My friend Kirsten Anderson (who owns the far out Roq La Rue Gallery in Seattle) is publishing a photography book of bad, drunk, deranged, drug-addled, criminal, and slovenly Santas. If you want to contribute a photo read on:
Here Comes Santa Claus! – Ignition Books Fall 2004
While sorting through old photographs at my mother's house one Christmas, I came across a photograph that was to haunt me for years. It was a photo taken at a mall of my brother Michael sitting on the lap of Santa Claus. Innocent enough- loads of people have pictures of themselves or thier children sitting on Santa's lap…it's a tradition to see Santa every year, tell him what you'd like for Christmas,and get a candy cane. What struck a chord with me about this picture was the Santa himself. Slouched into the chair, one arm clumsily draped around my brother, much in the same way barflys casually hug thier fellow brethren before falling to the floor in a stupor. I looked closer…thick black body hair sprouted from every opening of the ill fitting Santa suit, the too-short trouses- revealing fish white, strangely pocked legs. This Santa boasted one enormous black eyebrow, an 5'oclock shadow (needless the say the beard was falling off) and the dull gleam of narcotics in the one eye that wasn't drooping and looking far past the camera. This was GREAT! I then turned my attention to my brother who I now realised was not merely smiling on command for the camera but rather was grimacing, rigid in fear on his hobo Santa's lap, fists clenched, eyes silently pleading. Oh how I laughed.
After I finished enjoying my brother's pain, I started thinking about the whole Santa Claus phenomenon…every mall has a Santa come Christmas-time, and let's face it- most of those Santas ain't "Miracle on 42'd Street" quality. I figured there were probably tons of these photos floating around, kids horrified by thier low rent Santa and being scolded if they didn't "Smile, dammit" for the capture of a warm holiday memory. I began to ask around if anyone else had horrible Santa pics, and indeed, a small flood came in…drunk Santas, passed out Santas, creepy Santas. I decided to make a book and share the wealth.
Of course, the more the merrier so I am ever on the lookout for Santa pics for inclusion in the book. I'm hoping to get as many as I can so I can pick the choicest, the most god awful,and the funniest Santas with terrified children for the project. People can mail or email me photos that they'd like to submit. In return, people's whose pictures I include in the book will get thier name in the book (unless the shame requires anonymity) and a free copy of the book. These pictures would only be used for this book and any promotional press associated with it. I will return all hard copies (photos, discs, ect). Contracts will be required for publication.
Interested person can mail photos or 300dpi scans of thier drunken, flea ridden, pervy, waxy complexioned Santas to me at:
Kirsten Anderson
Ignition Publishing
4015 Airport Way S
Seattle WA 98121
(206)374-8977or email questions or 300 dpi jpegs to me at : kirsten@ignitionpublishing.com
