Julia Heatherwick - Art Speaketh

Inhale: Land Stewardship for Cleaner Air

2011-10-27T20:21:00.001-07:00

The Arts Council of Kern County Creating Community Artist-In-Residence Exhibition, "Inhale" was breathtaking. (I know...I couldn't help myself.)

Here are are few snapshots from my room where I introduced a simple formula each of us could apply to help us improve the air quality in our community.

Connect+Filter+Plant=Breathe

Simple, right?

"Connect"

"Filter"

"Filter" - detail

"Plant" - Installation

"Plant" - Installtion detail

"Breathe"

"Breathe" detail

Inhale: Land Stewardship for Cleaner Air

2011-10-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

Inhale: Land Stewardship for Cleaner Air

Creating Community Art Residency Exhibit

Opening: October 13th
Time: 5:30 - 7:30pm
Location: Younger Galleries
1430 Truxtun Ave, Suite 105
Bakersfield, CA
Exhibit Dates: October 13 - November 12

Visit us on our Facebook page!

U!B

2011-09-06T00:13:00.000-07:00

What could be more exciting than a ukulele group? Nothing.
Come join us and play.

Upcoming Shows and Activities!

2011-06-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

Laughter is the Best Medicine - Improv Workshop
June 14 6:30 - 8:30pm
Call to register: 661-324-7070
www.mercybakersfield.org/art

Eye Gallery Exhibit
Bakersfield Museum of Art
June 16 - August 28, 2011
Opening: June 16

Solo Exhibition
Valentien Restaurant and Gallery
June 27 - August 28
Opening: June 27 at 6:00 pm

Artist Residency - ACK Creating Community Program
August 2011-August 2012
I was selected to work with four other local artists to create three community-connected shows over the course of a year to support community concerns. Stay tuned for more information on shows and events!

Nose to the Studio Grindstone

2011-04-18T20:54:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a tight deadline to force me put in the needed hours in the studio. What is it about procrastination and cramming? I would love to put in a daily 2 to 3 studio hours an evening, but no...I have to wait until the week before a piece is due and put in 6 hour evenings and 12 hour weekends, ugh.

BUT...I have a beauty to show for the upcoming www.BMOA.org art show opening in June. I'm only going to give you a peek.

Oh, I'm so excited about this one.

So, today it and I had an official photo shoot at the Bakersfield Californian. I looked like a dork, but this little bugger was looking good.

It is 9:00 pm and I'm going to bed early.

Encaustics 101 with Haley Nagy

2011-04-03T02:12:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon the talented artist, Haley Nagy and her blog tutorial. Great advice and beautiful work.

ENCAUSTIC 101
1) Encaustic Supplies
2) Encaustic Resources
3) Getting Started with Encaustics
4) Making Your Own Encaustic Paints
5) Encaustic Image Transfers

New Work for Sale.

2011-04-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

I am plumping up my Etsy shop with new work for sale, so come on over!

Earth Exhibit

2011-04-02T12:52:00.001-07:00

I will be showing a piece at the 2cc Gallery in Long Beach, Ca. I would love to see you there!

Boston Crow?

2011-03-19T21:25:00.001-07:00

Here is my newest addition to my online store:

A Thank You...CAW

2010 Late Night Holiday Card Production

2011-02-14T21:03:00.000-08:00

I went into full production mode the weekend before Christmas to make all my 2010 holiday cards by hand.

The Process:

Trader Joe Bags were free and made festive backsides to my cards.

Lino-cut - First Color

Dry time:

Lino-cut - 2nd Color

Dry time...no time for playing

Lino-cut - Final Color Pass

A little hand sewing and heart cutting...

The finished product:

I have a couple left, stop by here if you want one.

Mouth Harp in Cish

2011-02-07T23:56:00.000-08:00

Here is a fun little ditty created in a musical improv moment with BT on Mouthharp, Liz and I on Ukulele, Wes on Djembe and Vikki on Guitar.

Upcoming Events Announcement!

2010-01-14T15:58:00.000-08:00

Art Opening at Surface Gallery
March 5, 2010
5-9pm

I will be showing 10 new art pieces with Michele Bosak and Sarah Seabolt. Send me an email with your address if you would like to be sent a special invitation!

Bakersfield Women's Business Conference
April 22, 2010

I will be facilitating a session titled:
Improvisational Coaching - Leading by Letting Go!

Course Depscription:
Leave your thinking self at the door and be ready to say YES! to play. Lead by letting go and embrace being in the moment! Within this creative workshop, we will explore taking risks in a safe environment to unleash your improvisational coach. As a group, we will use introductory improv techniques to improve your ability to listen and build trust. You will be given a simple coaching model to use with family, friends, or back at the office. Be prepared for a fun and unique learning experience.

Photos from my iPhone.

2009-09-20T12:10:00.001-07:00

Yes, I am one of those iPhone walking commercials. I try to contain my enthusiasm for my newest app, but I have to get the photo app love out of my system.

My recent favorite apps: TiltShiftGen (mushroom and cat shoe fetish), CameraBag (Rag-rolled elf pic, Ella May in a bag) ToyCamera (Freakish Eyeball close-up, Piper - Chubby models rule and Ella May modeling Twiggy Style)

Insurance Rock?

2009-09-02T01:09:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that I have a day job working as a Leadership Development Advisor and Coach for an Insurance Company. I work in a large, four story building with a beautiful, sky-lit atrium with escalators and a player piano.

It is a job the requires me to be creatively contained. However, I have a secret desire to burst out into song or obscenities while drifting down the escalator.

I would like to proclaim a musical day where everyone breaks out into song.

I'm not sure why this TV series didn't stay on a bit longer. What an inspiration.

Car-less.

2009-07-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

I have been without a car going on 5 months. It has been a life-changing experience for the better. I consume less, I exercise more and I have been making deeper connections with people in my neighborhood. I have become chummy with Danny and Sandy at the fruit stand. Today I found out Sandy is a Virgo and Danny is a Libra. In case you are wondering, I am a Gemini sun sign and a Taurus moon sign. I know, fascinating!

I have been through the ups and downs with Amy and Hector who own the movie/comic book store (Digital Extreme) as they had to up-root and move across the street. They have been broken into four times and the landlord refuses to put lights in the parking lot. So, they had enough and moved out. The movie business is hard, but their comic business is picking up.

I had my first chat with the Dominos pizza Manager when I picked up my cinna-stix. He told me about his move from Oakland to Bakersfield and the difference in crimes at his store. He attended one year at Berkely and then moved back home to take care of his Mother. Once he had an 8 year old girl try to run off without paying for her pizza order. He shouted after her, "I have your number and address!" She immediately turned around and payed for her order.

I stopped to ask Teresa a question when she was out watering her lawn on Verde St. I was looking at a house on the corner of her street that had been empty for a while. I said, "Can you tell me about the house on the corner? Is it haunted?" Without missing a step, she said "No, it isn't haunted. I've been in there." She told me she was a former occult member that is now a Christian. I guess you can tell if a house is haunted by bad spirits if you look in the corners of each room. If you see darkness in the corners, it isn't a good sign. She is also a massage therapist out of her home. I left a message for her last night to schedule an appointment.

Here is an article that just came out today about me organizing a Bike-to-work challenge with my co-workers. Click here.

I'm going to try and go for a year without a car. Shoot, if I can do a year...why not permanently? Hmmm. What do you think?

You want a piece of my heart?

2009-07-22T23:54:00.000-07:00

Weekday Drunken Neighbor Karaoke Night.

No Stage Required.

2009-07-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

Do you remember when you use to play pretend? I grew up in the country of central Illinois and my favorite game was creating a world with many characters and complex adventures with little or no props. I don't want to stop playing.

Viola Spolin, the Mother of Improvisation, used improve to "Shut off the mind. When the rational mind is shut off, we have the possibility of intuition." She wrote in her book Improvisation for Theater, "Intuition is often thought to be an endowment or a mystical force enjoyed by the gifted alone. Yet all of us have known moments when the right answer 'just came'...Sometimes at such moments the "average" person has been known to transcend the limitation of the familiar, courageously enter the area of the unknown, and release momentary genius within."

Give yourself permission to fully engage in the ten suggested improv tasks. Allow your intuitive genius to play and have fun!

Improv task 1 - Playing the other you: Buy a magazine you wouldn't buy and then excitedly talk about the topic as if you live/breathe it w/ the cashier.

Improv Task 2 - Pushing your comfort zone: Have a conversation with an intimidating stranger.

Improv Task 3 - Playing with family: Ask your child for an animal & create a bedtime story. Be specific: name the animal, describe location

Improv task 4 - Listening/presence: Use the last letter of a partner's sentence as the 1st letter of the word starting your sentence. Enjoy!

Improv 5 - Creating Character: Pick a person you know. Without words, walk around as that person for 1 hr. What is their mannerism? What are they wearing?

Improv task 6 - Playing with Who/What/Where: Open any book and randomly select a word. Use that word to create a monologue.

Improv task 7: Space work - Practice your morning routine exactly. Think amazing mime work. Use specific movements and placement of objects.

Improv Task 8: Space Work

Improv Task 9: Product Placement

Improv Task 10: Two Characters and One Actor - Practicing your Who/What/Where.

What did you discover during your improv tasks? What task did you struggle completing? What task was the most fun?

I would love to hear what you and your intuitive genius explored.

Me sending Me Sweet Somethings on Me Day.

2009-07-19T23:02:00.000-07:00

I announced a lovely surprise on Facebook the other day. My friends kept it to themselves and, well...Wow. I surprised myself with a little something special delivered to my work. Oh the look on my face when these beauties arrived:

The reaction from my friends:
Matt Ray
Somebody new???
July 9 at 11:54am

Matt Harmston
Wasn't me...wish I'd have thought of it, though :-)
July 9 at 11:55am

Julia Heatherwick
Julia, Just letting you know how much you mean to me! Have a beautiful day! xoxo, Julia
July 9 at 11:56am

Matt Harmston
Russell Stover chocolates...nice touch. You're such a romantic...
July 9 at 11:57am

Julia Heatherwick
Oh my gosh, you are so sweet Julia! The feeling is mutual! No Matt...not someone new,but someone pretty darn thoughtful. I am so lucky!
July 9 at 11:58am

John Passadino
You are lucky to have you! :)
July 9 at 12:00pm

Missy Wiggins
That is awesome!
July 9 at 12:00pm

Heidi Browne
I love this!
July 9 at 12:05pm

John Passadino <--------Creator of ME Day!<-----Credit for Blog title!
one more.. think of the marketing angle .. "ME" day.. why not? Mothers day, Fathers day.. what about a me day? for FTD and others.. "send yourself flowers today!" copyright that quick!
July 9 at 12:08pm

Alicia Seibert Pollnow
Me day is brilliant!! I bet your surprise is just what you asked for!!!
July 9 at 12:33pm

Bob Kempf
How did you know what to get you?
July 9 at 12:54pm

Kathy Kerwin Riddle
Oh, so clever. Howard is surely proud of you!
July 9 at 1:05pm

Laura Barbera
bwahahahah...my goodness I miss you!
July 9 at 1:09pm

Bill Kelly
Isn't it amazing how someone so close to you can surprise you in such an unexpected yet thoughtful way.
July 9 at 1:57pm

Corena Bahr
Love it.
July 9 at 1:57pm

Julia Heatherwick
How right you are Bill! And Bob...I just listen to me and really, only I know what I need and do I deliver! Thank you all for sharing in our day.
July 9 at 6:51pm · Delete

Julia Carlisle Arnold
That's great.
July 9 at 7:22pm

Ted Diamond
She's a keeper, Julia. Don't let her get away.
July 9 at 7:47pm

"I admire your beauty, brains and badinage. Thinking of you. You know Who."

Stretching.

2009-05-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

I felt embarrassed as I walked up with my three new art pieces for the juried art exhibition. My excitement of making something new and out of my comfort zone quickly vanished into a strange self-consciousness I haven't felt with my art recently.

It is a great local show with great cash prizes. The theme of the show was "Roots." The prospectus wanted the artist to stretch the meaning of roots to family origin, history, root cause...I chose the simple and direct earth-focused approach. I was excited about the theme and felt inspired.

I had been dreaming of going 3-D with encaustic, but struggling with the right material for the wax to adhere to and then it came to me three days before the event. I was playing again. I wasn't going back to a familiar formula.

I made the mistake of showing people the first piece unfinished and by cell phone photograph. What was I thinking? I was excited but too fragile to take their pregnant pause following such statements as "Does this dress highlight my pot-belly?" *Pause, nice smile...searching for the right words* Ugh, it does! I hate this dress. I hate my hair. I'm ugly. I will never get married.

Prior to entering any show I always research the juror. If they are an artist, I check out their work. If they are a curator I check out the shows they have curated and the show themes of their museum or art center. It is usually an easy way for me to decide if my $35 entry fee is an investment or donation. I wasn't sure about this juror. His artwork was not in the family of mine, but I stretched on these pieces and it would be a shame to shelf them.

All three pieces were accepted. Whew.

Earth's Armature - Encaustic, 8" x 8"

The opening came and a good friend said he would be my date. So, we went, mingled and then it happened. I received puzzled looks and awkward, "This work seems like a drastic departure from your usual work." I was mortified and embarrassed. Apologetically I said I was trying something new. I kept thinking I should have kept to the formula. The formula sells and that is what people like.

An old friend came up to me and said something in the same vein, but was excited. He said, "This must have been so freeing for you. You were able to take artistic risks because you have won this show and don't have to prove anything." That was definitely one way to look at it and I'm thankful he made me look in that direction.

The awards ceremony came and my name wasn't called. I am happy to report that my ego survived, did not throw an internal tantrum and stood aside to appreciate the artistic talent recognized for the evening.

What I learned:
Take artistic risks. If you find yourself looking at your old work or work that sells as inspiration for your next piece you are heading toward formula art. I'm a fan of recognizing the hand of an artist and not a fan of recognizing the same visual tricks of an artist.

I still struggle with the difference (is there one?) of decorative art and fine art. Am I painting to match wallpaper or painting for the intellect. I'm pretty sure I have done both.

Chances are that if you make a leap in your artwork you are making a leap somewhere else in your life. I have made some drastic changes in my personal life. It only makes sense that it shows up in my work too.

What do you do to stretch artistically? How do you know that you have actually stretched? What do you see, hear or feel that lets you know you have pushed yourself?

My improvisational theatre teacher says, "Go in the direction you are facing." On the stage, a scene isn't interesting when it becomes transactional or the characters don't change. Artwork needs to make shifts, change and move to keep your audience watching and most importantly keep you interested.

The wheels go round and round.

2009-05-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

I'm going on 6 weeks without a car. I've been biking my butt off. It should be coming off soon. I blew out my back tire when I piled on two sacks of groceries and my ass. I'm just guessing that is what happened, but secretly hoping it was a nail.

Yesterday, I road home from work in the rain. I put on this giant blue tarp of a poncho and belted it with a bungee cord. I felt like a wind sail pedaling hard against the wind and any minute I would be airborne. I passed a long line of cars with drivers looking grumpy and grim. Grinning like a goof, I was hoping I would get at least a thumbs up or a encouraging honk. It IS bike month! Nope, nothing. I only passed two people on the usually very busy bike path. I rang my bike bell and waved enthusiastically. I received the "What the hell are we doing on our bikes?" grin. I told everyone I road in the rain and received little to no sympathy. Yes, I do believe I deserve a medal.

Biking to work tips:
1. Roll your work clothes to keep them from being a wadded, wrinkled mess when you get to work.
2. Take sunscreen and apply liberally 30 minutes prior or you will end up with a crooked V-shaped sunburn on your chest.
3. Go to the bathroom before you leave because it is usually a long way home.
4. Learn to change a bike tire.
5. Take rain gear, but don't count on it keeping you dry.
6. Know the bus schedules just in case you are just plain tired of pedaling.

Just some harmless butt wagging.

2009-03-26T23:53:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I was driving down I-5 to Los Angeles for my Improvisation class at the Second City training center. I was happily bopping along in my car rental (due to a recent car crash) and thoroughly enjoying the Sirius radio station by singing along to Erasure, Depeche Mode and the Indigo Girls. I was breaking the chains of love and getting closer to fine in my very hip mini-van.

Oblivious only for a moment, I catch a glimpse of flesh in the corner of my eye. A group of boys were driving beside me with their butts hanging out of each window and enthusiastically spanking them for my benefit. I chuckled but instantly turned my face to stone and did a very motherly, "I'm so disappointed in you" head shake. That was my response? Didn't I have a cooler response readily available? Should I have rated the butts with a thumbs up or thumbs down? Should I have acted like I was phoning 911 to report nude butt wagging on I-5? Nope, all I had was a stinkin' head shake.

But actually, I don't just have a head shake in me...I have much, much more...yes, I have an art sale going on too!

So, pull those pants up and get on over to my online store!

I am selling the Ohio Grouping work as single pieces. If you are insterested in the whole group let me know.

Bean Pimp

2009-02-06T17:28:00.000-08:00

At the early age of twelve I was a working girl. Instead of working the streets, I worked the soybean fields. With a pair of tweezers, a Dixie cup and two carpet squares I went to work for just over $3.00 per hour.

For seven summers I clocked in early each day at Funk’s Seed Hybrid Company. In the morning we walked soybeans and in the afternoon we pollinated soybeans. For those city folk, walking beans meant we weeded acres of soybean fields with a sharpened hoe.

In the afternoon we pollinated soybeans. The purpose of hand pollination was to control the soybean plant crosses and create a soybean hybrid with strength and resistance to disease.

The romancing of the soybeans started with a quick session of speed dating. The crew boss created a list of male soybean rows and a list female soybean rows that required a relationship and romance coach. With tweezers in hand, I trotted off to the male row, also known as the pollen parent, and picked a Dixie cup full of small purple or white soybean flowers. This was a quick and aggressive process and a gentle hand was not required.

The true finesse began with the female row, also known as the seed parent or the mother plant. I placed my carpet squares down in the dirt and lowered into a sitting position, straddling the chosen female soybean plant. I examined the plant nodes for a ripe and bulbous bud. My voice lowered and my touch became gentle because the ladies were just that, ladies. With my tweezers I peeled back the sepals, the outer layer of the bud, to reveal the inner folds of the flower. My tweezers grasped the soft base and wiggled it free to expose the fragile sweetness of the awaiting pistil. From my Dixie cup, I selected a flower and stripped away the petals presenting a stamen heavy with pollen. With a steady hand, I gently, so very gently dabbed the tip of the stamen on the tip of the female’s stigma. With a quiver, the pollen would release and cover the female’s womanhood with its sticky residue. I cooed, “take it baby, take it!” hoping my words would encourage fertilization. A week later, I checked all my pollinations to see if my manual mating was a success. My goal was to create the highest number of successful unions each summer. During harvest time, we hand collected the soybean offspring and planted them the following year for scientific testing.

I’m not embarrassed of my seedy past. For seven summers I sat in the dirt straddling soybeans. I blossomed from a child to a young woman. I learned about life. I created life. Some folks called us bean pimps. Maybe we were, but I felt more like a matchmaker and a cultivator of connections. I was a soybean artist.

The Bee Team!

2008-12-03T23:53:00.000-08:00

I pity the fool who says the A Team finishes first. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them (I hope this blog helps), maybe you can hire the BEE Team. (I know...my TV reference is dating me!)

The BEE Team is a group of artists that have come together through the online store Etsy.com where you can buy or sell all things handmade. Etsy has turned out to be a great meeting place of super talented artists making a living selling direct and promoting themselves through an established online community.

If you are a collector of art, check out the amazing list of artist working in encaustic.
Such as:
Michele Maule
Shannon Newby
Kate Phillips
Deanna Woods

If you are an artist are interested in working in encaustic, the BEE Team Blog gives you:

Working with photographs and encaustic

Call for encaustic art

Encaustic class offerings

Resources

I pity the fool that doesn't look, make, and buy art. If you need help, call the BEE Team!

I can't stop singing this song.

2008-12-02T22:11:00.000-08:00

Hamster On A Piano

This is art, right? I know, I promised more arty and meaningful posts but this is all I got right now.

I recommend the following to get the hamster song out of your head:

How long has it been?

2008-11-30T23:04:00.000-08:00

Life has been a bit of a twirl since the art show at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. As some of you may know, I have a day job as an internal leadership development coach and advisor. Outside of my day job I am an artist, a small business consultant and coach, improvisor and sometimes blogger. As you can see I have been slacking on the blogging and keeping you updated on the newest art projects and random musings.

List of things that have gone and are going on:

I was accepting to The Second City Training Center's improvisation conservatory. I am just finishing up conservatory one and heading on to two in January.
Next week I am hanging a show at Valentien's in Bakersfield.
I am finishing writing up a grant for a local art project.
Currently, I am being psychically and physically stalked by an ex-girlfriend of a man I am dating. (Had a lovely Springeresque midnight moment on my lawn. Yep, it is true!)
My Ohio gallery had to shut their doors.
I finished another coaching certification to teach the class Corporate Coach U. I am planning on offering classes mid-2009.
I am hoping to be vegetarian by 2009. I am slowly transitioning.
I have been posting too many pictures of my cats on my Facebook and Myspace accounts.
I'm thinking...just thinking of taking a hip hop dance class. If you know me...this is funny.
My next blog will be more interesting than this one.

Non-perfunctory posts promised period.

Breakthrough

2008-05-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

I think you know when it happens, when you feel like everything just comes together and you have done something or made something that has you so proud you revert back to your pre-teen years. You fly in the back door of the house after running from the bus stop with your Mickey Mouse book bag in your left hand and your construction paper turkey with the glitter accents in your right and you shout, "Look Ma, I made this!!"

Here is the latest piece for "Encaustic Expressions" art show at the Bakersfield Museum of Art.

"Growing Wings"

Unfortunately, this is just a little too big to put on the fridge.

Bakersfield Museum Opening - May 22

2008-04-30T21:27:00.000-07:00

I'm in a small group show at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. The curator selected 6 artists throughout the US working in encaustic medium. I would love to see you there!

Melt my Art: Encaustic Expressions
Bakersfield Museum of Art
1930 R Street
Bakersfield, California
Exhibition: May 22 - August 28, 2008
Opening: May 22 at 6:00 - 8:00 pm
www.bmoa.org

My lovely cards will be going out next week. Drop me an email if you want to be on my "Self-promotion to those I love!" list.

Here is a sneak peek at one of the six pieces that will be in the show:

"Twin Difference" 7" x 11"

Ohio Show!

2008-04-30T21:02:00.000-07:00

This work made its way to a lovely (seriously lovely) gallery in Ohio called Papercuts and Gluesticks. If you are in Ohio, please tell Kari (the owner) how great she is and the space she has created. It is not only good karma, but also true.

"Held Still" 12" x 12"

Grouping - each 5" x 7"

"Through the Fog I see" 12" x 12"

Bad art is so good!

2008-04-13T00:04:00.000-07:00

Love it...
Peter The Kitty

Shy Glance

Sunday on the pot with George

Gilded Nude

I think I have a few from art school that might make the cut! Just take a tour of my parent's garage...the "Julia Heatherwick gallery of Shame." There you will find my lamp of terror; a paper mache' woman pierced through the back with a pvc pipe, with her belly blown out with long red entrails rising toward the heavens. That was when the stone spray paint just came onto the market. As if she had glanced at Medusa, she was frozen in her stone state while a light bulb was cleverly hidden in the pipe only coming to 'life' with a rolling click. Plug it in, plug it in! Pure brilliance.

"Waxing On" in an interview by Misti Wilson

2008-03-26T00:26:00.000-07:00

An email Interview by Misti Wilson for my upcoming exhibition in Germany.
www.MistiWilson.com
Curator and Art advisor for the upcoming exhibition:

"Kick-ass" - Kunst unter 100
Gemeinschaftsausstellung
Freitag, 11. April 2008
19:00 - 23:00 Uhr
Eigelstein Torburg, Köln

1. When did you start making artwork?
Although not documented for future publishing, I believe my first mixed-media masterpiece was created at the age of four. My father had a large container of wood glue on his work bench in the garage. I safely traversed a mountain of sharp tools to acquire this choice medium. With two hands, I squirted the glue in a Jackson Pollock influenced flourish over the entire garage floor. I chose kitty litter to pour over the top of the glue as the sculptural element. My brush was a large, floor broom. The result was quite stunning. My parents were proud.

2. What inspires your artwork?
Nature and my childhood. I grew up in central Illinois in the corn-belt. Surrounding my country home were flat fields of corn and soybeans. Surrounding the fields were overgrown ditches of tall grass and weeds. I built many forts and structures to escape, daydream and hide my collected treasures. Any plant or grass that can only be seen by lying on your belly is an inspiration.

3. Can you describe your process?
I’m a collector. I am inspired by the tiniest plant, patterns, repetition and rusty, antique tools. My recent body of work uses Encaustic as the primary medium. I carve all of my botanical figures out of the wax with a scribe and fill in the line with pigmented wax to create a wax inlay.

4. Can you explain how you come up with titles and why
you choose to title your work?
I think my titles are getting better. I use to be pretty sparse and direct such as "Dig" or "Spring". I still have a tendency toward simplicity, however, the poet and writer Wendell Berry has been a positive influence. I’ll make a piece and then spend some time reading his poems or stories. This helps me change my language from the visual to verbal. Most of my pieces have little nick-names that I give them that are a bit less romantic and are just for me. Sort of like the nicknames you give to an ex-boyfriend or nosey neighbor, but they are probably kinder.

5. How do you see your work evolving in the future?
Bigger and more sculptural. I would also like to create environments and installations that incorporate sound and technology.

6. Is there a particular size or medium you prefer
working in?
I have been working small scale. I loved making the 5" x 7" pieces for this show. It keeps me simple and direct. My background is in Intaglio printmaking. That has been an obvious influence on my current choice of working with encaustic medium. You can do much of the same effects in encaustic as you do in intaglio.

7. Please describe your studio where you work. Is it
chaotic, organized, in the city, suburbia or
countryside?
One word for my studio: Disaster. When I’m in creating mode I do the strangest and graceless things. I have wads of blue painter’s tape stuck to my wall. It would be just as easy to throw it away, but "whap" I stick it to the wall. I kick things to the side, step on stuff, stack things precariously knowing a disaster is about to ensue. My studio is my second bedroom in a small 1930’s bungalow in an old part of Bakersfield, CA. My studio seeps out into my living and dining room. I have orange, electrical cords snaked to different outlets because I’ve blown too many fuses. Right now, my dining room table is full of little wires with wax tips, collage papers, bills, dried plants and an empty cereal bowl pushing up into this mountain of stuff. Oh my, I think I have shared too much.

8. Do you listen to music while working?
I listen to music during different phases of my work. During the creative, thinking, planning and concentrating phase I like complete silence. During my favorite time, "carving time" I blast the tunes. I’m a hard-core folk music lover! Oh yes, you can rock to folk, let me tell you.

9. When working, what feelings do you feel?
I feel a mixture of emotions. I can feel excited, anxious, angry, frustrated, giddy, content and peaceful all during one sitting. It is like having a relationship with each piece.

10. How do you know when a piece is finished?
I have a physical reaction. I remember going on a two-week road trip by myself from Illinois to Montana. I had just finished reading the book, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values" by Robert Pirsig. During this self-proclaimed chautauqua, I had beautiful moments while sitting quietly in nature. One memorable moment was in the South Dakota Badlands and another on Avalanche Trail in Glacier National Park, Montana. I remember feeling my chest open up as if I were gasping inside. Honestly, that is what I feel when I create a pivotal piece. They are not all like that or need to be like that as each piece informs my next. Sometimes I just get a smile that says, yes, that is right.

11. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about
your work?
I’m interested in patterns, connections, relationships and opposites. Recently, I had my friend Sue over for wine and to talk art. She asks the best questions that always pull me out of my head. We were talking about a work of mine called "Together as One." In this piece I had taken pages from a braille book and glued them to two wood panels. I then did a graphite rubbing over the braille so you could "see" the words. I then poured a layer of wax over the pages. I followed that by carving in images of pointy thistles. I liked the idea of seeing what you should feel and feeling something smooth that should be pointy. She said that sounds like synesthesia. Synesthesia is a neurologically-based phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory. That is when I discovered I had a form of synesthesia. When my eyes are closed, I see distinct colors for each defined sounds or tones I hear. Thanks to Sue, I had a profound moment of connection to who I am and what I do.

What goes into art or not...

2008-01-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

I went to my favorite antique store for inspiration, The Great American Antique Mall. I always find it in their bargain basement. Yesterday it was 20% off! Can I get a "Hell Ya!"

Well, I found the perfect thing. It was a wood square frame (dove tailed) with two metal screws with hockey stick ends drilled through each side and meeting in the middle. Joining the two screw ends was this threaded, 2 inch, oblong metal ring. The screws didn't quite meet in the middle, but with some fussing I could thread them closer or farther apart. I had visions of placing some little balled thing in the middle and bolting it to one of my encaustic covered wood panels.

Well, I'm holding all my treasures in my arms like a schoolgirl holds her books and the shoe was dropped. "Are you planning on buying that?" Says Jack the storekeeper. "Because we use that for our bed frames. It isn't for sale."

Damn.

He was nice about it, but DAMN!

So, I'm a collector of odd, rusty things that sometimes make it into artwork:
"Bugird"

"Teeter and Totter"

Or they are a little more refined and subtle like the antique book in "When Silent":

And sometimes they are just art in waiting:

I was so happy when I found this 1 ball. While shopping, I was gleefully tossing it up and down in my hand WHEN...you guessed it, I dropped it. It split in half. Shit. But, I think it will be easier to incorporate into something. We'll see.

I'm excited about that tool:

Sometimes they are just inspiration like this "Dirty Sock Boy":

Influence through Improv!

2008-01-11T17:33:00.000-08:00

My "Influence through Improv!" leadership workshop has been booked for a conference! I'm a scheduled speaker for the United Way Professional Development Conference for Non-Profits on February 26.

My workshop description:
"Influence through Improv": Let go of “looking good” and embrace “being in the moment!” Within this creative workshop, we will explore taking risks in a safe environment to unleash your inner “real character.” As a group, we will use introductory improv techniques to improve your ability to listen, trust yourself and influence those around you. Leave your thinking self at the door and be ready to say “YES!” to play.

My workshop isn't just improv games, although we do a lot of them. The critical piece is helping the participants make the connection from the abstract activity to what they do everyday. I emphasize the "What will you do differently when you leave here today?" coaching method. Recently, I facilitated a program with 45 executives in Lake Tahoe. The energy in the room went from groans to cheers. I worked closely with the Vice President of the group to make sure I made connections to their plans for 2008 and what it meant to be an aspirational leader. I've finally combined my 12 years management, leadership development and coaching with art, acting and writing to help create creative connections between business and art.

This was quite the contrast from a Improv workshop I did for a group of sixty 3-5 year olds in the Children of Migrant Farm Worker program. With the assistance of two performance artists we told a story as a large group. As I told the story, the dancers acted it out and when we needed sound effects I pointed to a picture of a dog, cat, wind or rain. The kids barked, meowed, stomped and clapped throughout the story. What a hoot!

Stay tuned...I'm working on an art class for business professionals! Oh my!

Grantwriting Thrill Seeker.

2008-01-08T22:28:00.000-08:00

Instead of spending hours on a rubber stamp this week, I spent it on writing a grant!

I found out about this grant about a month ago and waited until 3-days before it was due to really hammer it out. Oh so, Julia. I think I like the rush I get from saying, "I'm not going to do it...I just don't have time" to "Give me a cup of coffee and I can get anything done!" It is the thrill of overcoming the impossible.

The Center of Cultural Innovation is offering two grants to California artists funded by the James Irvine Foundation. The Grant for Artistic Equipment and Tools and The grant for Presenting and Marketing your work. I am putting in for the equipment and tools grant.

My angle for my grant was the need to push my work into a larger format and doing that in a healthy and safe studio environment. So, I asked for money to purchase the following items:

Hot Plate 24" x 36"
Air Purifier
Repspirator
Art racks
Studio work tables
Lighting kit

My grant was for roughly $3,777.00. As The Secret says I should say, "I now have $3,777.00 to improve my studio!" You ask the Universe and you shall receive. I'm asking, I tell ya!

I'm also excited about their education classes coming up. Take a look at their -> calendar.

Not to fear my readers who do not live in California. I've included another link -> Here <- to help you find a grant opportunity.

And for you greedy California artists-> Here <- you'll find more resources.

Wait, there is more? Yep.

So many links, so little time!

I'll keep you posted on my grant results!

Breaking Ground StUUio

2008-01-01T17:56:00.000-08:00

It is the first day of the new year and I was going to get so much accomplished.

Task List:
Clean the house. Not just pick-up, but really dig in.
Pay my bills
Review my 2008 budget
Write the grant for studio equipment - due Friday

What I actually did:

The making of the "Breaking Ground Studio Stamp!"

I drew out my design with a sharpie on paper:

I carved it in a rubber stamp and printed it on my "What White Rabbit?" mailers:

I printed about five, when I noticed is said: Breaking Ground StUUio.

Here was the brainchild fix:

The final version:

I really accomplished something today!

Obsession, Frenzy, late hours and jalapeño poppers

2007-12-31T00:47:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what happened, but I've kicked into gear again. I have these sometimes lengthy bouts of artistic uncertainty, self-loathing and general sloth-like qualities. And then when mercury finally goes out of retrograde (I blame mercury for everything) I feel the fire nipping at my tail. This reminds me of my first official dirty dream...let me digress:

I think I might have been 7 and I woke from a nightmare that left me feeling, well, embarrassed. I was in a dark and wet cave. (hmmm) There was chanting and a blazing fire in the center of the cave clearing (double, hmmmm). Swinging from the ceiling was a barbaric contraption. Basically, it was a swing with a hole cut out of the center of the seat. Sitting on this swing, was Pluto. He had been very bad, bad dog. The swing was slowly lowering over the flame and as I looked up at him, I clearly could see his butt. It was much like a real butt and completely rosy from the raging flames. Then I woke up and thought, I just saw Pluto's butt!

So, the fiery flames have been nipping and I'm actually spending late hours in the art studio. My recent Etsy store has been the inspiration. I now have ten items ready for the big, flood of sales I expecting to happen. Any day now, maybe today, the end of the week?

In a nutshell, here is what I have done to get this together:

- Opened an Etsy account last year this time - didn't put anything in it.
- Purchased a digital camera
- Actually posted my precious "These Hippos are Happy" painting that I hope finds a perfect home.
- Created a limited edition print of "What White Rabbit?" using iolabs out of Providence, RI
- Signed and Hand-embellished 60 limited edition prints with encaustic to make them one-of-a-kind (this seriously took a very long time)
- Debated for a day whether to go with kraft color flat mailers or white flat mailers - chose kraft
- Created a "How to Care for your new Print" flyer for insert
- Created 8 new pieces of artwork in the past month
- Purchased a tripod because the anti-shake on my camera isn't worth a damn
- Photographed all my new work to post
- Sent out two Myspace bulletins announcing shop
- My mother sent out an email announcing my shop (she has done this twice) - I know, don't say it.
- Sent out an announcement email to my contact list
- Sold 3 pieces off my site from that mailer and 3 pieces locally
And now, I'm sitting on the Etsy forums trying to get any hints and tips on what else I can do to promote my work

OK, so that is a general list of the things I've done.

Here is what I learned thus far:

- The outlay of cash for prints in enormous and is more work than you think for the "potential" profit.
- The Etsy forums suck you in, but are hard to get into the "in" crowd. I feel like I'm a freshman in High school trying to find a seat in the cafeteria.
- I have to open a Flickr account. I guess people get a lot of traffic from it.
- Don't stay up until 4:00 in the morning trying to get a "Treasury" to curate other people's work. This was fun when I did it, but short lived. It will expire in two days and the rules tell you that you can't blab to your chosen that you chose them. Bummer.
- Like I said, the forums suck you in. Decide what information you may want from others prior to jumping in. This can assist your focus. I found myself spending countless hours in the "Etc." thread reading about relationship troubles, holiday gifts received and the worst yet has been "Show me your 'insert any color here'!" This is where you post an item from your store that fits the color scheme. I love this game, but at the same time it feels a lot like playing the Deal or No Deal DVD game. What's the point.

I almost forgot...

Jack-in-the-Box Jalapeño Poppers are really, really good.

New Online Store!

2007-11-18T13:52:00.000-08:00

Come check out my new online store at www.JHeatherwick.etsy.com
Keep checking back as I'll be posting more items soon.

Audio Project!

2007-11-08T00:47:00.000-08:00

Check out my new audio project Myspace page at: Audio Project

I just posted a little diddy about my experience at a Coaching Conference! It is a one-take improv audio with no edits.

Doing the Nudie Flapperesque Bunny-hug Shimmy

2007-07-11T22:31:00.000-07:00

San Francisco always offers me visual delights, good food, weather I love and interesting friends. My good friend John Held, Jr., a mail/stamp artist, curator, gallery director, fluxus plus archivist and fake folk artist, always offers up interesting conversation that teeters on the edge of bizarre. A few weekends ago the bizarre intellectual exchange got visually physical.

He invited me to an event in a four story victorian mansion off of Alamo Square, just a 90 degree angle from the famous seven sisters. He wasn't sure what the attire would be, so I put on the good ol' go to lil' black dress and my three inch heels. I teetered precariously on my left over heels from my big moaning performance of the Vagina Monologues at the Henry Fonda theatre. San Francisco isn't the park right in front of the event type of town and I found walking four blocks uphill to be a challenge, maybe even a performance piece of its own.

We make it up the stairs to the double doors of a dark green, amazingly restored victorian with a square, glowing crow's nest perched four stories at the top, waiting for my arrival. We walk through the doors to the blaring sound of scratchy, 1920's music and a mingling mixed crowd. We pay the $40 dollar suggested donation and weave our way through the house. In the main room, with moody lighting, five semi-nude women in thigh-highs, long strands of pearls, fantastic headdresses, see-through sequins and wearing thick red lipstick lounged cat-like as if in an opium den.

Chairs were placed in a semi-circle around them with very serious looking men and women sketching in small journals and on large drawing boards. Brushing enthusiastically by me, one woman stated, "I'm inspired to write some poetry!" The cynic in me chuckled as I wondered about her inspiration..."On the chair she sat, much like a painted cat, posing like Jessica Lange, wishing for the music to change and hoping she doesn't look fat."

Oh yes, I was inspired too. For a small donation you could grab a few art supplies, some wine and join the drawing party. I did, but was soon discouraged by my lack of focus and lazy sense of line. I folded my sad little drawings, shoved them in my purse and proceeded up the stairs to the crow's nest. Atop this mountain of a home I found a 360 degree view of the city that offered me more sense of awe than the lovely ladies in peek-a-boo panties.

I turned to John and thanked him for bringing me to the nudie, flapperesque non-barney-mugging, visual feast. This was truly the bees-knees, the cat's pajamas as I sunk into the comfy chair perched atop the city in my nest.

Our love child.

2007-04-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

I was swept up with a dizzying love affair. I connected with so many artists I can't remember all of their names save a few. I have no regrets only beautiful memories.

I remember the night I hit send and my life would forever change. A heated exchange with a sensual, sonic artist led to the beginning of an artistic collaborative art piece now waiting for the day it sees light.

Artistic collaboration is new to me and I'm thrilled about the possibilities of this newest connection with Alex. Alex, an audio visual artist from Hampshire, England lectures Sonic Arts at Farnborough College of Technology and works as a music therapist in Broadmoor Hospital, where he is conducting research into the rehabilitative potential of sound with violent crime offenders. As Alalpine and Pausal he experiments with sound, image and space.

Alex asked me if he could use some of my images to create a sonic film of sorts. Flattered, I enthusiastically sent him off some digital photos of my art work. In his hands, he will create amazing work. So, what will our love child look like, feel like and sound like?

So, I sent him images like this:

Take those images and mix them with his genius like this work titled:
sarah paul

Add to My Profile | More Videos

or this work titled:
sue jim

Add to My Profile | More Videos

My clock is ticking and this is exactly what my maternal artist within needed. This is truly a happy accident.

Hot and Heavy

2007-02-15T15:19:00.000-08:00

I’m in a torrid love affair. Its exotic and has taken me to places that overwhelm my senses. It has disarmed me from my trowel of skeptic wall building. My love makes me ache, laugh, wonder, think and has brought out in me a boldness and taste for experimentation.

I’m in love with Myspace.

I know you might dismiss my love with a sarcastic mumbling of “fad follower” or “isn’t she in her 30’s?”. Kids, teens, young adults, generation y’rs know what I’m talking about and maybe even you x’rs and baby boomers have a closeted relationship with my lover. I find myself gushing at inopportune moments about my addictive love. Most recently, I have not so secretly rambled on endlessly about my paramour with a few stuffy co-workers. My honeyed words were met with that condescending “you are kidding me, right?” look.

So, this entry isn’t so much my giddy, schoolgirl scribbling on my spiral notebook, but it is my summation in my artistic defense.

You have the obvious plusses so often shared:
It’s a Networking tool. I keep up with my friends easily. I’ve learned more about my friends this way. I have made new friends in my community and in other countries. It is better then having your own website and is updated more easily without a ton of technical skill. I’m a musician, comedian, filmmaker, artist and this is how I promote me. Yes! All of those are true, but it gets better.

As an artist, I have posted my work, my website and my blog on myspace. Since I posted bulletins and increased my search for new “friends”, I have seen a 50% increase in visits to my blog and website.

I have increased my connections with exciting and talented artists like: Craig Atkinson, Graphikland, Joey D., Emmanuelle Pidoux, Ludovic Debeurme, Gregoire Dalle and Antoine Josse.

Looking at their work, commenting on their pages has inspired me and opened up new opportunities too. Such as the new Cafe' Royal web-page out of the UK offering another avenue for art sales. You have Picture Ping Pong organized out of Oregon, bringing together the artists from all over the world to connect and show together.

I’ve expanded my artistic interests thanks to the help of my friends: Alex Alpine, Prabes Limbu, Ljudbilden & Piloten, and Rich Ferguson. My heart strings are strummed by their work.

It isn’t just visual artists that inspire me and my artwork. I have Tom Mitchell, Loren Dent, Royal Parish Narvalo, Richard Saunders, Its Jerry Time, and Cook Off!. We have to remember to feed our creative hunger with all art forms.

Of course, the artists I mention are only a small sampling of the talent swimming in the Myspace love tank.

So, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I plead not guilty to fad following. A fad eventually ends. This form of networking will not end. In fact, it will expand, evolve and become critical to the survival of artists in a political environment that is cutting funding or placing restrictions on funding forcing artists and art organizations to change their output to meet standards of the masses.

You can pass judgement on me or you can join me, my friend.

Sketch Comedy Writing

2007-01-14T14:35:00.000-08:00

This week was my first week of my Sketch Comedy Writing class at The Groundlings theatre with instructor, Sean Hogan.

It was a hectic week due to having my Improv class two nights with my sketch class crammed in the middle. I have one more week of this chaos before it settles down to just my sketch class.

I get to my sketch class and we do the usual introductions. I have some interesting folks in my class from a cast member of the Gilmore Girls, a programmer/computer/writer guy, pianist/keyboardist, BMW dealership administrative assistant, former pop-singer, animator/artist, stand-up comic and soap opera actor and everything in-between. My instructor, Sean Hogan, is an earth conscious, goofballish dream boat of about 6'7. We start off the class with our introductions and lead into a short exercise to get us started working as a group. We Roo, Roo, Roo children's games. This is a quick exercise for us to think of all the children's games we can think of and report out in round robin style. Then we each took a minute to list what we thought made a good children's game. (i.e. no small parts they can swallow, brightly colored, interactive...etc). We reported those out to the group. Then we began naming the opposites of what makes a good children's game. That spurred on our list of horrible children's games like "My Little Leach Farm" we would then try and pitch. This exercise demonstrated how we could break down the normal into the bizarre "What if..." scenarios found so often in sketch writing.

My other Groundling class, Basic Improv, has been kicking my ass. I've been beaten down almost to the point of tears. Now, I'm not a cry-baby but holy cow can my instructor so easily point out all my improv faults. However, this has been a great learning experience. So, I went to my sketch class wondering if I should just drop it because I need a don't beat me up anymore break.

It doesn't hurt that my Sketch instructor is a cutey but he is also warm and supportive. I left the class with a happy high and about 4 sketch ideas while driving my 2 hour trek home. I purchased a small voice recorder and have been having fun talking into it and testing out character's and voices.

Things to do...

2007-01-01T22:23:00.000-08:00

It is the first day of the new year and like many I am wondering what new and exciting things will I do in 2007. For me, it is not so much about New Year Resolutions, but how can I create, perform and basically be more than I am at this point in my life. I have 5 themes I'm focusing on this year:

PERFORMANCE
I have already started by signing up for Sean Hogan's Sketch Writing class at The Groundlings. My class starts the second week of January and I'm giddy. I'm wrapping up my Basic Improv class with The Groundlings this month too. Basically, Basic is meant to kick your ass and remind you how much you suck. However, I'm taking my suckage in stride and learning.

ART
My mind spins constantly with art project ideas, but I can hardly seem to get my art act together. The wierd part is I feel more inspired then ever before, but can't make it into the "do it damn-it" mode. I have been reading a million art mags, checking out some amazing artists on Myspace, just looking at what others are doing and I feel overwhelmed and behind. So, my vow is to quit obsessively buying art magazines and start doing. "Do It Damn-it!" is my motto this year.

GEEKDOM
I plan on geeking out this year too. As stated below, my 4,566th goal is to make a stop motion animation. I don't know what software to use, I don't own a digital camera and I'm not sure what goofy little story I want to create via animated drawing, however...I shall overcome!

LOVE
I'm going to regularly send out love to my fellow artists by leaving comments on their blogs and Myspace accounts. I feel creatives need to be supportive of each other plus we need more good karma in this world.

MONEY
I'm not sure what I can say about this one. I need more and I need to care for what I have.

Goal 4, 566...

2006-12-29T22:23:00.000-08:00

To create something like this by Ljudbilden

If you know what software they use...let me know! I'm still researching it.

Sleeping Soundly.

2006-12-24T21:24:00.000-08:00

I’ve been taking improv classes in the evening at The Groundlings twice a week. The drive has been daunting, but two days ago I had an extraordinary experience. George Clooney let me stay over at one of his apartments in Hollywood. I met his assistant, a tall and striking Asian woman in her late 20’s at the apartment complex. She helped me with my luggage and opened the door to a modest one bedroom apartment. It looked a little haphazard, but she explained that the cleaning lady had not been there to clean since the last guest, Eva Hesse. Holy Crap I thought, Eva Hesse, wow! As she gave me the tour, she pointed out an orange and yellow patterned comforter that was shoved under a bench and said “Don’t use that...it is dirty...from the time with Molly.” She opened the closet with some of George’s clothes shoved off to the side. I noticed a couple of brown v-neck sweaters and something particularly peculiar. There were about 20 pairs of men’s white underwear hanging on pant hangers. She pushed them aside and said I could hang my clothes there. I couldn’t wait for her to leave so I could call my friend Alicia! She handed me the keys and her card with the added note to call if I needed anything.

All I can say is afternoon nap dreams are vividly specific!

Melissa Borders-Stevenson

2006-12-09T21:32:00.000-08:00

I’m standing on the edge of a retreating lake, a wide open mouth with blackened, jagged stumps as teeth. I’ve walked into a crowd of people who know and love each other. I’m seeing the hippy youth behind the character lines of hugging, crying and laughing people. I see Tim, the only one I know...I walk up to him, hug him and re-introduce myself. It has probably been two years since I’ve seen him and only briefly at that. He’s wearing a leopard print beret and a mimosa stain on his shirt. I hug him, look in his eyes and weakly say, “I had to come.” He tells me to grab a red nose out of the box on the beach.
I do, and self-consciously put it on my nose. Draped over two tall mannequins made of PVC pipe are the costumes of Sojourner Truth and Amelia Earhart. These two famous women in history were brought back to life by another famous woman in history, Melissa Borders-Stevenson. I was standing on the beach of her memorial. Her life was brought to an end on October 15, 2006 in a car accident.

She is the new “famous women” in history. Melissa, an actor, performed 39 diverse women who made an impact on history and women through what she called, Biologues. She researched a women like Sojourner and weaved the woman’s history, accomplishments and thoughts into a monologue as Melissa put on the character of this women. Melissa, a tall, slender blonde in black leotard seamlessly slipped into the great woman of Sojourner for children, adults, corporations...anyone that wanted to see and hear a one-of-a-kind experience.

Melissa is the new famous women in history because she took her passion for women who made a difference, her art of writing and performing and her need to educate and made it her life’s work. She, as all women, have come far since the 20th century when most nations first won the right for women to vote. Most importantly women fought for the reevaluation of their traditionally viewed role in society. It wasn’t until as recent as 1963 that the Equal Pay Act required equal wages for men and women doing equal work.

I remember when I first met Melissa. I worked with my company to hire her to perform for our celebration of Women’s History month. She stood in a bland, gray blue room in her black leotard in front of a sedate group of office workers and blasted us with her energy and passion. She made us weep and laugh. She did the same for thousands of children and adults throughout the United States. This was the first time I truly felt hope as an artist. Melissa showed me more than just my need to know my own history. She inspired me, by living the fact that I had the right to choose my own creative path.

I’m standing there on the beach of a mountain lake when a smiling women walks up to me with her arms outstretched. She introduces herself as a childhood friend of Melissa’s and wants to make people feel welcome. It was the first time I could share my grief with someone that also knew and loved Melissa.

Tim walks toward the center of the crowd and rings Tibetan style bells. The crowd stretches out wide in a circle while Tim’s Sister, Prairie Flower and Brother-in-law, Cactus Bob strum their banjo and fiddle and sing. About 250 of us grow quiet and I turn to Melissa’s childhood friend and we grab on to each other. My throat grows tight, and tears run freely as 250 of us, with red, sponge noses honor the memory of my hero, Melissa-Borders Stevenson, a famous woman in history.

Stolen entry.

2006-10-30T19:51:00.000-08:00

This post idea is stolen. I stole it from my new blogger friend, Deanna. However, I am hoping by openly professing my kleptoblogo tendencies, that I will be forgiven.

Moo cards! They are all the rage and you need some too. They are tiny, easy and fairly inexpensive business cards...and did I say easy?

So, here is what you do:
You get a www.Flickr.com account
You upload your pictures
You click on www.Moo.com
You follow the three easy steps
You get your precious little cards in about 10 days

I have an art crush!

2006-10-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

Periodically, I get art crushes. They hit me hard. You know the feeling when you lock eyes with someone and you feel a connection that makes your chest expand...well, I get that with art.

I (heart) Josh Greene's art projects! While attending a recent “Agency Team Member Development Conference” in Phoenix, Arizona I couldn’t stop thinking about his art projects. With a name badge placed boldly on my breast, I am tasked with finding my “new buddy” to get to know. I have a sheet to fill out that asks important questions such as:

What’s Your Name?
What can you tell me about your family?
Do you have any pets?
What are your hobbies?
What is your current work responsibilities?
What is a little unknown fact about yourself that you would like to share?
What else would you like to share that I haven’t asked?

I find my buddy, we swap answers to our questionnaire and dutifully complete our task for our report out session during the morning meet and greet.

But I find my mind wandering to my very real art crush. My buddy is chatting away about golf, children and three dogs, but he can’t compete with my scrolling images of frolicking in and out of a Josh Greene project. Maybe I could do dishes at his apartment after his weekly dinner, or take the photo of him handing out a leisure check, or make the phone call that you have just won a Service Works grant.

My mind now reaches deeper into the darker regions of my fantasy art crush...I need more, I want to reach out to my crush. Is it too daring?

I’m going to do it. Reach out via a sensual virtual touch. I figure there is a reason my thoughts went to Josh’s work during my “new buddy” exchange. I will send the above mentioned questions to Josh and will post if he chooses to make that connection.

I will sum up my school girl art crush with one word: Giddy!

Wax Works - O'Hanlon Center for the Arts

2006-10-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

Wax Works
Oct. 3 - Nov. 3

O'Hanlon Center for the Arts

Mill Valley, CA

Sponsored by the artists of the

West Coast Encaustic Artists Organization

Entrance to Main Gallery

My political piece..."When Silent"

O'Hanlon Art Center preview!

2006-09-26T21:59:00.000-07:00

It has been a tough weekend with my Groundlings Theatre audition coupled with studio time. However, I'm closer to being ready for my O'Hanlon Center art show in Mill Valley.

By the way, I passed my Groundlings audition and now I am granted the honor of paying them money to take their class!

Here is a preview of two of the three pieces going into the show. Unfortunately, I had to hold up my laptop to get the photos so keep in mind they are blurry and backwards!

Two steppin' never seemed so hard...

2006-09-13T22:38:00.000-07:00

Two steps to my studio. That doesn't seem so far. It is just across the hall, but stepping into it has reminded me of my need to go to the gym. Once you get there and step on the elliptical machine, take a few steps, get into a groove and 45 minutes later you feel thinner and sexier. That is what the studio does for me. Maybe it doesn't make me feel thinner, but definitely sexy. Dipping my hardened brush into the hot, silky pool of wet pigmented wax makes me melt. The heated sweetness intoxicates me. Once I get into my studio groove it is my Prozac, my St. John's Wort sprinkled with a tad of Horny Goat Weed.

I have two weekends to finalize my work for an upcoming show at the O'Hanlon Art Center in Mill Valley, CA. I am excited to be included in a group exhibition of West Coast Encaustic Artists.

So, I putting on a little Kenny Rogers to set the mood for some two steppin' right into my studio.

Studio Muses

2006-09-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

Zoey and Ella Mae are resting up for a big day of cleaning the studio. They have a pretty big job ahead of them!

"dumb"

2006-08-31T20:31:00.000-07:00

I have a history with the word "dumb." Frankly, it haunts me. Not haunt in the Oleander N.L. Belardes scary way, but in a traumatic childhood learning lesson way.

I was in 3rd grade and there was this awful girl named Tina. She was tough and had a mouth full of sass. Now, I wasn't a frail little imp, but I didn't like to fight. I would hold my own, but never initiate. As my father said, the only time you hit is if someone hits you first...then nail em! (Dad didn't say the "nail em" part...it was inferred.)

We were in line in the gym waiting for PE class to begin when she started in on me. She shoved me and I said stop it. I know words were exchanged, but our scuffle was broken up by the start of class.

After PE we went back to our country classroom. I was still fuming about the shove. I looked over at her tootheless snarl and scribbled my anger on a piece of paper. When the timing was right, I dropped it on her desk. Scared, but excited about how I was giving her a punch that would scar.

The teacher gathered us back to our desks and stood in the middle of the classroom. She had a look on her face like we were in big trouble...or someone was in big trouble.

"Tina had this note dropped on her desk. Does anyone know who put this on her desk?" Blank and innocent looks flash. "Well, the person who wrote this should be embarrassed because they are truly the 'dumb' one. For that person's information 'dumb' is spelled 'D-U-M-B' not 'D-U-M!' The class giggled, Tina snarled and I faked the yeah, that is stupid huh look.

My first dumb movie!

2006-08-30T22:58:00.000-07:00

Credit: This dumb movie wouldn't be possible without the amazing photos of San Francisco artist Jan Stevenson

disclaimer: the twilight zone title is a work project title...this was made as a test/practice run to see what I could do with photo stills on iMovie.

My muse...

2006-08-29T21:31:00.000-07:00

My cat Potsina died on August 1st. I took her into the vet because she just didn't seem herself and two days later I had to make the decision to put her to sleep. My heart broke. I had left for the weekend to be with a friend knowing she wasn't feeling well. Work also called on Monday. I was slated to take a mandatory curriculum development class the entire week so no taking off to tend to my cat. I called in late to take her to the vet on Monday morning and went to the vet after the first day of class to be told she might have cancer. Tuesday morning I received the call that she did have cancer and it was at a level 10 on a scale of 1 - 10.

Tuesday afternoon I held her in my lap for 2 hours and wept. She went from growling to clinging to me in my arms. I sat huddled in the corner with her on my lap and 6 other cats staring out of their cage at the two of us. For two hours I told her everything I loved about her even when she was at her shittiest. (Which secretly and sometimes not so secretly I rewarded with my pride.) When it was time to make the decision I held her in my arms and cried openly in front of the vet and the assistant. They let me stay with her until I was ready to go.

So, what does this have to do with art? Quite frankly, I'm not sure. I think I secretly want to be more like my cat. As some of you know, I work a Monday - Friday job as a Corporate Trainer. I always do and say the right thing. I coat my words with sugar and have thin relationships with my co-workers. Again, what does this have to do with art? Well, in my Monday - Friday job I am a team player and work with my team at coming to consensus. Being a team player and coming to consensus doesn't inspire good art. In fact, it inspires mediocrity. This goes to making nice for a paycheck or making art for the sale.

I had a conversation with an artist who talked about how he only looks to the master's and that contemporary art is basically, bunk. I disagree. I have seen a lot of art either going for the shock/gross out value (think B horror film) or for the walk in the field of daisies sweetness (think of the sappiest chic flic). That seems to be the struggle. Who or what are you making art for...what group of people/thought are you trying to come to consensus with in order to validate your existence as "artist?"

I think to my cat Potsina and the 12 years of attitude she displayed. She was teaching me a lesson and I didn't know it. When she was happy, pissed, uncomfortable, hungry, needy...I knew it. I know, I'm putting human feelings to an animal. I think I need to have animal feelings toward my life and art. Lately, I have been reaching out to old acquaintances and new acquaintances because I have been feeling needy. I have been speaking frankly at work. I am not pursuing relationships that make me pissy. When I like someone I tell them. I am looking at my artistic direction through a new, more critical lens. I am working toward being genuine in my person and in my art. I'm taking naps when I need them.

Potsina is inspiring change in me and a new self-evaluation that goes deeper then I have gone.

Thank you for the life you lived on earth my precious little muse.

A note of admiration...returned!

2006-08-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

It seems I am playing badminton with good karma. Clive King wrote me a kind letter in response to my note of admiration.

I had an interesting conversation with my friend Bess last night about that 6 degrees thing that seems to be going on regularly in my life lately. We had a late night conversation about the evolution of consciousness in mankind, the Indigo children, UFOs, The Dead Sea, Atlantis, art and cellular trauma. In the middle of all this we talked about connections. Connections from our dreams, what we read, who we talk to and what does all that mean...what message is being placed in our lap to say LOOK at ME!

My note to Clive made a mini-connection. He happened to mention that he was opening a show in Jacksonville Florida with an encaustic artist Tim McDowell and wanted to know if I knew his work. I thought I did, but googled him. Well, he was featured in my professional acquaintance Joanne Mattera's book, "The Art of Encaustic Painting" an amazing detailed book on encaustic medium. I made a connection with Joanne after visiting her website and asking to consult with her. She gave me some good advice and direction and hooked me up with the West Coast Encaustic Artists. Now, I'm participating in a show in Mill Valley, CA at the O'Hanlon Art Center.

Again, it is about connection and reaching out to your chosen community. We can encourage connections to happen, but also need to pay attention to the small connections that present themselves.

So, I have my racket and a bucket of those rubber-nosed, mini-dog satellite collar thingamabobs and am ready to play a little Karma Badminton!

A note of admiration...

2006-08-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

I believe that it doesn't matter where people are in their career or how untouchable they may seem it is good karma to pass along a genuine compliment.

I happened to actually pull away from my recent addiction to MySpace to actually search the internet for something useful for my art career. While searching for grant and fellowship opportunities, I got sucked into the never ending twists and turns of the hyperlink warren. No furry dead things found, but I did find an amazing artist. Clive King. Wow, his work is big, obsessive and captivating. His drawings were so captivating that I googled him. I found very little about him online...a shame. I did, however, find that he is a Professor of Drawing at Florida International University. So, as I drilled down further with my seemingly stalker tendencies I found his bio page. At the top of his page was his email address, so I just simply emailed him my admiration. That simple. I had nothing profound to say, nothing seemingly bright or witty just plain...hey, man...I dig your work. OK, not in those words, but that was the basic message.

I'm not expecting a return message, maybe it won't get to him but I did send the love out there because it was just something I had to do.

Check his work out here:
Clive King

Puppy Papers Needed!

2006-08-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

Like a puppy, I was eager for some verbal petting. Squirming in my chair I downed a plastic cup of white wine before heading up to my time in the spotlight at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. Normally, I prepare and practice what I'm going to say, but I thought I would wing this one so I would come off comfortable. My heart was pounding and of course, I started sweating again. I'm not sure what this recent trend of me, my art and sweat would be but I'm not a big fan of it!

So, I swagger up to the front and do the obligatory (but sincere) thank you's to the museum for the show and hosting first Thursdays for the community. In a classy artist fashion, I pull out some materials from a plastic grocery (Von's to be exact) bag. I start off by telling them my background then into my imagery and finally my process in making my work.

It was interesting to see the difference in my presentation from work Julia to artist Julia. Work Julia doesn't smile as much as artist Julia. Work Julia certainly wouldn't make four references to dead animals as artist Julia did. Yep, dead animals. Now, I'm not a fan of hunting but I found myself referencing my father's need to blast poor defenseless animals to hang on the wall. Now, in his defense he eats the meat and hunts within the legal boundaries but that doesn't make me appreciate carcass filled walls of the family home. I then referenced my favorite tool I use in making my work...which is also used to skin seals in Alaska. Nice, huh. Yep, artist Julia mentioned that lovely bit of trivia too. Luckily, I believe I humored the audience with the strange, artist Julia persona and I had a brief, but ego stroking moment at the end of people wanting to continue conversation. Unfortunately, there were no more mentions of dead animals and the puppy in me finally calmed down.

Me and Laddie John Dill!

2006-07-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

During the Bakersfield Museum of Art Small Works Juried Exhibition, I got to hang with juror Laddie John Dill! The anticipation during the awards ceremony was grueling, but the result was grand. As Laddie was discussing why he chose my work for the award my mind was racing. He turned the mike over to the second place winner, Betty Finch to ask about her process in making her fanciful gourd work. All I could think about was please don't turn the mike over to me. Now, I'm not one to shy away from public speaking opportunities, but for some reason I thought please not now. Well, Laddie must have noticed the fright in my eyes and the fact that my face and ears turned bright red and spared me from a case of stage fright.

Thank you Barbara Reid (another artist included in the small works show) for purchasing my favorite little baby piece on the right "Falling" and taking the photograph below (if you look closely at my neck you can see how red I am - thus the reason I included her very cool, combo black and white/color photo):

Photo Credit: Barbara Reid

How do you do that?

2006-07-10T22:53:00.000-07:00

The most common comment about my work is “Is that wax?” followed by, “How do you do that?” I have a short spiel that I have refined that goes something like this: “The medium is called encaustic spelled e-n-c-a-u-s-t-i-c. The medium is made out of beeswax with dammar resin which is tree sap. Encaustic is a molten process which means I have to heat the medium on a hotplate and use a heat gun to fuse each layer of wax to the next layer. I paint with the encaustic using brushes like you would oil or acrylic.” If the person looks intrigued or like they want to know more I will give a little more detail on history of the medium as well as describe details from the pieces I have displayed.

What do you think? Do you have any suggestions for improvement?

I recently became a member of the West Coast Encaustic Artist group. It is a budding organization that is working at helping each other network, get gallery shows and lecturing opportunities.

I have also been researching artist residencies and grant opportunities. I will start posting the opportunities I find interesting.

Two great links to lists:
A Giant List of Artist Stuff! (Check out the Residency list!)
A Small List of Residencies

Join this: Women's Caucus for Art

Bakersfield Museum of Art almost calls the Whaaaaaambulance for A.S Ashley!

2006-07-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

A celebration is in order and a big Thank You to the Bakersfield Museum of Art for hosting a small works exhibition open to all California artists. Each year they up the caliber of jurors. Last year’s jurors were curators of the San Luis Obispo and Fresno Art Museum. This year the jurors were well respected artists from Los Angeles. The show was heavily populated by local entrants due to the submission guideline of bringing in the artwork as opposed to the usual submission of slides. The show gave the locals a chance to have their work viewed by an outside eye…a good way to give feedback without the murmur of “Oh, they won because they are a local darling of the arts!”

One local artist, A.S. Ashley, pouted outside the museum in a performance protest with his big artwork. I’m sure you are familiar with his work as you have seen the work at Barnes and Noble and in multiple shows at The Empty Space Gallery, well those were the same pieces propped up in the back of pick-up trucks. He stated, "I'm waiting for the big show!" I think he was waiting for another “Big Repeat” show! I did give him a phone call to remind him to get off his little duff and submit something to the show. He whined about how he doesn’t work small and that he didn’t want to participate. As I walked into the small works show, he sat there with his cowboy hat and lawn chair hoping for someone to pay attention to him. I told him I would come out and pay attention to him later and walked into the show for the awards ceremony.

Well, later didn’t come soon enough as the curious A.S. walked into the show to give me some whiney love. He congratulated me for my “Best of Show” award like a gentleman and spent some time chatting with me and Betty Finch (a superb artist making fanciful creatures out of gourds) also the second place winner of the show. All three prize winners were local and given generous financial awards. There were 270 entrants and the jurors selected about 25% from the entries. This was a hat tip to the local artists as the jurors judge the artwork without knowing the name or location of the artist. Thank you Bakersfield Museum of Art for opening up your prime wall space to local emerging artists!

You Must Feel So Violated.

2006-07-04T23:20:00.000-07:00

“You must feel so violated!” was the number one response as I reported to my friends, family and co-workers of my recent burglary. After my performance in Brittany Spears’ former mansion, prancing around with boobie bravado in front of Rob Thomas (Dawson’s Creek and Veronica Mars…yes, I am name dropping!), his wife and a smattering of friends I came home to my fondled and raped home. In the ancient language of cat, my little one described in great detail the invasion down to the specific comments made by the perps about the state of my pig sty I call home. Yep, I was robbed of all things of perceived value (computer, stereo, cameras, jewelry etc…) but my response wasn’t to the missing items. Electronics can be replaced, but they touched, pushed and ripped through everything in my home…they didn’t leave anything free from their fingering. I waited 9 hours for our finest guardians of all that is good in Bakersfield to knock at my door to hear, “Yep…they were here for a long time. Here is your report number…” That was it. He didn’t even pull out his rape kit. Nope, just sorry…not sure if others have been violated in your quaint little central neighborhood, this isn’t “my beat.” So, I avoided the retelling of the violation because I just wanted to suppress it, bury it deep…which I successfully did until today. As I stood at my sink washing my dishes I broke down in tears. Those fucking assholes saw how filthy my kitchen was.

More Tit Than You Can Take!

2006-05-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

Ms. Martini takes the stage at Brit Spears’ old home in Hollywood Hills!

By the way, in case you didn’t know… “all teta’s have hair!...Boys, get over it!”

But unlike Brit…Ms. Martini was all woman and ALL REAL!

The Groundlings...here I come...with my checkbook.

2006-04-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

Oh the joy, the excitement, the small deposit made into my bucket of happiness! I took my first class at The Groundlings theatre with my good friend Greg. It is a basic class, costs $250 and happens for five more Saturdays. We are doing the basics, but it feels good, safe and fun. I, of course, was the first and the only to go south with my improv bit. We were playing "Man in the middle." This game has three people on stage. The two outside players are given individual topics that are intentionally boring/plain such as Q-tips, cardboard, twigs etc. The goal is to get the person seated in the middle to pay attention to you. My topic was laundry detergent. My instant thought was that I love the way it feels when you get a little powder on you hand and are scrubbing in a spot...the detergent gets all slippery. So, of course I had to talk about how I love to rub it all over my body...I got the girl in the middle's attention, but was lovingly spanked by my instructor on going south. Lesson learned for this dirty minded, baby Groundling wanna-be.

Titsling!

2006-04-17T23:00:00.000-07:00

With a giant red wig and an amazing costume made out of bras (thank you Jo and Jayne!) I will be making an appearance in Titsling this Saturday in Hollywood Hills! Read all about this amazing new musical comedy by AJProductions!

I'm a cheater.

2006-04-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

I cheated. I’m posting to the world in an attempt at a karmic apology. Many of you may remember my BIG art project for the year. This project was to start on January 1, 2006. My project was to do a piece of art a day. Then I asked you, my kind readers to assist me with my project calculations so that each piece would be the same size and then become a part of a bigger piece representing everyday of 2006. I think you may know where this is going, but it is a bit more disheartening then you may think…

Excuses starting here: January 1, 2006 approached with much anticipation. I ordered 31 small wood squares (4” x 4”) from Dick Blick adding in the additional cost for speedy and on-time delivery. The day before the project…no squares and I was to leave town for a work trip. I already had planned to take my project on the road but didn’t account for being squareless.

Here is where my deviance reared its ugly head: I didn’t do a project on Day 1 or Day 2…waiting for the squares I thought, I’ll just do a bunch on they day they arrive. Day 3 arrives, squares arrive, but I was tired. They can wait for Day 4 as I will have time to crank them out and no one would be the wiser. Day 16…still nothing but the broad strokes of guilt. Maybe I could take a long weekend and just get an assembly line started and then stay true to the project’s description of doing a piece a day. I started sifting through old drawings and putting the wood squares over interesting parts of them, x-actoing them out…yet, I was too lazy to even glue them on the wooden squares!

Then I thought, maybe I’ll wait until my birthday and begin the project then…May 31. So there you have it, I’ve come clean. You have my word I shall not cheat you again on my grand artistic endeavors. I will be true to all pre-described project guidelines. I will come clean on all failures and publicly note all deviations to said project. I will not try and sneak in any of the pre-cut drawings I made for the former back-dated project. Promise.

My next project will start on May 31st and I will do a piece for each day of my birthday year.

Hard Core Cafe, Sebastopol CA

2006-03-26T21:19:00.000-08:00

Hey man, Ron sent me (Hippy faker), Ron says, “Hey!”(Why can’t Ron say hey himself?), Ron told me this is where it is happening (totally lame), I’m Ron’s friend…he says, “Hello.” (So.), Ron told me this was one place I had to stop in at while I’m in town. (Shit, can I be the biggest dork here?)

Searching for my inner coolness, I drop the rehearsed Ron intro and just order a 20 oz latte…clean and simple. I even dropped my normal “with two sweet-n-low” because I didn’t want to seem like a Starbuck’s weekday’r and a cool, hippie coffee café poser weekend'r.

The Hard Core Café is located outside of Sebastopol, California on Highway 116. This little haven was a much needed Saturday stop after a soul-sucking week at the daily grind in Northern California where I display a fast, flexible and focused façade of feeling 100% fabulous!

Each morning was a small respite to my day as I was greeted by Ron during my DoubleTree Hotel breakfast dining experience. I liked him instantly. He made goofy faces to the kids, had long wild hair tucked in the back of his shirt and instantly won my heart as he placed small bits of liberalism on a dainty hook to see if I would bite. Oh and I did! Sneaking secret squats next to my table we swapped stories. I find out a number of nuggets about Ron that keep me engaged throughout the week. Each morning he would ask, have you gone to Hard Core yet? I would reply maybe tomorrow. He said the morning is when you will hear the radical rants and hip-deep musings of the county’s best.

I decided to stay an extra day to recover from my week. I had plans to hang out with a friend, but he dumped me (this would be the second and last time!) for another woman. I hop on down to see Ron before I go...he warns, you have until 11:00 am to go to Hard Core before you miss the “crowd.” He insists I tell them Ron sent me and that I seek out Jim or Turby for good conversation.

So, there I am…parking at the much anticipated Hard Core Café! I knew it was going to be good when my first experience was a mini-honking war between me and a cute, bearded fellow. I accidentally honk as I’m getting out, he then honks, then I lock my car which gives a mini-honk, he honks again, then another guy warns me to watch it or I would start something…so I sassily beep my alarm and get the last honk in. He just smiles.

So, I didn’t drop Ron’s name during my order, but I did plop down in the middle of some folks with my journal putting on my cool, calm and collected character of coolness. I browsed the paper, sipped my coffee in the eclectic outdoor café. Sitting on an old diner booth amongst a dental chair, a folding chair, a giant wooden spool all scattered under a plastic awning, I was surprised at the warmth of the people. I even had a gentleman from Chicago tell me he would post my bio there to hook me up with someone interesting.

Although I didn't hear radical rants or find Jim or Turby, Ron was right, this was a place where anyone could have good conversation with open-minded people over a hot cup of joe.

By the way Mr. Chicago, I'm 5'3", like folk music, artistic, love a bit of radical ranting and sometimes I like to get the last honk in.

Kinkade Scandal!!

2006-03-08T20:36:00.000-08:00

As you all know, I so admire the painter of light, but it seems Tommy has been a very bad boy. Gutterboy has captured this titillating Kinkade news in his recent blog entry at his site:http://gutterboylive.livejournal.com

Very scandalous!

Spurs optional.

2006-03-04T23:50:00.000-08:00

I know you have known it, but finally a study that proves artists really do make the best lovers! A new study plublished in Proceeding of the Royal Society says us artists are heatin' it up under the sheets. Oh yeah..., we are said to have a big appetite for the low down lovin' and we know how to rock the run-of-the-mill joe schmoe's world. I have my chaps. Do you feel like kickin' it? Yeeeeeeeehaw!

Oh, they also said we also have genes linking us to schizophrenia.

Well, I'm going to bed now...I have a headache.

Systems Thinking

2006-03-03T22:50:00.000-08:00

We are all part of a system whether it is a human system, a corporate system, a community system or art system. A system is defined by its function. As Dr. Russell Ackoff described in a recent seminar I attended, a system has three defining characteristics “1. A system is a whole defined by its function(s) in one or more larger systems of which it is a part. 2. Every system contains at least two essential parts without which it cannot perform its defining function. 3. Every essential part can affect the system as a whole, but the way an essential part affects the whole depends upon the behavior of at least one other essential part. This means no essential part of a system has an independent effect on it, at the same time, the essential parts all interact either directly or indirectly.” (Beating the System, R. Ackoff 2005)

So, what does that mean to an artist? Well, as artists we do our work in the social system which means that when we create work, it is part of its own visual system that lives in our intellectual system that lives in our human system that makes our social system. So when doing work that effects a system is should have the following characteristics: 1. Be defined by its function. 2. Contain two essential parts. 3. The essential parts interact directly or indirectly with the system for which it is a part.

As Russell said in his recent talk, a car is defined by its function. If you were to dismantle a car and lay out its parts in a room it is no longer a car. Each essential part depends on the other. The engine does not move unless it is connected to the other parts. This also goes to the point of improvement of systems. You have to think of the system’s function as a whole prior to making improvements. As Russell describes, you can’t take all the “best of” parts of a car to make the ultimate car. The parts don’t fit or work together. That goes for artwork. You couldn’t take all the “best” pieces of an artist’s masterpieces and fit them together to make the best masterpiece in the world. Sometimes, there has to be weaker or less dominant parts to a system to make it strong.

When systems go sour or become self abusing, we need to start over. This is called Idealized Design. Every work we do should aspire to Idealized Design. That means that you clean your palette and start with a clean mind. I have found that my artistic ruts come from making a good piece of work. I get so enamored by a piece that works, then I try to duplicate it. However, my art system continues to change and how it works within the larger system changes, and those attempts of duplication always fail. I have yet to create something “good” from trying to take the “rolls Royce engine” from one piece of work and putting it in the “Toyota Camry” of another piece. It never fits and is a waste of a really good engine.

Irvine Hilton Hotel

2006-02-11T21:49:00.000-08:00

Vignette 1 (1 of a 3)
(Irvine Hilton Hotel Elevator)
Woman 1: Thanks for holding the elevator! 5 please.
Man 1: No problem.
Woman 1: Thanks again...have a nice evening.
Man 1: Inaudible response.

Vignette 2 (2 of a 3)
(Irvine Hilton Hotel Room 538)
Woman 1: (Woman 1 struggles to pull in her black, laptop pull case with a large, black boxed brief case with combination locks balanced on top of the laptop case. On top of the black brief case she has her black make-up case. In the other hand she pushes her new, select-a-gift Christmas or rather holiday gift given yearly by her company, small black pull luggage through the heavy door of Room 538. She walks into the room and sets her purse and room key on the double bed located closest to the window. She carries her black make-up bag into the bathroom and unpacks her toothbrush and toothpaste. She uncovers the glassware’s white, paper lid and places her toothbrush in it. She lines up her moisturizer, small, zippered make-up bag, hairspray, dental floss, hair wax and zippered jewelry case. She places her razor and shaving cream in the shower. Takes the soap out of the small, white carton and places it next to the sink. Stripping down to her underwear, she throws her clothes in a pile under the sink. Walking into the bedroom, she picks up her luggage and places it on the bed next to her purse. Unzips it and takes out the clothes left on hangers and still in the dry-cleaning bag. She walks over to the mirrored closet, looks at herself up and down, frowns and opens the closet door. With one quick movement, she hangs up her clothes and leaves the door open. Moving around the bed located next to the closet, she pulls back the white comforter and tugs the sheet roughly from under each corner of the bed. She clumsily crawls into bed and sighs.)

Vignette 3 (3 of a 3 )
(Irvine Hilton Hotel Floor 5)
Woman 1: (Walking into the hallway from room 538, sees man across the hall outside his door)
Man 1: (Looking slightly confused, glancing to his left then right) Which way is the elevator?
Woman 1: This way. (She smiles) A little disoriented?
Man 1: No, just confused. Forgot where I was for a second.
Woman 1: Stayed in one too many hotels?
Man 1: No.

Random Thoughts, Dreams and Musings While Hunkered in Bed with a Chest Cold

2006-01-28T12:52:00.000-08:00

Although I am not a fan of musicals, wouldn’t it be fun to go into work on Monday to my Corporate American job and have everyone working in musical style…breaking out into song during our 2006 Business Planning Meeting.

My feet can do impressions and I think they are rather clever.

I had a dream last night about having my body parts exchanged with others. I had from my belly button down exchanged with my friend Lisa’s lower half and my eyes were exchanged with someone I don’t know. I remember looking into the mirror and hating my new eyes. I looked down when my pants were off and realized I had man legs that needed to be shaved. I looked at the person who got my lower half and I felt sorry for them. My friend Lisa does not have man legs. I had 2 TBSP of Nyquil before bed.

My cat snores.

The one thing that makes me smile everyday before work is about 25 ft. from the office door. There is a family of cats that likes to use either side of the beginning of the walkway as a kitty litter box. Every morning when I see the meticulously scooped piles of poo I say, “KITTY POOPIEEEES!!!!” That makes me laugh.

It takes approximately 20 minutes for my neighborhood dogs to stop barking once a police, fire truck or ambulance passes by. I estimate there are about 8 dogs relatively close to my bedroom window.

I have already made three to-do lists today. I like drawing a little box next to each item so when I'm finished I can check it off. I always check beyond the lines of the box.

I like to watch myself write. I especially enjoy writing a’s.

Save me!

2006-01-21T21:55:00.000-08:00

Recently, I gave up my title as Gallery Director at The Empty Space so that I would have more time to devote to my own artwork. I have complete shows detailed in my mind of all my future projects and let me tell you they are grand!

However, my new position at my paying gig in corporate America has decided to take up residence in my just cleared out, “reserved only for art” mental space. I was recently certified in the Kepner-Tregoe Problem Solving and Decision Making systematic process. I can teach a three-day class on PSDM or I can facilitate meetings to assist business units in making decisions or solving problems. I know, my “Art Speak” title tricked you didn’t it.

As I sit here and type, I have a pile of magazines surrounding me: Harvard Business Review’s Special Issue on Decision Making, Harvard Business Review’s issue on Focused Thinking, Harvard Business Review’s issue on The Human Factor, Fast Company’s issue focusing on Netflix and Fast Company’s Issue focusing on Google. Along with this pile of magazines I have my business unit’s 2006 Business Plan, Strategies and Metrics along with my Diversity and Inclusion Council’s Business Plan and Structure outline.

But guess what I did? Oh yeah, I rebelled and rebelled big. I purchased the newest issue of Art Review with a fascinating article on The Business of Art and Corporate Collections. Guess what I have been reading all afternoon. Yep, articles on art, art and more art! Oh, I’m a sneaky rebel, procrastinating, not so secretly typing about my rebellious procrastination on my work laptop that is to be used mainly for business purposes only, real-time Artist. Uh huh!

So, what I was thinking was I could maybe write a business plan on improving my company’s art collection so it can create a congenial atmosphere reflecting a shift in cultural and professional values within our corporate world, increasing staff pride, creating a clearer corporate image with increased and differentiated brand awareness…OH MAN, I think this calls for a Decision Analysis!

You asked for it.

2006-01-01T22:58:00.000-08:00

The Best of Art Speak, 2005:

I am not Greg Brown's Stalker received much attention from what I now know are called "Brownies" (I love you guys, but you are FREAKS!) just kidding...not really...no really. Also, some blogger referenced it as if I was some sorta freak...although I am not and NO, N.L. BelardASS you are wrong for saying I wrote it hoping that Greg Brown himself would read it and in return send me a little note or something saying he was charmed and the next time I come to his concert just come up and talk to him because he really actually found me to be totally adorable and cute and smart....anyway, next:

I hate Thomas Kinkade got a lot of hits from people who really love Thomas Kinkade. I have received "Painter of Light" hate mail.

I refuse to Ossify just made me sound sorta like smart ya know.

Brewing Rant made me come off as gay which is OK.

Your Arts in the Mail; Now THAT'S Funny! was just a show that was really the best damn show Bakersfield has ever seen! (Recently winning The Empty Award for the Best Damn Gallery Show of the Year!)

A Farewell...

2006-01-01T16:02:00.000-08:00

Two years ago, I enthusiastically took on the challenge of Gallery Director and turning The Empty Space lobby into a professionally run gallery. That included sprucing up the paint job, begging for new floors, getting a whopping $50.00 budget for wine and vinyl lettering for each show, developing a much needed consignment agreement between artist and gallery, conducting a training day so any volunteer could sell art at the gallery, painting and patching after each show, developing new and exciting exhibit ideas, refining my press release writing abilities and generally drumming up enthusiasm in the local community for forward thinking, contemporary art exhibits.

Some highlighted art exhibits included the Spirit Companion group show that invited artists to make a spirit doll, Women’s Work art exhibit highlighting women artist from California and Illinois, Exquisite Corpse group exhibit, and my favorite, You’re Arts in the Mail; Now THAT’S Funny! mail art exhibit.

I’ll be honest; it wasn’t all fun and games. I had artists not showing up when scheduled (this happened a lot!), not putting the appropriate hanging wire on their work, not showing up for their opening, audience members complaining about the artwork being too disturbing, my $50 budget getting cut but me adding it to my personal budget, The Californian not putting our gallery opening in the Things To Do column in our local paper, improper lighting, music no-shows and last minute art show cancellations.

Like all the volunteers at The Empty Space, I put in 10 – 20 hours or more a week working on the monthly art exhibits sometimes even more. All the heartache and sometimes growing bitterness wasn’t a waste. Nothing is better than having more people show up than expected, repeat gallery goers, artists selling their first piece and celebrating, hearing a thank you, helping build an emerging fine art collector’s collection, helping new artists increase their professionalism, meeting talented artists and making new friends, and having the personal fulfillment of curating some amazing art shows.

With two years under my belt that equates to a MFA in curatorial studies, I bid The Empty Space farewell and pass the torch onto new blood with new enthusiasm and unique ideas for the gallery. I am thankful for a great two years as The Empty Space Gallery Director and Curator!

If a train A leaves the station on 1/1/06 at noon and Train B leaves….!

2005-12-20T17:26:00.000-08:00

Gather around all you mathematical maniacs, I need your help. I will be starting a new art project on January 1st and unfortunately, Mom and Pop didn’t pass along the math gene. Starting on the 1st of the New Year I’m going to capture next year by doing a small piece of artwork each day.

Ultimately, I want each piece to make up a one final piece if I were to hang or mount them side-by-side and up and down. I’m hoping the overall year will take the form of a rectangle. I want to keep each day’s artwork to a small square or rectangle, preferably in the 4” x 5” range. I’m flexible with the overall look of the final piece, but do want the smaller pieces to be easily cut out of wood or other material. If you can keep it simple for me…I will love you forever! So, is it possible?

Someone out there was given my math gene and must use it for good. Is that you?

Ooooooo, ooo, ooo!

2005-12-13T17:37:00.000-08:00

Today was like Christmas Morning as I stood in line at the Post office. Like a small child waiting to talk to Santa, I hear a booming voice hush the crowd. “Anyone that doesn’t have a cash transaction can step over here.” I looked around at all the droopy faces when the jolly Postal worker (OK, jolly might be stretching this story a bit) made eye contact with me. He had the…you just won the prize of the day grin, sorta. Yep, in my mental pj’s with the built in footies, I gleefully shuffled right up to the front and happily turned over my UPS notice. Oh the joy I felt as I skipped out to my car to rip open my package!

What to my wondering eyes should I see, but my lil’ fiver post waiting for me! I know, enough already with the lame Christmas theme…

Awe, my very first artist stamp.

Thank you Anna Banana for your hard work. Thank you Tim Mancusi for setting the stamp up digitally. His stamp is the one with the gun right next to my non-politically inspired Fiver. The stamps turned out great!

I know, my picture posts are pretty poor quality…a scanner is on the Christmas list!

Wanna see my etchings?

2005-12-02T21:23:00.000-08:00

The past couple weeks have been heart warming and nostalgic. In preparation for Scrooge’s “Everything-Under-$99” Art Bazaar I blew the dust off my flat files and did some digging into the “Early Works of Ms. Julia Heatherwick!” Oh yes, the troubled yet innocent youth was captured in the form of Intaglio prints. College was filled with Keystone beer, pizza, “don’t Bogart that can mannn” and a lot of “Wanna see my etchings?”

Come on out December 10 to The Empty Space and I’ll show you a lot more from noon – 7:00 pm!

Scrooge's Art Bazaar this Saturday!

2005-11-28T18:42:00.000-08:00

Scrooge’s Everything-Under-$99 Art Bazaar

The Empty Space Gallery presents an art show and sale for everyone! Unique and affordable art, including functional pieces, will be available from local artists A.S. Ashley, Julia Heatherwick, Bob Kempf, Elizabeth Hinkle, and more! This is a cash and carry show with nothing over $99.00!!!

Bazaar Open House Dates:
Saturday, December 3, noon – 7pm
Saturday, December 10, noon - 7:00pm

Coffee and tea tasting with the Filling Station will be available and holiday bake sale with offerings from local businesses to benefit The Empty Space Theatre. Admission: $3.00

Art will be on view from December 3 - December 17 and available for sale 30 minutes prior to theater productions or by appointment.

The Empty Space is located at 706 Oak Street, Bakersfield, CA. The Empty Space keeps its doors open with the generous donations of our patrons. For more information, or to make an appointment, please call 327-PLAY and leave a message for Gallery Director, Julia Heatherwick.

Visit new The Empty Space Theatre Website!

Anna Banana Artist Stamp Project!

2005-11-23T18:04:00.000-08:00

I am excited to report that I have participated in my first artist stamp project with the infamous mail-artist Anna Banana! Anna Banana has been creating mail art, artist stamps, and performance art since the early 70’s.

Thanks to the help of my friend, Tim Mancusi, my little bunny has turned into “Fiver Post.” (Fiver is my favorite bunny in Watership Down!) I will post pictures of the project once I receive the work.

Really, I have an excuse.

2005-11-20T21:07:00.000-08:00

I've been verbally spanked by my friendly co-bloggers for my poor neglected blog. Although I may deserve it (thank you may I have another?), here's my excuse:

I spent the last 2 weeks in DuPont, Washington taking a certification training course on Problem Solving and Decision Making. I am now a semi-professional Problem Solver. (No, I don't want to hear about your issues with your mother.) Yes, my little chaotic artistic brain was given a full once over on drawing within the lines of process. We had class from 8 – 5:30 pm everyday with 5 full hours of homework each night. Plus, we had about 8 hours of homework over the weekend. I was in problem solving bootcamp.

I have always been amazed when happenings seemed to randomly fit together like a perfect puzzle. My two weeks solidified my belief in life as a planned system and if you were to pull back far enough or look close enough you would see the pattern.

So, be kind and give me a day or so to recover and I'll be back to my usual ramblings.

I refuse to ossify!

2005-10-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

I’m sitting in the airport reading an article by Ben Marcus titled “Why Experimental Fiction Threatens to Destroy Publishing, Jonathan Franzen and Life as We Know it” in Harper’s Magazine. (In the background I’m listening to a middle-aged man bitch on a cell phone to a United Airline service representative. He is angerly saying that he has never received such poor service and that he demands to be put on 5:00 Alaskan Flight and that he will only sit in seat 9A or 9B. This reminds me of the lady at our local Bagel’s and Blenders bitching about her toasted bread after the girl behind the counter says she will give her untoasted bread. The lady says no, that is not necessary, but still continues to bitch about the toasted bread for another 10 minutes...looking at the menu and saying, "It doesn't say on the menu that all bread is toasted. You NEED to tell the owners to change it!." My heart begins to pound and I am unable to concentrate on my order, just like I am unable to concentrate on typing this blog entry…now I can feel this man’s anger while an anorexic woman plugs her cell phone into a wall outlet dialing frantically on her cell phone while putting one person on hold to answer another phone call, slapping the phone shut and frantically dialing another number. Panic, panic, panic…I thought America was on Prozac?)

I take a deep breath, remain sitting in my lotus style position…ahhhhh, serene smile…

So, back to the article. I won’t waste your precious reading time re-capping the article, however, he did talk about the type of books that end up on the best seller’s book list which happen to be made for the average reader. People don’t read like they should he states. The best sellers happen to mimic the easy styles of the past while those who try and push language and our thinking are marginalized. My favorite line Mr. Marcus wrote says,

“The elitists are not supposedly demanding writers such as myself but rather those who caution the culture away from literary development, who insist that the narrative achievements of the past be ossified, lacquered, and rehearsed by younger generations. In this climate artistic achievement is a legacy, and writers are encouraged to behave like cover bands, embellishing the oldies, maybe, while ensuring that buried in the song is an old familiar melody to make us smile with recognition, so that we might read more from memory than by active attention.” – Ben Marcus, Harper’s Magazine/October 2005

This made me think about visual art and how visual art is taught. (James Elkins will argue art can’t be taught in a great book titled “Why Art Cannot Not Be Taught.”) We look at history for greatness. The average person will say their favorite artist in history is Monet, Degas or get a little daring and say Picasso, but not that really abstract stuff…but the Blue Period is nice. Recently, I have heard a lot of rumblings in our The Empty Space Gallery about A.S. Ashley’s “Jesus Christ Satellite of Love” art piece in the Dia de los Muertos art show. One woman grimaced and said, “It’s so dark.” Another woman complained that it was just too disturbing and we should think about taking it down or he should at least have written an artist statement.

Artists don’t purposely make artwork that you are going to hate. At least not usually. They may, however, make art that makes you think. Not just about it, but about yourself. Because truly you are talking about yourself when you make a generalized comment like, “That is so dark.” What part of the piece is so dark? What about that part makes you think it’s dark? What does that part make you think of when you see it? When have you seen something like that before? What other things do you think are dark?

My line of questioning is about us and our reaction. That is also part of the piece. Truly great art was once thought to be disturbing, ugly, just too different then what was common during that time period.

So, I ask myself as well as other artists to not be just a cover band. I ask viewers to not succumb to group think. I ask you to dig a little deeper into your first response emotions and wonder what that tells you about you. And I ask you to hold your damn tongue and just have the poor girl behind the counter get you your untoasted bread.

Hot Gallery News!!!

2005-10-19T22:05:00.000-07:00

Due to the popularity of the show, the Dia de los Muertos exhibition has been extended!

You can now see the artwork up through Saturday, November 19! You can visit the gallery every Friday and Saturday 30 minutes prior to the theatre performances at 7:30 pm or 10:30 pm before the late night show. Of course, you can always see the show by appointment by calling 327-PLAY!

More exciting news…

You have 52 days before you can open the best Christmas Gift EVER!!!! (start making your construction paper ring garland to count the days!!!)
You can’t shake it, lift off the tape just an itsy bit, heck I’m not even going to give you a hint to what it is. Nope, not giving you one little, teeny weeney hint. This thing will make you so deliriously happy that you might pee in your pants a little bit.

Two Weeks, Two Hearts

2005-10-17T17:45:00.000-07:00

The Empty Space Gallery has coordinated another great art show! I was asked today, “how do you do it Julia…working 50 - 60 hours a week at a Corporate job and take on such a huge responsibility as volunteer gallery director.” I will be honest; it is 20+ hour a week gig. We have a lot of ups and downs when organizing a show. Group art shows are the most labor intensive. Take for instance, the Dia de los Muertos show that just opening this past Saturday. The show was filled with artists brand new to the art world and veterans that have been showing for years. As a gallery director, I spend a lot of time coaching new artists, answering their questions and helping them with their presentation along with sending out reminder emails to all about shipping information, consignment agreements, drop-off times and gallery opening details.

This particular show had started out as a brain-child of Maria Mercado, local theatre Director (Anna and the Tropics). Her enthusiasm for the event was evident, but her calendar just got too full for her to take it on. Since I had already sent out information to artists about the event, I decided to move on.

I sought out another volunteer to run with the festivities, but alas, two weeks before the event their calendar got just too full and they had to drop out. Wow, I hadn’t hung the show, I started a new job, I wanted to do a piece for the show…too much to do and not enough help! In walked Guinevere Park-Hall, working machine and volunteer Marketing Director at The Empty Space Theatre. I originally asked her to assist our Dia de los Muertos event coordinator with the theatre details, but without a word, she stepped up. She said, “Well…this probably couldn’t have happened at a worse time for us personally, but we will march on!” She tells me she can help me up to the event, but has another commitment to attend to on opening day.

I contacted the new Mas magazine about a month ago regarding the event and they hopped on it. Guin and I were both interviewed extensively about the show and I forwarded artist’s names, numbers and jpegs for possible inclusion in the article. I promised to snag a couple copies of the article for the out-of-town artists. (Who might I add sent me their work, nicely framed and packaged weeks ago. I love you!) I was told that it would hit the streets the Friday before! Oh, the excitement was building!

A.S. Ashley, a veteran of the art world jumped in and offered to help hang the show and get some publicity. He got an hour ½ interview on KRAB radio and a plug the day before the event.Guin lined up a musician a month ago…this event was going to be an amazing pull-off for two tired and overworked volunteers. We called each other frequently to give each other pep talks and to check in. Unfortunately, my support to Guin was minimal because I had to focus on the art and artists.

Guin checked in with the musicians, got decorations for the altar donated, food and soup ordered and dancers were slated to be contacted by a friend. Yeeehaw!

The art hang day came and all went fairly smoothly. Michael Biagiotti came up from Los Angeles to pick-up his work. I patched and painted the walls. We only had a few stragglers turning in their art and a couple issues hanging unframed work, but A.S. Ashley and I were a hardworking team and the art was great!

After a 6 hour hang day, I had a few things yet do and a week to do them in:
- Pick-up vinyl lettering from Kinko’s ($27.00 yikes, but they do look good!)
- Apply vinyl lettering
- Type up the placards for each art piece (My printer’s out of ink. I hate Dell computers…you can only get ink from them)
- Pick-up an artist’s work from their house (the things I do!)
- Get beverages and pastries donated (Thank you The Filling Station!!)
- Post the event on Bakotopia
- Send out a reminder email/press release to my contacts
- Figure out when I can actually get into the Theatre to finish my details (it is Tech week you know!)
- Read my Flawless Consulting Book, 5 Dysfunctions of a Team and Crucial Conversations books for my new job. (zzzzz, just kidding boss!)

Tuesday, we get a call. Our musician cancelled. Yikes! Guin does some magic and gets the talented Ben Gomez to donate his time. He can do it, but has to work until 5:15pm at the Spotlight Theatre…he says he will get there as soon as possible.Wednesday, we hear that the dancers were not called by a friend of the theatre. Chalk this one up to a misunderstanding.

Friday, Mas magazine article was not printed. They decided to push it to the next issue.

A few more bumps in the road, but it is Saturday. I’m driving to Kinko’s to get those placards printed and zip over to The Empty Space. At the stop light, I have a lovely experience with some teenagers on bikes spitting on my driver’s window. Great, but it is OK, I’m focused.

I’m hanging an artist’s last minute pieces that were not completely dry…takes a little longer than expected. Eeek. Guin pops over to spruce up the altar with fresh flowers and then some. Bob, the Artistic Director, gets in the spirit by helping with the arrangement. Guin, says that she will drop off the soup and food she ordered (that she donated to the cause) as she is leaving town. I’m trying to wrap up, field last minute calls from artists and friends and get home to spruce up.

I get a call from Guin. The restaurant didn’t put in her order. She pre-paid a week ago. No tortilla soup today! She makes a dash to Los Hermanos and gets it in just under the wire for the opening. She is running late for her other event, but gives me a hug and kiss and wishes me the best. I am thankful that I can truly count on her. She says she will do something and her word is gold. She is a rare artist, friend and volunteer!

The show opens, artists are adding to their altars, people are adding to the community altar, talking art, smiling and drinking. It was about celebrating and remembering those who have passed. This opening event was an inclusive day that crossed cultural boundries where we all could celebrate our loved ones and each other.

Proudly, two hearts in two weeks brought the community the Dia de los Muertos art show and opening!

I am not Greg Brown's Stalker.

2005-10-09T23:02:00.000-07:00

I’ve decided I’m not a stalker. OK, I realize that most stalkers wouldn’t probably admit they are stalkers because that would mean you are admitting that you are creepy. I am definitely not creepy.

As some of you know, I am a Greg Brown fan. Yes, I am a FAN. It is OK to admit that. Greg Brown is probably the most delicious, handsome, sexy, intelligent, deep, sexy, down home, Zen-like, sexy-hippiesque folk singer on the circuit. A stalker wouldn’t put that on a blog with their name in the title. I first saw him perform about 10 years ago in Central Illinois with about 50 people in attendance. I was surprised to see him climb on stage with a tattered cowboy hat, dirty jeans and a worn thin white tank-top. Then he started to strum and out of him rumbled the deepest, gravelly, touch you “down there” voice. Hello!

Since then I have seen him perform seven times. I have almost all his albums and just recently purchased on EBay his “One Night” record produced in 1982 by the Coffeehouse Extempore’. I don’t even own a record player. A fan would do that. A stalker wouldn’t want that kind of electronic trail.

He performed last night at the Stanos Theatre on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo. At the last minute, I asked a friend if he wanted to go and he said yes. Sometimes I regret asking friends to go because you are just not sure how they will act during the performance. When I am in a Greg Brown zone, I don’t want you to nudge me, whisper to me or breathe in my general direction. Luckily, I had my ticket so he would have to fend for himself in another section. My seat was perfect. I was nestled on stage left in the second row. The planets were aligned and I did not have anyone sitting in front of me. I was seated so close that if the stupid woman next to me wasn’t wearing such a god awful perfume, I might have been able to smell him. All was perfect minus the minor distractions of the loving couple next to me and the hairy backed man located off to my right. Even back hair can disrupt a perfect evening of Greg Brown.

Greg was in good spirits. He joked a bit with the crowd and even recognized a friend in the audience. I wondered what it would be like to be Greg’s friend. I looked over at Joe Price (Greg’s friend) and wondered what was so special about him. I decided I might secretly touch Joe at the end of the performance. A stalker might do that, but so would a fan, so I was ok with that.

The performance was intimate and pretty much perfect, but came to an end too soon as usual. I hooted and hollered, but there was no second encore.

As the crowd started to file out I made my way toward Greg’s friend. Just as I was about to make my move my friend joined up with me and intercepted my plan. Damn-it.

We made our way out the exit and I was walking slowly. We exited and I realized we were at the back of the Theatre. Greg probably would come out this way. I decided to stall our exit by saying I needed to go back in to the theatre to use the restroom. I did. I urged him to buy a CD. I lingered contemplating the crappy art on the wall. Then I thought this is the right time. He wants to go right, but I say we can get to the parking by going left. We walk and…there he is in his tank top standing at the back door of the theatre. I knew it. He was there with the friend I almost touched, but now I have my oblivious friend chatting away, distracting me of my focus. He sees my line of sight…and dumbly says, “Hey, that’s Greg Brown. Let’s go over and get my CD signed.” I halted, frightened. I’ve never talked to Greg Brown. I mean I’ve watched him talk to other fans while I stood back. I’ve had the opportunity. He once sat close to me at a Folk Festival and I just looked at him with his green, over the shoulder messenger bag with a giant ink stain on it, but I have never marched right up and said “I’m your biggest FAN!” I mean come on, I’m not a freakin’ dork. So, there I am standing so close to a possible meeting and I was frozen. A fan would walk up to him and say they were a fan. A fan wouldn’t really care if they sounded like an idiot. A fan would have brought their 1982 Greg Brown “One Night…” album with a perfect pen to have him sign it. No, I wasn’t his number one fan.

I realized that I am in the star struck purgatory. I am probably stuck for eternity between “Stalker” and “Number One Fan.”

I’ve decided that I am Greg Brown’s Number One…Lurker.

Greg Brown

"Stickerwoman."

2005-10-05T22:49:00.000-07:00

My creative process surely indicates genius. I came home around 8:30 pm tonight with plenty of time to create the piece that has been haunting me all week. I have received two comments thus far on my much awaited balloon animal Dia de los Muertos art piece. OK, I know I put it out there, but come on people…an artist can’t work under this kind of pressure! (I’m talking to you Barbara R. and Matildakay!)

So, I came home and did the usual routine hoping for inspiration. I fed the cat, I pet the cat, I talked on the phone, I left messages for people, I logged onto email and then with a burst of energy I spent 45 minutes finding homes for my Sticker Nation stickers. Oh yes, my creative juices are really working overtime!

Gemini Power!

No title needed.

Did I tell you…

Major Leakage!

2005-10-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

As my thoughts come to a close on Webzine2005, I dream of Webzine2006. It looks like my skills as a “handler” and “candy/soda girl” leaked into the inner Webzine2005 circle! Eddie, chief organizer, seems to be vying for my “handler” skills. Eddie, I’m here for you darling! By the way, do you know Scott?

Today has been a frantic day for Senorita Gallery Director as I get ready for the Dia de los Muertos art exhibit at The Empty Space Gallery. I probably shouldn’t divulge this bit of artistic information, but I have been working last minute on my own submission. Since I’ve taken on the responsibility of Gallery Director, I have had little time to create. I use my group shows as opportunities to force myself to squeeze out some time in the art studio. Which, by the way, is a complete disaster...

It has leaked onto my dining room floor...

It’s coming slow, but I think I have an idea. It revolves around balloon animals. That is all I’m going to tell you. You will have to come to the art opening on Saturday, October 15 from 4 – 7:00 pm to see how I’m going to tie balloon animals to a Day of the Dead
celebration!

Webzine 2005

Webzine 2005 Conference Part 2.5

2005-09-30T22:13:00.000-07:00

Located centrally at the conference, the Chi was circulating at the Concession/Badge making hub! I felt in control of the Webziners general internal satisfaction. I delivered Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Hansen’s Mandarin Lime, Kiwi Strawberry and Key Lime, bottled water and Cliff bars for only $1.00.

One general observation I made during the conference. I’m not really that funny. I’ve been living in a false reality for ten years at work. Everyday I walk into work at my business casual, fortune 500 company and walk the corridors saying, "Whoooooweeee it’s a Monday!”, “Working hard or hardly workin’?”, “You got time to lean you got time to clean!”, “Whoa…you caught me slackin’ on hump day!”, “Thank goodness it’s a Friday!”…

OK, you might not be laughing…but add in wild gesticulation and quirky facial expressions and I’m killing on main stage at the Comedy Store. Nope, not at Webzine 2005. My wild gesticulating and flirty smiles complimenting a contagious booming laugh…got nothin’. So, I resigned myself to just delivering the goods somberly like a solid B volunteer. I trudged through my 6 hours of volunteer work like a trooper.

I did, however, make a top secret business deal with Sir Srini Kumar of Unamerican Activities and StickerNation. All I can divulge at this time is that I am playing a feature-role as “Waterwoman!” Don’t even try to pry any more details out of me. I will tell you it has to do with water, but that is it. No more than that, well other than I will be a woman handling water. So, my lips are sealed. This secret is safe with me. I’m a vault. (A lot more on this later!)

(Subliminal message: log onto www.thebuzzblogs.com )

Webzine 2005

Webzine2005 Conference Part 2.25

2005-09-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco public transit is amazing! I can now count on two hands how many times I have used public transit. I feel so cool and so "city."

I arrived to the conference in plenty of time for my volunteer shift. Yep, this cheapskate volunteered for 5 hours to save $24 bucks! I was really hoping to use this opportunity to network. As some of you know, I give myself over to “The Man” Monday through Friday at a large, local insurance company. Networking is a mandatory survival skill. Armed with my best weapon, Leila my volunteer organizer, gives me my new title: “handler.” Oh yeah, I will definitely excel as a handler. I can handle anything…bring it on. My wit and charm will dazzle the Webzine organizers…maybe there will be a “Webzine Volunteer of the Year” award. Watch me handle…

Leila gave me the low down. I was to find Scott. A tall guy, with a very funky shirt. He is the current “handler” and will give me my orders. I head to the sponsor room and thinking the description was vague, I spot a very in charge looking fella, tall and funky shirt…that must be him. I ask, are you Sccccoooooottttt? That bit is to indicate that Scott is probably the most handsome man I have ever seen. Did she forget to mention his striking blue eyes; his just rolled out of bed hair and scratch my body red all over beard? So Scott, you’re the current handler...I’m a handler too. I can handle some things if you need me to handle them, I mean I just talked to someone and they said to talk to you about handling. Can I handle anything right now? Yep, my wit and charm didn’t fail me! Scott looks me up and down…says, well I think I have everything under control. Wanna make a sign. Like a lap dog, I nod enthusiastically. I made the sign. He said good sign. I panted and smiled proudly at my Master’s Lounge sign-up sheet. Anything else? No…why don’t you go see Leila maybe she'll have something for you. I see Leila and report that it is all under control. I handled the sign. She informs me that basically, I was to be there for the sponsors and speakers in case they need anything. At that moment a frantic man pops over to her. He says, I need a monitor and a 45RTX cable (something like that). Leila looks at me….I look at Leila…Leila and I spent a few seconds looking at each other, she looks toward Ryan, then me then asks Ryan…Do you think you can “handle” this?

So, Julia…you think you could sell concessions?

Oh yes, I can sell concessions, boy can I sell concessions. I’m a volunteer at a non-profit theatre and I sometimes sell concess…OK, I’ll talk to Jake about selling. Thanks Leila…uh, ok…sure, talk to you in a bit. Oh yeah, Ms. ConcesSIONS...wooooweeeee, I can SELL concessions!

Webzine 2005

Webzine2005 Conference - Part 1

2005-09-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

I’m two days back from Webzine 2005 and I’m still marinating. I left Bakersfield late on Friday. As always, leaving meant a thousand errands to ensure I would have a positively positive webzine experience. I stayed with my friend Jan, an artist I met at an artist book class at the San Francisco Center for the Books Arts about three years ago. She lives in the Sunset district and you can see Golden Gate park from her house. I called Jan to confirm my stay. She said that I had to be there at 7:00 pm and better put my shoulder to the wheel so we could go to a Thai restaurant with some of her artist friends from out of town. Well, it was 6:30 pm and I was in Hayward. Nope, I wouldn’t make it by 7:00. I told her I would call her as I got close and she could give me directions. So, I’m on the Bay Bridge, its 7:00 pm and I realize I don’t have her cell phone number. Lovely. I’m sure she’ll call me. I hope she calls me because I'm hungry and really have to pee. I then proceed to drive around Mission and Market Street, hoping for a call, hoping for a parking spot, hoping I could pee. It was 7:45 pm. No call, no parking spot and well, you know the rest. By this time, I have resigned myself to parking anywhere and getting my city “tough face” on. Yes, I have a tough face. (I’ve had to use it on a few of my gallery artists for not being on time to drop off their work…you know who you are!)

I find a beautiful parking spot. I see a busy restaurant. I had a strange feeling. I’ve been here before. I was just driving around randomly solely focused on food and relief. I hike to the restaurant make the needed B-line to relief. I’m told a 45 minute wait or I could eat at the bar. I squeeze myself up to the bar. No stools, yet people were eating a full-course meal standing up. Only in San Francisco. I wedge myself between Mr. Fancy Pants and Nice Lady from Japan. Mr. FP took it upon himself to educate me on the menu. I decided on the Caesar salad. He loudly states, “Nice choice…it’s an authentic Caesar, well, except they don’t use a wooden bowl…they use a stainless steel bowl, but not by choice you know, there are health issues if they were to do that.” I’m glad I am getting an intimate verbal tour of my meal and I get to enjoy its authenticity standing up. It only seems deserving of such an ovation.

I state to NLJ that this place feels so familiar. My friend John took me to his gallery and it looked just like this area. Mr. FP butts in and says do you mean Lincart gallery?...becaues it is right across the alley. I look through the window and see, yes, it is John’s gallery. The current window display looks like a sporting goods store with book bags neatly filling up the window. This goes right back to my feeling of odd coincidences. A whole city with just one parking spot and it just so happens to be right across the street from John’s gallery. Synchronicity is there if you watch for it.

It was 9:30 pm, I get a call from Jan and she is home and I am thankful and tired. My authentic Caesar salad was OK (wooden bowls are a critical ingredient) and I’m ready to rest my brain for my big Webzine 2005 Conference!

Webzine 2005

Webzine2005 Conference!

2005-09-23T00:42:00.000-07:00

I'm roadtripping to San Francisco for the Webzine2005 conference!

You will hear all about it next week.

Short inspirational note:
I've noticed that this year has been filled with synchronicity in the arts. Put yourself in the middle of what you love and amazing things will start to happen.

Controversial unveiling.

2005-09-23T00:19:00.000-07:00

Do artists have a responsibility to challenge group thought? Do we veer off into two categories of artists: Decorative vs. New Thought/Social Change? Can something be both? Would that be a piece that is sneaks into someone’s home and subtly changes the owner’s behavior?

I recently read an article about a public sculpture that was unveiled in Trafalgar Square in London. The fourth plinth was a sculpture of a naked, pregnant disabled woman titled Alison Lapper Pregnant. There were gasps at the unveiling vs. cheers from the audience. Some saw beauty and some saw horror. The audience wanted to know why the sculpture had to be naked and shown pregnant or were they just veiling their horror of seeing an armless and disfigured woman glorified?

Like artist Marc Quinn, push yourself to provoke thought and drive change!

Group think is dangerous.

Artist Stamps!

2005-09-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my friends John Held, Jr. and Tim Mancusi, I am stepping into the underground art world lair. I’ve dabbled in mail art, have collected zines, secretly drooled over a world captured by Juxtapose…now, I am starting my first artist stamp project.

Artist stamps have been given some attention recently in the news for images of our President with a gun to his head.

Tim Mancusi will be schooling me in the fine art of artist stamp set-up while Mr. John Held, Jr., also know as “The Perforator” has graciously offered to perform my sheet perforation. I’m all giddy like a little school girl! I will keep you updated on the project.

The place to be on Saturday!

2005-09-20T19:54:00.000-07:00

The Empty Space Gallery had a great turn out for Michael Biagiotti’s solo exhibition. See what local art scene writers N.L. Belardes and Matildakay have to say about the evening!

If you want to stay connected with what is really happening in Bakersfield…check their blogs out daily!

I've only just begun...

2005-09-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently responded to my blog entry "Brewing Rant" saying Marylee is probably: “a lock-step servant of the printed Bible. A "every jot and tittle" type.” I loved his use of words…

Speaking of the bible, I wanted to add the below research regarding further inquiry about homosexuality and religious activists.

The biggest passage “those people” site from the bible is Leviticus 18:22

KJV: “Thou shalt not lie with a man as with a woman: it is an abomination.
NIV: “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” Living Bible: “Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, for it is an enormous sin,”

The book of Leviticus is a part of the Hebrew Law and contains everything from commandments for men not to shave the edges of their beards (Lev 19:27); orders not to have intercourse during menstruation (Lev 18:19); not to harvest different crops in the same field (Lev 19:19); as well as numerous dietary laws. All of these are an abomination.

Another interesting note: Jesus never talked about Homosexuality. The prophets never talked about Homosexuality.

This and more detailed information was thoroughly researched and put together by Justin R. Cannon. Please visit his website at www.Truthsetsfree.net

Thank you Joseph for your research!

Brewing Rant

2005-09-12T19:38:00.000-07:00

I must veer off the Art Speak road for a moment.

Two things have me fired up today, but I will only begin to talk about one.

The big ONE would be: “Doesn’t Your Vote Count for Something” article by Marylee Shrider on the front page of Saturday’s Local section of The Californian.

Mind you, my response is just brewing…

Miss Marylee opposes gay marriage. Miss Marylee feels strongly about supporting the ignorance of the majority of the Kern County voters. Miss Marylee believes “Marriage, as it has been defined for thousands of years, represents the foundation of our social order. …the majority of Californians aren’t ready to give up on the institutions. Not yet. Not anytime soon.”

WOW, that is a great ending comment. An “institution” should not be questioned!!! My frustration with her flip ending began my search on the institution of heterosexual marriage.

I must defer to a brilliant letter written by Gary Leupp, Professor of History at Tufts University, and Adjunct Professor of Comparative Religion. He is the author of Male Colors: The Construction of Homosexuality in Tokugawa, Japan and Interracial Intimacy in Japan: Western Men and Japanese Women, 1543-1900.

An excerpt of his letter:
“You invoke "History" as though it's some source of authority, but you really don't know much about it, do you? "No investigation, no right to speak," I always say, and if you want to talk about homosexual unions in recorded history you should do some study first. First I recommend you read John Boswell's fine book Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality (University of Chicago Press, 1980), in which he documents legally recognized homosexual marriage in ancient Rome extending into the Christian period, and his Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe (Villard Books, 1994), in which he discusses Church-blessed same-sex unions and even an ancient Christian same-sex nuptial liturgy. Then check out my Male Colors: The Construction of Homosexuality in Tokuga wa Japan (University of California Press, 1995) in which I describe the "brotherhood-bonds" between samurai males, involving written contracts and sometimes severe punishments for infidelity, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Check out the literature on the Azande of the southern Sudan, where for centuries warriors bonded, in all legitimacy, with "boy-wives." Or read Marjorie Topley's study of lesbian marriages in Guangdong, China into the early twentieth century. Check out Yale law professor William Eskridge's The Case for Same-Sex Marriage (1996), and other of this scholar's works, replete with many historical examples.

What the study of world history will really tell you, is that pretty much any kind of sexual behavior can become institutionalized somewhere, sometime. You know that polygamy remains normal and legal in many nations, as it was among your Mormon forebears in Utah. In Tibet, polyandry has a long history, and modern Chinese law seems powerless to prevent marriages between one women and two or three men. Getting back to same-sex issues, the Sambia of New Guinea have traditionally believed that for an adolescent boy to grow into a man, he absolutely must fellate an adult male and chug the semen down. I'm not making this up; see Gilbert H. Herdt, Guardians of the Flutes (Columbia University Press, 1981). Now you and I would see that as a kind of child abuse, but to the Sambians, it's just common sense. It's been that way for well over 3,000 years of their history. (You might want to ask yourself: does that 3,000 year record make it right?)”

Over the last 3,000 years to which you specifically allude (someone else was telling National Public Radio that the Supreme Justice Court ruling defied 5,000 years, which would make departure from precedent even more serious), there has in fact been no global marriage norm. In some societies, a man and woman, of their own free will, formed a relationship, decided to forge a life-long commitment, got the necessary permissions and ceremonial legitimacy, started having sex after that, and maintained a monogamous union thereafter until one died. That's been very unusual, though. Arranged marriages involving varying degrees of input by the couple (usually less by the female) have been more the norm. (Do you realize how radically sections of humankind departed from the prior "history" you so validate, when we started insisting on the freedom of young couples to marry without their parent's consent, and to do so based on "love"---which is another complex and evolving historical category? You might perhaps read Friedrich Engels' still relevant book The Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State, and learn something about how capitalism and the whole notion of the free market played a positive role here.)

For demographic and economic reasons (rather than articulated moral ones), monogamy has generally been far more widespread than polygamy. But in more societies than not, wealthy, powerful men have enjoyed the polygamous option. That of course goes for the ancient Hebrews.

My point, again, is just that views on these issues aren't historically static, and good decent people can work to change them.
The freedom to link yourself to another, and benefit from whatever range of privileges your political and cultural environment confer on "marriage," should not be arbitrarily confined to males who are attracted to females, and to females attracted to males. Even if that premise had, in fact, as you suggest, prevailed since the dawn of civilization, it would be irrational. If history (with a capital H), has any function at all, it is to induce people, merely through cumulative experience, to get more rational, and thereby alleviate the kinds of suffering they can inflict upon themselves. Recognition of gay marriage is a step towards recognizing reality, and alleviating the oppression homophobic ignorance and hatred inevitably inflict. That's the reasoning behind the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts' ruling.”

Read the entire article on counterpunch.org.

All I can say is WOW, that is a pretty great institution!

Like I said...this one is brewing and might spill out in another entry.

Confession.

2005-09-10T23:38:00.000-07:00

I have a guilty pleasure. It is glossy, tough and dirty. Juxtapoz. Yep, Juxtapoz magazine. I know I should be burning the mid-night oil with Art Papers, ArtForum and Art News…but no, I have locked my bedroom door, stole the flashlight and am silently flipping from Barry McGee to Mark Ryden to Camille Rose Garcia. I’m torn between disgust from the pumped up, pimped up objectified images of young, nubile women to a sort of pornographic glee at the grit and spit of street punks taking a bite of the financial action someone once told me exists. I only thought of “financial action” as the unicorn from my childhood or the desire for Flipper to come and live with me in my middle-class, mid-America back-yard. I know dad could build a pool for him and we could swim together faster than lightening…well, at least in a tight circle.

With a bit of grit and spit and a unstoppable urge to turn our guts inside out we can have that house in the mountains and maybe one in San Francisco and while we are at it, we can escape to our East Coast country estate like Sir Affleck to just get away from it all.

So, I flip off my flashlight, scoot my guilty pleasure under the bed and contently drift off to sleep knowing my dirty little secret is safe with you.

My Art is in Turkey!

2005-09-08T00:27:00.000-07:00

Check out the mail art I sent in for the Women and Ecology mail art exhibit in Instanbul, Turkey. Unfortunately, the Erotic Museum ticket title got cut off on the far right. Could that have been on purpose?

Host, Sinasi Gunes, has put together a great site documenting all participants.

DO THIS!

2005-09-06T20:09:00.000-07:00

Our Country is trying to shut us up! Art shows are being closed down because our government doesn't want to expose the underbelly where dissention brews.

Participate in Propaganda 2.0 at StartSoma in San Francisco! No rules and no censorship and everyone gets in! Learning starts with dialogue and dialogue can't begin if you don't see opposing viewpoints.

Let your voice be heard while you still can!

Mark your Calendars!

2005-09-05T22:43:00.000-07:00

The Empty Space Gallery

706 Oak Street

Bakersfield, CA 93304

www.ESONLINE.org

Presents:

I Got The Shakes - Mike Biagiotti
September 16 – October 1
Artist Opening: Saturday, September 17
5:00 – 7:00 pm

Los Angeles artist and musician, Michael Biagiotti, brings his urban, punk rock attitude influenced oil paintings to The Empty Space Gallery September 16 – October 1. Michael’s work is influenced by the energy flow of the city. Although Los Angeles has its share of problems, there is a chaotic beauty that exists here because of the crazy mix of culture, religion and race. It is this type of beauty which Michael portrays in his work.

Meet Michael at the artist opening on Saturday, September 17 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Michael’s band Drowse, a four-piece, punk-edged band will perform, giving the evening a raw pulse of the city that influences his work.

El Dia de Los Muertos - Group Show
October 14 – 29
Opening Event: Saturday, October 15
3:00 – 7:00 pm

On Saturday, October 15 The Empty Space Gallery will be hosting a public celebration of the Latin American holiday, the Day of the Dead.

El Dia de Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is celebrated widely in the Western Hemisphere around the first day of November, when the worlds of the dead and the living are felt to be in close proximity. It blends African, Native American and European elements in a joyful, humorous and creative remembrance of the ancestors both recent and remote. The holiday typically involves processions, art installations and exhibitions, community altars and "rooms for the dead" as well as public performances, music and dancing. It is not a mournful holiday, but one of laughter and celebration that has become an important venue for the contemporary arts. The Day of the Dead recognizes death as a part of the cycle of life.

I'm mad at Thomas Heatherwick!

2005-08-31T21:54:00.000-07:00

I Googled me today (place romantic music here) as I have Googled me many times in the past. (Oh, don't go there...I know you all have done it!)

Four whole pages, yep, this lil' narcissist has made it to four whopping pages! However, I have a pretty big gripe. Thomas Heatherwick is horning in on my time by squeezing in on my pages. I am told that Sir Thomas is a distant relative that has seen much success for his public sculptures. So, I Googled Thomas Heatherwick. (please do not place romantic music here.) I knew my good Midwestern upbringing would show through. I politely waited until the 24th page to interfere with his face time.

Ok Thomas, the Heatherwick family reunion is in Australia...you can make it up to me by laying down your blue carpet and letting me go first at the buffet!