La Reunion - where life and art unite
so i'm just going to start slipping this in here. little by little. info about the new project i'm up to can be found here: www.LaReunionTX.org. the best part? we have a location as of yesterday. and it's so much better than we originally imagined. details at the prom on may 6 at sons of hermann hall. please email me if you didn't get an invite and you're intrigued. i'll be sure to add you.
Thursday, April 27, 2006 @ 09:26 AM La Reunion
awesome stuff this weekend
i'm not going to most of it. but if i were single, childless, and rich this is what i'd be doing. (but yay for paul, eva, and jiri!)
- friday 4.28: my friend stephen ruiz is putting on a little shindig with treewave and kid 606 at the red blood club. awesome. commentary here.
also friday (and saturday for that matter) open studios at the continental gin building. 3309 elm in dallas.
- saturday 4.29: the happy bullets open for rainer maria in denton at dan's silverleaf. rad.
or for the more socially conscious: global night commute. we're set to be there from 7 to 9. we'll have jiri, so can't spend the night. which is ironic.
- sunday 4.30: laptop death match at the double wide! tre fun.
ok. that's all i got.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006 @ 01:00 PM
SOTA show this Friday
City Gallery presents Humanity by Jim Frederick
Opening Reception Friday 29 April from 6:30 to 9:30
3601 Routh Street. Dallas. in the SOTA building.
through 23 June.
complimentary espresso drinks and dessert. Live jazz.
This show went up Monday night and it's lovely. Please come.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006 @ 10:02 AM gallery events
let's make dallas not suck
i feel like i've disappeared, but much has been happening. and at lightening speed it seems. sunday, eva and i went to a housewarming party for a former homeless man, jeff. a total sweet heart, jeff is now the proud renter of his own apartment.
i don't know his full story and don't really need to, i'm just glad to help. hal has been instrumental in making this happen for jeff and within two hours the empty apartment went from totally empty to full with furniture and supplies and food. i was honored to be there.
i feel like it was a good experience for eva. she did really well and expressed the excitement some of the grown-ups didn't. she even bought some cotton candy to share at the party with her allowance. her first time to eat cotton candy and drink a soda. what is this world coming to?
speaking of the homeless and hal and my new-fangled interest in politics, zac crain is running for mayor. i can't tell from his website what party he's aligned himself with. and to me, that's just great. i love it that he's on the same page as many of us around the same age. we're sick of seeing dallas just suck. and instead of complaining about it, it's more interesting to do something about it. i'm waist deep in some non-political circles, but its the same sentiment. it's going to be cool to watch this unfold. of course, it remains to be seen whether or not he's the right candidate for the job. either way, it's a bummer we missed the launch at sons of hermann on monday night. i was hanging a show (entry about that next). the best part of zac crain's site isn't necessarily his platform, but rather the slide show. it's always nice to see folks i know.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006 @ 09:52 AM
bar of soap
brock's show at the magnolia went well. this is him and me.
then at bar of soap, blackheart society rocked the house.
and of course paul did in his new band, team evil. so cute. and they sounded great.
this was my first show at bar of soap where the stage was in the laundry area. usually shows are in the front or in the back patio. but there's some kindof expo park scandal doing down between new amsterdam coffee house and bar of soap. whatever. twas cool to catch a band in the laundry room.
last but not least was the tah-dahs. one of my top four fave bands in this town. rock and roll. roy is amazing.
Saturday, April 22, 2006 @ 09:49 AM
did i mention already i'm mortified by the name 'team evil'
my FOB (father-of-baby) has a gig at bar of soap friday night. i'll be there after i ring-master the magnolia. i'm stoked because i haven't seen paul play live since course of empire days. what fun! they're opening for black heart society and the tah-dahs. it's sure to be an entertaining evening.
here's a tiny little blurb in the observer this week in mr sam machovech's column:
"Course of Empire's Paul Semrad recently hipped us to his latest band, Team Evil, and the straight-out southern-rockers on the trio's MySpace page are pretty bitchin'. See the band open for the Tah Dahs at the Bar of Soap on Friday."
yeah, we're all a little confused by the 'southern rocker' label. but whatever... it's better than what they really are: drunk rock. not that they're drunks. but you know... nevermind.
Thursday, April 20, 2006 @ 01:13 PM press
magnolia : brock rizy
Magnolia Bar Gallery
Brock Rizy
Opening Reception, 21 April 2006
6:30 to 8:30 PM$3 margaritas
11x14 framed prints from the upcoming graphic novel
Emily Edison.
Rizy illustrated and David Hopkins wrote the story.
press in the observer:
Comic Love
By Andrea Grimes
Teen and 'tween girls spend a lot of time daydreaming about boys. I spent many years doing it myself. One object of my affection: a super-cute older guy in my church youth group named David Hopkins. Also a daydreamer is Emily Edison, whose creator—that very same David Hopkins (What's up, Dave?)—says she approaches relationships with "lots of daydreaming, very little action." Emily is the main character in a comic book of the same name created by Hopkins and illustrated by Brock Rizy. Rizy's illustrations for the book will be on display at the Magnolia Theatre, 3699 McKinney Ave., from Thursday through June 7. Viewing is free during regular theater hours. Call 214-764-9106. April 20-June 7 The Magnolia Theatre, 3699 McKinney Ave. , Dallas.
thanks observer! except no mention of the reception. :( poo.
Thursday, April 20, 2006 @ 12:51 PM gallery events
john edwards.
i'm not politically active. like, at all. shameful, this i know. i vote, but only after scrambling the few days before elections to figure out who i'll vote for. call me jaded about politics, i just have a hard time believing real change is possible sometimes and i live in the assumption that any and all politicians are really just sociopaths. and then there's that crazy dude from texas in office, i swear, i just tune out in total denial. all that being said, last night was my first ever political event.
it all started when i was on my porch swing, talking with jeremy and he invited me to the event at the gypsy tea room, just as the phone was ringing with my friend carissa inviting me. i figured i outta go with that kind of serendipity cookin'.
hal was there and it was fun to play camera with carissa and hal.
did i get something out of it? fer sure. i see the appeal in attending political rallies and such. i've never had been clued in on that vibe before with everyone all pumped and feeling good about themselves. john edwards is a freakin master at body language. when he'd talk about his wife, he'd twiddle his wedding ring. and he seemed to be open and free, with arms spread wide on many occasions (or maybe just well-coached). all in all, i suppose he said some things that resonated with me. will i vote for him in a couple years? dunno. but maybe i'm slightly less apathetic. and that's always a good thing. plus, it was a much needed distraction to NOT watch NOVA during my media-free week. because i'd be a basket case after last night's show on global warming/dimming.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006 @ 11:33 AM
i hope this does me good. it will sure be hard.
oh dear. it's the 'media diet' week while doing the artist's way. therefore, i'll be disappearing for a few days. i'll of course check email and perhaps write a little something here and there, but i'm keeping out the tv, the magazines, the books, the blogs, the npr, the rabbit hole internet searching.... yikes.
Monday, April 17, 2006 @ 05:20 PM proof that i'm a nerd
easter eggs
the kids dyed easter eggs today.
and yes. that's black nail polish on my boy. so?
Saturday, April 15, 2006 @ 04:30 PM my family
april croquet
more pics on flickr.
Friday, April 14, 2006 @ 11:05 AM
cristina's book in frontburner via gawker
yay for press. even if it's in a round about way in frontburner via gawker.
"RE: GIANT
A book- and/or PR-minded FBvian notes something more Dallas-friendly on the web than the demise of Giant:
'It’s nice that the most recent item on Gawker right now is a plug for Dallas-based Cristina Enriquez’s reading in Chelsea tonight. Good stuff, as is her author photo snapped by local photographer, Sarah Jane Semrad.'
Rod Davis · April 12, 2006 01:37 PM"
thanks lady, you know who you are. ;)
Wednesday, April 12, 2006 @ 08:29 PM press
dvaf
here's my two cents on last night's forum (for those who attended or those who couldn't or those who don't know what the hell i'm talking about):
first of all, it was cool that so many folks showed up to talk about local art. and art under the radar, i might add. not formal or through the city or some already existing organization. kudos to patrick for mustering the troops. i tried very hard to just keep my mouth shut and listen for a change, but failed and talked far more than i wanted. many interesting ideas were thrown out into discussion, including an old one of mine from IR Gallery days that i never really allowed to blossom, so maybe i'm inspired to revisit that sometime soon.
anyhoo, my dear pal hal samples ultimately rounded out the discussion with vision. and what visions we have and what vision we could have as a group. and the concensus was that we want dallas to be an amazing city to live in, ripe with real people, not just the stereotypical groups, experiencing the magic of art. that a group such as this isn't about individual artists, although individual artists in such an art scene could in fact survive. it all goes back to the pigeon stone project catch-phrase for me: create your local art scene. live it and breathe it and be it in whatever form you can. it will happen. and i love breaking it to the nay-sayers: it is happening. in the end, you are who you surround yourself with. choose wisely.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006 @ 06:05 PM
happy birthday to paulie
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look at that adorable guy. he's put up with me this long, it's a wonder he's survived. he's the best possible father to our kids i can imagine and at 42 he still finds it inspiring to play in a band. ooo, i'm a sucker for those sideburns. happy birthday baby.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006 @ 09:28 AM my family
light at the end of the tunnel?
the double wide was actually one of my favorite places to catch a band. this rumor was all over the internet yesterday. and it's really true! terrible!
in other news, my friend patrick rhodes is hosting a conversation tonight at the dallas world aquarium. 7 pm. admission is free. it's open to all, but only through viral word-of-mouth and email. patrick feels the same hum several of us do occuring in dallas. it's on the DL but the volume is rising. it's all about creating what you want.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006 @ 09:37 AM
roy and laura's wedding
roy and laura's was the best wedding i've ever attended. real. and passionate. and simple. they stood in front of all their friends and families and said perfectly wonderful vows to each other and then kissed.
the reception was later at the meridian room and the strange boys performed:
Monday, April 10, 2006 @ 04:44 PM
wall of sound
yes yes. we know. we're like the only people we know NOT going to wall of sound. *sigh* luckily we have awesome plans saturday night, pictures of which will be posted. missing saturday's highlights, the new year, tree wave, pleasant grove, knife in the water, among others is bad enough but missing sunday is another story. it's downright devastating. octopus project, the happy bullets, theatre fire, deathray davies, spitfire tumbleweed, why, it's utterly shameful we're not going.
so unless some tickets arrive in our mailbox during the night and mary poppins sails in with her umbrella, we're home for sunday. what a bummer.
Thursday, April 06, 2006 @ 05:20 PM
my kid sees invisible people.
my 4 year old, jiri, is always talking about his 'boys'. they go everywhere with him. and when he has to be split up from me because i'm running one errand and he's doing something else, he likes to send one of his 'boys' with me. case in point: the other day, i went to target and paul was going to change the oil on the beetle and wanted jiri to help. jiri sent his boys with me so he could work on the car. they go with us everywhere. in the car, to the store, they eat dinner with us. etc etc. today, we were at toddler park and jiri was swinging in the baby swing and eva was in the big swing and we had the following conversation.
jiri says, "my boys are here, mama"
me: "awesome dude, are they nice? where are they?"
jiri: "they're nice. well, the one with the black hair and that's the same age as eva, well i gave him to her."
eva: "there's no one here jiri!"
me: "well eva, let him finish."
jiri: "his mama is here too."
me: "what does she look like?"
jiri: "she has black and white hair and the boy has just black hair."
me: "what's her name?"
eva: "oh, i see her! mrs. lark. that's her name."
jiri: "yep, mrs. lark. that's her name."
creeperific!
Wednesday, April 05, 2006 @ 03:19 PM my family
forever blue - or maybe just today
a revisit to a favorite album is a beautiful departure from reality. forever blue by chris isaak is one of those albums and it's been on repeat all afternoon. i'm such a sucker for peddle steel. all this journaling and making lists of stuff i haven't thought about in ages is really shaking up sarah-jane-land. it's good though. the toxins are making themselves known. and the bright spots are just getting brighter. i'm toying with ideas and interests i haven't really let bubble up, except maybe in the dark cobwebby corners of my head. going sane really does feel like going crazy. thank god for chris isaak.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006 @ 05:03 PM
tim stokes
amsterdam by tim stokes. it's at 500x. upstairs through april 23. go check it out.
