SAW 1, ME 0
JANUARY CAN SUCK IT
Right around January 6th, I had planned a big update and a 2024 recap. However, as many of you know, the next day, LA was struck by tragedy. While I was about 4 miles south of the fire, in a straight line, to say it affected all of us is an understatement. Without getting into too many details, it was a stressful time, and keeping up with socials and web updates seemed trivial. It just wasn’t the right moment for that type of talk—at least it didn’t feel that way. To make matters worse, during this period, for reasons I still can’t fully explain, I nearly cut off my thumb while making a case for a show on my table saw. It was a tragic accident that I’m still trying to wrap my head around.
TABLE SAW & THE BLUE THUMB
I’ve made at least a thousand cuts on that saw without incident. But somehow, with the weight of everything going on in LA—or maybe just from the speed at which I’ve been forced to keep up lately—I lost focus for a split second. But that’s all it takes. In an instant, I found myself searching for parts of my thumb, trying to control the bleeding, and fashioning a makeshift bandage to get to the emergency room. The dash cam footage of me screaming at traffic in panic is quite a sight (and sound) to behold. I had no idea my voice could go that high. I’ll spare you the gory details, but living alone has its disadvantages. This was one of them. It’s been four weeks since the accident, and I’m on the road to recovery, but it’ll be at least another 90 days before I regain full function.
NOW WHAT?
Pictured above is me this morning, getting ready to load two paintings for a show at Covet Gallery in Oceanside, California. For the first time, I’m doing an in-person drop-off. Usually, I ship my work and show up for the opening weeks later. However, this is the first sales opportunity for Broken Banknote. My other shows and competitions have been at cultural institutions and art centers, not actual galleries. Since I decided not to sell directly from my studio anymore, I’m pursuing every gallery and sales opportunity I can. Building new relationships in that world is my goal, so I thought an in-person drop-off would be a great way to get more involved… one-handed or not.
UPDATE?
Sure… let’s get to that. 2024 was a successful year of awards and shows. Six paintings were featured in 11 shows, winning four jury awards and one catalog cover across five states. One of those paintings, Lady Bolivar, continues to be selected for exhibitions, with its fifth selection in 13 months. My reach and influence have certainly grown.
As of February 9, 2025, I’m currently in a show in Denton, Texas with Crypto Lunchbox, titled "Working Hard, or Hardly Working." Lady Bolivar is in another show in Conroe, Texas. And, as mentioned, I have two pieces in a show at Covet Gallery in Oceanside, California. That’s four pieces in three shows, all selected in January.
Looking ahead, I’m waiting on notifications for two other shows. Additionally, I’m branching out and have submitted some photography for a later exhibition this year. I’m eager (if not a bit nervous) to see how people respond to my photographic work. In fact, for 2025, I’ll only be creating two or three new Broken Banknote paintings. The majority of my focus will be on a new photographic concept and execution. I’ll share more on that as the process unfolds.
2025?
While January can suck it, and I keep running into personal setbacks, there’s no doubt that Broken Banknote is off to a good start in terms of recognition. But it’s been tough. My city experienced devastating fires, and while I was fine, the entire neighborhood was on edge. Our community has grassy hills dotted with homes and wildlife, which made those first few days tense and sleepless. On top of that, I nearly amputated my thumb, and the healing process will take months. I could list more personal setbacks, but who cares anyway?
Oh, and that picture above? My eyes need some retouching, and my thumb looks like a toy. Frankly, it looks like I have been punched in the face and that’s about right for 2025. BUT ...at least I didn’t lean into my weight gain, as predicted in this interesting post. So, I’ve got that going for me!