Robbie Conal's Cabinet Of Horrors

The country is in bad shape, with the worst administration ever, and Robbie Conal isn't having it. And neither should we. There are new political posters up near the French Market from Mr. Conal, featuring the distorted, sad faces of the people in the Cabinet who are currently ruining our country.

Robbie Conal's Cabinet of Horrors is his new show launching on October 13, 2018 at Track 16 in downtown L.A., where it will be on view until December 8, 2018, with a special artist talk between Conal and my friend, Shana Nys Dambrot on October 25th.

Someone wrote over one of the posters on Abbot Kinney, saying something like "Why make art ugly? It's demoralizing to us." I ask, how can you NOT make these people ugly? Their rotten souls come through and can only be depicted as one views them. Thank goodness for artists who use their work and voices to mark these times in history ... lest we forget.

The timing for these Conal works is great ... please remember these faces when you go to vote next month in the midterm elections. And VOTE THEM ALL OUT.

Thanks.

In Celebration Of Nelson Mandela

The entire world memorialized Nelson Mandela today, as his South African service was broadcast globally. Barack Obama was there, and I'm so happy that Mandela was freed and Obama was made President in both of their lifetimes - and mine. Seemingly impossible at one time, we now know that nothing is. ("It always seems impossible until it's done." - Mandela!!!)

Locally, street posters of Mandela went up overnight by political/satirical artist, Robbie Conal, this time in pure celebration. I was delighted to wake up to one posted right in front of my house! A touching reminder that we all just have to keep on walking ... toward freedom. Now, Mandela is truly free, and will serve forever as an example on how to live with dignity and grace.

My favorite Mandela quote (among many, many sage words) is this:

“A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.”

What a special man, indeed. And now it's up to the rest of us to carry on his legacy of peace and forgiveness. Not easy by any means, but because of people like Mandela, we know it IS possible.

On it.