Author Archives: dsamarov

I saw a great play at Theatre Y in Lawndale. In it, a man wrestles with his family’s history during the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath. Like so much else these days it’s difficult not to relate it to the unraveling of this country right now. Art is often that way. Whatever it’s about,Continue reading “School of Memory”

I met Chris Connelly in the late 90s. He was a regular delivery customer of Thai Lagoon. I brought food to his Humboldt Park apartment every few weeks, it felt like. He was also the friendly guy at Reckless Records—which set him apart for sure. Makes sense that the one guy who doesn’t have toContinue reading “Connelly”

I didn’t know the British kitchen-sink painter John Bratby wrote books till a couple weeks ago. A podcast I like mentioned a novel called Breakdown and I picked up a cheap copy on eBay. What I knew of him before was his grubby canvases of apartments full of crap. They’re gleefully messy and look likeContinue reading “Bratby”