Dave McKean Feb 2010 art opening in LA

The art opening of Dave McKean was a star-studded affair, a terrific night out.

The day started with a bye-bye BBQ in Elysian Park for our friend Ali who was leaving for the Jay-Z tour.
We headed out in Ghosty with the top down to the Santa Monica gemshow, happy to report that i did NOT go over my self-imposed budget and look at all the loot I hunter/gathered....

goldstone & abalone & pyrite & hematite & Austrian crystals & Chinese coins & glittery gorgeousness:





then we ate a spicy Thai dinner with Steve & Dani and headed over to the Billy Shire Fine Art to take a look at what Mr. McKean has been working on.
As luck would have it, we met Tom Negovan who curated the show. As he was sharing his vast informed knowledge, he helped me in making my decision on which print to buy.
Somehow, I didn't take a photo of Dave, but here is Matt Kennedy, writing up the sale:



I chose the "M" print for many reasons as well. Fritz Lang's "M" & Peter Lorre's serial killer were childhood inspirations of my own...They are shipping it to me, and I am waiting patiently, as patient as any kitty can be.

Matt had several tattoos of great interest:






Dave looked very handsome in his leather jacket & was the charming host of the evening. I spent much of the evening tracking him down to introduce him to various fans, as he went around the room photographing the event.

Scotch goodness Grant Morrison & Dave:




The packed house can be seen here:



here is Cesar Haro & Stephanie Leonidas (the beautiful star of Mirrormask):




a little teeny photo of Kristan & I:
(thanks to Cesar for letting me use these photos)



next installment, we go to the Playboy Mansion on Valentine's Day proper!
here's a preview:

SF, the Magic Castle, love hearts & Dave McKean...

After I dropped Neil at the airport, I stopped by the Pearl Art Supply on La Cienaga that was closing down,
hopeful for some art deals.
Was very sad to get to the glitter aisle (always my first stop!)
to find, I was too late...



but i was able to get all of this for a measly twenty american bucks:



nothing like a fresh new pencil...


this week, i flew up to San Francisco for an interview for my new tour.
it was fast and furious and I was back just after dark.
Got to see my friend Sherri for a vegan dinner and good conversation,
she left the tatters of LA for a terrific new home in the Mission.
SFO is one of my favorite airports in the continental US, always has something interesting to see,
their penny slot display was four star. They have a display of old saxophones







Back in town, we got together with Crow Garrett a magician that I see as the real-life Shadow from AMERICAN GODS. (except for the jail part) He took us to the elusive Magic Castle on the hill. Full of secret passageways and magician lore history, we fell in love with the place over and over. From the ghost of Irma playing the piano, to the love heart juggling Lindsay Benner, we respected the strict no-photo rule. (even though it was so tempting)
These were taken outside:






i think my favorite was the secret door where you say "open sesame" and a bookcase opens to let you in to the main bar room.

Last night, we walked over to our neighborhood gallery to see the one and only Dave McKean:



he was signing work I had never even seen, look what he painted, my new treasure:



thanks Dave!



tonight he is showing at the Billy Shire Fine Arts in Culver City , I just did an email blast through my contacts, making sure everyone knows to come out tonight...



tomorrow is Valentine's Day and the Playboy Mansion! another full report soon....

whirling dervishes...

has it really been a month since I posted an entry here?
almost!
January flew by, i was in NYC for Gaga shows, and a visit home with my family.
There was zero snowfall, but it was a grande trip east. (will do a whole blog on this over on the furrytiger site, as soon as I get to it...)



I got to visit Neil's agent, Merrilee's beautiful offices, what a place to go to work every day:



had a new year's chat with my favorite lions, Patience & Fortitude @ the New York Public Library:





When I got back on the west coast I met up with Neil, here for appearances, meetings and general good times...

Driving him around in Ghosty with the top down made his hair look even better, if you can believe it....
but the haircut by our friend miss punk-rock-choir Chris probably sealed the deal:



the hotel he was being put up in had a terrific toy in the elevator, a photo device that generated images of many many riders:



Neil had an appointment at a recording studio to do a couple different voiceover jobs, the crew & producer/directors were thrilled by his professional demeanor and general willingness to try anything.

In between meetings, I fed him a steady stream of fanmail to answer & things to gaze on:



here he doodles a terrific bookmark for charity:



perhaps my favorite:




we ate four-star sushi:



DC Comics sent over a lovely team of six guys to film footage of an interview with Neil for the 75th anniversary documentary.
Lorraine and I did quite a bit of fancy footwork with the hotel and we really enjoyed doc team leader Sean Welch's dry hilarious approach. Here he is in the hallway setting up:




these guys were stuffed like sardines in Neil's suite. Cannot wait to see the final results, the questions were intriguing & the answers, man, I always learn something from @Neilhimself---



We journeyed up to Santa Barbara for Neil's talk at the UCSB campus.

Look at the carpet where we had lunch (with the talented Michael Reaves)



UCSB was quite the schedule, Neil gave a pre-event talk & Q&A on the campus to selected students:



I sure hope someone got it on tape, all the gems that were flying back and forth...

Neil soundchecking at Campbell Hall:



this event was not meant to have a signing, but because of crossed communications, Neil agreed to not disappoint all those in attendance. The organizer kept reassuring me that it would go quickly. I kept saying, watch and see, we will be leaving here at 1 am...(& with a two hour drive down the coast, that would put our hero in his hotel by 3:30--with early morning meetings and another speaking event next day)

Neil read one of my new favorite stories, "The Thing About Cassandra"--you could hear people's shallow breathing as they hung on the story.

the line stretched around the building and looped all over the place. everyone was in great spirits, so excited to meet Neil.
we even had him signing a typewriter! (can you see Ray Bradbury's pawprint on there as well?)



this class came from Nevada!



so we DID arrive back in LA at 3:30 am after a four hour signing...

Next morning, I met him for meetings etc. That night was UCLA's talk.
Neil pre-signed a super-load of books for the event.







Neil read from "Odd and the Frost Giants" and gave a very thought-provoking speech. However, he did forget to mention that CORALINE was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Picture. ah, geez!

I finally got to introduce Drew's parents to Neil and also front and center is the legendary SuperKate:




The next day, another crew gathered into Neil's hotel suite. This time, led by the wonderful Marc Scott Zicree, Neil did a commentary track for the Bluray release of several Twilight Zone episodes. I learned so much...






there is so much more to add, but I have to fly to San Francisco in the morning, so I have to wind this up.
Can I say though, Neil not only introduced me to David J, Grant Morrison AND Stephen Fry, but he also let me trade two tickets to UCLA event for a tour of the Playboy Mansion...and so that's what Drew is getting for Valentine's Day (shhhhhh!)
thank you, Boss!!