Someone called me this week to let me know that the talk show Frosty, Heidi & Frank was having a ‘Revenge Episode’ earlier this week, and it reminded me that our Revenge-based group show is coming up quickly.  My favorite call involved a guy who had been dumped right before Spring Break because his girlfriend wanted to ‘explore other options.’  The ex-girlfriend then left for a few days (this was before the cell phone era) and was not in contact with her family.  The caller took the opportunity to call the girl’s mother and tell her she had gotten in a terrible car accident and ‘didn’t make it.’  While this is certainly sick, I found it amusing.

Another favorite revenge story of mine involves a good friend’s fraternity brother who was a notoroius prankster who goes by Purnell.  After being ‘fumbled’ (see: opening a door with a bucket of water propped above, getting drenched) by a less creative fraternity brother, Purnell took his time to exact revenge.  Over a holiday break where most of the brothers were out of town, Purnell stayed back and enlisted the services of a local homeless man.  Purnell had master key privileges (don’t ask me why) and let the vagrant basically inhabit the other brother’s space over the next few days, using his toothbrush, clothes, linens, and anything else you wouldn’t want anyone else, let alone someone who hasn’t bathed in ages, to have access to.  Instead of immediately revealing the ruse once the holiday break was over, Purnell of course let the victim live in his tainted space for over a week.  At a chapter meeting in front of all of the fraternity brothers, Purnell finally exposed his awesome retribution in the form of a photo essay, showing images of all of the foul things the homeless guy did, complete with a hilarious limerick (I wish I had a copy of it) which basically dared anyone ever to cross his path.

I’ve been compiling a substantial list of popular fictional products (fiction/non-fiction books, concept albums, films of all sorts, Western historical reference) in anticipation for the June ‘The Other Cheek Show.”  I will releasing more information/reasons for doing this soon, but the basic concept is for artists to share moments where they have been hurt/defeated/embarrassed in the hopes of laying these feelings to rest.  Instead of having wounds fester, I wish for people to be open about these personal ghosts.  Some of the confirmed artists are dealing with very troubling episodes in their lives, while others are dealing with more playful moments of embarrassment.

This is your opportunity to tell your own story (don’t worry; there is no email/name field you must fill in. it’s all optional. share your story(ies) anonymously, if you wish).