Squerl's house hold hint of the day 9-29-08

I just got back from Chico's house. His transporter is nearly ready, but he was asking me if I have ever tried to remove rust from metal? I told him there's lots of nasty planet poisoning chemicals you can buy, but I have a safe and natural solution- Use vinegar and 0000 steel wool. Works like a charm, and vinegar is about the cheapest substance known to man- or Squerls. Works great for cleaning the hard water deposits that slow down your coffee maker too-vinegar that is, no steel wool nesscesary. Just pour in about a half a pot of vinegar and turn it on. When it's finished do it again, keep pouring it again and again till you see the hard water deposits start to break loose, (you'll see them in the pot.) Most importantly do this outside if possible, or your whole treehouse will smell like salad dressing. D.J. Biggie Badger called while I was out and told me about a not too old not too new MiddleEastern group called The Peoples Republic. Amazing, exotic instrumentals set to pulse like beats and even more amazing chant- like vocals. Makes me want to become a whirling dirvish for a day. It's the kind of thing you can put on when your doin your art work and just kind of groove to. Anyway I like to support some artists from that region because I figure it's the least I can do to try to get to know the culture and not be a hater. I hate our current administrations policy on Iraq, and it's scandalous the way we are just blowing up and mowing down everyday folks over there. I say the terror lies within. Within the Oval office that is. I can't wait till November. Hope your all right out there. Despite all the crazyness in the world right now, I'm happy. Here in my nest everythings cool and like the great Jazz legend Louis Armstrong said, It's a wonderful world. -Squerl

Squerl's Weekend Ode to Paul Newman 9-28-08

One of my favorite humans Paul Newman is gone, one of the last real movie stars. Handsome, classy, humanitarian. They don't really make them like that anymore. Picnic and The Hustler are two must sees from this talented iconic actor and activist. He will be missed by many. Checked out the Lasagna at the Italian festival in Willow Glen this weekend. Good stuff. Listened to some Soprano's extras singing Quando Quando, which by the way I have now learned means When? When? A young lady dressed up in a sequin beaded dress, false eyelashes and BIG black hair a-la Gina Lollobrigida rounded out the day, and yes I got a Cannoli to go. yum!

Adventures of Squerl 9-26-08 Opening

If yer curious like me, poke your nose into the Buddhist Temple and groove to some jazz ensemble. Then for fun, check out the 5th street gallery Art Object in Japan town for a nice little series of paintings dealing with our current administration. This artist really shares a Squerls view of Humans at their worst. I was not crazy about the demonic fire lit rabbits and their chimpanzee infiltrator though. I mean I would never paint a picture of humans skinned alive and ready to be put in a stew pot. On second thought...naaahhh. Anyway, I think any gallery showing political art is deserving of a nod. They are also showing some sculpture, and Graffiti inspired paintings as well as Photos by Debra Thackery. Fun stuff. There is even a time bomb. Make traxx on over there yall.
P.S. If you shake your bushy tail, the Bartender Paul will give you some nice homemade Walnut liquor. Walnuts and Squerls go together ...You know that.

Thurs. 9-25-08 Squerl's first Bronze/ Aluminum Pour

Wow! If you ever want to see something cool check out the SJSU Foundry. I saw my first "pour" today! The helpers form a team of five and suit up in silver heat impervious gear topped off with Leather gloves and jackets, hard hats, and face Shields- all safety essentials. They look like they're ready for a moon walk! The metal, (usually aluminum or bronze,) has been melted down in a super heat resistant ceramic container called a crucible and is sunk into a hole in the floor awaiting the head man's signal. Two men man the boom and the other overhead apparatus that come down from the ceiling like a giant engine hoist to lift the heavy crucible and it's white hot molten contents. All the team members must work together in unison to maneuver the crucible into the right position for pouring into the investment molds which are made ahead from wax models, surrounded by stucco wire tar paper plaster and sand. The team must flow in a smooth, steady way to ensure a good pour of molten metal into each mold. Sounds pretty do-able you say? Well don't forget that everything weighs about a ton, and is about a bazillion degrees! The molten aluminum looks just like mercury as it is poured into the molds- it's the coolest thing ever! I wanted to stay for the second, bronze pour but i had to make traxx to another class. I can't wait for my turn! I don't think I need to tell you, don't try this at home! Squerl

Wed 9-24-08 Squerlin

I have been out of town, now I am back and need to catch up on my classes. Lot's of news but no time to tell it in. Stay posted. Squerl

Wed. 9-17-08 Squerl has a Metaphysical Experience

I was waiting for a call from my man, D.J. Biggie Badger when I started thinking to myself, If we were dwellers in ancient Akkadie, we would all be busily gathering in the harvest in preparation for the feast of Shamash, the Sun God. I would bring the acorn atole pancakes. I dozed off for awhile and I had a dream. I dreamed that Shamash the Sun God brought me a catalogue of the work of Gerard Titus - Carmel, all written in French. That's not so strange for me to dream about because I love Gerard Titus - Carmel, the weird thing is that I could read and understand the French even though I don't speak it in real life. In the book Gerard Titus- Carmel is talking about some of his pieces with fur on them, saying how he only uses road kill for those pieces and that many squirrels live on through his work. It was a happy dream. The phone woke me up. D.J. Biggie Badger, (Badges for short, ) was on the imaginary line. "I'm callin for Squerl," rumbles through the phone in a voice like far off thunder. I can hear James Brown playin in the background.
"Yo Badges, it's me Squerl."
" Ol riitte." Wadda ya want let's do this weekend? Have ya seen Chico?"
"Yeah man he's workin on his astral-nautical transport device."
"Astra-whatathemofo?"
"You know another one of his crazy robotic artworks, he's focused man."
" Too bad for him, that means more ladies for us at the party."
" What ladies, what party?"
" I don't have all the details yet but I will call you when I do."
" Cool daddy, say go."
" Riitte on, now you be cool man, don't be gettin all squerly on me."
" All right Badgie - hey play me some crazy funk like Parliment or somthing...I'm still groggy from my nap."
" No problem friend, I'll put you in the front of the line, later man."
" Cool, cool, bye."
Anyway, after the call I had to make traxx to foundry class, someone had dumped off a mess of old Art magazines that nobody else wanted. I am the recycling king so I nabbed them and brought them home after class. As I looked through them I couldn't believe my eyes. There in the stack was not just one, but two catalogues in French of Gerard Titus Carmel. How wierd is that? Maybe Chico's machine is working after all.

Tue. 9-16 Squerl ponders Spanish Bodegon painting and it's relevency to Installation art.

Check out the Bodegon painters of the 1600's and you will find the roots of Da-Da, Surrealisim, and modern installation art. Fra Juan Sanchez and Velasquez are two who really broke with the Acadamie and developed their own unique style which may have been partially influenced by Catholic Missonaries to China during the fall of the Ming dynasty. Consider the symbolic nature of the fruits and vegetables and their occupation within the space, some are suspended on wires etc. within box like forms- totally installation. The Chinese influence is there and these paintings directly influenced painters like Max Ernst, de Chirico and Salvadore Dali as well as many other artists working today. I was thinking about these paintings because many of my ancestors died in the name of this genre and I feel that homage is due, Bodegon has had a derogatory reputation as middle class decorative art, but maybe there is more to it than that it could be much more expressive and pointed than that. Remember this is a time when they could pull out your fingernails and put you on the rack for doing anything heretical. When you think about the shape of space- think about Bodegon and it's relevency to Installation art. Maybe I should work on still life arrangements with freshly trapped humans, surrounded by the trash they create...hummm....... Maybe not. Squerl