Raven Jake Dawes

Color Variant on WPA Posters

Don't know when this color variant was introduced, but the sunset version is lovely.

 





























Work Projects Administration Posters

Well, as I wrote in my tree octopus post, I love those old WPA posters and wanted to learn a little more about them. Apparently there are about 2,000 of them left and 900 are in the Library of Congress. They're in the public domain, so you can get reproductions most anyplace. The posters depict various programs and projects sponsored by the government: health and safety programs, cultural programs including art exhibitions and theatrical and musical performances, travel and tourism, educational programs, and community activities and were created from 1936-1943. My faves are the national parks posters, but there's much to commend the others too. The one over here to the left was created by Harry Herzog, but most of the artists have been lost to time. There have also been some excellent comtemporary posters inspired by the originals from c. 1938 (like the tree octopus) but the ones posted here are old school.









 

























 

Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus!

The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus is a shy, misunderstood and seldom-seen critter from Washington State that lives out at least part of it's lifespan in the coniferous temperate rain forest. I've been sproutin' them in a paper towel on top of the fridge, and now I've got an aquarium full of pups lookin' for a good home. They're endangered, y'all, so take good care of 'em and don't shoot your mouth off to the "authorities." Rangers are s'posed to destroy any that they find, since they can't just turn 'em back loose in the wild.   

Well, that's what a jokester named Lyle Zapato came up with in 1998, and ever since it's been used as a test to see how gulible folks can be when it comes to stuff they see on the internet. Now I took an interest 'cause I've been lookin' at the old Works Progress Administration [WPA] posters from around 1938. I love that festive federalist graphic style and I'll probably just end up posting up a bunch of them for everyone to see. Good graphics are good graphics. Quite frankly, given my love of octopi and other cephalopods (Jane and I even have matching octopus tattoos from our engagement, but don't go spreading that around) I'd be the first one to propose a no-logging zone to protect Tree Octopus habitat. Alas, not the case: but check out the cool graphics - the octopus is a clear lift, well, no, let's call it a "homage" of the "real" poster made by J. Hirt c. 1938. And if you still want a Tree Octopus pup, gimme a call and we'll arange for a payment/drop-off schedule that'll work with your budget.

Murder and Mayhem at the Mission

Folks, I don't get invited to stuff half often enough. That's a hint y'all. Christine Fredrickson over at the San Gabriel Mission invited us to see Paul Spitzzeri (below) of the Homestead Museum give a talk on "Murder and Mayhem at the San Gabriel Mission." Well, it  was great, and he dragged out all the usual suspects, lined 'em up, shot 'em and went back for more.

He's also a Michael White fan, and anyone who's down with Miguel Blanco is down with me. The San Gabriel Mission is sponsoring "Museum Days" on the first Saturday of the month, so maybe I will be  getting out more after all. Now after all the talkin' was done (Veronica Guttierez-Sermino spoke on the subject of Spanish-Native wills in New Spain c. 1595), it was time for lunch (sponsored by the Johnathan Heritage Foundation) and I got a great surprise. Great lunch too - thanks to the folks at the Del Mar cafe -  but the ladies we sat with, Helen and Tina Salazar, are Dona Eulalia relatives and we had a wonderful family chat with nopales and homemade tortillas. Is there a better way to spend the afternoon? Nah, I don't think so either. Here I am with Helen and Tina Salazar who, by the way, went to a family reunion this summer - I'm on a not-secret-at-all mission to get all the Michael White relatives together again - so if that's you, say it loud and say it proud!