Grahama's House

A Mutant Vehicle and Festival Experience brought to you by Elephant Bird Camp and the Funky Ones.

[purpleganda]

Grahama couldn’t make it to Burning Man this year but she was there in spirit.

[grahamashouse]

Grahama regrets to inform her numerous and rambunctious grandchildren that she will be unable to bring her house to Burning Man this year. However, you will be able to meet and have tea with Grahama during Grahama's Tea Time at Elephant Bird Camp (7:15 & C) Friday at teatime. We do hope you will attend.

Love, Grahama

[grahamashouse]

On her way to an appearance at the Opulent Temple Massive on Treasure Island, the engine of Grahama's House, the Funky One's beloved mutant vehicle, caught fire. These photos may be of her final adventure. The gaggle of grannies will live on, but may have to do so in a retirement community. — Grahama's Last Hurrah?

[grahamashouse]

The State of Grahama's House by Graham McLeod

Many of you may have heard about the situation with Grahama's House, but I wanted to make sure everyone got the real facts about what had/is happening with our beloved art car. I apologize in advance for the novella here. Grahama's House was a project that I devised about a year ago, the largest for me to date, in which our camp and community of friends came together to bring a new element to the playa in the form of an art car and performance art. We didn't really know what it would turn into when we first embarked on this process and there was a lot of doubt as to whether it would even get finished, but we got it done down to the wire. I financed most all of it (with a significant contribution from Red Sonja and the camp) with the bulk of the work being done by Michael and myself. It took us months and thousands of dollars to build. As it progressed, more people came on board (Chase and Antje were early contributors) and eventually the entire camp came together to help with all the final touches that really make it what it is today.  We never dreamed that it would make appearances at multiple events outside of Burning Man (Decompression, Treasure Island Music Festival, Opulent Temple Massive, even a music video). Even more surprising was how positively people responded to it as its identity became more and more pronounced with our friends developing their own granny identities themselves (Eamon's Grahama being the most notable). The details inside/outside the house alone make it truly a remarkable work of art and I am very proud to have been a part of making it and sharing it with people. A couple of weeks ago we noticed a transmission fluid leak, which we had to get resolved before our big party on Treasure Island with Opulent Temple. To sum up the story, we attempted a solution, but on the way to the party the engine caught fire twice and essentially disabled the engine. However, since we were on Caltrans territory they had to tow us for free and since the nearest place was treasure island we finagled a tow to the event. We rocked the event without a hitch and had a blast. It finally made it off the island yesterday and back to Nimby where it can live for about 6 months (I just paid the rent). Woodshop (Jason) took a look at it for me to give me an idea of how salvageable of a situation this is. The good news is it can be fixed and live at Nimby for a while immobilized, the bad news is it will cost around $2000. It has always been a labor of love for me and I have dealt with all the trials that come with owning an art car from the get go. I have done a ridiculous amount of things (many times with help) to keep us from losing it altogether. It has also cost me an arm and a leg and I have basically been paying for it's survival directly out of my pockets for the past year (minimally supplemented by a couple of events). I accepted that responsibility and because people loved it so much (and were not able to contribute financially), I was willing to sacrifice any extra money I had to keep it afloat. This whole experience has really broke my heart because every part of me wants to save her, but I know I can't pay for it anymore. I feel like I am letting people down by not doing so, considering how much everyone has put into it and all the great experiences we've had with it. If $2000 fell into my lap, I would eagerly put all the time and effort necessary to get her running and up to the playa again. However, I have resigned myself to the reality that Grahama's House may have had her last run.This has been really hard for me, but the memories of Grahama's will live on and I am really happy we all got to share it with all of you. I will keep you posted on the status. Thank you all so much.

GMC

[purpleganda]

Grahama (Taken with Instagram at Treasure Island)

[grahamashouse]

Grahama's House will be at the Opulent Massive this weekend!

[victoriacolak]

[laughingsquid]

J-Dimps, An 80-Year Old Grandmother Gains Internet Notoriety With the Help of Her Grandson

[grahamashouse]

Those dirty grannies!

[pouretrebelle]

[grahamashouse]

We all need to get down.

[thedailywhat]

Party Rockin’ Grannies of the Day: A group of Russian grannies have scored an unlikely trip to the Eurovision Song Contest, where they will represent their homeland with the feel-good folksy dance hit “Party For Everybody.”

The Buranovskiye Babushki (Buranovo Grannies), who hail from Russia’s Udmurt Republic, penned the song themselves, and say they intend to use their winnings to build a church in their tiny hometown of Buranovo.

“Grandmothers do not need glory and wealth,” a “band” member was quoted as saying.

The 57th Eurovision Song Contest will be held on May 26th in Baku, Azerbaijan. To make it to the finals, the grannies must first survive the semi-final round which takes place on May 22nd.

[bbc / themarysue.]

[icandressmyselfmusic]

Grahama’s House Music Video Shoot by Carlo de la Sera

[icandressmyselfmusic]

Free Download of Grahama’s House by i can dress myself (bit.ly/grhmshs) Created by Vidola Productions (vidola.com) i can dress myself (icandressmyselfmusic.com) and the Funky Ones (thefunkyones.com) Creative Director: Peter Ruecktenwald Director of Photography: Stuart Philkill Executive Producer: The Minister of Purpleganda First AC: Nick Almquist Grip: Joy Roster Video Projection: Jen Cohen Assistants to Baron Minos: Nick Parker and Zack March Bottlecap Flowers appear courtesy of the Bottlecap Gazebo (bottlecapgazebo.com) CAST (in order of appearance): i can dress myself: The Minister of Purpleganda, Thundermouse, and Graham Baron Minos Grahama i can dance commanders: Jonathan Chan, Becky Neil, and Bené Aria The Funky Ones Grannies: Zachary March, Max Poynton, David Allen, Cole Dovey, Lindy Patterson, Reza Azadi, Mike Murray, Andrew Grinberg, Lizzy Lynch, Adam Gordon, Erica Edwards, Chris Chase Putnam, Nick Parker, Lyssa Beshears, Rebecca Frisch, Emily Red Sonja Scarbrough, Nick Hormuth, Dan Mastroni, Deb Henigson, and Cassie Brunette Grahama’s Bodyguards: Michael Angelo Passalalpi and Antje Martina Schaefer “Grahama’s House” is from the debut album “it’s nice actually!” written and performed by i can dress myself and available April 7th, 2012

[grahamashouse]

They made a video...about me?!

[icandressmyselfmusic]

I wonder if Grahama has discovered photo booth.

[grahamashouse]

National Sweater Day, A Granny Will Call to Bug You to Wear a Sweater BY RUSTY BLAZENHOFF ON FEBRUARY 8, 2012

As a way to bring awareness to global climate change, conservation organization World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF-Canada) has announced February 9 as National Sweater Day for all Canadians. For National Sweater Day, people are asked to “be a dear, turn down the heat and put on that sweater.” Should you need a reminder to wear a sweater, be sure to sign up online to get a call from a Granny with their “Book A Granny” program. They have dozens of grannies, omas, bubbes, nai nais and more standing by at their Granny Call Centre like Ruth, Audrey, Mavis and Florence.

On Feb 9th, put on your favourite sweater and turn the heat down a few degrees to help WWF take action against climate change, and work toward a sustainable future.

By rethinking how we use energy and how much we use, we can make a big impact on climate change. If every Canadian lowered the heat a few degrees this winter, it’d be like taking 300,000 vehicles off the road! So wear that sweater and make the world a better place for your Grandchildren.

[grahammastaflash]

We spent all weekend filming our music video. It was a lot of hard work, but after seeing the rough cut, it is going to blow everyone’s freakin scalps off! I don’t want to give away any surprises about what the final product is going to be, but be prepared for some of the dumbest/silliest/amazing grannies/minotaur/centurions/grahama’s house/icdm’s you’ve ever seen. Thanks so much to everyone who toughed it out for two long shooting days, especially the film crew. Expect the video and a viewing party in the next few weeks!