Garret Bock’s Blog

Here are Additional photos from the Comics Covered Art show at Caffeinated Comics In SF

I re-hung the show so that it can stay up for another month.  If you’ve got time, stop by the shop and see the show.

First Photos from the Comics Covered Art Show on July 2, 2009 at Caffeinated Comics in San Francisco, CA.

Opening night show set up, one wall featured all the artists in the show.  The show is getting re-arranged in the next few days so more work can be put up and it can stay up longer in the space.

Jen’s Comics Covered Cake

I’m actually part spider.

So this weekend Jen and I went in Search of the Emperor Norton’s Grave

Who was this crazy looking man?  Joshua Abraham Norton, was a San Francisco businessman who not only lost his fortune to bad investments but also his mind.  Deciding that the corruptness of government was as much to blame for his troubles as anything else, Norton declared himself “Emperor of these United States and Protector of Mexico.”

He used his new title to dissolve Congress and issue several new laws which….no more in power took seriously.  But he became immensely popular amongst the people of city.  Local printers issued money with his portrait which was considered legal tender in the city of San Francisco, policemen saluted him as he passed by, he ate free of charge at the city’s finest restaurants and no play ever took place in city limits without a reserved box seat for the Emperor.  Exploits of the Emperor frequently found themselves in the paper (San Francisco reporter, Mark Twain used him later as a character in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) and he was so beloved that when he eventually died, 10,000 people attended his funeral.

A particularly grizzled photo of the Emperor.

Originally buried in San Francisco, his body was moved to Colma in 1930.

Colma’s claim to fame is that more people are below ground than above.  Land became too valuable in San Francisco so all cemeteries (with the exception of two) were moved to Colma.

The Emperor’s Grave.

Okay, now here’s the weird part of Norton’s grave.  Next to him is an identical grave to “Empress Norton” who 1. Is still alive, and 2. was born 42 years after Norton died.  So he’s got some strange following, even in the cemetery.

In addition, there are smaller graves to other Emperors that ruled after Norton.  I guess if a man can make up he’s the Emperor of America others can rule after him.

Keep on Riding Emperor!

Enjoy these late posted, Bay to Breakers photos.

Roughly a 10k race across San Francisco that can probably be described as the world’s largest moving party, about 10,000 people, in costume walk the length of the city, sometimes pushing Keg filled floats along the way.  It’s chaos…..enjoy these photos.

The entire cast of Mario Kart would stop at the still functioning stop lights to hold races.

The Ecto 1 of Ghostbusters fame, filled with a huge, roaving stereo system.

President Obama and his secret service agents work the crowd.

Anyone actually ever cleared those pictures from their camera?

Saint Obama Candle!

Nephew Aidan in standard Winter attire.

Chinese Bakery

Further story about the Chinese Bakery.  While searching China Town for a Pork bun, we cam upon this place promising to serve the Best Pork Buns in San Francisco. Not True.  But the wierd thing about this place is that back by the bathroom there is a door that is identical with a big sign on it that says “This is not a Bathroom, you must pay $20 to enter this room!”  What’s in that room?  A mystery for the ages….

Hey Everyone, I”m curating a show at Caffeinated comics with Schuyler Robertson and David Pinch (owner of the fine establishment) in the Mission in SF.  Here’s the call for Submissions:

Here are some random comic covers I’ve drawn for the show:

Check out the store’s website http://www.caffcom.com/   for more details or shoot me an email.

And in celebration of the new Star Trek Movie that came out here’s a Star Trek propaganda poster I did several years ago:

On April 24th, Playland will be hosting it’s first art show. You better be there.

New linocut cut for the show.  “Boy-Lobster”

 Got to attend a behind the scenes tour of the Santa Cruz beach board walk.

The Boardwalk.

 The Giant Dipper

Looking up at the Giant Dipper from the interior between the tracks.

 The heart of the Giant Dipper is a 75 horse power engine.

One the things on the of the tour was a walk through of the Cave Train with the lights on.

Some people have too much free time.

Also attended Wondercon this year.  Got in last year with the Creature’s at Large crew, a collection of late TV Horror hosts from the Bay Area.

 Check out these crazy Art Cars in the Mission that showed up for SF Indie Fest…

Camera Van….. look at all those cameras.  Many of their flashes still work… and in case you didn’t catch the web address it’s www.cameravan.com

Van driving down the street with a small model of NYC on it, maybe, it was going fast.

San Francisco Pillow fight at the Ferry Building, Valentine’s Day, 2009