Classic and haunting. As is everything Mz. Andersson lays her hands on or puts her voice to. If you’re the artistically adventurous and eccentric type, check out anything you can by “Fever Ray”, and her and her brother’s experimental pop electronic group “The Knife”.

peas - gaR

French artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot has created a living work of art here which includes: zebra finches, electric guitars, and an avian friendly space and time. As the birds go about their daily routine activities, perching on or feeding from the various pieces of equipment, they create a captivating, live soundscape. One even takes to the guitar with a stick. -A lil winged shredder.

Boursier-Mougenot’s installation will be up through:
27 February 2010 - 23 May 2010
The Curve, Barbican, London

1950’s: Conrad in the Army

1960s/70s - Conrad in the Army

1973: Carolyn, Conrad, and Baby Dana in Texas

2009 - Conrad at home in Osteen underneath assorted gARTw3rks’

2009 - Dana & Conrad at home in Osteen underneath assorted gARTw3rks

2008 - Conrad and his Pom: “Boogie”

2008: Conrad chillin’ outside by the fire pit in Osteen

Approx 2004 or 05: Conrad the X-mas Alien

Conrad - “wiggin’ out”

Conrad and Dana - the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree

Dana and Conrad - early 2000’s

Dana, Conrad, & Kenny in June 2003 at Dana and I’s wedding

Early 2000’s: Conrad, Coffee, & a lifetime of wisdom

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=->>

Wanna see more?: View the full set of over 100 photos of Conrad Lawrence with his family and friends across many decades.

As some of you may or may not know, my wife and I have been caring for her father for quite a few years now. When we first moved back out to Osteen from Orlando in the late 90’s, he was actually helping us out much more than we were helping him. Conrad’s always been the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back if you asked for it. And although it felt good to know we were keeping him company after her Mom had passed away, it was initially his giving nature and quiet fortitude that really helped and inspired us in a time of need. But as time has gone on over the past decade plus.. our roles started to reverse and fittingly enough we ended up needing to be there for him in the final years of his life her on earth. That is what family is for though right?

So when Dana’s Dad had a stroke 7 or 8 years ago, our care for him became much more in depth and crucial to keeping him out of the VA hospital and/or a nursing home. And then as Conrad’s health slowly deteriorated more and more, the past few years in particular have been some of the toughest of our lives . In the mid 00’s Conrad developed Alzheimer’s disease which in turn affected his memory, and more importantly, his ability to care for himself in almost any capacity. On top of that and even though we got him to quit shortly after having the stroke, 50+ years of smoking cigarettes had already taken their toll on ol’ Conrad’s lungs. Emphysema & COPD (Cardiopulmonary Disease) made it increasingly difficult for him to breathe properly w/o oxygen machines, a nebulizer, and medications.

So finally this past Tuesday/Jan. 26th, 2010 and after a brave, arduous, and dignified battle.. Conrad’s body finally gave up the ghost and he ascended to another plain of existence from here at his home in Osteen, FL. Fortunately it was a calm, peaceful, and relatively painless passing. Through out all the time I’ve known Conrad and even in his most painful states, he never complained once, and I consider him to be one of the bravest, most noble people I have ever had the honor of knowing.

As tough as it’s been on Dana and I in every imaginable way, we’re trying our best to stay positive and dwell on the good times we had rather than the struggles. To concentrate on the benefits of it all rather than the negative aspects. We’re earnestly trying to look & learn from the experiences we had caring for her ailing elder parent in his final years as a gift rather than a curse, as some might. After all, it’s getting through the tough stuff n’ difficulties in our lives with dignity intact that builds character in a person. The cake work and walks in the park don’t teach us near as much as the trials and tribulations do.

So what has this experience and in turn Conrad taught us?.. Well, we’ve definitely learned what unconditional love truly means. We’ve learned the importance and reward of putting others before ourselves. We’ve learned that life is short, even if you grow to be old. We’ve learned to be thankful for what we have, instead of resenting what we don’t get. We’ve learned that to receive you have to give. We’ve learned that living a life of honor, dignity, respect, sacrifice, gratitude, compassion, and purpose is more valuable in the long run than any thing that you can put a price tag on.

Conrad taught us this. He was our teacher, our father, and our friend. While we mourn his passing and our loss, we celebrate his life and his genuine and giving spirit. We recommit ourselves to living our lives in a way that would make him proud. We shall honor his life and sacrifices by living our lives to the best of our abilities with nothing but gratitude and respect for the man we affectionately knew and loved as: “Pops’”, “Poppie-Cop”, “Cornbread”, “Con-man”, “Buster Brown”, “Daddy, and quite simply - Dad.

Conrad we will dearly miss you but most assuredly never ever forget you. Travel well. Be in peace, and be in light. See you in the stars and give our love to Carolyn, Winifred, and to all the ancestors.

Love Always - Matthew and Dana

PS - To see some photos of Conrad’s life over the years, please click - *HERE

Normal people are weird, and I love this video.. Love - gaR

PS - Thanx “Hot Sugar” and Pitchfork TV. You katz rawk.

Props to Brett Hamil for the tip, and to the American Museum Of Natural History for making such an amazing and accurate map/diagram/visual reference of our place in the cosmos.

“Somewhere along the way, my hopefulness turned to sadness
Somewhere along the way, my sadness turned to bitterness
Somewhere along the way, my bitterness turned to anger
Somewhere along the way, my anger turned to vengeance

And the ones that I made pay were never the ones who deserved it
And the ones who deserved it, they’ll never understand it.
Yes, I know I’m going to Hell in a purple basket
‘Least I’ll be in another world while you’re pissing on my casket…

How could you be, oh
So perfect for me?
Why can’t you ignore, oh
The things I did before?

Somewhere along the way, exacting vengeance gave excitement
Somewhere along the way, that excitement turned to pleasure
Somewhere along the way, that pleasure turned to madness
But sooner or later that kind of madness turns into pain

And the ones that I made pay were never the ones who deserved it
Those who helped me along the way, I smacked ‘em as I thanked ‘em
Yes, I know I’m going to Hell in a leather jacket
‘Least I’ll be in another world while you’re pissing on my casket

And all that I can do is sing a song of faded glory
And all you got to do is sit there, look great, and make ‘em horny
Together we’ll sing songs and tell exaggerated stories
About the way we feel today and tonight and in the morning…

How could you be, oh
So perfect for me?
Why can’t you ignore, oh
The things I did before?”……

Dig this?… Well, he’s got a ton of free music for you and yers ears over at Hairy Sloth Records. Look for his new full length LP entitled “Approaching Sunlight” to appear on the web pages of Tha SLoTH in the very near future as well. It will include the track above and be just as immaculate and then some. Count on it.

You can also read and an interview with A.C. and view their 2009 underground cross-over smash hit video for “My Girls” by clicking This Link to a past Gar Lives blog post.

Geometry never sounded or looked so beautiful as in Lusine’s -”Two Dots” track off of 2009’s LP
“A Certain Distance“.

Wanted to share this video/song with my GarLives peeps for a few months now. Finally got around to it. Props to Ian Monroe to turning me on to this album last year. Mad love n’ respect to you, your ears, and your eyes hombre.