Tonight, With Grapefruit and Tarot and Performance Art

Everybody's gotta learn somehow! Jovino's practicing on grapefruit (and people). Look at this lovely work: Pincushion Heart on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

< -- It's also the day we celebrate Spalding's birthday.

FREAKY FRIDAY

IT'S FREAKY FRIDAY TIME, IT'S FREAKY FRIDAY TIME, IT'S FREAKY FRIDAY TIME, IT'S FREAKY FRIDAY TIME.

TIME: 7:00

Do you know the way?

Life on the Lake

I'm really grateful that somehow the Lake Merritt project has happened -- landscaping, new walks, trees, a manhole/tunnel, traffic meridians -- as it's clear that the Oakland city budget is maxxed out, and so many departments and agencies are hurting. Because I'm so thankful, and because I like my neighborhood so much, I'm working on adopting an island. http://www.oaklandpw.com/Page4.aspx?q=adopt+a+spot

I hope they let me do something fun with it as long as I promise not to create an eyesore or hazard I have all kinds of landscaping ideas actually mostly an elephant made out of succulents.

In a Magical Place Called Oakland

A woman
is
up
on the roof
and
reckless.





What's your stupid idea?

In a Magical Place Called Westport

A man builds a whale and throws out handfuls of dreams into the salty air.


What's your Roadside Distraction?

Sunsets are for Gurlz, (c) 2009, Carlos Amigos

Nothing to See Here: Saturday, August 15th

This is to advise you that nothing is happening here this Saturday, August 15th.

There is no "art" to be seen. There is no "reticent panda preserve" to enjoy. The Gallery is Not Open and You are not at all invited. GO AWAY.

We'll be making waffles, but you can't have them.
Smoothies will be prepared (ask for a boost!) but not for you.

This art is total crap and at $10 - $40 way outta your price range.

The neighborhood (Grand Lake) is dangerous and people are mean. There's no Farmer's Market that you need to go to anyway and if you did the produce is all gross right now. Absolutely nothing is in season.

The place is a shithole and nobody cares.

Carlos Amigos: Welcome to My Evil Thoughts
Now playing at The Sometime Gallery

Carlos was totally uninspired by the turnout for the dinner a few weeks back and hasn't done fuck-all since. I don't know what he does with his time.

Saturday, August 15th
10:00 - 1:00 or I ask you to leave

See the art and sit a spell. Please don't bring anyone because they'll hate it too. Your donations for waffles n' smoothies go to help the Westport Whale Project become a reality.

WOULD IT KILL YOU TO COUGH UP A BUCK FOR A MAN AND HIS WHALE?

The Sometime Gallery
(an alt space for art in the grandlake portmanteau)
Oakland
up the driveway; look for a sign

Spaghetti and Dreams for Sale: July 31

Do you believe in whales?
Do you believe in dreams?
Do you believe in spaghetti?

Most importantly, do you believe the world needs another ROADSIDE ATTRACTION?

OF COURSE YOU DO.

Come enjoy a spaghetti feed for the benefit of my dear friend, the darling of the Alameda Marina and Westport California, the one, the only: CARLOS AMIGOS and the Westport Whale.

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

YOU come and enjoy spaghetti, wine, salad, bread, spumoni, in the newly renovated Sometime Gardens and Reticent Panda Preserve.
YOU have another opportunity to purchase an inspirational work by Carlos Amigos (old favorites; new pieces) and view the latest installation in the still under wraps Sometime Gallery.

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2009
7:00 Whaletails
8:00 Dinner
$15 payable that evening or via paypal.

Proceeds to benefit the Westport Whale.

PLEASE do RSVP by Wednesday, July 29, so we may purchase accordingly.

THE SOMETIME GALLERY
Oakland CA 94610
The little gray cottage at the top of the drive

Bring a friend! Tell a friend.
Thank you for your support and friendship.

A MAN, A PLAN: CARLOS AMIGOS!

Dear Friends and many Enemies!

MY EVIL THOUGHTS!

A fund raiser for the Westport Whale sponsored by my Pal and Visionary Extraordinare... Polly Harrold!

Proprietor of the Sometime Gallery

This Emotionally Charged show was made just for YOU!

Dedicated to all the Lovers and Haters of Carlos Amigos!

Its the usual highly personal text related work with a few suprises for the Outspoken, Dreamers, Romantics, Sugarless Lovers, Hooker Waitresses, Sexy Swabs, Twisted Sista's, Michael Jackson Fans, Broken Hearts, Star Chasers, Teenage Whores, Adventurers of the World and Swank Bastards like ME!

-

Are you Down to be Open?

I'll show you Mine if you show me Yours.

Let Go!

Jump In!

There's Beauty in the Breakdown!

-

Details coming soon

$15 donation Demanded!

July 31st PMish!

Making attic larger by painting it high gloss white.

pollygon Making attic larger by painting it high gloss white. http://twitgoo.com/d0d0

whee!

spooky coconut man

Posted via Pixelpipe.

The Road is Open Again!

There's a new day in view
There is gold in the blue
There is hope in hearts of men.
All the world's on the way, to a sunnier day,
Cause the road is open again.
There's a note of repair
There's a song in the air
It's the music of busy men,
Every plow in the land, meets a happier hand
Cause the road is open again.
There's an Eagle blue
In the White House, too,
On the shoulders of our President there.
With a lusty call, telling one and all,
Brother, do your share!
There's a new day in view,
There is gold in the blue,
There is hope in the hearts of men,
From the plain to the hill,
From the farm to the mill,
All the road is open, again.

Song written for The Road is Open Again, circa 1933, for this short film by Warner Brothers for the NRA -- that's National Recovery Administration, folks. It was one of several films I saw on a visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico in October. The historic 1931 Lensic theatre hosted an evening of The New Deal on Film. The entire audience sang along. Just before the election, it was uncannily stirring, a real "we're all in this together" moment. The road is open, again.

A Soup the Color of Bougainvillea

I made this soup tonight for Tina B., while we caught up from way too-many months. Tina will have an installation in the upcoming March show.

Beet, Barley, and Black Bean Soup

Do you like beets? Holy cow! This hearty soup turns a crazy brilliant fuchsia from the beets and smells like hot steamy yummy beety dirt. I like that in a soup. I use black caviar lentils, but you could bean it however you like. Soup is vegan if you want it. If I have red wine, I throw that in. Can't hurt.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried tarragon
Black pepper
8 cups water (or beef or vegetable broth)
4 medium size beets, cubed
3/4 cup pearl barley
1/4 cup tamari
15 oz Black caviar lentils, or black beans
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Dill or sour cream or plain yogurt for garnish

In a stockpot over medium heat, sauté the onion in the olive oil until translucent (about 5 minutes). Add the garlic, tarragon, and pepper; sauté another minute. Add 8 cups of liquid what-you-got. Add the beets, barley, and tamari, cover, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the beans and simmer for another 10 - 15 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the barley is tender. Add the balsamic vinegar and fresh dill. Garnish with sour cream or yogurt.

I've Been Making Soup

This was a particularly tasty Carrot with Cumin soup cooked up at Molly's house in her big orange pot. Molly likes orange. That evening, we also tested the Twitter Emergency Broadcast System when Molly pulled out a UFO from one of the fresh oysters we'd procurred that evening. Whutever it was, perched on the end of her sharp oyster knife, it stretched out translucent legs and wriggled them. We gasped. We got goosebumps. We threw the rest into the compost. We'd already eaten several. Even now, we shudder to think of it.

But anyway, here's the soup recipe!

Crème de Carottes au Cumin

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup heavy cream (or soy milk)
Raisins
Salt

I really like cumin and carrots and this soup is pretty. I add the raisins at the end, and drop a few on top.

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, for five minutes. Add the garlic and cumin and cook, not letting the carrots and garlic brown, for three minutes. Add the orange juice and 1 quart cold water, increase the heat to high, and heat to a boil. Lower the heat and cook at a simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes, adding water as needed.

Transfer to a blender or food processor and puree until completely smooth. Be careful. Just do a little at a time, or let it cool, or you'll have hot bright orange soup everywhere.

Return the soup to the saucepan and set over medium heat. Stir in the cream and cook, beating with a whisk, until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add raisins if you like; season to taste with salt. Deelish.

Carlos Amigos' Christmas Cards Were Unusual this year

The day before Christmas, I awoke to find that the reclusive Artist Carlos Amigos had left a newly finished piece on the doorstep.

EVERYTHING MUST GO: Saturday, August 16

It's a yard sale, but we don't have a yard any more because the owners paved it over. It's a garage sale, except we don't have those either. It's a tag sale, but we might just use masking tape, or make everything one dollar. It's a rummage sale, but this stuff too FINE to be just "rummage."

It's, it's...EVERYTHING MUST GO
Polly and Camron Purge: and you win
Saturday, August 16, 10 - 4:00ish
4701 San Leandro Street, Oakland
Donuts, BBQ, Beer, and stuff for cheap or for the takin'

Come early, come often, but please, come and take some of this stuff off our hands.

Includes:

• high style chrome and glass 1970s 42" square coffee table
• chrome and glass desk
• 1950s diner-style 8ft table
• kitchen odds and ends
• home decor
  
• fabulous costumes/daywear
• chest-sized wicker hamper
• very old picture frame
  
• IKEA Billy bookshelf (free!)
  
• funny little left-leaning side table
  
• IKEA Robin dresser
• IKEA FLEGM wardrobe
  
• random books, year+ of Believer mags
  
• mirror

...and who knows what Camron's got up in there.

The Gallery is Open: Sunday, June 15

Dogtown Track
Beth Grundvig
44" x 56"
Pastel on paper, mounted between plexiglass.
$1250












WELCOME TO MY EVIL EMPIRE: Pastels, Photographs, and Signs
New works by Beth Grundvig, Daniel Dienelt, and Kyle Siler

Closing Party/Open Studio:
Sunday, June 15
1:00 - 5:00

Come see the works in this space in the air. As I sit here today, I am struck by how much the artworks in this exhibition relate to the built environment around me -- even as the pieces reflect the artists' reactions to their own.

Beth Grundvig: large-scale Oak-land-scapes in pastel
Daniel Danielt: Photo based encaustics
Kyle Siler: Installation in my kitchen (from $20, OBO, will swap for dirtbike parts)

LAST CHANCE TO HIT THE SOMETIME GALLERY THIS MONTH! Come enjoy a little civilized soiree. Visit sunny East Oakland for some super-fine art, Sunday Times, home-made strawberry shortcake, tea, champagne. My own works-in-progress will be display as well.

If you purchased a piece, consider dropping by -- art will be available to take home.
Or maybe you've had your eye on something?

NOTE: The Gallery will remain open in teeny-tiny form and the pieces will be for sale online through the end of June. www.thesometimegallery.com

Deaf Thuggery

Visit Daniel Danielt's website, Deaf Thuggery for candid snaps.

look here. the word deaf. means
muthafucker can not hear a sound
externally. don't forget to write! I can
hear writings.

Shown:
Midwestern Hello, Midwestern Goodbye; Morning Drive, Evening Drive. All: Mixed Media on Board, 12" x 12"; $225

Visit the 420 Gallery, While You're At It

Kyle Siler's work is also on display at Jingletown's 420 Gallery, open during East Bay Open Studios.

420 Gallery - 420 Peterson - Oakland CA 94601
June 7 and 8th and 14th and 15th from 11am to 6pm
Kyle Says:
BUY ALL OF THIS SHIT SO YOUR WALLS DONT LOOK SO STUPID
"This Gallery KICKS ASS! There are lots of great artists in this gallery with me. MINE is the BEST. And this is your chance to buy something of mine before I”m FAMOUS. I dont want to be Famous but its in my destiny and I’m not going to fight it. It’d be cool if you’d buy something and I made enough money to buy oil for my dirtbike. There hasnt been any gang related shootings in the neighborhood for quite sometime now which creates a much cheerier atmosphere for everyone. But if there is a shooting we will provide free beer and tell jokes. There is NO BATHROOM!"

Open This Weekend: June 7th and 8th

The Gallery is Open all weekend and serving grilled cheese (after I finish my chores). I could have everything ready by the time I open, but it's more doing that fun with you here. On Sunday, there will be brunch. Gallery hours: 12:oo - 5:00.

Shown: Works from Kyle Siler's installation in my kitchen. From $20, each, OBO. Will swap for dirtbike parts.

Spalding Makes Meme Status

I can haz donuts? We're so proud. Spalding also took photos at last week's reception for the artists. A little shaky, but nice composition. Next time, I'll wear the camera on my neck.