At the end of November, I spoke about a really neat book I stumbled upon entitled "The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories" and how I planned on getting a copy for myself for Christmas. Well, I did get a copy, and I was so happy with it that I opted to also get myself volume two of the three-book series.
The books are the end result of HitRECord.org, a production company founded by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, which shares 50 percent of profits with the artists who contribute. Being that HitRECord.org is an "open collaborative production company," volume one of "The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories" features the collaborative work of 67 artists from more than 8,500 contributions. And, volume two features 62 artists from 14,946 contributions. Volume three is slated for a fall 2013 release, and I'll definitely be picking up a copy of that too.
To me art is something that is defined not by the end result, but more so on the passion that was required to create a piece. It's sort of like music. Although recording artists can pump out well-produced albums on a regular basis, when you put that "artist" on stage, you're asking for a disaster. A musician performing on stage in front of a fan-based audience is what creates the art. The way that HitRECord.org works is that artists submit their work to the website, and other artists can then expand on the concepts that inspire them. So, imagine for a moment that the artists are musicians and their audience is comprised of other artists, ones who if they are inspired, can choose to add their talent to the experience to create a collaborative art piece.
Article Photos
Dusten Rader
The first thing I noticed about "The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories" is that there is a lot of empty space on the pages of the book. To me, a newspaper man, and likely many others, this may seem counterproductive at first glance. However, I believe the empty space was intentionally utilized for the purpose of adding more material straight to the book while it's in hand. So, imagine volume one of "The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories" sitting on a table in a coffee shop, and patrons pick up the book while they wait for their order. If they happen to have a pen handy, they can then add their own interpretation to the pages of the book, and those ideas could then be uploaded to the website to further its evolution.
I have not yet finished either volume of the "The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories," not because I don't want to, but rather because I want to save some of it for a rainy day. But, what I've read and seen so far is that the books are full of imagination, ingenuity and the impossible all rolled into a tiny book that rests comfortably in the palm of my hand. These tiny stories are the products of dreams, reality and the combination of the two, which make up the fabric of our tiny human universe.
On another note, I want to send a special thank you to Lois Bowder, a reader of The Post-Journal, who made my day by sending me a fantastic Christmas card that among other things, read, "You are a cool guy and a great addition to the paper." Thank you Lois Bowder, merry Christmas and happy New Year to you too.
HIGHLIGHTS
The Final Furniture City/North East Hardcore Show Is Tonight: In a joint production, North East Hardcore and Furniture City Hardcore will present FCH's final show tonight at 5 p.m. at Suburban Blend in Jamestown.
The show will feature nine bands including: Black Mask, Night Terror, Crucial Macabre, Bath Salts, Centerfield, Backbiter, Leash, Luca Sigurta and Rotted Psyche.
The show is all ages, and admission is $7. Suburban Blend is located at 209 Pine St. in Jamestown. For more information search for "Night Terror Black Mask" on Facebook.com.
'Beats at the Brix' To Continue Saturday: 21 Brix Winery's "Beats at the Brix" will continue Saturday with acoustic guitarist Jackson Rohm from 7-9 p.m.
Rohm's music can best be described as "diverse acoustic-based pop-rock with hook-laden melodies and a dash of county." A Jamestown native, Rohm is embarking on his 20th year as a full-time professional musician. Throughout his career, he has released a variety of music. However, with his latest album "Blindsided," he has returned to his roots and added a little more rock flare. With a variety of musical influences ranging from Tom Petty, The Counting Crows, Brad Paisley and James Taylor, Rohm offers a unique, powerful, and expressive performance with a repertoire of more than 70 originals and 400 cover songs.
The event is free, but a wine purchase is required. The winery is located on Route 20 in the town of Portland. For more information visit 21brix.com or call 792-2749.
HAPPENINGS
To include an upcoming show or event in this column, email drader@post-journal.com or call 487-1111 ext. 253 by Monday.
Tonight
Blue Grass Jam: 7-10 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Celoron. Area bluegrass musicians are welcome to sit in and play.
Friday
Cindy Haight: 6-9 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown.
Saturday
Big Tone: 7-11 p.m., Lakewood American Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood.
Smokehouse: 8 p.m. to midnight, Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Celoron.
Monday
New Year's Eve Party: 5 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Celoron. The event will feature a prime rib buffet and music by DJs Unlimited.
The Elektra Kings: 9 p.m., Snuffy's Cafe And Lounge, 208 Hickory St. in Warren, Pa.