Richard Grieco Talks to Phat Magazine

I've been gathering up coverage of Richard's opening at Gallerie Sparta, but it's becoming clear that there's going to be far too much to summarize and share in one post.  That's great news--Grieco's artwork is getting a lot of attention from far-flung corners of the media.

In the clip below, Phat Mag talks with Richard and a number of the guests on the red carpet. I'll leave you to judge for yourself just how late in the evening Richard's interview might have taken place.

 

Much more to come; I have about a dozen write-ups and videos from the opening to share, not to mention information about the two non-profits the show supports. 

Looks Like Someone Got a Haircut...

I'm holding off writing about Richard's art opening for a couple of reasons: one is that he's getting plenty of press on that subject right now (great to see) and the other is that I'm waiting for some information I want to include.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share the link to this photo posted by Gallerie Sparta this afternoon. Apparently, it's from a photo shoot for an art magazine, and Richard's shy several inches of hair compared with opening night.

I kind of miss the messy locks, but the new look has a certain air of dignity about it. Check it out here, then let me know what you think.

What's in a Name?

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you probably noticed that I changed the masthead a few days ago.

When I started blogging here back in January, it was mostly because I was sick and had a lot of time on my hands. The whole effort was a bit tongue-in-cheek, and the original title, My Love Affair with Richard Grieco, was intended to fit the humorous, slightly self-mocking tone of the blog.

Then, things changed.

In my search for blog content, I learned a lot more about Richard Grieco and his history. I took a close look at his artwork. At the same time, I was starting to feel stronger and more like myself, and one day I realized that I wasn't kidding anymore. You'll still see the occasional tongue-in-cheek post. But somewhere along the way, Richard became (in my mind) a serious contender for the subject of my next book.

Then, as I researched and wrote a bit more, the focus and format of that book crystallized in my mind, along with a title. Richard Grieco: Intersections will be the title of that book, if and when it comes to pass. I promise you, it will be nothing like the one book published about Richard, back in the Booker days.

The title fits the format I established with my first celebrity book, Rick Springfield: A Lifetime in Music--both in structure and in its multiple meanings. And, for the moment, book or no book, it much better fits the things I have to say about Richard Grieco. He, like Rick Springfield, runs much deeper than his pretty face and instant popularity led the world to believe.

The book in my head is a good one, and the popularity of this blog tells me there's an audience for it. So, Richard, if you're reading this...we really should talk.

Richard Grieco at the LA Sharknado Screening

No, Richard Grieco wasn't in Sharknado, but he did show up for the LA screening. Whether that's just because Richard loves movies (he's said so many times, and he attends a lot of premieres) or because he recently worked with Sharknado writer Thunder Levin on AE: Apocalypse Earth.

I'm mentioning this for only one reason: I think you might enjoy the photo of Richard at the event, decked out as usual in a nice shirt, hat, jewelry...and a pair of jeans bearing a fairly significant quantity of pink paint. (You'll have to scroll down through the photos to see it)

Good to see that now that Grieco's out of the closet, he's showing his inner artist everywhere he goes.

Own a Piece of Richard Grieco's 21 Jump Street History

Blue Jean Red contains a piece of 21 Jump Street history--scraps of jeans that Richard wore on the show.

If you love Richard Grieco's artwork and were a fan of Booker, you have the opportunity to obtain a one-of-a-kind painting that's also a rare bit of memorabilia. A news article yesterday mentioned that these jeans were on set with Johnny Depp, but I'm sure if you're reading this blog, you're more interested in where else they've been ;)

I love that Richard kept these jeans for more than 20 years, and what it seems to say that two decades later, he cut them up and incorporated them into his artwork. 

You can't just walk in and buy this painting, though. Demand is expected to be high, and it's going to the highest bidder in a silent auction. 

Bidding starts at $16,600. You can bid by email to GallerieSparta@gmail.com. 

It's not clear at this point how long bidding is open, but I'm trying to obtain that information and will update as soon as possible.

A high auction price should bring some well-deserved media attention to Richard's artwork, so please share!

New to Richard Grieco's artwork? View the gallery here: Richard Grieco Fine Art

UPDATE: According to Gallerie Sparta co-owner Lee Bowers, bidding closes at midnight Pacific time on September 6. See the current bid or submit a bid at: http://www.galleriesparta.com/silentauction.html

And, on the Flipside...

It's only been a couple of days since I complained about Fox News's sneaky little dig in the context of a generally positive article about Richard Grieco's artwork, so I'm happy to be able to show the flipside tonight.

This piece from The Levity Ball is so good that I'm not even going to comment--but you won't want to miss it:

Iconic actor Richard Grieco is Back...on Canvas!

The Origins of Richard Grieco's Painting

In honor of the fact that Richard Grieco's Los Angeles premiere officially opens tomorrow with a red carpet event at Gallerie Sparta on Sunset Boulevard (his work is on display from August 10-September 6), I wanted to share this article from last year, in which Richard talks about when and how he started painting.

The magical turning point he describes took place during filming of If Looks Could Kill, and it sounds as if painting has been Grieco's first love since. Though it's only been the past few years that Richard says he's been pulling back from acting in order to focus on his painting, this story makes me wonder whether this drive in another direction might have played a role in some of his much earlier career choices, as well.

Richard Grieco of 21 Jump Street Blows His Cover: He's a Serious Painter Now, No Joke

Here's hoping tomorrow brings the recognition that Grieco clearly deserves as an artist.