Sometimes being an art nerd sometimes leads to strange impulses. The other night, I was at the liquor store and came across Ballantine Ale half-pint six packs. My art history filled brain went off like a Geiger counter. Immediately I recalled the work of Jasper Johns. When I was younger I saw a painted bronze casting of two Ballantine Ale cans in the Museum of Art in Philadelphia. It was sitting next to the casting of a Savarin coffee can with paint brushes sticking out of it.
Early on, like many artists, Jasper Johns was a starving artist. I've been there and can relate. Now with the crunch of the economy I'm feeling it again and became reminiscent.
Evidently Johns drank Ballantine. It must have been inexpensive then because it was relatively so now.
Refusing to return to my starving artist days of eating Raman noodles (only seven or eight cents a pop in an assortment of flavors), I asked myself what would Jasper have eaten around his "starving artist" days? Then I recalled a documentary about art in the 60's, focussing on the Pop art movement. In the documentary, many artists, including Johns, went to NYC's Chinatown because it was within their economic realm. After purchasing the six-pack, I went around the corner to Dragon Star to get some of the best Chinese food in Brookline (also the most food for your dollar).
Chinese food and beer go together, especially the spicy stuff. But here's a little fortune cookie of knowledge for you: Drink Ballantine quick! Not so tasty when it warms up.
Stimulate the economy: drink American beer!
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