leaders of the new school

any education past kindergarten should make us proud. our ancestors worked their tiny little fingers to the bone when they got the prime working age of five, shoveling our coal, tending the fields, and sewing buttons. and if you're shoppin' at walmart you're still supportin' that.

regardless, treat yourself right for gettin' some serious triple r's in your noggin past the days old workin' age of five.

you should pull my finger because it releases the alphabet, yo.

potomac, md, 1985

sdrawkcab eman sih daer nac kram .rm.

my favorite things

what's the strangest thing a human can collect? i'll tell ya, it's otha human beings. that's why you don't see it so often. when it comes down to it, most humans be grabbing all the other resources, but spend their lifetime tryin' to get space between them and otha humans. and definitively, a slave owner and a serial killer aren't necessarily human collectors, since their desires aren't in keeping their collectibles well kept.

no, no. i'd say the closest you'd get are foster parents; the folks i'd really like to see on antiques roadshow. keep doin' yo thing.

taiwan, 1989

mr. mark has no idea why his dad thought stamp collecting would be a good idea when he had a perfectly good hobby of keeping bugs in jars. duh.

"that's when civilians were made of metal"

self portraits. how do you see yourself? i think it's a good exercise to try every once in awhile. you'll find some real surprises with what you find ineffable in your character.

like the fact that you're a muthafuckin' vampire robot, son! damn...fresh like '87, suckas.

md, 1983

mr. mark is not affliliated with skynet, people. his shit's all about peace...occasionally breakin' into vending machines and bitin' kirsten dunst's neck.

show me a hero

if you were a superhero, what kind of superpower would you have? i don't know that i'd mess with too much responsibility. in reality, i'm thinkin' i wouldn't want to read people's minds. i'd be too bashful to be invisible, still blushing if i saw a panty line, let alone someone nekidd.

i think i'd take on the power to predict what to wear for weatherable days. or maybe that power to have a bagged lunch ready to go when i leave the house. or always having change whenever i have to park at a meter.

fighting the evils of inconvenience. that's what age gives to you, yo.

potomac, md, 1984

mr. mark would like to fly every once in awhile as long as he gets air miles for his travels.

8 steps to perfection

people talk about endin' bigotry, but it ain't like it's somethin' we can cure in one fell swoop. we all got our prejudices, and as an old teacher used to say about racism in the states "if there weren't black people, we would invent them." if we could just get over our insecurities, disavow our brutal sense of competition, and allow enough resources for everyone, then maybe, just maybe, we wouldn't scapegoat so many to make ourselves feel betta.

but then again, albinos are pretty fuckin' weird lookin'.

potomac, md, 1988

mr. mark is a "four eyes" and he stands proud as long as there isn't a high pollen count in the air.

untitled

this one's for you, dad.

r.d. pagán, jr. 1/7/28-5/2/93

madrid, spain, 1985

mr. mark had to come from somewhere.

boomin' system

what were you in your last life? i think i was black, dog. at least i hope so. i can't stay away from raw rhythm. or maybe it's the latin in me. because it's hips that move quicker than the awkward foot shuffle. or maybe it's both.

or maybe it's because you can hide one's pee stain behind a drum set easier than a guitar.

san francisco, ca, 1980

mr. mark now hides behind children when he's had an accident.

parents, just don't. understand?

what did your parents try to get you into as a kid? they come up with all kinds of shit that they think you'd be into, ya feel me? my mom felt that sports was the missing link in my life. poor mom, stuck with this fey son who had to be coerced into enjoying athletics (or maybe it was 'cause i called it "field goal ballet"). i think ma wanted to make sure i didn't live ma vie en rose. as a result, she'd meet with athletes, get autographs, but nothing seemed to take. but look ma...over 20 years later, i still have this card from the illustrious art monk from our local 'skins. as a result, i love soccer.

mother's have assiduous motives that you don't appreciate until later and shit.

washington, d.c., 1987

mr. mark's could maybe tackle your mom, if prompted.

award tour

big up's...props...we all need recognition and shit. my biggest moment came one year ago where one of those claw grabbing machines at a denny's in harve de grace presented a challenge. you know the kind...you put in a quarter and move the claw to grab a stuffed animal or something made in china. the dark knight was in there and i had to prove it to myself. three quarters, some skillful maneuvering, and it was mine. i even saw the staff give a quiet nod. besides that and this award (rightfully earned), you'd say my life is sad. but, i ain't reachin' for pieces of paper, gold statues, or stichery from china to validate me. there's somethin' called a hug and a smile which i get pretty often. it makes my soul shine and shit. and no award can outgloss that, son.

hugs are life's way of validating you. they also get you closer to boobies.

potomac, md, 1988

mr. mark does sleep with the dark knight next to him and requires the glow of a night light.