"This day's experience, set in order, none of it left ragged or lying about, all of it gathered in like treasure and finished with, set aside." –Alice Munro, "What is Remembered"
As regular followers of this blog and the RCN twitter feed will know, I promoted the HELL out of the fundraiser for Better Things: The Life and Choices of Jeffrey Catherine Jones, produced and directed by Maria Cabardo. So I suppose it only makes sense for me to follow up now with a link to the download site for the completed film.
$19.95 Download the movie on Mac or Windows computer and watch in High Definition HD 720p 1280 x 720 on QuickTime Player, on iTunes, on VLC Media Player or on your TV using your Apple TV anytime (1.33 GB).
Duration: 01:28:39
If you download the Jones documentary and have something to say about it, good, bad, or indifferent, feel free to post a comment here.
Here’s a painting by Jeffrey Jones that I wanted to display on Transistoradio in close proximity to Arnold Bocklin’s In the Sea (1883), but all I could find online was a tiny image, so I scanned the reproduction in Jeffrey Jones: A Life in Art and posted it there, and now — lucky you! — I’ve decided to post it here, too:
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ABOVE: Jeffrey Jones, The World’s Desire (1998), oil on canvas. The Frank Colleciton.
BONUS IMAGES:
ABOVE: Arnold Böcklin, In the Sea (1883), oil on panel, 115 x 86.5 cm. Collection of Art Institute of Chicago. Via Melusina Mermaid.
ABOVE: Frank Schoonover, “I sought out Deja Thoris in the throng of departing chariots,” illustration for Edgar Rice Burroughs, A Princess of Mars (NY: Grosset & Dunlap, 1918). Via ERBzine.
Although I don’t travel very often or very far, and I have never gone on any kind of “book buying trip,” I am definitely a happier traveller when I am able to steal time from the “real” purpose of any trip I might take to visit a few stores that sell used books. Last Friday, for instance, my wife, our son, and I drove from Regina to Calgary, via Saskatoon, to attend a wedding, and over the next few days, return trip included, I managed to spend a couple of hurried hours browsing through a thrift shop and four different bookstores… although, unfortunately for me, only three of the four sold used books that I could afford. The fourth — which is actually the store in Calgary that I visited first, and only because it was located near a comics and Magic card shop that our son wanted to visit — was clearly designed to appeal to upper-middle-class bibliophiles with discerning taste and deep pockets, i.e., not me. I was fairly happy with both the selection of books and the prices at the two “Fair’s Fair” used bookstores we visited in Calgary, however, and very happy with the selection and prices at the store that we stopped at, briefly, in Saskatoon on the return trip.
And so now, here I am, typing this post while sitting about a metre from two-dozen vintage paperbacks, all newly accessioned to my collection, including this one, with cover art by Jeffrey Jones, which has been on my “want list” for a few years now:
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More later, of course!
Keywords:The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth and Other Stories by Roger Zelazny, Jeffrey Jones.
Well, folks, I’m almost to the end of my collection of paperbacks with cover art by Jeffrey Jones. Of course, I’m always on the lookout for books that I don’t have, but since I can’t afford to pay what many online booksellers want for old paperbacks, I generally have to hope that I will stumble upon what I want for cheap at a thrift store, rummage sale, small-town bookstore, or what have you…
A few months ago, I picked up a couple of “bales” of National Lampoon Magazine — thirty-two issues, in all — from a local bookseller for cheap. It was only when I got home with my bales and cut the strings that I found out that all but one of the issues were from the 1980s and 1990s, which was okay because, at the very least, it gave me quite a few terrific comic strips by M. K. Brown, R. Crumb, Shary Flenniken, Rick Geary, Buddy Hickerson, Mark Marek, Rodrigues, Gahan Wilson, et al., to read. The lone exception, however, was an issue from November 1975, which — o lucky me! — includes the second-last Idyl strip by Jeffrey Jones that ever appeared in the magazine.
Now, if all you’ve seen are reprints of Idyl, you might be interested to know that the strip first appeared in a newsprint section of the Lampoon called “Funny Pages” and that, in the November 1975 issue, all of the strips in the “Funny Pages,” including Idyl, were overprinted in light blue with only the word balloons left uncoloured. To give you an idea of the sombre, twilight mood that the blue colour lends to Jones’s strip — which begins with the words, “It’ll be dark soon” — I present to you the following scan:
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The effect is so appropriate to the theme of the strip that one can’t help but wonder if the art director didn’t choose the colour specifically to complement Jones’s work…
“Idyl was intended as satire and whimsy. One art director and one editor, who met me each month with puzzled faces, continued to remind me that National Lampoon was a humor magazine, ‘As long as YOU laugh,’ they finally said. So each month I would go in laughing. I also must admit that I love to draw nude women.” — Jeffrey Jones, interview, 2001
Don’t delay! The donation deadline is Thursday 28 February 11:59PM PT.
Well, folks, the deadline for donations to the Indiegogo fundraiser for Maria Paz Cabardo’s documentary film Better Things: The Life and Choices of Jeffrey Catherine Jones is fast approaching. So far, the donation level that includes the 64-page art book, film DVD, and postcard set has been the most popular with Jones fans, with the level that includes the DVD by itself running a close second, but now, with only five days to go, producer/director Maria Cabardo has unveiled a very tempting new perk at the $55.00 level ($65.00 international): a t-shirt with art by Jeffrey Jones. And you don’t have just one design from which to choose; there are several. Take a look:
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A more traditional film-promo t-shirt is also available. See the home page of the Better Things Indiegogo site for pictures.
Now, the price may seem a bit high for a mere t-shirt, but keep mind that the main point here is to support a film about an artist whose work you love, not outfit the kids for school — although there are definitely kids (as well as adults) out there who would love one of those t-shirts! Rather, the t-shirts and other merchandise are merely Maria’s way of thanking you for your donation. And where else are you going to get a t-shirt with art by Jeffrey Jones on it, anyway? Nowhere, that’s where!
Colour and size options for the t-shirts are listed on the site, but if you don’t see a colour you like or the size you need, simply ask Maria about other options. Keep in mind, however, that Maria has recommended neutrally coloured fabrics (and white) because they work best for the full-colour artwork, which a commercial printing company will reproduce on the t-shirts by “ink transfer.” The images are not decals or iron-ons, which sit on the surface of the fabric and tend to flake away over time; rather, “the ink is transferred and is absorbed by the shirt and is completely washable and blends well after several washings.” Of course, the designs that feature Jones drawings in black ink — the “I’m Age” strip or the gorilla, for instance — would look great on a t-shirt of almost any colour. But, again, ask Maria about your options. You can contact her via the Indiegogo site or her twitter feed.
Please note that the Better Things fundraiser is a “flexible funding campaign,” so all of the money raised goes to the film — and everyone who donates will receive their chosen perks/rewards — regardless of the total amount of money raised by the deadline.
And please ALSO note: the cost of delivering the various perks/rewards at the various donation levels is going to substantially reduce the amount of money that Maria actually receives from the fundraiser, so the more money raised, the better. SPREAD THE WORD!
Don’t delay! The donation deadline is Thursday 28 February 11:59PM PT.
Don’t delay! The donation deadline is Thursday 28 February 11:59PM PT.
Jeffrey Jones: artist, model, conventioneer…
If you visited the Indiegogo fundraiser for the independent documentary film, Better Things: The Life and Choices of Jeffrey Catherine Jones, the last time I linked to it, you may have noticed that the “perks” at the $100.00 level include the following:
a limited-edition art book showcasing works by artists inspired by the work and example of Jeffrey Catherine Jones,
a DVD of the film TO BE SHIPPED ONCE IT HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY RELEASED BY A DISTRIBUTOR, and
a set of 6-8 postcards featuring artwork randomly selected from the art book.
Since that time, producer/director/writer Maria Cabardo has added a $75.00 contribution tier with just the limited-edition art book as the perk.
Jeffrey Catherine Jones and Maria Cabardo in conversation…
I’ve copied out the very diverse and impressive list of participating artists below and added links to various official and unofficial websites so you can check out their work; my apologies in advance if I’ve copied a name incorrectly or linked to the wrong website:
And last but definitely not least, the art book will feature reproductions of several pieces of art by JEFFREY JONES himself, including a watercolour sketch donated by collector Robert Weiner, president of Donald M. Grant Publisher, Inc., that will be featured on the cover.
Here’s the official description of the book, cut and pasted from the Better Things Indiegogo home page:
An amazing collection of artwork from artists in the comics, publishing, role-playing, and entertainment field. This book is dedicated to help fund BETTER THINGS and was only made possible by their generosity and willingness to help get Jones’ story and art to the world. It contains 48 pgs of color and black and white work.
Estimated delivery: July 2013
Help Better Things meet its fundraising goal by donating at the $75.00 or $100.00 levels (or higher!), and receive the art book as thanks from your favourite artists. Go to the Better Things home page at Indiegogo and reserve a copy now!
Jeffrey Jones with an unusual fan…
UPDATE (10 February 2013):
If you are reluctant to contribute to the Better Things Indiegogo fundraiser because you think that the campaign is unlikely to reach its fundraising goal of $30,000 dollars — if you think, well, I see a perk that I really like, but it’s never going to happen for Better Things, so why should I bother — here’s something you should know:
The choice of a flexible funding campaign for BETTER THINGS means you will get your perks no matter how much is raised! http://t.co/NglBF30Q
Yes, indeed, the Better Things Indiegogo fundraiser is a “flexible funding campaign,” and as such, the campaign owner receives any money raised but in return has agreed to fulfill the perks even if the stated goal is not met. For more information, see “Following Up and Sending Perks.”
Therese Nielsen (http://tnielsen.com/) and Patrick Hill has been added to the list of artists contributing to the Jones Artbook. It is now a 64-page art extravaganza [upgraded from 48 pages], a tribute to Jones and a wonderful example of the artistic community’s generosity.
UPDATE (13 February 2013):
Earlier today, Maria Cabardo posted a new pledge video:
Don’t delay! The donation deadline is Thursday 28 February 11:59PM PT.
The documentary, Better Things: The Life and Choices of Jeffrey Catherine Jones, is complete, but as co-writer/producer/director Maria Cabardo notes in the introduction to her new Indiegogo funraising campaign, “The challenge now is to find the funds to repay these people [who have graciously loaned their skills and time to the project over the past few years] and bring the film to the widest audience possible and share the story of Jeffrey Catherine Jones and his art.” But that’s not all. If Cabardo meets her fundraising goal of $30,000, she will not only be able to pay her outstanding pre- and post-production debts, forthcoming marketing and advertising expenses, and ongoing production legal services and fees, but also will be able to complete a companion DVD of supplementary material, including cut interview footage with Jeffrey Catherine Jones himself, to accompany the feature.
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If you would like to help Maria to take her completed documentary to the masses, or you would simply like to receive a copy of the forthcoming DVD or one of the many other rewards Maria is offering at various contribution levels, click here to check out her Indiegogo fundraiser. Unlike her previous Kickstarter campaign, which did not reach its fundraising goal and thus did not provide any money to the project — Jones fan that I am, I sent the money I had pledged anyway, no strings attached, and I’ve just contributed again, which means I’ve personally given a hundred and fifty bucks to the documentary — I say, unlike her unsuccessful Kickstarter, Cabardo’s Indiegogo fundraiser is a “flexible funding campaign,” which means that Maria will receive ALL of the funds contributed by Thu 28 Feb 11:59PM PT, and is obligated to deliver all of the perks/rewards, regardless of whether the rather ambitious goal of $30,000 is met or not.
Ragged Claws Network 