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/
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!
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).
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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
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!
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 Highbanks. 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.
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, MarziaRangel 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!
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
