August 30, 2008

Final few crunch days before pieces have to be delivered for show at Fein Art Gallery in Pittsburgh. I dug out an antique ipod to load on the sound track for the Menstruation Theater, purchased a portable dvd player to present "The making of the "Wall". I went back and forth with whether or not to show this dvd as there will be no monetary transaction for either me or the gallery as the actual piece is unable to be shown. Finally decided it could offer a painting break should someone need to divert their attention a bit.

Tomorrow I need to chose some music from a music library to play softly underneath the original soundtrack which is talking and tool noises. Also an audio transfer from cassette to cd will be made. My final chore of today is to recheck my list of things to bring to painting drop off including: artwork, staple gun, dvd player, ipod, headphones, tape, epoxy and directions.

August 29, 2008

A brief trip to the local frame shop and $750 later, I have all the paintings I'm bring to Pittsburgh for a show framed and ready to go. There's just a few small tasks left for this weekend-get the audio for the Menstruation Theater onto an ipod, attached the ipod in a discrete location on the theatre (under or behind), transfer VHS to DVD (the actual footage of "The Wall" being removed from the back of my house and purchase a portable DVD player to play it on.

There are many hidden and not so hidden costs in doing a show like this. Gallery fees upfront have to be paid, framing, two-u haul rentals, purchase of DVD player, hotel cost for opening night, gas to get to Pittsburgh (three times-drop off, opening, pick-up) and the obligatory lunch on delivery day. Even so a two person show in a city gives me more visibility than I get in the group shows that I usually do.

Peace Always
Sharon

August 28, 2008

Another busy day yet still managed to get a few hours for painting. Today I started the bottom row. One circle is a head shot of my daughter on moving day and the second a Bart Simpson type character that is saying "You eat no meat!"I wanted to memorialize my daughter on moving day.The most memorable moment of the day was when she first showed up at her new apartment in a totally put together outfit that would translate well to a cinema version of moving (not necessarily the real thing).

My daughter has a fabulous sense of style and always has. Before she was in kindergarten, when we went clothes shopping I would take something to read and plant myself nearby while she sorted through clothes. The sales people were always confused by us but we always left with an outfit or two that was well coordinated (my daughter) and possible to wash (my say).

Peace Always

Sharon

August 27, 2008

Sophie with a butterfly on head
photo by Sharon Lee


Still quite busy getting ready for the show at the Fein Art Gallery next week, my daughter's new apartment needs, restocking my supply of yoga props and trying to retain a semblance of non dust order in my house while all this happening. Dragged out the Menstruation Theatre from its cedar closet and I was grateful to find that I had carefully covered it and all was in great shape. One bottom board needed to be re-glued, new batteries are necessary for the mini lights, a bit of dusting and she is good to go.

During an evening walk in the woods with my dog Sophie I decided I would put a dab of perfume on the puppet so every time you walk past you would slightly notice it. Consulting over the phone with my daughter, I decided on one of her Dolce and Gabana fragrances-light and not cloying.Tomorrow I have two art related errands: hair dyeing (roots) and pick up five pieces that are finished being framed. I love to see the final pieces always a surprise and usually a good one.Still undecided about whether to rent a cargo van or take the 10 foot U-Haul I have already reserved. Maybe the answer will come to me in a dream.

Peace Always

Sharon

August 26, 2008

pencil sketch of Menstruation Theatre puppet

Menstruation Theater (Installation)
2002
30” x 18” x 54”



As a show opening's date edges closer my days have become many hours of hectic. Mixed with moving my daughter into her first apartment, moving my friends son's, a trip to Pittsburgh to pick up camera equipment, making and shipping yoga props for my yoga prop business, a broken car (my daughter's), interviewing for a Continuing Ed. position (instructing a class on "How to Live in Central PA as a Vegan") I have to coordinate van rental, purchase a portable DVD player, have video transferred to dvd, cassette to cd, dust off the Menstruation Theatre, get some ipod cables, pick up framed pieces, hotel reservations, hair dyeing, and decide upon an appropriate opening reception outfit.

The routinist in me wants to hold on to my daily schedule: painting, hiking, gardening and yoga but as each day passes I know I have to let some things go. Tonight my intention was to paint, walk in the woods and a session of relaxation yoga. I had time for only one and chose yoga.

In the past I have ignored the busy times keeping my scheduled activities and cramming in any other necessities any way possible. I usually end up sick afterwards. Age has taught me to accept that all things can not be done at all times.

August 25, 2008

Although some may argue with this statement, I believe I am a moderately organized person. I make lists, write appointments, events, etc on my house calendar, keep all my art slides safely in a binder, save receipts and on a irregular basis clean up my computer's desktop. However I found a major hole that I had overlooked in organizing for art shows and it finally came to fruition that not being better organized would result in a bite in the ass.

Whenever I find a show I wish to enter I mark the date (about 10 days before the deadline) of the show submission on my calendar. I then put the application, whether from a mailed announcement or one I've printed from the computer in a "special" spot on my dresser so when the time comes I can easily find the necessary paper work. A few days after a painting is finished I send it to be photographed with a local photography studio. Slides are kept in plastic slide sheets in a binder. Business and manilla envelopes (all recycled materials) are kept with paper clips with several fine point black sharpies that are just used to label slides.

The one important thing missing is that no where in my records do I list which pieces are being submitted to which show. I have, once before submitted the same piece to two shows both being held simultaneously and had to called, apologize and chose which show the twice juried piece was to go into. This weekend I hit a major snafu with one piece entered in in two simultaneous shows and another piece in three.

It is uncomfortable and embarrassing to have to call gallery and museum staff and admit my organizational error and make a decision where to show the piece. You can bet that before I enter another show I will have made sure that I will have set up a reasonable system for avoiding such a problem

August 24, 2008

My daughter moved into her first apartment yesterday. As she was getting ready in the morning we had several cell phone conversations including one about clothes. Now if you know me I am not the one who would tell anyone how to dress especially not my daughter who can tell you which designer's cut of clothes is best suited for her body type. I wear only comfortable clothes usual of the work-paint-garden variety and I assumed that in this scenario (moving) I could actually offer some clothes advice. I talked her out of wearing flip flops because of concern I had over stubbed toes which would deeply affect her recent pedicure. Finally she showed up at my house from her dad's and she looks like she is about to play doubles at a very upscale country club. Beautifully tanned legs, small white shorts, silver sneakers, white tank top and a summer weight light grey almost white Juicy zippered hoodie.

So in honor of my daughter who has a wicked sense of style for all occasions I started a new circle on the painting I am working on. No title yet, just the laying in of lines.