the fates

A friend and I recently had a discussion (or debate, or fight) regarding the existence of fate, a universal/cosmic structure or the lack therefore. I believe it, he does not.

But here's some proof for my side. After getting the wee bit depressing news that a workshop I was to do this summer is about to be canned due to low enrollment (pause in typing in order to flog myself), I got two separate e-mails about doing workshops in state and also in PA, at a well known contemporary craft center. There may be a possibility of actually losing money doing the PA one, but it is prob worth it just to put it on my resume.

Tomorrow I have a workshop that I've yet to pull and organize the supplies for.... so much for planning ahead. I wonder what I'm thinking when I schedule workshops during what ends up being my busiest weekend so far as grading and class work.

Other stuff - have 3 exhibitions in the hopper to hear back from, and there are some other shows with deadlines looming. I need to get my act together and order more slides from www.slides.com - great, great site where you upload your digitals and for $2.50 for the first slide, and less for each dup, you get high quality slides in a few days. I wonder how long that business concept is going to stay strong, but it is amazing how many galleries/such-like still want slides. As a gallery director, I will admit to my luddite-preference for slides, for the ease of pulling them out of the portfolio and holding them up to the light and knowing right then what you're dealing with. Versus holding up a CD, which doesn't tell you a whole hella lot. Don't ever seen a CD to a gallery/such-like without at least one hard copy image of your work. Otherwise, it's too easily placed in the circular file. Not that I would do that.....

Duck and Cover

Not me, the poor students and my colleagues.

Due to circumstances out of my control (well, partially, since I really SHOULDN'T drink what probably amounts to 10 cups of coffee a day) like the cruelest month of my working year (April, duh), personal stuff (I'd use another word, but hey, I'm a lady), and my wee hobby of throwing objects in reach........well, quick reaction skills should be required by all who dare cross my office threshold from now until finals week.

Be warned.

Beyond working on my pitching arm, things are moving along. Tomorrow I ship a piece to the Museum of the American Quilt(er) Society (or is it the AQS Museum??? confused...) and later this week get a large amount of my work back from a group show out in the boonies of Wyoming. My art is going places I never will!

I had my first meeting/appt with a gallery owner, and now it seems I have gallery representation. Now on my art resume, it will say Gallery Representation: Swanson Reed Galleries. How odd! I was driving through L'Ville on Monday thinking, wow, I lived here 7 or so years ago and couldn't even get a retail clerk job in that gallery, among others, and now I'm represented by them.

So, here's a cheery thought from the optimistic pessimist - things change. For worst or sometimes better.

What other arty stuff? Mainly, feeling like I have no time to make work. But, the semester is almost over and I'll have some time. I have a workshop to host this weekend, just a Saturday thang. Possibly, maybe, I may (at some point, don't want to get too biggy about it) be teaching at both Haystack and the Center for Contemporary Craft because both institutions are considering scheduling one of my workshops during 2006/07. Oh, and also in the teaching vein, a friend just confirmed a short teaching artist residency I'm going to do through the large middle school campus north of Columbus in spring 2007. Haven't heard back from the women's foundation grant, but I'm hoping to soon and positively, because I need the moolah to buy a digital camera.

Speaking of stipends, despite a snotty (semi-snotty, partially sweet) e-mail I sent last week, still no check. However, I did get paid part of my stipend for a series of classes I'm doing with the local middle school here through their 21st Century after school program. Which I am grateful for. I just want the other check!

The Axis Mundi self medication piece is coming along, and I spent time working on it this morning prior to schlemping off to campus.

Speaking of schlemping, there's a grad seminar class I need to be in right now. Only two more classes after this for MA #2. And no more after that. I swear.

Art Update

Back from the long delay. Life's been a wee nuts, but that's all for another place.

A word of warning: when you do a visiting artist gig for a university, plan on getting screwed on the stipend. Or at least receiving the stipend in a timely manner. It's been 6 weeks since I was at another institution, and hey, no moolah yet. Amazing! And I believe I do have the right to complain about this, given that I too host visiting artists at my home institution, and ahem, I always have the stipend check awaiting them. Not that I expected that, but I did expect my money with a MONTH. Don't think I'm asking for the moon here, people.

Better news: am now officially a bid-ness: BRIGHT AND SHINY LLC. Hoorah! And, unlike the previously described situation, there was a quick turn-around on this. Shockingly quick. And also, a state agency. Wow!

I'm starting to work on a new series about self-medication. The first piece, Axis Mundi, is well on its way, with the fabric frame and applique sewn down. I'll have a pic of it up soon. I have to get a new digital camera (which I think I found the one I want, at Target - a Canon 230 or something - about $299 and 5 megapixels, not a big deal but good enough for me), probably in the middle of the month (or whenever I receive my visiting artist stipend --- ERRRRRRR) so I can move forward on this.

My new studio is pretty much set up and I'll feeling settled there. I've gotten a wee bit behind on applying for shows, but not sweating it too much since I have 4-5 exhibitions in the hopper for this summer.

This week and weekend, will be off to Chicago to escort students with fellow faculty in associated with MSU's Visual Art Guild. I'm looking forward to it, especially having an afternoon by myself to wander about the Art Institute. We're going en masse one day, but I like to spend an obscene amount of time in museums, especially solo. I swoon in art museums. It's sick.

There's the update. I could go on at length about life/personal issues, but hey, that's what the art's for!

Cheers!