RUSSELL BRAND

Subliminal Projects Gallery

Echo Park, CA

September 17, 2011

Photo credit: Russell Brand

It was a bustling opening night at Subliminal Projects Gallery. The latest art show, 3 Kings, featured three veteran New York City graffiti artists whom I’ve followed since the early 80s. Over time, they've elevated themselves from being creative vandals who painted murals on New York City subways to prestigious artists who paint on canvases that hang internationally in curated shows. This exhibit was packed. The lively reception had a DJ spinning old-school hip hop, and I was sipping a complementary spritzer when Russell Brand showed up right in front of me. I don't know where he came from, but I know from experience that I have to seize these opportunities when they present themselves, so I did.

I touched his arm. He turned and looked deep into my eyes—so deep that it felt like he could see the inside of my skull. I said, "Hi." He slipped his arm around my waist and though he hadn’t yet spoken, I could hear his voice-over clearly saying, Let's walk.

He had a good hold on me as he led me through the crowd and deeper into the gallery. This was a surprising response to my casual hello, but I had an unexpected turn planned for him as well. Not sure where we were headed but after some time strolling in silence, I pitched my concept. When I reached the I-have-a-celebrity-photo-album part, he came to a screeching halt and turned to face me. Once more, he made intense visual contact and might as well have been shaking my shoulders when he intently said his first words: "Why do you DO that??" He questioned me as though I represented every bothersome fan he'd ever met.

Not today, Russ. Today you've met Rebecca, and I'm not finished with my pitch.

Ignoring his question, I continued, "It's just a bunch of pictures of me taken by celebrities." Equally ignoring my pitch, he interrupted with no emotion, “I just got here. I'll be here for a long time. I'm not going anywhere. Come to me later.” It seems that I approached him right as he entered the gallery. Who knew he'd walk in and stand right in front of me? Obviously, I was not going to get his help at that moment, so like a parent with a kid going off to college, I had to just let him go and trust that I'd see him again.

It took hours, but when I finally saw him, I approached him with the enthusiasm of someone with nothing to lose. I wasn’t sure if he remembered me, but I made my move. "Okay. Now.” I said. He looked deep into my skull again, but this time he let me proceed.

I was holding up my camera in my left hand and had to start my pitch from the top. "I have this celebrity photo album. It's just a bunch of pictures of me taken by celebrities." Now that he was loosened up and listening, he seemed to think this was funny. As I explained my idea, the camera casually transferred from my hand to his.

"Will you take my picture?" I concluded. He glanced at the location of the camera and immediately pushed the shutter button. Then he smiled like a naughty boy, put the camera back in my hand, and walked away.

Wait. What just happened? This whirlwind seemed rude at first, but then I realized how quickly he had processed my request and submitted his entry. Impressed by his spontaneity, I smiled and said, "Thanks" to the back of his head.

To the casual observer, it might look like he hadn’t made any effort to be friendly; however given his eccentric, avant-garde personality, if this renegade Brit had asked me to pose for a regular picture, like a regular American, I’d have been let down. I’m still not quite sure what this is a photo of, but his unexpected move was funny, worth the wait, and totally on-Brand. Thanks, Russell!