Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Historic Kennedy School

I am taking a little trip up to Portland, OR this week where I will check out the new galleries and art museum. The photo above is historic Kennedy School where I always stay when I go to Portland. The old 1910 building has been converted into a "lodge" in the city with restaurant, bars, brew pub, suites that used to be old classrooms (complete with chalkboards), a movie theater in the old auditorium, a gym for concerts and a hot pool. The walls are chock full of folk art done by alumni and Portland residents: murals, mosaics and sculptures. There is even a "Detention Room" bar to smoke cigars in. It is always a lot of fun to stay there. (P.S. I don't smoke cigars.)
This is only one of the many McMeniman Brother's group of vintage buildings (lodges and pubs) in OR and WA that they have restored and decorated. Each one is unique and each one is full of artwork. I have not stayed in all of them, but I hope to some day.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Interview with Fred Stonehouse

Little Bug, 20" x 16", Copyright 2006 Fred Stonehouse
courtesy of Blab Show
Go read Marshall Sponder's fabulous new interview with Fred Stonehouse:
Great American Artist
See nine of Fred's paintings on the Blab Show website or go see them in person at Copro Nason Gallery, Santa Monica, CA. Show closes on Oct 21.


Thursday, October 05, 2006

Walter Minus..."Darling Cheri"

Lenka, Alone At Home 39 1/2" x 39 1/2" Copyright 2006 Walter Minus (from the Blab show website- to be published in "Blab 18")
Walter Minus is one of the artists in the Blab Show this year. His paintings are very large and striking. Hanging next to each other, they seemed to have some sort of magnetic power.
Walter wrote me a nice note from Paris the other day telling me that he appreciated seeing the photos on my blog of the art show because he could not be there in person. He has a new Blab Storybook out now called "Darling Cheri". It's nice. You can order it from Amazon or Fantagraphics.

Go see Walter's paintings in the Blab Show before it closes Oct. 21st!

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Picasso's "Parade" in Shopping Mall

Costume for "Parade"by Picasso
I came across this story online recently. About two years ago, last October, Picasso's huge curtain masterpiece, which he painted for the 1918 ballet, "Parade", was hung for 10 days in a glitzy shopping mall in Hong Kong. It was to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between France and China. I love this period of Picasso's art. I love this curtain.

Jean Cocteau wrote the script for "Parade". Erik Satie was the composer. Picasso designed the sets and costumes. Some of his cubist-style costumes were made of cardboard! The painted sketches for the costumes are inspiring pieces of art in their own right. Great designs full of color and mischief. Jean Cocteau added crazy things to make noise such as a typewriter and a foghorn. Satie and Cocteau were labled "Cultural Anarchists" and Satie went to prison for 8 days.
It all took place in Rome.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Contest Over

Someone just guessed the right answer.
That's me in the middle of the photo in my previous post.
I will send that person a Little Pierrot Print.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Guessing Game

Guess which one is me? I'll send the first person who guesses the right answer a signed, limited edition "Little Pierrot Print".

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Fred Stonehouse in Blab! Show

Title: Dream of Babylon Size: 48 "w x 24" h (Copyright 2006 Fred Stonehone- Blab show)


This past year, I got to see Fred Stonehouse paintings in person at his solo show in L.A. in April (Koplin Del Rio). He also came down to see my art at the Applegate Gallery in Santa Monica right after his opening. I was exhibiting 4 of my "little pierrots" and some "monkey love" paintings (6 in all).

For people in the California area, don't miss going to see the 2nd


before it closes on October 21, 2006. I have eight paintings in this show and Fred also has a bunch. The new issue of "Blab! 17" should be available in November, 2006 with my art in it!