Postcard - Nome, Alaska

"Nome, Alaska, on the Seward Peninsula at Bering Sea with a large Eskimo population. Seen here is Main Street with City Hall."

1960s.

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The Redeye to Newark

Morty Comix # 2613

Morty Comix # 2613 was placed in a nonfurtive way in Bruce Chrislip's drawing notebook during the Obscuro Bezango show opening at the Future Tenant gallery in Pittsburgh. In fact, Mike Hill even photographed the event and the flash on his camera was caught in my first photo here.

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SeaTac Airport

Postcard - Nome, Alaska

"Aerial view of Nome, Alaska on the coast of the Bering Sea."

1960s?

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SeaTac Airport

Morty Comix # 2612

Morty Comix # 2612 was drawn on the back of a bank form and placed inside a copy of Beastly Boys and Ghastly Girls by William Cole with illos by the great Tomi Ungerer.  It was due to Ungerer's presence here that I chose to use this book as my drawing "clipboard" cushioned by thin cardboard during my wonderful week in Butler, Pennsylvania. I think I drew about 50 Morty Comix during that magical week, which is more drawing than I have done in a long time. But I was with a very creative and inspirational group of people and actually had time to breathe.

Yes, I am left-handed. But I am also right-eyed, right-eared and right-nostriled. There's a great pun waiting to be born here, but I'm tired.

Anyway, I have been informed this particular Morty Comix has already been discovered.

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SeaTac Airport, Washington

Postcard - Kotzebue, Alaska

The world of postcard prose is a bizarre realm, as regular Morty the Blog readers are no doubt aware. But this particular one ranks as the most condescending piece I have encountered so far. I place this in the 1960s:

"Kotzebue in the Arctic. On the shore of the Arctic Ocean peacefully lies the city of Kotzebue, Alaska with mostly Eskimo population. These natives make their living from fishing as well as entertaining tourists. The place is ice-free only three or four months in the summer."

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Watching this huge James Abbott mural being covered by a new paint job in Elma, Washington makes me think of sandcastles being gobbled by the tides on the coast. Outdoor murals can be such a fleeting art form.

Morty Comix # 2611

Morty Comix # 2611 was placed in an empty real estate brochure box in a strip mall at Butler, Pennsylvania. On the left hand side of this photo is an Asian buffet restaurant we used as the unofficial Obscuro dining HQ and discussion place several times. If I lived in Butler it would be a regular hangout for me.

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Now and then I have been documenting the work of muralist James Abbott, who was active in eastern Grays Harbor County mostly in the 1990s. Many of his works were historical in nature, frequently highlighting the culture of the early timber workers.

One of his largest works in Elma, Washington is vanishing forever as the building is repainted. Such is the brief life of outdoor painted art.

Postcard - Winthrop, Washington

"Winthrop - Methow Valley"

1940s?

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Favorite Movie Quotes: The Hand

Old cartoonist to replacement cartoonist on changing the comic strip: " ... By making him look too deep inside himself. Making him too self-conscious. That's not Mandro. Mandro knows what he wants. Mandro doesn't think. You drew all those f****** bubbles with him thinking!"

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Morty Comix # 2610

 

Morty Comix # 2610 was slipped behind an emergency contacts sign at the Future Tenant gallery during the setup for the Obscuro Bezango show in Pittsburgh.

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Postcard - Westport, Washington

"Westport, Washington, Salmon Capital of the World. A few of the beautiful charter boats which take the Sportsman for a charter trip to enjoy the 'King of All Sports' -- Grays Harbor in the background."

1970s?

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Future Tenant Interviews Obscuro Bezango Curator Tom Rehm

Here's the Link!

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Aberdeen, Washington

Morty Comix # 2609

Morty Comix # 2609 was slipped into a copy of my favorite Vonnegut novel, Slaughterhouse-Five, at the public library in Butler, Pennsylvania. On the way to this book, Tom Rehm showed me the beautiful mural in the children's section created by his brother, Michael Rehm.

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Chehalis River, Aberdeen, Washington

Postcard - Westport, Washington

 

"Westport, Washington. The lighthouse at Westport, Salmon Capital of the World, guards the entrance to Grays Harbor. This view also shows U.S. Coast Guard Station, approach to the beach and in the distance the beautiful blue Pacific."

1970s?