Buttnekkiddoodles

 
The faculty ofUniversity of Illinois at Chicago went on strike this week when negotiations broke down. On the day I got this view of the demonstrators gathering on the UIC Quad, the weather was just above freezing and blustery. There was no way I was gonna tough it out long enough to get all the features on Mr. Netsch’s striking administrative building in the background. (years ago I worked inside this classic example of Brutalism by the firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and admit to having such a distaste for a structure that looks like Darth Vader’s summer residence) So, I went into the student union and got the clouds from there, added white to the striker’s signs and added the blue to their UICUF (UIC United Faculty) beanies.

 I went on the second day of the strike and found Scabby, the inflated union busting  rat that shows up a strike demonstrations. The weather was a bit cold so I hung in long enough to get the rodent but gave up on detailing the background.

Fountain pen and Pitt Artist Pens on toned paper.

Four weeks in Italy. First stop, Venezia. First surprise, no tourist. We were them. Longs walks about the city were without crowds of any sort. Restaurants had 1:3 occupancy and those were Italians, many were workers and locals.
It had been 44 years since I was last there.

The flight was uneventful. Chicago to Dublin, switch planes and then fly to Venice. The alps are so close! When we landed at the airport across the water from Venice and then boarded the bus to Venice we could see very clearly the peaks of the Italian Alps and at that time of day, late afternoon, they were pink.

We had very enjoyable meals out and about but we also cooked some at our apartment. If you choose to do that, you’re well served to go to the Fish Market alongside the main canal. Not only was the selection of fish absolutely superb, the produce was glorious! It was December for Pete’s sake.

 
I returned to some locations I had first seen as a college kid. The Tintorettos and Tiepolos were grand. I spent over two and a half chilly hours sketching and gawking at huge Tintoretto canvases, and could have stuck around for another few hours but Giamila was chilled to the bone by then and the dinner bell was ringing.

You are on notice: if you fall asleep in my presence, you are subject to being drawn. If you are given to snoring, jaw agape, garlands of drool, the glistening of old silver fillings, tonsils on full display…..I will be faithful in the depiction of your example of the human condition on automatic pilot. Even more troubling, I am one of tens of thousands applying our craft.
You have been warned.
We are legion.
You should expect us.

Fountain pen and Pitt Artist Pens on Tomoe River Paper.

Hung out with Jennymouse2003 in a department store in downtown Chicago before I had to head off to get my next generation booster shot.
Can you guess which department store in which building this sketch was made? There are 2 clues.
BTW, I think it was John Lenin who said,”The time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time.”
Drawn with a Pitt Artist Pen Fude nib and a few Grey Pitt Artist Pens on a Clairefontaine Goldline sketchbook.

 
Printers Row Lit Fest Chicago was this weekend. The woman in red dress and backpack was checking out some of the rappers Saturday. Sunday, G Babe and I caught three lectures.
Kevin Boyle talked with Elizabeth Taylor about his book “The Shattering: America in the Sixties”.
Next up we heard Sherman ‘Dilla’ Thomas and Chicago Sun-Times journalist Neil Steinberg, ‘Every Goddamn Day’ talk about Chicago’s sordid, colorful, corrupt, influential, and important history.
The third lecture, ‘The Insidiousness of Hatred” featured writers Adam Langer and Jerry Stahl.