Craving the fiction

I've gotten a craving for seriously crappy fiction. After a beautiful day yesterday, almost spring even, we got hit with another grey, snowy, slushy downpour. I'm not even going to complain about the weather. It's too redundant. So after dragging myself out into it and finishing off a few errands, I ended up at the downtown public library tracking down the fiction aisles. After a detour into the non-fiction where I instinctively started to fill my arms with intriguing titles (details omitted) I reminded myself that I rarely finish any of them, and moved on. I wandered into the mystery section first. Not knowing any authors, just going in blind, I began picking out ones that would make people ask me why the fuck I was reading it. I hardly know fiction these days except for Tom Robbins, and the last mystery books I read being Nancy Drew. I grabbed a selection such as "The Unlucky Ones" and "Death of the Office Witch" (is it appropriate to list the authors, not that you might know any of them, but...)

It's weird, but I've connected this craving to an attachment I had for constant reading as a child. It totally is a form of escape, and yeah I was kind of awkward. So, when I'm bored, and don't feel like forcing myself to draw, I've decided I should read. I remember reading the most random fiction, sci-fi, and kiddie horror like R. L. Stine and Goosebumps, intermixed with my dedication to the Baby-sitters Club and Sweet Valley High series. I can't wait to sit down, get into some dorky mystery story, and have a new reason to stay up all night.

"It's for real!" The Babysitters Club Fan Club!

Interview with NYC curator/artist Noel Herberling

Noel was responsible for pulling a group of artists, including myself, together for a show entitled "Dead Composition" that is showing Feb. 12th thru March 8th

MC: What is your background with art, and how did you
get started building your own curating business?

NH: Early on I had experience in theater, writing, drawing, and music. I preferred those types of activities to the academic. I guess I just worked better with doing things physically rather than memorizing text and facts. I eventually made my way to majoring in painting at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. There, I really felt I discovered what my role in the art world was supposed to be. Prior to starting at Pratt I was in a rock band in Rochester, NY. I left the party type entertainment for the solitude of the studio. I missed the big events and starting making my own in the art world. The art schools in NYC had very little communication with each other, and still do. As a student, I organized group exhibitions between the major art universities in NYC in an attempt to create an atmosphere where ideas can be discussed. Through these events, I realized how much I enjoyed organizing the events and promoting the works of artists that had difficulty getting exposure for themselves.

To see the full interview with Noel check out Miss Cake Extras! Blogspot

Art Fart: Honey Space in NYC

It always makes me happy to see an artist or entrepreneur (though I suppose all artists are entrepreneurs) figure out a way to "damn the man"! A gallery of the new era, Honey Space, that opened it's doors in an unused warehouse in the Chelsea district. It is unstaffed, unfinished, unconventional. Apparently you can contact the artist to purchase a piece by taking a card that is just laying around, or you could steal it. It's like a twisted test of how honest people can be. In a way that is the art itself. Putting that choice in people's faces. Just how much do you value the work of another human being?

How CAN we survive without paying the rent...

"Check it out!" Honey Space, NY Times

Quarterlife

I've been glued to watching the entire run of Quarterlife tonight. I came across the first episode a few months ago, and in the first few sentences the main character, Dylan, poses the question "Why do we blog?". In the show pretty much everyone is video blogging. Even video messaging, what is that about? I struggled with an answer to that question, but all of a sudden it became clear. Blogging in a way is completely normal and healthy. The modern version of journaling which is a way of expressing and organizing our thoughts, personal and otherwise. Only now it's public. It's about being seen.

It's like our generation now feels so worthless, that we seek out the attention of anybody. We're made to feel like if were not on our way to being millionaires or movie stars that we should get out of the way and shut up. Or the love of family and close friends isn't enough, because now we feel like we have to "know" everybody. I know people that would shun their best friend to hang out with somebody they thought they could land them a job that would keep them hostage for 60 hours a week and forego any thoughts of a real life. The kind with people in it. The internet has made experts out of all of us, or has it?...

It's crazy how much of this show really touches on a lot of subjects I can relate to, even it I don't want to. Sure this is a show outlining a bunch of 20 somethings, but usually I don't fall with the mainstream and don't have to deal with issues of high heels and sleeping around with boys. I really feel like the Dylan character nailed it. She's smart, sexy, sloppy, insecure, confident and quirky. She actually said things that I thought I was the only one, well not the only one, but certainly not something worth voicing. Like the fact that she's cursed with being able to see what people are really thinking and what they really want. Ouch, i'm ever the observer.

During the last episode I found myself crying like something came unplugged. I think I was touched by the theme of redemption. Where the roommate fucked up an opportunity to sing in a big concert and in the very last moments seemed to figure out something huge, ask for forgiveness and take that very big chance.

I think I feel that very need to ask for forgiveness from myself, and take a very big chance on myself. I've doubted for so long, and can see these little baby steps I'm taking, but I'm curious about something huge looming in my near future, i can feel it.

Illustrator - Jillian Tamaki

I recently have come across more work of Jillian Tamaki, an illustrator living and working in Brooklyn, NY. Once you start clicking you may realize you've seen some of it before. I love her attention to detail, and the capacity for vivid narration in each image.

"My pick of the day" Jillian Tamaki

Hungry house guests?

Add this to my list of favorite things! I come home today from work and find this greeting in my sadly empty fridge. In my defense I was leaving for a trip and was avoiding buying any groceries the last couple days!

Thanks to my hungry houseguest for giving me my surprise of the day, and sorry I couldn't feed you. By the way I ate the entire container of spinach tonight with ketchup and mustard on my veggie burger so everybody is loved.

"My pick of the day" Fiddlesticks!

My Stolen Heart

Well, it looks like this is goodbye to Mr. Slap Happy Heart. He turned up missing from the gallery that he was shown in. I had the best hopes that he would show up, and had just crawled into a corner somewhere because he's a little shy. Here's a thought, let's make all the poor artist even poorer by just stealing their shit. It's not like I actually spent a lot of time working on it or anything. I hope that whoever did this realizes that he is a "Sick Heart" and can only bring dark days and heartbreak to those who have stolen it from it's creator.

I can only hope he is safe and cared for, sorry we couldn't have you in our lives longer. Good-bye Mr. Slap Happy, we love you.

Let's cheer ourselves up with "My pick of the day" Odd Little Forest