Yrik Max Valentonis

Winter 2010

2010-12-30T18:33:00.002-05:00

Publications

Cliterature: Appetite issue (http://cliteraturejournal.com/appetite/maxvalentonis.html)has published my short stories "Dinner Guest" – a minimalist tale of stalking and "The Best Little Zombie House in Florida" – a behind the scenes porn gone to horror.

Health

So in early October my colon decided to have a flare up of diverticulitis – that is a swelling of a pocket in the colon. But that was not enough, it also decided that it needed to have a small perforation, just to complicate things. Now, I've had this happen to me once before, back in 2008, so I knew the drill; a week in the hospital with no food, just an IV for a week. Followed by a High Fiber diet. OK. Done. But then the doctor who admitted me added a new twist – once I am better he wanted to do surgery!

I liked the movie "Repo! The Genetic Opera" but I am NOT happy with surgery! And I don't want no repo-man coming for my parts!

So the doctor explains how he will do this surgery and I ask about laprascopic options and he says "I like to get my hands in there." So naturally I look at his hands. And damn! Those are BIG HANDS.

Worst X-mas gift ever: surgery in December!

Surgery takes twice as long than expected because of residue damage from my burst appendix back in 1997 (for those of you who don't remember, I died during that and spent a month in the hospital afterward). My body doesn't like this invasion and so it takes me much longer for my system to start processing food again. I end up in the hospital for ten days instead of the planned five. Everything is being doubled! A few internal stitches open, I bleed internally, plus my incision gets infected. The doctor cheerfully reopens my incision for me. Then they send me home, with an open incision which a nurse has to come and pack every day! FUN!

I have a hole in my belly. I have no energy. I am in pain. And since I am a contractor, I had to start work right away or not get paid. However, I am very grateful that I still have the job! I can even work from home.

With all things in perspective, it is good and I am doing well. I do hope next year involves less medical issues.

Autumn 2010

2010-09-29T16:45:00.003-05:00

My comic 'My Pet Zombie' and my poem 'Winter Horde' will be published in the 'Zombie Nation: St Pete' Anthology (http://www.zombienationpublishing.com/). The book premiere will be October 23, 2010 on the St. Petersburg Pier. Their previous anthology was a big success, so there is a lot of excitement over this!

I have created a board game, 'Sumo Dice' which will be premiered at the Necronomicon Science Fiction Convention (http://www.stonehill.org/necro.htm). I will be running games on Saturday and Sunday, October 23 & 24. Many "thank you"s to my play testers and David Waterman for making the game board! And just for fun I will be running a Monster Slayer (kid's D&D) adventure "Noise Control" on Sunday. Come and play!

Cliterature (www.cliteraturejournal.com) has published my poem 'Lost in Urban Landscaping #17' in its MYTHS theme issue. This poem was previously published in 'Say … #1 (Was That a Kiss)' way back in 2002.

In freelance news, I have taken on the duties of Web Master for Optimal Performance Group Incorporated (www.opg-inc.com), the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour (http://lcostampa.org/), and the Academy of Our Saviour (http://www.academyofoursaviour.org/).

I started my new drawings for the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour’s annual Christmas Concert; this year's theme is "Christmas on Broadway".

Ink touches paper!

SPRING 2010

2010-05-01T11:09:00.002-05:00

Apparently, I have been very busy – I was so busy, I didn't notice it, but then I realize that it is May! Whoa! As we all know, the first Saturday in May is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! I honor of that – all of my eComics on Lulu.com are FREE! (Ignore the listed price.)

Maximum Lizard #1 – Troll Vs. Goat
Maximum Lizard #2 – Mushroom Maiden
Rock Paper Scissors -
ASYM #1 – The Adventures of Scrubby Bear

http://www.lulu.com/browse/search.php?fSearch=valentonis&fListingClass=&fListingCategory=

>>>>>>
I have TWO new chapbooks of Visual Poetry out and available

“This Is Visual Poetry” -
http://thisisvisualpoetry.com/

“i DEAL” Avantacular Press -
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30394039/i-DEAL

>>>>>>
I have been published the Sixth time by Cliterature Journal! My short proem “Kitchen” -
http://cliteraturejournal.com/maxvalentonisfamily.html

>>>>>>
And if this isn't enough, I will be playing the role of Mufasa in “The Lion King”. My son who is playing the young Simba, volunteered my services. Miss Suda has put together a good performance and great cast. It will play May 15 in Cypress Forest Recreation Center in Oldsmar.

Confessions of a Web Comic Addict

2010-03-24T11:37:00.002-05:00

I mentioned my addiction to WebComics and some people have asked about the ones that I follow. Here are the comics which have stuck with me for one reason or another. Many of these are NOT appropriate for work or children. Then again, some are, but they might be too much for a newspaper to carry. So view with discretion. Some of these comics have run their lives and are now completed and some have not posted in so long that they seem completed. I mention if I have only started reading a comic to let you know that I have not yet seen enough to really keep it on the list yet. I provide the breifest description of the comic after its title. they all have different posting schedules. I suggest that you start at the begining in all cases. Peruse and enjoy.

---> My comics:

Fuzzy Vision
My random and sporatically updated comic and updates
http://valentonis.blogspot.com/

Oombosition Bodr
High School collaborative adventure
http://oombosition.yolasite.com/

---> Comics I read:

The Lair of the Dreaded Atrox
(I haven't read much of this yet but the sculptures are really pretty.)
http://www.theatrox.com/lair/

DAR: A Super Girly Top Secret Comic Diary (completed)
Funny daily life and relationships (some adult content)
http://www.darcomic.org

Curvy
Funny sexual sci-fi adventure
http://www.c.urvy.org/

Pinkerton
Adult funny animals (I just began reading this)
http://talltalefeatures.com/pinkerton/

Luci Phurrs Imps
Hellish funny
http://luciphurrsimps.com/

Nerf This
Adult daily life
http://nerf-this.com

Bear Nuts
Funny animals
http://www.bearnutscomic.com

Edmund Finney's Quest to Find the Meaning of Life
Odd adventures
http://eqcomics.com/

Sinfest
Funny adult strip
http://www.sinfest.net/

Girls With Slingshots
Daily life and relationships
http://www.daniellecorsetto.com/gws.html

Girl Genius
Adult SteamPunk adventure
http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php

Myth Adventures
Funny Fanatasy adventure
http://www.airshipentertainment.com/mythcomic.php

Looking for Group
Funny Fanatasy (gaming) adventure
http://lfgcomic.com/

Pictures of You
Coming of Age in Collge
http://picturesofyou.smackjeeves.com

Goblins
Funny Fantasy (gaming) adventure
http://goblins.keenspot.com/

Oglaf
Funny Fantasy sexual stories
http://www.oglaf.com/archive.html

Dead Squirrel Girl
Odd adventures
http://www.deadsquirrelgirl.com/index.html

Canned ham
Funny monster (I just started reading this)
http://www.cannedhamcomic.com

Bored and Evil (seems to be completed)
Funny monsters
http://www.boredandevil.com/

Garfield Minus Garfield
One man gone crazy
http://garfieldminusgarfield.ne

Hello Cthulhu (seems to be completed)
Cute monsters
http://www.hello-cthulhu.com

Census

2010-03-17T13:29:00.003-05:00

I was amazed at how easy they made the new census:

Census survey

More Publications

2009-10-11T21:57:00.003-05:00

I made it into Cliterature Journal's new issue "Jungle". This is the fifth time I made it into their journal. I think they might like me. They have accepted my pieces:
Flower Haiku
Monkey.Haiku.Story.One
Savages

http://www.cliteraturejournal.com/jungle/maxvalentonis.html

***

My piece "Orange Juice" was published in the new issue of artICHOKE "Earth and Ether". This was premiered at Boog City's 6th annual small, small press fair (with indie records and crafts, too) Sat. Sept. 12-Sun. Sept. 13, 2009 at Brooklyn’s Unnameable Books

earthether.blogspot.com

***

Also the Domo manga is out! I have seen it and it is cool. I have an illustration in the Runners Up section in the back. It is a small image but I swear I drew it bigger than that.

http://www.tokyopop.com/Domomanga/tp_article/2591611.html

Recent publications

2009-06-21T21:35:00.002-05:00

1.
Once again I am pleased to say that Cliterature has published some of my poems. This issue the theme was Rules. They selected the following poems:

Fleeting
from A is for apple
The Human Marionette
Lost in Urban Landscaping #25

www.cliteraturejournal.com

*** This is the fourth issue that I have had work appear in.

2.
I am a runner up in the "Show Me the Domo" art contest by Tokyopop. My illustration of Domo will appear in the forthcoming Domo Manga published by Tokyopop, due in stores in September 2009. *** This is the second Tokyopop art contest where I have done well (see the Sumo Tournament / Sakura Pens related posts).

3.
See the last few posts to see my artwork / puppets for the Experimental Skeleton exhibition "To Bodly Go" at the West Tampa Center for the Arts. *** This is my third Experimental Skeleton exhibit over the years (not counting Titanic Anatomy shows).

To Boldly Open Photos by Marcy D

2009-06-21T21:33:00.005-05:00

To Boldly Open

2009-06-21T21:29:00.005-05:00

To Boldly Set Up

2009-06-21T21:24:00.004-05:00

Setting up the Star Trek show at the gallery

To Boldly Go again

2009-05-30T20:20:00.010-05:00

to boldly link

2009-05-29T06:52:00.003-05:00

http://www.tampabay.com/features/events/article1002528.ece

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/2009/05/22/artsqueeze-weekend-roundup-may-22-23/#comment-4003

http://web.me.com/tmreller/WTCA/current.html

"To Bodly Go" begining

2009-05-26T21:21:00.011-05:00

About 3 years ago, Mike Stewart saidto me, "Hey, I have this idea about doing an art show about the orginal Star Trek. Would you be interested?" Before I could even say, "Why yes, Mike, I do think I would be interested and it is a great idea and am jealous that I didn't think of it myself and end up asking you instead," my brain had started thinking of what I would do: comic book, flip book, zoetrope, ROD PUPPETS. I said, "Yeah, sure."

Then three years went on by. We would mention the show every now and then.

But after three years, Mike said Joe Griffith and Experimental Skeleton found a space for the show and we had a date.

A DEADLINE!

ok, we all know Douglas Adams quote (if not, find it). But I like deadlines. It is the only time I work. I had THREE YEARS to work on this project, but did I? no. Not until I had a deadline. It is why I loved school, they always gave me deadlines. I have seen this pattern from me for the past 40ish years and it played out once again. So I finally started the project and got it done with five days to spare. That ws creepy. I've never had time to spare, at least never this much time. I am good enough to schedule in time to do touch-up / revisions, but this much time made me nervous and anxious. So I packed everything up and waited until I could bring it to the gallery.

I documented my process from begining to the show's opening:

To Boldly Go

2009-05-15T22:21:00.000-05:00

The Experimental Skeleton Group and The West Tampa Center for the Arts
presents "To Boldly Go", an exhibition of art that explores the original
Star Trek television series. The exhibition features artists'
interpretations of the visual style, utopian vision, flora and fauna and
technologies of the Star Trek program as well as its effects on popular culture.

Participating artists include - David Waterman, Mike Stewart, Max Valentonis, Don Fuller,
Chris Deacon, Vincent Kral, April Childers, Allen Hampton, Bob Dorsey, Katey Raven Dorsey,
Brian Taylor, JR Bonds, Joe Griffith, Kym O’Donnell, Jason Rodrick, Bradley Paul Valentine and more!
With Special Sonic Enhancement by DJ Sam, DJ Brian Oblivion, and Bud Mayhem.

The exhibition opens May 22nd, 2009 at Gallery 209 in the West Tampa
Center for the Arts at 1906 Armenia Ave., Tampa Fl with an opening reception
from 7pm - 11pm and runs through June 14th.

For more information call 813-217-1240 or e-mail c1cada@earthlink.net

Frequent contributor plus one

2009-03-22T21:59:00.000-05:00

I always LOVE letting everyone know when I’ve been PUBLISHED and this is no exception. I have had a CARTOON published. And it warms my HEART when I get to be published in several issues by the same magazine. I’ve had a few on-line and print magazines where I’ve had this BLESSING. So I am glad to announce that I’m in the new issue of Cliterature! But WAIT. It does get BETTER. My WIFE, Michelle is ALSO PUBLISHED in this issue. This is her FIRST story and her first PUBLICATION! I am the happiest & POUDEST husband around. So please take a look, read and hopefully enjoy the new issue of Cliterature.

http://cliteraturejournal.com/home.html

And flip through the back issues to read some of my other pieces.

co-written by Michelle Valentonis

2008-12-20T23:56:00.000-05:00

The Twelve Days of Florida

On the first day of Florida my true love gave to me a Pink Flamingo by a Palm tree.

On the second day of Florida my true love gave to me two coconuts and a Pink Flamingo by a Palm tree.

On the third day of Florida my true love gave to me three seagulls, two coconuts and a Pink Flamingo by a Palm tree.

On the fourth day of Florida my true love gave to me four cockroaches, three seagulls, two coconuts and a Pink Flamingo by a Palm tree.

On the fifth day of Florida my true love gave to me five pelicans, four cockroaches, three seagulls, two coconuts and a Pink Flamingo by a Palm tree.

On the sixth day of Florida my true love gave to me six swimming pools, five pelicans, four cockroaches, three seagulls, two coconuts and a Pink Flamingo by a Palm tree.

On the seventh day of Florida my true love gave to me seven mermaids splashing, six swimming pools, five pelicans, four cockroaches, three seagulls, two coconuts and a Pink Flamingo by a Palm tree.

On the eighth day of Florida my true love gave to me eight blue-hairs knitting, seven mermaids splashing, six swimming pools, five pelicans, four cockroaches, three seagulls, two coconuts and a Pink Flamingo by a Palm tree.

On the ninth day of Florida my true love gave to me nine suntan lotions, eight blue-hairs knitting, seven mermaids splashing, six swimming pools, five pelicans, four cockroaches, three seagulls, two coconuts and a Pink Flamingo by a Palm tree.

On the tenth day of Florida my true love gave to me ten life guards, nine suntan lotions, eight blue-hairs knitting, seven mermaids splashing, six swimming pools, five pelicans, four cockroaches, three seagulls, two coconuts and a Pink Flamingo by a Palm tree.

On the eleventh day of Florida my true love gave to me eleven speed bumps, ten life guards, nine suntan lotions, eight blue-hairs knitting, seven mermaids splashing, six swimming pools, five pelicans, four cockroaches, three seagulls, two coconuts and a Pink Flamingo by a Palm tree.

On the twelfth day of Florida my true love gave to me twelve swimming suits, eleven speed bumps, ten life guards, nine suntan lotions, eight blue-hairs knitting, seven mermaids splashing, six swimming pools, five pelicans, four cockroaches, three seagulls, two coconuts and a Pink Flamingo by a Palm tree.

That time of year again

2008-12-09T22:54:00.009-05:00

"MAGICAL MOMENTS OF MUSIC" the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour's Christmas Gala Concert is Friday December 12 at 8 PM.

Steve Otto of the Tampa Tribune wrote a lovely recommendation. And I mentioned it before... last year I think.... when I mentioned I did last year's artwork. Wel, guess what? I did this year's artwork as well. Last year they made a neat banner which really impressed me, but this year Greg, one of the congregation made a plywood backdrop from my art. I am impressed. He did a great job. We installed it last Sunday. Yes, I get "volunteered" to help convert the altar into the stage. It is now a winter tradition for me. So to follow the tradition,

I will show the line drawing:

Then in colour:

Then the backdrop:

And installing the stage:

Florida Pirate Fair

2008-11-20T21:29:00.002-05:00

a coupon from your friend, Captain Henry Jennings, coFounder of the Pirates Republic

New publication

2008-09-23T21:59:00.002-05:00

My poems

"Lost in Urban Landscaping #19: wandering eye"
"Lost in Urban Landscaping #34: Imprint"
"Road"
"Cosmic Yesterday - Summer Romance (26 August 2003)"

are included in the current issue of Cliterature Journal #9 THE GAZE.
http://cliteraturejournal.com

Read it. Enjoy it. Feel it.

Safety Harbor RENAISSANCE NIGHT

2008-09-16T21:34:00.005-05:00

I joined the Florida Pirate Festival this year. http://piratefair.com/

Now that they have me, they have been trying to teach me how to act and stage fight. They have cast me as Captain Henry Jennings which I am pretty excited about. I haven't actually fought anyone, but then again they are doing a good job of keeping me away from other people and sharp objects. They might be pirates but they ain't dumb.

Some of the Pirates will be appearing this week at the Safety Harbor Renaissance Night, Friday September 19th, 2008. This is a fun (albeit small: yet FREE) Renaissance Fair. I went last year and enjoyed it greatly. I suggest that you come out and also enjoy it. These will be different Pirates (same actors) than who will be at the Florida Pirate Festival, November 21st -- 23rd, 2008 at Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Watch me try to act.

And if that is not enough, Jen Shumilak http://www.myspace.com/morrisdance & David Waterman http://www.voiceoveraudio.com/ will be there as "For Love Or Money" http://flom-music.com. And we all know that they are entertaining, even if I am not, but don't say that, I will have a sword (or more) I am a Pirate after all.

See Safety Harbor's web site for more details:
http://www.cityofsafetyharbor.com/index.asp?nid=317

Here is me trying on Pirate Captain coats:

MashUp

2008-09-06T13:49:00.004-05:00

I have a problem staying off stages. It started recently. No, that's not it. This problem goes back a long time. An old friend mentioned to me that I have always been the center of attention person. I just haven't recognized this in myself until recently.

Now that I know what to look for, I am seeing just how pervasive my problem is. Apparently, everyone who knows me has been aware of my problem. And some of them have used my problem to suite their own wicked needs.

Most recently, I was invited to go to the USF Contemporary Art Museum to take part in their current exhibition. For those of you who have read previous blogs, you know that even though I stopped working there over a decade ago, I still seem to be held in their orbit.

The show "MashUp" included a piece by Pablo Reyes, where people get to 'air guitar' on a stage to selected songs, using a wooden guitar silhouette which is smashed by the participant. The guitar remnants accrue on the stage. They video taped the performances and then replay them on a monitor at the side of the stage for the rest of the exhibition.

I was performer #1.

Then after all the other performers finished, David Leonard of "Tampa Bay's 10" needed assistance for his feature. I was called on to assist because I have a problem.

Look for me with the mohawk (TampaBays10.com)

I brought my family to the opening of the exhibition. My son jammed out to the song I performed. A reporter from the St. Petersburg Times took some photographs of him and loved the parallel performance.

My son introduced himself to the curator and the artist. The artist's wife suggested that my son perform to a song and smash a guitar as well. He chose the same song I had performed and he got a good size audience. Apparently, this is a genetic problem which I have passed on.

Check him out on the tbt* blog: http://blogs.tampabay.com/scene/2008/09/destruction-art.html

Fuzzy Vision 43

2008-08-13T20:46:00.000-05:00

2008 Summer Update

2008-07-27T21:52:00.004-05:00

It has been a while since I have given the rest of the world a glimpse into my universe which this missive hopes to rectify. And yep, for those of you whom haven’t received one of these mock belles lettres before, I do speak and write like this. The current color of my sky is jumping between blue-green and gray (according to the mood ring spectrometer). The land is moist and full of weeds, and apparently a few sunflowers have poked through to my delight. My family is now healthy which is of great relief to us all. I adapted well to role of Daddy-Mommy-Nurse as it was needed but it does tire one immensely. I have done things, some which might surprise and amuse you and a few which even surprised me.

The first big surprise was my first adult acting role. And I do qualify this by saying “Yes, I know, adult IS acting for me”. Yet I ingest. Or repress. So I had the wonderful experience to be a ‘Mad Scientist’. Again, I know many people would not perceive this as me acting. My family (in-laws as such) works and volunteers and works some more at Lutheran Church of Our Saviour. I have on many occasions volunteered work there, done artwork and design for them, and taught martial arts (Don Jitsu Ryu) there. It being a church, it is no wonder that they would have a Vacation Bible School. Curiously, this years’ theme was SCIENCE. Now, as an aside, I feel compelled to tell you that on weekends, I occasionally have a kitchen full of neighborhood kids as we do science experiments. My son Alexander loves science and that was one of my passions as a youth, so I encourage it as much as possible, and so he and I do experiments, then he invites over his friends, that is how it grows into a neighborhood event reproducing last week’s episode of MythBusters in the front weeds (not lawn) because at that point we have been correctly shooed out of the kitchen by my lovely wife, who invites her family over. Yes, Mentos and Diet Pepsi are always on our shopping list. I have sown the seeds and drawn the map for you to understand how I, of all people, ended up spending three weeks of lunch-breaks in silly costumes doing science experiments for children at a VBS. My son was my trusty robot assistant X-10!

As a coincidental cosmic counter balance to the Lutheran Science demonstrations, at the beginning of this year I took the Wicca 101 class at Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa and Circles in the Woods CUUPS. It was a great class, with wonderful instructors, great classmates, and lively discussions. I learned a great deal and suggest whoever has interest and is in the Tampa Bay area find a way to attend the next class for it is well worth the minimal money (which goes to the UU Church). http://www.geocities.com/uutampa/CUUPs/calendar.htm

Don’t think I have neglected writing and cartooning, I think about that enough myself, however; I have produced some items worthy of reportage. To begin with I once more reestablish myself as an artistic footnote by being thanked for my scholarship and work on the Robert Stackhouse Print Archives housed at the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum in the catalogue of said archive. This is as important to me as being footnoted by the Guggenheim Museum’s Arakawa / M. Gins catalogue. I am deeply honored for being noticed and associated with artists who I admire so greatly. I shan’t elaborate more details since that was the focus of my last missive.

I would like to mention, so I will mention, that the Jose Marin catalogue is available. I and many people have anticipated this commiserate publication. The bittersweet is that Jose, a friend and co-worker of mine, deserved an exhibition and catalogue of this magnitude. Unfortunately it is a posthumous exhibition, many years after his untimely passing. I missed him when he moved across the country and missed him more so when he died. This was a fitting tribute. http://131.247.128.63/CAM/exhibitions/2004_04_Jose_Marin%20/jose_marin.html

It’s not all about me.

The Pilcrow Literary Festival in Chicago was May 22-25. http://pilcrowlitfest.com/ Lynn Brewer, the editor of Cliterature online journal spoke on a panel among other glorious editor activities. Before she went, she emailed to me “I'd love to use an excerpt from ‘Lost in Urban Landscaping’ that was published in the Hags & Witches issue in my speech, and of course plug your name and work along with it.’ I do believe I said “YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! That would be acceptable.” Or something along those lines. I am very sorry I was unable to attend the festival. Travel has been one of my banes this year. I do love the acknowledgments though.

Mostly, it IS about me.

In July, Cliterature Volume 8 “The City” was published http://cliteraturejournal.com/thecity.html. And I am excited to say that they included two of my poems: “Lost In Urban Landscaping #33: Ybor City” and “smog”. I am very happy about this and hope we have a long term publishing relationship. They produce an entertaining and thought provoking magazine that I am proud to be associated with. I think that is enough sucking up for now, but I may have more later.

Tokyopop magazine and Sakura Pens and the Grand Sumo Tournament had an art contest. http://sakuraofamerica.com/?q=node/297 The grand prize was two tickets to the Grand Sumo Tournament in Los Angeles, CA. Unfortunately, my bane of being unable to travel prevented me from attending so in my place went Max Waterman and friend. I hear they had a good time and met Elain Chang, my charming contact at TokyoPop who coordinated the details. However, I did receive two LA Sumo Tournament T-shirts, an official "Sumo Sign-in" Kit, an assortment of Sakura drawing pens, and best of all a tegata (handprint signature) of Hakuho.

And as if my life isn’t going in enough different directions I have purchased a guitar and a ukulele. I took guitar lessons way back when I was in High School, I never took ukulele lessons. I have been practicing and will take some real lessons soon. Hopefully, with five or six more years of random plucking on these instruments I might be able to play a song. Maybe.

I have taken some of my more recent images and made them available as clothing and accessories via CafePress. Many of these are specifically being released in honor of “National MUTT Day” on July 31. http://www.nationalmuttday.org/ The money raised from many of these items will go to the starting of Michele Martin’s “Lucky Dog Organics” (pet food and services) or to the Pinellas Animal Foundation http://www.vetsforpets.org/process.cfm?PageID=1

NEW PRODUCTS:

http://www.cafepress.com/critter1

http://www.cafepress.com/critter2

http://www.cafepress.com/critter3

http://www.cafepress.com/critter4

http://www.cafepress.com/critter5

http://www.cafepress.com/critter6

http://www.cafepress.com/critter7

http://www.cafepress.com/critter8

http://www.cafepress.com/critter9

http://www.cafepress.com/critter10

http://www.cafepress.com/critter11

This morning I resumed my fledgling acting career and auditioned for the Florida Pirate Festival. The audition went well and I had a lot of fun doing it and met some really nice folks. I had some great advice from David Waterman on how to survive the audition, we will see if backrub and bribery were enough.

There is more in the works and as usual I am only informed about some of them, as they make themselves apparent to me, I shall share them with you. Be well.

Lizard Loves Ya!

Lucky Dog Organics

2008-05-03T14:33:00.004-05:00

Michele Martin is creating a healthy / organic pet store / service. She currently has Marathon Paws: Total Fitness for the Urban Dog blog. http://www.marathonpaws.blogspot.com
These are the images I have made for her so far.

Winner!

2008-05-03T14:27:00.004-05:00

The Sumo drawing below was a winner of the TOKYOPOP: Sumo-Star Manga Drawing Competition for the 2008 Grand Sumo Tournament in Los Angeles (June 7 - 8, 2008).

TOKYOPOP, tokyopop.com, is a Manga information website and magazine.

sumotour.com is the website for the 2008 Grand Sumo Tournament.

Sumo Manga

2008-02-08T00:03:00.001-05:00

Robert Stackhouse: Editions Archive

2008-02-01T11:24:00.000-05:00

http://ira.usf.edu/CAM/cam_exhibitions.html

http://ira.usf.edu/CAM/cam_publications.html

The University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum currently is hosting an exhibit of Robert Stackhouse's print work (and a sculpture). The show was curated by Peter Foe. It is a wonderful exhibition where you feel immersed in the work, as you wind your way through the rooms and hall the art surrounds you in the best sense of a museum (inviting and informative). The journey through the museum enhances the passageway theme in the art. As you walk through each area you get a slight glimpse of something new and undiscovered around the corner, drawing the viewer deeper into the maze. Each image builds on the ones around it giving the feeling of discovery which is so present in the archaeological themes, a piece here and a fragment there, and if you step back you can get an outline overview of the artifact. And then the delicate coiled snake waits for you and watches.

Peter kindly called me over to see the show and get a copy of the catalogue and print which were made for this occasion. In the Introduction to the catalogue, Margaret Miller thanked me for my work on the Archive, which I appreciate.

When I worked at the museum I worked on the Robert Stackhouse Archive as well as the rest of the collection. It was an exciting project. The catalogue came out beautifully but I have not finished reading it yet.

The print which accompanies the catalogue is perfect example of Robert Stackhouse's print work. The bow of the Gokstad ship captures the archaeology and architecture themes. You can see the sculptural implications of the image, the strokes of the pencil and brush give weight and depth to the image, and the small print itself gives that feeling of catching a glimpse of a fragment something larger, yet still a delicate artifact in its own right.* [All images courtesy of USFCAM and Robert Stackhouse.]

When Robert Stackhouse made a large addition to the Archive in 1997 I wrote an article for USF Magazine which they titled, The Art of Giving. They changed the article and published it uncredited. I am including my version here along with the checklist of donated items.

ROBERT STACKHOUSE: COMPLETE EDITIONS ARCHIVE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM

On 11 March 1997, Robert Stackhouse donated to the USF Contemporary Art Museum twenty eight prints of his own artwork. They ranged in size from the miniature, 11" x 15", small snake and wooden A-frame structure to the immense, 55" x 102", Diviners. This donation brings the Robert Stackhouse Archive up to forty-four works documenting his artistic career to date. The Robert Stackhouse Archive is an ongoing project/process with Robert Stackhouse, who has promised to continue to donate one copy of every print and multiple he will create for the rest of his life. The USF Contemporary Art Museum will store, care, document, research, and exhibit the Robert Stackhouse Archive, and in the future will create a publication about Robert Stackhouse’s print work.

Robert Stackhouse is one of the most distinguished alumni from the Art Department, College of Fine Arts. Robert Stackhouse graduated from USF in 1965 and went on to earn a Masters degree from the University of Maryland in 1967. Robert Stackhouse has exhibited his paintings, prints, and sculptures throughout the United States since 1969; as well as, creating over thirty temporary sculpture installations and several permanent sculpture installations.

USF Contemporary Art Museum in 1981, hosted the exhibition David Haxton/Robert Stackhouse- Two Distinguished Alumni. In 1989, the Phyllis Marshall Center used its “Art in State Buildings” budget to purchase work from accomplished USF Fine Arts graduates; Robert Stackhouse’s watercolor, Three Forms was one of those purchases. In 1991, Robert Stackhouse created a sculpture installation, Soundless at the USF Contemporary Art Museum. In addition to the installation, he produced an etching and a lithograph, working with printmaking faculty members Bradlee Shanks, Theo Wujcik, and Art Department students. A poster was commissioned by the Contemporary Art Museum to document this exhibition. In 1991, Robert Stackhouse began working on three prints, Encountering, Red Encounterings, and Blue Encounterings, and a sculpture multiple, Immersed, at Graphicstudio, which were completed in 1992.

Robert Stackhouse has given innumerable lectures, presentations, and informal discussions to the students at USF, during each of his visits. Robert Stackhouse received a USF Outstanding Alumni Award; was a visiting painting faculty member in 1994 and was included in the faculty exhibition of that year.

The 11 March 1997 Robert Stackhouse donation was comprised of the following prints:

Niagara Dance Summer Artpark ‘77, 1978
For “Passings”, 1981
Brooklyn Bridge, 1983
Untitled, 1985
Untitled, 1986
Running Animals / Reindeer Way, 1986
Niagara Dance, 1986
Inside a Temporary Passage Structure, 1987
small snake and a wooden A-frame structure, 1987
Naja from Sources and Structures portfolio, 1989
Gokstad from Sources and Structures portfolio, 1989
Lake Garda / Shipwreck from Sources and Structures portfolio, 1989
At Hudson River Museum from Sources and Structures portfolio, 1989
At Eau Clair from Sources and Structures portfolio, 1989
At Sculpture Now from Sources and Structures portfolio, 1989
Ruby’s Way, 1989
Diviners, 1990
Approaching Diviners, 1990
Blue Diviners, 1991
Encounterings, 1991
Soundless, 1992
Soundless Soundless, 1992
Inner Soundless, 1992
Under Source, 1993
Over Deck, 1993
Ruby Lawrence, 1995
Ruby Lawrence, 1995
Adrift, 1996

Let Heaven and Nature Swing @ LCOS 7 Dec 2007

2008-02-01T11:01:00.000-05:00

I was asked to do a few drawings for the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour’s annual Christmas Concert, “Let Heaven and Nature Swing”. I made two drawings for them. I thought, these will reduce down nicely for a program. They asked about putting parts of the image throughout the program as visual consistency, which I thought was a good idea.

Well I was surprised to see the image was also being used on the cover of the Church bulletin, the tickets, the brochure, the posters, and the 22 foot high banner behind the stage. They got their use out of this image. And the concert was a great success and a lot of fun; you should go to one of their concerts.

Here is the image that they used.

Here is the banner hanging.

Here is the other image I provided LCOS, which they didn’t use.

Lutheran Church of Our Saviour

& Pre-Kindergarten

8401 West Hillborough Ave

Tampa, FL 33615

813.885.2263

Fuzzy Vision 42

2007-08-19T21:05:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 41

2007-08-06T21:04:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 40

2007-07-15T20:59:00.002-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 39

2007-07-08T22:44:00.000-05:00

Blessed Nuptials: Danielle & Brian

2007-04-16T22:44:00.000-05:00

Artwork shown at the Pinellas Animal Foundation’s “Art Wine and Food Fest”

2007-04-10T09:23:00.000-05:00

CORRECTION!

2007-03-26T11:17:00.001-05:00

I accidentally wrote that the website for Cliterature was "cliterature.com", it is actually www.cliteraturejournal.com. My apologies to both you and them.

Mea culpa, Max

Not narcissism, just yet

2007-03-24T22:47:00.000-05:00

It is a great time for me. I finally got Chicken Pox, which is much easier to share with my son rather than my scheduled mid-life crisis. Actually he shared with me.

The magazine Cliterature (http://www.cliterature.com/) has published two of my pieces in its HAGS & WITCHES theme issue. Cliterature is a magazine about Women’s sexuality and this issue in particular is about the idea of Magic Power. They published my poem “Lost in Urban Landscaping #15” from my epic and “Chicken's Foot” from Boney Knees, my novel in progress about Baba Yaga. Please check out the magazine, look around, find ways to spend money and tell them how much you love me.

I have been invited to have artwork in the Pinellas Animal Foundation’s “Art Wine and Food Fest” at Raymond James International Offices in St. Petersburg Saturday, March 31, 2007. I have donated six paintings for their auction. More information can be found at their website www.pinellasanimalfoundation.org. If you have the opportunity to attend, I would love to see you there. Whether you can be there or not tell them how much you love me.

It is only narcissism if you don’t say you love me.

Lizard loves ya!

Fuzzy Vision 38

2007-02-14T09:02:00.000-05:00

Be my Valentine & I will give you my Heart!

Fuzzy Vision 37

2006-12-15T11:50:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 36

2006-11-26T21:49:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 35

2006-11-19T21:13:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 34

2006-11-12T23:15:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 33

2006-11-05T21:11:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 32

2006-10-29T21:18:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 31

2006-10-22T22:29:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 30

2006-10-15T22:52:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 29

2006-10-08T19:11:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 28

2006-10-01T18:54:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 27

2006-10-01T18:52:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 26

2006-09-17T20:17:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 25

2006-09-10T15:31:00.000-05:00

ASYM Magazine for Kids ISSUE 1

2006-09-03T21:07:00.000-05:00

Scrubby Paws goes on a sea adventure. He meets the animals on an island, remembers to eat three good meals, and comes home to his friends. He is polite, curious, and adventurous. A great adventure story for children ages 2 – 7 which encourages politeness, sharing, curiosity, and friendship.

MAGAZINE and MERCHANDISE

AVAILABLE for PURCHASE @

http://www.cafepress.com/asym_1

ONLINE VERSION AVAILABLE @

http://www.lulu.com/max_lizard

Fuzzy Vision 24

2006-09-03T21:06:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 23

2006-08-27T19:36:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 22

2006-08-13T20:43:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 21

2006-08-11T21:20:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 20

2006-07-30T21:29:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 19

2006-07-16T20:32:00.000-05:00

Press Release: Max is in a new Book -- Buy it !

2006-07-07T09:23:00.000-05:00

Natural Cure for Gout

Without Gout, available through CafePress.com and at Goutbreak.com, is a short, enjoyable book. It details the causes of gout and, more importantly, ways to make it go away naturally. The tagline "No drugs, no needles, no gout, no bull" is accurate.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) July 5, 2006-- Author T.B. Farmer and Illustrator Yrik-Max Valentonis have released "Without Gout," a 39-page book available at CafePress.com and at Goutbreak.com.

The book reviews the causes of gout and how to treat it naturally. Gout sufferers can find out what to eat (and what to avoid) to keep the affliction at bay.

There are also segments detailing gout in history, as well as two Adventures Of Goutman, the first superhero with the Disease Of Kings."Without Gout" is not a medical text, but for $18, it is a bargain for anyone who suffers this mainful malady.

##################
Buy the Book here:
http://goutbreak.com
http://www.cafepress.com/goutbreak

##################
Buy GoutMan Stuff here:
http://www.cafepress.com/goutman

##################
Buy Other YM Valentonis Stuff & Books here:
http://www.cafepress.com/valentonis
http://www.cafepress.com/maximumlizard2

Fuzzy Vision 18

2006-06-25T21:19:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 17 "Lemming Kung-Fu 2"

2006-06-21T22:47:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 16 "Lemming Kung-Fu"

2006-06-11T16:34:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 15

2006-06-03T09:19:00.000-05:00

Just Books update

2006-05-16T21:01:00.000-05:00

All paperback books are $1.
All hardback books are $2.

Everything must go. Really.

2002 East Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33612

Maximum Lizard magazine

2006-05-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

"Paper Rock Scissors" Free Promotional Copy of "Maximum Lizard Magazine".
Pages and pages of "Paper Rock Scissors". Detailed explanation of rules and scoring. The ultimate hands-on guide book. Meditative and invigorating. An unbiased view of the strengths and weaknesses of each position. A must have for every true fan and aficionado alike.
http://www.lulu.com/content/279084

Maximum Lizard magazine #2 "Mushroom Maiden"
Folk tale about a young woman in the woods and majikal mushrooms.
e-book
http://www.lulu.com/content/283715
print-on-demand and merchandise
http://www.cafepress.com/maximumlizard2

Maximum Lizard magazine #1 "Troll vs. Goat"
A retelling of Billy Goats Gruff, explaining more in the tale... Who is that troll? Why was the troll under a bridge? Why did the Brothers Gruff want to cross the bridge so badly? Did it end there? Is it important to be polite?
e-book
http://www.lulu.com/content/208064
print-on-demand and merchandise
http://www.cafepress.com/valentonis

Fuzzy Vision 14

2006-05-07T21:01:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 13

2006-04-16T18:49:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 12

2006-04-12T23:16:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 11

2006-04-09T21:55:00.000-05:00

JUST BOOKS

2006-04-04T21:39:00.000-05:00

JUST BOOKS Used Bookstore is going out of business!

Major close out sale going on until everything is gone. The lease ends on 30 June 2006.

They have more subjects available than you knew: Architecture, Art, Anthropology, African-American Studies, Children’s Literature, Crafts, Cookbooks, Fantasy, Foreign Languages, History, Literature, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, Science, Science Fiction, and more.

2002 East Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33612

Pass this on to everyone you know who might be interested.

Fuzzy Vision 10: "American Sumo"

2006-03-26T21:45:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 9: "Resume"

2006-03-12T21:23:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 8

2006-02-26T23:29:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 7

2006-02-19T14:27:00.000-05:00

Who am I ? ask Purple Dragon Florida

2006-02-12T22:00:00.000-05:00

My Bio for Purple Dragon, Don Jitsu Ryu

http://purpledragonflorida.com/instructors.html

Who am I ? ask TBO

2006-02-12T21:35:00.000-05:00

My bio is now posted on "Tampa Bay Online"

http://www.tbo.com/entertainment/arts/artistlist.htm#v

Fuzzy Vision 6

2006-02-12T21:31:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 5

2006-02-05T16:51:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 4

2006-01-22T21:47:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 3

2005-11-11T22:47:00.000-05:00

Halloween

2005-11-11T22:38:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Vision 2

2005-10-19T20:31:00.000-05:00

First Scotch

2005-10-19T20:16:00.000-05:00

My story "First Scotch" will appear on "Autobiorama: Episode 2: To Drink Or Not To Drink" on Tampa's community radio station WMNF, 88.5 FM. It is a segment on the show "Soundstage". Bob Easton-Waller produced and recorded the show.

http://www.wmnf.org/programming/daily.php?ShowId=225

Cat Haiku published

2005-10-19T20:02:00.000-05:00

My poem "Cat Haiku" (by Y. Max Valentonis) appears on the website of the White Rose Pet Memorial Service. It is on the left hand column about 1/3 down.

http://www.whiterosepet.com/petlos.php

This poem appears in the anthology "Animal Blessings" Prayers and Poems Celebrating Our Pets", edited by June Cotner.

http://www.junecotner.com/booklist.php?id=5

Troll Vs. Goat Merchandise

2005-10-19T19:57:00.000-05:00

The first batch of Troll vs. Goat merchandise is available. There will be more images available soon.

We are just waiting on recieving our ISSN to publish issue 1 of Maximum Lizard Magazine (Troll vs. Goat).

http://www.cafepress.com/valentonis

Fuzzy Vision 1

2005-09-21T22:34:00.000-05:00

Valentonis and Son Publishing

2005-09-21T20:45:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the begining of Valentonis and Son Publishing.

The first issue of Maximum Lizard magazine will be "Troll vs. Goat"
The first issue of ASYM magazine will be "Scrubby Paws' Island Adventure"

Magazines and merchandise will be available at:
www.cafepress.com/valentonis