Mapping America

My linocut map entitled “The Fifty United States and Their Mottos” is included in a new book–Mapping America: Exploring the Continent–that was profiled in the Guardian today. Looking forward to all I can learn from the other maps in the book, which is quite a tome. It’s their fourth “Mapping” book, after London, New York, England, and the Invisible (EU-Roma Gypsies). 

Burn Rubble

This is the first in an in-progress series of very small paintings of burned objects from a fire that was seconds from destroying my house, but didn’t.

In the backyard after was a pile of burn rubble from the neighbor’s apartment upstairs. Many of the things were only smoke-damaged, but a few were fire-affected. This 5×7-inch painting depicts a melted plastic container of toothpicks.

The DocuMentors

Two of my film mentors, Jilann Spitzmiller and Hank Rogerson, have become professional film mentors! I say: “You don’t need film school, you just need the DocuMentors”. Because making movies is expensive enough, and for a good price, Jilann and Hank can save you time, money, and sanity. I don’t know what I would have done without them & am so glad they are sharing what they know.

Gathering of Ohlone Peoples

Our film Buried Stories screened at the Ohlone gathering this year, and Ella’s sister Clara, aunt Ida and cousin Irma came. Above, Ida meets Ann Marie Sayers, a good friend of Ella’s and owner of Indian Canyon.

Lino Expo at Smokey’s Tangle

I, along with Nick Morley of the East London Printmakers, curated a show of linoleum block prints at Smokey’s Tangle for September 2009.

Parrots’ Corks at Pepperberg Lab

This summer, I visited Dr. Irene Pepperberg’s research lab at Brandeis University to interview her, Arlene, and several students for the film “A Day in the Life of Alex”. Pepperberg’s groundbreaking research with African Grey parrots has an interesting set of artifacts: colored wood, colored wool, colored corks, etc. used in isolating attributes of an object. The birds can identify color across a range of materials, materials in many colors, etc. and can use plain english to communicate this knowledge.

The Building’s Car

Oil sketch of a car we found at Smokey’s when we were first fixing up the building. There were toys and this was one of them. I made this 4×6-inch painting without brushes, just cosmetic q-tips and rags.

Buried Stories at the Society for California Archaeology

Julie and I exhibited Buried Stories at the Society for California Archaeology meetings over the weekend. After the show, we met a lot of great folks who had worked with Ella, some of whom I knew only by citing their work in reports and was quite honored to meet in person. Archaeologist Rob Edwards, who is featured in the film for his connection with the Lee Road incident in the 1970s, introduced the film and organized the showing. Rob has been tireless in his support for the film.