My book entitled, ‘So The Echo’ came out in 2013 and I have been thinking about what would come next since roughly six months after that. Being almost ten years now since its publication, I’ve had a lot of time to ruminate on what would be the best and most exciting way to follow it up. I’ve had what is likely the most prolific period of time in my life as a painter over these last tens years and therefor have a lot of cataloguing to do before I can successfully curate and distill this newest body of work. But in doing so I have found it helpful to look at this last offering So The Echo as a way to better plot my trajectory forward. I stumbled onto these two pages (written in 2007) that I found sort of noteworthy considering the cultural climate as it exists and as it pertains to drug culture, perception, and what I suppose could be described as an overarching personal metaphysic that has had a nice ten year maturation period since its penning.
Of course I will keep you posted on details of this new art book as they emerge, but in the meantime please enjoy this short rambling that was birthed into a journal on the sand in Clearwater Beach, Florida the morning after I’d ingested a mighty dose of edible cannabis. There’s something about the morning after a psychedelic experience, be they low level psychedelics like cannabis or full blown entheogenic dragon rides into the unified field; these effervescent sunrises tend to offer a delicious clarity. Whether real or imagined, these “ah ha!” moments act like minuscule bumper cars on our psyche, knocking us ever so subtly (or not so subtly) into new and undiscovered territories. When coupled with sugary-sand beaches, emerald blue water, salt air and heat lightning, one is hard pressed NOT have a touch of bliss tickle their belly. I hope you all are doing well. Enjoy!
-Brandon
Happy anniversary and Happy Birthday to INNW today! Love this book. And yes, there are SO many of us "others" out there. You have always been wise beyond your years and have been a voice for many people that think the same way. This is why we revel in your words.
Hope tour is going swimmingly, Brandon. Can’t wait to learn more about that new book! You mentioned the “others” that see through advertising and I believe I also fit into that category, for the most part. I’ve always been a bit of an oddball or misfit who wasn’t too influenced by...literally anything I considered trivial. Not on purpose though, I was just born backwards I suppose ! Let’s just say I had a real chill time during my teen years; the period when your vulnerability to outward influence and advertising is at its peak. That being said, I can only imagine how I’d behave on some edibles. I’d be some kind of a Mr. Bean but 130x more unorthodox if that’s possible. Of course I fall into the trap of influence/consumerism from time to time, but hey, I’m only human and all you can do is be as wary as possible xD. I greatly enjoy reading and hearing your thoughts because you’re one of the people I feel like I relate to on a different level (I’m sure you’ve NEVER heard THAT one before) But, seriously! You’re inquisitive, contemplative, delightfully strange, and have always done your own damn thing and I highly respect that. You laughed when you saw your Achilles’ tendon was split open, you’re a special one hahaha! ‘Preciate you always, and I will see you and your rockstar pals in Irvine in August!