Underworld Amusements | Kevin I. Slaughter

The most recent of the YouTube series…

In case the above video doesn’t show up in whatever feed your reading this on, here is a direct link to the video.

Stephen Kasner talks about art and objective measures of talent with host Kevin I. Slaughter. Interviewed by phone shortly before the opening of the Germophilia gallery show, curated by the host and residing in the Jennifer Bates Memorial Gallery in Philadelphia, PA. Stephen was one of the nine artists featured in the show. Germophilia was open from 8-7-09 until 9-20-09.
Kasner studied at the Cleveland Institute of Art, earning a BFA in 1993 with a major in Illustration, and double minors in Drawing and Photography. His interest in marrying art to music blossomed very early on, and has continually surfaced throughout his career. He has contributed visuals to many eclectic musicians and albums, including Martin Grech, SUNN 0))), darsombra, Khlyst, Integrity, Lotus Eaters, Justin Broadrick/Final, Skullflower, Runhild GammelsÃ¦ter, and many others. Kasner pursues his own personal exploration and experimentation in music under the moniker, Blood Fountains, and is currently collaborating with Dwid Hellion and Jacob Bannon as a trio, Irons.
Stephen Kasners work has been exhibited worldwide, with exhibitions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Berlin, and throughout Australia. His work has been featured in dozens of newspapers and magazines, including The Washington Post, SECONDS Magazine, Parable Visions, NY Arts, Descent, and most recently, Coilhouse.
His first solo exhibition in New York City was held at Last Rites Gallery in February 2009.
This is an excerpt from the Underworld Amusements Variety Hour podcast.

I mentioned in a previous post I wanted to blog the production of a book, but it goes against my rule of not mentioning projects until they’re ready to be released.

Well, I’m doing it – a project that has been in the works for a while now, so it’s not from the start of the project that I’m initiating this series. The book is mostly typeset, though there’s still work to be done. The book is “The Sorceries and Scandals of Satan” by Henry M. Tichenor, with an introduction by R. Merciless. The project was his, and his introduction is REALLY thorough, giving a history of an author that has become unknown. I’ll blog about him later.

I’m working on cover designs now, and that happens a number of ways – either I have a strong concept from the start, or I punch it out until I put together one that I really like. Sometimes I create one solid design and it’s just tweaking that until it’s “done”, and other times I may run through many, man designs and variations of designs. You can click on the covers to see larger versions.

R. Merciless had a concept, and really wanted me to use the image from Paradise Lost that is featured on the second cover above. I don’t have a strong concept here, and I’m not totally happy with either design, though I think both would work if nothing else came up.

Update, 3rd mock-up:

Here’s another variation of the cover. One of the problems with so many variations is that one might think one is better than the other because he’s just looked at the other too damn long, and any change is better.

BTW, the copy on the back cover, as of this writing, reads:

In 1917, progressive essayist Henry M. Tichenor destroyed Christianity by writing this book.
While Christian priests and ministers convince gullible masses that Satan is the source of evil in our world, Tichenor shows the truth – that it has been the followers of Jehovah who have wrought the greatest suffering, death, injustice and tyrrany upon the earth.

Kevin I. Slaughter

Unwanted Advocate

Tag Archives: Underworld Amusements

YouTube :: Stephen Kasner on Objective Measures of Art

Book Blogging :: Sorceries and Scandals of Satan – Cover Concepts