Tonight I missed both the series finale of Mad Men and what was sure to be really good episode of Entourage. I wouldn’t have missed those shows unless I was doing something that was going to be a lot of fun and worthy of skipping a very pleasurable television experience. I met a hero of mine, Mr. Ian MacKaye. He’s best known for bieng the frontman of the influential Minor Threat and Fugazi and for being the head of Dischord Records. He’s currently in The Evens and he was also in a few other really good, but lesser-nown bands.
Ian was at Hollywood High wrapping up a short California tour of Q&A shows. He started the show spending over five minutes answering a question that I asked. After the show I talked to him along with a group of fellow fans and autograph seekers after the two hour session. I think that means I won’t be lying if I tell someone that I met him and we had a conversation.
He is one of the handfull of people who directly influenced the kind of music that every band I was in played. I wouldn’t probably wouldn’t be painting if it wasn’t for punk rock so Ian Mackay’s music means a lot to me.
I’ll post a couple of pictures later.
UPDATE:
My friend Mercedes is the brains and talent behind By No Means Average, an online store full of rad shirts , skirts and baby clothes that she designs herself. She has decided to become a big time art dealer and she’s starting with me. Now paintings of mine (that won’t be a hassle to ship) will be available from her store. So far there are 3 paintings up for sale on ByNoMeansAverage.com, but there will soon be a bunch of other stuff that I’ve done up on the site.
Each purchase will come with some limited edition buttons and prints.
Here’s what’s up on the site so far:
How To Make a Mixtape - Fig. 1.3
12″x16″
acrylic on canvas
New Tattoo
18″x24″
acrylic on canvas
We Are The Eggmen - I Am The Walrus
11″x14″
acrylic on canvas
Take a look
As some of you may know, my mind is a vault of incredibly useless information. Since I have a head full of random facts, I decided to audition to be a contestant on Trivial Pursuit: America Plays. I didn’t make it on to the show as a contestant because; as it turned out, some of the questions at the audition didn’t have anything to do with old TV shows or comic books. I did; however, make it onto the show as part of “America’s Team” and one of my questions will be used on the show tomorrow.
I’m not sure which of the three questions that I asked will be used on the show but there’s a good chance that any one of them will show everyone what a complete geek I am. If my team beats the fools in the studio then I’ll get some money. I doubt I’ll be lucky enough to be on the winning team, but pleae keep your fingers crossed anyway.
The show airs twice on Ch. 11 at 3:00pm and 3:30pm, but I don’t know what time the episode I’m on will air. Set your DVR if you want to see me look like an enormous dork on a nationally syndicated game show between 3:00pm to 4:00pm.
Saturday I stopped in at Cactus Gallery in lovely Eagle Rock, CA for my first group show there. It was a rad experience. I don’t know where the pizza that was there came from, but it was rad. Seriously. Best pizza ever. I must find out where it came from.
Anyway, there was a bunch of rad art there and it was all way reasonably priced. So much so that even I was able to afford a rad piece. I just tried to insert a picture of what I picked up, but I’m having some trouble with that right now. Until then, here’s a picture of it from the artist; Damon O’Keefe’s blog. This dude’s blog is a good time. Take a look.
After stopping in at Cactus my homie Hector and I took of to Casita del Pueblo for the show over there. We got there a little late but still had a rad time and saw some more Dia De Los Muertos inspired pieces.
See the post below for more info on both shows.
UPDATE: It was brought to my attention that I use the word “rad” way too much. I will try to correct that.
Saturday, October 11th is going to be pretty nuts. I have work featured in two shows and I plan on going to both openings. I predict a night of good times.
CACTUS GALLERY in Eagle Rock
Casita del Pueblo in Uptown Whittier
Hit the EVENTS page for more info
I’ve been extremely busy with work and school lately so I haven’t had much time to paint. I’ve made it a point to head to The Lab (I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it yet, but that’s what my studio is called) every weekend so I can get down to business and finish up some pieces that are still in the begining stages, but something always comes up. Maybe having my friends come over to The Lab so they can pick me up or just hang out there isn’t such a good idea.
Despite the major slow-down in production, I will be participating in 2 (maybe 3) group shows very soon. I’ll post more info on those shows very soon.
I’m also working on merch stuff so there could possibly be an online store in the very near future.
I started working again, which is pretty rad even if the gig is a data entry job that is so boring that I have to occasionally snap my wrist with a rubber band to keep myself awake. I also started the graphic design program at Platt College on the very same day that I got this new job. It’s been a very busy week.
Since I’m working full time and going to school 4 nights a week for 5 hours a night, I’m only going to be able to get into The Lab and paint on the weekends. As a result of the limited time that I have to paint, my output until I get my graphic design degree in October of ‘09 will slow down considerably. Any commissioned pieces that I line up will obviously get done, but I doubt I’ll have enough time to paint my own stuff. We’ll see what happens.
It’s all for the best because I’ll end up becoming a better artist.
By the way, the group show at Casita del Pueblo is still going on. Go and hit that shit up, yo! The opening was a lot of fun and I even sold some stuff.
Casita del Pueblo
6738 Greenleaf Ave.
Whittier, CA 90601
This Saturday I will be returning to Casita del Pueblo in lovely Uptown Whittier to participate in their next show. Stop by and enjoy good art, free booze and free food. It should be good times. This time I’ll try not to knock something expensive over.
Please note my name listed on the flier (9th from the bottom). I’ll have a few pieces on display. Two old ones and two…maybe three new ones.
Casita del Pueblo
6738 Greenleaf Ave.
Whittier, CA 90601
My first solo art exhibition wrapped up today. It was supposed to end yesterday, but it was extended for another day. The show was a thousand times more successful than I ever thought it could be. I still can’t believe that I ended up getting my first solo show less than a year after my first group show.
Big ups to everyone who came by to check out what I threw up on the walls. I really appreciate the support of the friends and family members who came to the opening or stopped in to take a look after. I sacrificed a lot to get all the pieces ready for the exhibition and spent many long and lonely nights in The Lab. I’m glad it was all worth it.
I think I might keep doing this art thing a little while longer since it seems to be going okay for me.
A billion thanks to Yolanda and everyone else at Casita del Pueblo for making everything run soooooooo smoothly and working with me to make it all happen. I didn’t forget about those of you who are now the owners of things that I created. Thanks to you guys! Seriously. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Enjoy your paintings. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure that I make those pieces go up in value. Let me know if they end up on eBay. I’ll help get the bidding up.
The closing night of my art show has been bushed back one whole day! Now I’ll be taking my stuff down from the walls of Casita del Pueblo on Sunday, August 3rd instead of the 2nd.
Casita del Pueblo
6738 Greenleaf Ave.
Whittier, CA 90601
