Thursday, June 28, 2007

MUSIC: Legendary Linda Hopkins Surprises Silver Lake Bar


Two clips of legendary blues and gospel singer Linda Hopkins surprising the local Silver Lake patrons of The Other Side piano bar with an impromptu jam session accompanied by Sonji Kimmons. I had to stopped by Other Side after some art openings and before heading over to Akbar just in time to catch this golden moment. She sang "Down Home Blues" and "Everyday I Have the Blues."


At The Other Side: Sonji Kimmons

Above is a photo of regular Saturday night chanteuse Sonji Kimmons performing later that night. You may recall Sonji from previous blog entries about my wanderings through Silver Lake.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

ART: Reception for "REALization" at S B London Gallery

SB London Gallery: "REALization" Reception

Each collection at S B London builds on the one before. Here's a clip of the artist and industrial designer Stacie London sharing her thoughts on it. Also a shot of Stacie and friends at the opening reception for "REALization" the exhibit of industrial art currently running.


SB London Gallery: "REALization" Reception SB London Gallery: "REALization" Reception

If you watched the clip, yes Shelayna did make it there after all. There she is with me and Lesley, and there's a shot of the forms from the new collection. The piece in the background is from "TRANSformation," the previous series.

[Check out more in my Art Opening photoset on Flickr.]

ART: Patrick Williams Reception at Monkeyhouse Toys

Monkeyhouse Toys: Patrick Williams Art Opening

Here's a clip of me chatting with artist Patrick Williams at the opening of his solo show, "On Polymer Seas," at Monkeyhouse Toys in Silver Lake. "The work looks at the plastic divide between humans and the world at large..."


Monkeyhouse Toys: Patrick Williams Art Opening Monkeyhouse Toys: Patrick Williams Art Opening

Above are some examples of his work, acrylic on stuffed cotton and on canvas. Check out the rest of my Monkeyhouse photos.

Rundown: Campy Bollywood Videos, Sitayana, Bombaby, and a Travelogue

My friend Paul sent me two campy Bollywood videos featuring an actor named Chiranjeevi.

  • The first is a highly choreographed tractor fight. Yes... tractor fight! And how exactly does this guy get the tractor to jump with no ramp? Not sure...
  • The second is a huge production number. It's like Xanadu meets Busby Berkeley meets Xtina.


Completely unrelated to this, a development exec friend asked about ideas for an animated series with a Bollywood flavor to it. Two projects I've seen come to mind:

The first is "The Sitayana" or "Sita Sings the Blues" an animated feature Nina Paley is working on. The art is just gorgeous! Check out the trailer, clips and stills on her website.

It's the classic Hindu legend of the Ramayana from the point of view of Sita, the heroine or the epic.

The other twist is that she sings Annette Hanshaw blues songs, which makes for an unusual and highly effective juxtaposition of styles.

The other project I thought of is "Bombaby: The Screen Goddess," a comic mini-series by Antony Mazzotta. From the website:

"Sangeeta Mukherjee is the daughter of well-to-do, traditional parents, dealing with a bratty little sister and a possible arranged marriage when an out-of body experience reveals that she is not an ordinary young woman. Sangeeta is, in fact, the reincarnation of India's ancient protector, the Goddess of Mumbai. But how will Sangeeta use this new-found power?"

The character design and overall aesthetic are spectacular, and Mazzotta nails the look and feel of 1960s Bollywood!

While I'm at it, let me mention that my pal Stephen has taken a year off to travel through Southeast Asia and is keeping a richly detailed blog about his adventures.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

ART: Gay Erotic Zine & Comix Convention at Antebellum

at the Gay Erotic Zine & Comic Convention

This Saturday I hung out with Rick Castro and friends at the first ever Gay Erotic Zine & Comix Convention at Antebellum Gallery. Chatted with Kim Kinakin and Sean Platter. Trevor Wayne dropped by. Great fun!


at the Gay Erotic Zine & Comic Convention at the Gay Erotic Zine & Comic Convention
at the Gay Erotic Zine & Comic Convention at the Gay Erotic Zine & Comic Convention

Sean in a hottie sandwich with Trevor and Aram. Brian checks out some of Dronio's artwork. Some of the Zines on display. Me and Brian.

You can view all my photos from the event here.

Friday, June 22, 2007

NEWS: Mensa Girl, Walmart Shuns Gays

A two-year-old girl from Hampshire has become the youngest ever female member of British Mensa.

"Psychologist Joan Freeman, who tested Georgia, said she thought the toddler could have scored even higher but needed a nap after 45 minutes of work."
Wal-Mart shuns gay groups. World's largest retailer stops donating to gay-rights organizations.
"Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has decided to curb its support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) organizations after conservative Christian groups threatened a boycott, and after some of its own employees expressed disapproval.The move comes a year after Wal-Mart (Charts, Fortune 500) had put on a gay-friendly smile."

The About Town Rundown 6/22/07

This weekend Rick Castro's Antebellum Gallery is having it's first ever Gay Erotic Zine & Comix Convention, featuring artwork, prints and comix from Glen Hanson, Patrick Fillion, Justin Hall, Mark Padilla, Sean Platter, John Blackburn, Drubskin and many more! It's from 1 to 7pm on Saturday June 23.

Echo Curio, The Echo Park Curiosity Shop and Art Gallery, is kicking off its tri-annual Group Art Show tonight at 8pm and having a Food/Art Potluck Sunday "Drunch" this Sunday at 3pm. "Make art, Bring art, Eat art!"

"REALization: Leaf Relief Landscapes" opens at SB LONDON gallery Saturday, June 23, from 6 to 10pm.

"S B London is a showroom of industrial art, exhibiting TECHNOcraft objects which inform, inspire, and relieve. Simple yet complex forms are created by studying, controlling, and abstracting nature's microscopic geometry. ...The process makes a practice of finding commonalities between seemingly disparate elements by exposing hidden information and information that is not commonly seen."

I went to their last show, "TRANSformation: Nature Decoded," and each exhibit builds upon the last one. It's absolutely fascinating and inspiring and I invite you to check it out.

Cast your vote at Lambda Legal's "Life Without Fair Courts" political cartoon contest. There's some awesome, thought-provoking work here, with commentary from a celebrity panel of judges including my pals Phil Jimenez and awesome DC Comics editor Joan Hilty.

Designer Slash Model: A funny take on a design firm comprised entirely of the beautiful people.

The Boyzillian? The GlobeAndMail.com's Patrick White waxes poetic on Manscaping.

What's on the tube:

  • Parody: Microsoft's "Big Ass Desk" Surface
  • Flying Hamsters (Looks like some ad exec has been playing online games.)
  • Bunny buggers cat!
  • VH1 Fit Club trainer loses it on Screech.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

The 1980s - Joanie's Retro Party and a Video

You can see the rest of the pictures in this set here.

The '80s Party at Joanie's The '80s Party at Joanie's

Joanie had a Retro 1980s party at her place for some friends. Here she is rocking some Like A Virgin style.

The '80s Party at Joanie's The '80s Party at Joanie's

I wore Z. Cavaricci pants. Remember those! My look was something like Urkel meets Prince. You can see the rest of the pictures in this set here.

Being in a retro mood, I just re-watched "Making Love Out of Nothing at All," and it has got to be the most awesomely bad video from the 1980s!


It is almost a parody of everything I remember about the music videos that came out of that decade: the clothes, the hair, the bad acting, the cheesy special effects, the melodrama and meta-theatricality. And to top it all off... they throw in a fog machine and lasers in the end. Watch if you dare!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Sketch: Dancing at Akbar

Sketch: Lumi, Rod & Terrie at Akbar

Went dancing with Lumi, Rod & Terrie at Akbar. Did a little sketching based on it later. Mainly just wanted to loosen up and have a fun with lots of lines.

See photos from this night here.

Silver Lake Scene: Birds, Gas Mask, Piano Bars and Dancing

Can I just say how much I love living in Silver Lake! Some photos from a regular Saturday afternoon/evening tooling around my neighborhood with friends.

At Rebekah's Art Show
Our co-worker Rebekah had an art show at her place. This painting had a real live bird in it. Is this cruel?

At El Siete Mares At The Other Side
Paul got a great deal a gas mask at Eastside Mercantile which is going out of business. Later that night I went to hear Sonji Kimmons perform at The Other Side piano bar.

On Edgecliffe At Akbar
Up near Bekah's place we came across this awesome vintage cadillac. I caught this moment between Rod and Lumi dancing at Akbar.

See all the photos from this set here.

Monday, June 18, 2007

ART: John Pham Art Opening at Secret Headquarters

John Pham reception at Secret Headquarters

This past weekend I went to the John Pham opening at Secret Headquarters. I hadn't met John before, but it turned out I knew some friends of his who were there. I got a copy of John's new book "Sublife," soon to be released by Fantagraphics. Love it! Above is a short clip of a wild installation piece John did and a photograph of me with the man himself.


John Pham reception at Secret Headquarters John Pham reception at Secret Headquarters
Lots of people showed up and the event was a big success. Here's a picture of the crowd of Pham-fans and two pieces of his work.

John Pham reception at Secret Headquarters John Pham reception at Secret Headquarters
SHQ owners David and David always through a fantastic shin-dig. Here I am having some tequila with one of the Davids. And there's my pal Daniel with the other David, and actor McCaleb Burnett.

You can take a look at the photo-set of all the other pictures from the event
here.

Friday, June 15, 2007

The About Town Rundown - 6/15/07

Tonight I'll be going to the John Pham art opening at The Secret Headquarters. Pham's work will be on display through July 15th.

John Pham is a Xeric Foundation grant winner who is best known for his Manga meets Indy styled Epoxy comic book anthology. Epoxy has been featured in XLR8R and Publishers Weekly and was named "the Best Comic of 2003" by THE FACE (U.K.).
As long as the gays help with chores, let 'em marry! From NY Times, "Bid to Ban Gay Marriage Fails in Massachusetts" -
One woman had “asked me to put it on the ballot for a vote, but since then a lovely couple moved in,” [Senator Gale] Candaras said. “She said, ‘They help me with my lawn, and if there can’t be marriage in Massachusetts, they’ll leave and they can’t help me with my lawn.’ ”
A little too attached to his clothes? Judge suing D.C. dry cleaner chokes up in court while recalling lost trousers: "A judge had to leave the courtroom with tears running down his face Tuesday after recalling the lost pair of trousers that led to his $54 million US lawsuit against a dry cleaner."

Batman's new costume revealed! But Dlisted asks the important question: "Where is the package?"

The controversy over whether or not George Bush's watch was stolen in Albania never seemed to be completely resolved. Some footage indicates it was stolen. Other footage indicates it wasn't. You decide.

On the tube:
  • Admit it you do have a crush on Obama
  • Some clips I shot at LA Gay Pride '07. Mmmm...country dancing!
  • An iPhone fan vid from ViralMedium.
  • Cute guys gets back at telemarketer with Judge Judy Soundboard


Tuesday, June 12, 2007

LA Gay Pride '07 Pictures

LA Pride '07 LA Pride '07
This year the grand marshal was former professional basketball player, Jon Amaechi, an author, activist, philanthropist and all-around cool guy! He is founder of the Amaechi Basketball Centre, "an initiative to enthuse youth and their communities."

LA Pride '07
I was moved by the members of PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays). They were carrying signs that said: "God Blesses Us With A Gay Kid." How awesome!

LA Pride '07 LA Pride '07
Of course there were the requisite hotties! Here on the Micky's fire truck. I spotted my friend Zu with The Life Group's contingent. He's in the blue tights walking beside the float.

LA Pride '07 LA Pride '07
LA Pride '07 LA Pride '07
And I ran into tons of friends including Eddie Hibbs (aka Sister Erotica), amazing artist Miguel Angel Reyes, model/myspace-celeb Daniel Miagany, and writer Chuck Kim who is working on "Heroes" these days.

It was a colorful day to say the least! To see all the pictures and who else was there, visit my LA Pride '07 flickr set, or just view the slide show:


Go to this photoset to see who's who!