Why “Playing Covers”?
I’ve been a musician for decades (check out Party Battleship!) and the art and music flow back and forth between each other. Much like John Fogerty lamenting the countless songs he’s sung while audiences sat drunk and indifferent, I’ve played more shows to disinterested café and bar-dwellers than I care to admit. In those corner-of-the-bar setups, you’re expected to play covers—songs familiar to people, part of a certain canon.
This painting reflects that perspective: the performer in the corner, looking out at an audience that may or may not care about what’s coming from the voice, guitar, or instrument. Hence, “covers.”
But there’s another layer. As a painter, I began “covering” some of my favorite motifs from painting, literature, and film. Some references are obvious—the Picasso image on a t-shirt, perhaps hinting at the quixotic search for human connection often found in places like this. Others are subtler: Hopper’s light in the atmosphere, Degas in the figures seen from behind. And then there are hidden easter eggs left for the viewer to discover. For instance, the book on the man’s table carries meaning, but I’ll leave that unsaid.
Why “Caligari’s”?
The raking light—there are nearly half a dozen different types of light in the piece—reminded me of early 20th-century expressionist cinema, especially The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. I realized “Caligari’s” would make a fitting name for a coffeehouse like this, and “Coffee at Caligari’s” had a nice ring to it.
For me, “Caligari” evokes a nervous unease tied to place and setting. My work often aims to capture psychological tension—within individuals and between them. Those expressionist filmmakers were punk rock in their approach to that kind of tension, and I wanted to channel some of that spirit here.
What’s up with the dog?
He’s vaguely Scottish terrier-esque, don’t you think? He serves as an imaginative touchstone—a springboard for the referential nature of the piece. I had a specific dog in mind, but I invite viewers to project their own associations, to let him remind them of whatever “x” might be in their imagination.
Are tattoos difficult?
Yes. But in any contemporary scene with multiple people, tattoos are almost unavoidable. Without them, the depiction wouldn’t feel believable. Plus, there are secrets in there, but I’m not saying anything…