Some Comments on Wonder Woman's New Costume

So, even though the focus of this blog is our trips for my visual studies class, I would like to post about some other things that are of interest to me. Mainly comics you'll find.

Recently, in issue #600 of the Wonder Woman comic, she got a costume update and a story revamp. Jim Lee is to credit for the new look and Michael Straczynski is doing the new story. A pretty capable pair from what I can tell. There's been a lot of debate about the new costume and I'll give my two cents.

Personally, I love it. Gone is the bathing suit with the rather out of date star spangled banner feel. She now has pants, omg! I like the new look for several reasons. It's more conservative will less cleavage, which is appreciated as a woman reading comics. I get tired of seeing huge, impossibly large breasts popping out of skimpy costumes on female super heroes. It's offensive. She's still sexy, just in a more subtle way. It also looks more modern. I would wear her top and jacket. Yes, I like the jacket. I agree it isn't necessary for the look, but it does give it a more "normal" or casual look. Sometimes bright spandex are a little hard to relate to. I also like the pants. Could a girl really run around saving the world with the getup she had before? I highly doubt it. The pants are much more practical. Besides, it was about time for an update. Just about every other super hero has had a costume redesign at some point or another, with perhaps the exception of Superman.

That's just my opinion. You can agree or disagree. Feel free to post some comments on what you think.

The new story seems pretty good too by the way. I bought issue #600 and I would have bought #601 if the comic store wasn't so far away. I guess I'll have to wait until the next time I'm in Northampton or the book comes out.

That's just my opinion.

As we get off the bus the first person to greet us is Douglas Thayer’s dog. Mr. Thayer laughs and tells us she’s very excited to meet people. He seems to have equal enthusiasm as he tells us about his work.

He attended Rochester RIT and graduated

with a BFA. He was always doing different kinds of art, from glass blowing to woodworking. He loved doing anything with his hands. Once he graduated, most of his business was at art fairs and his furniture was Shaker style. One day at a craft fair, he had a coffee table made in his now signature cement and wood design on display. People kept sitting on it and remarking on what a wonderful bench it was. He quickly learned that this was what people liked. Now he only makes his wood and cement benches. Unlike many artists who like to try different things, he’s perfectly happy to stick with this design. He knows he’s lucky he can support himself through his art, unlike most artists. Like most people, his business has been affected by the Recession. He used to have a wide market for his benches, but now does mostly high end personal orders.

We stand outside his shop as he talks. He built it seven years ago and it’s the first shop he’s owned. The yard is full of trucks, old machines and of course, wood. Its smell fills the damp air and the rain gives it a shine. He shows us the different materials he uses. Teak is his favorite because it lasts the longest and in his mind is the most beautiful. He used to work in mahogany more, but it’s gotten too expensive over the years. Now he uses mostly reclaimed wood. He has blocks from a pickle factory from the big fermenting barrels. He tells us as you work with it the wood still smells like pickles. He also has long pieces from the old Coney Island board walk.

He shows us the large cement mixer outside, but seems eager to show us the shop. As we enter Queen’s “We Will Rock You” echoes out to us. The first thing that hits you is the pungent smell of wood chips. The space is huge, filled with large equipment and wood of every shape, size and color. Wood chips liter the floor. He tells us proudly he built and restored most of his equipment. The youngest tool he uses is from the 70s and the oldest from the 30s. Machines are his second love and he thinks they are as much a work of art as his benches. He encourages us to look around and touch everything. He leads us to a smaller back room where we have to squeeze together to fit. Inside are more old pieces of equipment he’s restored. Here metal shavings cover almost everything and I hesitantly reach out to touch it. “Go ahead, pick it up and feel it,” Thayer says, taking a pinch in his hand and putting it in mine. He picks up different drill bits and shows us the largest with pride.

When I asked him what he does for fun in his spare time he looks surprised and says “Making benches is fun for me!” He adds that he does take breaks at times because he hates the idea of getting bored with things. He’ll work on one of his old band saws or build more shelving. But his real love is his art. He hates the office work and the advertising and would be perfectly happy spending all his time in the shop.

As we leave he reminds us to take some wood scraps. “As you can see I’ve got too much already,” he says with a laugh. We smile and thank him, hauling off our prizes. He’s one of those people who loves what he does and wants to share it with others.

Pictures from the Flores Studio

I forgot to put the pictures with the text, sorry!

The top two are of one of their pieces, the one to the left is Gene Flores showing us some of his equipment.

Gene and Sue Flores Studio Visit

As we climbed out of the bus to visit Gene and Sue Flores’ studio the first thing you notice about their yard is the flat metal bench and the tall sculpture that resembles a very small tower. They’re just a few examples of their work. Their dog is eager to meet us as the Flores bring us to their studio.

The small door is deceptive. You step out into a large room that has walls lined with sheets of metal, tubing, tanks, torches, an old phone and other equipment. A couple of tables are in the center with a few metal scraps left from projects. Opera music plays in the background and you can imagine Gene working away happily as Rodolfo belts his notes. They show us this room briefly before they take us to a second, smaller room with some more of their work.

Here they have some examples of their 100 landscapes project. Roughly cut squares and rectangles of metal line the walls and as you look closer you notice the hinges. Gene and Sue encourage us to touch their work and move the hinges. You quickly realize they’re more like books. The back side is just as much a piece of art as the front. Each piece is entirely different from the last. Most have hinges, but a few don’t, having intricate engravings instead.

Their work has a feel of the Earth. Gene says he has a river running through all his pieces. Perhaps it comes from the fact he was born in near the Rio Grand on the US border. He says one day the river changed course after a large storm and his family was Americans.

Gene went on to study architecture and engineering. He didn’t like the idea of people changing his designs once he was done. One of his teachers liked metal working and sculpture, and suggested he try it. He instantly fell in love.

Now Gene lets Sue do most of the designing, while he figures out how to put the sculptures together. Sue does mostly furniture, and a chair and table stand near the door to their 100 landscapes room.

Gene leads us through another room filled with metal and wood to show us more of the collection. They get their inspiration from the desert, another part of Gene’s upbringing. Here he shows us his giant work of rusted metal. The rich golden color of the rust and the sheer size puts you in awe. But it’s the single dark line that runs along it that keeps you interested. “I got the idea when I scribbled a line on a napkin,” Gene tells us.

Sue is eager to give young artists some advice. “Experimentation when you’re young is great. But don’t become an artist unless you have a passion.” The Flores have certainly found their passion together.