Open Hearts & Closed Pools...

A couple bits of news here... There's another great event being brought to you by the folks at the Presidio Motel, you should go check out if you are here in the SB area and buy your better half something nice for Valentines Day...But, if by chance, you were planning on visiting the empty swimming pool on the banks of the Salton Sea for a sweet skate or photo session, forget it. I stumbled upon this article recently and learned the sad news of it's demise...

Jesse and Phil...

I had lunch with my buddy Jesse Alexander the other day at Sly's restaurant in Carpinteria. Jesse is good friends with the chef/owner, James, who happens to be a big car buff. So... it only makes sense that the restaurant is decorated with Jesse's photography.

We are regulars for lunch and often make it a point to sit in one corner of the place at a 2-top just below one of his portraits of legendary driver, Phil Hill (RIP). Phil and Jesse had become great friends over the many years that he photographed motor sports, Jesse recently told me that he thinks of Phil every single day.

I snapped this shot the last time we had lunch...

E. Haley Street revisited...

It's been nearly five years since I moved away from my old neighborhood and having my good-bye show at Art Resources. At my show, I displayed the images I had collected while walking a, roughly, eight block section of the one-way street while living there.

Actually, I revisit E. Haley St. all of the time. My buddy, Matt, owner of Art Resources Framing/Gallery which is located only a block from where I used to live is still there. I often stop in to say Hi or work on framing pieces for my art shows. But... it had been a while since I had just taken a walk through the hood with my camera and check things out.

I did so a couple of days ago. Things have changed quite a bit, it was almost sad. I can only hope that it is the current scene of inspiration for some other artist, living in the area. My stroll turned more into a mini documentation of the changes that I saw.

Here are some pics from when I was living there and what is happening now...

My old live work space. Now for sale and... I can't believe they painted over the mermaid mural!

A neighbor kid that lived in the old store fronts on E. Haley, which is now boarded up.

A family that lived in one of the few actual houses in the area. It too is now boarded up.

Resent Snaps...

All taken with my new Canon point-n-shoot. Being lazy and having fun...