Thursday, July 30, 2009

"Nuevas Culturas" at El Zaguán, Santa Fe

Last Friday was the opening reception to my show "Nuevas Culturas." My first of hopefully many solo shows in Santa Fe. I was featuring mostly my woodblock prints and some new mixed media pieces. I printed and laminated these signs myself and it was fun.

Here is a shot of the fireplace wall with Hugo on the right and Vendiendo Manis on the left. Josie really helped me spice things up for the show by placing some candles and flowers throughout the space. I was getting excited at this point, the show was about to open.

Another shot of the space. I put the color pieces on one wall so they would really pop, everything else was black and white. They are chaotic mixed media pieces, and were the stars of the show to my surprise. The black table on the left had a massive sangria bowl on it. It was delicious.

People started coming in at around 5-ish. I was nervous at this point because Im not a talker. But it went OK, actually. I tried to be as charming and witty as possible. I thought of Ziggy Stardust when in moments of panic. Here I am answering some questions about Grant Park, about 5 sangrias deep.

Engaged im more conversation.

The action. Josie and Angie helped me with creating some fabulous hors d'oeuvres for the guests, strawberries with havarti cheese, caprese salad sandwiches, and my parents brought up some mini cachapas and Choroni salad from the café. We put all of it out on the big brown table in the middle of the room and it was devoured halfway into the show.

By 6pm it got really crowded and FatherFunk took some great shots from outside on the porch.

It was a really good turnout and I received nothing but positive feedback. It was truly a success and a smashing time. Thanks to everyone who came. And thanks to everyone who stayed after the show and bought pizzas and booze to party with me. We will be doing it all again soon.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Cardiff by the Sea, Pt. 3: The Birfday

Monday morning was July 6th, my bro's birfday. We woke up and saw the evidence of the magical wizard sticks posted against the wall. We also woke up to the smell of Father Funk's Cachapas cookin'.

Made fresh just for the birfday boy. You take one of these corn pancakes, fill them with queso fresco and butter, and fold them in half and watch the cheese melt. You can only get these in Venezuela, or at Café Choroní, plug.

Then it was time for the birfday boy to open his gifts. This card was custom made by my parents, it features a picture of my bro at age 6 busting open a smurf piñata.

He got a Dada poster.

And from yours truly, a Wayang, an Indonesian shadow puppet.

After the Cachapas and gift presentation, we took another walk in Encinitas. We came across this car dealer on our way to the burrito spot. Nice whips.

Los and Liz recomended we go to Juanitas for the bomb burritos. You could smell this joint from blocks away. That's how you know it's legit.

Father Funk, bringin' that New Mexico flava to South Cali, anxiously awaits his burrito. I mean, we get plenty of burritos in NM, but Cali burritos are something else.

We got those "California" burritos. They have french fries inside. Game over.

In order to digest the steak, bean, rice, sour cream, guacamole, french fry filled goodness, it was back to the beach.

Sigh.

Andy chillin' in the shade.

We all took quick showers and headed to Zenbu, my brother's favorite sushi spot for lunch.

This place was pimp. Great Sushi and 22oz. Sapporos. We ordered a bunch of stuff, Shrimp Tempura roll, Spicy Tuna roll, California roll, Spicy Scallop roll, Seaweed salad, and Ahi Tuna salad, to name a few.

After the food Liz ordered a round of Patron. I was impressed. Even Father Funk took one. Awesome intensity, Liz.

Happy bros.

There was a huge fish tank full of goodies that they would take out and cook straight out of the tank. After my shot I took it upon myself to follow the fishies.

This f'er was enormous.

After Zenbu, Father Funk and Mother Salsa went home to start cooking the special birfday dinner. The rest of us, Los, Liz, Andy and I went on a beer run when suddenly Liz suggests we do another shot of Patron. Again, awesome intensity, Liz. He headed to a familiar place, the Office.

And then this classic photo manifested itself.

Yup.

We had a nice buzz walking back to the crib. Father Funk was already hooking up the Corn, Black Bean, Avocado Salad with Cilantro dressing.

A traditional Venezuelan dish was being prepared, Pabellon Criollo. Carne Mechada, Black Beans, rice, and fried plantains.

Incredible. Andy was really enjoying this feast, it was his first time having Venezuelan. Again, the only place you can get this in the states is Café Choroní, plug. Los was totally happy having all this go down in one day. I think he was having an amazing 30th.

For desert, "Underground Cake," which consists of yellow cake covered and filled with dulce de leche, and Quesillo, which is like a carmelized flan. The meal was complete. Make a wish!

A happy brother with his wife surrounded by his family and good friend Andy. It was a memorable trip. It was a classic. Los, Andy and I stayed up and talked, made fun, and reminisced for a while until it was time to call it a wrap. What a weekend in Cardiff by the Sea. Been missing all of you for the past couple of days.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Cardiff by the Sea, Pt. 2: The Hangover

This is "Hollow-Ramone." Apparently, Andy pulled a hollow-man on this guy the night before. The Marine that looked like Matt Damon that I kept referring to as "Bourne Ultimatum" said, "That was the funniest thing I've seen in 5 years." He was a stand up guy, he bought us a round of Jack shots in exchange for an American Spirit. We took the Office by surprise. The next morning was rough.

Waking up Andy.

I woke up naked in my tent...wet. I had wet my tent. This happens every so often.

We decided to visit Encinitas which was the perfect hangover cure for me. I liked this town. It was like a vacation spot, but not really. I would imagine living here or in Cardiff would be really refreshing.

Father Funk and Brother Boogaloo. We walked into some shops and bought some stuff.

And then I spotted this authentic burger joint, Angelo's. A burger connoisseur like myself could not pass this one up.

Yup.

Next we went to Moonlight beach. It was perfect.

My view for the next couple of hours.

This is how they adverstise in Encinitas.

Met this little Bearded Dragon on his walk.

After the beach drained us enough, it was back to the crib for more BBQ. Another burger for me.

And some Korean Kalbi ribs. Unbelievable. My new favorite BBQ item.

After the mammal flesh rejuvenated us, it was time to build some wizard sticks. Long and full of magic.

Hollow-Wizard!!! Hollow-Hippo-Wizard! First time ever done.

Crispy. With drool, broken finger and all. Nice work, Andy.

The wizard sticks continued to grow for the remainder of the day and into the night.

Then it was back to the Office for more debauchery. Pt. 3: The Birfday, tomorrow.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Cardiff by the Sea, Pt. 1: The 4th

Last Friday night I drove down to Rio Rancho and saw this rainbow in front of me. I took at as an omen that happy times were coming that weekend. I was on my way to spend the night at my parent's house in order to be at the Sunport at 6am and catch a flight to San Diego. It was my brother's 30th birthday and I was so excited to see him, Liz, and my old friend Andy.

The morning was a blur, all I remember is waking up in the plane already having touched-down in SD. And here he is, the birthday boy in all his glory. It was so nice to see him, in his new house, just a walk from the beach, in beautiful Cardiff.

And then this guy. I was happy to see him, too.

It was time to build my tent, or as Andy and I referred to them, suites. It had been a minute since I had assembled a tent, but the suites were in place in no time.

Andy's suite on the right, and Enrique's sweet on the left.

It was really early and Los and Liz took us all to Pipes, an amazing breakfast spot. It was packed, right on the beach, "no shirt, no shoes, no problem."

The food was incredible. Father Funk got that burrito.

I messed with the sausage scramble, with a side of bacon, of course.

Afterward we needed to walk off the food. We walked to the beach and met this guy in costume.

The beach. We didn't stay because we had to start to BBQ and some of us were rounding 1st.

Back at home the coals were burnin'. Props on the old-school Mourning.

Yeah...

Mexican corn. Butter, Parm, and hot sauce.

Father Funk enjoying a cigar after the meal.

Andy had to get horizontal after the meal, I caught him slippin'.

After the food coma we all gathered at the table and continued to indulge. At one point, Los suddenly screamed out "Hut, Hut!" and took off running with a football in swing. This made Liz spew beer from her nose.

We were cracking up every minute.

When nightfall was upon us it was time for portraits.

We were listening to the "Going to Karate Class in the Ford Fairmont" mix and had to take a knee when Your Wildest Dreams, by The Moody Blues came on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP6-j9pxTGI It is the greatest mix ever. I will post it on my blog soon.

At this point I had cracked the Hendrick's Gin.

"Let's get some good-'ol beer drinking done."

After the mix which lasted over and hour it was time to go to "The Office," a local dive. We got a round of Shock Top, a local beer. Delicious.

Cheers to the birfday boy.

Yay!

Then I stumbled upon this in the men's bathroom. The rest of the night turned out the way it was supposed to, shots of Jack, mistaking a marine for the Bourne Ultimatum, Hollow-Ramone, and taking over the jukebox. I will go in to details of this in Pt. 2 of Cardiff by the Sea.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

"Nuevas Culturas" at El Zaguán, Santa Fe

Friday, July 10, 2009

Cardiff by the Sea, Pt. 3: The Birfday

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Cardiff by the Sea, Pt. 2: The Hangover

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Cardiff by the Sea, Pt. 1: The 4th

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