WHOSE THE MOSS?

by "Madame X", Head Curator of the M.S.Co. MVSEVM
of Natural and Artificial History:

(photo by Erkuden Sakana)

Today on the Company agenda, the preparation of new exhibits for the M.S.Co. MVSEVM of Natural and Artificial History.

(photo by Heywood McGillicuddy)

One of the benefits of having a greater number of misanthropes abstain from this year's tour has been the ability to not just to keep the MVSEVM open and running through the Summer months, but also to develop and advance the MVSEVM's programming and exhibits.

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(photo by Cottonwood Fields)

Also in MVSEVM news, the Austin expedition has yielded a treasure trove of indigenous epiphytic air plants. Known locally as ball moss, tillandsia recurvata is a member of the bromilliad family, and close relative of Spanish moss. Despite its moniker, it is not a moss but a flowering plant.

(photo by Reverend Aitor)

The stuff literally grows on trees in central Texas, affixing itself to the shaded interior branches and drawing all of its nutrients from the moisture in the air trough their leaves and stems, rather than from soil, or the trees themselves. Their roots serve only to anchor them in place.

Ball moss has an unfortunate reputation among many of the locals. They are erroneously thought to be parasitic, damaging the trees they grow on. Commonly regarded as an unsightly pest, nobody objected to the misanthropes coming onto their property and climbing their trees to fill shopping bag after shopping bag of ball moss. One elderly homeowner even thanked the team, going as far as to bring out a pitcher of sweet tea and offering the Company five dollars for their troubles.

(photo by T-Bone)

Headquarters eagerly anticipates the shipment of what T-Bone insists on referring to as "a mean case of ball moss."

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THIS WEEK'S PRODUCTIVITY REPORT
Number of illustration initiated: 18
Number completed: 8
Number inducted: 3
Carried over to next week: 3

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DOMY A SOLID...

by Tallulah Lastname, Company Clerk:

(photo by Cottonwood Fileds)

The Misanthrope Specialty Co.'s time in the silicone hills is drawing to a close, but the Company is leaving it's indelible stain behind. A little something for Austin to remember the misanthropes by.

(photo by Cottonwood Fields)

Domy Books, Austin's impecably curated bastion of zines, special interest periodicals, art comics and video now purveys a select assortment of Company wares. The Company became acquainted with Domy's co-founder, Russel Etchen at last weekend's Renegade. They hit it off immediately, discussing bootleg releases of You Can't Do That On Television, The Vacant Lot, and the Hilarious House of Frightenstein. Truly the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

(photo by Reverend Aitor)

Domy Books also maintains a gallery space, in wherein sundry events and exhibitions are produced, highlighting the stores intersecting ideas and sensibilities.

Presently, the gallery is exhibiting As Above, So Below: The Art of the Secret Society, a breathtaking collection of traditional artwork and imagery from various American fraternal lodges. If you love all seeing eyes and mystical masonic iconography half as much as the men and women of the M.S.Co., you'd be wise to drop by Domy Books. The Exhibit runs until June 9, 2011.

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THE REVELATION OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION...

by Erkuden Sakana, Company Secretary:

(photo by Cottonwood Fields)

T-Bone and Cotton have broken away from the the Away Team. They are on a secondary mission, drifting from motel to motel in an effort wrap up T-Bone's mysterious five-year Bible Project.

Short of a a couple of mentions in M.S.Co. Subscription Service and a one-night airing at the 2009 Stay The Night exhibition, the Company's Bailiff has remained disinclined to disclose the details of his ongoing bookwork to the public. His reasons for this, are very much his own.

(photo by T-Bone)

As the project inches closer to completion, however, it's beginning to looks asthough the veil of secrecy may soon be lifted. Atleast that's what T-Bone seems to be hinting, lately.

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MUG SHOT...

by Rufus Spaulding, Cub Reporter:

(poster designed by the Misanthrope Specialty Co.)

Just a gentle reminder to those of you in the Los Angeles are: Levi MacDougall, patron and dare we say friend of the M.S.Co., will be performing his one man multidisciplinary experenece tomorrow at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

(music video courtesy of Levi MacDougall)

A paltry five dollars gets you in the door. That's less than the price of a giant cup of coffee.

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And speaking of the Los Angels area. The Misanthope Specialty Co. will be in it this summer. Stay tuned to know when and more things.

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AUSTIN-TATIOUS...

by Tallulah Lastname , Company Clerk:

While the Toronto-rooted members carried on with business as almost usual today at Headquarters, the Company's touring contingent congregated in Austin, their post-Renegade workspace so generously furnished by Stitch Lab.

(Austin postcard mural photo courtesy of Becky Johnson)

The M.S.Co. will be forever grateful to Ms. Leslie Bonnell. Today's meeting in Austin was originally scheduled to take place in a sweltering parking lot until she rescued the itinerant misanthropes. The large, well-lit work tables of the air-conditioned Stitch Lab provide a far better work surface than the filthy hoods of the misanthropes' shitbox cars. Furthermore, Ms. Bonnell and her husband, Ron Marks, wound up housing part of the Company. Their generosity will not be forgotten.

(a clean, well-lighted place)

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Unfortunately, and to the M.S.Co.'s chagrin, not a single illustration was inducted in the Company's collaborative archive this week.

(re-enactment of this week's meeting at Headquarters courtesy of Mel Brooks)

While this is far from the first time the misanthropes have come up empty after a drawing session, it has inspired more agitated harumphing within the ranks than usual. There are those among the misanthropes who objected to this summer's tour for the very reason that it would impede productivity.

And oft-used Company adage

Indeed, the I told you sos have it. Collaboration slows down when the members of the Company are spread out more than usual. Headquarters has to wait for the touring contingent's illustrations in progress to arrive in the mail before they can add their mark and pass it on to the Hindquarters staff in Montréal, and subsequently to the Company's European outposts. Consequently, voting on which completed projects -- are to be inducted into the Archives is also greatly delayed.

But this is of little concern to the So what?'s, who knew this would be the case and consider touring to be more valuable to the M.S.Co.'s evolution than a compulsive bolstering of the Archives.

A busy day at Company Headquarters

There are also those who argue that the irritated misanthropes hold too narrow a definition of productivity. A number of illustrations and projects were initiated this week; many of which may very well reach completion in the coming weeks. Today also saw the completion of four illustrations, which are awaiting judgment, along with a few of last week's finished projects. So perhaps today's labour was not entirely fruitless.

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THIS WEEK'S PRODUCTIVITY REPORT
Number of illustration initiated: 16
Number completed: 4
Number inducted: 0
Carried over to next week: 10

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A MEAL FIT FOR AN UNFIT THE KING...

by Talullah Lastname, Company Clerk:

No pit stop in Memphis is complete without an overpriced fried peanut butter and banana sandwich at the Rock & Roll Diner, right across the street from Graceland.

(photo by T-Bone)

The rich melange of savoury, sweet, and salty was a signature favourite of Elvis Presley's. Some of the misanthropes also opted for a side of bacon, given that it was another of the King's favourite snacks. The tour guide at Graceland informed the company that Elvis kept bowls of bacon around the house, for casual munching.

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AUSTIN YE SHALL RECEIVE...

by Tallulah Lastname, Company Clerk:

(promotional artwork courtesy of the folks at Renegade Handmade)

Coming up this weekend is the first event of the Company's summer tour. The M.S.Co. hasn't shown it's ugly face in Austin in a few years, so be sure to drop by booth 45 and see how terribly the misanthropes have aged.

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Oh, and the Unflattering Portrait Project is getting back in the swing of things on the second day of the show. Reverend Aitor and his gang of trained miscreants will be on hand to confirm your every insecurity. Drop-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended.

(photo by Reverend Aitor)

To book your appointment: simply click on the comments section at the end of this posting and claim any hour that isn't already claimed. Sign ups are available until midnight, the night before.

UNFLATTERING AUSTIN
Sunday MAY 22
1:30 pm - Available
2:30 pm - Available
3:30 pm - Available

Portraits take about thirty to fifty minutes per person. Couples, oddly enough, count as two persons, so book two slots. And punctuality is always in fashion. Patrons arriving more than eight minutes late for their scheduled sitting will not be served.

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