Matty Byloos


Educational Background:

I finished up my bachelor’s degree in English at Santa Clara University in the Bay Area near San Francisco. After taking a few years off, I went to the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California and completed a Master of Fine Arts in Painting.

Work History:

Somehow I stumbled into the teaching profession shortly after finishing grad school, and ended up staying in the city college system in Los Angeles, teaching English Composition and Rhetoric courses for a little more than five years. Looking for a new twist on things, I took my skills as a writer and editor, and began searching for a new line of work. That’s when I found CKMG. I went from contract freelance copywriter to editor to project manager to senior project manager in less than a year. Yes, it really can happen if you push yourself hard enough.

Interests/Likes:

I’ve had a career in the fine arts as a painter for many years. Currently, I am represented by Sandroni Rey Gallery in Los Angeles, and Toomey-Tourell Gallery in San Francisco. I have exhibited in Europe, New Zealand, New York, Los Angeles and other cities here in the States. I love to read about the politics of the middle east, eastern religion and religion in general, and contemporary art.

Dislikes:

I am a real big un-fan of horn-honkers. I always think to myself – don’t you know how rude you are actually being? When I was in Japan, I never heard a single car horn honking. I asked around a bit, because there was certainly plenty of traffic that might have warranted even just the occasional tap-tap, if not the all-out road rage sound off. Apparently, it’s considered a very rude gesture, and people just generally don’t do it. Whether or not this is true remains to be found, but it did prompt me to think – ahh, how nice. Politeness built right into a culture. What a novel idea. I don’t like air quotes so much anymore. I also find fault when subjects and verbs don’t agree. Can’t they all just get along?

Best Restaurant:

During his lifetime, German conceptual artist Martin Kippenberger had a series of arrangements worked out with hoteliers and restaurant owners in many cities and countries around the world – in all the places he liked to visit. In exchange for performances of his work, be they visual or musical, or for paintings, photographs, drawings, etc., Kippenberger was given what he needed to effortlessly stay in that destination – a place to sleep, a meal to eat, etc. In Los Angeles, the restaurant where he had an arrangement is located in Venice Beach. It’s an Italian restaurant named Capri, where the food is excellent, the wine list is short but fine, the ambiance is clean and white, and a beautiful Kippenberger painting is the only thing on the walls.

Best Travel Story:

I once took a train ride through Holland into west Germany. It was a February, so the entire countryside was covered in freshly fallen snow, making for a contemplative ride lasting about three hours. As we approached Germany, it became clear that more and more people were boarding the train, all dressed in costumes. Soon, I was sitting next to a giant stuffed dog and three clowns. Then, Rainbow Brite was going from car to car, passing through mine in the process. Tweety Bird, six mimes – before I knew it, the costumed far outnumbered the regularly-dressed. When we arrived in Cologne, we disembarked the train and entered the station, which was overrun with chaos, costumes and general celebratory mayhem. We had no idea when we left Amsterdam, but apparently there was a city-wide feast where all the people of Cologne left work for the day, dressed in costume and had a parade. Upon later research, I found out that this is part of their carnival (Karneval) celebration, beginning on the 11th of November and lasting, in various waves, until Ash Wednesday – a tradition in Cologne dating back to 1823..

FAVORITES

Foods:

Thai broccoli, bok choy, purple cauliflower and any of the organic salad greens that my local Farmer’s Market seems to carry – you wouldn’t believe it if I told you, but really – there’s a whole meal’s worth of flavor going on in one leaf of arugula or baby chard when it’s grown properly; it’s just that you’re not going to find it in any regular super market. After switching over to a much more health-conscious diet, I’ve figured out a pretty tasty pizza recipe, too, with whole wheat and garlic dough from Trader Joe’s, fresh basil from my herb garden, mozzarella soy cheese, homemade tomato sauce, garlic and zucchini. Thai green curry and Pad Si Eew with tofu, anything with Chinese black bean sauce, vegetarian Samosas and mango chutney, pumpkin pie for breakfast and pretty much every kind of soup scores high on my list of faves.

TV:

I’d be perfectly content with one channel that ran nothing but The Shield, documentaries on history, American Justice, cooking shows, UFC matches and the Ultimate Fighter reality show. Commercial-free, of course.

Movies:

  • John Cassavetes: Husbands.

  • Billy Wilder: The Apartment.

  • Chantal Akerman: Je, Tu, Il, Elle.

  • Mira Nair: Salaam Bombay!

  • David Mamet: Glengarry, Glen Ross.

  • William Friedkin: French Connection.

  • Rainer Werner Fassbinder: The Bitter Tears of Petra van Kant.

  • Werner Herzog: Fitzcarraldo!

  • Abbas Kiarostami: A Taste of Cherry.

  • Jean-Pierre Melville: Bob le Flambeur.

  • Jean-Luc Godard: Bande a Part.

  • Errol Morris: Fog of War.

  • Michael Cimino: Deerhunter.

  • Steven Soderbergh: Schizopolis.

  • Hal Ashby: Harold and Maude.

  • Mike Nichols: The Graduate.

  • Robert Redford: Ordinary People.

  • John Schlesinger: Falcon and the Snowman.

  • G. Roy Hill: The World According to Garp.

  • Joel Coen: The Big Lebowski.

  • Martin Scorsese: Casino. 

Websites:

  • McSweeny’s.net for things of literary merit and a high quotient of smartassitude.

  • Pitchforkmedia.com for a quick dose of what indy music to check out or avoid.

  • Richardprinceart.com for a look at some of my favorite paintings, the Nurses.

  • Divola.com for a look at the photographic work of LA-based John Divola.

  • Blonde-redhead.com to stay in the loop on my favorite band’s goings-on.

  • Radiofreesilverlake.blogspot.com for the news on LA’s east side indie music standouts.

Bands:

Blonde Redhead, Fugazi, the Clash, Sonic Youth, Built to Spill, Superchunk, Pavement, Catpower, Dandy Warhols, Roxy Music, Guided by Voices, Wilco, blur.