Here’s a behind the scenes look at NYC Street Artist Russell King’s show at Gallery 3! Come by and meet Russell King tonight at 7-10pm at Gallery 3!
I Am Layla James:
Digital Media Consultant | Radio DJ | Human
Tag Archives: art
Weekend Recap:
It’s time for a nostaligic look back on my weekend… now if I could only remember what I did… oh yeah:
FRIDAY: Amazing
I had 4 events I said I would go to…. but I didn’t have that much time. So I had to make choices.
- Corey’s 30th B-Day at Famous Dave’s
- Pick up my custom art from Aric Shapiro at The Salvagery Artist Collective
- Hangout with my boss and friends for drinks at the Stonehouse
- Go to AWOLnation and hangout with radio friends
So priorities…. MUSIC and ART….check. I cancelled on Corey to go hangout with my boss. Then my boss cancelled, so 2 out of 4 events down the hole.
So I went to go visit Aric at the Salvagery to pick up my art. He was leaving the next day for the Playa to build The Temple for Burning Man. It’s amazing to me that people would donate a month of their time to build The Temple, just to watch it blow up. Just amazing.
I met a whole gaggle of crazy New Zealanders… shouting and drinking PBR…(I think its the official drink of Reno). Overall it was a great time.
Flashforward to home, getting ready, shower and a shave (Hey I keep it classy)
Then off to go see AWOLnation. I love living downtown because there is always something unexpected going on. I went outside and there was fireworks shooting off the Silver Legacy. I’m assuming for Hot August Nights… it was a good start to the night.
I met up with new friends at KRZQ as well as members of KDOT. In Reno radio you can’t really afford to make enemies. We are all in this crazy little city trying to survive in the broadcasting industry.
AWOLnation was good, but all their songs relatively sound the same. The thing I love the most is I am finally feeling like I’m well rooted in Reno as well as radio.
I can BS with the big boys about music, industry news, and just plain tell dirty jokes. I love it. It’s been a 5 years in Reno, but I feel like I’m really making it my home.
After the concert the afterparty was at Tonic. I watched Chris Payne spin the night away as well as some cool guy who looked and danced like Andre 3000.
(Always a highlight)
The night was filled with normal drinking/dancing debachuery.
Twas Fun.
Saturday: Awkward
I woke up in a rush to get to the station. I looked like a hot mess, I didn’t wash off the makeup from the last night, my hair was crusted in hairspray…. it was ugly.
But regardless I had a good airshift from 10am-3pm. Nothing caught on fire… so I was happy.
(Yes, that is my low standard of success)
Afterwards I was inspired to go to Tahoe. One of those random adventures…. apparently I couldn’t inspire anyone else to go with me.I really didn’t want to go to a beautiful lake and sit there by myself. (This has been a theme for me, learning how to be alone… its not working)
So I went to the pool and that was just not as satisfying. 
I met up with one of my neighbors, I thought he was going to bring all his friends, but it just ended up being me and him… which was fine… just different than I imagined.I like groups, gaggles of people, bringing people together, bbq’s and such.
So one on one is hard for me.
Then we agreed to get a bunch of people to show up together… I knew about 15 people that were going to be out and about downtown. I cancelled on another friend for a house party because I believed in a this new plan… downtown drinking and such. Sorry Drew 
So we agreed to meet at 9pm…. so at 10:30 we finally got together. I met up with my 2 friends at Imperial Bar. (It was 95 degrees in there, I was sweaty and gross) But I ran into 2 old friends back from my ballroom dancing days…. yeah!
After $2 Kamikaze shots at Imperial we decided to get some fresh airand head down to the Waterfall.
We enjoyed had some hookah, more drinks and ran into a couple of awkward situations.
For instance it was Reno High’s 10 year reunion so everyone had name tags on and we didn’t know anyone there!
We enjoyed some more hookah and this amazing drink called a Juicy! Ask West or Brandon (the bartenders) about it next time you are there.
We got tired of being in room full of people that we didn’t know, yet they all knew each other and decided to meander to Brew Bros.
That place is very hit or miss, its either the best night or your life or completely irritating.
(Turned out to be the second one).
I was surrounded by people having sex on the dancefloor… ok well just about having sex… but its always awkward being surrounded by people getting it on…
I was also hot and sticky and irritated. The band wasn’t that good and I got tired of being pushed around by the tongue jockeys. So we left and ate some food at Cafe Sedona.
{Isn’t the whole point of Reno is to be able to order chinese food at 2am?}
Apparently they only had breakfast food and I WAS PISSED. This night sucked. Good thing I was in good company with friends Corey, Shannon and David.
So I made it home…. grumpy, but grateful for good friends.
SUNDAY: Lazy
It was so nice sleeping in. Sunday is the only day that I get to sleep for ungodly amounts of time.
So after a 10 hour nap I woke up and ate some leftover chicken soup. It is my Sunday tradition to stay in bed and watch bad TV.
So I watched ‘Switched at Birth‘ on HULU. Wow that stuff is addictive… its got drama, love, a real american family… its an absolute trainwreck. LOVE IT!
I’m currently hanging out till 7pm, playing whatever the hell I feel like on Rock 104.5 .
After this… not sure.
I’ll probably go to my BFF’s house and see how that baby is a growing.
(She’s pregnant)
Maybe she’ll feed me…..
Pregnant ladies always have extra food laying around the house.
Over all the weekend was full of ups and downs, good friends, awkward situations and bad tv.
Thanks for reading 
~Layla
Ultragigantor:
If you haven’t listened to Red Line Chemistry’s new hit single: Ultragigantor – Here’s your chance!
Request it at your local radio station!
Call for Mural Artists:
Call for Mural Artists
The 5 Star Saloon (132 West Street, Reno) is requesting artists’ applications for its three exterior panels of their downtown bar.
We are looking for murals that encourage positivity. We want something that makes people feel good, energetic and draws them inside.
The Five Star is Reno’s oldest gay bar that caters to a very diverse clientele. We accept and encourage people from all walks of life and all cultural backgrounds. We cater to people that want to have a good time and dance. We are located in the Arts District and always want to promote the artists in our community.
Artist Eligibility:
Call to Artists is open to all visual artists residing in Reno/Sparks.
we also encourage Artist Collectives to Submit Proposals.
Selection Process & Deadlines. Artists must submit letter of interest, proposal and sketch of intended Mural, 5 images of past artwork , three references that can be called to confirm reliability.
Panel Size:
Right Hand Side – 69 – 1/2 Wide x 45-1/2 High
Middle Panel – 38 Wide x 45-1/2 High
Left Hand Panel – 68 Wide x 64 High
$500 Total Includes Your Supplies.
Submissions can be dropped off at the 5 Star ATT: MURAL PROJECT
in an envelope with all of your contact information on the exterior.
You may also submit your submissions to 5starsaloon@gmail.com
Submissions: Due by July 28th
Artist(s) Selection: August 1
Artwork to be completed by August 18, 2011
The Salvagery Artist Collective:
Recently I visited Aric Shapiro down at the Salvagery. Video coming soon…. Check out the pics for now!
Poem#7: 7-11 Drudge Coffee
Image via Wikipedia
Balance:
something I am unfamiliar with
Visions of a beach
palm trees and smiles
warm kisses
love
Instead:
piles, paperwork and stress
limited vacation time
red tape and
hr managers.
alarm clocks,
cold car rides in the morning,
and 7-11 drudge coffee.
The two concepts are distant islands
marrying them might be difficult
but i have to look forward to something
because this coffee is less than inspirational.
Art #1:
I remember exactly where I was when I painted this. I was in my friend Tim’s Izuzu Trooper in Quincy, Ca. He called me earlier that day and said – What do you want to do today? I replied “Paint!” So we gathered up some supplies and headed out into the wilderness in his car. We randomly drove through Quincy (where we were both going to school) and came upon a bridge over looking the Feather River. We stopped and in the middle of the road we just started painting. (Not a lot of traffic in Quincy) No one even drove past us. Quincy was a time of growth both mentally and spirtually. In the midst of Nature I painted this:
Circa 2004.
Interview with Kate Raudenbush:
Check out my interview with Burner Artist- Kate Raudenbush!
Poem #2- Innocense:
Well here’s poem number two. I wrote this back in 2001.
Innocence:
Seemingly softly,
across the moon’s front edge
among the alabaster pillars
and the peach tones stairs
Drenched in the darkness
of the ever-glowing night
It moves quick, but experienced
To the tipiest tow, not a sound does break,
as it slips through the doors with ease and finesse.
Light shines through the tinted windows
showing the broad features of this man’s face.
His dense eyebrows shadow
the greenest eyes that God could have made
and his lips were firm,
but perfectly placed.
I watched him tip toe through my home…
not knowing of my presence, he crept along.
Taking the clock that hung on the wall
as well as everything on the mantle.
He took our silverware, he stole are fruit
and as he took my teddy bear
I twitched and loosing my balance
I knocked my elbow on the hollow wall.
He turned, I stood, and as I looked in his eyes, I saw his soul.
I saw darkness
with a flash of light so small
it only made a flicker
into the growing mass of evil…
But as he peered at me, he witnessed my soul.
He saw the iridescent purity and the innocence in my eyes
and the expression on my face.
One of confusion, one of terror and most of all one of fear.
I was but a small child
him a grown man
and in that very moment, he broke.
The darkness shattered and light could stream through the growing cracks
as the time stood still
his conscience flew in on
an unknown wind
long gone from his bottomless soul.
He ran right then as fast as he could
fearing the worst.
He ran so quick,
he forgot all of his stolen goods.
He was afraid of the pure,
as much as I was afraid of the darkness.
No one will ever know the true power of innocence.
