More Sunday Morning Art Stuff

 I usually watch the CBS Sunday morning show, kind of a magazine show with a host, and often there are arts related items.  Today was one of those.  There was a story about a woman teaching painting classes to veterans, classes being held on a former navy vessel turned museum.  I've been on a few of those, and they can be fun.  This person had a pretty good crowd, and more taking place in the process with remote means, such as computers.  In the case of these veterans, the idea was to help them express ideas that they were otherwise unable to communicate.  I don't know if drawing or painting would do much to solve all the problems of many veterans, but they can't hurt, so I am all in favor of it.  The early part of the segment reminded me of an old quote passed on to me by John Siblik, one of my fellow grads in Carbondale.  The quote, from Rudolph Topffer, was "The origin (of common universal for all art and ideas of beauty) lay not in the instinct to imitate appearances, but in an urge to give material form to mental conceptions."  I tend to agree with this.  As students we spend a lot of time drawing from objects and figures in an effort to learn how to use materials and make representational images of things, people, and places that viewers can understand.  And there have been plenty of artists who have made a living painting portraits from life, or recognizable scenes, and I have studied them.  Some artists have used these same subjects as a starting point to take their art into new places, or to explore unusual concepts, and I have studied them as well.  However, most of the interesting art that I have seen over the long history of art came from the heads of artists, not from anything in front of them. If this art process helps some veterans get stories out of their heads and onto paper or canvas, and it helps them stabilize their lives, I'm all for it.  

Where the story got more interesting for me was when the teacher said she started all her veteran students out by first doing images of their combat boots, calling it "boot camp."  I can definitely relate to that, as I started so many of my classes by having students draw from shoes.  An exercise in contour lines (I always did examples up on the chalkboard, to demonstrate that I wasn't asking them to do anything I wouldn't do myself), working from a simple object that is readily available, sits still, and is an organic three dimensional object.  The way I see it, if you can draw a shoe, you can learn to draw a foot.  And if you can learn to draw a foot, you can learn to draw any part of the body.  And if you can learn to draw a body, you can draw anything.  The first thing I ever did in any art class was to draw from a shoe, a work boot as a matter of fact.  Professor Coleman handed it to me and told me it was my soul.  Everything else I ever did followed this.  So I also started all my drawing students (non-majors, basic drawing, 2D) with drawing shoes.  Even had my classes observed a few times by professors from outside the department, and I gave them paper, a pencil, an eraser, and a shoe, so they could participate.  My classes got great reviews, and one professor even wrote me by email to tell me that they went home that night and drew from shoes.  On another occasion I had a student approach me late in the semester and show me her latest shoe drawing, which both she and her mother were very proud of, in a frame.  If a student ever asked to draw from a photo on their smart phone I said no- I knew they would learn a lot more drawing from a three dimensional shoe.   

Above are some student examples of contour shoe drawings, done of the first day of art class, at both colleges I worked at.  All went a lot further before they were done with those semesters, but I stand by this as a good place to start.   I guess that artist working with veterans feels the same way.

Art Comes, Art Goes

 According to my calendar, tomorrow is the last day for the Outlaw Printmakers exhibition at Pyramid Atlantic in Maryland.  This show includes five woodcuts from my recent Robert Johnson series, as well as cool prints from 14 other outlaw artists, an international bunch.  Will this show be extended further?  Maybe?  The previous show in this particular space was extended a week past the original end, and the next scheduled show was listed as opening in December.  So it's possible.  Haven't heard anything about that yet, so if you do want to see it, best get there by tomorrow.

Does this mean my work won't be visible anywhere after tomorrow?  Not so fast.  I will be participating as  a resident artist with an open studio in the upcoming Holiday Art Market at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove.  The event will be on Saturday, November 28th.  I don't expect to have any work on the walls- either the vendors will probably want those spaces, or holiday decorations will be up.  However, I do usually bring some recent work (weather permitting- rain is the enemy of works on paper and things colored with watercolors) to put in my space for anyone who ventures down the basement, as well as having never before exhibited work in my drying rack that has been on this blog, but never on a wall. I will put up more details in this space as we get closer, but for more information right now, you can always go to the building's website.

Boardwalk Rides part 18

 Passed through a few sprinkles on my way up to the Studio, but by the time I got there, the rain had stopped.  That rain was expected to come back, so I hoped to find a space right next to the building.  All were full, so I had to grab one of the many spaces on the perimeter of the parking lot.  Inside I quickly noticed they had the postcards out for the upcoming Holiday Art Market.  Grabbed a few to take with me, and headed for the elevator to downstairs.

In my space I took a better look at the card and photographed the front and back (taped to my white tack wall) for future use in this space.  I'll do a posting when the event is a bit closer.  The front has the basic information, and the back lists the vendors and Open Studio people.  Lots of vendors on the first two floors (almost 30) and only 7 open studios, though that may increase as we get closer to the event.  The good news is that they spelled my name right, and mentioned that I am in the basement.  The bad news is that they spelled "arrabbiata" wrong.  Like the song says, two out of three ain't bad.

With all that settled, I got to work.  Back to the airplane ride.  Knowing that the wood around that part of the block was a little splintery, I decided to take it slow, and do a lot of gluing as I went.  So I alternated between the center part of the rotating machine, and the little girl next to the further away plane.  After that I did the wooden fence around the ride, then the woman photographer standing outside the wooden fence.  All of that was done with no mistakes being made.  I decided that was enough work for today, so documented what I had done, and headed home.  I do have to decide what I want to do about what is remaining.  I do want to have this to work on for the Open Studio, which means I have to leave some things to work on that day, still about two weeks away.  I will cut more of this block before then, but it's just a matter of how much.  Results of today's work can be seen below:

The rain was back and heavy as I was leaving (windows in my Studio told me that), so I wrapped my block in a handy plastic bag for the trip to the car.  I got a little wet, but the block stayed dry.  Rain got even heavier on the way home, but I've driven in much worse.  When I got home, the sun was out.

For music today, more cassettes.  The theme today was classic rock, and I brought two label made tapes with me.  I started with Who's Next by the Who, a classic highly regarded album.  Looking at the tape (which I had listened to many times) I realized that the song order was a little different than what I had gotten used to on CD.  Compared the tape to the official release on the internet, and found that some songs on Side A of the original vinyl record were on side B of the tape, and vice versa.  This happened back then, songs sometimes rearranged to fit more evenly on the two sided tape.  Even worse were the earlier 8 Track tapes, which had four programs to deal with, and sometimes songs were not only rearranged, but is some cases a song faded out in one program and faded in or another, or extra verses/choruses were added to fill space.  When that tape ended, I went with a tape of the fourth album from Led Zeppelin, which is sometimes called Led Zeppelin IV, sometimes called Untitled, and sometimes called Zoso, after one of the symbols on it.  (it's the one with "Stairway to Heaven" if that helps) I knew this album well from it's inclusion on many Boy Scout trips, but many of the songs also got heavy airplay on classic rock radio (as did much of that Who album) so I knew it well when I brought this tape.  The two albums have some other things in common: both are from British bands, both were originally released in 1971, I have both now on compact disc (which is why there tapes are in this briefcase), and both were regular releases of new songs by bands at their heights (5th for the former, 4th for the latter), not greatest hits albums, though many of the songs on each would end up on hit compilations albums for each band.  I'm glad to find that I still have access to both, even if it is in a less convenient form.  

Boardwalk Rides part 17

 Late the other night, after dark, there was a pounding at the door.   My mother decided to answer it.  Turned out to be neighbors, delivering art supplies that had been left at their house.  The art supplies were for me, and were expected, but not there.  I had ordered some needed paper and watercolors (some for the new boardwalk print when I get that done and printed), but it was to be delivered to my house.  The order was right, and the addresses on both packages were correct, so this was a matter of the delivery people inexplicably taking it to the wrong place.  I guess I am lucky I got them.

I took the paper with me to the Studio this morning, figuring it would be better to store it there.  When I am ready to use it, it will be there.  For now it is still in its box, first stacked up with the other stuff, and later on my table when I left.  But I was really there to do more cutting.  Today I moved over to the airplane ride, in the other panel.  First I did the two lifting arms, which seemed to be the foremost objects. Then I did the plane closest to the viewer. including the little boy in it, as he was centered in the plane and there was no way not to do him at the same time.  Then I moved onto the other plane, which is a little further from the viewer, but still in the foreground of everything.  This area of the wood seemed a bit more splintery, so I took the time to glue everything as I cut it.  This probably added a few minutes to the whole process, but in any case, I decided this was a good time to stop.  Results of today's cutting can be seem below:

For music today I decided to go back to something I haven't listened to in a long time, my briefcase full of cassettes.  I think I mentioned that in the pre-compact disc era, I was buying a lot of albums on tape, as this was the most convenient way to listen to music back in my high school and early college days, definitely more then vinyl records, which required a phonograph player and/or stereo unit.  (in old blues days, it was common for average people to just buy different records, one particularly successful member of the community to buy a record player, and everyone got together to party) Back in the 80's, most cars came with cassette players.  I didn't buy any discs until the Beatles were finally on disc.  Later the cars got disc players. and I had a radio/cassette/disc player in my apartment in Carbondale, but in my studio I only had a radio/tape player, so I had to put all my records and disc on tape, plus all the label produced tapes, to have music to listen to as I worked.  The best of my tapes were in a rotating wooden tape rack, and what I didn't listen to as much ended up in this briefcase, and this is something I brought home from  storage last year.  

Looking through this briefcase the other day, I found some things I didn't even know I had, and I set some things aside to bring with me over the next few weeks.  For example, one thing I found the other day was a blank 60 minute cassette that listed John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band solo album on side A, and the first release from the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies, White Dirt on side B.  So it turned out I could have listened to the Lennon song, "Remember" on November 5th if I had known I had it.  (I did find it on the web that night and listened to it that way)  I knew from the internet that the actual Lennon album was really 39+ minutes, so there was no way it could fit on one side.  So either I continued to whole album to side B of the tape, or I left out some songs.  Turned out to be the latter- I skipped over some of the softer songs when recording the vinyl.  Meanwhile, the Mudd Puppies release was a short album, and so the whole thing fit on side B, along with a song recorded from a radio show back in the early 90's.  Of course I knew this whole tape was only 60 minutes, so I brought with me another tape, a label produced cassette called Strange Brew- The Very Best Of Cream, songs from that band.  Knowing what I know now, I might pick different songs for a best of album, but it's a nice set in general.  The tape was lined up to side B, so that's what I listened to today.  Side A, which has their best known songs, will have to wait for another time.

Boardwalk Rides part 16

A few days ago I got an email from Jeanne at the JSAC telling me that Bobby Duncan was indeed planning to open up his studio for the upcoming Holiday Market.  (I had asked about this a few weeks ago, so it was nice to finally get this information) So I had replied to her that I would go ahead and open mine.   No idea if Molly will be a part of it, but I will let her know in case she does, or at least wants to clean up her mess and put a few artworks out.  Today I planned to ask Jeanne if she had seen my mail, but decided to wait until later.  I wanted to get to cutting.

Today's plan was to finish the carousel, all the parts visible in the view.  That meant finishing up the tower section, then moving on to the round roof overhead.  And that is what I did, finishing all of that.  Now the carousel is all done, and the fence around it.  I redrew the prizes once again.  Still not sure if this is the final version, so that is one section I haven't cut yet.  Next time I start on the airplane ride.  Documentation of today's work can be seen below:

On my way out I stopped by the office, but Jeanne wasn't there.  I thought I heard her voice upstairs, so I took my block and walked up the central stairway.  Found her working on her computer in the lobby, I guess avoiding the office.  She confirmed that she had read my email, and said my name would be on the card.  All well and good, but I am more concerned with them sending people to the basement that day.  I told her I'd get the word out to Molly and my usual contacts.

For music today I went with two regular size albums burned to discs from discs, both of British origin.  I had started with Volume 4 by the Joe Jackson Band (blogged about back in March of 2020), his first reuniting with his original band from his early albums.  Sounds very much the same as that early work, which was important, as that first album had  a reggae track mixed in with all his rock 'n roll songs, and the newer album had a ska (reggae's cousin, also from Jamaica) track on it, mixed with everything else.  From there I went to Beat This (blogged about back in January of 2023) , a compilation album of songs by the (English) Beat, a band that mixed a lot of ska in all songs with other musical interests.  I finished cutting around the time that the second disc ended, so I guess I figured the timing right.  Being that today is November 5th, I had thought that an album featuring John Lennon's song "Remember" would have been appropriate, but I don't have any of his work on disc.

Boardwalk Rides part 15

 Over the weekend I spent more time looking than drawing.  I wanted to make sure I understood everything that was there before I cut anything more.  Can't put anything back once it's cut.  Students have often asked me about that- what to do if you cut the wrong thing?  What I always tell them is now that is your new design, so just tell everyone that is what you intended all along.  Mostly I was looking at horse's legs, making sure I was accounting for all of them, in what I drew and what I cut.  Went over a few things just to make sure with extra pencil. 

At the Studio, time to cut.  I finished the remaining horses on the carousel, one of which had a rider.  Then I did the lower deck of the carousel, basically cutting around all the fence rails and the horses.  I had a little time left, so I started on the tower of the carousel, cutting out what will be off white in the final version.  Results of today's cutting can be seen below:

Next time I will likely finish the carousel, which will clear the way for the next ride- probably the spinning airplane thing in the lower left panel.  As with the carousel, I plan to start with things in front of other things, and gradually work my way back.

For today's music, I brought something that has never come to the Studio before, Billy Joel.  I had a number of his albums on vinyl (back then there was no compact discs), and never burned them to disc, so I had none in the Studio.  However, I did have one label made disc in the car (for listening on the long ride down from school each week). and my mother had one from her office listening, so I had a few things around the house to bring in.  I started with the one from my mother, disc 1 of The Essential Billy Joel, which was a greatest hits compilation.  I have not found the other discs (the internet tells me this was a three disc set once), and this is roughly chronological, so these are songs from the first part of his career.  Would have liked a few more tracks from certain albums, but this is what they chose and what I got.  Skipped over a few songs I didn't like, and stuff on another disc I do have.  When this first one ended, I put in that one, Glass Houses, part of his effort to be more rock and roll, and before the era of MTV.  I like one of the hits, but I really bought this discounted disc for the deep cuts, which weren't part of that compilation I heard earlier.  Good enough for background music while I worked.

Boardwalk Rides part 14

Today I decided to continue with the carousel, doing the horses on the outer track, and those people riding them.  Did the two main ones in the front, and the two partial ones on either side of those.  This includes the poles that hold them to the lower deck and the ceiling.  There is one horse on the far side of the carousel that is technically also outer track, but that will wait until next time when I do the other horses.  What I get done after that depends on what mood I am in, and how much time I have left that day.  I figure another 2 to 3 days to finish all the carousel, then move on the the other panel.  Results of today's work can be seen below:

I saw evidence that one of Molly's daughters was there in the Studio since the last time I was there.  A note on the table she uses, some minor dishevelment around the space, and some items leaning up against my table.  I have no idea of these were left for me, or just temporarily moved, so I'll send Molly an email about it later, and left them where they were when I went home.  

For music today I was going to listen to a copied disc of a compilation of English Beat songs, but I noticed that the whole album was just a single record, and thus kind of short, so I went with something else.  From my jazz/blues book I selected a home burned disc (from LP's) with two John Lee Hooker albums on it, Volume I and This Is Hip, something I have blogged about before, such as in October of 2021.  This gave me almost 77 minutes of John Lee Hooker in his prime, and that is never a bad thing.

On the way home I was stopped at the red light at 8th Avenue in Belmar, and decided to grab some photos of the construction work in progress on the new housing complex along route 35.  They have made a lot of progress on these apartments or condos, or whatever they are.  There's a long way to go as well, as can be seen in these photos:

I will take more photos in progress, so you can see what comes to pass.  Whatever gets made, I doubt I can afford to live there.

Boardwalk Rides part 13

 After a bit of looking, I realized why the prize wall of the fishing game was bothering me- the perspective was way off.  I had drawn it in a way that made sense for the front side, but this prize wall is on the back (or around the corner), where this perspective made no sense.  I know where I want that prize wall to be, so it had to change.  I'm not sure if the new version is the final version, but it's better than what I had before.

The other thing I did at home over the weekend was changes to the mother taking a photo at the carousel, and the boy on a horse that she is photographing.  The hair on the mother was very much like the hair on the woman holding up her son to play the fishing game, and I didn't like that.  As it turned out, I had an appointment for a flu shot, but they were running late, with a result me having to wait another half hour past my appointed time.  However, that time wasn't wasted, as I had a lot of time to look at people by the counter, and I saw a woman who dressed similarly to the woman standing by the carousel.  No sketch paper there, so I took mental notes- her hairstyle, and her shoes.  Later back home, I made these changes to my block drawing.  The other thing I decided to change was the boy she was taking a photo of.  I realized that the boy was about the size she is.   I know that some kids reach adult size at a young age; my father was that way and has said that he was the largest freshman on his football team and the smallest senior on the football team.  So it can happen.  But it would be easier for the viewer if the kid was smaller than his mother in my print, so I shrunk his head and lowered it, and raised his leg, which made him much smaller. Still a big kid, but significantly smaller that the woman we assume is his mother.  These changes can be seen below:

All of that came with me to the Studio today, along with cutting tools.  Since I am not sure yet if I am done with the prize wall, I put that off for now and started with the carousel.  First did the standing woman outside the fence, then that whole fence itself, including the areas in the far back (done with my V-gouge- these are smaller fence pieces) and the parts that extend into the right panel (mix of U-gouge and V-gouge).  I had a little time left, so I also cut the facing of the lower deck of the carousel.  Results of today's cutting can be seen below:

On my way to the Studio this morning I realized that today was October 27th, which makes it the birthday of WNEW 102.7 fm (get it?), the radio station I grew up listening to.  That station ceased to exist by the end of the last century, and the frequency has changed call letters and formats multiple times since then.  But while they existed, I listened often, and taped concerts occasionally, some of which I later burned to disc.  And I had one of those discs with me today, in my jazz/blues book, a live show by Robert Cray, recorded as a birthday concert on October 27, 1990.  Took both sides of a cassette, but only one disc, so I enjoyed that today, on what would be the 59th birthday of the station, should it still exist.   (this disc was best blogged about back in October of 2024, but not yet listened to this year)  Also further proof that my chem major friend, who insisted that plastic that was used to make compact discs would fall apart within ten years, didn't know what he was talking about.

More Photos From Pyramid Atlantic

 Here are a few more photos from the opening reception and other print related activities at the Outlaw Printmakers exhibition at Pyramid Atlantic.  These come from a large selection sent to me by Jeana Foley and taken by Carlo from Stereo Vision Photography. Looks like a good time down there.

First, some photos of just art, woodcuts by Tom Huck and linocuts by Bill Fick, and whatever it is that Sue Coe does.  A lot of detail in these, so click to enlarge.  I know Tom and Bill very well.  I have never met Sue, but we have been in some shows together, and I did have some of her books.

Here are a bunch of photos of people checking out the show and other things.  I'm a bit envious, as I know it would be interesting to see all this work, and for some it was the first time.  

Of course, there was a band playing at the opening.

The weekend also included some panel discussions and workshops, all print related.

The Outlaw Printmakers exhibition remains on display at Pyramid Atlantic through November 15th.  Admission is free, and hours are posted on the gallery website.

Boardwalk Rides part 12

Had to bring my car in early this morning for some maintenance, and found the lot there full.  No problem- just parked on the street next to the repair shop.  They said it was more a problem of people needing to pick up cars than too many dropping them off.  But mine was eventually taken care of, so I got to the Studio a little earlier than usual.  

As planned, I went right to the little boy being held up to play the fishing game, there in the lower corner of the right panel.  Did that, then the outside of the game booth, all the way to the top of the panel.  Then I went ahead and did the game itself, a little trench of water with the fish floating in it and around.  About that time my disc ran out, and I decided to end things there.  Same amount of time I usually put in, just finished earlier than usual.  There's something about those shelves with prizes that bothers me, so I took the block home with me today to give it a more detailed look.  Results of today's cutting can be seen below:

For music today I brought an old favorite from my rock/pop collection, a home burned disc with albums from two Texas bands, the Hickoids, and Jon Wayne.  I had these two on tape, made for me by a fellow grad from SIU (also from Texas), and this was a priority once I was able to burn discs.  Glad I did.  Eventually I got the Hickoids album on a reissued album disc, but I don't have that right now, so this home burned disc from the LP is a lifesaver.  One advantage is that this disc has two bonus live cuts from the former band, put on by my friend, and not on the official CD that I have.  (of course that CD has bonus tracks not on the disc I have, but none of those are as good as the ones I have now)  By the way, wrote about today's disc in detail on this blog back in December of 2019.

Boardwalk Rides part 11

Over the weekend I fixed a few things at home, mostly just going over lines I already had.  I don't think there is anything left to draw, so I begin the cutting stage.

As always, the first step is to cut out all the borders around the image, and for these boardwalk prints, that means the diptych panels.  Tried doing this with a big chisel, but I found things more efficient to just use my curved gouges for this.  Either way, I was finished with that.  The disc I started was still playing, so I moved on to the image area of the print, doing the standing woman by the fishing game.  Logic said that I should start with things in front of other things, and she qualified.  About the time I finished her, the disc finally ran out, so I decided to call it a day.  Results of today's cutting can be seen below:

That big pile of wood shavings on the table represents most of what I cut today.  (some ended up on the floor, but I will wait and sweep that when the whole thing is finished)  It's a good start.  Next will be the boy she's holding up, and then the outside of the fishing game.  After that, I'm not sure.  Could be the rest of the fishing game, or maybe start down by the airplanes, or even start on the outside of the carousel.  I'll figure it out when the time comes.

For music today I brought from my rock/pop book a disc I burned of favorites from Morphine, all the first album and most of the last posthumous album, with the whole story blogged about back in December of 2019.  Not particularly boardwalk music, but good to listen to while working.

Photos From Pyramid Atlantic

 Yesterday my friend Jenny sent me some photos she took at the Pyramid Atlantic gallery a few days ago.  I'm still waiting for postcards from the gallery, but I did send email announcements to a few people in that region, and it turned out she was planning to make a trip into Maryland during the time the show is up and stopped by to see it.  It's not a complete view of the whole show, but it does include my work, and a few examples of other prints in the show. (click on all to enlarge)  First, here's mine:

I'm glad that all five prints were included in the show, and that they spelled my name right.  From this photo the pieces look good. That small card underneath includes some information about me, probably from the online form I filled out before I sent everything.  

Of the other works she sent, there is no signature on this one, but the subject and the style can be no one other than Sean Starwars.  I have been in a few group folios with him, and he was an artist at the Print Blitz in Texas a few decades ago.

Also at the Print Blitz was John Hancock, who is a screen printer.  The next one is a print of his, based on the signature.  Below that is one from the Amazing Hancock Bros, so I'm guessing a collaboration with his brother Charles.  Could these be the reason for the content warning?  Say what you will about the Outlaws, but they will say what is on their mind.

The gallery director at Pyramid Atlantic promised photos of the opening reception, which I have not received yet.  When I get them, I will post them on this blog in another post.

Boardwalk Rides part 10

 Up to the Studio this morning to continue work on the current block.  Not much more to do with this one, but there is always something that could be better.  Learned a lesson from my Writing 101 professor, who used to say, "No piece of writing is ever finished; there's just a deadline."  He meant it, too.  Typed papers we turned in were expected to have hand written corrections on them, things meant to improve the paper.  If not, automatic failure.  What he didn't teach me, and this was also important, is that there is a point in art (or writing I suppose) where you have to stop what you are doing and move on.  I'm not to the move on point (cutting) yet, but I am close.

Today's first task was to deal with the head of that standing figure by the carousel.   The block drawing of her looked okay, but the photo of that panel showed that the head was a bit too small, which threw off all the proportions.  Simple solution was to just make the head a little bigger.  With eraser and pencil, that was accomplished.  Another thing I had decided to do was add another horse to my carousel, in the outer track.  I had decided there was just too much space behind the big one in the front, and started putting one just in back of its tail.  Only a little piece of it is visible (the head) before we get to the border, but it is enough to establish that there is another horse there.  Another thing I did today was to start putting in lines representing the boards underfoot that make up the boardwalk.  Some of these lines might disappear as I cut, especially those in the far distance, but for now I have some there.   Results of today's drawing can be seen below:

After documenting today's work, I decided to take it home.  One thing I need to work on is those prizes in the fishing game, only loosely roughed in now.  And I may put a sign on the front of that game, at least the part we can see.  I plan to look at other prints and maybe some reference photos, and see what I have done in the past.

For music today, I brought one from the pile I have with me at home, a label made compilation called, Come Dancing With The Kinks  The Best of 1977-1986, something I used to keep in my car for the long drives back from school.  Probably something created for the era of compact discs- longer than a single LP would be, but maybe a little shorter than a true double album.  Blogged about this one back in January of 2024 if you want to know more.  If you know the band during that time period, you have a pretty good idea what is on that disc.  It would go well with a disc I had collecting all the early singles by the band, but that is still in storage.

Outlaws On The Wall

The latest exhibition of work by the Outlaw Printmakers is planned to open at Pyramid Atlantic in a few days.  I care about this show especially because I am in it.  I am one of 15 artists in the show, and it is my understanding that all the scheduled artists have provided work.  Here is the list, and the official exhibition graphic, provided by gallery director Jeana Foley (click on to enlarge):

I know several of the artists from having worked with them and from group folios, and one I know from curating him into a show.  The others I don't know as well, but I will see photos of the opening, and I believe all the work will be available on the website.  I'm just happy they spelled my name right.

I shipped five framed pieces down to the gallery, and the gallery director wrote that all arrived safely, so for now I am going to assume that all five will be in the show.  What I sent was five prints from the Robert Johnson series, without the accompanying lyrics, a practical decision.  Not only are these some of my most recent works, they are also some of my best.  Below is one of my prints for the show:

The color graphic lists the dates of the show.  I assume that hours of operation can be found on the website.  The website also includes something that I don't normally see- a content advisory.

The advisory states:  "Some of the artwork is edgy and contains adult themes."  Have I ever been in a show that came with a content advisory?  Yes and No.  As far as I know, I have never been in a show that carried an advisory, but I was in a few editions of a Belmar Arts Council show called "Art on the Edge", which sought work that was a little beyond the norm.  I don't recall anything from those shows being too crazy, but my standards may be different from others.  For a few years at the end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st, I was a member of a gallery called City Without Walls in Newark.  Back then they had a space on the ground floor of the Gateway Building, a very respectable place literally across the street from the train station.  Besides an exhibition space, they were famous for a slide repository, open to anyone who wanted to curate a show, and the rule was any potential curator had to review every slide in the place.  One might think that this would lead to being selected for some shows, but I got the postcards, which showed a different story. It was the same artists in each show, which led me to interpret that all the shows were put together by a group of friends selecting each other for shows.  But then finally I was selected for a show, and it was scheduled.  Then it was unscheduled, by the gallery director, who decided to give our slot to one of those friend groups.  This also lined up with the gallery moving to an "up and coming" neighborhood in Newark (in other words, a neighborhood to avoid, and in this new location a gallery director was attacked with a hammer, which proves my point), so I decided to end my involvement.  However I still have a t-shirt from the gallery which includes the following statements: "Caution Art reflects life.  Warning Those offended by life should avoid art.  Danger !  CWW shows art."   I don't think much of the gallery (which closed about a decade ago), but I do agree with that shirt and I still wear it.  The Outlaws I know all make art about life, as do I.  It is what I know.  By the way, that unscheduled show eventually did happen; that curator found a space in SoHo and we had it there.

Could my work be the cause of that content advisory?  Not knowing where this work would be exhibited (except the religious community that is Ocean Grove), I avoided any nudity or explicit scenes, not easy to do when the images are based on the lyrics of Robert Johnson, who was not known to shy away from such subjects.  However, some encounters are implied in some prints, such as the ones below:

I still don't think anything too crazy was in these.  Like I said, all these have been shown in Ocean Grove (which was founded as a religious community and is still controlled by the Methodist church) and one was shown on public television.  I guess I will find out when the whole show gets posted.

The OUTLAW PRINTMAKERS MMXXVI exhibition will be at Pyramid Atlantic from October 16 through November 15, 2026.   I recommend you go see it.  Some will probably forget it soon, but some may find it a life changing experience.