Christina Billotte with a Thomas Campbell

In about 1996 Thomas Campbell, a painter from California, and I decided we were going to trade artwork. It took a long time for me to meet up with Thomas to look at his artwork, and I finally did in New York City. We agreed we would trade a photo of "someone from DC in a band and their car" of mine for a painting of his with "birds and plants, not people and brown colors". Thomas went away, surfed, probably did some movies, came back and mailed me the painting. I ended up with a painting that was with people and brown colors. I loved the painting, as I loved Thomas' work... but I couldn't stop thinking about animals and plants. I finally got the nerve up in 1997 and called Thomas and asked him if I could trade that painting for another one of his paintings. He was a bit bummed. I joked that maybe I would go on a road trip and take photos of it across the US to take it back to him in California. I think he didn't believe me.

Later in 1997, I went to the Alleged Gallery opening of "Women photographers" that I was in, and Aaron Rose, the curator and Alleged Gallery owner, asked, "Are you taking a road trip to California to see Thomas' art show?" "WHAT ART SHOW?" I asked. Turned out Thomas was having an art opening in San Francisco at the "old" Luggage Store location when I was going to be there!! I got a "drive-away" car, and Christina Billotte joined me on the road trip.

I brought the painting, and asked Christina if she wouldn't mind posing with the painting across the US. I purposely took it in front of my favorite hotel of all time, The Hotel Congress. I sold them the postcard I made of that image.. about 1000 of them in all! People bought them and used them even though they didn't know who Christina Billotte or Thomas Campbell was. I traded that painting for another one of animals and blue colors.. which I still have and cherish.

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