Hanging out with Ibarionex R. Perello

Yesterday was a quiet day at Art Center College of Design. The electricity was out through the school for a good part of the afternoon. It was the perfect time to sit and chat (the Gods must have seen this coming). Five artist, myself and 4 others, that will be graduating with BFA's in Photography were interviewed yesterday by Ibarionex R. Perello from The Candid Frame. Topics of conversation ranged from the pursuit photography as career, class shift, promotion, and more. Listen by clicking the link down below. Also, check out the web page for the Summer 2009 Photo Show (each thumbnail leads to the photographers site).

http://www.thecandidframe.com/
The Candid Frame #78 Art Center Summer 2009 Grads

Sweet Sixteen Photo Show
http://www.sweetsixteenshow.com/

BACK!

So, I am back. Where I was? I don't even know. But, the important thing is, I am back.

I have updated my web site (www.mauricesalazar.com). There are now two new categories: Gallery II and Gallery III (super original titles). Gallery II are a few regal portraits of creatures that existed long ago. They were important or fashionable figures of their time. Gallery III is a fun look into print. The first of these is a page of very fun stories about yours truly. The second is dealing more with how we read newspapers. At first glance we are presented with a layout of cells that house images, headlines and paragraphs. Taking a step closer we can identify the imagery and headlines. Then, we get to the text. But, before hand we have already been nudged one way or another by headlines and images into a rough field of interpreting the article and its author.

New things happening apart from this, so, expect an update.

OH, and the image above was one of a few test shoots I did with the creatures of another time. This guy delivered mail to the Chameleon.

D.A.R.E. has a high failure rate at the coffee shop...

Intoxication by Ronald K. Siegel Ph.D.
"We cannot begin to solve the drug problem until we understand it."

Whether you get irie, stoned, ripped, high, twisted, spun, drunk, hammered, wasted, giddy, paranoid, tripped out, zoned out, freaked out, chill, roll, juiced, legless, loaded, polluted, sloshed, tipsy, toasted, baked, fried, bombed, strung out, or... if you prefer to live by the 'safer' and 'legal' intoxication's, MSG's or caffeine, you should borrow this book from me (after I am done with it), or buy it (look for it in a number of book cover designs).

I am about a sixteenth of a way through with this book and its making some interesting analysis and strong statements about drugs, its role in life, its history in the world and ways to begin to problem solve the repercussions of our 'fourth drive.'

So, as we all know by now, humans are not the only ones who get to voluntarily get f***'ed up. Elephants eat fermented fruit and get drunk. Bee's visit particular orchids, drop to the ground, and after they come to, they go back for more. Monkeys 'shroom.' And cats, well, they have cat nip. An interesting point the author brings up in the beginning segment of the book is the notion of 'animals as mans first teacher.'

Could it be we watched animals and, through our own trials and errors, discovered a state(s) of mind that helped us cope with how weird survival was/is by either numbing our thoughts of life or giving them a greater meaning?

Additionally, there is a far out (maybe not that far out) suggestion of allocating the truckload of money that goes into the War on Drugs to research/creation of safe drugs. Whether or not this turns out like Huxley's Brave New World, with the whole Soma trip, it brings with it hope to save lives. And for those who fear losing their humanity, spirit, or natural ways, can we not look at culture, humanity, and 'nature' to be always evolving?

Check it out if time and money permits.

P.S. Do not forget to feed your llamas a well balanced diet of hay, grass,
lichens and coca leaves :)

IntroWha?

Well... How about a face (photograph) and a handshake (checklist) for starters...

-Working on getting my web site up by this week (yes, today is Thursday)
-Portfolio and branding seems to be coming along
-I will be hitting up Florence and Downey to chat and shoot next week
-Tonight is another night of 7up, chex mix and retouching a grip of scanned images
-Acting Workshop class is becoming very therapeutic
-The Mamiya needs to be checked up for a malfunctioning hot shoe
-It seems it always takes me the whole term to read through a book or two
-I am not looking forward to receiving fathers day gifts, its so inconvenient to feel guilty about not getting anyone else a gift. Ha?
-Lastly, I will post somewhat specific entries from now on