a world of books

I just finished reading Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress yesterday. I picked this book up a few years ago, read the first two chapters, then let it go. I was at the library the other day, and checked it out again, and it was well worth it. I was swept into the narrator's world ---set during the cultural revolution in China on Phoenix Mountain. Our narrator is the son of a Surgeon and plays the violin while his best friend, Luo, is the son of a Dentist and a passionate storyteller. We meet the boys in a work camp where they have been sent for re-education while their parents are named enemies of the state. The first chapters describe the boys daily lives and grueling work. Half way through, it really became interesting, pitting the lack of culture and backward thinking of those in the village against the curiousity, interest and evolving thirst for books, film, etc.. by the two boys and the Little Seamstress.


I am getting ready for my Mom and Jim to come visit today in Pittsburgh. More later!

little worlds

I love this! It's a card D's friend from Japan sent to him for the holidays. It is a 3-d layered world with little santa's running around. I've stolen it so that I can examine it. I would like to make little scenes like this and photograph them.

It is so hot today- I'm schvitzing and I'm just sitting still.

Things I'm thinking about:
1. illustrations of polar bears, igloos and eskimos
2. cardboard diaroma pictures
3. purchasing a boombox and cordless tea pot for studio to make it more cozy.
4. this quote from Letters to a Young Artist by Anna Deveare Smith:
"Forget about competition. Rather, commit yourself to find out the true nature of your art. How does it really work; what is the essence of it?
Go for that thing no one can teach you. Go for that communion, that real communion with your soul, and the discipline of expressing that communion to others. That doesn't come from competition. That comes from being one with what you are doing. It comes from concentration, and from your own ability to be fascinated with the story, the song, the jump, the color your are working with."

little ideas

I have started writing here 3 separate times and then lose interest and leave for a few days and then return and delete what I had started and not finished. I'm sitting upstairs in my newly painted green room listening to a rehearsal going on downstairs. People are singing the same phrases, practicing-- I can't sleep, I can't eat......I never knew someone could be sooo sweet.....
Perfecting their technique.

I bought a few ingredients to make zucchini bread using the two ginormous zucchini's we got from Erica's crate o' veggies. We get to pick up this crate of veggies that are delivered fresh from a farm while Erica and Denver are away on vacation for 3 weeks. The fridge is fully stocked plus the tomatoes I'm growing in the backyard are starting to ripen--- so I feel a little overwhelmed with produce at the moment.

I had a great studio day on Friday-- I have been having a really hard time getting to the studio for all sorts of reasons. Then, once I'm there, I'm not sure what to do, where to start. I think it's a pretty common feeling amongst creative people. But Friday was great because I brought some new materials to work with and just let myself have fun not expecting anything great or even remotely good to happen. When I felt bored I moved on to something new. For some reason, polar bears and igloos seem to be on my brain. Not sure where that will take me but those two items have been resurfacing repeatedly. The studio is feeling more comfortable now-- I have a new wall with a doorway that makes it more private and room- like. I still have a few more items on my wishlist that will make it super duper! Each time I go there, the first thing I do is draw a picture of a fish in a small sketchbook. It's like a daily ritual- and gives me an excercise to warm up with and a way to have something to do immediately when I arrive.

Otherwise, everyone at my work was reading Harry Potter last weekend and I felt left out so Kellee was nice enough to lend me book 3, which is where I left off reading way back when. It's fun to get back into reading the books- and they are such an engrossing read. I love the way JK Rowling creates this parallel universe- I would love to sit down and have a conversation with her about her creative process. I wonder what she will write about next?

Ernesto, if you are out there- I have been thinking about you and wondering if you have a wee Mendoza yet!!!

:-)

Great ideas

I can't believe it's already July 9. The summer is in full swing and it looks like I'm not going to go on an exotic vacation-- maybe next year......

I only saw highlights from the Live Earth concerts but I think they are such a great idea and I really hope it raises more awareness and action! I love the badge and banners they have on the website too- notice the addition to the right.

We've been doing a lot of work around the house. We pulled up a gross carpet in D's office and uncovered nice hardwood floor and painted the room blue. It looks beautiful! Now, I'm planning on painting the spare bedroom/my office two shades of green. One wall will be a Behr shade called "Pesto" and the other 3 walls will offset it with "Desert Cactus." Those Behr paint people know how to make a really nice website!

I have been trying to set up my studio as well. Luckily, D and I were driving down the street and saw a wooden door in someone's garbage- so we grabbed it. It will make a great workspace tabletop. Then, we were driving down another street and saw a wooden desk on the street and nabbed two of the shallow drawers which I'm using as containers for art supplies and paper. They are swell! Later this week, a friend is going to come over and build drywall for me- so I have a more private space and then I can get busy! It will be super!

PS: You must go see Ratatouille, it is delightful!!

fruits of the earth

Hello.
This summer I have my very own vegetable patch!! Here is some romaine lettuce and basil growing in pots. I have a variety of things growing-- I planted tomatoes in the ground. Cherry tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, and red and yellow peppers in pots.


We have this crazy patch of cacti in the backyard. I never knew cactus could grow in the Northeast but apparently it does. I went outside and this flower opened in the midst of the killer cactus spikes. I remember seeing pictures from the desert last year when the ground was covered with these cacti in flower-- it was quite stunning and there are more on the way. I'm not showing a wide angle of all the cacti because it is overgrown with weeds and a huge mess. But they are really cool if you can ignore the messy parts.
I went to the farmers market today and bought beautiful strawberries, green onions for 75 cents, and red leaf lettuce for $1.50.

Happy Tuesday!

Happy June!

People, I need help! How do I widen the margins of this part of my blog?? I have looked in the help section but couldn't figure it out. If anyone knows can you email me?? It's driving me crazy !!




I ushered in the month of June in the pastoral town of Foxburg, PA. Set on the Allegheny, this sleepy village consists of the Foxburg Inn, (est. 2006- where we stayed), the Allegheny Grille right next door, the Free Library- built in 1909, complete with charming small theatre, the Foxburg Winery and two antique shops. D had a gig with the lovely Daphne Alderson, who tells wonderful stories about Marlene Dietrich and Edith Piaf interspersed with singing their songs in her contraalto voice.


So, we arrived Friday afternoon- the air smelled sweet and clean, green trees lined our way. The inn sits right on the river, which was placid the whole weekend and reflected the woods as clearly as a mirror. Friday and Saturday night the band performed, and the rest of the time consisted of eating, taking in the scenery, and a nice 3 mile walk around a trail where we saw a frog and horseshoe prints in the mud. It was pleasant except for all the gnats that were flying around our faces.


Today, I am back at work at City Theatre. It's a quiet day and I thought I would catch up on the blog.


I finally secured a studio space! I haven't had an opportunity to move any supplies in yet but I am chomping at the bit to start work! CHOmping at the bit!


I am reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan - he sometimes writes about food for the NY Times and this book is terrible and fascinating...Terrible to learn about the Agricultural practices employed in the US, and what little choice we have when it comes to sustainable/organic food bought in the mainstream grocery and fascinating to see how mother nature battles big industry and loses and how we as a nation lose out because of it.

The part that has captured me most entirely is when Pollan discusses the writing of Sir Albert Howard (1873-1947).

Pollan says:
"The philosophy underlying Howard's conception of organic agriculture is a variety of pragmatism, of course, the school of thought that is willing to call "true" whatever works. Darwin taught us that a kind of pragmatism--he called it natural selection-- is at the very heart of nature, guiding evolution: What works is what survives.....In Howard's agronomy, science is mostly a tool for describing what works and explaining why it does. As it happens, in the years since Howard wrote, science has provided support for a great many of his unscientific claims: Plants grown in synthetically fertilized soils are less nourishing than ones grown in composted soils; such plants are more vulnerable to pests and disease.......the health of the soil, plant, animal, human, and even nation are, as Howard claimed, connected along lines we can now begin to draw with empirical confidence. "

I thought this was really interesting-- a holistic worldview which I can relate to --the health of the soil directly relates to the health of the population--look at all of our landfills, pollut lands and waters and the disposable culture in which we live..... this was leading me to another observation and it just fell out of my head....oh well.
Pollan calculates that if the 16 million acres currently used to grow corn for cows (which they are not biologically meant to eat) were instead transformed into well-managed grass pastures 14 billion pounds of carbon would be removed from the atmosphere each year. That is the equivalent removing 4 million cars from the road.
wow-- that is an astounding number.

Mondays Blues on a Beautiful Spring Day

I have been SO lazy today I can't believe it! Went to the gym, then came home and had a lay down. Ate breakfast and had a laydown. Took a shower and had a laydown. Planted one hanging basket and had a laydown. BLAH. It is so gorgeousa outside and, I am feeling slightly blase about life, art and what to do today. For the last couple of weeks, I have been working to make our backyard more garden friendly, doing a little spring cleaning although, from the room I'm sitting in, you could not tell. Dreaming about going on an exotic vacation to mark the occasion of entering my 30th year on the planet next month.

Things I have been thinking about recently:
Buying a compost bin
the articles I read in last sunday's new york times magazine special on "eco-architecture" which I found fascinating and now misplaced the magazine.
cleaning the bathtub
buying a new shower curtain
cleaning the kitchen floor
making some art
becoming a member of the Carnegie Museum
becoming a member of Pittsburgh Filmmakers
the polar ice caps melting
cooking like Martha Stewart
Bjork's new album
Icelandic art
friends I haven't talked to in a while
positive people
yoga
Lost
?

le jardin

The joys of the garden! I have been spending a lot of time planting veggies and flowers. Luckily, someone who lived here before planted a bed of irises, hydrangeas and hostas and tulips. I've added to and trimmed what's already here.
I planted vegetables in pots including red and yellow peppers, tomatoes, and an herb garden. I'm so excited to see how everything is growing.

Happy Belated Earth Day

Welcome Spring!

Saturday.
Noon. We painted the deck, mowed the lawn and reorganized the spare bedroom. I thought about what to do to get the garden started. And admired the tulips.
6:34 pm, our backyard neighbor, Mr. Woodchuck came out for dinner. He is the size of a large rabbit. Maybe even larger.
6:55pm Douglas plays a song and yells "son of a bitch" every time he screws up. (often)
6:57pm Douglas yells YEAH loudly.
6:58pm I sit upstairs typing and listening to the music-- both piano and vocal.

Bring in da new!

RRRRg- I just spent all this time rearranging the pictures I wanted to upload only to discover it didn't work. Anyway, the top pic is a view of the backyard. Off to the right is a view of the South Side and the Monongahela River. Along the left retention wall is a garden left by the previous owners where tulips and Irises are growing, and some other mystery bulbs. The fences along both sides are rotting and the one in the back is falling down-- I would love to replace them and put hedges along the back. I can't wait to plant a garden of veggies and herbs. The backyard seems like a big blank canvas to me-- we talked about making a small stage in the backyard for someone to stage plays and performances with a view of the river behind. It'll be so nice in the summer- when the weather warms up again! I have started some projects around the house-- tying all the newspapers Douglas has collected in prep for recycling them-- here is one of what will be 2 piles. I also organized some cabinets in the kitchen (this made a really boring picture). The pre- organized cabinet was full of packing materials, phone books, and paper plates/plastic utensils. Now, it's stocked up with some food! My other favorite project was purchasing a shower filter and installing it myself- When I did that though, I cracked the old showerhead! So I replaced it with a massaging shower head with different settings-- NICE! I love being handy around the house! Next we have one side of the living room-- notice the teeny tiny couch- it's more of a love seat-- that's my geisha collage above on the left- and Doug's friend Susannah's painting on the right. Here is a view from the dining room looking into the front of the house-- which is the living room on the other side from the love seat (the backyard is behind me from this angle). There's Douglas at the piano. We're thinking about painting the dining room light blue instead of yellow.

Meanwhile, I started my new part time job at the City Theatre box office. Everyone there has been very warm and welcoming. Last week was a good time to start since they're between productions and it was on the slow side. I take phone orders and will at the will call office on Thursdays and Sundays handing out tickets. It's pretty laid back and flexible. I will work there 4 days a week-- but some of the hours are a little odd.

D and I have gone to see 3 movies: The Lives of Others (Excellent), The Namesake (Good), and Hoax (Really great!!) The Lives of Others is the German film that won Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards-- It is set in 1984 in East Germany, the Stasi (secret police) create a climate of distrust and stifle any criticism of the state-- The story focuses in on one particular Stasi officer who is staking out a playwrite under suspiscion of being an 'enemy of the state.' The officer is depicted as solely devoted to his job. He has no family, just a lonely apartment. He has no social outlet, or creative life. His scenes are filmed in a harsh gray, drained light. Meanwhile, the playwrite has friends and a creative circle of author, playwrite friends-- he collects books on all kinds of subjects, reads Brecht, plays piano, lives with his girlfriend who is also an actress in his play. The invisible relationship that forms between the Stasi officer and the playwrite holds just enough suspense and the actor who plays the officer handles his transformation -- from cold and removed to taking an interest in music, and reading Brecht-- to becoming emotionally involved in the lives of the playwrite and the actress --- delicately and with smooth transition...... Great movie!!
That's all for now!
see ya!

This American Life.....

....is what I'm listening to right now. I saw Ira Glass talk a couple of weeks ago at the Center for Fine Arts at UB. He was super, funny, charismatic, easy going, very open and receptive to the audience. Anyways, what I'm listening to now is a show but there's a bit he used in his talk about the OC (rip) and how much he loved it! Seth is talking to Summer on the phone and Taylor is in his room and Summer says, "is there a girl in your room?" and Seth tells her he's llistening to this American Life. Summer's retort: "Is that the show where hipster know-it-alls talk about how faaaascinating ordinary people? BLLLLEEEEhhhhh. Ira Glass got a real kick out of that as did the audience while he was recounting his own reaction to watching this show-- jumping out of his chair in astonishment and delight. Also, just now on the radio, he talked about how he and his wife would sing the theme song to The OC at full volume--- which is EXACTLY what I used to do!


I loved that show too in the first few seasons, but in the end I lost interest and stopped watching. Anyhoo, I'm here in Pittsburgh, coming up on my one week anniversary tomorrow.

God Grew Tired of Us

Every once in a while, I see something that really inspires me and makes me want to help change the world. I saw this movie, God Grew Tired of Us, the other day with my Mom and it was so moving and so well done, it made me want to become a human rights worker or volunteer for one of the UN Aid programs in Africa or SouthEast Asia. It should be mandatory for every American kid to see this film, mandatory for a lot of adults too. I'm not going to write a summary of the film because you can read that here . Just go see it and be prepared to re-evaluate how the world works.

Barbie!!!!

Can anyone tell me why I am so excited about this??
I don't know but I got the postcard in the mail and I was squealing like a little girl!
Check out the new MAC Barbie Cosmetics here.
I love that pink lipstick!

This past week I have been craving Anderson's bbq roast beef sandwiches,and have indulged in them twice-- once on Tuesday, I had a bbq beef on a soft roll with a chocolate milkshake (don't tell the rabbi!!). Today, I had the same sandwich with a loganberry and curly fries. This is quintessential Buffalo summer fare. Maybe I was feeling the need for summer this week! It's so weird for me to be craving meat though!!

The other thing I have been obsessing about-- locating the nice vegetable peeler I have packed up in a box from my old apartment. I would like to give this veg. peeler to D. because his, one of these days, is going to take half my finger off!
And after rummaging around for a bit, I found it! Yeah-- I think it's funny that I'm planning on staying in Pittsburgh for awhile and the biggest thing I'm worried about is a carrot peeler.


Notice the new header!! I had to go through a few tries to get it to work. I wanted to make it wider but I couldn't figure it out! I love it though! I have this very adorable mini Japanese calendar from 1998 that has tiger pictures (that's where the picture is from) then I added the title and altered the background color and added the pink dots. The flower was originally blue.

Layering and layering and layering

Ok, after some finagling I finally figured out how to put this neat-o video clip onto my blog!! Yay, I'm so behind with technology.

So this is a film of Picasso painting and it is really incredible to see all the stages he goes through, the ease of his line as he initially draws, the sense of experiment and playfulness he uses with color. I liked seeing how he laid down big blocks of color and then broke them up and repainted them and just kept experimenting. This makes painting look so fun! It makes me want to see this movie, and make some paintings.




Also, I had the good fortune to watch Oprah today. It was all about living well, and party planner extraordinaire Colin Cowie was the guest. The clips they showed of these weddings he designed were just so ornate, lavish, and over the top-- it was crazy! In fact, it kind of made me a little sick- I can't even imagine how much these two couples spent on their separate weddings-- one in Capri, and the other had a party on the stage of the Met and then a garden party themed wedding.
Anyway, after the totally over the top wedding clips, they went to Colin Cowie's Manhattan apartment and he took us on a tour-- it too was totally incredible in a sort of sickening way. Here he is in his immaculate highly organized kitchen.


His closet was probably the size of my dining room. with sections for each type of clothing which were hung according to color. Now those of you that know me well may know I have a thing for closet organization and wooden hangers- and the potential boutique-ness of the closet- so part of me was salivating and then the other part of me was questioning this dichotomy that Oprah sets up by being so popular with stay at home Moms, yet elevating all these costly, luxurious, seemingly out of reach asthetics as standards to live your best life. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE OPRAH. But was anything that I saw today REALLY attainable? Unless you are picked to be on the show and have a makeover--home, clothing, or whatever, can the average American household do this kind of stuff?? Maybe a lot of people can. I just know that as I'm sitting back watching all the luxuriousness, I feel like it's happening in a world that's not entirely in touch with reality.
Then again, Oprah's underlying message is to dream big and live your passion, etc. etc etc.

Oy, I'm giving myself a bit of a headache thinking about it.

Please enjoy the vid.

Little Treasures

I couldn't wait to see what was in this tiny box Ellis gave me in thanks. I carefully unstuck the special tape so as not to tear the paper. I slowly slid the box outside of its lovely wrapping.

I examined the Japanese characters on the sticker affixed to the gold-flecked box with a red bottom.
I opened the box.

I peeled the delicate tissue paper apart.





And inside I found eight gorgeously sculpted candies to be eaten while drinking green tea.

My favorite is the crane whose feathers fan out behind his graceful neck and who has the tiniest pinkish red dot above his beak.

These are too beautiful to eat! I will treasure them!

Thank you Ellis!

Sketchbook

Sketches from Pittsburgh:
the chandelier in D's dining room
my latte
fellow patrons of the 61c cafe.

New Work

Hello, here is a sneak peek at a new project I'm working on. It's in the beginning stages....but something I have wanted to start for a looooong time.
I have been looking at a lot of design websites- especially design*sponge. It has led me to all sorts of interesting diy types, which interests me.
I've been pretty inspired while visiting the burgh-- Today, D and I went to Lulu's Noodles for lunch and then to this really cute Crepe Parisiennes-- they don't have a website or I would link it. We ate a dark chocolate crepe topped with whipped cream and walnuts. It was divine. We also had delicious coffee -very rich. I made some changes in my website-- so please check those out too!

Dreams from Movieland

Ok-- Doug and I are on a movie role. In the past week we saw Notes on a Scandal and Babel. Before commentary on those, let me just say, I was so ridiculously sad and moved by the euthenization of Barbaro the horse. What a crazy story that this horse became a celebrity and there was this outpouring of love, well wishes and sympathy from the public on the level of Princess Di or JFK Jr. Well, maybe not quite to that level but yeah sorta.... this morning on CNN there was a 5 minute montage of Barbaro including all the cards and drawings people put up outside the animal hospital where he was treated. If only the people in Darfur or religious sects in Iraq treated each other with that kind of humanity and compassion-- the world might be in a better place than it is right now. I heard Tom Friedman in an interview the other day on Onpoint on NPR and among his interesting statements, the one that struck me the most was when he talked about how there is no MLK Jr., or Ghandi figure in all the violence-- There is no voice of non-violent reasoning with enough political clout, visibility, and resonating voice to rise up above the masses and create a ripple effect. Sometimes, I feel like the world is careening out of control and accelerating at a rate that is so fast- we are just going to implode. I have always been interested in being more "green" and doing my share to be environmentally friendly. In our society though, it is NOT easy. Of late, it seems more imperative to try to be more eco-conscious especially because I honestly don't see how the Earth can support all the people in the world if we continue using its resources thoughtlessly and greedily. I'm worried people, I AM WORRIED. In other news, why is it that the Italian fashion industry instituted health measures to be taken for anorexic models and then I read that Brazilian models are becoming more and more thin and anorexic when earlier standards of Brazilian bombshell beauty included a voluptuous figure and shapely bottom.....and then today I hear about how there is this big uproar that Tyra Banks gained some weight......huh? what? Oy
Anyway, all this ranting is making me hungry.
So, Babel-- after all the hype, we were expecting to walk out of the theatre totally depressed and nearly comatose, but we just weren' t that moved. I found the film trying to make a statement about crossing borders and understanding each other, living in a globalized world yet having no interconnection, but I felt like the movie was lacking a clear moral, political, ethical power punch. Plus the fact that all the story lines were wrapped up with a neat little bow at the end, and in essence everybody was going to be ok.....Hollywood ending. bada bing bada boom. It definitely wasn't a feel good movie- I just wasn't sure what the movie makers wanted me to feel. Also, D made a really good point about how the movie should have had fewer story lines and more character development. The most unique filmic moment happened when Chieko was in the nightclub and we saw an exterior view of flashing lights, pounding music, and everyone dancing, interspersed with Chieko's internal experience of no sound and understanding her surroundings. This movie left me with a lot of unanswered questions both about the characters, (what were Brad and Cate doing in Morrocco- besides the mysterious death of their kid, why was their marriage so strained?, what was Chieko's deal? did she kill her mother? or was she just so traumatized by her mother's death that she was in a deep depression and looking for love in all the wrong places?.....what happened to Mike and Debbie and the asshole, Santiago?
Overall-- I was disappointed.
Ok-- now I really have to go eat lunch-- back later!

keeping busy on a cold winter's day

Here are pictures I took around my neighborhood in Buffalo. I've been trying to do more photographing of late, whether it's on a fieldtrip or setting something up at home.

I guess every person whose life is creative in nature has a struggle with his or her art, some more than others. Sometimes, I have a lot of fun doing what I do and other times, I really start to doubt myself usually thinking that a. I have no technique, or b. that what I'm working on is stupid. Often, I really wish I had a mentor that could lend a guiding, reinforcing hand. I also wish I had a wealthy patron to float me financially so that I don't have to work at a day job. But, these are the dreams of all artists, right. Two nights ago, Douglas and I watched a DVD about the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. It was really a wonderful, inspiring film. All the dancers who are still alive gave interviews and were incredibly good looking and glamorous well into their eighties! The film documented the ups and downs, travels, and dancers of the company throughout the years. I highly recommend!

Meanwhile, I have been busy with art projects, knitting a dress, and yesterday I had a delightful afternoon cooking. I made vegetable soup. For dinner, I made tilapia in a butter, olive oil, garlic and ginger sauce with a sweet potato and green beans on the side. Who knew, there is a little domestic goddess a la Nigella Lawson in me.
I like this picture of Chapin Park during the ice storm. Each tree is encapsulated in a layer of ice and it just looked so symmetrical and beautiful even though it was a gray day. The trees looked topped off by the October storm we had. The weight of all the snow snapped the branches like toothpicks. It is snowing in Pittsburgh right now, Douglas is practicing on the piano. and I'm trying to stay warm by laying my palms on the laptop which is nice and toasty.



I have some good news.
I will be participating in Music is Art Live for the second time, on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007. I'm very excited about that. Also in the works, an exhibit at the arts council in May.