Hi! I have started made my Patreon be about my Canadian Glam book. Getting Canadian grants has proven impossible, even with my long CV and MFA and this project which is a Canadian cultural history of Glam involving music, fashion, performance and gender play! So Patreon is a way for me to try to raise funds via subscription so I can focus on writing the book and even spend money on research! There are perks for subscribers such as YOUR NAME IN GLITTER!!! Link here:
Drawing in D.I.Y. resistance/American Devices show Friday
Hi! I have a drawing of Vaclav Havel in the new book D.I.Y. Resistance by Anthony Alvarado published by Seven Stories Press, Jason Mclean has a drawing too:
www.sevenstories.com
I DJ and MC this Friday in Toronto at Owls Club on Dovercourt for the American devices show, they haven't played Toronto since the 80s, cartoonist Rick Trembles is in the band! Here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1751959371560686/?active_tab=about
Interview with me by the delightful Clint Enns
https://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/bed-interview-with-robert-dayton/3995
Updates: Ballpoint Pen tattoos and store and deleted page
Hi! I have added a brand new Ballpoint Pen Tattoo section and some original art to the store for you to enjoy!!! As well I have added a page that was deleted from my book The Empty Bed (see below). Why was it deleted? As an artist and comedian and writer and human etc etc I believe that I have to be responsible for what I put out into the world. I am far from perfect. I was being extra cautious...too cautious. My book is not a poison pen but unfortunately there is more self-pity than anger in it for those reasons. Anger is a very real feeling that happens when one goes through heartbreak. I didn't want to hurt anyone -even though those people that The Empty Bed is vaguely referencing won't be reading and will never be in my life again (they don't want to be and I don't think I want them to be and I am grateful for the wonderful people -including other exes- who are in my life). I am still very much proud of the book and rather pleased with everyone's responses to it. I don't think of this overly cautious omission as some glaring flaw.
The Empty Bed is available for order in my web store 'Love For Sale' as well as these shops...
Vancouver: Luckys, Paper Hound, Dandelion Records, Pulp fiction
New York: Spoonbill, Desert Island, Printed Matter
Montreal: Monastiraki
Toronto: Eyesore, Type, June, Art Met, Weird Things
Kitchener: Open Sesame
CAFKA
I have been making loads of drawings, logos and images for CAFKA, a great art installation biennial event in Kitchener! Plus my drawings are up in the rotunda of City Hall! There will be a tour of all the art with artists in attendance starting there at 2 pm this Saturday! The opening reception is at Kitchener City Hall as well on Saturday, June 2 at 7 PM. The Opening Reception is licensed and will be catered and admission is free! At 9 PM you are invited to the CAFKA Artists’ Party at the Critical Media Lab, 44 Gaukel Street, Kitchener: I will be doing ballpoint pen tattoos! There'll be DJs. Admission to the licensed Artists’ Party is $20 at the door or PWYC. Entry is free for CAFKA artists & volunteers. For more information and a full list of artists please contact cafka at cafka.org.
Robert Dayton: The Empty Bed book performance May 25th Vancouver
Am I excited for this? YES! Plus in my time in Vancouver I will also be doing original research for Canadian Glam!
Robert Dayton: The Empty Bed
May 25 7-10pm
Hosted by UNIT/PITT & Access Gallery
Robert Dayton will present an interdisciplinary performance as himself and as The Canadian Romantic based around his artist book "The Empty Bed" published by Impulse [b]. Also on view will be drawings and copies of "The Empty Bed" for purchase. And a few other surprises!
The Empty Bed is a darkly funny pen-and-ink heartbreak book of 150 pages, a self-pitying lonely odyssey taking place after the end of romantic relationships. It is playful and mystical with many one page jokes of heavy truths in a loose narrative flow. As well the book includes an interview with the author's Mother on divorce and death, an excerpt from the secret files of ghost-hunter Dr. Fourteen, and The Death Wish Guide To Loss. All of it rendered in quill and brush where words and pictures mingle freely revealing relatable yet unspoken content.
Robert Dayton is an interdisciplinary artist and writer. Comedy? YES!
His writings and art have appeared in numerous exhibits as well as such books and publications as Kid Power (Spectacular Optical), Lost in The Grooves (Routledge), Cinema Sewer (Fab), The Onion, long running music magazine Roctober, international noise magazine Bananafish, as the interviewer for Hazlitt's National Magazine award winning series Pagelicker and more! Robert has performed across North America and Australia. As The Canadian Romantic, he manifests as a series of videos, live performances, a doll, an art book (published by UNIT/PITT) and a winking photo to make people in Canada and everywhere feel more attractive. His collaborative musical performance and recording projects include legendary song-and-dance duo Canned Hamm, July Fourth Toilet, and Hallmark. Robert holds an MFA from the University of Waterloo.
PRAISE FOR THE EMPTY BED
“Writer, artist, cartoonist, singer and performer Robert Dayton bluntly and humorously exposes the nerves and feels of a broken heart.”
—Fiona Smyth, cartoonist, artist, and co-author of Sex is a Funny Word
“Robert's work on the stage and studio has always been both side-splittingly hilarious and goddamned distressing; working in the book format he offers up an additional, unexpected outcome — pure beauty!”
— Gregg Turkington, comedian
“A blackly humorous descent into the depths of self-loathing, which emerges on the other end of ‘the wallows’ with a profound message of acceptance and hope.”
—Kier-La Janisse, author, House of Psychotic Women
“I love The Empty Bed, it contains all of the best parts of what Robert does – on top of new heart-wrenching parts that I never knew he did!”
—Dan Bejar, musician
“A brilliantly original, painfully hilarious, and surprisingly touching ode to love and loss.”
—Jodi Wille, director of The Source Family
Find out more about Robert Dayton: http://www.robertdayton.com/
THE EMPTY BED excerpt available for download here:
http://www.impulse-b.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/The-Empty-Bed-excerpt.pdf
All press inquiries:
Robert Dayton
Back from New York and Montreal launches
Hi everybody! I just got back from doing launches for The Empty Bed in Montreal at Monastiraki (5478 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal), a neat shop where you can purchase the book, and Spoonbill (99 Montrose) in Brooklyn, a great art book store where you can also purchase the book (it is also at Desert Island and at Printed Matter in New York City). Thanks to Monastiraki (Billy!) and Spoonbill (Jonas!) and Matthew Thurber and Brian Belott for performing too! The book can also be purchased on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/robertdayton and on my Etsy https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/RobertDayton.
If you want to review my book please drop me a line for a copy, I would love that.
I also made incredible headway on Canadian Glam in Montreal interviewing legends Polo of Danger, Nick of Mack, Lucien of Aut'Chose, Pierre of Aut'Chose and Eclipse as well as Angelo Finaldi!
My futile efforts with getting funding from the Canadian grant system are known (I just had another rejection letter for Canadian Glam -a Canadian historical book project that deals with music, fashion, gender play and pushing boundaries by someone who has been making quality work for years- the day before I left on my trip) so your support on Patreon (see above) helps me to develop these projects. Gonna keep a going!
The Empty Bed In Montreal
Tell your pals! Saturday afternoon! It's going to be great fun! Books will be personally signed!
Also I am doing advance research on French Canadian Glam too! Very stoked (of course any advice and info on French Canadian Glam is appreciated)
VEE DAY DAY WEEK WEEK STUFF
Hi folks, so much going on! First off, I have been adding plenty of writing to my Patreon and selling Karaoke Host valentines! Original art! One of a kind! Many hosts to choose as your Valentine! Only 15$ (incl shipping). Only 10 dollars if you purchase The Empty Bed heartbreak book as well.
PM me or visit my Patreon (www.patreon.com/robertdayton)
I will be selling the Empty Bed book on Feb 13th and performing as The Canadian Romantic an ode to The Man From Hong Kong's love scenes in a screening of the Ozploitation classic The Man From Hong Kong at The Royal Cinema, info here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2029916547331470/permalink/2042713592718432/
On Wed Feb 14th is an opening for a special group art show at Weird Things in Toronto (998 Bathurst) called Valentimes. I wilI be showing art work from The Empty Bed book and will have copies for sale (actually I always have copies on me, feel free to approach me) The artists are: Charlie Murray, Devon Marinac, Eric Kostiuk Williams, Ginette Lapalme, Robert Dayton and Sylvia Munson.
http://www.impulse-b.com/produc…/impulsebooks/the-empty-bed/
Low Level Housing Trauma in Toronto
If you subscribe to my Patreon you get access to my series about the low level communal house trauma involving a dictator 'victim' and dry erase board messages and oh so much more that I was a part of! A dark, funny tale about these modern times... I recently posted part one and will post part two soon. Plus for just 3 dollars you get a personalised video. Go here:
Sex City radio interview
Radio interview about my book on Sex City now up replete with appropriate songs from my various projects:
https://sexcityradio.com/2018/01/09/robert-dayton-and-the-empty-bed-louise-bak/
Book still available here:
http://www.impulse-b.com/products-page/impulsebooks/the-empty-bed/
The Empty Bed OUT NOW!
Sorry I haven't been keeping up...overwhelmed
You can order the book here:http://www.impulse-b.com/products-page/impulsebooks/the-empty-bed/
Kitchener launch this Saturday (see image), Toronto launch was most successful! A lovely crowd. Mike Gabel printed up many panties and tees! I read stuff that was painful to read. Clancy Dennehy provided video footage of my Mom. Ruhee Dewji played absolutely perfect mournful sax. Chris Cummings did his amazing job of accompanying The Canadian Romantic. Milk Glass were a wonderful venue with delicious non-alcoholic options. Celebrating after I saw the boyfriend of the most recent heartbreak inspiration for the book bike by...seemed appropriate (there is no escape but I am hoping to get these immigration papers done so there won't be any more painful reminders).
Pre-order The Empty Bed!
We -me and the publishers Impulse[b]- are putting the finishing touches on the book as we speak! This book is happening! And you can even pre-order it! First dibs! I starteda Patreon where you can not only order the book but you can subscribe to monthly content from me! Yayyyy! I will be putting up lots of fun stuff including more stuff on Canadian Glam!!! Yayyyy!
Check it out:
https://www.patreon.com/robertdayton
And look at this cover!!!!
The Canadian Romantic - Flag
Vulcher 3 French Canadian Glam band Danger
Issue 3 of Vulcher is out now. I wrote about French Canadian Glam band Danger who I declare better than Teenage Head. And there’s loads of other stuff: an interview with Tom Smith about junk dub, Plastic Crimewave on Joe South, free jazz, The Electric Eels, etc etc. 5 bucks. Order here:
http://vulcherfanzine.bigcartel.com/product/vulcher-3
"Oh Canada"
Check it out! We made a video for The Canadian Romantic from his unreleased album. It's an erotic version of "Oh Canada"! If you like it, please please please share it!
Co-directed and written by Robert Dayton (The Canadian Romantic).
Co-directed/camera/editor Jeremy Singer.
Featuring Siânteuse, Chris A Cummings, Nyles Miszcyk
Thanks to The House Of Hot Breath for location and Maura Doyle for beaver footage.
Not visible: drums by Jay Anderson and other musical flourishes by Justin Ladd!
https://thecanadianromantic.bandcamp.com
More info on The Canadian Romantic:
http://www.robertdayton.com/thecanadianromantic/
Contact: mrdayton@gmail.com
Impulse [b] to publishThe Empty Bed
Excited to announce that Impulse[b] will be publishing my pen-and-ink heartbreak book The Empty Bed later this Summer! Sneak peek for sale and a free reading at Toronto Art Book Fair this Saturday at 2 pm (see flier)...
Also, I am still writing greatly on Canadian Glam, check it out:
where to get Diaper Cake Journal, post on Lewis Furey, more
Is anyone reading this? HA! Big announcement regarding my new book soon but first...
Soooo issue one of Diaper Cake Journal is now available in New York at Desert Island and at Printed Matter, where you can also buy my art book The Canadian Romantic.
You can also order them through Art Metropole:
http://new.artmetropole.com/shop/publisher/robert-dayton
They also carry Young Adult #3, I am pretty proud of my writing in there as close to the marrow of the funny bone as it gets, ow! Only 100 printed, act fast:
http://new.artmetropole.com/shop/13116
I just wrote something new for Canadian Glam on Lewis Furey, if you like perverse Montreal nasally cabaret styles:
https://thisiscanadianglam.tumblr.com/post/160307351524/lewis-furey
Maura Doyle interview, plus "Young Adult" launch
hi!
Maura Doyle is one of my favourite artists and this interview that I did with her is up, I wish that I had included "(laughter)" but then it would have been throughout:
http://www.whitehotmagazine.com/articles/interview-with-artist-maura-doyle/3625
I also have a short story entitled "emotionally immature" in issue 3 of Young Adult which launches Monday, March 27th @ 7pm
The Burdock (1184 Bloor Street W, Toronto), FREE
More info here:
http://blankchequepress.com/post/155548250272/coming-march-2017
So I am still posting adrawing aweek from The Empty Bed to my Tumblr (see last post):
http://robertdayton.tumblr.com/
As well, I posted my interview with the legendary Paul Williams to my Canadian Glam project:
http://thisiscanadianglam.tumblr.com/
weekly drawings
Hi! So I am starting to post a drawing a week on my Tumblr which is here:
http://robertdayton.tumblr.com/
If it resonates with you,feel free to follow, share, always looking for input et al...Most of these are from my upcoming book The Empty Bed...if you know of good companies that do prints andtees etc I am all ears!
