Sunday 11/2/25

November 02, 2025

On Sundays I reflect.

I didn’t drink alcohol this week. I’m glad to be sober.

This has been one of the most exciting weeks of my life. I’ve been in Los Angeles installing a flameworking set up at Jen Stark’s studio.

And celebrating Halloween, a holiday I’ve never been super into. We did it WeHo style, which for those of you who don’t know is a 100,000 person costume party in the streets and pours into every Gay bar along Santa Monica Blvd. Ian and Jen and I had an absolute blast together. It’s something everyone should see at least once in their lives.

This summer after a class at Pilchuck Jen told me she was obsessed with glass. After her week at my studio in the mountains, Jen told us she wanted to create a space for flameworking in her studio. A month or so later she had ordered the necessary equipment for Ian and I to fly to LA and get her set up.

Thank you to Dave and the crew at ABR Imagery, Alex and his team at Taglia Tools, Willy and Wally at GTT, and Matt the contractor who helped us make this dream come true. Special thanks to Alysia for helping with everything around the studio behind the scenes as well.

So I drove to Aspen to catch a direct flight to LAX on Wednesday. I met a fascinating woman on the tarmac walking to the plane when she pulled out a medium format film camera.

My friend Guy of Rusha & Co picked me up and took me to his gallery in South Central. We caught up and I finally got to see his amazing space in what formerly was a fire station. Currently his own work is up for a solo show which was special for me to see.

Jen got Ian from LAX and met us at the gallery for some street tacos before we made our way to LACMA for a show of AI generated art created by Beeple. Wow. My mind was blown for so many reasons at this one. I’d love to write more about that experience but there is too much else to share here.

We worked long hours every day. There was a wild sense of excitement for all of us. It was really happening.

Thursday night we made an essential break for Jen’s favorite; Karaoke at a bar we later realized was where they filmed the final episode of The Office. We hung with Jen’s friends, watched her sing a signature rendition of Sin Wagon complete with dance moves and laps around the bar, and I even performed one of my all time favorites The Monster Mash. It was a graveyard smash!

Friday my cousin came by for a studio visit. He’s always made time to catch up with me and hear about my art, and he couldn’t have been more fascinated by Jen’s art and what we’re doing. It means so much to me to have the support of my family like this.

Our costume shopping was done on the side of the road at a popup sale of questionable legality, where we got three onesies for $60 before making our way out for Halloween. We enjoyed dinner at the legendary Formosa Chinese spot, which was playing Psycho on the rooftop terrace.

Ian has been one of my closest friends for nearly a decade now. We’ve been on countless adventures together around the country. We talk most days on the phone, and he’s really someone I can count on for almost anything. I try to reciprocate that friendship and hope I do too.

The three of us have quickly become friends through our time together and collaboration. I’ve laughed so much and so hard this week with these two. We’ve balanced very serious and hard work with having fun together. We’ve talked about art and life and process and space.

Last night we stayed up late blowing glass together. Surrounded by Jen’s art with a technicolor rainbow of overhead lights, we all got to enjoy the fruits of our combined labor.

Jen pitched me a tent in the studio and her shopmate Zevin shared his loft with Ian as he was in Joshua Tree at a stone carving class. We met briefly and he couldn’t have been more kind to share his space. Zevin also has the glass itch and after meeting him and seeing his other work we can’t wait to see what he does on the torch.

There was this look on Jen’s face when she finally got a grasp of pulling stringers. I can see how excited she is to be playing with glass and it makes me so happy to be able to assist on her journey. It only took her a few tries before she was in the groove. She’s a complete natural.

At one point I asked Jen about who her dream collaborations would be as an artist. Ian mentioned that for me this opportunity has really been a dream come true. I’ve gotten to work with and collaborate with so many artists whom I appreciate and admire. I truly feel so privileged to be here now.

Psychedelia and synchronicity are two important themes in my life. I suspect that’s true for everyone, and I just feel attuned in my own life from my experiences. Lots of little things about this week felt like a culmination of previous concepts or ideas. A few things I noticed reassured me that I’m on an important path and the future will continue to get better and better.

A few more thoughts before I make my way home today.

Thank you Jen for sharing your art with the world, and your space here with us. You are a true visionary and one of the kindest most genuine people I have ever met.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey in getting to this moment and to what lies ahead.

Things have been challenging for artists lately. The market and economy and state of humanity are in challenging times. Thankfully artists are who they are because of their creativity. When we collaborate and think outside the box, we can accomplish greatness together.

I’m so honored to be a part of this team and this project. I’m so grateful for the friends I’ve made through art. I’m so excited to be having fun and living my passion.

This feels like the beginning of a new frontier for all of us. Thank you for being a part of the journey.

Enjoy your Sunday,