Emil Bruzek, the Repainter of Prague

 by Glen L. Bledsoe 

Many of you are already familiar with the story of Emil Bruzek, the Repainter of Prague, an artist who was repeatedly rejected by galleries until in his frustration he broke into museums throughout Europe and during the night painted over canvases with images of his own. Initially the alterations were subtle and went unnoticed, but in his growing frustration for recognition his repainting grew more and more fantastic until they at last gained attention.

Pictured above is one of Emils’ repaintings. Left: “Woman with Cossack Hat” by Remi Vakowskivitch, Right: Emil Bruzek’s reworking.

Several groups are demanding Bruzek be released from prison stating that the jail space is needed for oil company executives.

Flump Grubbling

By Martin Sercombe

The game of Flump Grubbling is still practiced in a few small villages in the north of England. It involves balancing turkey eggs on a grubbling plank placed on each competitor's head.

The rules are simple: the participant who can balance the most eggs on their plank without dropping any is declared the winner. But there is a catch - as soon as a participant drops an egg, they are "flumped" and the villagers throw the fallen egg at them.

The game is a sight to behold. The villagers gather in a flumping room, dressed in their finest clothes, and cheer on the competitors. Each participant has a different technique for balancing the eggs, some move their bodies carefully to maintain their balance, while others stand very still, trying to avoid any sudden movements.

As the game progresses, the eggs begin to wobble and sway and the tension among the players is palpable. The audience holds its breath, waiting for the inevitable moment when an egg falls.

The player who is flumped the most times is dubbed the Gobbler. The Gobbler must entertain the audience with turkey impersonations, flapping his arms and gobbling like a turkey.

The player who succeeds in balancing the most eggs becomes King Grubbler for the remaining year, and is awarded a gigantic omelette made with his winning eggs.

The Masterpiece

 By Martin Sercombe

 

“This artistic manifestation, with its rigorous denial of chromatic texture or overt symbolism, offers a compelling deconstruction of the human condition within the post-modern zeitgeist. The total absence of visual or sensory components, and refusal to allude to the socio-political struggles of our era, reveals a deep-seated existential angst that permeates all of contemporary culture.

By challenging the viewer's preconceived notions and subverting traditional artistic tropes, this work invites a profound introspection into the core of our being, forcing us to confront the inherent contradictions and uncertainties of our existence. Its sublime beauty and minimal conceptual framework makes it a truly transcendent example of contemporary art, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and offering a new paradigm for the future of creative endeavour.” 

Professor Ursula Christensen, University of the Arts, New York

The Babysitter

 

by Glen L. Bledsoe 

Ginny was excited to hear that her neighbors had gotten a new and exotic pet. She hadn't seen it yet, but she read about it in books and understood the wonderful science behind bringing such creatures back to life after all the centuries since they had gone extinct.

Ginny also knew that her neighbors would be away now and then and that they would need someone to babysit their new pet. And you know who would be first to volunteer!

Well, who could have imagined how much you needed to know to take care of such a pet? Ginny studied books on the subject and took babysitting classes. Finally the day arrived. Ginny was asked by her neighbors if she would look after their new pet and invited her over. It was so cute! Ginny laughed out loud when she saw their pet human.