The Taco Bell Drawing Club

Two weeks ago, after learning that artist Jason Polan had passed away from cancer, I decided to host and attend my first Taco Bell Drawing Club. I had become a fan of Jason’s work after coming across his blog years ago. Jason had formed this club back in 2005 and since then has gathered with friends and fans in Taco Bell to draw. I first heard of this event through a friend who attended one in Malibu, California. I remember loving the idea and wanting to attend but over the years it never happened.

Jason’s friends and fans planned a couple memorial drawing clubs in New York and Los Angeles but the short notice and distance left me with two options, miss out as I had over the years or organize one of my own. The time was now. I took to social media to spread the word. A few minutes later I had put the idea out into the world and committed to a time and place (duh!), a Taco Bell in downtown Long Beach. The Long Beach Post picked up on the story (I had subtlety mentioned them in my post) and there was no turning back.

The first Taco Bell Drawing Club in Long Beach, California.

On Wednesday, the 29th of January, I sat down at a Taco Bell in Downtown Long Beach. Shortly after a stranger approached, sketchbook and pens in hand, and sat down. We began chatting and doodling. Shortly after another stranger walked through the doors, seemingly looking to draw. That night Stephanie and Monique and I drew for about an hour, chatted and walked away having participated in our first Taco Bell Drawing Club.

The following days I received a number of messages from others who were interested and so after discussing with my new friends we decided to take the momentum and plan another drawing club the following week. Taco Bell even took notice on social media and offered to send along some gift cards to sponsor our second meeting as a tribute to Jason!

Tanner

A week later we were headed back to Taco Bell for another drawing club, with free tacos! This time around I arrived to find some early birds, armed with supplies and ready to draw! A steady stream of new and familiar faces walked through the door shortly after and we were growing! The second meeting was a huge success and I’m looking forward to the next!

Photographs by Jeffrey Robins
Steve Hwang

If you’re interested in future events I started a small mailing list to keep people informed of future meetings! Sign up here.

2019 B-Sides

What is A, if not the first? What is today if not the last. A year, the structure, in hours and days, a week and a month at a time. Building upon each other, we count them, the units influence us and we live within time. This one time I celebrated the super blood wolf moon in the Vons parking lot with a stranger. Looking back at some moments in time, just 6 of 525,600 minutes. Fingers crossed I was present and living for all of them; even when the selfies took over.

AGGRO at The Hangout

I was invited by Ignacio Villanueva and Gunther Estrada to be a part of AGGRO, a group show, here in Long Beach. I spent some good time in the backyard and at my new studio working on new paintings made for the show opening September 27th 2019 at The Hangout in Long Beach, California.

The AGGRO group show; a collective group of creative individuals who share the common thread of being involved within their communities, practicing their craft, and contributing to their local scenes and culture through their own unique vision. This practice spawned from the ’80s, where an interest in the four-wheeled-wooden-toy developed and thrived and set the foundation for this group’s daily rituals and lifestyle. Back in the day you could look at another and know they rode; holes in their shoes, their hairstyle and fashion, or the fast, loud music coming from the tape player. They know what it’s like to fall on concrete going full-speed! They get around town, not by street names but by ‘spots’ like the overly painted curb around the corner; where they meet up and spend hours getting a little AGGRO!

Cleaning Up The Earth!

This weekend I participated in my first ever beach clean up. I feel ashamed and embarrassed that I’ve never done this before but it was truly eye opening. Once I opened my eyes the plastic started revealing itself between my toes. It was beautiful and tragic at the same time. Let’s all try to buy less shit and consume less plastic. It’s hard but nothing works unless you try.