Restaurants are Culture

I'm a bartender. I've worked in restaurants for quite a while now. Over the years i've noticed things that set restaurant work apart from the other various jobs i've had. One is there is a different language. No matter what restaurant you're in the is probably a hispanic person working there. Ponciano is a friend of mine that works in the restaurant with me. I can't understand a word of his English so i insist he that he speaks spanish to me. On the other hand he can't understand my Spanish so he has me speak english to him. I call it kitchen spanish. If an outsider walked into our conversation he or she wouldn't understand a sentence but we are very clear on what one might need from the other.

Food is a Culture on it's own. To me there are only two things that need to be present to indentify a culture as it's own. Unique art and a common language. Restaurants satisfy both.

Youtube Art

Tool's "Prison Sex" was banned from Mtv and radio because of its graphic depiction of child abuse. I think that the small broken doll in the video represents the abused child. It's legeshave been removed so it can't get away. The big dark figure represents the abusing parent. The child tries to climb to its legs in order to run away but the parent catches it before it can get very far. The child then feigns sleep in hopes the parent will leave it alone. This is a very disturbing picture being painted, but it is a point that needs to be raised. Just because it is ugly doesn't mean that it should be ignored.

Right Brian or Left Brain?

Is the Dancer spinning clockwise or counter-clockwise? Clockwise? You're using the right side of your brain. The opposite for counter-clockwise.

Human Behavior

"Once you're locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as it will go.

-Hunter Thompson

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas
Ralph Steadman had a close relationship with Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. These are pictures he drew for Thompson's books.

It's human nature that once you're locked into a serious collection of any kind to push it as far as you can. Think about it. people seriously collect: cars clothes jewelry guns shoes handbags and most of all MONEY!

Socrates and Human Nature

Socrates was asked questions all the way to the end. In this painting Socrates is just about to drink the hemlock that will poison him and carry out his death sentence. The people around him are all terribly upset about Socrates demise. Socrates argues that death is just another part of life and only a short span of the eternity that the mind knows and the body does not. It is human nature to question the unknown and step boldly into it when necessary. Socrates is about to take one for the Philosophical Team.

"All we are is dust in the wind"

-Bill S. Preston Esquire

Graffiti, Pure Art.

I think Graffiti is art in it's purest form. What else do you call it when you pick up a can of paint and express yourself on a blank Space?

Art and Film: The Boondocks

Aaron McGruder, imagined the Boondocks as a comic strip. You've probably seen it in the sunday paper. He now draws and writes it as a cartoon show aired on Adult Swim. It is one of my favorite shows. He tackles nearly every racial issue one can think of. The back stories center around 2 black children and their grand father. Granddad retires and moves to the suburbs (a predominately white community) away from the big city
Boondocks - 01 - The Garden Party

Qamar | MySpace Video

I Know What Art Is! It's Ween, and the Roses Aren't Free

Roses are Free by Ween

BatBen | MySpace Video

When it comes to Ween there is no way for any one person to come up with the same idea that another does when it comes to their music and music videos. The Roses are Free is a song that to me is about not taking things for granted. when the music is paired with the video there is a part when it looks like jesus is being comically hoisted to up on to the cross. I think this represents that the christian belief is funny because so many people believe it just because they are told to, they take for granted their own thoughts and ideas.

Short Brush Strokes? Art Education is Awesome

My friend Seth brought his daughter, Leyna, to my house the other day for a game of Dungeons and Dragons. As they were about to leave Leyna asked my if I liked Van Gogh. A bit puzzled at the randomness of her question I replied "sure, why do you ask". She pointed to a picture of Van Gogh's " Starry Night". I was impressed that she brought up the art and the artist on her own. Furthermore, her next question was "what do you like most about Van Gogh?" I told her that it was cool that he cut his ear off in the name of love she told me she favored the short brush strokes that he used. I didn't even know about his brush strokes.

Leyna is 8. I've never really discussed art with anyone, let alone with an eight year old girl. I asked her where she learned about Van Gogh and she said her art teacher taught her. When When I was eight my art class had nothing to do with informing me about art or artists. We just finger painted. I'm glad to hear that Art Education has come this far.