I'm in the World!

One weekend in New York, in a few pictures:

I saw the Galaxy at this scale.

Everyone learned about Everything.

We learned about Dinosaurs, maybe...?

I saw the world at this scale.

And also at this scale.

And I saw ALL of New York....at THIS scale.

Here is a tiny Natural History Museum in tiny Central Park.
Tiny Michelle is inside, and her tiny heart is beating fast
looking at the tiny Wooly Mammoth skeletons.

Last weekend, (Friday PM through Monday PM) was my first real trip to New York. I had an outstanding guide, and did all the things one does in New York: I walked and walked and walked, I ate good food,  I rejoiced in the great quantity and variety of people (and how they're all going places and doing things and learning about Natural History too), and I rode on trains and busses, sat in perfectly placed parks and looked at much appreciated trees. Reunited with old friends and made friends with a little boy I have been excited to meet. I picked things up off the ground, like washers and paperclips. I saw bees in Brooklyn. Brooklyn Bees.

It has me thinking with even greater enthusiasm about two things that have been on my mind recently:

One is that I miss living in a place where there is such a variety of things to see and do, and options of what to eat, and sidewalks upon which to walk and walk and walk. I'm not moving to New York, but there is a world of places on the spectrum between Spruce Pine, NC and New York, NY.

Two is just something about the love of learning, and this great big, complicated, beautiful, ridiculous world I live in, and all the things I want to know more about, and learn how to do.

Life-long learning, y'all.

Thanks for reading! 'Til next time.

Wind and Plaid.

Ben's shirts.

I'm in Wisconsin for a few days...I thought I should mention it before it's over.

This may be one of the happiest professional activities/adventures ever, and it came up pretty unexpectedly. I'll be speaking with book artists about their work at the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network, where one of my oldest and dearest friends, Maggie Sasso, is the "curitorial protegee." And how great is that title?


How old and dear is this friend? High-School-marching-band-little-sister, folks. 

2004 on green green grass at Penland. We were so young.
Not high school young, but damn young.

I'm staying with Maggie and her husband Ben in Kenosha, right on the big water. It is so windy here. This whole part of the country is new and mysterious to me, and I'm just very glad to be here, and spending time with some of my favorites.

Comfort.

And what could make it better? Bonnie Stahlecker, also in Milwaukee! I assisted Bonnie at Haystack in 2008, remember? I'm pretty sure I've seen her a couple of times at conferences since then, but I am really looking forward to catching up.

Favorite people, new place, reimbursement, stipend...can I do this all the time?

Little things from a very big year.

 A lot happened this past year, most of it resulting from my choices.

And that's nice.

I'm looking forward to 2012. I have plans, and things to look forward to...and nothing so dramatic as a cross-country move. 

I made a conscious choice in the spring to step away from blogging and internet business, because I was occupied with packing/moving concerns, making books for two big handmade events, and the stress/anxiety/teeth grinding of that time.

But until my little camera quit on me, I was taking pictures. Here is a sampling of some little things I have seen this year, and evidence of some little adventures...

Crane on Los Feliz Blvd.

Some good looking chairs in Downey, California.

Santa Anita, Arcadia, California.

Pickwick Bowling Alley, Burbank, California.

Crab Cooker, Balboa, California.

Hollywoodland, California.

The road to Visalia, chaperoning some teenagers.

California Grand Bethel, JDI, Visalia, California.

Sequoia on a whim with my girls.

Beautiful breakfast with Yvonne, at the Village Bakery.

Colorful carrots at the Hollywood farmers market.

And a fancy cake I made.

I said goodbye to my goofy students at CSUN.
(and we all wore ties.)

I said goodbye to a wonderful ol' couch, now re-covered at
my grandma and aunt's house. Glad we didn't have to move it. 

I said goodbye to a beautiful apartment in Los Feliz.
This was the little brass peephole in the front door.  

 Next....books of 2011.

Furthermore.

Yeah, okay, I just liked the way my previous post looked. It amused and delighted me. My blog.

I have posted a few new-to-the-world pieces in my store. More to follow.

I just need to jump in a lake more often.

Years ago...

I was living in Morgantown, West Virgina and thinking grad-school thoughts. It all seemed very big and important at the time, and I was pretty selfish, in a grad-schooly kind of way.

And I had a pretty bad, likely self-inflicted haircut.

And a lotta space to make art. And a lotta stuff.

My God, I had a lot of stuff.

This was Fall 2006...my friend Jenni had come to visit. I remember she teared up when she saw what kind of work I was working on, which still makes me glad.

like Pollyanna.

I have a better haircut now, less room to make art, but also, (gladly) less "stuff."

And I am a lot less selfish. At least I hope I am.

I have no point to make. Just found these photos, and started thinking about the Mo'town days. Thinking about the past.

Timeline.

Observe:

I like the observatory best when I can imagine I'm the only person up there.



This was one of those delightfully cool days we had last week. It has since warmed up again. Damn.

Again?!

I've decided that for one week in August, I'm gonna wander over to North Carolina...you know, again. To breathe wholesome mountain air, see some old friends, and wash dishes.

This will be my SEVENTH year managing the dining hall at Penland for their Annual Benefit Auction. It may sound more glamorous than it is. My team and I will be washing dishes. A lot of dishes. And pots. And silverware. And bowls. And glasses. And then different shaped glasses. And maybe a third shape of glasses. And then some things that we're not-quite-sure what they are, but we gotta wash 'em.

And then we gotta wash everything again, the next day.

If you're a friend or a fan of my work, it should come as no surprise that this satisfies my conceptual interest in repetition.



I do find dish washing to be rather satisfying. No, really. I like washing my own dishes, (particularly with my lovely view from my kitchen window, and my vintage china and Lisa Miller ceramics....)

And at the auction we listen to a lot of good music and always end up having a good time. There's always a moment when I tell myself I'll never do it again.....it is hard work, but it's a good way to remind yourself that you're alive.

Today my friend Maranda wrote to me about how "we do this to ourselves over and over...it's like a way for us to remember we're alive. it's like pinchin' yourself when you've 'gone away' while driving on a long, long trip just to make sure you aren't in a dreamland and you haven't really run off the road." She wasn't talking about washing dishes, but it does seem relevant.

Anyway...

Optics mostly.

So, here's an absolutely delightful scientific discovery. This is an up-side-down projection of my front window, through a magnifying lens. I wanted to share it with the world.

Today I posted four pieces for sale in my Etsy shop. They are pretty recent, but not the newest new. The newest new will be at Henry Road next week. As soon as I finish and frame things.....

Next Thursday, June 11th there will be a reception at Henry Road from 6-9pm. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

I went over to Intelligentsia last week and tried to take pictures of my pieces. Probably one of the most awkward and embarrassing things ever: "excuse me, would you move your head?" ... "I'm sorry, sir...I'm taking a picture of the wall behind you...."




So, not my finest moment, and pretty terrible images of some good works. I'm no photographer. You'll have to go see 'em in person I s'pose...I have 9 or 10 pieces there, of an uncommonly large size for Michelle Moode art. I may try to take better pictures if I ever figure out when Intelligentsia isn't full of people.

90 sales in my shop. Thanks to all for your recent purchases and support.

Honesty, Sincerity, Simplicity, Integrity...

..and Dots.

I had an intense time at the Southern Graphics Council conference. I'm still processing the experience, but I need to tell the world about it.



Late on Wednesday night I arrived in Richmond, Virginia. From then 'til the time I left for the airport, (4:30am Sunday, by way of the most frightening van ride ever!) I was joyfully overwhelmed by old friends, familiar faces, former professors, long-time heroes, former class-mates, even a former student. So many friends. Oh, and plenty of art.

I walked a lot, I talked more than usual, I laughed a lot, and realized I don't laugh enough in Los Angeles. I saw a lot of art. I got to show my recent work to the whole of the SGC community, but more importantly I had the chance to show my new work to people who's opinion (and approval!) is really important to me. Two of these good people: my former professor Nicole Hand from Murray State University, and Joe Lupo, my former professor from West Virginia University.

I sold some work, made a lot of good contacts, and even saw a few fellow etsy folks. I drank a lot of coffee, a few beers, and then a few more beers. Ah, printmaking....

A particular highlight was hearing Leslie Dill speak about her work. I have known and admired her work for some time, but getting more of an impression of her as a person has truly made me a fan. She was interesting, profound, poetic...and funny. And here's a piece for you to enjoy:


Lesley Dill, 2004
Breathing Leaves
2004
ink, thread, glue on tea-stained fabric

ah....

The intensity of the experience didn't end with me crashing, exhausted, onto my Ikea sofa-bed back in LA. Oh no, that would have been too easy! When I got into LAX at 10:45 am, (after over seven hours of travel...oh, and a mere 2 hours of sleep the "night" before...) my guy picked me up and we drove out to Simi Valley. Sam was photographing an event at his former summer camp, Camp Alonim. We had an amazing day, and I can't tell you how wonderful it was to explore a place that is so important to my person-of-particular-significance.

Future-recent work will include images of stacked pink stones, pepper from pepper trees, pink eucalyptus leaves, and perhaps a watching horse. I also grabbed some twigs from a burnt tree. Southern-California-wildfire-charcoal drawings? Aren't we excited?

Anyway, I really needed SGC, and I think I also needed to see Camp Alonim. And BOY am I tired.....

Today I posted a whole bunch of new drawings in my Etsy store. I love this series of "Island" drawings. Take a look....see if you don't agree!

Perspective.

“If a poet looks through a microscope or a telescope, he always sees the same thing.”
–Gaston Bachelard