presidential debates

just watched 'em on tv.
hope you're registered to vote!

Thursday, September 30, 2004 @ 10:03 PM | comments > 2190

picture of me

this is what i look like while shooting? right on. thanks hal for the shot. i borrowed one of his digital cameras for the day yesterday..... tons of those images coming very very soon.

Wednesday, September 29, 2004 @ 09:15 AM | comments > 290

yes men

mike bonanno might just be the coolest guy i've ever heard of. i mean if you're going to play then play very very big, right? mike and his partner in prankster crime, andy bichlbaum are the guys behind the big prank several years ago when they switched out barbie and gi-joe voices and put them back on the shelves as a fantastic statement about gender roles and toys....

they have topped even themselves. on fresh air today, the guy that does interviews for terry gross when she's sick-vacationing-can'tmakeit interviewed mike about his new movie, yes men. just look at the site. i can't write it any better than they did. freaking brilliant. i cannot wait to see this flick.

Monday, September 27, 2004 @ 09:09 PM | comments > 1361

digital ain't so bad

i had the best time tonight. i can't wait to post what all i shot. hal and i spent about four hours running all over the place shooting each other and stuff and shadows and light and just everything. he has these super cool digital cameras that i got to play with. (i shot a ton of film too, of course.) the whole evening reminds me what it's like to shoot with rachel. just fun, you know? really playing... like we're little kids. it's a good thing.

Sunday, September 26, 2004 @ 10:48 PM | comments > 322

gallery-sitting

so i sat up at the space as i'm advertised to do.... every saturday from 1-5. there i sit. i talked to my neighbor edward for awhile on the phone (but only during commercials. he's a huge fan of the x-files. 'i just know somthin's gonna happen to scully, i have to go!' click.) i sat around and drank shiner and read all of daniel's back-issues of adbusters. i listened to star-sailor, the doves, and the polyphonic spree. i ate one of those asian noodle dishes that come frozen in a box. ack. i visited with rachel and alex as they swung by to drop off/pick up various items. i had an appointment with a potential artist. i inadvertantly met an old aquaintance's father (random) and hitched a ride to the beetle (which was blocks away due to fair) on the back of a '76 vespa with alberto. it was a good day.

but kinda' boring. the fair's on for cryin' out loud! i need to jazz it up a bit next week. maybe dress all in white and stand very still in my store front for tips. or construct that big butter sculpture i've always wanted to make and then let it melt out front. perhaps i could host a cocktail party all afternoon. full cocktail/masquerade attire required. really freak out the fair folks. something. tons of people walk by. what a great opportunity. hmmmm. i'll come up with something.

Saturday, September 25, 2004 @ 08:19 PM | comments > 1715

love/hate relationship with printing

i love printing. and i hate it. the difficulty of making hand prints is that time passes.... i shoot work and it may be months or years before i print. it depends on its priority. hand printing proves difficult when i have a deadline. i may be up at all hours of the night or as the case were today, while the kids watch cartoons in the morning.

that being said, the beauty of hand printing is that time passes. i shoot work and it may be months or years before i print. this is a good thing. perspective. if i look at a print in my darkroom and i am immediately transported to the time and place i made the image.... then i know it's a good photograph. if i look at a print in my darkroom and i'm astonished at what i did, then i know its a great photograph. this is true even with some of my most abstract work.

as long as i am able to get the needed supplies, i will continue to utilize a darkroom. printing is active and yet meditative. it's not hard, but a certain mastery is needed to keep the space clean the prints of good quality. my dna is in each print when i go through the trouble of handling a photograph.

the day may come when i can no longer purchase chemistry. most likely i will probably continue to make photographs, but sitting in front of a computer editing and clicking around in photoshop just doesn't sound like a blast to me. i suppose i should learn to paint.

{added later}
i have loads of photographer-friends who have gone digital. many of whom are trying to convince me to do the same (i'm lookin' at you barry). not me, not yet. i'm still really enjoying the hand process and i haven't heard a good enough reason to switch.... yet.

Friday, September 24, 2004 @ 09:59 AM proof that i'm a nerd | comments > 538

eva lost the tooth

she lost her first tooth. it's been loose for weeks it seems. she'd wiggle it for anyone who'd look. this morning when she woke up, the thing was hanging on by a mere thread. all morning she was pushing it in all directions with her tongue, asking me every five minutes, "when's the tooth coming out?"

so earlier this afternoon, at the park, i gave it a twist and out it came! blood gushed everywhere and she ran off into the playground, blood running down her chin, just laughing and showing all the kids the hole where the tooth came from. it was great. it's under her pillow now. she told me before going to sleep tonight that the tooth fairy was going to bring her 'cash'.

Thursday, September 23, 2004 @ 09:05 PM my family | comments > 1403

knockouts.

no way. ok, i seriously need a volunteer. you can get a haircut. and a chest wax. and a manicure. and a 'ring-side rub-down' (whatever that is). there's a 'free' beer invloved. just look at the website. unbelieveable.

Wednesday, September 22, 2004 @ 05:14 PM | comments > 321

watch out dallas

just met with nyddia. watch out. fer real. it's all about to turn on it's wee little head. woohoo! we have a regular weekly meeting scheduled. this is a good thing.

Monday, September 20, 2004 @ 10:57 PM | comments > 0

what a weekend

the reception last night went well. despite the migraine that knocked me on my back later that night. dianne and i had some mutual patrons come in and buy a couple pieces and felt good to sort of re-kindle old relationships. none of her big ones sold, which kindof shocked me. her cathedral in particular. if i could afford it, i would buy it. alas.

the not-that-late-show appearance went well. despite the migraine that knocked me on my back later that night. for those who know the classic sarah jane story about the 'black-with-yellow-veins' contraption, well, you missed an interesting version of it. for those of you who don't know the story.... well, that's probably for the best. it was fun. i've never told that story in front of that many people before.

anyway. good weekend. stumbling blocks abound, but no sweat. it's just a bummer when an artist can't just show her work and make herself some money. no, not me and not dianne. someone else. showing is a huge part of what it means to be a prolific artist and when you're limited in that fashion, well, it just puts a damper on your creative abilities sometimes.

{deleted rant}

tomorrow is monday. this is good. another fresh week with waaaay too many things to do. just the way i like it.

Sunday, September 19, 2004 @ 09:20 PM | comments > 1168

IR Gallery reception tonight

vorheier dreams.jpg

Tonight at IR Gallery. Reception for Dianne Vorheier. 7-10 PM. The Guide says 6:30. no matter, i'll be there! Dianne's work will hang through 10/20. (the duration of Fair) Her paintings are enormous and look pretty cool splashing onto my walls.

After the reception, head across the street to Avenue Arts Venue and catch a live taping of the 'not that late show'. tickets are $5.00 and the show starts at 11:00 PM sharp. Musical guests are the Shapes. I am a guest as well as poet Albert B. Vega, artist Anthony Stanford, and artist Elizabeth Morgan.

Saturday, September 18, 2004 @ 08:51 AM gallery events | comments > 519

new pictures up

check out the photoblog area. new pictures. these are shots i took back in 2000 at yvonne's wedding in pensacola. at the house. the house that is now gone. i printed them up for her family. it's the least i could do.

heads up: IR Gallery opening tomorrow night. also, i'm a guest on the 'not that late show'. more info tomorrow.

Friday, September 17, 2004 @ 07:30 PM | comments > 874

blown away

so i just found out that my very good friend's 120 year old childhood (uninsured) home in pensacola florida was completely washed away by the hurricane. totally. like there is no house left. at. all. those pictures of the I-10 bridge we keep seeing? that's right by their house. her parents now no longer have an address, a home, any clothing, pictures, toiletries, shoes, dishes, sinks, beds, quite literally nothing except that they are alive. what a blessing too. these are beautiful people.

i didn't grow up there, but i have wonderful memories of their home too. the bay and the dock and the train and the spanish moss. paul and i had our first road trip ever together to pensacola to visit yvonne. eva's first road trip was to visit pensacola. yvonne got married there. i'm in shock. i've never known anybody that's been affected by a disaster. this is a first for me.

so andrea and i are cooking up a plot to fund-raise. some kind of a benefit or auction or raffle or something. i'm not sure yet. if anyone has ideas, email me. if anybody has services/art/stuff they could donate for a potential raffle, email me. and we need a big venue. my little gallery isn't gonna cut it.

Thursday, September 16, 2004 @ 01:15 PM | comments > 335

wrapping up bad days and making room for good ones

celebrating bad days is always so fun. yesterday was pretty much just awful and so to celebrate, andrea and i took out yvonne, who had been glued to a tv all day watching ivan rip her hometown apart. ozona isn't the most glamorous place, but they have great outdoor seating and cheap wednesday specials. so i got to unload about the code compliance thingie, the fit my jiri threw, the APP action that i know about but 'She' doesn't... oh lord. yvonne got to unload about bad books and hurricanes while andrea patiently took it all in. she's the best.

after we took yvonne back to where she was staying, andrea and i ventured out to the expo lounge last-night-open-ever-party. now that was FUN. great music, hundreds of people (200 of which andrea seemed to know) and did i mention great music? if you ever catch an ad to go see the 'the monks of saturnalia' then do it. they're an incredible jazz band. i took in my big camera (how does one spell f-o-o-l-i-s-h-?) and boldly shot a zillion pictures of people and tables and the band with 2-4 second long exposures. classic sarah jane shots. i'm incredibly stoked to see what i got. great end to a really pathetic day.

i needed the recovery from yesterday's torment because my jiri is three today! we're going to the park for lunch and having a picnic complete with cupcakes. such a treat. time has flown. it seems like just yesterday i was walking around my block in labor, scandalizing all the neighbors. his birth was so peaceful and easy and in my own house. it sure is great to deliver a baby and roll over and go to sleep. highly recommend it. anyway, my baby is three. bizarre.

Thursday, September 16, 2004 @ 09:17 AM my family | comments > 964

hurricane ivan

so my very very good friend is here. a refugee from hurricane ivan. they got in last night from new orleans. i jokingly asked her if i could steal her out and go drink some hurricanes..... the answer was no. turns out they'd had to leave at 5:00 AM that day to beat the traffic. the night before, they'd walked all through their house with a video camera taping everything of any value. then, they had to get what they could in their trunk, in case..... you know. i don't know what i'd put in the trunk. my negatives maybe. some photographs. some art. the hard drive. what a bummer. if yer the prayin' type, please pray for all those displaced.

Wednesday, September 15, 2004 @ 08:28 AM | comments > 1599

i met the coolest lady today

Cynthia Chartier. your children and your children's children and their children will be studying her in art history class someday. i've met her a couple times before, but i had her over today to talk and a 30 minute conversation quickly turned into 2 hours. i'm inspired and completely blown away by her. she transcends time and is eternal somehow. if you ever have an opportunity to see her work and meet her, figure out how to do it and go.

Monday, September 13, 2004 @ 08:30 PM | comments > 480

72 super beetle

i had never really driven a stick shift car until about a few days ago. out of dire neccessity, it has become my reality that i must now drive the beetle when i go to the gallery on saturdays. clearly, i made it there and back alive, so i suppose i did something right.

there's a lot of attention to be had while driving a car that's covered in stickers that say things like 'mind the gap' and 'andre the giant' and 'empi'.... and sounds like a fleet of motorcycles driving through a canyon. i kinda like it. it's also kindof challenging (and possibly fun) to drive a car knowing i have no idea how to operate the vehicle reverse. and down-shifting? that eludes me completely.

Saturday, September 11, 2004 @ 08:34 PM | comments > 0

magnolia show tonight

tonight. Magnolia Theater. 6:30-8:30 PM.

Four photographers:
Alex Taliercio
Rachel Hathaway
Steve Holland
and Me
take on Fair Park.
Show hangs through October 20.

Friday, September 10, 2004 @ 08:32 AM gallery events | comments > 1

rocks

so i had this really long day, right?
hanging a show of 28 photographs is a lot of work.
so.
i decided to take the kids to the park, to relax.
there's this magnificent park near our house
that is made entirely of wooden forts.
the kind that when you see it, you gasp your breath in
because you kindof have this tiny flashback to when you were a kid
and how great it would be to fit into
all the marvelous crevices and peek out.
the full bit.
my kids love this park
and we go there about once a week.

so we're there
and i settle into my favorite little area in the shade and let them loose.
i'm half-heartedly doing some calendar planning,
maybe looking at what else i have for the rest of the day,
that type thing when i hear this voice, "jo-hanny! come on!"
there's these two enormous little boys
laughing and being chased by
an older brother-cousin-uncle-sister's-boyfriend-guy.
he's my age, at least. running, chasing these two little kids.
this goes on for about 15 minutes
and then i hear the
brother-cousin-uncle-sister's-boyfriend-guy say, "wanna' race?"....

so i'm sinking down into my wooden bench at this point,
thinking, 'wanna race? now why on earth did he say that,
i mean he's gonna win and blah blah against these two little kids.
why, they don't even have a snowball's chance in....'
plus, i'm simply incredulous that he has the energy to do this!

then the Beautiful Thing happened.
i realized i'd forgotton how to be a kid.
it hadn't occured to me before, and here i was,
suddenly being jolted into an eight year old brain.
this is beautiful because now i know it!

suddenly, hearing eva say, "look!" means something else.
i mean, don't you remember hearing the
brother-cousin-uncle-sister's-boyfriend-guy say, "wanna race?"
and obstacle courses?
and swinging on your stomach?
and picking up rocks?
and watching doodle bugs?
and sweat dripping out of your knee pits?
and cracking locust shells?

i sure do.

Thursday, September 09, 2004 @ 09:09 PM my family | comments > 3

here's one of the portraits

davids portrait.jpg

now this is how i feel comfortable in a portrait.

thanks david!

Wednesday, September 08, 2004 @ 03:21 PM | comments > 1

have i been under a rock??

so i read this post this morning. and i thought, 'huh, well something really bad happened in russia.' but i was too embarrassed to email her and ask what. i rarely watch tv and never get to listen to npr anymore unless it's snipets of 'fresh air' and possibly 'the world' when the kids and i are out running errands.

so then i was on the phone having one of my almost daily chats with yvonne-in- new-orleans and she said, "what do you think about what happened in russia?"

"oh good! you know what happened! please tell me...."

so now, i'm pretty much stunned. i thank god for my children and our home and all my insignificant little complaints in life. i'm in mourning as well.

Tuesday, September 07, 2004 @ 09:24 AM | comments > 2

garden state

just get it over with and go see it. excellent movie.

oh, and here's zach braff's official-garden-state blog. he's a good writer. a little shameless perhaps (only b/c i see the shame-less-ness in myself, darn it) but a good writer.

lastly, i think i might need the movie soundtrack. fer real. it's good.

Monday, September 06, 2004 @ 08:57 AM | comments > 0

got photographed today

i am the subject of very few photographs. by my choosing. most of the time i purposely ruin pictures i am in by sticking my hand out or making a dumb face and then wonder why it is i'm so incredibly unphotogenic. i did not do that today and i even had a pretty good time. thank you david clanton!

in other news..... follow the example of the rudd's and do this. what a great idea.

lastly, ever do something and then like 20 minutes later you're kicking yourself for not handling it another way? happened today. i can't stop thinking about it. there's so much i have to learn about this whole gallery business. sometimes i have the confidence of an ant. and other days, i have the confidence of an ant on purina ant chow. the learning curve is intense.

Saturday, September 04, 2004 @ 08:41 PM | comments > 0

airing my clean laundry

ok, so how i just cleaned up not one but two instances of cat vomit i'll never know....

by the same token, how i miraculously shot a whole roll of film of my clean laundry drying (at night) while picking up the backyard and then a spider web managed to sprout on my tripod is another mystery all together. (yeah, did that make sense?) i'm obsessed these days about the way the laundry drying out back looks. it's..... uh, pretty. i'm so freaking cheap and frugal, that i refuse to dry my clothes in the dryer while it's over 85 degrees outside. laundry takes up half of my day, but somehow, it's worth it. (?) i mean, i save like maybe 10.00 on my bill, but i get to enjoy the way it looks fluttering in the wind. somehow the math all works out and i'm happy with my decision.

Friday, September 03, 2004 @ 10:46 PM proof that i'm a nerd | comments > 4

yep, life is different now

here's a great blog from another mama..... and is it ever right on....

Thanks andrea for the link. xoxo.