Pack Rat is one angry dwarf…and don’t forget our black t-shirt.

Imagine if you still lived life like you were in the second grade. Your boss denies your vacation request? Demolish him on the 4-square court. Know your multiplication tables up to 10? You’re a freaking genius! Have a blue foil star. And you glued a stack of popsicle sticks together in one fire-hazard sized pile? Instead of sad and slightly disturbing, it’s artistic. Looking at the stash of reclaimed art supplies at the Materials for the Arts warehouse in Long Island City, NY brings back those grammar school feelings of standing in front of the open art closet–big possibilities. MFTA opens their art and crafts treasure chest to artists and groups who need cheap or free swag in order to make their creative vision a reality. For 31 years, MFTA volunteers and staffers have been saving perfectly good arts supplies from the landfills and playing matchmaker, pairing them with the appropriate causes. Their warehouse is a veritable candy land of paint, glitter, yarn… So, actually, maybe not so much like a land made of candy, but definitely as good. Just seeing it will make you feel like a kid all over again. And knowing that a bunch of schools benefit from the MFTA resources, means that they’re helping today’s kids have that same kind of excitement. So support them how you can. Live near by? Volunteer: volunteer@mfta.org

However,  unlike second grade, if you eat the paste there will be repercussions. You know who you are. Actually, depending on the kind of paste you ate, maybe you don’t.

photo copyright by MFTA/Susan Springer

photo copyright by MFTA

Pack Rat loves nutmeggers!

If you live in the Connecticut area, or are visiting for the fall foliage (and I recommend it. Connecticut has some great color and you don’t have to fight for room in a Bed & Breakfast the way you do in Vermont) in the coming weekends, then you are going to have your plates full will fun, indie stuff to do.

Tomorrow is the fifth anniversary of the New Haven Underground Film Festival, which, according to their website, is so underground that it’s not even in New Haven. Yeah, it’s in West Hartford, about 45 minutes away from New Haven, so I guess they’re not kidding. Stepping in where the sadly defunct Film Fest New Haven left off, this is your CT stop this weekend to see some great indie films from all over the world.

image copyright: New Haven Underground Film Festival

If you are craving more arty stimulus, then check out City Wide Open Studios the following weekend, October 2-5 (and this one actually is in New Haven). City Wide Open Studios (or CWOS) has been running for over a decade and it’s easy to see why. With an ever-expanding list of contemporary artists, this is the premier place to see edgy, innovative pieces in Connecticut.

Unlike many other visual arts festivals in The Constitution State, which seem to run rampant with water colors of landscapes and boats, CWOS is fresh and full of vitality–it neither takes itself too seriously, nor simply lets itself go in the sweat pants and Mickey Mouse t-shirt kind of way that a lot of CT galleries and shows have.

Held in both the private studios of the artists, as well as non-traditional locales, such as an abandoned school building, CWOS takes the stuffiness and rigid conservatism out of small-town New England and injects it with vibrancy, color, and life. Featuring everything from jewelry to t-shirt design, to painting, photography, sculpture,  woodworking and other modes of fine art, CWOS is the most eclectic, biggest free-for-all I’ve ever encountered in the art world.

Affordable (I paid $5 to see, probably close to 60 artists last year), accessible (it runs for four days and has multiple locations, as well as tour buses that can take you to each stop) and just plain fun, CWOS is a don’t-miss event for anyone in Connecticut in the month of October.

For a full listing of showings and events visit the New Haven Advocate, the local alt-weekly that publishes the event guide.

image copyright: Artspace New Haven

It’s Pack Rat Magazine, b*tches!

Okay, so I know I’ve been awol recently and I’m sure you’ve all be struggling to find the will to live without my sage words of advice (JK) but I’m back and the reason for my prolonged absence and subsequent return is that I’ve been working diligently on producing for you all (or y’all where appropriate) issue numero quatro of Pack Rat. This issue we help the Earth in the spirit of Earth Day by doing what we do best: recycled crafts and lots of them. We also talk with jewelry designer Becky Houle, a.k.a. The Vicious Kitty, look into what this whole letterbox craze is all about and, with the help of Cat Morley from Cut Out + Keep make our own letterbox stampers, hit the thrifts for some inexpensive crafting supplies, and just about a zillion things more. Head over to www.packratmag.com/zine to get in on the action. I missed you all and I’m glad to be back. Happy crafting!

Hi kids!  the Feb/March Issue is finally out and rarin’ to go.  Click on the pdf link below!  And remember, if you think you could do better, you’re welcome to show us what you’ve got. Submission deadlines for next issue will be March 20th.  Happy reading.

issue3.pdf

Check out Issue #1 from Pack Rat Magazine!

Hey guys. Quick blog for all you Cali knitting crazies out there. If you’re in the Bay Area, make sure you check out SF Chicks with Sticks, a hip young knitting group open to women, men, and having a good time. Use them as a motivational jumping off point, or work with fellow knitters on a “Knit Along” group project. And above all, make friends!