Would You Look at That!

UPDATE: 10:43am 11/22/2014

Kid Rock was on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last night where he showed the world what his forthcoming album cover looks like.

Check out Kid Rock's new song "Jesus and Bocephus" from "First Kiss".

For me, it's fascinating how this thing has flowed from Niagara's hand in the early 1990s to the original owner to my purchase in 2011. When I bought it that brought the piece back to Niagara's radar since she didn't have a photo of it. That opened the door for her to start making prints (get one NOW before they are GONE). I loved having the original on my wall, over my bed for about 3 years. Finally, it's a great honor to get Kid Rock's support of the book campaign, sending him my original, and now seeing this piece that was on my wall for years as his new album cover!

When I put the original up for $20,000 to help fund the campaign I never thought ANYONE would pony up the cash to get it, let alone someone like Bob who would find an amazing way to use such an iconic image. It is an image my friend Rick Manore (former owner of CPOP) says is Niagara's "soup can", a reference to Andy Warhol's iconic piece.

It's been an amazing to see how all this happened in just about a month!

The Campaign was a Smashing Success! THANK YOU!

I can’t believe we did it! Amazing! Thanks so much to the 84 donors who joined to help raise a grand total of $25,871!  Every dollar counts and Wayne State University Press will be putting it to good use making sure that this book gets the treatment it deserves in order to tell the history of Detroit’s alt-publishing scene from 1978 to today with heavy focus on WHITE NOISE, FUN, and ORBIT!

The Fundraiser Goal is CRUSHED Thanks to Kid Rock!

The headline says it all, but, not how it came to be.

Kid Rock in Detroit (08/19/13) - Photo by Dez Hughes 

A few days after the campaign started I received an e-mail. Opening it while half awake, it got my attention immediately. It was from Bob Ritchie’s sister, Carol. It said that he would like to make a $20,000 donation to Wayne State University Press as part of the fundraising campaign for the ORBIT book.

After I stopped screaming and dancing around my apartment, I think I scared my cats, I composed myself and wrote an e-mail back. I thanked Carol and her brother, better known as Kid Rock, and said I would make sure they received the paperwork they needed as well as the original Niagara painting I was offering for such generous support of the book.

Thanks! How about you?

It's been a great week! Over $2,000 has come in over the past 7 days to chip away at the $17,000 goal. Thank you to everyone who has stepped forward to make this campaign a success. But, we still have quite a hill to climb. 

This campaign is "all or nothing". That means, if November 21st rolls around and it has not collected the final $15,000 needed, the money will not be given to Wayne State University Press to make the book as great as it can be. You will not be charged. You will not receive your premiums.

I'm asking those who have to motivate others to do the same.

I'm asking those who haven't, yet, to do so, now, before it gets away from you.

Bring Orby's Story to Your Home - Support the Campaign!

Bring Orby's Story to Your Home!

Help celebrate Orbit's 25th in style 

15 years after Orbit was laid to rest, the time has come to tell the shocking true tale of Detroit's greatest alt-publication in Re-Entry: The Orbit Magazine Anthology from Wayne State University Press.

Your tax-deductible support will help create a lasting document to over 35 years of vital Detroit cultural history as told through Orbit, Fun, and White Noise magazines. This deluxe illustrated edition will not only feature reprints of popular articles but also tell the behind-the-scenes stories of how these landmark magazines covered Detroit's music film, art, food, and creative scene like no one else dared with a healthy dose of humor.

Coming Soon to a Coffee Table Near You!

Oh, it's getting exciting now!

Thanks to the great work of my good friend, Michael Pfaendtner, there is now a book trailer for you to enjoy and share!

Michael is filmmaker and editor by trade. He was kind enough to help me realize a vision for how to give you a look at what "Re-Entry" will cover.

Check out the trail, share it, and tell me what you think!

THANKS AGAIN!


Rob St. Mary

Book Update & ArtPrize

A quick update for you about the status of the book: Over the past few weeks the editors at WSU Press have been pouring over the final manuscript and all the selected images/reprint articles. Right now, it looks like there will be no additional cuts to the book. So, what I have selected, at this point, will go to the proofreader, designer, and to you in the final edition. I expect to share details on it as we go.

If you filling out of the Orbit stuff survey, thank you! We are working on how to re-create many of these classic things for you over the coming year. In fact, I can tell you, Orbit t-shirts will be making a splash in about a month. Stay posted for more on that.

Mr. Vile Heads West!

“For something that looks this crappy, it’s a ton of work!” – Jerry Vile on ArtPrize