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Rocks

2011-06-28T08:37:00.000-04:00

Some people are rocks. They're there for everyone, they're reliable and always available. Even if a rock is busy they will take some time or make some space because that is just what rocks do. But the Cardinal Rule about rocks is to never take for granted the ground you're on because that is all you have. No one wants a rock to lean back. No one wants to hear that a rock is tired, or lonely or would like to not be a rock for just a little bit. I broke that rule and leaned a bit and even let myself enjoy it, which was a mistake because now there's nothing to lean on except my own ground which isn't terribly secure at the moment. It will shore up, I just regret letting myself enjoy the lean because I know it's not going to happen again.

Anyway, classes start today and I haven't been able to sleep. So I'll try to do that. I gave up too much for this to fuck it all up now. When you're a rock there's no point in complaining that you don't want to be a rock anymore, it's just the way things are.

Mary Murdock

2011-06-26T20:04:00.000-04:00

The textbooks for the LIS program arrived yesterday so I spent a good portion of today going through them and getting started on the reading. This makes me think of Mary. I remember when I started working on my masters project for Creative Studies she spent a good portion of the first class meeting telling us a good way to approach textbooks which is to just jump in; start at the back, skim the index, table of contents and appendixes, look at the illustrations and tables and take the time to get to know the book. I've done this every time I pick up a new book ever since, and not just textbooks either. In fact this was one reason why I was hesitant to start reading e-books but I am happy to report that you not only can do the same thing with an e-book, but it's just as much, if not more, fun than doing so with paper books.

Mary also passed to me a love of learning for its own sake and an appreciation for knowing where information comes from. As I start a new phase of my life, one in which I actually have a clear direction which is a novelty for me, I can't help but think of Mary and how she helped me lay the foundations for this to be possible. Probably the most important but of advice was when she told me it's perfectly ok to tell people no and to ask them to please not interfere, politely of course! She gave me "permission" to be myself and forge my own, unique path and I will always be so grateful for that. Sometimes we need to be told these things.

The Creative Studies degree helped me figure out who I am and gave me a community in which to BE who I am in my adult life. Mom and Mary passing away within months of each other had a pretty significant influence on me, to lose your Mother and Mentor in one swoop is pretty hard to take, although Mary did help me when Mom died by writing and reminding me that I get to grieve in my own way. I knew she was nearing the end at that point, but I had no idea that she was so close to passing herself. In a way by dying Mom and Mary taught me how to live.

My new program starts on Tuesday and I start it in the context of a whole new life. An awful lot of the artifacts of my past are now gone but that's ok; the things it occurred to me to take with me are what I need which isn't a lot. So this is a fresh start for me in a pretty major way. Some of those things I miss, but you know what, if they're supposed to be in my life they'll find a way back to me. I needed to move on in order to live again in this new world where Mary is a calm, quiet presence in my life with fabulous curls and blue nail polish telling me to go for it. To go forward especially now that there is a lot less holding me back. That I can DO THIS because I had an amazing teacher, a lot of them actually but right now Mary's the one in my head, who gave me the tools I need so that I can make my own.

Right now I'm also thinking of her advice to always have at least one editor because I do tend to ramble and use too many commas. Plus I'm a fabulous procrastinator although what I'm putting off at the moment is housework (laundry) and not homework because blogging right now is helping me process what I read earlier today. Besides, as in research topics and projects, there are no time limits on laundry as it will be there later.

So the past is done, I've taken what I needed and left the rest in a physical and emotional sense. It was not easy but anything worthwhile is. The transition time is coming to an end and it is now time to embrace the changes it brought me. I am really looking forward to starting this new program and I love the novelty of a direction! I actually have something I can build on, which is so great I can't even describe it! For the first time in a long time I don't feel lost and that is so cool. It's a hoot!

Drawings

2011-04-15T01:28:00.000-04:00

Probably the best thing about the iPad is how it has changed my approach to digital art. It's no longer collecting images into Photo Shop and making collages, rather it's the ability to draw or paint with no intervening steps. Some of these apps are even more intuitive than using charcoal on paper. Not getting dirty is a huge plus, as is the ability to draw out of doors and not having to lug 20 lbs of equipment around. Anyway, I've been drawing again and it feels wonderful. At the moment they're all on my Facebook page but eventually I'll put them up someplace more public, and maybe set some for sale. I've been looking into how to go about doing this and it's a more complex process than I realized, but I do need to start someplace so stay tuned.

For the most part I have been simply seeing what the apps can do and posting the results. But they seem to be taking off and working as pieces and have been leading to me thinking in terms of them as pieces and not doodles. At one point I had been making pieces that reflect the subject of female submission as a cultural more, particularly when it comes to the Virgin. Anyway, since that time I have run into some interesting communities in Second Life and done some reading and this and my new medium seem to be poking me to explore the subject further. It probably makes no sense now, so anyone reading this will have to wait until the drawings are completed and posted. I should have some sort of sense of what I'm doing by then. At least I hope so.

Another thing I need to stop doing is coming to these conclusions after I've taken my Ambien for the night. My work will benefit from sleep.

Restless

2010-12-12T17:27:00.000-05:00

Lately I have been having dreams where I am moving forward, changing spaces and clearing out the old. I wake up feeling oddly exhilarated and eager to pursue what my subconscious is trying to tell me is at hand. In some way I suppose that's what I am doing. Change, fresh starts and all that go with them begin mentally and if in my dreams I'm eliminating clutter and moving and meeting new people and facing new circumstances then that is what I am in the process of doing. The key is to take the clues I'm giving myself and act on them.

Action being the key. I have lots of ideas. All the time. They don't stop. I analyze, review and debate habitually. Sometimes I even come up with the outline of an action plan. But I rarely refine or implement. The thing with me is to look at what I actually DO, rather than think about. Even discussion is not a good indicator for eventual implementation because to me that is an advanced method of analysis: I think this is something that could work so I want to explore resources that I don't have readily at hand. I'd say 99% of what I talk about is either discarded or tossed back on the pile for future use. My dreams indicate that I am discarding and getting ready to act. But on what?

Panic

2010-10-08T15:38:00.000-04:00

This is not a good day. I'm not sick, or waiting for someone or something, I have the information I need and I know what my strengths are. But I'm here blogging and not doing what I know I can do. For some reason I am blocked in my own head and I can't seem to get out of it. It's a genuine panic attack and I can't seem to push out of it.

What's good is that I really don't think this is self-sabotage. I'm prepared. I'm qualified. Yes, I am talking about a job interview and it's for something I want to do and that I'd be good at. The money isn't great but it's something and I'd be able to stay once I'm back on campus in the spring. But I'm here. Not in the car, not waiting for the folks to arrive, but here blogging. I'm exhausted because I haven't been able to sleep or eat properly the past few days and I'm in a lot of physical pain at the moment. What triggered this attack is the uneasy feeling that I'm not up to this physically. I'd get to the interview and not be able to function properly. Not that I'd be judged negatively or anything by anyone other than myself, but I think that's the core of the issue. Or something. My prep didn't include attention to my physical reality these days and that is what did me in.

In a physical sense I still think of my self and health as it was several years ago and not what it is now. The past year took a huge toll on me and I'm not really out of it yet. Maybe it's a comfort level thing. I'm nervous about what this one barrier's removal means. Of course I could be over-thinking the whole thing which is the other side of this particular coin. There was too big a time lapse between my notification of the interview and the interview itself and time lapses are not my friend. Give me too much time to think and I just end up fretting.

Still, it's not self-sabotage. Panic attacks are real. I'm much better at controlling them than I used to be and it takes a lot for one to manifest these days. The last big one was Mom's wake and I think there's a part of me that sort of checked out after that. Which is natural of course. Letting myself feel all this is still too much. I guess the panic attack today is telling me that I need to have these feelings. How do I do that without going completely insane though? I think I need to risk that because there's not much more that my body can take. Maybe I'm not physically moving because I simply don't know how to exist in a world that doesn't have Mom in it anymore.

Today is a really bad day. I'll get through it though. At least I'm not keeping it all in this time.

Waiting

2010-08-24T21:43:00.000-04:00

Patience is not my strong suit. I hate waiting, and I hate not being in control. Right now I'm waiting to hear back from the dept to see if I can get in for the fall semester. The semester starts on Monday, so I'm going to have to hear something soon, but it isn't now and that is making me nuts. It gives my imagination time to consider the worst and that is never good.

I just wish I was one of those people who enjoyed cleaning and other chores when they are stressed or bored, at least my apartment would be cleaned. But I can't really settle to anything. I start a project and put it down and pick up something else. What I need is concrete information and a deadline to get started on anything, and it's no good setting one for myself because I just ignore them. It's probably not especially healthy, but there it is. I don't especially like ambiguity it is something I tolerate and try to get through because there is no other alternative. Writing seems to help because I have a place to channel my thoughts but this is going to pall in a few minutes.

What concerns me is that I'm staying too close to my comfort zone in staying with the degree right now. But that is where my interest is so what else can I do? The jobs I'm looking at are things I want, and am qualified to do but it's the unknown. Maybe my tolerance for the unknown was over-challenged this past year and I need to stick in my own direction for now. I also do not want to move out of my community just now which is what I would most likely have to do in a different professional circumstance. True, I have not explored every local channel just yet, but I have a feeling I will have to leave the area.

I think too I need to know for sure if the university option is closed to me or not. That is part of the anxiety I'm going through because it really will be new ground if I can' go back this fall. So I wait and see. The decision is with the department and I need to hear back from them. At least this is not going to be a long wait and there is a deadline since classes start on Monday. There may also be the spring options, and as I said there are local channels I can still pursue in order to stay here. If the university option is closed it will also force me to focus more clearly on other things, which may be what I need.

I still hate waiting.

Decision Time

2010-08-20T21:15:00.000-04:00

I have made a few decisions. First of all, I do want to go back to school and get the PhD. And I want that to be in Art History. To that end, I contacted the dept at UB and the Student Affairs office to see if I can go back this fall. What I want to do is look at architecture in the emotional sense, especially in virtual environments. Of course, I do need to consider that UB may be a bad fit for me because the things that bothered me in the department a year ago are still there. Then again, at the time I had other issues going on so I'm not sure. What I do know is I loved my first semester there and I was really into the second until I had my collapse. In hindsight I think that collapse was due to a fear of moving forward and a willingness to lose myself in a virtual world, and my own head.

Of course, I do need to keep in mind that the fall semester starts in 10 days and it may be too late. Especially since I may have a hard time contacting anyone via email. I will have to call Student Affairs on Monday. With that in mind, I am gathering job postings and will get my resume and credentials together. I've been looking at Federal Jobs and there have been some good hits. So that is a good place to start. I just want to have options this time because I don't want to be in yet another desperate situation that I will need to be rescued from. If I can't go back to school this year, then maybe I can next year and under different circumstances. It's not a pipe dream, these are viable options and I need to follow up on them.

This leads me to probably the biggest "a ha!" I've had in a long time. It occurred to me that I am qualified to do things with what I already have. If I am going to get another degree it is to enhance what I already have, not to make something out of nothing. My life is now and not some future thing that I still have to earn. I'm not sure how it is that I came to feel the need to earn things like happiness and security, but I did and now that I know different I can do different. Maybe it's because I've felt that I have something to prove. That I need to justify my existence somehow. Some of it is probably to do with wanting Mom's approval, but I think I always had that. Mom had a hard time showing it sometimes and I had a hard time understanding that. It's not that I don't miss my Mother, because every day I do, but her not being here does make things easier somehow. I don't feel the need to clear things with Dad or my brothers in the way that I did with Mom. Anyway, I need to move on and make the changes I need for my life and this insight is helping me do that.

Not that it isn't scary, because it is. Today I didn't get much done, but I am writing and I did at least search for opportunities. I have a Thi Chi video on the way and there is a 10 minute workout DVD beside me. Tomorrow I want to get my haircut, and I've spent a lot less time in SL today. (Less quantity time in SL is something I need to work on if anything else is going to work.) Another next step is to reach out for help more amongst my friends and to use resources I already have to get a good resume and cover letter ready. Part of me wants to school in the fall to happen so I can put off writing my cover letters and resume. But that's just crazy.

These Are Days

2010-08-15T23:01:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I have dreams that it is last summer, that Mom is still alive and we are getting ready for Dad to have his operation. They are so vivid that when I wake up the reality of this year crashes in on me. I don't want any of the current reality that I am coping with this year, I want to go back and have Mom here again. I want it to be the beginning of the fall semester of 2009 and I want to be moving forward.

But that is not how things are. Last summer at this time I thought I had cancer, I was broke, Dad was still waiting for surgery clearance and I was restless about the semester because I wasn't 100% sure that it was what I wanted. Not because the work was too hard or anything, but I really wanted some financial stability and that is hard to get when a grad student. For some reason I have a hard time with regular work.

This year things are a bit better financially, and I hate to say it but that is largely because of Mom. I also know it will continue for a bit because we have an Estate now. It's not much, but what it has done is buy me a little bit of time to make up my mind about what it is I want to do. I do need to go forward, I just don't know how or in what direction.

There are some things that I do know. One is that I have to start taking my own health more seriously. I've been letting myself socialize a bit more and am at least a bit more mindful of what I do in a day. The thought that I am not in good enough physical shape to have a job is kind of a cop out because it does not take all that much time to get back to the level of fitness I was in before Christmas. This morning I did some Tai Chi with a PBS show and made sure I did more than just read today. Some cleaning happened and so did the laundry. The book I am reading is "The Politics of Aesthetics" by Jacques Ranciere, trans by Gabriel Rockhill, so my mind was getting a workout as well. My social networking was in Facebook rather than exclusively in Second Life, and I actually started writing on this blog again. So there are positive, tangible steps.

It's interesting because some of my other dreams are of me longing to move, to be out in the air and meeting people and seeing new things. I'm restless. I've been having "a-ha" moments and coming to different conclusions and seeing things in new ways. Another thing I know is that I have to cut myself some slack for how my life has been this year. 2009 was a horrible year even before Mom had the stroke. My being uncomfortable at the University had been brewing for a long time, Dad had been coping with his diagnosis since 2008, my meds have taken since 2008 to get leveled off and there were four deaths before Mom. Once Dad's surgeon told me he was going to be okay, there's a part of me that checked out because I had come to the end of what I could cope with. The adrenaline was gone and all I had was my mind so that is where I stayed. There are limits to what any human mind can cope with and I found mine.

But it's about nine months since Mom died and eight since Dad's operation. We finally finished the probate process and Mom's affairs are mainly sorted. Dad is in good hands despite the new Parkinson's diagnosis and things are slowly getting back to a new normal. Everyone who has experienced a death like I did has told me that it takes about a year to get used to the new way, and that I really shouldn't worry about not having made major life decisions yet because it really is best to wait at least six months after a death to do things like that anyway. And I'm finally feeling that I can make decisions for myself because I needed Dad to be okay and in good hands before I made up my own mind. The other shoe dropped and it wasn't that bad. I'll take Parkinson's over permanent incapacitation any day of the week.

I'm starting to ramble now because I am tired and my brain is starting to rebel. I want to go and play in Second Life for a bit and then get to bed. I want to get up early to see another PBS fitness show, and I want to be alert for the afternoon because I am seeing "Inception" with Gary tomorrow. This blog isn't going anywhere.

Blogging

2008-05-13T23:02:00.000-04:00

I hadn't realized how long it had been since I posted anything to this blog. Not that I have not been blogging at all, I just have not blogged here. There are a couple of reasons for that. One is that this has been a very busy semester for me and free time has been at a premium. The other, and more relevant to this site, is that I find blogger to be very frustrating to work with, so I've been saving myself the frustration and using other sites.

Updated blogs can be found on my MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/lavenderk5 and I use Twitter, and the URL to follow me there is on the right side of this page. (You'll need to copy and paste the URL to my MySpace page as I cannot insert a working link. This is a big part of the frustration that happens regularly on blogger blogs.)

This particular blog will stay open, I'm just not sure how I will be using the space, therefore I'm going to let it stay idle for the time being.

ICSC New Faculty Search

2007-12-10T23:25:00.000-05:00

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to ask for your assistance in our search for a newly created
faculty position, Assistant/Associate Professor for Leadership and
Creativity at the International Center for Studies in Creativity (ICSC) at
Buffalo State College. I have attached a position description for your
information. Please pass it on to qualified colleagues who may be interested
in the position.

It is an exciting time at the International Center for Studies in Creativity
as our Master of Science in Creativity, our international certification in
Creativity and Change Leadership and our minor program at the undergraduate
level continue to grow. Recognized as the "Credential in Creativity" for
more than 30 years, our educational programs are designed to provide
professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to become
transformational leaders, both in business and education. We are currently
developing an undergraduate minor in leadership and this newly created
faculty position reflects our commitment to enhancing leadership studies and
articulating the natural connection between leadership and creativity. For
more information about the ICSC please visit our website:
www.buffalostate.edu/creativity

Please feel free to contact me or Sue Keller-Mathers, Search Chair at
(kellersm at buffalostate dot edu) with any questions regarding this position.

Thank you for sharing this with anyone you feel may be interested/qualified.

Click here for a downloadable version of the position description.
(Just scroll down a bit for the link to the Word document.)

The problem with blogging

2007-10-16T23:14:00.001-04:00

Blogging is a great thing and I love it. But it's a bit time-consuming, and there is only so much a person can blog about in the course of a day, or week. So I'm considering shutting down this blog since I really don't use it anymore, and haven't in a long time. The blogs of mine that get updated regularly are on Live Journal and My Space, probably because they only exist for fun. My other Blogger blogs are for my art, or for my alumni chapter for grad school. This one had sort of become an adjunct to the alumni blog and then just sort of faded. So I'm wondering if I should just give it up altogether.

We'll see. I'm thinking about it now and will decide in the next couple of weeks.

Free Burma

2007-10-04T14:21:00.000-04:00

Today, this blog is part of International Blogger's Day for Burma. Information on how you might participate are below the graphic.

International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons.

Wanted: supplies for youth summer program: lost our funding!

2007-06-22T12:22:00.000-04:00

If you are able to help, please contact this blog's administrator
and you will be put in touch with Tina.

Dear Community,

I serve as a volunteer for Positive Youth of Tomorrow, which serves youth in
the inner city of Buffalo. We serve children, parents, and youth/young
adults. We are working to increase literacy, life skills, safety, and reduce
violence this summer. We had been promised funding from a Buffalo City
agency, but after procuring space, volunteers, and children for the program
they have now "changed their minds." Please help us have a safe place for
children to go this summer--there are robberies, assaults, and shootings of
youth DAILY in this area and there are no summer programs available for
these children in this area. If you have any of the following items, please
email me. Drop offs are welcome (several locations) but someone may be able
to pick up. If you would like to see a written copy of the program, I would
be happy to email it to you. Thank you!

Tina

Gardening Supplies
General Office Supplies (paper, pens, pencils, tape, staples, etc.)
Art Supplies (crayons, markers, poster paints, clay, posterboard, coloring
books, etc.)
Teaching supplies (childrens' books, flash cards, educational toys, etc.)
kitchen supplies (common household items--to teach food preparation &
safety)
T-Shirts (100)
Silkscreening Supplies (to create t-shirts)
Food (packaged snacks, drinks, etc. )
Television
DVD Player
Storage Cabinet
Chalk/Wipe off Boards (3)
Easels (6)
Inkjet Computer Printer
Sports Equipment (Balls, etc.)
Sterilite/Rubbermaid Containers
Easel Pads (6)
Ink Cartridges
Gift cards for grocery stores, walmart, etc. (to purchase supplies)

Update: CPSI 2007

2007-01-25T18:37:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone!
The following is the latest word from CEF. It seems that there will be a CPSI this year, but I don't think there is a location yet. As soon as I come across any new information I will post it here.

"Dear Creative Problem Solver,

This is to let you know that we are in the final stages of negotiation with a venue for CPSI 2007. We are expecting the dates to be Sunday, June 24 to Friday, June 29 (We are shortening the conference by a day, with a Sunday night start. Pre-Conference programs will also be held on Sunday.)

While we had planned to return to Loyola University in Chicago, circumstances after the conference, including the resignation of our Loyola contact and pricing demands, caused us to reconsider and ultimately decline the venue.

Over the past several months, we have been in discussions with 37 venues none of whom could accommodate us this year, but a select few of whom are interested in our business for CPSI 2008. We have been negotiating with 4 additional venues, one of whom is in the forefront.

We will be opening Leader solicitation in February and will send out a notice when we do so. We will also be sharing final dates, program changes and other changes at that time.

Thanks for your interest and patience and stay tuned for more information coming soon.

Sincerely,
Victoria Cliche
Executive Director
Creative Education Foundation

PS: The 2006 Integrating Creative Leadership class is launching the CEF Newsletter next month, so keep a look out for that as well!!!"

Creative Connections Meeting Chage

2007-01-18T22:20:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone!

Just letting you all know that the date for this months Creative Connections meeting had to be changed. The new date is:

Saturday, January 27 at noon in the Peanut Room at the Center.

Hope to see you there as we vote in new leadership!

Creative Connections January Meeting

2007-01-14T11:13:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone!
Hope the new year is starting out to be a good one for you all!

This is a year of changes for Creative Connections, and our first order
of business for 2007 is to choose new leadership! (It's been a lot of
fun being Creative Connections President, but it's time for me to move
on to other things.) 

So if you are interested in becoming involved with Creative
Connections, this is an excellent time to do so. Or, just come to the
meeting to say hi! 

We are meeting on Saturday, Jan 20 at noon, in the Peanut Room at the
Center. 

Hope to see you there!

:)
Jen

Holiday Ideas from the BSC Alumni Association

2006-12-13T16:08:00.000-05:00

Season's Greetings and best wishes for a wonderful holiday season!! I hope that your holiday preparations are coming along alright!! Speaking of the holiday season, I wanted to let you know about a special holiday promotion that the Buffalo State Alumni Association is offering to help you out with your holiday shopping needs (see below - in italics)!!!

Holiday Gift Idea!

Are you searching for a holiday gift item or stocking stuffer? The Buffalo State Alumni Association would like to help you out by offering a discounted rate on Delta Sonic Super Kiss Car Wash tickets! For only $10.00 (a $3.00 savings off the retail price, along with no sales tax), you can purchase a Super Kiss ticket (good for 1 Super Kiss Car or Truck Wash including “Tires Hand Dressed” and a “5-Day Guarantee Wash Again Free”).

Support the Buffalo State Alumni Association and give someone a nice holiday gift at the same time! Gift boxes are available as well! Cash, check (made out to BSCAA), and credit card (Visa and Mastercard) payments are accepted. To purchase a ticket, stop by the Alumni Office (Cleveland Hall 305) or give us a call at 878-6001 to charge by phone.

Thanks, in advance, for your support and take care! Please feel free to spread the word and pass this promotion along to others!!!

You're also welcome to designate the proceeds ($2.00) of your ticket to one of the following chapters (see below), so considering that you're all affiliated with alumni chapters, this could be a very good way to raise some additional funds for your chapter:

Art Education

Career and Technical Education

Communication

**Creative Connections**

Criminal Justice

Education

Educational Opportunity Program

Football

Health & Wellness

International

Leaders of Color

McNair Scholars Program

Medical Alumni Society

Men’s Hockey

Men’s Soccer

Psi Phi Beta Fraternity

Rugby

Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity

Silas L. Boyd Memorial A Cappella Alumni Choir

Student Personnel Administration

United Students Government

WBNY

Whispering Pines Camp Board

Women’s Soccer

Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity

Take care and Happy Holidays to all of you!!!
Stay in touch and thanks for your continued support of the Buffalo State Alumni Association!!

Happy Holidays

2006-12-08T18:45:00.000-05:00

Just playing around with the newly improved Blogger... so far, so good!

Regarding CPSI 2007

2006-11-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello to all the Wondering Creatives,

CPSI is scheduled for June 24th to 29th, 2007.

CEF has not confirmed the location because while we planned to return to Loyola, and would like to, we are in on-going negotiations with the University. A significant contributing factor being that our contact left Loyola in August and her replacement started November 1st.

We have a back-up venue, that is not located in Illinois. Ideally, we would like to return to Chicago but are not sure that will happen. As frustrating as it is for all concerned who attend and present at CPSI, it is even more frustrating as the organizers.

So please help spread the word the CPSI 2007 is planned for the last full week in June, and know that as soon as things are settled we will let you know.

Warm regards,
Victoria Cliche

To all the Things that go Bump in the Night

2006-10-31T20:24:00.000-05:00

Because you never know who.. or what.. is reading

Hope your Halloween was suitably creepy and candy filled
:)

x posted at What is the Porpoise of Existance

Returning to Creativity

2006-10-02T09:19:00.000-04:00

I've pretty much been leaving this blog alone lately.. it's been just about two months since I've posted on it. Not that I've got nothing to say, because my LiveJournal has been active, I just haven't felt like spending the time. That blog has always been about fun so maintaining it is usually easier.

But I felt a bit inspired and that is due to this link a friend sent me. It's 30 second movies, acted out by bunnies! I have not watched all of them, but I do reccomend Bunny "Night of the Living Dead" and "Brokeback Mountain".

I have no idea how active this blog is going to be. I don't want to discontinue because I've always felt as though I need a forum in case I feel like writing something awesomely intelligent, but right now bunny movies are about all I'm interested in at the moment. Not that that's a bad thing, I happen to think the bunny movies are one of the most creative things I've come across in a long time. They're also hilarious which never hurts.

What I'm not going to do, however, is enage in political debate. My last post here was a step into the area of politics because it was something I felt strongly about and felt the need to blog about it. I'm not responding to the comment that was left, because I do not feel that this is the appropriate forum for that. I do not want this to turn into a politcal blog at all because there are other blogs designed specifically for that purpose. However it is my blog, so I can write about whatever I want as the mood strikes me. That being said, I'm not deleting the comment because I feel that everyone is entitled to their opinion, weather or not I agree, which in this case I do not. So as far as I'm concerned my foray into politics is over. At least for now.

So that's where I'm at. We'll take things as they come and then go from there.

Whoo Hoo!

2006-08-09T10:26:00.000-04:00

I'm going to step into politics for a bit to congratulate Ned Lamont in his victory over Lieberman in CT.

And a note to the Senators and other Democrats in NY and around the country.. I'm sure my reader will help pass along the message: Do the right thing and pay attention to what happened here. We're tired of the war, which never should have happened in the first place, and we're tired of the current political climate which seems bent on eliminating the civil rights of everyone. Fight back. Or plan a career change, because those who don't will not remain in office much longer. And someone talk to Joe and explain to him what it means to lose gracefully. His current posturing is appaling.

That's it for the politics for now. I usually don't bother because the subject is covered so well, and so completely elsewhere, but this time it was important.

My other favorite story..

2006-08-03T13:08:00.000-04:00

Is this one, where a guard dog accidentally ate Elvis Presley's teddy bear. Go ahead, read it for yourself!

I'm just glad it's an interesting news day. On a day like this it's much to hot to do much of anything except blog..

I want to move to Scotland..

2006-08-03T12:34:00.000-04:00

The polititians there have much more interesting scandals than our do. Read the article from Yahoo News here. Our elected officials have tax and money type things going on, but it seems as though there hasn't been a sex scandal, at least an interesting one, since Clinton left office.

My favorite part of this story is where he fired his legal team and decided to defend himself. By putting his wife on the stand:

Gail Sheridan, 42, gave a passionate defense of her husband and said she would have killed him and dumped his body in Glasgow's river Clyde if she believed the allegations.

"You would be in the Clyde with a piece of concrete tied round you and I would be in court for your murder," she said.

Gail Sheridan also said McGuire had obviously never had sex with her husband because, if she had, she would have mentioned his hairy body in her kiss-and-tell revelations.

"You are like a monkey, so anybody rolling an ice cube around your body would end up with a hairball ..." she told her husband across the packed court room. "There is more hair on your body than there is on your head."

It dosen't get much better than that..

ah HA!!!

2006-07-31T00:59:00.000-04:00

(Picture downloaded from Boing Boing)

I always suspected those damned cartoon cats were evil...

Blogging

2006-07-22T21:18:00.000-04:00

I've been wondering lately why I don't update very often. It's not like I have nothing to say, because I do. I've even got a file of interesting articles I've been meaning to write about but haven't. And I can rant about my love/hate relationship with Yahoo indefinately.. Love the email because it works well, hate the groups because it dosen't and IM isn't working tonight which pisses me off, etc. But this page hasn't had a fresh entry in months, even though I've commented on other blogs, and I've been kind of wondering why. It's not as though I'm scrambling for free time or anything.

But that could be a big part of it. I'm spending a lot of time these days working on my resume and trying to not get down on myself because it's taking fucking forever to find steady work. If I were up to my eyeballs the momentum would carry into regular blogging. That's probably why I'm not art blogging anymore as well... I'm just not allowing myself the space to just sit and read and be thoughtful about things that aren't directly related to my job hunt. (I'm aware that I need to let up a bit on The Hunt... If I let myself become obsessive about it, which I'm totally capable of becoming, I'll just drive myself nuts and the search will end up taking longer than it needs to.)

Then I went to my LiveJournal and noticed that I post there at least once a week.

Maybe it's because I know who I'm "speaking" to. The people on my LJ friends list are folks I've been speaking to for a few years now from the Buffy groups on Yahoo. (Which is where my love/hate relationship with the forum began.) And the LJ is something I've always done just for fun. This blog was meant to be a means for me to keep up with my writing. Ironic that I really don't write on it very much.. in many ways it's become another vehicle for advertising for my alumni activities.

I'm keeping both, but I have to think about what I want this blog to be. I had been thinking that I should scrap this one because I really don't use it, but I'm reluctant to do that because I'm sort of attached. We'll see. If nothing else it's a second forum for me to just say what's on my mind...

Being Polite

2006-06-21T10:18:00.000-04:00

While I was cursing Yahoo for being totally unable to log into anything over there, YIM, mail, etc., I came across this article about the most polite major city in the whole wide world. Wouldn't you know that NYC won hands down!!

Some people will be surprised at this, but I'm not. I didn't realize just how polite NYers are until I moved away from there some years ago. People talk to their neighbors, they look out for each other, all that sort of thing. The study in the article looked at opening doors, helping to pick up something dropped and salespeople saying thank you to customers. I suppose what does NYC in in terms of image is the fast pace. If you're not accustomed to that, it can come across as being blown off or brusqueness. But in my experience, once the local person becomes aware that they are dealing with a visitor, they will try to help out. There's also the tendency to being direct and straightforward in conversation, which can come across as rudeness. Think about it though, would you rather be told the bald truth, as they see it, or have someone lead you down the garden path? If you have no time for me, tell me so I can move on. anything else is passive agressive and no one wants that.

But that's not to say that people elsewhere are jerks, and my time living upstate has been hellish or whatever. Because that's not the case at all, I'm just saying that NYC has a tendency to be labled as rude and that is just not so. What does surprise me is that Toronto came in a distant third (behind Zurich.) I would have expected TO to be a lot higher than that because I have yet to meet a rude Canadian. I'm also surprised that no other major US city made even the top 20.. Yes, it's a world-wide poll, but you'd think that at least ONE other would get mentioned... Particularly those cities in regions frequently thought of as politeness personified. I suppose this is an area where one would have to dig into the research criteria and all that sort of thing. I also wonder if it really is a level playing field to have this be a world wide study and not take into considerations cultural differences and social norms.

Anyway, this was nice to see. And blogging about it certainly distracted me from my frustration at not being able to login to my Yahoo email.....

Upstate

2006-06-18T23:40:00.000-04:00

I've lived in upstate NY for a little over 15 years now and for the most part I really like it. Beautiful country, nice people, and not that far away from home. My original purpose for moving here was school. Obviously I haven't been "in school" for 15 years, there were two when I lived in Northern Kentucky after undergrad, and when I moved back in 1998 I worked until I figured out my next move. Now that I've finished with school, I'm looking at my options.

My first choice, obviously, to me anyway, is to stay here. I've been here for most of my adult life and it's become home. And I really like where I live and the people I've surrounded myself with. But it's a bit frustrating because of the local job market. My first thought was that this is a Buffalo issue.. It's no news flash that the population here has been dwindling for years. But then I came across this article in the NYTimes. Seems that upstate in general is dwindling and it's due to a disappointing job market.

It's not that there are no jobs at all, but rather the kinds of jobs. I'm nearly 40 and have no desire to work in a call center or cashier. I've got student loans and all that sort of thing and I'm really tired of being poor. Which is what those jobs mean: you have a paycheck that barely covers living expenses and get treated like crap to boot. Jobs like that are perfect for kids just starting out, but not when you are trying to build a life for yourself.

It's not that I have a problem with moving to another part of the country, my job hunt is nationwide. What bothers me is that my hand seems to be forced. I don't particulary want to bounce around between four part time jobs. I want health insurance and a saving plan.

I suppose I'm jut frustrated. 15 years is a long time in a region. I hope I can stay here, but it's not looking good.

Painting like Pollock

2006-06-09T15:09:00.000-04:00

I came across this website recently, that lets you paint like Pollock. Kind of. It lets you make digital, fairly random splatters and clicking the mouse will change colors. It's pretty cool and a fun way to pass time.

Thanks to way2busymom for the link!

Go visit this website!

2006-05-31T16:01:00.000-04:00

There are a couple of reasons why I'm reccomending visiting dohiyimir. Firstly, there's some really great photograhy and promoting artists is something I need to do more of as this is sort of an art blog. When I feel like writing about art anyway, which I don't always but that's not the point. There's also great articles and a smattering of politics.

But mostly I'm linking because this blog's creator is a friend of my brother's. I'm not going to get into the recent nastiness that my family has been subjected to, suffice it to say that I'm spitting nails here. Anyway, the flip side to all this is that it is in circumstaces like this when you find out who your friends are. And NTodd, among others, has been a good friend. So it's my way of saying thank you.

(note: Blogger seems to be squirrly at the moment, so an addition to the blogroll has to wait.)

Movies about art

2006-05-06T19:40:00.000-04:00

I have to admit it. I really enjoyed the book: "The DaVinci Code" and am looking forward to the movie. But not so much for the plot, which I found fun, but that's about it.

It's because of the art. This is a book about PAINTING. Yeah, there's the whole theology part and that sort of thing, and while I enjoy a good conspiracy theory as much as the next person, it's not, for me, what makes the book and movie so COOl. It's about ART!!!!!

According to the movie's press, they were able to shoot in the LOUVRE! No one does that! I remember reading the book and the thing that struck me about the whole thing was that I can't remember ever seeing art in this sort of context before. When are art historians cast as big heroes? I had the urge the entire time to review my Renaissance notes from undergrad and thinking that as an art teacher how cool is this to have a pop-culture link back to my subject? Imagine the cool projects on symbolism and representation that can come from this?

So that's why I'm going to see the movie. It's about ART and it's set in the LOUVRE. All controversy aside, I think this is the coolest thing EVER!!

Munch

2006-05-06T19:24:00.000-04:00

I recently had the time to go back and read the NY Times articles that I've been saving and came across this one regarding the fate of the thieves who made off with Munch's "The Scream" and "Madonna" a few years ago.

Art theft is something I've never really understood. Particularly pieces as famous as these. I mean, what can they possibly DO with them? Hold them for ransom? Keep them in a private vault and never look at them? It's not as if the coast will ever be clear enough to sell them. Maybe it's one of those power trip kinds of things: "I have something special and I'm not telling where it is. So there. And YOU can't look at it, even though it's really cool."

I'm certainly upset that the paintings are missing. Munch is one of the big influential artists for me, and visiting the Munch Museum in Oslo is one of my dream trips. Not that I'm not grateful that the thieves were caught and prosecuted, because I am. But thefts of this sort are cruel. Art needs to be seen, not hidden away, and certainly not damaged.

Here's hoping the paintings are returned unharmed.

Shakes head with a sigh

2006-04-26T15:33:00.000-04:00

I heard about this on the radio this afternoon while I was on my way home, and I checked it out because it seemed WAY too silly to be true. I should have known better.

Yes, it looks like the movie "Legally Blonde" is on it's way to becoming a Broadway musical. Just click here to see for yourself. Go ahead. I dare you. No, I'm not putting up any pictures. The whole idea sickens me.

Why must every silly idea be implemented?

Expert to Expert, 2006

2006-04-09T14:10:00.000-04:00

Save the Dates! Expert-to-Expert Monday, May 8th to Wednesday, May 10th. Click here for more information, including registration forms and workshop info!

Looking forward to seeing you in May!

Actually it looks like it's going to be a really good conference this year. And I'm not just saying that because I'm one of the presenters. Dr. Basadur's work is very interesting and I'm looking forward to hearing him speak. There's also a lot of variety in the workshops offered, which is always a really good thing: Creativity in the arts, which believe it or not is not as well researched as you might think, Creativity in business, new research... There's something for everyone. Seems as though informal networking is being built in to the conference structure which I really like. These things are great reunion opportunities as well as a way to make new friends and it's nice to see the organizing committee responding to that.

This will be my third E2E experience, first time presenting, and I'm really looking forward to it. Creative Connections is also going to be doing a bit of fundraising, so if you're in the Buff State neighborhood, drop by to say hi and maybe buy a cupcake. :D

Musical!!

2006-03-30T09:02:00.000-05:00

There's a new musical opening in Toronto: "The Lord of the Rings". Yeah. Someone made a musical stage production of this. AND it's my understanding that they compressed all three books into one. (Because it's based on the books, and not the movies.) I haven't seen this, and read only the one review in the NYTimes, which I deleted before I remembered that I wanted to link to it. But anyway according to the review it's really long and kind of confusing. Because it's a complex plot and compressing it into a three hour musical dosen't seem like nearly enough time, unless theater-goers are given Cliff-notes or something. Even the movies ended up leaving a lot out, and there were three of those. But they did keep the cool things like the Ents in it, so if you want to see dancing trees, then here's your chance. (The image, by the way, is the result of a Google Image Search, and I don't remember what website I pulled it from.)

Interesting Official Website though.. the intro is only kind of annoying but it plays well even if you have dial-up, which I do.

What's really cool is that the parodies have begun. Last night's Conan O'Brien had a parody sketch complete with a Gollum strip-tease which was hilarious. (I couldn't find images of the sketch, so the link is to the show's page.)

Color me skeptical, but is this really a good idea? Is this what the world was crying out for? Part of me really wants to see this.. another is horrifed at the thought.

At least it's not boring...

Wasn't Aware of a Problem!

2006-02-09T22:09:00.000-05:00

I saw this on the 6:00 news tonight, then went to the NYTimes for confirmation. Seems that Barbie and Ken broke up a couple of years ago. She dumped him for an Austrailian srufer named Blaine. The picture on the right near is of the interloper. And they wonder why the sales of the dolls are going down: Barbie and BLAINE? Please. It's Barbie andKEN. Always has been, always will be.

Unless it was all an excuse to give Ken a makeover. As dolls go, he hasn't really moved with the times. But still. BLAINE?

Anyway, there is to be a new Ken and I wasn't even aware that there was a problem with the old one. And I don't care what the new Ken looks like, either. Although I am glad they've updated him a bit. By the way, I'm not posting a pic of the new Ken. If you want to see it, click on the article link. They've got a picture and a description of Ken's lifestyle changes. Seems he's no longer a surfer, but a cutting-edge guy who looks cool, cooks, and is in touch with his feelings. Personally, I think that's a lot to expect from a doll.

When I was a kid I had a Malibu Ken. He came with a bathing suit and towel, so he was ready for fun on the beach. And my extra outfit for Ken, because sometimes he and Barbie would go out, was a pale blue leisure suit. It was the '70's and Ken was very stylish. Or as stylish as you can get with plastic hair. That's him up there on the right. I couldn't find any pictures of the leisure suit.

Anyway, I'm glad Barbie and Ken have decided to work things out.

UPDATE: The layout I originally set didn't quite publish properly. Anyway, the 1970's Malibu Ken is the one with the bitchin tan. The one with the bad rug is that Blaine.

The Science of Art, or the Art of Science

2006-02-03T07:20:00.000-05:00

Seems as though Einstein saw parallels, at least according to this article in last Tuesday's NY Times. The article discusses Einstein's love of the music of Mozart, and how it impacted his research.

This really isn't new. I'm not going to dig out my grad school reading as to creative process, or creative personality, but suffice it to say that there is a lot on the common personality traits of innovative creative geniuses, such as Einstein and Mozart. Ironically,while there is a lot of research about personality and process, art tends to get taken for granted in a lot of the creativity literature.. and film really isn't there at all. Interesting, that. (And I'm going to say now that I'm aware that this is a bit of a rambling brain dump.. I woke up at an ungodly hour of the "morning" and felt the need to blog anyway.)

Anyway, the article got me thinking about my experiences in undergrad as a painting major. What that meant was I spent an enormous amount of time in the studio and not really participating in campus events unless they were specific to art. It tends to be isolating because students in the other majors simply don't get the time commitment and you get percieved as being anti-social or whatever. Except for the science majors. They weren't seen a lot on campus either, but the science building was the only one besides the art building where there were ALWAYS students working and the science students were the only ones besides the art students who would get upset when you couldn't get into the building at 3am to work.

One of the coolest thing in my grad work was seeing that I was percieving something that turns out to be pretty true in the research: artists (all kinds) and scientists have a lot in common. Actually any "creative" person is going to be like that with the dedication and occaisional tunnel-vision when you're "on to something". (Read "Flow" by Csikszentmihalyi, he discusses this really well and he actually "get's" the artists in a way a lot of other creativity researchers don't.) But I've always gotten along with scientists.. the researchers anyway.

This is the end of my rambling essay on I'm not really sure what... Except that the article is really interesting and it's getting me thinking about getting a doctorate again...

An Interesting Observation

2006-01-18T22:40:00.000-05:00

This afternoon I was Googleing images of the NYC skyline for a collage I'm making. Basically what I was looking for was the typical view from Jersey that everyone thinks of when they think of the NYC skyline. You know the one, it has most of Manhattan included.

So I was looking at the thumbnails and there were some really great images there.. Including the one taken from under the Brooklyn Bridge that is in the intro to "Friends". (I didn't want to use that one because the angle of the bridge would get in the way of what I'm trying to accomplish in the collage.) But I noticed something that I thought was irritating at the time, but I now find kind of interesting. Nearly all inclusive skyline images include the World Trade Center. There were more than a few of those horrible images from 9/11 (I still refuse to look at those by the way.. I'd prefer to either look at the crater or remember them as they were.)

I suppose it's kind of normal, I mean, those skyline shots with the Towers are awesome. But there's not a lot of the new skyline. Maybe it's still too recent. Or maybe people are waiting for the new building to come. I have to admit that I still expect to see the Towers when I'm in the area.. Not seeing anything there is kind of disturbing.

But as I work on the collage tomorrow I'm going to have to really think about weather or not I'm going to use any of the NYC images that I did download. It's not that they are bad images.. the one I've got up here is a darned good one and it's making me wish I remembered the source besides Google. If I don't include images of NYC it's because it dosen't look the way it's supposed to yet.

ACA National Conference, 2006

2006-01-17T15:12:00.000-05:00

A note from Barry Silverberg of the ACA

American Creativity Association International Conference 2006

Wednesday, March 22 - Saturday, March 25

Pre-Conference Institutes on Monday, March 20 & Tuesday, March 21

At Hilton Austin Airport in Austin, Texas

Our Annual International Conference is all fleshed out. Aside from the inevitable last minute changes, what you see on our Conference site at www.amcreativityassoc.org/2006Conf.htm is what you will get – and the pickings are plentiful, as are the opportunities to share information, meet new people, and find collaborators for your ideas and ventures.

For the full force of what the 50+ person strong Conference planning team has put together, you need to visit the web site. And if you have not yet registered, or registered and not yet made your hotel arrangements, we urge you to do that AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Making your travel arrangements now will allow you to get far better rates than if you wait until the last minute.

CREATIVE PEOPLE OF ACA REGISTER NOW .. ALL YOU HAVE TO LOSE IS PAYING HIGHER FEES LATER!

So what do we have in store for you?

More than 70 top-notch keynote and Conference sessions over 3.5 days;
Pre-Conference Institutes on TRIZ, Creative Utilization of Technology, and a significantly discounted two-day DeBono Creativity Course;
A focus throughout on creative use of technology starting with the “thumb drives” we hope to provide every participant – containing presenter biographical and presentation information and other “stuff”; that will also allow you to upload and download information at the Conference at one of the public PCs that will be available for participants’ use – not quite, but close to, a paperless conference;
Podcasts of keynotes and selected sessions;
Opportunities for Conference participants to have hands-on time to discover the creative joy and value of setting up your own websites and other communication channels;
Specially designated Conference time set-aside to allow for and foster individual and group collaborations/ networking/ sharing of ideas and enthusiasm;
And of course there is all the usual stuff of a Conference … and much more that you’ll read about on the Conference website ….

We are offering a Special Discounted Team Registration for three employees from the same entity for $1500 (A $2685 value - $1185 savings). The details and additional discounted options are at www.amcreativityassoc.org/2006Conf-team.htm . CHECK IT OUT!

Happy Holidays!

2005-12-25T15:44:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

Call for CPSI Leaders/Presenters

2005-12-20T11:49:00.000-05:00

To the Worldwide Creativity Community ... You are invited to submit a proposal to serve as a leader/presenter for the Creative Education Foundation's 52nd International Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI) 2006, June 25-30, 2006, in Chicago, Illinois.
http://www.cpsiconference.com

Please review the following guidelines and then go to the link below to submit your proposal(s) online via our Web site.

The DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 30, 2005, for Immersion program and pre-conference workshop proposals; JANUARY 6, 2006, for all other proposals.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR CPSI LEADERSHIP AND PRESENTING:
o As CPSI leaders/presenters, we recognize that leadership is more than planning, organizing and facilitating. It's the ability to inspire others and to create experiences that enable them to grow and learn on their wayto achieving objectives.

o As CPSI leaders/presenters, we understand the power of Creative Problem Solving, Applied Imagination, and creative thinking. We know that CPSI is more than the Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving process. Yet this process continues to evolve and provides a sound, ongoing foundation for - and a link between - all our programs and other creativity concepts.

o As CPSI leaders/presenters, we are primarily customer-oriented, keeping in mind the needs, desires and concerns of our participants. This includes having a global perspective and appreciating and addressing the requirements of a multi-cultural community.

o As CPSI leaders/presenters, we stay current on the trends and developments in creativity, innovation and imagination, demonstrating a continuing ability to improve, enhance, innovate and re-invent.

o As leaders/presenters, we "walk the talk," modeling creativity values in words and actions.o As CPSI leaders/presenters, we work effectively in teams.

o As CPSI leaders/presenters, we believe in CPSI and spread the word, inviting new participants to benefit from the CPSI experience.

o As CPSI leaders/presenters, we're willing and able to go the extra mile to contribute to the health and growth of the Creative Education Foundation.

If you are invited and willing to lead/present in the spirit of these guidelines, please complete our online form for proposals and program leadership at:
http://www.cpsiconference.com/proposal.cfm

If you have further questions about presenting, leadership and CPSI, please visit the "CPSI Leader/Presenter Frequently Asked Questions" online:
http://www.cpsiconference.com/faq_speaker.cfm

Thank you for your interest! CPSI Program TeamCreative Education Foundation289 Bay RoadHadley, MA 01035
http://www.cpsiconference.com/
http://www.CreativeEducationFoundation.org

P.S. Please help spread the word about CPSI 2006 by printing out and distributing the online PDF flyer to your colleagues, friends and associations:
http://www.creativeeducationfoundation.org/cpsi/CSPI2006_card.pdf

Then, keep the conversation about global creativity and innovation alive by commenting on stories from around the world in CEF's Applied Imagination blog:
http://appliedimagination.blogspot.com/

Hmmmmm...

2005-12-19T14:06:00.000-05:00

Is it me or does this blog look funny? I mean, it's all cock-eyed..

Maybe it's because I'm using a different computer?

Graffiti

2005-11-25T23:26:00.000-05:00

Now this is the sort of project I'd love to do. It gets the kids involved, and it gives them a voice. Not to mention an outlet.

Not that I think all graffiti artists deep down really just want a hug. Maybe some do, and hey, hugs are nice, but a lot of the time there is something that needs to be said and the best fourm and means of communication are the side of a subway car and a can of spray paint. Or it's a question of a lack of means to other artistic media and places to use them.

But it's nice to see teachers doing things like this with their students. And I also have to say it's good to see graffiti getting positive attention. Some of it is just beautiful and a LOT more interesting to look at than plain grey subway cars and the ads plastered all over them and the platforms.

This is the sort of art I like to teach too.. kinda makes me want to get some supplies and interested students and go nuts...

Just an FYI... The picture I posted is not from the show in the article. This image is one of the ones that came up when I Googled "graffiti, New York City". And I like it because it's a good example of what's out there, even though it's on a building and not a subway car.

The Nutcracker

2005-11-25T22:15:00.000-05:00

I came across this review in the NY Times of the 2005 season of "The Nutcracker". When I was a kid, my Mom or Grandma, or both, would take me to see this every year after Thanksgiving. In fact, I think that's why I enjoyed Thanksgiving so much because it ALWAYS meant an afternoon in Lincoln Center to see the New York City Ballet perform at the New York State Theater. And that ALSO meant we got to go on the subway and have giant pretzels and see Santa on the street corners and look in the store windows. Then we would go to meet my Dad at work and all ride home on the Railroad together. (The fact that my brothers were never included in this was nice too. Sometimes it's nice to do things with just the girls, especially things like this as small boys tend to not be interested in ballerinas and make retching noises at the romantic parts.)

It's nice to think back sometime about the things that made me tick as a kid. I loved this ballet, and still do. I took ballet lessons and dreamed about being a ballerina and dancing with the Nutcracker Prince and fighting the Mouse King. And every year I looked forward to going to a performance and every year had a wonderful time.

Since then, I've seen other companies dance The Nutcracker, but it's never the same. Some of the European companies don't use the Ballanchine choreography. (Gasp!) Sometimes the girl's name is Clara, and the sets and costumes are different. Not that the dancers are bad and the choreography second-rate, it's just not the same. Of course, watching on TV isn't the same either and not to pooh-pooh Buffalo, but Shea's is NOT the State Theater, and downtown is NOT Lincoln Center.

Maybe it's because it's Thanksgiving weekend and I'm not going to the ballet that's got me all nostalgic. But this is the time of year to be in NYC. I'm here now, but I'll be making my way back upstate tomorrow and it's just not the same. And I have to be careful; I'm in the process of a job hunt that will most likely bring me away from Buffalo and I don't want fond memories of Manhattan at Christmastime and The Nutcracker to color my choices too much.

Sorry if this was rambling... Just that time of year I suppose.

Harry Potter

2005-11-18T16:41:00.000-05:00

The above link is to a NY Times review of "Goblet of Fire". If you haven't read the book and don't want the movie spoiled, don't read it. Stuff is given away in the first paragraph.

The newest Harry Potter movie comes out this weekend.. Think it opened today actually. I have to say that I really do enjoy this entire frachise. And I was skeptical about the movies because the books are just so rich. But I think what has happened is that the creative process here has been helped by directors who recognize that there is a big difference between a movie and a book, and that has made all the difference. The movie version of "Azkaban" worked because they adapted the essence of the narrative to a different medium. There were times when I nearly forgot that there was an element that wasn't in the book or presented in a new way.

As the film version of the series continues, that is going to have to be a crucial factor. These kids are getting older and the situations and dangers they are facing are getting more intense. In fact, this poor kid is facing things no kid should have to deal with. No grownup either for that matter.

Does anyone else feel really sorry for Harry? I mean, the kid's an orphan and gets dumped on abusive relatives, at school he's got the bully thing, which isn't so much about the Malfoy thing as it is about Snape. Then he's off dealing with the evilest wizard EVER and his main back up are Ron and Hermione. I don't know.... They're good books though and I hope this new movie is as good in it's own way.

Personally, I'm looking forward to Mad-eye Moody and how the film deals with Harry's expanded experiences with girls and the wider Wizarding world. The Quiddich World Cup look really cool too.

ELVIS

2005-11-08T22:47:00.000-05:00

ELVIS
Originally uploaded by refinnej.

Nothing much to say, really.... There's just something about Elvis, so I made the icon..

Actually what I'm REALLY trying to do is use this as my Avatar, but Blogger won't let me post it from my picture files.. They now will allow me to do that within the body of a post, but for some reason I need a URL to put a picture in my profile, which is what I'm trying to do here. The problem with that is that my pictures are online at Flickr, which is awesome.. But when you click on the picture, rather than seeing a page with just the image on it, you are directed to my Flickr page. I think this is a Mac thing. I'm using Flickr because it seems to work the best with OSX. Plus I like it and I can blog from there, so all is well in the universe EXCEPT in the matter of putting up an avatar. Which would be the Elvis! icon I made, and is now posted here.

See, it's the little things that will get you every time...

Helpful Illusions

2005-11-04T23:05:00.000-05:00

Now this is really cool. There is an art therapy program that takes Alzheimer's patients into museums, like the Museum of Modern Art, and it seems to have beneficial effects. The NY Times article is here.

The phenomenon has not been researched in the same way that music has, but it appears that the part of the brain that deals with the abstract is not as effected by Alzheimer's as the parts that deal with things like brushing teeth.

I read articles like this and I wonder why I'm not pursuing a PhD or a degree in Art Therapy.

Well, I'm not as interested in being an art therapist as I am in studying why it seems to work. Why do we respond to visual art, in all it's forms, the way we do? And is there a correlation to attitudes of creativity? Would research into this area explain better why methods such as Image Streaming seem to work so well? And can this research ensure that the visual arts get as much attention and funding in the schools as math and science? I'm pretty sure there is research into art education and SAT scores, and I'm not just talking about the Mozart Effect.. I'm talking about the specific act of making, interpreting, and studying the visual arts.

I suppose I can do all this eventually.... There's time.

The painting, by the way, is "The Guitar Player" by Picasso and was downloaded from Artchive.

More Space

2005-11-04T21:49:00.000-05:00

I seem to be working on a theme here...

Anyway, I came across this review of a show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles called: "Ecstasy: In and About Altered States," organized by Paul Schimmel with Gloria Sutton. It's an exhibit consisting of installation pieces, and the title is self explanitory.

The beauty of an installation piece is the kind of space it, and the viewer, occupy. Sculpture exists in the same 3D space we do.. It almost dosen't matter if it is on a pedestal, or of a different scale.. it's beside us. Painting is a 2D illusion of 3D space, but that illusion can be extremely compelling, and can take us into our minds in weird ways. I suppose that to some viewers in some circumstances, that illusion can seem more real than "reality". But an installation piece invites us inside... We can get into it's space and it can get into ours. It can make us question reality in ways that painting and sculpture can't because it can interact with us directly.

This is one show I wish I could see. I'm someone who lived in her own head for many years, and sometimes still do... Shows like this one help me question what I see. (That's possibly a side effect of being alone for many years. If the time ever comes that I'm no longer alone, I may have a different perspective.)

But generally, I tend to be drawn to art that can join me inside my head.

Giant Eggs

2005-11-02T21:51:00.000-05:00

Speaking of sculpture, I found this picture and caption on Yahoo this evening: A woman approaches an artwork called 'Big Chook', made of fibreglass and high gloss epoxy marine paint, on Tamarama Beach in Sydney November 2, 2005. Australian artist Jeremy Parnell says people frying themselves on the beach for a suntan inspired his piece which joins 100 artworks contributed by international and Australian artists at the annual outdoor Sculpture by the Sea exhibition which is in its ninth year. REUTERS/Will Burgess

Now this is another example of the kind of space that a painting just can't occupy...

Space

2005-11-02T05:35:00.000-05:00

About a year and a half ago the Albright-Knox Art Gallery here in Buffalo had a show of sculpture. It was interesting because for the first few months they had two parallel exhibits: one was masterpieces by Rodin, and the other was of modern pieces. That in itself was really interesting to see.. the juxtaposition of old and new. (On the left is "The Thinker", which is the piece most folks think of when they think of Rodin.) And each took up an entire wing too.. so you could get a really good feel for what the pieces had to offer.

The thing that gets me about sculpture is the physical space it occupies. It's something that's unique to the medium. I don't care how big or powerful a painting is, they are made to be seen head on, usually. But sculpture can just kind of leap out at you in a way that paintings can't. You can also get that sense of movement, which is the thing I like best about sculpture. "Striding Man", also by Rodin, is a good example of what I'm talking about. It doesn't matter that he has no arms, you can see him moving as if he were trying to walk off the pedestal. Paintings can get this across as well, but there is something about sculpture that you can't really get away from and that is because it occupies the same space that we do. Chances are that when you're looking at a painting, it's on a wall, floor, ceiling, or whatever. But it's not really standing next to you.. It can FEEL like it is moving, or about to leap out and grab you or something, which is really cool, but it's more of an illusion.

Anyway, the modern pieces across the hall from the Rodins were something to see and it's one of those shows that will always stay with me. And it's because of that sense of space. Almost an invasion of space with some of them. And some were quite confrontational. The pieces in this exhibit seemed to follow you around.. Like you were in a crowd of people who aren't sure what to make of you, so they follow to make sure you aren't up to something sneaky. But there was one that stuck with me in particular... It just... SAT there.. Not moving and taking up all this space. And you HAD to deal with it because it's that huge and therefore must be confronted. There is no way to NOT look at this piece.

But then the show ended and the pieces moved on to other things. Imagine my surprise when I'm checking out Yahoo and come across this:It's called "Big Man" by Ron Mueck, and it's currently on display at the Grand Palais in Paris.

Up close, it's kind of creepy... He is just so sad.. And so lifelike.. Except for the size.. And that just adds to the emotion. He's really hitting us over the head with it. And it does, for all it's size and pose, have this sense of movement... Like he's going to get up and scream, or punch the wall, or stomp around. Even in the photo, I feel that. I almost want to tell those people to back away and not disturb him.... Or maybe that's because I got to see him up close and that's what I remember.

And it's such an emotional space that he occupies... It's hard to get away from.

But isn't that the way of it though?

Franz Ferdinand

2005-10-19T22:35:00.000-04:00

Before I write anything about my topic, I have to say that I'm noticing that I cannot change the font and color from the dashboard anymore.... Most disconcerting and I hope it's not a permanent thing. There are times when a change of font and color are just what you need....

Anyhooooooo... Franz Ferdinand. Usually this blog is about art and creativity because that is my area of expertise. Besides, there are other blogs that write about music... PowerPop is my fave, and not just because I like the author. But the NY Times had a review of a recent show at Madison Square Garden today and it inspired me to write.

I really like this band. Seriously. I don't have the new CD yet, but I plan to buy it. The other one, not sure if it's their first or not, is one of my favorites. I put it on and I can't stop dancing. Always cheers me up too. Which is a very good thing.

But that actually does speak to creativity. It's the circumstances in which the creation takes place. Personally, when I'm feeling low I don't accomplish very much. It's an issue I've had for most of my life and over the years I've come up with strategies to cope with this. So when something comes along that makes me feel good, and I enjoy it, and it's a healthy thing, I'm all over it. Music is one of those things.. It also helps me paint and concentrate. Yes, even music like that of Franz Ferdinand. (One would think that it's too peppy, but nope!) sometimes it's cool to listen to the music and paint the images it makes. Fun too. FF is orange and kind of jumpy to me....

Not sure what my point is except that I wanted to share something that I really enjoy... Really like this band and hope they stick around for awhile.

(As I write I'm noticing that the links thingy is a bit funky.. If this doesn't publish correctly, I'll try again.... Weird...)

UPDATE: Friends in New Orleans

2005-09-14T19:51:00.000-04:00

This update is courtesy of Sue!

Just a quick update to those of you who specifically asked me to keep them updated. Things have been quite busy and the generosity of our community is incredible. We were able to send Deborah and her Son Gian in Baton Rouge clothing (and give some to local relief efforts as well) and a little money for their immediate needs. Annette also has received some as well. We have a few EBay items to sell that will provide enough support for them both to move the remains of their homes to where they are now living (or end up living). They were both extremely touched and reluctant to accept any gifts but I explained to them that people really feel the need to help and they each could use a little help in these tough times. They both benefited greatly in spirit as well as the security of being able to pay the bills from people's generosity. The both say thank you from the bottom of their hearts. Annette is here in Buffalo and increasingly, it's looking like Deborah and Gian will be here soon as well. Annette was able to go back into her apartment in Metairie and retrieve some items last week. Her second floor apartment only had one broken window. A neighbor of Deborah also managed to get a pass to get back into her neighborhood last week so she gave him her key to look at her place. After wading through water all around the neighborhood, unbelievably her house was also dry. They are both some of the few lucky ones and sometime in the future will be able to get their belongings.

I've heard from all kinds of people who are doing wonderful things to assist people of the gulf area- Sandra Fink, a graduate of Creative Studies is working with her local church in Rochester to bring some families to that area and her and her trained therapy dog are planning to travel to the area to assist rescue workers. She has family in Hattiesburg where Katrina made a direct hit. I'll continue to keep in touch with her to see what the needs are from her end but at this time she says the generosity of the people of Rochester has been overwhelming. Another friend of mine, Debbie Chesna from Alden anticipates traveling down with an environmental company to work in the area so I've asked her to keep me updated as well. My former principal in New Orleans is now a councilwomen in New Orleans so I will write to her and tell her to let me know if there's anything we might do for the children of New Orleans in the future. We're still waiting to get word from our friend the US Marshall to see what he knows about rebuilding efforts and ways to help. Thanks again and I'll let you know when the complete set (1967 to 1995) of the Journal of Creative Behavior's goes on EBay through the generosity of Marci Segal!
Sue

Friends in New Orleans

2005-09-05T21:41:00.000-04:00

September 5, 2005 7PM EST
TO; My friends, colleagues and the good people of WNY
FROM: Sue Keller-Mathers kellersm@buffalostate.edu
RE: Help for My New Orleans Friends

My dear friends Deborah and Annette in my former home of New Orleans are still in shock and I feel a great need to do what I can. The tragedy of Katrina has affected us all greatly and there are many ways so many people have reached out to help through the Red Cross and other mechanisms for giving and volunteering on a larger scale- those are the most important ways to help. All of the people of the region will need our continued support. In addition, I'm emailing you with one small way you can help three people through me if you wish to. I am going to sell items on EBay to buy supplies for and raise just a little bit of money for immediate needs of three WNY natives who lived in New Orleans. A very close friend, Deborah Misso and her son Gian, who I consider part of my family and Annette German, a former student of mine and friend (recently finished her Master's in Creativity work at BSC) are both teachers in the New Orleans Schools (and didn't get their first check of the school year when Katrina hit). They are all safe but most likely have lost everything. Deborah and her 15 year old
son are staying with friends of mine in Baton Rouge and Annette is staying with a Creative Studies graduate Valerie LaMatina here in WNY. Both Deb and her son Gian and Annette left New Orleans with not much more than the clothes on their back. Although friends and families are assisting them greatly, I'd like to reach out to all of you to take a little of the immediate burden off them if you are willing and able. I've never asked people for anything like this before so I apologize ahead of time if you take offense to requests like that but this is what I felt I needed to do. Read on if you're interested.
Thanks.
Sue Keller-Mathers
885.7445 874 Lafayette Avenue Buffalo NY 14209 kellersm@buffalostate.edu

WHAT I'M DOING AND HOW YOU CAN HELP:

EBay- My friend Brian Brennan, an EBay veteran has agreed to help me sell items on EBay. I'm looking for things that can eventually be mailed to the buyer (so they can't be really big). Good items for EBay include things like recently published books, especially textbooks, collectables/figurines/limited edition stuff, old electronics and computers, old records and record players, anything pre1985 culture related, vintage stuff, etc) If you have items, they can be dropped off at my house (or I'll pick them up if you need me to). If you're not sure if it's a good item for EBay, but want to donate, go ahead and give it to me. I can always do a garage sale later or try to figure out what to do with it to continue to do some good in this time of need.

Clothing: I've sent a large container of clothes to my friend Deborah but I didn't have any to send to her son. Her son Gian, in Baton Rouge is in need of clothing. He's a tall (5'7” or 5'8”) skinny 15 year old who takes men's small shirts to give you an idea and somewhere between a 28 and 32 waist. Any clothing (or national store gift certificates) would be greatly appreciated. Annette is on her way to New Orleans as this is written to see what is left so I'm hoping her second floor apartment outside the city will at least be dry enough to retrieve her personal items. I can update anyone who wants to keep in touch to future needs if you want me to- just let me know. Drop off any clothing at my house (874 Lafayette) and I'll mail them out to Gian (and his friend from New Orleans staying down the block).

A bit more about our WNY friends in New Orleans:

I hope Annette will find her apartment intack when she gets to Louisiana but I will keep in touch with her and find out. Annette began the long drive down to Metairie in Jefferson Parish (right outside of the city of New Orleans) tonight with a friend to see what she has left. She'll go in, take what she can and get out. Then she'll drive back here to WNY, a 22+ hour trip each way.

I was just in New Orleans three weeks ago staying at Deborah's house in the Mid City part of New Orleans near City Park. I've seen the photos of her area on TV and it's unlikely she will have anything left when she gets to go back in a month or two to see her house. Chances are they all will be staying with friends and family for quite a while and begin the long process of rebuilding their lives. Deborah and Gian may come up here eventually but for now, they are safe in the good hands of my friends Jerome and Lynn Lohmann and their three children and I try to talk to her nightly. Just to give you an idea of what's
happening in the area not more than 60 miles from New Orleans, I'm told Baton Rouge is in crisis as well, with the constant sound of helicopters over head and a small city that has many people in need come to this good city for help. There are many, many houses in the Lohmann's middle class neighborhood filled with family and friends from New Orleans. The first night Gian was there he went out in the neighborhood and found a friend from his school in New Orleans who was also staying in the neighborhood. That friend spends 90% of his time at the Lohmann's house (as the house he is staying at has 30 people from New Orleans also staying in the same house). These stories of the good people who take in others are many and are a glimmer of hope in a horrible situation.

For those of you who know that I taught in New Orleans both in the 9th ward and in the French quarter (and my husband Gordon lived there for more than two decades), you know we have many close friends in New Orleans and many memories
of the fine people of New Orleans. We've heard from some of them and will continue to track what has happened to the people of New Orleans. My husband and friends throughout the country want to go down as soon as possible to do what
ever they can when the rebuilding process starts. His close friend, a retired US Marshall in New Orleans has been in touch and will get back to Gordon with ways to help as soon as the initial crisis has passed.

If you wish, I can keep you updated on what is happening- and ways to help the region- our hearts sink when we think of the people and place we love and all the very poor people, many of whom had no way out. Just send me an email if you want to continue to know whatever I find out about ways to help and let me know if you are going to bring something to my house.
Sue

MY CONTACT INFO:
874 Lafayette Avenue Buffalo (between Delaware Avenue/Gates Circle and Linwood Ave) I'm across from the side of Millard Fillmore Gate Circle Hospital. It's the brown house with the purple sheer material on the porch. Items can even be
left under the table on the porch if you're comfortable with that as we're inand out all day or we can set up a time and make sure we're home.
My phone is: 716.885.7445 email: kellersm@buffalostate.edu

Housing Help for Katrina Victims

2005-09-01T17:31:00.000-04:00

Hi! I'm passing this along.. this organization came to my attention from jameslovin1 of Jossing Around Maybe there is someone out there who can participate in this.

Dear MoveOn member,
Hurricane Katrina's toll on communities, homes and lives has devastated the nation. Now victims must face the daunting question of where to go next—and we can help.
Tens of thousands of newly homeless families are being bused to a stadium in Houston, where they may wait for weeks or months. At least 80,000 are competing for area shelters, and countless more are in motels, cars, or wherever they can stay out of the elements. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross are scrambling to find shelter for the displaced.
This morning, we've launched an emergency national housing drive to connect your empty beds with hurricane victims who desperately need a place to wait out the storm. You can post your offer of housing (a spare room, extra bed, even a decent couch) and search for available housing online at:
http://www.hurricanehousing.org
Housing is most urgently needed within reasonable driving distance (about 300 miles) of the affected areas in the Southeast, especially New Orleans.
Please forward this message to anyone you know in the region who might be able to help.
But no matter where you live, your housing could still make a world of difference to a person or family in need, so please offer what you can.
The process is simple:
You can sign up to become a host by posting a description of whatever housing you have available, along with contact information. You can change or remove your offer at any time.
Hurricane victims, local and national relief organizations, friends and relatives can search the site for housing. We'll do everything we can to get your offers where they are needed most. Many shelters actually already have Internet access, but folks without 'net access can still make use of the site through case workers and family members.
Hurricane victims or relief agencies will contact hosts and together decide if it's a good match and make the necessary travel arrangements. The host's address is not released until a particular match is agreed on.
If hosting doesn't work for you, please consider donating to the Red Cross to help with the enormous tasks of rescue and recovery. You can give online at:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=859
As progressives, we share a core belief that we are all in this together, and today is an important chance to put that idea to work. There are thousands of families who have just lost everything and need a place to stay dry. Let's do what we can to help.
http://www.hurricanehousing.org
Thanks for being there when it matters most.
—Noah Winer and the whole MoveOn.org Civic Action Team Thursday, September 1st, 2005

Now This I Like

2005-08-29T22:10:00.000-04:00

This article is a review of the work of Joan Snyder which is currently on display at the Jewish Museum.

I have not had a great deal of experience with her work, but I've got to say that this is the kind that I like. On many levels too.

I like that it means something. That each stroke, color, texture is placed mindfully... For me, her reasons are her own. It is enough for me that she has them. According to the article she tends to give a lot of personal information. Personally, I don't need that.. as a viewer what I like to do is look and experience.. the background information isn't really necessary. But good for her for sharing! Seriously. I HATE when people know my business. I'd rather have the meaning and put it in, but keep my story to myself and let others take, or not, as they see fit. As far as I'm concerned no one needs to know my tooth story to enjoy my work. But she does and that's awesome.

I also like the sensuality of this genre of work. I can look at paintings like this for HOURS... Just getting lost in the paint and color. There is just so much to look at. Maybe that's why the story isn't so important to me. And I like to paint this way as well.. I can still remember the day when I was shown how to do it without using lots of fresh paint. It's one of those memories up there with the other life moments like graduation and births.

So everyone go to NYC and see this. Hopefully I will when I'm there this month. But if you can't make it, go to an art museum anyway. You owe it to yourself.

Creative Community

2005-08-29T20:52:00.000-04:00

I came across this article in the NY Times the other day, and it got me thinking about the concept of community and how that contributes to creativity. The article is about the archivist of the Lower East Side and a book that has been made of the photos he has taken over the past 30-odd years. They are pictures of the people and events that make a community, in this case a neighborhood.

A point is made that the creativity, the thing that made the Lower East Side a place for artists of all kinds to have ideas has kind of gone by the wayside to make room for condos and bars for college kids from the suburbs to feel comfortable in. It's weird, because I'll bet the reason a lot of people bought the condos in the first place is so they can be near the art.. to be there when the creativity happens. But it dosen't work that way. At least not in my experience. The first thing that happens to me when someone wants to watch me paint or make art is that I can't make it anymore. What I need to make the art is taken away. Maybe that's why there isn't a lot of research about artists and creativity in the creativity literature: the act of studying destroys the object of the study.

It's just something to think about... And a good article as well.

Purpose of Art

2005-08-03T22:12:00.000-04:00

It's interesting that Western Art isn't usually looked at as "spiritual", despite the fact that there is a very rich tradition of eccleiastic art that has lasted for centuries. This article from the NY Times last Sat discusses this. Maybe it's because the artwork in question is religious and one of it's functions was to instruct those who could not read. Or maybe it's because we don't know how to read the symbolism anymore. There was a time when everyone knew what light through a window pane meant.. Not now, unless you study Renaissance Art. It's almost easier to look at the art of another culture and have a spiritual experience because it's so different and therefore harder to take for granted.

This is on my mind lately for a couple of reasons. One of my areas of interests is aesthetics as a cultural definition of creativity. So WHY something is painted is almost more important than how.. I realize I'm oversimplifying. I'm thinking out loud and these are half formed thoughts.

But it's art painted as a vehicle for healing that I'm thinking of at the moment. Every culture does something along these lines in one way or another. I've started painting again for that very reason... I've been going through something rather large... And it's time to paint it out.

More on this later... Here's hoping I can post regularly again soon.

More Projects

2005-06-24T21:57:00.000-04:00

Something else that has been occupying my time has been the Creative Connections Network. What this is is the alumni association for the Creatve Studies department at Buffalo State College. For some reason they made me the president. But that's ok, because it's a lot of fun.

Just thought I'd mention that .. and advertize my other blog while I'm at it.
:)

New Skills

2005-06-24T21:46:00.000-04:00

One of the things I've been working on lately is designing websites. While I've done graphics and digital art before, this is the first website I've ever designed. The artwork and aesthetics anyhow. A colleague set up the page itself. Now I'm to take over maintaining the site, which is fine but I'm finding that I need to learn new software and procedures in order to do this.

This is the sort of thing that I've been wanting to do for a long time and now I can, so I suppose the moral of the story is to be careful what you wish for. The changes will be made and I'll be fine, but this whole business of learning how is kind of frustrating. I'm trying to not blame my current challenges on my dial-up internet connection, but I don't think that's it. I just need to take the time to sit and figure things out. Oh, and be patient with myself. Which I hate, but there it is.

Anyway, the site is for the Buffalo-Niagara chapter of the American Creativity Association. And I really do appreciate the opportunity, because it's kind of fun.

Getting back in the groove

2005-06-16T13:06:00.000-04:00

I suppose it happens to everyone.. Life has a way of taking over sometimes and things like blogging just fall by the wayside. Not that I haven't been collecting article to comment on.. Or thinking of thing to write about. Because I have. In fact there are about 15 articles in my files that I have been meaning to comment on. And I have been thinking of incorporating Image Streaming into this space as well.

We'll see. My commitments are beginning to wind down and in a week or so my free time will be mine again. Which is nice because I've been feeling the need to move on a bit... try new things and all that. Blogging is a part of that.. marking the journey so to speak.

I plan to continue the art-blogging, maybe just once a week.. and I don't think all the articles I've saved will make it in for commentary. There are way to many of them, and I think I'd rather write about my own work.

Whatever. It's an ongoing process and it's my space, so I suppose there is no wrong way to go about it.
:)

Credit

2005-04-26T23:13:00.000-04:00

I need to give credit where credit is due.

All of the paintings downloaded onto this blog came from Mark Harden's Artchive, which is a marvelous source of art images from nearly every era as well as art historical commentary and some critical analysis. Please visit the site and if you can contirbute, do so as this is a fabulous resource.

"Self-Portrait with Model"

2005-04-26T23:11:00.000-04:00

"Self-Portrait with Model"
Originally uploaded by refinnej.

By Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, oil on canvas, 1910-26. This one has always stood out for me.. mostly because it seems like he's bragging.

As a woman, I can see how these sort of images get irritating after awhile. And I'm glad artists went in different directions, particularly in recent years.

But it's time for the traditional methods to come back, artists need to learn how to draw again and the human figure needs to be explored in this new society we live in. So much has changed in the last 100 years ... It will be interesting to see what comes next.

"Puberty"

2005-04-26T23:06:00.000-04:00

"Puberty"
Originally uploaded by refinnej.

This painting by Edvard Munch is one of his more positive images of a female subject. Franky, I feel sorry for her as she looks rather nervous.

But pictures like this one need to be painted...

Problem Solving

2005-04-26T22:19:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago the NY Times online ran this article about a group of fairly established NYC artists who get together once a week to draw from life. There was a time when this would not seem like an unusual thing.. and maybe to some it seems like the sort of thing artists do.

But that hasn't been the trend. In the past few years, decades even, art has been conceptual or digital, or an installation, or some combination of the above. The traditional methods have largely gone out of fashion, especially if the subject is a nude female. I suppose feminism had something to do with that, and I can see the point as some of those Expressionist pieces in the early 20th century were kind of creepy. (I'll post examples later.)

It's a good practice though, one of the things I miss about art school is the drawing sessions. They are a nice way to work on skills and socialize and have a nice give and take. And some of the artists in the article make good points in that it's a nice way to just do what you do and not worry about sales or the market or buyers or any of that. Actually, I think all that other stuff is imposed on art by the sellers and buyers and the "scene" and not really why artists do anything. But it can be difficult to get away from what you are expected to do.. so I'm glad that this group has the chance to just go and make art without expectations.

But the best thing about these drawing exercises, is that they give the opportunity to problem solve. Just drawing multiple poses and doing it because that's what you do.. It's great. It's never boring, even if it's the same model every time. Or the same tree. I can't afford models so I draw trees. Or I did. It's been a long time since I just drew something.

I'm glad to see this trend start again. I'm glad that the traditional methods are back again. Since art tends to be a mirrored perspective, I wonder if the reason is that we are now so bludgeoned by technology... it's kind of nice to only have to worry about a piece of paper and some charcoal.

Image Info

2005-04-20T14:22:00.000-04:00

The name of the painting below is "Lavender Mist: Number 1, 1950" in 1950.

YAY!

2005-04-20T14:14:00.000-04:00

We have pictures!

Now.. how might I avoid posting them twice?
Practive makes perfect, I suppose..
:)

LavenderMist

2005-04-20T14:11:00.001-04:00

LavenderMist
Originally uploaded by refinnej.

A painting by Jackson Pollock.. Abstract Expressionism and the NY School of the 1950's. I'll post the rest of the painting's info later.

For now, just look at it...

What ideas do you get from this picture?
What feelings are evoked?

Allow yourself to have the experience of just looking at the picture.

Picture test

2005-04-20T13:42:00.000-04:00

I'd like to do a bit of art-blogging.. mine and other's. I feel it will help to illustrate points as well as provide an additional fourm for art on the web.

But I need to do a test run first. If it works, "Lavender Mist" by Jackson Pollock will appear...

Annnndddd I seem to be having trouble with Flickr, so art-blogging may have to wait a bit.. Ah well...

Why Art?

2005-04-20T10:39:00.000-04:00

Why do artists make what they make? Do we have different brains? We know that there are specific personality traits that artists share (see Getzels and Csikszentmihalyi) and that each medium has traits specific to that medium.

And what is it about the appreciation of art? Why are some drawn to colors and others to form? And why one form over another? What is it about the work of Pollok and other non-objective painters that turns people off? And in a big way too.. I have had many voice rather hostile opinions about this sort of work.. Pollock's in particular. A lack of education in the arts explains some of that, but not all.

I see creativity manifested in art. It expresses something that otherwise is left unexpressed. But why? Is it that there simply are no words for some things, like feelings and emotions and all that sort of thing? It's almost as if another language exists out there and art is the only means of expressing it.

These questions may not be new to art and aesthetics, but in the context of creativity research there is a great deal the two fields can laern from each other.

Concerning the Spirituality of Art

2005-04-14T22:20:00.000-04:00

There was a really good article on nytimes.com, this is the link.

Hopefully it will open, but just in case I'm going to summarize. It's called "The Modernist vs. the Mystics" by Ken Johnson and appeared on 4/12/05. Seems there is a new show up at the Drawing Center in SoHo through May 21 (really hope I can get in for this, but it's not looking good). The show feaures the works of Hilma af Klint (1862-1944) of Sweden, Emma Kunz (1892-1963) of Switzerland and Agnes Martin (1912-2004) a US Modernist. The article is a review and highlights the contrasts between the artists... af Klint and Kunz were both Europeans who made art in a time and place where spirituality and mystisysim were popular among intellectuals. Martin is a product of the NY School and while there is an interest in Eastern philosophy and aestetics among this crowd, it's not really what they were about. Not overtly anyway.

But I digress because the contrasts, while interesting, are not what concerns me. Not for this fourm anyway. Here is an excerpt of the article:

"What has preserved the credibility of visionary spiritualism for many today is psychology: translating it into psychological not supernatural terms. The literally supernatural may be hard to credit, but it is believable that through art we can be in touch with dimensions beyond those of our day-to-day consciousness. By making or meditating on art, we may not only cultivate more refined aesthetic sensitivities but also release energies buried in the unconscious.

So if we feel something uncanny or hair-raising in the works of af Klint and Kunz, it may be because we believe that they were in touch not with real supernatural forces but with parts of the mind where extraordinary psychic energies reside. Though such places may be inaccessible for most of us, we may feel subterranean reverberations in response to certain kinds of art. "

My first response is that this is more in line with an Eastern aesthetic than anything mystical or supernatural. That aesthetic, and I realize that I am oversimplifying here, basically is ABOUT the experience of the viewer to the work, which is about the experience of the artist to the subject and not about the "I" that is common in western art. I am also put in mind of Navaho shamanic art, which was sometimes created specifically to heal a patient and not to allow us to admire the skill of the artist and the pretty trees.

What is pulling me is the relevance to studies in creativity. Why do people make art? And why one form of art over another? For example, I really hate landscape painting. Not viewing it, although dramatic sunsets really do put me off, but the making of it. For me art is about looking inward. My response of what I am seeing and experiencing and the manipulation of materials.

I just found the article interesting and want to comment on it to facilitate incubation. Lately I've been thinking about pursuing a PhD... and this is such an interesting area. I find it fascinating that art is pretty much overlooked in the creativity research.. I think the tendency is to take it for granted that art and artists are creative and have been discussed and analyzed a LOT throughout history, so why bother? Csikszentmihalyi is the only one that I can think of off hand that studies art and artists in relation to his work on happiness. (I know there are others, but I'm not bringing them to mind.) I know that there is resistance in the art community to creative studies.. I'll discuss that another time. But the connections between art and Eastern and North American indiginous art and aesthetics and spirituality and creativity are just so huge.. to me anyway.

Wheee!!

2005-04-10T21:55:00.000-04:00

I got the links field on the template I like!!

Now all I have to figure out is how to put on MY links... But this is still pretty cool..
:)

OK

2005-04-10T21:23:00.000-04:00

So I'm going to try a new template because I can't figure out how to put links on this one. Of course the templates with a links field are kind of *eh* looking, but that's ok. Sooner or later I'll figure out how to post pictures and I'll be all set.

Of course, I may switch back to this one.. We'll see...

Links

2005-04-09T23:32:00.000-04:00

I think it's my template that is preventing me from having a links area... hmm. But as I look over the template choices, I see that there are some that seem to have no links area but I've read blogs with the same templates that DO have link listed....

Gonna have to do more investigating I suppose..

By the way

2005-04-09T23:02:00.000-04:00

I think this will be a creativity blog... I have a live journal for brain dumping, so this can be the creativity blog. What I want to do is post articles and links as I find them or write them.

What would be sweet is if I could figure out how to post links on the front page...

Visions

2005-04-09T22:34:00.000-04:00

One of the things I've been working on lately is how to facilitate visions. Not the "I see Jesus in my ham sammich" kinds of visions, but a vision for life and goals, then planing to make them happen.

It's interesting because there is a kind of learned resistance to doing this. And I really do think it's learned. One of those things that grown-ups do because of the whole survival thing. Kids don't do that. If you ask a kid what he wants to be when he grows up and you will get a very detailed response. But grown-ups tend to get bogged down in pesky reality.

But it is possible, and necessary if you are going through changes, as everyone does from time to time. That's what I'm working on at the moment.. facilitating the vision and identifying the steps needed to make it come true.

Musing

2005-03-16T22:27:00.000-05:00

I've been toying with the idea of this becoming a creativity blog.. but that is an area that seems kind of covered as well:
This is devoted to leadership and creativity.
Then there is this blog about the ground rules for Creative Problem Solving.
Emotional Intelligence is discussed here.
For articles on the subject of creativity, I suggest this blog that is run by the Creative Education Foundation.

Eventually I'll figure out how to put links to other blogs and websites on the homepage.

But I kind of like that this blog is still kind of vague...
:)

Hmmm

2005-03-11T22:03:00.000-05:00

I'm kind of wondering what happened to my last post... Probably some sort of technical delay and nothing I should worry about.

So I won't.

What to post

2005-03-11T20:29:00.000-05:00

The problem isn't that I don't know what to say. In fact there are lots of people who think that the last thing I need is yet another forum. Seems I acquired the title of Loose Cannon at some point. But maybe I'm just oversensitve and spend too much time around nervous types.

No. The problem has been in deciding just what this blog is going to be for. Politics seem to be pretty well covered (see here) It's my brother's blog and a good example of the kind of ranting I am genetically capable of, but usually don't. But it's also a good blog and worth visiting. As is pop music (here) this one is my sister-in-law's.. Sometimes she puts up pictures of the kids too so check it out. I don't have children or significant other, so that's a whole realm of blogging that I'm not doing by default. As far as creative writing is concerned, I technically DO have an outlet.. but it's specific to something and so maybe that's what this blog will end up being: an additional creative outlet.

One idea was to let my friends and colleagues post here, then we could discuss and critique. So maybe I'll do that. So why does a blog need a theme? Maybe it doesn't. Maybe I'm just so used to writing with a theme or goal, that I assume I will always need one. Leaving the purpose of the blog open may just be what happens. Something unpredictable. That's pretty cool.. one of the things people are always telling me is that I need to be more spontaneous, so maybe this blog can be my bit of spontaneity.

Ok.. this is officially a blog without a purpose. It can be whatever I want it to be.

The First Post

2004-12-22T23:06:00.000-05:00

Is a test post, because I am sceptical that anything has been created as yet.. But hope springs eternal, and I might be pleasantly surprised...