photos of recent show

at church st cafe

http://www.flickr.com/photos/keatts/sets/72157604324543939/

First show, first sale

Not my first show ever, but first solo show in San Francisco and the Bay Area, I believe. And a sale, which is cool. Just the beginning...

truly, madly, java, art

Two things. More fun java info from my new job here at Terracotta. http://javathink.blogspot.com/2008/03/clustered-classloader.html

It's interesting stuff. Also, I am indeed showing my work at the Church St. Cafe this week, from yesterday until the end of the month, so check it out, and stop by my table/party on Thursday after 6 pm. This is the cafe between 15th and Market on Church. Used to be Muddys. I have six paintings and/or mixed media canvases on display. Here is the artist statement:

I have been painting and making visual art since 1989, and although I have shown my work in San Francisco and other places over the years, this is my first solo show in San Francisco. I am happy it is in this space where I have spent many hours and purchased many mochas over the last few years since I started living in SF.

These paintings and mixed-media works comprise three basic styles or periods. They blend or overlap somewhat, but there are differences. All were made in San Francisco, either in the Castro or the Mission, so they are all within the last two or three years. Some focus more on color, or layer, and certainly others have a more textured quality. I have always been fascinated by a sculptural texture in painting and the different techniques or materials to use in that. I love color also but sometimes, as in the unprimed canvas work, a more muted color or a darker, grittier urban feel. My recent work is more like chemical stains, a sortof accidental darker homage to Frankenthaler.

Conceptually I see my work engaged with language, the struggle with language, or its absence in the face of a visual existence. As a writer and novelist I have an interesting relationship with language that is very much in the truce stage now. This conversation goes more into theory of course and discussions about Lacan, Derrida, etc. Ultimately like Kenneth King, the chorographer/dancer, I am mainly interested in eyes, in looking, and in making things.

Thank you for looking.

Charles Keatts, SF, 2008

my art is on display

my art is up at the church st cafe! for one week! woohoo!

this monkey's gone to heaven

New job has a new website design: www.terracottatech.com. I am really liking the new job alot, it shows you can work and have fun with cool and interesting people. I really like hearing the tech side people present the product, it makes me understand it better and appreciate the level of quality that goes into the software.

In other news, my health is stabilizing, as Jen pointed out, I am doing well even though I have had a change in sleep patterns this week, not really tired much at all. I did sleep in today though...

Tonight at the Make-out Room Amy Tan and a bunch of other poeple will be reading, so I am looking forward to that. I just updated Linkedin to show my work on writing and art, so that is another way to market oneself.

Got my road bike. Very nice to ride after the cool but heavy cruiser/folding bike. Easier to carry too.

ch-ch-changes

Much stuff happening lately:

• Resigned from my job at Extentech today and accepted an offer from Terracotta. I learned a lot at Extentech, it toughened me up, and I am very excited to be at a growing startup.
• I went snowboarding last weekend for the first time in 3 years. I did quite well and was very sore from just boarding and a few falls.
• I am watching Speed Racer, the first episodes, and just confirmed that Trixie is indeed his gifrlfriend. As I thought. I like Trixie.
• Last week, after an endoscopy and colonoscopy, I was diagnosed with celiac disease, which is basically an allergy to wheat or gluten. With a gluten free diet, healthy eating, and supplements I should be back to normal in about six months. It's a challenge avoiding gluten though.
• Somehow, possibly from the new diet, stress, or sports I have managed to lose about 7 lbs in the last week or so.
  
• Work on my newest novel, Regret, continues, while I continue to look for an agent for Daydream Nation. I think Regret may easily be the best thing I have ever written. Although I have written a few good poems.
• Just got some more contributions for the aidsmarathon. email me at keatts@gmail.com if you would like to contribute.