Nearly a year ago I accepted the invitation from Linda and Claudia

At the time I knew if I didn’t say yes right away I would have said no (Thank you but no thank you)

I gave them a title of some small paintings I was focused at the time

STAY AWAY
TOO PERSONAL

If I were to title the show in the last few months it would have been
UGLY ART FOR UGLY TIMES

Sorta about aesthetics but we all know what it’s really saying (HELP!)

(why just the other day someone asked me if they should get rid of one my pieces they own because its too offensive or not offensive enough—no doubt—never offensive enough)

So back to the show

I have made some paintings and mugs that are Ugly Art for Ugly times

(don’t remind me I am a devoted Robert Venturian and ugly and ordinary is in my blood but this is different)

But this too— I am never offensive enough

Back to the show

I will also include some paintings from the early 2000’s—

My clipper ship paintings that I originally made for a show at the Jewish Museum in Philadelphia with the idea of “Assimilation” in mind (I hope it still comes across)

(WASPY Clipper ships with an inescapable Jewish quality)

I will also include some Camp ( I still will always be candyass)

Joan Collins Has a headache

Maybe some ‘smarty pants’ word collages

Some silhouette paintings

Poodles, George Washington

I’ve always had enough money without having enough money

Vote for the Old Jew
(this was made in 2015 and thankfully Bernie is still Bernie)
Speaking of

I considered myself patriotic for most of my life
Now it’s difficult to keep the faith

Around 2016 I started making

RESPECT FOR THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION IS A TURN ON

I haven’t made new ones because it feel too precarious but I will include some

And of course because it’s always a room in a museum I can’t resist
There will be a gift shop
to buy
Mugs
Old catalogues,
Belts
Some prints
Some 2025 change purses
Some other stuff

Maybe large mud flaps
(yes mud flaps why not)

CARY—YOU ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE

YES WELL I HAVE BEEN IN MY MATURE PERIOD SINCE THE late 80s

Oh (that reminds me I feel very useless and decrepit and old)

But I roll with the punches