Sketches of Fishtown # 72 - Star Shoe Service

Some days, it is easy to get down if you turn on the news or even look around in any given direction. Some days it can seem like a hopeless world. It's important to not lose hope though. I thank God I have the opportunity to meet people like Ed and Frances in doing what I do. Seeing two people so happily married after 58 years, so willing to work together, it gives me hope that there is goodness and love in the world. It's important to keep my eyes open every day and try to take note of things that can give me hope.

Audacious Freedom - Part 2

Jackie Cusack from Steel City Displays was nice enough to send over these photos of the final life-size displays for the African American Museum's upcoming exhibit, "Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia 1776 – 1876":

Sketches of Fishtown # 60 - Kevin Mulholland

I never posted this when I published it in the Spirit Newspapers. It was late January, the same week as my book release party: 


I am very sad to say that Kevin passed away last night. We were very close when we were younger and spent a lot of time bumming around the corner of Hewson and Belgrade. I think about those days hanging on that corner and my friends who were there with me all the time. Those years would have been unbearable if not for my friends. They were hard and uncertain years. But we always had each other. It was like the center of my universe.

Even though we've all grown apart to an extent, when I see those friends today, they still make me feel the same way. I return to that comfortable feeling that I belong, and I really fit in. When I walked in Kevin's barber shop or saw him around the neighborhood, everything always fell right back into place, like we were still on that corner. Tonight I have a crushing pain in my chest at the thought that he is no longer with us. He is the second friend from the corner that we've lost. My friend Brett passed away in 2005.

My heart breaks for Kevin's child, wife, Mom, Dad, brother and sister. I know that as we get older, we should anticipate that our world will get smaller. This is just way too soon for me. I love Kevin like a brother, and I am really really going to miss him. Rest in peace, Kev.

Audacious Freedom Exhibit

I was recently contracted by Steel City Displays to illustrate images for the African American Museum's upcoming exhibit, "Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia 1776 – 1876". I was honored to take on this project. My illustrations will be printed out as life size cut-outs stationed around the exhibit. Audacious Freedom opens this Friday, June 19, 2009.

Sketches of Fishtown # 71 - My Old Man

Autumn Society of Philadelphia's 80's Pop Show...

Poster designed by Joe "Chogrin" Game

Even though my work is not in this one, a bunch of my friends contributed to this show for the Autumn Society of Philadelphia. There are over 65 pieces hung, all referencing something from 1980's pop culture. The opening show is this Friday evening (June 5) from 6PM - 9 PM at Brave New Worlds Comic Shop (on 2nd Street between Market and Arch in Olde City). There is a whole lot to look at. So head on down to Olde City for an awesome collection of art.

For more information, please visit:
http://theautumnsociety.blogspot.com/

Sketches of Fishtown # 70 - Bottlecaps