CURRENT MISSION

living a poetic life, helping others to do the same.

ABOUT ME
I'm an artist and traveler. I make big things. I (used to) live in a warehouse on the edge of the downtown Phoenix Wasteland, and I'm now building a new artist compound across from the Los Angeles Waterfront. Just returned from a month in Palestine, and should be in LA most of the summer, excepting a couple of weeks in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge (before it gets destroyed by the extraction industries).

I create somewhat extreme art projects, things that I imagine without limitation, then spend several years researching and designing to make them possible. Currently I am working on a series of visual communication beacons (placed in little grids, about 100km square) that I plan on deploying to very remote locations around the world - a planetary distress signal. Let me know if you'd like to help.

I've traveled for art and to get lost in others' cultures, have helped design and build water and electric systems in remote rural villages, and have installed my art in the centers of major world cities. I revel in the world around me with a childlike sense of wonder.

Random Notes.
I don't smoke, eat when I'm hungry, work when I have something to do. I've only had a traditional job twice in my life, less than 10 months total. I crashed a celebration in Myanmar once and got next to the Burmese Junta Monkeys (the despotic SLORC). At sunset on top of a temple at Angkor, held tightly onto my girlfriend while Khmer Rouge soldiers skulked around below. Our clothes were sitting on a rock below. Last real job - I was paid to drink afternoon cocktails and crack jokes with Lee Kuan Yew, Helmet Schmidt, George Schultz and Condoleezza Rice. I have taken my kids around the world. I'll make another low earth orbit soon.

I've started numerous art galleries/exhibition/performance spaces, curated international art exhibitions, designed major rock and roll tours, production designed films, done rural development.... and was once arrested for disturbing the Pope (because of an art performance).

PHILOSOPHY
Live life like poetry.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

As far as CS, I host when possible, as I have a big studio space and love meeting fascinating people, although I have been traveling nearly every time someone has made a request. I have a new studio in San Pedro, which is the big toe of Los Angeles, the furthest point south. I'm right on the waterfront, at the Port of Los Angeles.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have yet to stay with someone through the CS site, as I usually have friends through my art around the world - but this year will be going some places to lecture on my work where I hope to take advantage of CS - Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, Cairo.

I have couchsurfed all my life though, and still have close friends from places I stayed 25 years ago. I've always made my space available for travelers, as they are my kind of people.

Interests

Life, rogue machines, travel and culture.

• arts
• culture
• poetry
• performing arts
• design
• traveling
• swimming
• science and technology

Music, Movies, and Books

100 Years of Solitude
The Malady of Death
Siddhartha

2001.
Dr Strangelove

Kraftwerk
Pan Sonic
Nick Cave
Michelle Gurevich (Chinawoman)
...so much more

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Multiple Choice.

Crashing a party of the despotic Burmese Junta Generals during the Thadingyut Festival at Inle Lake, Burma.
Performing with friends in a refugee camp in Palestine while being teargassed by occupiers.
Swimming without a raft down Class 4 whitewater in Colorado.
Watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Bar-hopping during the 97 coup d'etat in Phnom Penh.
Trying to steal the last Union Jack in Hong Kong during handover as it was being carried to Prince Charles.
Riding shotgun in the Muruti Car Circus Wall of Death in Fatepur Sikri, India.
Performing against the Berlin Wall, directing floodlights and sound system at the East German border guards in the No Mans Land.
Trek to the base of Kanchenjunga in late January.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm building out shipping container art studios, and may be too busy to host, unless you can lend a hand with construction. At other times, I may be working on my sculptures and might teach you electrical wiring, fabrication, soldering or some other skill. Planning to build a new observation tower in the next few weeks. Always something going on.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Great stories and good ideas.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Palestine, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cambodia, France, Mexico, Netherlands, United States

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