NEWSLETTER 09 - 321 Firewalk with ME
Cold Weather, Chopstick Sleeves, and a loss of an ICON, al in one blog!
At what point in human evolution did we as a species say NAH! To hibernation. Somewhere down the line, we must have seen bears and thought, "You know it is COLD AS FUCK, why not just nap this through till spring?" But no, some progressive workaholic ancestor of ours decided we would tough it out, and now here we are with 5-degree fucking weather forming icicle son our assholes, and we are the dominant species? OI!
Hello from El Paso, where recently I was betrayed by EVERYTHING I'VE EVER FUCKING KOW AND INTRODUCED TO HARD DESERT WINTER. What the hell! It gets to 110 degrees in the summer; it is drier than a Mormon wedding, enough where it hurts to be outside to… SNOW?!?! Motherfucking snow bro? My little tropical ass did not sign up for this!
I had to "PONTE EL YACQUI" here and bundle up. It's an odd bird to be, that's for sure. This has led to many inside activities and working on projects that aren't outside but also to studying and finishing my teaching degree, which leads me to this: Yeah, I have been with my hand out a lot. Every time I do one of these, it has worked on getting my goals done, so here I go, coming to you once again, hat in hand:
For those who know me personally, I am on my way to becoming an art teacher. As I write this, I am taking my lunch in the Classroom while doing my residency here in El Paso. All said and done, I will be gainfully employed as a teacher by next year and have my certification IF I PAY MY STUPID COLLEGE. I recently had some snags with financial aid, and they were late and ridiculous; none of these funds came in time for last year when I started. They decided to kick the can down the road until then, but for lack of a better word, the college decided to F(#*$K me, and they sent my account to collections. When I was done, I had to pay the full amount I owed to get credit this semester. I appealed and sought different strategies, but once that call is put out, you are John Wick, and they are the Table, and I have to pay my debts to their satisfaction.
Yep, a real kick in the huevos.
To not inflict a trilogy of ass beating and gun-fu, I decided on another route: But God is good; my professors seeing this, have allowed me to keep going in my studies and my residency until this clears up, and so once I pay the bill ($3675.05) I will be in good statues. I will get my financial aid, which should see me through until the following semester. HA! But for now, I have to work around that until then, so on my bent knee, I ask if you can help out in this endeavor, I'm running a GoFundMe to help cover these expenses and get to that next level in becoming a teacher.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/clear-juans-path-to-becoming-a-teacher
That being said, I'm getting my daily sketches done and other work out of the way. FWACATA #3 should be out soon; four may be in March. I want to do the CUPID story for February 14th, so I may do that story as a stand-alone for Valentine's Day. A tiny mini-comic? Hmmm.
3 Thoughts
ON STARTING
Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of Iron Maiden, once shared a powerful piece of wisdom during a chance encounter with Robert Plant in a studio in Hilversum, Netherlands. Struggling with his album, Plant said, "It's like a mountain, and I don't know where to start." Calmly sipping his tea, Dickinson offered a simple yet profound reply: "Try the steps." Confused, Plant asked, "The steps?" Dickinson clarified, "Yes, the steps on the side of the mountain. That's what they are for." This mystical and practical advice captures the essence of perseverance—climbing a mountain one step at a time, overcoming obstacles gradually. As Marcus Aurelius wrote in Meditations: "Action by action, no one can stop you from that." Often, the path forward is closer than we think, with stairs ready for us to climb
ON CRITICISM
People who rarely receive criticism often take feedback too personally, missing valuable opportunities to grow. Those frequently facing criticism can become desensitized, dismissive, and miss chances to learn. The key lies in recognizing patterns. A single piece of feedback shouldn't derail your mindset—everyone views the world differently, and not all perspectives will align with yours. However, if you notice the same feedback recurring, it's worth reflecting on whether there's truth to it and how you might use it to improve.
ON READING
"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them."- Ray Bradbury.
2 Nerd Alert! LINKS
Chopstick Sleeves?
Discover the Hidden Stories of Japanese Chopstick Sleeves
Dive into the fascinating history of hashibukuro—chopstick sleeves that transcend their utilitarian origins to reveal the intricate tapestry of Japanese culture, design, and history. From their beginnings in the Heian period, when silk-wrapped chopsticks graced the Imperial Court, to their transformation into paper sleeves during the 20th century, these artifacts embody centuries of artistry and tradition. Angie Wang, a designer and educator, unveils the nuances of a collection donated to the Letterform Archive by Susumu Kitagawa, a meticulous collector who traveled Japan documenting its cultural landscape. These sleeves tell stories of Japan's evolving aesthetics, from origami-inspired patterns to the imagery of Mount Fuji, while blending Eastern and Western influences in typography and design.
At the heart of this exploration lies the fleeting beauty of ephemera, a concept steeped in the Japanese idiom mono no aware. Once considered disposable, these sleeves now preserve the essence of shared meals, local traditions, and cultural values. Whether adorned with sumo wrestlers, calligraphic poetry, or train station advertisements, each sleeve reflects Japan's rich history and artistry. This collection connects us to the past and invites us to celebrate the everyday objects that shape our shared human experiences.
THAT FUCKING ALGORITHM
In his article, Creating for the Edges, Frank Gogol's thought-provoking exploration delves into how algorithms shape and flatten culture, favoring safe, mass-market content over bold, experimental, or deeply intentional works. Gogol examines the cultural "bell curve," where the middle represents predictable, algorithm-friendly content, while the edges house innovative creators and curated, uncompromising visions. For artists, this is a call to reject the comfort of the middle and instead strive for the edges—embracing risk, authenticity, and meticulous craftsmanship. The article highlights the importance of creating work that challenges, inspires, and resonates deeply, offering a robust framework for creators looking to leave a lasting impact through art.
1 and only
DAVID LYNCH
LYNCH always fucked me up. Since I was a kid when I would actively watch Eraserhead or Elephantman, thinking it would be cool, and then there I am at fucking eight years old, contemplating my plan in the world as a soul locked inside some meat wagon traveling around trying not to die. Or when I was in my teens and wanted to be calm and LOST HIGHWAY or MUHOLLAND DRIVE and not fucking get it, but knew it was there. ( Though the LOST HIGHWAY soundtrack gave us the best version of GHOST RIDER by Rollins Band that, to my day, gets me hard)
Some of his best words:
"Even bad coffee is better than no coffee at all."
"I don't think it was pain that made [Vincent Van Gogh] great - I think his painting brought him whatever happiness he had."
"We think we understand the rules when we become adults, but what we really experience is a narrowing of the imagination."
"I hate slick and pretty things. I prefer mistakes and accidents. Which is why I like things like cuts and bruises - they're like little flowers. I've always said that if you have a name for something, like 'cut' or 'bruise,' people will automatically be disturbed by it. But when you see the same thing in nature, and you don't know what it is, it can be very beautiful."
"Ideas are like fish. If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you've got to go deeper. Down deep, the fish are more powerful and more pure. They're huge and abstract. And they're very beautiful."
"I like to remember things my own way. How I remembered them, not necessarily the way they happened."
If you have been following me on Instagram, you know I have posted every type of video, image, reel, etc. I came across David Byrne. I put it after the portrait I drew up top to scroll through. This is my little tombstone here for him, for people to see. I am a massive fan of his work, but I think, in essence, I'm a bigger fan of the Man himself. His passing saddens me because I always daydreamed one day about talking to him, even if it was about stamp collecting or some bullshit, but just talking with him one day to enjoy his view and energy.
I've even considered cutting my hair to match his, but I don't think I could pull off such a coif.
He was him, and we were lucky to know even a bit about him. Godspeed to you, DAVID LYNCH.
And so, here we are—facing the absurd, braving the cold, climbing our metaphorical mountains one step at a time. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the weight of it all, whether it's desert winters that betray us or the towering challenges of chasing dreams while dodging financial landmines. But if there's one thing I've learned through all of this, it's that showing up matters. Whether bundling up for a hard season, putting pen to paper, or reaching out for help, moving forward—even in small, clumsy steps—has its own magic.
So, here's my ask, wrapped in gratitude and hope: If you've read this far, thank you for being part of this journey. If you can contribute to my GoFundMe, thank you for helping me climb the next step of this ridiculous, rewarding mountain. And if not, no worries—your time and attention are a gift. Let's keep showing up, creating, and finding beauty even in the chaos. After all, as David Lynch said, "Through the darkness of the future past, the magician longs to see." Let's keep chasing the magic.
BE GOOD
-J