THE HIDEOUT

December 24, 2017 by Ferry Boat Films

Curtis “Shell” Shelton had no idea he just sauntered past a crime scene ’til he pulled up his coffee table to scroll a bliggity and click on the six o’clock news. He was right there, in front of the Federal Theater. He swore he saw one of the rabbits that took down the Beasley Downs Racetrack, the biggest, boldest cash heist in the city’s recent history.

Trevor Rabbit, with a duffel bag holding two million dollars in banded stacks of hundreds, approached the theater box office where Diego Iguana sold him a ticket for the horror movie The Hideout. All Diego could recall was a tall rabbit with an athletic build carrying a heavy duffel bag. Trevor entered the movie theater, sat in the front row near the exit, and waited until his pick up arrived in the back alley.

Mother rabbit, Sabrina, and her daughter, Heather, were on their way from the nail salon when they noticed a rabbit leaning against the tequila advertisement on the corner of Federal and West Denver Place. “He was looking at his phone, breathin’ heavy like he’d been running.” Sabrina explained to authorities more than an hour later after the suspect had disappeared.

Officer Frost had been there, too. The first wolf at the scene, he knew that the Beasley Downs Heist had occurred only thirty minutes prior. Frost had the instinct to exit his cruiser and take a look around that area of Federal. But his hunch ran cold when he stepped back into his vehicle to patrol the surrounding neighborhoods, not knowing that the suspect had already entered the movie theater. “I knock myself for not inquiring with the box office attendant. We could’ve had him. I was right there.”

Trevor Rabbit is still at large. Likely reconvened with his partners in crime. Probably fled to the next state. And that is all we know, in a city teeming with wild animals.

-+-+-

Sketches

28424913_1604398503011337_2252039923244704746_o

-+-+-

2017

LAST DEFENSE

May 14, 2015 by Ferry Boat Films

-+-+-

“Last Defense”

35 x 36 inches

Acrylic

-+-+-

This painting, Last Defense, is inspired by the visions I’ve seen for the cyberpunk feature film I’ve written, Snow Ghost. It is a combination of scenes, concepts, and sensations that have lingered from the writing process. Because movies are so labor intensive, so expensive to produce, there is no guarantee they will ever be made. A writer is often placed in the tragic circumstances of spending a year or more writing a feature only to have her story languish in her laptop. So Last Defense is my artistic protection against that effort, some small insurance against the oblivion of an abandoned story idea.

Last Defense also represents what I feel to be a showdown against the attackers of art. I like the idea of using art to battle those who are threatened by it. Those who seek to destroy art, undermine it, impede it, and make sure it stays in its proper place are in my crosshairs, that is, those who spend no time in the inception, execution, distribution, exhibition, or consumption of art whatsoever. Those easily offended by violence, language, sexuality, and original ideas are often the same types who want to keep art in its place.

When we actively seek out original works of art, that art will reward us in return. But to find art that speaks to us requires some effort and cost. Many of us are happy being spoon-fed art by the powerful corporate machines that are in place. I speak of the mainstream, the Internet, the television, the movie theater, even the bookstore.

Original art is not often experienced anymore. Consider the the formulaic cinema and music we consume, the name brand clothing we wear, even the ready-made foods we eat. Also, please consider, the last work of original art that you consumed. What creative endeavor did you spend your money on? A music album? A movie ticket? A novel at the bookstore? Or perhaps the holy grail of all art endowment, a painting, print or photograph?

This painting has become my defender against the systems that seek to slow or stop the creation of original art. Ever since moving to Denver, I have come up against forces both real and perceived to limit my creativity and keep me in my proper place, even by those closest to me. And so it is only natural that I fight back.

Art provides its creator with insight into truth. After practicing enough of it, the artist has enough energy for the truth alone. A keen awareness of anything forced or false. The same is true for the consumers of art. People who make an effort to bring original art into their lives will benefit far more than just possessing a pretty picture to hang on the wall. Art is a Last Defense against the forces of evil.

-+-+-

MUSIC

“Pariah”

The Holding Pattern

Bandcamp Music

2014

a0383574540_16

Track available here:

Bandcamp

-+-+-

2015

-+-+-

DONUT TRIPTYCH

November 15, 2014 by Ferry Boat Films

-+-+-

“Donut Triptych”

Three 8 x 8 inch paintings

Acrylic

2014

-+-+-

Doughnuts! Recently moving to Denver, Colorado and adapting to a new job and living arrangement, I wanted to create a series of quick and simple paintings. I needed something to take my mind off my all-consuming cyberpunk screenplay, Snow Ghost, and the voices of the twenty seven nine-year-olds in my 3rd grade classroom. I don’t care about making realistic paintings. I just want to have fun filling in lines with bright colors. As acrylic paint is basically liquid plastic, it worked well for the pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles. And these paintings, like a spike of sugar in the middle of the workday, have given me a joyful jolt. Have a doughnut!

-+-+-

Eat a donut!

-+-+-

2014

-+-+-

HI-RIDER

May 14, 2014 by Ferry Boat Films

“Hi-Rider”

8 x 10 inches

Acrylic

2014

-+-+-

Introducing the 2034, Hi-Rider^® , the new twin-engine hovership from Luna International, featuring the best in class performance, economics, and safety. With the ability to fly at altitudes up to 10,000 feet at a max cruise of 350 mph, all while consuming a mere 55 gallons of ethanol per hour. The Hi-Rider^® is the most efficient twin engine hovership on the planet. When you add safety features such as autothrottle, synthetic vision, and enhanced vision system, 3-D weather rader, and advanced flight controls, one will understand that the Luna Hi-Rider^® will forever change the way we look at hovership aircraft.

Luna Internazionale

Macchine di lusso visionario.^®

-+-+-