happy cat

now that I have successfully written the longest most annoyed "window forrest" post ever I will give a soothing image of "happy cat", let "happy cat" make you happy.





amigurumi by megipupu http://www.flickr.com/photos/megipupu/2898626294/

art world politics?

So I've been reading up on the art world and visiting professional art blogs. and I have realized a few things. I find so much out there about people discussing what is "art" and what is "not". I find both sides to be ludicrous. One person says that you have to be represented by a "legitimate" gallery-however those galleries only represent you if they can sell your work and pretty much make a profit from it- so its all about the money, and the illusion is that this prestige means that the art is "good" , who's to judge? Then we have the folks (along the same lines) that bash what they call "vanity galleries" these are galleries that make you pay to exhibit your work in them. The "prestigious" galleries "look down" on them- apparently. ( I suppose artists are supposed to take that as a horrific thing?, lol.) Then you have another sect that spins extremely philosophical discourses on how there is no real art anymore, and even takes this so far as to make their own snobby judgments (usually based on age or on method) of what "good" and "bad" art is. Sometimes these are just stereotyping art school graduates from movies, or declaring that art has no meaning anymore, accusing all artist of being vain, "you haven't suffered enough or cut of an ear, etc. etc."

I find them all to be missing the point in the same exact way. Art is art and all art is priceless, therefore monetary value (or philosophical value) is bestowed or debunked by the viewer. SO the prestigious galleries that are supposed to make one "legitimate" are only "legitimate" if you are one of that circle and/or believe that philosophy- or if you are going the route of selling expensively only to the "upper crust" "art collector".
As far as those who bash vanity galleries, I suppose if you are trying to climb into the elitist circle, then you might have a problem- because those who side with the elitists may look down on you. However, I would like to think that artists would rather work with people open minded enough to at least look at their art before rejecting them . My advice: If you want to have a vanity, and you can afford to -do it and just don't tell the elites, if they are that snobby they wont show up anyways and who's to know? In the meantime everyone else will probably love getting to mingle and enjoy your work.
To the last example, the Philosophical one- just as subjective and biased as the "elitist", they are gonna miss out on enjoying the art and the artists. p.s. - I like my ears :D

finally I appreciated the thoughts expressed by Joyce Fournier in her response (titled "Everyone pays a fee") to an art gallery thread , talking about how the current system often shames artists out of being independent (and out of exhibiting in venues other that elite, selective galleries), I also appreciated Joy Enelman's response to the thread as well
"... many artists do not necessarily want to sell, but wish to communicate their ideas visually to an audience and listen to the comments about the work. Not all artists 'have to sell' and the idea of making art (only) for the sake of 'selling' is in itself a travesty.

Art is first about communication and to communicate, the artist needs a venue. Who pays? Does it matter whether it is the artist, the gallery, the government? Isn't it more important that the artist gets a chance to show, discuss, talk about and share his/her vision?

What is this modern mentality of 'money first, second and third'?

Where is the art for art's sake?"

mail art

This is my first piece of mail art that is traveling to the UK right now, for the "mail me art 2" gallery show/project. I hope it arrives there ok :)




I also entered/submitted for entrance into, a call for art from Climate gallery in NYC, it is taking drawings for an upcoming exhibition on drawing which is cool.

koo and poppet cuteness

when I found this I just had to blog it: This girls shop is called "koo and poppet" and she makes such cute, simple, cute plushies.

her blog is http://www.kooandpoppet.blogspot.com/

Ok, so I am filling out some paperwork and they want my ethnicity. I'm not black or asian so they give me this choice : Non-white hispanic, or non- hispanic white. what???? If I'm half white and half puerto rican, which one am I? lol.
anyways, I'm adding "morning musume", from japan, and "the bee-gees" to my fav bands. morning is so kawaii and the girls are very sweet, more like a group of friends. and the bee-gees,well, they are from the 70s,they sing in a key even I cant hit and, they make me laugh but I like them.

The balloon festival was great and I even saw a few balloons land close by. P.S. Taylor Swift wins points with me for not physically kicking that guy off the stage, because I probably would've, sheesh........

baloons

This weekend is Plano's biannual balloon festival. Which means balloon watching and chasing for me :)

organizing

The other day I decided to organize my clothing drawers by color I had my blues and purples in one drawer, my reds, corals, pinks and browns in another, and my whites, grays and blacks in another. I learn something : I have almost nothing in green, orange or yellow. I dont like yellow on myself, orange is a rare find anyways and if its to yellowish I dont like it, the same with green. Still it was surprising. I do have accesories with those colors though. :o
This is a nice photo from Oh Joy! blog.......
I like the makeshift closet, somehow it reminds me of a ship

new website

Well today I went to webs,com and built myself my first non-blog website. It is for my art and has sections for : about me, my resume, photo gallery/art portfolio, video gallery, Links, store/shop, projects, etc.
So now I have something more professional looking than my old blog. Everything in one place.

www.musicaltree.webs.com

so I'll keep that for my art and still use my blog for announcements and inspiration :)

scketchbook 2

I signed up for another sketchbook and got "it's not easy being green" this time, as my theme. I want to have several sketchbooks submitted. It is so exciting!!!!

Also: I found another thing to get involved with. It is a UK based project called "Mail Me Art" and it focuses on mail art!!!!!! It is 6-8 months long and you send this gallery the art, each month a winner gets a prize, at the end there will be an exhibition of all the art, and a photobook published of it!!!!!!!
Link: http://mailmeart.com/going-postal/submit-mail-art/

Scketchbook project

Well I got my sketchbook from Art House Coop and I am sooooooooooo excited. At first I was upset because my randomly generated theme was "ahhh! monster!" and ......you know? I know the disturbed directions that that can be taken.... So I email and asked for a new one. They were very obliging and told me they'd switched me to "elephant in the room" which is much more neutral and such. So I can work with this. I'm getting excited now. I used to whatch "Babar" alllll the time and I think maybe I will try doing a storybook of some sort. and using several mediums ( ink, paint , etc.) I'm also thinking of maybe getting another sketchbook, if that is allowed. being under 2 themes would be fun!!

here's a link to Art House Coop http://www.arthousecoop.com/

Did I mention the collection of sketchbooks will go on tour and also become part of a library?! :)

I put my Etsy Shop on vacation today. I felt I needed to. The fact is, I was not selling anything, and I did not have a wide array of products. I felt that I was beginning think about making stuff so that it might sell rather than just making art for arts sake or for myself. I didn't like that. So I decided to shut it down for a bit while I focus on just making art to share and such. I think I will still keep zazzle, though no one goes there either , but its different I suppose because all I'm doing is putting my images on stuff there. With etsy I had frustration with my pictures, the stuff was handmade so there was more of a sense of failure when things didn't sell, I think. More of a sense that I was laboring to make something personal just to get money. And the prolonged disappointment of not being noticed. And the more I did that the more I felt a loss in value in what I was making.
Of course I will still take custom orders through etsy, If anyone ever wants a custom order.

some bands i like

ome of my favorite bands :)
The first 2 are eisley, like them because they are very whimsy and imaginative, then there is a fine frenzy, she is down to earth and artsy,
Peter paul and mary are passionate and thoughtful and deep, vienna teng is wonderful with piano melodies, be good tanyas are perfect in thier imperfect harmonizing.........thats all for now :)