Thunderbitch Opens August 5

"Thunderbitch: Women Designers in Northwest Rock 1966–2010," opens August 5 in Seattle at Tether Design Gallery, 323 Occidental Ave S., Seattle, WA 98104,

The opening runs 5-8pm, with live music by Barbara Ireland + Stone Gossard and Visqueen, plus an appearance by The Piston Packin’ Mamas, Seattle’s all-girl car and motorcycle club, and an all-ages late show with Damien Jurado.

From DIY Xerox flyers for bands you’ve never heard of to big budget rock albums that sold in the millions, women designers have shaped the visual identity of music in the Pacific Northwest since at least the late 1960s. Some never considered themselves designers, simply making Xerox posters out of necessity to promote their bands. Some are artists and illustrators synonymous with various music genres and some are career graphic designers. Thunderbitch is the first attempt to document these women artists and their work.

Artists include: Lynda Barry, Judith Bissell, Deborah Brown, Rachel Carns, Neko Case, Chelsea Conboy, Cindy Crangle, Shari Critchley, Louise Crowley, Katha Dalton, Dotty DeCoster, Ellen Forney, Candy Fowler, Sharon Gannon, Marianne Goldin, Kathleen Hanna, Chanda Helzer, Jane Higgins, Lucy Huntzinger, Barbara Ireland, Kim Kalliber, Eva Lake, “Lee”, Molly Neuman, Lisa Orth, Tammy Packs, Gina Papen, Cielito Pascual, Emily Pothast Robynne Raye, Mary Rivard, Helena Rogers, Rachel da Silva, Helene Silverman, Clara Sims, Heidi Snellman, Dana Squires, Kim Stringfellow, Ashleigh Talbot, Tobi Vail, Jeanne Wasserman, Joanna Wecht, Catherine Weinstein (aka Hedda Goldspace, aka Thunderbitch), Alice Wheeler, Bon Von Wheelie, Allison Wolfe


Image above: Ellen Forney

---

Share

Graphic Brings It Home: No One Knows Where All That Money Went

The Department of Defense is unable to account for the use of $8.7 billion of the $9.1 billion it spent on reconstruction in Iraq.


From the GOOD blog. They claim their source, which we haven't checked, is none other than the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.

---

Share

Animals, Cannibals, & 3 Leg Torso

Just who are these instrument-wielding miscreants, and what exactly do they want with you? Well, I assume they want your money, because their CD release show isn't free. But these dudes are smart enough that they could've become Wall Street hoodwinkers or dot-com gillionaires if dough were their priority. Maybe they want you Portlandians to start dressing more snazzily? Or are they modeling poses for a new series of those real-life-sized bronze statues downtown?

Maybe they just wanna bombard you with music so inviting, intricate, and infectious it smacks the summer ennui right out of you. Their genre, alas, is called "world chamber music," and it's woefully insufficient to describe the exhilarating brilliance and sly sense of humor employed by the five members of 3 Leg. You'll recognize influences and traditions from indie pop to classical, klezmer to jazz, and experimental to rollicking cabaret. The new disc, "Animals & Cannibals" reveals new instrumentation for the band (is that a waterphone in Gary Irvine's hands, above right?) and wanders through some new, highly textured territories not explored on previous releases.

Celebrate the release July 31 at Alberta Rose Theatre. All ages, tickets $15-17 ($25 includes CD). Doors 7 pm, show at 8.

Full disclosure: OK, I've played with some of these sartorially besuited gents in the past. I can still be objective enough to say they're freakin' great regardless.

---

Share

Announcing Plazaar

Plazm issue #30 will feature a new indie-shop and community directory. Plazaar features small, very affordable pre-formatted ads for smaller, independent businesses. Contact us to find out whether your shop, band, service, or company qualifies. You can view sample ads and order online at www.plazm.com/plazaar

Or email plazaar@plazm.com for additional details.

Type above by Daniel Sinclair, our summer intern. Thanks!

---

Share

New Oregon receives grant to help fund Plazm #30

The next issue of Plazm is in full production mode, thanks in part to a grant our new parent organization, New Oregon Arts & Letters, received from RACC.

The Plazm 30 theme is rebirth. If you have an idea for publication, would like to place an ad, or make a tax-deductible contribution, send email to editor30@plazm.com. We are also celebrating by curating thirty designer and illustrator responses to the letters and numbers "Plazm #30." A lovely version by Ed Fella appears above.

Our editorial team is Joshua Berger, art director; Jon Raymond, editor; and Tiffany Lee Brown, editor. We thank the Regional Arts and Culture Council, and the devoted grantwriting volunteers at New Oregon, for making possible this Opportunity Grant.

---

Share