Art talk

Draw a Bird Day (link)

The following was found with a pic of the painting on the Ben Uri website.  I think that the exhibit has ended, the text does not come up anymore.  It's preserved here though.  I think it would make a swell movie.

"Lily Delissa Joseph (1863 - 1940) was born into a wealthy and respected Jewish family with strong ties to the art establishment, as her brother, the painter Solomon J. Solomon, was an elected Royal Academician and only the second Jew to gain this honour. Although she was taken seriously as an artist by the art establishment and exhibited regularly throughout her career, Lily Delissa Joseph lived a rather unconventional life for a woman of her class and standing. Her privileged background also gave her the freedom to pursue political and religious activism and she became a vocal champion of women’s rights. She was so dedicated to her cause that in 1912 she was unable to attend the private view of her own exhibition because she had been arrested ‘in connection with the Women’s Suffrage Movement’, the Jewish Chronicle announced, and was in Holloway jail. Not content with her rare status as both a female Royal Academician and suffragette, Delissa Joseph was also one of the first women to own and drive a car, and even learnt how to pilot a plane in the 1920s.

Delissa Joseph’s work ‘Self Portrait with Candles’ (1910) was acquired by the Ben Uri Collection in 1946 (the painting can be seen here:http://ow.ly/tlmlE). In that same year the Ben Uri Gallery held an exhibition of her work alongside that of her siblings, Solomon J. Solomon and Rebecca Solomon, both respected artists. 'Self-portrait with candles' is a striking painting which depicts Delissa Joseph with her head covered observing the Jewish Sabbath, her confident and uncompromising nature exemplified in her direct eye contact with the viewer. Delissa Joseph was perhaps best known her for interiors and this self-portrait is a departure from her normal subject, although she has retained her characteristic limited palette and use of light and shadow for dramatic effect. Click here to browse Lily Delissa Joseph’s other works in the Ben Uri Collection"  http://po.st/MKwayT

I paid retail for this back in the late 80's.

The fancy European paints and the brushes are from my sister some years ago.  The US student products I found in the bins.

I found this bag in the bins too - I've stuffed it with supplies.

teaser: another mysterious Champion

I don't have time for a full post on this typewriter just obtained today, but I wanted to let you all get a glimpse of it after the recent post and discussion on Underwoods marked "Champion" over at  Bill's blog.  In this case it's Remington's turn.  I was just hoping to replace my KMC from the Lost Patrol. Luckily, I think it will fill that niche.

very much like the KMC even having KMC keys, but in green plastic tombstone?

1948?  

Book Look

This was what was considered risque in 1951.  To put that in perspective, it was well before Lenny Bruce was arrested for obscenity.  I believe this was he sort of book sales men and lodge members committed to memory.

From the first few examples of Dumbth, I think Steve Allen would have hated the internet for its expansion of the problem.

To end on a happier note, I got this in the mail today, from a recent typewriter gift recipient:

She types like I do! I often hit the u with the y that way.

teaser

Posting my activities

I *have* been busy, but if I'm honest, not so busy that I couldn't have knocked out a typecast.  For that matter, I ought to dig through my portables to see if I have any started and not scanned.

As usual, the activities jump back and forth between clubs, exercise, and entertainment.  They meet and merge in this still life:

this was submitted to Tacoma Art Museum's #StillLifeYourLife contest.  I need to do another with NaNoWriMo and my game dice included.

Another activity that has occurred, but not really interfered with blogging, is the annual Monkeyshines art hunt (see the glass ball in the typebasket above).  As usual, I carved a stamp for the current Chinese New Year.

I've posted past stamps before, like in this post from last year.

I've been to a couple of Handel Operas and numerous meetings, I take a walk every day and I do keep up on my facebook friends (I've picked up dozens of new ones internationally as the Hams find each other).  But I did drop out of the facebook Antique Typewriter Collectors' group, when they got too HOA on another member. If there's interest, I'll do a post on it.

Tomorrow we will probably do our taxes, and go for a bike ride.  Maybe I'll run off a typecast on the road.

Right now I need to get ready to host Game Night.

ITAM confessions: Typewriters that are not Appreciated

As promised, here is a post of typewriters in the collection that I don't appreciate. All have been with me over a year and most for several years.  They take up space I'd rather use for good typers.  I know many collectors have more fun repairing and cleaning but for me it's all about writing on them.

Anyway, looking at these again may spark some conversation and I might even get a repair tip or two that revives one.

This one I would love if not for messed-up linkages in a couple of keys that end up pulling on others.  I sometimes think it would be a good one on which to learn repair. Love the streamlined look though.  I dug it out of the bins.

This Clipper is stuck stuck stuck. Keys do not press or move, though the carriage does.  I think it's possibly wd-40 syndrome?  I've been using it for parts.  The logo went to Richard but did not quite fit his application, and the c keytop went on a Silent-Super that was given away last year.

This is ...okay.  not at all pleasant to type on, and some troublesome keys - get stuck at the strike point.  otherwise just needs an overhaul. 

I was so excited to find this one, but I have trouble with it.  with the cover on, it just doesn't work right.  It gets stuck or rubs, etc.  With it off, it's a passable but not pleasant typer.  I think it's bent (squashed) and doesn't have enough clearance.

This is from Strikethru's Petaluma haul, and has always had a busted carriage since coming into the typosphere.  I kept it for the cool look of the noiseless action but now that I have working examples I don't need this collecting dust.

This best fits the post theme - it was a classroom typewriter that was used hard and put out to pasture. It works but it balky and uninspiring.  Now that I have an SG1 I don't need the 3.  You may recall that I brought it home on my wife's bike.  She had to remount her milk crate afterward.

Do you ever feel betrayed by inanimate objects?  I loved using this one, then one time the carriage went off track and I can't seem to fix it. Grr.

Another abused workhorse.  You can see the cracked space bar.  The line feed setting slips and you never know how many lines it will advance.

My first manual typewriter.  It pauses in the center of the carriage and I have to smack it.  I haven't figured out why.  If I could fix that I would enjoy using this one.

This one has water damage from before I got it which has led to many problems.  I'm not sure it can be fixed, but there are probably some decent parts.  

I'm this close ===> <=== to dropping most of these off at Goodwill but someone may want them for parts or repair.  I should add here that I'm not interested in accumulating the boxes and packing material they would need, or in spending a lot of time analyzing their packing needs.  If you want one sent to you, send me the box and cushioning and when I send it I'll collect the postage from you.

ITAM bikecast

common merganser, female

common merganser, male