Brrrr...

Yes, very cold, with lots and lots of snow here in B-town. At least it's just in time for Christmas.

Let it snow

First real snow arrived in B-town today. I took these photos standing in the atrium space at work and looking up at the glass ceiling. hahahahaha! Glass Ceiling! Wow.




I like the first one better. Both of these feel almost like stained glass to me. Very cool.

Fresh Paint

I just finished up my first "real" painting in about 6 months. It was nice to be working directly on a stretched canvas, with nothing other than paint and gesso. I'm very happy with the results. For a long time I've wanted to do a bird painting; I've discovered they seem to be my totem animal (I have a tattoo of a Phoenix on my back) and lately I've either been collecting other work with birds in it, or using birds in some of my collage work. Prior to now, however, I've never tackled the subject head on. This piece is 16 x 20" and is titled Crow Gets Rejected. All rights reserved. It's a bad photograph, the top area should be a much brighter pink, but there's basically no natural light in Vermont anymore.

More mixed media art

I just finished a new piece, in time for a show at Opportunities Credit Union on the corner of North Street and North Avenue. Ric, from Kasini House called and asked if I would put some work up there for the months of December - February. There are currently 9 pieces of mine in the show. Stop by and take a gander!

This one is called Meet Virginia, and is 18 x 24 on vellum. Very much mixed media. Acrylic paint, found images (including that great print on handmade paper of the woman's face), colored pencil, and glitter. This was a fun piece to work on; I had actually started on it months ago, and then, of course, got busy working on other projects. Having to put up a show is great for lighting a fire under my ever-widening bottom. God, I need to start doing Yoga again.

There's a New Kid in Town

Nuff' said.

Just Because I'm Paranoid...

I know you know the rest of the line. The election is less than one week from today. I know my choice, I'm proud to say I'm voting for Obama. However, I also recognize that while part of me wants to believe that he'll sweep the electoral college, part of me is terrified of what could happen instead. What if he doesn't win? I'm not kidding, I've not been sleeping well for the last several days, and I honestly believe it's because I'm so worried about the outcome of this election.

I'm 40 years old and I've seen enough Presidents to know what I want and what's important to me. I hate that our country is so desperately divided right now, and that our economy is in the toilet and that I and a few others are actually worried about our civil rights. I hate that we are in an illegal war and that every day we go deeper in debt because of it. I hate that our current President has lied to his country over and over again, has abused his power, and, quite frankly, is less intelligent than I am.

So much of my hopes for this nation, THAT I LOVE, are riding on what happens on November 5th. Not the 4th, because I believe that people will turn up, and that most folks will vote the way I want them to. No, I worry about the next day. The day of the returns. I'm not the only one who feels this way. Mitchell Bard, writing for the Huffington Post, put it beautifully- talking about voter fraud:

The Ohio problems are not unique. Early voters in West Virginia had their computer monitors flip their Obama votes to McCain, and a confusing North Carolina ballot, which excludes the presidential race when someone chooses to vote a party line, may cost Obama, by one estimate, tens of thousands of votes. Today brought news of a flyer in Virginia telling Democrats to vote on November 5 (the day after the election), and a man in Florida posing as a worker for a Democratic candidate for Congress (but whose information was traced back to a consultant of the Republican incumbent) taking ballots from Democrats and promising to deliver them. And that doesn't even include the widespread purges of voters in Democratic neighborhoods conducted by Republican state officials.

Writing about race:

Both the New York Times (Pennsylvania) and the New Yorker (Ohio) have recently done features on rust-belt white voters, and in each case, it's clear that Obama has to overcome some pretty strong race-based biases. The Times piece features one voter saying, "I'm no racist, but I'm not crazy about him either. I don't know, maybe 'cause he's black" (the person claimed to be voting for Obama anyway), while another remarks, "He scares me. The coloreds are excited, but my friends and I plan to write in Hillary's name." When I read the last line, chills of fear and disgust literally shot up my spine. I don't know what bothered me the most: that someone would care so much about a candidate's race (the positions of Clinton and Obama are so similar), that the person would admit it to a New York Times reporter, or that the person would use the term "colored." It's 2008. How often do you, in your day-to-day life, hear that word? I can remember someone using it to me once in the last 20 years (and, oddly, it happened a few weeks ago, but it had nothing to do with Obama).

So, yes, I'm having trouble falling asleep at night. But at least I'm not the only one thinking about it.

Flu Shot Drama

I ran over to my Doctor’s office for a 5-minute flu shot.

Waiting for a spot in parking lot to open up: 5 minutes.
Waiting to be called: 5 minutes.
Shot’s potentially lethal side effects read to me: 4 minutes.
Shot given: 1 minute.
Explanation of the fact that the nurse somehow got a spot of my blood on her finger: 2 minutes.
Coaxing of patient to allow them to draw blood to be tested for HIV, Hepatitis B & C: 3 minutes.
Patient sits and waits for paperwork and needles: 15 minutes.
Patient has to sign release form and give out life’s sweet nectar: 5 minutes.
Patient is allowed to leave: Priceless

Life In A Jar

Irena Sender and her daughter, 1950. Photo from Irena Sender.org

I just found out about this, and thought I'd share the news:

Two performances of Life in a Jar, the heroic story of Irena Sendler, a Catholic social worker who saved 2,500 Jewish children from certain death in the Warsaw ghetto will take place Sunday, October 19 at 2:30 PM and again at 7:30 PM at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, 188 North Prospect Street. This play was written by three girls from a poor, rural high school in Kansas, who found a brief reference to Sendler's heroism while doing research for a school history project and were moved to use the story. Governor Douglas has proclaimed October 17th as IRENA SENDLER DAY to honor both her legacy and the Life in a Jar students, who rescued Sendler's remarkable story from obscurity. The performance is suitable for all adults and for children in middle school and high school.

Six Kansas students and their teacher, Norm Conard, are coming to Vermont to present the play in Montpelier, Middlebury and Burlington. These Kansas students have performed their play in the U.S., Canada and Poland. Their presentation highlights the legacy of Irena Sendler, her belief in the worth and dignity of all people, the need to respect all people and the power of one person to make a difference in the world. Due to their efforts, Sendler, who recently died at the age of 98, became a national hero in Poland. In 2007, the President of Poland and the Prime Minister of Israel jointly nominated her for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The local performance at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue is sponsored by Christ Church Presbyterian, Merchants Bank, The University of Vermont Carolyn and Leonard Miller Center for Holocaust Studies and the University of Vermont Hillel Center. Tickets are only $5.00 apiece and are available at the door.

She's Crafty! (again)

I managed to do it; make things. I've started making jewelry using scraps left-over from all the collage work I was doing. So far just a few simple earrings and some pins. So far, I like the pins best. I have ordered some beads, however, and will be testing the waters and trying to make some bracelets and necklaces.

Here are a few images from the test runs:

Summer of Love earrings


Wild style earrings,


Modern girl pin, and


Virgin pin.

The Gwiz! name I am using for now, but that will probably change. I'm meeting with a few folks to talk about where to try and sell these, and am starting to think more about what I want my "look" to be. Pop art meets vintage? Yes, but how to pull it off... sigh. For a complete view of what I've documented so far, go here.

Education Change

Theresa is a good friend of mine.

Inside/Outside

I just finished reading a very interesting book by Greg Bottoms, who is an English professor up at UVM. It's titled The colorful Apocalypse and is about visionary Outsider artists. I looked up a few images, and it's really amazing work:



This is Idolatry by William Thompson and Norbert Kox (who is also a VA), and this image:



I'm calling River of Jordan (since I don't know the title) is by Howard Finster, who did the cover of the Talking Heads Album Little Creatures.
Bizzare and cool.

October 15, 2008

Blog Action Day will take place on October 15, 2008. On that day, you are invited to post about poverty in any way, shape or form. You just have to think about it.

Go here for more information.

More about the book

The book is getting close (I think) to finishing. At this point I have 25 images created. I dropped it off at the gallery on Friday after work, and Ric is deciding whether or not we continue. It is taking me much longer to create the images than I thought it would. I'm worried about their production schedule, and Ric's worried about the artistic process; which he wants to have be the driving factor, not when they need to publish by. I love him for that.

I had a last big push to finish up 4 different images, and here are the results:


Polar Choices,


Past Desire,


Wishful Thinking, and finally,


Some Choice. All images, all rights reserved.

One other thing- I found this in the stairwell at work after lunch today-


Seriously, they need to be reminded to turn in the lotto tickets?

Art Opening this Friday

Carol MacDonald is a local artist and faculty member of the college I work for. She's also a kind, intelligent, warm human being. Her work is beautiful and mindful. Please come! The show is in the main gallery of the Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts.

That same evening, another wonderful, funny, warm, talented local artist and faculty member will be having her opening in the gallery's Community Darkroom. Ann Clayton Barlow's work is stunning. Come check it out - below is one of her Industrial Landscapes.

Education and Politics

Educational background of candidates:
Obama:
Occidental College - Two years.
Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899

Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semesterNorth Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism

You pick, really.

How Can I resist?

This great quote showed up in my alerts today thanks to the Huffington Post:

According to London's Daily Telegraph, the architects of the Palin Doctrine are a group of people who have been singularly wrong about virtually everything in the last decade -- the neocons, who have been briefing Palin for weeks. She's perfect for the neocons: likeable on the outside, a blank slate on the inside.

Go here for the blog about it.

Turn the page

Vinnie’s book continues to make headway. Although I discovered today that the pages that I’ve been listing on my Flickr account don’t actually match up with the number of works I have created. I must have forgotten to take photos of some of them. I’m finished with 19 pages now, and am completing up to 25 and handing that in by Thursday of next week. At that point, we will re-evaluate and decide if more work is needed and change our production schedule, or if we can just publish as is.

That being said, here’s a look at the most recent stuff I’ve done:

What you don't know


Why limit yourself?


The Pink O; a mighty breath


Tethered


Drawbridge Moderne


And finally, I'm taking part in the Dance Dance Marathon again this year! I start at 6 pm tonight, and go until Midnight. If you are in downtown Burlington, Vermont tonight, swing by City Hall Park and say hello.

Wedded bliss

Look! I was crafty! I made these signs for my good friends Mark and Amy for this past Saturday. Yippee!

Fairyland

Where you can trip gaily along through the sage colored meadows...

My friend Julie is moving to the town of Bishop's Castle in another month or so, and that's on the town's website. It's really, really pretty, however, and a new excuse for me to get my passport. Plus, if Obama doesn't win the election, I'm not going to put myself through another 4 years of Republican control, and will need to leave the country.

Catch Up

So very much has been happening, I need to bring everyone up to speed, and get better about posting again.

First, Bonestock. Yes, we had a blast. The weather turned fine by late in the day on Friday, the clouds finally moving away and opening up the scenic views we were all hoping for.


This was the view on Friday evening, from the top of the hill looking down over the valley. The remainder of the weekend was picture perfect; sun, blue skies, little puffy clouds.

That's the flagpole at the top of the hill on Saturday morning. We created a wall of art,

this was the final product on Sunday morning. We listened to fantastic bands,

like The Noisy Neighbors, and we sat by a raging fire at night.



Could it have been better? Well, a bike was stolen and then found a day later in Northfield, and my tent got moved into the woods and my stuff thrown around. We had folks show up who weren't invited, and they caused some trouble. But, next year we'll do invite only and will post a watch at the bottom of the hill.

After a few days of recovery, I got back into the studio, to continue work on Vinnie's book:


Page 5,

page 6, Virginia's Room, and below, page 7, Big Bad Woolf.



Whew! Okay, I'm close to caught up, and there will be more soon...

Wordle

I have so much more posting I need to do, I realize. For now, however, just something fun.



That's my blog!

Coming Soon...Bonestock 2008!

Gearing up this weekend for Bonestock, a wonderful, one-of-a-kind music festival in Central Vermont. I haven't been for about 3 years now. This photo was taken last year, probably by my friend Erik, who owns the land. I stole it from the website. Here is my list of needs:

Cooler from Emily (she's got one with wheels)
Tent
Sleeping Bag/Pillow
Chair
Beer & Wine
Chicken (for grillin’)
Cheese & Crackers
Fruit
Eggs & sausage for breakfast
Bread
Various other snacky things
Bottled water
Toilet Paper
Insect repellent
Sun block (if I’m lucky)
Camera
Flashlight & batteries
Book in case of rain
Ice, Ice, Baby

I'll store my drinks behind the bar, and Don will dish them out as I go get:


The Bar...
It's gotten a lot bigger than the last time I was there. Lots of pictures after this weekend, I promise. I'll be down there Friday and Saturday night, as long as we don't have a ton of rain again, and back in town on Sunday.

Updated Gallery Link

For more information about Vinnie's book; go here.

Sheep & Chocolate?

This is owned by a friend of mine. Coming soon! And OMG the logo is soooo damn cute.

New Gallery Opening

‘STAMINA’
Brian Zeigler and Tara Jensen

An installation completed by Zeigler and Jensen during a twenty-four hour drawing marathon. Explores time, endurance and the meaning of life. Featuring a Q&A with the artists and DJ John Brinker.Saturday, August 9th 6-10 PMFort Can Gallery & StudiosFort Can Gallery was founded in partnership with May Day Studios in July of 2008. Featuring installation art, musical happenings and month long artist residencies, Fort Can was named in tribute to childhood hideouts and military training grounds. The gallery is open Saturdays from 10:00AM to 1:00PM and by appointment: (802) 505-0714. FortCan Blog.


Tara in front of her work in the gallery. She's a FANTASTIC artist. Go see the show.

Just because

Death by kittens

Picture Pages

More work on Vinnie's book project:


Page 3 Frida's Choice



Page 4 Requim

I will be in the studio this Friday evening until 8pm, and Saturday from 10-4. Stop by if you can.
AND, The return of Covet of the Week


Skel-E-Flamingo from PushinDaisies.com

No Foolin'!

From BCA, the weekend of August 9th, 2008. Fun, fun, fun!