Anti-Vivisection Protest at UCLA

I stumbled upon an anti-vivisection demonstration at UCLA today, on my way to see the new Eli and Edythe Broad Art Center and Richard Serra sculpture. It wasn't a huge rally, but they had a megaphone and they were loud, and they made their point quite effectively with costumes and signs. Does UCLA still do vivisection? I wasn't aware of that. The protestors asked us to call Acting Chancellor Norman Abrams (310-825-2151) and tell him to stop animal testing at the school's medical research facilities NOW. You can also send e-mail to Chancellor Abrams at chancellor@conet.ucla.edu.

Sunday in the Park

Here's the piece I was working on at the Wet Paint show yesterday.



I'm calling it "Sunday in the Park." It's 28" x 34", mixed media on canvas. I had to restretch it this morning to get the stitching lines a little more straight. It's hard to do good work onsite.

Looking for Sam

I had a strange experience at the Wet Paint show today. A young boy came up to me and was interested in my paintings. I'm not a good judge of age, but I'd say he was about seven or eight years old. I was explaining my work to him, and then he showed me a painting he had done of Mexico. He stuck out his hand, and introduced himself as Sam. As he was talking about his painting, I realized that he was no ordinary child. There was something magical about him, but I can't explain what it was.

I listened to his description of his painting, and then he left with his mother and younger brother. I was watching him at another artist's space, and I was trying to understand what had just happened. He had his back to me, and it was as if he knew I was watching him. He deliberately turned to look at me. With a knowing look, and without smiling, he waved.

Something about him touched me deeply, and I have never experienced anything like it before. It reminds me of people's descriptions of chance encounters with Maitreya or one of the ascended masters. I'm sure if I were to go looking for him, I would find out that no one else at the show saw him, and that he doesn't exist.

Sam, if you're out there, would you contact me? I'd like to know more about you. I think one of us has a lot to learn, and it's probably not you.

Wet Paint Show

We had gorgeous summer weather for the Wet Paint show today. Roxbury Park was beautiful, and the artwork looked great there.









This was my setup, under a lovely elm tree. You can see several of my new pieces on the black display panels.



Thank you to everyone who came to see me, said nice things about my work, and kept me company for the duration of the show! It was great to see all of you.

Enzo and Nelson

Nelson loves other cats. Unfortunately other cats don't feel the same way about him. He likes to sneak up on Enzo when Enzo is asleep and snuggle up right next to him. This only lasts until Enzo wakes up and discovers he's sleeping right next to another cat.

Lost in Space

New work done from the molded onions. "Lost in Space," 28" x 34", mixed media on canvas.

Awakening

"Awakening," 26" x 38", mixed media on canvas. This was from the molded tomatoes.

Still Life

Two new still life pieces done from the cucumber mold.



"Still Life 1," 36" x 26", mixed media on canvas.



"Still Life 2," 38" x 22", mixed media on canvas.

New Work

These are two new pieces in need of titles. I'm getting work ready for the Wet Paint show next weekend, and I just finished them today.



32" x 32", mixed media on canvas.



50" x 34", mixed media on canvas.

Rainbow at Sunset

There was a double rainbow at sunset today.

Spider on Drugs

Have you ever seen a spider web that looks like this before? I haven't.

Lecia Dole-Recio

I was at MOCA last week, and I was struck by a several large paper and vellum artworks by Lecia Dole-Recio. The Eva Hesse drawing show didn't do that much for me, but these pieces by Dole-Recio are fantastic!

eBay Alert!

Eight issues of Rags magazine are up for auction on eBay, and the auctions are ending on October 13th and 14th. Not much time to get your bids in!

Cute Cute Cute

Nelson sleeping with his paw covering his eyes -- to block out the light? Who knows what they're thinking!

Derelict Lobster Trap

I drove down to Huntington Beach yesterday to get a recovered lobster trap. It's very rusty, and I'm hoping it will leave interesting rust marks in a grid pattern on canvas.



These traps are recovered from the ocean floor by a great group called Ocean Defenders Alliance. The traps have come loose from their lines, and end up at the bottom of the sea, where they trap other sea life. Kurt Lieber, the founder of Ocean Defenders, told me that there's no shortage of these traps. This is an organization worthy of your support.

Grasshopper

I hardly ever see grasshoppers here, so I was kind of excited when I saw this one of one of my screens today.