Mel Kadel and Travis Millard came up from LA to SF to install Mel's show Echo Test @FFDG. This is Travis' blog from their trip. Mel Kadel and Travis Millard came up from LA to SF to install Mel's show Echo Test @FFDG. Below is Travis' blog from their trip.

Sumer time is fire season in Los Angeles and we've been reaping the joy of another year in paradise. There's nothing like waking up sweaty to the aroma of torching forest

it's enough to drive a man to drinkin'

At night you could make out flames licking on multiple blazes from our hillside

It seemed like a good time to get out of town, and lucky for us, Mel had an art show at the prestigious Fecal Face Dot Gallery in SF, so we packed the truck and hit the road

Driving up the 5 freeway is agriculture country in California, so you're passing fields of fruits and vegetables. My favorite is the garlic pasture stretch of driving.. i think it's called Yumtown!

Ahhh ~ the San Francisco Bay

We rolled into Mr. Jeremy Fish's abode and were happy to see him and Isabel. He was kind enough to put us up for the week.. helluva dude. Thanks Jeremy!

He's been hard at work for an upcoming show at the Laguna Art Museum opening Nov. 8. It's gonna be a banger!

We got some rest and woke up to your typical San Francisco traffic

Made it over to the Rowan Morrison Gallery in Oakland

The operation is run by the great Pete and Narangkar Glover

We got to see a bunch of work Narangkar was putting together for her show at Blankspace

All of her work revolved around their skate pond in the backyard

it was an impressive spot, but i just paced and around and made phone calls on it

Pete's a rad dude and gave us this nice print on a paper bag

I delivered some prints I did with the shop as well, available through Rowan Morrison or on my site

Lori D. was in town and we got to meet up with her and JC for some food in Chinatown. Mel and Lori have a show opening together at Grasshut in Portland next month

Finally made it over to the gallery

Trippe was ready for action

Action was served up shortly with some road rage out front.. check out the tire iron in dudes hand

Also notice the heavy gate i was nervously shooting behind.. how about a little peace, love and understanding bros?

We shrugged it off and got down to work. John and Jessica rule.

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Mel and Mike Aho came together on a limited edition ((Sounder)) ep, available at the show.

I made it over to 111 Minna to drop off some work for a show and ran into Ferris Plock, Kelly Tunstall and young Brixton... just two weeks into the world and already getting his street education.

High fived the awesome Jay Howell and got a rad print from him

and this beautiful drawing

Had the pleasure of meeting Skinner too as he loaded the remaining work from his show into his magical creeper van.

He dug into the stack and gifted me this painting, saying "I hope it works for your home". All i can say is "WOW".

At some point in the flurry of activity Mel's show opened. Mike Aho was impressed.

Jason Polan is a great guy and talented drawer. He also heads up the Taco Bell Drawing Club, which meets at Taco Bell locations around the country. He compiles the drawings done on spot with him into a series of zines, .. i was honored to get the cover of Vol. 6. He lives in NYC, but was in town and gathered an impromptu meeting at a small location in the city

It was a good turnout with many busy pens. Jason gifted this drawing to Mel

the fruit of my tbdc labor

Mel grew up working in her grandfather's arcade, so we were excited to blow off some quarters at an old timey arcade on the wharf. Sadly, she was unmatched by this ones brut strength.

Rich Jacobs and Albert Reyes had an excellent show open at White Walls.

I love Rich's spirit. it's always a treat to talk to him and see what he's been up to.

Albert's a helluva guy too. Both strong artists pouring out their own unique truths. It was really an interesting mash up of work.

Will Rhoten (DJ SOBER) and Gail showed up from Dallas

Rich Colman just being his mighty self out front

Matt Furie and Justin Giarla from White Walls

Matt hooked us up with this incredible drawing. It was an alternate from a series he put together at 111 Minna's "Neighborhoods" show. Matt did the Upper Haight and illustrated various weed strains. I can't tell you how excited I am to have this thing.

Our time had come to an end in SF and it was road o'clock. We grabbed Albert for the ride back to LA.

Had to hit the local Fruit Barn along the highway.. way too tempting.

Road trips are the best

Me and Albert tried passing the boredom by drawing on the drive. We tried to make a fun game out of managing the turbulence but it just gave us a headache

so we stared out the window instead

We delivered Albert home safely and he set us up with these stellar drawings

Good to be back home. Nern was happy to see us but took issue with our absence. Thanks Fecal Face!

Words and photos: Travis Millard {moscomment}

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