elgyn part yes it’s it’s a very neutral place there’s no conflict there it’s
place there’s no conflict there it’s
place there’s no conflict there it’s colorless people who look at my
colorless people who look at my
colorless people who look at my photographs will bring their own stories
photographs will bring their own stories
photographs will bring their own stories they’ll say oh this reminds me of the
they’ll say oh this reminds me of the
they’ll say oh this reminds me of the house that I grew up in we were in a car
house that I grew up in we were in a car
house that I grew up in we were in a car crash it looks something very similar to
crash it looks something very similar to
crash it looks something very similar to that so it brings those stories out in
that so it brings those stories out in
that so it brings those stories out in people
people
people [Music]
there was a Popeye cartoon when olive
there was a Popeye cartoon when olive oil was walking on a building being
oil was walking on a building being
oil was walking on a building being built and every time she was about to
built and every time she was about to
built and every time she was about to step off a girder came that’s my life my
step off a girder came that’s my life my
step off a girder came that’s my life my resume looks like what’s available in
resume looks like what’s available in
resume looks like what’s available in the job force for a cabinetmaker mailman
the job force for a cabinetmaker mailman
the job force for a cabinetmaker mailman got bit on the first day I said I’m
got bit on the first day I said I’m
got bit on the first day I said I’m sorry I quit I was the art director for
sorry I quit I was the art director for
sorry I quit I was the art director for a UH a national company and I fall on
a UH a national company and I fall on
a UH a national company and I fall on the floor and I turn blue from that job
the floor and I turn blue from that job
the floor and I turn blue from that job I went to become a bartender at a very
I went to become a bartender at a very
I went to become a bartender at a very sketchy bar I got fired because I would
sketchy bar I got fired because I would
sketchy bar I got fired because I would not wear hot pants and that’s one of my
not wear hot pants and that’s one of my
not wear hot pants and that’s one of my next job from that I said I’m gonna be a
next job from that I said I’m gonna be a
next job from that I said I’m gonna be a long maker everything you do you will
long maker everything you do you will
long maker everything you do you will learn from it and you’ll use it later on
learn from it and you’ll use it later on
learn from it and you’ll use it later on in life when I was a mailman it made me
in life when I was a mailman it made me
in life when I was a mailman it made me aware of how streets are laid out how
aware of how streets are laid out how
aware of how streets are laid out how towns grow my photographs read well
towns grow my photographs read well
towns grow my photographs read well because there is a logic to it Alton
because there is a logic to it Alton
because there is a logic to it Alton Park is not just my little fantasy I’m
Park is not just my little fantasy I’m
Park is not just my little fantasy I’m documenting the 20th century in a way
documenting the 20th century in a way
documenting the 20th century in a way I put my stuff out on the web for body
I put my stuff out on the web for body
I put my stuff out on the web for body here and over a year I got around 1,000
here and over a year I got around 1,000
here and over a year I got around 1,000 hits but someone in England who worked
hits but someone in England who worked
hits but someone in England who worked for car magazine sent me an email and
for car magazine sent me an email and
for car magazine sent me an email and said can I show one or two of your
said can I show one or two of your
said can I show one or two of your photographs you know just as though oh
photographs you know just as though oh
photographs you know just as though oh isn’t this interesting kind of thing the
isn’t this interesting kind of thing the
isn’t this interesting kind of thing the day it hit the stands
day it hit the stands
day it hit the stands it went from a thousand hits to a
it went from a thousand hits to a
it went from a thousand hits to a million hits in you know cut within a
million hits in you know cut within a
million hits in you know cut within a day and then it kept going and going and
day and then it kept going and going and
day and then it kept going and going and going
going
going I was delighted and I got emotional
I was delighted and I got emotional
I was delighted and I got emotional about it and then it was the oh my god
about it and then it was the oh my god
about it and then it was the oh my god what have I done kind of thing and then
what have I done kind of thing and then
what have I done kind of thing and then people I’m I’m a Rekluse I mean I’m very
people I’m I’m a Rekluse I mean I’m very
people I’m I’m a Rekluse I mean I’m very personable and I can you know go outside
personable and I can you know go outside
personable and I can you know go outside and talk to people and but recognition
and talk to people and but recognition
and talk to people and but recognition is tough for me it actually stems from
is tough for me it actually stems from
is tough for me it actually stems from when I was young I was bullied in school
when I was young I was bullied in school
when I was young I was bullied in school and I was bullied because I was
and I was bullied because I was
and I was bullied because I was different
different
different who I think I’m still dealing with that
who I think I’m still dealing with that
who I think I’m still dealing with that still struggling with what that means
still struggling with what that means
still struggling with what that means and all that I don’t think about it a
and all that I don’t think about it a
and all that I don’t think about it a lot but you know it does bubble up I
lot but you know it does bubble up I
lot but you know it does bubble up I just realized I’m slightly I’ve come
just realized I’m slightly I’ve come
just realized I’m slightly I’ve come into this reality at a slightly
into this reality at a slightly
into this reality at a slightly different angle there was the whole
different angle there was the whole
different angle there was the whole issue of being gay I mean from
issue of being gay I mean from
issue of being gay I mean from kindergarten I absolutely knew from
kindergarten I absolutely knew from
kindergarten I absolutely knew from kindergarten because there was what boy
kindergarten because there was what boy
kindergarten because there was what boy came in I went I liked that person the
came in I went I liked that person the
came in I went I liked that person the bullying got so bad that the teachers
bullying got so bad that the teachers
bullying got so bad that the teachers let me leave class 15 minutes before the
let me leave class 15 minutes before the
let me leave class 15 minutes before the bell rang because they knew how I
bell rang because they knew how I
bell rang because they knew how I c-can’t romped on
c-can’t romped on
c-can’t romped on it’s like one did people say you know I
it’s like one did people say you know I
it’s like one did people say you know I want them to say we like you you know
want them to say we like you you know
want them to say we like you you know you’re interesting if anybody has been
you’re interesting if anybody has been
you’re interesting if anybody has been depressed I mean you kind of know that
depressed I mean you kind of know that
depressed I mean you kind of know that what that road feels like and then it
what that road feels like and then it
what that road feels like and then it gets more and more narrow and narrower
gets more and more narrow and narrower
gets more and more narrow and narrower and narrower darker and darker and then
and narrower darker and darker and then
and narrower darker and darker and then for myself it got to the point where it
for myself it got to the point where it
for myself it got to the point where it was a form of liberation because it’s
was a form of liberation because it’s
was a form of liberation because it’s like I can end this I tried to kill
like I can end this I tried to kill
like I can end this I tried to kill myself number of times because for a lot
myself number of times because for a lot
myself number of times because for a lot of reasons and each time it was it’s
of reasons and each time it was it’s
of reasons and each time it was it’s almost like my I got my messages from my
almost like my I got my messages from my
almost like my I got my messages from my future self that said you’re gonna get
future self that said you’re gonna get
future self that said you’re gonna get through this and you’re going to make a
through this and you’re going to make a
through this and you’re going to make a difference in in your own little way in
difference in in your own little way in
difference in in your own little way in in the world so I needed a place that I
in the world so I needed a place that I
in the world so I needed a place that I felt comfortable in and also to be
felt comfortable in and also to be
felt comfortable in and also to be incredibly creative to and I constructed
incredibly creative to and I constructed
incredibly creative to and I constructed to Elgin Park which is a sort of a
to Elgin Park which is a sort of a
to Elgin Park which is a sort of a dreamlike recreation of my past
dreamlike recreation of my past
dreamlike recreation of my past Elgin Park is never a lonely place for
Elgin Park is never a lonely place for
Elgin Park is never a lonely place for me it really is a fountain of creativity
me it really is a fountain of creativity
me it really is a fountain of creativity because I never know what the next scene
because I never know what the next scene
because I never know what the next scene is gonna be so it’s always challenging
is gonna be so it’s always challenging
is gonna be so it’s always challenging me and inspiring me I admit 40 years ago
me and inspiring me I admit 40 years ago
me and inspiring me I admit 40 years ago recreational drugs definitely LSD of
recreational drugs definitely LSD of
recreational drugs definitely LSD of choice I remember taking it for the
choice I remember taking it for the
choice I remember taking it for the first time ago here we go
first time ago here we go
first time ago here we go [Music]
[Music]
[Music] I learned a very interesting lesson
I learned a very interesting lesson
I learned a very interesting lesson while taking it is that I didn’t have to
while taking it is that I didn’t have to
while taking it is that I didn’t have to do the foreign lands to me perform
do the foreign lands to me perform
do the foreign lands to me perform people and stuff like that I mean I went
people and stuff like that I mean I went
people and stuff like that I mean I went in wordly and I was in territory that I
in wordly and I was in territory that I
in wordly and I was in territory that I had absolutely no idea where it was
had absolutely no idea where it was
had absolutely no idea where it was I created Elton Park so anybody can be
I created Elton Park so anybody can be
I created Elton Park so anybody can be there in some ways it’s mirrors it’s a
there in some ways it’s mirrors it’s a
there in some ways it’s mirrors it’s a miniaturization of real life when I’m
miniaturization of real life when I’m
miniaturization of real life when I’m creating my scenes and all that because
creating my scenes and all that because
creating my scenes and all that because this period took care of details and
this period took care of details and
this period took care of details and making sure everything’s in its place
making sure everything’s in its place
making sure everything’s in its place [Music]
Elgin Park does have a darker side it’s
Elgin Park does have a darker side it’s not even or anything like that but some
not even or anything like that but some
not even or anything like that but some of it is based on stories that I’ve
of it is based on stories that I’ve
of it is based on stories that I’ve heard when I was little I’m finally
heard when I was little I’m finally
heard when I was little I’m finally about the more gruesome parts but yeah
about the more gruesome parts but yeah
about the more gruesome parts but yeah that’s kind of you kind of need that
that’s kind of you kind of need that
that’s kind of you kind of need that spookiness or whatever makes it
spookiness or whatever makes it
spookiness or whatever makes it interesting I think the longest I’ve
interesting I think the longest I’ve
interesting I think the longest I’ve taken for a project was four months and
taken for a project was four months and
taken for a project was four months and that’s the house they built the house
that’s the house they built the house
that’s the house they built the house that I grew up in it was it was therapy
that I grew up in it was it was therapy
that I grew up in it was it was therapy there were some questionable stuff
there were some questionable stuff
there were some questionable stuff happening in my family back then we kids
happening in my family back then we kids
happening in my family back then we kids were asked to go outside and play but I
were asked to go outside and play but I
were asked to go outside and play but I knew that they had with a fascinating
knew that they had with a fascinating
knew that they had with a fascinating story so I would hide and listen to the
story so I would hide and listen to the
story so I would hide and listen to the adults talked I had some relatives that
adults talked I had some relatives that
adults talked I had some relatives that were missing a father and after he was
were missing a father and after he was
were missing a father and after he was dropping I found out why people were
dropping I found out why people were
dropping I found out why people were murdered people were mutilated those are
murdered people were mutilated those are
murdered people were mutilated those are pretty tough stories some of the stories
pretty tough stories some of the stories
pretty tough stories some of the stories on for Elgin part are inspired by those
so there’s hints in it yeah I won’t go
so there’s hints in it yeah I won’t go down there’s too much bad on the world I
down there’s too much bad on the world I
down there’s too much bad on the world I don’t need my elder part does not need
don’t need my elder part does not need
don’t need my elder part does not need the bad you know and when I was a kid I
the bad you know and when I was a kid I
the bad you know and when I was a kid I always wanted to change the world in
always wanted to change the world in
always wanted to change the world in some way and I didn’t know how to do it
some way and I didn’t know how to do it
some way and I didn’t know how to do it and you know all these jobs I’ve had and
and you know all these jobs I’ve had and
and you know all these jobs I’ve had and all that maybe this can make the world
all that maybe this can make the world
all that maybe this can make the world better and better but then it come to
better and better but then it come to
better and better but then it come to find out it’s it’s the thing that I like
find out it’s it’s the thing that I like
find out it’s it’s the thing that I like to do the most would I put it out there
to do the most would I put it out there
to do the most would I put it out there and it has changed so many people a lot
and it has changed so many people a lot
and it has changed so many people a lot of people say why can’t they’ll write to
of people say why can’t they’ll write to
of people say why can’t they’ll write to me and say I can’t do photography and I
me and say I can’t do photography and I
me and say I can’t do photography and I don’t know I have a camera can I said
don’t know I have a camera can I said
don’t know I have a camera can I said that’s not that can you sing or you know
that’s not that can you sing or you know
that’s not that can you sing or you know so we’ll have conversations like that
so we’ll have conversations like that
so we’ll have conversations like that what else can you do somebody found out
what else can you do somebody found out
what else can you do somebody found out he wrote you know can write really well
he wrote you know can write really well
he wrote you know can write really well and started publishing some stuff I’d
and started publishing some stuff I’d
and started publishing some stuff I’d like to think that I have helped and it
like to think that I have helped and it
like to think that I have helped and it has helped and and it is still helping
has helped and and it is still helping
has helped and and it is still helping Elton perk now has atmosphere and
Elton perk now has atmosphere and
Elton perk now has atmosphere and gravity I mean it is it’s on its own so
gravity I mean it is it’s on its own so
gravity I mean it is it’s on its own so if it ends for me I think it will
if it ends for me I think it will
if it ends for me I think it will continue it has made an impact I must
continue it has made an impact I must
continue it has made an impact I must feel like I’m finished I’ll finishing up
feel like I’m finished I’ll finishing up
feel like I’m finished I’ll finishing up the loose ends of my life I mean I don’t
the loose ends of my life I mean I don’t
the loose ends of my life I mean I don’t maybe I’ll be here another 20 years I
maybe I’ll be here another 20 years I
maybe I’ll be here another 20 years I don’t know but you know if I if I passed
don’t know but you know if I if I passed
don’t know but you know if I if I passed away tomorrow that’s perfect there I
away tomorrow that’s perfect there I
away tomorrow that’s perfect there I feel like I’ve done something my tag
feel like I’ve done something my tag
feel like I’ve done something my tag line is the keys are in the car there’s
line is the keys are in the car there’s
line is the keys are in the car there’s a full tank of gas and the food is good
a full tank of gas and the food is good
a full tank of gas and the food is good at the diner
at the diner
at the diner you know that’s Elgin Park I don’t care
you know that’s Elgin Park I don’t care
you know that’s Elgin Park I don’t care who you are
[Music]
[Music] [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] [Music]
”
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