Erosion Deconstructed

Doodle on a Napkin.

Most things man-made are usually done twice, once on paper then again in actuality.
Working with Daniel Arsham has been an exercise in deconstruction. We begin with the end in mind, a concept, then proceed with conviction taking mental steps back to find the path of least resistance. The opportunity to produce artwork for permanent installation at Aventura Mall was exciting. For some time now the folks who manage Aventura embarked on an ambitious plan to infuse the halls of consumerism with fine art. In a effort to enhance the shopping experience for those who would otherwise not take an interest in or have the opportunity to experience first-hand the objects of contemporary art of today, the Mall has become the artist's patron.




Romance with Erosion.

Sculptural art production is rarely simple or easy. It takes allot of doing to achieve a desired result, particularly with the visionary work of young Daniel, one of Miami's own wunderkind.
There is nothing simple about simplicity. When you are good, it looks easy.



Because work can be overwhelming "Minimum Effort and Maximum Effect" is my guiding principal. It was taught by dear mentor Dan Friedman, the father of Radical Modernism.




Burning the Mid-night Cranes.

All the installation work had to be done after the mall was closed. Everything had to look all nicy-nice for the next day of shopping.



The Look is oh-so Snarkitecture.



For more on the recent work of Arsham visit Artlurker.

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Influence and Concern

Daddy Don't Screech.

You don't get to be the father of a nation without tremendous influence and a deep concern for the future of a people in a place that is heaven sent. Our founding fathers could not have imagined that in little more than 200 years this great experiment would be so trashed by a lack of concern for human life and the natural splendor that is the North American Continent.



Old Scruel: Tar, Feathers and a bit of Water-boarding.

Human nature indeed has a sinister side. There certainly have aways been some morally bankrupt people worthy of contempt, but there is another kind of person out there. The person who, in order to feel good, must inflict pain on others. With blood on their hands (bush/cheney) they abuse their influence with no concern for Karma.



My Way and the Highway.

Rush (the Limp) Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Oreilly and their ilk appear to wield tremendous influence on ditto-heads and Fundi-fruitcakes but are not the least bit concerned about our collective safety. They preaches hatred and encourages violence and intolerance. God bless their sorry drug-addled gas-bags.



Material Girl in a Spiritual World.

We are all in the midst of an epic conflict between the spiritual and the material. Call it what you like, Creationism vs Evolution, Intelligent Design vs Technology, the fact of the matter is that it's much ado about nothing. We need to reconcile the cosmic energy with sustainable means of providing comfort without trashing the material world. I used to hang out with Madona when she had little influence and a big concern for fame and fortune. Today she has tremendous influence yet little concern... unless you are an African orphan.




We Eat Cows.

A big juicy T-bone and a bottle of whiskey sure would be nice right about now. I come from a proud and hearty line of Cuban ranchers. But as We are What we Eat, most of today's meat is practically toxic. Our influence on the life-cycle of bovine has brought a grave concern for the very thing we crave, meat. It takes a barrel of crude to fertilize an acre of corn to force-feed the cattle that are pumped with hormones and steroids so their multiple stomachs don't explode.



Q: Why does man kill trees? A: Because trees can't run away!

Hat-racking is a popular request in the swamp as many "landlords" battle the elements using stuff like Round-up and businesses that specialize in lowering the quality of life. Clean is nice but we need all the green we can grow. They paved paradise to put up a parking garage.



I'm Looking Over,
Afoul-leaf Clover-leaf,
That I Over-looked Before....
The world went Car-racy.

So where does all this auto-business get us? It gets us in a pickle with progress.
Where is our influence, where is our concern? It is in the hands of others. We willfully shake our head and carry on in either dis-belief of just plain stupidity for the sake of personal convenience and sing in harmony " that's just the way it is now".



King of Kings, Bang of Bongs.

There is no Godzilla, there is no magic bullet, there is no fairy-god-father, there is no bail-out.
Just me and you and a dog named Sue. So what's there to do? Take a deep breath and find one simple thing to make a difference, be part of the solution. Turn off your a/c when it's not hot. Turn off your TV, read a book. Don't buy individually wrapped cheese slices or single size water bottles. Write to your congress-person. Get Godzilla on the phone.



A Stench in the Trench.

Seriously folk, there is stuff going on out there out off sight that would make your head boil.
Like rock pit mining in the Everglades or economic hit-men in the developing world or black-ops syphonning our treasury. Where is our influence, what is our concern?




Miami and the Beaches are rife with plundering projects. Sure they're good for some few, but is the South Point Park really for the public anymore or is the grandiose MIA Art in Public Places really for us to enjoy? no.

Who cares about what you care about.... swampstyle does.

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the sky is NOT falling...

... but the the north and south poles are definitely melting fast!
You don't have to be all Gore to recognize that global warming is a chilling thing and strangely beautiful.



Scientists say the collapse could mean the Wilkins Ice Shelf is of the brink of breaking away, and provides further evidence or rapid change in the region.



DWNTWN Miami gets a dose of mother nature. How many Floridians are prepared to live without air-conditioners and cars? I venture few.



In geologic time 50 years is but a blink of an eye, a micro-second. So why do I feel so old?
.


Not all crack is bad.
But when the Wilkins Ice Shelf fractures into cruise-ship size splinters, that's bad.



Size is not everything, but some ice-cubes are huuuuuuumongous.
It's not the icebergs already in the ocean that worry "rising sea levelers" it is the ice on dry land that slips into the oceans that we should be very concerned about.



It's the day before the Day After Tomorrow.
No amount of "green washing" will make a dime of difference.



Clever dude... wonder how many miles-to-the-astroturf this walking lawn-wheel gets.

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OMG, Bridge for Sale

I just flew back to the swamp from a trip around the world in 80 days and man are my arms tired!


Pick-up todays NY Times to ketchup on current events.



Have you seen the King of Pop sporting scruff and looking really hot?



We all like rich people... specially royalty because without them there would be no 'tickle-down' economics.


If one fool is god, two is butter, three is toast.



People have asked that I post a photo of I Was There, so here it is.

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Deep South, FL

Looking at this image of the Dade County flag should remind us all of another familiar and much maligned flag, the symbol of the confederate south.



Love it or leave it. These good-ol-boys will take their groves off and knock you silly if you tread on their beloved flag ... or suggest that baseball is another symbol of a past gone by.



Like a steamed bun, this antique baseball glove is also like a bagel, they never go bad.



These good-ol-boys know that somethings old can be new again... and very motivating.

Here in the deep swamp, the county commission has approved a multi-million dollar baseball stadium without public approval at a time when tax dollars are evaporating. The string of events that have brought us to this moment are twisted and nail-biting.



At the bottom of the ninth, this mega-construction project is not about baseball at all but about the money... how to roll with it. The officials wipe their collective smiles with our dwindling resources.



They plan on paying us back with sales of Marlin memorabilia like these shower cap thingies.



But we all know what gets people out to the ball game most...



Just the same, do not be surprised if this is the typical attendance for a game at the new stadium.



Where is Norman Brahman when you need him.
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Failing Upwards

The "pyramid scheme" applied to the wall... fabulously.

As an "artists artist" I am deep into the fine art world/industry and all the who-haw that goes with it. As a parent of an aspiring young artist, I try to provide good mentoring and council for tomorrows pool of talent. Though jobs in the arts may be scarce, it is important to keep a sunny disposition. There is no shortage of talent out there. But it becomes increasingly difficult when the art establishment is permeated with people who honestly convince themselves that certain seasoned art is more valid than students' work. With little to loose, let us step on some big toes.


Entry level art school... or celebrated blue-chip?
You be the judge, jury and executioner.



Student art project... or five digit auction thing-a-majig?
A perfect WTF moment.



Best in show... or just another WTF throw-up?
Be nice to fragile youngsters when critiquing .



If you 'scrabble' these letters... they might spell out "Big Yawn" with W T and F left over.



This is actually a very nice painting. Please make more of same.

And now for the moment of truth, the revelation that comes as no surprise.
All the above is the work of Richard Tuttle. I'm sure he is a perfectly nice person, but given the critical acclaim reserved for the very best and brightest, Tuttle has one more thing to master. The ability to command an audience with words, the art of orality.



The artist/corporate hybrid look is WTF fashion-perfect. Love the artzy types, but do not have sex with anyone over 40 that is dressed like that.

Here in the Miami the swamp is muddied with a multicolored flatness that is Britto art in public places. Our 'common folk' are not supposed to understand the presumed seriousness of Tuttle-esque artwork, but their tax dollars continue to fund local public arts institutions like MAM. Go figure.

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Lilt of the Irish

Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fondler
There was an old fellow from Trinity,
A doctor well versed in Divinity,
But he took to free thinking,
And then to deep drinking,
And was forced to leave the vicinity.



Trouble in Paradise
God's plan made a hopeful beginning,
But men spoiled his chances by sinning,
W"e trust that this story,
Will end in god's glory,
But, at present, the other side's winning.



Rush's Approval
There once was a lass with such graces,
That her curves cried aloud for embraces,
"You look," said Limbaugh,
"Like a million to me,
Invested in all the right places."




Teen-aged Mollie was a nice enough girl but, to her father's annoyance, she was something of a gossip. One morning, at breakfast, she startled her father with a bit of neighborhood news.
"Daddy, those new people who just moved in next door are secret drinkers" she revealed.
Mollei's father glared. "Young lady,"he snapped, " how many times must I tell you not to repeat rumors, and stick to the facts."
"But, Daddy, " Mollie protested, "it's a fact that rumors are flying!"



A Happy Saint Patrick's Day from the green swampthing.

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