Molloy Studios: The Art of Bryan Thomas Molloy

Hilarious Email with Local Designer

2011-11-30T20:03:00.001-05:00

Good Evening Bryan, First of all, let me start by saying that I am sorry you felt the need to respond in the manner in which you did. My email to you was meant as a kind follow-up to our prior email correspondence, and therefore, your response in return was unmerited and a bit shocking.Second, let me also say that I am sorry for the misspelling of your name. As I'm sure you can understand, we are all human and this was a simple mistake.Anyway, as I said above, I was simply emailing you to touch base about the potential working relationship that we had discussed previously. Yes, I am aware that the correspondence occurred a few months ago, and I am happy to apologize again for the delay; but if you'll re-read my last email, you'll note that I had already cordially done so. I think it is also important to mention that after our last correspondence regarding the rentable artwork, I did not feel that you were awaiting an immediate response from me. I had mentioned that I would be happy to review the information regarding your works and pricing once I received the material and then look forward to working with you in the future - hence my follow-up email to you today.While I had reached out to you at that time, preparing for potentially needing art rental services, I have consequently not needed the art rental services during these past couple months. That is just sometimes how client projects go. I am unclear on how you cannot understand that.As far as your statement on pricing goes, I did not misconstrue your statement of "Since I am new to this, pricing would, I imagine to be whatever gets the job done within your budget." into something else. My statement of "I am unsure if your costs will be feasible for my (and my client's) needs, but I do appreciate you willing to discuss." was my own determination based on the information you had given me and my own analysis of my client projects and my business. My statement on pricing was meant exactly as it was written, but I will clarify it for you again in the following sentences so you can try to understand what I was saying - 'I am not sure if your artwork that has "a fair-market value of about $1500.00" should be considered for an artwork rental situation where artwork is typically rented on a monthly basis anywhere from $8-$20 a month. Instead, I think perhaps the costs at which your artwork (which is more highly-valued than I would expect of artwork to be used for these type of projects) would need to be rented for - for a number of reasons including the liability of possible damage - would be too much for the artwork rental budget on most of my typical home staging client projects.' Despite that conclusion, however, I understood your statement of "whatever gets the job done", and therefore I added a second part to my sentence that read "but I do appreciate you willing to discuss". To clarify what I meant here, I have included the following sentence - 'I am glad that you are happy to work with us to determine the pricing on your artwork for rent, and I look forward to having a conversation about it and see if we can come up with some numbers and go from there.'Now, I hope my exaggeration on the clarification of that one sentence counters your exaggerated response of it! Regardless, Bryan, the discussion about renting your artwork is mute at this point. After your extremely rude and highly unprofessional response this evening, I will not be giving my business to you. I do not appreciate the profanity and abusive nature in which you have chosen to communicate with me and feel very sorry for you and for those who must deal with you.Your statements about me and my business are unfounded and, in fact, very ignorant - you know very little, if anything, about me or my business. In truth, my business is quite successful and I have a strong client base of whom I treat, just like all of my contacts, with respect, communication and professionalism; which is more than you can say for yourself. And straight from the mouths of our valued clients and contacts, we have a lot going for us and, therefore, we will remain constant in our mission to continue bringing quality services and great client care to the residents of central PA to improve this city and its vicinity - contrary to your outlook, which is simply disheartening. Lastly, as a small business in the city of Harrisburg, I would never denigrate another fellow business, but instead encourage and support them. I find your email response to me very telling of the person and "professional" that you are, and I feel thankful that our working relationship ended before it began. Good luck in the future.Valerie--Valerie BetzStudioVB :: Interior Design218 Verbeke StreetHarrisburg, PA 17102717.884.8243www.studiovbdesign.com
On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 4:47 PM, Bryan Molloy <molloy.bryan1@yahoo.com> wrote:
Is this a form response? Glad you received the material, but I'm a little confused how my only mention of pricing:

"Since I am new to this, pricing would, I imagine to be whatever gets the job done within your budget."

... is construed by you into:

"I am unsure if your costs will be feasible for my (and my client's) needs, but I do appreciate you willing to discuss."

Also, along with the immesurate delay, the misspelling of my name, and the fact that all of this information is posted below in this very email, the only thing you have going for you is that you are a local small business owner. I am too, and even worse, we're part of the same industry. If you are smoking too much pot that's cool, but otherwise... get your shit together because we need to save this city and you are making us look bad. You had better regard your clients better than this...

Most Humbly,

Bryan Thomas Molloybryanmolloyart.com
From: Valerie Betz <valerie@studiovbdesign.com>To: Bryan Molloy <molloy.bryan1@yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 2:10 PMSubject: Re: Rentable Art?
Hi Brian, I apologize that it has been a few weeks since we've communicated, but I have been quite busy and we had decided on a different solution for the project that I had contacted you about regarding the rented art. Nonetheless, I did receive your mailer with images of your rentable artwork. So, thank you! I will keep those on hand and be in contact should I be interested in using your artwork for a future client project. I am unsure if your costs will be feasible for my (and my client's) needs, but I do appreciate you willing to discuss. Again, I will be in contact as needed.Thanks again, Valerie--Valerie BetzStudioVB :: Interior Design218 Verbeke StreetHarrisburg, PA 17102717.884.8243 www.studiovbdesign.com
On Wed, Aug 31, 2011 at 4:49 PM, Bryan Molloy <molloy.bryan1@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi Valerie,

A great many of my best framed pieces are on display @ Gallery@Second, untill 9/10, right downtown next to the Firehouse restaurant on second st.. Others I have in my studio, near Costco on Jonestown road. All of the framed pieces except the bulk of those on display, are on my website, any that are framed are pictured in their frames. I am definitely open to renting work for public display in a professionally staged environment! I would appreciate if you could snap a few photos of each job that I might use (with credit and link to you) for promo. too!

Since I am new to this, pricing would, I imagine to be whatever gets the job done within your budget. My only consideration is that you accept liability for any damages that occur, within reason. My work has appreciated to a fair-market value of about $1500.00/appox. 30"x40", and increasing or declining from that on a size-based slide.

Please peruse the website and perhaps check out my show on second street in the meantime. Let me know of any thoughts on specific works for specific upcoming projects or definitely usable, universally acceptable works so that I can get anything I might need to ready for you.

I work part-time in the evenings at the Art Association of Harrisburg mon.-thurs. 4-9p if you would like to talk in person.

Thanks again,

Bryan Thomas Molloybryanmolloyart.com
From: Valerie Betz <valerie@studiovbdesign.com>To: Bryan Molloy <molloy.bryan1@yahoo.com>Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 4:23 PMSubject: Re: Rentable Art?
Hi Bryan, Thanks for your quick reply! Yeah, I've been surprised at the difficulty finding artwork for rent!Anyway, I'm excited that you seem to be open to renting artwork for this purpose. I would love to have your complete listing and images of your framed works (including their frames) that would be ready and available for rent. This would be hugely helpful in the quick selection of appropriate art for certain projects. The dimensions of the pieces would also be greatly beneficial. Then, I am happy to select the works from that listing and inquire about frame options if need be.Also, just so you know, for home staging, the artwork I'm looking for would be subject matter that is universal and appealing to a wide range of viewers, so something like landscapes, botanical, abstract, scenic, still life, architectural, etc. You are welcome to send over the listing and photographs by email, but if the files are too large, snail mail is fine as well. In the meantime, can you give me a ballpark on pricing. Like I mentioned, I typically rent items for staging on a monthly basis, so I am hoping to do the same for artwork rental. So, let me know what you are thinking for a monthly rental fee. I'd like to know if this service is feasible for my client budgets.Also, in addition to having a listing of your available works, do you have an actual physical location that I could peruse the art in person, if need be? Just curious.Thanks so much. I am looking forward to seeing the artwork and hopefully working with you in the near future!Valerie--Valerie BetzStudioVB :: Interior Design218 Verbeke StreetHarrisburg, PA 17102717.884.8243 www.studiovbdesign.com
On Wed, Aug 31, 2011 at 4:03 PM, Bryan Molloy <molloy.bryan1@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi Valerie,
Thanks for the message. I can rent artwork. It isn't something I've had many requests for, but it is a great idea, and I always wondered why more artists didn't do it. I have many works framed and ready for display. I would also suggest canvas prints that can be printed on demand and even retouched, of certain sold or specific works. I have many frames on standby, but this may be a specific consideration to you, as a designer; as far as matching works to decor. I can give you a complete listing of all the framed works, along with pictures of their respective frames for you to reference. I will mail you a digital and hard copy brochure to the address on your email. Choose the works you require and send me an email for the rates and other details.

Thanks for your interest,

Bryan Thomas Molloybryanmolloyart.com
From: Valerie Betz <valerie@studiovbdesign.com>To: molloy.bryan1@yahoo.comSent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 3:22 PMSubject: Rentable Art?
Good Afternoon, I had come across your website sometime in the past and had bookmarked it as a source for rentable artwork. However, when coming back to your website today, I was unable to find any information on artwork that might be available for rent.I own and operate an interior design and home staging studio and would be interested in the possibility of renting artwork for some of my home staging clients. This would entail selecting and then renting appropriate artwork, on a monthly basis, to utilize in the design and staging of homes for sale. I'm not sure if this would be a service you could provide. If you could please respond at your earliest convenience, I would greatly appreciate it.Thank you, Valerie--Valerie BetzStudioVB :: Interior Design218 Verbeke StreetHarrisburg, PA 17102717.884.8243 www.studiovbdesign.com

Ben Franklin on the Paxton Indian Massacre

2010-05-19T01:05:00.004-04:00

"That agreeable to the command of the prophet, they have "fought for their bretheren, their sons, their daughters, their wives and their houses."-That in this contest, many of them have lost their dearest relatives; their houses, their lands, their all; and from a plentiful independent people have been reduced to misery and want.

That they have been treated as aliens of the commonwealth, and denied a just and proportionable share in legislation: for that out of 36 members which the eight counties in the province send to the assembly, the three counties of Philadelphia, Chester, and Berks, where the Quakers are chiefly settled, return 26 of that number; while the 5 remaining counties, where these LORDLY RULERS could have no chance of getting elected, are suffered to fend but the other ten.

That by this iniquitious policy, the inhabitants of these five frontier counties, altho' a great majority, have been rendered unable to act in defence of their lives and properties; and therefore have lain for above eight years at the mercy of a cruel savage enemy and an unrelenting Quaker faction: Whereas had they been justly represented in Legislation, instead of presenting PACIFICK ADDRESSES to the Assembly, telling them that "the raising large sums of money, and putting them into the hands of COMMITTEES, who might apply them to purposes inconsistent with their PEACEABLE TESTIMONY, was in its consequences destructive of RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. Instead of doing this I say, -the first great Law of Nature, that of SELF-DEFENCE, would have been administered to the people upon the first alarm of danger, and the hands of the HARDY AND BRAVE would have been felt at Liberty, 'til they had taken ample Vengence of their MURDERES. That they have often, in the most supllient manner, laid their grievances before the Assembly; and instead of being redress'd, have been abused, insulted, and even by some members of that venerable House, deem'd as unworthy of protection, as "A Pack of insignificant SCOTCH-IRISH, who if they were all killed, could well enough be spared.""

-The Conduct of the Paxton Men, by Ben Franklin; signed, "-Dated from my farmhouse, March 17th, 1764; A day dedicated to LIBERTY and ST. PATRICK"

letter to William Hunt of Tinnitus Foundation

2010-05-17T01:54:00.000-04:00

I have written a lot in my blog and on my websites. I have methodology on the magazine site, and lengthy descriptions on the gallery site.

Thanks for the interest... in art. I have discovered the same in my life, experientially, and at great cost, and learned in an academic, logical sense as well; that art is life's purpose. It's true that all of us are not artists, and that there is a real dichotomy for you to envy from within. Medical science does not give us enough time for all of us to develop into artists. We all have the potential... just not enough time, unfortunately. Another interesting dilemma is that not all artists are easily found as myself, some paint, some row boats, and some shuffle papers. Thankfully, technology has made it possible for hundreds more to become artists of some kind; while we demean modern convienience in favor of some nostalgic hippie -natural dream.

I worked many different jobs I was not thankful as most to have, because my heart had another duty. I used to draw everything I saw drawn. At the time, the Sunday comics mostly. Through imitation I arrived here. I feel I am at the top, living a dream. A strange compulsion was placed before me, and, guided by the most intense shame, I copied the world and all of creation. I had to remake the world, in most thorough deception; with little colored marks. I wonder what was wrong with taking a picture?

I've discovered also that my duty to this lie is part of the most longstanding instinctive past-time. My suspicion is that it is humanity's first word past a grunt and a howl; on our way to a future home run. We as people learn, to place appropriate chemical levels in their appropriate categories. As we re-embrace primitive impulses in the modern age, we re-learn the mistakes that leave art in the past and future. Art then becomes as confusing as love and anger; and rolls with the beast in the filth, forever attempting to squash the biting flies.

We would all do well to feel as you do. Art would have prevented tinnitus, and the war that causes it. One day we will no longer run from that old beast within, but will sit quietly and breathe. Our goal, seeming boring and dull today; ridiculous and slow, will be to smell the trees and feel the sun, again and again. And maybe paint...

Bryan

pain

2010-05-04T19:08:00.000-04:00

pain is the echo of a very serious memory

recent conversation with autistic philip moore on facebook

2010-05-04T18:41:00.001-04:00

Philip
hi
5:39pmMe
hi
5:39pmPhilip
how is our project?
the book
5:40pmMe
good, i'll work on it more tonight
5:40pmPhilip
have you been doing any painting?
5:41pmMe
not in the last couple days, my meds ran out so i haven't had them till today
5:42pmPhilip
meds ? it nice to know I am not the only one who needs them
5:42pmMe
yeah there nice to have when one needs to concentrate
5:43pmPhilip
that good mine are supposed to help me not do that so much
5:43pmMe
different strokes...
5:43pmPhilip
different fliks
folks
5:44pmMe
ha!
5:45pmPhilip
mn alive did I cause an uphevel on my girl friends face book
I annouced we were and item then she did she must gotten at least twent responces
5:45pmMe
you have to be careful w/facebook, its like tattoo-ing time
5:45pmPhilip
?
5:46pmMe
its permanent
5:46pmPhilip
hopfully so are we
5:46pmMe
hope is the opposite of tattoo-ing time
http://www.facebook.com/PennStateHersheyResearch
dddmag.com
5:48pmPhilip
ok I have faith but your right once the realtionship is establised it is no longer hoped for its either thought for or dreadeded
5:48pmMe
you mean fought for or bedded
5:48pmPhilip
I dont know why you keep send ing me here
5:48pmMe
where do you mean?
5:49pmPhilip
dreaded if you end up in a bad realtionship you dread comming home
5:49pmMe
i just meant you should become a fan of penn state research
5:50pmPhilip
I'm not sure what it has to do with me ?
5:50pmMe
autism research
5:51pmPhilip
I'm not sure I'm up to that the word Chilanton comes to mind that just sound like pure quackery
5:52pmMe
what is chilatin?
you don't like autism research/
5:52pmPhilip
it some prosses that is supposed to make
5:52pmMe
make what?
5:53pmPhilip
take the mucury out of the blood and it depends on what it is if they art out
cure us forget it I like who I am
5:53pmMe
autism has nothing to do with mercury
autism is the effect of tyranny on evolution
human behavior affecting global processes
5:54pmPhilip
I know but there is the God auful theory that one causes of autsm is a mucry adetive to inolulations
5:54pmMe
like global warming
thats nonsense
5:55pmPhilip
i AGREE
But I dont go as far as to say it is evelutionary either
5:55pmMe
you would know, you live with it every day
5:56pmPhilip
it hereditary
5:56pmMe
like a mutant x-men
evolution is hereditary
5:56pmPhilip
so of we do be come fire ball we are angry
no
5:56pmMe
worse, much worse
5:56pmPhilip
autism is
true my brother used to yell at the top of his lungs and hit him self in the face
5:57pmMe
autism is the next evolutionary step of humanity as relates to the current path humanity is on
5:58pmPhilip
I dont agree there is to much negetive to think it is somthing intirly positivehe had his fase covered with a hand
when he hit it
5:58pmMe
a path rutted deep with tyrrany and fear manipulation
5:58pmPhilip
mincomph?
5:58pmMe
x-men is neither positive or negative, it just is
5:59pmPhilip
lol
It a comic book
5:59pmMe
what is mincomph
you mean hitler's book?
6:00pmPhilip
yes
6:00pmMe
my struggle
there is no struggle
6:00pmPhilip
i was joke about the path rutted in teriny
6:00pmMe
only life
6:00pmPhilip
the struggle is th fun part
6:00pmMe
and x-men comics
6:01pmPhilip
is are and story with a litll myth
6:01pmMe
fun struggle is not struggle by definition of struggle
6:01pmPhilip
is art and story with a litlle myth
have ever seen an action or comedy were the struggle for the character was easy no but for our point of though it is fun
it wasn't fun for them but we get in joy it
6:02pmMe
art is fun and art is life
6:03pmPhilip
agreed
6:03pmMe
sadistic bastard
6:03pmPhilip
it help me write you will se quite abit of it in the book you are editing
6:03pmMe
autix-men
6:04pmPhilip
not friday the 13th
autx-men?
6:09pmMe
yes autism is the real form of what the x-men comic describes
6:10pmPhilip
like I siad I don't belive in evelution I just think people awired different
6:10pmMe
art imitates life and sometimes introduces life's performances
6:10pmPhilip
we all have to act out every so often
6:10pmMe
not evolution in contrast to creation
6:10pmPhilip
?
6:11pmMe
you look like your mother and father
6:11pmPhilip
more mom then dad
6:11pmMe
so it is of all the generations of your family for all time
thats what i mean as evolution
6:12pmPhilip
genetics
ya I get you
6:12pmMe
eventually those changes can be manipulated on a grand scale and become permanent mutations
6:13pmPhilip
all it take is one person who dosent have the proble to stop the problem
6:13pmMe
YOUR head is full of religious conflict and its affecting how you understand in this case
again its neither good nor bad
6:14pmPhilip
if some one has down sindrom or croter willies it can be bad
6:14pmMe
no problem no struggle, just art
6:15pmPhilip
somtimes you lose me
life is art
6:15pmMe
no theyre good people, theres nothing wrong with them
yes life is art no good or bad
6:16pmPhilip
I never siad they were bad but the defect can stop them from having kids
there for bad for evelution
6:16pmMe
maybe this is a genetic response to overpopulation
6:16pmPhilip
maybe war is a genetic responce to over population
6:16pmMe
humanity isnt essential, only optional for humans
6:17pmPhilip
you still lost me
6:17pmMe
war is a deliberate decision not a natural response
people decide what to keep and what to throw away
6:18pmPhilip
if some were to try to take somthing of your it is a natural non christian ot fight to keep it
6:18pmMe
they keep things they like and throw away things they dont
6:18pmPhilip
like abortion
6:19pmMe
like disabled people who are called bad or need to be fixed to people who think theres something wrong with them
we decide to war, and to keep or throw away
we decide to throw away by defining things as BAD
6:21pmPhilip
I have never falt like some one going to through me away I do think people people over reackt
6:21pmMe
SPACE TRAVE IS THE ALTERNATIVE TO WAR
6:21pmPhilip
it alot more expensive
6:21pmMe
oops caps lock still on
war is more expensive
6:21pmPhilip
no prob
6:22pmMe
humanity creates value by work and ability
6:22pmPhilip
how? we have tecnolegy for war
6:22pmMe
when humans die, always less value added to earth
6:22pmPhilip
the psience isnt there for space
plus the fact that the bone damge for exposure is deadly
6:23pmMe
less humans from war, less scientists
6:24pmPhilip
most psience used in war has gone toward space
rockets were a war thin before that shot rockets
6:24pmMe
all the material to teeraform are here to be found and genetically mutated to adapt to space as we have adapted to war by mutating to autism
rockets are stupid ancient chinese crap
so is fire
6:25pmPhilip
bryan I think of you like a brother but some what you say sounds a little lsd
6:25pmMe
combustion is stupid
we could use many other things to get through the atmosphere
youre a mutant caused by generations of war
6:26pmPhilip
I need to go I have to clean my room I will talk to again somtime
6:26pmMe
ha!
don't throw yourself away
6:27pmPhilip
its not lie I am getting on bus
6:27pmMe
love you man, by
6:27pmPhilip
friday
love you to bryan
injoy the book by the way were are you on it?
6:28pmMe
havent got to it yet busy talking to you
6:28pmPhilip
sorry scul8r
6:29pmMe
cool

Background Research for John Harris Project

2010-04-07T23:22:00.007-04:00

The Iroquois, having absorbed several tribes to constantly combat several different European forces; and different combinations of which, depending on the year; had longstanding trade dependencies: first with the Dutch, who had arrived early to the New World, and then with France. This odd alliance was made easy by the English presence in Canada, as the Iroquois were from that northern and Great Lakes region. After trading with the Dutch for a long while, the Iroquois Nation -as they were sometimes called, began supporting the Dutch -perhaps forced or provoked by them, in a subtle campaign against the British; probably in exchange for usage of formerly-owned lands in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Years earlier, major constituents of the Iroquois Nation, the Lenape, had been driven from there and dissolved. New York being the Lenape's original homeland, during this period called New Amsterdam, was then controlled by the Dutch. The Dutch, of course, supported any reduction of British presence in the New World, as the British sat in the middle of the trade routes from the south and west of the eastern seaboard, and some ways inland, of the North American continent. This placed the British in a middleman position, enabling them to control the trade with New York, and inevitably driving up the cost of the goods en route to European markets.

Upon the start of the French and Indian Wars, the Iroquois, or Five Nations, as they were also known, made a public alliance with the English. This was made easy by the English presence in Canada many years hence, but was essentially determined by Dutch influence. When the Dutch gained control of England; disguised as inner-family religious conflict by the British Monarchy, called, the Glorious Revolution; they also gained control of the southern and western trade routes. As a result, the cost of American goods, especially furs, dropped in Europe. This would on the one hand stimulate the European economy, but on the other, would cost the English their sovereign and independent rule of England. The English, in order to establish this alliance, had apparently convinced the Iroquois Nation that the threat from France was greater than the threat from the Dutch. Since the Indian looked naturally for an opportunity to take vengeance of any European, the British/Dutch forces then had the benefit of all the native armies to fight the French. Though Spain was the overarching Indian concern, the lucrative fur trade with the Dutch in New York harbor seemed to be the immediate incentive for the Indians to fight in Queen Anne's Wars -as the bulk of this conflict is called. This seems to be true for all parties involved. The Rum trade was extremely popular as well, and may have also been a major factor deciding involvement, for all parties mentioned.

The Spanish were feared by the Indian, because Indian traders from the south and north, regularly interacted with vestiges in their former homeland; after having moved south and westward, especially in poor growing seasons; and were well aware of the Spanish dominance on the American continent @ large. Fearing stories of brutality @ the hands of the Spanish, Catholic symbols and clothing styles also became an important element in coagulating the Iroquois Nation and mobilizing them against the French in the northeast region of North America. Catholic nations were easily recognized by native forces because of the severity of the effects of the ongoing Inquisition in Europe. Most troops had @ least one Priest with them and individuals in common, wore as many Catholic symbols as they could afford, to show their loyalty to the Catholic Church. Even down to the length of the sleeve, or shape of an officer's cape, the Native could easily identify a Catholic from a considerable distance.

This public Iroquois alliance, however, did not deter the Iroquois from attacking the English and harassing them in general and regularly; especially as they most probably were continually encouraged by the Dutch to do so. This was done in secret for the most part, the Iroquois used modern-day ( 2012 ) guerrilla warfare -or night raids, as their standard military tactic. The Dutch, constantly threatened by all Europe; especially seen most evident in the Anglo-Dutch Wars consistently raging on the European continent; were, at this point of issue, just prior to 1702 when Queen Anne's reign began, finally victorious against the British, and had recently gained control of English trade. This was accomplished by the Glorious Revolution, which removed the recently-late-convert-Catholic, King James II, and placed King William of the Netherlands, and Queen Mary, James' daughter, on the throne of England.

The English were made aware of this conflict with the Dutch, in spite of the royal combination of William and Mary. The assumed, the intended, and expected, public cooperation between the two European powers did not disguise, apparently, this regular guerrilla behavior of the Iroquois. This knowledge helped Queen Anne quickly resolve the Dutch situation in England with her brother-in-law William, precisely because of that knowledge of the Iroquois conduct, passed on from the New World -possibly through non-conformist religious circles in Yorkshire, England.

The English also defended themselves against the Iroquois peacefully, without the destruction of their public alliance with the Indian nation, and maintained their relationship with the Dutch against the French and Spanish, precisely because of their good relations with the vestige tribes like the Shawanese, in spite of great difficulty caused by the radical behavior of Englishmen Nathanial Bacon and Governor William Berkeley, in Jamestown, Virginia. Bacon's Rebellion, like the John Harris event, also involved alcohol as the inciting influence -not the English Rum from Boston however; the French Brandy was used to lubricate Bacon's Rebellion.

The event which is @ this point of argument, took place along the Susquehanna River in what was to become Harrisburg, a city named in memorial of that bond, carefully cultivated with the friendly Shawanese Indian Tribe. Shawanese was the term referring to a Central Pennsylvanian native tribe, originally met by John Smith, and referred to as the Susquehannock Tribe, shortly after he had successfully re-founded the colony of Jamestown. The Susquehannock had first traded with the Dutch as the Iroquois had, and as a result, had been killed off almost entirely, by smallpox. The French then began influencing the trade routes in that region and the surviving group became known as the Shawanese. They had most likely absorbed some Lenape and other wounded, fractionate tribes, as the Iroquois had, before they were pushed to Ohio. They began to be called the Shawnee in Ohio, before the new American government, much later, relocated most to reservations in Oklahoma. The Sawanese had been long-time enemies of the Iroquois, even though they both spoke a similar Algonquin-dialect. Harrisburg lies within that tract of land acquired by William Penn, from the previously mentioned Lenape native group, some time after they had been driven from New York by the Dutch, and before they ceased to be referred to as a major influence in the north east of the North American continent. This positive relationship with the Shawanese tribe, was carefully maintained by Englishmen like John Harris. John Harris had moved from Philadelphia, where he laid roads in the young city, to what was to become Harrisburg, and ran a ferry-crossing and trading outpost on the opposite side of the Susquehanna River from the Shawanese. This was slightly inland, and directly in the path, of the Indian trade route along the east coast of North America, between the Dutch in the north, and the furs coming up from the south and west, in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania and Ohio were a hotly contested region by the Europeans, as it had been for centuries by the Indians. Even though all the native Indian tribes still favored the Ohio River Valley as hunting grounds, the beaver and other fur-animals had been vastly depleted from the region and the majority of any massive quantities of fur came from further away and inland. The Iroquois had claimed this region from the Shawanese with the Europeans' help by this time, even though most remaining Indians used it as a hunting ground.

It is easy therefore, to think of the Iroquois as the agressors in the John Harris event. One might imagine then, after a miserable hunting party, these Iroquois, made more and more unsuccessful because of the voracious European appetite for furs; with memories of their conquered homeland, paid and goaded by those same Dutch neighbors to venture a little ways down the Susquehanna to the south, in hopes of driving the English out by harassment and provoking a fight with their long-time enemies, the Shawanese. The Indian were often used to induce conflict, willing participants or not, for the Europeans; such as in the Boston Tea Party, when white terrorists dressed as Indians to attack British trade goods. So these Iroquois came willingly or not, to trade; what for them must have been a miserable bounty; for what they would inevitably determine; regardless of the fair-market-value, or quality of payment in exchange; to be far less than their perceived worth -that fur they had brought to trade for Rum. It would be then only another short step to the think of the Indians becoming enraged after drinking Rum. Tired, resentful, and looking for a fight, these bullying Iroquois, wanting to humiliate this white shop-keep, tied him to a tree and taunting his Indian protectors, easily in sight across the river, they started a fire beneath him. John Harris greatly played up the story of his potential burning @ the hands of these Iroquois -even going as far as being buried beneath the very Mulberry tree, upon that very spot, so as to re-enforce both the longstanding relationship with the Shawanese, and also to downplay Bacon's Rebellion in favor of John Smith's original trade with the Susquehannok peoples. This legend was an effective effort by the English to control the fur trade route and, "divide their forces" to the Indian perception. The English became both be ally and enemy, a tactic used often by the Indian, especially the Iroquois from the north, forced by their dependency on the Dutch, and resentment of all Europeans. This strange guerrilla tactic was adopted, almost immediately by the colonialists during the American Revolutionary Period, without it, they could not have gained freedom from Britian.

It is worth mentioning again, the obvious relevance of both John Harris and Queen Anne, being originally from Yorkshire, England. Queen Anne ruled England and held great influence in France, and Italy, as well as the Netherlands. Pope Clement XI; who had grown up near Tuscany as a wealthy landowner in Urbino, in northern Italy; had developed an unexpected alliance with Queen Anne against Spain and France in The War of Spanish Succession 1701-1714. This was merely four years before the Harris' event, said to have taken place in about 1718. This war in Europe was fought to prevent Philip V from obtaining the Spanish throne. This was an attempt by France of a union and absorption of Spain by France's Louis XIV by Royal appointment of Philip V. Philip V was the son of the Dauphin and the same family as Louis XIV. Spain, which had become an increasing threat to Papal territory as a result of their ruthless behavior in the New World and absorption of wealth from there, was well on their way to continuing expansion eastward, and was an immediate threat to the Papal territory, all of Europe, as well as the Pope's own family in Albania; and moreso if they had combined with France. The Iroquois were obviously unaware of the role of the Catholic church as an ally against the French in European conflicts of the day, and neither they nor the British seemed to let their guard down against the 'papists' ( the French and Spanish in the New World ), as they were insultingly referred to in the colonial outposts and by the Quaker leadership in Philadelphia. Britain had recently removed Catholic rule from it's shoulders in the Glorious Revolution,( 1688 ), and the resulting removal of James II, ( who was both Queen Anne and Queen Mary's father ). With the predictable death of all twenty or so of Mary's children ( most in the womb, and others near a decade alive ), her own death by smallpox infection in 1694, and William III's death on March 8, 1702, Queen Anne rid England of both Dutch rule, and Catholic influence, while obtaining control of Dutch trade in the New World, in one fell swoop, on April 23rd, 1702. The Iroquois however, were simply aware that the Spanish and French were Catholic because of their manner of dress, Priests that traveled with them, and symbols worn by the faithful. Therefore, the Catholic was the greatest threat to them. They may have otherwise been less willing to accept the Dutch and English, and the outcome of Queen Anne's Wars may have been quite different without their help in the fight. The severity of the Catholic Inquisition, in spite of the Pope's siding with the NonConformists against the Catholic forces of France and Spain, therefore prevented those forces from dominating, or even uniting in common goal. As a result, "An Attempt to Burn John Harris", becomes extremely important to the balance of power in Europe. John Harris insisted on being buried under that mulberry tree to mark an extremely important occasion in history. He sacrificed himself in death, to be a martyr in the grave, for English goodwill and purpose, to ensure that memory not be simply a myth or silly story, but to mark a true event that secured English power in North America. His family was not impressed and fought his decision to be buried, not in a proper cemetery, but under a tree, along the river. After his death, for years successive generations of his family tried to dig him up and move him.

Thus, the efforts of a mere ferry-crossing, patiently and quietly maintained by John Harris, was of extreme importance to world commerce @ the time of his alleged harassment in 1718. This event, involving a few natives and some Rum, determined the balance of power for all of Europe in the 18th century. The information maintained ( evidence against the fraudulent Iroquois and Dutch alliance ), and passed along through channels of trust of commonality ( namely the NonConformist religious sect and Yorkshire birthrights ), enabled the English rulers to accurately identify enemies and threats to the security of modern economic structure and commerce. If this scuffle for 'a quick dizzy' had not taken place, the American Revolution would not have been possible. It becomes obvious, that John Harris was in fact an important political agent when viewed from this perspective, and that his birth in Yorkshire was no coincidence or irrelevancy. That an Indian faction, which was probably Iroquois, allegedly stopped to harass John Harris was not an isolated event, or even an unlikely mythical retelling. The significance of his being buried @ the very spot also, from this same perspective, is discovered, a much more internationally-politically significant event, and much less a trite monument to subjective, singular colonial frontier life experience and it's hazards, than has previously been awarded to it. This event is therefore, one of the most important memorials in the formation of the United States of America in the pre-Revolutionary period.

2010-02-02T02:27:00.001-05:00

how can one paint what is, without painting what is not

My Dad Died

2009-11-02T21:25:00.005-05:00

My Father Died. We could only afford a viewing and a military burial. I have the triangle flag. I have to get a triangle frame for it. I spoke to him fifteen minutes before he died. I was reassuring. He said he missed his family. I said most people, like animals, instinctively feel more comfortable being alone when they die. I said that he wanted to be different his whole life and that my being an artist was obvious proof of that. I said, "You just say that 'cause on the news on T.V. when Ted Kennedy died, they said he died, 'surrounded by family'. " I said vehemently, "We're not the Kennedy's! Fuck the Kennedys! They're all dead anyway! "

He said, "Yeah, I guess."

His friend Wayne, from Virginia said it the best. He said, "Your father was a really nice guy. He was just really, really nice. He used to bring toys over for my kids, one was a little '57 Chevy model. My kids put it together and were playing with it, because they liked to play with stuff, and they liked to take things apart and were always taking the wheels off it. I'd get mad @ them because it was a nice car, like a collectors' item too, not just a toy. Your dad would help me with my business and in all kinds of ways, never charge me anything, just wanted to help. He was even out there trying to do the actual power-washing recently, I said I didn't know if I should let him, because of his health, you know. He said a lot of things to me that really stuck. He really helped me out in life. He was a great guy. I have to say of all my friends that I've had in my life, that he was the best friend I ever had." I swear I heard him tear up a little on the phone there.

The last thing my dad said, literally minutes before going, was "All right, I guess I'll let you go then. I have to go to the bathroom. Goodnight. I love you Bink."

Thomas Patrick Molloy Junior died Monday, October nineteenth @ approximately seven o'clock PM, eastern standard time. He was sixty-one years' old. Like every father, he was my hero and I loved him.

New Paintings

2009-09-05T01:16:00.004-04:00

I've been working more with glazes. The Hudson River School is the inspiration for the sunset.

"First Family Memorial Garden" 24" x 36". This is an exploration into some more classic techniques and took quite a bit of time.

I remember Charlie the Boston Cop I used to work with said he thought of "cleaning his gun sometimes" but he couldn't leave this life 'cause he'd miss the beauty in the sunsets and couldn't bear to never see them again of his own accord... so this one's for Charlie. It's on display @ Walker's Framing, 25 South 3rd St. , HBG, PA, Sunday from 11am-6pm Sept.13th...

Gift Shop Site

2009-05-26T02:53:00.004-04:00

I've just finished a gift shop web site. I think it's a good idea, as paintings are expensive. This is a way people can enjoy the image of the painting for a much more affordable price. Since my Mother and Grandmother have been encouraging me to do greeting cards and postcards and such ever since I first began drawing, I thought it might be a good idea to finally get around to it! I used one of the site names I registered, bryanmolloyart.BIZ, of course. I found some cool stuff that my paintings would look good on and not be totally useless. like coffee mugs, t-shirts, keychains, all the usuals. But then I found some companies that do some interesting things like marble coasters, sandstone, and wooden coasters too... puzzles, which I thought might be fun, mousepads, and even porcelain collectable plates, nice ones with ornate 22K silver and gold boarders...I thought that was pretty awesome.

New Studio Directory Site

2009-05-05T02:53:00.004-04:00

I've uploaded the latest addition in my internet marketing strategy. Bryanmolloyart.us . It is a simple, very traditional web site. Intended to imitate the bright, welcoming standard layout people have come to expect from a website, it is patterned after Rennaisance Capital's site. It is a simple portal menu to my bio site(bryanmolloyart.com), my gallery site(bryanmolloyart.org) and my gift shop site(bryanmolloyart.biz).

Meant to be an extremely communicative site, I've begun to integrate an international flavor. This is evident in the bryanmolloyart.US, address (.us is the future standard for websites in the United States). Also, when you mouseover the colored squares that link to the different sites, a translation of each site heading in 20 or so of the world's languages, including swahili and afrikaans, of the often not included; in common online translators; African languages. Hopefully it will be welcoming to an international audience, in the most inclusive sense.

PA Turnpike #4

2009-04-14T02:22:00.004-04:00

The newest painting in the Turnpike series is completed and I'm very pleased with it. It is an odd scene from the modern Pennsylvanian landscape depicting a strange dichotomy in the natural topography supported by the composition as well as the weather conditions of the particular day I took the picture in the fall of 2008. I painted the electrical station and wires running across the front with a rough, imposing motion. This imposing motion highlights the station, with the cloud-cover supporting this feeling, by breaking just at that point where the station sits on the mountain-side and leaving the wires and trees in the foreground brilliantly lit by direct sunlight. The background is shadowed by the clouds and causes the interesting, rainbow-like color transition, from the bottom to the top of the piece.

The electric station seems to impose on the landscape as I painted it because of our nation's new interest in "green" technology. When it was built it was probably described in this light as a "shining jewel" of progress. In this new "green" modern perspective, it may be described as destructive of a large swath of the mountainside foliage. When lit as it is, it burns darkly, a scarring reminder of the wasteful, arrogant destruction, lack of creative discipline and environmental consideration in our methods used in technological development of the existing power grid.

In this painting I was fascinated by this composition and the beauty of the subject matter. The composition and supporting symbolism celebrates the beauty of the Pennsylvania landscape as it appears at the time it represents. It is a typical scene one might see driving along the Pennsylvania Turnpike across the unfathomably beautiful State of Pennsylvania. Please take a ride, see it for yourself, and perhaps you'll see this very sight. Take a picture and interpret it in your own way.

New Gallery Website

2009-03-28T00:36:00.000-04:00

I've just finished bryanmolloyart.org. It's the newest work, in series. Only the most personal, most recent work I'm concentrating on. The site is designed like a gallery. Please take a look and sign the guestbook as if you were visiting a traditional physical gallery.

PA Turnpike Series #2

2009-01-29T20:53:00.001-05:00

I'm working, albeit slowly on account of my web site, on the second and third in a Pennsylvania landscape series. I have been really looking forward to doing some rural landscapes. In Virginia, when I lived there, I always wanted to, yet never did. So when I moved to PA, I was equally as anticipatory regarding the notion of farmland and undeveloped country and quite desirous of romanticizing and appreciating it.

A professor said that the brain activity of an artist responding to visual stimuli is the same as another's under the influence of the drug mescaline. When I paint a sky, and visually translate it, a person may love some detail or exaggeration of it. I would hope that it may add to their enjoyment of a glance at it during some frustrating moment, that they might see it in the sky before them then.

I'm not sure why farmland. I've always been drawn to the Hudson River School, and the Impressionists. I think that before all the incendiary wars(WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Middle East I&II, Kosovo, South American, Terror, non-American, etc....), artists were working to some common goal, I suspect. I hope. This goal involved tradition, technique and discipline. Beginning with cooperative, then individual, photographic(reflective), then sensory interpretive, it resulted in the combination of studio techniques with on location sketching. The wars brought psycho-interpretive, angst-reflective, decontructivist, itellectualizational rending and spiritual burning and killing of all things valued. Before then a building process was taking place where technical methods were being developed and applied to painting. Specifically, the interpretation was becoming quite sophisticated. In a way the ancient Chinese Literati had developed Eastern Style to a certain refined point, so too the Western Style was being developed- and developing, influenced by the Eastern Style at this time I refer to: just prior to the turn of the century: circa. 1850's.

The Arts and Crafts movement failed to combine quality with production. Technology produced photography (which I use to capture scenes as the Impressionist's mind would, in unison with the brush, @ that instant). Before photography, the studio artist brought the moment captured (the Impressionist's finished product) back to the studio but only had labor to confuse the time between completion and initial memory.

I think I am seeing some lost tradition which I must recapture, and sure it hasn't been. The tradition uses the technology to remember; to remember both a moment, but also to keep it present while it is translated; and to remember what we (as artists throughout time) were attempting to do, at any point in the process, at any point in history. I'm not sure what it is but I have identified a moment in stylistic methodology just before all the burning and exploding... just before the popcorn began popping. A moment to pick up where we left off, if we haven't been truly deafened and distracted for good. There was a discipline and foundation here somewhere... Academic, Impressionistic.... The virtuosity and finesse that translates for all mankind the look of what we are, how we see, and the way that looks on record.

I for one believe, and will continue to translate, if only for me. I will produce these odd attempts through process, which to the untrained eye, for all the world, are bits of colored grease... smeared on cloth.

The point of all that rant, was that the technique I am using in these next little landscapes, so far, is an academic foundation of a thin layer of burnt sienna, reddish-brown. Then, atop this I painted a more impressionistic description of the tree-line and mountains. Of course the brush is used to 'draw' in the adaptation of the Eastern Style, although it isn't really drawing in the strict sense of extended point delineation. The interesting thing is that I'm employing a glazing technique, thin layers of blue that are really deepening the perspective. It's a studio technique combined with an impressionistic technique in a way that has really stirred up this previous suspicion of recapturing this development in the artistic process and breaking free from this incredibly irritating and confusing, nay debilitating, purposeless, lack of resolution in the Modern Arts free fall.

I think this 'Impressionism' was an absorption of the Eastern Style. Impressionists, loosely used at this point, began incorporating abstraction and abstract methods increasingly before the wars. Academics had long embraced abstract methods to support the development of their photo-reflective goals. But here, the Eastern Style methods were understood, and appreciated as philosophies that were incorporated purposefully, as recognised adaptations and imitations of Eastern Style that were also purposefully conjoined to Academic European fine artisan decorative paneling traditions.

Eastern Style developed and combined with Academic traditions to become Western Style and has been developing as a unified World Style un-recognised for some time due to the confusing mis-inclusion of primitive warlike styles by confused mis-directed war-torn, traumatized, demented war-generations.

In, short, these next in this PA Turnpike Series are coming along well.

Nude Commentary

2009-01-24T14:29:00.000-05:00

I am working @ this moment @ the front desk @ the Art Association of Harrisburg. This month's exhibit is a figure show, a members' show with the human figure as the theme, called 'Figuratively Speaking'. It is a well-established annual feature which has drawn record numbers of member entries this year. The Curator had to clear out the permanent collection hallway to make room.

Since it is Saturday, there are children's art classes held in the building.

A little girl leaving with her father took the time to give commentary. As she walked by, she was pointing continuously @ the nude women in her path saying, "Eeew, eeew, eeew, eeew...", to communicate her visceral reflexive reaction to each piece she saw. She spoke with definitive disdain in her voice, controlling her obvious shock and continuing realization that the whole wall, room, and building was, no doubt, filled, one after the other in place with these, in her opinion, yucky, icky, ucky classic nudes in familiar classic nude poses. And she listed her reaction to each with a very matter-of-fact tone, unable to find the time to reformulate another word of description or lower her pointed finger, first extended in haste to point out a possible horrible wrong, left extended to defend her sensibilities. I'll continue with a colonial-style poem, I hope Hawthorn will be proud.

I think artists themselves with this most pure judgment must agree (at-heart honestly); else how more flattering and pleasant our unclothed selves would (most likely) be; to that young sensibility! As for me, the girl's opinion-an untarnished reflection-(more likely) must be.

Pumpkins for Palin

2008-11-03T19:22:00.000-05:00

Here's a cool thing that happened: I was called late last Wednesday night, October the twenty-ninth, by people working with the Republican National Committee, out of Arlington, VA. They were in York, PA organizing a rally for Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin and they called the Art Association. Earlier that day, they had talked to the Director, who gave them my name curtly, then abruptly hung up on the partisan fellow. He was looking for an artist to hand-paint a pumpkin on an area larger that forty-square feet. Since they obviously had no knowledge of Fine Arts materials and processes, when they called back later that evening, I recommended a smaller area as I was concerned about my arms falling off after finishing a painting that large in one afternoon. He (whose name was Josh) conferred with his supervisor and then agreed that perhaps twenty by twenty feet would be more reasonable. I asked what their budget was and they said [xx] dollars. I did some calculations on the calculator and figured that canvas that size would cost at least [xx] dollars. Since this was for a good cause and they seemed in a bind, (they admitted that they had misplaced their own campaign posters) I was happy to agree to a price far below most painters. I knew I could paint a twenty foot canvas in less than twelve hours, but I was unsure of where I would get material to paint on that large for free or @ a very reduced price. I told Josh that I would call him back. Then I called Rick Walker from Walker's Framing, who has helped me in more than a few massively unrealistic, last minute, low paying jobs. Fortunately, Rick had acquired a large roll of canvas left over from the restoration of the Pennsylvania State Capitol building and twenty feet in one direction was no problem. Twenty feet in the other however, was a problem. Rick said he would do the job for [xx] dollars but it would have to be nine feet in one of the directions. I called the Josh guy back and relayed this information and Josh said this was fine, 20'x9' for $[xx]. He said he would call the next morning @ 7:30am and that they may want two. I met Rick @ Walker's that night and we coordinated things we would need and made a quick trip to Home Depot.
Rick said that we should meet @ his shop @ 6:30am. I went home and worked on my web page 'till 6am, made a thermos full of coffee, kissed Andrea goodbye and drove downtown. Rick called a few minutes past seven. We went in to the shop, and measured and cut and gathered. While we were cutting the 2'x4's' ends into 45 degree angles I missed Josh's call. I called him back and we agreed to meet @ the York Fairgrounds when we could. We loaded everything into Rick's truck, tied it down, put an orange plastic bag on the overhanging end of the wood as a flag, and drove to York, PA.
We called Josh when we arrived and he met us out front of the Convention Center. We shook hands and Josh swatted my shoulder aggressively and made a joke about the difference between twenty feet and forty feet. I laughed and we went in and talked for a while about the design and I said that I brought some dried corn for a second composition in case they should want two. He was talking rapidly and forcefully, playing 'bad cop' and lying through his teeth, about how fortunate we were that they now definitely wanted two and that because they had originally wanted a twenty by twenty, not a twenty by nine piece that it seemed quite reasonable to ask us to do two, twenty by nine pieces, for $[xx]. Rick said that since his material costs were $[xx], that he would lower that to $[xx] and do two of the same size pieces 2 for [xx] dollars, which reduced my take. Since apparently all of the sudden when we had already made the trip and begun work my fee of $[xx] was no longer separate from the equipment and framing costs, which according to the original agreement would have brought the total to [xx] dollars, Josh asked me if that was O.K. with me if I got only [xx] dollars for two twenty by nine paintings and assured me that it was still about six dollars a square foot, and added some inflammatory comment about who's paying who/who's in charge to pit me against Rick. He was asking me if it was fine with me if I got less that half to do twice the amount of work. I thought maybe Josh was angry about being unaware of the costs associated with such a project and unappeased by our attempts to drastically lower those costs and donate a large part of our services to help the American political process and the local reputation of the community of York and central Pennsylvania as our abilities and standards of ethics dictate we should. This was not just a poster, or some half-assed copy shop print-job, we were giving this last-minute gig the same attention that Rick and I give all of our work, high-end Fine Art and Framing. I think maybe the campaign people thought they called a lesser quality 80 year-old gallery and 50 year-old third generation framer. Our business ethics were not sullied by these base tactics and we agreed to divide the costs equally, 50/50 and do our best to complete the job to our usual highest of standards.
We finished stretching this Moby Dick and leaned it up against the far wall and I began assembling my paints and brushes. Rick left to get the stenciling for the letters, which was being donated by a sign maker friend of his, and also to get more wood for the now requested second painting. Seth, Josh's supervisor, and 'good cop', came over and said that he was surprised that twenty feet was so large and said that one would be plenty and that we shouldn't do two after all. I called Rick and told him that he wouldn't need to get more wood because they now only wanted the one. Rick, exasperated yet sounding a bit relieved, asked if they were going to pay us the original cost. Of course not, they knocked [xx] dollars off the original quote we gave them.
I painted the pumpkins. I talked to the union guys setting up the stage and bleachers. One of them was an artist but didn't have the time to pursue it seriously. They were all very encouraging and comforting. They had the luxury of a union to prevent them from having to deal with people making their jobs many times more difficult, holding their needs hostage, eating dogs in their dog eat dog world, destroying business, building bureaucracy, growing government and poverty and desperation, anxiety and ill-will. Without a gold standard, consumer confidence, trust and goodwill now back the dollar in the place of gold... I felt a tap on my shoulder which shocked me out of my artistic trance. A woman and a man with a camera wanted me to do an interview for Fox Local News. I had my hand covered in red paint like a bloody maniac sticking out of a can of red paint, as I had been throwing paint around in a spattery, Jackson Pollack way. Of course I would do an interview! The camera-guy apologized as he stuck his hand up the back of my sweaty back and dropped a microphone down my collar and clipped it in place. I apologized that I was a fat sweaty mess that he should have to do that. The woman asked me my name and what the purpose of the painting was. I explained that it was a backdrop for the rally that the organizers had wanted to have a regional stress to. I explained that I had used an expressionistic style in the brushwork as an homage to Li Hidley, the former Curator of the Art Association of Harrisburg, where I work part-time as a Gallery Assistant. I said that I was just happy to support the American Political Process, and that it was excellent. This last part is what aired. They showed me throwing paint on the canvas with my bare hand. When I watched it later that night on the ten o'clock news I laughed well into the next day. I spoke in a nervous, slightly sarcastic, over-eager, over-tired, over-caffeinated, chubby, twitchy, endearingly genuine way. My wide eyes and double chin emphatically encouraging my sincerity and how fun politics really is.
The camera went off to explore the rest of the large room and half-constructed steel-polls of the bleachers. As I was finishing the last delicate touches on the largest pumpkin ever, Josh was tossing around and punting a football with some of the other organizers. I recognized that they were playing with a football because of the sound. Both my father and I had both punted for our High School football teams, he for four years earning national records on his Varsity high school team, Chelsea High, and myself, on the Junior Varsity team, for one year with records for the furthest shoe flinging off my foot while punting, and fewest penalties for playing without a chinstrap. He complimented the painting, asked if I did this for a living, said it was obvious and that the painting looked great.
Rick returned with the stencils. Then Rick left an open utility knife on top of the ladder in haste to make an appointment and when it teetered and rocked upon his descent, it fell, blade first, on his thumb to the bone. The blood formed a fast little ball on his open hand. I continued to work on the lettering while Rick's friend from York who lived nearby and stopped over after work, who makes Stealth Bomber parts for the military, helped him bandage his hand.
I left that night and called Rick Saturday afternoon because I slept through the rally, he missed it too. Here's a link to the footage of the rally, scroll to the video box and play it. You can see in one of the camera pans the painting in the background: http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_10865066

Crazy Dream Last Night

2008-10-28T18:37:00.000-04:00

Last night/early today I was dreaming about international banking. I was so worked up I was shaking. The interesting thing is, the concept, an isolationist banking strategy, is not something I think about normally, or have discussed at any point in my life. I can't say I have ever addressed banking in my thoughts throughout the day... international trade and manufacturing I think about and have strong opinions regarding, but banking... not really. Some concerns about foreign ownership of U.S. land and companies, but definitely not yelling @ Tom Daschle about foreign bank influence in the American banking system. I was yelling, "National banking is national and should be confined and regulated by the boarders of the nation!" And I was trying to get through to him and whoever else was there and yelling 'till I shook and my voice quavered.
Maybe it's a valid point, It made sense to my dream-state.

My Birthday

2008-09-29T20:57:00.000-04:00

My birthday this year was exceptional. The Governor of Pennsylvania hosted a private reception for the Art Association @ the Governor's Residence downtown Harrisburg. The day before my actual birthday happened to be the date of the reception. While the Governor himself wasn't there, he left some excellent cheese for us. The entire first floor was open for us to view the art & artifacts housed there in the mansion. I have seen beautiful houses and wonderful classic American silver-ware, but as I followed Andrea through the different rooms, I studying the paintings on the walls and she, remembering her grandmother's dining room (which had been decorated just like the parlor room); I noticed next to the main entry, sitting quite humbly above a chair, a portrait of George Washington. I thought as I approached, 'how nice... they have a copy of Rembrandt Peale's portrait of Washington' next to a grandfather clock made in Harrisburg (which was written on it's face). And then followed Andrea to the Parlor in question where she had been reading a book about Van Gogh. We discussed the decor being very similar to her grandmother's dining room in Illinois when she was a little girl. The room was all turquoise with mural-print wallpaper of Indians and rivers. There were oriental vases all around with a lot of turquoise in them. The lamps also stuck strictly to this design motif without protest of the slightest kind. I looked to the end of the room, and again tucked quite modestly on small walls aside the fireplace mantle, were two portraits that reminded me of one artist whose work I studied for hours, standing @ the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston when I lived there. I stood transfixed for many hours for many days on end, so I was pretty sure the style was after Sir Joshua Reynolds. As I had done when I drew near enough to read the inscription on the plaque on the frame of the portrait of Washington in the Great Hall with the parquet floor like the Boston Garden from my childhood; even though it said clearly Sir Joshua Reynolds, as the other had said Rembrandt Peale; I had it in my mind that they were copies or something, and assumed so confidently. When we were looking @ something else (Tom Ridge's solid metal cutout of the United States in map style with Pennsylvania shooting out the face like Superman lettering probably), the Governor's Secretary, the nicest woman, of course came around to see if we were enjoying ourselves. We were, and I pointed to Washington well-preserved in the shadows above the Butler's Chair, by the grandfather clock next to the Main Entry, and I said, "that isn't..." and she said, "it IS!" And I doubled about and guffawed and squealed and made some more disbelieving expressions, being the fool all the while! It and the two others were in fact original paintings by the original artists. This is the purpose of this blog entry, to express my amazement and wonderment and gratitude. And to say that that was a great thing to see and a great way to see it.