Showing at the Yard Dog Gallery in Marfa, TX - Jon Lanford creates art that is at once old timey and edgy. Using old country music publicity photos and sheet music as source material is builds layers of visual and musical history.

Langford describes his painting technique as s “Long process of layering, scraping, minute attention to detail. Basically, I create a very unstable surface with acrylics and pastel on top of each other and work on top of that with Sharpies, felt pens, white out, gunk, snot and whatever comes to hand.”  A native of South Wales, Langford now lives in Chicago.

In addition to his art, Jon is an internationally known musician.  He is  a founding member of legendary British rock band the Mekons, who just celebrated their 30th anniversary; he has released 3 solo albums; and he plays with Chicago band the Waco Brothers.

Yard Dog Gallery
106 East San Antonio St
Marfa, TX 79843
432-729-3303

and

Yard Dog
1510 S Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78704
512.912.1613

Austin’s Yard Dog Gallery will host a showing by El Paso resident and renowned singer/songwriter and painter, Tom Russell.

The majority of the paintings in the show pay tribute to a group of jazz musicians from Juarez, Mexico.  They were premier musicians who played in the top night spots of Juarez in its heyday, even backed Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee, but lost their lives when their bus went off a cliff in 1953.

Opening reception is Friday February 15th 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Tom will play a few songs at the opening.  Afterward, he will be playing at the Cactus Café.

Yard Dog
1510 S Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78704
512.912.1613

So what would Shelton Hank Williams sell on ebay? Well the king of hellbillys/betties from time to time sells Hank III swag, memorabilia and self created artwork like the current 60’s era horned saw that he has painted in his Southern-Gothic meets Death-Metal aesthetic. The piece is whimsically entitled “R. III P.” (III for Hank III, get it?), the current bid is $275.00 (it sold for $738.99) with two more days to go. Happy bidding, Dixie-demons!

I love the posters done for Asbury Lanes.

Keith Neltner is a Kentucky boy known for his dark, macabre Southern-Gothic aesthetic and his work for Hank III (posters, skateboards, T-shirts, merchandise and album artwork), he has also gone on to design for other musicians such as Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers, The Kentucky Struts, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Robert Plant, and Superjoint Ritual, and the resulting poster art led him to be featured in Art of Modern Rock. Recently Keith did a brilliant illustration of that “dirty old one man band”, Scott H. Biram for a music/art/film magazine in Austin called ISSUE. Look for this as a silkscreened poster as well possibly debuting in Austin at SXSW.

Austin’s Yard Dog folk art gallery and the mighty Bloodshot Records in Chicago this week for two big events. Friday through Monday they will be showing art at the very first Country Living Fair at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. On Thursday night we’re joining forces with Bloodshot Records & Jon Langford at the Hideout, one of Chicago’s finest bars, for a night of art & loud music.

The Country Living Fair
October 6-9, 2006
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL

Artwork being offered by Jennifer Harrison, Eric Bellis, Brad & Sundie Ruppert, Bill Miller, Mose Tolliver, Scott Griffin, Mike Miller, Mary Klein, some great anonymous work and more. The show itself features folk art, outsider art, antique & americana dealers from around the country; artisans, design & educational seminars, food tastings & even a pie tasting contest.

Yard Dog/Bloodshot Party
The Hideout
1354 W. Wabansia, Chicago IL
773.227.4433

Music by
The Waco Brothers, Puerto Muerto, Outlaw Family Band, The Hiders (x-Ass Ponys), Jon Langford & Special guests!
Art by Jon Langford, Tom Russell, Lamar Sorrento, Kevin Coyne & Tim Kerr.
8 pm, $8 cover