From here...

There is much talk these days about the peaceful transfer of power. Everyone is nervous, wondering if Trump will actually leave the White House on Inauguration Day. We are hoping for a bow, a shaking of hands and the passing of the baton to Biden and Harris and their stellar cabinet picks.

In that hopeful spirit, without a lot of who-ha and noise, DeAnsar and Selbini are preparing for this finale year of the enactment of Marc DeAnsar. 

Selbini, emboldened by the lessons learned, exclaims, “I CAN TAKE IT FROM HERE…”

2020 Hindsight, Insight, Foresight

In hindsight, even with my fascination with skulls, I could have never known how appropriate they would be to represent this year. In January when I set my course I had not even heard of Covid-19 or understood the global impact of a pandemic.

With insight, it’s been a somber year that includes learning to wear a mask and to shelter-in-place. But, Marc has done his bit to add some humor to the important issues of the census and voting. He’s been a good sign in the Roadside Art Action.

With foresight, he has done his bit to remind about the power of the skull. When the accoutrements of identity are striped away we are what we have always been — bones and flesh, facing an uncertain future.

Vote early. Vote!!!

As we go in to these last days before the election, it’s imperative that we all do what we can to get out the VOTE.

Marc's not taking any chances with a possible USPS delay. He hand-delivered his envelope to the Civic Center ballot dropbox. Marc sez: Vote early. Vote once. or is that twice? What's that other envelope under his arm?

No need to track our votes. As Richard was snapping this pic the elections workers came out to empty the box for the day. They said, "No worries. No hurry. Lots of folks are taking their photo by the box but, you're the first we've seen in disguise." Maybe a Russian operative stuffing the box?

Thanks to Jessica at Marin Tack and Feed my sign is close to the road but hopefully out of harm's way. Fingers crossed that it will remain there until its taken down on November 4.

VOTE early. VOTE once.

As the day for the crucial 2020 election nears, it's all hands on deck. The Roadside Art Action artists will be at it again, reposting the signs along Sir Francis Drake Road through the San Geronimo Valley.

And Marc will be at it, with mask on, with the message: VOTE early. VOTE once.

Every Nose Counts

Feeling pretty glum after the many exhibition delays, reschedules and closures we have suffered since March. The final death knell was the cancellation of the 4th of July Woodacre parade —  a most favorite fun community DIY affair with everyone joining in—kids on decorated bicycles, clowns on stilts, glittered horses, baton twirlers and our fave — a train of stuffed teddy bears in RadioFlyer wagons. One year Richard and his cohorts presented a kazoo marching band.

Happy that a team of artists/activists have revved up a roadside art action and a grand car procession — and by uniting it all with the timely causes and messages of Black Lives Matter, the census and get out the vote. Very proud to be a part of this amazing and powerful SGV community.

Stay safe.

Stay true.

Taking a cue from Groucho Marx who famously quipped, If you are not having fun, you’re doing something wrong, my sign intends to add a bit of levity to the census conversation that might be stressful or contentious for some people. The classic Groucho nose-and-glasses are instantly recognized as a symbol for good humor so my sign hopefully will not only evoke laughter but will prompt people to “fill out the census.” 

UPDATE

July 3, 2020

Laying out the signs and mapping their placement:

The Lang Gang was here helping with masks and signs. 

We are ready-set for Roadside Art Action!

UPDATE

July 4, 2020

We haven’t been getting out much but when we do, like we did on the 4th of July for the Roadside Art Action, we whip up plenty of hoopla.

WE may not have convinced anyone to fill out their census but we might have inspired them to come to their senses.

UPDATE

July 9, 2020

 

The Spanish and English versions are both now on display on Sir Francis Drake Drive just across from the San Geronimo Valley Community Center.

 

 

 

UPDATE

July 17, 2020

 

This montage of all of the Roadside images will soon be for sale. Proceeds will go Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland.

UPDATE

AUGUST 14, 2020

JULY 7, 2020 BY JASELBY1 COMMENTEDIT

Masks are Fierce

Big thanks to California State Senator Scott Wiener for being such an A+ great supporter of the arts and for putting together this timely drag queen mask competition.

Although not glitzy with feathers and bling, here is my fun fab Covid version that has Groucho Marx and good humor in mind. It may seem rather unlikely that an older woman 69+ year would don a Marx mask for her drag enactment but these days we all need a good laugh. The iconic nose and glasses with bushy eyebrows and mustache are easily recognizable (almost a cliche) as the universal symbol for humor. And, at least for me, they instantly evoke laughter and hopefully, the judges will experience the same.

Let’s be reminded of Nietzsche’s famous pronouncement that, “Perhaps even if nothing today has any future, our laughter may yet have a future."

Stay safe.

Stay true.

and the winners were:

Vanitas

After Pieter Claesz

The shock waves of Covid -19 and the resultant staggering number of deaths has sparked my interest in Vanitas, representations of the fleeting nature of life and the unexpected suddenness of death. I have had a long-standing fascination with skulls and have a treasured collection of animal skulls— gophers, birds, deer.

For years I have used time itself as a material presence in a my art practice.

Time will go by and it has….

After Albrecht Dürer

ALAS

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy; he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? Your gambols? Your songs? Your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? (Hamlet, V.i)