Pop Culture Projects
The Great Plains Gypsies (stylized as “The Gyps”) front and back album cover from 2008.
Up All Night!, 2021, acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10 in.
Emerald City Coffee at 1224 W. Wilson sponsored a free painting event set up on the sidewalk on a beautiful summer day, August 10, 2021. Big bottles of student grade acrylic brushes, brushes, tables, and chairs, and 8 x 10 canvases were set up.
“Chicago”, 1999, Acrylic on canvas, Private collection. I did the hand lettering, too.
An image of this painting was reproduced for the promotional release of Grammy-nominated 200 release It’s Like This by singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones.
Lucky Duck, 2021, Flashe paint, fiberglass, 3 x 4 x 3 ft.
Lockport Ducks
In 2021, I was commissioned to painted a very large—to say the least—rubber duckie 3 x 4 x 3 ft. fiberglass sculpture. And yes, I believe it floats.
Sponsored Austin Tyler Construction and to support Papa Joe’s Italian restaurant, Lockport Ducks was an initiative by the City of Lockport and in conjunction with the Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery to alleviate economic strain small business suffered during the Covid pandemic.
My theme was “Lucky Duck”. Because I live near the Argyle Asian neighborhood in Chicago, the idea of luck is seen just about everywhere, usually with symbols, to bring luck to the businesses, its customers, and of course, its surrounding community. So I researched lucky symbols, not only American, but around the word, in popular culture, historical, and otherwise.
Because the duck would be installed outdoors and along a busy street in a commercial district, I used Flashe paint. The paint is designed for indoor/outdoor use, especially for theatre and film. For the latter especially because Flashe paint doesn’t reflect light so the lights from cameras and stage lightning do not distract the film or viewing of stage production. I wanted Lucky Duck to be highly visible and readable from the road but without reflective light that could possibily distract drivers.
I don’t know who purchased it but my thanks to the wonderful patron, sponsors, and the City of Lockport, especially project coordinator Brittni Calderon.
Read more about the Rubber Duckie project.