I am working on a new series of paintings of demolition derby cars. For some reason I am obsessed with collecting photo of crashed cars. Someone asked me about it because they thought it seemed morbid. It's not the accident part that appeals to me, I don't like the idea of anyone being in pain. To me the attraction is the car itself, an icon of American ingenuity, strength, freedom, and masculinity and showing that it is vulnerable and fragile. I steered away from using cars that were in accidents and towards the white trash, dumb fun of cars in demolition derbies.

I love this cartoon, the bat used to scare me to death as a kid. I want his job.

I finished my smaller version of my painting 'Skinned' for the 6 by 6 show next month. Pardon the damn dust on the scan.

"I think there's nothing like one on one, direct communication. The Internet does not provide that and the more people use it, the more they are being used by it. The more they are being sucked into the void. You can pretend anything and be nothing. And that's the opposite of the way I try and live my life. First of all, I don't want to pretend anything, and I want everything to be as real as possible. To me, I hate to use the word conspiracy, but it's a conspiracy to keep people locked safely in the cubicles, or in their bedroom, and off the streets where they can be protesting and causing trouble. I love to read books, that's a different story. Go read a book, get off the fucking Internet. Or better yet, go write a fucking book." - Lydia Lunch

I went to Art Around the Park at Tompkins Square Park and I was a little disappointed. Not a huge turnout of artists and a lot of mediocre pieces. Kids, just becuase you have a weekend to kill and a few sharpies doesn't make you an artist. Anyone can scribble 'fuck the government' on a canvas. Artwise, I like almost everything but I can't stand lazy. At one point I ducked into the park to hang with some friends and caught the tail end of someone doing a heinous Patti Smith impersonation on the stage. The whole thing didn't leave me inspired at all, in fact, if this turnout is indicative of what's left of any type of art scene in New York I'm going to slash my wrists now. Or get my passport and start checking out what's going on in Brooklyn.

I was, however, inspired by the news of a new gallery opening up on 13th Street between A and B next month called Six by Six Gallery. The gallery is a spin-off of a yearly event called "The Tiny Art Show" thrown at their sister space, Charmingwall, in which they ask their artists to create original pieces in a 6"x6" format. SxS had a table set up in the park where you could buy a 6"x6" canvas for $20 that you can paint and if it's returned to the gallery by September 15th, it will be in their opening show. Jan and I each bought one. Looking forward to seeing an inclusive art gallery in the East Village, especially since Diamonds & Oranges and Jigsaw closed years ago. 

Using this much needed thee day weekend to clear my head, make lists for projects I am working on, do a lot of drawing, work on vision boards, and focus on my goals for the fall. And of course sneak in some retail therapy. Is that all?

I went to Stick, Stone & Bone on Christopher Street yesterday to get some Dragon's Blood candles which, once I got there, remembered that in the past I had bought them at Pearl River and not ST&B. Candle selection was slim so I bought some Dragon's Blood incense and a beautiful piece of Fluorite.

Fluorite has the ability to influence the activities that occur on the mental plane of consciousness and amplifies, focuses, expands and creates new pathways for the mind. Mental healers also credit Fluorite with connecting a person's being on the mental and spiritual plane. This allows it to increase abilities of concentration, discernment of truth and clear decision-making. Other properties include bringing order to mental chaos, increasing objectivity, enhancing creativity, curing mental disorders, easing meditation and freeing one from bad habits.  

Though primarily recognized as a mental healer, crystal healers also consider Fluorite a good physical healer, protecting one from infection by purification of the body, cleansing the spirit and eliminating almost any virus or bacteria. It is also believed that it alleviates arthritis, rheumatism, and spinal injuries. A thorough explanation of the benefits of Fluorite can be read at Mind Body Spirit Direct.

After SS&B, I headed of to East West Living on 5th Avenue in search of  candles only to find they also had scarce pickings. Bought a piece of Obsidian.

Obsidian is said to sharpen both external and internal vision. It provides a shield against negativity, transforming negative vibrations within an environment. Carrying or wearing Black Obsidian dispels negative and unloving thoughts that arise within oneself or are directed towards ones physical form. It is useful in healing, providing clarity. For some crystal healers, Black Obsidian is the warrior of truth, and shows the self where the ego is at, and what we must change in order to advance to the next step of evolutionary growth. Black Obsidian induces creativity in all endeavors.

On the way home I stopped into Aedes de Venustas and fell in LOVE with this opulent fragrance. I won't even try to describe it after reading a review on their site by HintMag.com:

"Perfume reviewers try to outdo each another with poetic lists of a fragrance's nuances and contradictions. But every once in a while a perfume saunters up and whispers, "Just go for it. Be pretentious. Bewilder people." That's exactly what West Village perfume den Aedes de Venusta's collaboration with L'Artisan did, so here we go. Mostly good-natured, with a touch of sorcery and hypnotism, its initial whiff is not unlike a medieval air freshener. As it smoothes its feathers, it becomes a leather-bound fairy tale of enchanted woods and mysterious sweets baking in epic ovens. Smelling at once totally modern and like an ancient formula, the scent radiates light on its shadows and mixes its own metaphors. And if that description sounds elusive, it's because the perfume is, too. $185 exclusively at Aedes de Venustas."

Worth every cent though I feel I need a whole new wardrobe to be worthy of wearing it.

Back to gemstones and candles. I know I can buy most of this stuff online but it seems so impersonal to do so. Plus I'd rather support local businesses because I have this fairy tale notion that perhaps NYC won't turn into one big strip mall. 

Since I have a snowball's chance in hell of finding the Converse Poorman's Weapon I would kill for, literally, I decided to pop over to Converse and see what they had going on over there. On the Converse website you can design your own sneakers so...that's what I did. I chose the All Star Hi Dble Upper Canvas and did an all-black color scheme. Their website is well designed and incredibly easy to use, even on the 10-inch Acer. The whole process from start to checkout took me about 15 minutes and with tax/shipping my order was only $82, ($20 cheaper than the John Varvatos laceless Converse I was looking for). In 3-4 weeks I'll be the proud owner of...



Sadly there were no more pictures of Julian Casablancas skulking around.

I just found these on Sneaker Freaker but of course they are scarce by now. I have to hunt down a pair in a 9.5. Seriously.

Inspired by the classic military bomber jacket, this Poorman's Weapon was designed by LA's Undefeated crew. What seems like a simply nice black nylon shoe is loaded with top gun details including a removable Velcro Converse chevron, signature 'War is Big Business' embroidered patch and a manila inventory card. This is a great example of creating a themed story round a shoe that is neither corny nor unwearable and both parties should be well pleased with such a maverick result! Exclusively at Undefeated in January and at www.undftd.com