568/ RUNWAY

2011_11_19
Inside a group of LA’s most eclectic and manicured men, women and in-betweens, have amassed a crowd that mimics the English blitz kids of the early 80′s (think Boy George) and the dance embellishments of LA’s own krumpers and clowns (think LaChapelle’s “RIZE”). But these kids do it with their own funk and grace that sets them apart from any other club scene I have been to in my 26 years in LA. I fully believe, that if we embrace this event and this scene, we have a brand new New Romanticism on our hands. The creators of Runway have intelligently gathered not one name, but over 10 of the most recognizable and interesting faces of young gay LA.
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JACKPOT

My friend and former editor at Butt Magazine, Adam Baran, wrote a screenplay bringing to life the adolescent comedy he would have wanted to see as a teen. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the live reading at Outfest earlier this year, but I full support the idea behind this project as well as all his efforts.
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450.5/ ARTWERQ

2011_06_09
/venue: The Downtown Independent
/party: ArtWerq presents BISHI
/hosts: CoMa
/music: Aaron Elvis & Phyllis Navidad
/curator: Steven Kiss of Callinois Art
/photos: Jake
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435/ UN[TIT]LED

/venue: (Sub)Urban Home
/event: UN[tit]LED
New Work by Cody Bayne
For more information of the on-going exhibition check out the facebook event, and reference our earlier interview with Mr. Bayne himself.
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433/ DRIPPED

2011_05_20
The queen bee over at Pop Tart gallery, Phyliss Navidad, teamed up with Geisha, Jessica&Kelly, and several local designers and artists to bring us Dripped this past weekend. The first in a series of bi-monthly trunk shows was quite the success and luckily I was able to get an amazing pair of Banjela white hot pants just in time for summer.
Looking forward to some more summer night shopping.
/venue: Pop Tart Gallery
/party: Dripped: A Trunk Show x Fashion Soiree
/host: JAK
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Q & A WITH CODY BAYNE

Having been friends with Cody for a few years now, we’ve never talked candidly about his work and process. Initially getting to know him as a promoter and eventually client, it wasn’t until later that I came to know him as a painter. And though we’ve discussed art in general terms or compared notes on other artists, this is the first time I’ve gotten to get some insight of this side to him.

Where do you derive inspiration for your work?
It varies really.
About 4 years ago in Berlin I got really inspired by the tagged walls and graffitti upon practically every building. There is something about where the need to make marks upon a wall, and in a sense say “I am here, I exist.” I find the need for what i call the “immediacy of identity” the most interesting, and then the culture of painting over this mark by authorities just as interesting.
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426/ THE BIG PENIS BOOK 3D

2011_05_11
Gogo dancers atop tables in the chichi Taschen Beverly Hills bookstore, while Chi Chi LaRue spun the latest pop hits could only mean one thing – the release of The Big Penis Book in 3D. After checking the party and the packages out, Jeremy and I ran into a few familiar faces including Mr. Black hosts Lenora Claire & the origianl ass himself Luke Nero. Yet, somehow managed to miss the people we intended to meet-up with.
Shortly thereafter the crowd got to be a little much, so we headed over to Stripper Circus to conduct a business meeting, we ooze class.
/venue: Taschen
/party: The Big Penis Book – 3D Release Party
/music: DJ Chi Chi LaRue
/host: Marcus Jordán
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WIFE

/new piece from the genius mind of Nina McNeely and company; description of collective below:
WIFE is a collective of three l.a based artists: Kristen Leahy, Jasmne Albuquerque, and Nina McNeely. Our shows consist of live contemporary dance interacting with projected animations. All the choreography, concepts, and animations are created by WIFE. We also collaborate with local costume designers and musicians including danish designer MoonSpoon Saloon, Robbie Williamson (We are The World), Megan Gold (We are The World), Dorian Wood, Hecuba, Oscar Santos (Sister Mantos), and Ryan Granich (9d9).

YOUTH

Having had lunch at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs and spying several hipsters lounging by the pool, I was reminded of this photo set I shot a few years back. And while I wouldn’t consider the included images as art and rather an exercise in aesthetic, I’ve filed this post under that category for ease.
Since these were taken at the Sandpiper Motel in Costa Mesa, I was going for a grimier look, the association with Palm Springs is a little odd, though the hipsters triggered something in me. Something about the temporality and disposability of youth and beauty has always interested me in relation to photography in that your capturing an instant that cannot be replicated, despite trying.
And with that I’m looking forward to making new work.