On a beautiful day a week ago, I drove out into the middle of the state to the Next Picture Show Gallery in Dixon for the Illinois Watercolor Society's annual National Show. Just the previous Wednesday, I hurried to drop off my submission, "Tago vos," at the gallery past its due date. The facilitator was very willing to give it a space. It was their 32nd national show, with one Taiwanese applicant (not accepted) who gives prudence to the group's influence gaining strength in

Three years ago I was a participating painter and DJ for the once popular music and art event, Velvet Revolution. It was held at Beauty Bar in Chicago, known today for its programs to reflect hipster sensibilities and generally invite emerging talent. Joe Crawford was in the crowd that first approached me voicing his interest in my watercolors and promised me that eventually they would raise enough money to continue their cultural magazine, Loosey Goosey. In the mail yesterda