Monday, November 28, 2011

FOCA visit

The Friends of Contemporary Art came by my garage sale at Susanne Vielmetter's.  It was a good conversation on art and collecting with a bonus of excellent tacos from El Gringo.  I'm a fan of any caterer who has a vast knowledge of San Diego taco stands....I wish we could get better Mexican food up here....I miss Los Dos Pedros and Los Seven Burritos and Don Juan's and and El Indio and Hilberto's and Alberto's and even Roberto's.


Monday, November 21, 2011

A little levity - Car 23 gets a lift

The springs on Car 23 were a mess.  The bushings were shot, so I replaced them.  The front shackles were too long which threw the caster all out of whack.  So, I tried fixing that with some caster shims...


....and it didn't really help.

I'd spent too much time trying to fix them without addressing the BIG problem.  The 45 year old springs were shot.  I didn't really want to lift the car because the Mexican 1000 is a bit more of a rally.  I wanted to stay low and fast but stock height springs are no longer made and custom ones are pricey.  I also had problems with the tire rubbing on the body and I'm hoping a little more cushion in the spring will prevent another broken spindle.  So,  I finally decided to give the car a little lift.  About a 2" lift to be exact.  I went with the Old Man Emu Dakkar springs and bought a shorter shackle for the front.


Rhonda came up to give me a hand and Gretta also helped.  Although a dog that steels lug nuts isn't really a help.


 The old springs were a rusty mess and when we were taking them off it filled the garage with red clouds.


In the end the lift isn't that bad.  The rear is maybe 3" higher (considering that it's previous height was lower than stock due to the worn springs) and the front seems to only be about an inch higher.  So, far it feels good



Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Garage Sale! at Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects

I'm doing a show/installation/garage sale/fund raiser for Car 23.  It will be up at Susanne Vielmetter's through December 22.



Here's the press release.

"Sean Duffy´s Garage Sale"


November 12 - December 21, 2011

Everything is for sale! First come, first serve! Cash and carry! As is! All sales are final! 

Sean Duffy is bringing his garage to Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects for a special benefit from November 12 - December 22. Equal parts repository of ideas and accumulation of objects, Duffy's garage is full of experiments, prototypes and inspirational materials that drive his practice into ever new and uncharted territory. Come on by and pick up drawings, paintings, prints, sculptures, books, records, bicycles, tires, chairs, tables, scrap wood, etc. - all at unbeatable prices. Duffy regularly transforms trash into treasure; now you can repurpose his thought processes into unique holiday presents for friends and family. Proceeds from sales will support the creation of new art. 

Duffy's current project is to become a race-car driver รข€“ to prepare for a grueling 1000 mile test of endurance, skill, and character. This adventure is designed to mine his family's involvement in off-road racing in the 60s and 70s, to explore father/son relationships, and to disrupt suburban ennui. And in line with the age-appropriate theme of a mid-life crisis, Duffy has acquired an impractical vehicle with exceptional power (in low gears) and outfitted it in zebra stripes. 

Car 23 has indeed succeeded in turning the heads of museum visitors, weekend warriors, and co-driver Rhonda Rodgers. This '64 Toyota Land Cruiser is a tribute to the ones Duffy's father raced in the Mexican 1000, Mint 400 and other desert races back in the day. Car 23 first appeared as the central sculpture in Hilites (Miami Art Museum, 2008). Its inappropriate Chevy small-block V8 engine became Small Block (Can't Stop It, Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, 2009). In 2010, Duffy had it outfitted with a Toyota engine and drove it into the Laguna Art Museum for Searcher. Now, Duffy is preparing Car 23 to go back from art to life. 

Sean Duffy's Garage Sale is a fundraiser in conjunction with his United States Artists Project. Please visithttp://www.unitedstatesartists.org/project/car_23 for details. You can support this project through a Garage Sale purchase or by making a tax-deductible donation to United States Artists. 

Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects is located at 6006 Washington Blvd in Culver City, 1 block west of La Cienega at Sentney Avenue, on the south side of the street. Gallery parking is available across the street from the gallery off of Sentney Avenue. Gallery Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am - 6 pm and by appointment.