hello friends, fans, foe and lovers,
i hope you all are well, life is good, even when it's tough.....and i've been writing up a storm, not too much art, but more ideas, and brainstorming for future shows. i'm going to create a fully immersive art exhibition.
no more details, let's say i'm working with some people on both sides of the continent to create something very cool. and crazy for an exhibition, or multiple exhibitions. i cannot elaborate beyond that, sorry.
been listening to heavier and heavier music, i think listening to "alexisonfire" opened the door to screaming fcuking music, as i'm now listening to "in flames" and "lamb of god" and loving it. i can only take the screaming for so long though, 5 or 6 songs and it sounds the same. sort of. as well, hmmmm, i got my ticket for the Mastodon/Opeth/Ghost tour yesterday and was pretty stoked about that show. picked up a black gibson sg special, it's got 3 single coil pick ups, that sound so fcuking heavy it's unbelievable, i played guitar for 2 hours yesterday, plugging in my amp and breaking out the les paul too. my playing is getting crazy fast.
as well, reading keith haring's journals, i picked up the book in kelowna, bc, at mosaic books for only 6 bucks! and it's been really a great read as it chronologically follows his starving artist beginnings in NYC right up to his insane fame, crazy busy lifestyle and world travels making art on location. like anyone else, he has self-doubt, can see through the lies of the art world, the drama, the business side, and the money/fame head game as well. then, his friends dropping dead around him from AIDS and other crazy deaths. his insight is really awesome, humble and i've been learning a lot from this book, as in the creative worlds, there is no "how-to" book. how to "break out" of a small town, how to "make it in the art world" or "how to make it in the music biz" or "how to get published."
over the years, all the work and minor success i've ever had has come through totally hard work, and being "present" at the right place, at the right time. i remember when i was younger and more naive, those "how to make it in the music business" books written by A&R insiders were surely tempting, but most of them were $30 to $50 a book. and in the end, common sense wins out. there are a series of steps one can follow to "make it" in the business, but more importantly, it always boils down to one thing. make great art/music or writing or films, and they'll eventually get noticed. and keep doing it, and keep sending it out there into the world. ben harper might have said it best when he said, "good music finds a way." and i think what he meant was, if you write good songs, they'll get heard, and an audience will develop and blah blah blah blah.
as for me, reading this journal has been fantastic, and reinforced what i'm doing, but also seeing the scope of keith haring's murals and art are inspiring, and his dedication. his total dedication to his art and to making art every single day is totally inspiring. let's face it, as authors, or artists, musicians or filmmakers, we have our doubts about what we are doing, and whether or not we are making an impact culturally or commercially. i also lucked upon a book recently in vancity, i was at the chapter's downtown and found this great artbook by Brad Klausen, "From a basement in Seattle." total fluke, i saw it, picked it up and was amazed at the poster art, and bought it immediately. i did not want to lose an opportunity for inspiration.
which was what nearly happened when i didn't write down the book by shaun tan, "lost and found," and the only way i found it again, was perseverance. i kept going back again and again until the books were there.
i'm learning opportunities are fleeting, and you have to seize the moment, and figure things out later! haha! i mean, i'm lucky i was able to buy these books, back in tha day i would have stolen them without a thought. currently all my money goes to my kids, my art, and beer. life is tight, but things are good, and will continue to be good. the days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and i'm looking forward to kicking ass this year and next for that matter. getting back into greaffiti has breathed new life in my work, and stumbling upon new art and artists is also crucial.
i also found a comic store in vancity, one of my favourites, near main and broadway that had back issues of "Juxtapoz" and "Hi-Fructose" magazine. i would have bought the whole box, but prudently decided to save my money to get home. i'm getting too old to jump trains.
haha!
in the meantime lovers, i hope all is well in your world, and if not, make it so.........
cb
ps: i went into the "preferences" window on my mac, and turned it to inverted colours, so my screen is currently like a negative. i'm gonna see how long i last at it, but it's much easier on the eyes.
lamb of god
discography pack on jump drives
in a cigarette pack.
nifty idea, even though i quit smoking.
fucking amazing keith haring mural
looking at this work is a reminder
he's gone and none
will ever be created again.
good ol' rasputin.
