It started with an old photo taken by my father - a 95 year old Korean War Veteran, of me as a child sporting peace at the bow of a boat belonging to my grandfather, a legendary Norfolk policeman, known for his fearlessness and honesty, when corruption and poverty were widespread. While dad’s photo was already promoting peace as the cover photo of my “Peace begets Peace” FB Group started during the pandemic, this campaign continues a family legacy (both parents served in the military) of service. Thank you for your support and service.
norfolk
Letter to Bruce Springsteen Published /
#ClarenceClemons and I are from the same area - #Norfolk. The art I did in my hometown promoting #BornintheUSA as a display artist in which I painted a 6” x 6” reproduction of that hung on a #recordstore for thousands to see, earned me 2 platinumalbums, uncommon for a display artist to receive in #1984. One‘s a key piece in my #1980s Exhibit at ART’S UP Gallery , which starts with a memorial drawing I did in #1980 for Lennon from the #Beatles who inspired #Springsteen to pursue music. Norfolk is a very #patriotic region, boasting the largest #navy base in the world. Both parents served - dad is a #KoreanWarVet in his #90s. In my letter I requested that Bruce bring hisvguitar and strum a tune to bring the exhibit to life. Being Born in the USA, I dream big. #nfk #theboss #BruceSpringsteen #usa #military #NOB #supportthetroops #usnavy #usarmy #usairforce #seals #coastguard #oceana #cityofvirginiabeach #mayor #bobbydyer #tidewater #hamptonroads #patriotism #dreambig #americanflag #instagoid #yelp #norfolkva #eighties #artwork #fm99
Mysterious Vanished Portrait of "Witch of Pungo" Displayed at Norfolk Pretlow Library /
When the Original portrait of the “Witch of Pungo” vanished from a Witchduck printshop in 2017, it was a shock not only to me; the printshop’s staff, manager, and company headquarters were also shocked. They don’t lose originals and they affirmed that they “don’t throw originals away, even if a kid drawing.” I, myself had been using their attentive services for years, without any problems. Things got errier when, for my loss, I was awarded a check - it was dated the same day that the “Witch of Pungo” received her award (apparently, her only award in over a dozen cases). Come pose with the painting of the original vanished portrait, that is positioned in the front of the Norfolk Pretlow Library in Ocean View where I grew up blocks away and live again. I spent teenage years living on the river where Grace Sherwood was ducked in 1706. The story behind the portrait took on a life of its own when as I was working on the 4’ x 4’ painting - touching up the eye, my wife shouted out the back door to the garage, that my mother-in-law (her mother) just died. I quickly altered the vertical line from the left eye into a teardrop in memorial. Continuing a long string of connections, the funeral was up in Stafford, CT, just some 30-40 mules from where some of the first witch trials in colonial America occurred in Springfield, CT. My book sporting the portrait, “Curse of Witchduck,” published this year, has so many connections to real life events. The description written for the book, has all along been prophetic: “What began as an author’s light taker on his neighborhood’s famously dark past, unearthed eerie links to the present, climaxing with a tragedy way too close to home.” More connections are in the book. The curious portrait is a poignant expression of how art and writing merge with an artist’s/author’s real life.
6 months later and no followup from Cultural Center of Virginia Beach /
I lugged my 4' x 2' exhibition model through the streets of virginia beach and up the steps to the conference center of the Cultural Center, with framed work, portfolio, etc., to make the meeting on time, which I did. The meeting had already been pushed up to accommodate a city worker, who arrived late. After the meeting, I sent the additionally requested info promptly. But it has been over 6 months without any followup. So, I sent email today. "There's no place for your art," was the response. This to art created on the assembly line at the old Kempsville Building Materials on Witchduck Rd., where I got my start, when I drew inbetween assembling doors on the line at work, when I didn't have a studio, and was living on the street. The drawings would have special meaning on the walls of the homeless center being built on that spot, as an inspiration to the down and out that are going to be treated. The point was to show that despite the seemingly hopeless efforts - creating works on ripped paper to fit a small drawing surface with a finger dipped in company coffee - there is light at the end of the tunnel. One series of blue-wash drawings is of an architectural nature, providing a sense of home, when there was none - what relevance to the homeless center! The drawing style originated in this local factory has won national and international awards, while that is not in itself so amazing, holding onto something through (thick and...) thin, and the culminating symmetry of the journey's composition is. But, no matter how relevant, how academic, how cultural, it has to make it across their threshold of prejudices and ignorance.
My exhibition model filling the elevator @ Sandler Performing Arets Center's conference room at the Virginia Beach Cultural Center
Latest Comic Strip release /
Latest "Artchilles" Strip released 9-6-17. First Full "Duck Tape" Appearance of Partially Limblesss Elvis - in comic language, this would be a key issue. Also because it is 1st History Orign of Betty. Thirdly, the 2nd Local "landmark" - the Ocean View Pier, appears (in panel 2). The 1st local landmark was in issue #1 - my Pink Garage (see below).
Promoting Strip as Weekly Give-A-Way - Congrats to 1st Winner! /
Ironic that someone resembling Santa is the recipient of my first comic strip giveaway. Congrats to Barry G. from Franklin, VA.
Winner of Weekly Give-A-Way @ Cool and Eclectic @pembrokemall - Signed print of my 1st installment of my comic strip, "Artchilles," featuring the famous Beheaded Betty Boop, and Partially Limbless Elvis. Congrats to Barry G. of Franklin, VA. Please enter to win weekly signed strip.
Virginian-Pilot Story about Beheaded Betty and Broken Elvis is now Online /
Katherine Hefner, a reporter from the Virginian-Pilot created a cool article about the broken icons - Beheaded Betty and Broken Elvis, that live happily ever after in a Pink Garage. See the news link here
