One week ago...

A week ago today I woke up and realized our power was out. I saw Truman on her perch with no heat lamp or lights and rushed to warm her. She was cold as ice. It is funny how automatically while trying to comfort and warm her I bounced up and down gently and spoke in warm tones. As if she cared, as if she wanted more than my heat. As she got warmer she released her grip and rested her head in the crook of my neck. We both got what we needed.

Luckily we have a gas fireplace, so we had some heat. I set Truman up on a blanket in front of the fire. She stayed there or in my arms until the power came back a day later.

I gathered all my candles and kept them going not only for light but for the impression of warmth. As crises go this one was pretty easy. We got take-out and Mr. Eleven even went to the movies (He saw Paranormal Activity, as you can see by some of the photos he took,later). We even picked up a hot water bottle for the lizard, that has since become her best friend--she loves it!

Mr.Eleven was lost without his computer and TV remote. I am used to being alone with my work--living in my head. It is my job, so I was content. He was restless. This prompted some creative activities. He played his guitar for us, by candle light, Frankenstein, Truman and I lay by the fire with eyes shut listening-drifting. Later he got the camera out and played around with the settings and got some pretty cool photos, check them out here.

One week ago we spent a day and a half in a strange isolation. Not all of our neighbors lost their power. We saw one neighbor late at night siting in front of his garage drinking a beer, facing his car bathed in it's glaring head lights. Still another fled in a glory of generator light and hubbub, to a Hotel. As I stood by the window bopping up and down cooing to my green friend, I found comfort in my own drama.


and so it goes--

Onward..

More bee stuff...

Bees-bees-bees

-bee wings

-Biomimicry

-Bee photos

-honeybee

-close up bee photos

-bee blog

-bees in art

-honeybee dance

-Waggle dance, honeybee dance

-bee as symbol in christian art


-bee as symbol in Chinese Art

-more bee photos

-Beeball

Working like a bee----Onward!

36 of 52 weeks

I am feeling like I am part of a mystery story today. Trying to navigate the hall of mirrors that surrounds my studio. When I feel close to getting back in, I find I am even further away. The Chair Affair auction is this weekend. I think once that is over I will have a clear space that may led back 'in'. I did start some little sculptures this weekend, but in a passive way. I had a few paintings in this past First Friday show at the Schindler Gallery, but the paintings have already been up for a month so I felt detached from them. Nothing wrong with that, it was a social event not an art theses I was presenting this time around.

I have started collecting images and info:
-vintage insect art
-cool bee biology
drawings
-bee myths
-more bee myth and info
-a honeycomb vase
-bee symbolism
-a word from Albert Einstein on bees
-more bee mythology
-beeswax Collage
-beeswax art
-and this guy!--amazing face painting art, don't miss this!

The mystery is here, in the struggle, in the research, in the prep and in the obligations. We all experience it every day in our lives-seeking joy between cleaning the dirty laundry and raking leaves. I admire the bees, still aggressively collecting from the remaining flowers in November.
In fact I got stung multiple times last weekend, when I ran over the bee hole (entrance to their under ground hive) with our leaf blower, yow!--they got me good! I want to make art like a bee works, with unadulterated focus. I want to sting anyone or thing who keeps me from my work! But then I would have no life and no friends or in the end no reason to work. The mystery is as always how to find balance and thrive. Maybe there is no balance and there will always be a hall of mirrors surrounding my ultimate goal. Maybe I am doing what I am supposes to, taking baby steps with my eyes and senses wide open--searching for the next big flower--like a bee.
Onward...

Happy Frankenstein Friday!

Happy Friday, sometimes it seems forever between Friday's.

First Friday tonight--be there!
--also check out the previous post for the Chair Affair info, reception starts at 6, tonight.

We love the Fall!
Onward

35/52 52 weeks

Yes that is me! It was fun being Mr.Eleven for Halloween. But scary too, every so often I would catch my reflection and think it was Kevin--that's a weird feeling. We don't usually dress up for Halloween but this year was so much fun we may have to make it a tradition.

I helped out at the Gallery on Monday, getting ready for another awesome First Friday opening. There is some really nice paintings by Chris Milk that I will share with you after the opening--joyful,fun and poetic paints (he calls them paints). I have a few paintings in the show left over from the last show--Tracey representing.

Also, this Friday The Chair affair is having a little preview of the Chairs and an opening reception but I can't seem to find the info for the event--I will before Friday. They only list the Auction info here

The sun is out and I have leaves to pick up!
OH and VOTE!--it's good for you!
onward!

update: The artists reception for the Chair Affair is at VCU Commons, VA rooms A,B and C.
Friday, November 6, 6-9pm

Frankenstein Friday

Mr.Frankenstein wore his glow in the dark skeleton tee shirt for our Halloween morning walk. It was super cute. But he isn't much into wearing stuff, so I didn't make him wear it for a photo shoot.

What he dose like is observing, watching the birds, looking for chipmunks and monitoring the street traffic. He recently discovered he can jump up on the table by the window and get a birds-eye-view of the street below. The best part is the table is by the bed so he can take naps and keep an eye on things at the same time. It is hard job but a Chug's got to do it!

Happy Halloween folks!
Onward...

34/52 52 weeks

I was going for a mean face and technically I didn't take this photo, Mr.Eleven did. But none the less, it is my entry for week 34 of my 52 week self portrait project. We had just finished a huge breakfast at some local joint. I ordered eggs Benedict but what I got was 'smothered and covered' Benedict! I swear there was enough Hollandaise sauce for a freakin army on my plate!--but I ate it. I ate it and was super-charged for our big day of antiquing. I found an awesome Phrenology Head I have been wanting one for years. It was thrilling to finally find one and take it home with me (You can see the top of it on my desk).

The other big find of the day was a chair for my new desk. Mr.Eleven found this cool blog before we left the house. I emailed the guy (Bart) about the office chair he had posted. He called me back after we had, hit a few Antique shops. He was just a few miles away and the Herman Miller Task Chair was in good shape and I could come check it out!--Yay!

It isn't the fanciest of Herman Miller furniture, but it is classic design and the colors are 'my colors' I sat on it and was in love! I like the fact that it has the Herman Miller name and logo stamped on the bottom of the seat--it makes me feel connected to greatness.

Here I sit, at my desk in my new chair (it has fantastic lumbar support I might add), the Phrenology head to my right. My office is starting to come together and as it does, it inspires me. Each new addition relates to the last. The color of the green stripe on my seat is the color I am going to paint the wall by my desk. It is also the color of my new coffee cup...

When I paint, this is how I work, I build on things I am attracted to...and so it goes, one baby step at a time...

Onward!