No, I haven’t moved to Chicago. I haven’t even decided if I’d like to live there or not. Or where I’d even like to live at all in the future. I’m still in Michigan planning to periodically visit the Windy City from time to time. I have family and friends there, plus there seems to be possible outlets there for my filming addiction.
I’m starting to get ideas on how to possibly present past Amazing Strangers footage. I’ve thought of focusing on one character, like Dusty for instance, along with some music, I could put together a brief story about that subject in an interesting way. So if by chance you or someone you know has music they’d like to get out there, especially if it’s themed around NYC, Union or one of the “Strangers” there, I’d be very interested to hear/use it. I’d give full credit and promote the musician behind it in any way possible. Which reminds me…
Kameltoe
I was in Chicago last week, and while there I ran into Kameltoe! I’d been planning to go to Chicago for the last week of September for a while. Then, just happened to mention it to Kameltoe (who is in LA), and by chance she was going there be there the same time!
So we met up in Millennium Park and recorded some of her new songs. She has many new songs, and I recorded about 6 of them that afternoon. I’ll get them to you as ways to present them come to me.
Hired to design an octopus with pizza for a tattoo
Yes, I have been able to finally work on art now that I’m away from NYC, but most of it has been paid jobs! I can’t share most of what I’ve done because they’re assignments that are reserved for client use only for now. But one of the pieces I can show is this Octopizza that’s scheduled to become a tattoo on someone’s forearm.
I am indeed for hire for art jobs, no matter how weird or wrong it may seem. Those are often my favorite kinds of jobs to do.
Drawing of Normal Bob Smith by Walter Roberts a week before I left NYC
I am no longer in New York. In fact, where I’m at is really REALLY not New York! Where I’m at in Michigan is a very different land to say the least. And here is where I’m getting my head together.
I just got off the phone with Shaggy, and he’s turning over some new leafs as well. “No more hanging out with the homeless!” is what he just told me.
After I left, he said he realized he wanted nothing more to do with them. He’s got one, maybe two that he’s still talking to since I left, but decided he’d rather be rollin’ solo than caught up in their drama in any way, shape or form. He even said he’s stopped introducing himself to people as Shaggy (his homeless name) and now says “I’m Bob.”
Selfie of Shaggy, Colyn & Normal Bob the day before he leaves the city for good
I was the one normal person in his life for such a long time there, and with me now gone he has no interest in hanging with the street people. He stops by Union Square for no more than an hour on any given day, hangs with the skaters who say hi to him and keep it movin’, but that’s it. Union’s totally empty now. He hasn’t seen any of the regulars hanging out there lately, and now with Fall just around the corner things are only going to get quieter.
Union Square before I left the city taken from Burlington Coat Factory window
I feel very good about being out of there. I’m still settling into my new schedule of doing less. A lot less. And forgetting I don’t have to be as stressed any more. My brain has been programmed to look for things to worry about. And when the top thing gets resolved it goes to the next one. And so on. That has to end.
Just starting to work on new freelance jobs and feeling productive again. That’s the key for me to start feeling good and at home. I need to feel purpose here, so I’m putting those ducks in line now.
Richy in his appartment
I had one last video posted for less than 6 hours before the subject of it, Richy, told me he was really disturbed by his behavior in it and he wanted it taken down. It kills me to have had to take it off, but I also don’t want to disturb him. I really do like him as an artist and a person, so I’m trying to figure out another way to present it so he can sleep at night with it out there. He’s just such an amazing artist, and the piece itself I think is one of my best, so I’m going to do everything I can to get it to you in one piece at some point. And this is where it’ll be when it goes up again…
On the flip side, Ricky Dale called me and loves her video. I do too. But I especially love the swan-song she gave me to end my final video with Shaggy Bob.
If I were still there I’d be having a lot of trouble keeping my camera away from her. I hope someone else can pick up where I left off. She deserves to be discovered.
I’ve also been going through my backup of Union Square videos with a new appreciation. I’m experiencing that bizarre sensation of it feeling like a dream of some sort. It’s really strange. Hard to describe. I feel like I just returned from a trip to Oz.
If you haven’t heard it yet, I did an interview with Smug Films explaining a lot about why I left NYC, and delved further into some of the less talked about situations I got myself in at Union Square. Listen to that here at Smug Films website.
I’m not sure what I’m going to do with all this footage yet. I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything I’ve got! Until then though, I’ve put off posting all the photos from my last couple months there, so I’ll be getting those up for you to see as of right now.
Tabatha the iPhone 5 Girl
Tabatha aka Megan aka Chelsea aka iPhone 5 Girl
Drawing of Normal Bob Smith by Walter Roberts a week before I left NYC
Richy in his appartment
Nessa frowns upon hearing that I’m leaving
High Pitch Erik & “No Your City” Nick pose outside of Astor Place Starbucks
High Pitch Erik, Normal Bob & Joey Boots pose outside of Astor Place Starbucks the day before Normal Bob moves away from the city
Selfie of Shaggy, Colyn & Normal Bob the day before he leaves the city for good
Tan Tourists looking at NYC & their phones
Ashley, Crow & Sabrina told me no special occasion. They dress like this all the time
Union Square before I left the city taken from Burlington Coat Factory window
Ricky Dale
Greg & Shaggy embrace
Matty McCloud
Matty & Matty
Maty Ice in full Motley Crue makeup before show
One of Jimmy the Mosaic Man’s tile covered poles ripped out of the sidewalk
Union Square sans Normal Bob Smith by Zoë Karson Cullum on Facebook after my departure
My friends, after 13 fruitful years in New York City it’s finally time for me to leave. I’m over it. The bloom is off the rose. I’m moving to go be closer to family, help out my parents and enjoy the freedom to work on my art in peace. That’s what I’ve been doing most when I visit them, and it’s just been impossible for me to find enough space & peace in this city to do that.
There are many reasons I feel the need to leave.
I am no longer enchanted with what I once saw here. I hate what I see it turning into and the type of people flooding in. They’ve priced me out, and killed my enthusiasm to document it. I just can’t keep up.
I also need to be with family. I got none of that here. And lately I’ve been feeling that lack harder than ever.
This isn’t necessarily the end of Amazing Strangers. I have enough footage and photos to furnish many other projects. I also have a lot of unused, unseen stuff to put out there. It does however mean the end of my Union Square updates. August will be my final month.
I will still keep up with normalbob.com same as ever. My passion for this is still strong. That’s part of it too. There’s a lot more I want to do.
It couldn’t be more clear to me that I am done with this chapter of my life. It’s been brewing in me for a while now. I’m also really looking forward to seeing where this takes me. I rule out nothing.
Check out an interview I did with Smug Film were I go into further detail on my departure. I’ve got a few unheard stories that you’ll probably find very interesting, and more.
Would somebody help this homeless kitty out?
Woman in giant glasses she’s had for years and wears every summer
Tanza wearing metal necklace she made wouldn’t let me interview her because she doesn’t know me well enough yet.
Nicole in top she made out of Trip pants
Nicole & her mom
Etta joins X in his daily gymnastics
Mile is a fan who loves the channel and discovered it through the viral Wendell’s Hat Thief video
Shaggy & Normal Bob with young fan Miles
Alexa poses before visit
Selfie-stick Couple take selfie
Justine Bieber son protects his tourist family from my camera
Bianca’s dog Blanch poses for picture
Bianca & Blanch coming to visit
Normal Bob takes selfie in Bianca’s new shades that she found at a thrift shop
Tabatha (iPhone 5 girl)
Stylish Performers who were hola-hooping were happy to pose for me
Lately my happiness has been coming from drawing people. Stylish, striking, sexy people. I’ve always had this passion. But lately it just beats all.
Please don’t misunderstand. From the wispy goth rocker Nicole, to the hulking beefcake female bodybuilder Tracy, my range for what I find stylish and sexy spreads oceans. And I just have to do them. I cannot stop myself. I don’t even try.
John Waters said, “Life is nothing if you’re not obsessed.” That’s what it is.
Portrait of bodybuilder/trainer Tracy Argo digitized in Adobe Illustrator
So when I’m not being hired to draw people, I’m picking them out myself and doing it for fun. I can’t tell you how much I’d like to have project assignments like this coming in, but either way that’s what I’m loving, so more’s on the way.
If you do indeed have the inclination to hire me, I am available. Tell me what you have in mind, your budget, and I bet we can work something out.
Union Square
What I’m not loving at the moment is Union Square. It hasn’t been stylish, striking, and certainly not sexy! It’s hot, and stinky, and nothing’s really happening. Well, besides ball playing.
They’re throwing the football around all the fucking time. The day before yesterday they whacked Tabatha in the back of the head with it, and I flipped! I was so pissed I was yelling at them all calling them all pieces of shit! I’m just sick of the constant ball playing, and hitting people, and everyone else having no problem with being hit! You know. Just sayin’.
I’m not sure what this all means exactly. There’s still no postcard done, and my urge to make it is fizzling out. Could be just the summer heat, but I can’t say for sure. Sure as hell no love to be found there! Things have been changing at the park, and in my head.
American Horror Story’s Mat Fraser with Union Square Postcard
Alexa, from Stanton Island, smilng
Tweak as Clown from Slipknot mask
Normal Bob & Matty Ice are good pals now
The strange Alexa
Baffled tourist family trying to figure shit out
Lotion Man (Danny Klein) trying to lay low at the Square
Alexa in her new boots
Alexa in her Head
Inna & Alexa
Portrait of Nicole digitized in Adobe Illustrator
Portrait of bodybuilder/trainer Tracy Argo digitized in Adobe Illustrator
Christopher Amotharis digitized in Adobe Illustrator
Portrait of Lola digitized in Adobe Ilustrator
Portrait of female bodybuilder Tammy Jones IFBB Pro digitized in Adobe Illustrator for promotional use on her site.
Portrait of Inna digitized in Adobe Illustrator
Sasha Janegs digitized in Adobe Illustrator
Soo Catwoman digitized in Adobe Illustrator
Christy Christ, circa 2008 digitized in Adobe Illustrator
The Sauce (close up) Digitized in Adobe Illustrator
Porn Star Danni Daniels digitized in Adobe Illustrator for dressup game
