Right before Thanksgiving I sent my newly painted 3 inch Dunny to New York for The Almighty Dunny Show.  Curated by Genuine Artikle and hosted at Halcyon in Dumbo Brooklyn, the exhibition opens on December 11th and features a large roster of some familiar names...

Abe Lincoln Jr, Cope 2, D-LuX, Mishka NYC, Patricio Oliver, Task One dust, Jay222, Nerviswr3k, Nemo, Sneaky Raccoon, Igor Ventura, Leecifer, Tyler Coey, Suckadelic, Damarak the Destroyer, Viseone, Sinned, Droppixel, Osiris Orion, James Fuller, Jon Paul Kaiser, Sergio Mancini, Bryan Collins, Bishop 203, Chelsea Bloxsom, Ahh'd Art, Spanky Stokes, Tenacious Toys, Frank Mysterio, Brian Colins, Rampage Toys, Miss Kika, Nasty Neil, Albert Art, Trevor Zammit, FOOX Okkle, Royce Bannon, Phetus, Mr DEN, ZAM, Ian Ziobrowski, James Yeah?, valleydweller, Uncle, Matt A, Resin, Chris Rabb, Blake West, Christian Cabuay, Chamarro, Squidkidsink, FAS, Taz, Evilos, Tom Freak, Allison Revilla, Paul Duran, Ardabus Rubber, Hellsing Chaos, Jonathanway$hak, Pretty Poopie, Owen Dewitt, Paddy Leung, We Kill You, Adam Lee, Ashley Hay, Aaron Jasinski, Michal Wisniowski, Ego, Valerie G, Moody, SNO, The Chief Rocka, Lana Crooked, Matucha Studio, Danicus Prime, Dave Rapoza, Juan Franco, Jennipho, Adam Miller, Perry J Osman, Taek, Alone One, Troy Stith, The Flighty Ellz, DESN, Mr. Walters, Cozy Robot, Chrisosaur, Nikejerk, and MANY more!

Some of these great artists I have had the pleasure of meeting personally, or at least becoming more familiar with their work through social media.  Names in bold are some of those whose twitter conversations I'm stalking with the occasional participatory remark.


Chances are that my humble contribution will be heavily overshadowed by such a strong group.  Nevertheless, it's a good opportunity to get in another show.  One of only three this year for me given the big East/West Coast switcheroo.

Three months in the bay is a short time, yet it feels like I have been here twice as long at least.  In those three months I have been fortunate enough to experience some really great artwork both in the city and the East Bay. During the first weekend here I got a little glimpse of some great pieces at a gallery in Oakland's river-walk area (pictured above).


A few weeks later, after a fun day with new artist-friends at Alternative Press Expo, we were going trough the Mission admiring all the great street art in those awesome alleyways. Towards the end of our little trek we finally found the Banksy we were looking for!


By the time November rolled in, its first weekend brought with it a fantastic exhibition at Gallery 1988 in San Francisco. Featuring the works of Jeremiah Ketner, Yosuke Ueno, and Ewelina Ferruso, the opening brought a lot of us out to admire the paintings and mingle with SmallandRound.


Concurrent exhibits of collaborative work between Glen E. Friedman and Shepard Fairey as Fuck You All, as well as one called Bad Dads: A Tribute To The Films Of Wes Andersen, made for an interesting detour in a two-or-so block radius.


After the show the lot of us shuffled on over to Tommy's Joint and then topped it all off with late night donuts! Yeah, us old folks party hard. Which is also why we've been dubbed Toy Pimps by toy-maven Jeremyriad.

What an incredible year it has been.  Filled with the best of time and the worst of times.  Although it is not yet over, the holidays have a way of speeding the last few months along quite effectively.  This is in part why I have begun reflecting on all the crazy things that have transpired in the last year of this decade, bringing to a close a ten-year period of growth both fruitful and (at times) painful.


The most significant of these changes came about as I traded the East Coast for the West, embarking on a several-month long journey along the Northern route of the U.S.  My most memorable stops were in Chicago, Mt. Rushmore, and Seattle, before culminating in a much anticipated resettlement in the San Francisco bay area. This transition has been very trying for me physically, emotionally, and mentally, but I would like to think that I have come out better for the experience.  You might say that I am reinventing myself.


I now look to the future with hope and excitement.  The bay area is beautiful, and I finally feel like I could belong in this place.  Something that I haven't felt in this country since leaving Poland.  I look forward to all the wonderful arts and culture that is so abundant here, eager to absorb as much of it as I can and to meet the people behind that culture.
Yes, 2010.  You have really kicked my ass a few times.  I want to be mad at you, but I just can't.  You have brought me to a new place in my life and taught me some valuable lessons.  So thanks. And farewell.