“I look at what I got. I don’t look at what I don’t have. I look at what I have.”

part I

part II

There’s been a lot of talk about the 99% percent these past few weeks. If you’re not sure if you are part of the 99% you can read your comrades stories here and see if you are part of the majority. Does your life story apply? Occupy Wall Street is spreading. Greed is corrupting. Debt is growing. Fear is encroaching. Cost of food is sky rocketing. Cost of housing is insulting. Education is shrinking. Bankruptcy is happening. Arrests are increasing. Talk of dissent is in the air. And as Ned Stark would say, “winter is coming.”

Be Nice Art Friends is exactly that – a group of friends. We find comfort and inspiration in one another. Through art and creativity we feel at home. Through friendship and love we feel at home. We laugh and struggle side by side along this confusing journey that we’re all on. We have a place to call “home” and on this First Friday of October we hope that you have a place, a purpose, a reason, or a person to call “home” as well.

Be Nice World. Be Nice Art Friends.

Alabama, Arkansas,
I do love my ma and pa,
Not the way that I do love you.

Holy, Moley, me, oh my,
You’re the apple of my eye,
Girl I’ll never loved another one like you.

Man oh man you’re my best friend,
I scream it to the nothingness,
There ain’t anything we need.

Well, hot and heavy, pumpkin pie,
Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ,
Ain’t nothing please me more than you.

Ahh Home. Yes we are home
Home is wherever there is you.
Ahh Home. Yes we are home.
Home you are me and I am you.

La, la, la, la, take me home.
Mother, I’m coming home.

I’ll follow you into the park,
Through the jungle through the dark,
Girl I never loved one like you.

Moats and boats and waterfalls,
Alley-ways and pay phone calls,
I’ve sure went everywhere with you.

We laugh until we think well die,
Barefoot on a summer night
Nothing could be sweeter than with you

And in the streets you run afree,
Like it’s only you and me,
Geeze, you’re something to see.

Ahh Home. yes we are home.
Home is wherever there is you.
Ahh Home. yes we are home.
Home you are me and I am you.

A great sunny day, bop your head and take it all in kind of tune! Take the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weekend we’ll be given with the people you care about the most; and don’t forget to smile!

lots of love,
best wishes,
and big smiles,

-JOEY!

GIGI CHEN
Be Mine (bye bye forever)
Colored Pencil on Color Paper
15″ x 15″
2011

This one is a hat’s off to one of my favorite artists and all around great people. We have been highly anticipating this solo show by Don Porcella and will be sure to be at the opening reception tomorrow night at Spattered Columns to experience the imagination and world of characters manifested in pipe cleaners, mixed media, and painted encaustic.



(view of the artist’s studio)

Don Porcella (BFA California College of Arts and Crafts, MFA Hunter College) has been a creative force in the New York City art world for over ten years. Porcella utilizes humble materials in innovative ways to craft a unique commentary on the human condition. Drawing from his own imagery of the suburban and his interest in folk art, cartoons, and science fiction, Porcella’s work allows the subjective and strange to penetrate humorous representations of a wildly imaginative reality. Don Porcella: Everything and Nothing at All includes new installations featuring cave painters, crystal skulls, alien encounters, bonfires, birds of prey, and other whimsical work.

Born and raised in Modesto, California, Don Porcella’s artwork has been exhibited at galleries in New York City, Berlin, Paris, Copenhagen, East Hampton, Washington D.C., Miami and San Francisco. Porcella’s art has been reviewed in the New York Times, NY ARTS, Fiber Arts Magazine, Chelsea Now, San Francisco Magazine and the Village Voice to name a few.

The opening reception for Don Porcella: Everything and Nothing at All will take place from 6pm-8pm on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at Spattered Columns, 491 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York, New York 10012. The show will run until October 28, 2011, and will feature a live musical performance in the gallery by the artist and Nicholas Fevelo on Wednesday, October 26th, 6pm-8pm.

I have recently been working with stylist Meghan J. Czerwinski creating images for a new project.
Here’s a preview of whats to come, enjoy!

I co-wrote/produced this Foo Fighters’ music video. It was part of the “This Video Sucks” contest, there were 11 winners in all.  Check it out.

 
http://wastinglight.foofighters.com/

You may want to go to the Foo Fighters’ official youtube channel and watch the other winners as well

I was out at an art opening with some friends downtown last night and in walked this absolutely stunning woman with long entangled curly locks and red stockings who I later found out to be Valerie June. This was the first wow moment. Play the 2011 SXSW Showcase Artist video and visit her page for the second, third, fourth, fifth! An absolute star…

A ‘self-taught’ guitar player, composer and troubadour of heartbreak ballads, folk songs, spirituals, soul-stirring blues and what she calls “Organic Moonshine Roots Music”. Valerie is poised to reach a wide audience as one of the stars of the ballyhooed new MTV web series “$5 Cover” which is written and directed by Craig Brewer, creator of the Oscar-winning movie: Hustle & Flow.

Casiokids