GAMES YOU CAN'T WIN OR LOSE

One of my favorite aspects of being a collector is reclaiming relics from childhood that somehow got away, especially the obscure ones. One of my latest recoveries is Games You Can't Lose! (1977), a 48-page made-to-be-a-gift booklet, thus the authors were uncredited.  (For the record they are Herbert Kavet, Paul Deboer, and illustrator, Martin Riskin.)  It's one of many transitory titles produced by the American Publishing Company which may be the same outfit that put out a series of jigsaw puzzles-in-a-can, Presto Magix sets, and a vintage Party Survival Kit that I got last year.

My dad bought the book as a gift for a colleague, but upon closer inspection he decided it was a bit too risqué to pass along; a wise move considering his very conservative social circle. So it found a home under a pile of unpaid bills on my father's bureau, but such an eye-catching cover could not go unnoticed by a seven-year-old such as myself, so I took a gander.

Actually, I was completely unaware of the few objectionable bits which include a KKK gag (that the internet has already found) as well as a word my dad had scribbled out beyond recognition in an early attempt to salvage the gift. He had replaced it with "Director of Student Life," presumably the job title of the would-be receiver.

But for me the book didn't need vulgarities to have shock value. The concept alone seemed impossible, defying every children's activity book on my bedroom floor.  The parody factor went beyond Mad Magazine because this was a fully developed product, like a Wacky Packages come to life, forever mocking the stack of Highlights for Kids in my doctors office. The fact that it was designed for sophisticated adults only added to the appeal.

I felt empowered as I breezed through the puzzles, several of which can be seen here...

Years later I was tagging along with my mom on an afternoon of errands that took us to a drug store called Collier's in a neighboring city.  Unlike most of mom's stops, this place had an ample selection of interesting products like party favors, gifts, and even better, gag gifts.  In a cruel twist of fate it wasn't until I was exiting the shop when I noticed this at the top of a spinner rack...

I gasped. The mysterious, mind-expanding publication had a sequel! I pleaded with mom to go back, but she announced that our next lame destination would be closing soon.  I never even got to open the book— until recently when I finally bought it online.

 

  

While the revelation could never match my initial childhood discovery, I took great pleasure in finally quenching my curiosity.  I especially like that a number of the pages have an opposite counterpart in the other book.

Truth is, I didn't have to wait decades to see more from the APC collection. A few years after Games entered my life, A Get Well Book For _____ (1979) showed up in my household. This time my dad was on the receiving end.

It was certainly worthy of its place next to the copy of Games You Can't Lose in the top of my dad's closet.  Though it lacks the "high concept" of the other books, it still has the endearing artwork of Martin "Marty" Riskin.

A recent googling lifted away the shroud of mystery on this prolific artist.  Marty Riskin's web site showcases many of the 250 books he's illustrated, most of which include the words sex, beer, or fart in the title.  Marty is obviously a fixture of the American gag culture, and there's no telling what sort of influence he's had on my own mind and output.  I've made it a point to further explore his work, most recently by way of this second hand copy of Riskin's Believe It Or Don't (1979).

 

 

When I was in junior high I asked my dad if I could adopt his two APC titles into my own book collection.  He handed me the get well book, but informed me that at some point he'd gotten rid of the other one.  I was obviously disappointed, but with hopes of some consolation I asked, "Do you remember the word that you crossed out of Games You Can't Lose?"

"Yeah," he replied. "I think it was 'necrophiliac.'"

And that's how I first learned the meaning of the term 'necrophiliac.'  Thanks Marty.

THE LATEST OF MY FAUX FAMILY PORTRAITS

In 2008 I created my first fictional family colored pencil portraits with the hopes of getting into Gallery 1988's Crazy 4 Cult art show (a process I detailed in this post.) At the time I would never have guessed I'd still be making them five years later, but I recently created a dozen more for a two-man art show at Gallery 1988, Venice Beach which is still going on until June 2nd.  The show got a really nice review on Glasstire, and some great coverage on Huffington Post and Slashfilm! But in an effort to save you a trip to the West Coast I've conveniently posted images of all the artwork just a few inches below this paragraph.  Scroll down (if it isn't too much trouble) and you may take a look at these "love notes" to some of my favorite productions put to film. Make sure to click to see them much bigger.  (Some originals and prints are still available here. My previous portraits can all be seen here.)

Title: The McDunnoughs

Dim: 8"x10"

As you may recall from the film, the McDunnoughs do take a snapshot of their newfound family by way of a cheap, black & white camera on a tripod. I started to simply reproduce that, but in the middle of the process I scrapped the idea because it was a bit too spot on.  Being a huge geek, I like the portraits to gel with the timeline of the film (or series), and I even try to pinpoint when it would have been taken, be it before, during or after the story takes place.  However, in this case I made an exception, this is the way they wished things would have turned out.

Title: The McClanes

Dim: 11"x14"

This is the only time I've done my own interpretation of an "existing" portrait from a film.  It seemed like the thing to do since the photo is a key plot point, and since Die Hard is one of the greatest things my eyes have witnessed.

Title: The Whites

Dim: 11"x14"

I think the concept is at its best when the entire family is at the core of the story.  In the case of Breaking Bad, everything is done in the name of family which ironically, destroys the family.

Title: The Weirs

Dim: 11"x14"

The Weirs from Freaks and Geeks are more real to me than any fictional family I can think of.  Everyone gets fleshed out over the course of the amazing series and their personalities and relationships seem as complex as anyone I've ever met.

Title: The Mayweathers

Dim: 3.5"x4.5" (each)

This treatment seemed appropriate because I don't imagine this father and son spending much time together.  The way I see it, William (the dad) sent the family photographer to Nathanial's school and put the result in the fanciest frame possible.

Title: The Drapers

Dim: 8"x10"

 While researching 1960s portraits I found a number of them with the family posed in this double column arrangement.  Funny how today's forced informal arrangements appear even less natural than this.

  

Title: The Buxtons

Dim: 8"x8"

Years ago I realized that I owned a souvenir wallet very similar to the one the Pee-Wee has in "Big Adventure" so I thought I'd use it as a springboard for this wallet size format.  To give it that extra spilled-wallet-ness I designed two fake business cards for Pee-Wee's favorite establishments.  The Buxton men are among my favorite minor characters ever, I wish they had their own movie.  

"Spearmint or Fruit?"

"Err.. fruit please."

I can't even guesstimate how many time I've quoted those lines.

 

Title: The Buellers

Dim: 11"x14"

This is one that I've intended to do since the very beginning but somehow put it off until now.  This is easily one of the most influential movies of my youth.

Title: The Bluths

Dim: 11"x14"

 "Where is George Senior?" is the official FAQ of this whole project.  Answer: He's in prison or in hiding.  So why not Oscar then?  Because no.

Title: The Fischers

Dim: 5"x 7"

I started to do this piece much larger but it did not seem like something the characters would have in their humble home.  All of Wes Anderson's movies have a such a way with quaintness, they also have a lot of red curtains so I made sure to use those as a backdrop.

Title: The Gopniks

Dim: 11"x14"

This was a commissioned piece and my third visit to the Cohen Brothers' world.  The inspirational film is A Serious Man and as I watched it again for this project it's subtleties really blossomed for me.  The configuration makes more sense after you've seen it.

Title: Mister St. Clair

Dim: 11"x14"

I decided to break the family mold for this one, I figure Corky has enough charisma to be the star attraction (plus his wife never seems to be around.)  I've seen a lot of this type of photo, especially involving dancers, and they always crack me up.  The fairy-like floating self reminds me of the proverbial angel or devil on your shoulder, either that or an "I'd rather be..." fantasy thought bubble. Plus I couldn't resist finally using the casual ladder prop.

Title: The Emersons Revamped

Dim: 11"x14"

From the beginning these portraits have been a matter of the execution trying to live up to the concept.  The results throughout have been hit and miss, and I think my biggest miss was "The Emersons" from Crazy 4 Cult 3.  In 2009 I raced to complete it along with three others in time for the show and the outcome has been nothing short of cringe-inducing.  The Lost Boys is one of my all time favorite films and it deserves so much more than I gave it.  So in an effort to improve upon my artistic crimes, I took an eraser to the original and revamped it. (get it?)
Here's a comparison...

When it comes to likenesses it's amazing what a somewhat misplaced feature or two can do, not to mention some amateurish hard lines.  The "afters" are still far from great, but the process was quite cleansing.  Maybe next year I'll pull it out again and add in Jar-Jar Binks.

(As I said before some originals and prints from this show are available here.)

KIRK DEMARAIS & DAVE MACDOWELL ART SHOW AT GALLERY 1988

 

My first-ever two-man art show opens at Gallery 1988 Venice Beach this Thursday, May 10 from 7-10 PM!  I will be there Thursday night, ready to spend hours expounding on the meaning and significance of my fake family portraits.  I've created a dozen new ones for the show including the two seen here.  (The Gollum-surrounded Dude is the work of fellow artist Dave Macdowell.) Giclée prints of three of my pieces (The Bluths, The Drapers, and The Whites) will also be available.  If you can't make it, everything will be viewable on the gallery's web site the following day, and eventually right here.  Either way, I sure hope you'll be in the mood for looking at things!