LETTING THE GENEALOGY OUT OF THE BOTTLE...

by Erkuden Sakana, Company Secretary:

the Goikoetxea bloodline, as interpreted by the M.S.Co.

The Goikoetxea-Iturraspe family of Araba, Spain, have been longtime benefactors of the M.S.Co. Their patronage dates back to that brief period when the misanthropes were running their Sunday meetings out of the intensive care unit of a Pamplona hospital. Pepper and T-Bone shared the recovery room with the Iturraspe twins. They'd all been gored in the running of the bulls, and in the weeks that followed the members of the Company became acquainted with the twins and their visiting kin. The rest, as they say, is history.

The running of the bulls in Pamplona

Recently, Fernando and Carmen Goikoetxea-Iturraspe approached the Company with a project too enticing to pass up; a fully illustrated family album, detailing the strange history of both the Iturraspe's and Goikoetxea's converging ancestries. The Company has since been entrusted with shoebox upon shoebox of photographs, letters, documents and sundry keepsakes to sift through, interpret, and weave into a genealogical narrative.

(photographs courtesy of the Goikoetxea-Iturraspe estate)

It's the Family Day long weekend in parts of Canada. What better time to share some of the developments in this family-oriented endeavour? Stay tuned for more postings on the family history project as it continues to evolve.

* * *

(photo by Pepper and Heywood)

In unrelated news, the Company's Montréal contingent has been petitioning Headquarters to have the Misanthrope Specialty Co. return to la belle province in an official capacity. Indeed, the Comapny's autumnal hiatus and post-tour burnout resulted in the misanthropes sitting out much of the action there was to be had in recent months; leaving it's Québécois memebers to twiddle their thumbs on the sidelines. This week a unanimous decision was made to remedy the situation.

(Puces Pop flyer courtesy of the Pin Pals)

Puces Pop descends on the City of Saints next month, and the M.S.Co. is throwing its hat in the ring. This spin-off from the ever growing music festival turned international arts, film, children's festival and general cultural symposium that is Pop Montréal seems like too good a time to pass up. Further details will be released as the date approaches.

* * * *

THIS WEEK'S PRODUCTIVITY REPORT
Number of projects initiated: 22
Number completed: 15
Number inducted: 7
Carried over to next week: 5

* * * *

COCK-A-DOODLE DUDES...

by Erkuden Sakana, Company Secretary:

Alone of Valentine's Day? Come and cry on the Company's shoulders.

Today is the day. The Valentine's Day. And the Company has been working double-time making, selecting and hanging work for this evening's Clubhouse exhibition. Last nights meeting ran well into the wee hours. A number of new pieces were completed and voted on, and last-moment curatorial arguments pertaining to which older pieces belonged in the second floor gallery were finally settled. It turns out there is no shortage of art adhering to the themes of love, heartache and sexy times in the M.S.Co. archives.

Sexy Doodles line the Clubhouse maze wall

Then, ofcourse, there was the the persistent distraction of the Sexy Doodle Pads. Few of the misanthropes were able to resist filling in "just one more" of these strange naughty novelties. Indeed, there is a small faction feverishly churning out fresh doodles to this very moment. The Clubhouse doors are scheduled to open in a few short hours, and the maze wall doodle exhibit continues to expand.

As of noon o'clock this afternoon, the Company Clerk tallied one thousand eight hundred and fourteen completed Doodles.

And the hits just keep on coming.

Of those counted, almost half were submitted by contributors outside the Company. But the aforementioned Company doodle addicts have been working up a storm ever since, and contributions continue to trickle in. Already, the exhibition boasts more variations of that blank-groined pencil-toter than anyone needs to see. And yes, in the spirit of overkill, there will be blank doodle pads available for those wishing to participate in tonight's festivities.

* * *

What future film projects lie dormant in the Company vault?

Meanwhile, deep inside the M.S.Co. Bunker, thirty hours' worth of shot footage lies in a basement vault. Offcuts and leftovers from the editing of last year's motion picture extravaganza, Screaming Hell Hogs Eat Shit and Die.

The Company had various long-standing schemes to make use of the surplus footage, but first had to establish whether the reels rightfully belonged to the misanthropes or to the film's purchaser. Hell Hogs had been sold part and parcel to a private collector well before its completion, but the outtakes and assorted byproducts had not been considered and therefore no stipulations had been made for them in the purchasing contract. A lengthy correspondence between the Company's legal department and Hell Hogs' owner's attorneys ensued.

Some of the contents of the film cans

As it turns out, the extra footage is the sole property of the Misanthrope Specialty Co. The Company is free to do with it as it pleases "provided it does not use the suffix 'Eat Shit and Die' in the titling or promotion of any film, video, media or print project(s) that may result thereof." Fair enough.

Editing of the new, not yet titled, project is slated to commence next week. The project's parameters and objectives were hammered out at last night's meeting. The reels are to be reworked into a series of twelve films; each based on the story of one of Christ's apostles. A little something to release this coming Easter.

* * * *

THIS WEEK'S PRODUCTIVITY REPORT
Number of projects initiated: 18
Number completed: 8
Number inducted: 6
Carried over to next week: 2

* * * *

HEART and SOLD...

by Erkuden Sakana, Company Secretary:

"Menin Hertz..." by the men and women of the Company

As the great beast January draws to a close, the members of the M.S.Co. turn their jaundiced business eyes to Valentine's Day. A heart-warming respite from the most frigid winter month.

In its continuing endeavour to reclaim the kissy-faced Hallmark holiday for perverts everywhere, the Company has voted in favour of hocking their seedy wares at Come As You Are's ever-popular Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair. The misanthropes had a great time at last year's event and are very much looking forward to peddling their smut at the Gladstone Hotel once again.

(M.S.Co. perforated Valentimes cards to hand out to all your reprobate classmates)

Already, the Company's newly instated Manufacturing Division is hard at work putting together extra naughty message cards, dirty prints and risqué matchbooks for the show. Patrons can also expect a fresh batch of seasonal specialties, such as the ever popular Valentimes Goofy Cards perforated card sheets.

Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair
Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Noon – 8pm
Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON
Facebook Invite

Incidentally, for those who have been inquiring whether Reverend Aitor will be drawing Unflattering couple's portraits again, his answer is a resounding "Nope." Not this time.

* * *

"Drinking Because of You" by the M.S.Co.

Also slated for next week: the Company has decided to host Valentine's Day open house at the M.S.Co. Clubhouse. Expect the usual mix of live music, moonshine, readings, screenings throughout the day, along with an exhibition of original art revolving around the themes of love, sex, loneliness, and the like. The public is invited to bring their old love letters, diaries, and photos for show and tell and/or the heartbreak bonfire. There will also be a topically appropriate secondary exhibit for any and all comers to partake in.

(photo by Rufus Spaulding)

A routine dumpster-diving expedition recently yielded a motherlode of Sexy Doodle Pads. Thousands of them. What the Parkdale Animal Clinic was doing with so many of these, and why they were discarded is anyone's guess, but their loss is the Company's gain. The plan is to wallpaper the Clubhouse maze with as many filled-in sexy doodles as possible, but the Company can't do it alone. Inspired in part by Paper Boy's communal art wall exhibition, the misanthropes are opening up the project to the public.

One done, thousands to go. Won't you please help? (photo by Becky Johnson)

Complimentary pads have already been sent to the Company's subscribers in a supplementary mail-out. Anyone else interested in filling in some sexy doodles in advance of the Valentine's Day exhibition is welcome to contact the Company, or pick up a pad or two from the M.S.Co. booth at Saturday's Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair.

"St. VALENTIMES' HOME for the BROKEN HEARTED"
OPEN HOUSE AND MAKEOUT PARTY
Monday, February 14
M.S.Co. Clubhouse
Toronto, ON
Doors open at 2pm
Festivities begin in earnest at 9pm

As always, a modest supply of moonshine, beer and spirits will be available for purchase, by donation, but all are welcome to bring their own refreshments.

* * * *

THIS WEEK'S PRODUCTIVITY REPORT
Number of projects initiated: 29
Number completed: 20
Number inducted: 11
Carried over to next week: 1

* * * *

KABINET FEVER...

by Tallulah Lastname, Company Clerk:

(photo courtesy of Leah Buckareff)

Psst! How would you fancy a sneak peek behind the iron curtains of the La Bastellerie gallery? Well, just scroll on dear reader. Scroll on.

(photo collage courtesy of Leah Buckareff)

Note little Leah in the window -- so cute!

The walls have been repainted, the shelves cut and the bell jars dusted. Now the anticipation is left to simmer a little as The Wunderkabinet No.2 prepares to unveil it's new collection of international curiosities. As mentioned previously on the Web Log, the Misanthrope Specialty Co. proudly counts itself among the motley crew of participants.

(photo courtesy of Leah Buckareff)

Unfortunately, circumstances preclude most of the misanthropes from crossing the pond to attend Friday night's opening jubilations. But the jet-setters among you, or those of you who happen to be in the greater Berlin area, are more than welcome to stop in at the vernissage. It promises to be a good time.

The Wunderkabinet 2

Opening Reception

Friday January 21

La Bastellerie - Lausitzer 13, Berlin

7 pm

("Mein Hertz..." photo by Erkuden Sakana)

And if you can't make it for the opening, fret not; the Wunderkabinet 2 runs until April 30th.

* * *

FAIR GAIN...

by Erkuden Sakana, Company Secretary:

(photo courtesy of City of Craft)

Last night the Company came together after wrapping up at another successful City of Craft. The holiday show remains one of the misanthropes' absolute favourites, and not just because it's strolling distance from the Company Bunker.

The Misanthrope Specialty Co. officially takes its hat off the organizers for an impeccably curated and tightly run ship, full of fantastic vendors, imaginative interactive installations, and interesting satellite exhibitions.

Kudos to the organizers . The Company will surely try to shove it's way into the fold again next year.

* * *

Arthur on location in Montréal (photo by Heywood)

With all foreseeable art shows and craft fairs done with until the spring thaw, members are proposing and cooking up all manner of new projects for the new year.

For starters, the question of what to do with all the left over footage from Screaming Hell Hogs Eat Shit and Die is finally being addressed. It's beginning to look asthough some new (or partially new) film projects may soon be in the works.

* * *

1965 Dymo magazine advert

It's been a very long time since the Company last held any sort of contest or giveaway. It is one of the Company's New Year's resolutions to remedy this fact very shortly. Honest.

Readers will have to wait for the specific details, but one thing is for certain: it will involve labelling tape. Labelling tape of the woodgrain variety.

* * *

photo of the museum's nepenthe ventrata by Anahí Coria

Though the Museum of Natural & Artificial History and offices at Misanthrope Specialty Co. Headquarters will remain open through the holidays, familial obligations have whisked most of the misanthropes away for the next couple of weeks. The Company's Sunday sessions have therefore been suspended until January 9, 2011.

See you next year.

* * *

THIS WEEK'S PRODUCTIVITY REPORT
Number of projects initiated: 20
Number completed: 14
Number inducted: 8
Carried over to next week: 2

* * *

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE BIZNATCH...

by Rufus Spaulding, Cub Reporter:

(poster pile photo courtesy of City of Craft )

Hello Toronto. Tomorrow is the big day. City of Craft. Bring both your naughty and nice Christmas lists over to the Theatre Centre and come find us downstairs.

( map by Caitlyn )

* * *

And don't forget Revrend Aitor's Unflattering Portraits, upstairs, on the Midway.

( portrait and photo by Reverend Aitor )

He's fixing to retire the project sooner than later, so you're fools if you don't sign up while you have the chance. His portraits are in the American Visionary Art Museum's permanent collection, for Pete's sake. He's a big shot outsider artiste now.

* * *

MIDWAY CHIDE SYNDROME...

by Tallulah Lastname, Company Clerk:

Step right up, Toronto! Hurry, hurry, hurry! Suck in your guts and jut out your weak chins: the Unflattering Portrait Project is coming to City of Craft.

That's right, folks! The Reverend Aitor making himself available to the public for the first time since his triumphant return from Baltimore, where his portraits now hang in a place of honour, at the American Visionary Art Museum. Step right up!

Another satisfied customer!

Are you brave enough? Are you sufficiently strong of self-esteem to face his jaundiced eye and squeaky markers? Come and test your metal at the City of Craft Midway, where the good Reverend will be scribbling ugly likenesses all week-end, December 18 and 19. And unlike his unattainably priced mail-order portraits, all portraits at City of Craft will be done by donation! That's right, folks! Pay what you can! Or what you think it's worth! Hurry, hurry hurry!

Don't let this opportunity get away, ladies and gentlemen! Aitor has been drawing fewer and fewer of these lately, and has been mumbling threats about retiring altogether! Spaces are limited, so hurry, hurry hurry! Sign up today!

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, December 17.

UNFLATTERING CITY OF CRAFT

DAY ONE:
Saturday December 18
1:30 pm - Available
2:30 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.

DAY TOO:
Sunday December 19
2: 30 pm - Dayle & Nabil
3:30pm - Dayle & Nabil

Ever wondered what you'd look like if you weren't quite so gorgeous? Now's you chance to find out!

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! Get your red hot Unflattering Portraits! One of a kind, custom made pieces of art created before your very eyes! Hurry hurry hurry!

* * *