Bakshi's "Cool World"

It's the film everyone loves to ridicule, But I've always really loved "Cool World", Bakshi's foray into big time Hollywood. There's some really great stuff in there! The climax of the film is when Holly pulls out the "Spike" from on top of a building in Vegas. I've posted it here in high quality, it's probably the best animation of the film. It reminds me of a punk cartoony version of Bald Mountain. This supports the overall feel of the world Bakshi is portraying, a dark and comical world of chaos and out of control cartoon antics.

Influence: Gustav Vigeland

A friend of mine from England turned me onto Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943) about three years ago. I was already pretty deep into the idea of constructing larger forms from individual figures(something I saw during my time in Indonesia), but this influence really set me on my present course. I don't have a strong desire to work in sculpture, but I think that the solid drawing principles that I admire have a sculptural quality. It's all about weight, and Gustav is a prime example. Ironically, the monolith configuration he has constructed are totally impossible to perform in reality, but his representation of the action makes it believable. When you're seeking to create the bizarre, it's effective to construct things in a believable way. The most strange things are best to illustrate within reality, otherwise you risk venturing into that fantasy world, and inevitably lose grounding and meaning.

The Day After an Opening.

Nobody warned me about the depression that occurs the days after a gallery opening. The show went well, very packed, I'd say well over 300 people at one point, perhaps more (Ironically more than attend my animation screenings). There's several articles about it, one from Creativity Magazine that I especially liked. Now, it's back to work on the film, as well as a few commercials I've been neglecting. Beautiful fall day here in New York City.

No break though.. Screening of "Puppet" tonight at VisionFest here in Tribeca. I attended a party last night and got to meet Heather Graham (it took all my energy to resist calling her "roller girl"). I'll be at the screening, so if anyone can make it, please say hi.

Public Art/Gallery show

This is a "Drink" inspired street installation that was put up last evening, we put up an undisclosed number of these, and I'm fairly certain it will be the last time. I'm getting too old for this kind of guerrilla art stuff. Also pictured, two of the over 25 paintings that will be shown. These are 48"x72" Acrylic on Canvas. The show at CVZ Contemporary Gallery will be up from September 18 through October 16. For more information, please contact the gallery 212-625-0408.

On This Horrible Day.

Every generation has their time markers. An event that everything is defined as either before or after. For many, it's world war II, or for some it's when the Dodgers left Brooklyn. For us, now, it will forever be 911. That horrible day when we witnessed islamic terrorists destroy two of the worlds largest buildings, taking thousands of people with them. We all lost something that day, but gained a valuable perspective, and a renewed vigor to live life to it's fullest, in the memory of those who were killed. I hope everyone is good, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart.