Sorry it has taken me so long to post a blog!! i got an iflip movie camera for my birthday and was totally addicted! my plan was to do frame grabs from the Iflip and little movies, but it took a really long time and i wasnt able to finish much. I do have a few photos here and there- And also wanted to announce that im  a great group show called "the Conquerors"-
featuring the works of Mark Bodnar, Mari Inukai, Bill McRight, and Bonnie Brenda Scott- the show is at Artspace in Raleigh North Carolina (birthplace of one of my favorite authors David Sedaris!) and runs from September 4- October 24th if your out there check it out!!!!  Lia Newman along with others worked really hard at putting this together! thanks Lia!!!

 We  flew out to Arizona for the closing party of Morgan's art show at at Perihelion arts

Greg Escalante and Annie A- on the plane ride out

it was super fun- their art walk is the biggest in the country! so needless to say it was packed!- Amy the owner of Perihelion threw us an awesome BBQ the next day where I had BBQ pizza for the first time- we also visited the Mesa Arts Center   what an amazing space!!!! If you are visiting Phoenix its a must stop destination!

i met these crazy people at the airport!

when we got back i was super excited to meet my new intern who was coming all the way from London- Miles Gavin- i was a bit nervous at first because on a whim i randomly agreed to let someone i met on the internet  stay with us for three weeks! But Miles turned out to be a perfect gentleman and a very talented artist . He had some really great ideas, and helped me tremendously!!  We also shared a  liking for macaroni and cheese,  mochi balls and horror movies!! 

Miles working on the 8 legged deer

I was at the stage where i was gathering ideas for my four person show at BSFA so we went and checked out as many museums and galleries as we could
the best show I've seen in a very long time was "Your Bright Future" at LACMA  featuring four amazing artists from Korea  I was really trying to get this post up here sooner before the show closed but I didn't get to do it in time, sorry guys!!




my favorite piece was a large scale miniature of a brick house by Do Ho Suh cut in half diagonally with a small korean house parachuting into it- also was a glass like house in in the far corner- both were stunning!!!!! the rest of the show was outstanding as well!-  after we went to the La Brea Tar pits, the Museum, of Jurassic Technology  (one of my all time favs!) and had a tea break at the Royal-T , who not only has some of the bests tea's in town sevred by cute waitresses in Gothic Lolita french maid outfits, but  they also display an impressive collection of art and have a great gift shop where they carry some of my handmade items from time to time. 

cool car we saw when we were at the home depot picking up supplies- featuring the awesome art of Tom o Finland

Randomly we popped into Amoeba records and Quentin Tarantino was there promoting his new movie "In glorious bastards" he happens to be one of Morgan's & Miles's favorite directors!


Tarantino at amoeba

most of the time we spent making  the armatures , covering them with magic sculpt some works in progress






Miles spent most of his time covering the 8 legged deer with Swarovski crystals and anywhere he's not covered in crystals he 24k gold leafed, we bought over 20,0000 crystals in different shapes and sizes, it's taking forever!!!  I hope to finish the Deer in time for my American Animals show with BSFA in nov, and the three headed dog for the Scope fair in Miami with Sloan Fine Arts-
Miles had to go back to school at Central St Martins where he's studying ceramics- but were working on a limited edition gold and silver ceramic version of the  three headed dog that will hopefully be completed in time for the Scope fair in Dec. 

Eric, Stacy of She-Bible  and Karen

because this is the first year in many years where I'm taking a bit of a break by only doing a four person show with BSFA, Idecided to catch up on all the pieces i promised my friends from way back when- the first of these was Eric's deer!


next was Juicy Jen's  from asbury lanes bowling pin, she's  also the  gallerista & co/director of the Parlor-Gallery I'm trying to make good on all those late night at the bar promises i've made over the years!!


Me and Mike Davies at the BBC  headquarters in culver city

the last weekend  before we left for our west coast tour was a hectic but awesome one!!
we played an acoustic set for the "Punk Show with Mike Davies " on the BBC  which was super fun.



I had to get an outfit together in a pinch for the David la Chapelle preview show later the same night and was lucky enough to be able to borrow something from Jarred Gold's private stash!! actually you can too- "Chic Little Devil" rents amazing and original clothing from an assortment of famous and up and coming designer's collections-definately a place to check out if your at a loss for what to wear and on a budget!

Rape of Africa by David La Chapelles

the Preview show at the David Desanctis  gallery  was amazing!! he only had two pieces in the show- but with stunning pieces like that two is all you need-! Ive been a fan of his work for some time now, he's revolutionized fashion photography and made it into an art form. id like to live in his brain for a day!


David Desancits and Helen Garber-

Helen has a show at the David Desanctis gallery in Nov, her studio is upstairs from mine and i can tell you its going to be one amazing show!!! after David's show we headed back downtown to the Deborah Martin Gallery   to see Jason Cruz's - Amerikan Blackheart show. He did very cool large scale figurative paintings using bold colors and brush strokes- we got there just in time to catch his band play as well!


Work by Jason Cruz and his band below


The show coincided with the downtown art walk which is the 2nd Thursday of every month-i have to say it's giving Arizona a run for their money- I've been living downtown back when it was skid row and i have to admit that i never thought id actually see it all come together- its great to see so many people out on the street- though id like to see less drum circles, and people dressed as fairies!!

the opening act a theramin player and a vibraphone

the next night we were in for a treat as "Dead Mans Bones"  played Bob Bakers Marionette Theater-  Bob Bakers is  this rad puppet theater in Los Angeles. it might be the only one! they have great puppet shows , and Dead Man's Bones show was no exception!! Great puppets great music and a lot of fun. player. they were a lot of fun. They are doing a few more shows there so if you are in LA be sure to check it out!!!!

Morgan made it out to Camille Rose Garcia's  show at the Merry Karnowski gallery and brought me back a couple of photos!!!!


I'm dying to check it out and it will be my first stop when i get back from tour!!! I really wanted to go but the butcher knives I ordered 6 months ago to hand paint for Baby Tattooville  (I'm a guest artist this year) didn't arrive yet and i didn't think they would in time- so i had to scramble for a new idea-   i decided to make a resin version of them- i just hadn't worked with the medium in a while and was a bit nervous that I wouldn't be able to pull it off in time- since I'd be going straight from tour to Baby Tattooville with no time in between!


phase one of the knife making- only 80 more to go!


Michael Jackson tribute

I took a break the next morning to go see my friend Julie Garcia's daughter Natasha's dance performance which was really amazing!! They preformed several numbers and are working on taking the performance nation wide!


Natasha and friend backstage



back to the knife mayhem- here are some of the boxes they will go in, I am proud to say that i finished everything in time to leave for tour!!!! i didn't sleep for a few days but thats what diet mountain dew is for, I also lost 7 lb's!
I even finished a new t-shirt design for the tour!

we  headed out for our first stop Dimples,  a cool and very well stocked record  store in Sacramento!

sleepy miss derringers later we played with the Pine Box Boys at the Blue Lamp, go see them if you have a chance, they were great!

next stop Reno, Reno does not disappoint for a good time- we played at the Tonic Lounge -with the Cowbellerros- met some super fun people including amazing artist Ahren Hertel

 
Work by Ahren


Morgan falling asleep at circus circus just before the lion pounces

and headed back to our friends suit at Circus Circus, where we gambled till dawn,  i won 100$!!! on my first and  only bet of the trip- i never win so this was really amazing!!! - our next stop SF

Golden Gate Bridge

next stop san francisco - SF is one of the prettiest cities in the world- even if the weather sucks sometimes!

we have a hand full of dates left, if your on the west coast and want to check out a show drop us a line we'd love to see you! check for show listing here- and maybe ill see you at Babytattooville later this week!