Bravely dipping a pen in the ink of his own soul, Pickett’s novels chart a winding path from divorced, struggling writer in the throes of an existential crises, to celebrated author.

I admit that I was very excited for this event. With three stages featuring musical and theatrical performances, an eco-friendly vibe, arts and literature “villages”, and more food trucks than the food truck festival (which I can’t believe I missed), how could a girl go wrong?

Guest curator Robert Marbury (along with his partners Scott Bibus and Sarina Brewer) coined the term in 2004, upon forming the Minnesota Association of Rogue Taxidermists. Road kill becomes a central part of their “recycled” philosophy, as are discarded livestock, destroyed nuisance animals, casualties of the pet trade and animals that have expired from natural causes. Other sculptures utilize taxidermy materials with custom stitching to fashion beasts from the recycled pelts of toy stuffed animals. Elements of technology and decoration combine to create ornaments that approach high art, not only in craft, but in concept.

While it seems some humans are dumping trash into Earth’s precious waters, others are recycling their unwanted goods and using them to create art. Others yet are painting pictures or taking photographs that capture the beauties of nature that have fortunately been able to remain untouched by mankind’s pestering paws. If you have respect for the glories and wonders of the planet we live on, then you share the sentiments of Tony Clark, founder and curator of Affinity Galleries in West Hollywood.

Whoever said Los Angeles is lacking in arts and culture has certainly NOT visited Barnsdall Art Park, and has especially not visited the park on the second Sunday of the month. That’s right, the arts are alive and well here. This I am sure of after Sunday April 11th when I headed over to the art park, being a first timer myself, for a night of vibrant, living art.