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Thomas Romcoe: Heart of the Sun

Inspired by the music Pink Floyd

Award winning Chicago-born artist relocated to Ogden, Utah who is primarily self-taught and studied privately under the famous palette-knife painter Ruiz.

Tom, as an artist, has sold many paintings in his lifetime and is quite prolific. He expresses his innermost feelings in pieces, creating scenes by memory or just simply producing them out of thin air. His command of light and color are outstanding producing paintings that move you emotionally. His impressionistic flowers are always a delight to view, as well as his landscapes, abstracts and steam engine wheels.

Here's another beautiful paiting by Tom Romcoe feel free to contact him for purchase.

Thoms Romcoe can be contacted at tnt.artists@yahoo.com.

Thomas Romcoe: Shine

Inspired by the music of Roger Waters and Pink Floyd

Award winning Chicago-born artist relocated to Ogden, Utah who is primarily self-taught and studied privately under the famous palette-knife painter Ruiz.

Tom, as an artist, has sold many paintings in his lifetime and is quite prolific. He expresses his innermost feelings in pieces, creating scenes by memory or just simply producing them out of thin air. His command of light and color are outstanding producing paintings that move you emotionally. His impressionistic flowers are always a delight to view, as well as his landscapes, abstracts and steam engine wheels.

Now almost sixty-five, the future holds more artwork promised to be the best yet to be created by this emerging yet somewhat established talent.

He has worked on computer generated artwork that reveals a whole new side to his creativity.

Currently exhibiting at De Berge's in Kenosha, WI at the South Ogden Municipal Building and Grey Cliff Lodge.

Past works and shows include Marshall Field's Art Gallery, Ogden Historic Union Station, third place award from Palette Club, Daystar Gallery, Alani Spa in Ogden, Ogden Arts and Ogden Blue in Ogden, Utah, Dick Gregory's commissioned portrait, an oil painting titled "Mansard Roof" displayed at the Chicago Park Library in Brighton Park, a large law mural titled "Justice for All" displayed at Weisberg & Associates Attorneys in downtown Chicago, IL, The Art Store Gallery in Glencoe, IL, Gilbertson's Stained Glass in Lake Geneva, WI, Grungler's Frame It! in Lindenhurst, IL, a one man show at Pristine Covenant Club in Chicago, IL, an individual showing at Hyde Park Bank, Riverton Museum in October/November 15, 2007 Art 'N Bloom in Grayslake, IL, just to name a few.

Thoms Romcoe can be contacted at tnt.artists@yahoo.com.

Rockin' Art

Favio Ramos born March 29,1983 Phoenix, Arizona where he lived with his first three years; the whole family moved to a little town El Grullo, Jal. in Mexico. Since earliest childhood his talent for drawing and painting became highly recognized. When he was twelve years old the he started his own business, at school, selling drawings to his classmates for just a few pesos.

He finished middle school at fifteen then moved back to Phoenix where in high school he started taking art classes. Ramos participated in many painting projects for the school including a mural painted on a library wall. Today, Ramos continues his studies in Art at the Scottsdale Community College and Arizona State University.

He is now living in Ogden, Utah, is a member of the Ogden Arts Community where he has a studio work with his art on display. Ramos' Art can be seen on display at both the North Ogden and Ogden Arts Festival as well as local galleries in 2008 http://www.ogdenartsfestival.com

faviowsg@yahoo.com
480-889-4282

All That Sass...A Rock & Roll Column
by Melanie "Sass" Falina

"Fuck This Column"

We all know musicians – and particularly rock stars – who have what my grandmother would call "potty mouths."  I doubt anyone's forgotten Slash's verbal blunder of uttering more than one expletive on live television during an awards show a few years back. When it comes right down to it, the "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" aphorism really should include something about four-letter words as well.

Probably the greatest reason why "bad" words are so commonly used in the first place is because of the power behind them, after all, why do you think children pick up on those words so quickly? Rock music and swear words - a natural symbiotic relationship; and with the "F-word" being as mighty as it is, it's logical that this word would find its way into music lyrics; wielding around between guitar riffs, and woven into falsetto crooning like a spark from slamming flint into iron pyrite.

 Here is my list of top ten songs which use the work 'fuck.'

9. W.A.S.P. "Kill Fuck Die." Short, sweet, to the point. We knew we could count on these sexual perverts when in need of an expressive 'fuck' song.

" Kill, Fuck, Die
All ya get from life's
Kill, Fuck, Die
Yeah you're gonna die ..."

8. Seether's "Fuck It" – This compilation wouldn't be complete without one fucked-up relationship song on this list; Seether's interpretation is a classic.

"Fuck it! I see you in me
Fuck it! I feel you in me
Fuck it! I'll heal you in me..."

 7. Dead Kennedy's "Too Drunk To Fuck" – Just as the joining of peanut butter and jelly, hardcore punk and cuss-words are another consummate union. "Too Drunk to Fuck" has become somewhat of a cult classic among punks and drinkers alike. ( And don't worry, I won't quote the line mentioning diarrhea.)

"But now I am jaded
You're out of luck
I'm rolling down the stairs
Too drunk to fuck..."

 6. System of a Down's "Fuck The System" – As beautifully chaotic as SOAD writes and performs their unique tunes, "Fuck The System" is a stellar example of a rock and roll melee.

"War, fuck the system,
War, fuck the system, fuck the system,
War, fuck the system, war
I need to fuck sys-
I need to fuck sys-
I need to fuck sys..."

 5.   Limp Bizkit's "Break Stuff" - Yes, Limp Bizkit.

"Everything is fucked, everybody sucks."

This song is the quintessentially pissed-off, I-hate-my-job, I-hate-Mondays, I-hate-mornings, and I-hate-stupid-people. But I suppose there is the possibility that I'm just projecting.

 4.   Rollins Band – "Raped" – Though many of the songs on the Nicer Shade of Red disc have, sadly, remained unknown even to some Rollins fans, this album should be a staple for his fan base. Compiled from the overflow of songs written and recorded for the Nice release, Nicer Shade of Red has bypassed Nice on my list of favorites. The song "Raped," albeit full of self-loathing offers something rare and – well, a little tingly for fans of Rollins who may like him for more than his singing, acting, writing, and spoken word.

"You want to fuck me?
you want to fuck me?
you want to fuck me?
Well fuck you...
You rape me, I'll rape you
You rape me, I'll rape you
I'll get you off, you'll get me off..."

Listen to this song at home – not on your iPod. It might create some embarrassing moments on the bus otherwise.

3.   Nine Inch Nail's sexy and cultish tune "Closer" comes in at # 3. Though the song title is "Closer" most people, myself included, initially thought "I Want to Fuck You Like An Animal" was the name of the song.

Also on the verge of sexual degradation, "Closer" made deviant sex cool even for the straights. If you're feeling really naughty, go ahead and listen to it after Rollins' "Raped" and then follow it up with the # 2 on the list.

 2.   Soundgarden's "Big Dumb Sex" – There's nothing quite like screaming along with Chris Cornell in classic Soundgarden fashion:

"I'm gonna fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck you! 
Fuck you..." 

Come on, it doesn't get any better than that!

1.   And the Number 1 "fuck" song in the world of All That Sass is, hands down, one of the songs generated by Nikki Sixx's brief stint with Tracii Gunns in the band Brides of Destruction: "Shut The Fuck Up."

Hate your boss?  Have this song playing quietly on your desk at work. No one else needs to hear it but you will.  When your boss comes up to you spouting out some hypocritical, bureaucratic bullshit you can just listen to them with one ear – listen to this song with the other, and smile to.  Also works wonders for an annoying parent, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife - the sky's the limit. 

Times I've used the F-word in this column = 37. 

And I'm sure I'll be getting some emails asking "Why didn't you including 'this-fuck-song,' or 'that-fuck-song?' The answer is simple – for the same reason I didn't include any Kid Rock 'fuck' songs...there were just too many to chose from.

Fuck it.

New total = 41.

Email Sass with your comments to Sass@RockStarSass.com

Cubs will be Great in 2008! - 2008 Chicago Cubs Convention

Hilton Hotel Chicago – Chicago, IL, United States – January 18-20, 2008

by Anita Maree Lande

Can spring be that far away? It always seems that the Cubs Convention is on the coldest weekend in Chicago , and that proved to be the case once again. With the wind-chill in the negatives, getting to the convention was a bitter challenge, but once inside the Hilton, the weekend fun began. Thousands of fans gathered in the grand ballroom to officially kick off the gala. Radio announcer Pat Hughes served as the emcee by welcoming everyone and then introducing Cub players from the past and present. As they were introduced, each player gave a wave to the crowd and some threw down a baseball cap. The three day convention had plenty of fun events and sessions to participate in such as Cubs Bingo, Cubs Jeopardy, hitting clinics, and a huge exhibit floor with tons of souvenirs, shirts, and other Cubs memorabilia to purchase.

Perhaps the most fun was getting to meet your favorite Cub player to get their autograph or a picture with him. There was plenty of Cub players at stations waiting to meet the fans. Some of the players from the past that attended were Jody Davis, Bill Buckner, Rick Sutcliffe, Bill Madlock, and Jose Cardenal. Many Cub legends also were ready to give autographs like Andy Pafko, Milt Pappas, Fergie Jenkins, Andre Dawson, Billy Williams, Ryne Sandberg, and Mr. Cub himself Ernie Banks. You could also get up close and personal with many 2008 Cub players like Carlos Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly, Ryan Theriot, and their manager Lou Piniella.

The excitement was in the air, the smell of hot dogs was lingering, and it seems like the fans cannot wait, ‘cause the 2008 Cubbies will be great!

When Grace Slick Sees White Rabbits Through her Looking Glass She Paints Them

Wentworth Gallery – Schaumburg, Illinois, United States – September 15-16, 2007

by Melanie "Sass" Falina

If you went looking for white rabbits while standing on the corner of Haight and Asbury a few short decades ago, your looking glass might have actually been small and round and purple-tinted. Today, the presentation has changed, but Grace Slick is still pointing out to us the hookah smoking caterpillars in the world. And sometimes they look like caterpillars – sometimes they look like Jerry Garcia.

This past weekend at Wentworth Gallery in one of Chicago's northern suburbs, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship vocalist, Grace Slick showed her work and met with art buyers and enthusiasts.

With a diverse array of mediums and styles, Slick's pieces vary from figure drawings - to paintings and sketches of rock and roll royalty such as Jimi Hendrix, Roger Daltrey, Janis Jopin, and Jerry Garcia (lots of Jerry Garcia), to name but a few - and her Alice In Wonderland inspired art.

While taking in Grace Slick's art one almost needs to remind themselves that the gifted artist who created these pieces is also a music and rock and roll legend. Slick walked into the gallery clad in hoop earrings encircling little white rabbits, and greeted gallery attendants with a husky-voiced, "Good morning! Good afternoon – whatever it is."

Though Slick might not have much to do with the music industry any longer, her paintings and sketches prove that truly artistic people will continue to be creative if but in different ways. "I'm going to run out of time before I run out of ideas," commented Slick, now 68-years old, to a buyer of one of her paintings.

"It's really a wonderful thing that someone known strictly as a rock icon can have an entirely new creative outlet and be successful at it," commented Wentworth Gallery Director, Mindy Tiberi, about Slick's art.

The Wentworth Gallery in Schaumburg, Illinois was beautifully lit up with Slick's passionately vivid colors – particularly on her 'white rabbit' paintings – that seemed to reach out from the canvas and captivate viewer's attention without easily letting go. Slick's white rabbit is captured in various forms of activity, from playing the piano to reading the book Alice In Wonderland, from sitting Billy Joel "Pressure"-video style in front of a record player, and to, of course, gallivanting around with 'Alice.' One painting in particular combined Alice and the white rabbit with some of the great musicians Slick has painted over the years – and set at a music festival with booths set up in the background selling beads, hookahs and the like. Her pieces range in price from $1,295 to $16,595.

My favorite piece of Slick's was her " Cheshire Cat" – the most maniacal looking cat I've ever seen. And the views of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge in some of her works very much made me miss the city I've been lucky to visit on a few different occasions.

The musical portraits Slick has captured transport viewers back into a more psychedelic time, and include members of The Who and The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Mick Jaggar, Sting, Joni Mitchell, and legendary music promoter Bill Graham. A stunning pencil drawing of Jim Morrison of The Doors entitled "Pretty Boy" was hanged with the following commentary by Slick: "And he was – is – a beauty. I think his extraordinary appearance got in his way – a dark path of discovery. I drew the perfect boy, something he never was."

"What's unique here is that Grace is really diverse in her artistic styles. Though she sticks to the three aforementioned subjects, she depicts them in countless painting and drawing techniques. Be it very controlled and intricate scratch board work or very expressive painterly brush work, her range is vast," says Tiberi.

Wentworth Gallery, whose more than 30 retail galleries spanning the US in 12 different states and also offer 'home show' service where they'll bring up to twenty pieces of their art to your home, is no stranger to rock stars. Throughout this year nationwide, Wentworth has hosted KISS front-man Paul Stanley's work, and is tentatively looking to bring in Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame, to showcase her work as well.

"Paul Stanley has a very strong fan base. His fans may start out wanting a piece of his art just because they are KISS fans but they quickly realize that his art offers them a whole other dimension of his creativity and they start collecting and are thrilled with the work he produces. We've also had non-KISS fans who have no idea who Paul Stanley is and they see the work hanging at Wentworth Gallery and love it and buy it," said Tiberi when asked about Paul Stanley's show at Wentworth Gallery. She went on to say: "Paul is very devoted to his fans. He came in right on time and stayed until he met with everyone who acquired one of his paintings or prints. I don't think he even took a break. He signed personal dedications for the art that was selected and posed for photos and everyone had a blast."

"Having musician/artists seems to be a new trend at Wentworth Gallery," explained Tiberi, "The events are tremendously popular and seem to expose music fans of particular artists to a visual arena that they may have not experienced previously. We welcome everyone to Wentworth whether it's their first time in an art gallery or if they are seasoned gallery visitors."

When asked what her personal views were on purchasing art, Tiberi had this to say: "That's a very big question. I see art as a necessity for those who feel to create it and those who want to be surrounded by it. Art does feed the soul and enriches people's lives. Once you start collecting art, you find it changes your life for the better. Try surrounding yourself with what you love and you can't help but feel better for it. At Wentworth Gallery, we do everything possible to make art accessible to the public. From the large inventory that we offer, the reasonable prices and our home viewing policy along with free delivery and installation, we do make every attempt to make acquiring art a very do-able thing."

For fun, UnRated Magazine asked Tiberi if there were any artists no longer alive that she would have liked to have showcased at Wentworth Gallery. "Wow, what a fun fantasy to indulge in... since it's my fantasy, I'd have to say, there are several artists who I'd invite: Of course Picasso, DaVinci, Georgia O'Keefe, Marc Chagall, Matisse, Van Gogh and then more contemporary artists like Andy Warhol and Keith Harring. It would be quite a party! My reasons vary for each but the common thing is I truly admire their work and would want them to know how it impacted me and others. Especially someone like Van Gogh who died penniless, not knowing that his work was appreciated -and today is worth millions!"

The Chicago-area Wentworth Gallery is located in Schaumburg within the Woodfield Shopping Center. The gallery can be reached at: 847-995-1190. Hours of business: Monday through Friday 10am-9pm, Saturday from 10:00am-9:00pm, and on Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm.

RELATED LINKS

• Wentworth Gallery
• Grace Slick Official MySpace
• Melanie "Sass" Falina Official Website
• Melanie "Sass" Falina All-New Official MySpace

Naha : High Class, Not so.

by Adam Bielawski

Located just north of the loop in Chicago on Clark Street, Naha is a trendy place that gets high praise reviews and influx of diners coming back for more. However to me, this place is one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. It might be that I have a blue collar outlook, a steak and potatoes kind of guy or better put, I'm from the south side of Chicago. Overall, the place is clean and sheik. The party I went with to Naha fell in love with the ambience it offered. I had no problems with its look, it was nice, the staff seated you, no more and no less then any other restaurant establishment.

As party of eight or nine, we started out with appetizers and drinks. I had the tea, always to be safe, and that is when my taste buds just went in re-active stance. The tea was bitter, and I prefer a sweeter tea, so I just stuck to the water. I cannot recollect what appetizers were served, but to me, just because it looks pretty and all spruced up does not make it appetizing. Out of this combination platter, the only portion, I believed I liked, was the sauce and the strips of beef. Then came lunch, to this day I wish I would have just ordered the hamburger, but no, I had to try something else. I got the lasagna, which later I found out was vegetarian, well I'm not. This was egg-plant lasagna, from the moment I drove my fork in and put it in my mouth; I wanted to exit Naha. But being a good boy, and raised right by my mother, I had to sit through this enduring process of eating one or two more bites and lying that I am full, because the rest of my party seemed to be enjoying the luncheon. If I had come there myself, or with a friend, I probably would have pushed it away, made a trip to the bathroom, and went across the street to Sam's Hot Dogs to get the bad taste out of my mouth. Whatever that was served to me, it was flooded with olives just like the appetizer, I cannot stand olives, but it was not that, the meal itself just SUCKED! I don't know in what other words to say. Naha in Chicago, fine for you, to me, the moment I got to a toilet, I had to dry-heave out what ever did not want to come out.

RELATED LINKS:

• Naha Chicago

Naha
500 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL, 60610
Phone:. 312-321-6242

Elizabeth Donius: Chicago Filmmaker

by Dan Hansen

Hollywood comes to Chicago or is it Chicago doesn't want to go to Hollywood. This is going to be an on going feature where I'll interview Chicago-based actors, directors, producers, organizations, schools and screenwriters. This project means a lot to me as a screenwriter and as a journalist because it is an opportunity to help others promote their works.

I thought I'd start with, what I refer to as the center for the advancement of filmmaking in Chicago, IFP/Chicago. I am talking with IFP/Chicago's, Executive Director, Elizabeth Donius.

Dan Hansen: Hi Elizabeth. What does Independent Feature Project (IFP) do?
Elizabeth Donius : We help independent filmmakers make films.

DAN: Why Chicago?
ELIZABETH : Chicago is a vibrant community for up and coming filmmakers.

DAN: What makes up this community?
ELIZABETH : It's made up of 450 members in Chicago and the Midwest area.

DAN: What do you think the attraction is to Chicago?
ED: First, there is Columbia College plus there are other places that offer filmmaking classes. From those avenues there has been a base for building a strong community. Then of course there are tax benefits for filmmakers here in Chicago.

DAN: How do you provide support for filmmakers?
ELIZABETH : We offer workshops, seminars and hold screenings to promote local filmmakers. Plus we have our annual Film Conference.

DAN: What does it take to become a member?
ELIZABETH : Everyone is eligible to be an IFP member.

DAN: What are the benefits to being a member?
ELIZABETH : Here is a list of some of the benefits of membership:

• Eligibility for the IFP/Chicago Production Fund – in kind donations of equipment and services and funds worth $100,000
• Eligibility for our monthly Short Cut and Rough Cut screening series and for our annual Onstage with Chicago Scriptworks Screenplay Competition.
• Major discounts for the Midwest Filmmakers Summit and Producers Workshop Series
• Free admission to monthly Meet the Filmmaker screenings and workshops at Facets
• Free admission to Ciné Club monthly screenings of French films presented by Alliance Française and IFP/Chicago
• Free admission to the IFP/Chicago Independent Spirit Awards Viewing Party, the IFP/Chicago Holiday Party and numerous networking events throughout the year.
• Free Member Workshops.
• Voting privileges for the FIND Independent Spirit Awards and discounted admission to the IFP Market in NY
• Free passes to an exciting mix of new films
• Discounts at various vendors across the city
• Subscription to the IFP/Chicago new e-newsletter and listserv
• Subscription to the quarterly FILMMAKER MAGAZINE

DAN: Are there any events coming up?
ELIZABETH : Our Producers Series designed to help producers find money, which launched April 8th. May 6th's seminar is on Distribution; registration is $125 for members and $200 for non-members and begins at 9 am.

RELATED LINKS:

• Independent Feature Project

For more information, log onto the IFP website at http://ifp.org

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