March
2000
Drewbird and Joslyn behind glass
Tonya and her friends bring discipline to the
West Hollywood Art Walk
March was a busy month.
For the last few weeks I had been bitten by the
creative bug and filled my home with finished and unfinished canvases.
My choice of media was exotic faux fur, electroluminescent
wire and feathers.
I had also started creating light animated costumes.
Both of my efforts would have to wait before they were displayed before
the public.
By this point in time, the lion share of my monetary
funds were becoming less accessible,
I was also running outta cash.
This worked very well with the starving artist
persona I was trying to perfect.
After a year of scarce income, I had refined
having a packed social lifestyle that involved the use of almost zero financial
outlay.
But money abhors a vacuum and eventually I started
to accept
freelance positions working again in graphics/effects
post production houses.
Kerry (Game show partner) with baby rodent
At West Hollywood Mardi Gras
Thom and Kirsty with baby Dylan
(Dylan's baby shower)
One day I got a knock on my door and it was Kerry from across the hall
telling me we had an audition for a game show the next day.
We pretended we were a dating and had met as professional Roller disco
dancers !
We beat out the competition and showed up at the recording of "Shop
till you Drop" at 8 am.
By 11 am Kerry and I left the studio having won almost everything on
the show.
We were up against a couple from Palm Springs who ended up leaving
with a years supply of "Rice a Roni".
Total winnings: a microwave, Barbecue, Camera, sewing machine, speaker
system, gift certificates, $300 worth of cinema tickets
and a 19th Century reproduction office desk (this was super nasty!).
Almost $4000 for a couple of hours work. Most of the stuff was sold
on-line as soon as we received it
but we still have the lovely video tape to show our grandchildren.
An evening at Giant
rave/night
club.
Carl Cox hyping
up the crowd
Moontribe
is an event I've been attending for about six years now and have made many
friends over the years at these parties.
Held usually in the desert surrounding LA (usually a 3-4 hour drive
) the gatherings encompass many things I love about outdoor events .
Being involved with large scale events in England this music scene
was one of the few things I missed being an expatriate.
These guys consistently threw great parties with great music and friendly
people in beautiful locations.
Some of the best weekends of the last decade have been spent in various
parts of the California
desert jumping up and down to the sounds of DJ 's Daniel, John Kelly
and Brad. A few of my favorite DJs.
The only downside is the lack of organization which is probably to
be expected
with a free non commercial event and the long distances involved to
bring the sound and have it arrive on time.
The enjoyment gained by attending Moontribe events eventually lead
us to be inspired to organize our own event outdoors
known as "Dune"
Mason gets in line
Naomi Quixotic happy for some reason?
Apparently it's all about fur and large sunglasses.
View Studio
was a large part of my life for two and a half years.
A boutique style graphics and effects house run by Bob and Jane Engelseipen
on Melrose in hollywood.
The design of the building was laid out more like a home than an office,
which spawned a very friendly working atmosphere.
Here I got to work with a brilliant group of people and the friendships
have lasted over the years.
Dwight and Lisa are both friends I met while working at view. I now
work again with other friends from those days.
"Dwight Samuels international man of mystery"
Princess Lisa celebrated another year younger
Many Wednesday nights were spent at the Casbar in West Hollywood .
Our friend Morgan gave a Cabaret performance twice nightly .
Morganne's rendition of YMCA
The première of my electroluminescent suit at a rave called
"Family" in Glendale
The Oscar after party across the street from my apartment at Spargo's
restaurant.
Dame Judy Dench tried to avoid me as she makes her entrance.