Why I Love Bill

Los Angeles, CA

One year, early on in our relation- ship, Bill gave me a painting he made for me as a gift for Christmas. It was an odd one -featuring an overweight man in a trench coat on a rainy street, who appeared to be dreaming about a prostitute with smeared lipstick.

It makes me laugh just to think about it - all these years later.  It's really funny.  But it also makes me think of one of the things I love about Bill.  He isn't afraid to put himself on the line.  I always have been.  Everything I do has to be perfect.  Can't put anything out there unless it meets the Jeremy stamp of approval.

Such a sad way to live life.  Takes all the fun out of it.  Bad art is in some ways the best art. And its the only way to get to something meaningful, and fully realized.  Just like messy lives are sometimes just lives on the road to greatness.  At least, thats what I think....

Since then, Bill has definitely gone on to greatness, in my opinion.  He did a well received art show last year, and he's got a killer blog that he updates regularly called Goats Gruff.  But, I also think that the journey is never ending.  I sure hope that one day he paints a sequel to the Overweight man and the prostitute, cause I know that will mean that something truly special is sure to be just around the corner.  And until then, I can have a good laugh.

Thank you, B for the lesson, for showing me the importance of being vulnerable in life and in art, for being my partner these last 10 years, and for putting up with all my shit.  I love you.  

By the way, I took this picture in Bills childhood home in st louis, with some of his paintings from his "Nagel phase".   The other is from his art show.  I have no photos of the overweight man and the prostitute. But I just might take some this weekend. I think the world would be a better place with it were shared.

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Around the Country in a Best Western

Again, its easy to know the approximate location of this best western by the painting over the bed.  Which is lucky for the best western patron, because the only window was three quarters covered by a wooden board.  And, beyond the board was nothing more than a parking lot. But beyond the parking lot, and the exxon station, and the Subway, were some pretty spectacular mountains.  

This is the Best Western of Greater Hamilton MT

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The Bitterroot

Hamilton, MT

Not many people live in the bitterroot valley. I think the biggest city is Hamilton, which can't be much more than 8,000 people. But they are an eclectic bunch. I spent a few days there, with Nicole and her mom Marilyn, who are two of the beekeepers I have been following for the documentary. Luckily, there was a little downtime between shooting, when the ladies of bee management introduced me to what makes western montana fun (when you aren't working the hives). I will, in turn, share it with all of you. Here's a quick run down of what lurks just off the interstate.....

PINEDALE - just a mile up the road from Nicole lies one of the largest FLDS communities in the country. Its deep in the pine trees. Big houses. Lots of swing sets and not much else. Apparently, they are the object of local scorn, not because of their faith, or their polygamy, but because, as a religious group, they don't pay taxes. In the land of the montana freeman ....well, that kind of thing is a big deal.

THE CAR MAN - so, just behind this beat up old house, is this huge yard full of hundreds and hundreds of cars.  Really amazing stuff, and Im not even a car guy.  Actually, cars bore me completely, but this was incredible.  From the 38 Chevy in mint condition featured in this photo (which looked like pure evil to me) 
to the  seemingly never-ending rows of cars in all states of disrepair from every decade of the last century.  You would be stunned.  I liked the license plates.  and I learned that Montana was known as THE TREASURE STATE before BIG SKY COUNTRY.   Which, knowing how my mind works, is probably the thing I am most likely to remember 10 years from now. 

THE ROCKY KNOB - No photos allowed in this joint.  I know this because a lady in a halter top (despite the subfreezing tempuratures) told me that taking pictures could be hazardous to my health.  Of course, then she held her hand up like she expected me to kiss it.  So who knows. This was just about the liveliest,  engaging bunch of noontime boozers I have ever seen.  The beer on tap was called BongWater, the disco ball was broken, and the smokers were "alive with Pleasure"

I like it when Im a little scared and a little excited at the same time.  So, you can be sure I liked the Rocky Knob.

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Visual Pollution

Hollywood, CA

Criss crossing the country, its easy to get depressed by what you see outside the car window.  Its pretty much the same thing everywhere you go.  Fast food restaurants, giant parking lots.  Oversized signs.  

I often find myself thinking of ways to improve urban blight to make it more human friendly.  I love urban planning.  

Sometimes, I go so far as to sketch out a fantasy map of a neighborhood in a way that I think would work better.  Its weird, I know.  But I get really excited about it.  Like when Santa Monica started putting little traffic circles all over the neighborhood to slow down traffic, I started imagining where tram lines could go and which street could be closed to cars all together.  

And, working on Hollywood Blvd, Ive been really compulsive about keeping up with the revitalization efforts.  In some ways, these efforts depress me, because even though Hollywood used to be nothing more than a symbol of American glamour that managed to delivered little more than  Lebanese owned Tshirt shops and strung out hustlers, it was exciting in a sort of sad way.  

But overall the revitalization is a good thing.  There are fewer blocks composed of nothing but a parking lot, and more mixed use buildings going up.  They are trying to create these "live work" spaces around the subway stops, like normal cities have.  I hope it works.  But usually, in LA, I am disappointed.  These kinds of efforts take twice as long as in other cities.  People are opposed to public transportation, and not interested in community issues.  Its a very individual kind of town.  It will probably be another 10 years before the next subway line is completed.  I know east west lines have been blocked by the city of beverly hills to keep "unwanted elements" out of the city.  That line is now planned to go through south LA along exposition.

All this makes me sad.  And also makes me feel disconnected from where I live.  

Then, recently,  I read this article in the Times which, while being a little pretentious, kind of sums up how I feel about living here.  

I still dream about a different kind of city, but the older I get, the more I am able to appreciate it for what it is, instead of what it will never be.  Though, one day, I just might move to Vancouver, which, in terms of urban planning, seems to be just about perfect....

Anyway, this photo is taken from the roof of the World of Wonder building, looking west towards the Chinese Theatre.

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Sometimes, I miss Texas

Ft Worth, TX

I took this with my camera phone at a Black Crowes concert last year, and only recently discovered it as I was deleting media to make more space.  I think it's the perfect picture.  Lots of girls in boots.  Lots of cells phones. No one's too interested in the Black Crowes, myself included...

Here's my analysis of the scene:   I think the girl in the black boots is the "A" friend and the girl in the pink boots is the less attractive "B" friend she keeps around so that guys (like the one in the backwards baseball cap) will check out her ass and not her friends.  The A friend is checking her messages for a guy who she is supposed to meet there, who hasn't shown up, and the B friend is pretending she got a text message.  No one is really enjoying themselves because the beer is $8 a can.  

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Car Wheels on a Gravel Road

15 miles outside of Timmons- ville, SC

I think I was sub- consciously mimicking the cover of the Lucinda Williams album (one of my all time favorites) when I took this picture...  Anyway, this is the home of the 3rd, and final beekeeper in our documentary

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Bees In My Mouth

Timmonsville, SC

Never scream for help when you get bees in your veil.

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Around the World in a Best Western

Can you tell, based on a hi - wide angle shot of my hotel room?

Im thinking about making this my first "regular blog feature" - so all 10 of you that read this blog can wait with baited breathe for the next installment.  

It is based on that uncomfortable feeling of waking up and not remembering where i am -What town, who i am shooting, what my goal is, or what happened the day before.  Sometimes, it takes turning on the lights and looking around to get my bearings.  But since I always stay in a best western, that doesn't usually help much. But still, even best westerns have hints of personality.  It may be a take out pizza menu on the desk with a location printed on the front.  Or a Bible on the nightstand (usually hidden in the drawer, unless you are in the south), or an oil painting of an adobe mission over the bed (which would indicate a hotel room in the south west)  So, with that, here is my latest hotel room.  Where am I?  (try clicking on the photo for a LARGE DETAILED VIEW!!)  Its kind of like a highlights game!

 This is a hard one.  There is very little to give anything away.  But the utter blandness is the first clue.  Also, you might notice, its a little DATED.  The floral bedspreads have been replaced in the newer best westerns.  And you might not be able to tell, but the painting features a gazebo in a swampy park.  Gazebo?  Swamps?  10 years behind?  Hmmmm....  For further help, you will find some NERDS on the bedside table (that I bought across the street at a piggly wiggly).  Yes... Im in South Carolina (Timmonsville, to be exact)

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5am - and no beekeeper to be found

Lost Hills, CA

When documentary subjects stand me up at 5am in the middle of a cherry orchard - I get really zen and shoot the sunrise 

Going with the flow is my new thing.  I say that every year, but this year I mean it. 

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