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I've left this page as disheveled as it was when I initially set it up. I at first had only two one hour sessions at the library to tell my story set up ads etc. and left things pretty rough.
DAY 0
I havn't slept at all since I woke up at 7am yesterday but I am ok and most is going to planned. Will be much better tomorrow. Sold a sketch at the airport walked into town.
DAY 1I spent yesterday walking. I walked from the airport into town then off to the gym I where I was to transfer my membership. It was another 3 or 4 miles further. The gym was not, and never was where the website listed it. Some of you mentioned you didn't really think there was a Bally's in Austin- you were right. Really dumb of me not to double check despite their link. Rick, the manager at the gym that was there (Pinacle)was kind enough to let me have a shower, very nice guy. I still haven't slept for but a few hours but I've acquired art supplies, a pocket knife some food, some sweat pants a backpack a few other things. Other good news is the free web access at the library by which I am writing this now. Gotta go, my computer time is limited.If anybody here in Austin wants to trade art for a shower, toothbrush, baking soda, food etc. feel free to contact me (info on the left)Cheers,R
DAY 2Met a lot of interesting people so far including the self admitted schizophrenic Patrick who read me a poem in the park after I let him paint his jeans with my newly gotten acrylics. I was there visiting a fountain as to cope with my non gym membership. Finally got a little sleep, I walked out to place called Barton Springs and found a field to lie in for a few hours. Then walked back to town and had a catnap on a bench. A sleeping bag would be great right about now. I felt refreshed this morning but starting to feel weary as I write this. Earlier last night I traded a sketch for a (Lonestar) beer at a place called the Tiniest Bar in Texas. The Bartender, Doug was a real nice guy and offered a lot of good feedback. I am probably going back there tonight. He even said he'd allow me to perform there- that was quick Ha Ha. Bye and bye, I think I saw Eddie Vedder at Whole Foods this morning.Gotta go sketch for lunch
DAY 3
I'll blog later because I used up my hour at the library doing other stuff.....
Ok, I am back. Got a good 6 hours of sleep over the last 24 and I feel revitalized. Looks kinda rainy today so I don't know what the hell I'll do tonight.
Wait....the sun's coming out just as I was writing that.
I am about 3 quarters done with my first painting and will try to sell or trade it soon. If I can get 50 or 60 I can probably hook up the youth hostel.
Met another homeless guy name John and we drew in the park together. Mine was a pigeon his was the park itself. He lacked any hint of accuracy whatsoever (and to a lesser extent as did I) but enjoyed himself tremendously as could be noticed by the guttural rumblings as he sketched. He then decided it needed a skateboard ramp and like a god, let it be upon the page. Art is a great elixer against powerlessness. Once done the conversation turned to food. I told him I had oats and his eyes lit up so I gave him some. He ate them dry and cherished each grain as if they were buttered ambrosia.
Anyway, wish me luck on the sale, I think I'll go have some oats myself- with hot water, cream, honey and cinnamon generously provided by the Whole Foods "coffee bar". Not a bad way to live for two days on two dollars.
DAY 4-6
MON. OCT 13
I sold something on Saturday to a really cool couple (Leia and Albert) from 4 hours outta town. He'd at first traded me a flashlight and "Ambre" Cologne for a sketch then came back for what I was still working on.
They were such a positive and beautiful pair- I will not forget em. I then had my first tex-mex meal with my documentary guy Steve. It was a taco and queso dip with chips from a couple of mobile kitchens in a parking lot and it was the best friggin thing I ate in my life! That night I finally slept in a real bed. It was a Hostel just outta town. Some one had been snoring all night in my room but I hardly noticed. Chris, the young man from Kent England stated in his charming brit accent that he'd been in favor of hitting the guy with something large and hard. I said it probably wouldn't of work unless it killed him. He was still in favor of it.
On Sunday I watched football at the Tiniest Bar in Texas and Drew the Stage for one of Doug's famous Bloody Marys. It was great- lots of needed vegetables. Probably shouda got it virgin as not eating very much and a bartender you know don't go too good together.
On Sunday night I stayed with Maria and Hannah whom had seen my art for necessities posting on craigslist. They were both very nice and spiritually uplifted folks. I am in the process of creating their Artwork in a frame we got from goodwill yesterday and I'll post the results when done.
Later on Monday I took the bus back downtown. I'd been offered a grab-bag of art supplies from Lisa the manager of Asel art store and wanted to get those quick before she changed her mind. I gave her a sketch and commented that it was kinda spooky. She said that was okay Halloween and all.
Slept back on the volleyball court sand last night but it was nice this time. Not only did I have a sleeping bag, but it was very warm. Woke to a military unit doing push-ups to a drill Sargent's shouts a little to the left of where I slept.
DAY 7
For some reason I knew that yesterday was going to be a challenge- I just woke up feeling that way and my feelings were justified. The first thing that happened was my paints were taken while I was washing my brushes in the creek. I came up the stairs to find a very friendly heavy set women (Zebra) sitting on the bus bench I'd been sitting at alone for 6 hours. She informed me that she was part of a homeless Artist community and her boyfriend (John) had taken my acrylics back to "camp". My mistake for not watching em and they said they'd drop em off at the Tiniest bar in Texas later on- still hasn't happened as of this morning. Fortunately I still have the other set I'd first bartered for so I can keep working.
Then it started to rain- and rain hard. The periodic breaks however, made it possible to travel where I wanted to go throughout the day.
Then I phoned Maria to firm up our plans for tonight's dinner and a place to stay for a few while I work on the large framed masonite we'd gotten at Goodwill and she told me that her ex-husband was dying and she and her daughter Hannah were on route to Little Rock to say their goodbyes. She said she'd get in touch when she got back and I wished her and Hannah all the best.
At least I had my sleeping bag right? Wrong- I'd hidden it in the woods behind the stage at Tiniest bar for what I thought would be just enough time to find Doug and see if it would be ok to put on their side of the fence. Well, I found Doug, he said it was cool but when I went back for the bag and my coat which I'd wrapped in plastic it was gone. The good news is the coat was still there.
As it was raining very hard I stayed at the bar and made "a sketch for a beer or two"
more soon.....
DAY 8-9
I left off sketching for a beer or two at the Tiniest Bar. The owner wanted a variation of Daniel Jhonston "HI HOW ARE YOU" frog thingy and that's what I did. It now hangs proudly on one of the doors of the TV cabinet.
I stuck around sketching, thinking and drinking my Lonestar and that's when I met Amy, Scout and Daniel (from left to right).
I traded Amy-who is a graphic designer, a sketch for use of the gym in her condo unit. But I might not go as there is not a shower and I am not eating enough for weights right now. either. Scout, who was a 16 year old leaner, I traded a pats and scratches for a few sniffs and licks. Daniel, I did not trade with.
After watching the debates last night I slept on an assortment of park tables and bus benches. I'll tell you now, walking in 59 degrees is a lot warmer than sleeping in it. If you ever go homeless bring cloth a plenty. I'd determined to hit the streets hard the next morn and that's what I did. Steve faithfully in tow and I hit several breakfast places trying to trade art project for food. It seems kinda like everyone needs board approval for things so we didn't
have too much luck. I did score some fresh OJ and various baked goodies from a coffee stand called Emerald City Press for doing up their blackboard. I forgot to take photos but Steve got everything on tape.
DAY 10
Found a place to stay with a couple of nice fellows just east of town. Gave em the painting I'd been working on the past few days and they were quite happy. Tomorrow I am doing Maker Faire (check it out). Don't know exactly what my part will be but I have a door I ripped off a piece of furniture in the trash. Suggesting maybe: art from found objects- very spiritual ha, ha, kinda like manure becoming fresh vegetables. I've gotten a lot of requests for past days entries, so for now I am posting them in the link at the bottom. It's just text now but I'll try to catch up and do a better job with it soon. I know I should have set out with blogging tools that would keep the archive automatically but I did't know how to use google pages for that purpose. If someone does feel free to tell me because I don't really have time to study with the little computer time I have.
DAY 11 Stayed two nights with my new friends Guillermo and Kallel and they were gracious hosts. I gave them the painting on construction materials I'd been working on. It was a real good trade as it was pretty cold the last few days.On Saturday I did this Make Faire event and it was cool. The organizers didn't quite know what to do with me so after my chaperon ran off to take a phone call I just sat down in a shady spot outside the main pavilion and painted my own sign.For a sketch, Guillermo had let me bring his new work along so folks could see a finished piece. A few folks even wanted to buy it, alas. I stayed there for several hours answering questions and working on the door I'd torn off the garbage furniture and had quite a pleasant time. I subsisted on "cliff bar" samples which fall into my category of acceptable "anonymous freebies". After a while I made the acquaintance of a very nice young women, Jet. She said she was into (innocent) mushrooms so I drew her one for a chicken wrap.After a while we decided to walk around bit and saw all kind of cool stuff not the least was this watermelon launcher that sent the thing what looked like a quarter-mile.
I'll sum up quick:
got a ride and a blanket from Jet for this sketch,
And got three nights stay with Ruba and Ben for the painting I'd made that day.
Though Ben liked it sideways.
And I thought this photo of Ruba's hair out back in the light was cool.
DAY 12
Toured the city a bit with my current host and got pretty far on a painting I'll finish tomorrow but otherwise an uneventful day.
For those of you who've inquired, I've intentionally been keeping things on this blog pretty wholesome because, well it's more universally acceptable. Furthermore it's kinda been fun to be this innocent wanderer.
The other day I did find a small bag of weed on the ground. Not really into drugs of any kind these days even caffeine. Asked Steve the camera guy who trails me sometimes if he wanted it and he said no. I didn't want to just throw it away but I didn't want to forget about it and have it fall out while I was in some super straight laced home such that they'd think I'd be corrupting their kids or such. Later while I was doing the blackboard of a coffee stand for baked goods a police car pulled in following an unfortunate moving violator. I decided I'd hand over the malicious contraband to the peace keeper so I walked up and waited patiently door-side while he processed his immediate object. After a while he said in a deep and friendly draw "what can I help you with?". I said "here, I found this bag of weed". He took the bag from me, examined it for a moment and said "well what do you want me to do with it?" handing it back. Then me, "I dunno, I just didn't want to carry it around any more". He then exclaimed "don't even look like weed". I said "yup it is though". Finally he relented and stopped trying to give it back to me. "alright thanks man" he said sorta chuckling.
Then it was back to the blackboards.
So far this has been my one and only interaction with the police on the streets of Austin.
Knock on wood
Day 13
Woke up made some calls checked my messages interviewed by Marsha did drawing for host Carol-
went to fresh spring pool lots of ants ate a few times finished painting-
made a few calls got tired did blog went to bed.
Day 14
WED, OCT. 22 (two weeks!)
Said goodbye to my latest host Carol and moved on down the road. This was a case where my first impression of someone was happily very wrong. She had insisted that I swab down with vinegar and wear only clothes provided by her before I could even be in her apartment as she had such sensitivity to manufactured scent that it would cause her to vomit. I assumed profound hypochondria and a person who would be traumatized by the sting of a gentle breeze. This was not the case. Carol was an upbeat creative all around good soul who made me feel welcome and a total asset to her life. In the end she became very enthusiastic about my work and plans on having me do much more.
Spent much of the day being interviewed at Magnolia (the only place near me I knew that everyone knows) and twice traded meals for drawings. What was left after that was spent painting. Perhaps just bravado but I feel I am the busiest unemployed homeless person in the universe.
My Maker Faire contacts are really working out as that has landed my latest temp locale.
Oh, if you think my art is starting to look kinda repetitive I'll just say, there is a reason for that, I'll get into when I have more time.
Day 15-16
Fri. OCT 24
Today is kinda slow so at the risk of coming off self important I'll say a few words about the art.
Yeah, what the hell.
CONTEXTUAL MASTICATION
Bluntly, It is meant to be symbolic of the coalescing effect of the total energy in the universe.
All the cultures of earth (now and that have ever been) are para-physical versions of other natural phenomena. Our flesh and most assuredly our brains are substance of nature. The more energetic substances, i.e. the areas of space containing the most energy are the ones allowing the most interplay between contexts. One can physically observe from visible channels that a chimps brain tissue per given space allows for more contextual interplay than that of a mouse. Thus a true score of energy is just as much about it's hypothetical options as its content of particles. For logical illustration, just as it was shocking that all at once unfolding the energy of a stone gave us an atomic explosion, if we could do the same with a flea the explosion would be trillions of times more profound.
So...from stones to proteins to fleas to chimps to us there is a coalescing of energy with great energy capacities being folded into finer and finer compartments.
My Art is an instant survey of this action. Since there are only human symbols available to me toward describing vantage points, that is what I use. In fact the symbols of all the world and all of time are fair game. Boundaries are set as follows. I set natural force in a modern form void of specific context other than that it is modern and relays a general feel i.e. lion like as the superstructure. This represents the here and now. Then I place very prominently, objects that are symbols but so absolutely universal that they belong to no one (the sun, moon as eye). This represents the then and everywhere. In the small compartments go the subjectivities-the renaissance tiles, the Japanese crests, Hawaiian Tapa etc.
Contexts accessing contexts within a given space dancing around and through hubs of shared contexts. Not quite Jung's neighborhood but same town.
And sometimes I tell stories with them.
The symbols I mean.
Did this one for Anneke and her roomies. Nice place.
And thanks for dinner Sarah.
Day 17
Working on a large peacock and did a bunch of sketches. More tomorrow . Might be switching to blog form soon. Stay tuned.
Day 20
Not much to tell, did the peacock for a nice couple from Delhi who asked for something Indian in yellow and red. Started with a henna pattern but changed some things along the way. Its gotten down to the 30s at night so I'm glad I am indoors. Found an all night coffee place just in case anyway. And now I have a little money I don't have to just sit there like at Whole Foods. I am getting a bit antsy for a new challenge so I am thinking about something cool and different to throw into the mix.
The visuals here are great
Day 22
Another 3 days another painting. Not a lot of food in this guys fridge in fact not any but a real cool dood to hang out with. I know my updates have been spotty. I dont really have time to figure out how to put a blog window on this site until I stay with someone with the combo of a quality computer and internet service they are willing to share. It just hasn't happend yet. Gotta go find some protein and veggies. See ya soon.
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