The other January 9th birthday I mentioned in a previous post is a bit more significant and personal, as it is the day that a very dear friend of mine was born, for which I am eternally grateful and thankful.

An astonishing guitar player in his own right, but also an accomplished artist… a one-of-a-kind artist at that.

Rick Zar is the Man!

Rick grew up in an artistic environment in San Pedro, California, with his influential step-father artist Jimmy Zar, well-known for is amazing oil paintings, and his younger brother Chet Zar, who left his mark in Hollywood, but has branched way out beyond the confines of the silver screen.

The Devil’s Apprentice…
or at least the mad acientist’s prot??g??

Rick Zar used to work for the amazing mad scientist Larry Albright in Venice Beach. Larry Albright was well-known for building contraptions based on Nikola Tesla’s theories. At one point in time, he was the only person on the planet doing what he does. (Go to the video at the end of this posting to watch and listen to a clip of Larry Albright).

Pioneering in blown-glass contraptions known as Crackle Tubes and Lightning Globes, and holding the world record for having built the smallest neon art for the Francis Ford Coppola movie “One From the Heart”. Also having created installations for Stephen Speilberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, building custom pieces for Michael Jackson, and a long list of other amazing, unique works of art that have found their way all over the planet.

PlasmaPipes.com:
Art to Light Up Your Life

Let’s focus for a moment on this latest artistic venture, PlasmaPipes.com… an artistic endeavor which took a lifetime to achieve. It had to. Necessary were the many years of accumulated specialized skills and esoteric knowledge in order to be able to pull off the amazing feats of artistry currently being unleashed into the world.

Be the first kid on your block to have one of these one-of-a-kind blown-art Plasma and Argon gas glowing art pieces in your home. No one, but NO one on the planet does this.

There is only one man capable of making these unique artistic beauties. There are a few who have tried, but where they have all failed in their attempts, Rick succeeds because of his sheer mastery of the craft. He is wizard-like in his abilities. It’s a magick that only he knows how to manipulate to full effect.

Get Your Plasma Art Now!

Retailers all over the country are ordering these babies up. Each art piece is custom, hand-made by the artist. Why pay retail prices when you can get wholesale prices here! Just tell him that Twan sent you! Enjoy the sample photos on this site (which don’t do them justice). You got to see them to believe it.

Be sure to visit the PlasmaPipes.com website to order yours now and for more info. *

*All glass is sold solely as art. However, you must be 18 years old to view the contents of this website or to purchase products.

Watch the Larry Albright Video Below

Larry Albright was Rick Zar’s Mentor
throughout the 1980′s into early 90′s

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A Thank You from Forever for LiB

It’s been two weeks since LIB and we can still hardly believe what we got to see and experience and learn under those oak trees. We keep hearing the echoes of beats. We keep seeing flashes of so many radiant smiling faces. We keep feeling the ground shake with the magnificent force of daring minds and dancing feet. We are forever grateful.

It is YOU who helped to make LIB08 a truly life-changing experience, and for this we offer our gratitude not just with words, but with images! Check out the faces on the LIB08 Thank You page, and add your own. ~ Pass it on…

The Lightning in a Bottle
Producers and Crew

Much Lightning in a Bottle Photos and Video to See

Visit the LiB website for a non-stop treat of visual snacks… It’ll make you cry for joy… and eager for next year!

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It was an amazing experience (as always). Extremes of many sorts- weather (huge dust storms and heat), wonderful people (a record attendance of 47k!), mind-blowing art (178 installations), music (Underworld, Oakenfold +++), incredible structures (well…I’m gonna let the pictures say the rest).

At the end, we took a brief stopover in Lake Tahoe (showers, fine food and a real bed, oh my!)

Enjoy it here:????Burning Man 2007??

)i(?? DAK?? )i(

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Have a look at the latest photo gallery provided by the always great Curious Josh, whose images always seem to capture the very essence of whatever event he’s attending.

Sez Josh:

Hi All!

I’ve finally thrown up my photos from Lightning in a Bottle!

And for those who know Mark Zabala, and Aubrey… pix from their Pajama birthday are up as well.

enjoy!

- Josh

Clicking on the image of the Alien Goddess above will take you directly to Josh’s Lightning in a Bottle 2007 photo gallery. While you’re visiting Josh’s site, have a peek at his other galleries, too. Loads of fun. Just a nice reminder that we have some of the greatest events, the most colorful people, and the best parties right here in L.A. Pretty much all the time!

Thanx again, Josh!

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(click the image to see the photo gallery)

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Spencer Tunick is well known around the world as the artist/photographer that somehow magically convinces thousands of people to shed their clothing in very public city spaces, like his recent foray to Mexico City:

He aligns everyone to suit his particular human palette for the day:

And finally he arranges them artistically for the photo session:

Spencer Tunick has done this type of thing all over the world (he even did one at Burning Man in 1999), and has been arrested numerous times for indulging in his particular form of artistic expression. Mr. Tunick’s body of work is quite amazing and unique.

And the world’s a better place for it.

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This might be old news to some, but it’s new news to me: Have a look at what an enterprising vandal (with big balls!) did to the large scale sculpture made by married artists Dan das Mann and Karen Cusolito.

Dan and Karen had constructed the large sculpture to be displayed at the Burning Man Festival in 2005, where it was very well received, as their excellent works of art always are.

Through the efforts of the non-profit arm of Black Rock City, LLC (the corporation that produces Burning Man), The Black Rock Arts Foundation (BRAF), this work of art, known as “Passage”, has found a home within the city, which is one of the functions of BRAF:

The mission of the Black Rock Arts Foundation is to support and promote community-based interactive art. For our purposes, interactive art means art that generates social participation. The process whereby this art is created, the means by which it is displayed and the character of the work itself should inspire immediate actions that connect people to one another in a larger communal context.

BRAF Mission Statement

So, last year while the many thousands of Burning Man participants were out at Black Rock City enjoying themselves in whatever manner they saw fit, some folks stayed behind and welded some additions to Passage in the city. Here’s an image to give you a little idea of what went down:

Please go to the San Francisco Metroblog, which is where I found this story, for more images and some very enlightening and hilarious commentary by the person who posted it, Violet Blue.

In particular, the comments are insightful as they are hilarious:

“Knowing Dan and Karen, who have a pretty good sense of humor, they would probably not be too upset about this, since it appears that there was no major damage done to the sculpture and the alterations can be easily removed.”

Scott Beale from Laughing Squid

“the bong has been stolen.
THE BONG HAS BEEN STOLEN!”

Violet Blue

“What’s a bong?”

James Barff

Artist Dan das Mann left a comment in very good spirits, as can be expected. The prank was a good one, in this prankster’s opinion…

“Thanks for the interesting addition to the sculpture. Karen and I found it humorous. We appreciate the careful fabrication work required to create and install mom’s pipe and are touched that someone felt so compelled to be a part of the sculpture making process in our absence. We could definitely use your fabrication skills on future projects. Give us a call and keep up the good work!”

Dan das Mann

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Have a look at Paynie’s excellent photographs from his visits to New Orleans, documenting the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Any purchase will result in a donation being made to the Burners Without Borders organization.

Sez Paynie:

As you fly into New Orleans, it looks normal.

As you drive away from the airport, it looks strange.

When you stop and get out of your car, it???s devastating.

50% of any funds will be donated to Burners Without Borders.

Please help by passing this link around.

Paynie

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“Celebrating Cultural Diversity”

a fine art and photography show featuring
the various cultures and styles of LA artists

Coinciding with African American Heritage Month, Cesar Chavez Day, the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, and St. Patrick’s Day, we embrace and honor the melting pot that is our City of Angels.

Closing reception:

• Friday April 6 2007
• 6-9 pm

The Regent Galleries North and South

• 446 and 450 South Main Street
• Downtown LA

Open Weds. – Fridays 2-6 pm. or by appointment

• Curated by Dale Youngman
• 213-458-3735

Featuring art works by:

• Austin Blasingame
• Stephen J. Brooks
• Carlos Flores
• Ed Fuentes
• Motoko Kamada
• Rick Mendoza
• Suzi Moon
• Angela Ortiz
• Turner Ross
• Jaimee Itagaki

New show opening on Thursday April 12 as part of the Downtown Art Walk

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