March, 2008
Chicago Slim, Noel Shiff, passed away. One of the premiere blues harp players
of all time. Even though I'm pretty sure Slim was technically blind, he was also
a well-known Chicago Boxing judge. Not really sure if being blind is a
restriction for being a boxing judge in Chicago though ;0)
click pics to see
video performances of the old Chicago Slim Blues Band Circa 1980's, Bumble Bee on guitar,
Tommy Mitz on bass, Cadillac Sammy on the drums and Slim blowing harp and
playing slide guitar
I have some great memories of Slim. When I was a teen we opened-up for Muddy
Waters in Carbondale, Illinois @ Southern Illinois University. Me, Bumble Bee,
Slim & Cadillac Sammy Burton drove down there together in an old van I had.
Sammy's bass drum served as a poker table and we played cards the entire route,
from Chicago to Carbondale. All face cards wild. Hustlers - every one of 'em. I
even borrowed some money from Bee to stay in the game. When I got paid for the
gig, I had to give it all right back. He felt sorry for me though and bought me
dinner. Not Slim. In fact after that free meal, when the boys asked Slim if he
had a "tip", Slim said, "Yeah, tell the Chef to dip his hands in hot oil".
Slims' the same cat who wrote the tender love song, "Love Me Or I'll Kill 'Ya".
In fact, the only cat I ever saw get one-up on Slim, besides the Bee, was Muddy
himself. Slim asked Muddy, who was in his 70's at the time, "Hey Muddy, why'd
you marry an 18 year old?" Muddy, serious as a heart attack replied, "Cause I
couldn't find me no 16 year old." ;0)
10 count & 12 bars, my friend.
R.I.P.
January, 2008
Dobry paintings FOR SALE direct from
onthecanvas.com
Paintings that are not
currently in any gallery's inventory are available at a 50% discount direct from
this website. Visa, MC, Discover and American Express accepted. (credit card
orders by phone, 815 568 7440)
Mia Madre, 2007
My Comeback, 2007
Little Devil, 2007
more works for sale @ SELECTED WORKS
contact Gary Dobry for more info:
pugsgym@aol.com
October, 2007
Date TBA - Exhibition of New Paintings at:
March, 2007
Dobry's 3rd Novel, En la Lona, Released April
2007!
to purchase a copy of En la Lona
click here
Dobry's Rock 'em Sock'em Elvis
included in George Plasketes' IMAGES OF ELVIS PRESLEY IN AMERICAN CULTURE,
1977-1997: THE MYSTERY TERRAIN
December, 2006
"Larry Fine's Third Eye" acquired by the
Stoogeum (Three Stooges Museum) in
Gwynned Valley, near Philadelphia, Pa.
Gary Lassin, the Museum's curator, is Larry Fine's grand-nephew by marriage.
November, 2006
New Essay, "Amr Elgindy,
The All-American Boy"
Click here: 'All-American
Boy'
*
new unsealed court docs, 911,
added on 1/13/08
August, 2006
Dobry Interviewed by Claudio Parentela
Click here:
The eXTra finGer
November, 2005
Read story,
click here
November 21, 2005
In 2000 I worked on a joint venture with tattoo-artist great, Ernie Gonzalez.
I was working on paintings for an exhibition at the Judy Saslow Gallery
in Chicago. At the time I was way into Old School tattoo work. Not just the
Sailor Jerry ultra-Americana type stuff all the rock-a-billy kids are into,
but hard-core Mexican style stuff, prison tats, Polynesian-style work that was
ultra minimalistic in approach, and black & gray work that was just the
opposite, tattoo work that had the elegance and fine lines of engraving or
etching. Tattoos only a master craftsman could pull-off.
Ernie Gonzalez
I designed a couple tattoos. One for each arm. I gave my sketches to Ernie
and instructed him do his thing with them. He did. I showed my arms, with the
paintings, at the opening for the exhibition. Here are the tats me & Ernie did
for the show:
Angelique (L Arm)
El Diablo (R)
I am currently doing an apprenticeship under Ernie at his shop in Fox
Lake (you can see my tats & flash here). This comes at a time in my career where I took a year off to study the
works of great American Banner painters like Fred Johnson, Johnny Meah, et al,
so I could incorporate their banner painting styles in my own pop-surrealism
works. I never intended to do derivative banner paintings of circus freaks like
them. My intent was to master their styles so I could express my own
surrealistic pop ideas through banner painting styles. The same is true of
tattooing. My intent is not to create derivate tattoo work. My idea is to master
the different styles so I can translate my own ideas on to skin. My ultimate
goal is to be as facile with tattoo machines as I am with a brush or pencil. I
thank Ernie for taking me on. We are brothers in Art.
Dobry at Electric Art,
click
here
Gary Dobry is now writing for Chicago Fighting Arts Magazine and
Chicago Fighting Arts OnLine. You can read his latest piece by
clicking here
Ed Paschke 1939 - 2004
Siamese Eds , 30" X 24" , Acrylic on Canvas ,
2006 , Gary Dobry
Ed Paschke died on Thanksgiving eve, in his sleep. Ed has been a friend of
mine my entire teen & adult life. In fact, it was Ed's letter of
recommendation that got me into the School of the Art Institute of
Chicago. There is so much folks already know about Ed. Ed was a
famous, influential and important American artist. But I have memories of Ed
that are mine, and mine alone. Ed spent a lot of time at the Green Mill Lounge
on Broadway, next to the Uptown Theatre. He ran the art dept. at
Northwestern University and after work he'd head north up Sheridan Ave. to
Broadway and stop in The Green Mill for a tall cool one. I trained at the
old Northside Boxing Gym right above the lounge. Ed would come upstairs
and we'd talk boxing. He loved boxing. He knew boxing. I loved painting.
We'd talk painting. He knew painting. We'd talk art and painting. And freaks. We
both loved sideshow freaks. One Christmas, while I was still in Medicine, I sent
him a pair of SiameseTwin fetuses I had planned to dissect. Ed collected duck
decoys. His father crafted them. One of the biggest honors Ed ever bestowed upon me
was finding a place for the twins (in a glass jar of formalin) on the same
mantle with his old man's duck decoys.
Me & Ed, Judy Saslow Gallery, 1999
I was introduced to Ed by one of his SAIC classmates, "Bumble-Bee"
Bob Novak.
They studied together under Isabelle MacKinnon at the Art Institute of Chicago.
MacKinnon was a student of Hans Hoffman. Every day I thank the Art gods that I was
blessed enough to collide into Paschke & Novak in the same artistic universe.
I first exhibited with Paschke in 1992 at Tony Fitzpatrick's ALL ELVIS ART
SHOW at the World Tattoo Gallery in the south loop. (Curiously enough, one
of Tony's employees at the gallery was writer Zak Mucha who interviewed me years
later for for a feature in Gallery magazine). The last time we were brought
together publicly was at a 9/11 Panel Discussion & exhibition at the old Jett
Sett Gallery in Wrigleyville. I devoted a chapter to Paschke in my second
novel, In Good Faith.
Ed was a powerhouse. 65 is way to young to die. Ed always radiated youth and
energy to me. It's hard to give in to the idea Ed Paschke died in his sleep of a
heart attack??? I exhibited with Ed's wife Nancy at the Judy Saslow Gallery in
Chicago for years. How many knew Nancy had Parkinson's and Ed was hopelessly
devoted to her care? Ed was the epitome of strength and energy. Ed should've
gone out swinging in the last round of a championship fight. That's the Paschke
I know. The most important thing Ed ever told me was, "TAKE RISKS" . I
never miss an opportunity to take one.
Rest in peace, Ed
Gary Dobry, 11/30/04
artists in all genres, including: David Gista, The Goldmine Shithouse, Ed
Paschke, Roger Brown, Ivan Albright, Bert Menco, Michael Hernandez de Luna, Steven Hazard, Diane Thodos, Bettina
Blohm, Augustine Portillo, Elizabeth Ockwell and Olan
602 Davis Street, Evanston, Il 60201
March 26th - April, 2004
July 18th - August 23rd, 2003
- Aron
Packer Gallery
Gary Dobry
, Friese Undine & others
Artists' Reception , July 18th , 6 - 9PM
January 11
- May, '03 - The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Art
GARY DOBRY with LEON GOLUB & others
Religious, political, and cultural figures, institutions, and
organizations have signed petitions to stop the war. In solidarity, the Chicago Athenaeum
Museum of Art has organized an exhibition by artists, writers and poets. The Museum has
joined the growing coalition of international, national and local anti-war groups in an
effort towards peace and a peaceful settlement in the Middle-East.
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 11th from 6:00 to 8:00PM
"...Gary Dobry is an American ex
boxer, now turned author and visionary artist. He has used his experiences in the ring to
produce allegorical, hauntingly beautiful iconographic images. He works mainly in acrylic
on canvas, and occasionally collage. His book 'Kingdom Come' has recently been published
in paperback, to much critical acclaim. ..."
Henry Boxer
Blues Boys busted in the Quatier Latin, Paris - early 90's
Dobry (far right) & the infamous Bumble-Bee
Bob Novak slinging the Fender Strat
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