Whetstone Diaries

I'm going to kill this blog

2011-07-23T16:06:00.002-04:00

Hey folks. I'm not really using this space, so I'm going to get rid of it.

You can find me at:
http://saraadrian.com
http://www.facebook.com/sara.e.adrian
http://twitter.com/saraadrian
http://saraadrian.tumblr.com/

See you on the flip!

(INSTALL) Art Exhibition at Go West!

2011-06-07T05:56:00.002-04:00

For the third year of Franklinton's Go West Festival Chris Sherman and Nikos Rutkowski have coordinated a show revolving around various concepts of installation art. Each participating artist has been given a room in to explore various concepts and media.

Go West is taking place Saturday, June 11 · 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Please visit 937 W Broad St. in Columbus Ohio during this one day only event.

...& by the way, it's free!

The following artists and their projects are:

Sara E. Adrian presents a painting environment exploring the veil between myth, modern primitivism, and urban decay. For more information about the artist please visit http://saraadrian.com/

Tyrome Stewart- an interactive installation involving video and movement.

b.b. Grimm presents a collection of mail art gathered from a global network of poets, vispo, artist, & others inclined to collaborate and exchange art through postal and email. Mail art has come from around the world such as Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, and every corner of the U.S. including Columbus, Ohio's own Visual Poet John M. Bennett
For more information about the artist please visit http://www.bbgrimm.com/

Keida Mascaro is showing selected abstraction film pieces. His work mainly focuses on people's triumphs and tribulations, finding charm in the shadows of human existence.
For more information about the artist please visit http://KeidaMascaro.com/

Chris Sherman- an instillation focused on the exploration of light.

Victor Nombre (aka Nikos Rutkowski)- an environment involving a sculptural dragon.
For more information about the artist please visit http://www.nikosfyodor.com/

The Facebook event page is http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120271111392628

For more information about the rest of the festivities at Go West, please visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103634786393306

Countdown

2011-06-04T11:08:00.006-04:00

Go West is one week away. Starwood (where I will be vending) is a month away. I'm stoked, but there's much to do, but I'm just going day by day & doing what I can when I can. I'm ordering supplies for the Starwood festival so that when Go West is over I'll be able to put those ducks in rows. More limited editions will be ordered. I got stickers coming, and I may experiment with other things that look like fun. It's not so much that I want to see my stuff on things, but more that how I think people interact with art is more in the things we use vs going to see a show. Both are important, the thoughts and emotions evoked by a creative experience can't be underestimated but also so are the create reminders that we carry that may happen to be a compact mirror, or refrigerator magnet.

But more about that later, on with the show.

So, at Go West, in the building at 937 W Broad Street is Nikos Fyodor Rutkowski, Keida Mascaro, TJ Stewart, Chris Sherman & myself will be showing installation art & video. Mail artist b.b. Grimm is presenting a collection of work gathered from a global network of poets, vispo, artist, and other interesting folks from around the world. I know some of what the others are doing. Nikos Fyodor Rutkowski is taking a room to do a large sculptural piece (I know what it is but I ain't sayin'). Keida Mascaro will be showing some of his films, I believe he may be debuting something. TJ Stewart is doing an interactive piece, & Chris Sherman is doing something with light. If you come you may be overwhelmed with what b.b. Grimm has to show, those mail art exhibitions always have so much to look at. As for me, I'm taking over a whole room, & it will be the largest thing I have ever done to date. The space is a derelict building that is about to be renovated, so we get to do almost whatever we want. What I'm doing visually will be a combo of paint and paper, and I'm exploring a crossroad between myth and urban decay. Using the idea of Shinto spirits, that every thing and every space has a spirit or essence I'm remaking the room be... not a temple or sacred space per se, but a space where the idea can be recognized. I'm not leaning on any particular mythos I can tell you that much. I'm communicating my impression of what might be there, if such things existed (it's up to the viewer to want to believe in fairy tales).

Of course, scientifically, logically it's just a room in a building left alone for too long. A commodity to be transformed for financial gain which will hopefully help renew that part of Columbus. Just for a moment I want to divorce from linear thinking and explore untold stories and dream about what might be, and share that so that maybe other folks may dream a little more too.

So yeah, next update will probably have photos and maybe a video if I get around to that. As always we shall see what happens next!

here is Michael Hedges - All Along the Watchtower

Apocalyptic footnote

2011-05-21T09:19:00.004-04:00

We're getting near the end of May, so here's a reminder that on my Etsy store there's a coupon code for 10% off, and that's MAYDAY. So yeah!

Ya know, I've been wondering if I should take a different direction with this blog. I -really- don't like to spam, and when I'm talking only about what I'm doing... well, just seems self indulgent (and nobody wants to hear someone talk about themselves all the time).

I'm on the fence... ah well.

By the way, stickers are coming!

Must be spring, the Festival season is starting.

2011-05-18T15:25:00.009-04:00

Ok! First off, I've been asked to take part in Go West again in the Franklinton district in Columbus Ohio. This year I'll be doing a full installation, which basically means I'll get a room to do whatever I want, so that'll be interesting. That's on June the 11th (Saturday), and will be free to the public... more on that in the future.

Come July 5th I'll be Starwood bound (actually I'll be at the camp site probably July 1st or 2nd, but that's when the festival starts so whatever). For you folks just tuning in', I'm going to be vending full-out for the first time. This is going to be rather interesting!

I've posted before about going to these weird pagan/hippy camps, I don't know if I've explained them or why I go. So... er... well... Imagine going somewhere where you will be accepted just as you are. You can wear whatever you want, & meet some interesting, amazing and/or weird people, and just have a good time (as long as you're not a judgmental asshole, the golden rule is in full effect!). These are primarily geared towards people who are pagan, but not always, it depends on the event. If you're not, and you want to go you absolutely can, just be ok and accepting to what you will find. Stuff that happens at these events are... well there's lots of hanging out, there are workshops on any number of topics, from spirituality to recycling/conservation, to various crafts, to sex and sexuality, to... well you name it. Oh yeah, these places aren't open orgies, but they are more sex-positive and GLBTQ's are most welcome (there's a sizable rainbow camp at any event I've been to). Most are clothing optional, most people wear clothes, and no it's not as weird as you think (and btw I wear clothes as I don't like bugs and I don't like to get sunburned). For the folks local to me, it's kinda like Comfest, only more relaxed and with less douchebaggery. There's generally lots of music and performances, especially at the larger events like Starwood. Also, there are drum circles, and they go on for hours and hours. I go because I am a gigantic fan of places that accept people as they are, and places were people discover themselves. I've met people and had experiences at these events I would not have anywhere else. The camp-culture is very honest, people are generally in a good mood and very friendly. With regards to Starwood, I've not been to this event before but here's what I've heard. It's one of the longest running events of it's kind (31 years). It's been compared to Burning Man to people who have attended both. There are 'themed areas', art, weirdness, and at the end there's a huge bonfire that goes up several stories (I'm told they're going for three this year). Sounds interesting. Friends that have been say I should go over well there... so we shall see how that goes. If you come, find me and say hi!

Like I've said earlier, I'll be vending at this one. I'm bringing prints, shirts, stickers, buttons, and maybe some other stuff (we shall see!). This is kind of a test-run, I'm very familiar with Wisteria (where it's being held at this year) and many of the people I know down there will be at the festival, so I'll feel pretty comfortable. I want to break even at least, and get a feeling for setting up, layout of my space and all that. I'm going to do a dry run before going down of my booth set up, but at festival I'll have feedback, and I can see how it all works for me. My plan is to go up the weekend before, set up camp, and relax and have a good time. No stress, no pressure. Once this is over with I'll know what else I'll need to do before going on the road with vending (or if I should try something else).

By the way, that photo up above is one i took at a festival last year (Cornstalk at Wisteria). That bonfire was built up about 6 feet, the fire shot up to at least 20 (they added too much torch fuel).

That's what I know for now.
Later!

randomness and vending preparing

2011-05-14T18:28:00.003-04:00

ok, first off...

also, check out this guy's blog, I really like his work.

Anyway... I've been busy, which of course means I had to get a sinus infection on top of that, very annoying. In pushing the vending bit, I've been compiling a list of what I may need. Here it is... subject to editing of course, and btw I modified this from a list I found online:

Product/Packing
• Envelope with:
• Business card
• Return custom coupon code for Etsy shop
• Thank you note
• Bags (sm, med, large) for sold items

Literature/Paper Products
• Business card book
• Business cards
• Brochures/post cards
• Vendor coupons
• “Good luck at the craft show today! Take 15% off any product at my
booth to celebrate all of your hard work!”
• Include booth number
• Extra price tags
• Extra price stickers
• Sales binder (track which items sold and for what price – make chart)
• Custom order forms
• General price list signage
• Photo album
• Cheque ID verification chart (name, phone number, amount)
• Craft show information sheets
• Receipt book
• Email sign up sheet

Office Supplies
• Calculator
• Pens (lots)
• Sales notebook
• Sharpie
• Clip board for custom orders
• Extra loosleaf on clipboard
• Stapler
• Extra staples
• (painted?) covered bulletin board
• Thumb tacks/pushpins
• Five drawer rolling shelf to contain items

Sales Related
• Cashbox
• Float
• $20 – 5
• $10 – 7
• $5 – 7

Tool Kit
• Exacto knife
• Scissors
• Tape
• Double sided tape
• Duct tape
• Tape measure

Display Related
• Camera
• stool/chair/s
• Table cloths
• Small mirror
• Booth set up (stand, ???)
• Vista print banner
• Bakers twine
• Business card holder
• Decorations for table
• Dolly for transporting items
• Corner shelf for display

Cleaning Supplies
• Mini trash-can
• Trash bags
• Hand sanitizer
• Tide to go
• Paper towel
• Lint roller/brush

Clothing
• Linwood avenue apron
• Change of clothes (inc. Socks)

Food
• Bottled water
• Protein bar
• Simple snacks
• Spill proof coffee mug
• Spill proof water bottle

Health & Toiletries
• Bandaids (first aid kit)
• Advil
• Hand lotion
• Deodorant
• Make-up kit
• Mints
• Hand sanitizer
• Kleenex
• brush
• Hair ties

During down time:
sketchbook
small painting (bring acrylics and brushes)

Of course this doesn't include the booth or the inventory, which I'm working on. I feel this is just going to be an ongoing process...

Mythos

2011-05-04T22:52:00.006-04:00

I think about what the purpose is of why I make art occasionally. These things are necessary, as the whys and wherefores directly affect all future decisions as to what and where I go next in my life as a whole. As I've stated earlier, I'm making inroads into vending. The reason why is not entirely so much because I have a strong need for capitalistic gain from my work, but more so that I am trying to achieve a certain lifestyle. I want to make art, travel around and meet interesting people, take part in events and performances, and otherwise live a quiet life surrounded by wonder. Today I've been chewing on how great it would be to buy some wooded land in the country, build and rent out a cabin or two for folks who want to go all Walden. In order to do these things I need to get closer to working full time as an artist, which will also involve other things I'm sure, such as teaching, or lecturing, or something related (doing one thing all the time is boring anyway).

But that's not the purpose to making art. Everyone has a mythology, a story about themselves that makes up who they are. The things they surround themselves with reinforce the story, and advance it (because the story of our life doesn't end till we are dead... and sometimes later than that). Clothing, furniture, tv shows, things we like, even the people we hang out with help validate who we are and can push us forward towards self discovery as we continue the path of the story of our lives. I call it a myth because what we believe about ourselves isn't always the reality, like say how a boy may have grown up in an abusive household and now believes he is worthless. That's not true, but he's decided as of this point that this is what he is, and whether he continues to believe that or whether he chooses to change the story about himself is entirely up to him.

This is why stories and images resonate with us. Sometimes we come across a song or poem or see something that reflects where we are and adds a bit of truth which helps us move past or move forward. Sometimes that bit of art or music of performance exposes us to something entirely new, and in this we grow in new and unexpected ways. This is how we feed our souls. Often folks may not even know they're doing it, like when a teenager hangs a poster of some formulaic pop icon on their wall. As much as that pop icon is about selling product, that message speaks somehow to the young person. They want to be with or be like their idol, even though they are unknowingly falling in lock step with a machine created to make a lot of money using vapid messages that have no real substance. We are what we consume, if we only absorb material that is fed to us on a mass market, or believe what we hear on radio and tv without questioning, then our stories become vapid and carbon-brittle.

So what I've been doing and will probably continue to do is try to present images that are unexpected. I make images don't see, that I think should exist... such as the women I paint, they have been described as strong and in some cases erotic. I often choose to create images of women that are average to extremely thick because that's what the reality is, and yet that's not the kind of images I see. The symbols, the alchemy, or any other hidden meaning that I work in doesn't need to be fully understood by the viewer (although it can be more fun if the viewer gets it), what I want to let people know is that there's more to our lives than what we currently know. The world has layers of existing, layers of culture, layers of thinking. We live side by side with people who may have a completely different understanding, like your neighbor may be obsessed with Trans Mississippi Wooden Submarines from the civil war, and recreating them may be apart of what he does. My point is there are things that go on in this world that aren't easily accessible, and takes some digging to discover. I don't necessarily want to show you what they are, but I want you to know that what you know can be completely different to what may be possible.

So back to the myth thing. My work is partly about those mysteries, and what I think is great is to create these little mysteries that people can take with them. Existing with original art affects a person, the image they see every day becomes a part of them, and how they react to that image (even if on a subconscious level) becomes a part of their mythology.

I guess I will see how the vending thing goes. I'm looking into creating more practical and portable items, and if/when that happens I'll let you know of course.

instead of music, I'm posting a video from the Starwood Festival. I'm going to be vending there this year, more on that later.

Past shows and what is coming next!

2011-04-26T09:08:00.007-04:00

Well, the Comfest benefit went well. Ran into some people I hadn't seen in a while and met some new & interesting people! A couple of weeks after that I took part in the CCAD Spring Art Sale. That was my first time test driving a booth, and it was most definitely a learning experience (note to self, bring some snacks). Since then I've updated my Etsy Store with some of the new prints, and I'm working on more (lots more). I'm not showing any of the paintings I've been doing as I'm saving them for shows later in the year. I don't want to reveal everything all at once... what's the fun in that?

So anyway, I have a coupon code for my store that'll give you 10% off. That code is MAYDAY

So yeah, check it out ;)

Here's what's coming up art-wise:
On Saturday May 7th is PAPERazzi, works on paper. This show is being put on by Creative Arts of Women (CAW)at MadLab Theater in Columbus Ohio. The Facebook event page is here. The show reception runs from 4-7pm and will include visual art and performances by members of CAW. Food and drinks provided by MabLab. Stay after and watch Theatre Roulette!
address is 227 North 3rd Street Columbus, OH 43215-2530

Then, in July I'll be vending at the Starwood Festival XXXI in south east Ohio. I've never been to this festival before, but I've heard a lot about it over the years. A friend I spoke to last night billed it as 'The Burning Man of the East', and it's one of the largest festivals of it's kind. I can't speak from experience, but what I've heard is there are lots of workshops and events to work on personal growth, and lots and lots of partying. At the end of the festival they are known for putting on a bonfire that can get as high as three stories. Should be crazy-good. I'll write more about it when we get closer to the event date. If you're interested ticket sales are on sale now, and go up towards the end of May.

That's all for now! Later folks!

If you're in Columbus Ohio and are looking for something to do...

2011-04-09T10:30:00.004-04:00

So today is the Community Awareness Benefit. Before you even ask, it's free but they're taking donations on behalf of the ComFest Grants Program. Basically today in the spirit of ComFest at Woodlands Tavern (formally Thirsty Ear) there will be music and art and interesting people to hang with all day long (from noon to 2 am). I will be there, showing some paintings and giving a bit of a preview to the CCAD Spring Art Sale happening next Saturday (the 16th). Also I'm going to be showing a few new prints. So Yay!

Go here to see a rundown of the live acts playing today.

The address to Woodlands Tavern is:
1200 West 3rd Avenue
Columbus, OH 43212
...(614) 299-4987
Near Northwest Blvd. and 3rd

If you come down, be sure to say hello!

For music, here's one of the bands playing tonight, Lost Revival

I Love It So Live from John Thorne on Vimeo.

Lady Power Rant

2011-04-06T09:38:00.008-04:00

So not to long ago I got a request online from a guy for my website URL, which I of course did give him. He later responded with something to the effect of 'wow, you're really into women power huh?'. I was bemused.

I don't really often explain what my work is about, but of course I have some notion. It's fine if people don't come to the same conclusions. My goal is to nudge people in a direction, not drag them kicking & screaming to whatever point I'm trying to make. I feel that 'all art is propaganda', meaning that everything we see, from commercial advertising to high art and everything in between, that is created by man presents a concept, belief, idea, and leaves an impression. When we see something it can leave a mark on our psyche. For example I saw a commercial for Arby's the other day, talking about how it's 'feel good food' and showed an example of someone eating the food and thus... feeling good. Who doesn't want to feel good? I almost kinda wanted some, even though I try to avoid eating fast food. Another is I was looking at a jewelery shop selling hammered wire hair barrettes, naming them after goddesses and likening them to stars, moons, and suns. The influence here is one would buy a piece not only because they thought it would look good on them, but that it may also align them with the ideals that the piece represented. Granted these examples use words in conjunction with visual stimuli to sell products, but it also works in art. A woman viewing an old painting of mine that involves a stripper smoking said seeing that kinda made her want to smoke too, even though she had never done so before. This extends globally. Places in the South Pacific got television later than most other parts of the world, and this was one of the places that were less concerned with body image. In fact they actually have a dance that the women do where they tied sashes around their hips to make them look as large as possible & then danced on tables, people (men and women) who were on the thicker & more robust side were considered desirable. Then in 1996 TV arrived, and eating disorders shot way up in teens 36 months later. 74% believed they were too fat, and 15% used vomiting to control their weight, something unheard of before. When something is presented as the ideal, seemingly regardless of where it comes from, we seemingly subconsciously align with it, even try to become it.

We divide things into little boxes. Tv, movies, boxes of stuff we buy at the store, magazines, youtube clips, cheap prints you see hanging in office hallways, commercials, graffiti, comic books, fine art, etc... while consciously you know the difference between all these things, your subconscious is less likely to do so. We are so strongly influenced by what we experience, whether it be 'real world' or virtual, or even from dream. How much one gets affected will depend on the person and the type of stimulus shown to them. If it's something they're already interested in they will be more likely to be influenced by the idea that the image/s represent, also the same if they are the kind of individual that is easily influenced vs someone who isn't. Regardless, if you are constantly bombarded by images & sounds that center around an idea, you may eventually be led to believe that what those images & sounds are 'right'.

Kinda puts truth to the saying 'garbage in, garbage out'. If you surround yourself with people & things with no substance, you will be much less likely to have substance yourself.

Anyway, back to why my work is all 'Woman Power-y'. It's not really something I intended (well, not entirely). My art is somewhat biographical in the sense that most of it is based off of something I've seen, felt, or heard. I think I paint mostly women because I am one, and I've always had a certain fascination with icons. Too often when I talk to women do they put themselves down based off of their body image, or defer to the opinion of others when making decisions on what they wish to be, so one of the concepts behind my work is that women can be different, there's another way to exist. I don't care if a lady chooses to be a barefoot and pregnant housewife or a CEO, I just want women to accept themselves with grace who they are and to feel empowered to be whatever they want to be. This isn't an anti-male thing. I love me some mens, don't get me wrong here. In my world there is no such thing as 'if you're pro-this you're anti-that'. Besides, showing women in this way is a message just as much for the guys as it is for the chicks. I wouldn't say this is a conscious thought every time I set down to compose a work, but it's a base theme as I this is very much a part of what I'm about.

Part of what's bringing this up for me is there seem to be wave of anti-feminist backlash that is just rolling along and getting stronger, which is leaving me concerned. An officer in Toronto during a presentation at Osgoode Hall Law School regarding sexual assault told the students that women can avoid being raped by simply by 'not dressing like sluts' which prompted this amusing backlash. Apparently now Slutwalks are being scheduled in other parts of Canada. Related is is how women need to dress less provocatively & maybe let their daddies pick out their wardrobe because men can't control their lust. I have always found it interesting how some men put the blame on women for their misogynistic tendencies. Ugh, there's lots of other related crap I can rant about, like this (they're trying to do the same in Georgia and tried and failed in Utah), and this, and this, etc. I'm all for ladies expressing their sexuality, but it seems to me that many artists (musical and otherwise) are being sexual without any context... meaning they're being sexual not because that's how they feel or who they are, but because they want the attention that it brings (example: Britney Spears). It's been an amusing thought lately that when the Spice Girls where big in the 90's how cheesy they seemed, and now they seem so 'Pro Girls' than any role models out there today (Lady Gaga aside, not really a fan of her music but I find what she does interesting).

Whew! Enough of this lady-ranting business! Here is Ani DiFranco, 32 Flavors

ducks marching!

2011-04-02T09:40:00.002-04:00

Ah yay look at everything in little rows! Now all of my feeds are directed where they're supposed to go, and info is updated where it needs to be updated. Ok so enough of that!

In two weeks I'll be vending my work at the CCAD Spring Art Sale on Saturday April 16th. Admission is $5 for general admission (10:30 a.m.) or $50 for first choice (get in early at 9 a.m.). Admission is taken at the door. But trust me it's worth it. There is going to be a TON of artists there (over 100) with some students, some graduates like myself, and faculty as well. Parking will be free, so don't worry about that. This is going to be at the Crane Center (#2 on the map), and I will be at booth 52. Address is 60 Cleveland Avenue | Columbus, OH 43215. So yeah, come on out and say hi!

In other news I'm gearing up for the rest of the year with this whole vending thing. It's going to be a very slow transition from working a regular job to hopefully vending at festivals for my income. I like the idea of traveling around and meeting interesting folks which I feel will be much more satisfying for me vs working in an office like environment. I'll let you know how it goes, and where I will be next of course.

So that's mostly it. Happy Spring everyone!
Here's something appropriate, a song from the Finnish band Gjallarhorn - Suvetar (Goddess of Spring)

oh please LIKE ME! (and other social crap)

2011-03-26T11:37:00.005-04:00

I think, that when all my social media sites are properly in sync it'll be a happy happy day. I'll be taking part in some shows later this year, and I'm planning on doing some traveling around (more on that later). So I figure it behooves me to make all my ducks be in little rows. I admit I do like the Facebook, but I don't want to publicly broadcast the conversations that I have between friends (who cares right?). So, I made a Fan Page. If you'd like quick posts, seeing my art in progress & new finished stuff, or interesting art related things, go ahead and like my page (you can also just click the 'like' button on the right). I promise only interesting things, and not to spam the newsfeed. I'm working to link it up with this blog and the sketch blog I have, so you should, in theory, be able to get all your updates there. I also have it synced to Twitter, so if you use that you can just get all your updates from there.

So yea, all terribly exciting eh?

So here's Thelonious Monk, Nice Work If You Can Get It.

Post Roanoke and whatever!

2011-03-12T20:14:00.008-05:00

Soooooooyeah! I got busy and neglected posting. It's winter, I'm busy, don't make me spork you. Anywho, last weekend I went down to the Marginal Arts Festival in Roanoke Virginia. Super Great Time! I didn't have any work showing there... but I did get a chance to take part in a few performances, one with Warren C. Fry that you can see here (yeah I gotta project more) and another with the Be Blank Consort, where we read several avant garde poems. The rest may go online at some point (I don't have video or they would be by now). I did shoot some other stuff at the festival, check out my youtube channel to see what if you're so inclined (0r if photos are more your style you can check out my album of the event). I still have a few other things to load, which I will do eventually. Stuff I think you should see are these:

The first video is some stuff I shot and put together of festival overall... lots of stuff I didn't personally record though.

This performance by Zierle Carter was very interesting and many were moved by it. These folks were flown in from Europe just to perform here, and they did several 'acts' as it were. They are also super-awesome inspiring folk with lots of interesting ideas, I'm glad I got a chance to meet them.

There is this bit of silly, during the Marginal Arts Festival Parade, Piano Activities by Philip Corner (1962) was re-enacted.

Above are some photos I took of a side performance by Zierle Carter.

So yeah, lots of fun and it's given me lots of food for thought as well. I got to thank Sue & Jim Leftwich who gave my friend Bela Grimm and I a place to stay during the event, John M. Bennett for giving me a chance to perform with the Be Blank Consort, and everyone who participated! I don't know if I can be called a 'marginal artist' per-se, but I'm definitely influenced by it.

tumble

2011-01-30T17:23:00.008-05:00

Contain your excitement, the tumblr sketch blog is up. Fun trivia about me, I (or rather, my mom) have been keeping sketchbooks as far back as when I was eight. Not a one tossed, only time I lose one is accidentally (hey room service people in Chicago, I hope you enjoyed that!). What they mostly contain is metal vomit, observational drawings from cafes or wherever I'm at, and notes about whatever I want to look into later. Also of course are rough ideas for finished paintings, and the line work for digital prints. I want to post about once a day, but right before I set to do this my scanner decided to have some software issues and doesn't want to scan anymore. Honestly all my equipment needs upgraded, which will only happen when it needs to happen... and will probably happen soon if this laptop will stop being a bastard.

All this random joy can be seen at http://saraadrian.tumblr.com/

And also, I'll be going to Virginia for the Roanoke Marginal Arts Festival which runs March 3-8. I'll be taking a crack at performance art in the parade on Saturday, and causing general mischief. If you're in the area, come on out. The event happens in various places all over the city so check the website or Facebook for details. If you want to find me I'll most likely be with the Pos-Neoabsurdists.

& I don't feel like posting music today, so you get this instead. Later!

Cloud Cover

2011-01-23T15:31:00.004-05:00

Right on new years I got a horrible plague that set me down for a while. Then life got busy, and with the weather as cold as it is I've been feeling a strong desire to go inside and not, well, basically be more selfish with my time. It's necessary, time to start new work, which means telling the world to fuck off. I mean that in the nicest way possible of course. I love my friends and there's a litany of people I want to see more, but if I do that, then I'm not making work. My energy is finite. This is by the way one of the reasons why it's rough dating artists, or anyone with a drive/passion that isn't their primary partner. Sometimes (well, oftentimes) we have to put the work first. If we don't we can't be who we are...

So anyway, last month or so I've been prepping panels. These are pine plywood panels that are about a quarter of an inch thick. They have been treated to prevent insect damage, and primed with a high grade gesso, and then left to hang out for a while. The cracking was unexpected but rather desired. I want the wood to show through, I want the viewer to know the materials they are looking at.

When I go to make a painting, I have an idea of course, but it always changes. I will do some sketches, to decide the general composition however I always change it when I lay out the underdrawing. You can see on the right one of those sketches (by the way, click the images to zoom in). I don't use models, what I do is I'll go make reference sketches, take photographs, and look at photographs online of people/things/situations that contain what I want. When the drawing is done I don't use any one person as reference, the people in these drawings don't exist. I may borrow a nose, shape of the eye, or something, but I always change it. I will also use myself as reference also, sometimes (rarely) I may as a friend to help, but with the type of drawing I do and my years of studying human anatomy it's rarely necessary. Most of what I do is observe, internalize, and regurgitate.

So the image on the left is on an 18 x 24 panel (which is what most of my paintings will be for a while, I had a bunch cut to that size). Right now it's winter, and while many complain about the grey Ohio winters, I rather like the clouds, and how they change. So hence the color palate is going to be largely greys, purples, blues, greens, blacks, with highlights of gold with this one. The background's palate will be cooler than the figure in front (from a color standpoint). I'll be painting this largely in acrylic, and may switch to oils later if I am so motivated. What's it about? Well you'll have to decide that for yourself. Of course I have something in mind but in the end it's not what I say but what the viewer gets out of it. I may make a video of the process if I get off my ass and get a tripod. That's something I want to do... When I started my youtube channel it was supposed to be more artwork, but I do like to document, so there's lots of stuff on there from when I go camping, and that's ok. It is time though I show more about my process, especially since now I can edit videos again (that's largely why I haven't made any art related videos of my own work in a while).

So yeah, aside from the work I am planning out my year. Odds are good I'll be going west for a visit that I've been meaning to take for many years. I'm also looking into vending again, which is something that I want to do but kind of intimidates me. I like stability, and vending full time at fairs and festivals would mean quitting my day job. For a time I'd be flying blind, and that makes me nervous. I have already done a lot of research on taxes, I'm on several mailing lists, and I've worked for and assisted with people who have done this for a living... it's a plunge though, and I don't want to mess it up. The idea of traveling during the summer and painting full time is too rich to pass up, and I think my more conventional paintings and prints would do well.

Soooooooooooo anyway. Workworkwork, time to get back to it!

For music we're going back a few. Here's Simply Red, Holding Back the Years.

They say all rivers flow to the sea...

2010-12-31T09:54:00.005-05:00

Well, that's it for 2010. Here we have the obligitory year end post where one sums up one's year or some shit. So sure, a year of up and downs, of deaths and births and the ever present change. Not quite what I expected, but then life never does go according to plan, does it? But despite the oncoming cold I'm getting, I feel better about things than I did last year. Only regret is I didn't produce more, but that can't be helped I suppose. So 2011, what does it hold for me? Seems travel is in the works, I've been invited to several different places for various different reasons. I'm working on a new series, which is going to be a departure from my previous work. I have a solo show in Columbus in September at What the Rock, and it looks like I'm going to be showing out of state, more of that later.

So yeah! Happy New Years to you and yours. May you get what you want and not what you deserve!

Blessed Be ;)

Below is a few videos of my favorite videos that I took this past year. I hopes ya dig!

In memory of Angelo Head, RIP

Winter Solstice

2010-12-20T10:21:00.005-05:00

Regardless if you're Pagan or not, I think the Winter Solstice (and all the solar holidays really) are interesting and worth some acknowledgment. Today in the northern hemisphere it's the shortest day, and the longest night. This is caused by the tilt of the earth's axis in relation to the orbit of the earth around the sun. Right now the north end of the planet pointed as far away from the sun as it can get, see below in the handy-dandy graphic I found.

What I find interesting about observing the cyclical wheel of the year (the solstices, the equinoxes, the growing and harvesting) is what a metaphor they are for the way life can be. We all have moments of darkness that seems like they'll never end. Where we lose, where what or who we love or tried so hard to create and keep is gone. It's the long dark. Fortunately though the nature of the universe is change. Just as the sun comes back after the longest night of the year, so too does the dark moments in our life go. Not all at once (most of the time), but hold on and the light comes back a little more each day, and the world will warm up and things will start to grow again.

Tonight for us in the Americas also there will be a complete Lunar Eclipse. It's going to last all night long, peaking for us in Ohio at around 3:30 am. There's going to be cloud cover, so I may not be able to see it, but here's to hoping. Friends down south are lighting bonfires in the night, hoping to watch the lunar event, my thoughts are with them.

In contrast to the festival I attend for the Summer Solstice, today I'll be alone and self reflecting. I'll probably make cookies, Christmas too is coming (which I celebrate with my family) and damn it they need some cookies!

So it's all good.

Here's hoping your holiday season is most festive, how ever you mark or celebrate it (or not). So Happy SolsticeYuleChristmasHanukkahKwanzaaAshuraETC ETC ETC and New Years to All of you crazy cats! Next time I post it'll be back to normal... whatever that is.

and for those who require poetry today, here you go.

December and it's wild winds

2010-12-06T09:57:00.005-05:00

Well I don't know about you, but I'm ready for the Winter Solstice (December 21st this year). The sun setting at 5 pm, what can I say, I'm not a fan... however I appreciate the symbolism, especially now.

So here's what's going on. December the 18th (Saturday) there is the closing reception for Fortify! the Fort Hayes Alumni Art Exhibition. The address is 546 Jack Gibbs Blvd.Columbus, OH 43215, and it will run from 5-8. Should be a good party, and I'll be there of course.

With other stuff I'm working on... well I'm just working. The collaboration that I'm not talking about has officially begun, with the first session completed. What's different about this is it involves me working with photography, which I generally only do as a hobby (if that). I'm modifying them digitally, and I have to say I am pleased with the results so far. Yay for new challenges. Thing is though, these still may never be shown in public, due to their um... sensitive nature in tackling certain aspects of the human anatomy. Yeah I know, teaser. That's what I do... tease. I think though that this will all come off very well (in theory). As for the rest, I'm doing my mix media paintings (combining acrylics and/or oils with metallics) and researching trickster myths in contemporary contexts.... or something like that.

So for music, we have Beats Antique, Beauty Beats.

Lax

2010-11-14T13:09:00.004-05:00

Hoo boy I have been neglectful! Well lots going on, so let's get to it. The Fort Hayes Alumni exhibition is now up! Check the blog for more info about the who's and whats and wheres. I want to personally invite you to the closing reception on December 18, it's going to be quite festive! Also the Columbus International Film and Video festival that I helped jury will be showing films from November 16-20 at CCAD's Canzani Center and the Gateway Theater. Check the website for times. This coming Saturday November 20 · 7:30pm - 11:30pm there will be an animation and mead tasting event at the Canzani Center that'll help wind down the festival nicely. I will be there, and so should you, check the facebook page for event details.

Oh by the way, if you like beer and are interested in reading a blog about how to brew it, check out this new blog by a friend of mine.

For me things are winding down finally and my goal is to focus on making art and little else. I'm also doing a collaboration, but I can't really talk about it. Because it's experimental it's possible it may never see the light of day, and this may be the last time I ever mention it... so just pretend you never saw this... yeah.

So, sometimes I get song-obsessive, and here's my latest.
Song is Carry Me Ohio, by Sun Kil Moon.
Reminds me of something bitter sweet that didn't work out.

back in world

2010-10-23T11:59:00.004-04:00

Well finally got the computer situation taken care of for now. I am now the proud owner of a barely used 3 yr old ibook, which may not have all the juice I want, will at least get me back on line and able to network and manage and do all the stuff I dig doing. So lets get on with what I've been up to.

Last weekend I attended Autumn Fires at Wisteria. It was a short weekend but good fun. I got to do a little iron oxide glazing on some slip cast bisque wear that my friend Casey Bradly had (see left), he runs the ceramic pit firing they have at this festival every year. So here's a fun footnote, this laptop has video editing software, so I get to show you how the event went. This was shot in one day, and shows the process from people making little ceramic works, to the firing (and the resulting bonfire party) to the finished product.

Wisteria Autumn Fires 2010 from Sara Adrian on Vimeo.

So yeah, it was brief but everyone had a great time.

& now, back to the studio! I've been buying wood panels and preping them for painting, and drawing up notes/ideas. That's my goal this winter season, just make stuff and not worry about showing and all that. With working full time and trying to make art I find it difficult to focus on showing as well, so I oscillate between being public and being... not. Just how I'm wired I guess.

It's Halloween/Samhain season, and it's time to get spooky. Here's The Raven, the poem by Edgar Allen Poe, interpreted by Omnia

A bit behind

2010-09-28T11:20:00.009-04:00

Well let's jump to it, I have a lot to catch you up on. I've been having a few technical setbacks which have made it not-so-easy for me to update. Most recently my computer's power supply went bad, and possibly the logic board as well. It's a 5 year old mac, and becoming obsolete so... yeah I'm kind of looking for options. But enough of that! I have much to tell you about what I've been up to.

Well, last I chatted with you Urban Scrawl was immanent, well things went well and it was a good day. Bela Grimm, myself and a few random people we invited in collaborated, and I think it came out pretty decent. She provided the background and collage, and I did the more painterly stuff (as I do). So yeah, results below:

The final is 8 x 8 feet

and here's a video

the music is just so you don't hear me rambling on to people.

& here's some of the dancing, in the background you can see the skate park.

After all that was done, I went to Wisteria for their Autumn Fires Festival. Good times were had by everyone, and the weather was great. The folks from the Starwood festival inspired the folks from Tent City and on a couple nights bonfires were lit that were bigger than I am tall, so at least 5.5 feet. It was pretty laid back, and the community was great. Videos below.

Pre-bonfire, the folks in Paw Paw just hanging out

Later that night...

One of the musical acts, Brian Henke & Kenny Klein playing at Caffina's

So yeah... Good times! I'm going to do my best to keep up with things, but until I get this computer thing fixed I'm probably going to post intermittently.

But on we go!

Below is Old Crow Medicine Show, Wagon Wheel. It's been in my head lately...

Urban Scrawl 4

2010-08-27T10:56:00.014-04:00

Yep, Urban Scrawl is tomorrow August 27 at Dodge Park, 667 Sullivant Ave, Columbus Ohio. Festival runs from 12 - 8, and is free. There will be music, local craft vendors, break-dancing, skate boarding, and of course... live painting. This year, Bela Grimm and myself will be collaborating on a large panel of 8 x 8 feet. For more about the festival (when bands come on and stuff) check out this article in the Alive. Should be fun! If you come out say hi. By the way the image is from Urban Scrawl few years ago, photo by Bill Minckler.

In other news, I've been crazy busy since I've gotten back from Florida (which was very nice by the way). I've had to review more movies for the festival, I have about six that I need to see by Tuesday. It's been a good experience, and the ones that are going to get in I think you'll like. I'll give my personal opinion on them later when the judging is done. Then there's the painting... I feel like I've had no time to do much else.

By the way! Last Saturday I got to go to the opening of the John M Bennett Skylab Retrospective and Skylab Mailart Visual Poetry Exhibit. Very cool, I got to see my friends from the Post-Neoabsurdist Anti-Collective perform, plus John M. Bennett's visual poetry & mail art he's collaborated on from all over the world. Good Times. Below is a sample of John M. Bennett reading a poem at the Avant Writing Symposium, which just ended (see photos of the event here).

Bummer I had to miss that... this is what I get for having a job.

... so yeah, more stuff coming as always!

So, here's Iron & Wine - Wolves (Song of the Shepherd's Dog)

Headed South & showtime

2010-08-12T10:13:00.004-04:00

Yep, I'll be spending this weekend in Fort Myers paying a social call to some relatives. I just checked the weather, looks like it's going to be very stormy and hot, however I'm sure it'll be interesting. I have not seen the sea in a long time (and I hope I don't see any tar-balls... I shouldn't, but, well ya know). I'll see if I can't take some moderately interesting photos.

There's a couple of events that are coming up. I'm taking part in a show with CAW called Rights and Representation at Wholly Craft at 3169 N. High St. Columbus Ohio. Show is open Aug 11- Sept 3 & the reception is August 20th. Come on out, there shall be all kinds of performances and festivities. The Fort Hayes Alumni Arts Exhibition deadline is coming up on August 31st. If that applies to you check the info here for the call for entires.

I've been spending a lot of time in the studio making new work, so soon I'll be posting some stuff. See you Later!

Here is Captain Beefheart, Abba Zaba

Lughnasadh, I wish I had my camera.

2010-08-02T18:19:00.004-04:00

So yeah, that was yesterday (August 1st). For those of you that are unfamiliar Lughnasadh (or Lammas) follow the link, but commonly it's to celebrate the first harvest. Interestingly enough the holiday falls in the same weekend with the Ohio State Fair. I don't know if I'll make it out this time, I have a bunch of deadlines. Ah we shall see.

One of the things I like about Columbus is that it's filled with a weirdness. Not an obvious weirdness or a funk. You can't come to my town and just stroll down the street and see random weirdness randomly. It's like the rest of Ohio, you have to be willing to look beyond the surface, get out, investigate, be open, and you will surely meet some interesting folks, and see some unexpected things. This place does not fail to disappoint the curious and the persistent. So, yesterday I met up with a friend to go to a drum circle. There are a few advertised around town, but neither of us have been. Generally we only get a chance to drum at Wisteria during festival, which isn't -that often-, maybe three or four times a year, & we never get out because we are antisocial artists. So we go, down to Como Park. There is a network of bike trails that run north to south along the Olentangy River, with many pocket sized parks like this one. We pull up and see more people than we expected drumming under one of the permanent shelters. As we got closer we saw people dancing, wearing brightly colored costumes and outfits. One person looked like she was wearing a plushy chicken headdress with a rainbow skirt and bright yellow ruffled leggings. There were a couple children in handmade costumes that looked part octopus, part jellyfish, and part sock monkey, all stitched in an array of bright fabrics. They ran around, climbed on things, having a grand ole' time with their parents who were also dressed in festive fashion. I asked one of the folks who... well I suppose hosts but he more guides, if that was normal. He said with a smile 'no, they just came out of the forest'.

The drum circle vibe was pretty friendly and chill. There were plenty of drums and other instruments left for people who just happened by. One of which was a gent who looked like a very serious biker, in his mid 40's I'd say. He stood for a while, still half mounted on his bike watching us. Then one of the guys offered him a drum, & he took off his helmet and gloves and soon he was in the thick of it drumming away for what seemed to be the very first time. He was still there when we left. This runs on every other Sunday from 2 to 4, or whenever. I'll come back when I have time. Some of the folks there also play with fire, poi, staff, and the like. I gave my info to one of the guys who will hopefully get in touch with the dude who hosts that gathering which is on Tuesdays. That would be great to get in with the fire community here.

So after we left we then went to a friend's house and met up with people I had not seen in a very long time. I was invited to a Lammas party, which had a very lovely potluck, and for games to honor Lugh we took turns hacking at cantaloupe heads with a medieval looking ax and shot a small crossbow at a target. There was much hilarity, and it was good to see old friends.

and now, back to work.

Here is Cottonbelly, Give Thanks & Praise

Narcissus a bit

2010-07-28T13:27:00.005-04:00

So, first to what's going on. I'm painting a lot, and I'm finishing up watching the first batch of videos for the Columbus International Film+Video festival (for those who don't recall I'm one of the judges for the arts division this year). Some are really good and I think you'll really enjoy them, & some kinda make me want to die a little. Regardless I think once the festival rolls out it'll be worth checking out. More on that later.

Not much else going on. I'm just making art and getting ready for the Fort Hayes Alumni show deadline in August (hey do you like the logo? I did that). By the way, I will be going down to Fort Myers Florida in the middle next month briefly to visit family. Just a long weekend but it'll be good.

So here's a footnote for you. I used to take part in forums a lot more often than I do now, and when I did that I used to just write stuff. I wouldn't call it poetry, or stories, or... anything, but people after a time seemed to like it and I did get something out of it... sense of satisfaction I suppose. I've been thinking about getting back into doing that to help explore my creativity. I have a constant dialog in my head, and sometimes I think it's worth writing down, but then I don't. This kind of writing I admit is completely masturbatory, and self indulgent, doubly so because I know if I don't publicly post what I write I won't do it in the first place. It's narcissistic, I'll be the first to say so, but that won't and has never really stopped me. This need to share what I create is a big part of what makes me an artist I guess. Besides, I guess I got some stuff to say and too many people feel that way and don't. Since I know I can and will, I suppose I should. Why not, right?

Anyway, so I'm gonna occasionally post some of that crap here... because where else am I going to do it? Maybe later I'll take the stuff I like and make a book out of it with little illustrative comments or something. We will see.

So what I have right now is a kind of short story and a poem...

Williams Canyon

They giggled like doves together. She said ‘come to Williams Canyon with us tonight!’. I followed them both as they held hands before me, She with her impossible beauty and her internal damage, he with his rough leanness and his simple thoughts. I plodded slowly behind, watching them, listening. The small town we lived in fell away to a dirt road, and the rocks that would have been tan or red began to arc up on either side.

We come to a sign, “DO NOT ENTER” which we ignore as children do. What was left to is was a road long since abandoned, the memory of a creek, and the canyon walls climbing ever higher. We continued on, at times I lost sight of my guides. They were too busy with each other, trying to impress the other with stories or wry jokes, they seemed innocent, but so was I, and I knew it.

Eventually whatever road was left was gone, giving way to gravel and scrub oak. I picked my way through the rocks, slowly climbing till we reached the end. A waterfall trickled down to a small pool below us, and my friends slipped away to attend to the flirtations natural evolution for a moment. Leaving me to contemplate, I turned to see where I came from.

I have never seen a moon like this. She hung low in the sky, large yellow and full. Mountains framed her, the winking lights of Manitou decorated the dark base. I wanted to ask it everything, what was I supposed to be doing, why was I in this foreign place, what will happen next? There was no sign, no answer. Stars didn’t shoot across the sky, no animal revealed itself, it was just the scene before me and myself alone to contemplate it for that one brief moment in time.

The couple emerged dusty after beating against each other. We made our way home much as we came, but I felt like I had an answer no matter how undefined. All I could do is go forward, in the moment.

Surgery

A constant dissection running through my mind
Pulling you open with my mouth, teeth, tongue.
Flaying you, spreading you open.
Rendering you helpless.

Humility and shame will not protect you
Bodies clothe expression
Lay aside fear
This won’t hurt much, I promise.

After your assembly
When I have seen what I have recreated
I will whisper silently
Do it to me.

Here's something somewhat local to me, Roger Drawdy and the Firestarters performing Hallowed Ground (music starts at :25, -shrug-)

just working

2010-07-18T13:57:00.005-04:00

Nothing very exciting to report right now. I've been working on my stuff, and trying to keep to keep drama down. The thumbnail is a rough draft for a painting I am working on. I think my scanner has been going buggy and is about to die because I should be getting better scans than that. Ah well. Technology joy.

A friend of mine and I went to the Cleveland Museum of Art yesterday. Heard much about it, and it was pretty sweet however it's still under construction so their full collection still isn't out. So yeah that was inspiring for me. Driving around Cleveland, you can tell it's a place that once had money, but half of everything is falling apart. You have this row of gorgeous churches in what was once a decent neighborhood next to a crappy looking McDonalds, and a Dollar General. Also there was much leaning of porches and sagging of roofs. Sign of the times I suppose.

Here is Porcupine Tree - Time Flies

In the still of the night.

2010-07-10T21:04:00.004-04:00

These past couple weeks have been quiet, which is what I really needed after a month of running. I really need periods of quiet, so I can think, research and work. Research what? Whatever, doesn't matter what... it's whatever pops into my head. Could be about creation myths, or how to cook with sherry (I've been given two bottles of it, one for drinking and one for cooking... and I don't drink -that- much), or something related to current news or politics, or whatever. I like indulging myself in curiosities, I learn a lot and hence I have this vast weird pile of random info in my head of which you never know how it will come in useful.

So, it's time to get back to work.

For about a year now I've been working with digital imagery for prints. That got started because I was doing a round of interviews that were related to graphic design, and I needed to update that part of my portfolio. What it lead to was gilcee prints, and combining my drawing with textures and layers. It's interesting, this kind of work for me can be completed fast and gives some level of satisfaction. I'll continue with it, but it's more than time for me to get back into painting again.

I'm not as conceptual as many contemporary artists. I am an image and object maker. I want to make icons that can live in your home as well as in a gallery/temple/whatever. Something made by hand has more resonance and punch than any reproduction (and you have to see it in person, no digital photo of any art can match seeing it with your own eyes). The digital prints are good to work out ideas and get them across, and they can be more affordable to collectors. Nothing however to me can take the place of the one of a kind image.

So these next few weeks and months will be set for me to begin a new series. The painting detail is acrylic on canvas, just a thought really. It's a portrait of a gothy-punk girl, I'll post it in full when I update my website which will be soon. I'm going back to wood, and the size will be closer to 16 x 18 or 18 x 24. What the subject is you'll have to wait and see.

Ah well, here is Eumir Deodato, September 13

back from festival... and a sadness

2010-06-28T19:46:00.009-04:00

Yes, yes I am. Thanks to Brandon for covering Columbus's Pride, very amusing.

So yeah... to say it has been an eventful week has been an understatement. This was not the post I intended it to be a week ago. I suppose, it would be best if I went in order of events. BTW this is my personal account, and more of a reader's digest. I'll wax more poetic when I do my official festival review on the Juggler.
The day before I was to head down I was packing and buying stuff (as one does when they intend to be in the woods for a week), my van decided not to start. An hour or so later AAA shows up and informs me my starter is probably going bad, and so the next morning was spent in the shop. Very not exciting, but I kind of like the car starting when I ask it to so it was a must. So 6 hours later than I had hoped I was finally on my way. 2 hours and in the middle of the heated day I arrive at Wisteria and set up camp in what folks now call OGC (maybe later I will inform you of what that means). Friends are rediscovered and all was well!
Until... I think I may have mentioned that my G-ma has been sick, well she died on Solstice morning. I get the news, and was told I didn't need to return right away as there wasn't much I could do. Memorial was set for that Friday in Sylvania Ohio (which is just outside of Toledo. For those of you keeping track Wisteria is south of Athens Ohio, which is at the other end of the state). So yeah, a little freak out was called for.

I gotta say though, if I had to find out this news anywhere, Wisteria is not a bad place to do so. I received a lot of support from my friends there (and a few acquaintances and strangers). I was given space when I needed it and company when I required it. Thanks to everyone who was there for me. I really mean that, ya'll make what happened a little easier to deal with.
On Thursday I pulled up camp and went back to Columbus, which is a 2 hr drive. I took the chance to shower and get clothes more suitable for a Christian church and drove the 2.5 hrs up to Sylvania to meet up with my family. The next day was the memorial, which was very nice. In the weeks leading up to my G-ma's death my mom and aunt took turns staying with her in the nursing home. To pass the time they wrote haikus to help express what they were seeing and feeling as the cancer took their mother away. Here's a few of them.

Liberated soul
United with the Great Source.
Eagle flaps her wings.

Earth tilts towards the Sun.
Liberated soul flies free.
Summer Solstice comes.

Life leaves us orphaned
if we stay disconnected.
Streams flow to the sea.

After the memorial, and a return trip to where my grandparents now rest, I returned home and slept.

There was some debate about me returning to Wisteria. There wasn't much I could do in Sylvania as my mom and her siblings worked out details of where to put my G-ma's stuff. I was tired at this point, because I had spent most of my time in 90+ degree heat with high humidity (this past week was a scorcher) and I was sporting a sweet trucker tan from all the driving. Plus there is no air conditioning in the van so once I am on the road I generally had been sweating like a horse. But I did go back, to process and to be among friends for the last night of the festival. Some of those folks I wouldn't see again for a long time, and besides, life is short, and my G-ma wouldn't want me to stop living mine for a second.

I got there in time to see this.

Yep! It's the Momentary Prophets! They had just started their set right as I rolled up to Caffinas. This song is the Fox Song, and they say this song wouldn't exist if not for me. Check out this previous blog post for the illustration that I did for them for fun that they turned in to a pretty groovy song. Thanks guys! It's like ice cream and a hug to me :) By the way, their new album Mandala is pretty rockin, you should buy it when it's available to be bought.

The night was spent at the drum circle, among friends. It kinda goes something like this:

So yeah. Eventful week, much of what I experienced will take time to process. I'm ok though, just tired. I took a lot of photos and videos for the event site, and most will be mixed and put on Wisteria's youtube channel. A few though I will put on mine, because I can, because I like them, so if you want go there and check it out. There's even one of me spinning fire for the Dragon Ritual Drummers. That was pretty cool I must say.

So, because she was completely awesome, here's a part of the obituary for my G-ma.
She had a biting wit, a great sense of humor, and she was pretty damn awesome I must say. She influenced me a lot, and I was lucky to have her.

Anne Retter Matthews, a member of the Greatest Generation, veteran of World War II, a retired registered nurse, a spirited intellectual, great wit and gifted seamstress, died peacefully on June 21, 2010 at the age of 88 in hospice care in Columbus, Ohio with her family at her side. She was born September 14, 1921 to Otto and Emily Retter, immigrants from Germany and Austria, in Buffalo, N.Y., the youngest of six children. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers and sisters, including Herman, Alfred, Otto, Herta and Ilse. After graduating from high school in 1939, Anne attended nursing school at Buffalo General Hospital where she became a registered nurse. In 1942 she joined the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. At Bowman Air Field in Kentucky she met the love of her life, Earl Rodney Matthews, Jr., whose task was to teach Army nurses how to swim. They married on September 25, 1944 at the Little Church Around the Corner in New York City. As an Army Air Corps nurse, she served at a base on Long Island where she cared for casualties from the European theatre and once met Eleanor Roosevelt. After the war, the Matthews lived in Columbus, Ohio. before moving to Toledo in 1948. In 1954, they moved to Sylvania, where they raised their six children and lived the rest of their lives.

She worked as an RN at Toledo Hospital and later was assistant director of nursing at Lake Park Hospital in Sylvania. Following the death of her beloved husband in 1984, Anne continued living independently at her home of 45 years in Sylvania until March 2010 when she was diagnosed with cancer. She was a member of the Sylvania United Church of Christ for 56 years, a member of the Ladies Literary Society, and the Book Club. She had a keen wit, loved classical music, and was an avid reader of histories, biographies and mysteries. Anne was a gifted quilter, seamstress and gardener and for many years contributed her work to the Sylvania UCC church bazaar. She is survived by her six children, numerous nieces and nephews, 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren

The family wishes to express its deep appreciation to HomeReach Hospice and Kobacker House of Columbus and the caregivers who assisted in the last weeks of her life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Anne Matthews’ name may be made to Hospice, the American Cancer Society or the United Church of Christ of Sylvania, Ohio.

2010-06-24T19:50:00.002-04:00

part II

Fear & Loathing in Columbus, Ohio

2010-06-21T15:49:00.004-04:00

I feel as if a legitimate introduction is inevitable. My name is Brandon. I live in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. I am 22 years old. I am gay. I post video-logs to my YouTube account:

Branflakes0909

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to express a tidbit of my creativity with the followers of this blog.

I was told that the Whetstone Diaries is under my control until the 27th. I was never really much of a blogger. As a sophomore in high school I took html and javascript classes and tried setting up my own website...which failed miserably

This is my account of the activities that took place in the Short North & Goodale Park during Pride Weekend in Columbus, Ohio

part I

My brother and I met up with our friends
Radu, Malin, and Trent

We hadn't even made it to the festival grounds and I was already somewhat inebriated at this point. I was under the assumption that things were supposed to happen like this. We made our way through the vendors and found ourselves near the alcohol tents. A friend gave me a drink ticket which was used to purchase one beer. After the walking/sitting/chilling/listening/looking, I had decided that I was hungry. Devon and I split up with our friends and headed back to the car to retrieve our lunch; which consisted of peanut butter & Black Raspberry jelly sandwiches and chips&salsa.

The next few hours were spent drinking rum and walking around the festival grounds to meet new people. When we felt like we had walked enough, we met up with some people at my friend, Roger's, place. After having a few more drinks, we headed over to Union to hang out with people on High Street. Devon and I were not willing to spend 10 dollars to see the Andrew Christian underwear show at Axis. As soon as the show was finished, a man approached my brother and I and offered us free entrances into Axis Nightclub. After gettin' down with some glowsticks we helped host an after hours party at Trent and Radu's apartment.

...to be continued.

Birds of C.A.W is up, and I'm out!

2010-06-17T23:19:00.003-04:00

Well, very nearly. I actually leave Saturday but I have so much to do I figured I better update now. The Birds of C.A.W. show is up and ready to rock this Saturday. Come on out, it's gonna be a rockin show! The thumbnail to the left is a clip of my print that's in the show, go there to see the whole thing.

Now, as I said before, I won't be able to be there because I had arranged a prior obligation that I said I'd help out with. I will be gone till Sunday the 27th. Everything is set, house sitter is housin, all ducks are in rows (for the most part), I just need to pack and get myself ready as with the past two shows I've had not much time to do these things. However I have been here before! It will be all good and fun will be had by all.

But! I will miss both Comfest and Columbus Gay Pride! I KNOW IT'S VERY UPSETTING!

Comfest actually I'm ok with not going to. The last few years it's just gotten too crazy with too many people, it's just not the same vibe, ah well. Now Pride on the other hand...

Now sometimes people ask me if I am a gay. My mom has asked me several times actually... probably because I'm single and have had gay-supportive bumper stickers on my car... and she's weird and seems to forget the dudes I have dated in the past. Yeah, I are a straight person. No, really. Totally like the dudes for dating. Yup. I do love me some homersexuals though, and I do loves me some Pride! I learned my first ballroom dance moves at my very first pride festival, and I've always had a rockin' time since. So yeah, bummer that I can't be there.

So I worked out an alternate solution that should entertain everyone.

My friend Brandon aka branflakes0909 on the youtubes will be my guest blogger for the week I am gone. He has promised to cover Pride for me, and in general be entertaining for ya'll while I am away. I dunno what he's gonna do, maybe something like this:
It should be entertaining. It better be or I will have to kick his ass!

So yeah, just about off...

Well we gotta sign off with some music!
Here's a clip from Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Origin of Love

Have a most festive Festivus Columbus, and Happy Solstice! See you soon.

Go West and Birds of C.A.W.

2010-06-13T11:05:00.007-04:00

Last night the Franklinton Arts District put on their Go West festival. Quick readers digest for you @ The Other Paper about the neighborhood here. Nikos Fyodor Rutkowski asked me to take part in the 'Horror Show' section of the block party, and so I did! That painting is below, titled 'Terrible Vision'. It's painted with acrylic with copper leafing and an iron oxide background, size is 16" x 20". Not the greatest photo, I need to retake it as the flash makes the background look more sparkly than it actually is.

Looks like everyone had a great time! My photos from what I had a chance to see are here. I got there kind of late as I had to work on stuff, more on that later... I also shot a short video, sorry about the blurriness, I need a better camera I think.

What I've been working on is the book for art show The Birds of C.A.W that Helma Groot and myself are curating, & I'm also getting the rest of the printing stuff ready to go. The opening will take place on Saturday, June 19th from 7 p.m. to midnight at CS Gallery, 66 Parsons Avenue Columbus, OH. The opening will feature live painting by Heather Alexander and a performance by Colleen Leonardi.

The artist participating in the show are:
Mabi Ponce de Leon
Terri Maloney Houston
Laine Bachman
Jamie Hesper
Megan Coyan
Melissa Vogley Woods
Angela Matteson
Kira Scott
Stephanie Rond
Judy Gerdeman
Patty DeMarias
Peggy Mintun
Lisa McLymont
Wendy Yeager
Barb Vogel
Kim Glover
Katie Niewierski
Brittany Leigh
Cyndi Bellerose McAfee
Colleen Leonardi
Yvette Vandervelde
Sara E. Adrian (of course!)
& Helma Groot

The amount of talented women here is just crazy! I've seen much of the work already and it's going to be a great show which will consist of smaller works of an avian theme. The book will be available at Wholly Craft in August, but will be available online sooner and I will of course let you know when that happens. The rub though is I won't be there for the opening as I have agreed to be in Wisteria. More about that later. I'll be leaving this Friday the 18th, & I intend to update then with an announcement of a special guest blogger that will update you during the week I am gone.

The last couple of weeks have been crazy busy, however the major sweatin' is over with (huzza). My G-ma is hanging in there...

So, I think you may need some music. Here is Culturcide with Fake Dancing

What's going on & what's coming next

2010-06-06T15:46:00.005-04:00

Heya folks. I know it's been what, a couple weeks since I posted (I try to get on this weekly at least). My thoughts and time have been occupied largely by my maternal Grandmother who is terminally ill with cancer. The extended family helped moved her to Columbus, and there has been many visits and questions and tears over the rapid decline we're witnessing. For me this is compounded with the two major deadlines that are coming up. I have to finish a piece for Go West which will be on June 12th, and various deadlines for the Birds of C.A.W. show that I'm co-curating with Helma Groot that will open on June 18. The stuff I have to do includes finishing my own piece, creating and publishing a book for the show which will be available through Lulu and Amazon, intake and hanging the show, and all of the other little bits and pieces that go along with that. With both there is not much time left, so I've been scrambling and not updating my various blogs like a good internet-whatever-artist should do.

So yeah, I'm fine really. Just a lot going on right now.

Barring any family business (which may definitely come up at this point) I still intend to be going to Wisteria's Summer Solstice Festival (Facebook event here). One of the things I haven't had a chance to update about was going down there for the work weekend. I was only there for Saturday-Sunday morning as my G-ma looked like she was going to pass so I went home early. Work weekends at Wisteria are, well, work... but a lot of fun also. A great way to connect with people, and the Memorial day weekend is a big work weekend with attendance rivaling a small festival. I spent the morning pulling weeds around the swimming pond and the afternoon painting a sign that explains the recycling procedures. That night was drumming around a bonfire and revelry. It's interesting to me how such simple things as lounging in the grass with the stars above you and friends laughing or drumming or just staring at the fire can create such feeling of community and family that no technology no matter how groovy just can't fulfill. After running home and making sure my G-ma was ok the next evening was spent with my extended family on my brother's back porch talking with relatives I had not seen in a long time. Although the circumstances are sad it was good seeing them again.

Here's something I rediscovered recently. This is Clannad, I will find you (Live)

Link-O-Rama

2010-05-23T22:55:00.005-04:00

This past week has partly been preoccupied by family business, and partly by other business who's business is not yours. So because I'm a little doped up on allergy meds and I don't feel like ranting much, it's time for another installment of LINK-O-RAMA

1st off, for my artist friends, check out The Madness of Art
"The Madness of Art is a humorous look at Chelsea’s dynamic art scene in New York City. The Madness of Art is created by Gallery Owner and Art Dealer, Jim Kempner, of Jim Kempner Fine Art, drawing from years of real life experiences in the art business. Episodes are humorous and surprisingly realistic.

Jim Kempner writes, directs and stars in The Madness of Art along with his often co-opted Gallery Director, Dru Arstark, numerous Assistants, Interns, Art Handlers, Dealers and Artists.

The Madness of Art has been constructed through years of videotaping situations featuring artists such as Robert Indiana, Tony Fitzpatrick, Charlie Hewitt, Bernard Venet, Yoko Ono, and Steve Giovinco, as well as clients and family.

It is a fun and refreshing view of art from the gallery perspective.

The Gallery itself, Jim Kempner Fine Art, is located at the epicenter of the New York Art scene at 10th Avenue and 23rd Street. Each episode features a range of contemporary art and artists work of photography, prints, drawings, sculpture and paintings.

Stay tuned! New episodes will be revealed weekly!"

and now, some video crap

and here is something different

Ephemerisle Documentary 2009b by Jason Sussberg from The Seasteading Institute on Vimeo. My mind isn't blown, but looks interesting... but it also kinda looks like an art-douch boat party. We shall see how that develops.

So next weekend I will be at Wisteria on a work weekend (down in southern Ohio near Athens), helping clear trails and getting ready for the festival season. In a little less than a month will be the Summer Solstice festival. Here is some info from the organizers:

Wisteria Community is so pleased to announce our expanded summer
season of events and camping. Starting from June 20 through July 12,
we have three continuous weeks of activity to keep your soul fed and
refreshed. Come to one week or come to all three:
First event of the season is Wisteria Summer Solstice Gathering (June
20-27). Wisteria Solstice is an immersive intensive with hundreds of
people living in cooperative eco-spiritual culture. You will never be
the same after you experience how good life can be when responsible,
freedom-loving people come together to create a musical, artistic
atmosphere of love and creativity. Hear daily concerts on three
stages with quality musical and performance acts, workshops, ceremony,
speakers and much more. Check our Solstice pages (
http://www.wisteria.org/wisteria-summer-solstice.htm) for a growing
list of activities as we build the magical village for this turning
point of the year. Preregistration is required for Solstice, no at-
gate registrations accepted or discounts for partial attendance.

We’re becoming known for our “Temple to the Arts,” our outdoor
amphitheatre and stage with a booming pro-level sound system that
rocks the hills. Come bathe in the bliss. Enjoy the wonders of nature
in the company of like-minded others and other soul-satisfying
activities. In addition to hot showers, we have a cafeteria-style
restaurant with delicious and healthy food prepared fresh. For cold
ones on hot days, visit the Green Man Tavern.

What a year it’s shaping up to be here in the rolling hills of
southern Ohio. If you’ve never been to a magical festival before and
you are an Earth-loving person who believes in creating a better world
in a celebratory way, trust in your guidance and come join your long-
lost family. You don’t need to know someone to be comfortable here –
people are friendly and you can fit right in.

If you are a veteran of this good way of life, we’ll welcome you, your
families and encampment of friends with open hearts and open minds.
We’re getting geared up and excited and looking forward to a beautiful
year. We’ll be waiting for you to come to your summer home here in
the singing green hills. –Wisteria Community

So yeah! For more info about this and the other events at Wisteria check them out at http://wisteria.org

For music, we have the Gotan Project, Epoca

Slipping time

2010-05-14T18:04:00.004-04:00

Well, interesting week. It started off with a meeting at Urban Spirit Coffee House to discuss the Columbus International Film+ Video Festival. I'm one of the judges this year for the 'The Arts' category. I'll say more about this when the actual festival happens later this year (August). But yeah! Should be fun!

I got to test out the film as you can see on the left (that's my nephew, who is in fact, awesome). Definitely glitchy, but fun to work with. I kept having a problem with spots appearing on the film which I removed with photoshop. I can see some applications for this, next time I go to one of my events I'll bring some along.

... and the rest is just details.

So anyway, here's a fun bit I stumbled upon.
Check out LaLa Ladyfag & her impeccable fashion sense!

LADYFAG in ANASTASIA & SNEGUROCHKA from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.

Polaroid test

2010-05-08T10:30:00.003-04:00

So here's more of a footnote.
A friend of mine was getting rid of a bunch of stuff that his parents had lying around, and one of them was a (you guessed it) Polaroid camera, specifically a Polaroid One Step Express Instant 600 Camera in hunter green. So I snagged it. Odds would have it that I heard on NPR a few months ago a bit about the Impossible Project, and it sounded interesting.

The film is now available, and so I bought some. The image on the left is me testing it out. Yeah I know it's not that great... I know now not to get so close. By the way it's a small statue I made in college hanging on the wall that was brazed, mostly composed of iron nails. I like the colors, it's black and white film, the copper tint means the film has been a little warmer than it should be, and it's been hot lately so... that's ok. I think I can do interesting stuff with it. I like photography as a hobby, it's not something I indulge in enough of.

Tonight is a friend's birthday party. I'll bring the camera, and we shall see what happens! Should be interesting.

below is Devendra Banhart, Carmensita. Funnest thing I've seen all morning.

Randomness!

2010-05-07T10:26:00.007-04:00

So, I'm really tired today. For the last five days I have not been sleeping well because of a combination of allergies and anxiety dreams. After talking to a friend online and just saying whatever was coursing through my head... I thought to myself 'self, this should be shared with the world!'. So yeah, don't take anything in this post seriously, or personally, because it isn't. Today I am stupid, and terribly random.

BTW this isn't properly edited either, so most of this will be straight crap.

***

When I die, render my fat into candles and burn them in the memory of some forgotten saint.

For some reason your mother is a bitch slap of a whore.

I cover myself with meat and spit rabbits. Your tree limbs have nothing, and you can't hold me with your roots. It's like you've forgotten everything, you wear no clothes and stand in the street waiting for someone to love you. Unbound, arms wide and the wind whipping, you welcome the sun in the early morning. The air is moist and cool against your body. You may feel like singing, and you do as if there is no one to hear. If you could take flight, you would. But grounded against the pavement it's all you can do to start running into the wide open street. Traffic could come at any moment. You could die, you could be discovered with all your faults and people will expect you to be shamed. Crawl into a hole, die with the guilt of being open. But don't you dare give in to them. You run. You fly. You take everything that you can and give more. You can do this. I know you have in in you. Fear is nothing but the small voices holding you back, bringing you down, making you regret you're not the person you want to be, that you wish you were. Your depression, your loss, your sorrow, is really anger at allowing all the small voices within and without to stop you from running.
So defy them. Stand naked in the street, unbound.

Man I could use a Reuben.

I keep thinking it's later than it is. Ham is falling all over me, my horns are covered in pig.

So um... hey, I saw you over there and I thought you were rather attractive. Would you like to go back to my apartment and I'll show you my etchings?

I want a skirt made of earthworms, living worms... but sitting would be a problem.

I'm not as vulgar as you think you are.

***

Ok that's enough. You have a good Friday. Oh btw the image below is a digital print titled 'Welder' a kind of modern take off of the Goddess Brigit. Have a good weekend!

Mayday!

2010-05-01T13:30:00.012-04:00

Hey Folks! Just have some quick announcements. The Pagan Newswire Collective has launched two group blogs, one for the military called Warriors & Kin, and the other for art and culture called The Juggler. I'll be contributing to the second, making observations about the arts as related to Paganism. So yeah if such topics interest you go check that out! Here of course it'll be more about me... because it's my personal blog and that's how I roll.

So yeah, today is Beltaine. Even if you don't count this as a holiday, I'd suggest getting out for a walk in the woods. Here in Ohio especially things are really starting to come in. I'll be planting herbs as soon as the danger of frost is over with. One of the things I try to do if I'm able is go take photos, and here's a few that I took down at Hi ghbanks. Right away when I got to the Olentangy River (Ol-en-tan-gy, not Old-en-tang-y) I heard splashing, and I think I came across some type of fish spawning. There were quite a few of them, swimming in pairs and splashing, & I got a few photos of the ones closest to me. I thought they may have been catfish but they don't compare to the photos I pulled up online. I'd say they were on average 12 inches, give or take a few. If you know what kind they are let me know.

So yeah! I hope your day is most festive :)

Ready to Fire!

2010-04-29T10:54:00.005-04:00

Hey folks! So about that Faith & the Muse show... Damn it was the business! My friend Casey & I drove up from Columbus to Lakewood Ohio (just outside of Cleveland) to the Phantasy Nightclub. The place is a complete and total dive, but the kind of dive you want to visit. The space looks like it was once a seafood restaurant or something, because it has a halved sailboat inside (called the Bounty), and other weird architecture (like a random streetlight, the kind that overlooks the highway in the middle of the ceiling). It's great though. I had been in this space something like 14 years ago or so and completely forgot it's location, so stumbling upon that space again unexpectedly was a trip!

Anyway, before we got there U.T.O. and Ludwyg had already performed so I can't say much about them. We caught the tail end Queue Up, they seemed pretty cool, I'd like to catch them again.

So on to the main act. Faith & the Muse is made up of William Faith and Monica Richards. Joining them was Paul Mercer on violin, Julia Cooke on taiko and percussion, Marzia Rangel on cello & percussion (Christ vs. Warhol/The Deadfly Ensemble, ex-Scarlet's Remains), Steven James on guitar/viola/percussion (Christ vs. Warhol/The Deadfly Ensemble, ex-All Gone Dead and Scarlet's Remains), and Aradia and Lucretia*Renee of the dance troupe Serpentine also on backing vocals (and featured in the photo on the left, sorry about the quality but that's what you get with a cell phone). The whole performance was extremely theatrical, it's one of those 'you had to be there' type situations. The crazy part, the whole show was six bucks(!?), that's just crazy talk! Anyway Faith & the Muse tour is on a pretty aggressive schedule, they had been performing every night for the past 16 when they got to Cleveland. So yeah if you can check them out live, and if not just check out some of their music. Below is their video promo for their tour. I tried to shoot some with my camera but I haven't figured out how to get it off the chip yet, if I can do that I'll of course post it. If you want more check out this interview by Bryan Reesman.

So yeah! In other news the Pagan Newswire Collective blog is about ready to launch. There are 8 other bloggers including myself, and everything seems to be running on schedule! I'll post an announcement in a few days when the official launch happens, expect something by Sunday at the latest. This is gonna be groovy, I don't think there's anything else like it out there.

Also, in Second Life it looks like I'm going to be having a show in May. Also I'm almost done setting up my own gallery in The Wastelands, and I'll be able to host small performances as well. I'll post the slurl for those locations and dates once I have them.

Plus I'm going to be taking part in the Fires of Aisling Pagan Arts and Music Fest down in Reynoldsburg Ohio on May 16. Myself and a few other folks will have some art up, and it looks like there will be all kinds of festivus going on. It's free so come on down if you're arse'd. I know at the bottom it says it's by invite only... but hell if you're one of the two or three people who read this blog, you are my guest, I invite you (friend me on facebook and ask for an invite if you're inclined). So come, bring drums if you're the drumming type and let us kick this metaphorical pig!

So yeah, it's all good in the neighborhood. See you later!

getting out more

2010-04-22T13:28:00.005-04:00

1St off. Happy Earth Day. The image above is something I made last year after seeing a tree who had all it's limbs cut off regrow just like this... and no I didn't intend for it to look phallic but if you want to take it that way I'm completely fine with it (and mildly amused).

Last Tuesday some friends and I caught the Gypsy Nomads show at the Shrunken Head (formerly Victoria's Midnight Cafe). Regarding the band, they consist of two folks from New York, a lad and lass called Frenchie and the Punk. They say of themselves that they are a "Gypsy Celtic Cabaret w/ tribal and punk elements and an undercurrent of the mystickal", & they're currently touring about the country (with a pretty rigorous schedule I might add). They have a kinda tribal French/Spanish vibe, with a sly sense of humor & a rambling bohemian varnish. They put on a great show, along with the other tye-dyed 80's-ish hippie band that opened for them (sorry didn't catch the name, I believe they're local to Columbus). I'd say the Gypsy Nomads are one of those groups that are best seen in person. We all had a great time, and I'd see them again for sure.

and a footnote about the Shrunken Head. I was a fan of Victoria's, it's the 1st place I showed my work after I got out of college & I spent more than a few evenings/mornings there. I know the owner had to move on, and everything changes but still I was kinda bummed to see Vic's go. Under it's new persona as the Shrunken head... well I gotta say the food was good (I had the Reuben), and they kept much of the decor (so far) while adding some tiki-god elements. It's still a bit of a hole, but I like holes and this one still has character. Columbus needs more holes I think, so yeah we shall see how that place develops.

MAN, I don't know if it's the spring or what, but I really want to go out and dance or otherwise cause mischief. Later folks!

Research Mode...

2010-04-17T13:35:00.011-04:00

I'm always looking for stuff, and here's what I'm looking at lately.

Check out this photographer Courtney Brooke. I like all the arts, but it takes a groovy vibe-thing to make me pay attention to photography. Her work has this otherworld 70's but contemporary aura and color, & she does a nice job of framing up her images. Courtney has a flickr account that looks like it's updated regularly, and a blog that is not, but it's worth checking out. I found an interview here at Revel in New York, so yeah if you wanna peer into these depths it's worth a read.

Another interested and related footnote are these 'inspiration blogs' that I keep stumbling across. Courtney Brooke has this one. Witch Mountain is kinda interesting, so is Sun in Scorpio. There seems to be a ton of these. If you know of one you really like post it in the comments so we all can have a look-see. My only complaint is that some of these don't reference what the image is or where it came from. If I find one that has lotsa great stuff I'll post it.

Here's something completely off topic. I've been looking at getting a corset and I found these folks at Absolute Corsets. I totally know where my tax refund is going this year. Plus size clothing that doesn't look like a bag and is made out of decent materials can be hard to find. Almost makes me want to take up sowing... almost (maybe someday when I have time). I don't classify myself as 'goth', but I like vintage style clothing, and if I had the cash I'd dress in a strange combo of contemporary and WTF and vintage on a daily basis. So I found this link here that has some promising stuff. Some of the links are broken, and some are more for ren-fair folk or people who do reenactments, which I don't. If you like the same kinda stuff, maybe that will interest you.

Anyway. I loves me some Thelonious Monk, here's Epistrophy.

Bus Driving

2010-04-15T09:24:00.007-04:00

Hey folks. I'm a little late than what I'd normally prefer insofar as updating goes. So let me tell you what's going on and what I've been up to. So far there are 2 shows that I'm invovled in the planning of. One is for the Fort Hayes Alumni Art exhibition, which will happen at the Fort Hayes Shot Tower (if you haven't been, it's a beautiful & very large space). It's open to everyone who has graduated, whether it be from the high school or from any of the vocational programs. There is a Facebook page here if you want to join, and soon there will be a blog that will post the call for entries. I'll also post a link to that here as well. We got the judges and the dates set up, and so yeah, everything is moving along with that. Another project that is getting off the ground is I will be co-curating a show with Helma Groot in conjunction with the Creative Arts of Women (CAW, website coming soon). The interesting footnote with that is I'll also be producing a book that features the artists that are taking part in the show, & it will be available for purchase online. We have the space and are decinding on dates, so more info as it comes. There's a few other things, soon this won't be the only place I'm blogging. In May the Pagan Newswire Collective will be launching an arts & culture blog, & I'm going to be covering the arts. There I'll be looking at and promoting art with pagan themes and professional pagan artists. So yeah, should be groovy. I'll post a link when it goes live.

Of course it hasn't been all work and no play. I checked out the new Outland on Liberty (a goth/industrial/whatever bar n' dance club located in the Brewery District in Columbus Ohio), & I had a really good time. It still has that anything goes vibe which I miss in the other clubs around town. You can still wear whatever you want, jeans and a tee to high plastic fashion of rubber & saran wrap are welcome. Goth/Industrial isn't my usual fare of music (I actually love jazz and folk) but the music was jumpin' and good to dance to, plus now they are having bands and performers which is nice. If you like a taste of the weird and the festive I'd suggest you give it a try.

That's it for now! For music I'm going to show you something that will be a part of a suicide mission for me next week. Faith and the Muse is playing in Cleveland on Tues the 27th. A friend and I are driving up after work to see the show, and then driving back so we can work the next day. We figure we should come back at around 4 am or so, heh! This is something I used to do all the time... 15 years ago. But hey you only live once right? Besides, I've heard they put on a great show.

Show tonight at Bristol with 83 Gallery

2010-04-09T06:47:00.004-04:00

(left is a detail of one of the prints I'm showing tonight)
Hey folks, just a quick update.

Tonight (Friday, April 9) I'm taking part in a show, & here's the PR on that:

Join 83 Gallery, The Anti83 and The Opulent Bohemia at Bristol Bar this Friday, April 9th, for our fourth exclusive art opening. Hors d'oeuvres will provided by Lindy's at 7pm, with an optional 83 cent cover before 10pm. If you've been there before, you know the drill, if not, come check out one of the best events in Columbus. Fifteen new and resident artists will be featured this month. As usual, expect plenty of beautiful people, killer sounds and unique cocktails on the corner of 5th and Summit. 83 Gallery is an independent gallery house showcasing and entertaining local artists. For more info, visit 83gallery.com

The address is:
132 E. 5th Ave Columbus, Ohio (on the corner of 5th and Summit Ave.)

See you there!

Here is Faithless, We come one

Spring Breakin'

2010-04-02T18:48:00.005-04:00

Today is just stupid nice, so I'm going to step out for a bit, but I wanted to show you the portfolio website of Nicomi 'Nix' Turner. From her website:

Alchemy and Nature are the base studies and themes in Nicomi 'Nix' Turner's pieces.

Her Southern Oregon upbringing and an early interest in alchemy, kindled an infatuation with the study of plants, animals, their symbology and properties.

Using this knowledge, the pieces created often reflect subject matters pertaining to Religion (specifically Paganism and counter-religious belief), Nature's Legacy, Alchemy, Fables and Anatomical Deconstructionism.

Seriously banging stuff. She has a great quality of line in her renderings (meaning her drawing is the shit), I especially liked her Maidens & Crones series. She also sells her drawings as well as other work on Etsy, which is where I found her. So yeah, check her out!

Before I scoot into this most fantastic of spring evenings, here's Bonobo, Eyesdown feat. Andreya Triana

Art, it isn't just for douchebags!

2010-03-28T13:44:00.008-04:00

(left is a detail of a print in progress)

I was talking to this guy the other day who had seen my profile on some website. He says "So you're an artist eh?" I says "Yup." He then tells me he kinda likes Picasso but not much else.

That's pretty typical, most people these days couldn't tell you the name of a living visual artist to save their lives, but they can go on and on about their favorite bands and TV stars. My guess is the average person doesn't see visual art as holding anything of value for them. It's for the educated and the upper class understand criticize and purchase, and it's for emo trust-fund hipsters, or for reclusive/irresponsible/egotist crazy types to make. Neither is true, but it's a heluva stigma to overcome. There are people out there that are doing amazing work, and much of it is actually quite affordable. The visual arts are an essential part for enriching your life, and right now most of the visual stimuli we get each day are commercials & advertisements. The average American is exposed to about 3000 advertising messages each day. Even if you don't really look at them, everything you see gets absorbed and affects you subconsciously, so that game you just watched that kept showing ads for that candy bar in the background will make it much more likely that you may buy that candy bar when you're at the store, vs if you had not seen that ad in the first place. So my question is, what kind of images do you want to fill your life with? If you have kids, do you just want them to see ads only as art? Because it kind of is, I'm not saying advertising is bad... but it's like with food, or what you wear, or the friends you have. What you allow into your life will affect the quality of your life. If your walls are bare in your home (and I have a few friends that just never hang art in their house), how does that make you feel when you come home? Do you feel differently when you go to someone's home that has a lot of great stuff up on their walls?

Just something to think about.

In order to react against all that, I'm going to start to feature artists that I find that I feel are super-sweet. So stay tuned! KAJTKYBSAH5S

So here's a few things that are kinda interesting. Here is a short film with Milton Glaser talking and sketching.

MILTON GLASER DRAWS & LECTURES from C. Coy on Vimeo.

This time around for music we have Frontier Psychiatrist by The Avalanches.

Have a good week!

Beautiful

2010-03-21T13:57:00.007-04:00

(on the right, just a sketch...)
Yesterday was the Vernal Equinox here in the northern hemisphere. I hope your Ostara/1st Day of Spring was most festive (and if you're in the southern hemisphere that your Mabon/1st Day of Fall was groovy as well). I didn't do too much, just went out to Newark Ohio to meet up with people I don't get to see much, and meet some new folks. Goodtimes.

So anyway, here's something interesting. I found via Nerdcore a link to the film Beautiful Losers
About the film:
BEAUTIFUL LOSERS celebrates the spirit behind one of the most influential cultural moments of a generation

In the early 1990's a loose-knit group of likeminded outsiders found common ground at a little NYC storefront gallery. Rooted in the DIY (do-it-yourself) subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop & graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led. Developing their craft with almost no influence from the "establishment" art world, this group, and the subcultures they sprang from, have now become a movement that has been transforming pop culture.

Starring a selection of artists who are considered leaders within this culture, Beautiful Losers focuses on the telling of personal stories. It speaks to themes of what happens when the outside becomes "in" as it explores the creative ethos connecting these artists and today's youth.

I really liked it. The trailer is below, and if you want you can watch the complete film (broken down into several parts via Youtube) you can do that here.

For music... well we have to have something a little seasonal, so here's Green Man by XTC

Print in process, done.

2010-03-14T15:57:00.006-04:00

Hey remember that working sample I showed you a last week? Well here's the final:
(click for larger image)When printed this will be 11 x 14 inches, and a limited edition of... well I haven't decided yet (probably 10). These will of course be signed and numbered, and my name won't appear in the upper right hand as it does on this image, that's just for web publishing. By the way, the text and symbols at the bottom are not random, but if you want to know what they are... maybe look them up eh? I'll give you a hint, the language is Gaelic.

Below are the images in process:
so yeah, there you are!

Time for Frank Zappa

nothing important

2010-03-13T10:03:00.003-05:00

KAJTKYBSAH5S
you can ignore that, it's just a code for verification

Someone stole my sketchbook out of my car. What the hell!? Also there's some personal stuff going on so I don't have much to report this week.

so, you get this instead:

Link -O- Rama

2010-03-09T05:59:00.003-05:00

New Zealand woman sells souls to highest bidder
well... yeah!

from here

waste your time with Browser Pong

and then... here's an animation short

Descendants from Goro Fujita on Vimeo. from here

Environmentals

2010-03-07T09:35:00.004-05:00

Well looks like the weather FINALLY BROKE here in Ohio. Weather is heating up (if you can call 40's-50's °F heat... well it's not freezing so whatever!), and the Spring Equinox is coming up in a couple weeks (March 20th this year. Because it's a solar holiday it's subject to change). I'm going to some kind of bacchanalian (2) festivus that day, and maybe I'll tell you about it... and may be I won't (if I don't it's because it was just SO CRAZY I didn't want disclose details in public). Anyway, good day to get stuff ready for planting, and starting new things, and eating chocolate bunnies. I'm starting to practice spinning poi again. I'm ok... not great. I don't perform or anything, but it's something I like to do. Here is a video of me from last year at a Wisteria if you're curious. Ah... keeps me off the streets.

So here are some interesting footnotes.

My friend Eddie showed me this link about this low impact home built in Wales. Built by the people who now live there, with only a chainsaw, hammer, 1 inch chisel, and minimal experience on another project. Most of the timber was found local. The walls are straw bales covered in lime stucco, this is a technique that was developed out in the American West in the 1800 where wood is not easy to come by. Total cost is £3000 (around $4,500 US), and nearly if not completely self sustaining. Check out the guy's website, he also has links to other orgs that build similar structures. Nice that someone is demonstrating that living with a low carbon footprint doesn't have to cost a lot.

Also, if you're into scuba diving, check out this underwater river in Mexico. Great photos!

Anyway, here's something different for you. Song is Maggot Brain by Funkadelic

I'm riding a meme!

2010-03-05T23:26:00.010-05:00

So I happened to be online when the Conan O'Brien / Sarah Killen thing blew up. Basically what happened is that Conan decided that Sarah was going to be his only follower.

She went from 12 followers to over 4000 in an hour.

I was amused, and I had some time to kill, so I banged out the illustration you see here.

If you want, printable version here, and yes I sent her a URL to it of course.

Update: Sarah is taking part in Susan G Komen Race for the cure, give her a donation whydon'tcha!

To follow her, go to http://twitter.com/LovelyButton

To follow Conan O'Brien go to http://twitter.com/ConanOBrien

and, if you want to follow me, I'm at http://twitter.com/saraadrian
But really, all I post are blog updates... most of the time.

If you want to continue to follow this, visit the Official Sarah Killen Fan Page (btw, I didn't start it). Oh, and yay she likes the poster!

So there's your randomness for the day. By the way, yes I am with Coco

For music, here are the Momentary Prophets again, trying to get on to Late Night with Conan O'Brien (trying to keep a theme here). I think it's funny...

Print in process...

2010-03-05T06:13:00.007-05:00

To the left is a detail of a print I am working on. What you're looking at is a vector image. So far I've completed several drawings that will be combined to create the final print, and scanned them in to the computer. Then I use photoshop to clean up and define the line to my satisfaction. I transfer the image over to illustrator and convert it to vector where I'll make changes. Doing this gives me greater control over the quality of line and allowing me to adjust the image to it's final size. In the sample on the left I am smoothing out the inside of the shape, the outside I am leaving rough. When this process is completed for all the images I've drawn I'll bring them back into photoshop, where I will add color, and in this case I'll be including 'scrapbook' images of scanned textures, (leaves). When the final image is complete, I'll send the file off to be printed using the Giclée process. When the prints come back they are ready to be signed, and I may frame one or two, and then they will be ready for show or for sale. Right now I'm only doing small run limited editions. Once the file is printed that image is not reproduced again except for promotional stuff.

So yeah, that's what I'm working on right now.

While I find that video amusing, it's giving me an internal dialog about ecstatic dance, and how so many cultures have incorporated it into their spiritual tradition. These folks probably believe the Christian Holy Spirit has come upon them, but I see not much difference between this and other forms of divine possession. As an experience it's not something we westerners understand or encourage, but regardless of whether you believe that they are having a true spiritual experience or using it just as a reason to freak out... it has a benefit to the psyche. People feel... something, better maybe, feel like they've touched or been touched by the divine. Just something that's rolling around in my head this morning.

I think people are hungry for authentic experiences.

the Prophets

2010-02-28T12:53:00.004-05:00

This is just a bit of a footnote really.

Last year I got to meet the boys from the Momentary Prophets, Jake, Logan, and Ted. Good guys, fun guys, who have spent much of last summer and fall touring around the east coast, & now they're at it again.

That illustration on the left is something I did for them, & I believe they will be making tee shirts out of it soon. Also, if you buy their new album, check out 'The Fox Song'. Are these things related? Hell yeah they are!

So if you want to know more, or hear more, you can find them on:

Facebook
Myspace
Sonic Bids
and Reverb Nation

So yeah, they're off touring again. I know they'll be wandering all over the place so check their various media outlets for info. I'll be seeing them at Wisteria's Summer Solstice festival, along with other really great bands.

Below is a sample of one of their live performances, n' there you are!

Link -O- Rama II

2010-02-25T21:54:00.005-05:00

Well I haven't done one of these in a minute. (by the way, the drawing is just something random from my sketchbook.)

So here's a groovy thing I found via NPR
Now, you may know I like Celtic folklore. Via this article I found out about the animated film 'The Secret of the Kells'. I'm a sucker for good animation, and I snagged a view of the film online (low quality though). It's pretty good. Well worth the Oscar nomination.

So yeah, if you want to follow this film here's a blog for it.

A few weeks ago I mentioned the movie Wizards, & how the artwork was inspired by Vaughn Bodé. Well I just stumbled upon a comic that Vaughn started that has been completed by his son Mark Bodé, called the Lizard of Oz . It's kinda crude like R. Crumb in content (but I think Crumb's artwork is better), but with more sluts. So yeah, if you like that kind of stuff, you can buy it or read it here. So yeah, there you are. Found via Nerdcore.

So anyway, I'm feelin' mellow, so you're getting Ben Harper, Beloved One

digital play

2010-02-22T22:43:00.006-05:00

I'm been experimenting. These are all hand drawn images that have been scanned, turned into a vector image, then brought into photoshop for color. The advantage is I have control over line and color, I can make it much larger than the original drawing (for larger prints). I do try to maintain a somewhat organic feel, meaning I don't want people to point and go ooo digitial image, although I'm sure the trained eye can probably tell.

Nude sketch, with 'ink wash', just for fun.

Portrait. It's not really of anybody, I was just messing around & wanted to see if I could make a satisfactory 'inked' look.

Hare (for the Spring Equinox/Easter)... perhaps a little to 'rough'.

This one has the most thought. The text in the background are names of craters on the moon, who are also famous scientists, mathmaticians, philosophers, etc. The number, is how long it takes for the moon to orbit the earth (aprox 27 days, give or take a few hours/minutes). The crescent moon is indicitave of the theme of the image, and also symbolizes the maiden Goddess (waxing or growing larger for maiden, full for mother, waning or growing smaller for crone). Third eye for wisdom & psychic vision, & the poem underneath is for Inanna, and mentions her story about her descent to the underworld.

So yeah.

I can't get this song out of my head

so now it's in yours, enjoy! Via Dangerous Minds

Printing stuff

2010-02-20T16:42:00.005-05:00

I was recently talking to a friend about where to get stuff printed. Here is a list of places I go to and what I use.

If you're looking for the best deals, go online. Printing is extremely competitive, and they're always trying to outbid each other. If you want to use a local printer, go online and get a quote and see if the local folks will beat it. Only use a copy shop (Staples, Kinkos, etc) if you are doing low volume printing (a small run less than what a regular printer will do. Like less than 250 business cards say). It doesn't matter which one you go to, they all use the same machines so the quality will be more or less the same. Always get a proof before they print your job, especially if color is important. And footnote, nothing you will have produced at a copy shop is archival; meaning the colors will fade and/or eventually it will look like crap. The paper itself may even disintegrate if it's not acid free. Keep that in mind if you're looking to have artwork printed or reproduced.

Ok! So one of the art forms I like to have produced for me is Giclée prints. I will create digital files (I'll do a blog post about how I produce them later, but essentially I draw something out and modify it in various ways. It's faster than painting, and I like the control and graphic quality when it's all done). I currently use http://www.giclee-factory.com, their prices are really good, there's no minimum quantity, and I've liked working with them so far. The only down side for me is that they're in Canada, I'd rather use someone closer but I haven't yet found a company that works for me yet.

For other types of printing, like business cards, stickers, banners, etc. shop around! Some companies may provide all those services, but they may specialize in one more than the other. So their business card prices may be great but their vinyl stickers may be more expensive than elsewhere. Here's a small list of places that I've found that have good prices, and I've liked the samples they sent me (ask them and most places will send you samples to review).

http://www.uprinting.com General printing
http://jimmybuttons.com/ Buttons
http://stickerobot.com/ Vinyl stickers

This list isn't conclusive, and not necessarily the best of what's out there. This is just what I have saved since the last time I've done a search. If you find something better, leave a comment or send me an email with what you've found. I'm always looking for better places to have stuff made.

I broke the internet

2010-02-16T10:01:00.004-05:00

So I updated my website, and consolidated the various stores online that I have my stuff in, such as my Etsy store which houses anything I make or craft by hand, like paintings, prints, etc. By the way, I know I can sell paintings through my website but I don't want to have to manage several stores that house the same stuff. There's another store I have at Greeting Card Universe where people can buy individual cards and have them sent to them (there are wholesale options too for shops). Then there's the Skreened shop I have, which has items like American Apparel shirts and tote bags with my stuff on them. They're local to Columbus Ohio, and they're good people. Finally there's the zazzle shop I mentioned in the last post, which has some shirts also, but also has other goods like mugs, hats, buttons, etc. Once I have the book published there will be another URL that I'll add to the 'store' section on my website.

So I set all that up, as well as add links and just cleaned things up... I do all that, and then I decided to try something and messed around with my domain name info and I screwed something up and now my website is down. I'm currently away from home so I won't be able to fix it until tonight. Kinda frustrating. I create and manage everything at http://saraadrian.com/, I don't like to have to wait for someone else to do things for me and it's a heck of a lot cheaper this way. But sometimes, I have an oops... but usually it's not this bad. My website is pretty simple, but I think it works... well it does most of the time.

Anyway, that's what is going on. This is what I get for trying to be clever!

UPDATE: Website is back up. I'm working on my bio and statement as well, so if you're interested in such things check back soon. As far as the art updates go, I'm going to do a major one when the book is finished. I want to do a major -reveal' when it's all done.

Have a good one!

Stuff on sale!

2010-02-14T01:48:00.003-05:00

I'm having a little Ebay sale (go here to see). I'm really marking stuff down so you should have a go look-see. The auctions are about to end soon, so yeah. Go look, right now!

and... I was messing around with some old images, and updated the Zazzle store I forgot I had.

Look for a personalized gift at Zazzle.

So yeah, check it out if you're looking for stuff.

... anyway. I'll do a more detailed update in a few days.
Until then:

Truckin'

2010-02-06T16:59:00.003-05:00

Hey folks. Been under the weather for a day or so. But things are coming along (as things often do). The book is beginning to take real form, so that's something (sample on the right... I was going to add color, but maybe not). Coming up, if you're anywhere near Roanoke Virgina from the 11th thru the 16th, stop by the Marginal Arts Festival. I'd be there, but due to other obligations I have to miss it this year. However I've been getting lots of updates on what will be happening and it looks like fun. I look forward to seeing the video. Next, if you are or know someone who is an alumni of Fort Hayes here in Columbus Ohio, some of us are putting together an Alumni Arts Show in November-December. This will be a juried competition, and anyone from any of the departments can apply, including the general high school. We're putting together the call for entries now, so if you want to recieve that just email me or join us at our Facebook page to receive updates.

Well, it's been a minute since I posted a video.
So enjoy Lhasa de Sela, from her self titled album, Rising

WIZARDS!

2010-01-22T22:51:00.004-05:00

I love 70's animation. Via Dangerous Minds I rediscovered the flick Wizards which I haven't seen since my early 20's. The artwork reminds me of Cobalt 60, which was a comic I used to read over and over when I was 16. I loved the artwork, and I just found out that Cobalt 60 is going to be released as a movie in 2011, hopefully they won't fuck it up (it's live action... that kinda bums me out). Anyway, if you like this kind of work, check out the art of Vaughn Bodé. Ralph Bakshi, the dude who is responsible for Wizards was influenced by Bodé, so that all makes sense.

So huzza, the movie is online! If you have some time check it out.

II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII

Quick update: Pita Carrasco & goings on back out West

2010-01-18T21:08:00.010-05:00

Some of you may recall that I spent some time in Manitou Springs Colorado. One of the more entertaining folks out there that I met was Pita Carrasco, a self taught artist. Her work is inspired by her Hispanic heritage, her religion (Catholic), reactions to her experiences, and her environment. Visit her studio page at Cottonwood Center for the Arts for a full biography.

I was talking to her earlier, and she wants me to post a painting she has completed for the a show at the Business of Art Center, I believe it will hang in the Atrium Gallery for the next month (ask the info desk if you're in the area and want to check it out). The show theme is 'taboo topics'. She just dropped it off so I imagine it will be up next week.

This work also has an audio feature, there is a heart-button that you press that plays part of the song 'Why can't we be friends?' It's 11" x 14", Acrylic on Canvas... and I'm sorry I don't know the title of it.

Her studio

Pita Carrasco at work

So yeah, if you're in the area, go check out the show, visit Cottonwood in Colorado Springs, & visit the Fine Arts Center, she told me that they've asked her to donate a painting she has done of Frida Kahlo. Good stuff over there.

N' there you are!

Down with Disease!

2010-01-17T09:48:00.003-05:00

Yeah, nothing terrible, just a bug that set me down for a few days.

So, since I've been stuck here, I've been reading (or in this case, re-reading) books, getting caught up on articles I've been meaning to check out, and looking up stuff online.

And as always, I pass the caramel goodness on to you!

First off, if you have time for a short story...

I found this through Double Edge Films, which I found after watching the movie Ink which I found randomly because I was looking for something to watch. Ink is an independent film released late in 2009. Really good story, especially when most movies these days are either rips off of franchises or just reconstituting another movie in a new format. Ink is on Netflix and iTunes & if you don't mind commercials, you can watch Ink for free on Hulu.

Then there's this by Ryan McGinley

via Dangerous Minds

& for the locals, the downtown Wonderbread factory that was closed down is about to be converted into office, art studio, performance, and retail space called Wonderland. More info at the Columbus Underground. There's a meeting January 29th at Junctionview Studios. I hope this takes off, this will be very interesting indeed!

& for music, here is Tabla Beat Science

Have a good week!

just a dream.

2010-01-08T21:56:00.003-05:00

I had this dream a while back. I wish I could build it, this thing I saw.

Imagine, you're walking in the woods in early spring, when the ground is starting to flower but before the leaves start to cover the canopy above you. This place is dotted with small clearings, the grass hasn't returned yet so the fields are covered with stale yellow. You come to one of these spaces, and you find yourself at the back of a building. It's clearly been there for a long time and it shows signs of wear and disuse. Vines that haven't begun to leaf climb it. There is no windows and no door. The top curves in a dome.

You make your way to the front of the building, the sides as you walk past them are narrower than the back, and you soon find yourself in a wide field, and that the building is actually a theater. The front is decorated in decaying carved wood and peeled paint. It looks Edwardian in style, and on each side of the stage there are steps that lead up to it. In the center of the stage there is a statue. It's about 7-8 feet high, made of wood that was once painted white but it's now flaking away, and this too is laced with vines, but you can make out the details clearly. It's of a woman seated, the style is almost Greek but there is a wildness to it. By wild I don't mean untamed, but wild in the sense that animals are wild, they have an assured sense of place, they have everything they will ever want or need, all they must do is live. The statue is gazing out over the landscape, she is a woman of indeterminate age but mature. Heavy breasts, large hips, she is covered in a robe but you see her feet are bare. She has four arms, and holds a sheaf of wheat, a bowl, a fan, and a flame. There is a feeling I sometimes have when I enter some places, like there is something special here, and I should explore and investigate, and -be- there. So, go up on the stage, and explore.

.. it went something like that.

Maybe I'll paint it, but I'll never come close.

So, new years has come and gone. Time to make some changes I think. What I'd like to do this decade is travel more. I'd -really- like to live in another country, even if only a few months. I do have some responsibilities here (home, cat), but it's time for me to recall the sense of adventure I had when I was young. I do need to find better work though, and I'm working on that too.

so, it's time for some Tom Waits, song is 'Come On Up to the House'

Happy Holidays everyone!

2009-12-22T21:09:00.008-05:00

Well yesterday (or last night/this morning) was the Winter Solstice here in the northern hemisphere. For me, this particular holiday is one of stillness and transition process to the new year. Everyone's running around, preparing to be visited by or to visit relatives, most people are fussing over buying gifts and decorating and runrunrun...

What I prefer to do is wait for the full moon, and on a clear night I'll take a walk to where there isn't anyone around, by a body of water preferably. I'll listen then... sometimes I just hear myself breathing, and the snow underneath my feet. I may hear wild geese calling to each other, or the wind. I have a little moment of zen, and I admit I may talk to myself (or whatever may be listening). If you never go outside, especially at night, I highly suggest taking on a little adventure like this.

But then, maybe that's just how I roll.

So, I hope this holiday season, whatever you celebrate or if you choose not to do anything at all, is blessed and that you are with the ones you love.

Here's 'Snow', by Loreena McKennitt

Fun Links

2009-12-13T23:08:00.005-05:00

I feel like I haven't seen the sun in weeks. I'm just waiting for Solstice (Dec. 21) to be over and done with so when I get out of work the sun is actually above the horizon. I've been staying in, mostly to save money, but also to catch up on my reading. Currently I'm reading a book about alien animals, the authors clearly believe in their existence. I'm more curious about the folk lore aspects... I'd say to anyone who has seen or believes such creatures exist... well I believe that you believe that. :) But still, I find the whole idea of ghost animals, or undiscovered creatures very interesting, and how people react to, or validate, or write off the existence. It's more about the process than the proof for me.

Anyway, on to the fun links!

First off, self promotion!
I've updated some stuff on my Etsy store, so if you like shirts and prints, go check that out. Also, if you're in Second Life, I've got a new little gallery thanks to Manx. If you're in world, say hello. My name is Emilie Cryotank.

I find this woman hilarious. I almost envy being able to get so emotional at movies. But no, I'm more likely to analyze the whole damn thing to death.

Check out this blog jwz it's a good source of consistent awesome.

This was found on the Columbus Underground (check it out if you're local)

And this is what I've been listening to lately:

Have a good week!

Chill McGrill

2009-12-05T12:55:00.004-05:00

Well, since I last posted Thanksgiving here in America has come and gone. I hope yours was festive (if that was a holiday you celebrated, if not happy 4th Thursday of November).

Well, we’ve reached that null time. Leaves are gone from the trees, light here in the northern hemisphere is thin and pale even in full daylight, & the moon rises high in the night sky plus the constellation Orion is out. As a kid I was very into astronomy, and identifying constellations, but for some reason the winter ones are what I know best, I have difficulty with the summer ones… and Orion is my favorite. If you want to look for him, in the Northern Hemisphere look to the south, identify the three stars in a row that make up his belt, find the ‘box’ of stars around them, and you’ll have the basics for Orion. Look for a bright star east of him, that’s Sirius, the dog star who follows him across the night sky. Look south of the middle star in his belt and you’ll find three fainter stars that make up his sword/dagger, the one in the middle is the Orion nebula, where baby stars are being formed. So yah, pretty groovy.

click here for more info

So yah, in some other bits of randomness that I find interesting... if you are interested in European acheology you might dig this article from the NY times about new finds from lesser known pre-Christian cultures dating way before 5000 B.C.E.; & here's another interesting bit making the blog rounds. John Michael Greer, the Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA) is getting attention from, several places I read for one his recent post titled 'Lies and Statistics', regarding how we view energy/production in relation to the GDP, and how the current model we uses fails us. So yeah, if you're interested in this train of thought you may want to give his book a read. I'll be slapping that on my to-do list.

For myself, I've been reading quite a bit. I just got a hold of Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth on DVD and I'll start watching that tonight (it's been a while since I've really delved into his writing and I tend to be more of an audio learner, so this will be good times). I really need to remember to sit down and write down my thoughts... but I keep forgetting to because I put it off. New habits can be hard to start if you procrastinate eh?

Ah well, only way to go is forward!

Song today by Vitalic, Song: Still, from the album Flashmob

Blogs are just verbal masturbation

2009-11-18T15:07:00.005-05:00

HAha! So why keep one?

(we've reached one of those hours where my internal dialog is running rampant, and today I invite you to come along.)

Most people don't have much interesting to talk about. Most subjects are boring... most blogs seem to be about -feelings- and most people don't know how to really write about what inside them, or outside them... I generally don't read blogs with personal experiences or internal dialog. I tend to read stuff that passes on information, or stuff that makes me laugh or makes me think.

So, of course I'm going to write about me, experiences, feelings. Yes I am that narcissistic... or really it has (almost) nothing to do with that. If I don't write any of this down, nobody else will. A man I knew once comes to mind as I get into this blogging bit again. Easily one of the top ten most interesting people I have ever met, he kept an online diary he started back in the late ninety's, and continued to write about his life till his accidental death in July of 05. The public online diary is gone unfortunately (EDIT: Thank goodness for web archives), but I managed to dig up this quote:

"I look at this place as a scrapbook / journal. A digital version of the paper ones I've kept my entire life. Nothing more, nothing less. Don't read any more into it than necessary. And in a morbid way, a record of my predilections that will hopefully live on after I die, on some server, somewhere. Grandiose? Maybe. Maybe I just have the balls to admit it. Maybe one day, in the year 2201, a relation of mine will see these zeros and ones, and say, "Damn, he had fun." That is, if we don't annihilate one and other."

"Maybe I'll inspire you to be exactly who you want to be. Maybe you'll call me a fool."

I wouldn't call us close friends. We chatted online, I got to meet him in Denver, and we spoke on the phone a few. But interesting, interesting in a way few people are. Passionate, & himself always without apology, and for me an inspiration still. I still think about you Keith Alexander, and I wish you were here.

AH great now I'm all fucking emotional and I forgot what I was going to talk about.

-goes gets coffee-
-comes back-

ok now I remember.

So I was thinking about what to include here. I love to document things, take pictures, make notes (often indecipherable if I hand write them), and draw. It's part of how I express, how I think. Everything I make is part of a history, mine, someone I know, or linked to some historical fact. The confusing part (or the part where it's about to get confusing) is much of what comes to me is internal, stuff that comes without words. I was thinking about fleshing out a bit of a biography, so much of who we become is made up of how we start out as kids, and the experiences we had. Much of my childhood was spent in a severe depression, and from what I remember I didn't talk much. I didn't know how to say or make people understand what was going on with me or how to control the anger I had (which is where I think it came from, unexpressed anger when not dealth with turns inward and can become depression). Because of that I became expressive in other ways... so much of how I think is... color, or sound, or feeling, or something that I lack a narrative language for. It may be linked to that thing people call a learning disability (which just means I process info differently than most other folks do). But life growing up wasn't all black clouds, there were other experiences with nature... well, mostly with nature, and having one or two teachers that didn't see me as lazy or weird (I know what they thought because my mom kept all the records that teachers noted about me from kindergarten through 6th grade. It's interesting to see what people assume about you without really knowing you based off of a diagnosis). I'm thinking if this art crap works out, this would be good stuff to know. So maybe later I'll stick that in here somewhere.

HAH this blog is left to the whim of my fancy! More about work and such in the future (because you can just scroll down if you want to see the past)

Music this time around is by E.S. Posthumus. Song- Arise

Kind of an FAQ...

2009-11-14T23:45:00.006-05:00

Most common question I get is 'Who are those people in your paintings?'. I generally give a quick answer 'they aren't anyone, I make them up'. That is both true and not true. N' so I better give a more fleshed out answer for the folks who want to know.

Yes, most of the people in my work do not exist. I don't use models, the type of technique I've been developing requires I know & understand anatomy, and I will pull references when I need to... but I don't have people pose for me. There are times when I do paint from life, and those paintings are titled with the individuals name.

So where does it come from? The ideas for my paintings come from stories (my own or inspired by others I've met), mythology, and some deep whatever that regurgitates out of me from time to time (generally emotional or a reaction to something I've seen or read, but not always). Probably the best way to explain how this works is to go into detail about one of the paintings I've done, and the best one I think to tell that story is Callisto.

This was originally inspired by the painting by Francois Boucher "Jupiter In the Guise of Diana and the Nymph Callisto," (1759). For those unfamiliar with the story, click here. Basically Zeus seduces her in the guise of the Goddess she served & loved (Artemis/Diana), who gets pissed off & blames her for what happened and casts her away. Depending on which story you read, either Diana turns Callisto into a bear, or Zeus does to hide what he did from his wife. At some point she gives birth to a son, & it's either he who later tries to kill her when Callisto attacks him out of revenge for what was done to her, or Diana does. Zeus in order to avert tragedy puts Callisto and her son in the sky as Ursa Major and Minor, AKA the big and little dipper.

So, in my painting we have Callisto (note she's in somewhat the same position as Ursa Major) laying on a blanket (the blue and white of the blanket are supposed to be reminiscent of Boucher's painting). Because I painted her from above, she looks suspended. The peach she's holding is a reference to a romantic devotion to the divine feminine, and I used 'hot' colors to indicate arousal. I got inspired to create the pattern around her from looking at photographs of trees in sunlight and the shadows they form on the ground. She's curvy, because I wanted to paint a curvy nude, and I also wanted to include pubic hair because I don't see female pubic hair in art very often. So here, Callisto is reclaiming her own sexuality apart from anyone or anything else, by being her own raw naked self.

Or that's the general idea anyway. Part of this came from many conversations I've had with women growing up with negative self images of themselves (a common conversation brought up over and over again). I've learned a while back that people identify with the images they see, often they identify with the subject either as part something they are, or as a part of the story or experience of someone they may know or identify with. A big part of what influences me are icons, especially medieval icons, frescoes, & tapestries. They capture a whole idea, story, emotional play in a single image. This relates directly to how I think and approach image making. My work is a snapshot of part of a story that you'll never be told... they relate to archetypes, in a way. I get asked, 'Are these self portraits?'. On the surface no, but in a way they are perhaps indirectly. Bus Stop Waiting relates to a trip I took when I was 19, and was painted at a period in my life where I was quasi-homeless. The girl isn't supposed to be me, but the emotions are. Girl in Tall Grass is about a memory of fields in Ohio I wandered through when I was young. The red bird indicates change (menstruation, growing up), and there's more symbolism, but I don't want to go too much into it. I really would rather the viewer come up with their own symbolism in relation to the painting. While I may have abstract reasons (be they personal or historical) into why I created the image, I know full well the viewer may not have the same knowledge or experience, and that's ok. It's not required.

The book I'm working on is a slight departure from the figurative work I've done in the past, sorta. I can't help but be literal, it's also in how I think and relate. But yeah, things are coming along, and I'll write more about that later.

So for this round, here's something I've been listening to lately. Song: Alive! Band: Omina

slight irritation

2009-11-09T21:55:00.003-05:00

Well in the past week or so I've been thinking of talking about meditation, or something equally wise-ish & profound-ish. I've been thinking about discussing how I was introduced to meditation techniques when I was 16, and how it's been a useful and important practice for me, allowing me to learn about myself and deal with my problems (and I'll say at this point I've had large gaps, that I have not been steady in my practice, and how and what I do has changed and modified over time). But I think I'll save all that for later.

Nah, tonight I've been thinking about the important of romantic relationships, and if they are really as good and as wonderful as people say. But then I wonder if that's too personal? It's not anyone's business what my personal life is unless I choose to share it with you. I could talk about how I've been more single than not, and how tonight I am thinking... that this is not a bad thing. I don't need anyone to complete me, or tell me I am special or worthy of... whatever. I'm fine, really fine, all on my own. Perhaps even better in fact, I have nobody to answer to, nobody to take care of, nobody that has to rely on me for anything. There is peace here and comfort in that there is no fighting, no drama, no worry, no stress. But that's probably saying to much, and who really cares about people's personal shit anyway? It's just gossip and bull.

I could talk about how I have a few kind hearted but invasive individuals that, while they mean well... I'd rather they leave well enough alone and let me tend to my own business. But again, too personal.

What I can say is I've been working on the concept of the book, and I think I have a better understanding of what I need to do... but I don't want to give you too many details about that because I don't want to blow my wad too soon.

Ah well. The leaves are nearly gone here, and fall is stripped bare. Weather has been unseasonably warm, and there is a lot of dead deer on the side of the road. I feel like I'm waiting for something, but I think that's more just me wishing for some excitement that's not really going to show up unless I do something.

I don't think I'm willing to change the status-quo... not yet.

Festivus!

2009-11-01T08:16:00.003-05:00

This past week has been busy. The Halloween/Samhain season is always chock full of parties, social activities, and for me personally, quiet contemplation. For you folks in America it's time to set your clocks back as daylight dwindles. The leaves on the weeping cherry are just about fallen, and huzzah fall is in full swing.

I find things in life have a rhythm. I also notice that people panic when they think they're supposed to be doing something else instead of listening to the rhythm. Like my friend who freaks out because they are no longer involved in a relationship & feels that they must move on right now. If there's no person in their life, there is something wrong... or another who has reached a certain age and worries that they're not where they're supposed to be in life (not married, their career hasn't developed the way they expected, or their life just has not gone as planned). It's taken me longer than I would have wished, but I realize that things happen when they happen. Relax and just move forward and don't worry what others think or listen to what others say about what you should be or shouldn't be. Being yourself (and yourself truly without pushing your shit onto others) is really the only way to be happy, I find.

I had a dream about a little girl who had a talent, but her mother sent her to a surgeon to make her beautiful instead. She sat in a dentist chair, white medical tape on her forehead, cheeks, and chin to pull her skin back. Mother was at her ear telling her who she should be and what to think. I was thinking about how so many children get lost this way. Parents want their kids to be happy, and they do the best they can, but still, it's amazing what fear can make a person do.

What I wonder is if this has any relation to the preliminary work I'm doing for the book. People who are not really all that interested in that foo-foo pagan new agey stuff still relate to totems. Logos, team mascots, 'power colors', and the like have a psychological effect on us. We may choose a favorite animal as a child because we like how they look and what they can do. Perhaps subconsciously we want to be like them, to run, or fly, or fight, or to know what they know. From what I noticed this is less talked or thought about but changes little as an adult. We still align ourselves with things we want to manifest, only now in our consumer driven culture we focus on brand names, video game characters, and other icons linked to products and entertainment. The need is still there, but instead of exploring ideas and concepts that are truly outside ourselves we are attaching ourselves to concepts and ideas conceived of by another individual or group, and they often have a manipulative agenda to have us buy into their product or service line.

I am wondering how this affects our base spirituality. Providing products and services isn't wrong, we need each other to specialise, one person can't make everything that each individual needs to survive as a collective whole, it's not how our species works. But can't we go to far? Get lost in what is really important?

So anyway, I wonder how this relates to the concepts of demons, and fear. Studies show that people are more isolated, and have less close friends than they did when I was a kid. The way people communicate now is less personal, more surface information. My friend was trying online dating for a while and found most of the men preferred to talk via text. While they were very chatty with that form of communication, they were monosyllabic, stilted, and uncomfortable. I know that's not true for everyone, but it seems to me a growing trend. How does this relate to folklore, and fear? I'm trying to find a relationship. People fear what is unknown to them, and if there's a growing trend of people not connecting and fearing close personal interaction then I personally think this is what may be leading to why eating disorders, depression, and others mental disorders are on the rise.

The arts is the only gateway I know to lead people outside of themselves. So back to folklore. Stories is how people illustrate the relationships between ourselves and the rest of the world. Even if the story is about mathematics or quantum physics, it's still a story. As I write I'll work to illustrate the relationships of archetype, and uncover how the relationship or lack there of manifests in how we connect and relate to ourselves and each other.

Does this make sense? Heh, does it matter? ... probably not yet.

So from Ethopia, here's Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex & Guests, song Tezalegn Yetentu

What's Next?

2009-10-21T16:47:00.006-04:00

So I'm making a book.

This has been in the planning/brain cookin' stage for a while now. Basically, here's the plan; This will contain 30 images, & once complete I'll publish to LuLu, which will distribute to Amazon, and through that, the whole world. BWAHAHAHAHA!

Yah! It'll be sweet!
Now to make it...

I've been moving in a different direction artistically. This next series will be as much about the method of creation as the work itself will be for me. All will start as a drawing, that I will digitally manipulate. The purpose of this will be for control, and because I may produce these as prints after the fact... and the imagery will work better in this kind of format. The source of these images will be from visions from meditation and alligorical stories from my memory, and/or both. That's the rub, I've never done a body of work based off of my personal mythology. I think it will make for some interesting viewing. Also I find that if it's something that I'm hesitant to do, then I should probably go do it.

To give you an idea of what you may expect, this print is a precursor to what's coming next. The symbols in the print (titled Kingsnake, 18" x 24") are alchmey based. The snake, the egg, and the young woman (virgin) represent fertility, new beginings, and the snake crowned in the Oborous (tail biting) position speak of rebirth... and maybe some other things that I just don't want to tell you because if I did... well that would be too easy. I prefer the folks who view my work to come up with their own definitions.

Yeah, I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to obscure symbols, that's the other advantage of the book format, I can write a blurb or prose to illumiate the subject for the viewer. In the next few weeks/months from time to time I'll preview parts of what I'm working on, & you're welcome to give feedback of course.

This is going to be my main focus, and I don't plan on having any other shows at this time so I can just work on this. But stuff comes up, and of course I'll tell you about it if it does.

Until next time, here's Billy Bragg & Wilco

Fun Links!

2009-10-19T19:47:00.003-04:00

I apparently have the gift of finding strange things. When that happens (and I'm to tired to pull anything out of my ass), I'll present to you Fun Links (previously called PMG Fun Links. © er... me, um around this time).

yeah.

Anyway. 1st off, check out some Kachi Kachi Yama animation:

More at Dangerous Minds

Next, this one has been around for a minute, but tis the season!

And one more, a favorite of mine:

That's all I got time for, enjoy!

Wisteria

2009-10-19T05:46:00.001-04:00

Well I've returned from the woods.
I guess first though I should explain a lil' about where I was. Wisteria is a privately owned event site and nature preserve. There are several events held through out the year, and people come and camp and reconnect with nature & perhaps themselves. There are several places like this in the United States, but if you don't know where to look they can be difficult to locate. Advertisement is not widespread, and that's probably not such a terrible thing. The type of folks who visit places like this tend to be environmentalists, earth-spiritualists, and just about every age, level of education, and income level you can imagine. It has several spiritual sites, mounds, stone circles, a space for sweat lodges, and spaces for drum circles; as well as paths through the woods that are a little more wild than most people are used to. I've only started camping here again in the past couple years. Coming to places like this for some reason helps me re-wire a little bit, and I've needed it.

This past weekend was pretty short insofar as the time I generally spend there (which tends to be more in a 4-7 day stint vs 2.5 days). I arrive late Friday afternoon. The kitchen (Caffina's) was serving dinner, and most everyone was in good spirits bundled up against the cold. Oh the weather, it stayed in the 40's high, 32 low, and spotty misty rain. The highs were running 20 degrees colder than normal, but who lets the weather stop them from a good time? Anyway, I find a spot and pitch a tent for my friends who were coming (I stayed in my old geriatric van), and huzza the weekend began.

I guess a blow-by-blow isn't necessary. I generally camp alone, and bounce around hanging out with people I know and meeting people I don't (the advantage of not being rooted in any one place). Since the weekend was so short I spent most of it alone. Highlights were walking around in the woods & nearly getting caught in the dark without a flash light... interesting because the paths there are a little overgrown and in the deep twilight of an overcast evening with no moon in the sky it gets a wee dark. I highly recommend the experience (be safe though, bring a flashlight and know where you're going).

Generally there are no animals on site, but this time around Natural Freedom LLC brought a few horses for a workshop. I didn't attend the workshop itself, but I did stop by. When I was younger I had lessons in english style riding, & the last time I had spent any time with horses was when I lived in Colorado. These were extremely friendly and social animals, pactictulary the female Angel. You can see in the photo her pressing her muzzle to my head, which she did for at least half a minute. Very surprising, I've never seen a horse do this.

There was also the pig roast (very tasty pig), and the ceramic pit firing that happens every year. I didn't take part in the firing aside from hanging out by the fire (which gets about 6 feet tall roughly), listening to drumming and just talking to people. It was nice. On the last day I grabbed some folks and took a walk to the Fairy Shrine, which is a kind of land based... instlation for lack of a better term. People come and leave items for the land spirits, and whether you believe in that or not, it's a nice spot to visit.

So yeah, as bad as the weather sounds, it wasn't horrible. I find that these places give you what you put into it. If you choose to focus on the negative, without and within, that's what you'll get back. If you don't participate, people will leave you alone. But, if you engage the enviornment it will give you back what you need (not necessarily what you want, but what we want isn't always what we should get).
This is the last festival of the year, but if this is the kind of space that interests you I highly suggest coming next year.

More of my photos of Wisteria can be seen here

That's all for now.

This and That

2009-10-15T01:53:00.002-04:00

I host figure drawing sessions at Wild Goose Creative every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. This past session someone asked if they can bring beer, and I don't see a reason why not (I had never thought about it before). It's fine with me just so long as people don't come or get drunk and/or disruptive. Also if people want to make an evening of it they can stop by Rhumba Cafe afterwards and listen to some live music. They seem to have jazz on Tuesdays (and I love me some jazz!). If you want to come, I post a schedule on my website or you can join my group on Facebook. It's from 6-8, and cost 7 dollars to help pay for the model.

In other news I'm pretty busy this week preparing for Wisteria's Autumn Fires. I'll be down there for the weekend. Weather report says it's going to be close to freezing at night, and raining much of the time. I'll be camping in my van (I'm not the golden girl of roughing it). The site features showers and has an outdoor kitchen but there's no lodge or indoor space, so it's bundling up, staying by fires, & bringing a lot of blankets. Sounds like murder, but the leaves are turning now, and the ceramic pit firings, music concerts, and hanging out with new and old friends is not something to be missed & worth braving cold and wet. Photos and maybe a few stories will be forthcoming.

I probably won't be able to post again till I come back, so in the meantime here is The Eden House

Wha? Blog what?

2009-10-11T18:41:00.000-04:00

Back in the mid to late 90's I used to 'blog' a lot. I never called it that, I don't believe that word was in the general public lexicon back then. But I did, and I was very prolific. A part of it exists still on http://iam.bmezine.com (don't bother, unless you're a member you can't get in). Around 02-03 about the time I moved to Colorado I gradually stopped posting so much. You know, life happens... I have gone back into it occasionally. Every damn social media site offers a blog, & I just don't feel like cutting and pasting all over the place, so the purpose of this is to consolidate, and I need to get into the practice of regular journaling.

I tend to take a conversational tone. Imagine you and I are sitting in some cozy coffee shop, and I'm telling you a story, or ranting about something I heard, or saw. Generally that's how I tend to write. Like my art, I get personal. Oh, I'm not going to tell you about the date I had last night or anything I'd consider to be terribly private, and I don't want to give you some emotional drivel that will make you claw your eyes out afterwards asking 'whyyyyyyOHGODWHYYYYY!!!!'. But it's going to get personal. I wish I was one of those objective people that can make art in a scientific detached kind of way so I would not have to second guess; 'is this really a good idea?!'... but I find doing it that way to be boring honestly.

And who wants that?

By the way, that's why I call this a diary, it's more in the vein that I approach these things. Oh, and about the name (someone asked me what it meant, so I feel obliged to explain). Whetstone, is one of the old names for the Olentangy River which flows through Worthington Ohio, my home town (pronounced Ole-n-tan-gy, not Old-and-tangy). I've traveled a bit and lived elsewhere, but (a bit to my own annoyance) this is where I seem to always return to. The river is not impressive by most people's standards. In fact most people don't seem to be impressed by the geography of this area of the world at all. No mountains, no grand rivers, very few caves and very small hills (if there are any hills at all). But I've spent some significant moments around that body of water, and I think it's indicitive of the area. It's not obvious, you have to look carefully, get in it, and pay attention, to see it's beauty and find it's secrets.

Also, a whetstone is a flat stone used to sharpen tools, especially knives.

Sometimes I find obscure or rarely used words to name my work, because I don't want to just -hand it to you-. Maybe I should, people expect things to be so easy (just give me what I want, right now), but if everything was easy, we wouldn't learn anything. If there is a deep meaning behind the name I don't suppose I'd tell you, but really it's just a name that works for me.

If you want to know more about me, a proper introduction would be to go visit my website, the rest you'll find out as I go.

1st entry.

2009-10-10T23:12:00.001-04:00

I know, very exciting to have yet another blog. I'm excited for you.

So what's the point? I want to chronicle the things I find interesting. Much of this will be regarding art and/or art-related, but some of it won't.

We shall see what happens next as I get this set up.

So yay, let's kick this pig!