Post date: Jul 5, 2011 5:18:02 PM
It has been a while a while since most of you have heard from me. As you know, I moved to Las Vegas 3 years ago. I thought it would be a good idea to enjoy the house and pool in my later years and not have to be confronted with all the social issues in Los Angeles. Also, I had always had plenty of work to do for others, if I wanted, when I came up here for longer periods of time. I really love the heat in the desert and my body doesn't ache from how I lived life to the fullest when younger. Unfortunately, employment and the economy has not been kind to me. Actual unemployment, in Las Vegas, is about 20-25%. Wages are about 50% below normal pay, when you can find work. In the past year, I have only worked for 3 weeks, for my nephew in Kansas, one week painting a friend's rental property, and when lucky, a few days a month with a landscape contractor friend. That helps pay for some cigarettes and coffee. Thank God I get a little money from the U.S. government from Social Security and now have Medicare for minimal health care needs. Most Obama politicos, make it sound like you are getting something for free, but I paid money for Social Security most of my life and still pay monthly for my Medicare. I have sent out many job applications for work in Las Vegas, but have only heard from 2 companies in 3 years. I also travel to Los Angeles when work is available down there. I laugh, because many of the people who worked for me down there, regularly call me to see if I have any work for them up here. I have always tried to be positive in bad and hard times, but you wonder if it will ever get better.
With all the extra time, I have wanted to start doing my art again. It has always been something to relieve my frustrations and let me sleep at night. It is also much less expensive than going to see a psychiatrist. Because of the limited financial budget, I kept putting it off. I finally decided to sell some extra tools, clothing and other items in order to get my creative mind back to work. It has taken some of the negative depression away and people don't run away when the see me coming down the street. Now they find items in their garages or homes, which they believe can benefit my creative juices and not see me explode like an atomic bomb.
As an artist, you like to share your work and see the reactions from others. As I said, art materials are cheaper than going to a psychiatrist. Have completed a few new pieces and am working on a few more. What I am anticipating doing is sending photographs of these creations to all of you and hopefully, not only get your views and opinions, but expand your consciousness and minds. If you don't want to receive my weekly updates, simply send me an email saying "not of interest". I will understand and take you off of my inheritance, birthday, Christmas, funeral and elite guests lists. More important, don't think I'll let you stay in my home, swim in my pool, use the steam room, cook those special meals or give you the greatest tour if you come to Las Vegas in the future.
This first piece is one I did after my work trip to Kansas. You can go back, but never home again, and that was apparent to me in Tonganoxie, Kansas, about 25 mile from Kansas City, the place of my birth. I went to complete a front porch and a basement apartment at my nephew's residence in the rolling rural hills. Not only was it cold, but it rained almost every day. Work was slow because of the weather. Everyone knows how I will never quit smoking. As the rain came down, Josip Josip and Franjo, their brave protector dogs, joined me on the front porch and we discussed the chores of the day in English, Spanish, Croation and Dog Latin. We all did our best to keep warm and stay dry and bring smiles to one anothers faces. However, there was another negative group out there. THE CHICKENS. My nephew was building them a new home and fence. Until it was completed, we were at their mercy. They got up early in the morning and stayed up late. They were the demons from hell. At that time, they also had 12 chicks in the garage that would be future enemies. They woke me up in the morning, were always in the way when trying to complete work, daily laying eggs in pots, plants and shrubs, destroying everything. They wanted and were going to have their way, come hell or high water. I have patience and determination, but these creatures were not going to let me have my way or say. I wanted to prepare a few meals for my nephew and his wife, but I didn't want them to know that they all included CHICKEN. The only thing more intelligent than a turkey or a chicken is a dead fish floating on the Gulf of Mexico.
Upon returning to Las Vegas, I tried to get back into a daily routine. I watched the news and world reports. I just wanted to be informed of what was going on in the world. However, no matter which news station was on, all the commentators sounded just like the CHICKENS. Nothing made any sense. They had their own agenda and could care less if you wanted to listen, All they wanted to do, was to be in control of the farm. They would put out their ------ and you were suppose to agree with them. In trying to come up with a new piece of art and get rid of the CHICKENS from my mind, this was the first piece of art. It is titled "The Talking Heads". You will do what they want you to do, and if you do not, they will make your life miserable. Those of you abroad will understand government control.
I do not watch the news or world reports and refuse to eat or CHICKEN or have breakfast with eggs. I can't sleep without having nightmares, thinking about those little demons.
My later pieces of art are about getting older, I will be 66 in a few days. However in my mind, I will always be younger than most. Again, if not interested, let me know. But remember, like the Chickens, I can be a powerful force.
Hope all is well and I will be hearing from you.
John Michael
(To see photos of the above art piece "The Talking Heads", go to https://sites.google.com/site/jmdodigartphotos )