Park, Day 334

Almost finished, Day 291

I have been working on a large bindery project for quite some time. The project consists of 81 custom portfolio boxes for Naropa University. Today was the first day that I actually completed more than half the boxes. I will be so relieved when this project is done and out of my studio space. It gave me a real taste of production work and I really don't want to do it for other people anymore. I want to have my studio space primarily create my own art work. I am glad I have figured this out.

On the bus, Day 237

There are definitely some days that I wished I lived in Boulder so that I didn't have such a long commute home.

Waiting, Day 236

All business, Day 235

It's 10 pm and my husband the businessman is still hard at work.

Yellow, Day 166

The landscape is in a transitional phase where the leaves are brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red  and they blanket everything in these brilliant hues. I am dreading the winter time to come when there is an absence of color and everything is stark, cold, and gray. This is the time when I stay indoors and settle down to the winter routine and dream about spring.

Finding the way, Day 151

I am sitting at my computer at a loss for words to accompany today's image. I have found this to be true for the last few weeks or so. It's not that I don't want to write it's just that I really have no clue as to what to say. My mind has been elsewhere and it has shown in my images and in my entries. Today I went back to slinging my camera over my shoulder and taking it with me EVERYWHERE- even while I was teaching. I almost always have it with me, but lately it hasn't always been easily accessible. I photographed the darkroom sink, empty plastic film reels, the view outside the train, Gerald and Nico taking a walk, my neighborhood, and the fallen leaves on the ground. Although I really haven't strayed far, it has been good for me to get back to my basic principals for this project (and I ended up writing about something too).

Dirt don't hurt, Day 110

My son's feet after a long day of playing.

Steps to take, Day 109

I am back to my everyday life teaching in the classroom at CU Boulder. In my first class today I had my art students make a list of one month, one year, 5 year, and 10 year goals related to making art. They had to list five under each category and then write one step they need to take to make each goal happen. It's a good exercise, especially recognizing the steps. Here is my list:

Within One Month:
-Apply to Morris Graves Museum for solo show...finish and mail application.
-Make piece for show in Oaxaca....photograph.
-Start romance novel mandala...start folding book pages
-Complete boxes for Naropa...get back into the studio.
-Learn how to use my video camera...read owner's manual and shoot.

Within One Year:
-Travel to Colombia for my solo show in August 2010...save $
-Finish book business website...shoot photos, edit, write text
-Create personal website for my art work...find a template and start loading info
-Finish 39+ project...keep photographing everyday, no matter what!
-Have a book commercially published...submit project to publishers

Within Five Years:
-Quit teaching as an adjunct instructor...apply for tenure track jobs.
-Go to Bali and make art, learn language, and travel...Make more $ and save
-Live in Croatia for an extended period of time...Make more $ and save
-Travel to Vietnam and work on my war memorial project...find grants and save $
-Get a grant to produce an artist book edition...research and apply for grants

Within Ten Years:
-Have my 3rd book commercially published...keep making art
-Get a Fulbright and move out of the country...apply
-Get tenure at tenure track job...keep making art
-Make most of my money from my art...keep making art
-Build a home and studio that are completely off grid...find the right piece of land then give $ to husband and son to build it

Krishna-cizing, Day 108

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishnas' chant the name of God using japa beads which consist of 108 beads on a string to help keep track as they are chanting. This number is also significant because Lord Krishna is known by 108 different names. Tonight we went to the Krishna Temple in Denver for their Sunday service and feast. It's always an experience attending a service because there is such a diverse group of people who attend- devout Krishnas of all ages and races, Indian families, business men in suits, homeless people looking for a free meal, hippies, punks, and curious but uncommitted people that don't fit into any of the above categories like myself. There was a guest speaker tonight from California, whom I have heard speak before. He uses PowerPoint and humor as part of his presentations. His message was about how "you can't polish the cage and not feed the bird inside." Meaning, you can't pay all your attention to the body and not nurture the soul. The messages I tend to hear at the Krishna Temple are usually universal, otherwise I probably wouldn't attend. This one really resonated with me, but then again, they usually do. I am just not willing to chant even one round of "Hare Krisha" (108 times equals one round, and I am told that Krishnas do a minimum of 10 rounds each day) to feed the bird in the cage, but there are other ways I am willing to explore. Perhaps 108 blog posts will help my process...Interesting coincidence!

Happy feet, Day 96

My mom wrote me a wonderful email this morning about looking at the struggles we all share within ourselves and with others. The challenge is how to be more compassionate when I start to judge. I can be very defensive and reactive when I get angry or feel wronged by someone. She reminded me today that these are life lessons and life work! I know that when I am making art that I learn from my failed pieces or mistakes the most. It's easy for me to write about this since I am not in conflict with anyone, including myself, at the moment. But when it does arise I need to not take it so seriously, but acknowledge the experience as part of the learning to be human process. Then I know it will be time to get out the smiley face stickers.

Listening, Day 93, (08.08.09)

Hiking, Day 90, (08.05.09)

Not the same river, Day 89, (08.04.09)

Real boys wear pink, Day 46

My son is a real boy. A boy with long hair. A boy who wears the color pink. A boy that has a baby doll. A boy who loves to dance. A boy who will play with all the girls at school (and all the boys). A boy who loves to be hugged and kissed by his mom and dad. A boy that doesn't play video games or watch TV. A boy who already knows about how babies are made and the proper terms for all of his body parts. A boy who is not your typical boy. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Book, Day 42

My son and I collaborated on a book today. It was his idea to make one. He carefully did all the steps that I showed him. I was amazed at his skill for being 4 years old. I realized today that he has picked up a lot simply by observing me in the studio. He signed the back of his creation with his name and today's date. He was so proud of his accomplishment and I was very proud and amazed by him as usual. His dad often sits down with him and really shares his interests with him- Utah, tracking, camping, survival skills, to name just a few. Often I take on a different role, not that I don't teach him new skills, but we shared something today that was quite different from our usual interactions. I am excited for our next project.

The toenail fairy, Day 19

Trimming my son's toenails has been a constant battle. At one point they were so long that they were dangerous weapons. So one night I snuck into his room with a headlamp and a pair of nail clippers and attempted to trim them while he was sleeping . It actually took me two nights to complete the task, but it happened. In the morning I told him the toenail fairy came and since then he asks me to call her and have her trim them again.

There's no place like home, Day 15

Red shoes make me happy. I love looking down at my feet with them on. When I wear them they always seem to take me somewhere exciting, like Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. Even if they just take me into my backyard.