November blur

November went by as a blur, and not just because my birthday is in that month. I took a trip downstate in my newly repaired van. Originally, I planned to go to NYC, but didn't get past Kingston, NY; and the Catskills. My friend Philip Lekki is working in a gallery there called "Seven 21 Gallery" (from the address, of course). It's relatively new, but filled with incredibly talented, capable people. I definitely want to stay in touch with them. I feel a tug, as when that internal voice drones, the one that's always correct. I think it will be a good network. I made some strong connections.

I came back to Buffalo, played a gig, and woke up sick the next day. It lasted 2 weeks, but I managed to build a couple walls in the front gallery. Not the kind that separates, but the kind which distills, as the knife of a good editor. It made a medium sized space smaller, but more intimate and cozy, in a way. Also, it's much cleaner visually, which is important in the art of presenting art. The added bonus? I also have a big room to use as a studio, and it's perfect for winter heating. I made three walls in all, one of which is movable.

Philip is an old friend, you might say a mentor. We are separated by almost 15 years, but have never felt a difference in age. I have learned a lot from him, and vice versa; about art, but also about life in general. When we speak, we often have epiphanies. Sometimes they're pretty absurd. Sometimes they seem absurd because they're so obvious, like great comedy. Some people have insights in the bathroom. For me, it's usually while laughing, or walking, or both.

That got me into trouble as a child. I was often being chastised for being humorous at inappropriate times. You know, desk out in the hall, detention, things like that But, that's what kids do, that's how they figure out what's appropriate (hopefully). To me, life was always funny, in an absurd way. Then I discovered tragedy. I read "Bury My heart at Wounded Knee". I was clearly too young. For a while, life wasn't funny anymore. Then a funny thing happened. Life became even more funny, because I understood why absurd things were absurd. Funny.

I hosted an exhibition for the "Jay/Jon Charity Show", in which the artists, Jonathan Rogers and Jay Carrier, gave away some signed, numbered prints of paintings they had collaborated on. It was a fun opening. In addition to new work, Jonathan brought his "Racing Death" series, and Jay brought a number of huge originals. We got a nice mention in Gusto, from Mary Kunz Goldman, in a story about what to do on Friday the 13th. She and her husband were here for the Jackie Jocko show (more about that later). Good people.