Now We Just Need a Gallery Glittery Enough for This...

So my eyes were wandering around my home office the other day as I was searching eBay for a BeDazzler because really, it's high time I updated my wardrobe with a sparkly, gem-encrusted pair of overalls for special occasions, like inaugurations and stuff, and I found myself smiling as my gaze rested in turn on the few Johnny-related items I have scattered about, and by "items" I mean everything emblazoned with his image including informal photos, mousepad, coffee mug, framed photos, coasters, bookmarks, calendars, pillowcases, T-shirts, and the mural depicting his entire career that covers both sides of the hallway outside my office, and by "scattered about" of course I mean plastered on every available surface.

And then I frowned as I realized there was something missing.

Something vital with which I could complete my collection, and by "complete" I mean until the next item comes along that's equally vital, like, oh, say, a Snuggie featuring his Swan costume, or possibly a Renaissance-style tapestry that illustrates his life story in delightful vignettes, from a woman lying mostly on her left side to an elderly but still gorgeous man smiling at his extremely well-dressed children and grandchildren, all gathered at his pointy-
toed-shoe-clad feet and all clutching Balenciagas in a rainbow of colors ...

But until those treasures are available, what I really want is something beyond an 8 x 10 photo. Something unique (which goes without saying, of course), and something that represents him in a truly memorable way.

Something like ... an official portrait.

And then I discovered that: Oh yay! There kinda is one! (I am not making this up.)

A really cool Czechoslovakian artist named Peter Jurik--who currently lives in West Vancouver, British Columbia--made a career specializing in realistic, highly detailed watercolors and pencil drawings. His works have included representations of classic automobiles, sailboats, and wildlife, as well as portraits of celebrities, such as Cher, Bob Hope, The Rolling Stones, Walter Payton, Payne Stewart, and John Daly, among many others.

And then Peter went to the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

He was so fascinated by the events he attended that, as he notes on his website, he was "inspired to change direction and create artwork involving figure skating."

(You can see the happy place where this is going, right ...?)

He has completed water color paintings of three Canadian Olympians: Gold medalist ice-dancing pair Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, and bronze medalist Joannie Rochette.

And, his website notes, his "most recent creation is of the American Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir."

And here it is--alongside its fabulous subject!

In the painting--titled "Showtime!"--Jurik depicts Johnny performing his signature exhibition piece, "Poker Face," from the 2010 Olympic season, a year that marked Johnny's second Olympic Games for Team USA. In the background Jurik included a portion of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, one of the most symbolic landmarks of Russia--a land that, as Johnny's fans well know, is close to Johnny's heart through his love of that country's people, language, and history.

And yes! You, too, can own this unique piece! Fine art prints of the portrait are now available for purchase on Jurik's website!

Each 27" x 27" print costs $24.95 plus $7.80 for shipping to the US, for a total of $32.75. Jurik accepts PayPal through his site, which makes ordering simple and easy. He also offers shipping within Canada and internationally.

Jurik includes this note on the site: "Due to this new start up, orders will be currently delivered on or before the end of September 2010. Check for regular updates on this situation. Thank you for your patience and understanding."

I'm thinking maybe he knows that Johnny now has more than 67,000 Twitter followers and just broke 40,000 Facebook fans last night ... all of whom I'm sure, like me, have that perfect space on a wall somewhere at home / in the office / or both / for exactly this. Which we will enjoy immensely for now.

And then all over again when it hangs in the White House. :)

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Photos courtesy of Fireworks Sports Marketing!

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Twitter voting roundup!
(although I have to say that I'm not impressed
with the way Faxo is monitoring--or rather, not monitoring--
this voting stuff, so I'm kinda only half-heartedly following
these contests now but I still want my people to win ...)

Vote here for Johnny to win "Follow Me."

Current rank: #1

1 voting day remaining!

Vote here for Johnny to win "Mr. Twitter"!

Current rank: #11

22 voting days remaining.

Vote here for Gail Turley's blog
"WheresMyKoppy" to win "Best Blog"
Current rank: #5
8 voting days remaining.

New! Vote here for Johnny
(current rank: #7)
and here for JW Art Project
(current rank: #45)
to win "Best of Twitter"
22 voting days remaining.

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Yes! Johnny Is skating in Yu-Na Kim's fabulous show,

All That Skate, in Los Angeles on October 2!
Everything you need to know about tickets
and special gatherings of The Cabal
is right here!

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Weirlandians for Life organizer Gary Podschun
notes that the Chicago AIDS Walk also is coming up
on Saturday, October 2--less than a month away!
Please visit the group page here
if you're interested in participating in the walk,
or if you would like to donate.

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Coming soon: More in the series
of translated interviews from the Mook Book
courtesy of the fabulous Akiko Nakata!

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copyright 2010 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved