NY, NY V: Sour Lemons

My friends and I traveled to New York City a few weeks ago not just for the pizza, but to see the work of Joe Simko, a talented artist that specializes in colorful illustrations, paintings, and even giant inflatable monsters.

I looked all over the block for some sort of snooty art gallery - you know, the kind that hang a bunch of solid-colored square paintings on the wall for $10,000 a piece. Instead, I spotted a piece of graphite with a pierced eyeball, which happens to be Simko's signature icon. It pointed to the doors of Live Fast, a boutique chocked full of rock & roll fashion and vintage accessories. The entire store was covered in a mural that reminded me of the Garbage Pail Kids at a Punk Rock concert. I walked up to a striking young woman that resembled Betty Paige.

"Um, I'm here for the art show..."

She silently pointed to a door leading to the basement while adjusting a pair of bloody knife earrings in the display case. As I descended the narrow staircase, I was distracted by a picture of flames and a half-naked devil lady, so I smacked my head on the...
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