The wizard and I are big fans of Martin Mondrus. He just turned 91. I walked into this recently-auctioned Mondrus painting to see where Martin was when he painted it. This is the overpass at Venice Blvd in Los Angeles several decades ago. It brought $6,000. (A bargain, but the wizard didn’t buy it.)

“There was a hole worn in the linoleum in front of the serving counter, its edges smooth, tapering down to a mirror of grey cement, the silent work of a million shoes standing, twisting, turning to leave with their tinfoil treasures and sparkling jars. I looked into that mirror and saw the soul of America. And it was beautiful.”

– Roy H. Williams, from the Monday Morning Memo for February 11, 2008