Homemade Shrines

February 6, 2012 11:26 AM

A fascinating collection of over 150 shrines, mostly made by teenagers. Readers and staffers of Rookie contributed these photos of mostly homemade shrines, featuring subjects as diverse as Frida Kahlo, Britney Spears, Japan, nail polish, and Grandma.
posted by Nibbly Fang (28 comments total)

"Shrine-making is definitely one of my favorite late Sunday afternoon pastimes."
posted by filthy light thief at 11:32 AM on February 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

I clicked through idly but when I saw "alan rickman" in the tags I stayed to hunt for that one. So great. Plus the portable shrine concept (with LED candles!) is great.
posted by DU at 11:40 AM on February 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

So none of these kids has cats?
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:49 AM on February 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

You know, two years ago when Tavi Gevinson first showed up as an important fashion blogger I wondered if she'd be able to keep up the momentum. I mean, when Anna Wintour is impressed by you at 13, where do you go from there. I'm very happy to see that she keeps on doing awesome things.
posted by atrazine at 11:54 AM on February 6, 2012 [4 favorites]

I'm trying to find the 'shrine' scene from Heavenly Creatures and failing..
posted by empath at 11:56 AM on February 6, 2012

This is pretty great.
posted by maxwelton at 12:05 PM on February 6, 2012

Rookie, previously; Tavi, previously.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:05 PM on February 6, 2012

So much Kurt and Courtney.
posted by idiopath at 12:14 PM on February 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

So much Virgin Suicides.
posted by Windigo at 12:17 PM on February 6, 2012

We need more teenagers getting all hysterical about Stephen Fry (#15), at least considering the other options.
posted by obscurator at 12:17 PM on February 6, 2012 [4 favorites]

As a teenager I had a shrine to Leonard Bernstein.
posted by Lutoslawski at 12:24 PM on February 6, 2012

No Satan or Baal? No appreciation for the classics.
posted by charred husk at 12:27 PM on February 6, 2012 [11 favorites]

#52...Richard Nixon
is this some kind of sick twisted teenage humor?
posted by quazichimp at 12:27 PM on February 6, 2012

It's completely unfair and pretty inspiring how much RookieMag.com is just killing it at being a web property.
posted by Peemster at 12:29 PM on February 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

I think my favorite tag is "uncle jesse" but I can't bring myself to click through 155 posts to find it.
posted by book 'em dano at 1:15 PM on February 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Huh, I never knew other teenage girls who did this. Interesting.
posted by troublesome at 1:17 PM on February 6, 2012

It's nice to know that even in the age of badass webzines made by fifteen-year-olds and endless methods of information consumption, North American teenagers are still wasting their time in fundamentally ridiculous and embarrassing ways.

Just like I was.
posted by AmandaA at 1:22 PM on February 6, 2012

I had a shrine to Bloom County. Well, it was just a dirty t-shirt, but it was mine.
posted by swift at 1:27 PM on February 6, 2012

I think my favorite tag is "uncle jesse" but I can't bring myself to click through 155 posts to find it.

The sexiest Full House uncles is in there at #80. You're welcome.
posted by chela at 1:40 PM on February 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

I never got the deal with Frieda Kahlo. She wasn't especially attractive and painted a lot of pictures of herself. Outside of being married to Diego Rivera, I can't see what's so special about her. She seems to be a favorite of artschool chicks who are "experimenting".
posted by Afroblanco at 1:48 PM on February 6, 2012

I never got the deal with Frieda Kahlo. She wasn't especially attractive

Whoa talk about owned
posted by theodolite at 2:24 PM on February 6, 2012 [4 favorites]

What the..I just don't even..

*makes mental note to never take anything seriously that Afroblanco writes*
posted by Wantok at 2:34 PM on February 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Peter Schjeldahl has a short meditation about the cult of Frieda Kahlo here, which might help shed a little light. He writes:

"No one need appreciate art to justify being a Kahlo fan or even a Kahlo cultist. (Why not? The world will have cults, and who better merits one?"

"I should disclose that I’m nearly a Kahlo cultist, myself."
posted by Powerful Religious Baby at 2:47 PM on February 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

my favorite shrine
posted by jfuller at 3:35 PM on February 6, 2012

Yeah, sorry, could have thought of a better way to put that. But it's always astounded me to see people going crazy over what I've always thought of as really ugly, repetitive, and self-involved art. I know, I know, de gustibus blah blah blah blah blah. I'll read the New Yorker article that PRB linked to, hopefully that'll shed some light.
posted by Afroblanco at 3:41 PM on February 6, 2012

> I know, de gustibus blah blah blah blah blah.

She would br the ideal portraitist for Viktor Krum.
posted by jfuller at 3:44 PM on February 6, 2012

I wish I had a picture of my Lord of the Rings shrine from 8th grade.
posted by beandip at 7:11 PM on February 6, 2012

All other merits aside, isn't being a favorite of artschool chicks who are "experimenting" enough?
posted by seventyfour at 8:56 AM on February 7, 2012