some people you never meet. you're just around them enough times to accept that you two know each other. alex and I's first time "mutually being" was when I went to take photos of zoe on 9/25/22 at her place for an artist studio series that never took off—it was also the first time I had met ashlynn. alex was sleeping on the couch, there's a photo somewhere of the girls around him half-awake.
there were other moments of being like the "three point turn" group exhibition at lonestar studios that he hosted on 3/4/23 where julie (the band) played a noise set to the crowd of those desiring a new experience of the current crop of fresh talent.
the first time I can actually confidently say I "met" him was during the graduation shoot I did with zoe, . it was originally a 1-on-1 until zoe hit me back about turning the rest of our session into a group situation—we'd do our solos then capture her alongside the rest of the the close-knit crew she came up with in the university. I can't name all of them of course but it included alex himself, selin, ashlynn, et al.
It was cute. Seeing these art kids, young adults really, come together and celebrate each other. it's not like there were any cakes or candles. it was just standing there and looking around, together—knowing you're all there. whatever there was to endure. to overcome. to support one another through. you did it. and now you're there.
it's about community.
the day of our shoot. 3/5/24. alex and I took photos between his home and studio. in his house, on the walls and the shelves—beyond the insane facebook marketplace finds, there was art of and made by friends. a wooden horse by andrew. a piece by ashlynn mounted to the dining room wall. a photographic print of zoe. so much more by so many others he holds deeply in his life. he prides himself on it—how cool it is to be able to say the art in your home are by the friends you have.
afterwards, we hopped in an uber to the studio, the same one he had the group exhibition at. for some reason I brought up people who have backs longer than their legs. the different proportions we all got and how funny it is. I just ramble, I don't know how alex could deal with me for the long trip halfway across town.
I got see the works in progress for an exhibition on 3/20/24. you can't get the scope of what it takes to make shit until you witness it up close. the size of canvases, or the meticulous process involved in executing the vision. just walking into his studio, what I thought was a wall is actually a giant block of styrofoam for whatever future piece alex intends on using it for. I'm not going to get into describing his pieces, it's something you have to see yourself.
little toyko isn't far from the arts district where he creates at. we wrapped the shoot and took a stroll towards there. talking about that thing we all look for as artists, alex being closer to making it reality than most of us, a place where you could just exist and freely do shit. giving people the opportunity to experiment or pursue the things you wouldn't be able to dive into if you're constantly playing to an audience. just a little factory of friends, creative peers in a space to not worry about the external influencing factors of cash, clout, and cunts.
everything is paraphrasing though. I won't get the point across so tactfully. you get the gist though.
we sat down at the table outside this japanese market. alex had a sudden reunion with a friend he hadn't seen in years. we talked "poor things" and tourist spaces. we said goodbye. I'll see him soon though, and potentially after that, and potentially after that, and potentially after that in a room full of people living the dream he hopes to realize.
