Cat Toys Need Names

Here’s a hobby:  I collect art. I bought myself a flat file last year and it’s filled with posters and prints collected from concerts, online art sales, trades, and EBay. I joined a site five years ago called ExpressoBeans.com–it’s a place to share my obsession with (somewhat) like-minded individuals from all over the world. It’s a sickness. Whenever I attend a concert, I lineup an hour early, and I rush directly to the merch table upon entering the venue to grab a gigposter. I get at least 20 separate email newsletters from my favorite artists each week!

The White Stripes--Lyon/Villeurbanne, France, 2003

Just like my music interests, the prints and posters I collect vary. Of course, I love to get gigposters from the concerts I attend, but sometimes I’ll buy a poster for a band I don’t like just because I love the artist’s work or the imagery. Print-wise, I don’t know yet. There are certain genre’s I enjoy (Pop Surrealism, Urban Art, etc) but I haven’t quite nailed down my tastes. I’m still a noob.

I don’t just collect for the sake of collecting, I like to frame prints as well. It’s an all inclusive hobby that’s getting more expensive by the day. Take the band The White Stripes, for instance. If you were lucky enough to buy a poster at a show in 2003, it would have cost you around $30-40 bucks. If you decided to buy it on EBay the next day, it would have cost you $100-150.  If you want to find it today, expect to pay at least $400-700. The rarest items from this era will set you back $2000-2500+…