Thursday, December 4, 2008

Print Created for Community Legal Resources


Community Legal Resources connects lawyers and communities by fostering pro bono legal representation for unfulfilled legal needs of nonprofit community organizations in Michigan that serve low-income individuals and communities, with an emphasis on community economic development activities.

In honor of CLR's 10th Anniversary they had commissioned me to create prints to be awarded to the law firms and lawyers who volunteered their services to make a better Detroit. Thus, my first time (since I've been back in Michigan) that I will be known as a Detroit local artist.

Documentation of work in progress to the final presentation of my print below:

1
Pre-cutting 6 1/2" X 9" pieces of paper.


2
Creating the final sketch.

3
I had to scan the final sketch and the text for the print to make an inverted copy before drawing the design on the block.

4

5
Hours and hours of carving with a hand that has arthritis, only to find out...


6
...that my first try on this block didn't work out and I made the "g" in the CLR logo backwards.

7
Starting all over on a new block, more clean.

8

9
Ready to print.

10

Testing the print.

11
Making "Space 311" into a printing factory.

12
Hanging to dry.


13
Signed and numbered.

14
Framing and adding business cards.


15
Finished.

16
Packing up.

17
Ready to go.

18
Some of the aftermath.



19
The 32nd floor of the Guardian Building in downtown Detroit.

20
My prints being awarded to law firms and lawyers. [Blurry, but documented.]

21 22

23 24

25 26

A lawyer sits back at one of the tables with his award on his lap at the end of the night.

27 28

29



Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Conceptual Sketches for CLR, Take 2...


...they want a more "neighborhood"/community kind of feel.

I hope one of these works out:











Monday, November 24, 2008

Works In Progress: Living Space/Working Space


Both living space and work space is very important for me to be able to rest and create. I have the right to be nit picky about the space I will be producing art work in, coming up with ideas, and where I
escape to have some solitude.

Not finished yet. But I've come a long way in almost three months, from this:






[click link for more BEFORE pictures]


to this...



Surrounded by my favorite books and comics to keep me inspired or for reference. In the closet I have my coats and shoes and camera bags, electronics stuff, recordings stuff, etc. All packed away nice and neat.





I'm currently borrowing my father's laptop. Eventually this desk will be thrown away. This desk annoys me actually and the bottom shelf of it always hits my legs. I need it for now so I can work on a project that should be finished before the end of this week. My own computer will eventually be hooked up to the Internet. Which will be good so I can work on website stuff. Also, my friend Emily is sending me a bamboo mat and pen! I will have so much working with this on my computer!




Eventually I am going to panel this blank wall with a large bamboo blind/curtain. My friend Jen has this all over her apartment and it looks wonderful and so natural. The boxes of stuff in front of the filing cabinet will eventually be filed and it will be nice to have that part of the room cleared off and free of clutter. Also, I need to organized the office supplies and such in this area.



Yummy art supplies and yummy Internet.



The blue canvas bin in the middle holds at least 5 years worth of in progress art projects, notes, and ideas... to be sorted out and worked on in 2009. The plant clippings you see in the vase was given to me from my friend Jen. She has them growing all over her apartment. There is a ceiling hook in front of my window in this room. When the roots grow out enough I am going to plant it in soil and hang the plant. I would like to think that this plant symbolizes the friendships I made in Chicago and how I would like for then to keep growing. I am so bad lately with keeping in touch. But I'm currently reading Van Gogh's letters and that is very inspiring.


When I get rid of this desk, I'm moving the t.v. over and placing my art/drafting table where the t.v. is. On the wall I plan to put a cork board where I can thumbtack notes, clippings, and images for inspiration, etc. I prefer not to tape these things to the wall.


I am also taking away this ugly, white, lacy curtain and replacing it with bamboo window blinds.









BEDROOM:




Against this wall I plan to buy this from etsy.com:





A reminder of all things Henri, who used to sleep at the foot of my bed. Appropriately title "Come Back, Welsh Corgi."



Free of clutter, more space, less distraction. Where I plan to only read my books and SLEEP. How appropriate, and Van Gogh piece to look at every time I wake up in the morning.







I have artwork I bought from local artists in San Francisco and in New Orleans. I want to keep this tradition going every time I visit a new city.

I need to get a bed skirt for my bed and a little night stand for that corner near the window at the edge of the bed. My room holds the cable modems/wireless connections and such. So I need to somehow hide all those ugly wires and also have a place to put my tissue box and lotion and such.

Eventually, I will have to get rid of those pink walls.

To Buy List:



  • new laundry basket

  • bed skirt

  • picture hangers/nails

  • light shade of bamboo blinds (measure windows)

  • darker shade of bamboo blinds (measure west wall)

  • art/drafting table desk

  • plant hanger/plant pot

  • new trash can

  • night stand

  • welsh corgi art print

  • cork board


Some Conceptual Sketches...


...that I'm playing around with for a project:









Friday, November 21, 2008

A Must Have














I'm looking to buy one of these or find a used one.
I like the middle one the best. The one with the steel, curvy legs.
All are just a little under $200.
I am still broke.


Wednesday, November 19, 2008

studio space




I found this post from Penelope Dullaghan to be enouraging. [I want to write "inspiring" right now, but for some reason at this moment, I'm not digging that word. Sounds almost hoke-y.]

  • Been working on a room in the house to do my artwork in over the last 2 weeks. There is still much to be done. (Pictures later.)
  • I currently have "The artist within : portraits of cartoonists, comic book artists, animators, and others by Greg Preston" on hold at the library. I'm excited to get my hands on it. I LOVE looking at other artists working space!

All of this and the winter is making feel a little bit more relaxed. Nice to finally claim space in the place that you will be living in for a while. Especially to do, what you do best.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Starry Night


The famous painting of Vincent Van Gogh. It is speaking more to me these days...



Monday, November 3, 2008

Galaxie 500's "Another Day"

I was your light
To the ...
Why do you cry today
Just because the sky is grey?
Cause it's okay if everyday
Is not the same way
It's just another way
That everyday is not the same
How can you see the sky
When you close your eyes?
How can you run away
Just because the sky is grey?
Cause it's okay if everyday

Is not the same way
It's just another way
That everyday is not the same
Cause it's okay if everyday
Is not the same way
It's just another way
That everyday is not the same

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Take Care To Fall

Take care to fall, everyone.






Friday, October 24, 2008

Project to Tackle Before Spring 2009

  • art studio/art space (ASAP)
  • artwork for CLR (before Dec. 2nd)
  • artwork for ASC (before spring event)
  • website for NDCAAI (?)

Brainstorming Notes: CLR Project (Part 1, 21/22 OCT 08)



















Brainstorming Notes: Keep Working, Girlfriend (Part 1, 25 SEPT 08)



Thursday, September 11, 2008

Tim O a short film by Ben Shearn


About 2 years ago I met Ben Shearn at a stand-up comedy open mic in Wicker Park. He and I ended up hanging out a couple of times before he moved to L.A. I googled him and found his
mother's blog that she updates daily. I subscribed to it and was inspired that she was always producing artwork and/or talking about art.

A couple of months ago I found a short film he made on Tim O'Malley in regards to Tim's sobriety (you see, Ben is a recovering drug addict as well). One thing that I found curious about Ben, (via internet stalking, I had a huge crush on him you see, and I won't deny it, but he knows that; We're facebook friends now) is that he seemed to always be probing for answers to deep questions. Like any good creative, artist...

He is wonderfully multi-talented and am happy to know that he is out there being productive in L.A. (These words seems to me, too light, but I have much to say, and I don't know how to type my words right now without going on and on and on...)










Some of of Ben's genius can be found here:
http://www.bitterjester.com/tct/picsvids/vids.aspx

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Angel Hearts Mandy


Mandy covering Alicia Keys for Evan and Pamela during their wedding reception at Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant.


(Angel loves Mandy and she wishes she was taking another Simon Anderson Fluxus class with her and Alyce.)

Monday, August 11, 2008

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Mkl.


from
http://www.glasvochtrecords.com/sub-ported/blue_sanct/blue_sanct.htm:

Je hebt opnames gemaakt met artiesten als Rivulets en Angelica Busque. Wie is die Angelica Busque precies? Er is heel weinig informatie over haar te vinden.
Michael: I know. Angelica is een soort van geluidskunstenares uit Chicago. Ze maakt ook tekeningen. Onlangs heeft ze trouwens een award gewonnen voor haar tekeningen. Angelica lijdt aan een spierziekte en die vormt het thema van de tekeningen waar ze die prijs voor heeft gewonnen.
Angelica is eigenlijk een ex-vriendin van mij. Destijds hebben we opnamesessies gedaan voor De Avonden op de VPRO. Tijdens het optreden van vanavond heb ik nog een paar soundsculpturen afgespeeld die zij gemaakt heeft.
Wat de samenwerkingen met Rivulets betreft: Nathan (aka Rivulets, nvdr.) en ik zijn een nieuw project begonnen dat Infinite Life Limited heet. Ik denk dat het een logische combinatie wordt van Rivulets en Drekka.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

artbabe


I am currently figuring out my lesson plan for the high schoolers to create DIY mini-comics/comic. You got to hand it to Jessica Abel and her website. She is amazing for putting this out there:
http://www.artbabe.com/comicsandart/diy/diy_make.html

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Randomness Within Reason



- Randomness within reason:
_______________________


This just isn't random. It was supposed to happen. I was working the night shift at one of the side gates at Midsommarfest last weekend. i was working at a gate where hardly anyone passed through. It was the last 30 minutes of my shift. This boy passed by me and started talking about the bands being so loud. And I told him that I usually carry around earplugs. And he asked me what I do to be carrying those around. I told him my ears get sensitive, I studied in the sound department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. It turns out that in the 80's he was a student at SAIC. And he is an experimental sound artist as well. YOU DON'T JUST RANDOMLY BUMP INTO ANOTHER EXPERIMENTAL SOUND ARTIST THE WAY I JUST DID LAST WEEK. We talked on and on about my favorite instructor Nic Collins and started getting into depth about living as an artist, for my need to read
"The Long Emergency" and about getting into our own rituals to start the day in creating. We talked back and forth recommending things to read, to listen to, to check out. We talked about the pros and cons of being an artist in both the a small city and big city. His ex-boyfriend passed by and he was really funny about it and was happy that he was a like a chameleon and could not be seen.

The two things I took away in my 30 minutes of talking to this stranger that I needed so badly:

1.
Damien, the boy I met, told me that Detroit has always and will always have one of the most powerful artist communities he has ever seen. There is a sense of healing in Detroit and rebuilding in Detroit that most cities have never experienced because they haven't been through the struggles that Detroit has been through. Detroit is a very, very important and powerful place.

2. "If you are an artist you have the responsibility to live out your visions."
As artists you have a voice, the ability to heal and reconstruct.

And then we introduced ourselves and departed. I know that I won't ever see this guy again, but he is
exactly what I needed when I came back from Detroit just 48 hours before I met him and he is exactly what I needed to be strong, knowing what I need to do when I go back to Michigan and I didn't lose a thing about myself by moving back.

As most people have been telling me these last two weeks,
"You know who you are and you will do really well in life because of this, no matter where you are."

It seems lately I have been accepting and letting go a lot of stuff in my life and receiving much mentally back. I keep getting giddy and happy about it.

Followed up talking to Damien, with sitting next to Emily at a bar. (She has majorly influenced me so many ways as an artist and has supported me greatly since I have known her.) She told me it will be good for me to rest. To not worry about bills and such that I have to maintain to keep my daily life here in Chicago. It will be good to be able to sit down and concentrate on my health and my artwork. I agree.

I am currently setting up my goodbye show. Contacting people that have been in my Chicago life in the last ten years. I feel loved, supported, and happy.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

ACCOMPLISHMENTS in the last 2 months:
  • Learning how to cook my mother's pansit and lumpia. I can now cook my own version of pansit and it has become second nature to me to know how to cook it.
  • Finished REACH PLATE for Boston's REACH Beyond Domestic Violence Annual Plate Auction.
  • Created 5 "Take-Home Art Activities" and samples of activities for the parenting class to work on with their children.
  • Created a 20 minute end-of-the-year video presentation for the After School Program.
  • Designed an AmeriCorps brochure for the program to recruit new members.
  • Designing/Designing a postcard for LEAF to announce our move to the new location.
  • Created a sample scrapbook/artists book for the parenting class using my nephew, Owen as the example.
  • Assisted in helping the parenting class make scrapbooks/artists books of their children.
  • Created several lesson plans for the daycare and samples of the lesson plans.
  • Created 2 huge paintings/banners for Global Youth Service Day.
  • Taught 1st graders a lesson about Recycling.
  • Created 3 posters on Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse.
  • Helped in the food can drive that us AmeriCorps members donated to Cornerstone Community Outreach.
  • Taught the parenting class how to make butterfly kites with sticks, colored tissue paper, and string--they may or may not have flown.
  • "Co-taught" staff how to make sushi rolls w/Julie.
  • Sold one of my art pieces at Feed the Beast to one of my friends.
  • Exhibiting artwork at the Chicago Cultural Center.

SHORT TERM GOALS/TO DO LIST:
  • Get my bike fixed.
  • Do my laundry.
  • Clean my room.
  • Update resume.
  • Add paypal to website so people can start buying my comics on-line.
  • Get cooking tools to aid my discovery in my love for wok-cooking.
  • Buy a sushi knife.
  • Getting boxes for the move.
  • Create a farm scene/mural for the daycare wall on butch paper so the kids can begin adding farm animals and other farm stuff to it for this week's theme.
  • Mail REACH plate.
  • Teach high schoolers in 2 afternoons in the beginning of July how to make a DIY xerox comic book.
  • Create "TO DO BEFORE I LEAVE CHICAGO" list.

LONG TERM GOALS:
  • Start saving up to have my own artist studio and/or turn one of the bedrooms in Michigan into an artist studio.
  • Use my AmeriCorps Education Award to get a new laptop and to take beginning classes in website design, graphic design, print production and/or children's illustration.
  • Thinking about moving out to California to be with my comedian and artists friends who have moved out there in the last couple of years.
  • File every piece of paper in my bedroom.
  • Starting my own business painting murals for nurseries, children's bedrooms, elementary schools, and daycares.

GOOD THINGS:
  • Bone folders.
  • Adam Snow's "mixtapes" on the internet.
  • Finally watching all of Star Wars. (I TOTALLY remember of course watching this countless of times when I was younger, more as a memory, but I never really knew the storyline.)
  • My art supplies.
  • Finally losing weight.
  • Darkstar Video.
  • Living in Chicago for ten years exactly at the end of August.
  • Lola from Dr. Katz's office.
  • Getting my haircut from Tigerlillie.
  • Finding my ring with the dove on it while cleaning my bedroom a couple of weeks ago.
  • Wearing necklaces again.
  • Experimented and wore lipstick for the first time in 16 years.
  • Buying super, super, super cheap sashimi at the Korean grocery store.
  • Jodi's booklist.
  • Adam's Pixelated Reviews.
  • Remember the Milk.
  • Goodreads.
  • Malbec red wine.
  • Remy Martin XO.
  • Devin & the Straights.
  • Borrowing James laptop for work.
  • Scorpio Sardo's drinks.
  • Spending Mother's Day with James and Jeremy and a bunch of Jeremy's friends--where Jeremy made miso soup, salmon maki, and edamame, and I made pansit and lumpia--It was a hit.
  • Going to Six Flags with James and his son for Memorial Day.
  • Grocery shopping at Harvest Time with Steve.
  • Hanging out at good ol' Beans and Bagels with Adam and Steve.
  • Going to finally be a part of my nephew's life now that I am moving back to Michigan.
  • Facing the problems/situations that I left behind 10 years ago like an adult.
  • Talking to Sharry about Maxwell's Street Market and her need to cook even when she is not hungry, which that conversation influenced me in cooking more as well.
  • Hiromi's (Japanese/Filipino family owned restaurant open until 2 a.m. with karaoke in Tagalog, Japanese, Spanish, & English, BYOB)--this is where I am going to have my goodbye party.

CURRENTLY:
  • Starting to feel a bit more grounded.
  • Being able to relax and read.
  • Realizing how much I don't care that much about the Kids in the Hall anymore because I didn't even know they were here in Chicago a while ago or the fact that I am now 6 degrees away from them through the people in comedy scene in Chicago.
  • Wanting to attack Kristy's bing cherries and mango.
  • Reading Augusten Burrough's "Dry."
  • Reading Jeremy's copy of Rilke's "Letters to a Young Poet."
  • About to go to Schuba's "Your Sunday's Best" with Kristy for pre-midnight celebrating/partying for her 30th birthday!/(It's been a long time since I've watched stand-up comedy.)
  • Have artwork exhibiting at the Chicago Cultural Center until July 20th.


ESSENTIAL BLOG POSTS FOR ME TO READ

[Click on blog title to read more than the excerpts.]

Freed Om
"I had been hanging on and clinging to so much lately (worry, fear, anxiety, monkey mind), and this was like a smack in the forehead. — Hey Lope! Letting it go means freeing your spirit/god/universe/om and getting out of the way. It means connecting with something bigger than yourself and trusting in that instead of being closed off from it. Letting every outcome be what it is and trusting that it fits into a bigger picture that we are too close to see."


The Wind Is Blowing
"...with each of these choices I create my life. No one else does this. And I have been thinking about all these things lately… my choices. Sometimes we say one thing is important, and yet we do another. So is that really important to us? Or is it trumped by our actions?

Maybe it’s like steering a ship… you have to keep readjusting the sails to keep on course. And sometimes you have to put down the anchor and get the map back out to check your coordinates."


Personal Essay: Just Let it Roll
"I like to avoid stress. That is, I intentionally avoid adding stress, in addition to the everyday stresses I cannot avoid. For example, I can't avoid pain, no matter which way I dodge. I can't avoid the necessity of working or office politics. I can't avoid all family obligations and relationship strains, in fact, living with someone like me can't be easy."


The Gift of Receiving: Vulnerability Can Open to You to the Boundless Generosity of Others
"Several years ago, when I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hips, I read everything I could find about coping with chronic illness. I was amazed at how often I'd stumble on a paragraph that advised patients to "look for the gift in your pain." Pain is a gift? Where's my return policy?

Pain is a gift? Thanks, but no thanks, I'd mutter to myself. I had just turned 44 and hadn't planned on slowing down so soon. I still had miles to go with my journalism career..."


Top 10 Study Tips and Suggestions For Those Living With A Chronic Illness
"Coming from a lover of all learning and a future teacher, school and all of the studying it encompasses means everything to me. A true perfectionist, I wanted to prove that my chronic illnesses would not keep me from succeeding in something that was so intrinsically personal to me..."


Lupus and Social Security Disability Benefits
"I think probably the most common mis-conception about SSD is that your disability claim will be determined by your medical records and what your own physician has stated in your medical records. This is NOT how it works! You need to know that right up front. The SSD Administration has their own staff which makes the determination on each claim, and these people are not physicians! They are administrative employees whose job is to determine that you are not disabled by their definitions. It is therefore imperative that you educate yourself on the inner workings of this system prior to making your application..."