The brushes were steaming and the rinse water flowing rapidly when Tom X joined E.J. Gold in his SmogOpsTM Canteen painting studio.
The repartee was light and jovial as the collaborations came to life. Sometimes working at the same time and sometimes singly in the back and forth rhythm of a responsive reading, Gold and Tom X produced over a dozen canvases during their ten all night sessions at the Canteen, several of which were 14 foot murals.
Neal Krone -- visiting art dealer from Santa Monica, coined the phrase "Post-Pop" as he watched Gold and Tom X produce one canvas after another. Gessoed in black and painted in primary colors -- brilliant red, cobalt blue, sun yellow and bright green -- these paintings pop into the universe and don't fade away. "This stuff is hot!" exclaimed Krone, who, with his acute awareness of outer edge art, immediately asked if he could take a half dozen pieces back to his gallery.
None of the Canteen habitués were at all surprised when he called to let Gold and Tom X know that all the paintings had sold the first day. More were sent right away -- some for sale and some destined for the next show opening at the end of November.
