"Ricky" From "My Neighbor Series" Is Prominently Featured in The Autry Museum Exhibition

I am honored to have "Ricky" from "My Neighbor Series" given prime curatorial attention on the title wall of California Art Club's 106 Gold Medal Exhibition at The Autry Museum.

There are strong and exciting works across the widest stylistic and aesthetic range in the contemporary realist expression that we rarely see presented together. It's a privilege to be part of such a show.

It is also great to see the visual power of Love My Neighbor message coming through in any setting. 

Documentary On Love My Neighbor: "Scottsdale" In The Making

Very excited about greatly talented team of filmmaker and photographer 

Jonathan Lipking 

with videographer 

Matthew Vreeke 

starting work on the full length documentary 

about Love My Neighbor: "Scottsdale" project. 

 We had exciting painting and shooting days when the guys were able to capture every step in the development of "Rey Trabajador" painting on site.

Here is the short intro. Enjoy!

"Cirillo, Rey Trabajador" oil on linen 72" x 48". First Day of Painting.

First day of painting incredible Cirillo, "Rey Trabajador," at epic "Scottsdale" in Carson, Ca.

Best character, best story and best model painter can ever dream of.

 This is what worth making Art for.

Awesome shots by Jonathan Lipking

"Cirillo. Rey Trabajador" Study For Painting

Cirillo, is a 75 year old gardener of a notorious "Scottsdale" neighborhood in Carson.  He came from the Guadalajara region in Mexico in 1965 and called "Scottsdale" home for 19 year.

 He works there non-stop for 30 years and would not quit (though he can retire relatively comfortably anytime). At his age he is still the hardest working, fastest walking and heaviest lifting on a whole crew. He would not sit or even slow down till the very minute he can punch his card for a lunch break. Working right is his way of life. 

The neighborhood is tough, the Bloods and Carson 13 turf where sheriffs prefer not to go without extreme need. 25% of residents there are below poverty. "Scottsdale" is a 30 year LA urban disintegration problem that generations of politicians couldn't solve. 

Yet there are people who live and work there that did not give up. Cirillo is one of them. In that place of not many sentiments there is no-one who would not love and respect him because its simply impossible.

At the rock-botom of our society, like "Scottsdale" people like Cirillo are the bedrock of a community. From this bedrock we can build up. In "Scottsdale" and everywhere. Cirillo is an ultimate symbol of a true "public servant" and a Worker King - "Rey Trabajador"

Share The Story of YOUR Special and Inspiring Neighbor

Look around!

No matter what neighborhood you are in, you will find the same kind of unique human beacon that Love My Neighbor project is all about. The neighbor that you and your other neighbors just cannot help, but love. You might think about a person just like that right away or you might have to take another look in your neighborhood. Sometimes those special people are very unassuming and even often overlooked as they faithfully do something good day after day. You can become a Love My Neighbor Ambassador by thanking and honoring that person.

Please, share a story of your especially great neighbor. What does she or he do? What makes her or him so unique and special? What does she or he do to make the lives of others better?

Make a drawing or painting of this very special person or of something associated with that person and include in your story.

You can also include a photo of that person together with you.

We’ll pick the stories we like the most and post them.

Just look around and become Love My Neighbor Ambassador in your own neighborhood!

Upward'n'Artward

Mr. Leon - D Day Veteran.

"Mr. Leon - D Day Veteran. My Neighbor Series" fabriano soft press/cretacolor sepia

Mr. Leon is Carson's oldest resident. He is 101 years old from Puerto Rico. In the middle of our first session I learned he is a D Day Veteran. It was a pretty cathartic moment. With his permanently diminishing physical strength when making each word is a deliberate task that requires massive concentration of precious energy, he'd say once and again: "I was in a D Day". At this moment his entire demeanor would change as if he heard the hell of incoming fire. His features would inexplicably take a forceful expression of a complete determination. 

With his permanently diminishing physical strength when making each word is a deliberate task that requires massive concentration of precious energy, he'd say once and again: "I was in a D Day". At this moment his entire demeanor would change as if he heard the hell of incoming fire. His features would inexplicably take a forceful expression of a complete determination.

That were moments of pure Beauty. Inside his feeble body the same Spirit would wake that led him out of the landing craft and through the water and onto the sand of Omaha. "There was German fire coming down on us from the top on the right. Than the guys who were there before us got on'em from the side…they had to turn their fire away from us and on them, soon they were shooting no more. That’s why I made it through the water…that’s why I lived. Someone died so I lived.

WELLS FARGO CARSON TOWN CENTER OPENING July 20, 2016

The opening at Wells Fargo Carson Town Center Branch was quite an extraordinary celebration of the Community Spirit

in ART we trust!

***