Well a lot has happen since my last blog. The gallery my wife Tammy and I owned closed at the end of last October with very heavy hearts. We didn't do everything perfect, we even made some people mad. Which sometimes ways heavy on my mind and heart. That was never our intention, we wanted to bring the art community closer together, if we did some things wrong to you as gallery owners, I from the bottom of my heart and soul I apologize. Also, during our time we met great artists that hopefully people got to see and meet and experience their great style of art. One of them was, Tom Brown, a great local folk artist who could take objects and fashion them into mobiles, hourglasses and even great wood-working walking sticks, he sadly passed away last year and left a big hole in the art community. He will be greatly missed. Well, as most of you know the economy has been a big disappointment. Okay, it SUCKS. Times were a real struggle for me and my family as I'm sure it was for many of you who read this. But we muddled through it. Barely. I took a crappy job as a receiver during Christmas at JCPenneys, working Graveyard shift unloading trucks and preparing stock for stocking. That was hard work. They let me go after the holidays were over. I managed to find a part time job at Riverlakes Golf Course, very part time, 2 days a week , however it allows me to claim unemployment. Which is hard to live on, but we manage. I still continue with my art, with a few bright spots, I will be at Barnes and Noble for the month of June as their featured artist, with a reception on June 11th at 7pm, come out and celebrate my very first solo exhibition. I was also part of the Arts Council of Kerns ARTini, last year, were I was given honorable mention award for my Tikitini piece. That was pretty cool. I was also asked back by the Council to be part of there Gallery on the Green at Riverwalk Parks Spring Fest, which I sold one original piece and 2 reproduction prints, not a bad weekend. This Sunday the 5th of April our art and music promotions will host it's very first show. Bakersfield's 1st Annual ART HULABALOO at Studio 99 here in Bakersfield, bringing together 5 great bands, and countless Kustom Culture artists with many underground,alternative and emerging artists. Check out the poster in my default image. I'm also going to do my first First Friday Art Walk of the year April 3rd and be part of Golden Means great Divine Fusion at The Dome April 11th. So I hope to see you at one of these great events coming up.
Your friendly neighborhood artist
Mike