Liv Moe

LA! Highlights! Lowlights!

2012-01-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Highlights in no particular order....

5 Car Stud at LACMA wow!

Elizabeth Higgins O'Connor's show at Charlie James.

The Bradbury Building

Cole's French Dip and their exquisite cocktails.

Finding out this sign is in fact NOT "street art" which makes me love it more!

This "dog."

Seeing Portrait of my Father hanging at the Geffen.

The California Design show at LACMA. This screen was in the show. It says it was commissioned for a state building in Sacramento by Architectural Pottery. I know I have seen it but I can't place what building it's on. Anyone? Anyone?

The Edison a steampunk's wet dream bar.

This dude

Central Market

AND The Kenneth Anger and Weegee shows at MOCA Grand!

Lowlights

The Eames exhibition at the A&D Museum

Redcat advertising David Hammons as part of their PST programming and then having him not there.

Finding hella bones in my sushi at Frying Fish.

Pros of riding the bus

Finding the Triforium and Angel's Flight

Getting a better sense of where I'm going in LA

Cons

Not being able to go to the pop up gallery in West Hollywood or Burger Records

Accidentally getting off the bus in one of the worst neighborhoods I've ever been in, ever..... Ever.

Unlike Jose... Alek likes to make a mess

2011-12-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

I like to keep a clean house... at my home.

2011-12-09T15:12:00.000-08:00

What separates us from the animals....

2011-12-02T10:57:00.001-08:00

A friend recently joked on Facebook that the arts separate us from the animals in that an animal wouldn't willingly select a life for themselves filled with starvation, uncertainty, and discomfort. It makes sense if you think about it and it's even funny up until the point when it's not.....

That said Verge is on its 2nd Kickstarter campaign with the first one being this time last year. I really struggled with whether to do Kickstarter again or try a different funding platform. Over the past year I've paid careful attention to folks' impressions of Kickstarter and am beginning to fear it may be jumping the shark. Hard to say though what with the fact that I'm down in the weeds most of the time.

Running it's course or no, fundraising of any flavor is HARD! Really, really, hard. Humans by their nature are bargain hunters myself included, probably to an unrealistic degree. The fact that I found a gorgeous calf length wool coat in new condition at a thrift store recently for $4 just reinforces my warped reality.

As all of this applies to arts and culture, however, there is a disconnect between what things cost and the quality of what we consume in the region. There is often a perception that art should be cheap or free and that artists through our inventiveness should just be able to magically will amazing things to happen. The truth of the matter is, it takes money. You gotta pay someone to maintain a space, keep it clean, install the art, buy the wine, serve the wine, send out announcements etcetera, not to mention the crazy concept that the artists themselves should receive something for creating the work we're consuming in the first place.

In the grand scheme of things, in my humble and biased opinion, the bang one gets for their buck with the arts is usually great. Our field is typically not one of the better paid, and yet.... and yet, we draw thousands of folks outta their homes every year to attend receptions, plays, musical performances, and films. Not bad for a group of people who are typically raising their own salaries while simultaneously trying to do their jobs.

There is a point to which one could make the argument that the arts are non-essential and so, in considering say safety net issues versus art giving, the choice is obvious or is it? Cities with thriving cultural centers tend to attract folks with money who like to do things. What's more all those shows and plays I mentioned bring folks out on the street in search of cocktails and food either before or after said events. The more the arts are supported the more capable we are of employing those who work in the arts as well further feeding money into the local economy. There is actual money in the arts, money that contributes to a healthier economy and community which in turn supports a range of conditions and issues. Besides, we can't live on bread alone right?

How does this all apply to Verge? Well, Verge houses 26 regional artists many of whom contribute work to area art institutions, teach workshops in the region, sit on arts committees and boards, and teach at our local colleges. Since relocating, Verge has taken in over 10 artists who have graduated from local grad programs at either CSUS or UC Davis providing a home for them amongst peers to support them in their work out of school. We have secured public commissions for some of our artists and provided a proofing ground for them to test out larger works before taking them on to major cities outside the region. Mind you these accomplishments have all occurred since our relocation while we've been in a very rough, very cold, transitional space. As I said before, even though we require a little money to get by, you get a lot of bang for your buck with this crew.

So please, as you see these solicitations whiz around asking for Support for Verge consider giving us a little dough. This money will help keep me, and my two colleagues going as we continue to expand our programming at Verge and improve the space. A little support goes a long way and makes the work involved in this sort of effort way, way, more doable.

As a treat for reading this entire ramble I give you Bruce Nauman Cruising To Drake On Tha Block as stolen from AFC who as usual is providing stellar Basel coverage this week. Can.... Not... Get... Enough....

It takes a village people

2011-11-10T10:10:00.001-08:00

This is how I'm feeling today. Some days the life of the Arts Exec of the year is giving lectures and feeling like a smarty pants while certain others its nursing a week long head cold while crawling around a dirty warehouse building a mini golf hole and cleaning up garbage. A life in the arts is NON STOP GLAMOUR I tell you. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I may not be rich but I certainly ain't bored either.....

That said this shit is pretty sweet. The holes turned out great! There are 9 of them and you can play them. In recent months Verge has picked up some new studio artists who will have their studios on view this evening as well.

Best of all the founder of the reincarnated Ruhstaller Brewery will be there with his RAD vintage truck serving up BREW!!!!!!

In the meantime everyone gave it there all like Amanda here. All smiles!

Biggert came by and helped me lay astro turf. Total pro.

Alek cutting text.

These little ships are rocking my world. I really want one separate from the hole itself. So cool.

Anyhoo, the level of teamwork it takes to pull off a Verge event is pretty humbling and inspiring. Head cold or no, tonight is gonna be AWESOME!!!!!

P.S. In case anyone is wondering what's going on with my crockpot currently, last night I made Japanese curry and it was delish! I know the world cares about these issues.....

If I can't cook it in a crockpot I ain't interested

2011-11-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

Up until recently my crockpot resided at the Verge where I only blew Nate's sawdust off it long enough to fill it with mulled wine at movie night. For reasons I can't quite explain I've become like a woman possessed in recent days cranking out two dinners and yogurt in my pot. Maybe I'm returning to my Nodak roots....

Where has it been all this time? Seriously. Dinner today took me 10 whole minutes to throw together. I may never cook any other way.

For starters here's that yogurt I mentioned. Easy peasy.

Next up lasagna....

Pardon the photo, I was too anxious to get eatin' to do any better. I've been training for the run to feed the hungry which has created a frenzy these days come dinner time.

Crockpot lasagna according to me -

1 15oz can tomato sauce

1 28oz can plum tomatoes

1 T oregano

1 T thyme

1 T olive oil

5 cloves of garlic

1 lb of baby spinach

4 bell peppers chopped

1 carrot chopped

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 container of ricotta

1 handful flat leaf parsley chopped

1 box lasagna noodles uncooked (doesn't have to be the quick kind)

1 bag of Italian shredded cheese blend

2 t salt

pepper

Make the sauce by combining the oil, tomatoes, thyme, oregano, 1 teaspoon of salt, and garlic. Once assembled in a bowl hit it with an immersion blender or throw in a food processor.

For the cheese filling combine the ricotta with the rest of the salt and the parsley.

Begin layering in your crockpot starting with a layer of sauce, then noodles (break 'em up to fit), then a layer of the ricotta mixture, an assortment of veggies, shredded cheese, then more sauce, and so on until you reach the top. Once you place the last layer of noodles on this masterpiece add one last layer of sauce and cheese pour about a 1/4 cup of water around the perimeter of the pot (I used the sauce can for this to wipe out the last bits of tomato business) put the lid on and turn it to low.

7 hours later you got a perfect lasagna! It's like magic and totally defied my expectations. Juicy but not soggy, rich in flavor, perfect lasagna in my book. I found some other crockpot lasagna recipes online which this is a modification of, mostly because the others included jars of premade sauce, etc which, while I know is part of the whole convenient crockpot ethos is a bridge too far for me. Jarred pasta sauce is the ick IMHO.

Moving right along this evening I made tamale pie in 10 minutes flat. I feel giddy typing this. It's like I have a new lease on life. Delicious dinner AND chill time. Win. Win.

Tamale pie:

1 jalapeno diced

1 red onion

Soyrizo

3/4 c cheddar cheese

1 can corn drained

1 can pinto beans drained

1 T Mexican oregano

1 t chili powder

1 1/2 t cumin

4 tomatoes chopped or two 14 oz cans of fire roasted tomatoes

1 batch cornbread mix (I like Arrowhead Mills as a solid health food quality cornbread mix which is pretty dense)

Fresh salsa, sour cream, and green onions to garnish

Put the tomatoes, corn, beans, soyrizo (you can use actual chorizo instead or ground turkey or beef with taco seasoning but this would require pre-browning which would negate the 10 minute scenario I'm so pleased with), oregano, cumin, chili powder, onion, and 1/2 cup of the cheese in the crockpot.

Mix up the cornbread according to package directions and add the jalapeno. Stir to combine and pour in an even layer over the filling. Top with the 1/4 cup of remaining cheese and set on low for 6 hours.

Unbelievably the cornbread rose as though cooked in the oven but far moister as a result of the steam trapped in the pot.

I had it with a Barsao Garnacha and was feeling no pain.

Now to comtemplate what's gonna go in the pot next.....

Nate Cordero... the Best of Sacramento

2011-09-13T09:39:00.001-07:00

Image by Chris Daubert

So way earlier this summer I wrote a piece for CBS Local about Nate and I kept looking to see if it published and then eventually I forgot. In the meantime my Q&A made it online and if you missed his fantastic show this summer you... missed... out!

You can read the piece here.

Feelin' better

2011-08-26T13:58:00.001-07:00

The Old Man pointed out the other day that I've been a crab like no other as of late and frankly, he's right. Administrating an art complex with all its politics and financial stresses are making me a crabby appleton. Worst of all I haven't been doing what led me to Verge in the first place. Making art. This afternoon has been the best. Do not disturb sign on the door, focused on crap, the world can wait. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I got contacted by someone in Lisbon in July about a show which three years ago would have caused me to poop my pants but these days I've been too preoccupied by everything else to even remember what happened. Wake up call!

I can't remember where I found 'em but this clutch of afro wigs in my studio are rockin' my world these days. As are afghans which I've been drawn to as a material for awhile now and only recently decided that destroying them a little bit is okay. Coming from the mid-west and having made my share of afghans the thought of damaging one was this taboo that seemed unconscionable until now.
I'm working this piece on out too. It's first iteration I wasn't crazy about although I never said anything about it but Biggert caught my insecurity about it of course because he would. I would love to make wee kinetic systems that would cause some butterflies to flutter and others to not.
Sigh....

Who's got the mud?!

2011-08-15T09:59:00.001-07:00

FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rrrrrrrrrrad wwwwwwwweeks

2011-08-08T14:36:00.001-07:00

My brain is sputtering today as a result of the 60+ hour work week I pulled down last week. Today I'm kind agog in equal parts due to the rad week before me the rad week I just completed.

Robert Minervini

Amy Balkin

Aside from some VCA work stuff I'm pretty excited about Tuesday, I got King Tuff Wed(!), a smut week screening at the YBCA Thursday + Bay Area Now which includes works by Amy Balkin and Robert Minervini both of whom showed at Verge in its first location! Maybe they'll also be a little Tu-Lan... or something I dunno. Either way fun stuff!

Speaking of Tu-Lan this Chow Hound review pisses me off. Anytime a review begins with someone saying they advise people not to go somewhere having never been themselves I'm skeptical. This followed by a total show-me-what-ya-got kind of attitude negates any opinion they had about the place.

Friday the old man is on a panel at the Nelson about Nate! Dig this blurry photo of the artist lookin' thoughtful.

And then after that things get hazy. I think there's something afoot Sunday but I'm not sure.... Or maybe Saturday. My head is a swamp.

In conclusion this image is rocking my whole life!

You TOO can look this fabulous!

2011-08-02T19:50:00.001-07:00

Check us out! The Verge crew on a little break from slaving away on the Jumble Sale. We work so, so very hard. Like elves.

Check out our intern. Workin' hard or hardly workin'? ZING!

Verge's cutest couple takin' it easy...

Check this out! A sort of Sherlock Holmes meets I don't know who kinda look....
Watt Avenue Red steppin' out!
I'm the boss. Rowr!!!!!
Our fearless Associate Director layin' down the LAW!

But seriously folks! Come to the preview party. As you can see we're a bundle of giggles and what's more we'll feed you, drink you, play you some tunes, show you some art and sell you some RAD shit all for just $15. Where else can you be this satisfied? The answer is nowhere...

Verge Jumble Sale Preview Party

Thursday, August 4

6-10pm

$15

BE THERE!!!!!!

A storie of dreams mixed with reality

2011-07-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

This weekend I've been asked to introduce "Dreams Money Can Buy," a surrealist film from 1947 written and directed by Hans Richter. The film is screening at the Guild Theatre through a partnership between Movies on a Big Screen and Verge!

I just finished watching the flick last night and it's really amazing.

The structure of the film follows a pretty basic narrative in which a character named Joe sets himself up as a sort of dream interpreter who holds sessions with his clients in the same manner as a psychiatrist. Much of the dialogue online about this film describes it as a marriage between art and psychiatry.

Each dream sequence is developed by a different artist of that time including Marcel Duchamp, Alexander Calder, Max Ernst, Man Ray, Fernand Leger, and Richter. It's an all star line up although only Ernst makes a cameo in the film. John Cage pops in for some soundtrack work as well and fortunately for us this will be screened with the original soundtrack!

Viewing this on the big screen will be a big treat and I'm excited to watch it in a group so if you're looking for something to do Sunday swing on by. Starts at 7:30.

Non-stop promo machine

2011-07-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

I promise not to be that person forever. In the meantime check out this rad poster the gents at Interval Press put together for the upcoming Jumble Sale!!! Super sweet!!!

Don't forget about the preview party on August 4th... drinking, eating, listening to rad tunes and shopping a rummage sale. WIN! WIN! WIN!!!!!!!!!

BLANK CITY!!!!!!!

2011-06-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited about this....

You should be too.....

Dirty Cigarettes

2011-06-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

I have too much to do this week so in response I've spent the morning watching footage of that trainwreck of a performance Amy Winehouse gave in Belgrade, reading the trash talk about Kathleen Hanna saying she doesn't like Katy Perry (why people think that's so damning I don't know), listing shit on eBay, and carrying on with general malaise.

In other news I've been making work! Finally!!! I don't have much in the way of pictures at the moment but will soon. In the meantime this gif cracks me up. This blanket smells like stale cigarettes and dirt.

Sunday I went to look at the river with my folks although my pop was too squeamish to go look at the water so I went alone and snapped this photo. No shore, hardly any trail, sucks....

I feel that there is too much going on this week. As much as I like to run my jaw my brain feels tired just thinking about all the conversation this week holds.....

Tonight is the Best Summer Ever party at Bows which I am most excited about!

Wed is a fundraiser for SMAC. And Thursday is an art tour sponsored by CCAS which I'm stoked on. I love looking at private art collections. Should be interesting!

I wish they had credited this image on the invite though..... I keep thinking maybe it's someone so famous we're just supposed to know who it is. Guess I'll find out Thursday....

Tonight's the night!!!

2011-06-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

I am seriously jazzed that the Verge is screening Marwencol tonight!!! I first heard about the film about a year ago when I bought one of Mark Hogancamp's books online. Ever since I've been hoping the film would come to Sac and now it not only is, BUT we're screening it with an all-star panel to follow.

Check out this line up!

Local artist and former Short Center instructor Skinner, Richard L. Nelson Gallery and UC Davis Fine Arts Collection Director Renny Pritikin, UC Davis Neuroscience Lab Manager and Verge Film Series Co-curator Becky Grunewald, and clinical psychologist and Professor of Neurology at UC Davis Dr. Kathleen Baynes.

If you've never come out to a Verge screening before now is the time. They're really chill, with tasty refreshments, free popcorn and good company.

7:30pm $7 BE THERE!!!!!!!!

Following tonight's deal the weekend proves to be a real rager!! Tomorrow night future Verge printmaking resident and Romeo Void front woman Debora Iyall is playing in Chavez Park. I'm totally excited!!!!

Also tomorrow night!!! The Sacramento French Film Festival is having it's kick off with delicious food, French wine, AND I get to ride there in this sweet ass car.

Saturday night OMF is playing the first set with his new band the Scouse Gits at the Blue Lamp and I'm excited after weeks of hearing their sweet tunes wafting outta our garage. What a sharp pack of dudes!

Sunday Tim Holt of Sutter Town News fame is speaking at Time Tested and while you're there you can check out Rebecca Crowther's fabulous window display. This is my favorite photo from the install!

Epic!!

Oh la la Sasson

2011-06-13T21:26:00.001-07:00

OMF and I went to Mt. Diablo yesterday kind of on a whim....

It's pretty amazing with a pert near 360 view of the bay area.

In the foothills of Mt. Diablo at the base of the park is the Borges ranch which sadly was closed... There were plenty of windows to look in though revealing a tidy late 19th century abode. Surrounding the outside various family members have etched their names into the foundation wall like ol' Dan Borges here from 1942.

After peeking into various 19th century California dwellings recently I'm realizing what a great resource they are for shaping up our place. Granted ours is post 1900 but not by much although ours is totally gutted of anything original or interesting. On the plus side it means I'm not a slave to some fixture I might not care for but feel obligated to live with because it's original.

Leaving Mt. Diablo we went a searchin' for thrift stores and food two urges I can't seem to keep in check.... Both quests paid off with a stop at "the best Korean restaurant in the bay area" after scoring two pairs of new with tags Sasson jeans. Now to get 'em hemmed if I decided to keep 'em...

Not bad, not bad!

Tuesday in the studio with Bud

2011-06-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

This is how we kick it....

I bought $81 in 1960s sex novelties in Fresno

2011-05-31T09:58:00.000-07:00

This image pretty well sums up my weekend. As I try to remember what I cared about before leaving town last week I am reminded that I gotta take more vacations!

P.S. Noriega's = bliss.....

Susan, I love you the way a Mexican woman should be

2011-05-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

For the past 24 hours I have been kicking myself for not stopping the fellow we passed yesterday morning in the tenderloin wearing a t-shirt proclaiming the above to ask for a photo. It was the second best t-shirt I've ever seen.

Breakfast in the tenderloin was excellent. We ate at the Lafayette Coffee Shop which was a completely satisfying experience from beginning to end right down to the dumpster located in the bathroom, the graffiti over the toilet that said "dog dick," the pimpy looking dude eating lunch with his dog at the booth behind us, and the great vintage tableware we dined from. Best hashbrowns ever, super solid breakfast.

I looked up the yelp on the place just now and this review is hilarious:

"The patrons included a mother and 30 something year old daughter who was really excited about this new business deal she had breeding her pet rat. I think she had it with her in a cage. "

Yep, sounds about right.

The art fairs were great. I'm super encourage by the solid showing. Ever since I started attending art fairs regularly a few years ago I've been hoping San Francisco would step up its game and put together something that looked better, and took more chances. The last two fairs I went to in SF made me want to stop attending fairs in San Francisco all together for their focus on conservative, decorative, commercial works.

By contrast ArtMrkt was outstanding! Well presented, with a good mix of decorative and challenging art.

I didn't take a ton of photos because I always get squirrelly about that at fairs. In some instances it's okay and in others a stern warning will be delivered before the threat of ejection. I'm pretty sure it was fine but never-the-less.....

The few sneaky shots I attempted included these works by Anthony Burgess which are made of matchbook covers.

Linder's Perchant was one of my favorite spaces along with Charlie James who was showing Elizabeth Higgins O'Connor along side Orly Cogan which was a nice coupling.

And of course OMF needed his photo taken in front of the Fiat with two front ends. Note the world's A-1 best t-shirt?!?!?!? It's a little hard to make out in this shot but the Old Man showed up wearing a t-shirt for La Bries Sleep Center's "Night Comfort Theatre." My dome was blown!

With the exception of Jack Hanley Gallery I was pretty underwhelmed by ArtPad, although I feel like it has the potential to be fabulous. I'm curious what others thought of it....

I scored this John Baldessari print at Jack Hanley's space which was part of "17 Reasons," a multi-disciplinary, site-specific work that took place in various locations throughout the mission in 2003, curated by Hanley and Kate Fowle. I am beyond stoked to own this little number and shall be wisking it off to the framer this week.

Axe Messy Look paste spotted at ArtPad. For those who don't know, anything Axe related is innately funny... Just ask Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeil Hamburger!!!

Aside from the above the succulent wall surrounding the pool at ArtPad was wonderful.

The weekend contained a fair amount of hot succulent action. There's so much that will thrive in the bay area that just can't hang in Sac. Too hot + too frozen....

The view from Coit Tower!

In conclusion the final night of the SS Records extravaganza was excellent!!!! Action packed.... What? What's the matter? What?!?!?!?

Stay warm, eat garlic, and drink red wine

2011-05-19T23:37:00.000-07:00

There are a few people in my life I consider magical and Doug Biggert is definitely one. I feel lucky to have him as a friend and the projects we have worked on in recent years have been fun beyond words. Biggert's generous, funny, spontaneous, and observant to a point which is almost dangerous. To a fellow beer enthusiast, and lover of dogs I salute you Sharif. Stay warm, eat garlic, sip red wine, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

It's important for some people to be crazy

2011-05-10T09:35:00.001-07:00

This past semester I had the opportunity to teach art appreciation at SCC, an opportunity I wasn't sure I would ever have for a variety of reasons one of them being an uncertainty about whether I was truly interested in sharing my mental energy with others, who in some cases may just be going through the motions. As a grad student TA I learned that teaching is A LOT of work, work that takes you out of your studio or in my case out of my studio and away from other personal projects. Given that I spend about 80% of my life down a rabbit hole coming up for that much air seemed like a scary prospect....

That said I realized last year that if I was going to teach anything I'd want to teach art appreciation because beyond folks like myself or my peers and colleagues, with our respective rabbit holes, what the arts truly need are more lay people with a general understanding and appreciation for art. Let's face it, there's more of them than there are us.

The other thing I was really interested in was the application of art appreciation in terms of critical thinking skills. Evaluating visual culture is a great primer on thinking critically and is potentially more fun and more immersive than reading the one page essay and then breaking it down.

That said over the past 14 weeks we've covered most methods, mediums, and styles of art making from cave paintings to the present day. I've been referring to it as a high-speed rail trip through art history. My students are neat and the experience has been really fun.

Aside from the objectives I had lined out for myself above, the other thing I was hoping to get out all of this was some knowledge and information from them. I wanted to know as much about what they think about art as what I planned on teaching. I scored majorly in that regard as well.

Sadly, through oppressive budget cuts I probably won't be teaching again for quite awhile. In the meantime I have some pretty awesome tidbits and reflections to take with me:

The student body at SCC is really, really diverse, economically, ethnically, and racially. It's been refreshing. So much so in fact that it caused me to reflect on what my academic experience has been on the university level leading up this. There was definitely diversity at UCD and CSUS but not anywhere near this degree.

The other reason this diversity was so apparent to me was because my students drew my attention to how white the art scene I travel in is as a result of the Faces of Art show at the Kondos back in January/February. I ask them to go and write down their reflections and I was not only surprised by the results but also surprised and a little disappointed in myself for not noticing this sooner.

Students are really, really receptive and have memories like elephants.

In contrast this memory can be oddly selective.

If information is important you should probably repeat it several times and once you think you've repeated yourself to the point of inanity perhaps repeating that info one more time would be wise.

Covering 32,000 years of art history in 4 weeks is ludicrous even though a lot of art history books do it. Every week for everything we discussed I could think of dozens of things we were leaving out.

I really need to brush up on my Middle Eastern and Asian art history.

Students will ask you totally left field questions about things and are often concerned with technicalities as opposed to ideas which is something else I found refreshing. In some cases the how really is as interesting as the why.

Finally, about two weeks ago the thing I would imagine most instructors dream about happened. I was sitting with my students in small groups discussing various assignments and one of them said, 'you know that quote you read on the first day of class about society needing doctors and lawyers but also needing artists to remind us of the joy of being human?' I said yes, and then this student said, 'well I was discussing this concept with my friends over the weekend and we were in agreement that, that is totally true.' I swear to god it was the most moved by anything I've been in quite awhile. I imagine it's the sort of thing most of us hope for. In the best case scenario you want your students to keep thinking about the ideas you're discussing beyond the classroom and in the mega best of scenarios they'll share these concepts with their friends and this chain of learning will just go on and on.

The really funny part is that the quote is from that Vice documentary about garage music which is pretty goofy but the quote is solid gold....

"It’s important for some people to be crazy. Every village needs doctors and rational thinkers and mathematicians and all that but they also need people that just sort of worship the art of being human and I think that’s what the artist is." - Christopher Owens, Girls

Stitchin' in the ditch

2011-04-27T22:46:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot going on lately.... a lot.

The Bill Cunningham event was rad. So rad in fact that it is deserving of its own post. In the meantime here's everything else.

I was in a show in Sonoma last month at their art center which happened in a blink! I zipped my work out there, ran around Sacto like a chicken with its head cut off for about a month (as per my norm) and then zipped back to pick the work up.

Check out OMF touching stuff. I can't take this guy anywhere.

This piece was pretty intense. I'll never know if she actually gets cremated in the piece..... that's probably part of the intrigue I suppose....

I liked this cast iron dog at the Sonoma mission.

And this one as well. This I feel captures Buddy's expression when he was awoken by a 4:30am dogurt alarm clock commanding him to crap wherever possible instantly. There's been some sleepless nights as of late.

This is the creepiest thing in Sonoma. I'm a fan.

OMF bought me a shotgun for our 5th anniversary.

JK, actually, because 5 years is the wood anniversary he bought me two Nate Cordero pieces! Score!

In turn I made the old man a quilt! Which sounded like a sweet idea at the time I dreamt it up until I got into things and realized what a crazy amount of work a quilt is. Whoa dang!

There was the cutting, which included pieces of all kinds of sentimental stuff like the lining out of the coat he was wearing when we met (which he gave me to cut up I swear) and the sheet he took with him on his first trip to Europe.

Then the sewing of the patches.

The laying out... which in the interest of time my mom and I came up with a simplified design to ensure I'd get this bad boy delivered on time.

After assembly there's the quilting also sometimes known as STITCHIN' IN THE DITCH!!!

And wallah! Finished product complete with el dog-o!

For a few finishing touches I also included tags off of clothes of his that have fallen off over the years and other little odds and ends. Don't ask me why I keep this stuff. In the end it turned out pretty cool. Totally not bad for a first attempt and 100% not possible without the help of my ma!! Thanks ma!!!

Holy Crapola!!!!

2011-04-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

I do not know where the last five years went! Being married to this dude has been a hoot. I feel like I blinked and suddenly we've been together all told for almost seven years. That's the way it should be right?

This is what we looked like before we got married. We've grown up so much since then!
Jaime at the bachelorette party drinking Bud through a "straw." P.S. I still have my straws much to OMF's shagrin.

OMF singular. He still had a chance to get away at this point.

OMF + Mrs. Foster. I am so glad she got to see us get married.

The wreckin' crew. Muggs aka the world's best stylist, and my sis partying down before the big event.

Check out our wedding photographer. This guy was 100% PRO!

My pop who pounded a brew before steppin' out to quell his nerves + my beautiful bouquet designed by Jaime.

It's official!
Head table pre-Nitzberg invasion.
Master of disheveled ceremonies.
Hello!

One of the best things about a wedding is being able to throw a dream party where everyone of your favorite friends and family are there. It's so great.

Like these dudes for instance.
And my sister rockin' out with my aunts who love to party!
Me 'n Foot Foot having a moment.

My mom and sister made our wedding cake. Later I found out that one of their dogs took a tiny lick out of the bottom of the cake but hey that's what frosting is for right?

Looking at these pics is absolutely the best. OMF and I have been through a lot in the last five years. We gained a magazine and then sent it on its way, we lost some people close to us, bought a house, and purchased somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 cars, traveled from Italy to the west coast and all points in between, and continue to house Sacto's most curmudgeonly dog.

In short happy 5 year anniversary sweetie! I LOVE YOU!!!

Come to my Slumber Party

2011-04-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

Holy crap I am back!!!

I owe it to the Slip Man!

Who is the Slip Man? Who can say? All we know is that he is the arch nemesis of one Mr. Craig Whatley who may be the funniest or the craziest dude on Norcal public access.

When OMF, Watt Ave Red and I headed to the bay for a wedding this weekend we stayed the night in San Rafael. We also bestowed OMF with the nickname of Jack Tripper for 16 hours or so.

After dining on some Extreme Pizza (I was shot down in my bid to try both a high rated Cuban join and Pizza Orgasmica) we hit the room and started channel surfing only to stumble on Access Television gold. A total what-in-the-sam-hell caused us to be so lucky kind of moment, otherwise known as the Slip 'n Slide, broadcast on Marin Access Cable from 10:30-11pm on Friday nights.

Here's some of the Slip 'n Slide's greatest hits.

Yowza!!

Just in case you wondered what they look like....

????
Boing!!!!

Like I said SOLID GOLD!!!

I'm foregoing the more controversial material but let's just say Whatley covers all bases, equally offending most races and religions. This Slip Man, who Whatley apparently hates, is well hung, wanted by both gays and women, uses a lot of racial slurs, and desires BJs.

It was a seriously entertaining 30 minutes.

The wedding the next day was awesome. We took a yacht around the San Francisco harbor for three hours.

So rad!

Check out these broads.

In the end I'm now fascinated by Angel Island and want to make a visit this summer. So super neat!

Not a bad way to kick off spring break!

P.S. This website is RAD and I want to eat it all!!!

P.P.S. The KZAP event at Time Tested was amazing and I got totally choked up at the beginning. Fortunately I reigned it in and held it together but seriously, so awesome. A reminder that Sacto has had some cool ass shit at different times....

Simon and Simon*

2011-02-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

Last night was so fun! Movie night is really turning into something rad especially with the new addition of John Milne's awesome AV set-up. Special guest Matias Bombal was splendid as well. What a golden voice!

Now I'm off to add a bunch of records to our 57th Street inventory and spend the rest of the day in my studio.

In the meantime behold this craziness. OMF basically held me down and made me watch this subsequently blowing my dome.

Who knew Paul Simon had a look-a-like brother?

Come and get it!!!!

2011-02-16T08:44:00.001-08:00

VCA is screening the Magic Christian tomorrow night, Thursday, February 17 at 7:30 with special guest Matias Bombal! It's gonna be Bad Finger-tastic!

Prior to the Magic Christian Matias is presenting a silent comedy on 16mm, SO FUN!!!!!

If you haven't see this short video about Matias you MUST WATCH IT NOW!!!!!! He was once the littlest radio announcer. So cute...

See you tomorrow night!

What's up with this going to bed nonsense?!?

2011-02-14T08:47:00.000-08:00

OMF and I have TOO MUCH STUFF!!!!

In an effort to share the magic from our humble abode with the rest of the world we have rented a shelf at the 57th Street Antique Mall.

All this and more can be YOURS!

Do you need help curing your gonorrhea without drugs?

What's up with this going to bed nonsense right?

Twin bed Star Wars sheets for a guest room or a very special very nerdy child's bed?

How 'bout some robin's egg blue Tepco ware? OMF and I just traded up for some Russel Wright but this stuff is indestructible. And chock full of California history!

Vintage I Magnin?

Gordons California Pottery?

For my graphic arts nerd friends how 'bout Fortune Magazine from the 1960s? These things are crazy cool!

Or a spicy French novel? The cover is a little dirty (no pun intended but trust me, it's priced to move!). Meow!

Do you like Batman?

Don't delay!!! ACT NOW!!!!!!!!!

What a Beard!

2011-02-07T13:21:00.000-08:00

Last fall when I was all a titter about the gubernatorial election, and terrified that Whitman might take it, I became preoccupied with Don Bachardy's portrait of Governor Brown (Governor Brown... ah, it feels good to say that).

In researching Bachardy I came across details about his relationship with Christopher Isherwood which then led me to read Isherwood and now I AM HOOKED!

So far I'm about 2/3s of the way through "Down There On a Visit," and am loving it. His meanderings remind me in some ways of the characters I have chosen to spend my adult years with, eccentrics and intellectuals who sometimes might make poor or reckless decisions but at the same time are pert near always engaging and fun. I dare say my exploits have been a deep shade tamer all things considered, however.....

By page 15 I was down the rabbit hole as a result of the following passage:

"The most arresting of Mr. Lancaster's photographs was a large one showing a vigorous, bearded old man of perhaps 75. What a Beard! It was the real article, no longer obtainable, made of sterling silver; the beard of the genuine Victorian paterfamilias. It roared in torrents from his finely arched nostrils and high big-lobed ears, foamed over his cheeks in two tidal waves that collided below his chin to form boiling rapids in which no boat could have lived. What a beard-conscious old beauty - tilting his head up to be admired, with an air of self-indulged caprice!"

A beard-conscious old beauty indeed! This sort of lovely metaphor matched with tales of drinking, travel, debauchery, homo-eroticism and WWII make for a quality read if you ask me.

My edition of the book has a sketch of Isherwood on the cover similar to the one above by Bachardy.

The first edition cover is also by Bachardy and is quite jaunty.

This image of the two of them in Bachardy's studio is the best.

The more I read about Isherwood the more intriguing he becomes... Friends with the likes of E.M. Forster, W.H. Auden, and Truman Capote, adapted Waugh's The Loved One for the screen with Terry Southern, had two books developed into film including Cabaret and A Single Man, edited Vendanta magazine for two years and sat on the advisory board for the publication with Aldous Huxley, etc. etc. In short he was an insanely interesting dude.

Lastly, in google image searching Isherwood you come up with a fair amount of John Waters pics. This one in particular was worth a repost.

Amen brother!

"Herb and Dorothy" at the Crest!

2011-01-24T15:20:00.000-08:00

Speaking of things I've wanted to see in this town forever, or at least the last 2 years..... "Herb and Dorothy" will be screening at the Crest Theatre, Thursday, February 3 at 7:30pm!!!

Immediately following the film there will be a panel discussion featuring Renny Pritikin, Annabeth Rosen, and Stephen Kaltenbach. This will be a fantastic night of film, discussion, and friends! Best of all, a portion of all tickets sold will benefit Verge in its new location! This is going to one very enjoyable night!

See you soon!

HELL, YES!

2011-01-18T13:05:00.000-08:00

Excess is all..... Paul McCarthy's Mechanical Pig, 2003

Do you see how blissed out that pig is???? That's me right now! Blissed out with excitement that our local PBS affiliate KVIE is now carrying Art 21!! Can I get a HELL, YES!??!

Last year when I worked on the auction I was a broken record of Art 21, Art 21, Art 21, Art 21. My bleating and nagging can now come to an end and I shall lay back, ecstatically happy about rad viewing. Best of all the upcoming episode features Yinka Shonibare, Cindy Sherman, and PAUL MCCARTHY!

GODDAMN!

Here's more info:

Friday, January21

9:00PM-10:00PM
ART IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: Transformation and Contemporary Art

Find all Broadcasts ι View Schedule

Costumes and masks, makeup and style, dolls and mannequins, stage and cinema—what strategies do we use to refashion identity? Do we seek out excess and extremes in order to see ourselves more clearly? Transformation explores these questions in the work of the artists Yinka Shonibare MBE, Cindy Sherman, and Paul McCarthy.

In conclusion... check this out...

SO MUCH AWESOMENESS TO YOUR FACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-01-12T20:29:00.000-08:00

Christo's Valley Curtain, Photo by Doug Biggert

Verge has it going on this weekend. First, there's tomorrow night with an evening of fabulous films about two of Christo's best known projects, Running Fence and Valley Curtain with Doug Biggert in attendance. $3 donation gets you in + drinks and snacks, GOOD TIMES!!!!

THEN on Saturday night it's the Verge SUCCESS PARTY!!!!! 7pm - 2am, bands! drinks! djs! Everything the best!!!!

Here's more details and I PROMISE TO STOP YELLING BY SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Join us this Saturday, January 15th at 7pm to celebrate Verge's SUCCESS in completing its first Kickstarter campaign with 117% of funding!

We'll have a massive video installation on display by VCA resident artist Aleksander Bohnak, DJs Larry Rodriguez, Tim Matranga, and Scott Soriano and live music by Pregnant, Flowerss and Touchez.

Wine by Bogle Vineyards and beer by Sudwerks!

Admission is only $5 for this great show with all proceeds going to VCA's future!!

PARTAY!!!!!!!!!!

Simmer down!

2011-01-10T21:59:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when I stare at a butternut squash on the counter for too long. What started out as an experiment mixing a little of this with a little of that turned out some pretty serviceable results. The proportions could be tweaked based on your tastes and chicken or fish could easily join the mix taking the place of the beans or some of the veggies. Sweet potatoes instead of squash would be worth taking a chance on as well. Anyhoo...

Butternut squash curry with fingerlings and beans

Curry paste

3 T Tomato paste

2 T Curry

1 Dash cayenne

1/2 T Chili paste or 1 t Chili flakes

2 T Fish sauce + more for seasoning

1 T Soy sauce

4 Cloves of garlic

1 Inch piece of lemongrass sliced

2 Inch piece of ginger peeled

1/2 Red onion coarsely chopped

1/3 Cup coconut milk

Everything else

2 T EVOO

1 3/4 Cup coconut milk

2 Cups stock veg or chicken

1/2 Red onion sliced

1 Cup sliced mushrooms

2 Cups cubed butternut squash

1 1/2 Cups cubed fingerling potatoes

1 Can kidney beans

1/4 One large savoy cabbage thinly sliced

Cilantro for garnish

Place the butternut squash and potatoes in a steamer basket and steam until tender. About 15 minutes.

While the squash and potatoes cook place all of the paste ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.

In a large dutch over or heavy pot heat the oil at medium high heat and add the onion. Saute until barely translucent and add the curry paste and begin the first of three simmers down.

Reduce heat to medium and stir the paste occasionally cooking for 10 minutes until reduced and the fat from the coconut milk produces a sheen on the paste.

Add the remaining coconut milk and simmer down again stirring and simmering for another 10 minutes.

Gradually add the stock to avoid lumping and bring heat to high. Boil the curry sauce for five minutes and then add the mushrooms, beans, and cabbage. Boil another 5 minutes and then add the potatoes and squash. Simmer one last 5 minutes and you are set!

Delicious!

Hot cha!

2011-01-03T15:17:00.000-08:00

What's up!?!?!??!?!?!?

The holidays what a blur!.... They sorta went by in a blink of greatness although I have to admit at some point I didn't know what to do with myself as a result of taking time off. This holiday break proved that semi idle hands will eventually, begrudgingly paint the bathroom.

I finally got to try Petra which was BOMB!

There was dayraging!

And I can finally say that I have ridden a mechanical bull. Caroline was the brave soul who opted to go first. This sort of pioneering spirit defines the lady dayrage.

OMF got a new surf board!

And he got me a Steif Foxy for Xmas!!! With the help of a certain local bookseller who is the coolest. I love my Foxy. His resemblance to Buddy is erie. If it weren't for the fact that one smells like candy and turds I wouldn't be able to tell them apart....

There was homemade ravioli with sage butter, although in fairness my mom made the filling and all I did was assemble but still... YUM!

Check out these wild turkeys!

And Cuban food. What!?

To conclude this epic holiday break we were spirited to Locke where we rang in the New Year with style!

Smell ya later 2010. Hot cha!

WE DID IT AND THEN SOME!!!!

2010-12-20T10:45:00.001-08:00

And now for a day off!

Further and further Verge news!

2010-12-09T11:59:00.001-08:00

Verge@Axis opens tonight! 5:30-8:30pm!! Art, drinks, snacks, buddies!!!!!!!!!!!!

In other Verge news... WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE AND IT IS GOOD!

www.vergeart.com

In still further Verge news KJ got called out in the SNR today about supporting Verge. Oh snap!

In still further Verge news I got listed in The Sac, (which sounds dirty) as half of a power couple(don't laugh) with the Old Man, also in SNR.

In still further Verge news Kickstarter is at $5,650!!!!

In still further Verge news come to the film screening next week!!!! We'll have Les Blank's Garlic is as Good as Ten Mothers, and a lot of other great shiz.

In still further Verge news check out Becky's fabuloso flier for the screening!

In still further Verge news... JK!

Old news

2010-12-06T10:37:00.000-08:00

Remember Thanksgiving? I do.... it was the last time I stone cold kicked it and it was fun.

Check out this fantastic painting I just scored from Andrew Patterson-Tutschka!!! It is my new favorite thing and something I've pined over for months. I love it!
Look at how festive this looks!!! Happy Thanksgiving, jeez!
I made little buns for Thanksgiving and my little buns were hella good.
I hope everyone has either seen or is planning to see Bill Burg's X-Mas windows because they are the best!
The best!
This year I partook in a post Thanksgiving bike ride as opposed to pre... It was great and I got to ride this sweet pink bike. Thanks G!
There we drinks on the Delta King.
And Bunch time and an impromptu secret house partay!

We were all fortunate enough to partake in a freakin' scandalous panettone! I'm serious when I say I thought about it for 3 days afterwards.

We played cards. Check out Muggs' hand.... and smirk.
I'm pretty sure this dude won although to be fair we began imbibing at 1:30 that day so the details were fuzzy.
I checked out 99 Ranch. AMAZING!
Both of the above photos constituted my lunch and even with the help of Watt Avenue Red we couldn't finish everything. Did I mention my lunch was like a dollar? Okay maybe it was more than that, but it was definitely super cheap.
Skipper got cool.
I bought a dragon fruit.... where watermelon meets kiwi.
This monkey climbing a tree made my day on Franklin Boulevard. I am seriously not exagerrating when I say shit like this gives me faith in the human race. It takes a sense of humor to do this kinda thing. The best!
I'm fine tuning my ramen skills and got all cocky with these noodles. The package claimed this was 10 servings and I was like yea right. In the end let's just say there were A LOT of noodles.
Yum!
What a holiday weekend! THE BEST!

Wanna buy a birdhouse made outta toupees?

2010-12-01T10:38:00.001-08:00

Untitled; Toupee Birdhouse

toupees, yarn, glue

2010

My apologies for the hideous photo. Sometimes the iphone takes a good pic and sometimes it don't. Either way I think this is one of the funniest things I've made to date. It's on display at SCC's Kondos gallery with a reception tomorrow evening from 5-7:30pm. Come check it out! I'll be there along with a lot of other fabulous pieces by my colleagues throughout the region.

Turkey Time

2010-11-23T08:17:00.000-08:00

In honor of our upcoming celebration of all things turkey I give you Watt Avenue Red's aka Rebecca Crowther's fantastic turkey portraits from Verge's Holiday Open House which in case you hadn't heard was the most fun EVER(!). The lovely Ms. Crowther is pictured below.

And now it's a count down to the holiday weekend!!!! LATES!

Skipper Chisholm a birthday tribute

2010-11-17T23:03:00.000-08:00

I've been laid up sick most of the day and as result this little old post is squeaking in under the wire but still just in time never the less!

In scrolling through Skipper's profile pics on his Facebook page I realized there is no wonder dude is one of my closest friends. He's a good sport, he's funny, smart, knows more about grub than most folks I know, understands fine art and has been the subject of at least one piece I've made, and has a range of esoteric interests which compliment my fringe obsessions nicely.

We've been buddies for a gang of time now, seen 4 countries together that I can think of off the top of my head, and numerous stateside adventures including the bizarro Nada Dada junket of 2009. Our other adventures are many... too many count. We've blown up cans of food on a Hibachi, documented the only performance piece I've made in public, canned shit, maneuvered a 14ft u-haul over the grapevine, spent hours and hours at the river, and eaten countless meals together - chicken Gordon Bleu anyone(?)....

Anyhoo, to the dude who endeared himself to my heart by cooking a pound of bacon in the middle of the night so many years ago.... who happily chucked crap into the vacant lot outside our window with me when we lived on L... wore matching clogs with me around Prague.... rivals OMF in jalapeno consumption over the course of a month.... and who has been there for me more times than I can count on all my digits.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY dude. You are the best!

Mo.... mo, mo, MidMoMoNi!

2010-11-15T16:22:00.000-08:00

Listen up! A "real" post is forthcoming I swear but in the meantime come check out this movie! Thursday, November 18 at 7:30 pm at Verge. It's part of MidMo Movie Night and it will be rad.

Check out this awesome lobby card.... RAD!

And this crazy trailer... RAD!

See you soon.... RAD!

This is really, really important

2010-11-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

Before I get to the meat of what I'm about to discuss let me first say... COME TO VERGE'S HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE!
Thursday, November 11 from 5:30-9:30pm. Scott Soriano will DJ, we'll have some awesome silent auction items including dinner for two from Magpie, delicious Belgian Brew, and SANTA! Did I mention the event is free?!? DO NOT MISS IT!

Okay, now that's outta the way check this out:

If you track my blog posts in recent months you can pretty much map the exact point at which Verge began is bumpy transition. Since that time my posts have devolved into a non-stop "come to this screening," or "check out this event." Not the most titillating content I know...

The truth of the matter is that for the past 7 months my brain power has been consumed by this enterprise and making it succeed is taking everything I've got and then some. In recent days I've been reflecting on things I used to do before every free second was taken by Verge. Cooking delicious food, hanging with OMF, travel, drinking beer with friends, spending time with family, fill in the blank I used to do it. Now I cobble together odd jobs and projects from which I can eek out some small existence with anywhere from 8-14 hours a day devoted to work as Verge hasn't had the funds up to this point to support me.

Though it may seem as though I am bringing this up for pity (and I won't lie sympathy could be cool) really I'm addressing this situation to express how important I think Verge is. If I didn't think this project was so important and something Sacramento has needed for decades I wouldn't be making all these sacrifices. Instead I'd get a day job wherever, rent myself a little workspace, make my own art and call it a day eating food, drinking beer, and kickin' it with Tim.

Truth of the matter is though, Verge is important. Really, really, really important and it is my hope that through reading this you might be inclined to make a contribution to our fundraising efforts.

The success of Verge wouldn't just mean a paycheck for old Liv Moe... It would potentially mean paychecks for other staff as well including administrators, teachers, and curators. Could you imagine if there were more than just the current meager employment offerings around here for those working in the arts?

Building Verge would also create a community space, like a hive of sorts for emerging and career artists to get together and talk about ideas, share opportunities, and lend each other support.

Our classroom space will facilitate workshops and lectures in both studio practice AND art appreciation expanding the understanding of art, specifically contemporary art in this region. Case in point, though video art is a medium that's been in existence for several decades now how often do you see it in Sacto? Answer is not very often...

Outside of class programming and workshops the classroom will also feature film screenings, live events, and other community related events making Verge a meeting space for all.

Like the old space our gallery space will continue to exhibit incredibly high caliber exhibitions of work by artists making a name for themselves on both national and international levels enabling the region to gain access to work that might not be seen in Sacramento otherwise. What's more by presenting the local community with experimental works from outside the region we will help bring local dialogues about art and culture into a bigger context.

What I have just brought up only barely scratches the surface of what Verge can offer. This is a big deal and bottom line it just won't happen without your support. If you're on the fence about Verge come to the Holiday Open House and see what we're all about and in the meantime check out this flick!

The Wild and Wonderful Whites are coming.....

2010-10-25T13:43:00.001-07:00

So it appears these days that my posts are reserved solely for the promotion of film screenings and gifs of my buddies doing zany things.....

In carrying on in this vein my pal Julien Nitzberg will be in town screening his flick The Wild and Wonderful White of West Virginia this Thursday, October 28. Trust me when I say you don't want to miss it. For those of you unfamiliar with Jesco White, the film's central protagonist, take a peek at Julien's initial documentary profiling the one and only Dancing Outlaw back in 1991.

This earlier footage is perhaps a tad more charming than W W W W V, funded by Jackass alum Johnny Knoxville... The Whites circa 2008 have aged into a rougher and in many ways sadder crew than Nitzberg's earlier documentary depicts.

For further reading on the Whites check out this New York Times piece that came out around the time the film debuted at Tribeca. While you're there I dare you to attempt to sit through the entirety of Knoxville's interview.....

See ya Thursday!!!!!!

The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virgina
Thursday, October 28

Doors at 7:30pm movie at 8!

The Thing at The Verge!

2010-10-14T11:59:00.001-07:00

Hey all y'all! Next week on Tuesday, October 19, at 7:30pm Beckler and I will host the first MidMoMoNi at Verge. What's a MidMoMoNi? Come to Verge next week and find out!

(Here's a hint... we'll be screening John Carpenter's The Thing)

$3 donation gets you in, refreshments provided once inside.

MidMoMoNi
@
Verge Center for the Arts
625 S Street, Sacto
Tuesday, October 19 @ 7:30pm

BE THERE!!!!!!!!

The best thing ever.... ever, ever, ever....

2010-09-06T21:52:00.000-07:00

North Korean Chocolate Covered Mushrooms

2010-08-31T09:51:00.000-07:00

You know what tastes great after a ginormous meal of all you can eat sushi? North Korean Chocolate Covered Mushrooms!

Dave brought us this sweet treat from his recent travels!!!!!!

Check out OMF diggin' 'em. Nom!

The flavor was similar to a shitake initially and then surprisingly, mushrooms in the company of chocolate taste a lot like coconut.

Nummy.

Don't be fooled by the look on Tedder's face. We all loved 'em.

Nom, nom, nom!

Art after WANGA

2010-08-24T13:52:00.001-07:00

The Fawns, Peregrine Honig

"Seducing oneself into believing in art’s intrinsic goodness however is simply bad religion no matter what the rewards, it is bad cult religion when professing one’s belief in art’s goodness becomes a condition of membership in the art community." - David Hickey, Frivolity and Unction, "Air Guitar"

Upon my initial viewing of Work of Art the Next Great Artist I immediately began formulating a blog post in my head. Working 12 hour days and following the reportage of colleagues as opposed to writing about it myself put the kabosh on any quasi intelligent musings I came up with, as did the insipid tack the show eventually took. Despite it's devolution into the land of the reality lame I stuck it out and will definitely watch another season if for no other reason than the train wreck factor.

In scanning the fallout now that the show is good and over Paddy Johnson has come forward with an excellent distillation of the show as a whole and what if any long term impact it will have. She also made mention of a fabulous David Hickey essay - Frivolity and Unction - which I highly recommend.

Speaking from the reality of someone working in the art world provinces - compared to New York or LA or even SF for that matter - I can assure those concerned that the masses seemed unaffected by the show. From an insiders stand point, however, the bigger concerns as to what it means for the Brooklyn Museum or the reputation of Jerry Salz is another story.

I suppose at the end of the day if a show like WANGA could have the far reaching affects that critics and insiders fear it could or does, that would really be something right? From where I'm sitting it seems the masses by and large are fine making pretty pictures, and cracking that shell for the better or worse is gonna take more that one oddly conceived reality show.

For the record I think Peregrine should have won....

El Topo... the most wonderful experience of your life!

2010-08-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

Here's one last push for this evening's screening of El Topo at the Hub. 3 bones, 7:30pm, full moon, outta sight!

If you need more fuel for the El Topo fire check out what my man, fellow Fargo native Peter Schjeldahl has to say about it...

“El Topo is simply a monumental work of filmic art. One is astonished each time by patterns and shades of meaning never noticed before. It demands to be seen more than once!” – Peter Schjeldahl, The New York Times

El Topo is not a western, it is beyond western!!!!!!!

The voice over from the original trailer: “Be prepared to live the most wonderful experience of your life. Alejandro Jodorowsky’s film classic, El Topo. El Topo is not a western. It goes far beyond any western. El Topo is not a religious film. It contains all religions. It is a mystic film. El Topo is bloody. It is tender. El Topo is miraculous. And terrible. It’s funny. It’s violent. El Topo is monstrous. And cruel. El Topo is more than spectacle. It is an experience for all of your life.” Plot description: The gunfighter El Topo (“The Mole”) and his young son ride through a desert to a village, whose inhabitants have been massacred. Bandits are nearby, torturing and killing the survivors. El Topo rescues a woman (Mara), who leads him on a mission to find and defeat the four master gunmen of the desert. Leaving his son with a group of monks, El Topo and Mara complete the mission, accompanied by a mysterious woman in black. The women leave El Topo wounded in the desert, where he is found by a clan of deformed people who take him to the remote cavern where they live. Awakening years later, he goes with a dwarf woman to a nearby town, promising to dig a tunnel through which the cave-dwellers can escape. They find the town run by a vicious sheriff and home to a bizarre religious cult. El Topo's son, now a man, is a monk in the town. The completion of the tunnel leads El Topo, the townspeople, and the cave-dwellers to a bloody and tragic end.

--1970 125 minutes, in color

Low-rent society page

2010-08-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

First things first... As I type this the season finale of WANGA is downloading which I will watch tonight. If you spoil the ending I will break you knees!

Now that's outta the way, check this out. So Becks and I's first film screening event at the Hub last month - Thee Kenneth Anger Film Fest and Weenie Roast TM - went super well. So well that we are doing another one this month on August 24th. We'll be screening the Alejandro Jodorowsky mind trip El Topo, darling of the New York art film circuit and arguably one of Jodorowsky's best known works.

Satan won't be appearing at this one but you should come anyway.

Here's a clip to whet your appetite. More info coming soon.

In conclusion this pic made my morning. It's so low rent society page. I love it!

Jackson Pollock mug shot

2010-08-06T23:03:00.001-07:00

So check it out... Apparently, Jackson Pollock is still alive and making work right here in Sacramento! Amazing I know. This little know fact was uncovered at this year's California State Fair Fine Art Exhibition where the master's hand could be clearly distinguished amongst the other works on display. He was using a nom de plume natch... but don't be fooled!

The four of us were so excited we had to get our photos taken with the work.

With these 4 groovy head shoots I supposed the only thing left for us to do now is start a band.

Boing!

Is this blowing your mind?

2010-08-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

Cuz it should be... Speaking of blowing minds... You know what's blowing mine? The amount of fucking work that goes into organizing a charity rummage sale. Christ! My respect for charity orgs who host fundraising rummage sales climbed exponentially in recent days. That said I'm certain the payoff is gonna be sweet. Just look at all these goods!

Amazing right? We got high end designer stuff, including Gucci (say what?!), to go along with the real shiz we also have some beautiful designer knock-offs, Eames era furnishings, musical instruments, vintage collectibles, jewelry (both fancy and costume), and art supplies galore. This is a fantastic sale.

The whole shebang opens tonight with a shopping party from 7-10pm. $15 dollars gets you in, the food and drink is free, and Scott Soriano (Verge studio resident) is djing. The sale itself continues through the weekend Saturday and Sunday from 8am-2pm each day.

See you soon!

Ahem

2010-07-28T22:12:00.001-07:00

July 11, 2010 to the present in no particular order

2010-07-25T22:02:00.001-07:00

It's probably a sign that I need to get out more but the fruit salad produced by this cart blew my mind.

Mineral is a lovely town.

OMF sold the Losin' Streaks van... see ya later stabbin' cabin!

Check out the awesome interior of the tow van. Gem bubble windows! So fuckin' rad!!!!!!!

eek!

And again... eek!

I so want to go to Bingo night very, very, very soon.

Nothing says classy like champagne on ice. Very nice...

View from inside my truck. Ahhhhhhhh!

Shovelin' studs.

U-bet.

The Straight Up Gas Institute? WTF?! Cough, bullshit, cough, cough. Is this for real?

Why is this dude telling everyone to shut up on the condiment bar at Old Soul? It ain't the library.

speakin' of blowin' my mind...

the end

ANGER!!!!!!!WEENIES!!!!!!!!!ANGER!!!!!!!!!!

2010-07-05T22:11:00.000-07:00

Big things are afoot! As usual largely Verge things with a little KVIE and some other biznez thrown in here and there.

First on the Verge front, WE NEED DONATIONS YO!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring your gently used treasures of all variety to Verge this Thursday from 1 to 5pm. If you do you'll be greeted by the lovely Trisha Jeanne Rhomberg of Pretty Trashy, Bows and Arrows, and now Verge Studio resident fame. What!?!?!?!? So far we got some rad stuff making for a rad sale including a Kramer American guitar, Marshall amp, art books, collectibles, vintage clothes, and crafting goods. It shaping up to good shopping. Here are the dates and details in case you need 'em:
Verge Center for the Arts
625 S Street
Preview party Thursday, August 5, 7-10pm
Sale Saturday and Sunday August 7&8 from 8am-2pm

In other rad stuff news Beckler and I will be hosting thee Kenneth Anger Film Fest and Weenie Roast on Thursday, July 22 at the Hub. There'll be more ANGER than you can shake a stick at and weenies! Weenies!!!!!!!!!! I'll probably wear my cobra and perhaps a cape. Cape!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anger!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So what else, what else... AFC gave a shout out to the world's best lamp last week.

I think this video is funny if you can watch it long enough to get to the crying.

Speaking of crying, I've been following Work of Art the Next Great Artist since episode one. As much as I'm thrilled to the gils to watch an hour of art production, exhibition, and critique every week, the show is starting to suck as most had predicted it would. This of course does not mean I'm gonna stop watching.

Caller ID

2010-06-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

Because my attendance at Verge recently has been spotty - what with my 25 new jobs - I haven't been there to answer the phone which is important. You never know who might be calling, maybe someone who wants to help us out - which we super need - or you know whatever. So I swung by the gallery the other day and cleared the caller ID in the phone and called back anyone with an identifiable name and #. Never an odder 30 or so minutes have I spent. In relating the story later I've now been painted with the weirdo brush for clearing the caller ID but whatevs I was curious and perhaps a bit of an over achiever. Live and learn. Below are a couple of the gems.

Call from:

Quality Art Incorporated

Me: Hey there, this is Liv Moe from Verge Center for the Arts. I'm calling back a missed call from this number.

QAI: Oh hello, thank you. Yes, we specialize mainly in sports... and some religious themes. Do you like painting?

Me: We specialize in contemporary art which sometimes includes painting.

QAI: Well we do a lot of sports and some religious themes.

Me: Oh, well our gallery is currently closed.

QAI: I see well sometimes we do landscape.

Me: I see well, thanks for taking my call.

QAI: Okay

Me: Bye

QAI: Bye

Call from:

Starr, Super

Me: Hi there, I'm clearing the caller ID from VCA and saw that you phoned.

SS: who

Me: VCA

SS: who

Me: Verge

SS: who

Me: Verge Gallery

SS: Who

Me: Verge Sacramento

SS: Are you a museum?

Me: No

SS: Who

Me: Verge

SS: Did you say a gallery?

Me: Yea

SS: Hold on

SS puts phone down in front of a loud speaker playing rap music and a woman gets on the phone.

SS2: Hello!

Me: Hi there, I was returning a call placed to the Verge Center for the Arts.

SS2: You with a gallery?

Me: Well... yea

SS2: My grandma gave me a painting and I need it appraised

Me: I see, unfortunately we don't do that here.

SS2: Do you know somebody?!

Me: No

SS2: DAMN!

hangs up

Rejoicing!

2010-06-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

Skipper has a food blog!!! Finally.

Desert hijinksll

2010-06-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hey look! I went camping again. Perhaps, from here on out this blog will simply serve as a travel log for my various camping trips now that I'm coming to feel camping obsessed. Best shit ever!

Check out Skip dog getting some work done in the desert. Dude is all business.

I think I mostly subsisted on beer and some flavor of animal all weekend. Yum!

I took so many pictures of flowers this weekend. The desert was amazing. I thought about digging one up and trying to bring it home but then forgot/felt too lazy.

Look out!

Desert payload. I brought about a quarter of this home and also managed to loose my favorite German lip gloss in the process which I suspect is coating the new steer spine which is now installed in my cactus garden.

Bunchy... desert fox.

Skipper's amazing muffaletta!

Check out my new gloves! I mostly found this sunburn amusing.... Mostly.

Desert hike.

Dr. Skipper.

Sunset spirit guide.

Biker dude.

Sunset.

Don't call it a comeback!

2010-05-25T09:43:00.001-07:00

Man I have been gone forever! I can believe the last post I made was about a trip I took at the end of April. This has to be a new record for post gaps.

The past month has been brutal as I have worked to get my legs under me and adapt to all of the recent transitions at Verge. Now that the gallery is closed - for the time being(!) - and we are in the rebuilding process in our new location I've picked up work in a few other spots to hold out in the interim. Most notably I am the new Auction Ops Specialist at KVIE. Special Ops baby!

Given all of this, getting back into some sort of routine has been rough. I feel like I am just now getting the hang of how to keep all these plates spinning... we'll see. I'll tell you this, I get up a lot earlier these days and work a lot later:( but that's what ya gotta do sometimes I suppose.

In the midst of all this the Verge has developed a new blog! That's right!!! A blog all it's own so my posts on my blog can be about my stuff and Verge posts can exist on the Verge blog. It's all so exciting! So check it out, it's my first experience with wordpress which was pain, and there will be additions as we move forward but in the meantime it's up and it's there and it's keeping folks in the loop!!!

Stay tuned....

Have you been to Nepenthe?

2010-04-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

OMG, vacation!!!! What wonders a four day break can make. I feel like a whole new person ready to face anew the trials and tribulations of the art world... sorta. Granted had I been away another day or so the temptation to run off to Big Sur, to live on the beach and subsist on burritos and craft brew would have been great. No cel phone reception, no troubles, total bliss. As is I keep thinking nostalgically about the campfire and how much I'd like to still be sitting around with a beer at five o'clock staring into the wilderness. Alas....

On the way down to Carmel we stopped in Stockton for some Manny's and did a little thriftin' which was kind of a bust. I found a great dress which seemed flawless until I carried it around long enough to check out the seat and realize that an unfortunate accident of some sort is what lead it to the Salvation Army.

"No Problem," oil on canvas, 1995

I'm still surprised I resisted this guy. No problem!

As we continued down the 5 we happened upon this Tower Mart which had just been attacked by aliens!!!

There were a gang of 'em.

We narrowly made it out with our lives!

We spent the first night of our trip in Carmel and ate at Dametra which was amazing!!! Totally, affordable and amazing feast.

Lebanese gem brew.

"Kid taking a crap," acrylic on board, date unknown

Post dinner we took a walk around Carmel and stumbled across this fabulous painting. The multiple glasses of sparkling wine I had with dinner made it impossible for me to stop laughing at this masterpiece.

Check out the view from the back of our campsite in Big Sur. Waterfall!!!

This was the view from the front, no big whoop.

The old man and I went to the beach and he fell asleep on the purple sand. We both got a little sunburned.

That night we discovered the end all be all of awesome restaurants.... Nepenthe!

Henry Miller partied there natch and who wouldn't? The view was amazing, the architecture was amazing, in short it was all amazing. Our dinner was good too although in hindsight I wish I had gotten the burger. Apparently, it's what they're known for. Next time...

We made our way out of Big Sur via Nacimiento Road aka the Cabrillo Hwy which was an insane discovery. There was next to no one on it and the scenery was totally breathtaking. We frolicked in a meadow and smelled wildflowers. It was the best.

The Cabrillo Hwy dumped us out at Mission San Antonio which was cool.

Good ol' Padre Serra Hung Bell... what a guy.

The next night we set up camp on the Arroyo Seco river. Very nice.

On the way home the next day we finally stopped at the Red Barn, that antique place off the 101 that has big white letters on the side. Disneyana? Ring a bell? Whenever I pass it heading to the coast I think we should stop there and then never do. It was just okay. The barn itself is closed for renovation and the rest of it is mostly new junk. Kinda like the Folsom Flea minus the old stuff.

My promise to you!

2010-04-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, ladies and germs here it is one more time, a plug for this evening's screening of The Art of the Steal at the lovely Crest Theatre. Film starts at 7:30, panel to immediately follow featuring 4 of the region's finest thinkers, tickets are $15 adults, $10 students.

In addition to this fabulous entertainment I give you my solemn promise that I will wear a genuine taxerdermized monocled cobra in honor of the event. That's right a cobra. It's my promise to you.

Now, if none of the above sways you here's the trailer to further peak your interest.

See you tonight!

The Art of the Steal

2010-04-04T23:08:00.000-07:00

You don't want to miss the opening night screening of The Art of the Steal at the Crest on April 16. I say this having watched the film last night and getting totally caught up in it and ticked off. I shook my head and talked to the screen for atleast the last 40 minutes of the film. It is totally engrossing (as the below ad will tell you) as well as incredibly complex.

I spent all day thinking about this movie and am struggling not to say anymore about it so as not to spoil things.

Those who attend the opening night screening will be treated to a panel discussion following the film for an opportunity to unravel this complicated discussion featuring:

Dr. Elaine O'Brien, Professor of Contemporary Art and Art History, CSUS

Dr. James Housefield, Associate Professor, History, Theory, and Criticism of Design, UCD

Robin Bernhard, Collections manager, Richard L. Nelson Gallery and Fine Art Collection, UCD

Dr. William Otton, Retired Director, South Texas Museum of Art, Corpus Christi, TX

Don't miss it!

The Art of the Steal

Friday, April 16 7:30pm

The Crest Theatre

For advance tickets click here!

On to greener pastures

2010-03-23T15:15:00.000-07:00

Well that's it. We are moved out. Tomorrow morning the last of the art gets picked up and then the Verge at 19th and V is a wrap. Surprisingly, I'm not as sad about it as one would think in large part because our new building is fantastic. Not only does it have way more potential than our V Street space, it's located in Southside, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Midtown.

Greener pastures! That's how I'm viewing this little move....

That's not to say though that I didn't jump on the first opportunity to leave a sentimental message on our "we're moving" mural the night of our closing reception.

JP left his mark too.

As did his dogs, Blade and Dongly.

Ma and Pa Moe on one of their first nights on the town post surgery.

Seriouzly!

The ubiquitous "drowsy" woodpecker which seems to accompany a pot leaf in situations such as these.

Heart.

Musser doing his best to break my resolve and make me mist up. You almost had me Musser! Almost....

I can't completely disagree with this sentiment I suppose....

Beatlemania?

Forever.

I wish I had gotten to meet this guy. His work was in a show I juried with Lisa in Chico a couple of weeks back. I got to see his studio and his work looked great as is this doodle.

I don't know what this was about exactly but I thought it was pretty cool.

There's always gotta be one "poop" or "fart" guy in every crowd I suppose. It wouldn't really be a graffiti wall without him or her. God bless 'em.

Monday morning bright and early post closing party we mobilized to get shit out! Packing, packing, packing.

Biggert came by wearing this awesome shirt with gifts and well wishes because Biggert rulz.

Dulling the pain and quieting the uncertainties is this awesome new location we've moved to.

The possibilities are endless.

We finished the artist migration this past weekend. Here's a pic of our fearless leader helping us move. Super champ!

Check out this chic look Karen and I were sporting. The dust that was getting kicked up during the move was epic.

The excitement to move was palpable. Just look at this enthusiasm!

Seeing the Verge empty of artist's effects was pretty sad.
I've spent considerable time since Sunday just wandering around the empty spaces. Really weird.

This little tableau cheered me up though. How long that wine's been open is anybody's guess.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

2010-03-09T15:02:00.000-08:00

The activity on this blog has been poor as of late and with good reason. Over the past few months there have been two things ruling my mind, equally vying for my mental energy, both exceedingly draining topics.

After many long and trying attempts to solidify something in our current space Verge is being forced to relocate at the end of this month. That said this Saturday is our last 2nd Saturday in our current location so if you've long been planning on getting over to check us out step lively. The clock is ticking. In the mean time we have relocation plans but with most projects of this scope there is a lot up in the air currently. I'll keep you posted on the particulars as news comes. In the short term, we are finding a new home for our studio project which has been consuming body and mind for well over a month now. As addressed in my post from last week, establishing and more importantly funding vital art resources in this town is no small feat.

Concurrent to all this madness my pop met his second battle with throat cancer this past month and faced it with a tremendous amount of courage and strength. I really can't begin to express how proud of him I am. As this second go round transpired I reflected on what a struggle with cancer looks like. When you hear this cliche referenced in an article or on the news it sounds like this complete diversion as though nothing else happens once the "struggle" or "battle" comes knocking and you just fight, fight, fight till something gets resolved. Truth be told the struggle is long with stretches of "no news to report" in between bombshells about "metabolic upticks" and growths the oncologist wants to "keep his eye on." Over time the highs and lows leave you wondering what parts exactly to get really worked up about versus what is seemingly no big deal. In reality as opposed to some self-contained duke out session cancer is actually more of a long draining hurry up and wait sort of deal. As the whole thing progresses the afflicted and their loved ones try to maintain some normalcy which in itself can be a tiring process. It's not like everything stops which is both good and bad in some ways.

In that regard having this project in the Verge has been a saving grace. Not since the early days of Midmo have I been involved in something so all encompassing, however, in terms of a rollercoaster ride these past months at Verge have had their own extreme highs and lows. Both of these experiences together have about exceeded what I'm mentally capable of. As an aside my hats goes off to OMF for his support and patience.

With all that said I'm not sure how posting will go in the next little while. I'll do my best but I wouldn't expect much....

Pluggin' the brain drain

2010-03-04T14:57:00.000-08:00

Brain drain has been a major subject on my mind lately as I continue developing the project I am currently working on. Local resources available to artists are spotty to nil, especially those working in the visual arts. This lack of resources causes most artists with a modicum of ambition and talent to hop the minute their wings are fully formed and honestly there are days that I don't blame them. That said it's rather fitting that I came upon Nelson Curator, Renny Pritikin's recent post on SFMOMA's new blog Open Space, which I gotta say is fantastic. Blogs maintained by institutions can often be pretty dry and stodgy, lacking the seat-of-the-pants, repartee which defines blogs as a medium. By contrast, Open Space, is smart, and a good read. Since, reviewing Renny's post on artist's who have left the bay area for greener pastures (usually New York) I have forwarded it on to several friends and colleagues. Additionally, Pritikin's "Prescription for a Healthy Art Scene," has become a rosetta stone of sorts in communicating to others what the Sacto scene is lacking.

Those who know me know that I am typically a tireless Sacto cheerleader but there are times when our deficiencies cannot be denied. By reflecting on what works in other cities, perhaps we can collectively work toward plugging the leaks.... In the meantime, I'm adding Open Space to my favorite links!

Catch up

2010-03-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

I'm playing catch up today after being away most of last week. In an effort to keep this blog "fresh" here are a few of Paddy Johnson's pics from one of the greatest nights of all time!!!

Bill Hughes is California's Gold!
Mamas and the Papas... also California's Gold.

In this pic, Paddy managed to catch one of the only moments in the entire evening where I wasn't dancing, clapping, or singing.

Sadly, I had to drive her to the airport prior to Journey's mind blowing performance hence no pics.... here's a little Huell instead.

Delicioso

2010-02-19T09:23:00.001-08:00

Last night's lecture with Paddy was fantastic(!) and amazingly well attended. There were easily 100 people there conservatively. I was so impressed though surprised there weren't more questions during the walk through given the number of questions I fielded before hand. Pictures to come.

Which brings me to my next point being that there has been next to no activity on this blog in recent weeks. This dry spell is primarily due to a massive project I am currently working on that I look forward to being able to spill the beans on soon if it comes to fruition. If it doesn't then the mystery will remain with me.

In the meantime plenty has happened... plenty.....

Lisa and I went to Art Los Angeles Contemporary which was held at the Pacific Design Center this year. Having now attempted to navigate the PCD for two solid days I can see why my colleagues in LA talk crap about it. It's not unlike the death star in Davis if the death star were sheathed in glass both inside and out and had close to no wheel chair ramps. There were of course a lot of jokes (made be me) about the building's monthly Windex bills.

This crazy lamp was on offer in the PCD for when you need a scale horse and a lamp in your living space. In a word... practical.

Beyond this I don't have a lot to say about Art LA good or bad. It was small, I would like it to be more successful if for no other reason than it's a fair I can attend with little effort on my part geographically. And of course Anthony Kiedis was there who I thought was about to say "hi" to me until I realized that we were both standing dangerously close to a sculpture made of baseball bats studded with nails and he was trying to get around me vs. fall into the art. No big.

The next day we saw Flea walking down the street with his daughter who was carrying a tiny little violin case and it was with that, that our RHCP spottings ended.

As usual I was blown away by all the beautiful greenery in LA. The above is just a tiny fraction of the actual size of that cactus.

I want to know what kind of tree this is......

SSION Boy at Peres Projects is the exhibition I have continued to think about since leaving LA. Funny, self conscious, glamourous, and absurd are all words that come to mind.

This is another image of the show that made me think of Mom. Duh

Desiree Holman's, Reborn Project at Hammer was also a stand out though sadly not on you tube to share so go to this link!!!!

The next night as I tipsily tottered through Chinatown I thought I could afford this painting for a split second before I began contemplating my budget for dinner and remembered that I am not wealthy. If I had a few expendable thousands though this would have come home with me.

I don't have a lot to say about this I'm just sharing.

This gorgeous autumn was across the street from our hotel in the city center. To quote Lisa "delicioso!"

Ted really hit it off with this baby we were traveling with.

And finally.... ladies and gentlemen.... I give you my new bathroom sink! Boom!!!!!!! Woot!!!!!

Ending the drought

2010-02-17T18:22:00.000-08:00

Man that last post has been up a long time! What can I say? Nothing really. Not a damn thing but this....

Pink Flamingo, Acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 2009, 96 x 72 inches, Katharine Bernhardt

TOMORROW NIGHT, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, DON'T MISS PADDY JOHNSON LECTURING AT VERGE ABOUT HAUTE ROMANTICS. ! 7PM !

BE THERE........

this amuses me...

2010-02-01T17:09:00.000-08:00

New York comes to Sacramento

2010-01-27T22:00:00.001-08:00

Light of Coral Reef Slapping My Cheetah Face, Naomi Fisher, 2009 courtesy of Leo Koenig INC.

I'm heading out of town in the morning for Art LA but before I go I wanted to make sure to leave you with something to save the date for!

Opening on Thursday, February, 11th from 5-10pm the Verge presents Haute Romantics, curated by Art Fag City editor in chief Paddy Johnson!!!! In addition to the opening night party the Verge is also hosting two 2nd Saturday receptions on February 13 and March 13 also from 5-10pm.

On Thursday, February 18th, Paddy herself will be in town to present a lecture on the exhibition at 7pm.

Now I ask you, how often does New York come to Sacto?

Don't miss this!!!!!

New York!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-19T11:42:00.000-08:00

I kind of can't believe how much I saw and got done in the two days I was in New York last week. It was a whirlwind tour for sure.

Beginning at the New Museum with Urs Fischer's, "Margeurite de Ponty" which was shall we say... a disappointment. In discussing the exhibition with colleagues afterwards the general consensus was that Fischer is a better artist. Though the installations were ambitious they lacked refinement, a detail none two surprising having read the Tomkins piece on the development of the exhibition last summer. The mirror boxes were beautiful, but the illusion of walking through a hallucinatory landscape was broken by luke warm execution, and the non-sequitur appearance of some droopy crutches in the corner. I was also scratching my head over the inclusion of Ashanti, a performer who hasn't been relevant since 2005. Worst of all the tongue wasn't working when I was there:( To close on a bright note, however, the cake was hella cool!

For a brief moment on this trip I thought I was gonna get my big shot at the tenement museum but in the end wasn't ready to commit to the 1 hour guided tour.

Instead I went to Schimmel's knish for a taste of heaven. This little wall hanging was super cute and an accurate representation of what the place looks like complete with Groucho and WC Fields hanging out inside.

Everybody loves Schimmel's... including Martha Stewart.

And Babs!

Those pickles were amazing.

After dinner #1 I killed time around the Bowery waiting for my host and made a trip to Ricky's NYC. I can thank Al Sobrante for my infatuation with Ricky's. Lookin' good, feelin' good!

I walked around snappin' pics for a bit waiting for my friend and noticed this awesome bone chair in an antique shop. I'm guessing the creepy staging has to be intentional. Either way the spooky head shadow in the background was great.

Dinner #2 was at a falafel place also in the Bowery where this baby wants you to know that the ATM is... outside.
Day two took me to PS1 for 1969 - featuring Stephen Kaltenbach! - and Leandro Erlich's swimming pool.

The pool was cool, though I was a little bummed to find myself underwhelmed by 1969. As a friend and supporter of Steve's I am of course biased and was delighted to see his work included in the show. In general I think I was expecting an epiphany in seeing this collection of artists shown together in a historical context but instead felt as though I was experiencing deja vu. This is perhaps due in part to seeing repackagings of these luminaries - Beuys, Frankenthaler, Smithson, Acconci - in multiple exhibitions over the years. In tracking the works of these artists I think it's unavoidable to experience them in context no matter the setting or at least it is for me. Although, a show like this is intended as a time capsule - no Kaltenbach pun intended - of sorts, not necessarily a mind blower. More than anything else I left the show feeling delighted that Steve's work is assuming it's rightful place in the history of that time.

As a PS1 aside walking on records is an interesting sensation in all the ways you would imagine. Somewhere across the US I could feel Tim Matranga shuddering.

My occasion for going to New York was Biggert's opening at White Columns!

The show looked great!

And got amazingly crowded.

Thurston Moore's, "Ecstatic Peace Poetry Journal #10" was in the main gallery and the Northampton Wools performed before the night was through.

Following the reception we had dinner in the west end where I saw this fantastic trash pile. After staying up until o'dark thirty I narrowly missed the JFK closure and flew home on about an hour of sleep.

Oh yea and this...

2010-01-11T11:26:00.001-08:00

OMF and I rented the films of Kenneth Anger volume II last week and I can't stop watching "Scorpio Rising," Anger's 1964 short about east coast bikers. It's so oddly mesmerizing and beautiful. Also, listening to the popular music of the time which provides the sound track for the film has given me a new appreciation for songs I had tired of long ago. Tunes like Fools Rush In, and Blue Velvet suddenly sound fresh and dynamic. This film is like candy. Greasy, sexy, garish, dangerous, dirty, candy.

Save the backyard hen!

2010-01-11T10:49:00.000-08:00

I'm getting ready to leave town in two days and don't have a whole lot to report. In the meantime this morning's piece about a woman in Carmichael potentially losing her backyard chickens is a major bummer. It also sucks that we have gotten so far away from self-sufficiency and a natural sense of where our food comes from that we would prevent someone from keeping a few laying hens.

In the article the neighbor complains about the chickens cooing when you know there are dogs barking in the neighborhood. I would take a boisterous chicken coo over a dog bark any day and I say that as a dog owner.

Lame.

Ho-ho-ho-holidays

2010-01-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

Alright this puppy is just gonna go on and on.

The week before Christmas I got to tour the Crocker's expansion. It is awesome! I can't wait until it opens in October, of this year. The lighting conditions in the top floor galleries are absolutely perfect for exhibiting work. A really beautiful and exciting space!

The Four Eyes Christmas show was amazing as usual! This year Kim Jong Il showed up and threatened to kidnap the 4 Eyes and bring them to N. Korea for his own personal amusement. Fortunately he was unsuccessful. Check out Kim's beautifully tailored shirt!

Here's a gratuitous image of a flacid holiday ornament as held by Lil' Becky.

The Crestmas party featured karaoke this year! There was a group rendition of "Do They Know it's Christmas" that I want to believe was fabulously awful considering someone supposedly taped it.

Christmas was teh awezomez.

I scored the world's best shoes.

And made this lovely fritatta. Best homemade frittata to date!

I also scored perhaps the best present I've ever found OMF. 1960s new in the package, broadcloth pajamas made in California. Best of all I found them at Ed's Threads! No ebay required.

The dessert that I brought to my folks place for Christmas Eve dinner was both the most beautiful thing I've ever seen and the nastiest thing I've ever eaten. Like chewing on upholstery foam coated in icing.

Jaime came to town!!!!

New Years Eve was fun.

OMF was evil.

This blurry photo is evidence that Dave Smith was in our house for a about a minute this year.

Finally, last year I came out of the house about three days after New Year's day to discover a balloon in the front yard with $$ taped to it. I've thought about that event all year and vowed to continue the gesture like a chain letter that doesn't suck.

On New Year's night OMF and I released two balloons with scratch attached from the back deck.

We followed it's trajectory to the front yard and watched until we couldn't see a trace of it any longer hoping 2010 will bring good fortune.

fingers crossed...

Obsessed with Novella

2010-01-04T15:16:00.000-08:00

My sis bought me "Farm City; the Education of an Urban Farmer" for Christmas and I have not been able to put it down for the past week. Highly recommend!

If you're not about to run off and grab her book based on my two enthusiastic thumbs up you can check out her blog Ghost Town Farm or this great essay on Salon about growing lettuce for the Black Panthers.

Pretty awesome!

The coolest place in town

2009-12-28T12:26:00.000-08:00

Last week myself, lil Becky, and Alex Shrugg went a thriftin' in Yolo county. Our exact whereabouts are a closely guarded secret although I am at liberty to discuss a side trip we made to The Candy House, a.k.a. the coolest place in town as you can see by these fake polaroids.

At The Candy House they'll cast Belgian Chocolate into any shape you desire.

Like monkeys.

St. Nick

A happy bride and groom.

Or dentures.

At the Candy House they're so stoked on casting Belgian chocolate that they'll even cast the candy box in chocolate so that every bit of your purchase is edible. It was magical, like visiting a fairytale cottage in an enchanted wood. After buying OMF a chocolate guitar they plied us with free samples and sent us on our way.

The rest of the day was awesome!

Huzzah the shoe is well!

2009-12-18T10:38:00.000-08:00

Jeez! This has been the most taxing week in recent memory and it all came to a head last night forcing me to start my weekend drinking early. It was a hitting 2-buck-chuck straight from the bottle kinda night, but mostly because it was cold open and in my fridge. Not the best thing ever but boy did it feel good going down. Later I made the mistake of chasing it with something considerably better but also of a much higher alcohol content and as a result slept in later than I wanted to this morning.

Now I'm off to behave as though X-mas is actually happening next week and tour the Crocker's new construction this afternoon.

In other news... Long live the shoe!

oof

oooh!!!

2009-12-16T00:04:00.000-08:00

The old man is stirring up a Crosley controversy. Scandal!