One of my best friends and biggest supporters recently commissioned me to to do one of my trademark “portrait assemblages” of/for him. It took a couple months to gather the ingredients, and a couple more weeks to assemble it all in the perfect manner. In the end, I think it’s definitely one of my strongest w3rks in this particular style. It’s also my first assemblage that has a removable accessory, ie the hat. Anyway, there’s a few photos of the assemblage included here. You can go to this flickR page to view larger, linkable versions if ya like.

Thank you Daas for all your support as a true friend, a patron of my w3rk, and an inspiration. Massive thank you’s D for helping me become a better artist in the process. I’ll never ever forget yer support hombre. Hope this assemblage helps show you how much you mean to me as a friend.

Alwayz – Matthew gaR BaiLey

Can you see any resemblance?

Daas Desu’s paintings can be seen and purchased here:
www.daas-art.com

As some of you may or may not know, my wife and I have been caring for her father for quite a few years now. When we first moved back out to Osteen from Orlando in the late 90′s, he was actually helping us out much more than we were helping him. Conrad’s always been the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back if you asked for it. And although it felt good to know we were keeping him company after her Mom had passed away, it was initially his giving nature and quiet fortitude that really helped and inspired us in a time of need. But as time has gone on over the past decade plus.. our roles started to reverse and fittingly enough we ended up needing to be there for him in the final years of his life her on earth. That is what family is for though right?

So when Dana’s Dad had a stroke 7 or 8 years ago, our care for him became much more in depth and crucial to keeping him out of the VA hospital and/or a nursing home. And then as Conrad’s health slowly deteriorated more and more, the past few years in particular have been some of the toughest of our lives . In the mid 00′s Conrad developed Alzheimer’s disease which in turn affected his memory, and more importantly, his ability to care for himself in almost any capacity. On top of that and even though we got him to quit shortly after having the stroke, 50+ years of smoking cigarettes had already taken their toll on ol’ Conrad’s lungs. Emphysema & COPD (Cardiopulmonary Disease) made it increasingly difficult for him to breathe properly w/o oxygen machines, a nebulizer, and medications.

So finally this past Tuesday/Jan. 26th, 2010 and after a brave, arduous, and dignified battle.. Conrad’s body finally gave up the ghost and he ascended to another plain of existence from here at his home in Osteen, FL. Fortunately it was a calm, peaceful, and relatively painless passing. Through out all the time I’ve known Conrad and even in his most painful states, he never complained once, and I consider him to be one of the bravest, most noble people I have ever had the honor of knowing.

As tough as it’s been on Dana and I in every imaginable way, we’re trying our best to stay positive and dwell on the good times we had rather than the struggles. To concentrate on the benefits of it all rather than the negative aspects. We’re earnestly trying to look & learn from the experiences we had caring for her ailing elder parent in his final years as a gift rather than a curse, as some might. After all, it’s getting through the tough stuff n’ difficulties in our lives with dignity intact that builds character in a person. The cake work and walks in the park don’t teach us near as much as the trials and tribulations do.

So what has this experience and in turn Conrad taught us?.. Well, we’ve definitely learned what unconditional love truly means. We’ve learned the importance and reward of putting others before ourselves. We’ve learned that life is short, even if you grow to be old. We’ve learned to be thankful for what we have, instead of resenting what we don’t get. We’ve learned that to receive you have to give. We’ve learned that living a life of honor, dignity, respect, sacrifice, gratitude, compassion, and purpose is more valuable in the long run than any thing that you can put a price tag on.

Conrad taught us this. He was our teacher, our father, and our friend. While we mourn his passing and our loss, we celebrate his life and his genuine and giving spirit. We recommit ourselves to living our lives in a way that would make him proud. We shall honor his life and sacrifices by living our lives to the best of our abilities with nothing but gratitude and respect for the man we affectionately knew and loved as: “Pops’”, “Poppie-Cop”, “Cornbread”, “Con-man”, “Buster Brown”, “Daddy, and quite simply – Dad.

Conrad we will dearly miss you but most assuredly never ever forget you. Travel well. Be in peace, and be in light. See you in the stars and give our love to Carolyn, Winifred, and to all the ancestors.

Love Always – Matthew and Dana

PS – To see some photos of Conrad’s life over the years, please click – *HERE

Dig this?… Well, he’s got a ton of free music for you and yers ears over at Hairy Sloth Records. Look for his new full length LP entitled “Approaching Sunlight” to appear on the web pages of Tha SLoTH in the very near future as well. It will include the track above and be just as immaculate and then some. Count on it.

Come see me play a short but highly potent alGARhythm set next Monday. A lot of you haven’t been out to any of my shows for a good while now, and if you could make it out, I’d really appreciate your support of my new auditory gARTw3rkage. The other artists on this bill are no slouches either, and R_Garcia’s comin’ out of tha ATL schmokin’ hot these days. No doubt, it will be a “warm” one to say the least with a special surprise sesh at the end of the evening. It’s kind of earlier event as well, only running from like 9 – 12, so you’ll be home and in bed at a totally respectable hour for all you early risers’.

Really hope to see you there if ya can make it!

Here’s the flyer:

Nophi Records (1998 – 2008 RIP)

*The end is solidified by the image of a dead unicorn at the bottom of a rainbow on the current Nophi website.

Meglo-Props to Randy Garcia for making it happen over at Nophi for the past 10 years. You guys put out quite a few great albums and managed to inspire quite a few people, such as myself, along the way.

I’m sure Mr. Garcia will be chasing new rainbows on other mythical creatures with his post rock project: The Nerd Parade and with his own solo electronical muzak projeKts. I know mine eYes and eaRs shall be peeled.

Love and respeKt – Matthew Gar BaiLey

In trying to find ways to persevere and deal with losing him from this Earthly plain, I w3rked quite diligently last Thursday and Friday to complete this 2 foot-ish tall mixed media painting/assemblage in Tom’s honor. I believe it expresses much about of both Tom and I’s character, as well as even displaying some of the deeper intangible qualities of which one may feel as a human being living on planet EarF.

At the minimum.. It looks Bad-Ass!, and is in honor of my fallen homeboy.

Gone but never forgotten… -I love ya Tommyboy!

yer PaL – gaR BaiLey

Mr. Bing Hamil…  A sincere thank you for your continued friendship and inspiration.  *Don’t forget about your sketchbook homeskillet.

“Gar Eating Slaw Off The Proboscis Of An Alien”

Nigel ManPerson – Live @ Uncle Lou’s Part 1

Nigel ManPerson – Live @ Uncle Lou’s Part 2

30″ x 41″
Oil on Canvas
June 2008

For a larger view click on the thumbnail:

Photo taken on June 27th, 2008 at Sandra’s Toffolini’s: Rat Pack Charity Event for The Nancy and Daniel Benoit Foundation.  This painting was gift to Sandra, Nancy’s sister, and with empathy for all the families involved with this senseless tragedy.  To help fight steroid abuse and proliferation, u can go to: http://www.ndbfoundation.org