SpaceX - Major Tom

Five years ago I got an email telling me that Elon Musk had purchased a print of my work for his school Ad Astra run by Joshua Dahn. They gave me total creative freedom to paint any wall I wanted at SpaceX HQ, which was kind of scary… I spent a lonely week (with Layla) painting while my dad was in the hospital, fighting “the bear called Parkinson’s”. My wife at the time came to take pictures of me, because I foolishly underbid my contract and didn’t have enough to pay a photographer’s rate. Truth be told, I am not a shrewd businessman - or painter for that matter. I did meet some amazing kids at the school though, and even witnessed Kanye trying to get North admission, but the school was only available to employees during its initial run. It was made very clear to me a few times that no one gets special treatment or favors from Elon. Although, looking back, I kind of was. My understanding is  there were no grades, an emphasis on creative thinking and seemed like the kind of school that I (a high school dropout with white spray painted Yeezys) would have… not dropped out of. There was a particularly inviting and friendly power in that place, something I have never really felt since. I am grateful to Josh, Elon, Katrina, and Tom. And the security guard who let me play David Bowie and Kid Cudi really loud at 3am.