Are You Ready

In wishing you all A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year
I will just say that I am very happy to be looking to the future rather than dwelling on the past, and I am t h r i l l e d to never have to write 2015 ever again. I'm definitely ready for a new year!

I just came across a statement written by Robert C. Morgan circa 1997, about a year or so after I took a memorable class with him at SVA. It oddly does not feel in any way dated by 18 years:

"In today's art world there is a certain price to be paid by any artist who chooses to follow an inner-directed position as opposed to the consensual signs of an external discourse. Most often, it is the latter option which has become symptomatic of the critical and curatorial establishment. In a highly pragmatic culture, fashion and science are still the ultimate models upon which success is measured and understood. These models are predictably mediated by public consensus- the harbinger of neutralized taste."

It makes me wonder if I should be down right grateful that the last five applications I submitted to show my work were all rejected. How does an artist know if their work is just plain awful or just way too interesting and idiosyncratic for the public's 'neutralized taste'?

New Year's Resolution #1: I am going to pretend to not care and keep working regardless.
New Year's Resolution #2: I will send out fifty submissions this year so at least the rejection percentages will be more balanced out.

Cheers everyone!

christmas 2014

well, grandma's Christmas present was stolen off the front porch,
the tree is way crooked, the eggnog gave me a hangover, the chestnuts killed my fingers,
but the house looks lovely! 

 We are warm and cozy..

It's still been the greatest 6 months in our new little house, which I think was made just for the holidays. I'm proud of myself that this year I will not be too distracted. Christmas is two weeks away and I don't care. I've spent two days decorating the house, I'll spend one week shopping for presents and food for Christmas dinner, and tomorrow I'll be back in the studio working.
All is as it should be!

Merry Christmas people!

a few of my favorite things

'Tis the season of
t h i n g s
after a week of shopping, looking and figuring out what to tell people I want for Christmas, I'm naturally taking stock of the things I already have and love.
Here's a closer look at some of my favorite things~

1. small white shell from my best friend's private beach in Florida 2. Hand painted tin mirror from Mexico 3. tiny hand painted paper mache box from a little company in Pennsylvania 4. A gift from my friend Wendy 5. A hand beaded Huichol Indian ceremonial drum, my husband's prized possession

One of the first shells we found on the bay when we moved here

1. Ceramic sculpture by Staten Island artist Victoria Bellinger 2. tiny purse from my mother's jewelry box I've kept since I was a kid 3. Hand painted tamborine by artist Keith Waa 4. souvenir from trip to Paris 5. Wall hanging handmade by Peruvian artists out of recycled bathing suits 6. another ceramic head by Victoria Bellinger only an inch tall 7. my rhinestone paris pin circa 1986

a closer close-up of paper mache box

little beaded container with lavender from the garden

 
Sometimes it really is nice to appreciate the things 
we already have~

Christmas at my house

every year during the holiday season I try my hardest to stay focused on my work and not get completely sidetracked. this year of course is no exception, and this year like every other year I'll keep dreaming! it's hard enough working through trying to sell your house and having to keep a neat studio, but like it happens every year, my studio is also now filled with Christmas boxes from the attic. I've decided to let it go and embrace what might be our last Christmas in this house. although I told everyone we're keeping it simple this year we keep finding more things to decorate and make for Christmas.

this year we put the tree in a different spot

the traditionalists in the house were not happy but I think it looks lovely,

and neater, which is a new criteria for us

we decided on only white ornaments

but then Anna found this oldie but goodie in red

 

 

the piano got a make-over

as did the antelope

even the fish tank got some tinsel

and I finally found a purpose for that thing I made in ceramics class

although there were a lot of things we kept in the box this year, simpler is better sometimes. in the end it's kinda nice getting sidetracked by such fun things to do with your family. this year I'm into it, hope you are too!

happy holidays everyone