Before April 1st, I sent a press release (view it for yourself) to all the local art critics saying that:
(1 I would be walking (map) three and one half miles from Sputnik on Broadway to Andenken Gallery on Market, carrying a six foot by six foot painting.
I invited the local press to tag along. I was going to wear a costume that was made up entirely of my NEXT BIG THING flyers. I had someone in line to film the entire walk for me.
and -
(2 I had exhumed the body of none other than Andy Warhol, who was going to be representing me during first Friday. I, being famous, had more important things to do.
I printed this press release on the back of one of my flyers. I sent just the most silliest things with the press release in large manila envelops.
I waited. Not one response to my press release. I mean, come-on: it was April 1st. These were weird and crazy things to say you were going to do.
I did them, anyways. Here's some shots of the walk -
Thanks goes to Jessica Bett, who manned the DV Cam and took digital pictures with the trusty Elph and somehow didn't run and scream away from my eccentricies. Thanks, Jessica!
Walking out of the Hi-Dive
I had an art show at Sputnik, which is right next to the Hi-Dive - basically the same place with a different feel. Show ended the night before. I took all the paintings, except one home with me that night and decided to walk this one home. I've done this before, with this exact painting and I had a whole lot of fun doing just that. Natalie, whom the painting is of, wanted to film me walking the painting home, so this film is for her. Here I am, coming out of the door.
Flyering
I was able to rest a bit and put some flyers up while I walked. Sirens were heard while I was putting this up, as if on queue.
I Missed The Bus
I decided to cheat and see if I couldn't take the bus. The busdriver was so totally into taking me for a ride. I declined, as he was going the opposite direction.
I'm surrounded by two different kinds of people: private highschoolers and crack whores. The highschoolers were somewhat a surprise to see there. I signed autographs on the flyers. People wanted them dated as well. I complied.
15th
This guy's name is alex. He has a website too. Small world. We rapped about how to make canvases. Of all things. Dude was ripped. Interesting who approached me and for what reason.
It's Katie Taft!
On the 16th Street Mall, we ran into none other than local Art Star, Katie Taft! Katie was on business, but I wrangled her into being in my film. I gave her direction: She was going to walk, I was going to approach her, ask her to take my painting for a little while, and I would stretch and take it easy. I wanted the footage we were taking to make a story based on The Stations of the Cross, and there's one part where one of the apostles helps Jesus carry the cross for... some reason... who knows. Been a while since I've been to church. Thank God.
Katie performed flawlessly. Here she is, giving me back my painting, and I gave her the International sign to, "Call me". Thanks, Katie.
Outside of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver
This girl was evidentally working the door. I gave her the whole deal of what I was doing and asked if I could come in, walk around and film. She declined my idea and that was OK. I gave her a flyer. She was a good sport. I had recently became a member of the MCA and was rejected from their Biennial.
Here's the whole video:
So an hour later, I took a shower and dressed up as Andy Warhol to do the First Friday Art Crawl; every first Friday, most art galleries in the city have a big opening and free crackers and wine.
Being Andy Warhol is easy: A pair of Wayfarer RayBans, a dumb looking wig and acting at the same time completely ambiguous, not liking anything at all and telling other people to think for you. I am a natural.
I was bored out of my MIND looking at all the art on the walls. I realized that it was much funner to have art that moved outside of a gallery. Like: earlier today when I took that to its literal extreme. I'm snarky like that.
Regardless some shots:
It's Clark Richert!
Perhaps THE most famous artist in town - Gak's video taking caught Warhol and him talking at the Kinetics show at the Andenken. After all, it's who you're seen with that matters and Mr. Richert is the Gold Mine in that respect.
Jerimiah
Jerimiah taught me to told me to hold my ring finger up to my mouth and pick at it from time to time. I could then swivle on this finger to give a half-assed wave to people I really didn't want to say hello to. Brilliant. Observe:
Beau there is my Number 1 fan, as you can tell.
Mary Anne
You can't be Warhol without a Femme Fatale. Natalie was supposed to play Edie Sedgwick for me, as the similarities are startling, but she forgot to tell me she was in a fashion show that same night. Enter: Mary Anne, played by Mellisa.
My pants in this picture are covered in paint. The jacket is Armani.
Gerard's taking the picture.
It's Lauri Lynnxe Murphy!
I stopped by another local Art Star, Lauri Lynnxe Murphy's Pod/Capsule and tried to look not so tall. Observe the vintage Polaroid camera in my hand.
Lipgloss
Being Warhol, you're invited to do all sorts of things only important people do. Here he is in the DJ booth of a local dance night called, Lipgloss. That's Michael doing the mixin'.
There's Dirty Larry!
Being Warhol also means hanging out with up and coming people that are beautiful. Larry of Fakture's date, Larry, Warhol and Danielle, girlfriend of the Swayback's Eric.
So ended my night. I met a girl during that night, dressed up as Andy Warhol. I gave her a flyer and told her all about, THE NEXT BIG THING. She seemed amused. She asked what he did. I told her, he dresses up and talks to people. I gave her, THE NEXT BIG THING's card and told her to call him. She did. When we talked the next day, she hadn't a clue that it was me who was dressed up as Andy Warhol, giving a flyer and my own business card to her.
April Fools.
She came down and met "me" for the first time the next Sunday and we checked out a show at Monkey Mania.
