On June 26, 2010, I found myself kneeling in front of a giant, golden cross, as the souls of Haiti earthquake victims passed through my frantic, swirling hands onto a blank canvas, in a multi-colored expression of strength and humility at Saint John’s Church. While transmitting the whisper of ghosts in a choir of Light Workers singing, “Haiti Will Rise”, I channeled the heartfelt conviction of a small nation, that fought slavery and won, into an artistic statement of hope.
Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II MAMM Jamming At Saint Johns Church.
I heard wavelengths and frequencies in bright colors, as the spotlight shone on the Modern Art Music Movement™ fusing art and music to tell stories on a blank canvas that document the wisdom of ages, in the form of modern-art-gonzo-journalism, in front of a large multi-cultural audience, gathered peacefully, inside a Holy place of worship.
Leo Casino and Victor-Hugo Vaca II perform a Modern Art Music Movement™(MAMM) to help build a hospital in Haiti after the 2010 Earthquake.
As I channeled the wisdom of ages and felt the word think emerge under a cross emerging from a perfect circle, I saw eternity and realized why art transcends politics, religion, gender and race. In nature, art is, because art is life.
The word, “Think”, emerges beneath the golden cross as the Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo creates modern-art-gonzo-journalism on the alter of Saint Johns Church with Leo Casino in front of a live audience as film crews document the Modern Art Music Movement™(MAMM) event.
The Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo paints under cross on alter of St. John’s Church.
As I worked to raise hope and money under the sign of the cross, I thought of the road to redemption and how easy it is to lose faith, in the day to day struggle, of our human condition. Song elevated my spirit to capture, in art form, the beautiful chaos that surrounds us all, in an attempt to awaken the realization that our souls are eternally connected in the multi-universe.
The Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo shares stage with Leo Casino, Fabian Dominique & Friends at St. John’s Church Modern Art Music Movement™ MAMM Jam for Haiti.
When introduced, on stage during performances I am often invited to participate as part of the band during the encore. For me, it is a dreaded highlight because I am introverted off-stage and do not consider myself worthy of performing, as a musician who plays piano, drums, guitar and sings with such music industry legends but on stage I am the Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo and I realize the show must go on, so I throw fear and insecurity aside to immerse myself in the moment, thus becoming the confident artist musician.
The Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo overcomes stage-fright to become part of the band, with Fabian Dominique, Leo Casino and El Electrico, on percussion, at Saint John’s Church.
When I find myself singing a hit song on stage with musicians that have sold millions of records around the world, I am too stunned to be nervous and overwhelmingly relieved when I recognize the song enough to know the lyrics and beat.
The Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo interacts with audience from the alter of St. John’s Church.
When given the opportunity to speak in front of crowds, I try to keep things real but I also try to keep things positive, by reminding everyone that, everything is everything and nothing is nothing. Nothing is by chance. We are all connected. Live, love, flow. Shine.
Chris Phashion, Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II and Leo Casino at St. John’s MAMM Jam to benefit Haiti.
Some think it is ironic that the creator of “Crackhead Jesus: The Movie” has spoken before audiences at places of worship. I don’t, because the inspiration for the award-winning film was, “Redemption: The Story of The Crackhead Jesus Trials”, a modern day parable for the Lied To Generation based on actual events, which I created to promote The Golden Rule and promulgate compassionate wealth.
The Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo sandwiched between a sage man and Muse.
Poster For Leo Casino Haiti Will Rise Concert featuring The Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo & The Modern Art Music Movement.
Leo Casino and Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo perform a Modern Art Music Movement™(MAMM) to help build a hospital in Haiti after the 2010 Earthquake.
Leo Casino and Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo perform a Modern Art Music Movement™(MAMM) to help build a hospital in Haiti after the 2010 Earthquake.
Leo Casino and Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo perform a Modern Art Music Movement™(MAMM) to help build a hospital in Haiti after the 2010 Earthquake.
Leo Casino and Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo perform a Modern Art Music Movement™(MAMM) to help build a hospital in Haiti after the 2010 Earthquake.
Leo Casino and Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo perform a Modern Art Music Movement™(MAMM) to help build a hospital in Haiti after the 2010 Earthquake.
“An artists’ life consists of sex, parties and lucid intervals of recognition, within the zeitgeist, communicated through conscious effort and action.” – Victor-Hugo Vaca II
THE UNDECIDED VOTER AND MILLENNIALS PIVOT TOWARDS VOTING AGAINST THE POLITICAL STATUS QUO, EMBODIED IN A WELL REHEARSED, CAREFULLY SCRIPTED, HILLARY CLINTON, AFTER WITNESSING MAINSTREAM NEWS MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE THAT CLEARLY PAINTED DONALD TRUMP AS, THE UNDERDOG.
“BEFORE VOTING, ASK YOURSELF, WWMLD? WHAT WOULD MONICA LEWINSKY DO?”, 9/11 SERIES, MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM, BY THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II.
The Undecided Voter and Millennials realize the question for those Independents still trying to decide between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton is, to put it bluntly: “Which Bully do you want in the White House, representing the best interest of you, your Children and seven generations forward and which Woman, as Commander In Chief, or First Lady, do you want to serve your bloodline, as a historical role model, for developing young girls and grown women; Meanwhile, setting a public example, for how developing young boys and structured men, should behave around girls, women, military veterans and police officers, for seven generations forward?”
THE UNDECIDED VOTER
The Undecided Voter, regardless of Sex, Race, Creed or Color, is looking to elect someone with common sense and a clear, forward, vision, to press the reset button, on a politically correct system, that is obviously broken and in dire need of realistic repair; Maybe not by a couple of seasoned bullies in the White House but by one passionate, outsider, claiming to be capable of working efficiently and in fair cooperation with other world leaders, using every available tool, rather than trusting stale, over-rehearsed, meaningless rhetoric, filled with false narratives, of half-truths, shining brightly in the hypocrisy of philanthropy.
“FEMALE VOTER EXPLAINS JUANITA BROADDRICK, KATHLEEN WILLEY, PAULA JONES, GENNIFER FLOWERS AND MONICA LEWINSKY, TO HER DAUGHTER, ELOISE, WHO IS LIVING WITH HER BABY DADDY #1, IN PARIS, FRANCE.”, MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II, IN THE GEDDES FINE ART COLLECTION.
The Undecided Voter is looking to elect someone, with strength and conviction, to stand up to foreign enemies and make friends, using firm, fair and clear communication, so as to cooperatively manifest the concept of compassionate wealth, on earth, during the global shift towards Asia, as the New World Order is both restructured and rebalanced for maps and history books.
“FEARLESS FEMINISTS DISCUSS, NARCISSISTIC LOONY TOONS, THE POLITICS OF THE PENIS, BIMBO ERUPTIONS, FAT SHAMING BEAUTY PAGEANT WINNERS AND BILL CLINTON’S RODEO CLOWNS, WITH THEIR YOUNG DAUGHTERS, ON CHRISTMAS DAY.” MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II; PREMIERED DURING ART BASEL MIAMI WEEK AT THE GRAND OPENING OF “SHOCK”, THE HAUNTED ADDRESS OF THE NOTORIOUS FORMER BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON MIAMI BEACH, A-LIST, HANG OUT, “LIQUID NIGHTCLUB”, 1437-39 WASHINGTON AVENUE.
The Undecided Voter is looking to elect someone to procure a sustainable existence for seven generations forward, that would organically lean “The Lied To Generation” towards a peaceful lifetime; while swiftly rebuilding infrastructure and fixing politically rigged Courts, that stifle prosperity for the United Slaves Of America, by choking the American Dream, on the broken scales of justice.
INTERIOR DESIGN AND ARTWORK, BY THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II, AT THE NOTORIOUSLY HAUNTED ADDRESS, OF LIQUID AND SHOCK NIGHTCLUB, IN MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA.
The Undecided Voter could not understand why the debate moderator, Lestor Holt, and both 2016 Presidential candidates, could not transcend the extraneous muck and zeitgeist of pop culture, in favor of progress and pressing social issues regarding the economy, justice system, public infrastructure policy, and national security, that affect everyone, regardless of age, religion, race or political affiliation.
1437-39 WASHINGTON AVENUE
THE LEGENDARY MIAMI BEACH HOT SPOT ADDRESS OF BOTH, LIQUID AND SHOCK, LOCATED ACROSS FROM THE ICONIC ESPANOLA WAY, SEEN IN SEVERAL MOVIES (MIAMI VICE) AND ON TV SHOWS (MIAMI VICE), WAS FREQUENTED BY SUCH NOTABLES AS MADONNA, SEAN PENN, BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON.
IN 2011, CELEBRATED FANFARE AND INTERNATIONAL PRESS, WELCOMED THE HAUNTED VENUE’S REINCARNATION AS THE INFAMOUS, “SHOCK” NIGHTCLUB, DURING ART BASEL MIAMI WEEK, SHOWCASING THE 5,000+ SQUARE FOOT, “NEW YORK CITY RETRO-CHIC FINE ART GRAFFITI MURAL”, INTERIOR DESIGN AND ARTWORK CREATED BY THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II, EXCLUSIVELY FOR “SHOCK”, AS CONTRACTED BY THE FRENCH NIGHTCLUB IMPRESARIO, JULIEN MANIVAL, LATER NICKNAMED, “THE FRENCH BERNIE MADOFF”, BY HIS MANY VICTIMS.
THE 10-FOOT TALL WORK OF MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM TITLED, “TITTY HARVEST: THE POLITICS OF THE PENIS”, ADORNED THE GIANT BRICK WALL NEXT TO THE EXCLUSIVE, VIP SECTION, OF THE EUROPEAN JET-SET VENUE, NEXT TO THE DJ BOOTH, WHICH HOSTED SOLD OUT, WINTER MUSIC CONFERENCE (WMC), EVENTS AND WAS, ALLEGEDLY, FEATURED IN THE BACKGROUND OF MUSIC VIDEOS AND PHOTO SHOOTS FOR LADY GAGA AND RICKY MARTIN.
BARTENDERS AND AWARD-WINNING MIXOLOGISTS AT “SHOCK” NIGHTCLUB, CLAIM THAT PATRONS REPORTED SEEING SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES IN, “FLOW”, THE TWO-STORY, FINE-ART GRAFFITI MURAL, CREATED BY, THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II, THE LONGER THEY LINGERED AROUND THE NEVER DULL BAR.
BARTENDERS AND AWARD-WINNING MIXOLOGISTS AT “SHOCK” NIGHTCLUB, CLAIM THAT CURIOUS PATRONS PURCHASED MORE DOUBLE-SHOTS OF TOP SHELF ALCOHOL, IN ATTEMPTS TO DECIPHER ALL THE SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES HIDDEN WITHIN THE MASSIVE FINE-ART GRAFFITI MURAL TITLED, “FLOW” BY THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II.
AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED MIXOLOGIST, ALEX TENGO,WORKS HIS MAGIC, AT THE “SHOCK” BAR, IN FRONT OF FANS AND INTERNATIONAL, A-LIST JET SETTERS, SEARCHING FOR SUBLIMINAL CLUES, HIDDEN WITHIN THE MASSIVE FINE-ART GRAFFITI MURAL, “FLOW”, BY THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II.
MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM FLOWS THROUGH “SHOCK” NIGHTCLUB, SUBCONSCIOUSLY PERMEATING THE HEART, OF THE SOPHISTICATED ADULT PLAYGROUND IN MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, USING FINE-ART GRAFFITI TO SUBVERSIVELY COMMUNICATE A “CANARY IN THE COAL MINE” MESSAGE, TO MILLENNIALS, FROM AROUND THE WORLD, AWAKENING TO THE CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER OF LIVING WITHIN A BROKEN JUSTICE SYSTEM, WITH RULE OF LAW DOUBLE STANDARDS, THAT FAVOR A SELECT FEW: SIMPLY PUT, “WITHOUT JUSTICE, PEACE CAN NOT FLOW” .
The Undecided Voter witnesses how, under the watch of an FBI, working in collusion with the U.S. Attorney General’s Office, political correctness and The Fifth Amendment, are being manipulated to blanket and hide the existence of a, “Double-Standard-Rule-Of-Law”, that favors an elite few, like Hillary Clinton and the Wells Fargo CEO, John G. Stumpf, but does not apply to 99% of tax-paying Constituents known as, “The United Slaves Of America”.
THE TWENTY-FOOT LONG AND TEN-FOOT HIGH, “KUNT”, MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM PAINTING BY THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II PREMIERED AT “SHOCK” NIGHTCLUB DURING ART BASEL MIAMI WEEK, AT THE INSISTENCE OF “THE FRENCH BERNIE MADOFF”, WHOSE ILLEGAL ACTIONS EXPOSED THE WORLD TO AN INTERNATIONAL EPIDEMIC OF ECONOMIC FRAUD, THAT CRISS-CROSSED CONTINENTS FREELY, FROM THE SEXY SHORES OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, TO THE EXOTIC SHORES OF FRANCE AND IBIZA, SPAIN, IN COLLUSION WITH CORRUPT POLICE AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, FAVORING WEALTHY INTERNATIONAL JET-SETTING CRIMINALS, AWARE OF THE BROKEN U.S. JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHOSE RULE OF LAW FAVORS WEALTHY PUBLIC FIGURES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, OVER LAW ABIDING U.S. CITIZENS AND HARD WORKING CONSTITUENTS, STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE, ON MINIMUM WAGE.
The Undecided Voter and Millennials see how the new-normal, “Double-Standard Rule-Of-Law”, for the elite 1% in the United States, like Hillary Clinton and Wells Fargo’s CEO, John G. Stumpf, can fuel chaos in the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina and through the heart of The Bible Belt, as God-fearing families witness anarchy racing towards The White House, to be the elected Commander In Chief, of the United Slaves of America.
MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM EXPOSED CORRUPTION THAT LED TO SEVERAL ARRESTS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS INCLUDING CORRUPT POLICE, AS DOCUMENTED ON FILM BY CBS NEWS MIAMI AND CANAL+ NEWS, IN FRANCE. THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS STORY WAS CHRONICLED IN A SERIES OF PRINT NEWSPAPER AND ONLINE ARTICLES BY MICHAEL MILLER IN “THE MIAMI NEW TIMES” FEATURING QUOTES AND ARTWORK FROM THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II COLLECTION EXHIBITED AT “SHOCK” NIGHTCLUB DURING 2011 ART BASEL MIAMI WEEK.
THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II WAS HIRED BY FRENCH NIGHTCLUB IMPRESARIO, JULIEN MANIVAL, TO CREATE THE INTERIOR DESIGN FOR THE EXCLUSIVE MIAMI BEACH CLUB, “SHOCK”.
The Undecided Voter witnessed Donald Trump choke, under pressure, when presented with several opportunities to expose ignored truths of national interest, against a well lubed, Hillary Clinton machine, sporting a plastered-on-smile, at the first, 2016 United States Presidential debate, held on September 26, near New Hyde Park, Long Island, in Hempstead, New York, at Hofstra University.
“PLASTIC SMILE IN THE FACE OF GLASS STEAGALL” : MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM, BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II, WHO GREW UP IN NEW HYDE PARK, IN A TWO STORY, CORNER HOUSE, BEHIND THE LONG ISLAND JEWISH HOSPITAL, WHILE ATTENDING BROOKLYN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL, BEFORE ENTERING THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, AS A MIDSHIPMAN OFFICER, IN THE 26TH PLATOON, OF THE CLASS OF 1993.
MIAMI NEWS TIMES ARTICLE FEATURES QUOTES FROM THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II, WHO CREATED A 5000+ SQUARE-FOOT, FINE-ART-GRAFFITI MURAL, AT “SHOCK” NIGHTCLUB, WRITTEN IN EIGHT DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, INCLUDING ARAMAIC, ITALIAN FRENCH AND SPANISH.
MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II
THE MASSIVE, FINE-ART-GRAFFITI MURAL, TITLED, “THE STORY OF THE CRACKHEAD JESUS TRIALS”, WAS PAINSTAKINGLY CREATED TO WARN VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, OF THE EPIDEMIC OF ECONOMIC FRAUD, EMANATING FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THREATENING, A GLOBAL COLLAPSE IN PUBLIC TRUST OF THE BANKING INDUSTRY, DUE TO A SEVERE BREAKDOWN IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, CREATING A DOUBLE-STANDARD, IN RULE OF LAW, THAT FAVORS RICH, WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS, OVER SINGLE MOTHER’S AND BABY DADDY’S, STEALING BREAD FROM FOOD DESERTS, TO FEED THEIR MALNOURISHED CHILDREN.
MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II
The Undecided Voter was baffled by Donald Trump’s inability to clearly and succinctly communicate rebuttals, during his first, one-on-one debate with a seasoned politician, and a noticeably biased moderator, tossing irrelevant bread and circus distractions, disguised as relevant questions, carefully crafted to incite racial disharmony, by demanding self reflection, in presuming that all Americans, are inherently bias, racist and deplorable human beings, in order to provoke social discord, by fueling insecurity and public distrust of police, press and authority.
IT’S NOT A BLACK OR WHITE ISSUE, IT’S A CORRUPT LEADERSHIP ISSUE.
The Undecided Voter observes Hillary Clinton’s husband, Bill, and ponders the treatment of Veterans who risk their lives, in defense of freedom, for future generations of Americans, to live in a democracy, not an oligarchy, or plutocracy, reigned over by bullies and tyrants disguised as caretakers and do-gooders, who defy Rule of Law and don’t pay taxes, while pandering to Hispanics, Blacks and Women, by pretending to care about Mexicans, African-Americans and Venezuelan Beauty Pageant winners, all while attempting to dumb down masses into believing that, the “First Black President”, miraculously emerged from an Aryan vagina, belonging to a white woman named, Stanley Ann Dunham, with predominantly English but including German, Swiss, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh ancestry.
BLACK PEOPLE REALIZE THAT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA IS NOT 100% BLACK BECAUSE HIS MOTHER WAS 100% WHITE.
“I’m not your Commander In Chief, anymore but if I were I would tell you to be more polite, now sit down!” – Bill Clinton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfQTTF9p8pk
The Undecided Voter ponders the treatment of blacks by Caucasians, like Bill Clinton, demanding that Black Lives Matter supporters, ignore his oppressive legislation, supported by his wife, Hillary, and focus instead on getting their thirteen-year old kids, off of crack, so as to ward off any potential, Crackhead Jesus, exposing the truth of hypocrisy and foiling the so-called, Democratic process, for the United Slaves Of America.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKjdGYvHTmk
“He [Bill Clinton] said, ‘Sit down, Nigger!’” – The Doctor Of Common Sense
BEFORE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN 2008, THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II, LEARNED TO LIVE BY THE HONOR CONCEPT, AS PART OF THE ELITE, BRIGADE OF MIDSHIPMAN, AT THE WORLD FAMOUS, UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY.
In April 17, 2007 BLOUINART INFOInternational Magazine published an article titled,
NY Artist Victor-Hugo to Run for President
The column documented the under-reported presidential candidacy of the Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II, who entered the 2008 Presidential race to run against fellow former U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman Officer, John McCain and Freshman Senator Barack Hussein Obama, as reported in alternative news outlets around the world including newspapers in Iceland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT12_bVKIrE
The influential BLOUINART INFOInternational Magazine highlighted the New York born, Hispanic multi-media artist’s run for United States President, as a dark horse candidate, to raise awareness about the dangers of a corrupt justice system that politicized Rule Of Law in favor of anarchy, oligarchy and plutocracy.
THE UNITED SLAVES OF AMERICA
The BLOUINART INFOInternational Magazine article read:
Controversial Latino modern artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II, a native of Queens, N.Y., announced today his plans to pursue a spot on the 2008 presidential electoral ballot, taking on frontrunners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
The artist said in a public statement that he will try to run for president while he continues to research his “Law and Justice in the United States” series of works.
The point of running for office, he explained, would be to educate his fans on the difficulty or ease with which a native-born American citizen can run for “the most powerful position in the world.”
He added that he hopes the investigation and his bid for the presidency inspires the “lied-to generation” to get more involved with politics and heed the warnings in Al Gores film, An Inconvenient Truth.
“I’m spending so much time in court investigating unethical attorneys and judges that I might as well find out what it takes to run for president while I’m there. Obviously, I realize that the biggest requirement is not intelligence or common sense—George W. Bush Jr. has proven that. Loads and loads of campaign contributions from interested parties is what is needed to win.” – Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY MIDSHIPMAN OFFICER CANDIDATE VICTOR-HUGO VACA II
The legendary modern-art-gonzo-journalism, “Crackhead Jesus Series”, by the Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II prognosticated a modern civil war in America, manifested by blatant public corruption, emanating out of the White House, enabled by biased news media and weak investigative journalism, whose cumulative effect, undermined the halls of justice, creating dangerous double standards, for favored elitists and notable public figures, protected by the FBI, Attorney General and Police, as underprivileged constituents are slaughtered in the streets, by those hired to serve and protect them, while grave injustice permeates unchecked, through U.S. Courtrooms, enslaving all Americans, regardless of race, creed or color, with a dangerously, double-standard, Rule Of Law.
TRUTH BE TOLD, IF BLACK LIVES REALLY MATTERED WE’D START BY TAKING CARE OF BLACK WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ABANDONED BY AN IGNORED NATIONAL EPIDEMIC OF DEAD BEAT BABY DADDY’S, PROCREATING FOR SPORT, WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, CONCERN OR CONSEQUENCE.
The Undecided Voter notices that news outlets, owned by Caucasians, appear to be acting in collusion, with Presidential candidates, to recklessly toss the word, “racist”, around, in a subversive attempt, to promote a modern civil war agenda, that favors orchestrating riots, violent protests and looting, to produce anarchy, across the nation, for photo ops and soundbites, that increase ratings and profits white people.
MICHELE OBAMA ASKS BLACK LIVES MATTER AND THE CLINTON NEWS NETWORK(CNN) DON LEMON, TO CONSIDER THE NEARLY 300, FORGOTTEN NIGERIAN SCHOOLGIRLS, KIDNAPPED BY BOKO HARAM IN 2014.
The Undecided Voter, notices that news outlets, owned by white men, use titillating sex scandals and beauty-queen-fat-shaming, to deflect global attention, away from documented, top-down U.S. government leadership corruption, being promulgated openly, without shame, remorse or just punishment, under the nose of frustrated taxpayers and legal immigrants, in search of the, rapidly disappearing, American Dream.
“FLOW WOMAN: POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WILL KILL DEMOCRACY.” MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM, BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II. THE TEN-FOOT TALL, OIL PAINTING, PREMIERED DURING ART BASEL MIAMI WEEK, AT THE “SHOCK” NIGHTCLUB, GRAND OPENING IN 2011.
The Undecided Voter witnessed a sniffling, impassioned, visibly temperamental, patriotic fool, lose his ability to effectively construct and prosecute a case against Hillary Clinton, while using a bad microphone, in front of a chomping-at-the-bit, live audience, being broadcast via satellite, to a record breaking number of viewers, around the world.
DISCREDITED JOURNALIST, BRIAN WILLIAMS, PEDDLING OPINION AND RHETORIC, AS FACT BASED NEWS, ON MSNBC, TO DUMB DOWN AMERICANS.
The Undecided Voter, witnessed Hillary Clinton acting like an insincere, smiling, zombie, standing beside the face and hair of a passionate, Caucasian, presidential candidate, publicly exhibiting narcissistic, histrionic and antisocial tendencies, while blatantly throwing awkwardly, restrained fits of frustration, rather than perpetuating logic, in the face of waning public trust, in unapologetically biased news media, that favors wealthy, career politicians over eccentric, wealthy outliers, that threaten, to shake up the status quo of mediocrity, that has infected American mentality, in the early 21st Century .
“IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMON SENSE, YOU GET NONSENSE AND PRETENSE.” – MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II
Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Reflects Upon His Unique Experience As A Finalist, In “The Best Comic Standing Competition”, At The New York Comedy Club.
As an artist, I see no limitations, only challenges. Therefore, when I heard from friends in the entertainment industry that doing stand up comedy, in front of a live audience, is one of the most challenging things to do, if not the most difficult, in the business of entertainment, I realized I had to find out for myself, if this was, in fact, true. So, I convinced the owner of the New York Comedy Club, to let me enter “The Best Comic Standing Competition” in spite of warnings from the owners and seasoned stand-up comic professionals, that the audience would literally, eat me alive and throw me off stage, if my inexperience showed, in the least bit, during my performance as a comedian.
DETAIL FROM, “THE VIRGIN MARY AND LAMBCHOP VISIT AMSTERDAM”, MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II.
Part of being an artist is learning how to fail, because failure comes with risk and without risk, there is no progress and progress comes from learning to cope with the experience of disappointment and without disappointment, an artist can never experience success.
An artist, should always be smart enough to fear failure but strong enough to realize, that hard work and study of craft can minimize the risk. Therefore, as an artist, I listened to the sound advice of modern masters I have met, in my curious passage through this blessed, spectacular lifetime.
When I lived in Beverly Hills, California, I met “The Diceman”, Andrew Dice Clay, and at first I thought he was being insulting when, in front of his manager at a pizza shop on Rodeo Drive, he told me, “If you want to be Hollywood, Victor-Hugo, you have to act Hollywood.”
As a wayward artist, living in the 90210 zip code, The Diceman’s words threw me into a brief but deep depression, that caused me to soul search, while walking the streets of Hollywood alone. Eventually, I ended up at The Backstage Cafe, in Beverly Hills; Ian Copeland’s legendary, hole-in-the-wall club, frequented by the likes of Herbie Hancock, Slash, Sting, Elizabeth Hurley, Sharon Stone, Dr. Dre and Tom Hanks, where L.A.’s top musicians often show up, to jam on their off nights. While trying to make sense of what I perceived to be, Andrew Dice Clay’s insult to my face, Bill Maher, the celebrated comic, spilled a drink on me, while walking upstairs, to the VIP section, at The Backstage Cafe. Mr. Maher immediately apologized and graciously offered to by me a drink. I accepted his offer and joined Bill Maher at his table for an unforgettable learning experience, surrounded by Hollywood aristocracy, that would forever change my worldview and life, as a maverick artist.
At the end of the day, upon reflection, I realized The Diceman had done me a huge favor, because the meaning of what he said sunk in to the fiber of my being and opened my eyes to the reality that there are no rules in art. I learned that Hollywood is an illusion that exists within reality and to be a true artist, I must convey the tangible reality of illusions to audiences clearly and succinctly.
I never thought I would make it to the finals of a stand-up comedy competition but then again, I never thought I would earn my living as an artist, either. I was supposed to be a Doctor, dutifully serving my country and Brothers In Arms, in the United States Navy, after graduating from the prestigious, world famous, leadership laboratory in Annapolis, Maryland known as, the U.S. Naval Academy.
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY MIDSHIPMAN OFFICER VICTOR-HUGO VACA II (USNA CLASS OF 93)
Alas, life has a funny way of happening when you least expect it and so I found myself, alone, on a beautiful beach in Florida, practicing my stand-up comedy routine, in front of an audience of sharks and fish, in the ocean.
JANUARY 2012 HAPPY HERALD FEATURING COVER STORY ON BEACHFRONT PROPERTY OF THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR- HUGO VACA II
For six years, God blessed me with the opportunity to live on a pristine beachfront property on Millionaires Row in Florida.
HAPPY HERALD ARTICLE DESCRIBING THE LABYRINTH OF CREATIVITY ON THE BEACH, WHERE THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II LIVED AND BREATHED ART, IN NATURE.
The surrounding, undeveloped area, afforded me the unique opportunity to soak in the inspiration of my natural environment, without the clutter of distractions, chaos and noise from the outside world.
OASIS THAT PROVIDED SERENITY AND INSPIRATION FOR THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II TO MATURE AS AN ARTIST.
I created masterpieces and developed my stature as a modern-art-gonzo-journalist reflecting on the human condition through the Modern Art Music Movement (MAMM).™
ARTICLE DESCRIBING THE LIFESTYLE OF MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II.
For hours and days before my performances, I studied comics at home, on tv and practiced the timing and nuances of my carefully crafted routine, in front of the flying fish and circling nurse sharks, that served as my captive audience, in the ocean. I figured, if the sharks didn’t bite and the fish were jumping, it meant my comedy routine wasn’t half bad.
BEACH WHERE THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II PRACTICED HIS STAND UP COMEDY ROUTINES CAN BE SEEN IN THIS REAL ESTATE AD.
To my amazement, I made it past the first couple of rounds and into the finals of “The Best Comic Standing” competition. It’s not that I doubted myself, because I had practiced and was sure of my ability, at least in front of the fish and sharks, but the New York Comedy Club competition was full of lifelong talent, that graciously embraced me as a newcomer on the comedy circuit and I didn’t think I could compete against such seasoned professionals, all I was looking for was the experience, to be quite honest.
Winning posed a new set of problems, because it meant having to come up with seven minutes of new material every week, to move on to the next round and I wasn’t sure the fish and sharks could take any more of my nonsensical babbling every day in practice. The secret of stand up comedy is making the scripted material seem off-the-cuff. That, and winning the audience over immediately, for if you don’t have the audience in the palm of your hand, within the first fifteen seconds of your performance, the remaining time on stage will seem like an eternity in hell, for anyone attempting to do stand up comedy.
An angry audience can make a great white shark seem like Santa Clause and scar an artist for life, if one is not prepared to fall hard, on the sharp knife of failure, without a safety net. Stand up comedy is not for the insecure, timid or faint of heart but I can honestly say it was one of the most thrilling and rewarding experiences of my remarkable life. In closing, I will say this, when people laugh at you, it hurts to the very core of ones soul, which is why bullying is so dangerous and unacceptable in any civil society; on the flip side, one of the most satisfying things in life is to witness people laughing with you, it warms my heart to see people smile.
The following is footage from one of my performances at The New York Comedy Club during “The Best Comic Standing Competition”. I understand there is footage of my other stand up performances, floating around somewhere, in the ether of the internet, and if I ever find those clips, I will gladly share them with you as well, if you wish.
In A Global Market Saturated With Counterfeit Paintings, Produced By Master Fabricators, Semen Serves To Authenticate Victor-Hugo Collection DNA Series of Artwork For Savvy Fine Art Collectors.
Dafen, China is home to 5,000 artists who produce dozens of replicas weekly, collectively churning out more than half of the oil paintings produced in the entire world each year. Over 5 million paintings a year are produced legally under Chinese Law where works of art fall out of copyright protection after fifty years.
“A WOMAN ALWAYS SEES WHAT SHE WANTS TO IN A MAN” (48X48) DNA SERIES, MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM, BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II. (5-21-05)
Fine art forgeries can be purchased for forty dollars on every street corner in the village of Dafen, which was founded in the 1990’s by twenty artists, trained at art academies, and a businessman.
“HANDJOB” (36X36) DNA SERIES, MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II. (1-19-05)
For roughly the price of a high-end Kindle, you can get a near perfect replica of Vincent Van Gogh’s, Starry Night or Leonardo DaVinci’s, Mona Lisa in the United States. For that reason, the Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II mixes his body fluids with paint, to safeguard the investment of fine art collectors who wish to ensure the authenticity of his unique works of modern-art-gonzo-journalism.
“BLEEDING WOMAN” (36X36) DNA SERIES, MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM, BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II. (2-2-05)
The DNA Series premiered at the controversial “Ground Zero” exhibit in 2005 during Art Basel Miami Week, to critical acclaim.
RARE, COLLECTOR’S ITEM POSTCARD, PROMOTING THE CONTROVERSIAL “GROUND ZERO” EXHIBIT, WHICH INTRODUCED A GLOBAL AUDIENCE TO VICTOR-HUGO VACA II’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DNA SERIES, AS SEEN ON MAJOR TELEVISION NETWORKS.
The DNA Series was inspired by, “Piss Christ”, a 1987 photograph by the American artist and photographer Andres Serrano and Chris Ofili’s “The Holy Virgin Mary”, a mixed-media painting depicting a black Madonna decorated with elephant manure which sold at auction at Christie’s in London for 2.9 million pounds ($4.6 million).
‘THE DEAD COCK” (30X30) DNA SERIES, MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM, BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II, WAS SOLD, AT AUCTION, ON JANUARY 29, 2009 AT “THE HIDEAWAY BEACH CLUB”, IN MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA, AS PART OF THE PRESTIGIOUS, “WET PAINT LIVE”, AN ANNUAL CHARITY EVENT, CREATED TO BENEFIT EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS, ORGANIZED BY THE LEADERSHIP MARCO ALUMNI UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MARCO ISLAND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND MARY LEE MAPOTHER, ACTOR, TOM CRUISE’S MOTHER. (1-21-05)
When people protested, the City of New York and Mayor Giuliani brought a court case against the Brooklyn Museum, in an attempt to evict and withdraw the annual, $7 million City Hall museum grant, for exhibiting, “The Holy Virgin Mary”, which, then Mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani, described as, “sick”and “disgusting”. The museum director, Arnold L. Lehman, then filed a federal lawsuit against Mayor Rudolph Giuliani for a breach of the First Amendment and the Brooklyn Museum won the court case.
“THE FINALE”(30X30) DNA SERIES, MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II. (2-9-05)
“When I heard artists were using blood, vomit and feces to create works of art, I thought that was disgusting.” Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II said. “I thought semen would be a better body fluid to work with, fortunately, my girlfriends agreed, so they helped me rub a few out and…well, the rest is history.”
“FOR JENNIFER” DNA SERIES, MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II.
The Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II is often referred to as, “The Artist Of Rock And Roll Stars And Celebrities“, because his works of art are in the collection of such notable public and entertainment industry figures as:
Don King – Boxing promoter
Tito Puente Jr. – Musician
Doug Bell – Musician (Lead Singer Bellevue Cadillac, The Cars, J Geils Band)
Skunk Baxter – Musician (The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan)
Rick Derringer – Musician (The McCoys)
Leroy Romans – Musician (Third World, The Wailers)
Fran Sheehan – Musican (Boston)
Barry Goudreau – Musican (Boston)
Robert “Mousey” Thompson – Musician (James Brown Band)
Danny Beissel – Musician (Fosterchild)
Robin Zander – Musician (Lead Singer Cheap Trick)
Simba – Artist
James Enders – Artist (International Pop Art Guru)
DJ Josh Wetherington – Musician/Producer
DJ Rob Malone – Musician/Producer
Dan Pacini – Musician ( The Baker Act, Dirty Foot, Shoram Fusion)
Guy Le Houx – Business mogul and restaurant magnate
Robert Sadler – Wall Street Stock Trader
Julien Manival – French Nightclub Impresario
Gerry Kelly – South Beach Night Club Impresario
Oliver Geddes – Canadian Nightclub and restaurant magnate
Fred Thompson – Actor (Law & Order), U.S. Rep. Senator, Lawyer on Watergate Committee, Radio Host
H-Love Eggers – Radio Show Host
Jeff Goldblum – Actor (The Fly, Independence Day, Jurassic Park)
Bill Johnson – Founding board member of the House of Blues
Barnaby Ruhe Ph.D. – Artist, Shaman, NYU Professor
Albie Monterrosa – Musician (Lead Singer deSol, Albie and the Neighborhood, MonteRosa Band, Love At The Bodega)
James Guerrero – Musician (deSol)
Shy Figaro – Fashion Designer
Neal Fox – Composer, Filmmaker, Artist, Activist, Musician (Polydor, RCA Victor), Top Ten Dance Club Hit, “In the Jungle”
Robin Fox – Musician, Top Ten Dance Club Hit, “I See Stars”
Naughty Natalia – Radio & TV Personality, Author, Entrepreneur
Kerry Walsh – Internationally Renowned Opera Singer, TV, Theater and Film Actress
Gene Degollada – Business Mogul, Founder Stuttgart International Auto
Belinda Carlisle – Musician (Lead Singer The Go-Go’s)
Jane Wieidlin – Musician (The Go-Go’s), Actress (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure)
Dave Wakeling – Musican (Lead Singer The English Beat, General Public)
W. Nelson Lewis – Media maven, TV Personality (FOX News Greta Live Wire), Journalist, Television Producer (FOX News Laura Ingraham Show, FOX News Greta Van Susteren, GOLF Channel)
Michael Posner – Movie Maven, Delray Beach Film Festival Founder
Roger A. Bauman – Wolfsonian Museum Advisory Board Member, Entrepreneur, Business Mogul (Baumann Cosmetic Dermatology)
MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR HUGO PAINTING MALE FEMALE FUSION CREATED ON STAGE AT VOODOO LOUNGE IN FILM ABOUT DOMESTIC TERRORIST DRONE STRIKES.
The Modern Art Music Movement™ painting titled, “Male/Female Fusion” appeared on the ABC Television Network’s dance show titled, “Club TV” and in the independent film, “Death By Remote Control”, an American made thriller, about a serial killer, terrorizing a metropolis, with deadly drones.
BROOKLYN MURPHY AND THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II CO-STARRED IN THE AWARD WINNING (BEST FILM), “48 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL”, GRIND-HOUSE THRILLER TITLED, “THE ART OF ROADKILL”.
“Male/Female Fusion” was created on stage September 5, 2008 during the ABC Club TV Modern Art Music Movement™ MAMM Jam in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at The Voodoo Lounge, with Modern Art Music Movement™ artists Brooklyn Murphy & Victor-Hugo Vaca Jr. , performing live art intuition with a sensual twist, simultaneously, for both the television show and film, in front of a live audience.
“MALE/FEMALE FUSION” HAS BEEN REMIXED, DIGITALLY, BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II, IN LIMITED EDITION SIGNED/AUTOGRAPHED Lithograph PRINTS.
IN “THE ART OF ROADKILL”, BROOKLYN MURPHY AND THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO PLAY DETECTIVES STRUGGLING TO SOLVE A SERIES OF BIZARRE MURDERS WITH AN ARTISTIC TWIST.
“Male/Female Fusion” actually appeared in two films; the independent horror film titled, “Death By Remote Control”, about a psychopath terrorizing suburban communities with his deadly, home-made drones and also in, “The Last Hit”, an award-winning mob flick available on DVD at major retailers like Wal-Mart and Target and on popular streaming networks like Amazon Prime, Hulu and Epix.
THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II HAD THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY OF, CROSS POLLINATING FILM CHARACTERS, BY PLACING THE HOMELESS ORACLE HE PORTRAYED IN THE CULT CLASSIC, “CRACKHEAD JESUS: THE MOVIE”, INTO THE STORYLINE OF “THE LAST HIT”.
“The Last Hit” is the story of hitman, Simon Carson, who earns his wages as an elite killer for a local crime syndicate. When he’s given an assignment to kill a young girl, he takes matters into his own hands, with revenge in his heart, and decides to protect and save her instead. The Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II has a cameo with dialogue, as a homeless war veteran suffering from PTSD, in the audience favorite at several international film festivals including the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) and La Romana International Film Festival (LRIFF) in the Dominican Republic.
“THE LAST HIT” AND “CRACKHEAD JESUS: THE MOVIE” BOTH SCREENED AT THE “LA ROMANA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL” AND BOTH MOTION PICTURES WERE AWARDED TROPHIES, BEST FILM AND BEST SCREENPLAY, RESPECTIVELY.
“Male/Female Fusion” was manifested on building plans for a U.S. veterans hospital that was never constructed, due to the Wall Street bank bailout, that shattered the U.S. economy and sent negative reverberations throughout the global banking industry.
BEHIND THE SCENES/ ART SECRETS: RAW, UNEDITED IMAGE OF, “MALE/FEMALE FUSION”, A MODERN ART MUSIC MOVEMENT WORK OF MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM, CREATED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE EPIDEMIC OF ECONOMIC FRAUD, THAT MANIFESTED ECONOMIC TERRORISM ON WALL STREET THAT HAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED 99% OF THE HUMAN POPULATION.
Scene from, “Death By Remote Control”, featuring Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II and Brooklyn Murphy as featured in the USA Today Network article, “Artist Victor Hugo Creates Diary Of World On Canvas” .
Scene from the award-winning, “48 Hour Film Festival”, grind house flick, “The Art Of Roadkill” starring Brooklyn Murphy and Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II.
Scene from the award-winning film, “The Last Hit”, featuring Modern Art Music Movement™ works of art including “Male/Female Fusion”. The climax of the movie was filmed at the beachfront home of the Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II known as the “Labyrinth of Creativity On The Beach” on Hillsboro Mile A.K.A., “Millionaires Row”, a unique, scenic, yacht-lined, exclusive, one mile beach community, inhabited by artists, actors, musicians, CEO’s, Football Team Owners, Sultans and Queens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeI4zNuSULM
Movie trailer, for the award-winning film, “The Last Hit”, featuring cameo by Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II, in the role he created for, “Crackhead Jesus: The Movie”, of a war veteran, suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), that serves as an oracle for protagonists in both films.
“The Last Hit” features artwork and a cameo by Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II. The action packed film is available on DVD and on major streaming outlets like HULU and Amazon Prime.
“WOMAN”, SEEN ON BIG SCREEN IN AWARD WINNING ACTION-DRAMA, ”THE LAST HIT”: Film Features Popular DNA Series Painting, By Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II, In Hit Movie Climax.
Marathon All-Star MAMM Jam Creates “Muse 4 Haiti” To Benefit Earthquake Victims Through The Figaro Angel Network.
On January 12, 2010 Haiti was struck by an earthquake that measured 7.0 magnitude.”Muse 4 Haiti” (38×53) was created on January 8, 2011 at the NBC Omni Auditorium at the Haiti Memorial Concert.
THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II JOINED AN ALL-STAR LINE UP OF INTERNATIONAL TALENT TO RAISE MONEY FOR EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS.
Over 220,000 people were killed and over 300,000 people were injured on January 12, 2010 in Haiti .
MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II, ON STAGE, PERFORMING A SIX-HOUR MARATHON, MODERN ART MUSIC MOVEMENT, AT THE ALL-STAR MAMM JAM HAPPENING, WITH AN INTERNATIONAL LINE UP, OF TALENTED MUSICIANS, AT THE NBC OMNI AUDITORIUM, TO BENEFIT HAITI EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS.
The Haiti earthquake left more than 1.5 million homeless survivors.
MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR- HUGO VACA II PERFORMED WITH 14 ARTISTS TO CREATE THE PAINTING TITLED, “MUSE 4 HAITI”.
Five years later, tens of thousands of people in Port-au-Prince still live in tents and other temporary housing.
MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II CHANNELS THE MUSE INTO LIFE ON STAGE.
$13.5 billion in humanitarian aid from donations and pledges was raised from nations and private charity after the catastrophic 2010 Haiti Earthquake.
IN BETWEEN SETS, THE “MUSE 4 HAITI” BEGINS TO TAKE FORM ON STAGE.
The hypocrisy of philanthropy, political correctness and weak journalism fueled by greed, is such that, according to the Washington-based Center for Economic Policy and Research, less than a penny of every dollar goes directly to Haitian organizations. Thus, meaning that billions in relief and recovery aid, haven’t been enough to rescue Haiti from chronic corruption, which has enabled a tangible failure to manifest improvements that, in a better world, would have been brought to fruition, with all the available resources and goodwill.
MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II PLEADS WITH AUDIENCE FOR DONATIONS TO AID IN RECOVERY.
As a consequence of the earthquake, over the past four years, cholera has struck more than 720,000 Haitians and killed almost 9,000 people in Haiti.
“MUSE 4 HAITI” BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II
The Modern Art Music Movement™ (MAMM) is an International Coalition of Artists, Musicians, Filmmakers, and Professionals using art, music, movies and live mixed-media events to raise awareness about social issues not normally investigated on mainstream-media news outlets and to promote new talent and compassionate wealth, through art and education across the multi-universe.
MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II WITH TITO PUENTE JR. BACKSTAGE.
The Modern Art Music Movement™ (MAMM) fuses art and music to inspire creativity, cooperation, compassionate wealth, clear communication, conflict resolution and peace-making-innovation in the New World Order.
KING WAWA, SEAN HILL, TITO PUENTE JR. AND MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II BACKSTAGE AT THE HAITI MEMORIAL CONCERT.
The Modern Art Music Movement™ (MAMM) affords artists the opportunity to capture history, on canvas; manifested in Rorschach interpretations, created as mixed-media-performance-art, that fuses live music with art and movies in performances at multi-media events called MAMM Jams.
MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II WITH MUSES BACKSTAGE AT HAITI MEMORIAL CONCERT.
The following SFL news report, appeared on the CW Network; it features the Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II performing a Modern Art Music Movement™ MAMM Jam Happening with Tito Puente Jr., Belo, Donta Wilson, King Wawa, Jahnesta, Mecca aka Grimo, Violeta Leskyte, Katalog, Misty Jean, Sunlove, Tonton Bicha, Alaye aka Zoerock, Harold St. Louis, Shirley Desgrottes, Robert Martino & The Lander Sisters at the Haiti Memorial Concert in South Florida.
“Live-Love-Flow-Shine.” – Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II
MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II IN THE LABYRINTH OF CREATIVITY.
And now, for something completely different; sort of.
The New York Post, which some critics consider a rag, recently published an article by Michael Goodwin titled, “American Journalism Is Collapsing Before Our Eyes.”
IT IS NO WONDER THAT PUBLIC TRUST IN NEWS MEDIA IS ALL BUT EXTINGUISHED WHEN JOURNALISM IS FUNDAMENTALLY DISHONEST IN REPORTING EDITORIAL OPINION AS FACT AND TRUTH.
The New York Times has thrown out standards and violated all journalistic integrity in favor of echoing the Whitehouse and Hillary Clinton campaign.
AMERICAN FLAG VICTOR HUGO VACA II
The New York Times echoed the false premise of weapons of mass destruction, spoon-fed by Colin Powell and the Bush Whitehouse, to careless New York Times editors who published articles encouraging war in Iraq, without fact checking.
MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM PAINTING, “THE THREE SOLDIERS” REPORTED THE WAR IN IRAQ AS BOTH AN INVASION AND A FARCE, BEFORE IT WAS CHIC, AT THE 2006 “CONTINUE TO DESCEND” EXHIBIT FEATURING WORK BY JEFF KOONS AND MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II, AS NOTED IN THE NY ARTS MAGAZINE ARTICLE BY KATE HICKEY.
History will tell that bad reporting by The New York Times was partially responsible for the United States Invasion of Iraq and the continuing quagmire that exists in the Middle East, which is now bleeding heavily into Europe and on American soil.
“GOD SPOKE BUT INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS WERE ALL LAID OFF, SO NOBODY LEARNED A THING.” MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM STORY BOARD DRAWING BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II.
Instead of using investigative journalism to confirm facts properly before publishing content as a beacon of news and information for public trust, The New York Times, Miami Herald and Fort Myers News Press, to name a few, appear to be practicing copy and paste journalism that makes modern-art-gonzo-journalism seem more like Jon Stewart’s, “The Daily Show”, to cultured Millennials.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT BETWEEN 6-10% OF REVENUE, ACTUALLY GOES TO CHARITY, IN “THE CLINTON FOUNDATION”, EVEN LESS IN FLY BY NIGHT CHARITIES, THAT EXPLOIT HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, WOMEN AND VETERANS FOR POLITICAL FAVORS AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT.
“I mean, honestly, the question, I think, now for the Clintons is, ‘What else don’t we know? What don’t we know about your donors? What don’t we know about the conflicts of interest that those donors represent when Mrs. Clinton is serving as Secretary of State?’ We are now finding out that so little of those charitable donations actually go to charitable works.” – Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina
2013 ANNUAL REVENUE OF THE CLINTON FOUNDATION WAS $149 MILLION OF WHICH $9 MILLION OR 6% ACTUALLY MADE ITS WAY TO CHARITY IN GRANTS, ALLEGEDLY.
To be fair, according to Katherina Rosqueta, the founding executive director of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania, “There is an important distinction between an operating foundation vs. a non-operating foundation; An operating foundation implements programs so money it raises is not designed to be used exclusively for grant-making purposes. When most people hear ‘foundation’, they think exclusively of a grant-making entity. In either case, the key is to understand how well the foundation uses money — whether to implement programs or to grant out to nonprofits.”
THE UNDECIDED VOTER
Katherina Rosqueta, The Undecided Voter notices, is suggesting the Clinton Foundation is an “operating foundation.”
“THE GONIF INSIDE” MODERN-ART-GONZO-JOURNALISM STORY BOARD DRAWING BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II.
The Clinton Foundation allegedly spent 12 percent of its revenue on travel and conferences and 20 percent of its revenue on salaries.
GONIFS COLLUDE WITH JOURNALISTS TO BAMBOOZLE DO-GOODERS INTO EXPLOITING THE FEEBLE MINDED AND WEAK IN SACRIFICE OF PUBLIC TRUST.
Mr. Bill was a friend of mine. When he needed shelter, I housed him. When he needed food, I fed him. One day, Mr. Bill called to ask a favor of me.
“The All Stars are getting together again, would you like to be part of the reunion?” He asked.
I recalled the thrill of being on stage, in front of thousands of cheering fans in Fort Myers, Florida, using my gift of synesthesia to interpret wavelengths and frequencies of music in color on canvas, with rock & roll legends, who collectively, sold over half a billion records worldwide.
“Is it going to be like the first time?” I asked.
“ALL STAR MAMM JAM” BY MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II.
“Yes.” He answered. “Only this time, it will be to benefit handicapped children. My girlfriend’s son has autism. He attends the Able Academy in Naples. I wondered if you wouldn’t mind working with them the day before the show at the school. The band is going to be there and so is FOX News. At the concert, I’ll make sure the stage is set up properly. If you don’t mind, we’ll bring the kids up and let them paint with you during one of the songs. You can stay with the band at the beachfront mansion I rented and I’ll cover your travel expenses. What do you say, can you do it?”
“Sure.” I answered.
“Oh, and after we perform for the children in Naples, we’re scheduled for a gig in Fort Myers, at the opening game of spring training for the World Series champions, the Boston Red Sox.” Mr. Bill paused before continuing. “So, you’ll be there too, right? You can create three Modern Art Music Movement paintings to commemorate the All Star weekend.”
“Yeah, sure, no problem. I’ll be there for all three MAMM Jams”
After hanging up with Mr. Bill, I got a phone call from my best friend Todd in New York, a huge Orthodox Jew that looks like an albino gorilla wearing a yamaka. He’s a wrestling champion, nicknamed, “The Hebrew Hammer”, who plays the harmonica with chutzpa and soul.
“My friend just invited me to a VH1 Fashion Week Party full of notable celebrities, he’s one of the performing artists, so it’s going to be VIP all the way, you want to come? VH1 gave him a suite at the Times Square Marriott, there’s plenty of room, you can be my guest.” Todd said.
“I would love to.” I answered, before realizing that the dates conflicted with the bond I had given to my friend Mr. Bill for sake of the children at the Able Academy. “Why don’t you join me in Fort Myers for an All-Star MAMM Jam with former members of Boston, Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Third World, The Wailers and The James Brown Band, to benefit mentally handicapped children? I’ll tell Mr. Bill I’m bringing you as my guest and you can stay with me at the beachfront mansion he’s renting for the band.”
“You sure it’s going to be alright, remember, I’m Kosher, what about Shabbat?”
“ Dude, they’re rock legends, not anti-semites.”
“Alright, I’ll buy my ticket to fly down to your Labyrinth of Creativity on the beach near Miami. I’ll rent a big car for us to drive across Alligator Alley together, as long as you make sure I can celebrate my Weekly Holy Day.”
“You got it, Todd. I promise.”
So began my covenant with the Able Academy kids and my friends, never realizing that my commitment would lead to a series of events that left me afraid of charity and suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
CHAPTER ONE: THE SPECIAL ARTIST FROM NYC
The day before meeting the Able Academy kids in Naples, I was scheduled to appear on WRPBI-TV, which broadcasts out of Boca Raton, Florida, to promote the All Star event in Fort Myers. Prior to my interview, on a show titled, “Out Of The Haze with Bryan Hayes”, I was introduced to Snow, a Canadian Reggae Musician, whose song, “Informer”, has been recorded twice in the “Guinness Book Of World Records” as the best selling reggae single in U.S. History, as well as the highest charting reggae single in history, after spending seven consecutive weeks at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993.
I signed an autograph for Snow’s daughter talked to his manager, invited them all to the event in Fort Myers and next thing I knew, I was being asked intimate questions about my career as a “maverick artist” on a soundstage, in front of a television camera. According to Todd, who watched the show on a monitor backstage, the half-hour interview was “perfect”.
Outside, the weather was beyond nasty, torrential downpours and lightning strikes peppered the day and were forecast deep into the night. My trip across Alligator Alley to Fort Myers would be a dangerous journey. Thunder struck as Todd and I exited the television station, making a mad dash for the rental car, through deep puddles, under umbrellas that failed to keep us dry. Soaked, we began our adventure to the west coast of Florida, in the name of charity.
Halfway over the treacherous road that cuts through the Everglades, I received a text message from Mr. Bill advising me that Skunk Baxter, formerly of the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan, had arrived at the Fort Myers beachfront mansion with his grandchildren, which meant there was no room for Todd and I.
There are no U-turns or exits on Alligator Alley, it’s one- way in and one-way out so, we had no choice but to stay the course. The weather was grave, as we drove cautiously through the darkness of night with little road visibility, in spite of glaring high beams, that only shined light on our immediate predicament. I could not respond to Mr. Bill’s untimely message in the midst of such severe weather because of our remote location, in the middle of the Everglades, which offered no cell phone reception.
After a grueling five and a half-hour road trip, Todd and I made it to Mr. Bill’s home near the Henry Ford and Thomas Edison estates in Fort Myers. My cell phone battery was dead, so I knocked on the door and asked Mr. Bill’s housekeeper to notify him of our arrival. I smiled at Todd, when I noticed the framed painting of, “Cristomujer”, which I had personally signed and gifted to Mr. Bill when he last stayed at my home as a houseguest, hanging prominently on his living room wall. Todd and I looked at framed photographs of Mr. Bill standing side by side with every single United States President since Richard Nixon and other notables in the music and entertainment world, as his voice carried over the cell phone speaker of his house-keeper.
“Don’t send them over to the beach house.” Mr. Bill said, unaware that he was on speakerphone.
“Shall I set them up here?” The housekeeper asked, with an embarrassed look on his face.
“No! Let them sleep in the fixer-upper.”
“But, there’s no beds or furniture, there’s no hot water or locks on the doors. Are you sure? There’s plenty of room here.”
“I don’t want them staying at the house, do what I tell you.” Mr. Bill said firmly before ending the call abruptly.
“I thought you said this guy was your friend?” Todd asked.
“He is.” I said, with a confused look on my face, as I dripped onto Mr. Bill’s wooden floor in front of his housekeeper, who looked back at me with pity.
“There’s a mattress in the garage. The garage is full of junk. If you guys help me, we can take the mattress out, put it in my truck, and you both can sleep on it over at the fixer-upper.”
An hour later, after wiping cobwebs and spiders off a stained mattress in the middle of a thunderstorm, we arrived at what appeared to be a crack house near the Edison Estate in Fort Myers. There were no blinds, shades or window treatments for privacy. Puddles riddled rooms in fluid Rorschach shapes from leaks in the ceiling. A blood red stain covered the kitchen floor in the manner of a human body drawn by Keith Haring, which made the place appear like a crime scene.
“You’ll have to climb through the window.” Mr. Bill’s housekeeper announced before exiting through the dank garage.
“I thought I heard you say there was no locks on the doors.” Todd interjected.
“Well, I don’t have keys for the padlocks used to secure the front and back exits, so, you’ll have to climb through the window if you really got to get out, otherwise, just come and go through the garage.” Mr. Bill’s housekeeper said in visible breaths that sliced through the pungent smell of mildew permeating the carport. “Doors broke, so it’s always open.”
“Are you serious?” Todd asked, looking at me sternly.
“Oh, and the toilets don’t work.” Mr. Bill’s housekeeper paused before adding, “And, I wouldn’t drink the water either, it’s brown.”
Todd and I were out of there, back into the storm, without a place to rest, hours before I was supposed to perform for handicapped children in Naples and thousands of classic rock and Boston Red Sox fans in Fort Myers.
After Midnight, we showed up at the beachfront mansion, where we were initially supposed to stay. I called Mr. Bill, to let him know we were outside but he didn’t answer the phone. Minutes later, he responded with a text message that read, “You can’t stay here. Don’t ring the bell, you’ll wake the band”.
Todd and I stared in disbelief, through buckets of rain being scattered by windshield wipers, at a huge RV that could easily sleep a dozen people, parked outside the beachfront mansion, while I contacted my manager to explain the situation.
“Can you find us a hotel?” I pleaded.
Half an hour later, my manager called back to say that all hotels in the Fort Myers area were booked. She said she would try to find us a hotel within a hundred mile radius and call back once she had secured a room for us.
In that time, Todd received a call from his friend, who had just finished performing at the VH1 fashion show in New York City, he was on speakerphone, so I could hear every detail of how awesome the event was and how amazing the star-studded after-party was going. I slumped into the seat as Todd stared down at me. I felt like such a shmuck.
“Why don’t you guys fly over on the red eye? There are hot models everywhere! I’ve got a suite at the Marriott Times Square for the weekend, the party’s just begun!”
Finally, around 2 a.m., my manager called with reservations for a hotel in Naples, not far from the Able Academy, where I was supposed to arrive at 8 a.m. to rehearse for my 9 o’clock performance with the All Stars in front of FOX News cameras and a roomful of handicapped children. The hotel was about two hours away, according to the GPS. It would cost me $287.00 to rest my head for a few hours, or I could hop on a flight with Todd and be in Manhattan, cavorting with A-list celebrities and models all weekend.
“It’s up to you.” Todd said. “I can drive us to the airport or to the hotel. Mr. Bill doesn’t sound like a very good friend and I don’t think he’s going to honor his word. Let’s cut our losses and get out of here.”
“Yeah, but I promised these kids. My manager says they’ve been studying my work for weeks and are looking forward to meeting me.” I answered, not sure why I cared, since, I don’t have children of my own and I much prefer partying with women than I do playing with kids. My instinct told me to get on a plane to New York and live like a party animal for the weekend but my heart told me to do the right thing and stay for the youngsters at the Able Academy.
Darkness shifted from crimson to amethyst before turning azure in the heaven above, shining a bright light in my eyes through the window shades, as the alarm went off, two hours after falling asleep. Todd stayed in bed; there was no waking him up. My brain was mush from lack of rest and my body ached from being trapped in a car for over ten hours. When I arrived at the Able Academy, the director of the school told me that Mr. Bill had just called to inform her that the All Star Band was not coming and since the band had cancelled, FOX News decided to abort the affair as well.
I had never worked with handicapped children before in my life. Without a clue, I told the director of the school to follow my lead and we would make something special happen for the rising generation. I determined the disabled kids would get a MAMM Jam, with or without Mr. Bill and his All Star Band.
“The show must go on”, I thought, through all the confusion. So, I grabbed some canvas, paints and brushes, out of the trunk of my car; found a radio and some strobe lights and hustled into the Able Academy as a text message from my manager came in, reminding me not to be late for the “Boston Strong MAMM Jam” , honoring victims of the Boston bombing at the Boston Red Sox Spring Training opener in Fort Myers at noon.
I told the school director that I only had two hours before having to rush over to the stadium. She said it wasn’t enough time to spend with all the kids and that they would be disappointed because they had spent weeks examining my work in anticipation of my arrival.
I suggested doubling the number of youngsters I would work with at a time and she said that would be impossible because mentally handicapped children could be uncomfortable and unpredictable in large groups. She warned me that even with the most experienced of teachers and professional counselors, they could get violent or unruly. I told her we didn’t have a choice and so my spontaneous adventure in art therapy with the special kids at the Able Academy began.
CHAPTER TWO – BOSTON STRONG
“All interesting artists are autodidacts.” – Massimiliano Gioni
In some Italian provinces, the word ‘artist’ is a synonym for dunce. An artist must walk a tightrope between being perceived as an illustrious nobody or a famous intellectual by critics disguised as cultural sycophants in an arena filled with smoke and mirrors. Being a creator is not a career for fragile egos, so to be a virtuoso, one must have thick skin.
I have been called all sorts of things by critics, not all of them complimentary, but I survive and my work will live on, long after my corporal being exits this plane of existence, in the expanding multi-universe.
In 2005, after performing a MAMM Jam with Rhythmm Epkins, drummer for “The English Beat”, and founder of the R&B funk group, “Mind, Body & Soul”, to raise money for the mentally handicapped, at a sold-out show in Bakersfield, California, where the first five rows were reserved for the mentally challenged, who were the most appreciative audience I have ever had the pleasure of performing in front of, I became known, by some critics, as, “Victor-Hugo: The Artist of Retards”.
When I performed MAMM Jams during 2009 Art Basel Week in Miami, Florida to sold-out, standing room only crowds attending the infamous, “Crackhead Jesus: The Second Coming Art Exhibition”, at the “Buck 15 Gallery Lounge” on Lincoln Road, a large group of women from Weight Watchers joined me onstage while I painted the unique moment on canvas, at which point, I became known, by some critics, as, “Victor-Hugo: The Artist of Fat Chicks and Retards”.
Some call me, “The Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo” others call me, “The Maverick Meatball”. Whatever the case, I’m happy. However, as I am an artist/activist birthed from a business background, I’ve come to notice that artists are often treated like “The-Retards-of-the-Business-World” instead of sober-entrepreneurs, by some ignorant top brass. Though, thankfully, not all influence makers exploit an artists’ passion, those who choose to dim the light instead of fueling the soul, manifest dark energy that fills the multi-universe, all this, in spite of knowing that entertainment is, in fact, like any other business, an industry that must flow perpetually, in balance of soul currency, to exist infinitely.
Art is not cheap to create. It takes effort, ingenuity and time and since time is money, if I had a Bitcoin, for every time someone, like Mr. Bill, told me, “Why don’t you perform for free, it’ll be good exposure?” or, “How about giving me one of your paintings, for free, to hang in my mansion, so all my filthy-rich friends can see your work, while smoking weed?” I’d be a tycoon of Rothschild proportions.
Do these unenlightened moguls ask Doctors to perform surgery for free or ask lawyers to satisfy their legal issues, free of charge, because it’s good practice?
I don’t think so. An artist must always risk failure, for failure is part of the process but that doesn’t mean creators should accept the status quo of double-dealing in business matters or any other affairs. An artist has class mobility, for that reason, particularly in a disturbed society, a virtuoso must ask the right questions, open consciousness, raise awareness and elevate minds.
An artist should serve mankind, for that reason, humanity should not become complacent with the profiteering of an artist because a true artist can be childlike forever and the exploitation of children is detrimental to any culture pursuing Enlightenment. Some muddled people feel the world doesn’t need artists because art doesn’t meet our basic needs to survive but that’s bogus; art fuels the soul currency of human capital that trumps any banknote or material treasure.
These thoughts raced through my aching head, as I prepared to meet my audience of special children at The Able Academy in Naples, Florida, hours before my gig with the All Stars at the Boston Red Sox Spring Training Opener in Fort Myers, Florida, to honor victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. As if taunting my choice of career, the outstretched, blank canvas, measuring 36 x 71, clipped to the front of a long table turned on it’s side, resting atop another elongated table, stared back at me, screaming, “Fail! Fail! Fail!”
I’ve heard people say that animals can sense fear and weakness. I don’t know what experts say about children with autism but I can tell you this, the moment the Able Academy director opened the door, to let kids into the room where I stood vulnerable, feeling helpless and alone in a cruel world, a beautiful boy ran to me, clasped my knees lovingly and looked up at me like a cherub in a chapel. I felt such overwhelming affection from the pint-sized angel holding a tight grip on me that, in an instant, all the negativity and cynicism inside of me washed away like the Great Flood. I fought back tears in that abstract moment that seemed to last a lifetime because I did not want to break down in front of the celestial beings surrounding me.
One by one, frail angels entered the room, coalescing in the ecstasy of colors, dancing freely with paint and brushes in their tiny hands as they guided me through the purity of love being expressed on canvas without shame, guilt or remorse. I noticed one child slumped in the corner with his face in his hands. He beckoned me with magnificent eyes that stared at me through the cracks in his fingers.
“”Would you like to paint with us?” I asked, as I knelt down before him.
“Art has power.” He said, letting his guard down.
“Yes, it does.” I said as I placed a brush in his hand. “Show me what you can do.”
“Believe in your greatness and it will be the death of your creativity.” He said, taking my hand in his and leading me to the canvas where we melted into the void of color alongside the other offspring.
The joy was so intense, time flew by the way magic moments do and before I knew it the unique experience was over. I said goodbye to the kids, packed my equipment, called Todd, who was patiently waiting outside the hotel after having checked out and assured him I was on my way to get him for the hour-long journey to Fort Myers.
He reminded me that we were running late.
Before leaving, the stunned school director asked me how I had managed to get the catatonic child to speak. She said it was a miracle because the juvenile never spoke to anyone. I told her I communicated with respect and dignity. The innocent confided in me that the adults didn’t understand them and didn’t pay attention, which frankly, was no surprise to me, since out of the mouth of babes comes truth and most adults can’t handle the truth, which is why some adolescents choose to stay silent.
Traffic was at a crawl, leading up to the stadium in Fort Myers. It seemed all of creation had come to cheer for the World Series Champions at the Spring Training Opener. My manager had coordinated for the Boston Red Sox to sign the painting created with the Able Academy children, for the artwork to be auctioned off in their benefit but when I got to the stadium, Mr. Bill chastised me for my manager doing so, claiming she had overstepped her bounds, “It’s my show, damn it!” He stated indefatigably before adding, “Hurry up, you’re late! The band goes on stage in 10 minutes.”
“This is your friend?” Todd said, looking at Mr. Bill with disgust and me with sympathy, as Mr. Bill’s girlfriend Melissa approached me with open arms and a huge smile.
“Oh my God! I heard you got my son to speak, I wish I could have been there.” She said holding back tears.
“Why weren’t you?” I thought to myself, sinking into her warm embrace while Mr. Bill stared back at me with contempt that I could not explain.
One by one, the All Stars embraced me before going on stage. I was reunited with members of Bon Jovi, Boston, The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, The Wailers, Third World, The James Brown Band and Foster Child, none of which were aware of the harrowing experience that had preceded our moment in time before the Boston Red Sox fans in Fort Myers. Like the victims of the Boston bombing, I was determined to carry on, undaunted by adversity, and so I did, creating “Boston Strong” alongside music industry titans, in front of a live audience on February 28, 2014.
The painting, “Boston Strong”, is signed by Bon Jovi’s bass player, Hugh McDonald ; Fran Sheehan, the former bassist and original member of the band Boston; Barry Goudreau, guitarist and original member of the band Boston; Leroy Romans, former keyboard player for Third World and The Wailers; Robert “Mousey” Thompson, drummer for the late James Brown; Danny Beissel of the band Foster Child; B.A.M. (Bad Ass Musician) and Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo.
Philanthropy is great but some charities are a sham whose only purpose is to make money for the producer of the fundraiser. Most charities are legitimate but others exploit children, veterans or the handicapped by using paid fundraisers whose fees eat up most of a donation through loopholes, so very little money is actually shared with those most in need.
In 2013, total giving to charitable organizations was $335.17 billion. Hundreds of charities claim to help the disadvantaged but how much of the money raised actually goes to the cause being donated to and how much cash goes to the fundraiser?
The answer, unfortunately, is almost nothing goes to the motive. Even if regulators try to shut down unscrupulous fundraisers for fooling donors, most operate without fear of reckoning because mainstream media, that survives on the public trust of its audience, has accepted exploitation of the underprivileged as status quo and therefore under reports the fact that very little money makes it to those who need it most when it comes to fundraising.
Case in point, the story of Charles Runnells, who covers arts and entertainment for The News Press in Fort Myers, Florida. When asked to research allegations of fraud by an alleged scammer in his community, focusing on specific causes like handicapped children and disabled veterans to play on the generosity of his readership, Mr. Runnells dismissed the accusation, as not worthy of his time for a thorough, in-depth investigation.
If you are thinking about giving to a charity, beware of fundraisers who: refuse to provide detailed information about identity, mission, costs and how donations will be used; won’t provide proof that a contribution is tax deductible; use high-pressure tactics in shaming you to donate; refuse to provide proof of percentage of donation actually going to the charity; refuse to provide forensic accounting of how much money will be going to the fundraiser, after expenses; are not registered with the state as a charity or fundraiser.
If you think you’ve been the victim of a charity scam, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission or contact your State Attorney. There is no glory in being a stooge. Stand strong in the face of adversity. Your action can help detect patterns of unscrupulousness that may lead to investigations and prosecutions.
I wrote some of what you just read on canvas, in front of Red Sox fans, during my performance at the Boston Strong Modern Art Music Movement (MAMM) Jam in Fort Myers, FL. When I’m on stage, I enter a trance, filling the void with colorful letters that swirl into words that dance in syncopation to the wavelengths and frequencies of sounds that surround me, manifesting sentences that educate audiences in a cacophony of coloring that provides a foundation, for the work of art created to serve as a historical document of the event, for future generations to consider, and digest, in light of the fact that, if you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything, because truth is imprinted on the canvas of life.
If what’s alleged about Bill Cosby is less sweet than a pudding pop, watchdog journalists, like Mark Whitaker, won’t investigate thoroughly; so too when it comes to Mr. Bill in the news press. In 1914, Walter Williams wrote “The Journalist’s Creed”. Essentially, it reads:
I believe in the profession of journalism.
I believe that the public journal is a public trust, that all connected with it are, to the full measure of responsibility, trustees for the public, that all acceptance of lesser service than the public service is a betrayal of trust.
I believe that clear thinking, clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism.
I believe that a journalist should write only what he holds in his heart to be true.
I believe that suppression of the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.
I believe that no one should write as a journalist what he would not say as a gentleman, that bribery by one’s own pocket book is as much to be avoided as bribery by the pocketbook of another, that individual responsibility may not be escaped by pleading another’s instructions or another’s dividends.
I believe that advertising, news and editorial columns should alike serve the best interests of readers; that a single standard of helpful truth and cleanness should prevail for all; that supreme test of good journalism is the measure of its public service.
I believe that the journalism which succeeds the best and best deserves success fears God and honors man; is stoutly independent; unmoved by pride of opinion or greed of power; constructive, tolerant but never careless, self-controlled, patient, always respectful of it’s readers but always unafraid, is quickly indignant at injustice; is unswayed by the appeal of the privilege or the clamor of the mob; seeks to give every man a chance, and as far as law, an honest wage and recognition of human brotherhood can make it so, an equal chance is profoundly patriotic while sincerely promoting international good will and cementing world-comradeship, is a journalism of humanity, of and for today’s world.
Well, that was then and this is now. In the internet age of NBC News Director, Brian Williams, being everywhere but in reality, journalist’s hide behind clips of kittens, puppies and laughing babies trending online, while wiping their asses with the Journalist’s Creed, which is why, I fused Hunter S. Thompson’s gonzo journalism with Salvador Dali’s style of impregnating subliminal messages into psychedelically-poetic-cryptic works of art, to create modern art gonzo journalism for The Lied To Generation through the Modern Art Music Movement (MAMM).
The twenty-four hour news cycle is brimming with cross-legged beauties wearing little more than big smiles while flashing their stately pair of gams for the camera’s voyeuristic gaze as teleprompters feed them the horrific news of the day, before thanking rainbow colored pundits tripping over themselves to avoid saying, “You’re welcome”, in response to the inviting news anchors gratitude for joining the staged broadcast. Instead, we as audience witness talking heads state, with great inflection intimating courteous one-upmanship, “No! Thank you, for having me, on your program.”
One can only imagine the number of viewers who masturbate while watching the news, in a world where titillation has replaced fact and, on that note, with a long, hard stroke of my thick, wet brush I finished painting “Boston Strong” in front of an open-mouthed audience in Fort Myers, Florida, that was begging for more. Alas, there was no encore from the All-Star Band, at the Boston Red Sox Spring Training Home-Opener. The eager crowd got what they deserved and from the satisfied look on their faces, they loved every moment of the MAMM Jam experience.
“What the hell was that?” Mr. Bill asked, when I got off stage.
“Modern art gonzo journalism.” I answered, nonplussed. “I paint the news.”
“Thank God it wasn’t one of your DNA Series.” Mr. Bill shook his head in disgust and walked away muttering. “Sperm painting.”
“Hey Bill, where am I staying tonight? I don’t have a place to rest and last night cost me three hundred bucks out of pocket. What’s up?” I asked the back of Mr. Bill’s head.
“We’ll talk about it later.” Mr. Bill answered, without turning around. “I’m busy.”
At that moment, I remembered a rumor about a friend of mine who plays with The Cars, J Geils Band and The Bellevue Cadillac. Allegedly, Mr. Bill had asked the beloved musician to join the All Star Band for a gig on Wall Street to raise money for wounded veterans but when it came time to reimburse the artist for travel expenses and accommodations, as promised, Mr. Bill failed to honor his word and left the well-respected performer in the red.
It’s a small world and news travels fast about a person’s reputation but all I knew about Mr. Bill at that point was, that like Bill Cosby, both men were highly regarded, well-liked and doted on by those who did not wish to disturb the Natural Order of Things in the entertainment world, so bad press was hard to come by for either man and uttering anything negative about Mr. Bill or Bill Cosby, was simply taboo in the entertainment industry.
I chose to reserve judgment as I stared at Mr. Bill ignoring my concerns in favor of being fawned by fans, backstage, in front of his girlfriend, Melissa. The truth is hard to swallow, so I buried my instinct and threw myself into the only thing that made sense to me at that point; the steady process of cleaning brushes, packing paint cans and breaking down my easel after an exhausting MAMM Jam performance.
THE UNDECIDED VOTER ASKS: IS NEWS MEDIA COLLUDING WITH “THE CLINTON FOUNDATION” AND OTHERS TO EXPLOIT HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, WOMEN AND VETERANS, IN GROSS VIOLATION OF PUBLIC TRUST?
“The Retarded Artist From NYC Gets Call From Mr. Bill Asking Favor To Perform For Abel Academy Kids” by Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II
“I just ran into Taylor Swift Shabbat and Clive Davis, I thought you were catching the red eye. Where the hell are you guys?”
“We’re at the Boston Red Sox game.” Todd answered his animated friend, who was calling from a New York City Fashion Week event.
“Well get your ass over here, Beyonce and Jay-Z invited me to their crib for a V.I.P. after party tonight and they said I can bring some friends.”
“I can’t make it, the Jewish Sabbath is in a few hours and we still don’t have a place to stay. Maybe tomorrow, after Shabbat.”
“What? I thought you said your friend set you up at a beach house with a bunch of rock stars.”
“He did but his friend bailed out on us and now we’re wandering about like vagabonds.”
The crack of a wooden bat smashing a baseball over the fence for a home-run sent the sold-out crowd into a frenzy drowning out the humiliating conversation going on beside me between Todd and his V.I.P. friend in Manhattan. I could hear every word screaming out of his cell phone as my Android vibrated to alert me that my manager was calling.
“You’re not going to believe this.” My manager said when I answered her call. “Mr. Bill told me to have Todd pay for a hotel but there are no hotels, it’s season, everything is booked.”
“What?” I answered in disbelief as Todd ended his call and eavesdropped on my conversation.
“Mr. Bill said, Todd’s Jewish.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” I asked.
“Mr. Bill said, there’s no such thing as a poor Jew, therefore,” My manager sounded stunned by his logic.
“I assume, he figured…”
“I knew it. Mr. Bill’s an anti-semite! He looked at me kind of funny when we met. Stop being a cheap Jew and pay for a hotel.” Todd growled at me as he rearranged the black yamaka, adorned with the Star of David, on his head.
“Hot dogs! Peanuts! Get your hot dogs and peanuts here.” The vendor shouted as timber splintered after colliding with a baseball that flew over the fence sending hearts soaring for the World Series champions who manifested another point on the scoreboard as, exhausted, I rose, embarrassed and confused, in a sea of Boston Red Sox fans.
“That’s not happening. Todd’s not paying for the hotel. What the hell is wrong with Mr. Bill?” I shouted into the phone as the crowd around me reverberated with delight.
“Why don’t you tell him that?” My manager asked. “Isn’t Mr. Bill with you?”
“No. He said he would come by to get Todd and I before the seventh inning stretch, so we could all go out for a late lunch, it’s already the bottom of the eighth.”
“I told you, Mr. Bill ain’t coming!” Todd shouted over my shoulder into the phone. “I’m starving.”
“Get Todd a hotdog.” My manager suggested as I put her call on speakerphone.
“I’m Kosher! That dog’s not kosher! I need to follow Jewish dietary law.”
“Listen, I found a beach house for you guys. The owners are big fans and willing to trade accommodations in exchange for four tickets to the All Star MAMM Jam in Fort Myers tomorrow night. I told Mr. Bill and he said he would get back to me but I haven’t heard from him, so if you see him, tell him to call me ASAP.” My manager said before hanging up.
“Let’s get out of here.” Todd kvetched. “Shabbat starts at sunset.”
We sat in traffic for hours with all the snowbirds, waiting to hear from Mr. Bill but he never returned my calls or text messages. Finally, my manager called with the news that Mr. Bill refused to barter four tickets in exchange for safe shelter.
“He said Todd should stop being cheap and pay for a hotel.” My manager added with disgust, as I put her on speakerphone. “Mr. Bill suggested you guys stay at his house or a trailer that’s supposed to be parked in his driveway later tonight.”
“I need to find shelter before the sun goes down. ” Todd insisted. “That anti-semites home is too far away at this point, we’ll never make it before Shabbat.”
My manager promised to continue searching for hotel accommodations on the web while we dodged in and out of roadside motels without no-vacancy signs, through crawling traffic, as the sun beat down on us before beginning to set.
“There’s got to be something.” I pleaded with the motel desk clerk who, like all the other hotel clerks I’d interacted with in the twilight, informed me that because we were, “In-Season”, there were no vacancies.
“My cousin, owns a motel just over the bridge, it’s called The Welcome Inn. I will call him now to see if he has any rooms available.” The pungent smelling clerk said in an almost unintelligible East Indian accent.
“Please hurry, I think my friends going to turn into a Pumpkin if I don’t find him a place to stay before sundown.” I said, while looking out at Todd shifting nervously while reading the Torah, behind the wheel of our packed rental car in the parking lot.
“Good news.” I told Todd as I entered the car five minutes later. “We have a room at The Welcome Inn, I made reservations. It’s just over the bridge. We should make it before sunset.”
And, we did. Just as the sun began to set, we drove past the hookers and crack-heads into the parking lot of The Welcome Inn. When I opened the door to our room, the first thing I saw was graffiti. Written in black magic marker on the dark green wall, beneath the black mildew from the leaking, air-conditioning unit, were the words, “Fuck You”, staring back at me. The writing on the wall was literally a sign of things to come during my stay with The Hebrew Hammer on Shabbos at, what came to be known as, “The Unwelcome Inn”.
MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR- HUGO VACA II BEFORE GETTING ON STAGE TO PERFORM MODERN ART MUSIC MOVEMENT WITH MUSIC INDUSTRY LEGENDS TO BENEFIT CHILDREN’S CHARITY.
“I’ve seen the dark side of charity, the hypocrisy of philanthropy, enabled by weak news media and neutered journalists, that fail to tell altruistic people where their donations are really going and how little money actually goes, into helping the cause.” – Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II
STICKER BOOK EXAMINES SOCIOPOLITICAL IMPACT OF GRAFFITI STICKER ART IN CONTEMPORARY CULTURE.
THE DEFINITIVE STICKER BOOK, BY DB BURKEMAN AND MCA, FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II, HAS BEEN EXHIBITED IN MUSEUMS, GALLERIES AND ART FAIRS INCLUDING ART BASEL MIAMI WEEK.
STICKERS: FROM PUNK ROCK TO CONTEMPORARY ART (A.K.A. “Stuck-Up Piece of Crap”) traces the visual and social history of the sticker art medium.
STICKERS, EXPLORES THE RELATIONSHIP THAT ARTISTS HAVE WITH THEIR PIECES AND HOW THEY COMMUNICATE WITH PASSING PEDESTRIANS.
The subculture and once deep, underground world of graffiti and street art, has recently been enthusiastically welcomed by fine art galleries, opening their doors, and embraced by art collectors, opening their wallets, to works of art that were once plastered, illegally, in cities throughout the world.
SHEPARD FAIREY AND THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II MANIFEST THOUGHT PROVOKING STREET ART IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
“All of this chaos and darkness fit my mental and emotional state perfectly.” – DB BURKEMAN
NEW YORK TIMES GRAFFITI STICKER TAGS.
“Stickers: From Punk Rock To Contemporary Art”, begins with Andy Warhols Banana sticker for the Velvet Underground and punk stickers in the mid 70’s to early 80’s.
CHINATOWN STREET ART
The Library of Congress and University reference book, “Stickers: From Punk Rock To Contemporary Art”, chronicles the development of sticker art through different eras, such as: Californian skate culture, early Hip Hop, infamous graffiti tags, Techno/Rave culture in the late 80s and early 90s, recent political and controversial subjects, right up to contemporary art and street art today.
STREET ART YBOR CITY
“STICKERS: From Punk Rock To Contemporary Art” spotlights “celebrity” artists who are not necessarily known for stickers and graffiti art, such as the Modern Art Music Movement™ founder, fine artist and award-winning filmmaker, Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II.
STICKER TAG
A section of the book focuses on non-traditional sticker mediums like: wheat pastes, tape, tiles, postage stamps or anything else an artist chooses to work with that utilizes adhesive materials.
THOUGHT PROVOKING STICKER ART
“Whether printed or stenciled or painted or drawn with a marker, stickers confront the inequity of the mainstream artworld. Their presence declares that here is a spontaneous form of artistic expression that does not fit into the prescribed definition of art.” – Stikman
MIAMI GRAFFITI STICKER ART
Themes from branding to political activism are explored in the visually stunning book, “STICKERS: From Punk Rock To Contemporary Art”.
STREET ART MIAMI BEACH
“STICKERS: From Punk Rock To Contemporary Art” contains essays from Carlo McCormick, Shepard Fairey, and many other artists and collectors.
“IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT PAPER AND VINYL WITH ADHESIVE BACKING CAN DO SO MUCH.”- SHEPARD FAIREY: STICKER BOOK INTRODUCTION.
“Just like the people I knew then, very few stickers made it out alive.” – DB BURKEMAN
“A LITTLE STICKER CAN BE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS, AND DO A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS.” – SHEPARD FAIREY: STICKER BOOK INTRODUCTION.
“Also that year, every time I got into the back seat of a cab I noticed that it had been hit with a silver foil sticker that read NEON LEON’S RAINBOW EXPRESS in orange lettering.” – DB BURKEMAN
SOCIOPOLITICAL STICKERS- STRONG MESSAGES ON A LOW BUDGET.
“Allegedly Leon was a pimp. ” – DB BURKEMAN
CHICAGO STREET ART
“He gave all the girls he was running his stickers and they went up and down the city hitting the taxis. – DB BURKEMAN
Miami Beach Street Art
“I would wander around downtown and marvel at the decay-and what was about to be called street art. -DB BURKEMAN
St. Petersburg Street Art
“With what was going on in the world, everybody was complaining and asking ‘Why?’ when in fact, the question should have been, ‘Why not?'” – Stewart Stewart
COCONUT GROVE STREET ART
In 1982, Stewart Stewart was arrested by the anti-vandal squad while hitting a NYC subway car.
MIAMI STREET ART
The arresting officers and prosecuting judge asked Stewart Stewart for autographed stickers.
NEW YORK STREET ART
“Years later, after officially giving up drugs and the fantasy of being a photographer, I felt like I’d been given a second chance at life and was filled with a new unstoppable energy.” – DB BURKEMAN
NEW YORK STREET ART
“What is it about stickers that some people find so intriguing, while others either don’t notice them or just think of them as stuck up pieces of crap?” – DB BURKEMAN
CRACKHEAD JESUS IS COMING ON WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH HATERS
“I fiended for the stickers that came in bubble gum cards.” – DB BURKEMAN
CHICAGOSTREET ART
“I feel that the people who love stickers think of them as tiny, portable works of art.” – DB BURKEMAN
CHICAGO STREET ART
“At first I thought it was just geeky OCD types like myself that were into stickers, but I’ve found so many different kinds of people with sticker collections and stories; even some of the artists I’m in awe of.” – DB BURKEMAN
MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT STREET ART
“Kids, in general, I think, are much more open to absorbing art in a profound way when it’s on the street and not in a sterile gallery.” – DB BURKEMAN
SOUTH BEACH STREET ART
“I came to a peaceful place, thinking that the artists would probably be happy to know their stickers will last a lot longer in a book.” – DB BURKEMAN
STICKER SLAPPING
“Topps are the American Sticker Gods” – DB BURKEMAN
STICKER TAGGING
“Topps ‘Wacky Packages’ and ‘Garbage Pail Kids’ set the standard for kids with warped senses of humor.” – DB BURKEMAN
STREET ART BETHLEHEM
“During the French Revolution, in the late eighteenth century, propaganda posters were stuck up in the streets, in order to hammer home the ideas of the revolution to the public, portraying images of King Louis XVI as a drunken pig and of Marie Antoinette in sexually explicit positions.” – DB BURKEMAN
STREET ART YBOR CITY
“It’s always appealed to me when an artist uses the medium of stickering as a way of dealing with personal issues: exorcising their inner demons and using the streets as their free therapist or confessional.” – DB BURKEMAN
STICKER BOMB
“It’s anti-media, anti-established art world.” – Poster Boy
SLAP TAGGING
“Guess he’s just an asshole in an art lover’s suit.” – DB BURKEMAN
NEW YORK STREET ART
R. Stanton Avery created the first self-adhesive sticker in the 1930’s.
ADHESIVE STICKER ART
In 1946 the first self-adhesive bumper stickers were produced by Forrest Gill.
NEW JERSEY STREET ART
“Since their inception, bumper stickers have played a role in every political election, religious ideology and social uprising in the United States. ” -Ken Harman
STREET ART CHICAGO
“Stickers rule.” – Shepard Fairey
STICKER TAGS
“When I pause to think about it, stickers have changed my life.” – Shepard Fairey
STICKER SLAP
“Repetition works and stickers are a perfect medium to demonstrate this principle.” – Shepard Fairey
STICKER BOMB
“Stickers were evidence that I wasn’t living in a total void.” – Shepard Fairey
STICKER TAG
“I wanted stickers as badges of my culture.” – Shepard Fairey
STICKER BOMB
The Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo Vaca II moved form New York City to Newport, Rhode Island in 1988 to attend the United States Naval Academy Prep School at The Newport Naval Base War College. That same year, fellow graffiti, sticker, artist Shepard Fairey moved to Providence, Rhode Island, to attend the Rhode Island School Of Design.
CHICAGO STREET ART
“Providence had a tremendous art and music scene compared to what I was used to, and stickers were everywhere. – Shepard Fairey
NEW YORK STREET ART
“There were tons of band stickers, political-cause stickers and most interesting to me, a few art stickers and ‘Hello My Name Is…’ stickers.” – Shepard Fairey
MIAMI BEACH STREET ART
“A lot of the art stickers begged the question: What is this about?” – Shepard Fairey
CHICAGO STREET ART
“It was at this point that I began to ponder the sticker as a means of expression and communication for an individual, instead of just representing a band, company or movement.” – Shepard Fairey
STICKER BOMB
“I liked the idea of having my own sticker, but couldn’t think of anything clever enough to be worth executing.” – Shepard Fairey
CHICAGO STREET ART
“I paid very close attention to stickers and I would try to figure out who and what was behind any sticker I saw.” – Shepard Fairey
SLAP TAGGING
“During a museum trip to New York that freshman year of college, I saw graffiti in risky places that gave me new respect for the dedication of the writers.” – Shepard Fairey
STICKER SLAPPING
“Just as I had been made curious by many of the stickers I’d seen, I now had my own sticker to taunt and/or stimulate the public.” – Shepard Fairey
CHICAGO STREET ART
“Once the first domino fell, I was addicted and had my sights set on world domination through stickers.” – Shepard Fairey
MIAMI BEACH STREET ART
“It amazed me just how liberating and easy sticking was.” – Shepard Fairey
STICKER SLAPPING
“Every sheet of stickers I printed felt like I was making the world a little smaller: I mean, all those stickers were gonna end up somewhere.” – Shepard Fairey
CHICAGO STREET ART
From 1989 to 1996, Shepard Fairey hand-printed and hand-cut over one million stickers.
GRAFFITI STICKER ART
To date, over, 25,000 black and white “Crackhead Jesus is coming” stickers have been distributed to global audiences at Modern Art Music Movement™ Happenings across the United States from New York City to Las Vegas during the 2005 and 2009 Modern Art Music Movement™ tours.
STICKER TAG
The Crackhead Jesus is coming sticker has appeared all over the world including Sydney, Australia and Paris, France, at Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise beside the grave of The Doors, Jim Morrison.
THE DOORS, JIM MORRISON, GRAVE.
The deluxe limited edition of “Stickers: From Punk Rock To Contemporary Art” comes in a clamshell box with a folder of die-cut stickers, some of them signed by the artists, and sells for US $350.00 US / Can $400.00.
THE “STICKERS” DELUXE LIMITED EDITION SOLD OUT AND IS NOW A COLLECTORS ITEM.
The iconic, “Crackhead Jesus is coming” sticker, has appeared on television, in movies and music videos as well as in magazines and newspapers.
CRACKHEAD JESUS STICKER ON POLE AS SEEN ON FOX 13 NEWS TAMPA BROADCAST WITH EVAN AXELBANK.
During the live-on-the-scene evening news broadcast of a gruesome kidnapping and rape story in Tampa Bay, Florida, the “Crackhead Jesus is coming” sticker appeared, over the shoulder, of newsman Evan Axelbank, throughout his report.
STICKER BUM
“Crackheadjesus is coming and he doesn’t pull out.”
-MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR HUGO VACA II
THE MUSE WITH THE MAVERICK ARTIST VICTOR-HUGO VACA II AT THE GRAFFITI SUMMIT IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA.
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