Kissing Installation

Lovey + Dovey = Forever. Micro Museum’s tribute to true love Feb 11 • Feb 18 • Feb 25 from 12 – 7 PM. There will be loving snacks and drinks served from 5 – 7 PM with museum admission ($2)

Moving the Victrola Collection

Today we are moving one of the museum’s major collections ( logistical enterprising ).  Micro Museum owns the victrola record collection acquired from the Metropolitan Museum.  The collection specifically features some of the world’s great philharmonic music.  It is really pretty wonderful – however – most def –  an acquired taste.  Seriously 7 out of 10 visitors do not ask to listen to it.  It is still one of my favorite pieces but realizing that 20 feet of shelf space.  It might not fully fit…. gotta go

Preparing to Move Forward

There are lots of times in the life of young and not so young artists where you meet an impasse that refines you whole mission.  I met that impasse at the beginning of 2010.  I had to re-think everything because so many things were instantly re-defined by the economy, by NYC politics, by the sinking but real fact that women over 50 are invisible to central power structures and the endless demand for “what amazing art have you made lately?”  New – All New – Brand New – Forever New.  It is apparent that we love all things new, never been tried before experiences.  I can say that even for me that is true — so it is totally understandable even if it puts me in a quandary.  After 18 months of learning. positioning and re-imagining, I feel ready to launch several new ideas.  I liked the idea alot of taking the time to re-claim many of my past works and re-organizing them for possible exhibition.  But there are always these nagging feelings to work out a couple of new never been tried ideas.  Wish me Luck in 2012!!!

Freedom

It is Martin Luther King Day.  Artists do not get days off, especially if they are national holidays.  In fact on those days we try to do double because the nature of art making is to fabricate time, resources and imagination in any free time in the required work for living.  NYC is a particular city where it is easy to blend live/work.  In any case MLK was so inspirational to me as a young rebel living in Texas at the height of the USA civil rights movement.  He was so brilliant and brave.  I could not think of a more uplifting leader.  He was a rare bird who was helping others take flight.  I admired the civil rights movement greatly  because I felt the pain of racism.  Not that it was directed at me exactly.  I am a white woman, so I felt sexism more.  It is just that I found it shocking every time I saw it.  I was 9 when I realized that racism was immoral especially when perpetrated by the people around my Catholic family, my suburban neighborhoods, and Houston Texas in general.  It was risky for me to speak out against it – being so young – my parents thankfully never voiced racist remarks or harbored ill will towards people of color we encountered. But my neighbors had guns everywhere…. my goodness, what a sight.  Guns in the house, car, garage.  I was shocked by how they reacted to the slightest push-back on the chronic racism. So I did what all self respecting artists do.  I got lost in my own world of art and participated in the peace/civil right movements unbeknownst to my neighbors.  I was determined to leave Houston ASAP.

MLK stood for freedom, equality, and right to be the best person you can.  All noble goals.  Goals worth affirming daily.  Thank you for being inspirational.

Getting and giving heart

Getting excited about The Wake Up And Dream Challenge

By Barbara Lavi, Psy.D.

We have alot of respect for her way of thinking and honored to be part of such an important cross marketing & cross patterning plan for reaching a wider audience.  It is coming out soon on LuLu.

Priorities

What I lack in money I make up for in lifestyle.  That is what makes being an artist in NYC beneficial to the soul even when that soul is being financially crushed.  I used to think about my vocation differently.  I still cringe at the phrase ” starving artist”.  But I am finally having to admit that being poor has its drawbacks.  We still manage to pull off amazing gatherings of friends with delicious foods, drinks and cheer.  Our cheer is free because artists are always very entertaining and homemade foods are not costly, but fun and inventive… but drinks are another story.  I recently tasted some wine that was beyond fantastic.  I thought I might splurge, so the question had to be asked “how much was one bottle” answer $240 a bottle.  OK, ouch.  Like Cinderella having to leave the ball by midnight when all will go back to the way it was. I’ll have to be happy sipping my light beer instead of $240 delicious, succulent grapes to dance in my mouth, nothing sour about my grapes.  My lite beer is only 99 calories, so I think I’ll have another.

MOMA visit

The very best part about my visit to MOMA today was that the membership card allows us to skip the lines. NYer’s love that!!!! I love that!  I am determined to go there again just to sit somewhere there and work on e-mail.  Hahaha…. but loved the DeKooning layout for his show,  disliked the Diego Rivera show – it was weak compared to what I had seen in Mexico ( sorry I wanted to like it). Did not have a bunch of hours but I saw they were offering free Thai food at a new installation.  Go back another time – it smelled good.  Trying to remember when a museum smelled delicious.  I know the answer – it is never.

Ready or not here I am

There are always way too many irons in the fire.  The process is proceeding and it is often insanely slow.  I have come to accept that I am like a turtle with the attitude slow and steady wins the race – not because I like turtles or I am comfortable traveling at micro speeds – but because that seems to be my process.  Collaborations can only got as fast or as slow as people have the ability to devote time.  I am pleased to be collaborating with a writer, a composer, a stylist and soon another videographer.  Speedy as we are in person (I personally work at a break neck pace) however, together we are slow as home-cooking.  I am not impatient.  I understand what everyone is up against with time, money, resources and energy all playing a factor in the speedy or tranquil process.  The one thing I struggle with is being kept waiting…. in this age of multiple communication platform… it is inexcusable to leave people hanging.  I am hoping that lateness is just another blip of life.  A life that is onto greatness!

Can you believe it?

It is the end of one year and tomorrow marks the beginning of another.  We meet and greet the new year with vigor and interest without disturbing the gremlins in the past.  We always feel lucky and happy to  have the accomplishment that have come our way plus whatever the regrets we hope they are minimal.  Art making gets better over time – skill improves, subject matter is risked, and general enthusiasm  is undiminished by the idea of climbing the huge hill of ambition.  We are especially happy to be a part of a community that re-invents itself often and re-imagines a future with even more authentic feelings and actions to follow.  Building teams is what artists do well and I still have great admiration for all the team members we have encountered over the decades.  Collaboration is not just a buzz word.  It is the reason we evolve and look forward to a future.  Happy 2012!!

Are You Experienced?

I am what you call a self starter. I get clear inspiration and work towards implementing.  I have many accomplishments and a few near misses that became valuable albeit painful learning experiences.  I am seeking something new and unexplored but this time the inspiration is not clear, so I am seeking a north star.  In the last week of 2011, I can safely say I learned alot of new things.  It might take me all of 2012 to implement them.  But here is what I know about inspiration – you have to have faith but now I think I should get a compass.