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Sweeney Todd poster for Center Stage, 2004

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Remembering the legacy of MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

Remembering the legacy of MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
#martinlutherking #mlk #civilrights #themarchcontinues #mlk50 #ihaveadream
#garybaseman #baseman
Before the 2016 election, I really believed our nation would finally begin a healthy dialogue to help understand our past to begin a brighter future on Civil Rights and the rights of all People.
Then the world turned upside down. I was at first embarrassed of our Executive Office and Congress and their actions. Then embarrassment turned into outrage, and was proud to walk together in peaceful protests supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. Now we have witnessed an insurgency against our Capitol and democracy by radical right extremists led by this two time impeached out going president.
I still have hope even with these growing threats that our nation can stand against this new Hate. Looking forward to our new President and first female Vice President with our new blue Congress and Senate can make real progress. This is one of my dreams.

My MOM at CANTER’S. A drawing of my MOM when sh

My MOM at CANTER’S.
A drawing of my MOM when she was the Head Bakery Saleslady at CANTER’S.
I drew this a year ago, but feeling like a million years ago, during breakfast, I needed to do a drawing of my mom working behind the counter and my dad who would pick her up everyday.
@canters_deli #cantersdeli #naomibaseman #benbaseman #fairfax #fairfaxdistrict @garybaseman #baseman
For those that don’t know, my mother Naomi worked in the bakery at Canter’s for 35 years.
❤️❤️❤️
During this pandemic, remember to support or local restaurants, so they can survive! Damn, I miss eating and drawing in restaurants!

MY SECURITY BLANKET. In many ways, Blackie the Cat

MY SECURITY BLANKET.
In many ways, Blackie the Cat was my security blanket. His Power of Purr kept me warm and calm during so many anxious times.
This is another painting from my series of art inspired by finding my childhood Peanuts drawings.

#theblackiethecatshow #blackiethecatshow #blackiethecat #blackiebaseman #garybaseman #baseman #meow @snoopygrams #linusvanpelt #securityblanket #peanuts
Oh, Blackie the Cat could be sassy and have to have his own way, like when he wants to take Linus’s blanket.

The MAGA CAPITOL MOB! The more I look at some of m

The MAGA CAPITOL MOB!
The more I look at some of my old old animation cels, the more these scenes look like the Insurrection at the US Capitol last week.
I recently found these old old original animation cels in the back of a closet in my parents old home about a month ago.
#animatoncels #hannabarbera #thejetsons #meetgeorgejetson #courageouscatandminutemouse #augiedoggie #capitolinsurrection #magamob #garybaseman #baseman
I actually grew up with these cels as a kid. My older brother, Sam, would get these cels from the studio when he was in junior high and sell them for like a nickle or dime. If you scroll through to the last image, you’ll see an old Three Stooges trading card I found that also reminds me of the Insurrection at the US Capitol. P.S. the US Senate must do the right thing and find the Conman-in-Chief guilty and remove him from office, strip him of any future benefits from being president and forbid him from ever running for office again.

IMPEACHDUM & IMPEACHDEE! The Conman-in-chief is im

IMPEACHDUM & IMPEACHDEE!
The Conman-in-chief is impeached for a second time, this time for “incitement an insurrection.”

Trump is now officially the worst president ever. After inciting his MAGA mob to attack the US Capitol, he later praised them with “We love you, you’re very special.”

#dumptrump #notmypresident #uscapitol #mobrule #maga #insurrection #tweedledumandtweedledee
#garybaseman #baseman
I always hate drawing Trump, but when I came up with the idea of TweedleDum & TweedleDee, I found it easy since they actually already look like him. The way the artist John Tenniel first designed them, he must have imagined Trump. And Disney’s version is the same!
MAGAdum & MAGAdummer.

DUNCE! 30 years before I made my first DUNCE figur

DUNCE!
30 years before I made my first DUNCE figure, I drew this DUNCE drawing. I’m amazed how my themes as an adult first occurred in childhood. I loved old comedians and humor.
This played a big role in my early art. Snakes going through the ears. A bullet going through the mouth leaving a hole on the other side! A spring with an April Fools flag! A little version on the Dunce standing on his clown shoes! So many memories flooding back. And yes, I was a giant MAD Magazine fan. Big Don Martin fan.
#garybaseman #baseman
I’ve been going through old boxes finding treasures of my art from my childhood at my old parents home. It’s been a magical time travel journey. Very emotional. These last few months have been a very emotional time.

BE PREPARED! 💙 Love this collaborative portrait

BE PREPARED! 💙
Love this collaborative portrait/painting of the Hermelin Family with photographer extraordinaire, Michael Muller. @michaelmuller7 #michaelmuller @julieherm #kickstarter #mythicalcreatures #documentary #portrait #collaboration #garybaseman #baseman
Raising funds for my documentary film, Mythical Creatures, Michael and I worked together to do a series of family portraits. I love how all turned out. Here the playful Hermelin family put on Scout outfits and had campfire fun with Toby and the gang!

Self-Portrait with Blackie the Cat. Another one.

Self-Portrait with Blackie the Cat. Another one.
While Blackie was ill, I started experimenting on a series of drawings based on my selfies taken with Blackie the Cat over the years. I’m almost done with this sketchbook of our portraits.

#theblackiethecatshow #blackiethecatshow #blackiethecat #blackiebaseman #garybaseman #baseman #meow

These drawings were very therapeutic and experimental. I’ve been enjoying making these drawings from life in a new way, capturing lines and details that represent our unique bond. I thought I’d be done with this sketchbook by the end of the year, but I guess the healing process takes longer, especially in this time of Covid isolation.

Blackie Bowie! On the anniversary of DAVID BOWIE'S

Blackie Bowie!
On the anniversary of DAVID BOWIE'S death.
Blackie Bowie, WildGirl Bowie, Toby Bowie! ChouChou Bowie! Bowie Bowie!
Bowie Kooks!
“Will you stay in our lover's story
If you stay you won't be sorry
'Cause we believe in you”
@davidbowie #davidbowie #quicksand #toby #tobylovesyou #tobylovesbowie #garybaseman #baseman
So grateful that his music has inspired me so. 🧡⚡️

The Artist is Present! Especially for an Art Purr-

The Artist is Present!
Especially for an Art Purr-formance!
Well, Blackie the Cat will always be present in my heart.
I always loved Peanuts as a child but I didn’t realize how much until I found my childhood drawings! This new year, I’ve been experimenting with hybrid Blackie the Cat/Snoopy art.
@snoopygrams #snoopy #lucyvanpelt #peanuts #peanutsgang #marinaabramovic
#theblackiethecatshow #blackiethecatshow #blackiethecat #blackiebaseman #garybaseman #baseman #meow
As I’ve been cleaning out my parents’ old home, I’ve found treasures of my childhood art full of Snoopy drawings. In this new piece, I started drawing Lucy’s “The Doctor is in,” then added Blackie the Cat. But when my sassy Blackie gets involved, there seems to be a bunch of apologizes to go around. One day I’ll tell you my real special story of sitting across Marina Abramovic during lunch in LA, having our own “The Artist is Present” moment.
This drawing, of course, celebrates Blackie the Cat’s Art Installation, The Purr Room which we were honored to produce in LA and London. I hope we can bring the Purr Room around the world once this pandemic is over. Happy Caturday.

Let’s do a HAPPY DANCE to celebrate our two new

Let’s do a HAPPY DANCE to celebrate our two new Georgia Senators, the Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff! 💙🍑
I needed to reprise the drawing I just did of Snoopy & my Blackie the Cat with our new Senators as the Democrats take control over both Houses of Congress.
#raphaelwarnock #jonossoff #georgia #senators #happydance #snoopy #theblackiethecatshow #garybaseman #baseman #celebration #georgiasenaterunoff
This mighty victory feels just as good as when we won the Presidency again and pushed the ConMan-in-chief out of office. And now Moscow Mitch is the Senate Minority Leader. This victory needs to give a special bow to Stacey Abrams for her amazing leadership! 💙

“We love you, you’re very special.” These ar

“We love you, you’re very special.” These are the ConMan-in-Chief’s exact words in a message to his MAGA mob of insurrectionists after they stormed the US Capitol. He should be removed from office by the 25th amendment immediately. He should have been removed from office when he was impeached. Moscow Mitch and his Republican gang have blood on their hands, being complicit in his immoral and illegal acts through the past 4 years. #dumptrump #notmypresident #uscapitol #mobrule #maga #insurrection
#25thamendment #garybaseman #baseman
I dislike drawing this grifter so much that when I do, I try to do it as quickly as possible, just enough to get my idea across. Didn’t this LOSER sign an executive order that if anyone breaks into or destroys federal property, they get minimum 10 years in prison?

Blackie the Cat Memorial Brick. Thank you Kitty Bu

Blackie the Cat Memorial Brick.
Thank you Kitty Bungalow for honoring my best friend, Blackie the Cat, with this special brick on your Cat Walk of Fame.
@kittybungalow #kittybunglow #theblackiethecatshow #blackiethecatshow #blackiethecat #blackiebaseman #garybaseman #baseman #meow
“The Power of Purr” was inscribed on the Brick, along with the years of Blackie’s life, 2003-2020. I brought a bottle of @littledomsla Dago Red with Blackie the Cat’s Power of Purr label, to toast the life of Blackie and celebrate Kitty Bungalow. Extra thanks to @shelleyleopold for making this happen. Remember now is a perfect time to adopt a cat or a kitten, a puppy dog, or even a chinchilla.

GEORGIA VOTE!! Georgia! We need you to go out and

GEORGIA VOTE!!
Georgia! We need you to go out and elect two New Democratic Senators! It’s the only way for the Legislative Branch to create new laws to stop someone like the ConMan-in-chief from finding loop holes to corrupt our democratic process.
#vote #georgia #georgiavoter #votegeorgia #garybaseman #baseman
Not only did the ConMan-in-chief pull another impeachable offense by trying to coerce another 11,870 votes out of the Georgia Secretary of State, but over 100 Republicans congressman & dozen Republicans senators have decided again our constitution and create sedition to overturn our 2020 election. As a child, I was fascinated by the Civil War, but I never thought in my lifetime, these Republicans would become the new Confederates. If you scroll a few childhood drawings about the Civil War.
Georgia, vote as your life depended on it. Vote for your civil rights. Vote for our democracy and fair elections! Vote!

HAPPY DANCE! Snoopy teaching Blackie the Cat to da

HAPPY DANCE!
Snoopy teaching Blackie the Cat to dance!
What the hell, it’s a new year.
@snoopygrams #snoopy #happydance #theblackiethecatshow #blackiethecatshow #blackiethecat #blackiebaseman #garybaseman #baseman #meow
Looking again at my childhood drawings, I did love to draw the iconic image of Snoopy dancing. So early this Sunday morning, I sat down and drew Blackie doing the Snoopy Dance. It also got me thinking how Blackie danced in real life. I’ll try to share that with you later this week. Happy Nee Year still. Happy 21!

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