I love when poetry is put out there in unconventional ways. Franki Elliott is becoming a favorite of mine. Check out her tumblr http://frankielliottypewriter.tumblr.com/ for flashes of good writing hammered with ink on lined paper. Way to retro-contemporize it!
-Mike.
What’s cool? Chicago Outfit Roller Derby. What’s cool to do at the Roller Derby? Buying t-shirts from Versed Apparel. That’s right, I’ll be at Chicago Outfit’s home opening bout this Saturday April 28th with a handful of other vendors selling our locally made swag. Get yours at the Derby and then watch some hot girls kick ass on wheels. Here are the details:
On Saturday 4/28, watch the Chicago Outfit Roller Derby take on Houston and Iowa City in the opening double-header of their 5th home season. The evening’s battles of speed, guts, and grit will begin at 7 pm (door at 6) at—
Chicago’s Windy City Fieldhouse
2367 West Logan Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60647
All ages are welcome, with beer provided by Finch Beer and after-party details for fans 21+! $15 advance tickets are available through Eventbrite.com, with tickets also available at the door. For more information email us at chicagooutfitpress@gmail.com or visit our website at chicagooutfitrollerderby.com.
Mike Ruzicka Versed Apparel
Good evening everybody out in the hard working world. I’ve been neglecting this Tumblr for a little while but I want to get back into the practice of writing again even if it just some random thoughts. Many of you know that I am also a librarian. I’ve been working with books for twelve years now and I’ve recently had to take a second job at Barnes & Noble to supplement my income. I’ve had to make peace with going back to corporate retail work after I though it was over a long time ago. I’ve had to make peace with the fact that I’m a Master’s educated underemployed creative artist. Maybe some of you fit this category and can relate to my story. It is hard to find time to be creative when much of your day is spent figuring out which work schedule is correct on your calendar. It’s a wonder I haven’t made that mistake already. Though work is endless, I am designing more T-shirts for Versed Apparel which will be coming within this year if all goes well. I would like to be writing more poetry but so far I’m jotting down lines here and there. They’ll turn into something more I know. The purpose for this post is not to induce a choir of “woe is me” complaining. I would simply just like to state the fact that I am an artist that works very hard. And I do struggle to find creativity amid too many hours spent working at other jobs to pay the bills. It’s good to recognize it because it firmly put the artist title before all else.
But you’ll see….I’ve got things brewing.
Mike Ruzicka.
I have a blog that I’ve been neglecting for some time while I’ve been getting Versed Apparel up off the ground. A good friend of mine and very talented artist Dolan Geiman just gave my blog a very generous shout this week on his site and his newsletter. Check out the interview I had with him about his creative process and then check out some of the other posts.
Thanks Dolan for the interview. I promise I’ll get back to posting more.
-Mike Ruzicka.
Happy Valentine’s Day from the frozen midwest. I give to you a collection “best of” love poems from my vault. Enjoy!
Mike Ruzicka - Poet, Designer, Owner Versed Apparel
Get something with some meaning for Valentine’s Day. Versed Apparel’s third design is a love poem without the hearts and candies. The line displayed rings true and the poem will resonate. Available now so go get it on versedapparel.com.
Sam Flores is a great artist. One of my favorites. This work is so lush I just want to enter that world.
