Chris Lawson is a nationally celebrated collage artist, poet, and social worker based in New Orleans. His visual art is a mind melting dreamscape of Post WW2 American surrealism. The work blends figurines and pulp magazines with Mardi Gras Masks and record sleeves resulting in a glorious alchemy of found object treasure troves. His large scale creations serve as shelters for ephemeral spirits to happily hide. Private collectors of his art include Patti Smith, Will Oldham, Conor Oberst, Julliane Moore and Michael Stipe. Lawson's writing has been published in Rolling Stone, Manhattan Poetry Review, and Black Warrior Review. His efforts as a social worker for houseless youth in New Orleans has been documented by the Vice Film, "Shelter." Chris and I share a fun, silly and fantastic conversation about his early run ins with the great writer, James Baldwin, How his Bywater home was the first location of a documented boxing match in the United States, the potentials for benevolently programed Artificial Intelligence, and, for the Yule Tide inclined, Christmas Shrimp! I love podcasting! This episode of The BMS is a prime example why. Dig!!! Music for this episode provided by myself and 29 Motels,  Chris's collaboration with musician, Joe Petterson. All the occult secrets of life linked below.https://dustysantamaria.bandcamp.com/track/decaturhttps://www.chrislawsonart.comhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUfNbNBFwRI  https://www.patreon.com/dusty_santamariahttps://soundcloud.com/joepetersensoundsystem