ROBBIE’S ANTI-TRUMPING TOUR BLOG: Portland Edition

 (6 cities in 6 states in 14 days. Not counting 150 volunteers who put up 900 posters on the streets of LA on June 3rd 2016.)

Aside from Donald J. Trump, but even among his deceived and deluded followers, there are good people everywhere. My friend, Lowell, investigative journalist extraordinaire, always says that after he tells me another whopper about his meetings with confidential sources (names withheld) in the FBI, the NSA, Homeland Security, the Republican Party and even Florida. (Although, if you ask me, Florida is not in the United States. For that matter, San Francisco is somewhere in western Europe, isn’t it?) Whatever. After this little late night tour of mine, I believe him.

The good news is all the people who contributed in any way to this nutty trek. I truly want to thank you all! Happily there are so many of you and I’m so grateful. I’ll try to give you a taste of the late night “action,” as I remember it, however woozily.

Going city by city…

PORTLAND:

I flew up from the central coast of California and was picked-up by my cousin, Steve and his wife, Camille. Steve is 80 years old, a retired “people’s architect.” He and his troops built housing and repaired hospitals for the Sandinistas in Nicaragua and the Zapatistas in Chiapas. Camille is a terrific, albeit private, spiritual painter. Both are, in their own very different ways, more radical than I am. Surprisingly, Steve had never been out on the streets postering with me. (I’ve been doing this since 1986.) Their son, Marios, an artist and musician, who makes his own idiosyncratic instruments, also lives in Portland. He has been out with me several times over the years and was our getaway driver for this Portland “Art Attack.”

Please let me tell you a couple “good people” stories, because, in a magical way (especially considering the horrific reason for this project), they kept happening everywhere I went—and we need them right now:

The first thing Steve did was take me to “Reo’s Ribs,” (4211 NE Sandy Blvd), a little joint he’d always wanted to try, but, I guess, needed me as an excuse to actually visit. A giant goofy homemade barbecue grill, like an old repurposed steam engine, was smoking away out front.

Inside was cozy Louisiana charming, tricked out for Halloween. The food: Delicious. As we were eating, a large handsome black man hovered over everything, talking to everyone, except us.

Finally he looked down and asked me how I liked my ribs. I told him. He winked, stuck out a huge hand and said, “ I’m Uncle Reo, this is my place. I’m from Magnolia, Mississippi, one of 27 children. I just got back from Hollywood. I was on “Snoop Dogg’s and Martha Stewart’s Potluck Dinner Party show.” Say what?  (Turns out Snoop is Reo’s nephew.)

 

Our new best friend whipped out his cell phone and scrolled through dozens of pix: Reo hugged by Martha and Snoop, him with Ice Cube and Seth Rogen, and so forth. He talked about his life for 40 minutes. Asked about us. I show-ed him some of the great anti-Trump postering hits our guerrillas had gotten up in LA. Laughing, he shook my hand so hard he almost broke it.

I then went on my traditional wallpaper adhesive hunt, gallon buckets preferred. At a local Sherwin Williams paint store (“We Cover the Earth!”)  I scored enough for both our Portland and Seattle art attacks Then Steve and Camille walked me through their ultra hip “Laurelhurst” neighbor-hood. How “Portlandia” was it?

The show was shooting an episode around the corner from their house! Also, there were seven restaurants per block. But we were intrigued by, “Dashen  International Groceries” (3039 NE Gilsan St.). A Hispanic grocery that was open but quite dark, except for one florescent bulb above the counter. Empty, except for one natty middle-aged man behind it, who was . . . Ethiopian.

Flipping a switch, he chuckled, “Oh, I guess you might want some light.” We were suddenly surrounded by the most varied array of Hispanic food products I’ve ever seen. Steve noticed a long row of old books behind the counter, written in Amharic, Arabic, Hebrew, English and Italian. The man proceeded to tell us the whole history of Ethiopia (long), stressing his hope that all religions could get along with each other, “No matter what that Mr. Donald J. Trump thinks . . . Oh my! You must be so ashamed!” We are.

As for the postering itself, we met our local crews at the venerable, very yellow, “Original Hotcakes House.”

My pals Tinkerbell and Clank, recent émigrés from LA, were there with their new friends, a couple of doctors and their  precociously punning 13 year old son. My young friend, Leona, now in LA, sent us some lovely post “Portlandia” 19yr olds (blue hair), as well. We were also joined by the great street artist and illustrator, EMEK. We’d never actually met—it was an honor.

Of course it was raining. Of course no one (but me) noticed. That night we managed to get up about 80 posters around town.

A little after 2am, Steve and I were totally soaked and out of posters. I slapped him on the back and said, “Good job, comrade—let’s go get dry.” He was shocked, “Whatta ya mean? This is great—I’m just getting started!”

Hearing that, Marios hissed, “Dad, you’re 80 years old. You just had quadruple bypass surgery—get in the car!”

Annoyed, Steve slammed the car door shut, just as a squad car of Portland’s finest cruised by at 5 miles per hour. The officers stared at us and nodded their approval, perhaps thinking we’d just picked a crazy man up out of the rain. Close, but no (exploding) cigar.

Thanks Everyone!

1. A little birdie told me that Tinkerbell has just received a new shipment of anti-Trump posters. So, Portland, get ready for another major fairy dusting, aka: round two!

No. No my friends. To mangle Yogi Berra’s great line,

“It ain’t over when it’s over.” We’ve only just begun!

Oh, and if you’re curious about Portland after the election, take a look:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3929030/Anti-Trump-rallies-enter-fourth-day-demonstrators-brace-long-fight-Inauguration-Day-protest-just-beginning.html

Next up: SEATTLE.

November 19, 2016 at 12:06 am | Latest News, Robbie's Rants | 1 comment

Support Robbie’s GoFund Me Campaign to Stop Trump

 

Since 1986 I’ve been making satirical guerrilla street posters of politicians who, by my reckoning, have too much power over us and have been abusing it in the name of representative democracy. Over the years I’ve developed an irregular street army of wonderful volunteers, around the U.S. When I can, I travel with my posters, and with help from local activists, put them up on the streets. It’s my way of hopefully tickling people into thinking along with us about the state of our democracy.

My new poster campaign, “BULLY CULPRIT/CAN’T EVEN,” is about Donald J. Trump, whom I consider to be a major threat to our country’s social and political values. I feel so strongly about Trump’s demagoguery–especially his appeals to hate, fear and prejudice–that I’ve made a double-sided street poster about him! With your help I’m hoping to get 1000’s of them printed, shipped, and pasted up on the streets of America before the November election.

Printing, shipping, supplies, and travel are costly. But with your help I promise we’ll be out there practically every night, spattering ourselves with glue and doing our best to deliver the message.  Additionally, since I can’t make it to every city we’d like to cover, I’m offering to send posters anywhere in the U.S., to those volunteers who are truly committed to getting them up in their area. From the East Coast to the West Coast, to the prairies, to Hawaii and Alaska—yes, even Alaska! (Please sign up for emails at my website’s Home Page, and let me know if you’re able to volunteer in your city or town, soon!)  We’ll update everyone with images of posterings from places we’ve visited, as well as photos we’ve received from volunteers who’ve distributed them in their towns.

We can’t let Trump happen here! And with your help, we won’t. Thanks so much for your consideration and enthusiasm for our mission!

~ Robbie Conal

August 1, 2016 at 5:29 am | Latest News, Robbie's Rants | No comment

DRUMPF IS A PARADIGM

Donald Trump is a paradigm example of a shrewd, brutish, predatory extreme of our American capitalist culture. Not to give him too much credit, but in following our presidential primary season, Deb and I end up batting around his rise at least once a day. Everywhere I go, anybody who knows me asks, “Are you doing Trump?” (The short answer is, “Yes.”) Then, I usually get an earful: recitations of what I call, “political personal disaster porn.” Understandable, right? Far right!

Not far enough, though. (I suspect we all know that.) I have a simple line about all this that I’m going to drop on you, just because: I really think each of us has got to do something about it, him, our collective problem. Not necessarily a big “change the world” thing, either. In my experience, that kind of gesture is usually of the quixotic variety. I’m talking real politik here. Not necessarily specifically about Trump, either. Phone bank, canvas, get out the vote, help old people register. Just whatever you can do. Even if you think it’s a little thing. It isn’t.

I make nasty little street posters, mostly about nasty people. That’s what I can do. I promise you, I’m doing it—right now! And we’ll be doing it all over the place very soon. (You’re invited, of course.) My point: whatever you’re good at, please apply that talent, skill, whatever—even if you think it’s a stretch—to our Drumpf problem. We can do this. We pretty much must. Don’t you think?

A LISTENING TIP:
On another, more felicitous note, the band, “Lake Street Dive” has a new CD. The title tune, “Side Pony,” is goofy and brilliant! The lead guitarist wrote it after his wedding when his bride showed up with a retro hairdo—that “side pony”––which totally knocked him out. He wrote this tune about it. To my ears it’s right up there with their recent, “Bad Self Portraits,” for wonderful sideways subjects. And I’m pretty sure you’ll agree, it’s a welcome relief from all that other noise in our collective heads!

Bunnyhugs,
Robbie

March 27, 2016 at 12:34 am | Latest News, Robbie's Rants | No comment

Why “Vulnerable is the New Macho”?

November 17, 2015 at 2:26 am | Latest News, Robbie's Rants | No comment

A Frickin’ Fracking Enema?

     I thought frickin’ fracking was bad enough, but did you know that in addition to that, a wastewater disposal well pumps 1000’s of tons of pressurized liquid back into a deep hole in the Earth’s crust, loosening the substrata miles below the surface? Eventually it causes earthquakes. Lots of them. It’s exactly like giving Planet Earth a huge enema. I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling the Earth’s pain (in the ass)!

     According to the NY Times, in Oklahoma right now there are more than 3,000 active oil, gas, and wastewater disposal wells. Earthquake activity there in 2013 was 70 times greater than the rate of earthquakes before 2008. The state recently acknowledged deep links between the two and set up a website detailing the scientific evidence behind it’s conclusion. I bet Oklahomans are ecstatic about that! Not incidentally, the always festive “Tornado Season” has just officially opened in The Great Plains States (aka “Tornado Alley”). Lately it’s also increased in length and fury. Something to do with global warming, perhaps?

     It bears repeating that Republican Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell (from the massive toxic carbon emissions coal mining state of Kentucky) sent a letter to every Governor of every fossil fuel producing state, urging them not to comply with the EPA’s guidelines for restricting toxic emissions from their state’s fossil fuel production facilities. That’s essentially telling them to break US Federal law! Never mind that coal mining is one of the most dangerous, filthy, underpaid jobs in the world. Never mind that the ol’ Fo$$il Fool could have urged every one of those states’ Governors to add re-education and vocational training to their annual budgets, so their loyal, hard working (cough-cough) constituents might qualify for better paying, personally safer, jobs! Never mind that… Enemas, anyone?

~ Robbie Conal, May 14, 2015

May 14, 2015 at 10:59 pm | Latest News, Robbie's Rants | No comment

STREET WISE Opens At LAX November 1 For An Owl’s Eye View of Los Angeles!

Normally, late nights for Robbie Conal mean mobilizing a crew of guerrilla volunteers to poster the streets with his legendary political posters. But this time, in the nights before Halloween, Robbie Conal will take over Terminal 6 (United Airlines Departures lobby) at LAX to install his newest work–”STREET WISE”–a collaboration with his partner, producer Deborah Ross. The new pieces combine large-scale paintings of glittery owls (seemingly Robbie’s alter-egos) and the couple’s recent fascination with drone photography, creating stunning aerial images of some of Robbie’s favorite parts of LA as the backdrop for his paintings. The artworks give LAX travelers owls’-eye views of the City of Angels not many would otherwise get to see.

The exhibit opens on November 1st and runs until April 30, 2015.

Earlier this week, Robbie and Deborah spoke to Frances Anderton on KCRW’s DNA to talk about the new project. Listen to the broadcast below. The STREET WISE segment begins at 19:45.

 

 

Says curator Elizabeta Betinski:

“Fifteen years ago Robbie Conal, LA’s infamous guerrilla artist, promised his wife, designer extraordinaire, Deborah Ross, that he would paint her an owl. He finally got around to it but he could not paint just one—partly because owls are too cool to sit for just one portrait, partly because once Robbie saw over 200 photos that Deborah took of ecstatic sunsets lighting up LA, he began to see owls in every one of them. Soon enough, the magnificent birds were perching above Deborah’s shots of Culver City, stretching their wings over Silver Lake and Highland Park and hoo-hooing through Venice and Playa del Rey: every place where Deborah stopped to take in the beauty of LA’s sunsets, there was an owl to guard the moment. Robbie and Deborah then took this spontaneous collaboration a step further and invited their friend Todd Caranto to join in, take his GoPro drone for a spin above Los Angeles, and film our urban sprawl from an owl’s point of view—which, as it turns out, is nothing short of spectacular. The hope is that seeing our home and all its glory from such heights might just inspire us to take better care of it—and if that’s not enough (unlike owls, humans seem to need a little extra push to get wiser), the owls are there to remind us that we have a beautiful thing going on, here on Planet L.A. and that if we want to keep it, for ourselves and all the creatures we share it with, we’ve got to wise up.”

Part of the groundbreaking LAX arts program known as INFLUX, created in partnership by the L.A. Department of Cultural Affairs and Los Angeles World Airports, these works are designed to infuse the airport’s bustling terminals with cutting-edge and inspiring pop art.

More details coming! #streetwiselax

 

October 27, 2014 at 6:21 pm | Latest News, Robbie's Rants | No comment

Mandela Poster Project fundraiser is LIVE on Indiegogo!

January 24, 2014 at 1:44 am | Latest News, Robbie's Rants | No comment

OUR L.A. NELSON MANDELA TRIBUTE POSTERING BIG ADVENTURE: Featuring a nutty night of “WALKING” & “DANCING” at Canter’s Deli with 200 of our favorite guerrilla volunteers, and a “courtesy call” from LAPD!

First and foremost, thanks so much to all of you who came out on Friday, December 6th, to honor Nelson Mandela the night after his passing! Deb & I were quite overwhelmed by the massive turnout. Over 200 people memorialized the moment and celebrated Mandela’s life by going out plastering the streets of L.A. with two new Mandela posters, WALKING and DANCING. It was a beautiful moment in history, and we were happy to play a small part in it with all of you.

We were also witness to a crazy–even historic–turn of events that evening. In the 27 years I’ve been doing this (MEN WITH NO LIPS, Sept. 1986, was the first street poster we put up in L.A.), it’s the very first time the LAPD has decided to join the party at Canter’s, even before we hit the streets! And it was definitely the first time the LAPD has been quite so polite to me. Seems as if they’d finally read the “Guerrilla Etiquette & Postering Techniques” pages on my website and were following our rules by the book, so to speak.

Briefly, for those of you who weren’t there, and for all of you who were, but maybe couldn’t catch my conversation with Peace Officer Guerra, (who, by the way, is an excellent representative of Chief Charlie Beck’s new policing culture), and his two fellow officers. For a fantasizing moment, think of Officer Guerra as perhaps he might occasionally think of himself: as THOR the superhero, wielding his new weapon of choice—a “velvet hammer.” Taking the form of a polite, sotto voce threat, couched in concern for “the welfare of our citizenry,” he gently reminded me that postering on public property w/out a permit and on any private property w/out the owner’s permission is illegal. He also informed me that, “We’ve become aware of your project through the internet.” YIKES! We all might be wise to take a moment and process that one. However enthusiastic, let’s certainly make note of LAPD’s new awareness of our social network announcements of future art attacks, .

Officer Guerra continued, “We have extra units watching out for you all tonight,” And…wait for it. Here comes the red velvet cupcake in the palm of the velvet glove that wielded the velvet hammer: “Then there’s vandalism, you know. Willful destruction of city property is a serious offense.” As over 200 silent, respectful, guerrilla volunteers leaned in to hear better, he then casually mentioned municipal code violations, subject to a mandatory appearance before a municipal judge 30 days after the day/night of enforcement, and a possible fine of @ $250, equivalent to a traffic ticket these days. Talk about a chill factor! You could feel the temperature drop in the room!

Officer Guerra finished up his soliloquy with an imprecation to “be safe out there in this holiday season,” and, “please do not cause our citizenry any unnecessary trouble, nor get into any ourselves”. Good advice, which we can all certainly appreciate. So, basically, it was a courtesy call. Very well done. To tell you the truth, all this was refreshingly different from Chief Daryl Gates’ 1990’s policing culture: a 24-7 lightning-bolts-of-fear-and-intimidation onslaught! Over the years I’ve had too many go-rounds w/Chief Gates in the media, and his officers on the mean streets. Even though I’d much rather see our officers in blue out tackling bigger issues than littering, I’ll take LAPD’s new style over the old any day.

So, all those bright red and blue flashing lights in Canter’s parking lot were just LAPD’s contribution to the festive atmosphere of our Mandela postering tribute. Despite their potentially chilling presence at the deli that night, even they couldn’t quash the irrepressible spirit of joy and revelry everyone brought to the occasion. More than 800 posters, several dozen buckets of wheat paste, and as many brushes were distributed in less than 5 minutes to an excited crowd waiting in the parking lot. And as far as we know, no one was arrested nor even stopped, while putting up Mandela’s WALKING and DANCING posters that night! Even more amazing? Most of those 800 posters are still up on construction sites and traffic light switching boxes all over the city today, more than one month later! That’s a significant sign of respect in this crazy L.A. street culture, all due, I’m sure, to the incredible impact Mandela’s life–and death–have had upon us.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the Mandela posters and the event—getting together with all of you is always my favorite part of this whole public art making magilla! To that end, we’ll soon be launching a fundraising campaign through Indiegogo, with our collaborators from artaidsart.org. Our intent is to raise enough funds to print and distribute even more Mandela tribute posters across the country, and beyond. We’ve already sent 5,000 to be handed out for free in Capetown, South Africa. But we’d love to send them to cities around the US, and the world, or wherever they’re wanted or needed. When you get the Indiegogo email, please donate whatever feels comfortable. In return you’ll receive Mandela WALKING or DANCING stickers, signed posters, or limited edition prints, plus the knowledge that you’ve helped send Mandela posters as many places as they can possibly go!

Thanks again for all your good work and tremendous support. And Happy 2014!

~ Robbie Conal & Deb Ross

January 6, 2014 at 10:58 am | Latest News, Robbie's Rants | No comment

GETTING READY TO PRINT A NEW POSTER!

Check back for regular updates on printing, postering, and other events associated with the latest poster:

MANDELA/WALKING

November 14, 2013 at 4:14 am | Latest News, Robbie's Rants | No comment

OMMMIGAWD! IT’S 2013! HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ART ATTACK!

In our hopes for an auspicious 2013, we are introducing Robbie’s new, limited-edition print, “OMMMMIGAWD!”, which is inspired in part by his love of drawing animals, as well as his keen interest and fascination with cross-cultural humor and word-play.

Yes! We are celebrating Ganesh, the lovely Hindu god with the face of an elephant, who is usually accompanied by (or, metaphorically, “riding”) a mouse. In this case, Ganesh is holding a couple of well known mice, “couple” being the operative word: Mr. and Mrs. Mouse!

Being the “go to” remover of obstacles to personal happiness, Ganesh is far and away the most popular household deity of the many Hindu gods in India and beyond. We love him too, for his wisdom, charm, and especially as the bringer of good fortune at the start of new ventures. In Robbie’s incarnation—in the pink—he is also the guarantor, even the arbiter when necessary, of domestic bliss! Ganesh has got us chanting, OMMMMIGAWD! (And namaste too…)

“OMMMMIGAWD!” (Inkjet edition of 40; full color; 15″Hx11″W; $ 75 + Tax & Shipping), in the new “Store” section of the website…

Speaking of which, we also want to welcome to our newly redesigned website (by the brilliant designers at RAGTAG DESIGN)! We have all new sections on Guerrilla Postering Etiquette, interviews with Robbie, an FAQ, and videos for your viewing pleasure. Feel free to browse, and give us your feedback on FB or Twitter.

And through-out the year, we’ll be introducing several new limited-edition prints at very affordable prices, so please come back often and collect them all!

Bunnyhugs from Robbie Conal and the Art Attack Team!

January 12, 2013 at 2:59 am | Latest News, Robbie's Rants | 1 comment

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