July 11, 2011 – Dreams

Can a dream be an inspiration for art? I certainly believe it can be. But if you’re looking for some trippy, mystical work in the spirit of Alex Grey, well, you’re in for a disappointment. I have a notorious sweet tooth. Last night did not have a thing in the house for dessert. That lack of dessert resulted in a night where I kept dreaming about chocolate cake. So here is the dream-inspired piece for the 2011 Project. I also have a real chocolate cake cooling on the counter. There’ll be no lack of dessert tonight.

May 24, 2011 – Reese’s

Today is H.B. Reese’s birthday. Yes, he is that Reese. He was the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. They are not the fanciest example of American cuisine and, while I like them, no love them, Reese’s are not the best either. But in many ways, what could be more American than Reese’s? Nowadays they are found in more places around the world. Not long ago, they were a rare item turning up in “gourmet” food sections in European groceries. Many a trip overseas saw me packing a bunch to take along for friends. Reese’s are America’s answer to Nutella.

May 6, 2011 – Chocolate

About 4,000 years ago the ancestors of the Olmecs came up with this wonderful, magical concoction. They used the roasted and fermented beans of the cocoa tree. The Mayans and Aztecs carried on the tradition. The history is a little muddled but it seems at some point in the 16^th Century, Spanish tourists started stopping at a place called Sí’s at the aeropuerto. They bought this delight called xocolatl to bring back to Europe. Inevitably it ended up in the boudoir of some Swiss mistress. And the rest is well, as they say, history. It’s hard to imagine a world without chocolate.