Tumblr (3.0; @vortexstreets)http://www.nikitasorokin.com/<p> When I was six, the city started building a big new Khrushchevka across the courtyard from our Khrushchevka. That’s what Russians call the featureless concrete apartment blocks that cover the nation like dystopian cubist boils. They’re named after the famed Nikita Khrushchev that pounded a desk with his shoe at the UN General Assembly. A huge hole was dug out for the foundation of the new rectangular prism, and soon i-beams, bricks, cable, and cement blocks began to materialize. Day to day the neighborhood kids would have wheelie contests along the courtyard road, and climb atop metal shed garages to see the construction. After the foul-mouthed red-nosed chain-smoking workers would leave, we’d climb into the hole and look around, carrying huge stones and pipes from here to there, pretending we were the construction crew, cussing and coughing off pretend cigarettes. It was our new amusement park.</p> <p>  Construction progress was sporadic. Day in and day out nothing would be built. Sometimes the bleary-eyed workers would return and add to the foundation. Then, construction simply stopped, and the new industrial amusement park became open 24-7 for the kids.</p> <p>   Around October there were heavy rains, and to our extreme joy, the derelict site flooded completely, turning the now familiar hole into a brand new attraction, a lake! To boot, the construction crew had left us everything we needed - empty barrels, wood, wire, tarps and tools - to make our own buccaneer fleet. The boys set to building rafts. It took a few unsuccessful christenings and drenched shivering deckhands running home to their babushkas to master the art, but in no time there were a dozen ships of fortune sailing the high Khrushchevian Seas, flying tattered flags drawn with markers, engaging in piracy, boardings, mutinies, and plunder. We even took prisoners, tied them up, and left them marooned, sometimes for hours, on an uninhabitable concrete island in the center of the lake. The Age of Sail! The grandmas yelled at us from the shore and balconies as we navigated between half-submerged metal beams and molding cement, but yell was just about all they could do until November, when the freeze and the snow drove the pirates to land for sled-racing season.</p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/16069174368http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/16069174368Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:29:41 -0800<a href="http://www.punknews.org/review/10759">The Black Face 7" </a>: <p><img alt="Cover Art" height="340" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKe7CBzirg0/TtIFJOTsUyI/AAAAAAAAAmo/wCYMc4ji7zY/s400/HH666-223_Cover_4c.jpg" width="340"/></p> <p>I created the cover image for this 7”.</p> <p>Black Face is the new project of founding Black Flag Bassist Chuck Dukowski and Oxbow vocalist Eugene Robinson. My band-mate from Insects vs. Robots, Milo Gonzalez, shreds the geetar. </p> <p><a href="http://www.vice.com/read/chuck-dukowski-from-black-flag-has-a-new-band-with-eugene-robinson" title="Black Face">Go to the Vice Magazine Article.</a></p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/13789496727http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/13789496727Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:23:00 -0800Black FlagBlack FaceOxbowChuck DukowskiPunkVinylCoversAlbum Art<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvg2vs6Odu1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvg2vs6Odu1r0q75ko2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvg2vs6Odu1r0q75ko3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvg2vs6Odu1r0q75ko4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvg2vs6Odu1r0q75ko5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>In The Land Of The Giants, Sequoia National Forest.</p> <p>Elevation: 7000ft</p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/13517366932http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/13517366932Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:07:03 -0800<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luvkc3bRrE1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Whipped this up last night.</p> <p>On December 1st, my band <a href="http://insectsvsrobots.bandcamp.com" title="Listen">Insects vs. Robots</a> will be headlining the Del Monte Speakeasy. (The basement floor of the Townhouse. <a href="http://g.co/maps/byx5b" title="Locate That Shit">52 Windward Ave, Venice, CA</a>)</p> <p>If you’re in L.A, you are invited. Paint your face berserker blue and come freak out with us! If you’re not in L.A, I feel bad for you son.</p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12979427307http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12979427307Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:14:00 -0800California BandsExperimentalExperimental MusicFreak OutL.A.Local MusicLos Angeles ShowsPsychedelicRock n' RollVenice CAInsects vs RobotsIVRAhkiyyiniLi Dai GuoTownhouseHeavy Shit<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luptctfeiI1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12842900570http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12842900570Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:43:00 -0800internetlulzmugatuso hot right now<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lupsoc1g661r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Image of the vortex street phenomenon by Birgitt Boschitsch, Peter Dewey, and Alexander Smits.</p> <p>From <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/11/14/science/20111114-princeton-10.html">The Princeton University Art of Science Competition</a></p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12842460441http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12842460441Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:29:00 -0800<iframe width="400" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HLgQx5sC5nc?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p>The Amazing Mr. Please Please himself!  Live at the Apollo, October 24, 1962.</p> <p>You can hear the human electricity. This album could wake you up from a coma.</p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12607576944http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12607576944Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:02:00 -0800james brownlive albumsapollo theatremr. dynamite<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luglu7Tmdk1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Album cover art for the lovely <a title="Miss Ferguson's Site" href="http://www.amyferguson.org/">Amy Ferguson</a> and her music project Grandma Dirt. Released in April 2011. </p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12606297893http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12606297893Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:22:00 -0800album artgiant treeamy fergusongrandma dirtpen &amp; ink<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ludbs492Oa1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ludbs492Oa1r0q75ko2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ludbs492Oa1r0q75ko3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>A couple of favorites from my shoot for the album cover art for <a title="Vice Magazine Story" href="http://www.vice.com/read/chuck-dukowski-from-black-flag-has-a-new-band-with-eugene-robinson">Blackface</a>, the new music project of founding Black Flag bassist Chuck Dukowski and Oxbow singer Eugene Robinson.<br/><br/> My head buried in dirt all but for the face, I asked Wylie Vasquez Cable to activate the combat boot face-stop maneuver. These are chock full of genuine dirt n terror!</p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12535631931http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12535631931Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:52:00 -0800black flagoxbowblackfacealbum artcoverphotographyblack &amp; white<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lubdl5AAIP1r0q75ko1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12487075355http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12487075355Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:36:41 -0800<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lub1afRgEp1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12475529054http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12475529054Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:11:00 -0800sand dunesstipplinginkmoleskine<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lub12soNte1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a title="Wylie's Sounds" href="http://soundcloud.com/wyliecable/">Wylie Vasquez Cable</a> wrestleshreds the accordion.</p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12475394695http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12475394695Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:06:28 -0800<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lub02vK1pn1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12474765989http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12474765989Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:44:55 -0800<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luaz3lUnHr1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12474161584http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12474161584Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:23:00 -0800Darth VaderStar WarsKittensKittiesthe force<p><em><big><big><big>i’m having second thoughts </big></big></big></em><br/><br/></p> <p><em><big><big><big>about thinking twice.</big></big></big></em></p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12473880432http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12473880432Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:13:00 -0800<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luay4yowaT1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>William S. Burroughs</p> <p>18”x24” / Micron Pen</p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12473583271http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12473583271Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:02:58 -0800<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lu9m6jSdcj1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12446359219http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12446359219Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:47:07 -0800<a href="http://insectsvsrobots.bandcamp.com/">Insects vs. Robots</a>: <p>Listen to our new album, Tales From The Blue House!<br/><br/></p> <p><a title="IVR_Tales_Cover_sm by early_breakfast, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56002398@N06/6322728717/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6211/6322728717_fbc7afa3aa.jpg" alt="IVR_Tales_Cover_sm" width="300" height="300"/></a></p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12345745144http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12345745144Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:54:00 -0700<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lu5tyeccuW1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Photo by Eleonora Barna.</p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/eleonorabarnaphotography">http://www.facebook.com/eleonorabarnaphotography</a></p>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12345307082http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12345307082Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:44:38 -0700<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lu5tp4aqSo1r0q75ko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12345050181http://www.nikitasorokin.com/post/12345050181Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:39:04 -0700