ALISA OCHOA

A SUM OF BROKEN PARTS

Abandoned by my host in Los Angeles, I started towards Metro Headquarters Building downtown. I experienced a great deal of difficulty navigating Cesar Chavez St. because of all the detritus left from last night's brawl: machine parts, human limbs, and cardboard pieces. A stray cat motioned towards me. I bent down to embrace the small creature. Her matted white fur started falling off in clumps. She didn't look frightened or seem bothered by this. I remembered my host describing cats as a special species with incredible mental powers. I wrapped her up in a few sheets of newspapers, one read "GODARD DEAD!" I placed her in my satchel and continued my walk.

Jay LIzo

Bank of Fire

Acrylic and Formica on panel 30"x38"

A great pang of hunger suddenly came over me. I could smell something delicious in the distance, I clutched my satchel a little closer and walked faster. The smell was so familiar, but I couldn't quite identify it... sweetbread? Suddenly I couldn't walk fast enough, my mouth was salivating, drool was running off my chin. "Hurry, hurry," I thought, pushing my thin legs forward. The smell wafting through the dank air triggered an excitement, I had not felt in a while.

I followed the scent to an orange motor home on Vignes St. Sitting inside the motor home was a large oyster shell on the floor. It was about the diameter of a bicycle tire. I release the cat from my satchel. She nosed open the oyster shell, and pressed "play." A mechanical arm inside the shell slowly swung over a black disc, then touched its shiny surface. The sound kissed my ears. I held the cat close to my hearts, and I could feel her purring.

Jay LIzo

Awesum

Acrylic and collage on canvas, 54"x54"

2005 UCSB MFA catalog essay for Jay Lizo

© Alisa Ochoa 2010