ALF Sereno

Back in college, my roommate Brad had blondish-brown hair that flipped over on top and a good-sized nose. His sister teased him that he looked like ALF, and gave him a huge inflatable version that sat in our apartment. Somehow, friends of mine got the idea that I was a big fan of the sitcom, and started giving me ALF stuff that they'd find at thrift shops, garage sales, or dumpsters. A collection was born.


This morning I boxed up most of my ALF stuff and gave it away. When writing the press release for this weekend's Killing Time show at GR2, I found out that one of the artists, Matt Furie, is a fan of the puppet alien. He is now the owner of stuffed animals, hand puppets, lunch boxes, mugs, a board game, Halloween costume, trading card sets, and other stuff. I'm happy they have a new home.


My other reason to visit Matt--who is staying with Killing Time's other contributing artist, Albert Reyes in El Sereno--was to deliver postcards for the show. Appropriately, the artwork on the card has one of Matt's ALF-like creature on the left and a self-portrait by Albert on the right. We re-created the scene in Albert's studio-storage room.


For the art show, Matt and Albert are showing individual works, but they are also doing a number of collaborations. On the left is one of Albert's pieta-style illustrations; on the right is Matt's version.


See the unfinished piece in the background that Matt is holding? By the time art goes on the walls on Friday, it will be filled with people. Albert says the piece is influenced by Norman Rockwell, but Matt will deny it.


A closeup of a collab between the Bay Area and Socal artist friends.


Above, some of Albert's new solo stuff. I was too slow to shoot Matt's connecting piece, but it will blow you away when it's on the wall. I hope someone buys all of them so they don't get broken up.


Want a kitten? The Reyes household has a bunch. If you have a home, let Albert know at the art show opening on Saturday.


Matt painted on Albert's infamous backyard wall. Can you guess which one is his?


The garage houses pieces that are too big for Albert's room. The wall of TVs reminds me of The Man Who Fell to Earth or Destroying America.


Halloween is still five months away, but Albert has already begun construction of his backyard maze. Even in broad daylight, it was kind of scary.


Lunch at Shaker's in South Pasadena. We made the average age of the customers dip quite a bit. Matt's girlfriend Aiyana met a gal pal who whisked her away to do fun things while the dudes and Monique ran show-related errands like go to a T-shirt printing shop and Kinko's.

Albert was a hustling machine, not only inviting numerous senior citizens to Saturday's art show, but also inviting the highway patrol.


We parted ways at the Shaker's parking lot. I was glad I didn't have to follow Albert's car any more because he drives like a maniac.