entertaining infinity

being jackson pollock-ish

This site could get addictive.  It's fun to play with ... just click and move the mouse around on the screen and suddenly you're Jackson Pollock (without all the drinking).

  

(the site/software is the brainchild of a group called stamen design; they've developed some very cool art-techy stuff besides this ...)

turning art on its picasso-ish head

The fabulosity that is Mr. Picasso Head provided a wonderful and quick activity for AEDM as I take a break from weatherstripping windows.

'art' is in the skewered eyes of the player more so than usual today ...  ;)

the art of business travel (not entirely)

I could never be one of those people who does a lot of back-to-back business travel.  I got home on Wednesday night from conference in Houston, which I went to less than 24 hours after I'd returned from three days at a trade show in Atlantic City.

I am so happy to be home.  I don't even mind (too much) that most of the leaves on the trees fell in my absence.

Here are a few images I collected while I was away (with descriptions below).

Left to right top row: Me, borrowing a crown from the ballet company folks in the booth next to me ... we were doing all we could to try to maintain a sense of humor on the last day of working a trade show exhibition.

I was told later that it's illegal to take photos in a casino in Atlantic City.  (i'm such a rebel)  This is as close as I got to gambling while I was there.

The booth (aka: my cell).  :)

Middle row:  Blue skies en route to Houston.

The view outside my hotel window.  Not much to look at - except the huge Obama-Biden painting on the wall of the building just across the freeway.  (weee)

Recycled resin beads from the gift shop at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston where the opening conference reception was held.  Other than venturing out to this incredibly cool restaurant on our last night (and another within walking distance of the hotel); that was, unfortunately, about all I saw of the city.  (when you're in sessions by 9, and out by 6 with business obligations for dinner, there's little time left for sightseeing ...)

Bottom row:  Fabulous creativity on display for 3 bucks a button.  (just in case you can't read them: under the cartoon image of the trophy is the word wife; under the train, the word wreck; above the horse, the word work; above the bunny, ski; above the dog, hot; and true to texas form: below cow, the word girl ...)

At a restaurant in Houston, I ordered a cup of Red Beans and Rice, and when the waiter brought this bowl, I reminded him that I'd just ordered a cup ... "This is Texas," he told me, "that is a cup."

Sunset flying home.  (as those texan's might say: yee ha.)

a different kind of marketing

I'm still in Houston at the Arts Marketing conference ... leaving today (can't wait to be home).  The other day I found myself in a group of participants I'd just met in a session about effective ways to pitch sponsorships to corporations.  One of the men in the group beamed as he recounted an experience where he'd Jewed 'em down brilliantly! 

I couldn't believe I'd heard it ... and then I felt completely naive that I couldn't believe I heard it.  I don't like to think that people like this are out there, even though I know they are ... they are probably the same people who tried to paint Obama as a Muslim terrorist, or those who didn't want him in the White House because of the color of his skin. 

For a second after it happened, I didn't know what to do.  Ignore it?  Walk away?  The other people in the group weren't saying a thing.  One women laughed uncomfortably; another guy was engrossed in his blackberry and obviously didn't hear it, but another woman asked him what dollar amount they'd eventually agreed upon ... she didn't even break conversational stride. (what the fuck?)

I stood still for what seemed like a long time but it was probably only 5 seconds and I heard myself say: I'm sorry, but that's just wrong.  I felt entirely out-of-body when I did it and I wondered what I was thinking.  I didn't know these people ... what was I doing?  Besides, confronting a bigot will rarely change the bigot ... my speaking up may have actually underscored a few things for him if he put two and two together and figured out that I was Jewish.  

True to bigotry form, he replied: Please ... it's just a figure of speech, as if this should make it OK.

The two women started fidgeting, and the guy who'd been playing with his blackberry looked up and said What just happened? realizing for the first time that he'd definitely missed something while engrossed in his electronics. 

As calmly as I could, I said: Yeah, I guess it is a figure of speech, but it's not OK to use, (inside, i'm totally on fire).

I negotiated them down brilliantly, he said, better?

It wasn't better, but I don't know that I could have said anything to make it better at that point. 

The thing is, I would have said something no matter what the racial slur.  True, this one hits on a visceral level - and one that always surprises me because I don't have a huge Jewish identity.  It's definitely part of my heritage, but it's not all of how I identify, and whenever I feel that visceral indignation/fear/anger/shock it surprises me.  (but i digress)

I hate that I was so stunned and rattled by it though.  Hate that I still believe that most people don't actually have such racial and religious biases peppering their speech.  I suppose the Pollyanna in me really does look for the good in all people, and I usually find it.  But I have also (wrongly, it seems) assumed that people who worked in the arts were generally live-and-let-live types.

Once again, I am reminded that things are not all peachy and beautiful in the world.

After this exchange, the group broke up (what? we were really going to keep talking about pitching corporations for sponsorship dollars now?), but in no time, Uncomfortable Laughing Woman and the Blackberry Guy came up to me.  They told me they were glad I said something.  ULW said she didn't know why she didn't say anything: I was just so shocked; I couldn't believe I actually heard it, she said several times. Then, yesterday, I ran into BG again and he repeated how he admired my guts; 'specially since I didn't know anyone in the crowd I was talking to when I said what I did.

I'm not sure it matters that they both said nice things to me after the fact. I admit that it felt better that they did, cause it was kind of scary to go out on a limb like that, but even if they hadn't, I'm glad I called it out.  I'm sure it won't change Mr. Bigot.  But maybe ULW will speak up if she witnesses something like that again.  And maybe Blackberry Guy will remember my guts and feel reinforced to do the same.   We just have to take those steps or we're making it seem like it's OK to say.  And it's not OK to say. 

(a different sort of marketing to the arts, i guess.)

the art of singing star wars

two geek things that go geek together

When I realized the kid in this video is only lip syncing this medley of John Williams movie themes, and the song was actually created/recorded by an acapella comedy group (they call themselves moosebutter), it kinda bummed me out.  Then, I read on Moosebutter's website that they are getting a kick out of it, so I had no reason to hold it against the kid.  Besides, it's a fabulous construct.   And do I think drag queens are talent-less just because they're not actually Cher?

Besides, it's Star Wars and acapella singing ... what's not to love? 

(posted from my hotel in houston ... still finding art in my every day, just less time to post while i'm out on the road; more schtuff when i can ...)

weeeee

I've been saying "weeeee" a lot today. 

When I left work last night I stopped by my favorite wine shop and picked up a split of champagne; as I packed for the first leg of the extended business trip (which i'm on now), I turned on CNN in the bedroom.  As I tossed clothes in the suitcase, the results started coming in ... Ohio, Pennsylvania; weeee!  Florida ... weee!  When it became clear that it really WAS going to happen, I sat on the bed, opened the champagne and called a few friends who I knew would be up and celebrating too.

I have been keeping my attention on the dreamed-of outcome for so long ... not allowing the other possibility (and the associated fear) to take my energy (well, there was a brief period after the republican national convention when palin's announcement created some buzz that i got a little nervous, but it didn't last long ... ).  And then last night, when it started to sink in what had happened, I thought: Holy shit ... what if it hadn't gone this way? and a psychic wave crashed over me that took my breath away (thank goodness then, that i didn't allow that energy in earlier; it would have done no one any good ...).

As so many pundits have pundited, expectations are high, but we need to be patient; things won't change overnight.  And yet, they have.  I remember at the very beginning of this campaign I was really excited about him because it seemed like he wanted to change the conversation, and the tone of the conversation: in politics, in Washington, and globally.  I didn't know a lot about his background or readiness or leadership and organization yet, but I saw that, and I LIKED it.  I liked it a lot.

And I think that's a large part of what people voted for last night, to change the conversation ... and to be part of it.  That's exciting.

Weee.

And ... AEDM?  I took these photos while I was out on a walk tonight.  It's raining here in Atlantic City, but my hotel is right on the beach and I can't resist a walk by the sea, even if it is raining and windy.  I discovered the water fountain in a shopping center on the boardwalk where I popped in to pick up some dinner. 

I'm realizing that AEDM may be less about "art" in a drawing/doodling/craft kinda way (except when it is), and more about paying attention, taking some photos and finding the art in my every day.  Stay tuned. 

w

hit

space

spacewhite swhite

white space

spacewhite swhite

white s

space

pace

the art of choice

And while this is pushing it for AEDM, I am frantically packing for my back-to-back business trips and I AM looking at AEDM from a non-literal perspective ... looking for the art in my every day.  And this, my friends ... this is art ... this is frikkin' POETRY. 

Life is good.

art every day (me)

11/4 update: because several people have asked how i did this: i made a copy of an old photo that i then colored with crayon and marker.  when i was done, i scanned it.  easy.  fun.  (cool)

no rest for the jazzed

I'm going to be heading off on back-to-back business trips starting Wednesday.  In my day-gig, I don't go on a whole lot of business trips - maybe two or three a year on average - so the fact that I'm about to do one from Wednesday to Friday night, and then to come home and leave the very next day for 5 days ... well, it's just bizarre.

And even though I'll need my rest for the long stretch of work-related "on" time that's coming, there is NO WAY I'm going to sleep tomorrow night.  Nope, my head won't hit the pillow ... not until I see McCain's concession speech ... not until I see Obama and his team celebrate their hard won victory. 

And no, I don't think about another possible outcome (hello? law of attraction anyone?) ... I'm so completely convinced, so delighted by the outcome that I envision, and I just can't fargin WAIT to SEE it REAL. 

Weeee!  (i might have trouble sleeping tonight too ... like a kid waiting for their birthday celebration ... can't hardly wait to vote ... and then celebrate!)

~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~

art every day

 

The art of snacking.  (thank you whole foods)

(look around at the plate for my reflection in ze fab fiestaware. unintended, kinda cool.)