May 7, 2011 – Tito

My artwork is often focused on using old maps. I have always been interested in historical geography and even if I wasn’t, I would learn it anyway as I cut up and repurpose old maps. One place in particular that has seen a great deal of change is Yugoslavia and the nations that now make up the former country.

Today happens to be Tito’s birthday. It may never be appropriate to refer to a leader as a “good” dictator, but all dictators are not the same. Tito certainly was not a bad dictator. After leading Yugoslavia’s WWII resistance to the Germans he lead Yugoslavia for 35 years. He steered a separate, independent course for Yugoslavia as the country slipped under the Iron Curtain. Perhaps Tito’s greatest accomplishment was holding the country together and creating a state of unity between its different ethnic and religious affiliations. A lot has changed in Yugoslavia since his death in 1980. Without Tito the country fractured apart and slid into a gruesome civil war.

It’s unlikely that Yugoslavia will ever exist again except for on old maps. I still have plenty of pieces of Yugoslavia to incorporate into my art. Today’s piece for the 2011 Project is a slide puzzle. Slide puzzles are one of those pre-electronic toys that have all but vanished. If Tito were here, he might be able to put it back together.

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.

May 5, 2011 – The Dandy

In the old days, if you did not have enough reasons to smoke, some cigarette packs came with little trading cards. They were in collectible series on a variety of historical and manly topics. I have seen cigarette cards on subjects ranging from automobiles and steam engines, Peoples of the British Empire, Cricket Players, etc. One of the oddest series had to be the cards depicting famous dandies.

George IV was one of the most famous and fabulous dandies of all time. According to the details on the back of the card he spent over £10,000 annually on his wardrobe, he even appeared in court in “a coat of pink silk and a white silk waistcoast.” George IV wracked up huge debts, a horrid arranged marriage and died obese and possibly addicted to laudanum. Somehow I imagine it would be like having a 19^th Century Merv Griffin as your monarch.

Dandy is a term and a type that is disappearing in our culture. Make no mistake, the metrosexual is far from being a dandy. That was just a brief fad that the cosmetics industry foisted on a bunch of dupes. And, any bad moustache in a v-neck t-shirt and tight jeans who thinks of themselves as a dandy, is only fooling himself. Being a poser is for amateurs. A dandy requires a level of commitment that few young gentlemen seem to be up to today. Considering the staggering student loan debt and lack of jobs for college graduates, it might be better if we encouraged more lads to choose a “career” as dandies.

May 4, 2011 – Bali

Bali is on the list. There are so many places I would love to visit. It’s always the trick to have the cherished combination of time and money. Sometimes I have to satisfy myself by visiting places vicariously thought museum exhibits. The current show at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco is a nice peak into Bali. The color palette is one I need to play with more. And when I do get to Bali, I really need to get my own set of fighting cricket cages. I am not looking to have a bunch of fighting crickets, but the set of cylindrical little cages just captivated me form across the room. And true to museum form, the taking of photos was verboten so you’ll just have to go see the show or use your imagination.

May 3, 2011 – James Brown

The Godfather of Soul, the Hardest Working Man in Show Business, the amazing James Brown! He is a mood-enhancing drug — if listening to James Brown can’t make your day better, all hope may be lost. And watching him is an experience you’ll never forget. I recently saw the documentary Soul Power. It’s a great film and worth watching just to see James Brown dance. I regret never having seen James Brown perform live.

Today is James Brown’s birthday. In the future it may be a national holiday honoring his contribution to American music. When James Brown Day becomes a holiday, we all have to dress up like James Brown for the day. Imagine stepping outside and seeing everyone looking fabulous with a big, big smile. Call my tailor — I want a blue velvet suit!

May 2, 2011 – Enchilada Casserole

I thought I was so clever when I invented Enchilada Casserole. I decided to create something lasagna-like. I would use tortillas in place of lasagna noodles and enchilada sauce in place of tomato sauce. The cheese would be jack or cheddar instead of mozzarella. I titled my invention “New Mexico Lasagna.” I bragged to my friend Jordan about my invention. Jordan is from New Mexico and informed me that my “invention” was merely Enchilada Casserole. He went on to tell me that every potluck in New Mexico has at least three show up. Okay, I didn’t invent anything new, but what do they day about great minds thinking alike?

In some ways it’s not surprising that this has become a staple in my kitchen. It’s an American classic in a league with many of my favorites like Sloppy Joes, Tuna Casserole, Mac-n-Cheese and that New England “delicacy” American Chop Suey. As today’s art piece is drying and I write this, the pan of Enchilada Casserole is in the oven.

May 1, 2011 – An American Holiday

Today is May Day. When International Worker’s Day comes to mind, few think of the United States. For most Americans, May Day conjures up images of Cold War era Soviet Tanks parading in Red Square. We even have a government sanctioned Labor Day to distract us from the “other” day for working people. Most of us have forgotten that May Day got its start here in the United States.

In 1884, May 1 was chose as the day worker’s were to carry out general strikes and campaign for the 8-hour workday. American workers, both immigrant and American born fought and died for rights we take for granted today. On May 4,1886 a bomb exploded at a peaceful labor rally in Chicago’s Haymarket Square. It was never determined who threw the bomb (it may have been an agent provocateur or it may have been an anarchist revolutionary). In the ensuing chaos hundreds were injured and at least twelve died including eight police officers. Many of the police deaths and injuries were caused by “friendly fire.” The number of dead and injured workers has never been determined. Many feared going to hospitals for fear they would be arrested. In the aftermath seven innocent, anarchists were charged, tried and executed in trials that were widely recognized as unjust.

From this tragedy grew a day of resistance that evolved into a day to celebrate workers around the world. Over a century later May Day is an important holiday in many parts of the world, except the country where it started. America has always been a country where good ideas have originated and spread around the world. And at times it is a country where we do not know our own history.