So for the time being Cosmote has become DAMMED!

I’ve believed 2010 would be a very special and productive year for a long time. What I’m seeing is that this is very true— it’s just that the productivity and success isn’t playing out how I expected. Does it ever?

Please stay tuned. This DAM! will break, and when it does I think you’ll enjoy it.

I don’t know what you see, but when I pulled out this little cosmote my friend Floyd said, “Oooh, is that Avatar!?”. This one was mostly done long before I saw the movie. Actually, the main face that gave him that reaction was cut from an old notebook and other doodles were filled in around it. But I love to hear peoples reactions to what they see in the cosmotes; especially because it’s such a subconscious exercise for me.

What planet are you on?

This year’s professional journey took me from the daily job-hunt in my laptop outpost at Peet’s, to retrenching irrigation in my friend Anthony’s yard. As the State of California’s workforce crumbled before our eyes, the Secretary of State and her furlough rebellion found a need for me in their corporate filing unit. So I did that for 6 months. I now understand the beaurocratic, slow-moving, money-wasting nature that is state government. It’s no wonder we’re in trouble (‘nuf said).

Through it all I found myself employed by DOME, where I am now spending my days as their in-house Graphic Designer. I got to unfurl this hand-illustrated Christmas card for them this Holiday Season.

And I even received some thoughtful, creative treasures for Christmas, myself. R. Crumb’s Genesis, just released, 5 years in the making. Awesome!

and this…

…original print, invitation to the Peregryn, First Show. I can’t even begin to tell you the rarity and ancient historical significance of this little card; except that it is a Rick Griffin illustration from 1969. This was the line-up…

These gifts may have even topped last year’s frankincense and myrrh, on the specialness scale.

So… 2009? No complaints.

Happy New Year! 2010, Look Out!
Chaos Palsee!

Here’s a couple pieces of Cosmote that I swept up off the cutting room floor. There are some revelations appearing in the trims and corners of these Cosmote studies that are leading me into a new visual dimension. I’m not anticipating new scientific discoveries, but I’m excited to go down my own rabbit hole of visual language and come out with a wider vocabulary.

This man was not so fortunate…

This is Chun Migal. He’s one of my co-workers with ‘The State’. He’s facing lay-offs and, after 27 years of service, is realizing that his time may have been better spent doing graffiti (or something creative) (and edgy). His realization that sometimes hard times come too easy is only his own perspective. Others had to work very hard to create these hard times for Chun. Little does he know…

My meditation:
There is a wave that appears as the wave of our life. It is ingrained with much ebb and flow that appear to have a cohesion, and a tangible, reasonable consistency. Symmetry. But behind the wave is a deeper wave that takes even more prominence, but somehow is less honored as the true wave, because of its depth. Though the deeper wave is deeper, it is still very apparent to most and leads to a greater depth; one that is not seen, only hinted to.
There are seams running this way and that; affected by and influencing the collected chaos. The collective wave chaos creates one cohesive out of many varied. Take it or leave on the day of rest.

This little, curly-q, cursive-inspired ship just sailed its way from deep in the cosomotes; from a sketchbook several years old. I’ve always thought it would make a cool little logo. I’m sure I’ll use for something meaningful some day. For now it’s just a reminder that I’ve gotta keep sailing on through the ocean of life, casting my little messages-in-a-bottle into the sea of the internet from the bow of my desk. Enough metaphor for you? There’s plenty more where that came from.

When I studied English in school and the teachers always wanted me to dredge out the “symbolism” in great English literature, my dad would always say, “There’s nothing in there symbolizing anything. Their just writing a story.”

Well let me tell you, my restless little mind finds ways to drum up metaphor and symbolism in just about anything. Sometimes I’m afraid it’s a sickness. And I know others are doing a lot of symbolizing too. Maybe pops was just trying to be funny back then. Or maybe there’s more meaning to what he was saying. Hhmmmm.

This last weekend I tried my hand at organizing the, first ever, Artist’s Commune Weekend. Not that artist’s working, or even living together in a commune is a new idea, but I’ve had a vision for about 3 years to have artist’s and musicians come together and, basically, camp out over Memorial Day weekend. Everyone would bring their creative tools and other legal items that help conduct inspired creativity and just spend the weekend together encouraging each other to be productive. That’s the vision.

Due to late planning and the uncertainty of having people camped out at my small house for the duration of the weekend we decided to make it a Saturday only event. The unpredictable nature of the invited creative types made for two small sessions in my garage. One wave in the morning with Velasin on guitar and George doing some sweet pen and ink work. As we headed into the afternoon they decided to go explore other things. Just when I thought the Artist’s Commune Weekend would have to be resumed next year, wave 2 came in. Roy Uyeda, the master painter, and the very musical Molly seemed to appear out of nowhere which took the creativity into the evening.

Overall, I think the artist appreciated it and it was what it needed to be.

Going through some unposted Cosmote I found this packing traveler, and made a connection to the movie/story.

I think there’s a wandering, idealistic, adventurer, in every man. Don’t be afraid to realize it.