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NOTES FROM MARCH & APRIL

With the dawn of Spring, lots of great little events happened that made a little mark on the fabric of existence.  Without diving into too much detail, here's a compilation of little stories that added the exclamation marks and dramatic pauses that added a extra spring in my step:
 
AUSTIN FIGURATIVE PROJECT
After twenty Austin painters got together to put on a live painting demonstration at the Austin Fine Arts Festival, the results of that show will open to the public on Saturday, April 28 from 7-11 at the new AFP Studio/Gallery on the East Side.  It's located at 3rd and Chicon, and should be filled with some of the finest figurative work you've seen. 
There's more info on David Ohlerking's website.

 
A NEW AGE
Expect a full dispatch of the splendor that is raining down upon Central Texas these days real soon.  In my studio and life, it's nothing but busy, busy, busy in the fullest sense of the Bokonon thinking. With coincidences, deja vu and a foolishly sublime synchronicity in full effect, I've got everything I can handle on a slew of new projects, lots of happy thoughts, and endless possibilities for a multitude of paintings, projects and chance events that could keep me busy, busy, busy till I'm 65. 
 
AMOA ANNOUNCES NEW HEAD OF ACQUISITIONS
The Austin Museum of Art is proud to announce the Museum's Finance and Operations Director Nathan Sheppard is the new Head of Acquisitions.  Recently charged with burglary and evading arrest for attempting to steal two paintings from the Museum's recent Fine Arts Festival, Nathan should make excellent decisions that will steer the museum's vision and collection in inspiring ways for all Austinites.  It's great to know so many people are willing to go so far in Austin to support the arts!!!
 
SCHLIEFKE MEANS 'TEACHING EXCELLENCE'
Just a couple months removed from my sister's trip with other educators to the Brazilian rainforest, I just received news my younger teaching sibling was one of thirty teachers across the country to receive the
prestigious Award for Science Teaching Excellence.  Now he'll be flying to Hawaii this summer to chaperone geology students on their quest for scientific knowledge. 

PS - There is no word on whether or not grape juice can actually keep geese away, but I will do my best to get to the bottom of things.
 
NOISY BITS
Continuing in on linking to various videos throughout the web, here's a cantankerous little ditty with a few truths and an oddly infectious electronica groove.  It's Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip.  Listen to it now before it gets everywhere...
(a little bit of thanks to Dirty Snowflake)
 
ANOTHER LOST CLASSIC
Everyone passes along video clips these days with reckless abandon, but I've never come across a music video quite like this one.  This video combines my love of go-go dancers with some sardonic, negative and barbed commentary on the direction folks tread in life.  So, without further ado, here's Brook Benton, singing, "Mother Nature, Father Time"
(thanks to my recently relocated friend Shannon for finding this)
 
ART CLASS, WITHOUT THE CLASS
After missing the first few sessions, I finally made it out to Beerland for the drawing class of drawing classes - Dr. Sketchy's.  In no way did this figure modeling session remind me of art school - the models were hot, drinks flowed liberally, and a steady stream of Tom Waits resonated over the jovial atmosphere.  The girls from Broken Clock Cabaret flirted on stage, performed a naughty little striptease through ten one minute poses, and I made a couple of drawings I can be proud of.  The next session is April 21, so if you like to draw and have a good time, check it out!
 
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
After months of being held together by duct, electrical and painter's tapes, a generous helping of industrial strength rubber glue, and a lot of luck, my cell phone committed suicide by diving out of my hands and falling down the stairs from my room. I visited a used phone dealer the next day and picked up an old school, camera-less one color display model with orange buttons. It seemed perfect - and it works well. It wasn't until I had gotten home that the ultimate surprise unveiled itself to me. Its previous owner had downloaded one ringtone, which happened to be one of my favorite songs of the 80's: 99 Luftballoons.
THE LATEST STORIES...

VOLUME TWO: PRESALE
buy the second Really White Vigilante today!
VOLUME TWO: THE REALLY WHITE VIGILANTE
an in depth look at the next book in the series
BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN
the long awaited return to my painting studio
NORTH(EAST)ERN EXPOSURE
my two month sabbatical in the North
UPDATED ART SECTION
a new list of art related stories over the years
UPDATED PORTFOLIO SECTION
cleaner format to look at available art
AUSTIN CRITICS' TABLE AWARDS
a surprise nomination, win, and a speech or two
IRON MAN AND MY IGNORANCE
my trouble with Hollywood continues
A TRIP TO KANSAS CITY
Thanksgiving with friends and the cold

MY COMIC BOOK SIDE PROJECT:
TALES OF THE REALLY WHITE VIGILANTE
the satiric tale of one young man's attempts to stop the gentrification of East Austin by becoming a superhero in a Mexican wrestling mask.

Volumes One and Two of this four part story are now available.
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GALLERY

see the complete gallery here

 

ONGOING AND UPCOMING SHOWS

2008
COMING SOON
Tales of the Really White Vigilante, Volume 2

our intrepid hero battles hipsters,
music festivals and his own demons
NOVEMBER
Solo Show
A show of new work
DECEMBER
Blue Genie Art Bazaar
creative gifts for the Holiday Season

 

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