MeListen

If you aren’t sick of ‘Listen’ images, the lovely Sarah Burt has put up a fine set of me working at  Women’s Studio Workshop on Flickr.

Here’s the set – or here’s the slideshow.

I honestly do not remember her shooting these, though she must have been right there! My only excuse (besides broken ears) is that this was the stage when everything was coming together. This shot’s my favourite, because that is so surely my head.

Thank you, Sarah!  I can’t wait to return to WSW – more on that soon! (ps – I recycled all those sheets that are air-drying).

So: There!

Listen, 2009, Melissa Jay Craig: 15 reconfigurable pieces,cast and hand-shaped abaca, this view approximately 12′ x 12′ x 2″

So, I’m just not a PR whiz. At all. For one thing, I got asked a million times this past weekend for for my card, and it simply didn’t occur to me till then that I’d neglected to make one for myself after I tossed the box of old faculty ones. (Fortunately, I’m quite Google-able). For another, I’m too busy on the next few things to get down to Vespine until maybe this weekend at the soonest, to properly document the show (or at least, as properly as I self-document).

But, Paul Germanos (who I don’t know) published three lovely shots on his Flickr site the next day (thanks!) of portions of my part of the show.  And, I have finally put multiple views of Listen, taken as each stage progressed, on my web site.  (Though, if you want to read what I have to say about the work, you should scroll down and do that first, before you click on any of the images, due to the quirky limitations of iWeb – see, a PR whiz would probably never use iWeb).

Now it can also be told: I didn’t want to publish full images before Listen was shown because it’s much easier to read when reduced to a photo. It’s configured differently at Vespine, and I have made some minor additions since the above photo was shot at Ragdale, but I couldn’t beat the lovely even natural light of the Meadow Studio.

Sunday’s talk was not the best I’ve ever given, though people said they enjoyed it. I was (and still am) feeling just a wee bit off, possibly from steadily consuming way too much sugar lately. There were many more cookies and cupcakes than people, but it was a nice number of folks for the space and it was wonderful to see several people I haven’t seen in a long time, and meet new folks, all of whom came out on a chilly, dreary Sunday.  (Thanks!)   Now: back to the basement studio, where I am gleefully conducting experiments.

Much More Than Respite

Openings and/or Artists’ Receptions are a fact of any artist’s life. They’re usually quite pleasant, though on rare occasions, I’ve had people wanting to argue about what they see (and, truth be told, I sometimes relish that, just for the atypical interaction). Generally, I need to take a lot of hearing breaks to rest my ears; there are almost always natural lulls in the attendance that work out beautifully for those; and invariably, I smile and say ‘oh, thank you’ so much that my face can hurt the next day.

The reception for ‘Respite’ last night was incredible!  I planned to arrive a bit early to document the work*, but the doors were already open before the ‘official’ hours, for the East Pilsen neighborhood’s monthly Second Friday artwalk, and it was crowded when I got there…and then ‘crowded’ quickly escalated to ‘packed’ and it stayed continuously, riotously so for an entire four hours.  There was not one..single…lull, not even a slight tapering off.  It went way, way beyond ‘pleasant’ and it will remain one of my favourite opening experiences of all time.

So: I want to thank Vespine, very much.  ‘Respite’ is this year’s version of their annual November invitational show; they came up with the idea and title early last June, while I was at Women’s Studio Workshop, offering the show to me, JE Baker and Maria Jose Prenafeta-pepi, as artists who might need some respite from stress. A bit later on, the show grew to include Amanda Meeks, Marnie Galloway, Sarah F. Vogel,  Shayna Cohen and Suzi Cozzens (aka Suzette En Croute) for the same reasons. Those reasons had nothing at all to do with last night’s incredible attendance, however: it was obvious throughout the evening that the big draw was the art, and the art alone….hooray! This was Chicago supporting Chicago artists, and people were engaging with the work on a very thorough level: excellent.

People reading Sarah F Vogel’s books. They read all the wall text, too…!

Women’s Studio Workshop gave the show (and me!)  a lovely shout-out from afar yesterday; I also want to thank them for their continuing incredible support.

A personal pleasure that added to the entire experience was the fact that I used to live at Vespine; it was my home and studio for many, many years, before I moved in with Paul. Today, I’m recuperating a bit, and smiling a lot while I assemble slides for my talk tomorrow at Evanston Print & Paper. I’m thinking that Eileen’s ‘She’s Back’ applies to the entire weekend for me.

Also, most especially, thanks to everyone who came out last night. (And I am wishing Aimee a similar lovely experience at her reception in Lake George tonight.)

*I couldn’t!  Coming soon, I promise.

Been Too Busy To Blahg

” I dearly love the state of Texas, but I consider that a harmless perversion on my part, and discuss it only with consenting adults.” - Molly Ivins

Make that select parts of Texas: San Antonio was as great this year as Austin was last year.  The class went stupendously well. People were working like mad things all over the studios (so true that I never got everyone into one photo) and the Sparks were flying! The class (and the, well, rave anonymous course evaluations – thanks, folks!) left me with a great deal to contemplate regarding the differences between short, intense teaching experiences as opposed to long involved mentorships.  (Well, I will when things slow down to a contemplative pace.)

I stayed with folks whose company I truly find a great deal of pleasure in, and it was wonderful to hang out again: easy and enjoyable.  Another friend drove down from Austin on Sunday night, and in a short space of time, amid laughter, fine Tex-Mex and storytelling, we hatched some stirring plans. Something I’ve been wanting to do for a long while will soon become a reality, with a brilliant twist, thanks to Judy’s idea. I’m excited!

They were full, busy days and I was happily tired each night. I didn’t have the time or inclination to cram in tourist-y stuff on top of it, but I did have an hour or two here and there just to observe all the amazingly odd things that grow in that part of Texas, which I love to do.  And every day, I got to pick and eat fresh Satsuma oranges from Beck’s laden front yard tree: sublime.  Monday, between packing up at the school studio and getting on the plane, I had a wee while to wander the San Antonio Riverwalk, which also felt like visiting an old friend. It’s one of the finest features of any city I’ve ever visited, and Beck helped clarify its appeal for me when she said, “It’s on such a human scale”.

Up in the air, heading east, I popped for internet access just for the hell of it, and discovered that an odd new class I’d proposed was accepted (similar in book-ness to the San Antonio class’s paper-ness). Home, and Paul was off teaching, but had laid in some of my favorite food; I unpacked and tackled massive paperwork for the morning.  Yesterday, bright and early, and for hours, I was instructed by a pleasant, friendly woman in the draconian processes of how and when I can collect unemployment while free-lancing (She said, “Oh, I understand.  I was married to two artists. Not at the same time, mind you.”). And then, back home, a nice new solo show came in, booked for a year from now.

This weekend, the Respite reception at Vespine, and a talk at Evanston Print and Paper, both of which promise to have a healthy attendance.

I have to say, I am liking the New Life so far, and I have every indication that it’s going to continue.  I’m just as busy as I ever was, but there..is…no…stress. It’s  charged, positive energy all the way.

Speaking of which, here is a lovely interview with Aimee Lee, and another, and I also thank her for the shout-out.

I also want to shout out about this great class with Alicia Bailey out at Hook Pottery Paper, and, if you are in Chicago, this sale; Andrea and Jon make marvelous things, and I love the way the New Life is working for them, as well.

More evidence that positive energy multiplies; it creates its own abundance.

Delicious abundance!

24 hours

Load car from storage space & studio, drive to Vespine gallery, install 54 pieces, dinner w/ friends, drive home, pack, sleep 2 1/2 hours, airport, San Antonio, unpack, class prep, class prep, class prep, dinner w/ friend, sleeeeeep now.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

I am, actually (having fun)…but am also assuredly feeling a wee bit zippy.  October’s quiet, contemplative, organizational energy has given way to full tilt full speed ahead.  I’ve been in the studio the past few days, tweaking the work for Respite…and, of course, that planned work time was interrupted by sudden, unforeseen bureaucratic needs that stole an entire day and a half (sigh).  Today: finish two days’ worth of work in one day, pack everything up for the show as well as some stuff for Texas. Tomorrow: load up the show, drive to Vespine, unload, install, a quick dinner with friends, drive back home, finish the packing and Friday: fly to San Antonio.  And it won’t calm down when I return. So, while, I’m doing all that, if you are in Chicago:

Jerry Bleem, one of my favorite artists, has a new show up, which I’m determined to get to see when I return.  This time around, he’s using American flags rather than fish scales, termite wings, or postage stamps.   This weekend, RAR RAR press will be showcased at the MCA.  And Site Unseen is happening at the Cultural Center. Read this about curator Julie Laffin, one of my favorite performance artists of all time. I love her absolutely innovative solution to her current limitations.

(I’m sure, in addition to missing two of these great events, I’m missing other shout-outs, but: sorry,  I’ve got to get back to it!)

Happy Samhain, Samhuinn, Halloween

It’s my new year’s eve.  Just getting dark here in Chicago, and a steady stream of kids (and one costumed Great Dane, who got a dog biscuit) have been coming to the door for awhile now. It’s cool and crisp, windy with scudding grey clouds and blowing brightly colored leaves: perfect.

I’m forgoing all parties, in preparation for tonight’s ceremony: many milestones to be marked, new souls to be invited to my table.  So very many endings, but even more (and much more profound) beginnings to celebrate tonight.

Earlier today, I was surprised by receiving a Samhain e-card.  I had no idea they existed!  I did a search and found a fair number; somehow this knowledge pleases me, even though they are as trite as any other, more universal holiday greetings. I decided to link to one for you all (because it wouldn’t embed).

Blessed be, and Happy Halloween.

Watch it!

Abigail Uhteg was one of the two book residents at Women’s Studio Workshop while I was there; she and I shared the apartment above the studio building.  She was making a gorgeous edition of a book titled, “The Complex Of All Of These.” Fellow book resident Amanda Thackray named Abby the Studio Paparazzi, because she was also constantly photographing; often we’d see her working with one hand, and shooting with the other.  This is what she was up to, and I love it:

35 books, 3000 photos, two months. I love it so much that she gets an entire shout out blog of her own.  If you’re familiar with these processes, you’ll enjoy it too (check out the print-specific sewing), and if you’re not: welcome to our world. It sure makes me want to be back at WSW.

Abby’s lovely shot of my dye brushes.  I’m not posting the one of my ass.

Speaking of Returns…

I rather love this poster.  Many thanks to Eileen at Evanston Print & Paper for creating it!  As I just wrote on my Facebook page, it keeps making me think of the scene in The Shining when Jack Nicholson hacks through a door with an axe, sticks his head through, and says, “Heeeeeeere’s Johnny!” with that wonderful, maniacal grin.  I was pleased and honored to be asked to be the first in a brand-new series of artists’ talks.

The pace is heating up as November approaches.  I wonder if I will miss the mild October (other than the back spasm, which is almost all healed now). Still, I’m glad I opted to do what I did: I tackled my home office, doing a quick and partial sorting-through of the papers; then I consigned them all to a donated 4-drawer filing cabinet (thanks, April), to be gone through during long winter evenings (and I have a kernel of an idea forming regarding the use of what will be copious discards).  I packed up the ancient PC and its plethora of peripherals; gave some away and found a recycling center where I can drop everything off once the old hard drive is returned.  I bought a nifty all-in-one wireless inkjet printer/ copier/ scanner that surprised me with its print quality for its price, and now have a fully functional office space again.  Whew. I’ve been knocking out the backed up admin in here for the past couple of days; about two more (hopefully less) days of that, and then: studio. I intended to show the lovely new office to you, but: for the first time since I bought it, both camera batteries are dead!  But now I have a permanent at-home charging location again, as soon as I find the damn charger.  That says it all as to why I needed this spot of practicality; I needed to re-create my own support systems.  Now, I’m baaaaack.