A clearing house of all things Pillean
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 82
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 81
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 80
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 79
Some thoughts on seeing Pavement in 2026 In 1994, I drove down to see the Rolling Stones in Ames, Iowa. I was excited to see the Stones, but also a little nervous; they were SO OLD. Would they still be able to play their guitars and drums with all the arthritis? They opened with “Not Continue reading GOOD NIGHT TO THE ROCK AND ROLL ERA
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 78
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 77
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 76
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 75
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 74
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 73
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 72
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 71
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > You might wonder what such a song would sound like performed live. Well, buddy, have I got good news for you: Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on Continue reading The Kraken Busters 70
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 69
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 68
This one probably isn t about what you think it is This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. Originally published May 21, 2020 Hey, There, It’s not much of a secret that I love country music. The Continue reading Nudie Can t Fail
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 67
Yes, that subject line is bad but you should have seen the other options This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. Originally published May 13, 2020 Hey, There, Let’s talk about Alphonse Mucha! Or, really, Continue reading Mucha Do About Something
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 66
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 65
Would that our city were as funky as the street at promised This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. Originally published May 7, 2020 Hey, There, So, Prince absolutely *dominates* Minneapolis street art. Mural on Continue reading The Principality of Minneapolis
And almost certainly love. This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. Originally published March 15, 2020 Hey, There, Let me open up by saying that the backend process for this one didn’t go the way Continue reading A Painting You Certainly Know
A Life in Film is a project where I’m writing about a movie from every year I’ve been alive. 1996: Oh Geeze FARGO (dir. Joel Coen, officially; but come on, Ethan was there) OK, here we go. This is it, this is the big one (clutches chest like Fred Sanford). There’s some wiggle to this, but Continue reading A LIFE IN FILM #23- FARGO
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 64
A Life in Film is a project where I’m writing about a movie from every year I’ve been alive. 1995: No flair to get in the way APOLLO 13 (dir. Ron Howard) I don’t like Ron Howard much as a director.* His movies are usually competently made, but turgid and devoid of flair. He feels like—arguably Continue reading A LIFE IN FILM #22- APOLLO 13
Content warning: this comic includes depictions of off-panel self-harm, as well as nuclear explosions. Nothing super graphic, but I figured I should let people know. First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like Continue reading The Kraken Busters 63
If nothing else, you really don’t want to piss off performance artists This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. Originally published March 11, 2020 Hey, There, So, last week I was briefly in a Twitter Continue reading Stop Picking on Performance Art
This is more “idle talking to people at a party” art history than “responsible, well-grounded, academic” art history This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. Originally published March 2, 2020 Hey, there, So, again, I Continue reading My Crackpot Theory of the 3 Phases of Cultural Movements
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 62
The images in here can double as my Christmas list This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. Originally published Feb. 18, 2020 Hey, there, We had so damned much fun last week talking about industrial Continue reading Midcentury Modern, Shredded
A Life in Film is a project where I’m writing about a movie from every year I’ve been alive. 1994: Omipresence Means Radio Ads and Mall Bookstores PULP FICTION (dir. Quentin Tarantino) I was hesitant to write about Pulp Fiction. For one thing, what else is left to say? And any sort of even half-serious engagement Continue reading A LIFE IN FILM #21 PULP FICTION
Look, I’m as mad about that subject line as you are This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. Originally published Feb. 12, 2020 Hey, there, So it’s no secret that these are troubled times. I’ve Continue reading Bauhaus / in Der Mitte of our Strasse
I was kinda sick when I wrote this, hope it doesn’t ramble This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. Originally published Feb. 4, 2020; and that bit in the subhed where I said I was Continue reading Art Report From the Front Lines: Minneapolis Community Ed Pottery
Semi-spicy contents alert This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. Originally published Jan. 28, 2020 Hey, there, So last week I had this uncharacteristic burst of positivity and was all set to write a buoyant, Continue reading Museumgoers Gone Wild
Hey! We re finally talking about museum-type art! This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. Originally published Jan. 23, 2020 Hey, there, I guess it’s time to talk about my least favorite painter. The art world Continue reading You Know Who Sucks? Jacques-Louis David
This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. This one in particular was an urgent outburst in 2020 but you know what? I ll stand by it in 2026, and think it s all the more urgent. Just, Continue reading Culture From Below in 2020 (and 2026, FWIW)
But don t worry, they re pretty positive once you get to know them This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. Originally published Jan. 14, 2020 Hey, there, The plan was for this issue to be about Continue reading This Newsletter (/website) Has Been Hijacked by East German Punks
This post is part of my ongoing project to migrate my old Art Is My Middle Name newsletter archives to my own website. Learn more about all that. originally published Dec. 29, 2019 Hey, there, So I want to start out my talking about art by talking about a book (which is largely about art): Continue reading Bluebeard!
A Life in Film is a project where I’m writing about a movie from every year I’ve been alive. 1993: Buddhism and Also the Murray Problem GROUNDHOG DAY (dir. Harold Ramis) TRACK 1: BUDDHISM, SORT OF They say that as you get older, you think about religion more. And maybe that’s true, or at least sort Continue reading A LIFE IN FILM #20 GROUNDHOG DAY
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 61
Was talking to some friends about a week ago about the different ways we can all help during the siege of Minneapolis; they thought what I was saying seemed useful so I made a comic expanding on the ideas. This was originally made for social media sharing, but I figured what the hey, I have Continue reading Minneapolis 2026: We All Do What We Can, And It All Matters
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 60
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 59
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 58
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > That s it for 2025! See you in 26, when we will get around to finishing this thing. Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever Continue reading The Kraken Busters 57
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 56
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 55
First Prev Next > First Prev Next > Two last quick things! If you’re enjoying these strips, please consider helping to spread the word! Tell a person who might like them, or post on social media, or whatever feels right. And if you really dig the story and have some change rattling around in your Continue reading The Kraken Busters 54
A few years ago, I went crazy in the month of October and drew a silly bird every day. A friend said, you know what? I d love to have those on a calendar! So I whipped one up for her to be printable on normal office paper. Well, these are dark times. And we could Continue reading The 2026 Birds of the World Calendar