weary

Well, here I am. At the airport. Waiting after the shuffle with the homeland security cha cha and before we get to walk out on the tarmac and climb onto the flying pencil they call an airplane. Here's the good news--its daylight savings time so by the time we take off, there will be a bit of sunlight, and having the security stuff done here in the elite, weensy Ithaca airport--it takes the stress out of the big crunches that the big, urban airports impose with the zigzaggy lines, the waits, the shoes off shoes on, stuff. I packed and then repacked. I decided to bring my powerbook for work and for my reading audience. I know there are going to be good things--and they just seem fresher and more important with immediate posts versus waiting. So, we should have some fun between us.

We saw a fox and a raccoon on the way which was cool. Foxes rarely let themselves be seen. Speaking of seen...the meat headed turkey vultures are back. They were circling last weekend over our side yard--and K and I saw one perched nonchalantly on a highway guardrail. Just as cool as could be with his bright red head, and brilliant chrome yellow beak. It really feels like spring. For real spring. We might get another dose of snow...but that will be the last. We all are ready despite it being a fairly mild and unremarkable winter excepting the snow.

On the homefront, K was just in a wonderful production of Studs Turkel's "Working", a musical. The Charles O Dickerman High School Drama Club did themselves proud--with many of the leads filled by new people and every student valued whether they be a lead or part of the ensemble. K was great--really projecting with great animation and verve. Plus, after seeing the costumes she put together from her own clothes, I have discovered that that is what she is about fashion...Her closet is a costume closet--so sometimes we get gangsta K or little match girl K, or "nerdy" K--its all about personna and costumes. So, as a biker chick, a cleaning lady, a street urchin or an office worker, she was very much in her element. It was great seeing it twice to really be able to enjoy the hard work and the excellence of their performance. We are all (everyone in the audience) very proud. We are going to host the cast party next Sat. in the evening. Get out the sheet pizzas and lets pop some popcorn!

More later>>

running to get it together


Organize. Organize. Get money. Go to the post office. Schedule the High School Cast Party for the group. Pack? What to pack? Hot or cold? could be both. Or Not. Confirm with Hotwire. Send notes to E. for the work for next week. Get stuff into the common drop box. Pack? Wash? Unpack? not unwash. Charge the ipod. Charge the phone. Disconnect the powerbook. Pull the random papers out of my sketchbook. Weed down the pens (from a million to a half a million). Ibuprophen? Celdane? Confirm flight. Confirm room. Confirm hotel can do the shuttle. Pack.

As you guessed it. I am running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. However, I do have an interesting  think...for my thesis perhaps I will illustrate and design 12 CDs of For Real projects for Old Time music. It would give me a chance to use my computer technique and my drawing technique and create a library of imagery around "what is Old Time" and fuse it with my work--almost a momento mori moment, but pointed at this Old Time world. I have had success with the Chokers and I hope, soon with my new artist, Carol Elizabeth Jones...so having a body of work focused on this one area where no one spends any creative focus could be cool. It would allow me to spend some time figuring out imagery that says old time like houses, woodcut inspired stuff, wheat, flowers, clouds, snakes but not fish, more birds and chickens, songbirds, butterflies etc. Plus the idea of illustrations with complementary patterns and stuff could be a great resource as well. Maybe? Will need to talk to my Mentor about this. We'll see.I did give up MM for a while (and it has been a good thing)--and R seems to think this new idea has traction. Do you?
Just a thought.
Gotta go.

IF: Heavy (doorway to life)


You must not for one instant give up the effort to build new lives for yourselves. Creativity means to push open the heavy, groaning doorway to life. This is not an easy struggle. Indeed, it may be the most difficult task in the world, for opening the door to your own life is, in the end, more difficult than opening the doors to the mysteries of the universe.
Daisaku Ikeda

Not too heavy, eh? Find that door handle  and get pushing. What's a little living without a little struggle. The state of stunned confusion is where I find myself--dazed and confused at the effort and it's manifestations. You?

gotta run!


Work happening under the stairs. A new bathroom off the front hall! Dust, dust and more dust! but soon, a new bathroom which will be very nice and very elegant as the current one (the remodelling of the former owners in the mid seventies on a tiny budget--yuck) is ready to go away and become part of the back concourse. But, my eyes are itchy and the floor is dusty...and spring cannot come soon enough so as to have the doors open when this sort of thing is happening.

Grinding out this old time thing. We have it in a place it can hold while I am out with the Hartford Illos Group with Mentor Murray and the hardest working gal in the Illos biz, Carol. We are off to Dallas/Fort Worth to see rodeos and line dancing along with James Tennison, Ray Mel Cornelious, Gary Myrick, Dorit Rabinovitch, Jack Unruh, Phil Boatright, Don Punchatz, Real and Muff Musgrave, Bart Forbes, Jose Cruz and more. I leave on Sunday and come back the following Saturday to snow and the Cast Party for Working chez us. So, it should be a busy one--but fun as I will have a preview of all the interesting folks I will be spending two weeks this summer with (in addition to the new group coming in "year one" with me. I am puzzling over clothes as right now I have multiple layers, my new wool boots and no end to things to wrap around my neck, head etc. And they are not doing that in Texas.

gotta go. Am running late today.

March madness?


Long day today. Pretty much 3 evenings finishing late for the CD project I am working on. Today I completed a portrait (from a less than satisfactory image) to make it jive with the bird from yesterday, while bridging the floral on the inside ( the portrait has a wreathe of flowers around the bottom...). Had a nice talk with the manager of this project--and he was helpful re the context of this artist (he didnt come outright and say she is big, but she is big)), the desire to attract a new group of old time music fans (not to be confused with the existing fans). This is what I have been prodding--which is, what is good, great, excellent for this new audience? What are they looking for? What have they responded to? or will respond to? I am sticking with clean with the imagery being fresh, open window simple--but not pictures of mountains and lakes, not pictures of simple landscapes or tablescapes, nothing that feels quilty or cross stitchy. But we are making good progress. Maybe I could become the oldtime music diva that commands attention in that quirky little world. The people are really nice, very earnest, and serious. When they get good work, they can't believe how lucky they are. Talk about payout.

The pool was delightfullly quiet recieving the troubles so peacefully and acceptingly. My arms tell me it was effective. It was a nice back and forth, contemplating Old time music imagery and how to make it, keep it simple-- how to establish a look and feel that everyone wants. The end is near in the basketball tournaments, and play front. R. is late tonight working on a tv commercial. The ice is still here. The village picked up our major pile of logs that fell out of the trees (to our delight and surprise).

Had a nice lunch with my client who was bedecked in hot pink rubber wellies, a kiwi cashmere sweater, a necklace filled with dog charms, and a silver pocketbook to beat the band. She is a "burg girl, so we have lots of laughs and fun. She loves dessert and talking about how delicious everything is as she eats it. She eats life with gusto surrounded by a wild menagerie of animals and her darling, ever patient, ever giving beau who we both secretly think is perfect. She is a bit like Eloise--and would skitter with the turtle if she had one. We had a nice chat, a this and that--and then focused down on our publication which is moving along quietly. Its going to be nice.

late now. must say good night.

Notches in the totem pole


Cranked out a mess of layouts for the new musician I am working with. We are on the fast track to get this package and insert together quicker than quick. The former designer is more of a layout artist--so quick without design is quick. I am pleased with the way the work is going--and we should have something very top drawer, fresh and new which is perfect for her. Its fun, but fast. Its been needles and pins here with clients possibly on, possibly off--and all the sleeplessness of layoffs or not, how to shave the balance sheet. Can I make it work? What goes? Can I cut my salary in half? How can I leverage what I have going on to yield more income? Is there something out there that I can take advantage of--a pocket of preexisting cash--that could be earmarked with my name? I just got a phonecall...deep breath. Over for now...to the affirmative. And the Steuben work apparently is not necessarily done. My contact called and said they are proceeding to sell this job--so there may be 4 + illustrations to do. So plus signs all over.

R in NYC today. K is late with the play. A and I have the early shift. Have been puzzling over the idea of Mis en Place. Mis en Place in the context of cooking are the basics you have around that essentially go into every recipe (olive oil, sea salt, pepper, lemon juice, wine vinegar, chipoltle peppers, parsley, cilantro, onions....basics). Everyone's mis en place have the same core...with variations depending on how they cook, what they cook, what inspires them. I like the idea of illustrators' mis en place. What is your mis en place? Where do you start? Is it the same place all the time? How can you cook italian, mexican, chinese and french--only as an illustrator? What are my mis en place...my sketchbook,ink, pentel brush pen, blue pencil, rotring pen (and odd cartridges that explode in my pockets)? Trace. Pitt pen sharpie and brush. and a ton of books. I really need to keep dogging the sketchbook...it has been invaluable during these speed times for new designs. So, I need to keep the mis en place fresh--and the books ready to go.

How sad about Elliot Spitzer. I bought his squeeky clean thing...silly me. I felt punched in the gut when my accountant told me of it around noon yesterday. Upside is that the deputy governor seems like an interesting guy.

More later

Ice, any way you slice it.



More ice. More branches. More icy branches encasing beautiful, plump, rosy buds. I figured I would give you different ice than the glassy trees we have as I have marvelled at them. We went to Ithaca yesterday to have lunch (tous en famille) at Shortstop (key learning: 1, buy the super big one for a crowd...cheaper by miles, 2. always get the cheap drinks, 3. when travelling with teens, plan on them eating a full 12" sub in a manner that resembles a vaccum cleaner). They loved it. The ice cream picture and the typography from the ice machine is thanks to Shortstop.Then off for 2 pairs of gourmet track shoes for the oncoming season (both kids), and to TJ Maxx for teeshirts, shorts and warm ups. A bit of a financial smarting...but I am recovering. Signed up for 2 weeks of sports fun at Cornell this summer. Am working on K's activity with more choices thanks to my talking to the guidance counselor and reading the posters they have up in the hallways in the high school. We made a huge pile of the branches (some of them as big as trees) in front of the house--and shook all the evergreen's branches which made a tinkling clink clink to loosen up the ice and unburden the weight. More snow today. Hopefully in the 40s later this week.

Pool was perfect. Every shape and size were there. Need to finish my pix and start one of a waterfall. It never ends.
More later>>

something for the armchair

Before the listmaking and planning happens for today, I just wanted to suggest that on this "day of rest" you consider a book I am reading, absorbing and frankly am shouting "right on!" about every other line. It is a very short book, more like an essay, that is a small (in size and page count) and through Audible.com, an hour's listen. It is Sam Harris' "Letter to a Christian Nation". Harris slowly, and simply, starts with those things we all assume are part of the"Judeo Christian tradition" and takes them apart referencing scripture etc. He states facts to the reader he addresses as a Christian (as in right) and peels away all of these righteous approaches to our culture along with the same with Muslims etc. Harris' book makes you think. He makes us consider and weigh our mass think--and really points up traditions and philosophies that really are more moral and balanced. It is worth an hour of listening or a few of reading to shift your thinking during this time of amoral behavior at the highest places--and our lives day to day.

>>Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation
If anything, read the comments left on the page on Amazon. The readers nail it...and present a fairly wide swathe of the thinking around Harris' work.

A breath of fresh fire." —Wall Street Journal

“I dare you to read this book...it will not leave you unchanged. Read it if it is the last thing you do.” —Richard Dawkins, author of The Selfish Gene and The God Delusion

“It’s a shame that not everyone in this country will read Sam Harris’ marvelous little book Letter to a Christian Nation. They won’t but they should.”
—Leonard Susskind, Felix Bloch Professor in theoretical physics, Stanford University

bowing trees


Slow morning here. Had big, wet flakes piling up all last night and the trees that had shed the heavy ice are now laden with snow, pushing their branches down, down down to the ground. The scavenging deer adore this as they don't have to struggle to eat all of the evergreens (that are promoted to be deer resistant. Do not believe this deer resistant thing. The only resistance/ hindrance for this monsters is a jolt of clean and unadulterated electricity. And even that, they forget over time. Hello Reddy Kilowatt( one of my all time favorite characters. I need to go find one for those of you that were not raised with him!). Meet the Bucholic Deer Family. Deer meet Reddy--he's unforgettable. I need to stop. I may launch into a rant. The deer family is not top of my hit parade (or maybe they are). I did hit one....

I had a nice meeting at the Lab of O Library. Amazing, luxurious place. First off, the building is nice--situated on a piece of property that is soggy and attracts birds (part of Sapsucker Woods). There are handmade chairs in the lobby with scopes on wheels that one can use while viewing the wildlife in the yard/pond in front of the building or all over the plethora of feeders they have suspended artfully. There is a lovely bird shop from smart books to baseball caps to anything avian. Hung throughout the lobbies are bird paintings and prints galore with a focus on Audubon, Fuertez (the avian pride of Ithaca), Charlie Harper. As an aside, Fuertes spent his summers in the playhouse (behind the Luckystone Lodge) in Sheldrake. He is (I think) buried in the tiny, messy cemetery in Sheldrake as well. So...its a bit personal with me.

As you wend your way to the second floor, there is a charming library with windows overlooking the protected pond and feeders, a fireplace, more Audubons (each with a story), and books galore. What a resource! I have got to get there and spend time. The Librarian and my pal Matt, inspired Registrar at the Johnson Museum chatted about all these new worlds like the ephemera collection at the Krock Library and the Uris and and and. Matt hopes to be a bit entrepeneurial in mounting tiny little shows in the niches and corners of Cornell to share the work and collection for the Johnson and other libraries and collections throughout Cornell. There is a tremendous wealth of work, art, words, documents...I feel a frisson emerging! More to discover. There is hope that I may have a little show at the Library in October linking it to the Ithaca Art Trail..but we will see. There was also interest in my avian flu pix. We'll see.

On the way home, my stomach started eating itself. I had to stop. I had to eat. I had an epiphany. I would eat a hot truck sandwich--celebrated in Gourmet Magazine...the Primanti's of Ithaca. I had to have this--and really get down to what helps to define Ithaca. Jane and Michael Stern, the wonderful food writers say:

The wildly popular Hot Truck mobile eatery in Ithaca, New York has a language all its own that's used when ordering one of their fantastic French bread pizza subs. Order yours "high carbon, G and G" and it will come extra crispy with mayo and lettuce (grease and garden.)

While the Hot Truck itself appears on the campus of Cornell University only during the school year (it arrives every night at 10:30 weekdays, 11:00 on weekends), you can get the subs year round at the Shortstop Deli, an establishment given the thumbs up by the Hot Truck itself.

Hot Truck
Parks at 635 Stewart Avenue
West Campus, Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
607-273-1111

Shortstop Deli
204 West Seneca Street
Ithaca, NY
607-273-1030

You can listen to their feature here>>
It was luscious. Delicious. Hot and crunchy--it was a big messy experience that kept getting better and better. How have I not discovered this? Why have I satisfied myself with healthy salads, whole wheat confections and sprouts when there was this local delicacy available either at the Truck or Shortstop. I had only, until yesterday, had ordered coffee at Shortstop. Never again. I am going to be going to Shortstop for their pizza subs. How can I make it stylish enough to take my clients? Buy them in advance and take the goods to their offices? There is no "dining experience" at the home of the hot truck. It was too cold to sit outside on the window ledge as Short Stop as there is only standing space with no seating...just manic sandwich ordering and coffees, sodas, ice cream treats.

It was very much a coded experience. You know, the gettoni experience (the whole deal in Italy that every food experience has some sort of code around ordering and around making change...particularly in the bar/tabbaci set ups--you know, you buy a ticket for the coffee and paste that you want and then wait in line to fullfill your order--or they make change and give you candy instead of money--and this code is surprising or sometimes shocking unless you know it) The gettoni refers to change made with the coin one uses to make phone calls with--and are not easy to acquire. Don't get me going about how hard it used to be to make phone calls in Europe in the good old days...Back to the code-- The code for hot truck sandwiches is the orderform--orange, red or blue. Sauces, Veggies and Meats? Name? cheaper soda? You can fill out your order either on paper or computers in the place. So, I rushed to the warmth of the new and improved Wonderbus and scarfed a small size wgg...and could have gone back in for another 10. But the Wonderbus insisted there was work to do--but promised another visit. We have guests coming soon---maybe a platter of SUI subs? SS does do platters. Makes a girl dream....

Megan and Judson, two Cornell PhDs, on their wedding blog references the Shortstop as a place for their guests to get good eats, They explain the names...and the essence of the wonderfulness. They recommend:

The Shortstop Deli is the only place where you can get world-famous Hot Truck pizza subs at a decent hour. These subs have been featured in Gourmet Magazine, and there's just something addictive about them. Megan's parents insist that we give people insider information about the pizza subs, so here it comes. You want the "sui" (short for suicide). You want to add truck sauce. I cannot under-emphasize the importance of the truck sauce. This delicious, mysterious orange substance is what makes the pizza sub really special. Pizza subs are extremely addictive! Consider yourself warned. If you can look past the pizza subs, the deli also offers a variety of standard cold- and hot-subs. And we have recently discovered that their breakfast selection is also delicious. The Shortstop is a bit of an Ithacan institution, so you should do your best to have a sub there. They are quite proud of their "Ithaca-style" sandwiches. This is a good place to get a relatively inexpensive, filling meal. Ordering subs at the Shortstop is based on a color-coded order slip system. You want a slip with red text for pizza subs; orange for regular subs; and blue (I think) for breakfast/bagel subs. Fill out the slip, separate the parts, and hand the top (white) slip to the guys making the sandwiches. Then get your $0.10 or $0.25 drink and bring that and your remaining (yellow) slip to the cash register to pay. Subs cost around $5. The Shortstop can be found on Rte. 79W (Seneca St.).

Need to get back to reality. The cat picture is "up"--and the new CD needs sketches.
More later>>

Ice box





Look at Shady Grove. Look at how red she gets in the snow...! She normally reads as black with some purple hints...but look at what the camera sees. And, the ICE! Just wanted to share with you.

Mixed bag



A sparkling day. Hard diamond trees, glittering, glazed and brilliant. As you can see --our willow was glazed while Shady Grove collected pinecones and frolicked in the snow. The snow geese were thick this morning in the sky.It was a beautiful drive to the wonderful pool of dilemmas. Had a great call with an old time musician who needs a CD image and brand. Her desires are good and my wheels are rolling. We are going to be working in black and red on white--with florals, birds etc. My only fear is not enough time to do a bang up job...but...I am going to do the best I can do for the time we have. Tissues are happening. Left Foot, Right Foot.

Big News about Steuben. Steuben Glass to close if it is not sold>> Sad, but not surprising. It's been a long time of touch and go...plus the funds it takes to drive that business against the cost of goods, overhead and expectations could be put to funding profitable and more core businesses for the new Corning Incorporated. Corning Incorporated emerged from Corning Glass Works....but they are not the same company. Corning is a technology company not a Glass (capital G) company. Not to say that Corning is not totally amazing in their understanding of glass, glass the material and the manufacturing. But Glass does not drive the train but is integrated in the entire technology story. Corning says that its not a fit...which given the divestiture of all direct to consumer businesses (Housewares (Corelle, Corningware, Pyrex brands), Sunglasses (Serengeti brand), to name the most prominent businesses except (until now) Steuben--it makes sense. They are no longer supporting design centers. When I started there almost 30 yrs ago there were six design centers within Corning committed to excellence in design (Science Products, Steuben, Consumer Products, Architecture, Corporate Design, Corporate Exhibits) with design and production services. Now there is just Steuben. And that, is going too. It will be interesting to see how it evolves. I am sad as it represents a chapter, an aspect of our lives (R and me) that has woven in and out of our careers with interesting travel, design and wonderful people. Plus, the american-ness of the product and how fashionable it was--is sad to see it change. But, change can be good.

>>Here's what the Corning Leader says>>

Having a meeting at the Lab of O (as the locals call Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology) for a teensy show of birds. That should happen in a week or so. Slugging away on the horse...so as to be able to do a cat so as to finish my woodduck. Yipes! And, there will be a Texas picture on the horizon for the U of Hartford.

YES! Neigh!

Slip slide

Hohlwein Poster
We woke up to two hour school delays due to ice. The trees are all bent over, laden with ice which can really damage them…so I hope the forty degree weather they are promising for later will take the burden off these poor things. Shady Grove is begging to have another cone thrown out into this mess—with her back legs scrambling to keep upright and not totally wipe out. R. has the tundrabus as the wonderbus is still at Winks, so I am landlocked with a nonfunctioning internet (power outage last night)…and I have done all the amelioration that normally works—so it may actually be a service interruption. The phone works. And I am canceling my haircut as I really value my limbs functioning—and shorter hair is not the beginning and end of this equation. I need to get the home team moving despite the later wake up. They are going to have a tough day with lots of work, play practices and finally basketball tournaments in Elmira (in the evening!!). I have the first of “get ready, here comes the college freight train” discussions later this p.m. Urg. And then there is summer to plan and pay for as well as taxes (everyone’s favorite), and committing to spring break.

Sorry for the caterwauling…I feel a bit better. Oh, and here is A. saying that school has now been cancelled. He is networking with his pals to validate that –and I think a call from me to the school secretary might be in line. A. is psyched. A day of movie classics here. I might as well start popping corn, ordering pizza and planning the teen party that will happen.

Ludwig Hohlwein
Compiled and Edited by Professor H.K. Frenzel
with an introdution by Dr. Walter F. Schubert
Translated by Herman George Scheffauer
Berlin 1926
Phonix Illustrationsdruck Un Verlag G.M.B.H.

Got the Ludwig Hohlwein book. It is a class on Hohlwein filled with colored plates, monochrome plates and copy (one side is german, the other English) referring to Hohlwein as a genius (as this book celebrates his 50th anniversary) who produced “kleingraphik” or small graphics/posters, and was best known for his involvement and inroads he made as a “Gebrachsgraphik” Or the author modestly refers to Hohlwein as the “most important Gebrauchsgraphiker of present day Gemany.” Here is what is said about “Gebrachsgraphik”:

“Gebrauchsgraphik”– even in German this word stumbles clumsilyover the tongue. The treasure-house of German speech will certainly not be enriched by it to any edifying degree. And yet this term expresses, objectively and technically, its inward and essential significance much more clearly than other designations such as “Reklame” or “Webekunst” (Advertising or the Art of Canvassing). For the second half of the word precludes all those auxiliary means of canvassing or advertising which do not originate in the graphic arts – such as the printed or spoken word, the film and whatever else may serve as a vehicle for commercial solicitation. And the first half of the compound word clearly defines its relation to the graphic arts themselves. "Gebrauchsgraphik" is not free "graphik" whose purpose is bound to a purpose, it is an artistic means for the expression of a definite intention towards commercial propaganda."

I am going to read and scan and share with you. I was stumped with the picture of a horse I was whaling on yesterday. I cracked open this book and I am back on track. Monochrome. Simpler but not as bare bones as Hohlwein...though I want to try that. I love the different lettering styles, his amazing sense of design and simplicity and his pared back narrative--in some cases little snapshots of Germany in 1920s (prewar energy) with domestic scenes that mirror some of the dutch still lives and personal lives imaged by Vermeer. i am not comparing the artists--just the way they capture domestic moments of making tea, looking in mirrors, quietly reading. An individual moment in a frame. A flicker of time.

Onward to horses.

Flaxnation Alert!

Hey!
Flaxnationals reunite for the annual Flax Barn Sale! Pencil it in, once, twice, three times. Take time off from work! Plan your travels, finances and closets. Get Ready!

Flax Barn Sale
Friday, April 25, 2008 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday April 26, 2008 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 27, 2008 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Location for the sale:
Triphammer Mall
North Triphammer Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


Struggling with some pictures. Just doesnt seem to gel. Frustrating. But, I do know that if I dog these things--I can get close--as scrapping is not an option. 


Have been driving R's car as the Wonderbus is at Winks in Perry City getting bumps smoothed, crinkles straightened, bumpers mended (and the deer hair extracted) and painted to make it brand new (at least looking brand new). Yesterday was 57˚--today more normal (20s) and we have driving slush with great promises that we will have a delightful freeze. Can you say school buses sliding off the road? Or that marvelous time when one steps off the porch and end up on your ass as your feet decided to slide and slip on the stealthy black ice.

Met with a group of artists on Sunday afternoon to begin to think about putting up a website of visual artists who live and work in the Trumansburg, Greater Ulysses area --essentially hanging a shingle to say "we're here"--but linking to everyone's individual site. We will have links and notices to regional shows and maybe, just maybe, a bit of PR for those who are getting into things, having exhibitions or being locally, regionally or nationally noticed.  It was trying for me (as I hate teams)--but after some very direct talk about wheither this is very exclusive (6 artists) to a wider group (30+) but still with a bar/ a level set for quality--a standard. We moved to the larger group (my preference)--which gives a range of style, work, approaches. But with this standard, we may limit the sunday watercolorists or the tribe of shaggies where art is part of their individual brand...and not necessarily excellence filtering the work. This site will be something for the local Chamber of Commerce, the Beds and breakfasts to point to...as there isn't any "real" businesses beyond a bank branch, a grocery store, a coffee shop, 3 bars, a few pizza/hamburger restaurants, an insurance agent, an eyeglass company---but there are lot of single people or small teams in Tburg making their living making things....selling things but invisible to the community at large. Should be an interesting process and I think important to giving this quiet aspect of the community a rallying point.

Had lunch with a wonderful artist yesterday. He was an attorney in NYC for decades and recently shut down his practice to devote himself to his art and painting. He is very confident, entrepeneurial and filled with optimism. It was tremendously inspiring to experience his energy and thinking as he is way out there--with this project and that project, this work and that work, how to think about the work etc. I think we should continue these conversations as I can help him with advancing his work, thinking about methodologies and process, and marketing. He can help me by letting some of his confidence rub off. It is cool to begin to link in with the Ithaca tribe of artmakers--a bit a expanding. The other cool thing is that two of the people I had the opportunity to  talk with on Monday and Sunday were participants in the MARK program offered by NY State. It teaches and pushes artists to be able to express themselves, show their work, write a mission and artists statement etc. Pretty much a dose of what spun off the thesis and thesis show from last summer's fun with Syracuse. It sounds like a great program and for both of these artists, they were inspired and challenged by meeting creatives from all over the state and by the work of talking about themselves. I totally agree. It is some of the hardest lifting I have done. But valuable. Really valuable.


Basketball tournaments about to start. K is wild with practice for the school play. She is exhausted and her normally ebullient spirits are deflated and dreary. I am going to have to do some major motherly stuff (like baking) to lift her sights. Nothing like  a big dose of butter, sugar and  flour to do that. Have a nice pot of soup made from the random thises and thats from the fridge. We may have more for lunch as the "smooth boards" are being applied to the fascia of the new pushback on the carriage house, Mandy may paint, Erich and me, and R home with work and no need to drive through inches of slush promising to freeze.

Should be interesting with the voting today.

a tisket a tasket

This and that>>
Everson Museum in Syracuse has a call for entries for their Biennial Show "The Object and Beyond" due April 4, 2008. Check the Everson site for the prospectus and application.

Schweinfurth Museum in Auburn has a call for entries for thie annual "Made in New York Show". Check the web for details.

Discovered this very cool blog called "Artist News" which is focused on local (central NY to Albany) shows. They cite the Biennal, the Schweinfurth, a show at Limestone Art Gallery, and one coming us that is a visual showcase for Central NY called Elements.

So in the spirit of get the work out... I will get the work out locally.

In the spirit of education and learning, I cracked open the new issue of "art on paper" a great magazine I subscribed to at Art Basel Miami (cheap!). It is focused on prints, drawings, photographs, books and ephemera --showing a wide range of terrific work but showcasing galleries and classes. I love this magazine, creasing it,reading it, xroxing it. Here are some cool opportunities:

Wells Book Arts Summer Institute>> in beautiful Aurora, NY for three, one week sessions--hands on classes in letterpress printing, lettering arts and bookbinding.

Another: NYU Steinhardt (Steinhardt Shool of Culture, Education and Human Development)
offers an MA (in Studio art) in Venice for artists and art teachers. From June 29- August 23, 2008--it is more of a time committment...but Venice! More>>

One more jumped out, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture and Extended Media at Virgina Commonwealth for 2 mos. They say they "foster the development of professional attitudes and skills with an emphasis on indiviudal investigation. Non credit.Post baccalaureate style residency studio program." "VCU's School of the Arts graduate program is ranked 6th in the nation by US News and World Report. Sculpture is ranked first and Painting is tenth."

Interesting how they talk about themselves.

grey Saturday


Working on a horse for the Baker. This is the bottom layer, the beginning of the process. I really like it just as a silhouette, the simplicity of it. So, like piecrust, I plan just to hand onto the scraps and see what we can do with the remaining pieces.

The Amanda tattoo from my Memento Mori drawings progress. She picked one design. I reconfigured, simplified and designed it to the shape, the supposed "deco" that her upper arm is. She consulted with her artist (someone I perceive as "the" tattoo star around here)--and it seems there isn't going to be a problem. However, I was unconsious about how much this really costs...and it is a bit shocking , far more than I would have anticipated. However, as it is forever--and compared with Amanda's full chest, and complete back in every color of the rainbow, my little black shoulder to elbow seems almost modest. Do you think I can enter this in the self promotion category when it comes to next year's shows?

Off to the library to get some literary candy. The cupboard is bare. Then, off to the pool while K gets her skin treated at the spa next door. This has been really effective for her versus dermatologists, drugs, etc.Plus, it has motivated her to pay attention to this. We are having success and K can take total credit for this. I am very proud of her. And she, is proud of herself.

Had an engaging conversation with a college entry consultant--someone who is a freelance college counsellor about K and A--and the strategies we need to put in place prior to the hot time of junior/senior years--and the current thinking and changes in this entire college selection/placement/entry process. And! it sure has changed since I did it a hundred years ago. And, two years ago. And six months ago. So, I am enlightened and am very excited to have a partner on this path. Her name is Lucia Tyler and she is a lovely,insightful, caring woman. Learn more about Lucia>> You will be part of this progression.

Won an auction on ebay for a first edition of the only book on Ludwig Hohlwein for signficantly less money than Alibris offers it for. I am so psyched. There is on ONE tome that shows a huge body of his work--and this is it. Hohlwein, for me , is a giant in his simplicity, graphic and elegant illustration for posters and advertising...However, through the lens of my Mentor, he is very much a single potato guy...More to learn.

Must go. Books await. They close at 2.