Wednesday Mixer
I guess it was entertaining.
Update for the month to be posted soon – this is one of the events that took place in April.
April 5th , 2006 Art Opening @ Blue Star, Terra Nostra: Solamente Salma
http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/stories/MYSA040606.08B.salma.94d9f9b.html www.georgeyepes.com
Now my impressions: 1st I have to say that San Antonio does not get the hype that other towns do – so when we do get a small taste of it they tend to go a little loco. They rolled out a red carpet for an art opening. I am talking the roped off put the press next to red carpet. There were tents – tents people. ARRGH!
I had been put on the list by my friend and board member of Blue Star, Dayna. George had invited me and told me my name was on the list but it had been awhile – he tends the have the absent mindedness of an artist – so when Dayna offered to take me I agreed. She and I went early – we were trying to bet the throng of onlookers and the groupies that hover whenever any one mildly famous shows up here. As we approached the red carpet we shook our heads. It wasn’t going to be a night of art it was going to be a night of the mucky mucks patting themselves on their backs. Inside there was a caterer in the middle of the building and people were mingling about.
The paintings by George were phenomenal – of course. They tend to give you sensory overload when standing in front of one. The only problem with the pieces by George was that each one was the same one just slightly different, by color or topography of the lines; even so they were still enticing. Then we saw Roberts, there were two pieces that I remember, both abstract and both my 12 yr old son could paint himself. They were the exact size of George’s paintings; even the same mounting and presentation techniques were used. I know I assembled several pieces myself. We were very disappointed, spending the required 3 seconds needed to view the pieces we move away.
That was when we got to see the circus and all the clowns come to town. All the local news media celebrities were there, tons of wanna be actors and actresses, that’s when I started having flashbacks. It was like an 80’s TV, Hollywood B list extravaganza; all the lost actors and actresses who were still clinging to their fame from that by gone era. Sadly all I could remember were a few of the names of the characters they played, or the shows/movies they starred in but their actual names escaped me. Others recognized them and reaching for that brief chance of a moment in the spotlight they readily clamored around them. I was so sad for their need to reach to others for an ideal that they would be happy only if…
George and Robert arrived late…grand entrance – that and George is late for everything. I was making my way to the exit and had gotten separated for Dayna when they walked in the door, they being: George Yepes, Robert Rodriguez, and Quentin Tarantino. Chaos would be an understatement – I tried to move to the side but ended up going about 3 inches. LOL. As they passed George saw me – it wasn’t like there were any ropes or anything keeping the throng of people contained. – He stepped over to me and gave me a hug… glad I could make it and a few other pleasantries. Robert was standing to his left and talking to a group/mass of people — he had a camera following him around – the whole time – I think he arranged to have it there. Any way I told him that I would be around for a little longer he told me not to go to far and I let him get back to being George. I stayed put and the mass that floated/hovered/glued it self to them seemed to swim around them in a wave as they moved – it was horrifying.
George’s girlfriend [?] / Assistant, Maria greeted me then. A pretty Asian woman who was a struggling artist in her own right, we hugged and talked while we watched the mass. I noticed the certain set of women that George has ‘around’ and mentioned to Maria ‘the girls are here also’. She looked so excited and a little confused by the turn of events, she told me ‘yes’ and those they had been ‘around’ more often. I told her she looked gorgeous and happy and she agreed. George beckoned to us she asked me to go with her and I said later. Then the pictures started and George had his three ladies in a row.
Now don’t get me wrong – I have absolutely no problem with anyone having ‘fun’ in their sex life. I am a great believer in that fun. I am fine with whomever you are or whom you choose to be your partner, none of that bothers me – I mean none of it. But I do have a problem if all the parties don’t play fair. I am concerned that Maria is going to be hurt – not physically – no matter what George would not hurt a woman – he loves them every facet of them. That is the problem. I think Maria is putting more of her self into this group than the ringleader realizes. She is not in a place now where talking with her would help. She was recently divorced when she started being an assistant for him. She is seeking the love she didn’t have and he is looking for a partner to taste life with. Maybe it will work out – I am just hopeful for her.
In any event – back to the main one – The horrifying mass that swarmed the three amigos. Blue Star is an old Warehouse that has been converted into a gallery so the space is very large. We stood on the sidelines and watched how the throng would move in mass wherever the three would move to. When they broke apart almost an equal amount of mass would follow them then they would configure back into a mass as soon as they were in range of each other.
I knew that I had to speak to George at least once to say goodbye. He would send me a nasty note via email or voice mail if I just skipped out. Taking a tired breath I maneuvered through the mass to him. Once in the throng you had not sense of direction and the large space was defiantly smaller – claustrophobic. He saw me and waved me over, we were trying to catch up a little – he was asking about the last few months [ I stopped being his assistant mid fall last year]. We had spoken infrequently on the phone a few times but he has his own schedule and time seems to mean little when he is working. [all artists can agree]. After a few moments he said hey I want you to meet someone – ok thinking it was a lackey or one of his ‘dates’ – he said “Jackie – meet Quentin – Quentin meet Jackie – this is my other studio assistant” [He said a few nice things – I will spare you] We shook hands and he stood there while George continued to ask me questions. It only lasted a few moments – having two of the three amigos so close together caused a encroaching – so our nice little circle to talk started to become to small. I can’t remember who asked about the after party – George or Quentin- the mass was loud once they enclosed ranks – speaking over everyone was too much for a real conversation. I had been invited to the after party – because of Dayna – it was being held at a Board Members swanky home. I said yes – he surprised me by saying that he was going as well – told me we could talk there.
After that I maneuvered myself out of the throng and gathered Dayna. We left the circus in the hopes that the next stop would give us a rest. That would be an understatement. Now I have been in very expensive homes plenty of times [some I am related to – we aren’t that close nothing falling from any trees for me]… but this home was so wow. The layout was wonderful – not to big – probably the same size as an average home but how the floor plan was laid out made it wonderful. There was the natural [handcrafted LOL] pool, the guest house. The caterer was set up and serving finger foods with margaritas.
We did a tour of the home they have original art just hanging around the house – that I have only seen in museums. Don’t panic – there was security – & SAPD — & Valet parking. But inside the home you were free to wander around and sit. As far as I could tell everyone was on their best behavior.
Just as we were sitting down with our margarita’s the three guests of honor arrived. Dayna and I made small talk with other guests and a few fellow artists. We were sitting by the pool – I looked up and saw George he waved and Quentin gave me a [I assume] a friendly head nod. We walked over and waited for an opening to speak. Dayna was listening to a conversation with Robert and I was hovering just out of reach. She and I both have a similar views on peoples perspectives of artists and the arts. Robert found out in conversation that she was an artist – started talking about how good it felt to be creative and tons of blah blah – she asked “How long have you been painting?” He replied, “three months”. She in turn replied “Painting for three months does not make you an artist.” Turned and left the group. LOL This is one of the reasons she is my friend – I would have said the same thing. With that grand exit I decided to sit down and a few joined me, including Quentin, just general get to know you kind of chatter. My overall impression of Quentin was that he was friendly, not overtly so and very smart. Unfortunately, Robert, event though married just seemed to be interested in taking advantage of his new pop status and only came off as ‘slimy’.
By this time it was very late and I had to get up in the morning. We agreed to take off, we brought our own vehicle so that we could go home directly afterwards. I wasn’t interested in hanging around just to chat with George – I can do that anytime. So we called it a night.
We Are The Champions!
Although my ex kind of ruined sports for me in general [gambling addict] I still enjoy cheering for the home team. Our NBA team the Spurs is the most under-rated team because our ballers are just that Ballers – not rapists, theives, thugs or press hogs… they are simply excellent players who work as a team to do their best. Which happens to be the VERY BEST THIS YEAR!
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
Jacquline Anderson
Artistry Jax Deviant Art Gallery
