When I started doing these little Coronavirus interviews with artists back at the end of March, things were bad. We were all quarantining, losing jobs, losing loved ones. Everything was strange and scary. We were frozen in place. Unable to move. It was bad. Well, it's July now and everything is much worse! I sent Jennifer Korsen the interview questions in April, she answered them in May. Then inertia, depression and I have just sat on them since. So, think of the following as a snapshot, a time capsule or a mere curiosity. But having Jennifer as a friend during the apocalypse has been of some comfort to me. So, here's a disjointed conversation between a couple friends just trying to get through it.
How are you feeling?
I feel pretty good. I’m about 3 weeks late filling this out
so now that the panic has subsided a little I'm finding routine and trying to
figure out how to navigate life after this.
Were you able to quarantine in the studio? How long has it
been?
I’m away from my studio but I have some art supplies. It’s
actually been kinda nice to have limited access, forces creativity and
eliminates me deciding between 50 mediums how I want to express something.
When did it hit you how serious this was?
March 21, driving down the 5 freeway with almost zero cars
and seeing those signs on the freeway for the first time that said to wash your
hands and stay home and all that. It was apocalyptic, Ill never forget that.
Have you had cancelled/postponed exhibitions as a result?
I have artwork
currently locked in at La Luz De Jesus, The Hive, Echoes, Silverlake coffee,
and I think one more place I can’t remember right now, lol. Had some live
painting, speaking engagements, and a school mural project postponed or
cancelled, I'm not even sure which at this point.
What have you been doing with the downtime? Are you able to
make art right now?
I didn't do anything creative for the first 2 or 3 weeks, it
just felt like one long weird, panicky day. An artist friend of mine (PS it’s
you, Keith.) invited me to draw on zoom and it kind of stoked the fire back up.
I've been painting and playing the Omnichord, doing yoga, going for walks, basically
all the things that have been new year’s resolutions were actually pandemic
resolutions and I’m currently killing it. Also interspersed with moments of
dread and panic just to keep it interesting.
Are you finding any inspiration in this mess?
I actually am, I know this sounds weird, but I tend to be
calm in moments of panic and chaos. It’s totally a PTSD response but it
kind of feels like the world caught up to the way I feel a lot of the time. I’ve
been doing a lot of art with no objective and getting into some abstracted
stuff I call micro/macro. I'm also making some resin stuff with things I find
on the beach, kind of sentimental weird stuff. I think a lady may have thought
I needed help while I was combing through handfuls of sand to find tiny white
rocks. I feel like this time has
been a good reset for me and in the long run, I will be grateful to have been
forced to slow down. I also think (hope) I hit peak anxiety during this and I
survived it so that's kind of nice as well. Really making an active effort to
be mindful and focus on what I can control.
What has been the most challenging part of this for you?
Losing work, cancelled projects, uncertainty about the
future, basically everything I didn’t mention above. I hate going to the
grocery store, seeing lines and people in masks is really disturbing and makes
it hit home. It feels like a movie.
What are some of your coping mechanisms?
Painting, walking, talking to friends, yoga, Omnichord.
What's the thing/place you wish you could do/go but can't
right now?
I wish I could road trip up to Portland. I do almost every
year. I also had plans to go to Colorado in September and I kind of doubt that
will happen now.
Done any binge watching, book reading, game playing?
I’ve watched every offshoot of 90 Day Fiancé, lots of ghost
and paranormal stuff, Tiger King, I’m Not Ok with This, mostly stuff i can have
on in the background.
Favorite work of art in Los Angeles?
I feel like the entire city of LA is a collaborative work of
art, like a performance piece.
What song is stuck in your head right now (commercial
jingles totally count)
I didn’t have one until reading that and what popped up is
commercial from the 80's that goes "hello mother, hello father, April
freshness, not a bother, just one problem, it’s my laundry, oh dear mom and dad
I think I’m in a quandary." I’ve had that in the back of my head for 30+
years.
Favorite brand of toilet paper and where do you find it?
Costco brand. Charmin if I’m feeling fancy.
If you could hoard one food item, what would it be?
Artichokes, Numero Uno pizza, matzah ball soup. I need 3
food items and some yuzu chili sauce from Trader Joes.
Do you know anyone personally who has contracted the virus?
A few people but they are ok. Some family members and
friends of friends have passed, and it really blows my mind how some people
think its fake and overblown or aren't willing to take precautions to protect
others. It makes me really sad for all of us.
How do you think this all ends?
Maybe it goes away like a miracle, maybe we have a civil
war, maybe we have a massive social and financial restructuring, maybe we learn
compassion and realize we are all connected and do better moving forward. Or
maybe it doesn’t, and we just live like this shutting down every few months
forever. I will say though, I'm super grateful for Facebook memories right now,
it makes me feel like, at least I did a lot of cool stuff before this and went
after my dreams. As cheesy as that sounds, seeing it gives me confidence that I’ll
be able to adapt moving forward, however it goes.
With a background in fashion and music, Detroit refugee
Jason Ostro opened Gabba Gallery in 2012.He has been a fierce champion of artists of every stripe. Jason spearheaded an epic revitalization of Historic Filipinotown with his alley art projects featuring famed street artists from around the globe, and that project continues to evolve. Jason is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.
A couple of notes about what follows. First, I have transcribed this from a recording of a zoom meeting. I have put in italics my best guess-timates in a few inaudible parts.
Second, the cast of characters mentioned. Judy is Jason's Mom and she's an artist of note herself. Elena and Jaq are part of the superhero team that helps Gabba run. Andrea LaHuepaints flowers for the people and commits Random Acts of kindness. Lastly, this was the first time I'd talked to Jason since Covid19 struck. So, that's why it starts like this...
What...the...fuck, man?!?!
*laughs* Well, we kinda all knew something was gonna happen. We just
didn’t know it was going to be like, “Okay, fuck you all. I gave you hats.”
Oh, man, remember the day after THAT MAN was elected? I was having a full blown panic attack at Gabba and a certain artist’s manager was there saying, “How bad could he really be though? I mean, we have checks and balances.
It’s going to be fine.”
*laughs* You were like, “WHAT?!”
Oh, my gawd! Anyway, man, how are you? You got a fucked-up
tooth?
You know, I knew that was coming down the pike. I was just
hoping I could make it through quarantine. But god only knows when quarantine
is going to end. Other than that, man, I’m okay. The gallery’s okay. We’re
still making some sales. It’s just a matter of what’s going to happen over a long-term
situation. Because…I don’t see us realistically having a show until September,
October. Maybe not until Wish List. Maybe not even this year! You know?
We’re just now figuring out how to do some really cool stuff
with virtual shows. But it’s a new field. We all gotta hustle and figure out
how to play this new field. A lot of the mid-level people that were purchasing
art, supporting us when we had the gallery open, are now broke. People just
aren’t going to have as much money for speculative beauty for a while.
Are you able to keep the lease going on Gabba for the rest
of the year?
I’m going to try to work something out. See if I can get it lowered a little bit for
the time being. Then I’m thinking of doing, like a local store. Like the bags
you did for us, maybe hoodies and stuff. Where we’re selling all these pieces
between 5, 10, or 50, 60 dollars apiece, you know and helping artists make a
little bit of cash. Meanwhile we can make a little bit of cash as well, and
still art out there to people that want to help and support, but maybe can’t
afford 200, or 300 dollars for a print or individual piece. But would definitely
do something for $25, or for 10 dollars if shipping is only gonna be 6 or 7
bucks.
So, I think I’m going to have to employ some of the stuff
that I learned in 2008 when I was selling clothing online, to basically survive
now. But it’s stressful, you know?
The other thing I have on my plate right now is I’m supposed
to be moving my Mom to California at the end of this month. That’s obviously
not happening.
Yeah, she’s okay. She disobeyed me one time and went out to
get her medication. Then I gave her bloody hell. But I’ve been ordering all her
groceries, having them delivered. Amazingly, I managed to sell the house during
quarantine. Once I can get back there, I’ll move her cross country and really
won’t have to go back to Michigan too much. Unless it’s to see friends.
What are you seeing in your neighborhood? Here in West Los Angeles, a lot of people are still not wearing masks. Still getting together in groups.
I would say…in the Hollywood/Beachwood area, north of
Franklin, everybody is wearing a mask. Except the homeless, and a lot of them
are wearing t-shirts over their mouths. Below Hollywood, there’s a lot of
people not wearing masks. But for the most part, in my general area, most
people have them. Most people are paranoid.
So, you’re having a root canal tomorrow, Jaq has an ear
infection. How’s Elena doing?
She’s better now. We think she had Covid.
Oh, fuck!
Yeah, we think she contracted it a couple weeks ago. She
had, pretty much all the symptoms for 4 or 5 days, and then she quarantined for
a week and a half after that. She’s been fine ever since though.
I’m kind of hoping that I had one of those pre-cases dating
back to October. Cuz I was fucking sick as shit back then.Yeah, yeah, yeah! We really think we might’ve had it in
November, or even the last time I saw you. In January I was leery to hug you,
for your protection.
How are you guys doing? What’s going on with you?
We’re okay. You know? We pretty much stay home during the
best of times. But there is a psychic cost to this. I think everybody is
finding their head to be a frightening place to be live right now.
Plus, every single artist on the planet is worried about
their relevance now. I mean, sure, it’s our job to document this shit, but
nobody wants to see documentation while they’re living through it, and even if
your jam is painting bunnies and/or robots eating donuts, it’s a tough sell at
the moment.
Add to that, galleries are gathering places. People mingling,
hugging, breathing on each other. Everyone is worried that that is over
completely.
Yeah, until there is testing and tracking, there is no
fucking way for us to know who has it, or who has been exposed.
Yep. Best case scenario, you’re gonna have to have an
infrared thermometer at the door before you let people in.
Oh, guaranteed! I’ve already looked into buying it. I’ve
looked into buying gallons of hand sanitizer. I may need to provide masks to
people who don’t have them before letting them in. You know?
The camaraderie is something that I’m very worried about
losing. Because that’s always been the strength of Gabba. Just the fact that
the love of the community reverberates there. That there’s new stuff
that is introduced to people all the time has always been a really good thing.
I think I’m over the whole shock of this thing happening and
I’m trying to figure out how to build now. But for a couple weeks I was just
sitting on my ass thinking “I don’t know what to do!”. How long am I gonna be
sitting on my ass? What do I do? I’ve got 5 or 6 paintings I’ve started, but I
can’t finish any of them right now because I’m too scattered. But in the past
week I’ve been turning the corner and started to get back to the hustle. I
don’t think it’s just for me, man. I worked for many years not making a dime
with Gabba Gallery. I’ve been fortunate the last few years to have made a
little bit of money. Now I feel like I have to go back to how it was in the
beginning and just keep on working. I want to do all those projects again and
get people introduced. I also don’t want to ask anybody for help. I just want
people to buy art.
I have about 5 or 6 prints ready to go online. But I don’t
want to release them all at the same time. IT’s kind of like trying to bring in
cash strategically over the next few month. I have a lot of little things I’m
doing. You know, I’m lucky. Because I’ve got a great team and for the time
being I can afford to keep them and even pay them a little bit, even if they’re
not actively working in the gallery right now.
You know, I just have to stay positive. Because if I lose
hope then there is no hope. I really do feel that as hard as it’s going to be,
I’ve already been down this road. I’ll be able to come out the other side. At
least that’s the plan.
We’re all hoping that Cheetoh gets taken out.
I cannot take another 4 years of this.
No, but the problem is that his stupidity affects the world
now. I did just read a poll that said his disapproval rating is finally going
up. When this started his approval rating went to 49 percent. I was like, ‘why
are you going up right now?’ But now his disapproval is over 50 and his
approval is low forties.
Well, he seems to be reading different numbers than you.
Oh yeah, he always does. I mean, there was 35, 36 thousand
deaths in America at the time and he was talking about how it was so bad when
we had the H1N1 flu, how bad Obama dealt with it, how terrible things were. So,
I was doing some fact-checking and read that, okay…1) Our economy grew during
that time. 2) There were 17, 000 deaths over a period of 12 months. We had
36,000 deaths in 90 days with Trump, and he’s touting himself as the greatest
president of all time. Now he’s saying we won’t see it over 60,000. Well we’re
gonna see the death toll hit 60, 000 in the next 10 days. And if we see a
second wave during the actual flu season, we’re fucked!
*long pause. Mutual heavy sigh*
You know this already, but I get violently angry about that
man. I mean, like I want to do damage. He really brings out the violence in me.
Yeah, I think the separation he’s caused in this country is unreal,
and I think a lot of people on both sides are drawn to that violence as well.
We see them acting on it, more and more. Across the world, this nationalism
that’s happening in so many different places is mind-blowing. But we’ve preached love for so many years. So
many songs about it…but to have all this going on is disheartening. This
is a crazy reality. It’s hard to get my head around it and hard to accept it.
But you are making art though?
Yeah, man. I’ve got a couple pieces that I started. A couple
different things that I’m trying in my art. I mean, I’m doing some of the
standard stuff that I’ve done and some commissions. But, personally, I’m trying
some different things.
You know, I always thought of your fractals, or your style as…well, it
always registered as stained glass to me. But you call it Chinese cracked ice?
So, I didn’t actually know it was Chinese cracked ice until
Andrea and I did our show together a couple years together on Sunset, and this
guy came in and said, “Wow, I haven’t seen anybody do Chinese cracked ice
paintings in forever. These are so amazing! When did you pick up Chinese
cracked ice?” and I’m like, I don’t know
what you’re talking about. He pulled out his phone and showed me some pictures
and sure enough, that’s pretty much what I’ve been doing.
You learn something new every day. Let me throw a few
questions at you that I’ve been asking everybody.
What’s your favorite work of art in Los Angeles?
Um…it changes all the time. But I would have to say that my
favorite work of art in Los Angeles is the ever-changing landscape of watching
tourists in Hollywood. I see so many colors and variations of people…you know,
I really understand writers and poets, musicians when they tell their stories
of Los Angeles. There’s so much beauty in it, so much craziness, that’s just
standard clay there. It’s normal to us. Normal to you and I. But to a
lot of people they come to this town right off the bat, it’s so magical. When I walk around and view it from those eyes?
That’s the most beautiful art in this city.
I can’t really name a set piece of art. I like Watts Towers!
Are you binging any content?
I’m always binge listening to music. I watched this
documentary The Pharmacist which was kind of amusing. McMillions. I’m a big documentary
person. I watched this documentary on the History Channel that was about the
biggest brands of foods, like Heinz, and it went into how cutthroat they were,
how they treated their employees, and how guys like Hershey just built whole
cities on the backs of labor and control.
Any songs stuck in your head right now?
I’ve been playing this song by Papooz called “Ulysses and
the Sea”.
I’ve been listening to this artist by the name Chika. You
know, what I love to watch, is the Tiny Desk series of shows at NPR.
If you could hoard one food item (guilt free), what would it
be?
I love mini donuts, but if I was using my brain, I’d hoard vegetables.
How do you think this ends?
After time, I think it’s gonna rattle out some of the youth
of Los Angeles, and maybe some of the people that don’t wanna fight anymore in
this town. The only problem is…where are people gonna go? You know, in the past
they would go to these middle America communities, but now those communities
are gonna be just as decimated with jobs as everywhere else.
So, it’s a matter of just being, I guess. I don’t know how
we’re gonna get out of this yet. Honestly, I’m not sure we’re even through the
first phase yet.
In the beginning, there was a locust that swarmed over the Sahara. The deafening buzzing sound created a vortex that swirled across the plains, creating a thick black sludge. The sludge flowed into the Mediterranean Sea, swallowing all gill-bearing life. The sludge grew in size as it devastated Macedonia, then Bucharest and Belarus. Gaining speed, the sludge made a sharp left at Estonia and headed toward the Baltic Sea, where it was met by a corona discharge of luminous plasma. The brutal collision caused the sludge to shoot skyward twisting into tentacles of shimmering, gooey light. There it stayed, churning & whirling and making a cacophonous clamor. Until, one day, like a miracle, it just disappeared. The ancient mystics gave the thing a name. Thy name is Septerhed. But seriously, dude, how are you doing?
Thanks for asking. Dishonestly? Fantastic. Every day is a ray of sunshine that
brightens my existence. Honestly? I feel dumpster fire with a hint of endless
melancholy. Like if bad survived a terrible mess and was waiting for a
shit-show to take over.
How many days have you been self-quarantining?
None. I've been mostly alone, but not completely. Jesus has
been by my side, but he's not washing his hands at all.
When did it hit you how serious the crisis was?
When I couldn't buy TP or water. When the streets were
empty. Empty shelves. When my job sent me home.
Have you had any art shows cancelled as a result?
No. Some extensions though.
What have you been doing with the downtime?
Worrying, contemplating, prepping, crying, traveling,
smoking, quitting smoking, yelling, nervously smiling and IDK. As best as any
1st time pandemic person can be.
Are you not finding current events inspiring?
Not really. I was in such a bad place in 2019, it's kind of
just an extension.
What's been the most challenging aspect for you?
Finding work, money, logistics, worrying about loved ones.
Figuring out what the fuck is happening every historic day.
Do you have any coping mechanisms?
Perhaps legal stimulants, my sub-woofer and dreams of
nicotine consumption. Honestly nothing is really helping me cope. I keep
searching though. I will always keep searching. I will.
What's the thing/place you wish you could go/do right now?
Hang out with Gener. As a Gener myself it's hard to not be
around another one. Maybe it's best. It's all fleeting. I always think I know
what I need, but my inability to catch a break and learn how to love myself
ruins all. Little bits of here and there get us to the next little bit.
Okay, I'm just gonna pretend to know what a Gener is. Have you done any binge watching, book reading' or game playing?
No. I can't focus on
anything like that.
Favorite work of art in Los Angeles?
A mural by Dr Knudson on Fountain. Best mural in L.A. Fact!
The Dr. Knudson Mural on Fountain
What's on heavy rotation in your ear holes?
Alec Empire, Dogleg, Beneath the Massacre, Svalbard, God
Mother, Tame Impala, Napalm Death, Loathe, Frontierer, Sectioned, Dan Deacon, CHRISTWVRKS,
Sanction, The Jezabels, CULT LEADER, Petbrick, Jeen, Brutus, The Middle Kids, Hath.
Favorite brand of toilet paper and where to find it during an apocalypse?
Charmin. Maybe you can find it online and have it delivered
by April 14th?
What's your hoarder food of choice?
Peanut butter.
What brand though?
Natural. Any brand, I think.
I had to scour my Fakebook timeline to figure this out, but I think I've known you for 7 years now. But only very recently discovered that you've had a dog this whole time.
I've had him for 11 years. It's getting toward the end though. It makes me realize the smartest thing I ever did was NOT get anyone pregnant. I can barely handle a dog. I'm a mess and selfish.
How do you think this all ends?
With me typing this: "THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME!"
Good talk, bro! Hey, kids, head over to the Septerhed site and buy some art!
In life and in art, Pastey Whyte, is like a classic
character actor. When he shows up, you're always happy to see him. Pastey calls
himself a dirty slap tagger, but as you'll see from this interview, he's much,
much more than that. Hailing from a farm on the east coast originally, Pastey
has called Los Angeles home for nearly 2 decades. He's a raconteur on any
subject (ask him about animal husbandry). He makes all of his slaps by hand,
and he's quite generous with them. I have amassed a robust collection of them
myself. He draws, he paints, he wheat pastes (get it?), he makes vibrant
combines. If you see a Pastey piece in the streets, it's an original. He
doesn't photocopy ever. He's a proud and doting father. I like the guy a lot
and I wanted to see how he was doing during this mess. So, let's find out:
First things first. Is Pastey Whyte your real name (I ask
with a grin)?
No this is not
my real name. It is my nom de guerre. I actually have three names. My real name
is Ed. My long time friends call me Edsy. My art friends in LA call me Pastey.
When I introduce myself at art events I introduce myself as Ed and then I tell
them I am also known as Pastey Whyte from my un-commissioned public artworks.
The new friend looks at me quizzically until some other artists or friend
approaches and usually with a loud and hardy hug or high five says “Pastey,
what’s up?” The new friend is surprised and amused and they have now forgotten
my real name Ed and will usually call me Pastey when we meet again.
How are you feeling, man?
I feel physically fine. I keep checking in on myself worried
about signs of the Covid-19 virus but so far so good. In general, I am anxious
about the trajectory of the country and how that will affect my family, my art
and my job. Our president, The Cheeto Mussolini, has really brought out the
worst in American humanity. I fear for this countries future as well as my own.
Artistically I am a bit in the doldrums. I still make art
but lately not as much as I would like. My job has been absorbing a lot of my
time. It’s all about the money. I still hit the streets when I can with pastes
and stickers. My street stuff isn’t gonna change a lot because I like how
recognizable it is. I am looking for a new way to express myself in the studio.
In the last week or so I have made a few more pieces in the studio because work
has been canceled but that just makes me more anxious and doesn’t help to free
up those creative juices. I get back in the studio as much as I can and keep
pushing the paint and hitting the canvas. Eventually I know something will come
out. I just gotta keep creating.
Have you been self-quarantining?
Yes. I have been on quarantine since March 16th. I have gone
out a few times for supplies. I have gone twice to the supermarket and twice to
the hardware store for house projects. I stock up at both places so I can have
a variety of food to eat and supplies for several Do-It-Yourself projects. Each
time I have worn a mask and gloves just to be safe. So I have
been just hanging at the house staying busy with artwork and projects around
the house.
When did it hit you how serious this was?
It got serious
when they canceled work last week. I work behind the scenes in the
entertainment industry. Everybody in my business is out. It’s a bad time for us
all in this industry. It’s gonna be hard on everyone that works in
entertainment.
Have you had any art shows cancelled or postponed?
I didn’t have any art shows in the works so the pandemic hasn’t affected me in that way.
It be nice to have an art show coming up
though. You know of any? I am thinking about having a “garage sale” at the
house when this is all over. I’ve got so much art in my studio it’s getting
hard to move in there.
Do you personally know anybody who has contracted the virus?
I know of 2 people that have contracted the Corona Virus.
One is an actor on the show I work on. He is not really a friend but a
co-worker. The other is someone I am friendly with who lives in Berkeley. She
is the sister in-law of a friend of mine. So, no direct contacts with the virus
but yes I know 2 people.
How have you talked to your daughter about this?
She is good. She just likes not being at school. She’s kind
of an underachiever at schoolwork. But she is one hell of an athlete and still
has very little fear about getting hurt. We just got her out of a cast that was
on her ankle. Not a bad break but it still needed a cast for four weeks.The
computer is great for kids these days because you can still communicate and see
your friends. However it is also the conduit for school work. So. I just hope
she can keep up and learn something over this quarantine time.
She is the best thing everrrrrr. I love her so much.
Is your daughter into art?
Yes! My daughter is interested in art. I have the first
“straight” line she ever drew sitting at the table in my studio. I have many
examples of her work and I have used some of her art in my own work. I take her to museums and shows when I can. Her attention
span isn’t great but you gotta try. I think just exposing her to art will
resonate more as she gets older. I include her in my art all the time. I incorporate her work
into mine. I make her a mini-cityscape with her age emblazoned in it every year
for her birthday. I also have a stencil portrait I have made of her that I use
for various artworks as well as in the streets.
The kid!
A little Ricky Sencion thrown in free.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this crisis for
you?
Keeping motivated has been the hardest challenge. It’s so
easy to lose yourself in the Social Media and Online. Plus, I have been staying
away from over medicating. I have been not drinking or smoking which has helped
to keep my motivation up. God knows I have just wanted to forget about this
world and my responsibilities, but I have made my house nicer and pumped out a
few artworks.
How do you cope otherwise?
I cope by staying busy. I pay attention to the news of the
world, but I don’t let it overwhelm me. I try to do that even when things are
“normal”. It’s a fucked up world out there and staying aware but busy helps.
What's the thing/place you wish you could do/go, but can't
right now?
I love eating out. I am not some fine cuisine kind of diner.
I miss going to my favorite taco stands, pizza joints and holes in the wall. I
love the ambiance of these places. It just isn’t the same when it’s take out
and you eat in the car.
I also miss going to bars. I'm not a bar fly but I do like a
good drink every now and then. Just dropping in, having a nice cocktail or two
and absorbing the vibe.
What's your favorite pizza joint?
Pizzanista. 2019 East 7th street. I love the pizza here.
Closest thing to a New York slice you'll find in LA. I love the vibe here too
low key and punk like. Reminds me of some places in the East Village in NYC. I
really like their classic punk record take our boxes. I particularly like the
Clash "Give 'em enough rope" inspired box. It gets mighty busy here
and there isn't a lot of seating so that kinda sucks. If it's after 5pm you can
go to Tony's Bar next door. They have an excellent slice and a beer special.
There is a pass through window between Pizzanista and the bar. Tony's Bar is a
pretty cool dive bar too so it's a great two for one.
Have you done any binge watching, book reading, or game
playing?
I have watched all the episodes of “Gentified” on Netflix. I
like it because it’s all shot in Boyle Heights and East LA. I have lived in
East LA for the last 17 years so there are a lot of locations I know and
recognize on the show. Also the show deals with what is gentrification and the
good and bad of it. I have lived and shown my artwork in many edge
neighborhoods my whole adult life. The show deals with many topics that I have
experienced for a long time.
Favorite work of art
in Los Angeles?
“Night Sail” by Louise Nevelson at Wells Fargo Plaza (BunkerHill), 333 S. Grand St. Los Angeles. But Hurry. The new developers/mother fuckers already sold a
Dubuffet and a Miro that were bought as public artworks when it was known as
Crocker Plaza. There are also some very lovely Robert Graham sculptures, I hope
are still in the lower atrium. Also, across the Street in Bank of America Plaza
there is a really nice Alexander Calder.
What song has been stuck in your head lately?
"Be Thankful For What You Got" by Curtis Mayfield.
Also known as Diamond In The Back.
"Diggin' the scene with a gangsta
lean!"
Favorite brand of toilet paper and where to find it?
Scott toilet paper. Larger rolls, clean and basic (no dingle
berries left behind). Been using Scott TP for years. I lucked out last week
when I was out shopping on my second supply run into the pandemic. They were
just putting some out. It was gone in seconds.
If you could hoard
one food item guilt-free, what would it be?
Frozen Pizza. Easy to make and Satisfying. Several varieties
and styles just so it doesn’t get too monotonous.
How do you think this all ends?
I think this will only polarize the country more and make
people more isolationist. The oligarchy of corporations that rule the country
will use this fear and isolationism to keep people down and profit from it. The
oligarchies power will rise on a global scale. People will suffer more
globally. The short sightedness of this profit from fear and isolationism will
only create worse conditions environmentally and personally.
So, everything is gonna be fine. “Can’t see it from my
backyard”
Thanks for talking to me, man. I hope to hug ya soon.
