JEG

Veo Veo for Rodo

2010-07-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

Hello one and all. This is a short video of the recent group show put on by Cecile Perret. It consisted of about 10 artists, from all different ages and sizes. All in all, it was a small but interesting event. I for one, enjoyed it. I hope you do as well, Rodo.

un abrazo.

Diego el Cigala

2010-05-10T15:07:00.000-07:00

How long has it been? And why so long?

I regret I have not kept up with my blogging. And I suppose anyone who used to read this, if any, has stopped after weeks of not publishing anything. But, I am going to try to return to writing regulary.

Of course, too much has passed for me to fill it all in this one entry, so I will start with the most recent, and work backwards.

XZZX celebrated her 31st B Day recently, and to celebrate we went to see the amazing Flamenco singer Diego el Cigala http://www.elcigala.com/ whom performed here at the Gran Rex. It was costly, but well worth it. Attached is a video, not very good quality, so I recommend listening to someother song of his in someother site.

Well, we will see if I can keep this up.

Until next time.

R.I.P. Sandro, el Gitano de la America

2010-01-04T17:08:00.000-08:00

Due to current news coverage, about a month ago I was introduced to an Argentine singer named, Sandro, el Gitano de la America. And since then, at least once a day I you tube this video of him singing his most popular song, "Porque yo te amo." Its amazingly good, emotional, dark, creepy, and handsome. Today he passed away after complications from heart and lungs, perhaps, and basically full inner body transplant. Some argue that he is the Father of Argentine National Rock. Anywho, PLEASE check out this video, its hypnotic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vBqMx9CWIg

My Mes...

2009-10-07T17:07:00.001-07:00

And what a mess it is...
I mean, this month, I complete 29 years in this certain body, in this certain continent called America. This will be the third straight birthday which I will enjoy here in Argentina.
I was hoping that this month brings me some good luck, but so far, as of the first week, things seem to continue in the same fashion as the past 5 months, or so. Although, I can conclude they have become more interesting, and thats a sign of growth, no? Or, as with difficult matters, or with the solving of them, we grow, as a person, as complex problem solving minds and machines.
I cant yet say that with my added year, I have become more sure of myself, as in my identity. But I hear that happens more when someone is in thier mid 3os, so, I have a few more to figure it all out...ha... Which, I am narrowing it down, I feel. Or perhaps its through routine that one concludes certain personal truths.
You might imagine I can go on like this for a little longer, creating more vague and generally non interesting things to type about, myself, or the little bit of knowledge of life that I assume to understand. But, I wont...

Man, 29... Thats a lot of candles.

Tierre de Campeonas!!!

2009-09-15T22:07:00.000-07:00

As a news source, I generally check out BBC. That is when I am looking for news in english, which is different from the news I get when I check out sites in Spanish, such as TeleSur... ( http://telesurtv.net/noticias/secciones/nota/57728-NN/denuncian-que-eeuu-vende-75-del-armamento-mundial-a-mas-de-200-organizaciones-y-paises-desconocidos/ha, perfect timing. An article about how the US sells 75 percent of the worlds arms and weapons supplies, to over 200 different contries and organizations...

Thus, an interesting story I saw in BBC is how the US has made a robotic remote controlled car that can hop large fences and keep rolling. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8253807.stm It is unfortunate that science is often motivated by military support thus needs. It bothers me that the US continues to focus on armed conflicts as an attempt to solve or perhaps accept other countries and peoples local realities.

How much money does Uruguay spend on bullets a year? The President of Costa Rica is a Nobel Peace Prize winner!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Óscar_Arias_Sánchez

Central America 2011???...

Las Mazorcas, which I still dont know what that means

2009-09-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

Yeah, more underlining!!

Tuesdays are not known for there Art Openings. Niether am I. But I could be known for them, if I can keep up this rate of one show every two months, or less. I have a feeling things will now slow down as far as showings are concerned. Regardless, recently we celebrated my second solo show here in BsAs. This one was an improvement on the first one, but far from what I would like to accomplish, as far as just art shows are concerned. The place, a restuarant in San Telmo, Las Mazorcas, was way easier to work with, as far as hanging things on the walls, which there was twice as much, or more, large white wall space. Thus there was more motivation to do some larger stuff, newer, exciting... Like last time, the visitors were mainly just friends and thier friends, a very pleasant crowd to have around. Such as those in the picture. (left to right. Paco, Dario, Nando, Rodo, Oski, Capo, Chino, Cyn, and Yo) To name a few.

There are more photos to be seen here. http://picasaweb.google.com/justinogrant/OpeningAtLasMazorcas#

OverAlls

2009-09-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

In case you have forgotten, or never knew, I look handsome in homemade jean overalls, no?

Yesterday, was a important day, an Anniversary of an huge event which changed the world, drastically. I think I wrote about it last year. If you can guess what it is, you might win a high five...

Underlined for more importance.

2009-08-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

So, In a week and some change, I will have my second solo art show, just me and some paintings. Ive been working a bit big than normal. The main work is a new one, which wieghs in at 150cm by 160cm. For all you English using users, you can do the conversion yourselves. I will soon post pictures because its a strange one. Attached is a link to the digital invitation. Im not sure what I did, but this entry is all underlined, and Im too tired to try to figure it out.
TOMABASTAHIJODEMILPUTA

Enjoy...

J.O.B.

2009-08-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

Me "working."

Quote of the day

2009-08-25T05:57:00.000-07:00

I am one of the many people who recieve daily emails from Wikipedia with notes of history and arguementalble facts. I mainly read the quote of the day. And, todays I found to be interesting, so im passing it along.

Against boredom even gods struggle in vain.
--Friedrich Nietzsche

Maybe the attached watercolor is god being bored...

Maybe.

Personally, Im a little bored of the US military and big businesses interviening and causes problems for South American countries. I thought maybe Obama would be different, but I am afraid hes afraid to stand up against these big businesses. Anywho...

R.I.P. Tango IV

2009-08-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

Its been a busy busy month. Or, so I try to believe. Sometimes its hard to know if I am wasting time or not. I know I sleep more than before, but that i probably due to the cold weather, and a bedroom that doesnt have direct sunlight in the mornings.

I do however feel like ive been working alot, work as in trying to make cash. Well, sort of, I suppose as well one works to try to earn a name, some credit. Besides, it seems like I rest alot, which is good. Still, with all my resting I have been able to produce quite a bit over the last few months. One work I completed was something I started working on in Jan. and Feb. of 2008 when I had to put it aside until now. Kind of like a before and after.

I remember the day in the studio on Rodriguez Peña 80, when I was painting the accordian players head, the one upside down, inspired by a work of Chagall. And I remember not being satisfied with his face, struggling somewhat frustrated. I was alone in the studio until a few house later arrived a friend, and I cut off painting early to go to the plaza to hang with some friends. I remember feeling distant from them as well, uncomforatble, and quiet. I really just wanted to go home, to a familiar place, so I hopped on a bus and went home. After dinner my parents called me to tell mo that my older brother has passed away earlier that afternoon. With the time change from Lousiana to Buenos Aires, its probably that my time in the studio, frustrated, perhaps angry at the painting, coincides with the suffering of my brother. If emotions and sensations can jump boundries...

Its an oil painting, on particle board. 75cm by 120cm.

Caminos de La Vida

2009-07-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

For a while now I have been jamming this song, mainly through this link, a you tube link, accompanied by its sincere video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L9itEadUCE

For those that understand español will hopefully appreciate its heart and truth. And those who dont, should just take for granted its greatness, based on the hair and style of the two singers.

Mi Casa, Tu Casa, Una Casa

2009-07-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

UNA CASA

Cocina, comedor, baño, living, patio, dormitorio, cochera, balcón
Perro, gato, plantas, hijos

Auto, bici, computadora, lavarropas, televisión, muebles

Amor, familia, pareja, amigos, soledad

Serenidad, silencio, murmullo

Limpieza, cuentas, convivencia

Luz, agua, gas, Internet, cable

Verdulería, carnicería, ferretería, vecino, panadería, kiosco, farmacia

Llaves, fósforo, taza taza

Dónde está mi casa

MI CASA

En otro lado, esparcida entre un montón de cosas

Abstractas

De lo más concretas

Las únicas

Mas las que van a venir

TU CASA

Dentro tuyo

En tu cabeza

Al fondo, a la derecha

TU CASA / MI CASA / UNA CASA

Sala: Rodolfo ESPEJO / www.flickr.com/seniordiablo
Baño: Lucía GOMEZ / www.flickr.com/luciabrutta

Comedor: Justin Grant /www.justingrant.com.ar/

Cocina: Cécile PERRET / www.flickr.com/hilorojo

Dormitorio: Micaela PIÑEROwww.flickr.com/photos/intername

Instalación colectiva en espacio de arte UNA CASA.

Humberto Primo entre Perú y Bolívar / San Telmo

Inauguración sábado 1° de Agosto / 19 h.

Cierre domingo 23 de Agosto.

Flyer and text by Lucia.

Muestra Fértil, 15 de Julio, 20hrs.SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: stupid pig flu...

2009-07-02T14:07:00.000-07:00

Por lo pronto, and this one is real pronto, I would like to invite everyone to wonderful show, for a good cause. Along with approximately 30 different artists, I will be showing a work, then donating the work to the Asociación Civil Nuestra Buesqueda. http://www.nuestrabusqueda.com.ar/ For those that cant understand the website, the association has to do with fertility, and helping people who have problems in this field, and helping them economically and emotionally.
The show is set up where each artist does one work, 50 by 50 centimeters, based on the theme of fertility. Then the work is donated to the Association, which travels with the works, participating in other shows, and possible auctioning it for its gain. The show takes place in a wonderful building called Espacio Godoy, http://www.restaurantgodoy.com.ar/, which is in Palermo, on Paraguay 4905. There will be live music, along with fingerfoods and beverages. If you can make it, I highly recommend it.

This is an unfinished photo of the work I will be showing. Its an oil painting on a canvas I found one day in the dumpster. There is an underdrawing in pencil of a couple, which looks like a wedding photo, surrounded by pilars and flowers. The drawing isnt bad, but I suppose the person wasnt happy with it. They painted alittle bit of the background, but it was mostly white canvas. I found this before I was invited to participate in the show, and thought that I could connect the two ideas, marraige, in the classical sense, and fertility, although the theme is actually much deeper than man and woman. Ive been trying to keep some of the original drawing underneath, but you know how that oil paint just jumps from brushes to canvas without much warning. We will see how it ends up being born...

La Vida Dirá... amigitos..

2009-07-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

Dates come and go. So do raisins. As well as art shows and thier inagurations. As publicized, I had my first solo art show, in the restuarant thingamajigger La Vida Dirá. For an art show to be successful, it has to pass several different parts. There is the quality of the works, thier presentation, the amount of people, who the people are, money spent, money gained, dialoge about art, the particular art, or art in general, ... Amongst others. But, I imagine one of the most important is if those present enjoy themselves. And although I can honestly say that the show failed on some levels, and just scraped by on others, everyone there seemed to have alot of fun, and were productive as well.
I presented 7 works in all, 3 oil paintings, 2 small watercolors, and 2 small drawings. So, for starters, not much to see. Nor did the space give me much room to show things as well. I also created a small ballot box with mock candidates, myself included, for some sort of entertainment. Luckily, the invited took it upon themselves to create thier own candidates, and soon the box was filled with halarious drawings and remarks.
So, for a first time, Id say it went OK. And I look foward to them only getting better. Stay posted, because there will be more, much more.
For more photos, go to. http://picasaweb.google.com/justinogrant/Show#

The Campaign... is that spelled right?

2009-07-02T13:07:00.000-07:00

As we see in earlier posts, I ran for office. Although I dont think I won, I got more that 3 votes, which when compared to my 10th grade B team basketball record, is a complete success.

The campaign went as such. I printed out large posters of my fliers, and with my two assistants, went around the neighborhood pasting them to different surfaces, windows, poles, ect. Rather basic and simple.
For more photos, check out this link, http://picasaweb.google.com/justinogrant/Campaign# and dont forget about the video posted earlier.

Chacabuco a Matheu 336 depto. 1 A

2009-07-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

Jumping around time wise, I would like to regress two months, and quickly talk about my change of apartment, and its metamorphases. We left our humble beautiful super tiny apartment in Parque Chacabuco, overlooking the church Medalla Milagrosa and the adjacent expansive park which the barrio is named after. It was a wonderful and emotionally two years in that tiny place. I remember the first weeks of emptyness and simplicity, working, eating, sleeping, all on the ground. Typical jovenes, using doors for tables, xzzx one time experiment of heating water up with a wire and an electrical outlet, reasoning me by saying shes from the campo, which she isnt... I remember how the sun would daily burst through the balcony doors, and how one could watch its trajectory from 10am to 7pm, depending on the season, and many lazy days when I would just lay on the ground, under the sun, thinking, remembering, crying, laughing, dreaming. Then, we found chairs and tables, and no longer had to sit on the ground like a bunch of ants... which I also remember crawling around enlessly on the potted plants in the balcony. We eventually filled it up with som many tables and chairs that there was hardly room to walk.
Now, those things, plants included, are here in our new old apartment.
The new apartment... Old, humid, moldy, BIG, potential.
Its been a busy few months, cleaning, painting the walls white, killing mold, arranging, re arranging furniture, studios, workspaces, sleeping spaces, ect...
So, we are just about settled, with a few details left, but its coming along quite nicely, if I may say so myself...
There are a few more pictures here... http://picasaweb.google.com/justinogrant/House#

Artido Arte

2009-06-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

As publicized, I ¨ran¨ for office. In other words, I had an art show. So, to do publicity for my show, I used the theme of the current elections here in Buenos Aires, and did a mock candidate of myself, for the Artido Arte. Two nights before the opening, I went around with xzzx and a friend Cecile and we pasted my posters in a small section of the city. But, like I expected, the following day most of my posters were torn down, or covered up by competing ¨real¨candidates. Its super competitous with the poster ideas.

This is a video, of us, in front of the Congress building, which is amazing... It was cold, my hands hurt, but it was a blast.

More photos of the show to come.

Spanish word of the Day.

2009-06-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

Since moving into my new apartment, I have dealt with alot of this, thus I learned a new word, which is mold, or Moho in spanish. Its pronunciation is a bit tricky, since the h sound is silent in spanish. The h is there for some pause. So, its like Mo o... Or, Mo oh...

Anyways, fun how lifes experiences such as ripping off wall paper helps one learn new languages.

Photos to come of the new place.

Con y sin moho.

But, now, my mate water is boiling.

Saludos.

25 de junio ¿DONDE ESTAN CHICOS?

2009-06-12T18:27:00.001-07:00

Voting time here in Buenos Aires. And, since we all love democracy, and know it exists free from corporate influences and puts real power in the hands of the pueblo, people all around the world pratice it like maniacs. Buenos Aires is no different from other democratic countries, well, maybe it excells in its amount of campain graffitee than the most democratic country in the free world... HA... Maybe the sarcasm isnt sensed, even by the author. Funny, when even the absurd isnt absurd even more. And the give these blogs to anyone. Ha, I could write stuff in wikipedia... I create facts...
Fact. 25th of June, 7pm, at La Vida Dira... http://www.lavidadira.com.ar/, located at Hipolito Yrigoyen 2150, en the neighborhood of Congreso, I, Justin Grant, am going to have an inaguration of a solo art show. It would be nice if people showed up. It should be a good time, ¿no?

The first flyer, is for the web. Its an older painting, El Cafe, that I plan on showing there, amongst others newer...
The second flyer is the one ive been handing out to the peoples that I meet, asking them to vote for me. Will you? Vamos Artido Arte!!! Viva la Arte!!! Viva la Democracia Pibe!!! Viva la fotocopia barata y ser gringo chistoso!!! Viva la Quizas!!!

Book Fair 2009...

2009-05-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

Remember elementary school? Chocolate milk. That strange carpet which was so bare there where spots you could skid across. Having your glasses being knocked off your face by the teather ball slamming into your bushy head. The sting. The yearly book fair...

Hey, book fair. That was a good time, no? Your moms gave you a buck or two extra to buy some books, perhpaps matching what you yourself has saved up, in preparation for that new Bearstien Bear , or Award Winning Beatifully Drawn Heartwarmingly Educative Pretty Book.

BsAs is known for its editorials, printing companies, Av. Corientes llena de libros, and one of the largest Book Fairs in Latin America. This year, M. was given a chance to work in the stand of the editoral ????????? Late in the shift, on a Tuesday, she slipped in Cafe con Carlitos onto the stands, testing the waters. Id say it looks alright against the others. A bit too Argentine.

One of this years guests, thanks to the embajada de EEUU, the Domincan Republican writer Junot Diez gave a interview and book signing. Hey spoke mainly about his life, his experiences being born in DR and moving to New Jersey black nieghborhood, close to one of the many landfills. And somehow, which he didnt go into detail, he became a MIT proffesor. One thing he spoke about, which stuck to my ribs like PBJs is how there is different levels or processes of accepting others, and integrate one culture to another. We easily have accepted, or at least through modification, adapted the food of a distint culture, and thier music and dance, and even language. But it can be very difficult if not impossible to accept the historical, political, social culture of a nation. And this clash in cultures is constructed in the mental and physical actions of its inhabitants. Or...

Despues, I got a book signed by Junot. He commented on my Jimi Hendrix Tshirt, because its so nice...

And thats that, sort of.

Afterward. The book appearing on the shelf is really a trick of Photoshop.

El Sueño de Daniel

2009-04-15T09:10:00.001-07:00

I suppose to be a painter, or ´artist´ it is necessary to be creative. And, I remember some times during my mathematical studies, where I had to use lots of creative thinking. But, I also have this realization that with many of my works, there is very very little creative thought, and its just repition and using muscle memory. And perhaps that shows in some works, my lack of engagment.

So, there are times when I reach out and listen to those who don´t fall under the blurry yet absurd definition of an artist, those that are more ´normal,´for lack of a better word, and am inspired by thier immense and unhindered creativity. Without writing about the exact details of this work, its origin, I will say that its title is, EL Sueño de Daniel, or, The Last Autumn Leaf. Its an oil on canvas, 27.5 inches by 41 inches.

There are more photos of this work here. http://picasaweb.google.com/justinogrant/SuenoDeDaniel#

Ive tried my best to make the colors as real as they are in the painting, and I think I got pretty close, but, Im no Pedro Roth . http://www.pedroroth.com.ar/

Speaking of Pedro, I met him one time in a gallery in Retiro, and we talked a bit. I said to him how in most instances, mainly the watercolors, Im just playing around, not really concentrating, like I say above, not very creative, just playing, like a child. He responded, and I dont quite remember totally, but something like Im saying Im just playing, because if not im afraid of what I might discover... or something... as in, if I search hard, I might discover something rather cruel, or saddening. Although Im not doing a very good job of explaining it, it was one of those WOW, it all makes sense, moments.

San Carlos de Bariloche y el Bolson...

2009-04-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

Before it gets too much later, I should write something about my short week trip to the popular Patagonia Argentina. The place Patagonia, is actually a very very large area, not one particular spot in Argentina. It generally means the south. While my good buddy Jakehs was visiting here in BsAs, we took a quick and spasdic trip to the south, with the original goal to make drinks using ice from a glaciar. Although we didnt get as far south nor into the Andes to be able to pick ice, we were able to camp in a cave.

It began by us taking the train from Constitution to the limits of the providence of Buenos Aires, which was an overnight, 20 hour trip, spent sleeping, eating jam and cheese sandwiches, and sitting in the open doorway, watching a pitch black night pass by. We arrived at the limits, crossed the river, Rio Negro, into the next providence aptly named, Rio Negro, where there is another train from the station Viedma, one can take to Bariloche... But, because the schedules did not match up, and it seems they make it the most inconvient to travel by train, we immediatley took a bus, once agian a 15 hour ride, overnight, to our first destination, Bariloche. We were immediatly welcomed by a beautiful lake, blue as the wide sky, surrounded by rocky mountains, pine trees, german style houses, old cars, many hawks, ...ect... Our first stop was a special coffee drink, which almost knocked my socks off. The second stop was finding out where there was a campsite, taking a local bus there, buying meat, and barbeque. While eating my Choripan staring out over the lake, two guys in a boat pull up dragging this huge root and trunk. Two other guys, camping next door, and thier little daughter show up, to help him take the log from the lake, to the shore. All this is happening five feet in fron tof where im sitting. After unsuccessfully taking the log from the lake to hte shore for about five minutes, I realized someone has to actually step in the lake to drag it out. So, I finish my sandwhich, take off my shoes, and lend a hand. We get it on board, then hit it with rocks, so that it learns its lesson. Luckily my man Jakehs had the camera ready.

The next day, after spending being stared at by this huge mountain accross the lake, we deciede to hike up it, and camp somewhere on top. It took much longer to get there, there being the base, then we expected, because we were very unsuccesful in catching a ride near the base. So we walked about 8 kilometers, loaded with food for a day, until we got to what might be considered the base, or an entry, which was a recycle, junk center. We enter the front gate, say hello a few times, and out comes a old man and his dog. We explain to him how we want to climb up this mountain, and if we could enter through here. He says go ahead, after explaining to us how he has tons of money, but preferes his little cabin shack, and that the mountain, and nature is his god and divine beings. We refill our water bottles, and are off up the mountain. Unfortunatley, we dont pick the most direct route to the top, and around 5ish I start to poop out, and say that I cant go any farther, although we havent reached our destination, which is an old dead forrest of about 2o trees, sticking out of the top like white bleached bones. Our goal was to arrive up there, and make a bon fire the size of one of those trees. Anywho, I wimped out, and we settled for a cave we arrived at, which as it tured out, was super comfortable, warm, and better than any campground I have ever paid for. We slept, good. The next day we hicked back down, much quicker up, one can imagine. We caught a local bus to the center of the city, where we layed around in a plaza, changed socks, ate more jam and cheese, and went to the bus station to see if we could catch a ride to our next destination EL Bolson. Which we did 30 minutes later. The, we once agian found a campsite, set up, and took a stroll. Its a super suepr small town, without ONE stoplight, with once again small german type cottages, chocolate, a center plaza which is know for its fair and hippies, which there were some, but not like I expected. Anywho, we were still beat from our hike up the mountian, so, it was a short night, before we returned to our sleeping bags to rest. The next day, short on money, and still aching, we decieded maybe to call it a trip, and return to BsAs. So, a long bus ride back to Retiro, dirty, aching, smelling of ham and cheese.

Anywho. That was the trip, in a nutshell. For more photos go to http://picasaweb.google.com/justinogrant/Patagonia2009#

ps. I have been painting also.

El Asador

2009-02-22T10:02:00.000-08:00

One thing I enjoy about the plastic arts, or more specifically, painting, is that I have left some proof of passage of time, and me ¨doing¨ something. Although, much of my time spent painting is sitting in front of the painting, thinking, looking at it, ... which, how does one account for the time spent thinking? Unless you arrive at some new thought of breakthrough. But, if you dont...
This is a painting for a friend, in honor of the wonderful night spent on a rooftop in Palermo eating asado with an array of vegetables, cheese, olives, while delightely conversating about adventures, what it means to be an artist, how the street dogs appreciate it when you throw chicken bones off the roof, and other wonderful things about life and its strange quirks. The painting is an oil on canvas, approximately 80cm by 115cm... Or something like that. From bottom left, counter clockwise, we have: Mariela, Me, Martin, Lauren, Jared, Nancy, and the man of the night, the one that makes it all happen, Warren.
There are difficult moments in the painting, forms that were hard to solve, spaces that seem to contradict, complicate other spaces. And forms, that are formless, creating a confusion... Its faults, or weak points are clearing shown, (allow me to be critical), why are some figures delicately painted, and others so crude, childish? Well, there are more questions to be had, and reservations to its success.. (how does this idea apply here: success) But, along with the passage of time, comes an end of time to a certain act, in order to pass along to another. I suppose that this time, on El Asador, has ended, or at least my involvement. I will look back upon the time spent, starting from my small kitchen in BsAs and ending under the Texas sun in the backyard of my parents house, with a fondness and enjoyment. My only hope (to answer the question about its success) is that the current owner, and viewers enjoy its forms, its movements, it scents and its energy for many many years.

For some photos of other new watecolors, go to this link...
http://picasaweb.google.com/justinogrant/WatercolorsWinterEdition#

Passage of Time.

2009-02-13T15:52:00.000-08:00

G-Town, or The Island

2009-02-13T15:28:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, I spent the night in Galveston, visiting a old family friend. I have always liked this city. Perhaps its my imagination, but it seems to be eerie, wierd, uncomfortable, old and pirate like. But, as this trip turned out, it was also quite quaint, small, walkable, empty, spiritual, and beautiful. I mainly took photos of the old buildings in downtown, most of which date between 1880 and 1920.

http://picasaweb.google.com/justinogrant/Galveston#

Here is a short video of Dog and me biking along the seawall. Enjoy.

R.I.P. CMGIV...

2009-02-13T15:19:00.000-08:00

Text to come.

Hows that compare to Texas beef?

2009-01-29T09:26:00.000-08:00

AND SPEAKING OF PRESIDENTS: (or EX presidents) heres a winning photo with the Uruguayan Pres. Tabare Vazquez showing the worst US president in the history of the USA (seen to the left sporting his typical "Im stupid" face.) (sorry, perhaps I should cut the guy some slack. I mean, he still has followers..?? (how?)) Lets hope thier relations didnt go much farther than eating un bife de asado con fritas. Deja los pueblos del mundo a creacer humildemente... por favor...

Perhaps not as pretty as Mala, pero mala, igual...

2009-01-29T09:12:00.000-08:00

Because I havent quite figured out how to take a video from youtube.com and put it directly on my blog, im just going to post the link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXhdzyjHpk0

which is of a rappera, sort of like a Dominican Brat, (although it isnt right to compare...) Her name is Arianna Puello. And she brings up a good question: Who is rap for? And should it not be for everybody? You, Me, Presidents...

Is January almost over? Is that a Cuban president in Russia? Can we spell E.V.O.? I must paint.

The Old Train Depot in LaPorte

2009-01-23T06:20:00.000-08:00

Apparantly, back in the early part of the 1900's, perhaps a bit before, and a little while after, LaPorte was a popular hot spot among rich Houstonians and surrounding area populations. Sylvan Beach, was actually a beach, with sand and water one could enter without growing extranneous limbs afterwards. Thus there were extensive railway lines from Houston to LaPorte, one of which followed the bay around Morgans Point. But when they built Highway 225, the passenger cars where done away with, adn thus began the personal-auto-driven society that we Houstonians have become so accostumed to.

There was also a museum in the depot, which was filled with old tools, machines, clothes and toiletries used at the times, maps, photos and sign in books of the numerous hotels which were dispersed throughout LaPorte, all of which burned down numerours times, or destroyed in the Great Storm of Yada Yada... And some old photos of past Ms. Sylvan Beach competitions...

So, if anyone is ever in the Sylvan Beach area on a weekend, I do recommend stoping by the Train Depot for a quick visit. If one is going to live here in LaPorte, one should learn about its history because it is a very intersting place...

Ernst and Menil...

2009-01-16T06:35:00.000-08:00

http://www.menil.org/

Yesterday, accompanied by my old man we made our annual trip to downtown Houston to check out what this oil rich city has to offer in the name of Art. We went to the wonderful and humble building which holds the vast collection of Dominique Menil. Currently, there is a exhibition based on a mural painted by surrealist, dadaist Max Ernst, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Ernst, which he completed in 1934 in a nightclub in Zurich. (That is it on the left. The photo on the right is him with the painter and his forth wife, Dorothea Tanning, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothea_Tanning )

As my dad creeped closley to one of the paintings, to check out the ridiculous details, one of the security guards, almost tripping over his own feet, bee-lined to my pops, to warn him not to cross the wodden stick on the ground, marking the closest one could approach. After mumbling something about not passing the line and paintings, he crept away, akwardley. A moment later, after overhearing us discussing the work, he jumps in and starts to inform us a little about the history of the work, or, at least what the musuem director told them, and what he read in the program at the entrance. From what I remeber, it was put onto plywood, but up into sections, and stored, until is was finally cleaned and restored. It was influenced by books about exotic plants and flowers, which Ernst enjoyed looking at, and sketching over. The original sketch was more figurative, with more definate female forms, while the mural is simplier and more expressionist. Whether it was due to the natural sexuality of flowers, or his own fasinactions with erotic themes, the mural depicted something orgasmic, a dance, movements of sexuality.

We wondered what the people who frequented the club thought of the mural...

We wonder what you people think of the mural.

Road Trip reppin from Philly to Galveston...

2009-01-13T13:10:00.000-08:00

So after shooting rockets out of a Yedi's head, we knew of no other way to spend the following days besides renting a Chevy Impala, and driving through the Austin Hill country to set up a camp site at a spot called Shaffers Bend where we camped out for two nights, and had to be rescued one day while trying to recross the river, which had risen during the night, and was continual rising. Luckily, some dude with two kayaks was on the other side, and he was nice enough to one by one bring us across back to the Malibu. Which we then dove all the way down to Galveston, after a stop in LaPorte to suprise visit the parents, and have Mr. Roye treat us to some Gringos mexican food. We then go to Galveston, see some of the damage, and spend the night aunts beach house, watching adult swim... tired... spent...

To the left, after crossing the river behind me by kayak. To the right is the gang, possing in front of the Malibu, on a cold Galveston beach. In order of left to right, Me, Holli, Nate Dixon, Jake, and Roye up top... Happy Birthday my boys. Many more.

Hey, lookey, two entries without writing about politics... Dont get excited, it wont last too much longer.

Paz.

2009 YA!!!!

2009-01-13T12:32:00.000-08:00

Almost a month has passed since my last entry, and like normal, there is more to write about than my attention span can substain. I am currently back in LaPorte, or Long Paper, as it is sometimes called, after a fun week in Austin, el capitol, where I rang in the New Year at the Space Cave, http://www.myspace.com/thespacecave, which included several bands, A MOONBOUNCE http://www.gems-amusements.com/images/moonbounce_castle.jpg, a Yedi which shots fireworks out of his head, and dance party to the styles of Jet fresh Jeff, aka, Dj Mayonese Hands... Keeping it disco sloppy...

As is the custom, I would like to make a few New Years resolutions, without too much pressure to keep them. So, I thought I would share them with you all.

1st. Improve my spanish beyond my own recognition or how much I actually know.

2nd. Begin studying russian, familiarizing myself with some of the basics.

3rd. Paint many LARGE oil and watercolor paintings, concentrating on bigger themes and the market which isnt the art fair.

4th. Excersize my heart, lungs, and legs.

5th. Make more friends.

6th. Be in better contact with my family and friends, such as blogging, calling, emailing, visiting, dream transporting, activily thinking of them.

7th. Travel around in Argentina.

8th. Spend more time in Uruguay.

9th. Buy land in Argentina, or Uruguay, or Chile... (como?)

10th. LOVE!!!

well. Im sure there are some more I could include, but, there are frivilous little changes that are more day to day things, and, I figure 10 is a good number...

Te recuerdo Victor...

2008-12-20T14:34:00.000-08:00

YouTube - TE RECUERDO AMANDA - VICTOR JARA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Jara

Thanks to my experiences with political active chileans and thier efforts to never forget, I have been shown some wonderful artists and examples of lifestyles which this beautiful country along the Pacific Ocean has given life to. One of these great beings is the artist and musician Victor Jara. I will leave it up to the reader to search out some info about his life and music. I just want to add that he was one of the many who where kidnapped and murdered during the military coup of A. Pinochet. He was tortured and had his hands mutilated, beforing being executed.

The main point I would like to make is that in my mind he was sort of a Bob Dylan figure, of Chile. And, as I have commented in a older blog, why did these things happen in South America, and not in the USA? I can imagine the same happening to Dylan for his songs of protest during the 60s and 70s. But, luckily he did not share the same fate. Nor did the rest of the population of USA share the same fate as its south american brothers. But, I am left to believe that there is some sort of coup happening here in the states, planting perhaps during the same time. Its not in the form of a bombs being dropped on government buildings, and free thinkers being ripped from thier humble homes, but of a slow and steady manipulation of the American mind, and its definition of "freedom, liberty, and justice." I wonder which one is worse...

Unfortunalty, I, like many others, am guilty of forgetting. Forgetting who we are, of what it means to be one a human being in this Earth, and our real reason for this wonderful gift of life.

Please listen to the song above, and others by him. Perhaps I am weak, or super sensitive, but giving the right mood and space, Te Recuerdo Amanda, often brings tears to my eyes.

ps, Happy Birthday Sis!!!!!

Las Toninas

2008-12-16T08:35:00.000-08:00

I was finally able to escape these broiling city streets for the wind and sand of the Atlantic coast. The trip went as such. We, Mariela y Yo, took the train from Constitution to a pueblo called Dolores. From there I thought we might be able to catch a bus, or hitchhike... Since there were no buses until the following morning, we walked 3 kilometers to the route, and stuck out our thumbs. After a hot and frustrating 30 minutes, a nice man named Angel stops, and picks us up. Luckily, he is on his way to Santa Teresita, which is the bigger, cooler, beach town just past Las Toninas, which worked out perfectly, as 1.5 hours later, we were dropped off at the entryway of the small town. We found a nice campsite, 10 pesos a night, per person, set up camp, and made our way to the beach, where, I jumped in almost immediatly. That night we made a decent campfire, where meat was cooked and then eaten, with the appetite given to you by fighting againsts the waves of the Atlantic. Then sleep, which wasnt the most comfy, due to the fact that M doest own a sleeping bag, so, two squeezed into one, can cause some discomfort. Any, nothing better after a bad nights sleep than a morning mate, cooked over a camp fire. Maybe its the ashes in the water, or the scent of burning wood which enters your nose as you sip on the bombilla, but, whatever it is, that mate was probably the best mate I have ever drank in my life... And if it wasnt that mate, it was the mate the following morning, accompanied by cherries and oranges..

It was a short trip, three nights, spent riding around on renting bikes, provided by my Peronista amigo Beto, dipping in the salty waves of the Atlantic, eating bread and cheese, and scoping out potential land to buy. We wimped out on the return and just decieded it was easier to buy bus tickets, than to try our luck at hitching. More photos to follow.

Panchos for Breakfast!?!

2008-11-29T12:53:00.000-08:00

All with several hours of one another, I have recently experienced the greatest fluxuations in the prices of my artwork. I have been setting up my tripod in front of the MNBA in Recoleta once a week. Thursday, I was there again, with my works well protected by plastic sleeves, becuase of the water drops with fall from the spring buds of the Tipa trees which line the sidewalk. http://fichas.infojardin.com/arboles/tipuana-tipu-palo-rosa-tipa.htm , the same which are now shedding those little yellow flowers. So I am there, and like usually, nothing happens, besides me sitting in the grass, doodling, and pass two young kids, around 7 to 10 years, boy and girl, Lucás and ??? I forget the girls name... Anywho, as is there custom, being that there were children who live in the streets with thier parents, they wanted me to give them all my drawings, or paintings, as gifts... I did end up giving them each a little drawing, (later learning that the girl just threw hers away, and returning looking for another one)... Anyways, we continued talking, me allowing them to paint with my ink and paper, trying to be a nice guy, with nothing else to do but play with kids... Just that I was reminded why it isnt all that wonderful, by the very pesky girl jokingly stealing things only to ask me two thousand times if I will give it to her... But, the boy, Lucás was super cool, way more rational, which surprised me. With him we talked about how it was my job, and its hard work, but with time, and talent, you make money. When i told him I sell these paintings for 80 pesos, he got super excited and said he was going to do tons of paintings, bigger than mine, and make tons of money, which I thought was beautiful, the idea of this kid thinking about working for pay, not just begging, which is what I later saw him doing in the streets, in between cars. So, I liked him, wanted to help him out. I told him I couldnt keep giving away my work, he understood. They eventually ran off, each with thier drawings. They return, and he has a few coins, one pesos worth, and says he wants to buy one, one of the colored ones... I was surprised, and wanted to support him, somehow, show him its ok and that I believe him when he says if he had more money, he would buy more. So, I sell him another drawing, this one bigger, better, older, for one peso... wow... With that, I took the subway home.

The following day, I recieve an email from my friend who commissioned a large oil painting of a Tango. I recently finished it, and sent him the photo, waiting his reply. His reply was well recieved.

Its been a rollercoaster of a week, and past months. I suppose in a way, if it was a parabala, or some sort of sine function, its range would be from one to 5000 pesos... and domain of infinity...

The size is approximately 84 cm by 115 cm.

Sunsets in Parque Chacabuco.

2008-11-18T17:29:00.000-08:00

To be blunt, I am a sucker for sunsets. And one thing I really really like about my tiny apartment in Parque Chacabuco, (which I hope to be showing you some photos soon of the place, just so you get an idea of where I have been living for the past two years), is the second floor balcony where I have seen many a sun go down, each time more and more to the left hand side, which I suppose is cada vez mas west... (some things just sound better in spanish...¿cachi?)

Current events maily include painting, eating, watching people NOT buy my paintings, and sleeping. And then more painting. It has been a productive month, or series of weeks. I have made progress in my Tango painting, and hopefully will finish it this week. Once agian, speaking frankly, its really good. I enjoy it, and like most of my work, find it captivating. So, although the past month has been a drag in the streets financially, I hope to be able to say that I have actually gained X amount for this painting. But, all that depends on Tad... So, we will see..

Luciernaga y Legal...

2008-11-18T16:35:00.000-08:00

Wow!!.. Has a month really passed since I last wrote in this Bloggy thingy?.. I suppose Ive been busy... Or have I?

Well, one excuse I have is preparing and participating in a public art show, organized by some friends, in the Plaza San Martin, under one of those huge Rubber Trees with flood the cities public spaces with its all embracing branches, and crawling roots... The name of the show was called, Luciernaga, which means Lightning bug.. The show was organized as a night show, without traditional lighting, where the works are shown with flashlights, lanterns, candles, ect...

I presented three works, one of which didnt function well.. But, the other two I consider to be rather succesful, especially the light box in the video. The object is a box, covered in aluminam foil, with for clips to attach a drawing, with a candle underneath. The drawings are just random ink drawings I have been doing on pages from a bunch of old romance novels I bought from Legal, the homeless dude who lost his eye recently from a knifefight, which from what I undertand, he suffered while buying Paco, http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paco_(droga), a crack like substance.
In the work, I offer the viewer the option to keep the drawing, or watch it burn, which really depends on the size of the candle underneath, if it goes up in flames, or only just a small brown patch in the middle.. Some choose to keep the drawing, AND to watch one burn, so, I gladly did both, myself enjoying the spectacle, as well as the idea of burning drawings.
Im not typical conceptial with my artworks, but I feel like this had some sort of bigger idea attached to it besides its captivating visual experience, not to mention the wonderful scent of old paper when it burns... Quite nostalgic.. I have always given or left behind drawings, saying the act is more important than the object. And I suppose this activity has some sense of declaring that the object has little to no value. Or at least one that is equal to its entertainment value.
It just so happens that while thinking up this particular work, and experimenting with burning drawings, I visited the MALBA, http://www.malba.org.ar/web/, where there was a presentation of a Cuban-New Yorkian artist named Félix González-Torres, http://www.queerculturalcenter.org/Pages/FelixGT/FelixIndex.html, who is known for his conceptial art such as leaving a stack of lollipops in a corner for the viewer to take one, as part of the work, amongst other viewer interactive works... I have known for a long time that the viewer plays an active role in the artwork, but have recently been exposed to more hands on viewer interactions... But, like I said earlier, im pretty sure I had already independently constructed the idea of giving away or burning my drawings before learning about Félix. Although I am readily able to admit that somehow his ideas floated out of the MALBA through the busy Buenos Aires streets, and into my tiny apartment...

A weeks worth of work...

2008-10-03T13:14:00.001-07:00

It has been a good week... I have spent most of it on my patio or at my desk, listening to the radio, attempting to come up with something original, or at least intersting as far as the visual arts are concerned... I have slashed out a few interesting works, testing my own definition of beauty, or aesthetic rules, and, I am quite content with a few of them... Among these smaller projects, I have spent a good amount of time on this Tango, which you see here.. As is customary for spring in Buenos Aires, today was quite windy, hindering my ability to paint on my patio, so, I took it indoors and set myself up in my kitchen... (you see mom, if theres room for a metric squared painting, theres room for a blender. space isnt the problem) I think im heading in the right direction with this painting.. Still, the goal is movement... Regardless of its success, im having fun painting it.. It excites me, to think that im able to redefine physics, play with the viewers sense of space, ... Wait, redefine physics sounds a bit egotistical.. Im not doing that.. Im just filling in blank spaces with colored ones... Im sure I have a long way to go before its done... Especially since Ive already started other projects, which im just as excited about to begin and finish and move on to the next...

Sooo.. I watched the presidential debate on you tube the other day... It cracked me up to hear Obama say stuff like, ´spending orgy´ and ´take our eye off the ball´ especially when refering to war, which seems a bit more important than a outfielders blunder... It bored me to hear them keep throwing around numbers, focusing on whose gonna spend all these trillions of dollars in the best way possible. ...ectectect.... and the beat goes on...

ahh.. church bells.. must be 6pm.. i wonder whats for dinner tonight. last night was a delicious meal. Like almost all my dishes, I stirfried garlic, onion, and bell pepper, (in spanish, that is called a sofrito).. then i put in sliced, eggplant.. after a few minutes i added the ground beef.. with the typical spices, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and perhaps something else.. anywho, cook until the meat is browned, and the eggplant is soft, and pour over noodles.. super tasty...

Sometimes all one really needs is to shine thier shoes...

2008-10-01T19:46:00.000-07:00

October... Once known for its fall colors and cooling temperatures, is now showing trees with fresh green little sprouts and longer days of sun and warmth.. It is my favorite month, for selfish reasons, and perhaps more so now, if I continue to pass them here in the southern hemisphere, where Fall is Spring, and the Sun seems to burn brighter... I have felt the new Spring Sun on my shoulders and back while painting this blank canvas shown here, on my patio overlooking the busy street which never seems to bore me.. In fact, its quite a distraction, and is harder than ever to loose myself in the image which I am currently stumbling over.. It might stumble, but it comes out.. And, I often feel like Kevin Costner in the sense that, "if I paint it, he will pay me."... So, I just have to paint it.. And the rest will follow... Today was a good day. Accompanied by the wonderful sounds of 91.7 KTRU Rice radio, http://bang.rice.edu/ I was able to paint assuredly under a cloudy and at times drizzly sky. I observed my own mind as it imagined impossible realities constructed by dividing the blank spaces of the canvas in different browns, oranges, yellow ochres, all surrounding some sort of couple dancing Tango, which is the theme... My mission is to paint movement. I suppose I am imagining some sort of Futurism style of simulated movement. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurism_(art)... Im also enjoying myself creating spaces, mixing dimensions and planes, foreground as background.. ect.. Or at least I assume Im doing this.. Or at least im proclaiming to think about these things while staring at my unfinished canvas, "mind-painting" in the blank areas, tricking myself into thinking its almost done just because I can imagine it being done... But, where is the physical evidence? Where is the record of the image? I remember reading a quote by Chaim Soutine, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaim_Soutine, which said something like he created 10 paintings a day, in his head... (not having money to buy materials, it was the only resources which are free to use) And I thought this was a wonderful thought... I remember walking around painting canvas in my head as well... It isnt too hard to imagine putting down a green brush stroke next to a blue one..

I own a pair of brown leather shoes which I inherited from my big brother because like big brothers do, he out grew them.. So, they were passed down to me, keeping with the family tradition... And after wearing them daily for the past 8 months I decieded to have them shinned, by one of those old men who shine shoes in the streets.. It was a spontaneous act which was largley influenced by the way the man waved me over after making eye contact with him, as though I had no choice... And after finding out it would only cost me 5 pesos, I sat down in that little chair thing in front of him, and allowed him to earn his keep the way he had been doing for the past 20 years... Upon finishing, I felt super content with the shine of my brown leather shoes, although he had not been able to get the black oil paint stain off the right foot, nor did I expect him to... I paid him 6 pesos, and walked away smiling feeling a nice boost of confindence, that I too, am like those gentlemen I see all the time, with shiny leather shoes...

A day that will go down in Ike anify...

2008-09-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

Its been a big day for everybody.. Besides the HUGoE cosas that are passing in Bolivia and Venezula, with the dissmissing of the United States Embasadors from both countries, two other American Bodies remember thier respect aniversities of historical and mind altering events of Sept. 11th, o 11 de septembre... 7 years ago, as I was driving with a friend in my sky blue cadillac to junior college, we listened to popular radio DJs try to explain why two huge jets had crashed into the Twin Towers in NYC... It was too absurd and distant from my suburban strip center view to imagine. Upon returning home from school, I encontered my father sitting in his pink lazy boy watching news, like normal, but it was 2pm, and he should be at work. But as he complained, and I later learned by an uncontrollable media attack that terrorist had attacked, and the chemical plants where he worked had to be evacuated.. And, well... I dont have to say much more... Much later, only after entering the mind of a chilean woman, was i informed of an attack on Sept. 11th many years before bin Laden could carry an AK.. In the capital city of Santiago, Chile, 1973, Sept 11th, there was an attack on the presidents building, which ended in the death of Allende, and military dictatorship of Pinochet... But, Im sure you a bit tired of hearing me write about this theme... So, ill leave you to your own research... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_Chilean_coup_d'%C3%A9tat

Last tuesday, at: http://www.ccgsm.gov.ar/areas/cultura/ccgsm/ciclos/jazzologia.php , I saw a trio play suberb, amazing, top knotch jazz by three argentines, ranging in ages from 30 to 90... The contrabajo player, or upright bass player, is close to 90, and rated one of the best Bass players in the world.. His name is Alfredo Remus, and with is large glasses, baseball hat, and grinning crinkly face, he reminder me of some Lousiana Creol fellow, rubbing his belly, sucking crawfish heads... But, I dont think he is anything like I imagine.. He probably has every jazz song, tango song, somba song running through his head, todo el tiempo...

Thank you free jazz.. Itsss Greeaaat!!...

and then you have rappers who simulate the begginings of the world!! While pueblos throw sticks at one another.. Its a huge, strange world... And I know very very little of it.. I mean, there isnt much to learn it all, especially when there is so many green olive to eat...

This drawing is a page from my short illustrated book, Cafe con Carlitos... I am currently working on printing it out, and somehow stapling, glueing, putting it all together someone or another.. And then presenting it to various stores, and selling it to the public.. But, the minor problem I am having is finding the money to print them out now.. So, I say you can preorder a copy, and help me, help you recieve your copy faster... ha... anywho.. or.. wait until I have some digital book designed, and you can read it digitally, for free...

And last not but least, Aguante Texas!!! It looks like you might have to withstand the thrashes of an angry Ike, but if Tina can survive, so can you...

The things we do for love...

2008-09-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

Its friday night, a cold and windy friday night.. i shortly returned from watching a cubist movie at the Museo Nacional Bellas Artes http://www.mnba.org.ar/ where they are currently showing the same exhibition of cubismo that i already saw and wrote about while in Santiago, Chile.. but, this time, there is movies.. so, i saw one today, free, which is almost necessary these days, because starving artists dont have money to spend on movies.. what i say today was a short movie called, El Ballet Mecanico, by french painter Fernand Ledger, whose paintings i have always admired.. Since i walked in late, having to blindly find my way to a seat, as is always the case for me when i enter a dark movie theatre, i stumble around blindly.. as though i should get night vision glasses, or just show up on time.. this movie was very abstract for me, and quite modern and strange.. needless to say, i didnt get the point, but enjoyed it..

then, the main attraction was a full lenght movie called, La Inhumana, from the same year as the other, 1924, silent film, which very modern music, and the set and costume design by Ledger.. The plot wasnt too complicated, and dealt with some general soap opera themes, such as the young pretty singer has a choice between 10 suitors for marriage, ranging from the WASP politician to some Eastern philosophy Guru and a magician and a young sporty scientist...ect.. anywho, she rejects them all except one.. one commits suicide, then comes back to life.. she throws a party where there are fire eating africans and some clowny guy juggling painting barrels with his feet... there are quick a few twists and turns, and i dont think i should give away the ending, but lets say its a happy one...

regardless of the story line, because unless you know good french, or have access to a good translation, which none of which was an option to me, thus my understanding of the plot is perhaps wrong.. so, regardless, it was a very aesthetically pleasing movie, artistic, interesanting.. i mean, it was 1924!!! almost 100 years ago.. Ledger creates some very interesting images, mostly geometrical, symetrical, striking, if not beautiful... It made me wonder what it would be like if one of my own paintings good 3 D itself, and move around free space and time, or have a dialouge, or dress someone... ect...

speaking of my paintings.. here is a photo of something i have spent quite a bit of time with lately.. and, i am saying it is finally finished, which is open to debate, although i dont have much desire to continue to work on it.. its from a photo of my friend and his wife.. i had a lot of trouble with this work, battleing between realism and my own organic playful style, and the confortable combination of them both... my mind said paint exactly what i see, which i now remember is very challenging, perhaps why i steered away from that style.. the good thing is that it was a real challenge, which as far as painting is concerned, i havent had one in a while, and i like to think i learned something valuable during the process..

mes de chekhov...

2008-08-26T06:16:00.000-07:00

Within the past few weeks I have enjoyed two wonderful theatrical works by the russian Anton Chekhov, or Chejov in spanish... The first one I was ^El pedido de mano., which is a comedy about a man asking for the hand in marraige of his neighbors daughter. Its a short work, but quite strong. It mainly involves the three characters yelling at one another the whole time about who owns a strip of land which borders them both, and whose dogs is the prettiest... I later saw one of the actors at the Sunday fair, while he was visiting his daughter who sells photos beside me.. Its a small world... The free play took place in a local library called Biblioteca Miguel Cane, located in the porteño barrio Boedo, http://www.escribirte.com.ar/lugaresdet/21.htm .. It is known because J. L. Borges worked in the back offices for several years, catalouging books...

The second play I went to, which is considered to be much more important, and supposedly took Anton a very long time to complete, is called Ivanov... This play only cost me 7 pesos, and was well worth paying three times as much, although, im glad that there are opportunites here to not pay a days wage to see a good show.. http://www.alternativateatral.com/ficha_obra.asp?codigo_obra=10416
It was an excelent play, and awsome performance by several members of the cast, and a not so good one by the others... but, we cant all be Denzels.. Anywho, once again filled with yelling, door slamming, tons of vodka drinking, and even face slapping, but without the comic overtones.. It was one of the most powerful and heart wrenching hours I have endoured in a while, especially since the theater was small, and I was on the first row, where the action was at times less than 12 inches from my knees.. The main character, Nicolai Alexeievich Ivanov, is sort of like a Hamlet type, intelligent, bookish, but bad at human relations, .. well, in general a super sad and miserable person, who trys to bring down those around him, perhaps inconciously, as is common among the miserable.. Without going too deeply into the matters, I will say it left me speechless and teary eyed.. Although it involved certian matters quite personal to me, I would say it succeds in expressing a very human side, that we call can relate to...

To sum it all up... I am beginning to love even more the theater.. And here in Buenos Aires, they do a very very good job of making good shows accesable to anyone.. Personely, here they seem to value some of the wonderful things about human culture, and dont restrict these to only the elite and wealthy.. I could throw around words such as, socialism, but, I would be talking out of my own level of understand of the history of Argentina...ppff.. Well, my understanding of all things..

oh.. I almost forgot.. Beware of the killer colchon gaucho.. no siempre son pesadillas...

Today...

2008-08-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

This is one of the things I did today....

dont quit your day job, Picasso...

2008-08-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

I LOVE FREE MOVIES.. especially when they are black and white, surrealist, and have 30 seconds of P. Picasso acting horribly. his acting is so bad, it makes me question was it intentional, thus, well badly acted..?? is this the genius of Jean Cocteau? or just him poking fun at pobre Picasso?? regardless, Le Testament d'Orphée, ou ne me demandez pas pourquoi!, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054377/ is a spiritial absurdity which everyone who calls themselves a poet, needs to watch... i admit, i had trouble with the french, and the spanish subtitles moved a bit too rapidly for me at times, so, i didnt quite understand the wieghty ideas which i imagine is discussed, but watching a man put loose petals back on a flower was mind blowing enough...
and in case you missed it this past wednesday, you have the opportunity to see some other strange movie, the following wednesday, for free!! hooray ricardo rojas!!! http://www.rojas.uba.ar/

in short... theres an idea here, in Argentina, or perhaps many places in the world, that people from United States need to change some of there living habits, and perhaps think more globally.. living in south america has opened up my ears to the news in other languages, that you dont hear in enlgish speaking nations.. its a big world. and its a complicated one.. theres alot of information out there to be sifted through.. i liked this video, it reminded me of summers spent at home, watching soap operas such as All My Children, eating grilled cheeses, and commercails of Mr Clean..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucMJ32-xp64

mmm.. pancakes and mate...

Feliz Cumpleaños Salvador Allende

2008-07-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

On June 26th, 1908, in Valparaiso, Salvador Allende was born. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Allende

I recommend researching alittle about this mans life, and legacy, besides what you see on the wikipedia page.. One thing I find very interesting is how a socialist, marxist, perhaps communist wins a election, democratically.. ie, the popular vote.. After many years of running, and involvement and traveling, such as the tren de victoria, the people, el pueblo, voted for Allende.. And he finally won, while half of the world, those scared of Red, did all they could in there power to prevent him, guarding there interests, and rights to continue to make silver dollars cheaply by using other countries silver, for instance.. So, Allende, huge frames and all, like my grandpa used to use, in fact, there is a slight resemblance, and im sure they would have got along, and agreed as far as human rights are concered, but once you start labeling people as in this group or that group, marking the differences, violent frictions have been known to arise.

So, a few years in office, and some other countries want him out, so, a coup militaria is executed, bombs are dropped on the Casa de Moneda while he is still inside, alone, abanded by those around him, or perhaps scared off by similiar threats.. And a new president takes over, who kills those who sing songs of freedom.

Can you imagine Colin Powel dropping bombs on the White House? Can you imagine why a country that preaches and preaches about Democracy, and Liberties of the people, and Democracy, and right to vote, and Democracy, that when another country practises democracy, a man wins a democratic election, regardless of his title, or flag, but wins through the hearts and minds of his people, his countrymen, ... Should not this other democratic countries be proud, or at least respect this winner, in his own domain?

Sept 11th is not important only to the USA.. Years before the word was so overused, terrorists attacked buildings, on Sept 11 1973... Is there a connection, or just coincidence??

Back to the present day... Santiago, in the Lawn of the Casa de Moneda, June 26th, 2008.. 100 years after the birth of Allende, hundreds hundreds, of all ages, come out to celebrate this great man.. It was a powerful scene, and perhaps the best part of my Chile trip. There was tons of flag waving, mostly communist, or socialist, speeches by other politicians, and music by a handfull of bands... The most notable being Inti Illimani http://www.inti-illimani.cl/ which I recommend you listen to .. Mom, I think you would like it...

It was a magical evening, lights, music, people... In the name of a magical man...

And no, that isnt the Texan flag in the back ground...

things on the walls.. and the tortured who inspire them.

2008-07-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

As we all know, many many many Chileans were abducted and tortured during the golpe militaria and succeeding dictatorship or A. Pinochet. Close to Nanys house, the mother of M, was a house which was used as a holding and torture cell for those against the Pinochet government.. The building has sense been demolished, and is now just a vacant, littered lot, with some graffitees and a very small memorial.. Its almost nothing, the memorial, and it all seems blatantly disregarded and forgotten, as though many people wish to not think about the past.. I would too.. I wonder about the thoughts of those who were around during this time, watching it all take place, while they calmly lived without resistance to the change..

PACO!!!! or, its not that cold that you will be needing your scarf...

2008-07-26T06:47:00.000-07:00

My second day in Santiago, M and I deciede to go for a walk around town, and we come across a small demonstration of students, or pinguinos, http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflicto_estudiantil_de_Chile_de_2006 , as the students are known to do, but this one was very very small and unorganized compared to typical Chilean protests.. Most of the students looked to be inbetween the ages of 13 to 16, perhaps 18.. But, a young crowd, sitting around, standing around in groups, seeming doing nothing.. But, of course, the Carabineros de Chile, aka PACO or the Ninja Turtles, have to make there appearance, in full riot gear, down to the foot, mounted on horses, and large automobiles equipped with water canon, and other bus type for loading in large number of detainees... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carabineros_de_Chile

Anywho, nothing seems to be happening at the moment, and they are there, just to cause a little friction.. We see a few of them talking to a group of students, young, like I said, boys and girls, and then start to look through there backpacks and confiscate scarfs and hankerchiefs...??? Which, to us is a bit wierd.. M, feeling the revolutionist spirit which her 15 years of Santiago has taught her, wanders over to the PACO, and begans to ask questions and meddle in thier business, and defend the students.. She asks why the PACO took the scarfs from the kids, like why not take there shoes as well.. And the Carabinero replies that its the same they use to cover thier face with, to hide thier identity.. hmmm.. Lets see.. One would need to cover thier face, if there was smoke or gas bombs being thrown, and boy does those PACO like throwing bombs around.. Anywho, M gets all pumped up, Im super scared taking photos thinking at any moment they will come over to me, grab my camera and throw it on the ground, or arrest me for having a beard and glasses... In the end, the scarfs were returned to the students, we left, and im not sure if anything happen this time... Heres some photos, ie, M talking to the dude, the students and thier scarfs, and the water canon.. From what I understand, thier is a new, or semi new director of education, and she passed a new law, which is very contraversal, if not BAD.. Im not sure, it has to do with private and public schools, and keeping the poorer uneducated.....

Speaking of food...and politics...

2008-07-15T16:35:00.000-07:00

Since Chile is almost nothing but Pacific coast, its only natural that its markets are filled with fresh fish, and other strange animal or at least edible delights from the Mother Ocean... In Santiago, there is a huge and beautiful central mercado, loaded with fish, and high end, touristy restuarants... We met a few friends there, for a nice lunch of fried fish and french fries, it felt like a fried day... I listened to three young chilean women speak passionatley and smartley about themes such as la Presidente Bachelet, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Bachelet and the new bus system Transantiago, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago which recently changed for the better-worst.. Depends on who you ask... I, for one, miss the old micros, shooting black smog out the back, engine rattling, them suddenly stopping to pick anyone up wherever, people selling anything on them, paying some kid sitting next to the driver for your ticket... Anywho, its changed, cleaner, more organized..

Then took a short walk to the local and well known bar-restuarant La Piojera, known for its famous and only in Chile, Terremoto... http://www.recetasgratis.net/Receta-de-Terremoto-receta-16310.html Like I found this place last year when I was here, it was filled with all types, families dining on guiso y pan, wanna be poets and thinkers, young grad students, and the lowliest of drunks, washed up from thier sailing years... A real jewel... A real oyster... A real leather boot.. A real fish corpse...

¿How many chileanos can you put in the back of a car with one white dude....?

2008-07-15T16:07:00.000-07:00

A common type of automobile in the two capitol South American cities that ive been to, Buenos Aires and Santiago, is the compact car.. In contrary to the family sedan, or Mazda MPV, classic two tone, grey blue, blush interior, fully loaded with rear AC and reading lamps... Ohh, memory lane.. I still like to bump around in the Mazda when I visit that physical memory lane, aptly named South Nugent Street!!!

Anywho, so here, in Santiago, most have small cars, due to the gas prices, I assume, which runs about 600 pesos chilenos per liter... you can do the conversions.. as you find out, it isnt cheap... After a family meeting in a great Peruvian restuarant, and a quaint after dinner shopping, we all pile into big sisters little car, and head home... The yellow stuff is Inca Cola.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inca_Kola I thought it was tasty, different than normal american brands, super sweet, of course... But the color seemed a bit suspicious, or trying its very hardest to NOT be from natural products.. Perhaps the Incas had discoved, among many other things, a secret life giving liquid, from the urine of some animal... Tal vez....

Santiago, Chile, graffitis....

2008-07-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

Some of best works of art, or the most impressionable happen to be the street art.. It was everywhere.. Everything had a tag, which, I also thought was composed of a good quality of line, or scratched glass, of sticker.. something.. but, always a mark.. I remember being this impressed with the graffiti in Montreal, Canada...

And the Graffitis

2008-07-15T15:41:00.000-07:00

These are just a few of the works I saw, mainly in the barrio Bellavista, a young or more bohemian part of town...

Roberto Matta, es como spray...

2008-07-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

A bit delayed, but to you... One of the things I did while in Santiago, is see some art.. Some of it being by native Chilenos, such as.... well.. thier names escape me, besides Pedro Lira, http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Lira, and the surrealist Roberto Matta, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Matta... While looking at a Matta painting, dated from the 50s, I was enlightened how it highly resmbles a spray painted mural on metaphysical steroids.. The mixture of colored blended strokes of color, loosley outlined with hard endged black or white thin lines, confident and quickly placed... As you will see, in a future blog, the grafiti in Santiago is really good, compared to its bigger, and often said mas bueno onda vecino Buenos Aires.. Matta, being a painter of political themes, as well, and with the spirit of Chile in his blood, believed heavily in painting in the streets, which at this time largely meant writing the letters of your political party on a wall, in bright big RED letters.. for example... I conclude, that it must have been that some of that thought, and talent, of painting in the streets, and the canvases of Matta, which trained this young pigueños how to handle a spray can...

en camino en Santiago...

2008-06-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

After a very tasty cafe expresso at the house, I'm out the door to consume a empanada Chileano (900 pesos = 2 dollars USD, = 6 pesos Arg, ma o meno.. Thats also where the difference lies), filled to the max with mushrooms, something I wasn't quite prepared for, but tasty and a whole other world than those little empanadas that the Argentines are so proud of. After a short Metro ride, I´m in front of a closed Modern Art museum, so, I continue my walk through Barrio Bellavista, taking photos of the countless graffites and murals, (which I will post soon, so don't sleep).. Eventually, I arrive at the house of Pablo Neruda, La Chascona, http://www.fundacionneruda.org/
2500 pesos =5 USD for the spanish tour, or 3500 pesos =7 USD for the english version.. strange, what are they saying here, ingles vale mas? well, for me, its almost the same, and that 1000 pesos can be converted into many a tasty thing, so, I opt for the spanish, accento chileano y todos... It was nice, a bit short, and retricted, and sort of fabricated due to the circumstances.. For instance, three days after the golpe militaria, the government raided his house, which is seperated into three parts, luckily, after throwing all his books and items in his library in the street, and burning them, they also burned down the library and office.. One can only imagine such jewels a collectionist like Neruda would have stored in his library. It has since been reconstructed, and, refurnished with furniture he had in other houses, such as Isla Negra, and in France, while working in the Embassy.. Having many painter, artist friends, he had also a very nice collection of works, from fellow latin american artists, as well as F. Ledger, and a portrait of his third wife by mexican Diego Rivera.. I can only imagine these slightly fat men sitting around, eating mariscos, drinking wine, talking about how beautiful the female form is...
From there, i'm on the foot path agian, in the direction of the huge modern building which stands out like a knife, the Fundacion Telefonica, to see the the following exhibition of Cubism.. http://www.telefonicachile.cl/fundacion/arteycultura/cubismo/obras.html

A few works really stuck out, such as this painting by the Russian poeta and painter, NATALIA GONTCHAROVA, and a work my JUAN GRIS, which seemed to shake in its frame, like waves.. A very strange effect.. Perhaps I was affected by the heavy smog which is currently covering the city, or heat from having some much undersclothes, tricking myself into thinking its cold here.. Regardless, it was impressive, and a bit dizzing..
A brisk walk back to the house, for some more empanadas and Mendocina, which you might no better as the famouse Argentine Alfohor...

Haste luego. Compañeros y Compañeras...

Brothers across the Andies

2008-06-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

So, we arrived yesterday in capitol city, Santiago, of Chile... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_de_Chile

Although it was, and still is, a rainy, cloudy, cold clima, I was reminded of the beautiful differences the city has from Buenos Aires, especially by the snow capped mountians barley visiable through the mixture of smog and rain clouds.. I will be here for the next two weeks of my life. Perhaps I will travel a bit to the coast, Valparaiso, or some other small costal town.. Hopfully.. Time will tell.. Now, I am just eager to visit and revisit some of the sites of Santiago.. Unfortunatley I have 130 dollars less to spend than i thought I would have, because of some fee I had to pay, unexpectatly, in the airport of Santiago, que lata, because im from North America.. Anywho, se va y viene la plata... Solo significa menos paltas y completos. ¡cachi? huevon or hueon or weon...

dale.. i hope to keep you all posted with photos and memories of my travels, which i suspect will be rather tame...
Haste luego..

Mas de Domingo

2008-06-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

So, like I said, Im usually around San Telmo on Sundays.. One, its my j.o.b. but, besides that, its also a super cool place to be on a Sunday.. its full, i mean, full of tourists, people from all over the world, todos lados... rich and poor.. music, theater, magic, art, secret police, all in the street.. anywho.. calle Defensa por presidente 2012...

Here, we also have a few compañeros de trabajo.. Gaston, with the suspenders, speaking with Hernan in the red.. and, the Great Rodo, also with the red shit, and white undershirt, looking busy.. Good work fellows.. Keep it up...

Domingos en San Telmo

2008-06-15T20:14:00.001-07:00

As some of you might know.. I sell paintings in the Art Fair in San Telmo, every Sunday in San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.. One day, I met some really good people, other painters, who invited me to try to sell my paintings along side them.. So, thats what Ive been doing the past year, or so.. And, such is the life, sometimes its good, and other times its bad.. Although, as of late, I have had some very good luck, and have been moving paintings to all parts of the world, from Seattle to Spain.. These are a few photos of my stand, which consists of a tripod with plastic sticks tied to it.. Its super light, and i can just about set it up anywhere..

change is coming...

2008-05-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

... and its already here. So, i have a new website, http://www.justingrant.com.ar/, which will now be my main site to show my artwork.. so, go check it out.. its pretty...
therfore, the idea is to maintain this blog as a diary, art/music/teatro/culture critics, and personal info such as photos, for the fam... just to keep everyone updated.. and, me challenging myself to continue to express myself with the english, and sometimes spanish lenguaje... ¿no?... so, keep yourselves posted..

and check out the website, http://www.justingrant.com.ar/ its HOTT like 89 warren moon...

hasta luego..

Bigger Oils.

2007-12-27T05:27:00.001-08:00

Here are the largest works I`ve done here some far. The actually sizes will come later. I have been experiementing with the more wash effects of oil, since I`ve been doing more watercolors. Its like a mixutre of the two mediams.

"Buena Parrilla"

oil on hardboard.

10-2007

sold.

"Chess of the Sexes"

oil on harboard.

10-2007

"Toca de Luz"

oil on cardboard.

9-2007.

1st oils of BsAs.

2007-12-27T05:21:00.000-08:00

These are some of the first oil paintings I did here in my studio, on Rod. Peña 80. You can see a hint of the BsAs influences.

"Grande Muzzerella!"

oil on hardboard.

9-2007

"El cafe"

oil on misshaped hardboard.

8-2007.

Watercolors

2007-12-27T05:14:00.000-08:00

New watercolors.

"Camino de coloures."

watercolor on paper, with black matte paper.

10-2007.

collection of Eduardo.

sold.

A pen and paper

2007-12-27T05:09:00.000-08:00

Some new drawings. Ive been experimenting with the framing and presentation of works. They are all just ballpoint pen on paper or white cardboard.

sold to a colombian couple..

Bigger records

2007-12-27T05:05:00.001-08:00

These are 12 inch records.

"The Majesty"

oil on vinyl record.

10-2007

sold.

Discos Nuevos

2007-12-27T04:58:00.000-08:00

These are 7 inch records.

These are some new records I have been painting. The are oil paintings, and the titles and other details will come later.

SUPERMUESTRA el tercero!!!!!!

2007-12-18T13:12:00.000-08:00

These are some photos from the third SUPERMUESTRA.. There should be more photos coming your way..

SUPERMUESTRA art show...

2007-12-01T21:42:00.000-08:00

Hello.. this is the invitation to teh next supermuestra.. it should be a good time.. we ALL should go....

SUPERMUESTRA!!!

2007-11-14T10:34:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos from the first Supermuestra. I imagine there was about 150 to 250 people attending. The couch was a group effort. The two girls did the ^subasta^, which is the auction, and those are the works we auctioned hanging in the trees. The three paintings of the women are by Ludres Pogoriles. And the one of the dog is by Mariano Brizzola. And the sculptures are by Paco Duarte. Im not sure what happened, but after the show, some ghost came by and knocked his wooden sculpture to the ground, breaking it in a million pieces. A bit sad, but made for a dramatic ending...

old drawings.

2007-10-16T14:17:00.000-07:00

These are old drawings, pen on paper, without titles, and the size doesnt matter because i dont have them anymore.. I sold most of them. BUT, i am continually drawing, and have only gotten better, and have others, and will always do more..

LARGE older oil paintings...

2007-10-16T14:11:00.001-07:00

Some old paintings that I did in Philly.. They are still there.. I think??

^The Poet and his Cat: Homage to Marc Chagall.^

oil on canvas.

I.m not sure of the size, but its big.

3X4 feet.. ?? something like that..

$600.00 usd.

^The Chess Players.^

oil on canvas.

same size as the one above, which i dont know.

$600.00 usd.

^Grace.^

oil on canvas.

smaller, but i dont know either..

collection of the artists sister..

more musical paintings.

2007-10-16T14:09:00.001-07:00

I forget the name..

$100.00 usd.

oil records..

2007-10-16T14:06:00.001-07:00

These are some paintings on records that I did about 1 to 2 years ago, while living in Philly.. I sold or gave most of them away. But, am currently painting more, but, a little different. so, stay tuned.

^To the N-teenth^
oil painting on vinyl record.

$100. 00 usd.

this one stands alone..

2007-10-16T14:04:00.001-07:00

^Jesus is made of Math.^
watercolor on paper.
24X35 cm.
$90.00 usd.

looks better in person. its not so obscure, and the details are crazy...

algunos chicos..

2007-10-16T13:58:00.001-07:00

"The day my head popped open"
watercolor on paper
12cmX14cm
sold..

^Mujer Gomels.^
watercolor on paper.
12X23 cm.
sold..

Gomels is a company which makes necklaces and other accesories. More to come from them... Be on the lookout.

^Gracita^
watercolor on paper.
12X25 cm.
sold.

23X32 cm.

2007-10-16T13:54:00.001-07:00

^Forever Unfinished^
watercolor on paper.
23X32 cm.
$60.00 usd.

an older work.

^Mother Mary in her Robes^
watercolor on paper.
23X32 cm.

$75.00 usd.

also a bit older, but very original..

^The Pearl Mystic.^
watercolor on paper.
23X32 cm.
sold.

a real beauty, this one..

^Sofrito^
watercolor on paper.
23X32 cm.
sold.

a few at first..

2007-10-16T13:46:00.001-07:00

^My Tan Dream^
watercolor on paper
16X23 cm.
sold.

^Within Days and thier Halves^
watercolor on paper
16X23 cm.
sold.

Â ^Pyramids Fantasy^
watercolor on paper
17X28 cm.
sold.

^Como un Sueño^
watercolor on paper.
16X23 cm.
sold.

men with hats.

2007-10-16T13:41:00.001-07:00

Êl futuro lleva un sombrero^
watercolor on paper
23X27 cm.
sold

^El Porteño^^
watercolor on paper
20X34
sold

Êl Joven^
aka.. ^Lagrimas de oro..^
watercolor on paper.
27X30 cm.
possibly, the most beautiful object, i have ever done..

$150.00 usd.

this blogging thingy...

2007-10-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

so.. i have this blog thing.. but dont know how to use it.. so, with time and energy, i hope to have something interesting.. but, now, i feel it can be a place to share my paintings.. which, could be another hassle, since i do not own a digital camera, and dont think i will have the money to buy one anytime soon.. so, bear with me peoples.. for now, enjoy what there is.. and what there is not as well. its all rather pleasant..

paz.

segunda

2007-10-01T18:46:00.001-07:00

Â Highlighted Heart^
watercolor on paper
23X29 cm.
$70.00 usd.

Â silhoettes silhoette^
watercolor on paper
17X30cm.
sold.

^Beauty Split Between Two Uglies^
watercolor on paper
27X43 cm.
sold.