so pumped.

a really cool thing mica is doing now is "black panther: rank and file." it includes films every tuesday in october as part of free fall baltimore, an exhibition (which opened today & i can't wait to see), and a two part symposium tomorrow. the first segment is called "aesthetics & revolution." because it's during the day they are expecting mostly mica students to come. the big superstar panel, "community & revolution" is later that night, and they are hoping that the audience includes more members from the baltimore community at large.

it sounds like it is going to be totally up my alley... just another perspective on how art can be a catalyst for change. and sometimes i agree that sometimes the best way to change things is to be radical. and to aim for things others find impossible or ridiculous. my favorite piece in the exhibition is titled "we wanted to be", by daniel joseph martinez. it stopped me dead in my tracks when i first saw it through the glass doors while it was still being installed. because it is all text, a perfect display of vinyl letters and kerning. it reads:

we wanted to be radical brave pioneers we considered ourselves to be a vanguard we overestimated ourselves ridiculously indulging in the illusion that a revolution was thinkable in the federal republic in this light we were self-timers who acted cut off from reality in a void we live a sort of armed existentialism.

don't forget

i meant to post this a long time ago... just a few simple reminders.

stationery for social change.

my cap class went back to east baltimore today. a neighborhood called baltimore was off limits, so this particular "implementation." was a group effort. we decided on each bringing postcards or cards, pre-made or blank, and using them as tools for social interaction. the concept with the cards was giving people an outlet for expression through our art. they could do with it as they chose... hang it on their wall, write a letter to city council, send it to an old friend, whatever. i was really into these once i got started (obviously, they involve letter stickers.) we decided that northeast market would have the most potential. everyone has to eat.

fletcher had some wise words about gathering spaces: "i don't always know what is going to happen, but i make things happen." i guess i'm not at that place yet. i'm still held back by my own over-analyzing and self-consciousness. obviously, the hardest part of the card concept was confronting someone. how would i know that they want to talk to me? but if i waited for someone to approach me, how would they know that i want to talk to them? see... there i go with the over-analyzing. i put stamps on every card thinking it would motivate me to make sure i gave them to people. no such luck. i gave one away the whole day, and it was in exchange for one of those "deaf education system cards." so my plan now is to use them when it is not so planned.

i'm not giving up on the idea of them, i think i'm just realizing that they aren't necessarily universal. i knew it would be hard. any time you share your art, you place yourself in a vulnerable position. i'm glad this class is giving me the opportunity to work all this stuff out in my mind.

i miss you boys!

my mom emailed me last week with pictures of the boys and some special seats. just look at my dad's face. a smile that big... he's been wanting seats from tiger stadium for awhile now.

i wouldn't have thought i would miss those crazy boys at all. but today when my computer wouldn't turn on at all and i really could have used some tech assistance, and last week when young kip called me on his private line and his laugh sounded just like dad's, and when i get emails like this giving me updates on what is happening at home... it's hard not to.

ah ha moments

some notes/realizations/connections/inspiration from this past week...

you are welcome, dan

Dear Becky from Dan on Vimeo.

you know i would never pass up the chance to share mica with someone else. i'm glad i was able to get you excited, dan.

shopping carts and light rails

"to live ordinary life artfully is to have this sensibility about the things in daily life, to live more intuitively and to be willing to surrender a measure of our rationality and control in return for gifts of the soul."
-thomas moore

so much good stuff this week. it's too daunting to even write about it all right now. that's what i get for not updating my blog as all of this happens. i just haven't had time. but i'm glad. glad that things are busy. it felt so good to be back in the schedule of staying up until 2 and getting up at 7 with a to-do list all ready to go. and to be drinking lots more coffee. that's me at my best.