The Soul of Apathy

Pour my soul into a bowl. Into a character of him. Of a reflection of myself. Driving to work hearing these atrocities. Being force fed these horrific events daily. May he find his way, Lord. May all of us find our way. May he wake up and realize that life is worth living. That he has something to give back. That his apathy is a disguise for his disappointment. Disappointment in a life that has not been validated. Not allowed him to be part of the village our ancestors took for
granted. We crawled out of our village and found the city not needing our specialty. For we had to compete for our specialty to eat now. There is a whole slew of us special folks. And some of them are homeless. So I am just happy to have a job now. Just happy to be able to take care of my family now. Just happy to be able to stare at my Television and not have to think about the genocides occurring in some far away land that I will never see now. Thank you for this gift of apathy. Thank you that I do not have to solve the worlds problems. That I can just think of me. Now.

I am aware. I am not aware. I am aware. I don't care.

Mr. Apathy

Tommy Borg

http://www.tomytec.co.jp/borg/product/telescope/80fai/77ed/index.html

New One.

Anxiety Blanket / 24'' x 36'' / acrylic on canvas / 2006.

Boxing.

Clear eyes for the tired guy. One drop at a time. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.

Staring at flat panel screen dream. 50 inch plasma, that's my Self. Staring at mirror images. Seeing fat cell deposits. Flesh. Apathy. Standing up tall. Yoga stance. Yoga prance. One vertebrae at a time. Sucking it in.

Tired of boxes. Tired of everyone talking about putting people in boxes. Thinking out of boxes. In the box. Out of the box. Jack in the Box. There is no box. Especially for fear of small spaces. Especially for tears in small places. Face this. Place this box out of your mind. Find time to breath fully with lack of boxes. Lack of limits. Infinite Spaces. Infinite Places.

Small town itch. Small town bitch. They don't know me. I am know one. I am everyone. I am mountain top. Anthill. Stream. River. Sea. The infinite minutia. Space eternal. Smiles and tears and fears and put this all aside, and stride. See the mountain top and climb. One step at a time. One pixel at a time. One brush stroke at a time. One word at a time. Climb.

- - - - - Original Message - - - - -

From: Byron King [mailto:byronking@gmail.com]

Sent: Saturday, 2006 10:23 PM

To: 'Vilar Pahey'

Subject: new work.

Good evening,

I am currently seeking gallery representation.

Thanks for your time,

Byron

www.byronking.com

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On 7/25/06, 'Vilar Pahey' wrote:

Dear Byron,

Thank you for your inquiry. We currently have a full roster and are unable to represent any additional artists.

Best regards,

Vilar Pahey

Tom Smith Gallery

524 West 24th Street

New York, New York 10011

Tel: 212-243-0200

Fax: 212-243-0047

-----Original Message-----

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From: Byron King [mailto:byronking@gmail.com]

Sent: Saturday, 2006 8:09 PM

To: 'Vilar Pahey'

Subject: Honesty. Truth. Integrity.

Hi Vilar,

I simplified my site even more. Please take another look at it and tell me

what you think. Do you think I should have the digital work on there?

I'm really looking for venues to show my work. If you point me in the right

direction I will give you my next born child.

No really. I think the work is strong enough that I should not have to do that.

What do I need to do to get my foot in the door? I've been slugging away

at this for ten years now and have had no replies from any galleries. The

fact that you wrote me back took me by complete suprise.

Do you find any of my work interesting? Should I continue or am I kidding myself?

I really wish someone would tell me the secret to getting their work shown

and getting their foot in the door of galleries of your caliber.

Please help a brother out? Show some kindness and point me in the right

direction.

Honestly honest. Truly trying.

Byron King

www.byronking.com

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From: 'Vilar Pahey' [mailto: pilar@tomsmithgallery.com]

Sent: Saturday, 2006 11:44

To: Byron King

Subject: RE: Honesty. Truth. Integrity.

Hi Byron,

I would suggest that you begin by showing your work at local galleries and becoming part of an artistic community locally before trying New York galleries. This could both foster interest and growth in your artwork.

As for the site, it's truly up to you to make it representative of your style. Once you have been in exhibitions, you should list those along with any press.

Good luck,

Vilar

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-----Original Message-----

From: Byron King [mailto: byronking@gmail.com]

Sent: Saturday, 2006 12:47 PM

To: 'Vilar Pahey'

Subject: RE: Honesty. Truth. Integrity.

Hi Vilar,

Thanks for your input. I really do appreciate it. I did live in New York for several years

and could not get my work in any local galleries. I've tried all of the local galleries in

Jacksonville, FL even and they won't show my work either.

It's frustrating. If you know of any smaller venues looking for emerging artist I would appreciate

a reference.

Thank you for your time,

Byron

www.byronking.com

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From: 'Vilar Pahey' [mailto: vilar@tomsmithgallery.com]

Sent: Saturday, 2006 12:57

To: Byron King [mailto: byronking@gmail.com]

Subject: RE: Honesty. Truth. Integrity.

Hi Byron,

I'm not familiar with the artistic community in Jacksonville, but surely there's an art class or studio space you can join and get involved with other artists. If there isn't, perhaps you could organize one?

Again, I wish you luck.

Vilar

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-----Original Message-----

From: Byron King [mailto: byronking@gmail.com]

Sent: Saturday, 2006 1:14 PM

To: 'Vilar Pahey'

Subject: RE: Honesty. Truth. Integrity.

Hi Vilar,

So in a sense it's not about the work. It's about your art resume?

Thanks for your help. I will continue on as always.

Good luck to you too.

v/r

Byron

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From: 'Vilar Pahey' [mailto: vilar@tomsmithgallery.com]

Sent: Saturday, 2006 12:57

To: Byron King [mailto: byronking@gmail.com]

Subject: RE: Honesty. Truth. Integrity.

Hi Byron,

It's always about the art, but your question was how to gain gallery representation. I responded to that inquiry.

Vilar

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Subject: RE: Honesty. Truth. Integrity.

From: Byron King [mailto:byronking@gmail.com]

Sent: Saturday, 2006 14:59

To: 'Vilar Pahey'

Subject: RE: Honesty. Truth. Integrity.

To tell you the truth. I'm just elated you wrote me back.

For that, in my book you are an outstanding individual.

So my last and final question is and I'll leave you alone:

So, if my work was something you guys were interested

in and I had absolutely no art resume, would you

show my work?

Have fun tonight in Chelsea. Wish I was there.

v/r

- Hide quoted text -

byron

www.byronking.com

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---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Byron King

Date: Saturday, 3:39 PM

Subject: gallery research

To: Byron King

- Hide quoted text -

No REPLY FROM VILAR AT THIS TIME.

Findings:

It is all about the art resume.

Or Vilar is not into answering hypothetical questions.

My cubicle.

circa 2001
Herman Miller furniture.

What's In My Inbox Today?

This email was from my friend DeMatt. He plays in a Jackson, Mississippi based band called The Moils (the title of this post links to their MySpace page). Whenever they have a gig, he sends out a reminder. Whenever he sends out a reminder, he takes the time to make it entertaining:

It's July; it's hot; and you're busy. So, in an effort to lend you a
hand in getting your affairs in line, I drafted this to-do list. You'll
thank me later.

- Pick up the dry cleaning
- Finalize Tuesday's lunch appointment
- Stock up on all ointments and balms
- Shave off the mohawk
- Retrieve cufflinks from the urinal
- Straighten up the Bat Cave
- Unload remaining Lawn Dart and Delorean stock
- Throw away old suspenders
- Buy new suspenders. Remember, tension is important.
- Apologize to the minotaur
- Touch up life-size multimedia portrait of J.L. Jones
- Practice the bassoon
- Return top hat (begrudgingly)
- Toss the medicine ball
- Check on the tomato aspic. Sufficiently firm?
- Explain to co-workers that you didn't really mean that
- Envy Burts Lancaster, Parks, and Convey. But hey, we are who we are.
- Leave the wetsuit at home
- Try Marlon Fitzwater one more time. But if he doesn't call back, it just
might be over.
- Massage your liver and posterior with The MOILS Friday night at Martin's
because your hungry libido deserves it.

circa 2001

turnout on the only art show I ever had.
that BFA in painting is really paying off.

4 generations of my new family.

Fifty Cent Praises.

Truth be known. Truth not being told. All around.
Lies and spies and Jerico ties. Life is a game.
You play poker to win it. To be in it. Your sickness
is your addiction. Your attrition.

I have to take care of my own. Zone out on clicking
tasks that mask the virtue of a life lived taking care
of my family and taking care of my vast past
that isn't over.

The last laugh laughs last, past cubicle rows that sow
the integrity of speaking the truth. Of not holding
a grudge. Of letting go of fifty cent raises that
glazes the praises of one man rubbing the other the wrong
way.

I deserve my fifty cent raise. Fifty cent ways.
Slaves that click the time, tick off annuities not mutliplying.
Sliding down the pockets of larger charges. Larger Mustangs.
Larger stains. Debts to be paid.

Put your poker face on pal. Roll the dice. Are you telling
the truth? And if not, how can you live with yourself?

Web site facelift

I did a nip tuck to my web site. Check it out if you
ge time. It's not totally different, but a bit cleaner.
Same navigation. I would love your feedback.

www.byronking.com

Apathy Filters

Apathy Filters, acrylic on canvas, 24''x36''

A Tension

Building.
Growing
and Pressing.
Pushing.
Wanting
for change. A change of State. A Revolution. The Calm before the Storm.
Neither here nor there. Somewhere in between. Reaching the next stage.
Reaching the brink. Not turning back. The time has come. Pull the Trigger.

Borg Collage #1

Neon Trophies Bleed Grass.

Bombs Bursting in Air #2

Bombs Bursting in Air

Other Empty Spaces

We discover a safe place
beneath a shady tree.

To find ourselves
alone and isolated.

It is everything we want
and nothing we need.

At once we must go
in search of discomfort.

It's plowing time again
in the field of opportunity.

Conversation on pop culture.

5:26 PM me: hey Tori. I was waching So you think you can dance, last night and wondered what you thought about the quality of the dancers? I'd love to hear it. Tell me when you get time.
5:27 PM Tori: lol
i have never seen the show
no tv
5:28 PM but i am sure they are great. but an entire different integrity and aesthetic than that which i strive to achieve
5:29 PM i am like things that are performed more "real" and that stuff is "showy"
i like
showy is fun if you want to drift away with gene kelley
5:30 PM real is more human, and less esoteric and surreal and fanatical
depends on what your flavor is
5:31 PM what they are judging is showmanship. and the level of tricks
5:32 PM like a horse
lol
5:35 PM me: word. I don't know about it, so I'm mystified.
Tori: and you are who they are playing for
me: yeah. must be. wish I knew more about dance and was a more educated viewer.
5:36 PM Tori: its like art- if you like it, you like it
you can analyze technique all day
but its essentially about what you like

me: if it was American's next top Contemporary Painter, I'm sure I would be pissed."

Tori: lol
i have to say i have no interest in watching it
me: maybe one day, I'll get a show for my art form. I think you are lucky.
Tori: its not dance to me
5:37 PM in the sense that dance is a lifestyle a way of being much different then the training i received
much different then the opinions of what most people hold of the form
but sure- its great its gets some attention
5:38 PM ballroom. i dig
me: yeah. gets attention for dance. it can't be a bad thing.

me: they have a ballroom dancer guy named Dimitri.