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Today the Venice Paparazzi “Pass the Spotlight” shines on local photographer Gerry Fialka.  Gerry was nominated by his wonderful wife Suzy Williams.  You can read her interview here.
Top photo:  Rip Cronk, Gerry Fialka, and Todd Von Hoffman at the An evening with Rip Cronk in 2011. 
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How many years in Venice? 38 years
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Tell us about your art or company.  I host events at various locations that involve the community in art, film, music, literature and more.  laughtears.com
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How did you get into to doing this?   Humans need to connect.
What projects are you currently working on?
  1. Remaking (& demaking) the Orson Welles’ not-yet-released film The Other Side of the Wind as The Brother Side of the Wake.  Here’s two short previews: youtube.com/watch?v=NlhspvI86Z8 & youtube.com/watch?v=Vso1cEAUYR.
  2. Publishing my first interview book, Strange Questions: Experimental Film as Conversation, and doing nothing effectively..
What accomplishments are you most proud of?  
What advice would you give someone starting out in your field?  Nurture the courage to fail. Flip breakdowns into breakthroughs. Righteous rascality.
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Who or what inspires you?   My wife Suzy Williams, literature, comedy, art, film and live music on the Boardwalk evoking three quotes: “Where the hand of man never set foot” – James Joyce…”I will love everyone. I will love the police as they kick the shit out of me on the street” – Frank Zappa…”Carefully make plans, then do the opposite”- McLuhan
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In this photo:  Gerry with his wonderful wife Suzy Williams. 
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How would your friends or colleagues describe you?  
  • Friendly
  • “Gerry Fialka is a true cultural Patriot, on the front lines of diversity, thought and reflection!” – Mark Grasso, Producer/British Academy of Film and Television Arts-member
Favorite affirmation, mantra, or quote.
  • “Nothing is what I want.” – Frank Zappa…
  • “If it works, it’s obsolete.” … “You mean my whole fallacy is wrong.” … “Carefully make plans then do the opposite.” … “The Balinese have no word for art they do everything as well as they can.” … “How about technologies as the collective unconscious and art as the collective unconsciousness?” – Marshall McLuhan
  • “Artists live in the present and write a detailed history of the future.” – Wyndham Lewis
  • “This concern which interests us more than anything else: the blurring of the distinction between art and life.” – Marcel Duchamp.
  • “Art is anything you can get away with.” – Andy Warhol
  • “Art is confession; art is the secret told. . . . But art is not only the desire to tell one’s secret; it is the desire to tell it and hide it at the same time.” – Thorton Wilder

Favorite book, band or movie?

  • Book- Finnegans Wake by James Joyce …and (tie)… Take Today: The Executive as Drop-out by Marshall McLuhan Band – Black Shoe Polish…and (tie)… Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention ‘
  • Movie – Sans Soleil by Chris Marker…and (tie)… Tribulation 99 by Craig Baldwin

What do you do on your days off? How do you treat yourself?  Laugh, love and learn. I treat myself kindly. Love and be loved.

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List 2-3 things on your bucket list, and 1-2 on your VENICE bucket list

Aspire to be the put-on artist who puts on events that uncover our invention’s hidden psychic effects, then we can cope with the disservices and flip them into services. Through art, music, film and fiery discussions, we can live in the present and write a detailed history of the future. Fun is the key…FUNKY.

Finish off the statement “Life is… “epiphanies in everydayness.”

What causes do you support?  Peace, justice, freedom, cosmic wisdom.

What’s one thing we can do to make the world a better place?  Look homeless people in the eye and sharing time in conversation with them.

Anything else you want to share about yourself to the world?  Join Laughtears.com and check out my interviews and music.

Describe Venice.  Heaven on Earth…where one cannot tell the difference between a homeless wino junkie and a millionaire film artist.

Describe your perfect day in Venice: (start from morning to night) .  Hugging my wife Suzy Williams, playing tennis with her, attending her yoga class, and meeting people on the street spontaneously (as in Sponto – combo of spontaneous and pronto)

imagesWhat are some interesting destinations/activities in Venice that even locals might not be aware of?  Being with people on the Boardwalk…

List any of your favorite Venice businesses, event(s) or activities?  Beyond Baroque, 212 Pier, and Angel City Bookstore.

What is your craziest or fondest Venice experience?  Any encounter with Venice icon Dougo Smith, Dumpster Diving Fashion Show (and all the Spontofication ritual art shows & gatherings), Bruce Langhorne’s New Orleans Marching Band on the Boardwalk to support Katrina victims, sunsets.

Any shoutouts or thank you’s?  Thank you to everybody who supports our events, and feeds the homeless.

Anything else about Venice that you would like to say?  The magic carpet ride of Venice – where Captain Beefheart met Lenny Bruce, where Chaplin, Welles, Warhol and Agnes Varda made films, where we nurture community…even in the back alleys.

Who should Venice Paparazzi cast the spotlight on next?  The ultimate Venice Family who propagate inspired and inspiring activism and magical music: Peter Demian, Margaret Molloy and their son Hailey Demian.

FAN AND FOLLOW GERRY FIALKA.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS HOSTED BY GERRY FIALKA!

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