Wassup! Hitting on a few topics here. First, this is for my San Antonio area peeps. It's the rage in the local homosexual community. Long story short: Local artist Marc Arevalo began posting photographs as part of a new exhibit at Joe Blue's, a relatively new bar at the Blue Star Arts Complex. It was First Friday in Southtown.
Owner Joey Villareal, who also owns the adjacent Blue Star Brewing Company and noted media hangout Joey's on North St. Mary's, sees the photographs, which mainly were not at all incendiary from neither a casual or "expert's" artistic perspective. Wow, a boy and a girl posing in Victorian attire and theatrical makeup in a Victorian setting. Not exactly nudes intertwined or Robert Mapelthorpe's crucifix dipped in a jar of urine.
Villareal suddenly grows concerned, approaches Arevalo and asks him to take down the photos. Arevalo is shocked and disappointed, but leaves with said photos. Thus begins the uproar. As the story goes about the conversation at Joe Blue's, Villareal was purportedly worried that such an exhibit may attract a clientele neither he nor other customers would feel comfortable with. Read that: Gay! Flamboyant! Them! Arevalo's story spreads across local alternative media. Through articles, Arevalo expressed the idea that people should boycott Villareal's businesses, inform the community and even inspire dialogue amongst community leaders, be it straight or the homosexual/transgendered.
Villareal thus far in articles says the incident is blown out of proportion and denies he is prejudiced, claiming even "a lot of my friends are gay. Sexual preference is not an issue with me" or that "I have nothing against THESE PEOPLE." Heh heh, now how many times have we heard the accused claim "a lot of my friends are (insert minority here)" or "I don't have anything against (insert minority here)" in reported cases of public discrimination. A marketing director claimed Arevalo didn't properly contract with Joe Blue's to hang his photos there. Hmmm, the only publicly purported case of an artist not officially contracting to hang his or her art at a bar just happens to involve prejudice against sexual orientation? Coincidence? Riiiiiiiggghhht.
Now, I'll give Villareal the benefit of a doubt. I've patronized his businesses. Heck, I visited Joe Blue's THAT SAME NIGHT for my first time there, completely unaware of the clash that had taken place earlier in the day. Joey's is the first place I ever got utterly moellered (see Jim Rome glossary) when I came of legal drinking age. Villareal claimed having such photos might conjure up ideas and attract individuals that, over time, might grow to become a constant regular customer base. A particular base that, in his mind, may offend fellow customers for whatever reason.
To that end and because this is – at least on paper – still a "free" country, Villareal is welcome to his opinions and has a right to run his businesses as he sees fit. But really, he's had Joey's open for years. He's run Blue Star Brewing Company in Southtown for more than 11 years. He's seen the growth of the artistic community there from a hidden treasure to a local phenomenon that attracts hundreds of visitors each First Friday. Was Villareal naïve to think that a few to no gays populate the overall local arts community? He's come to that conclusion to the otherwise only now? And does he own a gaydar that specifically spots and records each transgendered and homosexual person that tries to do business with him? Will he have bouncers who will check driver's licenses, not so much to verify age, but to confirm sexual orientation?
If you're with Arevalo, then be firm in your beliefs and boycott Villareal. I seriously doubt such efforts will hurt him in the long run. But ultimately, there needs to be a common ground of understanding. One community really needs the other for the long-term economic and cultural growth and stability of their mutual interests. They need not fully embrace each other, but at least recognize each other's benefits. As Rodney King for once in his life wisely asked, "Can't we all just get along?"
To other things – still on the new car search, but hopefully maybe a decision will be reached extremely soon. Mi familia is to embark on a roofing project at the Ortiz compound and I'm stoked that Carlos Bernard will resurrect his not-so-really-dead CTU agent Tony Almeida next season on "24." No word on whether the cougar from season 1 will reprise his role as, well, the cougar. And with the start of a new fall TV season, it's hard to discern which new shows are worthy of my admiration (not many) and those that require my sarcastic disdain. "Torchwood," the rookie from BBC America, falls into the former category. Great show. Think "X-Files" meets a little "CSI" – with a bit of sexuality (even two women lip-locking gets your attention).
Sorry I couldn't say the same for Sci-Fi's re-imagining of "Flash Gordon." I fell asleep during the pilot episode. And hopefully, USA's "The 4,400" will get renewed for a fifth season. This most recent season ended on a strong note after stumbling out of the gates. (And some of you geeks out there: Stop comparing 4,400 with Heroes. It's apples and oranges.) Still, however, awaiting word on when new episodes of "The Boondocks" and "The Venture Brothers" begin this fall. C'mon, Cartoon Network, announce your schedule already!
And as a huge Beatles fan, I was initially concerned about whether the movie "Across the Universe" would do justice with a Beatles-covers soundtrack. So, yes ladies, a man can occasionally admit he was wrong. The soundtrack is brilliant. I've heard it three times already. Not so much great singing jobs by the stars (Evan Rachel Wood can add a pretty, solid voice to her already rising acting strength), but having Joe Cocker, Bono and Eddie Izzard can't hurt. Get the deluxe version if you can. Now we'll see if the film itself measures up.
Speaking of soundtracks, I'll get very soon the accompaniment to "Into the Wild," Sean Penn's latest film as director. It's essentially a solo debut by Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. And you know how much I like me some Oyster Jelly LOL I've heard a few samples, and definitely, the album demands my full attention. Finally, you freaking Red Sox. Get back to me when you want to win. Not that you've felt like doing that lately. Okay, done. You may now return to your more exciting lives.
