theunartist - From the Desk of Rick Santiago

Every artist and every person, that includes you, I have had the pleasure of meeting throughout the years has influenced who I am today. Getting to know each and everyone of you made me far more complete person. Sharing our feelings, sharing our triumphs and sharing our failures helped me get through difficult days in this crazy world. For last 25 years, these 3 artists in particular, D A Metrov, Paul Mintz and Paul Moscatt have left such enduring memories and life lessons that they continue to shape who I am.

He just wanted to be known as METROV. We initially met when this website launched in 1999. Metrov said he wanted to submit to the website a “simple” statement about art. We continued to correspond over the years till his untimely death in 2020 (Car Accident). Metrov left with me what the duty of all artists should be and our responsibility as artists to continue the fight for justice. One of our last communications, Metrov said, “I’m glad you’re still fighting the fight.”

An artist is a conversationalist, a medium for his spirit, trading symbols with others who know the talk and the passions — the splendid passions — the joys, the sorrows, the angers, the griefs, the lusts, the terrors, the loves, all the loves, all the feelings (emotion) possible, captured beneath their surface (intuition) as mere colors, shapes, movement and light (intellect). It attempts to grab at the very roots of manifestation. To reach in through the veils of three dimensional illusion and fondle the stuff in there, the universal soul, the as yet tangible energy of God-mind, whirling around in the awful ethers of creativity. METROV

Pen Drawing of Rick Santiago by Paul Mintz

Artist and great friend Paul Mintz and I first met at an art opening in 2000. He approached me, we traded introductions and which pieces in the show were ours. After a bit more talk and drink, Paul stated, “you got a very interesting face”, even said it to the other artists within earshot. Asked if he could do drawing of me and of course I agreed. He quickly took out a ball point pen and a lined note pad and got at it. About 5 minutes later, tore out the sheet of paper, handed it to me and that very moment marked the start of a beautiful relationship till his passing 2024 at age 91!

Paul was one of the hardest working artist I knew. He was always and I mean always drawing on anything and everything. He never seemed to stop and just kept going with an honest energy you rarely find. Paul never backed down or slowed up. In fact we did a project at the Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, MD that involved a sidewalk mural style chalk drawing at the main entrance. He said he’ll do the design and layout the grid, great! About a 30 minute drive from the city, we got within a couple minutes of the stadium, and then Paul said, I forgot the grid and artwork at home! Darn, I said we’re going to have to come up with something and simply winged it. Worked out well, some of the younger onlookers started helping us out with their little bit here and there. Paul was 73 years old at the time!

Over many years, we shared a lot of “lunch specials” from the Chinese carryout at the studio. We could talk all day about all things. He would go on and tell me stories about other artists or his time in the military or his 2 packs of cigarettes a day habit when he was younger. Paul Mintz left me the desire to live life unafraid and unflinching and to simply enjoy the ride and just keep on going. I miss Paul!

I can report artists Paul Moscatt is still going strong in 2026 at age 95! What can I say about an artist painter who simply loves to paint. I’m not 100% sure where Paul and I connected but it was around the mid 2000’s and it’s a relationship I’ll never forget.

Paul Moscatt is a retired professor from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Paul and I crossed paths many many times over the years. We would usually run into each other at Art Events here and there in Baltimore City. I can clearly remember Paul telling me one time that he recently had cataract surgery, he could see the colors better and felt 40 years younger! He even had a plein air painting exhibit with his group at my gallery space. Which he hung and set up himself. Successful and fun opening.

2011 Plein Air Show at the ARTUNDERGROUND STUDIO

Through the years, I would visit Paul at his studio and after every visit always left wondering if I could even consider myself an artist. He has decades of paintings, props and paint brushes laying around. Paul Moscatt’s studio is just awesome. The amazing part, he has works there from the 1960’s through the 2020’s. Think about that, 6 decades of working a paint brush, 6 decades of laying paint on canvas, 6 decades searching for perfection. Sixty plus years in love with his craft.

Paul could always tell what prop he used for which painting. He could tell who was in the painting and the year it was painted. There was always an interesting back story to each painting! Paul Moscatt is the consummate painter’s painter. Last time I ran into Paul at an art show was the Out of Order Benefit at Maryland Art Place 2022 and the last time I visited he and Carlene was in October 2026 at his studio. He taught me what true passion is all about and that I haven’t even started to scratch the surface.

It’s my Baltimore! Feel free to message or text me 443-390-6599 or theunartist@outlook.com or Instagram

my first time at the club charles

I can’t or I really don’t want to tell you when I first discovered the Club Charles. Let’s put it this way, I first set foot inside the bar a long long long time ago! I recall it was during a Thanksgiving break from college, a friend invited me over for a Thanksgiving. I remember his house, awesome 3 story rowhome across from Patterson Park. First time I discovered servants stairs and a dumbwaiter. Nobody really used the dumbwaiter except to load dirty laundry and send it downstairs. But the rear servants stairs came in handy to get in and out of the house completely unnoticed.

Back to the Club Charles. Started heading out but not through the back stairs but somehow found myself on the rooftop of the house. My friend seemed to know a short cut so I just followed along and one way or another over several rooftops got to street level and the car. Understand, most of what went on that night is not very clear, but I know the second to the last stop was the Club Charles.

This took place either Wednesday before Thanksgiving or Thursday post dinner. After a couple of quick stops at local corner bars, decided to head to the “Club Charles”. I can remember from the outside, it looks exactly the same as it does today with neon light and Club Charles canopy. But the surrounding area was suffering from urban decay at that time. The only real place of business open in that area was probably Club Charles. Made for a very eerie walk to the Club Charles, hardly a soul on the street and very quiet. No Tapas Teatro, Charles Theatre was closed and the SNF Parkway was just a thought.

But once you got through the front door, it was a wonderfully different world inside. Growing up in the DC area, TGI Fridays was our happy hour place. Some DC bars were cool but nothing could compare. The Club Charles was the antithesis of everything the suburbs offered. It had (and still has) a softly lit red-hued atmosphere, two bar areas on different levels, a real jukebox, a real payphone and plenty of out of the way seating for privacy. The art-deco furnishings and art-deco wallpaper/mural fit the atmosphere perfectly. It was like walking into a different time, not old, not dated, just different.

For a college town on Thanksgiving break the crowd was surprising. Not jam-packed but someone was always within a few steps of you. You could tell who where the locals and people like me just being out and about on a holiday break. Don’t know how long we were there or how many drinks we had. However, I can remember my friend talking to a couple of girls at the bar. They looked to be college people home for holiday break. We found out later that evening they were roommates and postgraduate working students that decided not go home for break. The rest of evening was spent drinking, interesting conversation and more drinking. It was a very friendly vibe the entire time spent at the Club Charles.

All in all a great memory from a long time ago. Ingrained that the Club Charles was the place to be. Today, it may be the same as it was years ago but the Club Charles still retains a newness no matter how often you have walked through the front door.

As for my friend and I, the Club Charles was the second to last stop that night. When we left, or where we were, I could not tell you. But our final destination late that night took us to an impressive and spacious high-ceilinged loft apt complete with large industrial style windows, promptly greeted with more drink, more conversation and — but that’s for another post!