Thursday, October 29, 2020

AMERICAN FOLK HORROR















These past five Wednesdays have surely been the most inspired moments of 2020 for us at Wyrd War. My American Folk Horror film and lecture series culminated this week with a live remote Q&A with Dr. Sam Waymon himself. Perhaps you know his sister by her stage name Nina Simone? This was an exceptionally special moment for me, and I thank our intimate cabal of friends and supporters who masked up and bore witness to the dark magic that is GANJA & HESS. Pandemic be damned! Eternal gratitude to Sam Waymon for staying up late with us, everyone at The Coffin Club, and, as always, my beloved A.K. Wilson for documenting the occasion with these beautiful pics. Let the chthonic spirits possess your soul!

Monday, October 12, 2020

HAIL TIMO KETOLA


I woke this morning to the terrible news that Timo Ketola has succumbed to leukemia. If you have ever visited my Wyrd War gallery, you have very likely heard me describe Timo as one of the greatest living artists working within an occult framework. If you joined us for our one year anniversary exhibit this past July, you had the rare and sublime pleasure of experiencing a selection of Timo’s incredible work from my personal collection. The world is an entirely less enchanted place without Timo Ketola’s nimble hands feverishly scribbling away on any surface available. It was some small comfort that I received the word from a very dear and trusted friend from afar, rather than the usual internet channels. As we reminded each other this morning, we always believe we have time...until we do not. Seize the night! Re-enchant! Re-enchant! Re-enchant your world before it is too late! Perhaps that is the meaning of Timo’s premature and heartbreakingly unexpected departure from this perishable realm of flesh, blood and bone. R.I.P. Fuck The World. HAIL TIMO KETOLA! 

Tuesday, October 06, 2020

WYRD WAR PRESENTS: FRIGHT GALLERY 2020!




















THANK YOU to everyone who masked-up for our annual invocation of FRIGHT GALLERY! That is how you physically distance and still have a blast! The Wyrd War gallery is now 100% disinfected and ready for appointments. Drop us a line at wyrdwar@gmail.com to arrange a visit. The current exhibition of extremely rare horror movie posters and video store promotional ephemera is on display through November 1, 2020. Special thanks to A.K. Wilson for being extra amazing (and taking most of these pics) and Ghost for his total support as always. We remember Halloween...  

Monday, October 05, 2020

AMERICAN FOLK HORROR (Part One)




 

Hail to the brave souls who sacrificed their asses and joined the Wyrd War cult at The Coffin Club for the first installment of our five week lecture and film series American Folks Horror! Those seats are cruel stony altars, but we held our ground and explored the unhallowed roots of British folk horror and the great American diaspora. This Wednesday we return with part two, American Nightmare: Colonialism and Chthonic Forces

Saturday, September 26, 2020

AMERICAN FOLK HORROR


I am delighted to announce that all five weeks of my film and lecture series sold out in a matter of hours. Perhaps once the pandemic is over I will attempt to bring this to a bigger venue. Thank you to everyone in Portland who stepped up to support this project. It is time to keep your appointment with...AMERICAN FOLK HORROR!

Thursday, July 23, 2020

THE OCCULT ROOTS OF ATAVISM

Banner by A.K. Wilson with graphics by E. Danielsson

Wyrd War invites you to join us on Saturday July 25, 2020 as we celebrate the one year anniversary of our brick and mortar gallery in Portland, Oregon with the unveiling of THE OCCULT ROOTS OF ATAVISM: Ephemera & Iconography from the Metal & Punk Underground.  

Enter the crossroads of weird where American outlaw culture collides with folk horror animism and celluloid marauders join Wotan's wild hunt across the nightside eclipse! 26 black wizards. 58 works of art. 8 countries. Total death. Overwhelming in scope, this exhibit is something of a companion display to the ongoing series I have been publishing here on my blog since 2011 that celebrate the incredible lineage of heavy metal and punk artwork, and the pop culture undercurrents that inform its visual heritage. Part one is here. Part two is here. Part three is here. Part four is coming whenever I have time to sit and write it.

We are modifying our usually packed opening receptions during the pandemic to provide a safer physically-distanced experience. Masks are required to enter the gallery. If you do not have a mask when you arrive (what the hell is wrong with you??), we will provide one for you. We are limiting entrance to five guests at a time. We have tables outside in our private lot with adult refreshments provided for those 21+ by BLOOD SWEAT TEARS Vodka while you wait, and while you take in this amazing collection. Don't break the oath.     

WYRD WAR
3505 NE Broadway Street
Portland, Oregon    

Tuesday, July 07, 2020

FAREWELL, MAESTRO!


I have been immersing myself in the music of Ennio Morricone all day, but want to slip in at the witching hour to pay my final respects here. It is impossible to fathom the history and progression of cinematic music without considering the almost incomprehensible genius of Ennio Morricone. Music and movies have always been inseparable sources of inspiration for me. As a child in the 70s, his was the first “movie music” that caused me to stand to attention in front of the TV, and remain during the credits to learn his name. In fact, he was the first composer I ever knew by name...and such a strange name it was at the time! As a heavy metal kid in the 80s, his deceptively simple non-linear cadences with acrobatic scales, blaring horns, orgasmic breathy female intonations and wild drum solos erupting all over the place unlocked the gates to jazz and the strange music of Sun Ra, Moondog, Milford Graves and even Current 93. I happened to be revisiting Kenneth Anger’s Lucifer Rising last night when the news of Morricone’s death came to my attention, and, if you know me personally, you know that this was the best possible way to learn that such a prodigious flame had gone out. This is not a tragic moment for me. Morricone lived a long and fulfilling life. The kind of life we should all hope to aspire towards. A life of intention and dignity, guided by discipline and devotion to craft. A life that inspired countless kindred souls to find our own muse, our own source and our own distinctive melody in the cosmic vibration of life. Your flame ignited the world, maestro, and burns on...eternally! Farewell.

Ennio Morricone
November 10, 1928 - July 6, 2020

Friday, June 05, 2020

"OK! I'LL DO IT..."


Limited edition "red blood" variant of my 2020 shirt for AUTOPSY is available HERE through June 15, 2020...and then it disappears forever! This shirt was created for their worldwide 2020 concert dates, before the global pandemic put an abrupt end to live music for the foreseeable future. The original single color print was unveiled at AUTOPSY's Chicago show in March, just days before the nationwide state of emergency was declared, and sold out immediately. This 100% authorized two-color discharge ink version is printed on super soft sweatshop-free shirts and proceeds directly support my WYRD WAR gallery in Portland, Oregon, which has had to remain shuttered since March. Only death is real...but the rent is still due. All sizes and international shipping are available. ORDER NOW!     

Thursday, May 21, 2020

THEE SLAYER HIPPY R.I.P.

FEEL THE DARKNESS.

Tuesday, May 05, 2020

F.O.A.D.

Photo by A.K. Wilson

Production pic by Tim Sepulveda





Photo by A.K. Wilson

COVID-19 can take me now! My work on this planet is complete. The amazingly talented sculptor Tim Sepulveda of Veda Toys partnered with me to create an extremely limited edition 3.7" funeral figure based on my first drawing for DARKTHRONE way back in 2007. Note how the devilock hangs over the brim of the helmet. Behold the tiny spikes on his tiny gloved fist. Revel in the microscopic silver bondage ring on his clunky black boots. A.K. Wilson designed beautiful retro-inspired action figure packaging, and the plastic blister is hinged at the bottom so the figure can be removed without damaging the signed/numbered cardback! 13 of these painstakingly sculpted and hand-painted masterpieces marched into the world on April 20, 2020 and disappeared in less than one hour. F.O.A.D. // R.I.P.