Big thanks to Allison Cole; art direction. For SO Rhode Island Magazine.

MOTHER'S DAY POST (FROM THE FAR REACHES OF THE UNIVERSE)

Hey! The new Star Trek movie is out; I'm so glad it's gotten good reviews and generally everyone I've spoken to has said good things. I grew up on TNG (reference picture above*) and since it's mother's day, I have a very special story about growing up Trek with my mom.

I think it was the winter of 1992 or 1993; living right in between Boston and New Hampshire, you didn't go out a whole lot in the dead of winter. Winter in this area of the world means lots of dirty snow covered in street salt that never goes away because it never gets warm enough to melt.

You find yourself staying in a whole lot. Luckily for the Turnbull family, WNDS 50, "The Winds of New England" ... the station located in Portsmouth, N.H., had just the cure for the snowy prime time blues. 2 repeat episodes of "The Simpsons" followed by an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation".

The combination was perfect; 2 comedies and a drama. The Simpsons supplied us with a satrical whit, pop culture maxims and dark humor while Star Trek lifted our souls and let us imagine about a future better than the ones we were in; ones with Klingon, Vulcans and other cultures yet to even be discovered. And the most surreal part?


This guy was the weather man in between the Simpsons and Star Trek and if you watch this video you'll know he's total viral video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nplpiNH5Nqw&feature=related ... this video is a bit bland (even though he has the best New Hampshire accent ever) but when this guy was younger he was SO PUMPED on doing the weather.

It wasn't like we were obsessed; it was a dark time for the Celtics in 92/93 (Bird started having back problems, Reggie Lewis DIED) and this seemed to be the only other family friendly 2 hour pack for family bonding, since the Family Channel, as we all agreed, was weird.

But we started really getting into it. So when we started channel surfing between it and the two weeks of the Winter Olympics, it got a little discombobulating.

We knew it was time to take a TV break when my mother said, "Why, this downhill skiing event really doesn't represent anyone! Where are the Klingon, where are the Romulians?"

I've never told my mom this, but I was right there with her in the fantasy. For a moment, I logically paused and thought "The Romulans are not a part of the Federation, mom."

But at around the exact same time, we both came to our senses and realized we had become, if we wanted to believe it or not, Trekkies. We turned off the Television, I retreated into my room to doodle space ships and I suspect my mother did a cross word puzzle.

Happy Mother's Day, everyone!

**********

I just watched this video above and thought to myself; this is what mom must have felt when the Beatles started dressing in bright colors and traveling to India.

This band plays pop songs that sound so familiar and from so many different histories. I hear the beach boys, Paul Simon's "graceland", house and afrobeats, maybe even chanting(and scatting? - What do you call what Avey Tare is doing with his voice?) ... and the lyrics re-enforce the nostalgic themes; the song references wearing summertime clothes and taking off your socks - a poetic visual both mundane and sublime. Mundane because it is a logical solution to the weather, sublime in the erotic undertones. A perfect pop song: made for the season, just a little dirty and just weird and psychedelic enough to be appealing to just about anyone whose got a lil' freak in them.

* Note scene is of Lt. Commander Geordi LaForge's mandolin being taken away by Lt. Commander Worf. They are dressed in Robin Hood attire in an extended space of reality by the cosmic trouble maker "Q". This is the famous episode where Worf insists to Captain Picard that he is "Not a merry man."

Dropping in MAY!

Hey hey hey! Jack Turnbull reporting from Bedstuy. The weather today was non-descript and ever changing; rainy at times but the day ending out with a rainbow (I didn't see it, but I'm sure it must of happened at some point). I only got outside to deliver a changing table to a lady in an amazing residential spot around north 11th.

I keep seeing all these luxury lofts being put up all around Brooklyn and I wonder if anyone is going to move in sometimes...

Up top: New Southern Rhode Island Magazine illustration. Once again a big thanks out to Allison Cole, art director and so much more.

THEN!!! ----> Coming out soonish (gimmie time, I'm about 1/3 done and 30 pages deep) THE INVASIVE EXOTICS!!!!

PS ---




I knew the above image was missing something! Meditative textile patterns loosely based on totem poles; of course, duh.

Moving Right Along

So the back of my computer has sort of imploted (?!?!?!) but the good news is that I have moved ... AGAIN ... but it's all for the best. The place is cheaper, closer to work, lots of more sunshine and more space. My roommates are Cooper Union seniors so that should be interesting.

Here are some before and after photos.

PLUS: My Xeric grant dreams have not fizzled into bitterness. I'm Still going strong on this story and it feels like old times when I used to put out zines.

Oh yeah! I got to do an illustration for the John Beard awards! For those who don't know ... the John Beard awards are kinda like the Oscars of cooking. Yay!

---Jack

Thanks for coming to Junto

Big thanks to all those who came out to the Collorgy show at the Junto Gallery last weekend. I was at first a bit dubious due to the scope of the show (about 13 artists show, a couple of bands performing, 2 stand up comedians, a Street Fighter tournament and then an all night dance party) ... but it went together VERY well and I think those who were there had a blast.

I was also fortunate enough to have the opening slot with my max/msp looping set. I seriously need to figure out a better system for putting this music online. Myspace doesn't allow me to update my ... space ... so I suppose straight up MP3s on Jack Turnbull.com may be the solution. That's something to look forward to. I've come a long way from endlessly looping the intro to Star Trek the Next Generation.

Pictured is about half of the work I showed (more was added later).

I have a few illustration gigs in the works ... I'll post as they come through.

Oh yeah ... happy March ... have some snow.

<3,
Jack

Here's a greeting card I've done for mini jake ... and just for laughs the Orange Dinosaur of Route 1, Saugus Mass.