The Highest Form of Hope

There's a new link under my profile in the side column. It's my new blog called "From Sketchbook to Gallery". Check it out to see some art I've done over the last few years. It will be updated as I complete new pieces. There's everything from studies to finished work - enjoy!

Labels: art

For those of you who might think that art is boring and irrelevant, I give you the following Artist of the Month: Robert Banks (Banksy), born in 1974 in Yate near Bristol, England, is one of the most enigmatic artist personalities in decades. Banksy began his career as a grafitti artist, and still uses outdoor walls as his primary canvas. He is well know for his sharp political and social criticism, and his innovation in stencilling technique. He is also notorious for his art stunts (from Wikipedia):

• At London zoo, he climbed into the penguin enclosure and painted 'We're bored of fish' in seven foot high letters.
• At Bristol Zoo, he left the message 'I want out. This place is too cold. Keeper smells. Boring, boring, boring.' in the elephant enclosure.
• In March 2005, he placed subverted artworks in the Museum of Modern Art, Metropolital Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
• He put up a subverted painting in London's Tate Britain gallery.
• In May 2005 Banksy's version of a primitive cave painting depicting a human figure hunting wildlife whilst pushing a shopping trolley was found hanging in the British Museum, London. Upon discovery, the museum added it to their permanent collection.
• Banksy has sprayed 'This is not a photo opportunity' on certain photograph spots.
• In August 2005, Banksy painted nine images on the Isreali West Bank Barrier, including an image of a ladder going up and over the wall and an image of children digging a hole through the wall.
• In April 2006, Banksy created a sculpture based on a crumpled red phone box with a pickaxe in its side, apparently bleeding, and placed it in a street in Soho, London.
• In June 2006, Banksy created an image of a naked man hanging out of a bedroom window on a wall in central Bristol.
• In August/September 2006, Banksy replaced up to 500 copies of Paris Hilton debut CD, "Paris", in 48 different UK record stores with his own cover art and remixes by Danger Mouse. Music tracks were given titles such as "Why am I Famous?", "What Have I Done?" and "What Am I For?". Several copies of the CD were purchased by the public before stores were able to remove them, some going on to be sold for as much as £750 on online auctions. The cover art depicted Paris Hilton digitally altered to appear topless. Other pictures feature her with a dog's head replacing her own, and one of her stepping out of a luxury car, edited to include a group of homeless people, which included the caption "90% of success is just showing up".
• In September 2006, Banksy dressed an inflatable doll in the manner of a Guantanamo bay prisoner (orange jumpsuit, black hood, and handcuffs) and then placed the figure within a ride at the Disneyland theme park.
  

Labels: art, politics

I must admit... I'm jealous.

The other day Paul went into the city to work on his sermon. He likes to work at "The Roastery" because of the free wireless. While working, minding his own business, he was hit on by 2 young women. Now I'm not worried that Paul would actually accept their invitation - I am angry that people don't think to look for a ring before flirting with someone. But I'm not jealous for that reason. I'm jealous because every time Paul goes out on his own, he gets hit on. But it NEVER happens to me!

What's wrong with me (other than the obvious inferiority complex)? Are women just more forward than men? Am I less attractive than my husband? Honestly, where is the creepy guy from the bus terminal when my self-esteem needs a boost?!

Labels: self esteem

I feel like I've been living in a hole the last few weeks. We have been battling some crazy kind of virus at our house. Paul and I had been feeling ill for a few weeks. Then Sasha got a stomach flu; then I got it; then I got a sinus infection; then Noah got sick. He got RSV and had to spend a few days in the hospital in isolation! It was a little scary, but he was a trooper. He proved that he can indeed sleep in a crib (he's been sleeping in a car seat since birth - terrible, I know). He also proved that he can charm his way into every health care professionals heart - giving smiles even to the resident who gave him a catheter (that was so awful to watch - it broke my heart to see him in so much pain).

I was in the hospital with Noah just about 24/7 (I went to my mom's house to sleep for a few hours). I had the pleasure of living off hospital food for a few days and filling my head with the garbage found in "People" magazine. On the upside I now know what is "hot" and what is "not" for the spring season.

I'm so glad Noah's okay now! He is finally home, but he's still coughing so we're still confined to the house. It's very nice to be home - a home that hasn't been cleaned in over a month. Sigh...

Labels: family

Noah has started using the jolly jumper. It's one of those toys that looks like great fun to adults, but that's no guarantee the kid will like it. Sasha became stiff as a board when put in the jolly jumper. He was pleased that he was standing, but the fun soon wore off when his legs gave way. Noah, on the other hand, can't seem to stop jumping. No matter how tired or annoyed he gets, he can't seem to control his bouncing reflex! I couldn't even get him to hold still for one picture!

Labels: family

These are a few of things I've been working on with Mary (my painting buddy) since Christmas - they're at the "study" stage right now, so it's kind of hard to know where they'll end up but hopefully these humble studies will one day be part of a series of six large acrylic paintings. Just a window in on the process...

Labels: art