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Warning this is pretty much my same post from DJ ...it is one of my babbling, rambling posts...full of details (most not even important) of the adventure that Jess and I shared, Thursday night at Michael Muller's "Another Night Upon Us Exhibit". Sherry over at DJ covered an awful lot regarding the various people at the event, for the Michael Muller fan's I've tried to include more details on the exhibit itself. I apologize in advance, as most of you know that I am incapable of making a long story short (in fact, I excel at the opposite).

Yesterday was a crazy day. On day eight of my bathroom remodeling (the contractor told us ten days and they have yet to even start putting up a single piece of tile but at least restored my electricity that was knocked out for a day), an electrician (who I am now on a first name basis with and know his entire life history) was taking apart light fixtures through-out my house in search of a pesky electrical backfeed (a spin-off project from the bathroom remodeling) and I was preparing to go to my very first “artist’s reception”!

Carrie (our Carrie) drove up from San Diego (an approximate 2 hour drive) to meet at my house. This means that without even leaving my house, the night was a success because what could be better than finally meeting a friend in person? A short time later, we were in my mini van, two suburban moms by day, hip “Sex and the City” type gallery hopping girls by night, headed towards West Hollywood. The traffic gods were kind to us and we arrived at the gallery with 20 minutes to spare. As we are not really so hip, we had no clue if an artist reception starting at 7:00 means “be there right at 7:00 or you may miss something” or does it mean “drop by some time between 7:00 and 9:00.” We parked around the corner ($5.00 which is a deal and a half!!!) and walked around an extra block.

A few minutes after 7:00 we were walking down a driveway to the gallery, not sure what to expect but knowing whatever it was we would face it together! We walked inside. I carefully navigating the one small sloping step (ever mindful of the now infamous steps of death at the Peace Alliance benefit last year). The photographs were printed large and on a poster type paper. They were clipped to the walls with those medium binder type clips that are normally black but these were painted white. The first photograph being that overview of an L.A. freeway interchange that Michael Muller (brave soul or crazy man) hung from a helicopter to take. I then immediately noticed that the poems were not written on the wall beside the photos as mentioned in that Times article yesterday morning. That would be my only disappointment of the night. I located a table that had hand-outs and Carrie and I returned to the photos with photocopied programs that had three pages of small photo copies of the photos along side the poem each belonged to including the line in the poem it represented followed by 10 pages of Marcos‘ poems with the corresponding photos. It was a bit distracting to have to shuffle through this hand out and search out the photo and poem, perhaps the gallery is still planning on adding the poems on the wall for the reminder of the exhibit.

Not surprising the photographs were amazing! We would expect nothing less and were not at all disappointed. Some images were simply beautiful, others abstract and as promised some disturbing (in a powerful and thought provoking way). Most of the 21 photographs were in one large room with only two - the grocery store photo and the Andy Warhol like twin Nyquil bottles (cherry flavored - ick!) photo in a smaller room.

For those that are also not in the know - artist receptions do appear to be a “drop by some time” event . We were glad to be there early because it gave us a chance to enjoy the photos without a crowd. It also gave us a chance to view a photograph that was mysteriously removed before our eyes by an official looking fellow. This photograph that never returned and is not included in the online gallery was the first in the series of four that I think of as the “Joaquin and Some Chick in a Sleazy Motel Room.” The images correspond with the poem “Things Change” (how fitting). It had hung over “Soft Hands” and was called “One week later we were f**king.” If my memory serves me, the photograph was a close up of kissing (despite the title). As I was standing before the four photos, the mysterious man walked up and unbinder clipped it from the wall. It was never to be seen again! The photocopy of it in my handy dandy hand-out is extremely dark and cannot be made out unfortunately. And let’s hope that man wasn’t an art thief (who I‘ll bet appreciate art hung by binder clips)!

After our first complete tour, we went to the middle of the large gallery room, enjoying the luxury of reading the poems, absorbing each word and glancing up at the corresponding images. Shortly before I began reading the poems, I had noticed Michael Muller walking around the gallery with a couple people. At this point there were maybe fifteen to twenty other people scattered about in what felt a very large space (a space that would shrink considerably as the evening wore on).

As I settled to give the poetry my full and undivided attention I was met with a challenge. Yep! I glanced up and across the room was none other than Joaquin Phoenix! For a few seconds (please, please let it be that it was only a few seconds), I’m certain I had a dumbstruck glazed eyes look on my face (that is sooo not hip at all!!!). He was wearing (for those that wish to know) a light blue button up shirt and brown pants. Does this sound familiar? It is the Cannes Photocall look. He was talking to Michael and then to some other people that appeared to all be good friends. I returned to my poetry reading and found I was reading the same paragraph over and over…found I was reading the same paragraph over and over…found I was reading the…..(you get the idea). I reminded myself that I was pleased as punch to be here to see the photos and read the poetry and that if Joaquin happened to be there it would be icing on the cake. My racing heart and weak knees, reminded me that I had been that kind of kid that only ate the icing!!!

Showing amazing strength, I redoubled my efforts to focus on the poetry that was very much deserving of my attention. The poetry is just what I expected. Raw, dark up close and personal views from the author’s decent into drug abuse and then back up into the light of sobriety. Despite the occasional distraction of a familiar and very recognizable voice in the background, I was able to take in the poetry proving to myself that I am no longer an icing only girl! As someone who enjoys writing, my personal favorite was “Plumb Perfect“ (not sure if I could post it what with copyrights and all?).

As Sherry’s brilliant post already included the complete “Seen at the Scene” report, I will try to avoid being too repetitive. A familiar face that I spotted was that of the most beautiful pregnant woman I have ever seen in my life. Dressed in a gorgeous orange short flowing dress was none other than Kimberly Muller (wife of the talented photographer) standing with Joaquin. I had seen photos of her on Michael Muller’s site, when she was quite far along with their daughter. Knowing how those last months are, I hope that she is feeling as good as she looks!

Poetry digested, Carrie and I decided to go around the photo circuit again. According to my program the photographs were taken between 2005 and 2007. The photos are named for a line in the poem that they accompany. Some are extreme close-ups, some are of inanimate objects, some are stark and others full of background details..a bit of everything. I find myself more drawn to the photographs of people (no, not just him). Side by side were the photographs of the tattooed man and the naked and bruised woman. He is “Scarred” and she is “Six Feet Tall and Seventeen.” His body is artwork in itself, her eyes are even more haunting than her bruises. Interestingly, the lines that follow after the title of her photo is “She had never known such soft hands.” Something to mull over in relationship with those nasty bruises on her arms.

Again more drawn to the people photos, the next wall included two favorites of mine - two kissing photos. The water kiss (casting my vote for “no, I don’t think that is Joaquin”) photo from “Plumb Perfect” and the other kissing photo where the sun shines between the couple obscuring their faces (shaking my head, the faces are obscured so don’t ask, I can’t tell you who is kissing). This photo belongs with “Another Night Upon Us” as does the “Joaquin and the Girl in the Car Facing Backwards” photo that many of us were taken with. The “Lipstick Lips and Breast” photo was for a poem, “Bottom Feeder.” The name of the poem has a double meaning, one being very literal so perhaps it was best that the photo was not as much so.

Carrie’s very favorite was next - the one with the birds in flight. The poem was short so I guess I’ll risk copyright issues (mods..please just yank it if it’s a problem)…

REPEATER 2

I got the f**k out fast
And flew
And I still ain’t landed
Yet…

MARCOS
2005

The gallery was filling. Less than an hour into it, Carrie and I found that the fairly large room was jammed packed with people. They all knew each other it seemed. Not like the “I know you from the movies” type way but in the “had a blast at your BBQ, did my daughter leave one of her sandals at your house?” kind of way. This made the gallery smaller, hotter and LOUDER! It also made it very fun to people watch. Multi-tasker, I was not just randomly people watching, I was looking for Sherry, which was a daunting task considering I did not know what she looked like and only knew her approximate age. While my eyes were seeking out Sherry, a certain actor would bounce into my field of vision. Joaquin was very animated, looking to be enjoying the evening , mingling about often at a high speed, with lots of stops for handshakes and hugs (much more of the latter than the former). I’m certain he won’t read this but just in case….Joaquin, if I appeared to gawk from time to time, I was looking for Sherry!!!!!

Carrie was drawn to both the fresh air outside (which was also quite crowded) and the bird photo previously mentioned. I was drawn to the little room with the “Joaquin on the grocery store floor” photo. This room was not as crowded. I couldn’t shake the thought that he was in danger of being run down by a crazy child blindly pushing a shopping cart at high speed (not that any of my children would do that). The longer I looked at the picture, the more I could hear the sickening thud in my mind of Joaquin being a human grocery cart speed bump! The poem “Zombie Stroll’ by the way, is nothing like that.

It was in that room that I met the fellow from Germany named Wolfgang. I’ve never met a person named Wolfgang so it was a night of firsts! He mentioned that he found the photos in that room “too ordinary.” I asked if his grocery store often had men laying in the aisle and if so where does he shop? A conversation was struck up and we viewed some photos together. I introduced him to Carrie (parked at her birds photo again). This was very good because we now were on a first names basis with one other soul in the gallery!

Leaving our friend, for some cool air, I asked Carrie if she wanted to talk to Joaquin or Michael Muller. She was happy just as things were and did not really want to. We were of like mind that every time we saw either man, they were pretty involved in conversations or moving quickly to another. It seemed that to grab a moment of their time would require a bit of aggressiveness and/or some fortunate timing. Not to imply in anyway shape or form that they looked unfriendly. The opposite appeared true (and Sherry’s lovely meetings are a perfect example of how approachable they were). Chatter boxes that we both are, it was odd but neither of us had anything to say that felt worthy of aggressive tactics. As Joaquin was not wearing eyewear, there was no hope of divine intervention by a defective lens, this time.

We had been there over an hour and Carrie was looking ready to leave. Unfortunately, I had not warned her that I never leave anything early. Ever. My chatroom friends may remember that about me last summer. No, I do not want to miss anything!!! Besides, we hadn’t found Sherry!

The room was even more crowded then ever! Like how many clowns can come out of a tiny little car type crowded. Or how many size 2, gorgeous woman can fit in a gallery kind of crowded? I was having the best time! Casey Affleck had a really nifty thing going with his hair. This blonde streak like a thick Mohawk down the middle of his head but a full head of hair. And he has extremely kind eyes. I also realized that yes, that was him I saw in the lobby at the Roxy a couple months ago (I think!!!). Making my way through the crowd, I said excuse me to someone and it turned out to be Ben Stiller. Cool - that doesn‘t happen everyday! Saw Balt Getty studying a photo. And over and over I returned to the room with the grocery store picture where I would discover just how many people didn‘t actually read the poetry in the handouts! Hmmmm….

Carrie and I met a woman who had relocated from France to teach French here in Los Angeles. It was loud and hard to hear her but perhaps we sensed a kindred soul. I saw her eyes follow Joaquin. We struck up a conversation (not easy in the very loud gallery). She was hoping to say “hi” to Joaquin. “He’s right behind you.” I whisper/yell into her ear. “Yes, I know but I’m too shy” she whisper/yells back. She made me think of Commie! Carrie looked antsy but had resigned herself to not leaving until 9:00. I on the other hand was recharged by having not one mission (finding Sherry) but two, helping Celine meet Joaquin! I love a mission! Joaquin darted by us but there is no allowance for hesitation when it is the fast moving Joaquin! I shook my head..Celine, we must be quicker! I tell her “I’ve met him before, he is nice!” She tells me she admires him, as a person, as an actor. I nod. Yes, I understand!

The three of us stand around trying to find a comfortable spot. We move near the office that Joaquin seems to frequent which is conveniently near a small air conditioner! Good location! For awhile. It’s near 9:00 and the place is jammed packed. Curious as to how this will end…do they ring a bell and heard everyone out at 9:01? Carrie and I duck out for air and water. I apologize once again for being eccentric and needing to stay until the end but assure Carrie that often the best things happen at the end! She gives me a look which I know. It’s the one I give my kids when they are asking for one last this or that before bed - when they delay the inevitable. Okay, but we must say “good bye” to our friends Wolfgang and Celine plus we still may find Sherry (Carrie is kind enough to not point out that I don’t even know what Sherry looks like!). We see Wolfgang and say good-bye (he hopes to see us at the next opening!). We find Celine still posted in front of the office alcove. Carrie is being pushed and excused me’d by a zillion people. As we whisper/shout to Celine that we are going and good luck, I look up to see Carrie get excused me’d by the zillionith and one person - smile everyone!…...that person was Joaquin Phoenix (you know, the actor). Exact quote was “Excuse me, sorry” and a nice smile before he ducked into the office again. A little moment but enough that Carrie forgave me for making her stay until the end!

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Oh and 'Bine, my dear wonderful webmistress.....is there a chance you could grab up one more photo from that night? There is a photo of Marcos alone...off center...and in the background is a woman with her back to the camera, red and white print skirt, red low back top, blonde hair? Does anyone want to guess who that is?