Behind the Painted Smiles

:: I am proud to announce my exhibit titled “Behind the Painted Smiles” at the Violethour Gallery, in the Magoski Art Colony in Fullerton, California. This exhibit  consists of a series of lush images  from the back lot of the  Beatty-Russell Circus, which toured the U.S. west coast in the 1930’s and 1940’s.

The images in this exhibit have each been printed from vintage Kodachrome slides which recently found their way to my home and into my soul.

The opening reception for “Behind the Painted  Smiles” is at 7pm, April 1, 2011 at the Violethour Gallery (in the Magoski Art Colony) at 225 W. Santa Fe in Fullerton, California. Phone: 714-441-1504.

11 Tracks of Whack

I listen to lots of music.  I think if you played everything on my Ipod back to back, it could still be playing at the turn of the next century.

Most of the time in my car I listen to it on “Shuffle.” As such, most of my travels are  infused with completely schizophrenic montages…  … Social Distortion, followed by Mozart, then Cake followed by Muddy Waters….    …..you get the idea.

Every once in a while, during one of those sonic orgies, a particular song slams by brain against the driver side window and forces me to take the “Shuffle” off-line and listen to the whole  album  the proper way: from cover to cover.   Then, once in a much longer while, that album slips me a mickey, …and when I regain consciousness I stumble upon the odd realization that I have just listened to the same album over and over for an entire unplanned drive from  Tustin and Terre Haute (and then I stumble upon the further realization that I am late for my 10:30).

Ok.   That just happened to me with Walter Beckers 1994  “11 Tracks of Whack. “ Yes, that is Walter Becker, of Steely Dan notoriety, and his first non-Steely Dan solo effort.   Yes, those who know me well can tell you that I was listening to quite a bit of Steely Dan long before I gave up my Angel Flight slacks.   However, I will admit, I have probably had “11 Tracks of Whack” for more than 10 years, and I am not sure I had ever listened to it cover to cover before.   I just didn’t think it shimmered like classic Steely Dan, or even like Donald Fagans first solo effort (“Kamakiriad”).  I remember thinking it was a bit rough and dark.   So it is odd that now, steeped in my full 47 years of life, that those same qualities are exactly what sucked me in.

Like most of Steely Dan’s catalog, Beckers “11 Tracks of Whack” floats on a bed of  jazz, rock and funk.  …but…  …but its like you are looking at it  through the 2am haze of a Changzhao opium den.   It all feels a bit “off”  …like you’re hovering somewhere in  between keys…but at the same time taking  sophisticated, at times understated,  musical twists and turns.   …and the lyrics….  Well,…

As of the time of this post,  used copies of this CD   are available on Amazon.com at $1.98.  So, if any of this resonates with  you, get a copy and take a listen …better yet, 3 listens,  and let me know what you think.

::Almas Serenas (Serene Souls) May 8-29, 2008

:: I am proud to announce my participation in an exhibit titled “Almas Serenas” (Serene Souls) at the Gallery/Studio of Fr. Bill Moore, SS.CC. in the Pomona Arts Colony (590 West Second Street, #2, Pomoma, CA 91766, 909-896-2123).

This is the first public exhibit of my sculpture/assemblages (a selection of which you can view in the “Sculpture” gallery on this site), and I am absolutely thrilled that they will be complementing a selection of  acrylics by Father Moore. Father Moore is a fantastically talented artist with a world-wide reputation. You can learn more about him, and see examples of his work at www.Frbillmoore.com.

The opening reception for “Almas Serenas” is at  6-10pm on May 8, 2010 at the Gallery Studio of Fr. Bill Moore, SS.CC. in the Pomona Arts Colony, 590 West Second Street, #2, Pomona, CA 91766. The phone number is 909-896-2123.

This opening reception is on the night of the Pomona Arts Colony’s “Second Saturday” art walk.  On “Second Saturdays, the Pomona Art Village offers plenty of galleries with opening receptions,  live music all around, interesting street vendors, and great eating and drinking establishments with exotic cuisine and even fine hookah service. As such, you are strongly encouraged to plan to make a  night of it in the village. A great overview of the many galleries with opening receptions and the interesting eateries in the neighborhood go to www.PomonaArtsColony.com.