Michael Bies: Composition Extraordinaire.

Longtime friend, former bandmate, and seasoned composer, Michael Bies is among the growing list of artists to be showcased in Southern Florida this coming week. Bies will be performing in Palm Beach on Sunday, 27 December. I know I'll be there... can't wait to support my incredibly talented pal!

I just got this blurb from the Palm Beach ArtsPaper about the gig...

A local composer offers a fresh collection of art songs set to texts by the great American poet William Carlos Williams in a concert Sunday afternoon at the Lighthouse Center of the Arts in Tequesta. Michael Bies, who teaches at the Jupiter Academy of Music, also is a composer with a sizeable body of work to his credit, as his website shows. Baritone David L'Hommedieu will sing the Williams songs in its world premiere performance. Soprano Roberta Rehner also will be perform in the concert, which is dedicated to the art song and aria repertoire; music by Bernstein, Britten, Mozart, Schubert and Wolf is scheduled. The recital begins at 3 p.m. in the museum at the Lighthouse Center. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 children. Call 746-3101 or visit www.lighthousearts.org.

Mock Show: EPIC NYE (Miami, FL).

I will be exhibiting my recent prints in Miami as part of a group show coinciding with Phish's four-night run at the American Airlines Arena. The exhibition is Wednesday, 30 December from 10am-3pm...

EPIC HOTEL
270 Biscayne Blvd. Way
Miami, Florida 33131
14th Floor
Metropolis Ballrooms

EPIC NYE welcomes exhibitors from around the world including official Phish artists Jim Pollock, David Welker, Jeff Wood, Justin Helton and Sei Rey Ho. Additionally, Headcount will be sponsoring an opportunity for patrons to engage themselves in the democratic process of voting by helping stage a juried art event wherein patrons will receive ballots upon entry (and previously online) to “vote” for the their artists spanning various categories including “Best of Show”, “Best New Artist”, “Best Mock Show Poster" among others. These votes will be tallied and awards will be presented during a catered VIP banquet ceremony Thursday, December 31st, 2009 from Noon-4pm. The awards ceremony will feature an additional surprise roster of artists exhibiting in a currently undisclosed location.

More information about the show can be found at the Mock Show webpage...

Haakon Musser Gruenhagen.

This is my littlest friend and my best one-year old friend, Haakon. We've been shredding on his new ramp a bunch lately... this kid's gonna go pro someday! Uncle Fwanky's trying to set a good example by donning the pads (plus, I'll break myself, again, if I don't). Check out Haakon's gear (junior elbow pads are full-arm protection). Amazing little dude... son of two of my best friends in the world, Shawn and Jeanette. Happy Birthday Haakon!

Festival 8: Totally worth it!

Phish reinvents themselves... again. After another spectacular weekend, full of installation art, 93 degree weather, microbrews galore, ridiculous costumes, and top-notch jams, it'd be hard to ever miss a Phish festival again. The Empire Polo Club in Indio proved to be even more impressive than the last time I was there for Coachella... and Phish's musical costume: The Rolling Stones' Exile On Main Street... what a party!

As far as my octopus-themed Halloween identity... things went well. I am extremely thankful that my incredible students helped me build this elaborate octopus costume, and equally as thankful that I was able to stuff it into my pack and carry it on the plane with me (luckily, I didn't need much else with my California friends bringing the camping gear).

And, thanks to all the kind support in Cali, the OctoFest prints sold out of the festival allotment on Saturday morning (before I even got in costume, unfortunately); I have a limited number left here at my studio in Denver (less than twenty, plus about eight artist proofs)...

I saw a lot of great artwork out there this weekend and wanted to send my appreciation to Isadora, Jerzy, and so many other fantastic artists for doing what they do. I look forward to seeing you all in Miami and hope to have some new art to spread around.

The AL isn't Real Baseball.

For what it's worth, I was just thinking about the incredible game of baseball and why it has always been my favourite sport... I imagine that much of my attraction for baseball comes from my family and the rich tradition it holds in our unity. My parents tell me that my first word was ball... I believe it. As long as I can remember, I have loved playing hardball and loved following the family team, the New York Mets.

Well, the Mets can certainly be embarrassing and difficult to stand behind (most seasons of my life), but at least we've got one thing we can be proud of... we play in the National League. Baseball is a game of strategy, a game of skill and craft, a game of athletes... it is unlike any other sport in that it takes nine players out on the diamond, playing offense and defense. It is not made of offensive teams and defensive units, like football. The National League is the only model of true professional baseball we have in the States. The designated hitter takes the complexity out of the game... I believe in small ball, manufacturing runs, double switches, pitchers bunting, strategy... and I believe in the NL.

Don't get me wrong, there are teams in the AL that I like... teams that play NL-style ball like the Twins, but by and large, it's hard for me to pull for the American League in the Series. Now, I can't think of a time in recent history that I've cared less about the World Series than today, but as much as I resent the Phils... I'll never stop rooting against the most disgusting franchise in all of professional sports, the New York Yankees (that's a rant for another day).

OctoFest.

In anticipation of Festival 8, the epic three-day Halloween party, I have created a new print. The screenprints are available for pre-sale now and will be available in the festival campgrounds and parking lots next weekend.

OctoFest is a limited edition three-colour screenprint run of 150, all signed and numbered. Please contact me if you would like to purchase a print (shoot me an email at paisleyblue(at)gmail(dot)com. Price is $25, plus $10 shipping/handling in mailing tube to anywhere in the US/Canada. Please also add $2 if paying by PayPal to cover their fees.

In case you're not hip on Festival 8, here's a little more about the spot and the magic that lies ahead. With lush green fields and palm trees, and surrounded by vistas of California's majestic Santa Rosa mountains, the Empire Polo Club (home of Coachella) is simply breathtaking (just trust me). So, keeping the tradition of past Halloween shows, Phish will don a musical costume on Halloween night and cover another band's album. The tradition began on Halloween 1994 with Phish covering The Beatles' The White Album. In subsequent years, they covered The Who's Quadrophenia, Talking Heads' Remain in Light and the Velvet Underground's Loaded.

The band will play eight sets over the course of three days, and as with all past Phish festivals, fans will enjoy on-site camping, numerous attractions and art installations throughout the weekend. And, on Sunday morning, Phish will perform it's first full-length acoustic set with complimentary coffee and donuts! There will be dozens of microbreweries around the site, MLB World Series coverage (as long as the Yankees aren't in it) at an Olympic peak overlook tent, light installations all over the palm trees and grounds, and well, I'll be walking around in an octopus costume selling my prints on Halloween!

Mount Phishmore.

As a longtime fan and contributing artist to the Phish scene, I have created several t-shirt designs for past tours and festivals, but have only recently broke into the fine art print market. Mount Phishmore is my first effort and I appreciate all of the overwhelming support and kindness people have offered me at the shows and online. I look forward to creating more drawings/prints for Phish for years to come...

Mount Phishmore is a limited edition screen print run of 150, all signed and numbered. I sold the prints at the first three days of Red Rocks and have about twenty-five more to sell online. Please contact me if you would like to purchase a print. Price is $25, plus $10 shipping/handling in mailing tube to anywhere in the US/Canada. To see a better shot of the print, visit ExpressoBeans.com (concert art collectors community) and search for Mount Phishmore. Thanks again for your support.

The Return of Phish.

The cycling of seasons is a primal fact of life, and though this summer was loaded with travel, friends, family, and shows, I welcome the onset of transition into autumn (perhaps my favourite of the seasons). Summer Phish tour has always been a synthesis of these elements, and why I was so eager to get back on the road to see the boys to see if they still have it.

Well, there's no question, they are fine-tuned, focused, and ready to go... Having plenty of speculation, I initially thought I'd try to make it to a few shows to feel it out. But after ten shows this summer, I am left counting the days until Festival 8, they're Halloween Festival in Indio, CA. I saw friends I haven't seen since college. I saw songs I've never seen. And, I saw the most incredible live artists to ever walk on stage at the most beautiful venue in the world: Phish at Red Rocks (four nights). In addition to the four Red Rocks (Denver-ish), I saw Star Lake (Pittsburgh-ish), Deer Creek (Indianapolis-ish), a pair at Alpine Valley (Milwaukee-ish), Darien Lake (Buffalo-ish), and Hartford Meadows (Hartford).

The best show: Hartford Meadows Music Center (14. August 2009). Hands down. Not only was the setlist epic, but the playing was as good as I've seen since the late nineties! The energy of the crowd and the band alike was electric. They couldn't help but bust out rarities and special treats, complete with vacuum solos and classic stage antics. I have never seen Trey that happy on stage (his smile grew into an uncontrollable laugh during Mockingbird)... and his energy transcended to the fans. Hartford was my 73rd Phish show, and it will always live in my top three favourite shows.

Thanks to all of the friends, old and new, that I had the opportunity to spend time with at the shows this summer. Something tells me there are plenty more where those came from...

Fresh 23 Documentary.

As you may know, I did the FRESH 23 Fashion Show again this year, and I just got the official documentary back from the filmmaker, Mark Spencer. Mark is a professional film director and editor, and has worked with a long list of companies such as Vans and Volkswagen... he's sort of a big deal. The dude is legit; he's actually working on a spot right now for the Sundance Film Festival. Regardless, it's definitely a pretty rad piece of promo for our project and for my studio, etc. It's fifteen minutes long; view it if you have a chance and let me know what you think...

And, in case you didn't get a chance to see photos of the shoes, they are still posted on the Jones Soda website. The winning design (by Sarah Miles) is being printed on 40,000 cases of Jones Soda and is being distributed nationwide! Look out for it...

European Tour: Phase Six (Paris, FRANCE)

The grand finale of the European Tour was a three-day Paris peregrination. We stayed just off the Metro line, so it was easy to get around the city to see what we wanted to see. I was spoiled in Paris; the art, the culture, the food... it was all that I dreamed of. It was amazing to observe the spectacles I've studied and only seen in art history books until now. From the Notre Dame Cathedral's classic Gothic architecture to the hundreds of impressionist masterworks in the Musée d'Orsay, studying the art in-person was a privilege I'll never forget.

In addition to the d'Orsay, I was able to check out the Musée Rodin's beautiful gardens, Jim Morrison's grave, and of course the Louvre. Naturally, the Louvre blew me away. The miles of art stretched across the sumptuous building revealed the most famous collection of art in the world. I have to admit that I became overwhelmed and couldn't get through the entire museum in the half-day I alloted myself, so as with many other places on the trip, I'll have to return. I think I enjoyed the d'Orsay even more than the Louvre; I am personally more inspired by the color and the brushstrokes of modern approach and execution.

On the final evening, we went to Montmarte for dinner and to check out the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur and to watch the sunset over Paris from atop the hill. This happening nightclub district and arts sector is a nonstop party. And, I like a party; needless to say, we had fun.

Unfortunately, after two weeks, it is time to return to reality (sort of). I fly home for one day in Denver and then I'm back out on the road for a run of Phish shows, starting at Star Lake (outside of Pittsburgh) and heading back into the midwest through the end of the tour. It's a reality I look forward to.

European Tour: Phase Six (Lucerne, SWITZERLAND)

Switzerland is an obvious paradise. We stayed right on Lake Lucerne in the valley of the Swiss Alps for two nights... sounds pretty far out, right? It was. I ran along the lake as far as I could and took this shot with my iPhone the second night just before sunset.

Switzerland is the most expensive place I have ever traveled, but it's worth it. I can only imagine how rad it must be to ride these mountains on a snowboard... someday, I'll know.

And, of course, we had to experience the fondue and the chocolate of Switzerland... not just because we're typical American tourists, but because I am addicted to cheese and dark chocolate. After lunch, I headed to the Luzern Museum of Art. They had an intriguing contemporary exhibits of Giacomo Santiago Rogado, David Shrigley, and most notably Hans Erni.

Here's Wes, our humble tour director, at the Lion Monument in Lucerne. The lion is a pretty spectacular sculpture, but it is Wes that makes this photo blog-worthy.

The new face of Coca-Cola Light.

This is John Braham. He is great. Here he is, sporting his favourite Mets colours on the set of his most recent Coca-Cola Light commercial shoot. Stay tuned for the full collection of commercials we shot while on tour in Europe...

European Tour: Phase Five (Innsbruck, AUSTRIA > LICHTENSTEIN)

Innsbruck... best yet! Austria is brilliant. This city in the Alps rivals the beauty and reputation of Telluride but for some reason, it's even cooler. I can't wait to go back and spend more time in Austria and next time around I'll make sure to hit Vienna.

Lichtenstein was a quick in and out on the tour. There wasn't much happening in the capital (Vaduz), but we did have an epic foot race in the city center. The entire region is beautiful though... definitely worth the visit!

European Tour: Phase Four (Dachau > Neuschwanstein)

Dachau was was the first Nazi concentration camp opened in Germany in March of 1933 (the year Papa was born). Only 76 years later, in June of 2009, I went to the site with thirteen students and witnessed the amazing tragedies and stories of the victims. There is nothing I could say to describe the feeling I had walking through the camp and seeing what I saw. It's heavy and it weighs on my mind, but I am glad to have had the opportunity to see it and it will always remind me of the great fortunes I have.

I still struggle with the fact that even after such awesome genocide and total devastation, we as people can discriminate against other people... other members of our human race. The thing that hurts me so much is that I see bigotry and prejudices coming from people that I love, friends and family, people I look up to. Differences are good, acceptance is powerful; give it a try.

And, then, to flip modes of perception... we headed to the Neuschwanstein Castle, a 19th-century Bavarian palace commissioned by Ludwig II. It's apparently one of the most famous castles in the world and is the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disney Land. For what it's worth, it's a pretty ridiculous sight with ridiculous art and intricacies inside as well as out. The view from the castle isn't so bad either, check it out...

European Tour: Phase Three (Nuremberg > Munich)

Yesterday we spent the afternoon in Nuremberg. It was a beautiful day (nicest weather we've had yet) and we walked through the streets, art galleries, churches, and market. I dug it.

Then, on to Munich... we started with a late night/early morning with a visit to the Hofbrau Haus. Thus, I ended up sleeping through much of the bus tour of the city this morning. So, when we got out for lunch, Schmidty and I rented bikes and set off for our own survey of the city. I think it was much cooler than seeing a city by bus anyway. We went through the gardens, the university district, and out to the Olympic center (home of the 1972 Summer Olympics). I even talked Schmidty into skipping lunch for a swim in the Olympic pool. It was pretty damn cool doing flips off the olympic diving boards.

European Tour: Phase Two (Dresden > Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC)

Well, Berlin was a blast! On D-Day we went to Checkpoint Charlie, the East Side Gallery (the largest remaining section of the Wall), and the Prater Biergarten. We ended up going to some authentic dive, an underground college bar that is Wes' (our awesome tour director, Irish) old hangout when he went to university in Germany. The stories are too many to share now, but remind me and I'll elaborate later.

Yesterday we visited Dresden on our way to the Czech Republic. Dresden was very relaxed and had a throwback vibe about it that let us enjoy the history and the sights before hitting the lively streets of Prague.

Prague is wonderful. Truly. I must and will return for a longer visit, but I am enjoying every second of my time here now. As Wes says, "we collected a good day today." From the Prague Castle to the gorgeous art nouveau paintings of Alfons Mucha to the Jewish Synagogue Museum to the walk through the market, the city boasts beauty in many ways. Tonight I took a few to their first jazz club. We went to Agharta Jazz Centrum downtown to see this killer sextet and enjoy some local wine.

European Tour: Phase One (Berlin, GERMANY)

In this, my third trip to Europe, I am embarking on a tour with thirteen students (high school and college, present and former art students of mine) and my colleague/pal Schmidty from WRHS. We are tackling six countries in two weeks! I'm sure I can't possibly keep up with this journal each day, but I'll try to post a few thoughts and photos as I go... Today is our first full day in Europe and we are exploring Germany's largest city. Berlin is righteous; it's edgy demeanor and vivid green tree covering are attractive to me. The hundreds of beer gardens are merely a bonus. Tonight we'll see what that's all about. This is the gang... awesome kids!

Moondance.

I love dancing with my moon, my Luna. I leave for a two-week European stint tomorrow (Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Nuremberg, Munich, Lucerne, Paris) and it'll be the first time I've ever been away from my best friend for that long. When I return, we'll hit the states in the bus for some summer roadtripping, as usual. Updates to come... maybe.

WR Farmer Baseball: Third in State

I had an amazing year in my first spring season as an assistant coach with Wheat Ridge. I feel fortunate to be able to have been a part of it all, and am proud of the boys for a damn good season. We went 18-6 and finished third in state after losing in the semi-finals to the eventual state champion Cheyenne Mountain Indians (Colorado Springs). It was a heartbreaking loss, but a few days later now, I'm starting to realize our accomplishments and the fun that made it all worth it. From a week in Phoenix this spring to the state playoff run, it's been more than an exciting ride. Adam and John are incredible coaches and I appreciate them welcoming me to the team. Learning the tradition of excellence and winning is what makes the legacy of Wheat Ridge Farmer baseball. It's difficult to let go of a season that ended like that and even harder to say goodbye to all the dynamic seniors we'll be losing. But, some of them will go on to play college ball (and some further), and they all will leave as better men. Good luck Marv, Arty, Park, G, Duffer, JB, and Hondo. I'll see the rest of you on the diamond this summer...

2nd Annual FRESH 23 Fashion Show

FRESH 23 is back for an encore show and it's right around the corner. I realize I haven't posted any life news in a while, but this has been what is occupying the majority of my time when I'm not on the baseball field with the WR Farmers. Please check out the student-run blogspot on our upcoming event. The show is on Monday, May 18 at 6:00pm.

This year's show promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Building on last year's blowout event, we have added several great sponsors and kicked it up a notch to include video production, limited edition bottles of soda (from Jones Soda), in addition to the same great tradition of complimentary refreshments, live music, a live DJ, and the quality sneaker art that our audience has come to expect.