Thoughts

Please don’t spoil my day, I’m miles away, And after all, I’m only sleeping

Ayin Es2 Comments

I’m still doing the Purge Project. It just takes me time to get around to all the things I make plans for because I make too many goddamn plans. Eventually, I’ll get to it. I have a stack of books in my book room, and I’m still not finished going through the shelves. In the meantime, I’m trying to fit in everything else during a time I am bombarded with nearly crippling fatigue. It’s been like 2 months now and it’s driving me absolutely bonkers. I feel like I am moving through a Jell-o mold, and I want to sleep all the time. It’s like having narcolepsy. It sucks when you have a lot of things you’d like to do. My best time is in the morning, so I am doing all that I can during those times, and doing the best I can through the rest of the day. Napping helps a little, but for some reason I feel guilty when I do that. Napping is for babies! Haha.

Last night I had an Open Studio at Moppet and it went okay. A lot more people came through than usual, which was nice, and my assistant (and good friend) Jennifer came to sit with me, making life a whole lot more bearable. I even worked a little bit while she was there. She made me more comfortable I guess. She knows me pretty well, so she understood how difficult it is for me to sit the space and answer questions about my work. In fact, she said it must be very hard for any artist to have to do that. I think it probably is, not just me. Don’t we tend to be pretty introverted? We aren’t the car salesman types, but then again, I have met a few artists that really do like to go on and on about themselves. I have done it myself out of nervousness before – just ramble about stuff no one has even asked me about. The truth is, I’d rather not be around at all when people are looking at my work. Let them figure it out.

Speaking of talking about your art, I have to do that tomorrow at LMU and I’m pretty nervous. I am there to give a lecture on my work for a class that focuses on art in Los Angeles. I have no real idea what I am going to say yet, but I’ll put together an image presentation, some background info, and maybe bring some of my books. I’ll have to wing the rest and hope I don’t choke.

I made this little ink drawing for The Circle of Women’s National Stamp Project Exhibit created by artist Margaret Garcia. She invited visual artists, poets, musicians, print-makers, or just people of culture to create a STAMP IMAGE. Each stamp will bring to life an affirmation which we desire to be STIMULATED OR CULTIVATED—for example, health, wealth, love, creativity, generosity, intuition, humility, faith, illumination, spirituality, forgiveness, intelligence, wisdom, courage, growth, tolerance, hope, vision, abundance, talent, music, kindness, fellowship, prosperity, etc. There will be an exhibit of stamp art and opportunities for print exchanges. Venues in Los Angeles, Texas, Oxnard and San Francisco have expressed interest.

I am very much looking forward to another project that I have been planning for some time. I’m renting a house out in a very secluded area of Joshua Tree for a couple weeks that has an art studio. It has no phones, no internet, no television, etc. All I am going to do is draw and rest. Hopefully, it’s just what I need.

Pain in our ass…

Ayin Es2 Comments

It’s a shame, but we have to TAKE ACTION. I mean, they have already taken art and music out of public schools, why not take it out of the community too?? Take art out of Los Angeles all together! Let’s just INCREASE the salaries of MORE politicians and take art out of the picture! If you are looking for budget cuts, don’t forget to starve people of happiness and health care, that’s how you rid the streets of the stinky, hippie riffraff! Knock down Watts Towers and build a Wal-Mart! Give the peoples what they think they want.

The Purge Project: Take 2

Ayin Es8 Comments

This is a bedpost painted by my good friend, artist Elizabeth Hoffman. I have so many things of hers already and I figured it was okay to spread the love by paying this forward. Elizabeth is originally from Pennsylvania, but she lived here in Los Angeles for 9 years. Before moving back to PA, she purged a ton of her artwork and I got to take advantage. Her art is all over my house, but there is next to none I would ever part with. A couple of her things may come up here, if I can bear it. This little wooden bedpost is something I can let go of for now. It’s an interesting folk-arty sort of piece that stands 13 ¾ inches tall by 3.5 inches thick (square). It’s also a bit over 3 pounds. It has 4 unique sides: pokadots, an ice cream cone, scary clown/cat heads, and a carrot. It most likely comes from a child’s bed (knowing Elizabeth). Her work is in a number of prestigious private Los Angeles collections. She was a very popular artist during her time here. One of her last exhibits in LA was alongside of Henry Darger at Michael Kohn Gallery. She has a very distinct color palette and style. One of the most special people and artists I have ever known.

I have shown my work at the same gallery as Elizabeth. If you can guess which gallery it was, the bedpost is yours.

Was it

A. I-5 Gallery?
B. Highways Performance Space and Gallery?
C. Glory?
D. three. Gallery?
E. Bedlam?
F. La Luz de Jesus?
G. All of the above?

The Purge Project: Take 1

Ayin Es8 Comments

I’m starting off with a little gem. This first one is hard! I’m realizing this is going to be rather cathartic, but I think it must be done.

This is a hand carved, hand-painted wooden trinket (2.75 x 2.5 x .75 inches) from Tibet sold for practically nothing at tourist trade, but you have to have been climbing the Trans Himalayas to get one. In 1994, a very good friend of mine was doing just that and she brought this back to me, after purchasing it from the locals when she was about half way up her 8000 meter climb. I lived with her for about a year, along with the rest of my band in a large house that resembled a boat in North Hollywood, California. She was one of our biggest supporters and we grew very close, and in fact she encouraged me to write more seriously and I wound up self-publishing my handmade zines, which in turn developed the beginnings of my mailing lists and caught me my first art collectors. I later trained her to sell my art and become my “agent.” We organized private parties and exhibited my work and did pretty good. About a year later she was hired by a very prominent commercial art agency to represent some of the best illustrators and photographers in the business. I think she is co-owner of the agency these days. I’m not sure because I don’t talk to her anymore. We had quite the falling out due to some other, rather complicated situations between a large group of mutual friends. I can’t say she is on my list of people I think highly about anymore, but there will always be a place in my heart for her because of the extraordinary times we shared.

When I look at this trinket, which has been sitting in a prominent place on my living room self, I have bittersweet feelings about it. I’m attached to it because it’s just cool. I think about how much I loved my friend, and I think about how she stabbed me in the back in the end. So, I think it’s a good thing to get it the hell out of my life and move on and let someone else dig it for it’s interesting look and the fact that it comes from Tibet, the fact that someone made it with their hands, and that they were selflessly willing to part with it for hardly any money. It seems fitting I should give it away for free.

The first person to come up with an appropriate name for this guy, gets it. Just leave it on a comment. Don’t forget to put your email in the email field.