DeLarge

Alex looking especially evil, obviously due to the pageboy mop.

Our lives run on culture, and here at Bellacozy/Holdfast,  our minds lean more towards cult, movies specifically.  We consume movies voraciously, and our favorites are the ones that leave us bamboozled.  We crave intensity, visual and emotional.  One film we like to viddy in particular is Stanley Kubrick's 1971 adaptation of Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange.  

Obviously, this is an extremely popular film.  I can't count the number of times I've heard people rave about it, and in my google search for images related to this post, I found hundreds of documented Alex costumes.  But I must not be thwarted by something's popularity, especially if I feel passionately about it.

I could go on and on about the production design, my love of the language used, or how I feel about the whole book v. movie adaptation, but instead I will devote this post to something more chilling to me - the impossibly strong attraction Holdfast and I both feel toward Malcolm McDowell as Alexander DeLarge.  

This scene provides proof of the power of the very intense gesture of sitting on someone's lap.  It is a very deliberate and commanding move, and I'm surprised it hasn't been employed in more leadership camps, because I do believe one could become a tycoon this way.  Although, they very well could be teaching young business people this practice and I wouldn't know it because I am an artist and a dropout, and have never attended a business seminar.

Why go to the local coffee shop when you can drink here? Milk with Vellocet, milk with Synthmesc; whatever suits you. Plus, you're likely to catch a Devotchka or two ;)

On the same note, it didn't occur to me until I lent my Russian History Nerd brother the book that all of the other atrificial coloquialisms and idioms used in the film are Russian as well.  Even "horor show" is a derivation of the Russian word for good.  In my brother's opinion, Anthony Burgess' book appears to be set in a Soviet occupied Russia, and, being that the novel was written during the Cold War era, this hypothesis is not easily ignored.

It is hard to pick just which part of the elaborate sets I like the best, but really this "Dancing Jesus" sculpture by artist Herman Makkink, who did a few other pieces for he film as well.

I'd feel satisfied without the droogs.  In the words of Tyler Perry, some can do bad all by themselves.

There is a particular facial muscle that is more pronounced on some people and I am very attracted to it.  It is located just outside the dimples, and this man has it. Not to mention, I love a man with nice lashes...

It is in this situation that I would be most likely to come under attack.  If any man anywhere approaches me in this getup I will most likely follow him home.  The ensuing romp is fast-forwarded in the film, but if anyone knows where I can get a real-time version of the shot, I will be highly appreciative and go watch it by myself.

You'd think that wearing a full-body jumpsuit would deter one's being raped at least a little bit, but in this scene they come prepared with scissors, and cut the devotchka's clothes right off her.

Ever smirking in spite of spit and a broken nose.

Last year Holdfast meticulously carved this as her halloween pumpkin. 

'Ta

The light and wonderful hand of Matt Gibson

I met a man by chance about 5 years ago. His name is Matt Gibson. Little did I know that for years to come, he would learn my tastes, create beautiful original artwork for me, and become a friend.

Tattooing didn't become legal in the backwards state of Oklahoma until 2006. There were shops open in pseudo-secret. Everybody knew someone who knew someone who would tattoo you in a kitchen or outside of their trailer, but needless to say, things could get sketchy, and I do not mean that as a pun. There were no health standards in place. People were getting shitty tattoos or taking their money out of state.

Exreme? Totally.

Liger? Tigon? Piece of shit?

And then it came, November 1, 2006, the day we joined every other fucking state in the union and made tattooing legal.

I called the fanciest shop in town. Then I called one that I could afford. I met Matt at First Amendment Tattoo when it was near the Paseo (my then current home) on NW 23rd St. My first tattoos were a gift, as many of mine have been. Thanks Krissy! I payed homage to one of my favorite artists, Edward Gorey, and had a bat tattooed on each calf. And so it began.



For a while, I was away from Oklahoma City and was tattooed by a chump or two, but when I came home, I was determined to find Matt again! His laid back demeanor was reason enough to want to work with him. After much googling, I found him. He cleaned up my tattoos that other pricks had done and even added a little extra love to my little bats.

Since then, I have gotten more tattoos from this man, and have NEVER been disappointed. Matt has a professional attitude, a good sense of humor, and, especially importantly, a very light hand.

photo by William Woods

TA-DAH!

Anniversary Diamond

Razor handle

Razor blade

Modeling At Midwest Ink and Metal Fest

Not only is Matt super cool, but he has a degree from the Art Institute, for those who believe in art school, and for those who don't care about art school, Matt's artwork has won awards and been featured in tattoo magazines! Matt's demeanor is totally chill. He'll never bore you talking about his awesome car or porn stars he supposedly met like some tools do. He'll never make you feel like a sex-object. He's not an alcoholic who's gonna blow your money at some vomit-covered bar. He's a husband and a father. He's a friendly Star Wars nerd with an immaculate shop filled with excellent artwork done by everyone from himself to Shephard Fairey.
Here are some of his works on other folks:

Sexy Lincoln - A Dazed and Confused reference

The weapon we have is LOVE!

versatile much!? Check out his cover up tattoo that isn't even complete!

Recently, the BC/HF team visited Mr. Gibson, or "MatGib" as we affectionately call him.

 Both of us had artwork hand drawn by Miss Audrey tattooed on ourselves.

Sketch for Dusan Makavejev tribute tattoo

Pleased as punch!

Matt Gibson can be reached at 15th St Tattoo in Edmond (405 513 8886) which is right off the highway.

That's a super-hot old guy

At BC-HF headquarters, we have always had a problem with prejudice, but one of the most despicable forms of it is ageism. When people degrade those of different generations, it is even more ridiculous than judging them based on race, sexual preference, gender, religion, or any other aspect of their lives. Chances are, if you are young you will probably get old, and you were most certainly younger at on point.

Numero uno on our list is ..

He lived through Irish-Catholic hell. He wrote  books that opened my young mind to the horrors of my Irish motherland. He accidentally threw up his first eucharist. He is the perma-sexy Frank McCourt.

That coy side-grin gets my in the spine every time. Where do I sign up to get raped by the former Alex DeLarge, Malcolm McDowell. MEEEEE-YOW!  Evil stays sexy forever, kids.

Leonard Cohen fits into all the necessary categories.  Brooding, intelligent, Canadian, fascinated by death, fellatioed by Janis Joplin, and adored by Rufus Wainwright.

Anthony Steward Head is quite possibly the ultimate filler for the role of teacher-student fantasy.  Modest, with a quaint accent and wealth of ancient knowledge - and need we mention he once played Frank N. Furter in a stage production of Rocky Horror Picture Show?

 I often bemoan the unavailable sexual state of certain gay men.  Obviously they have the right to be with whomever they choose, but why doesn't Sir Ian McEllen ever choose me?  I would be thrilled to discuss the fascinating similarities between mutant prosecution and homophobia.  Do please bring on the learning!

Oh, John C. Reilly, I love you in all your incarnations. You might have been Mr. Cellophane in Chicago, but I'm looking right at you, babay! You make me laugh, cry, and then usually laugh quite a bit more. I need mor Dr. Steve Brule. Seriously, it's for my health!

Michael..My favorite Python, my only Palin.  Wit and playfulness can get you far over time, and are essential character traits.  All of the pythons posses a great gift of humor, but Palin's seems just a dash more adorable than the rest.  Any man willing to walk silly and repeatedly dress like a granny has my vote.

I think I find Larry David attractive because I identify with his actions so.  On the exterior, he may seem like an asshole, but sarcasm can sometimes be immensely appealing, and really he is usually trying to do right in the situations that get him into trouble.

The glasses? The almost single-handed creation of what we now know as zombies? I love it all. I loves me some George Romero.  I would even be willing to try sexy flesh-eating role play with this man!

Peter Sellers is someone I have a crush on in every role, from over-sexualized Inspector Clouseau to demure Chauncey Gardner, He gives off an irresistible coy and somewhat-cocky vibe.

Most everyone can admit to being drawn in by this fine man's groovitational pull.  Bowie is a wicked sharp dresser and has aged like a fine wine, perhaps preserved by his own artistic brilliance.  He continues to give us the quakes, and his voice and mojo ooze sex appeal. 



Of course, this is not the case with everyone.  The following are some menfolk we like and had high hopes for, but whose facial features served them best in youth.

Bud Cort

I cannot espress the bummerosity...

David Hemmings
We were smitten by his short appearance in Barbarella - our only complaint being that he and the Queen of the Galaxy had hand-touching, pill-induced earth sex and not the savage dance of the eight-legged beast. 

from sexy as hell to just plain from hell.  We remembered him from the good old days and were shocked and appalled to discover his contemporary incarnation.
WTF eyebrows?

Judd Nelson
The Breakfast Club is one of our guilty pleasure movies, and the reason for it is obvious.  Judd Nelson is the only bad boy rascal I have ever been attracted to.  His career has not brought him much pizzaz since then, however, and with rotundity he has also depleted in style points.  As a hairdresser, even I am stumped by his hairstyle and choice of molding paste. Paul Mitchell doesn't make anything that looks like THAT, but if they did, I am confident that it would have a coconut scent.

We really like making collages in Microsoft Paint, and were going about composing an image of all of the supposedly good-looking young actors who we think will not age well - however, after only two googlings, we petered out and realized that basically everyone considered beautiful these days has balloonish, pricey sex-doll features that will not withstand the tests of time.