Making an exhibition of myself, again.

If you happen to be in Manchester anytime after the 24th, then feel free to take a trip to the Benzie Building at Manchester School of Art, where I and a bunch of fellow graduates from 1969 are exhibiting to celebrate our 50 years in the business, and since our graduation. All the details you need to know are on the poster right here. Don’t forget it’s weekdays only, but then if you are in Manchester on a weekend you do need to look at your life in detail. I’m off there for the opening and looking forward to seeing … Continue reading Making an exhibition of myself, again.

Mr Grumbly wanted for light balloon duties

You will be stationed next to a large metallic object the looks like a massive toy balloon and is the work of world renowned artist Jeff Koons. This is an exceptionally tactile piece of his work and is set on a plinth at the LACM Galleries here in Los Angeles. This plinth also reflects the work. Your duties will be to observe anyone getting too close to the artwork or, heaven forefend, actually touch it. You must advise them to step away from the balloon. You will be suitably armed with a plastic covered identity badge and a sullen manner, … Continue reading Mr Grumbly wanted for light balloon duties

Frank’s place, inspired by hollyhocks.

This is the Frank Lloyd Wright house in LA which like the Schindler House is well worth a visit, even if you are not that interested in architecture. Here’s a little more about it for a better understanding that I can give https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollyhock_House We went on a clear sunny day and the place is located in a small park. Unlike the Schindler House, and you will see from the information that Schindler was very much involved in this house too, here you cannot take photographs indoors. This is a great shame as the interior is absolutely fantastic. Wonderful feeling for … Continue reading Frank’s place, inspired by hollyhocks.

No image can do it justice, and there’s little justice.

My recent pieces have been about signs and other things that I’ve found interesting here in L A. The item below is a bit of a departure. Social media is about how good things are for the writers and I’m no exception but this one is not. We have been in L A for a few weeks wandering the streets, taking pictures of all sorts of items that I find either stimulating or amusing. Some areas are better than others and a so called poor district can be a street or so away from one where they advertise “armed response” … Continue reading No image can do it justice, and there’s little justice.

Sign of regeneration

Not far from the Getty Villa there are walks in Topanga National Park, we took a trail behind the Villa and climbed to the top to get the view over the coastline and in to L A. It’s worth it. It would seem that this area too has been affected by fire with blackened stumps here and there, but nothing too devastating, and it was good to see the trees regenerating with fresh green shoots appearing out of the blackened bark. Continue reading Sign of regeneration

This is a biggie!

If there’s no handy building big enough for your sign they can put it on one of these monsters, but if there is a handy building then job done. Though don’t forget that if it’s up that high it might look a tad smaller than the roadside jobs, and there’s a danger of crick neck when close to the building. Many years ago I thought I’d arrived when one of my drawing appeared on a 64 sheet poster. That’s one of the uk posters that are at the roadside and not like this on a huge gantry. The state of … Continue reading This is a biggie!

Like this, but don’t know what it’s about.

and this one below which is from a train museum. Sadly trains are much neglected over here. This little museum is a great place for a day out especially with small children. There are loads of old steam trains and coaches some have been fully restored and others are in the process of restoration. Make sure that you take a picnic as there are very few catering facilities on site. Which is rather odd considering that there is a history of fine catering on the railways as evidenced in my pictures below. I am told that trains over in the … Continue reading Like this, but don’t know what it’s about.

The Getty Villa, the best bits.

This relatively small sculpture from the Getty Villa, a house built by the multi millionaire on the coast just close to Sunset Boulevard was one of the really great things I found at the place. The actual place left me a little cold, it’s quite monumental and although the main entrance is on the main road and a short walk up a hill to the place itself, one has to reach it by four wheels. As the museum is free and the parking 15 dollars this might make sense, but it seemed like madness to me. I suppose it was … Continue reading The Getty Villa, the best bits.