, in my own water. I barely know what’s going on in the art scene here. Maybe because I don’t get out of the basement much, other than going to the day job. Or, maybe I’m lumped into the graphic designer bracket? I don’t really know or care, nor have time to take myself to market. I just like to make things. Though, I have managed to stay in and out of the music-design scene…locally and nationally. The bulk of my portfolio’s love-handles come from this area. For some reason people are attracted to my silly, little things by word of mouth, sight…and/or smell. ​0​3) Forty pieces, including finished works and personal drawings that they start out as? I started drawing for myself again over the summer and it felt great…hopefully when I get some time they’ll translate to big paintings. The term “personal drawing” is a funny one…but, I guess that explains it. And the rest of the work is just as personal to me. If it wasn’t personal, then I wouldn’t be doing it. But, I don’t wish to talk in such artsy junk. I like to strict myself with hanging originals at The Brick and I try to fill the wall…about forty pieces…and from the year of the show. It gives people a view of my process in a different light, if they care about that. Though, sometimes I do feel a bit strange about showing anything at all…in any format. But, it’s nice because it forces me to work hard and I really enjoy my work. And if it gives one somebody a good grin to wear, then that is even better. I’ve learned some- thing about showing originals…always make scans or copies before showing. My favorite piece was stolen from The Brick two years ago. Either somebody loves or dislikes me. ​0​4) Nothing for sale until the closing reception? Then what? I like to keep all the originals…it would be like losing a big piece of me…unless you happen to be close to me and catch me in the right mood. I do make prints from time-to-time of some things. I had about 50 weeks of plans to make a bunch of these available for sale…but, time is not on my tool belt. There might be a few…but, probably nothing from this current show. I will have a few one-of-a-kind prints…maybe, depends on how I feel that day. ​0​5) Your favorite piece in the show? Your favorite poster from this year? You favorite show this year? Some of my personal drawings are probably my favorite pieces…for personal reasons. My favorite poster from this year…well, I did find this really awesome, amatuer wrestling/street-fighting poster stapled to a burned-out church on my way to work one morning. The guys on it are really funny-lookin’ for tuff dudes. I’ve had them on my front door since May. Well, it’s in the top 5. My favorite poster was found in a dumpster. It’s by a great second-grade artist named Barbara Robinson…and I found some other great posters made by some little kids in Portland, Or., entitled, “Who Likes Ice Cream?”. Another favorite was a little one done by somebody else here in town for a concert. At the bottom in tiny print it says “www.djgdesign.justkidding.com”. I think it’s really funny. I have no idea who made it. My favorite show this year…let me check my list…DeVotchKa at The Record Bar back in June. It was flawless. But, the best line-up of the year is: Pleaseeasaur, The Hit Shitters, Majicyclops and Mailorder Midgets. ​0​6) What is your day job, by the way? For four years I worked as a janitor/groundskeeper. Since I don’t have a car now and needed health insurance and more time off…I found a job only seven minutes away on foot. I do data entry for a small office that does extended-warranties on lawn/farm/heavy equipment. All those years of romping around on the farm have paid off. At least it keeps the basement lights on for the time being. -djg    

[chrissophrase]

[chrissophrase]

Milton Headcanons

[chrissophrase]

Ranking Milton Math Games characters based on their singing skills (this is all headcanoned)

[psychedelic-charm]

I found out in Minaxa's video essay on this that he was the one who voiced the janitor. We've got ourselves an Ensemble Dark Horse (see TV Tropes for more information) here.