A pink flyer bears the titel "KEL & PALS CHILL WORDS & TUNES," text scattered around gives details "Friday April 10th 6pm CST on Zoom" "featuring Nick Souder & BOLTHGARTH (Whit & Mark Fragassi) & "just a couple friends sharing art. wanna perform? just ask!" In the bottom right corner, a QR code image sits under the address "bit.ly/4shNNH3" A graphic is in the top left corner that says "The pen is mightier than the sword."

Will be performing some extemporaneous reading/ cassette soundscape & live drums online with Mark as the duo BOLTHGARTH tonight (fka Blood Licker.) Thanks to Kellen!

A female mannequin torso, elegantly draped in two intricately stitched gray tonal crocheted fabrics, stands tall in a room with a warm-toned wood floor.

Crocheted soft armor, months of stitching intervals for these two draping fabrics. Fingering weight yarn, size I and J hooks respectively.

#crochet #relativeluddite #hookersforhumanrights

Charles Joseph Smith brings his music aboveground  - Chicago Reader Charles Joseph Smith is a beloved fixture on Chicago’s DIY scene, but the ambitious music he's been making for decades has gone mostly unheard—until now.

My latest Reader music feature is all about Dr. Charles Joseph Smith, a classically trained pianist and pillar of Chicago DIY who is about to release a multi-disc archival compilation on @sooperrecords.bsky.social

I concur.

Charles Joseph Smith, a piano virtuoso with 600 original works and an opera about Mars, finally gets his due Chicago label Sooper Records will release Smith’s first professional album in April. It’s a long time coming for Smith, who, as a Black man diagnosed with autism, has struggled to be heard.

Over the moon to attend tonight's listening party at Cafe Mustache for our longtime cherished friend, intrepid composer/performer, and live sound/movement collaborator.

Long Play Mr. Forefinger! Long Play Dr. Charles Joseph Smith!

On a dark purple background, a ghostly gray giant owl clutches the shoulders of a screaming ghostly woman, whose dark hair is long and streaming around a flow of deep red blood spewing from her mouth. Tree branches surround the two figures, and whirling smoke and clouds create further ghastly ambiance. At the top of the composition, bright orange handlettering reads "MAY THE HATEFUL BE HAUNTED" and at the bottom of the figures bright yellow handlettering reads "ICE GTFO!"

Tuesday's piece. Feel free to use/ distribute/ print.

#horrorart #ghosts #rage #midwestsolidarity #americanart

Support for Immigrant Families Impacted by ICE raids | Organized Communities Against Deportations (Powered by Donorbox) UPDATE 11/5/2025: in October 2025, in less than 10 days, we raised $26,874.41 - THANK YOU so much!! 100% of these funds will be distributed in the form of mutual aid mostly deliveries for food/ medica...

Please share and donate if you can - organized by OCAD.

TECHLADO "F*ck ICE" Shirt from Distort Discos TECHLADO "F*ck ICE" Shirt from Distort Discos

Check it out - Distort Discos / / Techlado T-shirt released today for Bandcamp Friday to raise funds for mutual aid for families <3 Chicago love <3

Man dressed in costume with skull on head, holding cane

A thread devoted to George Grosz, courageously provocative modern artist born on this day in Berlin in 1893—and one of my absolutely favorite artists. To me, Grosz is the historical artist who most captures the spirit of our current moment. Here he is in his so-called "Dada Death" costume circa 1918

Toupée's "Scalp Reduction" to be released for accessible listening and energetic guts bolstering sooner than later, fangs crossed. All songs regard survival. Lyrics to be published also.

This wretched hairpiece quartet of labyrinthine halls and basements' haunting just finished up mixing our third album with intrepid sonic captain Doug at Jamdek in Chicago.

Damen Silos should be a concert venue, groups say Preservationists and a community organization say a public park and musical festival site is an idea worth pursuing, but demolition of the structures appears imminent.

The Damen silos would rule as a permanent music festival ground

A small lime green bug with black and white striped antennae balances at the outer edge of a bright golden calendula’s petals. Dewdrops adorn the flowerhead and grass green foliage composes the background.

I return in writing this now to when I found that cherished, ferocious sense of community. And if I could, I would let that lil chanting enby know they survive a whole heckuva lot more, and I am glad for them using their voice in the midst of swirling stimuli and confrontation over their selfhood. 🕸️

That June in 2001, I'd just ended my senior year, and with that ended proximity to some bullies who enjoyed spreading some vulgar rumors about my body's formation and what that meant about my gender identity. Marching in Pride and chanting at those who worked forces meant reclamation as a lil enby.

I visit this memory internally for bolstering often now, when using my voice in the streets. When building community with others, when making music, when writing, when witnessing/processing/and sadly, anticipating, the devastating choices of homophobic hatemongers devoid of empathy.

We succeeded in moving fellows' marching selves in between these presumptuously present officials and their motor-guard.

We roared our chant for our queer selves and queer others, for the incarcerated, for those lost, those abused, shunned, and sometimes destroyed by hateful systems of bigotry.

As I adjusted to hefting the metal pole and large banner with newfound allies, I was asked to help move toward and surround the officials' vehicle a bit in front of us, which had multiple police motorcycles in a barricade around it.

I joined in their ferocious chant - "Cops Suck But Don't Pay!"

The first Pride parade that I had the privilege to march in was in 2001 in Chicago, the June after I graduated from high school. I went with a group of fellow grocery store workers. At one point, I was asked to carry and handed a pole attached to a banner from a tired stranger.

I also go through this cycle of “cocooning” with painting, crochet, and music-making. The process ebbs and flows. Love these watercolor sketches of yours! 💟💟

Happy Doc Ellis Throwing a No-Hitter While Tripping On Acid Day to all who celebrate.

The garage sale of Charles Joseph Smith is still on at 3321 W. Armitage Ave (Chicago). Lots of my stuff is still remaining but has to go. It likely will be a moving sale soon.

Never got to meet Studs Terkel in person.

I did get to meet Wesley Willis when I was a teenager. One on one on Michigan Ave, quel reve pour petit moi musicale.

Dear Reader:

Who did you want to meet or did you get to meet that changed your life’s course and uplifted your passions?

I concur re:bikes. I could use my bike’s horizontal width to create a break in car traffic, other mechanical obstructions, incoming projectiles, oncoming aggressor/s, etc. for myself and others who need aid… this could add a moment or two tree more for dodge/response.

Advocate for Federal Funding for Victim Services - FastDemocracy Programs that support survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence nationwide are at risk due to potential funding cuts and difficulties accessing already awarded federal funds. Federal funding i...

I implore you, I implore them fastdemocracy.com/campaigns/ED...

dear friend @charlesjosephsmith.bsky.social and I spoke today and he informed me that display cases are chock full of his inimitable work at Decoraters Tattoo in Chicago. Word to the wise listener.

First of my short tutorials on Bluesky! Oh Yeah!