POETRY MORPHS INTO OTHER MEDIUMS ETC

Lately all of my writing has been in the form of comic books / graphic novels and also interviews with artists I admire: James Graham, Nicholas Routzen, Justin Hyte, Vlad Voloshin, Gigi Stoll who took the above photo of me last month, and more. Copious Magazine will relaunch in May and then you can read them!

Not as much poetry these days, although I think poets naturally have a certain tone so it probably bleeds into the other work.

I write poetry when I am experiencing hellish heartbreak, or when I am inspired by mythology. And I haven't felt true heartbreak since New Year's Day.

I have been working on a project for a long time now, a retelling of the Grimm Fairytales. in my signature twisted style. They were meant to be illustrated. I was keeping these poems under wraps, but the artist has been very busy and hasn't been able to work on this for about 2 years now... and so I feel compelled to unleash one of my Grimm's:

BEAUTY REALIZES HER BEAST IS JUST ANOTHER FLEETING ROMANCE

By Andrea Grant

Beast
I hated you at first
when I saw you around the village.
You’re an animal
Swarthy
Behemoth
Tender Frankenstein of mine
constructing your cinematic vortex
of roses & thorns & fingernail scratches
in your black tuxedo, playing piano.
You convinced me, through an intricate maze of intonated silences
& bizarre late night conversations
listening to records.

You told me there was a certain naturalness between us
that ought to be expressed physically.
You told me I was the desert vision of men on camels.
You told me you’d be the fire to ignite my earth.

So I buried in killer eyes
& dark hair
your stubble cutting my face like a harsh psychological analysis
as you closed your lashes
against my feral stare
& sank into blue veined wrists
hands tearing at my deliberate fishnet stockings.

For a second I was every woman you ever loved
& you made me love you
a little.
You talk in your sleep
You thrash about
You want an empire of offspring
I’m not that naïve.

You’re looking for the next conquest.
We won’t last for more than a season.
Winter is depressing with all the rain &
we won’t live happily ever after.

1950'S MODELS... AND I MET ONE OF THEM

In the 1950s, women such as Dorothy Horan aka Dovima, Carmen Dell'Orifice, Lisa Fonssagrives, Dorian Leigh, Cathee Dahmen, Suzy Parker, Mary Jane Russell, Susanne Erichsen, Inga Lindgren (in Sweden), Elise Daniels, Sunny Harnett, China Michado , Jean Patchett, Betty Borosner, Sunny Harnett, Saundra Keays, and Uschi Obermeier were considered the world's first top models.

These girls were were highly paid, from up to $40 an hour. Dorian Leigh and her younger sister Suzy Parker (who both began in the 1940s, from USA) both earned an annual salary of $300.000, and are often considered the pioneer "supermodels".

I randomly met Carmen Dell'Orifice a couple of weeks ago, and she still sticks in my mind. I have always been aware of her work, modeling into her 70's. She is so beautiful and elegant, and stands so tall. There is something utterly dignified that radiates off her skin.

She was telling the waitress, "It doesn't matter that you have to do this job for now, you are who you are whether you are scrubbing floors or living in a castle in Spain. I have done this, I understand..."

It was just one of those amazing New York moments.

TO GERMANY WITH LOVE: BERLIN

So a few months ago Mr. Neubauer wrote to ask whether I would ever come to Germany to work with him.

After several phone conversations where we discussed aesthetic and various projects, I believe Mr. Neubauer was doubtful as to whether I would actually have the time to fly to Munich or Berlin.

Surprisingly, I found myself with a few free days next week.

So I booked a ticket to Berlin.

And then I am going to Italy. I hope to have some updates on the road, but I will be very busy.

I decided not to buy a Vespa. Why? Because a Vespa is really lovely until a crazy cab driver decides to kill you. And I've almost been hit walking on a green light a few times.

I really don't have time to die...

www.andreasneubauer.com

OBSESSED WITH WOLVES...

Not sure if it's still showing... this is from 2006.

'Head On' by Cai Guo-Qiang at the Deutsche Guggenheim in Berlin. The installation consists of 99 life-sized wolves, fabricated from painted sheepskins and stuffed with hay and metal wires, barreling in a continuous stream towards - and into - a glass wall. Only the first ones crash into it, but the pack chases after the leader.

The pack chases after the leader.

Glass walls/ceilings.

How very Minx...

WIKIPEDIA INCORPORATED

Now that my name is associated with a Wikipedia entry, I officially exist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Grant#cite_note-3

Oh wait, I exist unless someone at Wikipedia decides to delete it because no one ADDS information to said entry.

Anyone who would like to cross-reference my validity is certainly welcome.

This is so Blade Runner...

P.S. When I was a child (although I was never really a child) I wanted to marry Harrison Ford. Because of Indiana Jones. And Han Solo, but only in 'The Empire Strikes Back' when he was frozen and nearly killed.

Morbid streaks start early.

APATHY 101 + REDEMPTION IN COMPLETION OF TASKS

I have this joke that Americans take Apathy as a college course.

I am becoming 20% American, just as I was always accused of being 10% goth (not everyone understands black clothing)

Preparing for comic con this weekend and utter sleep deprivation. Issue #3 is the best yet, and I painstakingly preserved the comics in those little bag-and-board scenarios. It makes them stay crisp for years.

I have long refused to print in black and white, even though it's a quarter of the cost... my fans want COLOR!!!

I have always been obsessive with my print quality. I will say honestly that with Issue #2, I got suckered into using a different printer, and printing way too many to reduce cost per unit, and receiving a slightly larger trim size due to a printer fuck-up that has vexed me for a year.

Because of this, I have given away a lot of free copies and it's ended up a very expensive brochure. Really though, it's Issue #3 that matters. Minx gets backed into a corner and her dark shadow self is coming through...

Also coming this week are a handful of the 'seriously limited edition' Pin-Up Poet art books. I am only going to sell 10 of them. They will have a certificate of authenticity, and will be the only form of this version...

Cover image above. It's a wraparound. The book is an 8.5x8.5 square hardcover with UV coating.

A NEW AWARENESS OF MALE MODELS

So my new gig has me immersed in fashion and, inevitably, models. Everyone is fascinated by models, after all.

Today I interviewed Luke Worrall (pictured above), who I met through friends last fashion week.

Further research into male models dug up this gorgeous creature:



"Parker Gregory was born 20 years ago in Houston, Texas. He is of Sicilian and Irish descent. He is currently one of the most sought-after models, ranked Top 50 male model in the world. Parker is an easy-going, down-to-earth guy. He likes to sleep, do sports, drive cars and spend time with his family and friends. According to Parker, the five words that best describe him are: energetic, boisterous, sociable, ironic and affectionate."

Attractive + inappropriate in the same instant.

I think I'm in love...