Free Shirt New Year’s!
FREE SHIRT NEW YEAR’S EVE
I’m thinking, now, about New Years’ past vs New Year’s present and, I guess, time.
It’s been a great watershed year in terms of my health and a re-kindling of my love of music, and my tumultuous relationship with my drums and the mirror ball. A realization that screen printing is a part of my art, and somehow, inside of me since 1988(!?) when I found a bunch of screens in the garbage in New Brunswick, New Jersey. I’m also realizing the physical manifestation of community – through the Museum Founders around the world, through our Patreon, through the physical space itself, and across the community here in Chicago.
I’m fully trying to think about who I am, what I do, trying to do more of those things that bring me joy or have impact, and what I can do to help others in any way. It’s easy to see the state of everything and retreat out of the useless, what seems, un-winnable fight going on –but as we’ve learned through the STFI campaign and more – the smallest act in the right direction can and DOES make a difference. Later today I’m heading to Bridgeport Records over on Halstead where they’re having a flash sale from 12 – 3 (buy an album at full price then its 50% off!) I’m going to take ten bags of Dark Matter Museum Coffee over for customers too.
I’m also going to make this FREESHIRTNEWYEARSEVE! You all know the drill – put the (almost) Free Shirt Friday item in your cart – choose a size and we will choose the shirt and send it out!! Also, as usual with these ideas – if anyone wants to actually buy something too, that would be nice and help to keep us funded for doing crazy shit like this!If you’re one of the Killing Joke fans in the UK troubled by the cost of shipping the new vinyl – maybe add a ‘free’shirt to the box to take the edge off, and I’ll try and make sure its one you’ll be thrilled with.
Me? Thanks for asking, I’m good right now, pretty damn good actually internally and externally (except my fingers and my knuckles because I’m an idiot). This was not the case two years ago, I was trundling around on a walker feeling like a long, slow decline was in progress. I upgraded from the walker to a shopping cart and slowly improved. I went from standing shakily in the middle of the Museum with a laser pointer over my shoulder to running up and down three flights of stairs in the newly-expanded place with my fresh, working hip. From there to a year of drumming, Extremities, a whole new deeper relationship with that album and love and respect for my fellow band mates at that time (and my new ones). My point being, if it’s bad right now, it can get better when you might not think it can. In the face of everything, it might seem trivial and small to offer up a free shirt, but I know what a difference that can make for you or a loved one, and I’m able to do that rather than complain and be despondent about what I can’t change.
Things might feel fucked – but you’re not! We are not. Let’s do what we can and remember that our best weapon is our imagination and creativity. Punk AF. As my friend Ruth Daniels over at In Place Of War says – “creativity conquers conflict” and Rob Sheridan/NiN’s 2007 wonderful “art is resistance.” It fucking is.
If you need something interesting and industrial to occupy you for a bit – go check out our Patreon – access to all of it is free, grab a free shirt, buy something if you want/can and for fucks sake be nice, be as nice as you possibly can.
Peace love and much respect and please don’t forget that you are fucking awesome!
Martin Atkins
Chicago ILLANNOYS
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