Well I don't have any new art to post for the new year so I'm sharing an old photo of me from a land far, far away
Tassajara, I think. My Gramma Lulu practiced art and Buddhism there and I have fond memories of taking road trips in the VW bus into the mountains to visit her. I just had another birthday (46!) which always leaves me very sentimental. It seems the older I get the more I long for the simplicity of youth, when my only responsibilities consisted of dreaming, playing, listening and loving. This year (and forever after) I resolve to honor those same responsibilities with a renewed passion! It's easy to forget to dream and play when there are so many other people and things I am responsible for now, but I will try to lighten up and not be so darn serious all the time!
I'm sure I've said that before.
I have a vision in my head of the kind of art I want to make. I can only see what it feels like. It feels brave and spontaneous. Experimental and fluid and maybe even frenzied. This art lives inside me like a trapped dream, pounding on my chest to get out. But the control freak that I have become won't let it, too afraid it won't be cool enough, terrified that it will suck, people won't like it, no one will want it. So I work slow and carefully and over-think everything. I need to take more chances! I need to pick up the pace! I have 2 upcoming shows to prepare for, a whole new body of work must be created! Sheesh that's daunting.
But before I go forward, I need to look back over the year so I can wrap it up and be done with it. The best way to sum up 2012 is to say "
IT ROCKED!" It began with a commitment to scale back my volunteer involvement at school -which allowed me to focus ALL of my energy on my art. It was a big step to start saying "No" but then, something really cool started happening . . . things started coming together to the point where I can now gleefully say I am living the dream of what I always wanted to be. Art is my job, (for now). I have what I asked for -except for the $ -we still need that part!
I have to say that the biggest bonus to choosing the life of an artist is all the amazing people I have met. I'm pretty sure I doubled my social circle in the last year alone. The art community in Portland is so supportive and awesome, it feels really good to be a part of it! Yay for new meaningful connections!!
2012 Exhibitions:
December 2012, 'Big 300' People’s Art of Portland, PDX -
BIG Group Show
December 2012, 'New Brow', Portland Center for Performing Arts, PDX -
Group Show
November 2012, 'Dia de los Muertos', Guardino Gallery, PDX -
Group Show
November 2012, Siren Nation Craft Fair
November 2012, ' I think, therefore I am', Goodfoot, PDX -
Group Show
November 2012, 'Send in the Clowns' Good: a Gallery, PDX -
Group Show
October 2012, 'Skull Party', Arleta Library Cafe, PDX -
Duo Show w/Adam Charles Ross
October 2012, 'Freak Show', First Cup Coffee House, PDX -
Trio Show
October 2012, '88 Strong', Goodfoot, PDX -
Group Show
September 2012, 'Food cArt Show', Screaming Sky Gallery, PDX -
Small Group Show
August 2012, 'Sci-Fi Show', People’s Art of Portland, PDX -
Group Show
July 2012, 'BEER Show', Amnesia Brewing, PDX -
Duo Show w/Chris Haberman
July 2012, 'Edge Show', Launchpad Gallery, PDX -
Group Show
June 2012, 'Quadrality Show', Bar Carlo, PDX -
Quad Show
May 2012, 'Out of the Box II', People’s Art of Portland, PDX -
Group Show
May 2012, 'May Day Show', Space Monkey, PDX -
Group Show
April 2012, 'Simply Red II', Mark Woolley Gallery, PDX -
Group Show
April 2012, 'Year of The Dragon Show', Lunar Boy Gallery, Astoria, OR -
Group Show
April 2012, 'Diva Show', Limelight, PDX -
Solo Show
March 2012, '4-click Bic Show', Bar Carlo, PDX -
Group Show
March 2012, 'Skateboard Show', Space Monkey, PDX -
Group Show
February 2012, 'For The Love of PDX' People’s Art of Portland, PDX -
Group Show
February 2012, 'Double A II', Space Monkey, PDX -
Duo Show w/Aaron Goodrich
January 2012, 'Surreal Salon', Baton Rouge Center for Contemporary Art, Baton Rouge, LA -
Group
I'm not sure where I'm headed in 2013, but I hope to keep the momentum going!
Do or Die!
