Whenever I go through my oldest work I always stop at this little piece. It’s a goofy small painting on paper that has the title Red Laser Hits the Big City written across the bottom of the small piece of paper on which it is painted, along with the date from November of 1994.
I usually don’t give it much thought beyond the fact that it makes me smile but this morning I stopped a little longer and tried to remember more about it or, at least, try to understand it a bit better.
It was just an experiment at the time at a time when I was still trying to figure out what I was as a painter. Or if I was even a painter since I wasn’t an exhibiting artist at that point. This was painted several months before I even began showing my work in public the following year, at the 1995 Little Gems show at the West End Gallery.
I remember painting this piece and a similar one with that red line that I called the Red Laser. I believe I actually sold the other piece but wouldn’t swear to that in court. Time has faded that memory but I have a vague recollection of being surprised at it selling plus I can’t find it so that might well be the case.
Looking at it now, I find it interesting because it showcased the color blocks more than much of my other work at that time. It’s a technique that I still use extensively in my work to this day, a signature part of my wet work. I think this use of the block makes it feel somewhat more current, even more evolved, than some of the other work from that time.
I remember seeing the laser with its odd offshoot of a leg as a figure walking down a street. Hence, its title. It’s not a great piece but it still has the ability to make me smile. And even though I have always discounted it in my mind, it does have its own feel, its own life. Those are the things I always look for in my work so maybe I have been too harsh on the Red Laser.
My bad. That dude’s always getting a bad rap. Sorry, Red Laser.
Here’s a little song for the Red Laser. It’s the great Jimmy Reed and his Bright Lights, Big City. I think the Red Laser was singing this to itself while it strolled down those big city streets. It has the right kind of swagger.
Redtree Times 
The first thing I saw, before I read even one word of your text, was one cool dude making his way down the city sidewalk.
Now, here’s one of the best (e.g., possibly weirdest) connections I’ve ever made to one of your paintings. The second thing I thought of was a pair of twins from Gary, Indiana, who’ve become a bit of a sensation by recording their reactions to music videos on YouTube. They pick pieces they’ve never heard, which makes the reactions even better, and they’re willing to give any suggestion a try. They’ve reacted to everything from Bon Jovi to Peggy Lee.
I found them by accident, and lost about three hours to them one night. One of my own favorites was their reaction to the Bee Gee’s “Staying Alive” — and that’s what I heard playing in my mind when I saw this painting. I don’t know if you’ll get as much of a kick out of it as I did, but I thought it was worth sharing.
I got a pretty good chuckle from your connections, Linda. I now see the Bee Gees/ Stayin’ Alive vibe in this piece. As for the twins, I have come across them before and love them. Like you, I don’t know how they showed up for me but I went on a spree watching them. I love how open they are in hearing these songs. One of my favorites from this was this: https://youtu.be/O_2ru1H-bps
I’d missed that one. The other thing I love is how each of them has their own way of responding. Their personalities really come through, and they’re consistent from video to video. Such fun.