We had the good fortune of connecting with The Dark Bob and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi The Dark Bob, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
Artists don’t have much of a choice but to keep going. Making art is a compulsion, not a choice. For an artist, it’s a tool for survival. It feeds the soul.. Even the failures are a comfirmation of our human experience.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I began my art career back in the 70’s when I formed the conceptual art team of Bob & Bob in Los Angeles. We were part of the first wave of performance artists, and our early work is often considered groundbreaking. The ’70’s and ’80’s were an exciting time of creative exploration. New genres were being developed and the boundaries of art were being expanded in many new ways and formats.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a third generation Santa Monican. I was born here long before it was identified as an elitist upper class conclave. It was a small town and although I’ve lived all over Los Angeles, I will always love my city by the sea. So for starters, I’d want to share the ocean with anyone visiting the area. The Santa Monica Pier, the Venice Boardwalk, the Marina del Rey Jetty. I’d want to enjoy meals at Rae’s Diner and The Apple Pan and for a fancy feast, Michael’s in downtown Santa Monica. A trip to the Hammer Museum is always fun. But I also love and enjoy many other places and things in the greater Los Angeles area besides what is available on the fabled “Westside”.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ll shout out to myself for enduring and living the art life regardless of the challenges.

Website: https://www.thedarkbob.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the.dark.bob.2024/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@darkbob06

Other: https://www.songsforartistsalbum.com

Image Credits
Photo 1 Guy Webster
Photo 2 Basia Kenton

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