http://www.pechakucha.org/cities/knoxville/blogs/poster-for-pkn-knoxville-vol-7

Absent for some time.  I've been quite productive without producing.  I had hoped to deliver SONG OF THE SOUTH by May, but I am certain it will be Fall before I'm ready to deliver that.  I have continued to document Clyde Walters work.  That is another show that is on hold.  He works at a pace that he can work at, and that's that.  I would say that it is about 3/4 complete though!  Evelyn Forester is still in the thick of creating a new collection of paintings under a working title of "Inflictions".  My wife, Misty is in the process of curating a show by Claude Ricmon.  This show is titled "Lunchbox".  There is so much going on, it's just slow coming.  So, for now I will try to give you Licorice Life #2 - long overdue. The image to your left is a preview.
  

LABORERS was a piece from my show that was not easily viewed for many reasons.  The night became hectic quick.  People were showing up later because of previous obligations related to April's First Friday, the band was setting up, and I was in a general mess because of the unfortunate events of the week leading up to the show.  I made no plans for documentation of this show.

Thankfully a friend, Jana Holder, came equipped with her camera and took some wonderful photos for me.  
LABORERS was a 6' x 8' panel and twin sheep.  The sheep were originally meant to be contained in a fenced area in front of the panels.  When I delivered them from my cousins house to my backyard, I found out quickly how high they can jump and how difficult they are to corral.  They seemed much more comfortable in the pen anyway.
The sheep were a generic (but strong) representation of myself and my co-worker.  (Cattle, masses, livestock, 'we all, like sheep, have gone astray'...the proletariat and so on)  The panel consisted of mark making related to measurements, lists for the building supply store, assessing weekly hours, chalk lines, and general ephemera one would see scribbled on plywood or 2 x 4's.  I took a few detail shots to include with this post.  If you did not see it at the show, I hope you enjoy.  Thanks for looking.  (I'll update you as soon as I can on the Song of the South progress.)

I, Amos Oaks, am in the middle of the most ambitious body of work to date in this wisp of smoke called life.  The image to the left of the text is a morsel for you to savor. The show is titled Song of the South.  The general idea of the show is Humidity.  That word embodies ideas related to stereotypes, truths, misconceptions, and the general (potential) traumatic existence in the South.  It loosely follows the progression of the Disney attraction, Splash Mountain.  This ride loosely follows the Disney movie by the same name, and that movie loosely follows the subversive (and often misunderstood) Tales of Uncle Remus.  I hope to have the works, production - entire event complete by the end of April.  The tentative opening date is Friday, May 10.  I will post updates as often as I think to.
I am also just about ready to release Licorice Life #2.  There are about 35 copies of LL#1 left if you are interested.  Follow the kitschen smells and buy yours today.  I'll send you a free Black Licorice Blues sticker.

Here is a nice blog post about my dear friend Evelyn:
http://fussedmag.com/05-2012/blogs/artist-evelyn-forester.html

I created a new logo for the A Skate Foundation recently.  A skate holds clinics all across the globe to give folks facing Autism a wonderful and theraputic day out.  
This logo is part of their awareness campaign.  I am a promoter of action rather than awarness and call people to take their awareness and do something with it.  I hope to see answers sooner than later for people that live with this as part of a daily routine.  
A Skate often digs in their own purse to provide a day of skateboarding for these kids.  They leave with armfulls of skateboards, wheels, shirts, stickers, and other surprises.  Most importantly, they leave with smiles!
You can help ensure that these clinics keep happening by purchasing a set of A Skate Bones Wheels, an A Skate - Zoo York skateboard, or any of the items found at the A Skate site.
I hope you can take some time to look at this wonderful 501c3 and dig in your own purse a bit for this cause.
Thanks Crys Worley for your work, and thanks for including me as an artist for the A Skate Foundation.

tumblr update from Evelyn Forester.
Issac has kept Evelyn inside, so she's been busy.  Her Afflictions are amazing, but she asked that I not reveal any.  These watercolors were done while letting oils and Issac dry up.
http://evelynforester.tumblr.com/

Today is the last day to view Evelyn Forester's Primary Bruises at Tomato Head Maryville.  The paintings will rest at Chocolate Shores until Evelyn picks them up for the Florida Panhandle.  She plans to paint there until the new year.  If you would like to purchase a painting please fill out the inquiry form under cafe au lait.

Here is a quick look at snippets from Evelyn Forester's new paintings (while they were in progress): PRIMARY BRUISES.  Go eat at Tomato Head and enjoy a look at the work, then buy a painting.

We have a new artist at Chocolate Shores.  Evelyn Forester is in the thick of production for a new set of paintings that will be on display at the Tomato Head in Knoxville, TN in the month of June.  The series is titled Primary Bruises and are based on relationships.