Rauschenberg's Tropic cover

In 1979, the artist Robert Rauschenberg was commissioned to create the fold-out cover of The Miami Herald's Tropic magazine's end-of-decade issue. It was the first time an original work of art was created for a newspaper.

Rauschenberg and his assistant created the piece of art in The Herald's editorial art department, where I was employed at the time, and I got a chance to see him create the cover.

El Minero, Su Esposa y Su Amante

The epic rescue of the Chilean miners turned into a soap opera when two-timing Yonny Barrios went from 2,000 feet underground into the arms of his mistress — while his wife boycotted.

However, Susana Valenzuela, the mistress of Yonny Barrios, got a taste of her own medicine when she learned of another mistress Barrios had on the side. Apparently when the miner was in the hospital after his rescue from the mine, a 25-year-old woman wanted to pay him a visit. Susana, 52, made sure the young mistress knew where she stood in the scheme of things.

“He is my Yonny Barrios, mine and no one else’s,” Valenzuela told a radio station in Colombia.

I’ve sent my poster and a proposal for a telenovela to Univision.

I’m waiting to hear from them.

OD’s Birthday Party Invitation

Tribute to Salvador Dalí

Did I mention that Salvador Dalí is my all-time favorite artist? Take me somewhere nice, Mogwai.

Dalí selling chocolates, antacids and wine …


A Dalí/Disney collaboration from the '40s.
Poster and display promoting a Dalí exhibit in Copenhagen, September, 1999.

A day in Malmö, Sweden

Took the passenger ferry from Copenhagen to Malmö, Sweden for the day.
Malmö is called the city of parks, but I'd rather call it the city of sculptures. There are lots of great artworks scattered around the city waiting to be appreciated.


The Kooks. Too much is not enough.


Amusing marching band statues in Malmö.

Hmmm … Interesting statue in Malmö. Look closely at what it is carrying.


Outside. Not inside.


Six-foot tall sunflowers.

Gun control, Swedish-style.


If you think the cranes in the background are big, you should have seen the one used to build the big white structure in the middle. (Those are 7-story buildings on the left.)


Buildings.


Windmill.


I guess Dolly Parton was performing at klubb Kinky in Malmö!

Posters from Denmark

Nyd lørdagen
Poster advertising the Politiken newspaper, Denmark.


Poster for latest CD from Danish Singer Caecilie Norby.


Danger is a haunted lollipop. That's what I always thought!


Kinky Copenhagen


Information is good.

Lost in Translation, Madrid

Yonquis y Yanquis, a theater production (Junkies and Yankees). Un barrio marginal de Madrid donde razas, nacionalidades y clases sociales se cruzan y en el que tienen su residencia habitual droga, violencia y muerte. Una pelea entre yonquis y yanquis y estalla una espiral de violencia …

Bjork concert poster, Barcelona

Chinese propaganda

Wrapping up my Asia Tripping Summer '06, I picked up Mao's Little Red Book and some Chinese propaganda posters before leaving Beijing. The propaganda posters have been the favored vehicle through which art conveyed model behavior in China. I like how the artists stylized the figures with massive arms and the cute kids with weapons. My high school Chinese is a little rusty, but as best as I can translate, here goes:


"You dogs must do all the work today because I'm calling in sick and going to the beach!"


"We laugh at capitalist copyright infringement laws!"


"We must thank Chairman Mao for the nifty weapons and warships!"


"I enjoy reading Chairman Mao's Littled Red Book while I plow the fields!"


"We shall overtake this beach and enforce strict regulations against surfing!"


"HWALP! I should not have consumed so much sake last night as I am hung over and this will certainly lower my productivity in the factory today!"


"Our children will dive to the deepest depths and extract precious gems from the belly of the magical fish!"