Whenever I return to Manhattan, I find myself wandering the streets… memories, flowing like wine. In November, I met good friend, Tony Black, for a pint of the dark stuff at Old Town. Before leaving, I told the owner, Fitz, “I’m going to paint your sign.”
They say, “do what you say you’re going to do,” so I did… and here was my source image.
My legally issued artistic license allows for interpretation. If you’d like to see the entire process in one minute in time lapse, narrated by yours truly… view this video… more of a photo and commentary person? Read on dear friend.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was a passionate leader… someone who spent 27 years in prison for his convictions, fought apartheid, and triumphantly became South Africa’s first black chief executive. When I was commissioned to create this portrait of Madiba… I immersed myself in the life and times of one of the world’s great leaders.
You can view the entire painting process, narrated by yours truly, in one minute. Do read on for a step-by-step analysis of the process.
If you would have told me, “man, you’ll be a married father-of-two, living in Idaho by your 36th year”… I’d have replied, “whatcha talkin’ bout”, and called you Willis.
The following is a true story… prose by Ryan Ariano… photos by Borbay…
It’s a disturbing thought, that somewhere in the Idaho high desert lurks a nuclear submarine, carrying the mark of the beast on its fin and the skeletons of Kruschev, Einstein, Oppenheimer, a forgotten city named Arco and a forgotten man named Zinn in its buried gut. For now the devil sub is frozen under moongrass, a small but vital relief for the burger joint standing at its bow. But you never know if, once the city has returned to dust and the vast Idaho winds have unearthed the great hulking corpse, it will set sail through the loam and finally off into the atomic sunset that had been promised here so long ago.
On December 3rd and 4th, from 10AM-5PM, four Teton Valley artists are throwing open their studio doors — and you’re invited! Tis’ the season to studio-hop in Victor, Idaho… and here are the delectable details.
Sometimes… the connection finds you. While researching neon signs, I discovered the Blue Swallow Motel. My attention immediately turned to the swooping bird… reminiscent of Twitter’s logo. Most 140-character-missives dissolve into the collective unconscious… some, as we now know, can change history.
I’ve been wanting to create a piece exploring Anthony Weiner’s pseudonym, ‘Carlos Danger‘, for ages — and the Blue Swallow triggered a memory. I met Weiner back in 2011, just as his first scandal hit the airwaves. Weiner is an ice hockey goalie, for those who don’t know. Clearly, Anthony had his hands full, so the team needed an emergency substitute keeper — not uncommon in beer league.
So there I am, half suited-up and ready to skate — when a distraught Weiner shows up in long baggy basketball shorts and a rather unseemly tank top. He began whining to the captain, who was sitting next to me getting his skates on. Needing the “stress relief”, he pleaded for the crease. I told the captain, “your team, your choice. If I bounce, you need to give me 30 bucks and a six pack.”
Well, the captain paid up, I got undressed and went home. The next day, I received a call, “sorry man, I wish you played, we lost 12-3. I’m trying to get a municipal contract out of him, so you know how it goes.” Even beer league hockey is ruled by politics.
I digress. Here is the dangerous process from start-to-finish captured in time lapse, with a soundtrack courtesy of my man MH the Verb. Read on for the creative process…
At their root, all signs exist to provide information. Some hope to offer a warm welcome. Great signs do way more, they evoke emotion and often memories.
For those of you in the community of people who had the privilege of spending a summer, or more, at Camp Echo Lake in upstate Warrensburg, NY, there are a series of signs that, when seen in sequence, take each and every one of you from happiness to bliss.
In August, I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with local landowner and thespian, Harrison Ford, at the Murie Ranch for the Spirit of Conservation Awards. My contribution was a commissioned, original painting — which was live auctioned by Larry Flynn to benefit the merged Teton Science Schools and Murie Center. Added bonus? Coraline is now a student at Teton Science.
If you’d like to see the entire work come together in one minute… check this time lapse.
Jackson Hole, WY — At 6:00 PM on Wednesday, October 12th at The Center for the Arts — this plate will auction to benefit Community Entry Services (CES) at “The Art of Love,” the first Annual Plate Auction. Tickets are available online and at the door. If you’d like to win this plate, but cannot attend, please email Rebecca with your bid. I will also be available to coordinate remote bids during the auction via text (contact me for details).
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