July 23, 2008

The Idea of Painting

Brainstorm: Painting 2.0 - Chronicle.com

cartoon, couple in bed, one says to the other, "What should we have sex about?"

Great comment from Laurie Fendrich's article about painting's current relationship to big ideas

[...] but the young painters today, unlike my generation of painters, find it almost impossible to locate truly inspiring contemporary artists for whom painting's meaning can be derived from what a painting looks like. Instead, the few remaining artists who are sticking to painting who are making any name for themselves are making paintings that derive their meaning from the "ideas" behind their paintings. The result is that young artists feel compelled to offer long, complicated explanations about their intentions [...]

via Two Coats of Paint

July 16, 2008

Not Much I Can Say

The most beautiful suicide (kottke.org)

Every time I've seen this picture it has truly depressed me. Not because it's an attractive woman, but because she looks like she's sleeping. Like there is still a chance. I want to believe that this isn't true.

I'm an so desensitized to gory pictures and movies that this just sneaks up on me.

July 10, 2008

Carmina Burana at the Hollywood Bowl

Elizabeth and I went to see Carmina Burana at the Hollywood Bowl last night (tickets start at $1) and had a really great time. Most people don't know the actual title of the composition but have heard it in many a movie.

It was beautiful. The conductor (Bramwell Tovey) performed one his own compositions first, Urban Runway, as well as Don Juan by Richard Strauss. He was very vocal about his inspirations which at first I found a little more than I wanted to hear (on with the music, right?) but once the music started I found that I was really able, for the first time, to see how inspiration leads to music as opposed to an object. This may seem rudimentary to some but it was a valuable discovery for me. I was able to visualize the music. Big stuff.

Anyway, the Bowl is beautiful. The air is crisp, the sound is sharp and the view is memorable. We are definitely going back.

I've posted some pics taken during the show.

July 7, 2008

The Floor

Spent the day rolling on polyurethane with Brant today. What a back-breaker that is. We got about halfway done and we're high as hell from the oil base fumes, and not a good high I might add. We decided to finish up on Wednesday. Soon, soon, soon this place will be ready. After the floor is done I can get started on art. Once I save up some more money I can build the walls but I'm not gonna hold out for them.

Moving in really drained me. With the first month's rent, full deposit, business insurance ($150 each per year), some here's and there's for the studio as well as just having payed my final month on my old studio, my meager saving are gone. And now my cat Sappho has a huge bladder stone that will cost $1500 to $1700 to take out. Ugh!

Speaking of her vet visit, it was really crazy seeing her x-rays. She was loaded with poop like someone smuggling sausage links over the border. Man there's a lot of room in there...

July 7, 2008

Photographing a Light Bulb

YouTube - Joe McNally - Empire State Building

Shooting the beacon of the Empire State building. This is death defying stuff and with my fear of heights I was really feeling it in the you-know-what's. The end gives you the actual shots. Amazing.

July 4, 2008

YouTube - Red Right Hand

YouTube - Red Right Hand

This the song that got me into Nick Cave. I first heard it in the background of an X-Files episode.