1950′s: Conrad in the Army

1960s/70s – Conrad in the Army

1973: Carolyn, Conrad, and Baby Dana in Texas

2009 – Conrad at home in Osteen underneath assorted gARTw3rks’

2009 – Dana & Conrad at home in Osteen underneath assorted gARTw3rks

2008 – Conrad and his Pom: “Boogie”

2008: Conrad chillin’ outside by the fire pit in Osteen

Approx 2004 or 05: Conrad the X-mas Alien

Conrad – “wiggin’ out”

Conrad and Dana – the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree

Dana and Conrad – early 2000′s

Dana, Conrad, & Kenny in June 2003 at Dana and I’s wedding

Early 2000′s: Conrad, Coffee, & a lifetime of wisdom

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Wanna see more?: View the full set of over 100 photos of Conrad Lawrence with his family and friends across many decades.

So this is a painting I have been w3rking on for the past 2 weeks. At first I wasn’t so keen on it, but after w3rking it and then rew3rking it for a few sessions.. the painting did eventually begin to grow on me. Tis odd how sometimes the pieces of aRt that start out kinda crummy-looking can end up being some of my better artw3rk in the end. -The ol’ ugly duckling which grows into the swan scenario.

So do ya wanna see a little bit of ol’ Gar B. in action?.. well peep this video here and get a tiny peek into my w3rld of shamanic pigment combustion!

Iin other decent news: I’ve been feeling pretty inspired artistically, w3rking hard almost everyday, & doing some quality painting as of late. So keep yer eyes peeled and I’ll surely try to get some more stuff posted here for everybody to view and absorb.

Much LOve To All – Gar BaiLey

PS – Love and thanks to all the rest of my friends & family for your continued support in me and my w3rk. Without you all, I just don’t think much of life would be worth it.

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So those of you who know me well, may be aware that I haven’t exactly had the best run of luck in the past few months. Try as I may to stay positive and productive, it all sometimes feels like I can’t even win for losing. Well add another kick in the pants to my list of recent anguishes.

It starting to appear as though somebody may have stolen my new Canon Powershot A590is Digital Camera from me this past Saturday/ Feb. 21st.

Here’s what the camera looks like should you somehow come a crossed it:

My wife Dana saved all her extra tips for weeks just to get it for me on my last Birthday in November. This is/was my only camera and I use it for everything from photoing friends, family, and events to photoing my all my aRtw3rk for cataloging and for my websites. So don’t expect to see any photos of new aRtw3rk until the camera is returned (doubtful) or until I can save up enough money to replace it.

One of the worst parts of it was that the camera was taken right under my nose while I was taking my all the aRt down from the recent group show that I curated at Caffe daVinci’s in Deland, FL. (Which made not one sale by the way.)

Basically what happened was that I was using the camera to photo the artw3rk while taking it all down on feb 21st. The Caffe was closed, so there was a very small amount of traffic all afternoon. I really don’t want to think that someone would steal the camera, but last time I remembered it was sitting right by the cash register on the bar. A few other folks remember seeing it there as well. Around 3 – 4 o’clock I noticed it wasn’t there anymore, and myself and some caffe staff then looked everywhere we possible could inside daVinci’s and in the courtyard too.. all to no avail. I even drove back up today for one last look as did some more of the staff. So it’s pretty apparent that the camera didn’t grow legs and just walk off.. somebody must of pocketed it without much concern to whom they could be hurting.

I’ll be honest, it really ticks me off that I’m already giving my blood, sweat, tears, & life to a career that I seldom get paid for, and on top of it all I’ve then have people constantly trying to rob the little bit of things that I do have right out from under me. -And seemingly without much shame. I give my ALL to my friends, my art, my performances, and to Deland especially. So it just freakin’ tears me up to be repeatedly stolen from. This is not the first thing that’s been stolen from me in the past few years.

And guess what else?.. the 2 gig SD memory card in the stolen camera was loaded with hundreds of photos & video from my recent aRt show, and a party for a recent visit from and old friend Brett Hamil.

Though I am too broke right now to re-buy them, the camera and card are eventually replaceable… -However the actual images on the SD card not. I hope the person who stole my camera is reminded of the recorded memories he or she is robbing from me and family when they turn the camera on and/or try to use the memory card with their computer. Cuz there’s some great photography stored in in that digi-cam right now. I hope the image of my face and art are burned into their corrupted souls and thieving stone hearts. Unfortunately most thieves are nihilistic bastards who could care less who they harm with their crimes against their fellow man.

*Note to crooks: Try stealing shit from people who actually have some money.

Apologies for the novel/diatribe but I’m really hurting/reeling from yet another let down in my fellow humankind. I used to think there was more good in the world than evil, but I’m definitely starting to wonder if that is actually the case.

Let’s get to THE REWARD:
-Should someone return the camera to me or to davInci’s in the original condition w/ memory card and photos still inside.. No questions asked – I will happily give you a one-of-a-kind Gar Bailey original painting of at least 2 – 3 feet in width or height minimum. And you can count on that painting being worth some serious dough in the future.

Please Email me with any info at: algarhythm@gmail.com or just comment on this post.

Sincerely – Matthew Gar Bailey

*Click on photos for LARGER views.

You can find a decent amount of photos of the completed painting and the artists involved over here:
www.flickr.com/photos/garbailey/sets/72157613365842810/detail

Look for more photos to be added to the set in the near future. As well as an eventual time-lapsed video of the painting process to be released via youtube.

w3rd – gaR

*No photos of actual vaginas or arms were used in making of this image.

-For those of you who couldn’t make it, and for those who did and who would like to have another look from the comfort of the couch or the computer chair. 

   Please keep in mind that the show will not be up for too much longer. (Till July 12th)  If you would like to see the w3rk in person, or even better, to actually buy a piece of original gARTw3rk. 

Please proceed up Caffe da Vinci in historic downtown Deland, FL and make it happen.  There are atleast 10 pieces under $100, and more than 20 pieces under $200..  *Solid pieces.

Caffe da Vinci
112 W. Georgia ave.
Deland, Fl 32720
386-736-4646