Solid Newsletter #8
Summer on the Horizon
Welcome to another installment of the Solid Newsletter. So glad you could make it! Hope everyone is gearing up and ready for summer. We definitely are here at Solid. In fact, we are planning to embark on some road trips!
Introducing Solid Southland
A series of consolidated shuttle runs launching this June.
American Riviera - Santa Barbara, Central Coast
Desert Oasis - Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree
SoCal Surfline - Orange County, San Diego
Contact us for pricing and to schedule your Solid Southland excursion today!
Solid Playlist
Curious what we will be listening to on our Solid Southland excursions? Here is a taste on Spotify and Tidal. Think summertime in space, all within our usual ambient vibe.
Artist Spotlight: John Baehr
John Baehr was born in Augusta, Georgia and grew up around parts of Los Angeles County. He received his BFA at SFAI and completed art programs at CalArts and College of the Canyons. Most of Baehr’s time goes to playing darts. He thinks it’s a healthy addiction that helps him get his steps in.
Tell us about your studio practice.
My studio practice for many years has been contained within my car. I spend most of my time there and photograph things I see outside my window. I have a small studio section in my place where I have a large printer I use when printing for projects I’m working on.
Chinatown, driving (2015)
Toyota, Manchester (2019)
What do you listen to in the studio?
Lately a lot of Home Front and Oasis, but usually stuff like Tragedy, Melt-Banana, Discharge. Sometimes the radio (97.9 La Raza).
Do you have any favorite books?
I honestly don’t read. My attention span can’t hang. In school I would just use summary websites to fabricate book reports. It was definitely a challenge before the days of Chat GPT.
What about favorite movies?
That’s extremely hard to narrow down. I’d say There Will Be Blood, Terminator 2, and Come and See (the Belarusian one from 1985). The Soviets knew how to make some of the most powerful art and films.
38 Geary West (2011)
38 Geary East (2011)
Who are your favorite local LA artists?
Ozzie Juarez, Andrew Chapman, Mario Ayala, Chloe Sherman. All wonderful people with very unique styles.
What about favorite artists in general?
Henry Wessel - my main mentor whose advice changed my approach to photography. Catherine Opie - big early influence on me. Otto Dix - making provocative art during times of censorship and persecution is why art is so important to me.
Funland at the Beach (2012)
What shows or projects do you have coming up?
Lately I’ve been going back on old hard drives and negatives to put together another zine of the LA and Bay Area underground scenes from 15-20 years ago.
Black Triangles, Oakland Hazmat (2009)