Shoosty East West 2023

“We have found a way to nature again, it lies through japan. No longer does the living art of our time take its nurture from past styles, no longer does it seek its models in the pattern book of the renaissance or the rococo... The wonderful art of japan offers a rare combination of untarnished natural freshness with the most refined decorative taste and the highest stylistic assurance: let us be grateful to it for showing us the right path to follow and for opening the eyes of those that have eyes to see.” - Aemil Fendler 1897

Shoosty - 2023 Copyright Shooster Publishing Makers of Fine Art Books www.shoosty.com 441 South State Road 7 Margate, Florida 33068 954-537-1200

me an electric blanket. That worked great. I also had Kerosene heater, but they are problematic. They only radiate a few feet; you must keep a window open. Did I mention it was zero de- grees? The funny thing is that you get used to the cold once you have thermal underwear and a heating blanket. Once I figured that out, I had both studios at the artist residency until midnight, and I used them the whole day. My ten days were like twenty at the rate I was going. What I learned is that woodblock printing is not for me. I like carving wood, but I wouldn't say I like the printing results or losing control. The whole exercise needs to be faster for my modern techniques. I can create millions of colors on my iPad Pro and print them exquisitely with perfect graduations and more. I even coined a term for this: Chromatic Fusionism. The science of art mixed with humanity. Because I was in the region, I was also offered a trip to Thailand, specifically to Pai. Pai is 762, which curves up the mountain from Chaing Mai in the country's northwest corner. Pai is a terrific place with young Europeans playing music and living large for little. One of the highlights was the Florida-Wakaya- ma Cultural Alliance. We met top people in the association, had a fine lunch, and did a ceramic workshop with the vice president. We will be forever grateful for that event. At the end of my trip, I wanted an art show; instead, I was allowed to spend time with a high school class. I also loved Tokyo and spending an afternoon with the Urban Sketchers. That group is so ded- icated they are drawing and constantly making friendships.

I turn 65 years old this year. For my birthday I was given a card written in Japanese. I could not read it; Google Translate could. It said You Go To Japan! I was floored. Diane would come with me for two weeks to help get me started, and Jason, my son, and his wife would join us during the first two weeks. Diane could not go, so it was just Jason, Anna, and I for two weeks. Jason was in charge. He kept us very busy. We must have walked 20,000 plus steps daily: walking tours, Subways, constant walking. Near the end of two weeks, we went to a Chinese foot massage. That fixed everything! The only thing I planned for my trip was an art- ist residency in Woodblock Printing. The rest of the trip, I had no plans, no hotels, no planning or assistance. I was going to figure things out on my own. It worked out well except for Yamanashi Dis- trict, Kofu. I choose a hotel on a main road far from the city center. I fixed that the next day, moving downtown. I chose this place because it said I would get access to Mount Fuji. What I was looking for was to paint the mountain. I need my perspective. Kofu is still far from Fuji. I had to take a bus. What I didn't expect was how crowded it was. Crazy! Plus, worse, it turns out the city is depressed. 80% of the stores never open. Japan is overrun with people, and this zone is depressed. I made the best of it. I spent a few days at the Kofu Takade Shrine. It was perfect for painting, un- crowded with lots of traditional elements. The other thing I should have prepared for was the traditional Japanese house at the woodblock residency in Karuizawa. It was much colder, located about 1 mile from a ski resort. I didn't know that traditional homes have no insulation and no heat! It was just about 0 Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. It was freezing! I went to bed that night with all my clothing and jackets. It was still tricky. The next day, I planned to get a proper sleeping bag or a hotel. The school gave

SHOOSTY - 2023 NAKANOSHIMA MUSEUM OF ART, OSAKA, JAPAN 6 Purple Dragon 7 Gypsy Jazz Japan 8 Shoosty Bugs, Osaka Museum 8 Dynastinae Sracabaeidae OSAKA CASTLE 11 Osaka Castle Wall 12 Nakamura’s Bar

44 The Red Bridge 47 Tori Gate in the Rain SHINGEN MUSEUM

48 Samurai Uniform 49 Traditional Home

50 Yokihiro Isso & Band 52 FuJiSan with Stamps FUJISAN 53 FujiSan HAKONE 54 Hakone Vista 55 Fu-Ji-San KARUIZAWA, JAPAN 56 Karuizawa Mokohanga Woodblock Print- ing School 61 Longhorn Beetle Woodblock 62 Longhorn Beetle Woodblock Prints 65 Terry Mckenna Works 66 Woodblock Peace Dragon 67 Woodblock Print Peace Dragon 69 Woodblock Print Custom Painting 69 Orange Bridge Woodblock Print 70 The Mad Scientist Woodblock 70 Trees Woodblock MOTOSOTO CASTLE AND THE U-KIYO MUSEUM 72 The Black Castle 73 Paper Making, Echizen WAKAYAMA 74 Keifu High School Teaching TOKYO 76 Hachiko TOKYO CITY VIEW 80 Stephen and Golow 81 Golow Kajigaya 81 Stephen by Golow NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM, TOKYO 82 Dinosaurs Blue/Green 83 Dinosaurs Red 84 Koko’s Tokyo 85 Abby Road, Wakayama 86 Kabuki Maked Singers with Dragon play- ing Harmonic

14 Sushi Dokoro Miyamoto 15 Kaiyodo Figure Museum 16 Jason with the Band 17 Haiku / Poetry

WAKAYAMA, JAPAN HIROSHIMA, JAPAN PEACE DRAGON

22 The Mac Bar 23 Jazz Rokudenashi

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN

24 Iconic Tori Gate KYOTO, JAPAN 26 Parade of the Ages 26 Stephen at the Parade of Ages 27 Parage of the Ages 28 Kowadarski HOZUGAWA KYOTO

30 Rag Live Spot 31 Rag Live Spot 2

NARA, THE OLDEST CAPITAL

33 WellSpring V1

NARA DEER PARK SHRINE

35 Genshen 36 Nara Lake

NARA CRAFT MUSEUM

38 Mask Painting

OWNER OPERATED STORES JAPANESE MOLA ARTISTS KOFU, YAMINASHI, JAPAN

43 Komainu

87 Komainu Protecting the Band 89 Satin Doll 92 Water Dragon 93 Mizuchi CHAING MAI, THAILAND 94 Sanggadee Exhibition in Nature 94 Pairie Playing Handpan 96 Pook’s Campfire 96 Ganesh with the Band 97 Campfire Before Night 97 Campfire at Night 100 Seahorse God with Whale and Band 101 Common Grounds 102 Jason’s Tattoo 106 CC as a Thai Queen 107 CC as a Caphlopod 107 Garuda having a Beer as the Dragons Guard his Godly body 108 Learning Thai Myths of Thailand 109 Rabbit Riding Seahorse 110 10 Rai Sunset 110 Pixel Art Portrait of Shoosty 111 DJ Waben 112 Jazz House 112 The Gods Band 112 White Jesus 113 Madame Machine / Jazz House 114 Marc Hastenteufel Photos 116 The Dancers 117 The Dancers Garuda and Naga 118 Musician Stencils 120 Grateful Dead Tapestry 122 Sunset in Pai 122 Katie Dancing 123 Two Huts at Night 124 Chang 127 Jazz House Painting 128 Ganesh with Gypsy Guitar 129 Naga Confronts with a Gypsy Guitarist 131 The Colors of Thailand 104 Ink Therapy 105 Three Girls 105 Ganesh in an Ink Storm THE SPIRIT BAR

136 The Cajon Player 137 Pai Sketch 138 Earlier God Studies 138 Frog Troubadour 139 Naga Band 139 Lazy Sketch 139 Violin, Ganesh, Guitar 139 Tree and Violin 140 Mikkel Hermansen

140 Jason Shooster 140 Thorbjørn Kaas

140 Madame Machine 141 Dark Star Studio BAAN PITTALEW ART GALLERY 142 THE FIRE DANCERS 144 Chaing Mai 144 Jason with Mustache Guitar 145 Four Humble Men 146 Boy Blues Bar 146 Blues Beyond Borders 147 Boy Blues Bar 2 147 Blues Beyond Borders 2 150 Harmonic Player 151 Jason 151 Thorbjørn Kaas 152 Thapae East THAI MODIFED TEMPLE ART 158 Thai Procession with Gypsy Guitar 158 Violin Temple 159 French Horn Machine 159 Praying to the Gypsy Jazz God 160 Flying Elephant and Gypsy Guitar 161 Thai Godess Blessing a Gypsy Guitar 162 The Scribe 162 Clarinet Conjuring a Flying Elephant 163 Servant holding Guitar and Fiddle 164 Thai Angels Blessing Music BOYTON BEACH, FLORIDA 165 Dart Board Band 154 Chaing Mai Temple God 155 Muscian Hands Mountain 156 Supermoon 157 Khun Kae’s Juice Bar

132 Love Fiasco 133 Supermoon

166 Lovers 166 The Bar 166 Jake Surrounded 167 Dancers 168 Dedicated to You 169 All The Jazz

134 Sarena and Jason 135 Magnifying Glass

VARIOUS SKETCHES

136 Guitar Figure

Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan

Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka Nagasawa Rosets 1786 Dragon on six fusuma paper panels

The trick to learning how to make a dragon is to find a good model. This huge sketch in one of the best I found.

Purple Dragon

, WATERCOLOR ON PAPER, SHOOSTY 2023

Gypsy Jazz Japan Gypsy Jazz Trio, 10-14-2023, Rastro 845, Osaka, Japan Digital Ink, 12” x 12”, Shoosty 2023

clockwise, Dynastinae Scarabaeidae, Water Color on Paper, Shoosty, 2023 UnCommon Fly, 50” x 50”, 18 mm silk twill Megascolia of Mariupol, 50” x 50”, 18 mm silk twill

Shoosty Bugs, Osaka Museum

Dynastinae Sracabaeidae

Osaka Castle

Anna and Jason Shooster

Various Views of Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle Manhole Cover

Osaka Castle Wall

Various Views of Osaka Castle

Nakamura’s Bar

Sushi Dokoro Miyamoto Japan, 556-0016 Osaka, Naniwa Ward, Motomachi, 2 Chome−4−15

Kaiyodo Figure Museum

Gypsy Jazz Meet-Up Osaka

16 Jason with the Band

Haiku / Poetry

OLD POND FROG JUMPING IN SOUND OF WATER

GOOGLE TRANSLATE CAN READ PHOTOS.

The Miracle of Google Translate! I can’t speak a word of Japanese. Luckily, I met some people that could speak English. I learned that the Asian people want to learn English, but they have their hands full with three written languages, Hirokami, Katana, and Chinese. The first two have 46 syllables each. The Chinese has 3,000 symbols. Meanwhile Google translate can read images, like menus and monuments, as well as allow me to speak English and share either written or spoken Japanese. I became very reliant on my phone for this reason. I met a fellow that is part of the Haiku society. He taught me my first Haiku, an old and famous one. I used Google translate to understand him.

Wakayama, Japan

We were invited as guests of the Florida Wakayama Cultural Alliance. We met the president at her expansive fruit stand, our translator Maki, and the vice president, at his ceramics studio where we got to each make a piece of pottery. Afterward we are brought to the #1 ramen restaurant in Japan.

ANNA

JASON

STEVE

ANNA

JASON

STEVE

THE #1 RAMEN RESTURANT IN JAPAN

Hiroshima, Japan

Peace Dragon 14” x 19” ink on watercolor paper, Shoosty, 2023. Created inside of peace park where the nuclear bomb detonated during WW2. The dragon holds a nu- clear bomb in its claws and the wings a full of bombs. The Tori Gate on the top left has a Peace Sign hanging off of it, marrying eastern and western culture. On the bottom right are two people trying to put the genie back in the bottle.

The only building that sustained the nuclear bomb and kept standing

Horoshima Peace Park, Horoshima, Japan

Jason and Stephen at the train

Ground zero for the nuclear bomb. it detonated 1,000 feet above this spot.

The Mac Bar 12” x 12”, Ink on Paper, Shoosty 2023

The Mac Bar in Hiroshima has a wall full of CD’s. It is run by Yuri Suzuki and her partner.

Jazz Rokudenashi Ink on Paper, Shoosty 2023

resin Jazz Sculptures

JAson adding to the CD collection

Miyajima, Japan

Iconic Tori Gate

12” x 12” Ink and Watercolor on Paper, Shoosty 2023

Temple Detail

Tori gate

Miyajima Deer Park

Kyoto, Japan Parade of the Ages

Stephen at the Parade of Ages

Parade of the Ages

Ink on Paper, 6” x 12”, Shoosty 2023

Hozugawa

Kowadarski

White Water Experience, 12” x 12” Ink on paper, Shoosty 2023

Kyoto

Rag Live Spot

12” x 12” Ink on Paper, Shoosty 2023

this drawing is designed to be turned 180 degrees.

Rag Live Spot 2

12” x 12” Ink on Paper, Shoosty 2023

Nara, The Oldest Capital

Plein-Air Painting Nara

WellSpring V1 Wet-on-Wet Neon Acrylic Paint on canvas, apx 16” x 20”, Shoosty 2023

Nara Deer Park Shrine

Genshen

Genshen means wellspring

Nara Lake

Acrylic on Canvas, Chromatic Paints, apx 16” x 14”, Shoosty 2023

Eight of us, everyone wearing their finest out - fits, suits and ties for men, and dresses for women. As a tourist I had few choices of what to wear, but normally a painting class means old clothing. We had a few people monitoring us, and a few providing support. I was told we are to paint two coats of green and one of or- ange for the hair and mouth. I had no idea we were painting a deity. “I said, I am a painter can I paint it however I would like?” The response was no way. You can’t make any changes. As an artist I was upset. As a guest I was polite and followed the program. In the end

Kigeiten - The god of Art Mastery

I realized this was a class in conformity and perhaps so- lemnity, too because I can’t understand the religion. One of the biggest take-a-ways I learned form my Japanese experience is how nice these people are at every age group. I felt safe always.

Nara Craft Museum Mask Painting

Kigeiten

The guardian deity of mastery of the arts and happiness, because when Shiva, the supreme god of Hinduism, was enjoying music, he appeared from his hairline and gave a splendid performance. In Japan, there is only one Akishinoji Temple, and it is also called the “Muse of the East.” When you look up at its ap- pearance, you can sense its extraor- dinary deep beauty.

Owner Operated Stores

Japanese Mola Artists

Kofu, Yaminashi, Japan

The guardian dog of the Tori Gate.

Komainu

The Red Bridge

Takada Shrine, KoFu

The Takada Shrine Entrance

Stephen standing with Orange bridge

Hiroshige - Ohashi Bridge In The Rain Print Poster

Tori Gate in the Rain

Acrylic on Canvas, Painted during a rainy day, a common theme in Japanese art history. I was really pleased to see the impression of the rain on my painting.

Shingen Museum

Samurai Uniform

Shingen Museum, Kofu, Japan Shoosty 2023

Traditional Home Shingen Museum, Kofu, Japan Shoosty 2023

Yokihiro Isso & Band

12” x 12” Ink on Paper, Shoosty 2023 Sakuraza, Kofu, Japan

Traditional Japanese Flute merged with contemporary beats. Exciting music! As you turn the art the image chang- es. Here are three turns.

Fujisan

Mt. Fuji World Cultural Heritage

FuJiSan with Stamps Shoosty 2023

Fujisan Base Camp 4

Fujisan Peace Mon- ument

Base Camp 4 Fujisan Shrine

Mount Fuji

FujiSan, Mount Fuji, Photo by Stephen Shooster, 2023

FujiSan

Hakone

We took a ferry and a gondola to get to this high point. Hakone Vista

Monkey Gods tease syllables out of a lotus flower (from the bottom up) Fu-Ji-San (Fuji Mountain), better known in the West as Mount Fuji. Sitting on top of the world is a Buddha with maidens sitting on

clouds. The Buddha is playing a violin which is my small addition to this iconic image.

Fu-Ji-San

Karuizawa, Japan Karuizawa

Mokohanga Woodblock Printing School

Sketch Drawn to Scale

Transfer Paper

Prepare to Cut

Cutting Wood

Learning Cutting Techniques

Printing Station

Painting Tools

Starch Glue

Registering the paper

Pressing the Baron

Pushing a Baren against paper / test print

Cutting the Basswood

Cutting in process

Cutting Completed

Inked Board

First Print

Shoosty Bug

Cutting a Woodblock

Long Horn Beetle Woodcut, Basswood, painted with chromat- ic paints with handmade paper stamped with custom Shoosty stamp. 4” x 6”

Longhorn Beetle Woodblock

Longhorn Beetle Woodblock Prints

Terry Mckenna Works

Woodblock Peace Dragon

Woodblock cut Peace Dragon

Woodblock Print Peace Dragon

Cutting a Basswood Woodblock

Orange Bridge Woodblock Cut

Blue Side

Orange Side

Hand Painting Woodblock Print

Orange Bridge Woodblock Print

Woodblock Print Custom Painting

The Mad Scientist Woodblock

Trees Woodblock

Sensai Terry McKenna with Stephen Shooster Karuizawa, Japan, December 2023

Motosoto Castle and the U-Kiyo Museum

The Black Castle

Paper Making, Echizen

Stripped Mulberry Pulp

Mulberry Mash

Making paper

Washing the Mash

Stripping Pulp

Drying Pulp

Making Paper

Wakayama

Keifu High School Teaching

Students surrounded by Shoosty Art.

Keifu High School

florida wakayama cultur - al alliance

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Sayoko Tahara, from old saying.

Mrs. Sayoko Tahara, President FLWCA

florida wakayama alliance

Tokyo

Hachiko

Urban Sketchers is all over the world. Japan has a very active group. I joined them for the af- ternoon. the prompt was draw a 360 degree view of the city. Each of these artists is vert sophisitcaed, from an court art- ist, to archetech and graphic designers, all professionals are part of this group. Hachiko, 12” x 12” ink on pa- per, Shoosty, 2023

Hachiko is the loyal dog who waited for his master year after he had died. The sculpture is a good meeting spot. People line up all day to take a photo with him..

JAPAN URBAN SKETCHERS

Left to right - Atelier Hai Tran Kumi Matsukawa, Golow Kajigaya, Stephen Shooster, Casey Torimi, Grover

Casey Torimi

Golow Kajigaya

Grover

Kumi Matsukawa

Atelier Hai Tran

ROppongi City Skyview, 52nd floor Tokyo City View THE ART THAT IS THE CITY

Stephen and Golow

Stephen Shooster drawn by Golow Golow drawing by Stephen Shooster

On the 52nd floor of the Roppangi Towers a art exhibit was showing featuring the work of Osamu Tezuka. He is considered the father of Manga. His style of story telling is ‘Gekiga.” That means is is realistic often with dark themes. Two of his most famous characters are Jack Black and Astro Boy.

Steve with Jack Black

Golow Kajigaya I few years ago I joined Urban sketchers of Japan. I am a member of many of these groups around the world and I wanted to see what is happening in Japan. I discovered an artist that was frequently posting some very powerful work. He was using a rich wet ink with bold strokes. We became friends and over the years that has grown as we are both very active artists.

Stephen by Golow

Golow Kajigaya

Stephen Shooster and Golow Kajigaya

National History Museum, Tokyo

Dinosaurs Blue/Green

Dinosaurs Red

Steve with Golow (Japan Urban Sketchers)

Koko’s Tokyo

Abby Road, Wakayama

86 Kabuki Maked Singers with Dragon playing Harmonic

Komainu Protecting the Band

Kent Dahl (Journalist stationed in Tokyo), Anna and Jason Shooster

Satin Doll

Independant Business Owners

the Stationary Store

McDonald's - The Americna Embassy

the Ink and Paper Store

The French Restuarant

Steve and Anna at the Market Area

Jason and Anna at the Bamboo Forest

Jason and Anna at the Train Station

Water Dragon Jindaiji Temple, Japan

Mizuchi

Jindaiji Temple, Japan

Chaing Mai, Thailand Sanggadee Exhibition in Nature

Pairie Playing Handpan

Chiang Mai, Thailand textile show. An off the charts amazing show including The Bamboo Family Architects (the complex was built in three months), workshops galore, Kambucha workshop, stamping, screen printing, clothing draping, embroidery, crafts, all done by top notch artisans, some of the pieces were world class in my opinion.

PAI, THAILAND

Pook’s Campfire

Ganesh with the Band

Ganesh

Saladda Pook

MikKel Hermannson, Thorbjørn Kaas, Jason Shooster, Charly Clarentin

Campfire Before Night

Campfire at Night

Steve on a scotter wearing his UF College of Art Shirt, Pai, Thailand

Seahorse God with Whale and Band

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Common Grounds

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Jason’s Tattoo

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Tom Lowe's Tattoos

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Ink Therapy

This enrichment class was being held at our hostel, Common Grounds. I couldn’t help buy join. The whole exercise was to take found materials and use them with black in to print on paper.

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Ink on handmade paper

Ganesh in an Ink Storm

Three Girls

Ink on handmade paper

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The Spirit Bar Set back behind the main street, The Spirit Bar opens up into a large open air expanse with various elevations, just like a tree house.

CC as a Thai Queen

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CC as a Caphlopod

Garuda having a Beer as the Dragons Guard his Godly body

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Learning Thai Myths of Thailand

Garuda

The Cow God

The Rooster God

Garudah and Naga

The Monkey God

108

Rabbit Riding Seahorse

109

10 Rai Sunset

Pixel Art Portrait of Shoosty

The concept is a video camera, artists are pro- jectors.

110

DJ Waben

Tom Lowe at Work

111

Jazz House

The Gods Band

White Jesus

112

Acrylic on Canvas apx 16” x 12”, The hands of the Madame Machine band in addition to Ganesh the elephant and the frog finger constellation. Shoosty 2023

Madame Machine / Jazz House

113

Marc Hastenteufel Photos

Jason Shooster

Thorbjørn Kass

Charly Clarentin

114

Stephen doing his Thing wearing World Peace Hat,

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The Dancers

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The Dancers Garudah and Naga

Two Garudah dancin on the left and one seven headed Naga with the seventh head a penis.

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Musician Stencils

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Grateful Dead Tapestry

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Sunset in Pai

9.5 x 10.75 watercolor on paper. Notice the hair and face painted into the river.

Katie Dancing

122

Two Huts at Night

Acrylic on Canvas, Apx 14” x 24”

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Chang

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We ran into the elephants, also known as Chang, twice. Once while riding our scooters and anoth- er time while at the hot springs. I heard that they elephants are nearby. I asked everyone from the landscaper up. They finally understood when I said Chang. The director told me to go 500 me- ters away to find them. I said tell me if they come by here. Within ten minutes I herd a trump of the smaller elephant, because then next thing I had

was a loud roar. For me that was like hearing the ice cream truck, I ran looking for Chang and found him. The fence was broken and I was able to say

hello and give him a friendly touch. Steve wearing his insect shorts.

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Jazz House Painting

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Ganesh with Gypsy Guitar

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Naga Confronts with a Gypsy Guitarist

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The Colors of Thailand

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Love Fiasco

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Supermoon

180 degree turn

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Sarena and Jason are a couple I met in Pai. I had no idea how talented they were at first. When I learned that Jason has a doctorate in physical therapy I wondered what he was doing here. Pai is known for music and drinking. It turns out he is a rapper extraordinare. After a few minutes I related him to Che Guevara, only because he was traveling and well literate as a doctor and singer/song writer. Often people like this attract an exciting woman. it wasn’t until a few days later when I realized I had it backwards. Sarena is a force to be reckoned with. Her high voice is stunning. A star in the making. I wish them both success and hope they never stop exploring the word and all its music and art.

Sarena

Sarena and Jason

12” x 12” ink on paper

Jason

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Magnifying Glass

Love is a magnifying glass, Because if you look through its lens on the world… You’ll notice details that others will forever overlook… And if you shine your light on it from the right angle... You can ignite fires in the land - scapes of those around you. - Jason Geller

Magnifying Glass

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Various Sketches

Guitar Figure

The Cajon Player

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Pai Sketch

137

Frog Troubadour

Earlier God Studies

138

Tree and Violin

Violin, Ganesh, Guitar

Naga Band

Lazy Sketch

139

Madame Machine

Mikkel Hermansen

Jason Shooster

Thorbjørn Kaas

140

Dark Star Studio

ALSO TITLED: JASON'S EAR

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Baan Pittalew Art Gallery December 17th, Sunday Exhibition and Live Music

THE FIRE DANCERS

ACYLIC AND SILVER POSCHA MARKER ON CANVAS, 16" X 20"

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SHOOSTY BUGS IN SITU

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Sa-ard Nilkong

Chaing Mai

Jason with Mustache Guitar

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Mikkel Hermansen, Thorbjørn Kaas, Stephen Shooster, Jason Shooster Wai = position of hands

Four Humble Men

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Boy Blues Bar

Blues Beyond Borders

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Boy Blues Bar 2

Blues Beyond Borders 2

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Blues Beyond Borders: When Thai De- ities Jam to Ink-Stained Rhythms Forget smoky jazz bars and flapper dresses, a new kind of blues has taken center stage, and its canvas is drenched in the vibrant ink of Thai mythology. Move over, Aaron Douglas and Archibald Motley Jr., because this ain’t your typical Jazz Age scene. This is an artistic revolution where dragons dance with fighters, mythical yaks groove to the blues, and the boundaries of genre and culture melt away like butter on a hot stove. Instead of a saxophone, the melody here flows from the strokes themselves, each line a pulsating note in the symphony of ink. The artist, with a boldness reminiscent of Romare Bearden’s collag- es or Jacob Lawrence’s Harlem Renaissance mu- rals, has chosen a medium that mirrors the raw energy of the scene. Ink, unlike the smooth preci- sion of pencil, demands immediacy, a rawness that perfectly captures the untamed spirit of the blues, a genre that has always thrived on the fringes, de- fying convention and pushing boundaries. But, this ain’t just any blues. This is a blues with a Thai twist, where mythical guardians like the yak, stoic and watchful, stand shoulder to shoulder with mortal fighters, their stances a silent testa- ment to the stories etched on their faces. This fu- sion of East and West isn’t some forced pastiche; it’s a seamless blend, a tapestry woven from per- sonal influences and a burning desire to break free from the confines of the expected. Think of it like Bessie Smith channeling her soul- ful cries through a Thai khèn, or Muddy Waters trading his slide guitar for a ranat ek. The familiar blues notes take on a new flavor, a depth and in- trigue that invites us to explore beyond the West- ern roots of the genre. It’s a sonic and visual ad- venture, a reminder that art, like the blues itself, thrives on the unexpected, on the berani steps into uncharted territory. But the beauty of this artistic alchemy lies not just in the fusion itself, but in the invitation it extends. The artist, like a skilled blues musician, leaves room for improvisation. The lines, bold and expressive, whisper of untold stories, the fighters’

stances pregnant with unspoken emotions, and the yak’s gaze, piercing through keeping guard in- vites us to delve deeper into the unseen realms of the picture. This ambiguity is not a weakness; it’s a strength, a canvas upon which viewers can project their own interpretations, their own experiences, co-creating the meaning alongside the artist. Ink & Blues: A Thaitastic Journey Beyond the Jazz Age Canvas Step aside, smoky bars and swinging melodies, for a new artistic adventure awaits! Forget the typical Jazz Age scene; this ink drawing whisks us away to a vibrant realm where Thai gods and blues mu- sic collide in a captivating fusion. As an art critic with a penchant for the unexpected, I’m utterly enthralled by the layers of cultural tapestry and the bold strokes that bring this unique vision to life. From Charcoal to Ink: A Shift in Tone, a Dance of Lines Using ink for this drawing is a stroke of genius. Unlike the smooth, controlled lines of pencil, ink possesses a raw, expressive quality. Its lines dance with immediacy and dynamism, perfectly cap- turing the untamed energy of the scene. Here, mythical creatures and mortal fighters engage in a pulsating dance fueled by the soulful blues, and the ink itself becomes a character, adding a layer of texture and grit to the image. Beyond the Expected: Thai Deities and the Lure of the East The inclusion of a yak, a mythical guardian in Thai folklore, and two Thai fighters instantly transports us from the smoky clubs of the West to the vibrant tapestry of Southeast Asia. This infusion of East- ern iconography adds depth and intrigue, inviting viewers to explore a cultural tapestry beyond the familiar confines of the Jazz Age. The juxtaposi- tion of the familiar blues with these unfamiliar figures creates a captivating tension, prompting us to question the boundaries of genre and artistic expression.

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Dragons, Blues, and the Unbridled Spirit of the Artist Speaking of boundaries, this image pulsates with a sense of artistic liberation. The blues, traditionally associated with African American communities, finds itself in a vibrant dialogue with Thai mythology and imagery. This audacity resonates with the words of French philosopher Henri Bergson: “True works of art are always new, because they express not what the artist saw, but what the artist could not help but ex- press.” This ink drawing embodies that very spirit. It’s not merely a depiction of a scene; it’s an out- pouring of the artist’s unique vision, a tapestry woven from personal influences and bold imag- ination. The artist hasn’t simply mimicked the Jazz Age or Thai artistic traditions; he has re- interpreted them, infused them with their own creative fire, and birthed something entirely new. Whispers in the Lines: A Glimpse into the Unseen While the image offers a captivating glimpse into this fantastical fusion, it also leaves much to the imagination. The bluesy notes hint at unspoken emotions, the fighters’ stances brim with untold stories, and the yak’s gaze pierces through the picture, inviting us to delve deeper into the unseen realms it creates. This ambiguity is another stroke of brilliance, by allowing view- ers to project their own interpretations, their own experiences onto the image, co-creating the meaning alongside the artist.

Echoes of the Blues: A Lineage of Artist Fusion This fusion of ink, blues, and myth isn’t en- tirely unprecedented. We see glimpses of it in the works of Romare Bearden, whose collages infused African American narratives with jazz rhythms and bluesy tones. Similarly, the vibrant street art of Keith Haring pulsates with a raw energy that echoes the improvisational spirit of the blues. Yet, this ink drawing carves its own unique path, blending these influences with the rich tapestry of Thai mythology to create some- thing fresh and captivating. In Conclusion: A Journey Beyond Bor- ders, a Celebration of Artistic Freedom This ink drawing is more than just a visual spec- tacle; it’s a gateway to a world where cultural boundaries dissolve, and artistic freedom reigns supreme. It’s a testament to the power of art to transcend genres, to weave together seemingly disparate elements into a cohesive and capti- vating whole. So, dear reader, I urge you to lose yourself in the intricate lines, the pulsating blues, and the mythical whispers of this artwork. Let it ignite your imagination, and allow yourself to be swept away by the boundless creativity of the artist who dared to dream beyond the confines of the ordinary. Remember, art is a conversation, not a dictation. This image offers a starting point, but the mean- ing, the interpretation, ultimately lies with you, the beholder. So, let the music wash over you, let the myths whisper their secrets, and let your own imagination take flight. Written with the aid of AI. Artwork by Stephen Shooster, aka Shoosty. All Rights Reserved www.shoosty.com

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Harmonic Player

THE MOAT HOUSE

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Jason

Thorbjørn Kaas

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Steve, Izzy, Mikkel, Thorbjørn, Jason

Thapae East

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The dragon god exists the mount of the lizard god.

Chaing Mai Temple God

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Muscian Hands Mountain

9.5" x 10.75" ink on paper the hands of the band Madame Machine creating a mountain topped by Thai Gods, Naga, Ganesh, and Garuda

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Charlie, Jason, Thorbjørn, Mikkel, and Garuda

Supermoon

Pai Thailand 12" x 12" Ink on paper

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Khun Kae’s Juice Bar Chaing Mai Thailand 9.5" x 10.75" Watercolor on Paper

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Thai Modifed Temple Art

Thai Procession with Gypsy Guitar

Violin Temple

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French Horn Machine

Praying to the Gypsy Jazz God

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160 Flying Elephant and Gypsy Guitar

Thai Godess Blessing a Gypsy Guitar

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The Scribe

Clarinet Conjuring a Flying Elephant

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Servant holding Guitar and Fiddle

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Thai Angels Blessing Music Hand-made Scalable Vector Graphic

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Boyton Beach, Florida

Dart Board Band

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Lovers

Jake Surrounded

The Bar

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Dancers

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Premiere showing of "Dedicated to You" at All That Jazz in Sunrise Florida

Oil and Enamel on Canvas, 48" x 48"

Jorge Garcia says his music is inspired by Je- sus. In my painting Jesus inspires with blood. Jorges skull is ripped open, Jesus is splash- ing volumes of blood into it which is very messy. Blood is getting everywhere. On the right a flower pot is growing out of the head of the keyboard player. He is a fundamentalist on automatic. the drummer is violent so he is a crusader. The guy holding a blue guitar is a troubadour, singins songs of religion.

Dedicated to You

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Ink on Paper Jorge Garcia and Mike December 29th, 2023

All The Jazz

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Shoosty - 2023 Copyright Shooster Publishing Handmade Makers of Fine Art Books 2233 NW 8th Ave. Gainesville, Florida 32603 954-537-1200

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