RC POP ART multimedia visual art / design1-773-274-7302
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Things we’ve done
Carlson Family Reunion
I was born Robert Gordon Conaway. My mother’s maiden name was Eleanor Montgomery. My grandmother’s maiden name was Eleanor Brown. My great grandmother’s maiden name was Anna Carlson and my great great grandmother’s maiden name was Sophie Bergeson. She married a man named Bennett Carl Carlson. This was a reunion of some of the grandchildren, [...]
PatioPalooza 2010
Ever since Petra and I moved into our wonderful apartment on Lake Michigan, I wanted to have a party on the patio there. My wealth of talented friends compelled me to share some of my good fortune with others. The plan was simple; an afternoon of drinking, food, fantastic music, dancing, laughs and great conversation [...]
Logan Square Block Party
Our friend Dawn (who Petra met years ago in London) now lives in Logan Square here in Chicago. She invited us to her neighborhood’s annual block party. Complete with a pig roasting, tons of food, a live rock band and one massive indestructible Pinata. There were more children than adults and somehow this was okay. [...]
Dinner and a boat ride
Petra and I were invited to join some folks I work with for a retirement party. It was thrown by the world’s greatest boss, Carl Puccio. The night included dinner at the prestigious Sunda restaurant in downtown Chicago and then a giant old sailboat ride out into Lake Michigan to watch the fireworks. It would [...]
A Weekend With Family
Petra and I took a very quick trip to visit the family in Michigan, watch my niece in her ballet dance recital, attend my sister’s 40 birthday party, and finally to enjoy the hammock in my parents backyard. It was a bit rushed and felt much too short, but it was fun and exciting none [...]
Out Is How We Pass – Music Video
For over a year now, I’ve been working on creating a new group; KATASTROFIST. My bandmates and I wrote, recorded and mixed the debut album all on our own, without the help of any recording studio or sound engineers (except for the main vocal track. props to Rolan at I.V. Labs). To coincide with the [...]
Memorial Weekend 2010
For those who are reading this that are not native to the U.S.A., Memorial Weekend is supposed to be a time when Americans reflect back on the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to preserve the dream and country that this beautiful land is built upon. However, like most American holidays (or any countries holiday for [...]
Beergaritas in Kalamazoo
Our friends Roy and Marci have recently moved with their family to Kalamazoo Michigan due to Roy’s work. We came to visit them and spend the weekend relaxing, eating and drinking while the kids were away. It was ‘adult’ time. Also, word to the wise; Beergaritas are not a good idea if you have any [...]
Mentors, Memories and Mentos
This past weekend my 8th Grade English teacher and now long time friend and colleague, Kirk Taylor came to stay with my wife and me for the weekend. He brought his 13 year old son Graeme (a confessed sugar junkie). Graeme is the age that I was when I met his father, and coincidentally I [...]
Keaster 2010
Every year, the Saturday before Easter, we gather at the 6138 apartment that was once the home for many of us. It was the home for a group of very close friends who randomly found each other and celebrated in tomfoolery and silliness for a very long time.
Lost Weekend: 2010
Another lost weekend at the Lakeside Inn’s House of Eleven Gables. Lots of friends, lots of food, lots of drinking, partying, talking, dancing and fun. And this year, no one fell through the ice, so that was good!
Mid Winter Activities
Winter in Chicago can wear you down. It starts off great. “Look at the snow! It’s wonderful! Christmas and New Years are coming! Yay!”. However, following the beginning of January to the end of April, this part of the world drags on and on day in and day out with grey skies, occasional snowfall and freezing drizzle, record
A Night of Music
One of the best things about being me and Petra (because there are so many! 
), is having the friends that we have. We are surrounded by incredibly talented musicians from all types of music.
5 Weddings and a Funeral
You figure out which one is the Funeral.
The 2009 will be remembered as the year of weddings. Petra and I have never attended so many weddings! I guess it’s just that time in OUR lives when folks our age decide it’s THAT time in THEIR lives.
Christmas in The Czech Republic
My wife hasn’t been home for Christmas in 5 years.
As much as we’d both probably like to just go back and forth every year for the holidays, income might prevent us from such a pleasure; and so this year was extra special. Not only for Petra, but also for me who hadn’t spent a
Thanksgiving at The Conaways
Most years, Thanksgiving is spent at my parents. It has been a long tradition that various families, related by either blood or circumstance, come to the Conaway house to enjoy a warm candle lit house, crackling fire, and roasting turkey aroma. This year we had a full house with 20+ guests. Once again a great
Frank and Colleen’s Wedding
Our friends Frank and Colleen were married September 19th 2009. We had a great time. Frank asked me if I would be willing to do a little filming of the wedding. Here is the subsequent montage. Music by Allison Crowe. “In My Life” by the Beatles.
My First Music Video
When I was considering purchasing my 5D camera and how expensive it was, I told myself that the cost would be worth it if I could figure out a way to make some extra cash with it as an extension of my graphic design work. One of the main things about it that fascinated me was
Chicago Botanic Gardens Bike Trip
Petra and I went with 4 new friends we’ve recently made on a 1 day 40 mile bike trip to the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Had a great time, ate lunch there and pretty much joked and laughed all day long. A good time was had by all. The rest of our friends were either too [...]
The Maloney / Madonna Wedding
Our friends Lauren Madonna (pseudo road manager and all around super fan of the Ghettobillies) and John Maloney (drummer of the Ghettobillies) got married on July 4th; America’s independence day. A bit ironic, the wedding was a wonderful experience. The weather was perfect. The Madonna’s backyard, where the wedding and reception took place was beautiful [...]
North Branch Test Run
Petra and I are planning a fairly painless 1 day bike trip for sometime this summer. We have some friends that are avid cyclists as well as those who don’t ride much at all, and so we are hoping for a leisurely trip with a nice destination at the end that all of them can [...]
Chicago’s Big Gay Parade
Chicago’s Gay Pride Parade is huge. Whether you are gay or not, it is something to see. This year’s gay pride parade did not disappoint. As usual the streets were filled with freaks and beauties, devils and angels; and the millions of people that came to see them and celebrate with them. There were protesters, [...]
England in the Sun
This past visit to England was probably the best visit so far for me. Not only was the weather unbelievable, but the friends and pace at which we gathered, traveled, ate, drank, and socialized was nothing short of perfect. Visiting old friends is always a joy, and when you have friends like Petra and I [...]
Czechs and Americans
When Petra and I decided to get married we discussed the difficulties in trying to involve all of our families and friends into one ceremony. After much deliberation, we came to the conclusion that we would need to have 2 separate events to mark the beginning of our life together. We planned to have our [...]
