The Dollar Trick: Vending machines and Grateful dead parking lots lead a college hippy down a dark path. (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781542365987)

Gavin Spielman (born July 24, 1972) is an American landscape painter, comic book artist and guitarist working in New York City, New York. He has been mentioned in the Bold Face Names section of The New York Times alongside Annie Leibovitz, Newsday, the Daily News, and many other publications. The Baltimore Sun quoted Gavin saying 'I paint the silent thoughts other people cannot express'. He has been an assistant professor of painting and drawing at Parsons The New School for Design's Illustration department since 1999 and has been represented by several prominent galleries in the U.S.A. He has collaborated with famed author Brian Wood on several comics and found a career in illustration as well as committing to a career in Fine Art (Oil Painting). Gavin has received many awards for his landscape painting, most notably from the Salmagundi Club in New York City. He is a member of both the Salmagundi Club and the National Arts Club. Gavin Spielman's work is in countless private collections throughout the world. Gavin is also a skilled guitar and bass player and has played with many outfits including the likes of Winston Grennan, the inventor of the one drop rhythm which dominates Reggae to this day. His current band is called Thinning the herd which he plays guitar and writes for. Thinning the herd (TTH) has been likened to The Velvet Underground, MC5 and Iggy Pop by Guitar Player Magazine. TTH has two records available through iTunes entitled Devil Mask - released in 2009 and Oceans Rise (2011) and Freedom from the Known (2012). Gavin Spielman is currently living in Chinatown, Manhattan with his wife Alison and daughter.