Here is a preview of one of the many black and white pieces that will be featured in the upcoming show "Realistic Realities" that I am doing with Andy Stattmiller. This drawing, like many others in the show, displays my dual interests in arm biting and nose licking...I know it seems paradoxical for one man to enjoy both things, but you'll just have to take my word for it!
Be sure to stop by for the opening reception if you happen to find yourself in San Francisco with a hankering for visual overload...also, Trevor Morris of SF based ambient group Lair Dander will be on site to provide a whole soundscape of original music to listen to while you get lost in the amorphous black and white jungle of "Realistic Realities".
Hey, I don't have much time to explain myself...but I can't help but notice all the wonderful floral arrangements in your front yard...yea, I picked this one from your garden, but i'll put it back if you want. I wonder if I could maybe camp out there for a while until I get my lifeguard job back...It's a long story, so i'll just skip it and get to the more important stuff...I have a small pup tent and some firewood, so really, you won't even know i'm here...unless the fire gets out of control, but i'll handle it if it does. You just pretend i'm not even here, and before you know it...i'll be out of your hair...or i'll have moved to another spot in the yard where you can't see me...like behind that bush. So either way, it will be like i'm gone...you know, close enough. So what's for dinner?
You know, i've been all around this great galaxy...i've seen things that have completely confirmed and even exceeded my expectations of what the cosmos is like...but I think for now, i'm just going to hang out here in the city...maybe even for good.
It's not like I haven't seen amazing things that have challenged my western world view...but I can't say that having a Walgreen's nearby isn't just as awesome! I got some sweet perks in my neighborhood (late night hotdog vendors, hello?), and they are taking precedence over space travel right now...I mean, who wants to search for intelligent life some billions of miles away? I'd rather search for a drinking buddy that doesn't mind carrying me home a couple of hours later! Those people are a mere five blocks away...why shoot over to the Andromeda Galaxy? Those dudes are waaay elitist anyways...talk about laying on a real guilt trip...I think they are like, beyond having fun or something...hey, if that's evolution...i'll stay back here with the apes!
"Realistic Realities" Artwork by Andy Stattmiller and Grant Gilliland Music by Trevor Morris of Lair Dander 11.20.2008 7pm-12am A Bon Port Wine Bar & Creperie 476 Castro San Francisco, CA 94114
What kind of "reality tunnel" do you look at life through? I don't know if you see it as a wiggly, squeezed-balloon shaped, anatomically apalling mass of slightly scary, yet interesting people who are uncomfortably close to each other...but that is kinda what city life is like...and taking into consideration that San Francisco ranks number 3 in the list of the "most stressful cities in America" (thanks Yahoo news!) due to size of population vs actual size of the landmass...then hey! I guess Andy Stattmiller and I are basically realists. Well, relative realists.
Did I just say Andy Stattmiller? Yes, the mighty Pilpen himself and I have joined forces to create "Realistic Realities"...a visually overwhelming and laughter inducing variety of characters and illustrated situations that is tentatively being held at A Bon Port in the Castro...such unmitigated wall fillery and sharpie scribblerie is imminent for the fine wine establishment and is the very hallmark of the collaborative spirit that brought Andy and I together to experiment amongst the thick fumes of petroleum based markers. Andy and I first got together to create "Grant N' Andy"...a book of collaborative drawings done over the first year we were both in California...check it out at Andy's online store, it's the second item on the list.
So what is our definition of reality? Do we claim to know? Not exactly...but here's a really interesting version by Robert Anton Wilson...who partly inspired the show title.
I have been doing some sticker tradery lately on the interconnectedweb...Here are a few of the designs that I have made in the recent times. They are hand-drawn on Strathmore photo adhesive paper and then cut out into fun shapes that accentuate the design to some degree. Any sticker trading proposals are welcome from any of the fine talented people on Flickr or Blogger respectively! Just email me!
Mr.Grant Gilliland has been an animation addict in recovery since his early childhood, and spends a lot of time thinking about funny posture and animals that have personalities. He used to go to art school in Columbus, Ohio and had a green station wagon that at one point had a Wham! tape stuck in the tape deck, unfortunately. Grant now resides in the Mission District of San Francisco, where he can be sighted dodging cars and strange looks alike. He enjoys taking predictable walks and eating peanut butter a little too much. He is "repped" to the fullest by Scott Hull Associates. All images Copyright Grant Gilliland 2008.
