#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
virginia beach
My "Art's Up! Gallery" gets a boost from Front Page News, days before debut /
Just got the key to the space 10 days ago and rushed to get enough art up to welcome the press to a preview and interview with photographer on Wednesday 21. Story breaks online on the 24. And on 25th the Sunday newspapers sport the story as front page news. Very impressed with the way the press is able to create under crazy deadlines a work of art while telling a story.
Me and the latest incarnation of Beheaded Betty, the centerpiece of my debut exhibit at Art’s Up! Gallery at Pembroke Mall.
Homes created in Va Bch Factory Vibe with Location's new purpose 30 years later /
Without an art studio, a local Virginia Beach / Norfolk artist, threw together with scrap wood, a drawing board, at his work station, on the factory floor. In between assembling doors, he turned 180 degrees to draw. With a change in management, the drawing board was destroyed, and bundled drawings trashed. Of course he dived into the dumpster and saved them. And, after the dust settled, mounted a more discrete, smaller drawing board, ripping his paper - old company invoices - in half. The backside sported the classic KBM logo, builders, dates, other info, depending onwhat side was used. "Dream Homes" series has a special relevance and meaning to 104 Withduck Rd., now that it is a Homeless Center.
Over a year ago, artist proposed the idea of displaying some of them at the homeless center, but was rejected, by every local institution, submitted to. Despite their perfect fit for the center, despite the mayor of the time calling the story behind them "powerful," despite a museum away from his hometown, displaying the story unfolded in that factory, and despite the fast-paced drawing style begun there being selected for national and international awards, by leaders in the art world, like the Director of Harvard Art Museums, who selected works for the Outstanding Drawing Prize.
Artchilles is Back! /
Picking things back up with the journey of #KempsvilleBuildingMaterials #machineoperator chasing a dream. Posting a page at a time.
MOCA Virginia Again Rejects Proposal for Local Artist's Journey from KBM Factory to Harvard Square /
Once again MOCA Virginia rejects my 20 plus year art journey from the factory of KBM (Kempsville Building Materials) to Harvard Square. My work begun in the dusty and noisy factory developed into a unique drawing style spawned by the pressures of space and time while eking out drawings in between assembling doors on the line - oh, yes, this is the School of Hard Knocks. Even with the startling relevance of the drawings to the homeless center now being built on the old KBM site - I know what it was like living on the street and drawing in the factory with no studio - my hometown museum MOCA, still turns their noses up to this work of inspiration that could encourage the homeless more than the sterile beds of the new center. It was over 6 months that I proposed the work to the Cultural Center of Virginia Beach - they said their was no place for my art at the center - "Where we gonna put it - in the clinic?" I contacted the Cultural Center over 6 months after they said they would get right back when closer to choosing the artists for the year, and then was told they are booked up till 2020. Days after that, their affiliated museum MOCA, with whom they act as a liaison, and with whom they passed my thumb drives too, (around the same time I sent my rather detailed proposal).
Art of Witch Vanishes @ Office Max Printer near her Ducking /
I take my originals to Office Max and make prints of my comic strip. I then hold a drawing each week to pick a winner for the a signed print. But when I depicted the Witch of Pungo, the original mysteriously vanished at Office Max. The Operations Manager said they wouldn't throw away an original even if it was a kid's drawing. I asked the printer who printed some of my other strips, and he doesn't know where it went. Good 'ole witchcraft.
Panel 3 of 4 panel comic strip featuring Grace Sherwood, convicted Witch of VA.
Grace Sherwood's Spirit revived by Headless Betty off Witchduck Rd. /
Local Gang ducks Headless Betty off Witchduck Rd. (Va Bch), stirring up over 300 years of Grace Sherwood's anger. She was the last know person convicted of witchcraft in Virginia. Like her, Betty floated to the surface, endowed with the power of a witch.
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
