" THE REJECTED " from Brownsville Texas

FRIDAY 8/15 : JOE'S BAR AND GRILL (LOCATED ON CENTRAL BLVD) INVITED LOCAL LEGENDARY HARDCORE PUNK ROCK BAND "THE REJECTED" TO PLAY A SHOW WHICH ALSO INCLUDED A NEW UP AND COMING SKATE PUNK BAND "HAD ABOUT ENOUGH" AND "BACK TO THE RIVERDALES'.
"THE REJECTED " MEMBERS INCLUDE ( JOHNNY:VOCALS, ALLEN:DRUMS, RONNIE:GUITAR, JOE:GUITAR, VALDO:BASS) A BAND STARTED IN THE EARLY 90'S AND MEMBERS THAT HAVE DESCENDED FROM MENTAL DISORDER AND CERO BRAINS WHICH DATE BACK TO THE MID 80'S. "THE REJECTED" PLAY FAST, GRIND AND DISTORTED, ORIGINAL MUSIC WITH SONG TITLES "IF I HAD MY WAY WITH YOU" AND "WHITE TRASH". "THERE IS NOTHING BUT POSITIVE ENERGY WHEN THESE GUYS PLAY, ITS ABOUT ENJOYING THE MOMENT AND FEELING ALIVE " NOTED BAND MANAGER WILLIAM TORRES.
THE PUNK SCENE HAD SLOWED DOWN THIS YEAR DUE TO THE CLOSING VENUE "CHAPAS BAR" (LOCATED ON 14TH ST.) A MUSIC BAR THAT IN 2007 HOSTED A CONCERT BY MARKY RAMONES DRUMMER OF THE "RAMONES " INDUCTEE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME BAND. GALERIA 409 STEPPED IN THIS YEAR HOSTING A BENEFIT CONCERT WHICH INCLUDED "THE REJECTED" IN THE LINE UP. GALERIA 409 THEN AFTER PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED IT WOULD HOST NO MORE PUNK SHOWS.
HOWEVER IT SEEMS NOW JOES BAR AND GRILL HAS STEPPED IN TO FILL THE MUCH NEEDED VENUE. THIS SHOW DEFINITELY PROVES THAT THE LOCAL SCENE WILL NEVER DIE AWAY, "PUNKS NOT DEAD" AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF MERCY.

GT..

Listen to "The Rejected"on myspace :

http://www.myspace.com/brownsvilletexashardcore

Ella Es Toni Hudson Video

Here is a tribute post or link to Toni Hudson new short documentary available on GOOGLE Video, in case you didn't know about it or hadn't seen it, check it out, its really great..

I really admire Toni for being true to herself, her rebellious ways and approach to art, she doesn't care about the negatives. I am glad I got to know her, she is a freind and fellow painter.

"Ella es Toni Hudson. 19 min. A short documentary on acclaimed artist Toni Hudson of South Texas/Mexico" .

EllaesToniHudson_HQ.mov

Video was done by Enrique Leal ..

Back from Europe

Bonjour!

I hope you all are doing well! I just back from my trip to Europe and am recovering from some jet lag and leg soreness from the ga-jillion steps I must have climbed in the last two weeks alone, and I am not just talking about the Spanish type! (Did anyone catch that joke? No, no? Okay, yeah like I said a ga-zillion steps!) I went to the gym during one of my wake periods of my jet lag to keep all that was gained consistent from the all walking and climbing. So next time I go I won't be so out of shape! How do I know I will return? Because I threw that coin into the Trevi fountain of course! (Another lame joke!) lol.

Europe was lovely and I was able to visit London and Leicester in England; Bologna, Florence and Rome in Italy; and Paris, Lille and Arras in France. The weather in England and France was very much like our winters here and I enjoyed every bit of it! Italy was hot and humid but Florence was just beautiful and so wonderful. It's a big town with big tourist attractions and accommodations, but the low-key and friendly tone of Tuscan living is still very alive and not lost in the craziness of big city living such as in Rome.

Hostel life is also interesting to remark upon. I was surprised to find that many of the staff at hostels are not manned by locals, but rather by very multi-cultural and young people! I also ran across MANY travelers who were also on their own, embarking on their own adventures and with no reservation, some traveling weeks or months at a time! Many of them from Australia and I met people from England, Guatemala, Germany, Guatemala, The Netherlands and Spain. Lucky Spanish students, apparently the Spanish government gives them money to travel and gain credit hours at universities abroad! Nice government huh?

There is so much to remark and reflect on and I will work on a post with more insights on the art and culture of the places I visited. I will work on a new post soon but for now I wish everyone well and to those teachers reading, best of wishes with school preparations!

Mark Clark in the T.A.O.B Spot Light

TAOB: Tell us what has been your most notable work as an
artist ?
MARK:My most notable work as an artist has been to create Galeria 409, a venue for
the art work of others, and a catalyst for the creation of paintings, sculpture,
photography, music, performance art and poetry. It's also been used as a
backdrop for film, photo and video shoots. It has exposed a lot of Brownsville
residents to the great history and culture of this region. It's also a good
place to paint and to do graphic work, like posters for the events we sponsor.
If I had to choose which of my paintings was the best, I'd have to tell you:
"my NEXT one".

TAOB: Is there a symbolic meaning behind the use of death
repeating in your recent paintings since you have been
producing work in Brownsville ?
MARK: When I was in fifth grade in Corpus, all my drawings were of skeletons.
I've painted a lot of pictures, mostly still life, celebrating my dead
friends. Since moving to Brownsville, I've embraced the indigenous culture
of the region, which celebrates death and enjoys the work of Jose Guadalupe
Posada. I'm also on the downhill side of what was once a very fast life, so
I better come to grips with La Muerte, before she gets a grip on me.

TAOB:Looking back at your life, tell us one of your
childhood memories that most stands out, perhaps indicating
that you were probably gonna be an artist or a painter of
some-sorts ?
MARK: I grew up in a very hostile environment. The only way my parents could get my
brother and I to stop fighting, was to give us crayons and paper. When I was
five my older brother, who was six, took a bunch of our drawings and sold them
door to door in the neighborhood. One of my pictures sold for fifty cents,
which was a phenomenal sum of money for a kid in 1952. You could get a candy
bar for a nickle or see a movie for twenty five cents back then. Our parents
thought we had somehow stole the money.

TAOB: Your first group show was in 1976, tell us a
little about the work you exhibited ?
MARK: I did a pen and ink drawing of a guy who had been clubbed by the police in a
labor strike. It went in a show that travelled to all the places where people
were locked up or locked out in Washington D.C.. DC jail, Saint Elizabeth's
Hospital for the Insane, a city run old folks home, a public hospital and to a
College for deaf people. In my misspent youth, I spent a lot of time in
strikes and demonstrations and not a few full blown riots, so the subject was
near and dear to my heart, and I could identify with the audience that got to
see the exhibition. It was a good start.

TAOB:You were born in Honolulu,
Hawaii in 1948, you have lived all over the United States
including , Los Angeles , New York, Washington DC and
practically all over Texas, now find yourself in
Brownsville Texas, is this your last stop and what you
will now consider home for the rest of your life ?
MARK: I'm sixty years old and fairly tired of moving around. I chose
Brownsville because I never want to be cold again as long as I live. I love the
Gulf of Mexico and the proximity to Mexico. Why would I want to live any where
else?

TAOB: One of your advise that was given to you and you now
give out to other artist is "paint twenty pieces alike
and you should be ready for a show ", tell us how has
that advise helped you as an artist ?
MARK:Doing twenty paintings that "are all alike" is a litmus test for
aspiring artists. It's like "making your bones" when you set out
to join the mafia. It proves that you're committed, that you're
serious, that you have the attention span and the fortitude to produce a body of
consistent work. I'm not talking about cranking out fifteen minute
masterpieces here- but well thought out, well executed paintings. It puts you
in a league above the casual hobbyist, or the college painting student, and
takes you to the next level. Sadly, most people don't, can't or
won't make the effort. It takes about twenty pictures to fill up an average
art gallery. I had to do it to get my first one man show.

TAOB: You like Brownsville history, I can
tell that by your painting "War on the Rio
Grande", tell us , does the city of Brownsville and its
culture inspire your art or better yet have you felt more
inspired to produce work here in Brownsville then you have
in other cities perhaps Corpus Christi ?
MARK:I did my first couple of calavera paintings of scenes from the history of
Brownsville as studies for a mural in the alley next to my building. I wanted
to see La Callejon de las Calaveras- a block long alley painted on both sides
with skeletons playing out the violent history of Brownsville and Matamoros.
The alley is a couple of hundred feet long with walls from fifteen to thirty
feet high plus perpendicular walls that could be painted as well. The biggest
problem is, the studies have been so popular that it's hard to keep them
around long enough to study. People keep making me offers I can't refuse.
Also, it's one of those gigantic projects where you'd need scaffolding,
several hundred gallons of exterior masonry paint and a couple of dozen other
people working on the project to make it happen- not to mention a month or two
of free time in good dry weather. I haven't given up on the idea, but
it's one of those dreams that's going to take some
time and effort. Meanwhile, I have another big canvas waiting for a painting
about the battle that took place just south of the old bridge during the
mexican revolution...

TAOB: You are an owner of an art gallery, you have had
numerous shows, most have been very successful and well
accepted by the media, but you have not yet pushed a one
man exhibit of your own work in your own gallery, tell
us is there any reason or feelings to why you have not
and or is there plans in the future for one ?
MARK: I hesitate to show my own paintings at 409 because I've seen too many
artist run galleries where the artists who ran the place just showcased their
own work. I would prefer to avoid that situation. I hung some of my own stuff
downstairs this summer while we were closed to the public except for some
events- mostly concerts. The place looked naked without art on the walls.
Because some of the concerts were punk rock bands with slam dancing, we had to
hang the pictures seven feet off the floor. We've given up on punk rock, so
we're back to eye level hanging of other peoples' stuff. I'm at the
place in my own painting career where, for whatever reason, I'm able to get
all my work displayed at other venues or sold to private collectors pretty
quickly. I don't get much of a thrill from blowing my own horn. It's a
pleasure to encourage and promote other artists.

TAOB: Mark many thanks for your cooperation and your time and
support to the local art scene, and your generous
cooperation to this The Art of Brownsville Blog Artist Interview.
MARK: Gabriel, muchas gracias for your continued support of the arts in
Brownsville, The Art of Brownsville Blog, and Galeria 409. I appreciate the hard
work, time and effort that you and Myra put into this project. Buena suerte.

Ambos Lados del Rio

Last night I headed out to the opening reception for Ambos Lados del Rio, an exhibition presented in conjunction with the Mexican Consulate held at the Historic Brownsville Museum.

The Historic Brownsville Museum's Education Coordinator, Alis Zarate, said of the exhibit:

"For us, art here in South Texas is unique in that it represents the Texan culture as well as the Mexican culture. We are so privileged to live in a community that is so artistic and above all, incredibly talented. It is not often that people get to see works from all over North and Central America that deal with topics and issues that people are familiar with, but at our museum, you can."

Below are some of my favorite picks:

"AMBOS LADOS DEL RIO" tonight!!

Press Release:

Dear All,Queridos Todos,

Exhibit presentation of collective binational paitings "AMBOS LADOS DEL RIO" at Brownsville Historic Museum, 641 E. Madison St., Brownsville, Tx. 78520, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on August 7, 2008.

Invitación para nuestra próxima exhibición de pintura colectiva binacional "AMBOS LADOS DEL RIO", cuya inauguración será e en el Museo Histórico de Brownsville, 641 E. Madison St., Brownsville, Tx., 78520, a las 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. el 7 de Agosto 2008.

We hope you can accompany us during the Opening... the binational artists and all sponsors will be very honoured and glad to have you as guests. Esperamos que nos puedan acompañar a la Inaguración .... los artistas binacionales y los patrocinadores de la muestra, estaremos muy contentos de recibirles. If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact us. Si tienen alguna pregunta o duda, por favor no duden en contactarnos.Wishing you a nice week-end.! Les deseamos un buen fin de semanaCordially yours,Cordialmente,

-- Evangelina O. García-Moreno DLConsul -
Cultural Affairs and Commercial-Tourism PromotionConsulate of MexicoBrownsville, Tx. 78520Tel.: (956) 542 44 31 ext. 12Cel. (956) 243.1552

European Update

Hello Folks!

Just throwing you all a weary update from lovely Florence (or as the Italians say "Firenze"). I am exhausted but content! I have some time to blog while I wait for my clothes to dry. Italian washers and driers seems to take forever in my humble opinion, and I spent many a college day at the laundry mat. I started laundry around 11pm, it is now 1am.

So I left London today and spent my last morning visiting the Tate Modern Museum, right on London Southbank. Many argue that this museum is the best Modern Art museum in the world, and I have to say it's the best I have seen, so far...

I was only able to spend about an hour browsing its permanent collection and found many things suprising! 1) I could actually understand the written statements provided next the artwork...something especially extraordinary when it comes to Modern Art. Sometimes I read statements at modern art museums and I am at a complete lost or just get bored about half-way. Good job Tate Modern curators! I wouldn't have reseravtions about letting my high school art students explore the museum on their own without some sort of prep. 2) They organized their permanent collection not necessarily by movements but more by relations...so in one gallery I saw a 1930 Diego Rivera painting and the next to it a painting by a more contemporary artist (1990's), whose name I cannot remember (all my notes are put away right now :o( . But what caught my eye was how they drew a relation between Claude Monet's Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism. I always thought of Impressionism as the first concrete step or deviation from classical art to modern art, but to learn of how Absract Expressionists of the 1940's took from Monet's work just impressed me. Sometimes I want to see Modern Art as just one whole big event; each style, each movement taking and giving from one another. I sometimes have to wonder where art is going now and where will it be in the future. Will there be another "modern art" that will push the limits of our perceptions, something beyond what we could even imagine. I find it difficult to belive Michelangelo or DaVinci could have imagined the world of our contemporary art...so where is Art to go in the the future?

Well now being in Florence, obviously much of the art has to do with the past, that being Italian Renaissance. Did you know each town-region had its own renaissance with its own styles? Oh yeah...Michelangelo was like Florentine Renaissance will kick Venetian Renaissance butt anyday! And then Titian would be like all, nu-uh. lol. Well I am sure their criticisms where much more elaborate and articulate than that. Right now I am right in the craddle of it all, where it started. My hostel is only a stone throw's from Il Duomo, the famous cathedral! Everytime I see it, I can't help but feel outstanded. It is just so impressive and beautiful.

I just got here tonight so there isn't much I have done yet. In my next post I will try to cover Florence and Rome. There is much to learn and see and very little time! But apparently, the Italian drier I am using thinks I have loads of time.

Ciao!

Mayra

London Update

Halo Folks!

Just throwing a quick line from merry ol' London! All is well and I got to see a few sights. I am rather limited on time but if I can get anything across is that I am loving London's public transportation! It is so convenient and efficient. RGV politicos and public servants, you really need to look into getting a lightrail to connect all our communities! With rising gas prices, I really think it something that should be considered and people will buy into it. It will also generate more jobs! Bueno, I have to go! I have a train to catch! ;o)

I hope you all are well and I will try to write a lengthier post later!

Cheerio!

Mayra