Ya Know Free Rangers,
Just about every artist (writer, musician, comedian, creative…) I’ve ever known- no matter how commercially successful- has expressed some version of this sentiment: Regardless of how many people dig your stuff, most of those you wish would follow and/or understand your work, those closest to you, never will. Jeff Tweedy, the profoundly prolific creative force behind Wilco, has told many versions of the story that the only Wilco song his dad likes is “Casino Queen”, a notoriously naive easy rocker, and far from a favorite of his die hards. While there are hundreds of forgotten dusty (print) publications containing stories bearing my byline, these e-mails are the (last) current refuge for words of mine that many others actually read, packaged here with discounts on rare booze. One regular reader is my Uncle Mitch. Mitchell Friedman is a Master Printer who spent much of the ‘80s printing works for a relative household name in American art, and he is a wonderfully narrative painter and printmaker in his own right. Growing up as a kid who excelled in creative pursuits, but was never properly socialized, Mitch was a rare example for me of someone I knew who could make their way in the world without inserting himself into the Matrix, behind a desk in a tower. No offense to anyone who makes a living and/or feels fulfilled through work of this structure. I was just always wary of the proper channels of all things, and always looked up to Mitch and his creative ways. During my visual art days, I brought a pile of my stuff to Mitch’s studio and we talked about our paintings. He found one piece of mine particularly amusing, entitled Ellsworth Kelly, and we had a considered laugh over the brutal deconstruction of color field paintings, and greater lampooning of the proper channels of the industrial machinations besieging art and artists. That remains one of my favorite afternoons, and was profoundly emulsifying in the moment to have someone who had been making art his whole life, who I deeply respected, discussing my paintings as if they were real and mattered. And to the best of my knowledge, Mitch still reads these e-mails no matter how late in the week they may arrive, which means a lot to me. Happy birthday, Uncle Mitch!
So, this week’s online sale and in-store tasting is a twofer via Forthave Spirits. Our old pals at Forthave make some of the most intriguing and beautiful amaro(s), liqueurs, gin, and aperitifs (in tiny batches here in Brooklyn) of which we are aware on Earth. It is with great pleasure that we welcome them back to our little corner of the world. Daniel will be here in the shop pouring you FREE tastes tomorrow, Thursday, April 4th (5-7pm), but also all week online, enjoy 10% off Forthave Blue Gin, Forthave Red Aperitivo, and Forthave Marseille Amaro.
(!) Click here for Forthave sale page (!)
Cheers,
Jack
Proprietor
Free Range Wine & Spirits
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