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Thursday, December 25, 2008

Currently Hanging (In the Minds of Stranger Staffers)

Posted by Jen Graves on Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 10:01 AM

This image of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a state of ecstasy, replete with Santa's downy thighs and both of their spindly Cranach legs, was sent to every member of the Stranger's staff as a Christmas gift. We each received a poster of it that is about three feet tall.

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The artist who made this drawing is named Jesse Higman. Find him and more of his art here.

The amazing thing about this work of art is that the artist spent eight years on it. The entire Bush administration.

Here is the incredibly sweet note he sent with this work of art, which, in its original form, is five feet tall. We here at The Stranger have to admit that we did not know we wanted this gift, but now that we have it, we are moved.

Thank you for your work at the Stranger. I read it as I eat, marking pages. I like to cut out ads, art and headlines for my bulletin board. I am proud that you are in my neighborhood, on my favorite street in town collaged with posters, stickers, stencils and paint brilliantly dribbled on the sidewalk.

I made this Christmas print to give to friends and the people I meet each year who I hope will appreciate it. Please accept it as a gift from the painted streets for the work you do to make our culture so rich.

I had a vision of this ideal couple up there on their own. It seems possible, to give, to have love and be proud, naked and getting old. It's one of those moments when you know what's important and nothing else matters. It felt like a dance to me, with grace. I mean it with all the commitment I can muster.

I drew this over eight years with a technical pen. The original is five feet tall. I drew it in the negative with black ink on white paper, then reversed it on a color copier and glued the pieces together again. Obviously, a computer has become the way to go for assembly but I would still draw it with a pen. The scribbles on the sides were to get the ink flowing in my pen. In the end they seemed like snow to me, so I kept them.

I hope you have happy holidays and a loving, productive year.

Jesse

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Comments (10) RSS

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1
Wow... I'll leave it at that.
Posted by The CHZA on December 25, 2008 at 10:38 AM
2
Sweet fragile humanity.
Posted by homage to me on December 25, 2008 at 11:37 AM
3
Wow.

Good art.

Very luminous, and like most great works, it's about something.

Thanks.
Posted by PC on December 25, 2008 at 12:00 PM
4
The CHZA stole my line!
Posted by Mike on December 25, 2008 at 12:20 PM
5
I'm glad this wasn't a snarky post because Jesse happens to be a paraplegic with some mobility issues with his hands (this has never defined his art, btw) - and he still manages to inspire all of us to stay positive and artistic. I like the legendary rock posters on his site.
Posted by Diana on December 25, 2008 at 12:56 PM
6
I used to think feet were sexy...now...I just don't know.
Posted by Vince on December 25, 2008 at 2:29 PM
7
5: Totally, Jesse's been one of the sweetest presences on Cap Hill for as long as I've lived in Seattle.
Posted by David Schmader on December 25, 2008 at 3:38 PM
8
That is great. That's what I want my relationship to look like in 50 years!
Posted by Jude Fawley on December 25, 2008 at 8:22 PM
9
i think it's intersting that the clauses still maintain their pubes after all these milenia
Posted by former northeasterner on December 25, 2008 at 10:10 PM
10
thank you! peter@thestranger
Posted by Peter on January 8, 2009 at 1:27 PM

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