Memories of Munich

Brian and Matt and I returned from Munich last Sunday and after a few days of playing catch up, I finally have a moment to sit down and write a little something about the trip. I think the plans for this show really started a few years ago when we met Nicole (the director of the gallery) at Review Santa Fe.



The four of us hit it off incredibly well, met up in Miami this past winter and began talking about doing a show.


After arriving on Sunday morning, Brian and Nicole and I took a train to the Austrian Alps. Went to a small hilltop where George's parents live (George is Nicole's boyfriend and is hilarious) and spent two days eating, drinking amazing Austrian wine, hiking in the alps and sleeping / snoring off the jetlag. You can view some pictures from Austria by clicking HERE.


The following few days were spent working on installing the show, wandering around the streets of Munich and of course drinking a ton of beer. One of the best parts of installation was becoming friends with the lovely Ms. Florence Baur Pictured here juggling a coffee, a pretzel and a copy of my book Social Studies:






















I have posted a number of installation shots and they can be seen by clicking HERE.


On thursday, Matt and Brian and I took the subway out to the Octoberfest grounds. Octoberfest actually starts this week but it was really fun and interesting to watch everything being built. I had no idea what to expect and was thrilled to find what was more or less a huge carnival with gigantic empty beer halls. It isn't that often that I shoot a lot of pictures just for fun but I found myself inspired and started snapping away (so if anyone has any editorial work for me in the future- wink wink, nudge nudge). My photographs from Octoberfest are posted HERE.


Last friday was the big opening night. It was the opening of the Munich Art Season so every gallery in town was open and the streets were pretty mobbed. Talk, drink, talk, drink, if you've been to a few openings you've been to them all. A great time, I have a few photos posted HERE


The night of the opening, we all went back to George's apartment where we talked and drank and had a great time until about five in the morning. Needless to say, we all woke up a bit groggy the next day at about noon. Hangovers in tow, we went down to the gallery where Nicole and Florence had prepared a large traditional breakfast. There was a long table in the middle of the gallery filled with meat and pretzels and of course some more beer. Eat Drink Laugh, Eat Drink Laugh. At one point in the midst of all of this, a local Art Historian came in with a large tour group and began to discuss our work. It was a completely surreal experience, hilarious and unforgettable. To view photos of our hangover brunch click HERE.


After brunch, Matt and Brian and I went out to buy some goodies for our wives / girlfriends / fiancees. George was determined that before returning to the states, it was mandatory that we go sailing on his boat (One hour south of Munich). So Brian, Nicole, George, their friend Mark and I all loaded into a car (Matt was at dinner with his aunt and uncle) and headed out. There was absolutely no wind on the lake and the motor was dead but we had a great time drifting none the less. It was the perfect way to end the trip, one of those moments when you know that you are in the midst of future memory (look at me, I'm so deep...). To see the photos from our sailing excursion, click HERE


The next morning Brian and I left for the airport at 6am. I was so excited to see Robin and also pretty sad to say goodbye to my friends in Germany. It's hard to have people who you care about living so far away but we'll see each other again soon. And now to cap off my story, I got caught by US customs trying to smuggle some sausage into the country. Those Bastards!

For a random sampling of additional photos click HERE