Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Gralien Report - Art of the Anomalous: Does Interest in the Unexplained Promote Artistic Abilities?

Micah Hanks has an item on his excellent Gralien Report:The Gralien Report Art of the Anomalous: Does Interest in the Unexplained Promote Artistic Abilities?

I think it does. I've been a creative type since a kid, am now a writer and a painter. I've also had UFO and paranormal experiences since childhood. As has my spouse; also a writer and artist. As well as a musician. We both were reading at a very early age; I was reading by the time I was four. (We repeated first grade but that was due, not to academics -- we both were above our classmates in reading, etc. -- but birthdates and "social developmental" blee blahs.) Both reading above our level, and interested in subjects "normal" kids weren't interested in. Like Micah, interest in UFOs and the paranormal were considered by most as "not healthy."Writes Micah:
Indeed, when I was very young, I found that reading came very easily. Even as early as first and second grade, my teachers expressed to my parents that they were very interested in my ability to comprehend reading material that was several grade levels ahead of my peers. While my teachers found this interesting, I think my parents were thankful, since they had obviously worked very hard to facilitate a good understanding of language, mathematics, science, etc. However, even that far back, I can recall today that I was nonetheless preoccupied, at times, with something else my parents had also instilled in me, though perhaps unintentionally: a fervent interest in strange phenomena.

In fact, I had a few early experiences where teachers advised me (and my parents, to be honest) that this interest in things like UFOs was scientifically unfounded, and maybe even unhealthy. Looking back, I attribute these sorts of attitudes to my eventual pursuit of understanding these mysteries more fully, and thus providing the foundation for all the sort of madness that gets featured here at The Gralien Report on a frequent basis. In other words, when I was young, my early attempts at raging against society’s machine didn’t involve wearing trendy clothing, playing loud rock (okay, there was a good bit of loud rock) or stupid things like vandalism and the general behavior of a lot of today’s youth: instead, I decided to show everyone that there was, in fact, merit to studying UFOs, Bigfoot, and Loch Ness Monsters.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Happy Halloween! Bride of Frankenstein

Classic film, with Elsa Lanchester as Frankenstein's monster's bride. The film: 1935, directed by James Whale, who also directed, among other films, The Invisible Man and Frankenstein.

I don't know if the studio or Whale intentionally photographed Lanchester as a Silver Screen Siren -- typical studio pose of the day -- but I'm sure they did:






Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Halloween Season

Halloween is only one day, but for me, it's a season -- the whole month of October. Actually, as I posted on UFO Mary about my Day of the Dead inspired altar, the season -- "witchy," Fall, Halloween, magick, senses, flames and lights, -- begins around the early September and ends in early November.

I love vintage Halloween images, and decided this year to try and post an image a day (though probably won't achieve that) on some of my blogs, with a theme. On UFO Mary: devil themes, on Mothman Flutterings, bats, etc. So here at Alien Art Genre I thought I'd post monsters and other images that won't fit elsewhere.

The image posted here isn't vintage, and it isn't a monster. But it has a Halloween vibe to it. I love this painting; it's by my husband, James (Jim) Rich, painted about ten years ago I think. It's titled Bruja. Right now it's in the studio but I want it in our bedroom... maybe I can convince him to put it up soon. Happy Days of Halloween everyone!

Bruja, James Rich, acrylic on canvas

Thursday, October 6, 2011

UFO Mugs on Mugs: UFOlogistoons

Dennis Rano's artwork, depicting various people in UFO Land, are now on coffee mugs. Get your own of your favorite UFOlogist here:UFOlogistoons