Thankful for my mother and her never-ending support

Being a student and studying art in school while also trying to be creative and allowing yourself to have a safe space to grow as an artist and express yourself isn't easy unless you have the support from your family. Because of this I am blessed to have the support and understanding of my mother. Never for a second do I forget all the trials and tribulations in which my mother has done for me. She has an unmatchable drive to be there for her children.

For instance, since my condition [Marfan Syndrome] was discovered when I was two years old, many of the doctors told my mother that I would not get to live past the age of thirteen. For such a long time, my mother struggled with this information, yet not once did she let that show to me or my brother. Instead, she let me continue to go out and play outside with my cousins and friends (despite that many people around her were worried that I might get hurt due to being very skinny and frail.)

To her, there was nothing wrong with me.

She had faith that these doctors were all wrong and that I would defy everything that they had tried to make her believe. My mother gave me a childhood when so many physicians said I belonged confined to a bed. Now I am twenty-eight years old, in my senior year of college and preparing for graduate school. Still, to this day my mother continues seeking the right doctors and supporting me on all my endeavors as both an artist and a person. My trip to Italy wouldn't have been possible if I didn't have the overwhelming support of her. Even though I know she sometimes doesn't agree with all of my views or controversial artwork, she always lets me be myself. It takes great courage and a tough skin to go above and beyond for your son or daughter. That is why this mothers day I am reminded of how truly grateful I am to have my mother in my life.

**Originally published in Spanish in the May 12th, 2012 issue of Antesala

The Chameleon Crossbow

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G-90 Sniper Rifles

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The Chameleon Uzi's

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LIN-g077: Shotguns

Background Information:
Probably the most ambitious and experimental of the entire series. One of the main themes I wanted to keep true in #CrutchGuns was to really minimize the number of foreign objects that aren't of wooden and aluminum crutch materials. Aside from the obvious paint job, the crutch guns need should mainly stick to just crutch parts. These two guns however, do incorporate a lot of various different parts otherwise not associated with crutches.

MY BABY BLUE
This was probably the 5th crutch gun to have been created. It was also the first to break away from the wooden crutches we had been using, and instead we incorporated pieces of aluminum crutches from a failed art project I did a few years ago.

..and boy did it work out in our favor! Admittedly, I was a little turned off by having to paint over aluminum due to the fact that I have had problems in the past with paint constantly chipping off or getting scratched. However, I had no problems this time around. The spring for the forearm was also an added bonus my father thought of. Originally when I first penned the idea to have a grippable forearm in the magazine tube, I wanted something that was going to move back-and-forth. The inclusion of the spring instead was much better and a lot more fun for people to use. At first I was a little hesitant of the spring, but ultimately my friends and classmates didn't seem to mind it all one bit.

GREY/YELLOW (DOUBLE BARREL)
I have to say, my dad really took control over this model. The design evolved right in his hands. The idea for a double barrel shotgun was always in the works, but his execution couldn't have been better. There were several different designs we tried for the gun's chamber all of which were failing us. After a few attempts and keeping it wooden we decided to go for steel instead.

I must admit I was very hesitant to even keep going with this design because it truly departed away from the original concept. Nevertheless, in the end I am very pleased with the weapon. The added shotgun shell ends at the crack, totally give it a more realistic feel to it. Alas, this design really makes the LIN-g077 shotguns so unique and further perpetuates this series towards the many possibilities it can do.

Additional Information:
- The name LIN-g077 is named after my father Lingo and the seventy-even stems from his “favorite year.”
- “My Baby Blue” takes the name from the Badfinger song, “Baby Blue.”
- The double barrel shotgun color scheme is actually inspired by favorite superhero, Batman.. which is odd considering the characters' aversion to guns.
- Despite the various steel hinges, metal spring, and bolts, this isn't the set that has the most foreign objects in each gun. That record actually belongs to the Chameleon Uzi's.

AP-D28: Hunting Rifles

GOLD/BLACK HUNTING RIFLE (WITH SCOPE)
Fresh off the heels of the newly designed G-23 Assault Rifle, this was second weapon created for the series. It's aesthetic spawned from the idea that I really wanted to make a much longer gun than the assault rifle. I felt the G-23 was slightly small and that I wasn't properly utilizing the pieces I had available. So going for the look of a traditional hunting rifle, I felt the need to make this one longer in length.


..and it actually worked. For such a long time, the gun succeeded on its own and didn't really get to have the scope attached till a little bit after. However, one can see that not all the kinks were yet flushed out seeing as the trigger and the trigger guard look a little uneven and a bit sloppy in design.


ORANGE/BLUE HUNTING RIFLE
Coming off the from both the Shotgun designs and the Chameleon Uzi's, I felt like I need to revert back to a much more "all-crutch" design since those required more than just crutch pieces.

VARNISHED LONG RIFLE
This “varnished” hunting rifle was heavily inspired by the traditional American long rifle, also known as the Kentucky Rifle. It was known for it's unusually long barrel and after really wanting to construct another long weapon, we decided to go construct one like this.

Needless to say, it was quite possibly the most minimalistic gun of the entire #CrutchGun series. Like the blue shotgun and double barrel shotgun before it, my father really took the initiative with this sculpture. Stripping it down to it's bare wooden essentials, I decided early on not to paint this particular design, let alone put any pads on it as well. It's extremely minimal use of foreign objects and sleek design make this one straight to the point.

Nevertheless, after a lot of consideration and love for this unique model, it's pretty much a given that when I continue the Crutch Gun series, they will take a much more natural and minimal approach and will be in the same vain as this.

Additional Notes:
- The Varnished Long Rifle was the fastest of the series to have been finished. It didn't take any more than an hour to make. It was also the ninth gun we completed for the series.
- The Orange/Blue Hunting Rifle was also done very quickly only taking a few hours. This might also have to do with the rifle not actually having a scope.
- The Gold/Black Hunting Rifle (with Scope) was the second gun to have been created in the series.
- The AP-D28 name comes from the acronym to my online web gallery, Another Pilot Down and the 28 is taken from my current age.

G-23: Assault Rifle

Background Information:
Riding on last year's Best of Show winning sculpture, the G-23: Prototype (pictured above), these set of guns were not necessarily the easiest to create, but were definitely the most accessible.

However, the main idea behind these rifles meaning was originally going to take a much serious commentary (mainly social issues dealing with gun control in the United States.) Originally conceived around the Spring of 2013, the series was to be a part of a performance art. Since I would have manufactured close to 20 assault and hunting rifles, I would have distributed them to people in attendance of the exhibition. I would have been dressed as some kind of goth-rocker version of a dictator with two scanty-clad women in uniform standing beside me as sexy body guards (also holding crutch guns.) It was to be both over-the-top but contain a lot of political undertones.

The guns would have all taken a black and red color scheme that resembled that of Nazi Germany or Soviet Russian propaganda posters. It would have also taken a very Occupy Wall Street aspect to in terms of the actual performance. However, amongst the anti-communist overtones, the entire performance would have been very ambiguous in a way that it would be up for interpretation in terms of where I personally stand on the subject of gun control.

Nevertheless, the idea was scrapped and instead I decided to take the crutch guns into a different direction.

RED/BLACK
This was very first gun for the 2014 #CrutchGuns series and as I mentioned above it still kept the same color scheme as I had intended a year ago. Despite the same colors, the gun and the rest of the series do not take the serious route.

SILVER/GLITTER
I think a big part of my personality is that I really love the glam-style of rock n' roll culture of the late 70's and 80's. I just love androgyny and gender-bending characters and people. Glamorous frontmen and women such as David Bowie, Lady Gaga, Lou Reed, Brian Molko, and Joan Jett have in many ways shaped my life and how I dress and express myself.

Though gender and androgyny have nothing to do directly with this work, you get the idea; I love glamorous things. So in the end, I really wanted to have something that sparked that kind of rebellious, glamorous, and sorta trashy type of style. In that aspect, I combined a Jackson Pollock inspired approach to give the series more variety in terms of color scheme. Up until this point, the rest of the weapons were stagnated to a binary color schemes (ex. pads and cushions were usually one color while the rest of the frame was another.) This allowed much

FLOWERS
This rifle was inspired by my friend Anelle. She always wanted me to draw her some flowers, with a sun and perhaps some bumblebees buzzing around. So, in a further attempt that I don't really take myself too serious. I did just that. Instead of painting them all, I decided to draw them using sharpie markers instead.

Additional Notes:
- These assault rifles are modeled after the AK-47 Assault Rifles.
- The name G-23 doesn't really mean anything aside from G coming from my name and the 23 just seemed to roll of the tongue.
- In the beginning of the development, I often described the Silver/Glitter assault rifle as “a flamboyant Jackson Pollock throwing up all over Lady Gaga.”
- I often refer to the Flowers rifle as Anelle, named after my friend who influenced me in making a gun with flowers.
- Though Red/Black was the first one to be created for the series, both Glitter and Flowers were one of the final 5 to have been created.

Influences: Nine Inch Nails

If the work of Joel-Peter Witkin molded the often disturbing and twisted characters of my artwork and Frida Kahlo influenced me in expressing myself on a very personal level then it is the the music of Nine Inch Nails signifies the intensity, rage, and often chaotic atmosphere that I try to capture style of drawings.

For those of you who aren't familiar with this hard-rock band, the band Nine Inch Nails is mostly made up of singer-songwriter, Trent Reznor. He is the main writer and man behind most of the music. He plays all kinds of different instruments and in his albums it is mostly him by himself. However, from time to time he does occasionally have different artists and musicians come in to collaborate or play certain instruments in his records. But for the most part it is Reznor whom is the mastermind behind all the music in Nine Inch Nails.

Like Joel-Peter Witkin (and even Frida Khalo), Nine Inch Nails isn't for everyone. The music can often be described as being very loud and abrasive (like chain saws and television static.) Yet, all the same it is also as whimsical as birds singing in the early morning or just as melodic as a children's choir. More often then not, all this might even take place within the same four minutes of a song.

As much as his music screams that he wants to burn the whole world down, it also whispers “love me.” It's in that balance that I try to create in my own work. It's how I perceive my drawings or when I set out to work on a design. Underneath all the anger, rage, and distorted figures of my self-portraits, my personal drawings also show you the melody and sound of a beating heart. If there is underlining message in my work, then I want it to show you a boy hardened by being an outcast, but display the maturity of man who knows how to overcome and move on. That's the melody of my art and how the music of Nine Inch Nails plays into it all.


**Originally published in Spanish in the August 10th, 2013 issue of Antesala

Influences: Joel-Peter Witkin

If Frida Kahol influences the very personal aspect that my artwork takes on, then it's the photography of Albuquerque, New Mexico's Joel-Peter Witkin who molds the dark, scary, and often disturbing figures that usually shows up in my works. I've often joked that my drawings and paintings have a tendency to “scare little kids,” and I'm certain that those whom have seen my art can more than the likely say the same thing. Well, in many ways it was the influence of Witkin's artwork who guided me in that direction.

For those who aren't familiar Witkin's photography, they often deal with themes of death, corpses, and various “outsiders.” His models are primary dwarfs, amputees, and individuals whom are physically deformed. Witkin often places them in a cryptic setting, while various skulls, religious crosses, weird masks, limbs, and other creepy things fill the background.

As I've mentioned a few times here in my column, being born with Marfan Syndrome often made me feel like an outcast and an outsider. The physical characteristics of people with Marfan's are usually skinny, tall, with long arms and thin fingers. Coupled with being in and out of hospitals, the condition always made me feel as if I didn't belong. So when I first saw Witkin's photography, it made me think of all these people with different types of disabilities and it captured a sense of beauty for me. Even though his work can be viewed as extremely disturbing there is a sense of calmness and an classic elegance to it. In fact, much of Joel-Peter Witkin's pieces are reminiscent of classical paintings and there is often a lot of religious imagery that doesn't insult but celebrates it. It just happens to be in his own twisted way.

Despite that he photographs people with physical disabilities, his work never exploits them. In fact, many if not all of his models have said he is one of the most respectful people ever. His work doesn't try demonize or shame them, instead it honors what society deems weird and odd. It embraces “the strange” and just as I do.

**Originally published in Spanish in the August 3rd, 2013 issue of Antesala

Influences: Frida Kahlo

For those whom have seen my artwork in person or visited my website, you'd more than likely see a lot of different artists and influences buried deep within my drawings and paintings. I like to draw from all sorts of diverse things and in the end I try to really paint a piece of work that really says something about me and who I am.

With that being said, I think it is safe to say that my biggest influence are the works of Frida Kahlo. Even before I got to know what kind of artist she was, the similarities in what I was doing mimicked that of hers as well. For instance, Frida suffered lifelong health issues and while they were the result of a car accident that happened when she was a teenager, this was something that I knew too much about. Since I was born with Marfan Syndrome, much of my early years were spent alone, isolated, and I felt like an outcast from the rest of the students. Spending weeks in hospitals didn't help this isolation either. This was a feeling that Frida felt too and she expressed that depression in her paintings.

She's often quoted in saying, “I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.” It's in that statement where I truly feel a deep and sorrowful connection with her. Like the majority of my drawings, my pieces are deep and personal reflections of myself. Frida did exactly that. Everything she painted was drawn from personal experiences, her numerous operations, and her unfortunate miscarriages. While her accident left her in a great deal of pain, she used her works to capture everything she felt and made masterpieces that would live on forever. Like in my own drawings, she often painted herself with all these abstract and very surreal imagery around her.

In conclusion, Frida Kahlo is an artist whom has shaped me greatly and I constantly continue to draw much inspiration from her. As I stare into her paintings, I see the inner turmoil and sadness she went through. But I also feel the relentless beating heart of a strong and powerful woman. I can only dream that one day someone will feel the same about my artwork.

**Originally published in Spanish in the July 27th, 2013 issue of Antesala

Confidence in Expressing Myself

As an artist I put a lot of myself into my artwork. So much so, that I used to never actually show my family or friends my drawings because the subject matter was very personal. I felt that I didn't have the confidence to express who I was. Instead, I drew a lot of portraits of famous celebrities and my favorite rock bands so I didn't have to show my dark drawings.

While I had fun in making portraits, it wasn't in my heart or what I really wanted to do. This would all change when I started to attend the Laredo Community College. During my first semesters in LCC, I got to know my professors and they really helped me to refine a lot of my technique. In turn, I gained some confidence in showing them my more original and personal pieces. Later, my professors pushed me to have some of my personal artwork in a local art show at the Laredo Center For The Arts. Even though I was very excited and thrilled to participate in the show, I felt a huge sense of anxiety because my family would come and finally see my dark and very personal artwork.

"The SALSA Exhibition 2008 at the Laredo Center for the Arts"

My drawings featured scary and distorted figures and I knew it was sure to cause some controversy with my family. However, the night of the opening reception my anxiety was slowly going away. It was still very nerve-racking, especially since a lot of my family came to the gallery. But ultimately, I was overjoyed to have those who cared about me support me and my art. Despite that it felt as if my there was so much people wanted to know about my work, nobody judged me for my work. Though, it wasn't a very easy thing to overcome it was a process and necessary step in-order to fully grow as an artist and actually try to make it as a career. I got a lot of recognition by my family, peers, and art enthusiasts. It was the first public exhibition that I had ever participated in and the experience further gave me the confidence to continue to be myself.


**Originally published in Spanish in the April 28th, 2012 issue of Antesala

Marfan Syndrome

Being born with Marfan Syndrome has not been easy. Infact, it has been a rather difficult challenge. For those that do not know, Marfan Syndrome is a genetic disorder that effects the connective tissue of the body and it is a condition that I have lived with my entire life. The physical characteristics of people with Marfan's tend to be tall with long hands and arms and tend to have long thin fingers. Furthermore, I ended up having a slightly more severe condition of the disorder because my heart valves, eyes, and spinal cord have suffered defects throughout the course of my life. Some people whom have the condition go through most of their lives not not knowing of it's existence and it goes undiagnosed until their late 20's or 30's (which is why it's important for me to educate people about this disorder.)

For me, it was especially challenging to grow up with the condition because of these things. As a child when I was going to both elementary and middle school I always felt different from the rest of my classmates. Because of the physical characteristics, I was picked on and bullied because of my appearance and I was not allowed to play many of the sports during P.E. while I was in middle school. Then, later in high school I had an operation that would leave me using the assistance of crutches, which too did not make things easier. In spite of this, I am grateful that I had amazing parents whom looked for the best doctors on the genetic disorder.

I feel it is very important more people know about Marfan's, because of the fact that many go undiagnosed. Lastly, even though life I have always found it hard to put down my experiences into words, I draw and paint them onto paper and canvas. I use my art as an outlet to express my ideas and the things that I have been through. Yet in spite of everything that I have experienced, this disorder isn't what dictates me. Though I take medications and I try to keep myself healthy, I feel that this is something that I live with, yet it isn't what I live by.

For more information on Marfan Syndrome please visit:
The National Marfan Foundation


**Originally published in Spanish in the April 14th, 2012 issue of Antesala

Motivation and Inspiration

As an Artist, it can be difficult finding inspiration and motivation. I remember in my senior year of high school, there was a period in which I did not have much of a drive to create any art. Being diagnosed with Marfans Syndrome and having surgical procedures done throughout my teen years, made me feel exhausted to motivate myself in starting my ideas. Sometimes, this went on for months. The ideas that had were placed on hold because I didn't have the energy to create any drawings or paintings. Even when I tried to write poetry, I found myself being displeased with the outcomes.

But deep down, I knew this path couldn't continue. I felt that without Art, I didn't exist and I did not want to let that happen. If my artwork and poetry is my autobiography then it felt as if there would be lots of empty lifeless pages. So I tired to push myself, even when it was so painful. Trying to draw while being in a hospital can be extremely difficult, but my friends and family knew that if I was going to get better I had to start drawing again. Thinking negatively is like a plague that eats away at your mind and when you are feeling physically broken it can be extremely toxic in getting well.

Thus, I kept drawing and writing. Deliberately, I tried to put all my feelings onto paper in hopes that something positive can come from my struggles. As I continued, slowly my motivation was coming back. The lines I drew eventually turned into sketches. The sketches eventually turned into clear designs. Eventually, I started to heal to get better and I noticed that the artwork I was doing grew and matured in the process. My teachers and mentors saw my art as a breakthrough. My friends were impressed and in turn it made me feel good about myself. Months later, a lot of the artwork I did during this time would eventually be displayed in local art shows. Through this painful trial, I was able to bring out the motivation and inspiration from within. Even though everybody is different in their own way, I learned that if you have a passion and will to strive to better yourself, you can overcome any situation.


**Originally published in Spanish in the April 7th, 2012 issue of Antesala

Upcoming Events in Texas

Greetings Kid Chameleons,

Okay, I’ve got a few announcements about upcoming events in both the San Antonio area and the Dallas/Fort Worth Area that I think you will be interested in. A lot of these events support my friends whom are local artists as well as the activist organizations I am a part of.

Thursday, August 19th 2010

Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Potluck and Film Screening

Time: 7PM to 9:30PM
Price: $3 with dish! $5 without dish!
Location: 923 #10 Sycamore St. Denton, TX

Come join the Denton chapter of CEDP for a potluck fundraiser and film screening! Please note that this event is BYOB and vegetarian options for dishes are very much encouraged. We will be screening a film surrounding the topic of women on death row!

Friday, August 20th 2010

Campaign to End the Death Penalty Kegger/Benefit Show

Time: 9PM to 2:30AM
Price: $5 ALL YOU CAN DRINK!
Location: 907 AVE. A DENTON TEXAS

This Kegger/Benefit Show helps benefit the members of Denton’s CEDP chapter get to Chicago for their Annual Conference. It will feature musical performances by:
Billy Ratcliff
Samantha Roberts
Greenhouse
Coming To Get Barbara
..and more to come!

For more information please contact:
Laura at 956.432.7991 or e-mail anti-deathpenalty@yahoo.com

Monday, August 23th 2010

The Delta Mirror with Phantom Caste & Grassfight

Time: 9PM to 12AM
Price: TBA
Location: Hailey’s 122 Mulberry St. Denton, TX

Check out my friends in Phantom Caste and Grassfight as they open for the critically acclaimed band The Delta Mirror from Los Angeles! Is it set to be a really great show, so don't miss out!
Tickets can be purchased here.

Friday, August 27th 2010

Broads & Panties Presents: The Sunset Strip!

Time: 10PM to 2AM
Price: $5 COVER
Location: Basement Bar 105 W Exchange Ave Fort Worth, TX 76164

The gorgeous ladies of Broads & Panties come back once again to rock the Basement Bar in Fort Worth with their special brand of bartop Burlesque performances! Featuring performances by:
Christina Carnality
Bettie Blood
Glam’Amour
Ruby Manhattan
..and more!

Hosted by: Frye Mike

Friday, August 27th 2010

bandERA Productions Present:
Hydra, Melody, Jungle Noize, We The Sohns, Granada, Squid Bucket, Fareview, The Next Day


Time: 7PM to ???
Price: $10 Tickets
Location: 17200 N State Highway 16 just inside of Helotes

Join BandERA Productions for a night of music, lights, and art. Featuring live painting by Jose Cardenas & David Moras as well as Live Screen Printing by fellow Laredo artist Eddee Hults and Jerry Munoz! There will also be sculptures by my friend Juan Medellin at the show.

This show is for ages 16 and over.

Chameleons, Fliers, Links, and Other Updates

Okay everybody, lots and lots of updates to get into. However, if you keep up with me on Facebook or Twitter then you’d probably already knew about all the various artwork I have uploaded throughout the past three weeks. But, with that being said, there is still much more to dive into. So lets get right to it!

First and foremost, three new drawings have been added to my gallery at Another Pilot Down! “Dale Shine” (Cynical Chameleon 19), “Ode to the Kid Chameleons” and “Old Man” have all been released to moderate success over the course of August. Obviously my more political work gets more recognition, such as last months’ “Executioner” which is still getting people excited.

Anyway, be sure to check those out and feel free to leave me some comments either here or on my wall over on Facebook. (It would make my day!)

Secondly, a new section to the Misc. Gallery has now been opened! Head on over to my website to check out the brand new Fliers & Advertisements gallery. This section was opened up to showcase a few examples of the various fliers that I have created over the course of the year. They range from my freelance gigs with Broads & Panties and Paper Moon Photography to my work with the activist organizations; FMLA, ISO, and CEDP. At the moment only 9 fliers are present, but trust that in the coming days there will be a lot more. For those of you on Facebook, it really isn’t anything you haven’t already seen.

Third, I added some new links to the site. Under the Artists Galleries section I Ritchard A. Ludlow’s website and in the Hyperactivism/Non-Profits category I added the Campaign to End the Death Penalty as well as the International Socialist Organization. If you have a gallery, store, or a progressive/activist organization you’d like to see in my links section, please let me know in the comments box or drop me an e-mail.

Fourth, I have taken an initiative on making Another Pilot Down and The Kid Chameleons Blog integrated with not just my art, but by expanding more on my political views and overall presentation. I have worked on the layouts and tweaked some pages to better unify my site together (however, the Portraits & Still-Lifes gallery is under heavy construction for the time being). The various Links & Resources found on the left column of the Kid Chameleons Blog have all been changed to be suit the person I am today. The KCB banner has also been changed and features my new art as well. There are also a few other things, but some are so insignificant you wouldn’t notice even if I told you.

Lastly, expect more updates and entries. I know I have said that throughout the year, but I promise that I will definitely be making much more of an effort. I have integrated some software to update both my blog and website much easier and faster. So if I annoyed you all before, I’m going to be doing it more often now. ;)

New Art! "Executioner" has now been released!!

It has been awhile, hasn’t it?

Do people still read my blog? ..this thing hasn’t been updated in ages!

Well consider those days over, because I’m back and (artistically) I feel more alive than I have ever been! I have started new drawings that pick up where I left off back in the September Sessions 2008. Despite that “A Fate Like Daphne” was done earlier this year, the work was created with a certain criteria/mindset in which made it a bit more accessible than the rest of my work.

“Executioner”
July 12th, 2010
Pencil | 11 x 14 inches
I don’t think I could find a more appropriate subject matter to attack in my latest piece than the controversial, barbaric, and outdated practice known as the death penalty. As you all know I am no stranger in using my art as tools against deranged politicians and misguided public figures. So in that sense, my latest artwork continues that tradition but it also gets down to the nitty-gritty. “Executioner” finds myself ridiculing Texas Governor Rick Perry for his stance on the death penalty. As a human rights activist, and an supporting member of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty (Denton Chapter), I find the practice to be extremely racist, while also punishing the poor, and condemns the innocent to die. However, Perry (a devoted Christian) feels otherwise. Since appointed governor he has had more than 200 executions under his belt.

I will be adding a much more in-depth analysis of “Executioner” to my Artists Notes & Commentary section of Another Pilot Down. So keep any eye on this blog or my Facebook and Twitter accounts for these updates.

Alas, as any decent artist will do.. I’m off to my next piece!
Thank you all for your kind words and support!

"A Fate Like Daphne" added to Another Pilot Down

My website has been updated with my latest drawing entitled, "A Fate Like Daphne." If you all remember, this was the drawing that I briefly hinted at in my previous entry. This piece was created to benefit the VDay.org movement and the Vagina Monlogues.

So after a great successful run of the auction the drawing was sold and now I present to you the digital version. :D

Art Auction to End Violence Against Women

Do you like art?
Do you like coffee?
Luckily there is an event taking place tonight that involves both art and coffee!!

Everybody in the Denton, Texas area, come out to Big Mike's Coffee tonight, February 7th at 9pm for an art auction benefitting local domestic abuse shelters in the DFW (Mosaic) as well as the women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The silent auction will start tonight at Big Mike's and continue on through both nights of The Vagina Monologues at the University of North Texas. We will be auctioning off several artistic works by local Denton artists as well as gift baskets donated by local businesses. As an artist whom fights for equality and the rights of women, I will be donating some of my own artwork to the already fantastic line-up of artists. This is your chance to own the latest hot-off-the-press 2010 peice entitled, "A Fate Like Daphne" as well as an acrylic painting of rebel rocker Aimee Echo; both created by none other than yours truly. :)

Here is a small preview of what they look like:


As explained aboved, neither I or FMLA or UNT or Big Mike's keeps any of the money. This is all for a great cause and I expect all my friends and supports in the area to come by. Besides, who wouldn't want to help out end violence against women?

Oh, and last minute artwork is still being accepted for the auction, so if you have something please contact Lindsay Ripley as soon as possible at lindsayripley@hotmail.com.

4 New Commentary Notes Added!!

Happy Holidays, Kid Chameleons!

I hope you're all doing well, this fine season. Bundle up warmly, cause the weather is pretty chilly outside. Burr, I'm getting cold just thinking about it.

Anyways, on to some EXTREMELY long-over due updates to the Another Pilot Down website; I have added 4 new never-before-released Notes & Commentary entries. They are for, "The Forgotten Trial of Jamie Leigh Jones", "War Porn", "Like The Asian Holocaust", and "Watered-Down Hues". All four of them are revised, more professional, and more comprehensive notes that I have uploaded around the web. The commentary for the "Jamie Leigh Jones" drawing actually appears on FMLA's Fall '09 edition of "Hissy Fit" which I know some of my Dentonites have. :)

Well, that's all the updates for now. I've got some time off away from school for a bit, but instead of wasting time I plan on making some much needed adjustments and additons to the website. So hang tight, Kid Chameleons!

Vagina Monologues Auditions this week!!

Hey, hey,

Callin' upon all the ladies in the DFW Area (or anywhere in Texas really). It is that time of year again; time for The Vagina Monologues 2010!! :D

As you lovely people reading this already know, V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler’s award winning play The Vagina Monologues. Also to add to the excitement, this year will also mark FMLA @ UNT's 10th year of involvement with VDAY making the production even bigger and better than ever!

So after selecting the directors and producers for the years upcoming production; the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance will be holding auditions for UNT's performance of The Vagina Monologues this week!! So get ready folks!

All audition days will run from 6pm to 9pm in the Language Building room 214.
They are as follows:

Nov. 11th - Wednesday
Nov. 12th - Thursday
Nov. 13th - Friday

Nov. 18th - Wednesday
Nov. 19th - Thursday

Prepared monologues are not necessary, but they are welcome. No prior acting experience needed.
All you are required to bring is your strong will and desire to end the cycle of violence. : )

If you have any questions or concerns about the auditions please contact either Jordan Hughes or Samantha Jahansouzshahi.

So if you are interested or know of someone who would more than likely want to be apart of the monologues please spread the word!

We’ll see you at auditions!

Also an important note to the guys: Because of VDAY policy and rules, men are not permitted to perform monologues or chorus. However, other options for involvement for both men and women do include; Production Crew and Cunt Cheerleaders. So that’s always encouraged. ;)