Craig’s death prompted passionate outpourings of grief from the many artists, city employees and small business owners he came to know throughout his many years in Tacoma. Craig was considered a pioneer in the Tacoma arts scene, opening the funky RampArt gallery and antique shop in 2004 to dozens of avant-garde and emerging painters, photographers, video artists and sculptors who were invited to show and sell their works in his affordable gallery. Craig was known to work hard by day and to play hard at night, endearing him to the local urban denizens and night owls. Matt Nagle/Tacoma Weekly
To memorialize, to celebrate his life, to mourn the loss of our long-time friend and business partner, funkoma vintage and Rampart will have music, food and fun with local musician Steve Stefanowicz !
In June 2008, Glen Ripple, Mark and Tressie Schindele revived the beloved building, clubhouse/wacky parlor, known in Tacoma...as Rampart. We have many delightful memories of Rampart and Steve and some are family-safe and some are not. It's not easy being cheesy and Steve stayed true to the Tacoma of our moldy dreams.
Now, at funkoma vintage and Rampart redux, we are sad, yet proud and resigned to the fact that we'll only have Steve Craig in our memories and nightmares.
Please join us this Third Thursday Artwalk, February 19, Music from 5 pm to 7 pm...party till it's time to leave......Fun, Food and Music !
here's a picture of Alan Gorsuch in Steve's apartment after he died (Steve not Alan!) I stole the pic from the TNT....
you with reasons to come on down anyway.....funkoma vintage misses you already.I'd approach from the north...from PSP (pizza) cause those big machines and bigger holes they're digging are a bit scary....lots of parking to be had if you walk downhill .....
My flower box needs NEW! Coming soon...new containers and new flowers....
Heart my Boxers and cropped Army shirt...
Valentines Day is coming up! Got something red... and fancy or sparkly or not? Well, I suggest a something sweet... I'm setting out springy stuff and warm stuff because it's that time of year....Winter is leaving...kinda... And the mood is getting antsy...... Vintage dresses, tops and sweaters. ...Men's 50s, 60s and 70s shirts, and pants and jackets...
Fuzzy Wuzzy Jacket.......
Red Satin dress....
Tapestry coat
Blue Glass MidCentury Lamp, Parrots and pretty things....
Plaid Ice Bucket and kids Converse...
Steampunk Victorian Edwardian Collection...
More Steampunk
Boots and Lace
Looking up? White chippy furniture and Coke refreshes
Well what before my wandering eyes should appear.... But a swirly glass ball awaiting in there.... in my car....a lovely gift from glass-blowing monkeys.... Thanks! 100th Monkey people........I love my Ox ball.... And it will be in my jewelry case at funkoma vintage....
at other news at funkoma.... my shirttale cousin....Sandy Wright is a photographer... she's filterfour.com.... and at modelmayhem.....
please go there and view her magnificent work. She and her cousin Sherri, came to the shop, and set up beautiful vignettes..... So, lucky me ! I'll be having different lovely gals for modeling....
I love making stuff...and having my big Sewing Room at funkoma vintage, "where the magic happens" (tm) allows me to churn out lovelies like this....now on the bod of The awesomeness of Jennifer Johnson...
I don't know about you, but I am real sick of winter...I have always disliked winter because it's cold, and I'm from California, nuff said. But I'll say more. So, I'm setting outspring stuffin the shopalready. I can't help it. I have billions of new things (er, vintage) and I think if I put them out there, Spring will come sooner. I'm seeing the tops of little bulb leaves.....
And have I told you I have a Red vintage ruffly Tux shirt for the boys or girls whatevah.
Moby Grape in a photo used on their debut album cover. Back (l to r) Peter Lewis and Skip Spence, front (l to r) Jerry Miller, Don Stevenson and Bob Mosley.
Did I , funkoma vintage, or did I not just blog about him...and haven't I, funkoma, blogged many times about my beloved Jerry? Yes! clicky here! I have no doubt this is also one of the many reasons why I will drop my clothes at almost any moment....Naked If I Want To.... And since The Tressie Nostalgia Train has left the station, at the bottom, I've included one of my other favorite San Francisco bands...Quicksilver Messenger Service...2 vids....Fresh Air and...What About Me...
"No rock and roll group has been able to use a guitar trio as effectively as Moby Grape did on Moby Grape. Spence played a distinctive rhythm guitar that really sticks out throughout the album. Lewis, meanwhile, was a very good guitar player overall and was excellent at finger picking, as is evident in several songs. And then there is Miller. ...The way they crafted their parts and played together on Moby Grape is like nothing else I've ever heard in my life. The guitars are like a collage of sound that makes perfect sense. Miller-Stevenson's "8:05" became a country rock standard...."
Wish I could find this..... I am so bummed for him, that I won't make any jokes about Moby+water...too late. Here's some pics I stole off teh internets....
Quicksilver Messenger Service... Fresh Air...
What About Me...
What About Me (Released December of 1970)
You poisoned my sweet water. You cut down my green trees. The food you fed my children Was the cause of their disease.
My world is slowly fallin' down And the airs not good to breathe. And those of us who care enough, We have to do something.......
(Chorus) Oh.......oh What you gonna do about me? Oh.......oh What you gonna do about me?
Your newspapers, They just put you on. They never tell you The whole story.
They just put your Young ideas down. I was wonderin' could this be the end Of your pride and glory?
(Chorus)
I work in your factory. I study in your schools . I fill your penitentiaries. And your military too!
And I feel the future trembling, As the word is passed around. "If you stand up for what you do believe, Be prepared to be shot down."
(Chorus)
And I feel like a stranger In the land where I was born And I live like an outlaw. An' I'm always on the run..........................
An Im always getting busted And I got to take a stand........ I believe the revolution Must be mighty close at hand.......................
(Chorus)
I smoke marijuana But I cant get behind your wars. And most of what I do believe Is against most of your laws
I'm a fugitive from injustice But I'm goin' to be free. Cause your rules and regulations They dont do the thing for me
(Chorus)
And I feel like a stranger In the land where I was born And I live just like an outlaw. An' I'm always on the run.
is one of the cutest things I've found in a long time! These skirts are usually painted with Aztec symbols or guitars, big florals, or cactus. They were made of cotton and painted for tourists in fun colorful Mexican motifs that would be a wearable memory of a 50s warm and sunny vacation. The style of the time was a big circle...just perfect for dancing and being impressive with a huge crinoline underneath.
Until January 28, '09, this one is for auction at ebay.....
Most vintage mexican skirts I've seen were made of an odd black velvet decorated with sequins. Sometimes you can find them with a matching top. Worn alone or together they make a darling ensemble for a party or a patio barbeque! The vintage handpainted Mexican skirt is wearable everyday...such fun to brighten up the day while shopping or running errands, and special enough for a casual dinner out with the family.
Here's a few other Mexican hand-made items found in the last year.
for February will be special in a special kind of way..
Why? Because dear, not only is it Artwalk for February '09 in the year of our new funky president........ But February 19 is the One Year anniversary of the stupid and untimely death of old friend Steve Craig.... hard to believe he's been gone a year already...
We'll be celebrating, er, uh, remembering Steve... and remembering his part in so many artistic art-like endeavors, people and parties...
AND !! Steve Stefanowicz has agreed to play music for us here at funkoma vintage world wide headquarters from 6 ish to 7 ish........
I think your head will pop pop pop...from all the Steveness that will be happening... it's all happening.... 02 -- 19 -- 09
first some pics of Folksingers In Hell... you missed a great show......first David sat out on the street on a frigid Tacoma night...and wailed on the elektrik geetar... Then he came to his senses and he and Heidi sang new and old songs of ye old folk... Heidi sang her groovy song homage to Brown and Haley makes 'em daily Candy Factory Worker Blues!! and David regailled up with The Suitcase Song for which he won an actual Cash prize !!
and I think you should now consider becoming a Myspace friend...then I can send you this as a Free Thank You Gift !!
Inside the shop.........Can you believe it?
MidCentury Modern
and uh, I have some new auctions on ebay, and adding new stuff to etsy, and if you can find the time...I have tons and tons, and I mean tons of new stuff in the shop... Chartreuse loveseat.........50 MCM plywood chair....victorian carved furniture ...so steampunk....
