Laurenn McCubbin creates illustrations that aren’t simply two-dimensional renderings of pretty ladies in seductive poses. Her work forces the viewer to shy away from viewing the female form as simply an object of desire and to absorb the full impact of emotion wrenched from every line, color, and shape. McCubbin’s illustrations have graced the covers of books, magazines, and comic books. Her images have spread themselves across the pages of Michelle Tea’s Rent Girl and McCubbin’s own self-published work, XXXLive Nude Girls. But she doesn’t just stop with sirens. “You know, I don’t just draw sexy girls,” McCubbin says. “I am a little obsessed with underpasses, old neon signs. Drawing women is a moneymaker.”

Artist Marco Evaristti was given consent by American inmate Gene Hathorn to feed his body to goldfish for the sake of art. Hathorn was found guilty of murdering his father, stepmother, and stepbrother in 1985 and has been on death row in Texas ever since his conviction in that same year.

Evaristti, on the other hand, has been making waves in the Danish art scene since 2000, when his exhibition “Helena” featured him placing goldfish in ten electric blenders and then inviting visitors to the Trapholt Art Museum to turn them on. …more

A subdivision of the spray-can Graffit isubversion is stenciling. Requiring less skill and less time, stencil artists simply put down a piece of paper with text or images carefully removed, and lay down a coat of paint. This offshoot of graffiti is the focus of Russell Howze’s latest book, Stencil Nation. …more

Good music usually has a story. At 26 Beethoven lost his hearing. Bach had issues with authority. Sid Vicious’ parents were hippies. Sometimes these details explain the nature of the art, other times, they’re just interesting anecdotes that are nicely set to their owner’s soundtrack. But these stories are only as strong as the musicians they belong to, after all, who really cares that Yanni was a nationally ranked competitive swimmer?

Cadillac Records chronicles the story of Chess Records, and its many lauded musicians including Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, and Etta James. It’s a story about the legendary company itself, a finely tuned and fatally flawed machine made up of …more

Jay Smooth is the founder of WBAI’s Underground Railroad, New York’s longest running hip-hop radio show.  Like nearly all other bipeds, he has a blog. What differentiates Smooth from the pack is that his video posts on ill doctrine are amusing and articulate, blending intellectual commentary and blistering spoken word.  Even for those completely removed from hip-hop culture, Jay Smooth is likeable and relevant, almost like an upgrade of D.L. Hughley. This ill doctrine post about Barack Obama being elected serves as an extremely well-delivered, friendly reminder that we’re all responsible for translating the pull of a lever into a lasting legacy. Play to see Smooth point out that a functioning system isn’t solely one person, but the result of ongoing actions.

[via ill doctrine]