Painting in Progress

This is a painting that I never finished for the show at Fort Mason, but it worked out since I had enough work for the space. I've worked on this painting a couple times since the show, but getting into the studio yesterday got me amped to get going again.

Here are some surface details.

Eliza@Djerassi

Heather, Coco and I headed to the coastal mountain range today (3 hours away) to visit our friend Eliza Barrios who is spending three weeks as a resident artist at the Djerassi Artists Residency Program near Woodside. Just a stones throw to Neil Young's Ranch. Eliza gave us a tour of the artists barn which at one time really was for cattle, but now is studio space for the selected artists in the program. Ironic that artists can feel like cattle sometimes. It's a beautiful property and a great place for an artist to concentrate on their work without interruption. I put my application in for 2010 so we'll see what happens. Eliza says that around 800 artists apply and only 70 are selected. Stay tuned good or bad.

Here are a few photos from the trip. Will post a video once I finish editing it. While we were there we were quite fortunate to meet the program founder, Dr. Carl Djerassi, who just happened to be showing a scientist from Stanford around the property. Djerassi is best known for the invention of the first oral contraceptive... The Pill. Fortunately Heather and I wanted a child so Coco had her photo taken with Dr. Djerassi. :-) He asked what Coco's discipline was in the arts. I said, "performance art!"

Dr. Carl Djerassi

Amor Fati @ Joyce Gordon Gallery

Some video I shot at the opening of a show with friends, curated by Lian Ladia. Mel Vera Cruz installation in the basement.

Main gallery.

Amor Fati
January 8 - February 8, 2010
Opening Reception: January 8, 2010, Friday, 6pm-9pm

Kwatro-Kantos
(England Hidalgo, Marcius Noceda,
Carlo Ricafort, Mel Vera Cruz)
with
Malaquias Montoya
Miju (Michele Muennig & Juan Carlos Quintana)
Favianna Rodriguez
Carlos Villa

Amor Fati, love of fate, represents works that have passion towards life. Parallel to turmoil, history and progress - is a creative process of color, narrative and subjectivity. This is when an artist comes in to deliberate, paint, and tell stories of justice, torment, truth or even chaos - to the

devotion to " what is ". Curated by Lian Ladia.

House Cleaning on My Website!

Finally got off my ass ( well actually I was sitting down to do this) and cleaned up my website. I took some work out and added some new ones. Take a peek!

My splash page and my painting thumbnail page.

In the Slow Lane

Not having a show for a while has been really nice. I'm actually hanging out with my wonderful wife, and my 2 year old is calling me daddy again. So much for being a studio hermit! I've been plowing through all my slides and photographing work to build a digital archive. It's been a real pain, but once it's done, it'll be pretty sweet. I'm using Bento 3 by Filemaker if anyone is interested. I think it's for a Mac though. Let me know and I can give you a template.

Here are a few slides I scanned of work from the 1980's.

Pan 2!

The Pan!

At the end of the pan are Maria Medua, SFMOMA Artists Gallery Director and Steve Pon.

SFMOMA Artists Gallery Reception

Thursday's turnout was great with many friends making the trek to the city. I appreciate all your support and as usual it's always great to see and talk to you. Here are some pictures from the opening.

My super supportive wife doing Vanna White!

Happy New Year!

Another Great Idea!

Small piece that went to SF. It's acrylic on sheetrock. The frame is made of door trim that came from a wall we tore down between our living room and kitchen. great stuff!

FINALLY!

Heather, Coco and I delivered all my artwork to SFMOMA's Artists Gallery on Monday. It was raining, but it went without a hitch. The last few weeks have been a bear trying to get it all done: painting, framing .....

The reception is in January 2010 so I have a few weeks to clean up what the sunami left behind in the studio, watch a few episodes of Mad Men and be a father and husband. If you're in the area, hope you can stop by. I'll be posting the majority of the pieces on my Facebook page and website later.

This is the 6 footer, "A Temporary Paradise."

SFMOMA's Artist Gallery

John Yoyogi Fortes, Jessalyn Haggenjos, Mike Narciso January 7 - 29, 2010 Main Gallery Opening reception: Thursday, January 7, 2010 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Getting Close

Delivery to Fort Mason is this Monday so it's going to be a rough weekend tying up all loose ends. Here are some pieces that I feel pretty good about. If you're in the Bay Area (San Francisco) on January the 7th, please stop by for the reception, Here's a link to SFMOMA's Artists Gallery.

Last One!

This is a 40 x 50 inch painting that I started the other day. With delivery next Monday, I had to try and finish this before Friday. Saturday I'll be finalizing all the work and getting it ready for packing. I'll have to get them all photographed this week too. Lots to do!

Maybe...Maybe Not!

Tonight was freakin COLD! They say it's supposed to get down in the 20's. Well, all I can say is tennis shoes aren't a great barrier from cold cement. I think I'm done with the 6 footer that I've been working on, but I'll have to live with it for a few days.

Here's a quick piece of video I shot while working on it.

Paintings in Progress

A couple weeks to delivery and I'm still pluggin' away. A few pieces are finished, but there's a ton of smaller work that still need to be mount on panels. Looks like this weekend will be spent with my chop saw and a lot of coffee!

Here's a detail shot of the Manila Folder!

Damn it's cold!

It's been really cold these last few days. So much so I had to finally break out the thermals. This guys chillin'!

Paintings in Progress

Here's another video of recent work that will be going to SFMOMA's Artists Gallery at Fort Mason in January 2010

Current State - Paintings in Progress

This is where I'm at with the three 40" x 50" paintings for the January show. After taking the photos, I added to them. Just need to live with them for a while since I've been trying to get them as far as possible with the little time I have in the studio. Plus delivery is next month on the 22nd! Yikes!

Over Inflated

Idea Lost

Started this 6' x 6' painting today and had to dig out the hair dryer to get the paint to set. The nights have been so cold that its still pretty tacky in the morning. So far I like the progress on this one.

(Detail)

Painting in Progress

Got on this one again, but had to take today off to frame pieces going to Fort Mason. Not too bummed since it's freezing out there. Frost on the ground this morning. Might be time to break out the hair dryer since the paint isn't setting as quickly.