(ME and paintings of the good doctor Hunter S. Thompson)
On the eve of a bluegrass clash in this year’s NCAA final four my nervous energy explodes to share some moments and images from my recent trip to the Falls City.
About a month prior to the naming of this years field for the men’s basketball tournament one of my best bud’s, “Blotch” and I decided to gamble that the University of Kentucky Wildcats would be placed in the brackets being played at the YUM! Center in Louisville. We bought tickets for the seven-game series of first and second round games and after some nervous moments on selection Sunday we were rewarded for our vision.
Like so many other Cats fans Blotch and I, and later my wife and our friend “Squid” invaded Louisville for four days, staying at a hotel only two blocks away from the YUM! Center and a wonderful street-row of bars and restaurants.
(A signed and numbered print of “Pizza Guy” now belongs to Bearno’s Pizzeria manager, Todd)
One of which was this great pizzeria and bar named “Bearnos” located right next to the YUM! Center. There was great pizza and wings, drinks and live music and a lively vibe that was very welcoming. We were there so much during the four-day period that we made friends with the manager whose name was Todd. For the last two days we walked straight in and were seated, avoiding the standard 30-minute to 1-hour wait at the door. To show my gratitude I gave Todd a framed print (#2/3) of one of my favorite images, “Pizza Guy”.
(Images of CHEBO in my KAS Gallery exhibition)
While I was in town I decided to visit the KAS Gallery where my work has been on display since October. Meeting gallery director Tonya Smith in person for the first time was a relief as I discovered her to be very laid-back, fun and easy to get along with. It was also a relief to see the exhibit. I must admit I could literally feel my head swell when I saw my name displayed at the entrance and walked in to view my thoughts and creations proudly hanging on the walls. We set a date for my artist reception for April 27 as the show will finally wind to a close at the end of May.
While in the area I could not pass on the opportunity to hang out with one of my long-time friends, Susan Church, who’s visual art makes me wish I had one ounce of her talent and creativity. We spent the day visiting and playing with her children culminating in eating at “Against the Grain”, the Microbrewery/restaurant owned by her husband. Susan’s children are wonderfully fun and energetic and i can see so many of susan’s wonderful qualities in their personalities. It is such an experience to spend time with your close friends and their children. There are these moments when you can pinpoint behaviors and qualities that are directly descendant of your friends whom you have known for so long. It was a trip to say the least.
For all of the good vibes, creativity and progressive thought I received from my trip unfortunately there are always a few, well let’s be frank, “Assholes” who always seem to put life back in perspective for me. In this case it was a sect of radical religious activists who were disguising hate and loathing as the words of God and Jesus. Smart assholes as they were they had obtained parade permits from the city in the hopes of spreading their negativity to the countless blue masses that filled the streets to and from the games. One asshole was holding a megaphone in front of the YUM! Center spewing forth venomous claims such as “Jesus doesn’t care if you are a Wildcat or a Hilltopper. If you are not saved you are going to hell!” Or asking rhetorical questions such as “Why are you a drunk? Why do you fornicate outside of marriage? Blah, Blah-Blah, Blah-Blah ….” On another corner a different asshole with a megaphone asked my friend, Squid “Why are you dressed like a whore? Why do you need to have men lust upon your body?” It was obvious that her feminine charms, given to her by the creator, had evoked an unwelcome response in the asshole’s pants, thus putting him on tilt. They also had women in puritan looking dresses handing out literature, clearly having their thoughts and creativity controlled like herded animals. Unable to resist my urges to disrupt the verbal vomit being spread I went up to the asshole who called squid a whore and started saying “Beware of the false prophets! Beware of the false prophets!” and on my way into the game i stood in the face of the asshole at the YUM! Center with my olympus and snapped away from approximately one-foot away, saying a prayer of my own that he would take a swing at me. Like I said though, smart assholes. He could tell I was ready to be combative, either verbally or physically.
