Broke-Ass of the Week – Artist Jeremy Fish

Every week we feature a different person from the community shedding a little light on their life of brokeitude.  Who knows, maybe you’ll learn something about the human spirit'probably not.

Wanna be a Broke-Ass of the Week?  Holler at us here and we’ll send you the questionnaire.

Besides being a member of the Garden Gnome Liberation Front (as evidenced by the above photo) Jeremy Fish is one of San Francisco’s most well known artist.  If you’ve lived in San Francisco for more than a few months then you’ve probably seen his work everywhere, especially on t-shirts.  He’s also done a gang of gallery shows throughout the city and even has a giant wooden piece at the corner of Grant and Green in North Beach.

I love this dude’s work and I was stoked when I found out that he’d collaborated with Aesop Rock for Ghosts of the Barbary Coast. Aesop did the music and Fish did the art.  Shit, maybe we can get Aesop to be Broke-Ass of the Week too…

While I’ve never heard Jeremy’s speaking voice he seems to be a screamer when he types, but that’s cool, he’s got funny answers.  Plus the dude has figured out a way to make his art work for him: he gets FREE food and booze all over town in exchange for making logos.  Read below to see why Jeremy Fish loves North Beach and to get his tips on living as a broke-ass:

Name: JEREMY DAN FISH

Age: 75

Occupation: ART DUDE

What neighborhood do you live in?: NORTH BEACH. THE BARBARY COAST, THE MOST OG PART OF SF. 3RD BEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN AMERICA ACCORDING TO GOVT TESTING.

What are you listening to these days?: THE SOUNDS OF SMALL MEXICAN KIDS SWIMMING IN THE POOL AT MY HOTEL IN GUADALAJARA. ALSO, THE NEW GUILTY SIMPSON IS dope:

Best money saving tip: YOU CANT BRING MONEY WITH YOU WHEN YOU DIE

What do you refuse to spend money on?: WHORES

Most expensive thing you’ve ever bought: AN OLD VAN OR TWO

How’d that feel?: VANTASTIC

Favorite cheap eat: NAKED LUNCH ON BROADWAY AND KEARNY. THEY ARE THE BEST!

Favorite dive bar: COLUMBUS CAFE ON GREEN STREET, KELLY AND KARLEE ARE TWO OF MY FAVORITE BARTENDERS. ALSO ERINE AT TOSCA WHEN IM IN FRANK SINATRA MODE. AND, HOTEL ROMOLO FOR LATE NIGHT FOOD AND DRINKS…

Best deal you’ve ever gotten: TRADING ARTWORK FOR FREE FOOD AND BEER FOR LIFE. I CAN ALMOST GO A WEEK NOW WITHOUT PAYING FOR FOOD…

Favorite free thing to do: WALK AROUND SF AIMLESSLY.

If you woke up a millionaire, what’s the first thing you’d buy?: A MANSION ON TELEGRAPH HILL

Despite not having money, do you still love your life?: MORE THAN ANYONE I KNOW

Do you own my book?: NOPE, I DONT READ. I JUST LISTEN TO AUDIO BOOKS WHEN I WORK. IS IT AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIOBOOK?

Best hangover cure: CAFE TRIESTE AND BREAKFAST AT MAMA’S

Are you a hipster?: PERHAPS AS A YOUNG MAN I WAS, BUT IM FAR TOO OLD TO BE HIP, SORRY.