Daily Updates from across Flavorpill

Kelly Link

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:29:39 -0500

When you meet such creations as a handbag that contains an entire village or a mini-mart patronized by zombies, you know you're in a Kelly Link story. After two collections, the author hasn't turned down her sublime strangeness one bit.

Jeff Brouws

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:42:34 -0500

Photographer Jeff Brouws has a voracious appetite for the real America — the one that unfolds along the continental highways, arranges its post-industrial ruins in daisy chains of small towns, and does its best to resist its neglected urban centers.

Gang Gang Dance

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:07:54 -0500

Rumor has it that Gang Gang Dance had Saint Dymphna pretty much in the can three years ago. As such, the New York tribe/band's first proper album since 2005 references the house- and disco-influenced dance-rock that was then coming into vogue.

The Alcoholic

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:50:14 -0500

Saying that authors and alcohol go hand in hand is an exercise in gross understatement. Jonathan Ames' newest — a not-so-subtly titled graphic novel — is a darkly comic depiction of the demons that plague even the most successful artists.

Place Makers

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:33:55 -0500

Place Makers exhibits local architects whose work mirrors the social and economic transformation of the Australian state. Along with a strong visual emphasis on the lush environment, the exhibition spotlights contemporary-design motifs.

School of Seven Bells

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:50:42 -0500

It's fitting that sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza and ex-Secret Machines member Benjamin Curtis derived their band name from a mythical pickpocket academy; the group deftly pulls disparate strands of pop without attracting undue attention.

The Sacred Book of the Werewolf

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:44:36 -0500

With The Sacred Book of the Werewolf, madcap Russian novelist Victor Pelevin delivers a metaphysical tale that centers around the spiritual journey and sexual exploits of a 2,000-year-old werefox named A Hu-Li.

Leandro Erlich

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:36:57 -0500

A master of illusion, Leandro Erlich amazes audiences with whimsical installations, sculptures, photographs, and videos. His celebrated Swimming Pool installation is currently enchanting visitors at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center.

On the Campaign Trail

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:49:08 -0500

Christopher Hayes, the Washington, DC editor for The Nation, offers insights on Obama's ground game, where a broken-down Republican party might head come November 5, and the long-forgotten reasoning behind voting on a Tuesday.

Tussle

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:42:15 -0500

With a recent series of personnel shifts, Tussle have added another dimension, taking their music into free-ranging, cosmic arenas. It's fitting that the band released its new album on August 8, 2008, in honor of a certain sacrosanct Roland product.

Alison Jackson

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:54:13 -0500

Fascinated by the media's exaltation of celebrity and the public's appetite for any glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous, British artist Alison Jackson creates titillating scenarios starring meticulously cast lookalikes.

'Aggravated' Identity Theft?

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:01:00 -0500

The Supreme Court will rule whether illegal immigrants can be convicted of "aggravated" identity theft for using stolen social-security numbers. A conviction could add two years to a sentence for gaining employment with false papers.

Juana Molina

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:24:46 -0500

Argentinean singer, guitarist, and former comedienne Juana Molina is perpetually refining her craft. The latest pearl in an already impressive discography, Un Dia finds new ways to seamlessly integrate gentle loops and layers.

Gilbert & George

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:34:42 -0500

Working collaboratively for more than 40 years, Gilbert & George have consistently been at the forefront of British art. Starting out as "living sculpture," they evolved into fearless "picture"-makers, tackling a broad range of social subjects.

Canada Votes

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:42:12 -0500

Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper's big gamble — win a Conservative majority via early elections — fell short of an expected windfall, as the incumbent ended the night with another minority government.

Carl Djerassi

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:45:18 -0500

Dr. Carl Djerassi revolutionized the world through chemistry — from developing the first oral contraceptive pill to producing a harmless method for insect control. In recent years, however, he's traded test tubes for pen and paper as a fiction writer.

Do Ho Suh

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:38:12 -0500

Internationally exhibited and collected, celebrated Korean artist Do Ho Suh splits his time between Seoul and New York. He recently sat down to discuss his work and its sublime interpretation of notions of displacement, identity, and karma.

Morgan Geist

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:22:23 -0500

Souring on the industry that's brought acclaim to his label, his collaborations with Metro Area, and his Unclassics collection, Environ's Morgan Geist explores darker themes on his new solo album, Double Night Time.

Sri Lanka Hunts Tigers

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:07:49 -0500

Sri Lanka's rebel Tamil Tigers killed 25 people in retaliation against an air strike that devastated their headquarters. As the government closes in on the guerillas' stronghold, many hope their long-running conflict is nearing its final act.

Dry Storeroom No. 1

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:11:10 -0500

Although paleontologist Richard Fortey spent his career exploring evolution's labyrinth, his Dry Storeroom is as much about the diversity of dead specimens as the living people who find, collect, and classify them.