A True Provenance Story

This is a sincere, memorable, life experience for me, thanks to my best friend Mac, and to the art collector Bernie. Please understand that both of these gentlemen believed in the work I tried to produce for Chase Contemporary art studio in SOHO NYC and for that reason I was standing in the studio with my tool belt on when Andres Valencia walked in. Bernie and Mac were doing a premiere showing of Andres work and he was there in person to prove it!!?

While we did a build out in the studio, moving walls, sheet rocking, painting, design and built custom operational furniture pieces, we also moved really cool, beautiful, monster sculptures to accentuate the space where Andres artwork would be hung.

We worked in and out day to day in a really fun a positive space, listening to my good buddy Mac come up with new design ideas where we put into motion immediately. Adding to the list but as well to the energy flow, and good vibes. Felt like we were all jamming harmoniously, from management all the way down to myself the carpenter/finisher (one of them…sorry guys this is my little flash in the pan)

In the finishing days I started to see Mac hang Andreas pieces….I was blown away and taken back by his age and his story. Mac said he would be coming to the opening but in typical Mac style, Andes and his parents walked in out of no where (for me!?) Mac loves surprising the crap out of me!!

I was introduced to his wonderful parents while I was still putting it together in my head….this little guy with with his puffy hood up on his little Parker slowly scooted past me. Immediately I walked walked after him and with out missing g a beat Mac introduced to Andres to me. I was so pumped and couldn’t wait to ask him a question that I never thought I would be able to ask this artist. 

After telling Andres I was Larry the carpenter and how blown away I was by his ability, I asked him the question…..” What are you thinking, or what goes through your mind when you’re drawing, like anything??”

Andres looked up and said to me I don’t it just comes to me. Before I got to ask hime another question Andres said look do you have something for me to draw on….I said absolutely and by chance a cut off of 3/4 inch plywood was laying right next to me from the desk Mac and I were building and designing for the opening. I handed to him and Andres said that’ll work what can I draw with and I reached in my pouch and handed him my carpenters pencil I had been sharpening when he and his folks walked in.

 He said ok and he drew this piece right in front of me and don’t ask me the time it took because time had stopped. He then said see I just draw. Stunned by how this drawing appeared in front of me and freaken LOOKED like me,….the only words I could say were would you sign it for me AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND IN THE SAME BREATH I LOOKED RIGHT AT HIS POPS AND ASKED FOR HIS PERMISSION and he nodded his approval. Of course Andres did not think twice and said sure. 

I thanked Andres and I know I had tears in my eyes not for any other reason but I felt the same bond with this boy that I do with my closest of friend Mac….

We are on a spectrum together and it always has made life tough for me but because of my life long friend (since nursery school) and his wonderful genius mother Mrs.McCarthy and her brilliant husband Bob (who is with the good Lord now) I learned how to learn and not be afraid and that journey for us is everyday. 

Thanks for listening, and thank you again Andres I hope maybe some day if we meet again we can sit down and play a card game that Mac and I grew up on, that was taught from Grandparents, called KINGS IN THE CORNER