14 locations for the City of West Hollywood

IMG_1959_small.jpg

‘The Sunset Experience’ // I painted and added my touches to 14 locations along the Sunset Strip - in collaboration with Gehl - the project aims to make Sunset Blvd. a safer place to walk, welcoming pedestrian interaction and engagement. The project was commissioned by the City of West Hollywood.

Supplement to our mural at Melrose and Orange in Hollywood

IMG_1609_small.jpg
IMG_1622_small.jpg

Supplement to our mural at Melrose and Orange in Hollywood. Dial 1-800-NO-PROBLEM to enter the Party Line (Prices and Participation may Vary, $ 1.99/min., Some Exceptions May Apply)

It goes without saying, but the world was a different place before the internet and cellphones. We’d head out in the morning to skate, paint, or whatever, and meet up with friends at a few spots around the city. If you didn’t find them at one, you’d run into them at another - or on the way there. You had a general sense of when dinner was and somehow just made it back home, unreachable the whole time.

Being connected like we are today has its upsides, but we’re also constantly distracted - if not outright addicted - to our phones. The dopamine-driven feedback loops keep us hooked: texting, checking likes, posting and doomscrolling.

Beyond the nostalgia, pay phones represent a time that felt freer, more innocent, less fragmented by distraction. With the last pay phone recently removed from NYC, these actions are my attempt to make them just a little harder to erase from the streets of LA.

For Malcolm in Venice Beach

IMG_0964_small.jpg
IMG_0961_small.jpg
IMG_0979_small.jpg
IMG_1005_small.jpg
IMG_0934_small.jpg
IMG_0948_small.jpg
IMG_2011_small.jpg
IMG_1985_small.jpg
IMG_1936_small.jpg

Hanging out with Malcolm this past week has been more than great. I painted his truck 11 years ago, and thought it was time for an update. Malcolm may be technically homeless, but he has the truck and it’s his home. He may not own much, but he is rich in spirit, optimism, humor and realness.

It’s amazing how much we take for granted. Running water, warm water, electricity, refrigeration, the value of 1 dollar etc. We’re so wasteful and consumed by consumption. When he’d make me sandwiches I caught myself almost throwing the paper plate away, but that paper plate isn’t just a paper plate - it has value and it is respected for what it is, so it’s kept and used again. . The more I painted, the happier he got and the more he wanted to give me. T-Shirts, food that was donated to him, which was very hard to accept at first. But the way it was is just that we both shared what we had, and it’s as simple and as beautiful as that. Great lesson in life. Most of us take without giving because we don’t yet know that giving IS receiving. As they say in Zen: ‘the nature of the bowl is to be filled. If your bowl is empty, go clean your bowl.’

In the end I painted every square inch of the truck, detailing it out and putting all my love into it, working with him on color choices, etc.

Here’s a list of things that would further help Malcolm, if any of u can help or donate these things please email me at theartofchase1@gmail.com  🙏:

-solar panel charging system so he can have electricity

-side window glass (it’s currently cracked)

-new engine

-chest of drawers

Ps: if you ever see him around Venice go say hello, he’d appreciate that 💘 . #givingisreceiving #venicebeach #muchlove #grumantruck #wonderbreadtruck

For PopLife / Mindstyle in Guandong, China

For PopLife / Mindstyle in Guandong, China. These are 3 of 12 walls on my floor at the ProAm Studio City Building that will house a creative hub, artist residency, film production and film school when finished. The other walls will be wall graphics I designs. Other floors have been designed and painted by Futura2000. MadSteez. Mark Bode, King Saladeen and others. Shouts to MD, Ben and RCNSTRCT!

'Into Light and Space' Solo Show

Very proud to introduce this new body of work. I'm delving into the world of fabrication using lightboxes, neon, plexi and various print techniques. After painting in the street for 25 years this is a real departure for me. See you at the show!