"Oh, you're a hard one!" Talula Red.

Show time!!!

I'm feeling the desire to document the process for this show...I am finding
that I enjoy the process just as much as I enjoy the artwork so I wanted to share it.

I am fortunate to have booked for the second year in a row the Valentines Day Slot. This was important to me bc I believe in consistency. I like the idea that the Talula Love Bottoms Shows are becoming events. I feel like people really enjoy coming to them and it is my goal to constantly be changing and evolving.

The first thing I knew I wanted was Christine Cleary. I actually wasn't sure I would get her to commit to being Talula. She's already a successful, accomplished, collected, published artist. Would this appeal to her? More importantly...would what I consider to be a successful process for myself; also be a successful process for her that she enjoys. That ultimately tells her story.

The process being this:
1. Pick a name for the Show. If Christine was going to agree to do it, I knew that I would call the show Talula Red. There were a few reasons for this but one was because of her fiery red hair, two was because of Valentines Day and three was because I loved the idea that RED means so many different things....in music it often refers to a mood, IE: Sublime's I Saw Red, and/or UB40 Red, Red Wine. In a horror film it means blood and gore...etc...

2. Having given Talula Red the spotlight...I needed to create a visual for the artists to be inspired by...these visuals or ideas NEED to have many interpretations so as to not limit anyone...and to be broad enough so that there's a ton of stuff to pull from but at the same time create a balance, flow and story telling collection of works.

Sinew. Fiber. Heart. currently has an emotional relevance to my personal life, and for me; I have to be very present in my work. It has to tell my story and this specific collection of words is a big part of my life right now. I wanted to pay tribute to the source subtly but with utmost importance. I also love how the words are defined. I think they are powerful, emotional, and also arouse curiosity. It is very important for me to create interest and intrigue and also appeal to the masses.

Talula Red. Sinew. Fiber. Heart.

3. Next...I pick a song. Luckily Christine said yes and we were able to do this together.

What happened here though is what I find most amazing. Christine and I meet up for wine and to talk about the show. Its important for me to understand where she is in her life so that I can make sure that her work is present and that it serves a few purposes. Evolution as an artist. Tapping into that thing inside of us that makes us create...whatever it is. Its different for us all. So we chatted and she told me this wonderful story about how she had realized that she needed to change her perspective a little bit. The idea that life is like a deck of cards came to her..and that she had been trying to play a hand she had not been dealt. In this...she acknowledged that she needed to be more present in her life. To play the hand she had..not the one she didn't have. In saying that she referenced that she needed to be grateful. That she wanted to spend time in gratitude. (it was a beautiful conversation BTW). She decided that she wanted her work to have some kind of playing card reference in it...and then it went like this...

Deck of cards
black/red
RED
Queen of Hearts
HEARTS

SONG: what song references Love, Loss, Emotion, and Cards?

Desperado.

Who sings a really great version of Desperado besides the Eagles???

Christine and I both have the same affinity towards her...

Tori Amos.

Line in the song:

Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's able
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet

POW!

It's like the universe winked when it happened.

This information is then dispersed to the other artists like fuel to
their fire. I don't say much...I don't lean anyone to how I feel about it...just a title, words, a song...and GO!!! I am so excited. This is truly the first time I believe all of the key players are finally understanding where the Talula Love Bottoms project is going.

This show is a collaborative artist event. The show features Christine Cleary (as Talula Red), Kate Facenda Photography, Ryan Simmons Filmography, Laura Mayer Jewelry, and two traveling artists including myself and Ricky Borchert. Traveling meaning sometimes were local...sometimes were not. Christine, Ryan and Ricky are new. This is Kate and Laura's third showing under Talula Love Bottoms.

As for me. I'm kinda stepping back a bit. Of course my art will be in the show...it just will be less of it...and I'm kinda struggling to be honest with you. However, in this struggle my style has taken on this organic flow that I have to say is completely blowing me away. See photo above. Something about feeling connected, feeling loose, feeling comfortable in my own skin for the first time in a long time...
did I say skin???
Is that the stuff that covers...I don't know???

Sinew. Fiber. Heart.

that was a huge hint and a major teaser. Come to the show to find out what I mean. xoxoxoxo. Trust me..its not your normal art show.

xo. Huge thanks to my artists and friends. I could never do this without you. You are all your own Talulas. xoxo heart.

The daggers you've thrown I've caught with open palms sliced through like Christ

Fear

It is within me to exit you
the daggers you've thrown
I've caught with open palms
sliced through like Christ

Dripping the blood
of a 30 year death
the knowledge of such unimportance
presents itself in your childish appearances

Can't you see who I am now?
Although unsettled, restless; I am un-caged and free!

Completely fearless of an infinity
that will tie me down
into the SINEW of you

You, my darling
you come to me in colors
when I am blinded by the white light of death
skin drenched
the FIBER of pain pinches back my soul, unleashed.

The Song of Solomon
sword fights with
Desperado for a spot in the line up
but my HEART aches
for the queue of you.

Its you. Its always been you.

Cross the oceans in my mind

Original artwork TLB by M. Pappano

Oceans by Evanescence

Don't wanna be the one to walk away
But I can't bear the thought of one more day
I think I finally understand what it means to be lost

Can't find the road to lead us out of this
A million miles from where we burned the bridge
Can't keep pretending that every thing's gonna be alright

With the whole world falling down on me

Cross the oceans in my mind
Find the strength to say goodbye
In the end you never can
Wash the blood from your hands
Falling so far from where we were before
You'll never find what you've been searching for
Something to fill the void and
Make up for all of those missing pieces of you

Like I could only dream to do

Cross the oceans in my mind
Find the strength to say goodbye
Everything we believed in was a lie
Cross the oceans in your mind
Find a way to to blur the line
In the end you never can
Wash the blood from your hands

Oh, we never learn
So we fall down again
Hurt me, hurt me
Find your way to dream within this nightmare

Cross the oceans in my mind
Find the strength to say goodbye
Everything we believed in was a lie
Cross the oceans in your mind
Find a way to to blur the line
In the end you never can
Wash the blood from your hands

Talula Red. Sinew. Fiber. Heart.

....and every drop of sea is the whole ocean

Original Artwork
TLB by MP

The last line of this song applies to the line the figure in the artwork is holding...
how amazing it is when music and art tell the same story.

John Frusciante

"The Past Recedes"

1, 2, 3, 4
And then the past recedes
and I won't be involved
The effort to be free
Seems pointless from above
You're looking down at me
I'd rather stay below
Than have you staring up at me
It is nowhere I want to go
Ay, this business of how long we try to stay alive
Why to be here you first got to die
so I gave it a try
And what do you know
Time was so long ago
And things come back you see
To where they don't belong
and every drop of sea is the whole ocean
I lied to the greatest thieves
about anything and everything
I'm a figure of forgotten speech
I'm out of reach
I can't play it safe
But I might just in case
I'm disguised as a reaching hand
I'm a working man
I don't understand why clockout
come so slow everytime
That's one line I stay right behind [x2]

“Treasure is uncovered by the force of the flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents”

This artwork is a blatant attempt
at trying to paint like Picasso
Woman Ironing 1904
Gifted to someone who kindly said they liked it.


A new year.

I try not to define my days and devotions by time, dates or other
forced celebrations. I do my best to applaud a moment, a second,
a space in which I am present in.

Lately I just stumble around, tripping over myself, happy.
SO happy that I truly, genuinely FEEL happiness.

This next bit is for my current and future Talula's.

Specifically for Brandi and Mark Melchi and in hopes that positive energy
rubs off of positive energy.

1. You must know your laughter is contagious. In this please
laugh often as it arouses such un-assumed joy.

2. In your laughter find the reasons for it. Put these in your pockets;
use them when the other end of the laughter sneaks in...the loss of it.

As artists, as creative spirits, as seekers of color, light and love; we often let
the lack of these things emanate in fear. Fear is the turning point of either forward motion or backward in art. It is also the force of it all.

“Treasure is uncovered by the force of the flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents”

Life lessons. They always come to me in book form. What I learned from Rilke was that 1. I needed to ask myself a SERIOUS FUCKING QUESTION at some point in my life and 2. That what we believe we are searching for is already inside of us.

I didn't realize that the second had happened in my life until I read Letters to A Young Poet the second time; on a train to NY and it was a "wow" moment to say the least.

I know its not easy to know this in our lives. Not everyone is given this information. My purpose in this is to make sure you have it. My goal.

One should think me terribly gifted. I have this artist in me who gets to actually create beautiful artwork...but inside of the artist is this anti-ego driven messenger who believes that art can (and will) mend this broken world. (at least the world that I am in and that I allow and accept as my surrounding energy)

So...I'm going to be diligent in this purpose. I am going to extend opportunities that will allow you to get to that next level. All of this is driven by creative energy. You can not be selfish in your participation. You must understand that the mass appeal is in its positive distribution.

I am going to try to explain this without sounding all new age and like I'm into crystals. Because I'm not...however they too are made up of components that exude the same ideas. You have a purpose beyond this societal bullshit. You have a purpose in your core that tells your story. Your story is the basis of your journey. Why else would we be involved in this. If you give yourself the gift of allowing this core purpose to define you...you will be successful in it. You will attract your life pursuits...I know it doesn't feel like it would be simple,
but it really is.
The only thing that makes it hard is fear.
Fear of failing at it.
I want you to know that you won't.
You can't. As long as you understand that once you give your heart and soul
up to it....
you redefine who you thought you were by becoming who you really are.

Read Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet
Read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Take some time to enjoy something you love. Share it with me. Please
understand that my purpose in this is to inspire, and enjoy creative energy
with friends.

I am so lucky to know you all. You are treasures in my life and I am so grateful for you. Happy New Year!!!

Brandi - you are a new and exciting project in the Talula world. I'm thinking that you are going to decorate your own soul this year and I hope our collaborations are huge and filled with laughter. So excited about your new journey and I love your creative energy!!!

Jamie D...you are Taluls's Music. We are about to blow some speakers out. So excited. So inspired by you all the time, every day.
Kate...you are Talula's Eyes. YOU need to see this though. Take photos. Then take more. Tell your story. Tell me your story. Stop being so vague. I need more of your greatness.
Laura..I know your heart is huge and you are spread thin between your career and your creativity. You are the crown jeweler Talula!! You must create!!! I'm proud of you though. You do wonderful things in your life and you treat the earth and people in kindness...I admire you.
Jaime Keenan - Sweet thing...can we make sure you are making your own art in between you marathons and desire to spread good will??? I would like that a lot. I am going to be sending you boxes of inspiration and we will start there.
Dawn - You are such a magical textile. You are the woven wand! You are the fabric of Talula's Soul!!! Never stop creating no matter what direction your life takes you. You are at a tipping point. You can have it if you want it you just have to believe in it all.

Ryan Simmons - you are the stop motion creative icon that Talula wants to be. I have a hard time saying you are Talula..because you are so successful as Ryan. But..we're gonna do this anyway. We are a great team!!!

Christine - Talula Red. You are so talented. You have depth and emotion in your soul and your work. I AM SO EXCITED TO CREATE WITH YOU!!! Talula is going to be better because of you. I know it.
Ricky - You tattoo my life better. You are the dark side of Talula and this needs to be explored. We are going to make amazing art together!!!
Mark - who are you and where did you come from??? Are you ready? BC you have a big challenge here...letting go of the loot and the chain of it to pursue happiness? Really...how brave of you. You have so much already working for you...why not just pick back up where you left off and see what it adds to your already successful life. Can you imagine finding balance in it all? And then taking both...I'm thinking you are the one who will create the spaces where Talula shows. Just sayin'. Think about it.

Ryan L. I don't feel like you and Talula are very connected anymore. I hope you make an effort to change that because she loves you and believes in you.




And to you..the crashing wave of my soul; I give you all of this and all the rest
and then more. Thank you!!!

Talula 2012
Hello Asheville.