RIP Chuck Ramirez

Way back when in the late 1990's, I was honored when my friend and colleague Chuck Ramirez called me one morning and asked if I wanted to do the invite for the Blue Star Arts & Eats - my answer - Totally! The only thing was.... it was due to the printer the next day.

I remember drawing this little dude, my caricature of Chuck, while I was on the phone with him going over the details of the invite. I finished the illustration, bought some props: vino, daisy and a pear at HEB (save the receipts!) brought everything downtown to Robert Lopez's photography studio and shot it. This is one of the polaroids I saved from the shoot.

Thanks to Chuck this was my first of 3 invites for Arts & Eats and I can still hear him sincerely digging the final piece and thanking me profusely for making it happen with such short notice. That next week there was a nice bottle of wine from Chuck at my office along with a thank you note. Thank you Chuck. Thank you for your inspiration and generosity over the years - I miss you already man!

That's Right,

HMK

Link Between Creativity, Mood Disorders?

According to experts like Terence Ketter, professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Stanford University, sensitivity to one's surroundings is associated with both creativity and depression.

Creative people in the arts must develop a deep sensitivity to their surroundings -- colors, sounds, and emotions, says Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, professor of psychology and management at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California.

Such hypersensitivity can lead people to worry about things that other people don't worry about as much, he said, and can lead to depression.

"The arts are more dangerous [than other professions] because they require sensitivity to a large extent," he said. "If you go too far you can pay a price -- you can be too sensitive to live in this world."

Hmmm... I knew there was some logical reason I always cry watching old beer commercials.... But what about us folks with such hypersensitivity that truly couldn't care less about things that other people don't worry about as much? Sure, I believe that yes, perhaps one can be too sensitive to live in this world, but once you understand that this whole scene we call life is just a blip on the life of your soul, it's so much easier to simply aknowledge that yes indeed - life's a freakin' tragic comedy, learn to live with it, try not to bitch too much and move on as you enjoy the ride as you do your best to be appreciative, thankful and nice and try not to be a miserable jerk along the way.

Read the entire piece: Experts Ponder Link Between Creativity, Mood Disorders.

And hey, don't miss my big Soul Doubt Show at the Blue Star Contemporary Art Complex!

That's Right,

HMK

Experts ponder link between creativity, mood disorders

HMK: Soul Doubt Show

So psyched!

Thanks to curator Chuck Ramirez, I’m excited to announce a dream come true - my first official show at Blue Star Contemporary Art Center! Each piece comes complete with it's own soundtrack, Click Hear: HMK: Mystery Streams.



HMK: Soul Doubt Show
Opens First Friday October 3, 2008

Gallery 4
Blue Star Contemporary Art Center
Members Opening Reception 10.02.08 6-9pm
First Friday General Public Opening 10.03.08 6-10pm

Gallery Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday
12pm-6pm

Address:
116 Blue Star
San Antonio, TX 78204
210.227.6960

The show runs throughout October – if you're in San Antonio I hope you can make it!

That's Right,

HMK