It’s a beautiful Thursday afternoon in the Brentwood hills, peaceful and quiet as though I’m no longer in L.A. The Southwest-style clubhouse of the Riviera Country Club stands gallant and vast, like the home of a Columbian drug lord, and I’m here for the quarterly luncheon of the Saint John’s Retired Physician’s Association. In spite of my shadowy past as an amateur surgeon and street pharmacist, I am in fact here to interview the former Los Angeles District Attorney and now prominent photographer Gil Garcetti, who is today’s main speaker. But I’m sweating in the sun while taking these notes and must move toward the clubhouse. Suddenly, I wonder if there’s a no-denim policy here, as is customary among country clubs. I’m wearing blue jeans. The sign just outside the main entrance reads Proper Attire Required… Not sure exactly what that means.

Listen to the Interview:
Part 1
John Lithgow
Featured Artist, Painter
By Jeremy Pollack, Forth Editor
Photos by Bootsy Holler

I met John Lithgow (pronounced “Lith-go” to my surprise) at Santa Monica Fine Art Studios one night during an open house. Among the many fine artists that hold space at the studio, John was showing his work publicly for the first time that evening in mid June. FORTH sponsored the event, and Sofiya—our Events Director—introduced me to the artist early in the night. Lithgow towered above me at 6’5” but tendered an easy, welcoming presence. After browsing the magazine, he cordially accepted the offer for FORTH …

We squeeze out to the smoking patio, somehow imagining it will be quieter than inside. With my list of eight questions smudged on the palm of my hand, I hold out my recorder and ask her:

Photography by Ellei Johndro (Featured Artist)

“We don’t like you,
we just want to try you…”
…Black Rebel Motorcycle Club tells you this as you shoot up La Cienega and it could be LA’s motto. The Monday rush-hour is mysteriously absent and you thank some higher power for this, but are left to question the circumstance. There is no discernible pattern to LA traffic. It comes. It goes. It parts like the Red Sea. It hits you like a tsunami. Whatever the reasons, you are thankful for the clear shot north into Hollywood. Because you are a journalist. Because you are on an …

KEY:
regular = Sekou
italic = Steve
bold = both