Utrillo-vision, TV Vortex

Oh the glee of 1996-era cutting edge video technology. This was used as a filler between segments of the cable access show I helped create. When I searched youtube for "tv vortex", several more came up, each so similar in tone and ambience.....I'm also remembering the delight with which my entire family embraced Pong, back in the 70s.

Piano Gallery of Art and Life

Top painting is mine, "Pantheon of Minor Dieties". I've since used the theme in very different ways, but here's the original incarnation. I will use the paint process to create subjective themes. It's surprising though, how non-narrative and intuitively driven the process remains.

Collectibles and pet carrier. The carrier had been on stand-by, but I really could put it away now...

The small painting is one of a series of flower paintings by Ed Sanders in 1997. He had started using paint thinner as a medium, without any linseed oil. The resulting blacks and grays were filmy and washed-out, and he created such a unique atmosphere within which to paint.

Orbitrek.

Nathan Boyer

"Weakest Feeling of Sublime", 8" x 10"
"Weaker Feeling of Sublime", 8" x 10"
"Full Feeling of Sublime", 8" x 10"
"Fullest Feeling of Sublime", 8" x 10"

From his website, I can't read Nathan Boyer's intentions with these. But regardless of where it falls on the sincerity map, I find these so delightful. Such a weirdly touching use of irony.

He's also showing paintings, real paintings and not just props, next to videos. He's doing something interesting with the combo.

Wearable Art-themed benefit

For "The Herron Experience '08- Art Couture", (previously the Janus Ball).

MUTO by BLU

Animated wall painting by BLU, via artblog.net, via kk.org, via vimeo.com

Whew!

I've been submerged in an obsessive pursuit of new skills....day job skills. I'm adding "window splashes" to my CK Art Company offerings. It just seems prudent ;-)


Here is an earlier more pictorial one for Edibles in Irvington.

Cellular Memory

monotype, apparently by me, 1981

It's so strange to be re-introduced to work that you don't remember making and don't identify as your own. You try to make a connection, but it's just so creepy. My recently e-mail-reunited college roomie sent this and at first I thought she was mistaken.

I wouldn't make "filler" horizontal lines like that. I wouldn't make an image like this at all. But I know this was made in ink on a zinc plate, and printed. I know how the ink was rolled and fussed to a certain state, and that a combo of linseed oil and ink created another situation, and how the intro of turps both auto-shape the highlight area, and threaten to annhilate it all. I can feel how this painted print was made.

Vote

I'm always struck by the chaos at my local polling site. Usually, I'm the only voter, and this creates quite a flurry for the four or five volunteers. The city has consolidated sites and of course, there's more interest this year, so it was exciting to see fellow voters.

The site is in an elementary school, but they changed the room location within the school. I wandered about looking for signs, backtracked and found the tiniest ballpoint scrawl "vote" with an arrow. Maybe spring for some markers next year?

I find the room. Every voter must wait to be individually greeted, because there are no signs anywhere in the polling site. No indication of where to, or if to, form lines. It takes some time and observation to figure what to do.

Turns out the first person/table we are to go to (she keeps having to get up and physically lead people over to her table because it's the furthest from the entry) checks to see if we're on her list No one is. She says, "you're not on my list". "So which table do I go to?" "That one". "Can I start a line?" (I ask because the arrangement doesn't allow space for both a line and for more voters to enter the room). "yes". I try to form a workable line. I watch as the next person goes through the same process. Only instead of a wave, he gets led over to the line I have now formed. Apparently I have made a difference.

This entire time, the dialogue at my current table has been filling the room. Several elderly people have gone through, and each time must be must asked "Democrat or Republican". The voters can't hear her. She repeats 2-3 times, progressively louder. By the time she shouts this rather private question, there's an awkward moment when the entire room now listens for their answer. They are visibly disturbed.

She had to shout it so loudly to the guy in front of me, that she chuckled a bit. He became very irate and said "I don't see what's so funny about that". He refused to answer. Then finally mumbled something. Once again I think of a big bold marker and some card stock.

Wist-hysteria