Clicking Heels

Back to school!

2012-01-29T10:54:00.000-08:00

Photo from the free book giveaway at the Academy Library!

After a much needed break, I'm back to the Academy for my second semester. I decided to sign up for 18 credits - which means I will have an additional 6 hour class each week. Last semester kicked my butt with only 15 credits, so I'm slightly concerned for my general well-being. I hear that it's totally possible and worth it in the long run, but that it's extremely difficult. I worked every hour of my free time on homework last semester and just barely got it all done. I'm going to have to become a hermit for the next 4 months. My classes are as follows:

In-direct Painting - a painting method practiced by the masters, a slow building process of layers of color

Figure Drawing II - an extension of figure drawing I, mostly longer poses with the model

History of Composition - a historical account of how paintings were composed, while self-direct and produce our own series of works

Color Theory - the colorwheel and how to use it

Painting from the Imagination - learning how to paint from memory

Anatomical Drawing - drawing of the skeleton and muscular systems, from books and from models

We've only been in class a little over a week. Stay tuned for updates on professors, and class assignments!

Winter break

2012-01-29T10:48:00.000-08:00

We had 4 weeks winter break for school! I didn't have too much of an actual break though, as I worked full-time to make some $$$. I work at a architectural, ornamental plaster firm in Brooklyn, sculpting clay models that are then cast in plaster. Here are some process pics.

Due to overpriced flights, we stayed in town for the holidays. We had a potluck on Christmas Eve at our place and invited over friends who were also staying in town. This included some foreigners from school who either don't celebrate or live too far to travel. It was fun! However, we forgot to take pictures... here are only a few from the night...

Maryam and Erika

The boy doing hookah tricks

Lia and Nick

We also went to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, this was a first!

I also had a little free time to do some small paintings... one of which was a portrait of my friend's min-pin.

New York Academy of Art: Inside The Studio, By Maria Teicher

2012-01-17T21:27:00.000-08:00

My friend and fellow classmate, Maria Teicher, blogs about art/school related stuff on her personal blog as well. See her latest post from a studio visit with one of our own alumni, Will Kurtz...

Grunt work

2011-12-31T13:38:00.000-08:00

I've had some requests to post about the specific class assignments given at the Academy. I've taken some shots of my resulted work, as well as some of my peers. I won't give too much away (otherwise, it won't be as much fun for incoming students next fall), but here are a few examples of the grunt work from Painting I.

In Jean-Pierre Roy's class, we had to complete a self-portrait every week and were sometimes given 2 weeks to complete it. Our final project was a 4.5 ft or larger interpretive self-portrait. We also had a very fun assignment to make a group of tiny paintings (about the size of credit cards), on any subject matter of our choosing...as long as it was the same subject matter for each painting. Here are some selected samples.

Here's mine: Tiny Landscapes (with details)

Meg Franklin: Eraser Collection

Friederike Callenberg: Eyes, Jessica Augier: Self Portrait Series

Nicolas Sanchez: Brothers transforming into self portrait

Noelle Timmons: Friend's Portraits

My final self-portrait

Kristy Gordon's diptych

Nicolas Sanchez

Jessica Augier

Noelle Timmons

Meg Franklin's totem pole (in progress)

Christina Duarte's grandparents' portrait

Robert Fundis

Zach Brown

Cadaver Dissection!

2011-12-22T19:44:00.000-08:00

The Academy offered an anatomical elective day-class over the break, a cadaver dissection! Those that know me, know of my morbid fascination, and today it was relieved. We studied 3 different bodies, 2 female, 1 male. All 3 were in an elderly state when they passed a few months ago. They donated their bodies to science and when the Hunter College physical therapy department is through with them, they will be cremated and ashes returned to the families. The class was given by Academy professor David Klass, a sculptor and master anatomist who studied at Pratt and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. After he dismembered the bodies and identified muscles and bones for us, he allowed us to sit and sketch. I became fond of the arms and hands (quick sketches below). Although I was excited and intrigued, the smell of formaldehyde was stifling. I only lasted 3 of the 6 hours we had scheduled. When I went to Whole Foods for lunch, I couldn't bare to eat the chicken, since that's kind of what we look like inside.

MFA Mid-term Critiques

2011-12-20T13:13:00.000-08:00

Alex Barton, Class of 2012

I am currently sitting in the class of 2012's mid-term thesis critiques. This is where the Academy faculty and board review each students' body of work and gives thorough critiques and suggestions. Luckily, the entire student body is invited. What I've heard over the last two days ranges from brutally honest opinions on ability to praising technique and originality. This has definitely been helpful and let's me know what to expect next year.

Jon Beer, Class of 2012

Holly Ann Sailors, Class of 2012

New York Academy of Art: Deck the Walls 2011

2011-12-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

Last Friday was Deck the Walls, an event where you can buy small student, faculty and alumni artwork for a small price! It was a great party, with a Heinken open bar, Christmas carols, and artists working from the live model. And, I sold a piece!

Check out my guest post on the Academy's blog...

New York Academy of Art: Deck the Walls 2011

Finals week!

2011-12-05T22:21:00.000-08:00

AHHHH! It's the week before finals... lots of studying and painting to do! I'm slammed with preparing for the end of the semester... but I have upcoming posts about this past semester here at the Academy, please stay tuned. :)

Live from the Studios!

2011-12-05T22:11:00.000-08:00

Ian Healy - Live from the Studios - New York Academy of Art from NewYorkAcademy ofArt on Vimeo.

Check out one of our fellows in his studio!

Festive spirit

2011-11-20T19:31:00.000-08:00

It's not even Thanksgiving yet, and the 2nd floor studio hallway has decorated a tree and hung Christmas lights. They are an excited, productive, and super fun bunch of people.

Lunchtime Lectures

2011-11-20T18:34:00.000-08:00

The Academy holds "professional practices" lunchtime lectures every week for students. Attendance is optional, but these little helpers are so informative. The topics differ every week and complimentary pizza is served! Recently, there's been How to Photograph Your Artwork, Guide to Grant Writing, Social Media, Winsor & Newton Painting Demo and more.

This week's topic was Galleries. The guest speakers were Bill Carroll (former art dealer, consultant, Head of EFA studio program) and Dennis Christie (DCKT Gallery owner). Faculty member Sharon Lauden presented a series of questions and relevant issues for them to respond. They gave a lot of great advice for artists searching for gallery representation, do's and dont's when applying, and recommended a lot of great galleries in the area. They made an analogy that the relationship you have with a gallery is like marriage. The biggest things I walked away with were 1) Don't stalk galleries. You will seem creepy and possibly lose out on an opportunity. And 2) Do your homework. Research the gallery you are interested in before you approach them.

Steven Assael's studio visit

2011-11-18T21:40:00.001-08:00

My drawing professor, the lovely and uber talented Steven Assael, invited the class to draw in his studio! In case you didnt know, he's kind of a big deal. He provided the models and some props and costuming. Here's my drawing that came from that visit. Nero pencil on Mylar.

Alum show at the Academy

2011-11-16T21:36:00.000-08:00

by Tat Ito

Jean-Pierre Roy, my painting I professor, curated the exhibit. See images from the exhibition on my friend/photographer/fellow Academy student's BLOG. Artlog reviewed it:
http://artlog.com/posts/239-iconomancy-the-magic-of-art

Figurative art all over Chelsea

2011-11-12T15:03:00.000-08:00

Alex Kanevsky at J. Cacciola Gallery

There's been a lot of great figurative artists showing in Chelsea over these past few weeks. (This gives me hope that I am in the right discipline, in the right school, at the right time.) Below are a few that I've seen recently.

Neo Rauch at David Zwirner

The opening was packed! There are a lot of Neo worshippers, and it was difficult to find an open space to stand. The palette was the standard dark and deep, with a bright turquoise that was carried through in a few of the pieces. The narratives were the standard mysterious. There was one piece that stood out to me (not pictured) that had the composition divided into various smaller compositions... like a comic book. I enjoyed that. There was also a bronze sculpture in the mix, a first for the artist.

Michael Borremans at David Zwirner

Since this was directly next door to Neo Rauch, it was of similar popularity, but a much more relaxed vibe. You could actually find a space in front of a painting to view it. I am a fan of Michael Borremans and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. I was surprised at how thin the paint was on the surface. The palette was full of neutrals and warms, and the narratives were dark and simple.

Lisa Yuskavage at David Zwirner

The controversial works of Lisa Yuskavage are made up of female figures with young faces and mature, exaggerated bodies. Some women call it porn. I always knew she was a big deal, but never really got into the work... until I saw it in person. The paint handling alone is attractive. Then there is the color. The saturated palette seems outrageous, but is ever so fitting. Her narratives seem to speak about Freud's theories on the Ego, Super Ego and Id. This show JUST closed on November 5. If she ever shows again, I'd recommend checking it out.

Alex Kanevsky at J. Cacciola

MY FAVORITE. I've been following Alex for a number of years now. He's such an inspiration. My friend Megan said it best, "There are shows that you see that make you want to paint. Then there are shows that make you want to quit making art because what you want to do has already been done, but waaaay better."

Neo Rauch visits the Academy!

2011-11-06T20:58:00.000-08:00

The very celebrated German figurative artist Neo Rauch was in town for his opening at David Zwirner Gallery, but during his stay he was kind enough to visit NYAA and meet the students. In case you aren't familiar with him, he's a HUGE DEAL. Some students here really worship his work. Not only did he stop into classrooms, he walked through every studio at the Academy. I happened to be in my studio painting at the time, so I got to meet him. We shook hands and he checked out my work. I never realized he was so good looking. Above is a shot of him in front of my studio.

Stay tuned for a post about his opening at David Zwirner Gallery.

Class field trip to the Cloisters!

2011-11-06T19:20:00.001-08:00

My painting instructor Jean-Pierre Roy, took the class uptown to the Cloisters Museum! It's a castle like building filled with collections of med-evil artworks (12th to 15th centuries), mostly small scale oil paintings, tiny ivory carvings and unicorn tapestries.

Prior to entering the serene chapels, our teacher sat us down under a gingko-biloba tree and read an article written by his friend. It was to set the mood for our visit and for next weeks painting class, where we start painting from the model. The article explained the authors frustration with the art world after attending the Whitney Biennial. Feeling deflated by the art he saw, he decided to retreat to the Cloisters, hoping for some inspiration. He ended up bring transformed by the devotion these paintings contained. The amount of work and detail that went into them really moved him. He even claimed to have found the greatest painting he's ever seen at the Cloisters. And said that the emotion people feel when standing in front of a Rothko cannot compare to how this piece effected him.

The paintings were indeed impressive. The detail was painted with single hair brushes. Each strand of a persons hair and every line of grain in wood floors were rendered. The majority of themes were religious. And although I didn't find them quite as moving as I have found Rothko, they did make me re-think how I make art. The whole trip was successful, and I think more classes should take trips such as this. The article reading was a really nice touch! Thanks JP.

Scenes from the Life of Saint Augustine, 1490
Master of Saint Augustine

Oh, yeah... and I did my first plank. hehe.

Academy exhibit

2011-11-06T17:25:00.001-08:00

The Academy dean curated a show throughout the building and I was honored to have my recent self portrait selected to be displayed on the 5th floor, alongside some uber talented students and alumn! :)

Class field trip to the Met!

2011-11-06T17:08:00.001-08:00

Wade Schumann, my professor for Composition & Design class, is a walking encyclopedia. So it was fascinating to listen to his tour of 17th century art through the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Not only does he know the facts (title, date, artist, location), he know the background story... The gossip of the characters depicted and the strange lives of the artists themselves. He is crazy smart, and highly recommended. But be prepared to be pushed. Slackers will not get by in his class.

Figurative artist on the scene

2011-10-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

I've been hearing a few discussions among students at school about contemporary figurative artists... particularly wanting to see more of them in gallery shows. Well, here you go folks.

Introducing Andrew Salgado, showing at Tache Gallery, through Nov 18.

Controversy at the Academy...

2011-10-18T06:31:00.000-07:00

Inglorious Nocturne, By Holly Ann Sailors
Click the link below to see the responses to this painting:

New York Academy of Art: A Teachable Moment

And here is the artist's statement regarding this piece:

I understand that this artwork is creating controversy and discussion within the school community. I am very aware of the taboo nature of this imagery and realize the potential for it to be perceived as offensive. This is not my intention.

In no way am I trying to perpetuate the ideas of this hateful community. Instead, I want to unveil a never-ending trend of hate, prejudice and disillusion that is present in our culture. In all of my work at this time I am interested in fully capturing the viewer's attention through beauty and seductive coloring that then forces them to witness horrific subject matter. Overall, I wish to bring awareness to current social issues dealing with racism, hate, and injustice.

This painting is fueled by an encounter with the Ku Klux Klan that I had as a child. As a 7 year old, seeing this event was life-changing and revealed to me the simultaneous connection of beauty (in this case the fire, the costumes, the ritual) with abject horror (the brutal treatment and murder of minorities). The controversial figures depicted in my painting are ghostly cowards disintegrating into the darkness presented through a palette of attraction. I am continuing a southern Gothic tradition that uses art to explore social issues and sheds light on the cultural failures of the American South.

- Holly Ann Sailors , MFA 2012

Neat!

2011-10-11T21:37:00.000-07:00

Bubblegum Syrup Sucker - Alexander Barton

So, Take Home a Nude (see previous post) is now live online, which means you can preview the art for auction and also bid! SEE HERE

Take Home a Nude

2011-10-02T19:17:00.000-07:00

For the art collectors out there...

It's a benefit! And it sounds awesome. Nude art rocks. More info/tickets here.

New York Academy of Art

2011-10-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

Here is an awesome vid that introduces what my grad program at the New York Academy of Art is all about.

First week of school!

2011-09-14T21:15:00.000-07:00

From the Jenny Saville show, currently on at Gagosian Gallery on the Upper East Side.

It happened so fast... I think I blacked out.

The TALENT around these here parts is overwhelming. It's more fun to be a medium fish in a pool of way bigger fish. There's more room to grow.

When we weren't in any of our 6 hour classes, we were attending workshops, listening to the weekly visiting artist lecture by the brilliant Jerry Kearns, and going to art openings including that of JENNY SAVILLE and our very own 2011 fellowship artists' "the Future Perfect."

All my professors rock, so far.

My drawing instructor, Steven Assael, blew me away with his drawing demo. Seriously, look him up.

My painting instructor, Jean-Pierre Roy is not only extremely talented, but is so nerdy-art smart that I need an encyclopedia/dictionary to understand his "small talk."

Wade Schuman is awesome and I have a feeling I'm going to take away the most from his classes.

John Zinnser is crazy smart and has no idea how entertaining he actually is.

Randy McIver is a hilarious/adorable character, and I'm looking forward to taking more classes with him.

Here are some other photos from this past week:
My future anatomy lessons.
1st painting homework from class. We will be doing a self-portrait with restricted colors every week til the end of the semester. Black and white.
My favorite piece from the fellow's show. By John O'Reilly
By the lovely Steven Assael, completed as a demo in the class.

There was so much to do that unfortunately, I didn't get to attend all events. Mostly because I needed to sleep, shower, eat, and occasionally do some homework. Even though I missed the openings, I will be visiting the Vince Desiderio show at Marlborough as well as the "Self Portrait as Monster truck" show with a ton of our alumni work. And of course, the Paint Works show with the incredible New York Academy of Art alumna, Alyssa Monks. SO MUCH TO DO!

The last portrait..

2011-08-10T20:08:00.000-07:00

...until school starts, anyway. I need to FOCUS, so I won't be doing these side projects any longer (unless homework assignments and/or free time allow for it). For those that don't know, I've been doing commissioned portraits for almost a year now. Who knew such an old tradition would become so trendy. It's fun, plus it gives me some pocket cash! :)

Open House: New York Academy of Art

2011-08-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

Come down to see all the amazing talent at my school! Save the date(s)...

The big TV, the big move... and the big bookshelf.

2011-07-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

How did we get our big (65 inch) television, queen size bed, & other personal items from Kansas to New York? We paid these guys to do it. U-Pack is similar to PODS, where they provide you with a large storage container and you fill it up. Then, they store it for you until you need it, and deliver to your new doorstep!

Although my heart lies in Brooklyn, it became very expensive in the 2 years I've been gone. So we crossed the border, into Queens. We looked at many apts, and finally decided on the neighborhood of Sunnyside. So far, so good. The rent is cheaper and the square footage is bigger. And, it's right off the 7 train.

Project 1: DIY Industrial bookshelf

I just told him what I wanted... and he built it!

The master plan:

the finished product!

Accepted and Approved: New York Academy of Art

2011-03-25T16:00:00.000-07:00

Once I was accepted to both the New York Academy of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, I started planning my visits to the schools. First up was NYAA. I contacted the Admissions office to find out when I could tour the school. They told me about an upcoming open house for prospective students that I could attend. It was only 2 weeks away! I had to buy a very last minute, VERY expensive ticket to New York. You see, there aren't that many flights coming out of ol' Wichita, Kansas. Luckily, I had a friend who let me crash at her place. I also kept weekly correspondence with the admissions director who's been very prompt (and kind) with answering my questions/concerns. The open house presentation was extremely informative and very honest. I got to walk around and see the entire school including all the studios and the students' work! The work was incredible. I felt like it was the kind of work I wanted to make. The first year studios are not huge, but since the first year will be a "boot camp", it should suffice. My tour guide was super friendly and answered all of my hundreds of questions. We began discussing how I found out about the school in the first place.

I lived in New York for 4 years and had never heard of it before this year. Or perhaps I wasn't looking for it, since I only started to research schools when I knew for sure when I wanted to enroll. I already had my top ranked schools picked out, based on reputation. But when I visited one of them, it wasn't what I had expected. So I began researching other avenues, like the CAA Directory, a guide to all visual arts grad programs, which I found out about through my undergrad academic advisor/art professor. Then I started going through my bookmarked favorites, some contemporary artists' work that I had saved over the years. When their work stood out to me, I looked up their bios on their websites. I noticed a trend: a lot of them had attended the New York Academy of Art. Alyssa Monks, Caitlin Hurd, Christian Johnson, just to name a few. Here's where I became a stalker :) I found out that a professor from my college graduated from NYAA. I contacted her via phone and asked about her experience with the school. She had all positive things to say and told me that she actually chose NYAA over Yale. She gave me the name of an alumna who's currently enrolled at the school. I contacted her via facebook and interviewed her as well. At this point, I was dumbfounded about how I couldn't have known about this marvelous little place. I read about the history, which gave them even more brownie points. Andy Warhol was a co-founder. Um, hellllo. This must be the art school society's best kept secret.

I guess I'll find out... because I'll be attending this fall! No need to visit any more schools. I found mine. :D

Decisions, Decisions

2011-03-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Art School or University?

Philadelphia or New York?

There are many things to consider when selecting grad schools. In my random google searches for answers, I stumbled upon TheGradCafe.com - a site for current and prospective graduate students. It's filled with forums on any subject imaginable. I found relevant arguments and conversations that were somewhat influential and helpful in choosing schools. My most visited discussion however, was the "Freak-Out Forum" where applicants list the schools to which they applied, update their status upon acceptance/rejection and state their thoughts and fears in between. Users have even introduced themselves and shared their personal websites, work and contact information.

Reading these posts, I quickly found out that I had applied to a considerably smaller number of schools than the average bear. At first I was nervous, since deadlines had passed, that I had made a mistake in being so selective. However, after further investigation, I learned that a lot of these students who applied to 10+ schools choose only the top ranked graduate MFA programs. While this is definitely a strategy of sorts, (one I admittedly considered at an earlier stage in the game) it's perhaps not so strategic to ONLY select the popular/reputable schools, and not try for some less-obscure-but-still-successful programs. This is not only beneficial to better your chances in securing a spot (as opposed to the highly competitive, 'almost impossible to get in' programs), but these schools tend to either have lower tuition, or they have more generosity with their scholarships.

Who did I end up selecting, you may ask? And why? After much research, facebook stalking of alumni, and contemplative thought:

1. New York Academy of Art - My top choice, a specialized studio school for figurative work.
2. Tyler School of Art at Temple University - It was my one top rank school. For kicks.
3. PennDesign at University of PA - Medium to High ranking, excellent program. Ivy League.
4. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art - Rich history, fun facts (Alex Kanevsky teaches there) and a studio based school.

The only 2 schools I regret not applying to are University of Washington, Seattle. Because of Seattle. And Yale. Just because.

I was accepted to both NYAA and PAFA, both with a little scholarship $$, which is fantastic.

Now I need to plan the visits to each school to make my final decision. More on that to come.

Art School

2011-03-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

I've wanted to get an MFA for a long time now. But sitting down, doing the research and actually applying is a full time job in itself. I learned so much during the process, I thought I'd share it with other potential art schools applicants of the future. This is list of Beginner's Tips & Dos/Don'ts for applying to graduate school for art:

- Do the research. Get yourself The CAA Directory to Visual Arts Grad Schools.

- Don't rely fully on rankings. They are helpful, but make sure you read the list all the way to the end. There are some fantastic grad programs out there that may be a perfect fit for you, but aren't that high on the ranking list.

- START EARLY. Most MFA programs begin in fall only. Most application deadlines are in early January-February. Your previous summer and fall need to be dedicated to gathering your application materials.

- Form a list. Excel works wonders. Make a table with the schools you're interested in applying, and their deadlines, program details, pros & cons, and required application materials.

- Contact your references. Most of them are artists and most of them are busy. Be sure to give them enough time to write you an adequate recommendation letter. Note: Some schools require you to print out a waiver form, send it to the persons who will be writing your recommendation letter, and then seal them both in an envelope.

- Read application requirements by each school VERY CAREFULLY. They all have specific and unique directions, like the order in which they want your portfolio to be presented.

- Visit the schools. Get a tour. Meet some current students. Ask questions. This can really change your mind about a school.

- Get a good camera. You want the best photos possible when presenting your portfolio.

- Talk to people. Social networking sites like Facebook make it very easy to find alumni from schools. Most of them are very willing to talk about their experience. And get back into contact with those undergrad professors. They know lots.

- Proofread. Get a friend to proofread your statement essay. There's nothing more embarrassing than a simple grammatical error.

Hope this helps!

New Directions

2011-03-19T18:28:00.000-07:00

It's been a while, let's play catch up.

1. I got a new job. Then I got promoted.

2. I had an art show. I sold some stuff and got some commissions.

3. I backpacked India.

4. I applied to grad school.

5. I got in.

more on that to come.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-15T20:10:00.000-08:00

The boy had to go of the country for business over Valentine's Day, and we agreed to not spend money since we are on the pay-off-your-debt plan, but that didn't stop him from being incredibly sweet. He planted over 30 Valentine's cards (like those made for school children) all over the house for me to find while he was away! It's been so much fun. So far, my favorite hiding places are in the scanner, under the garbage can, inside an old pair of shoes, and in the "crisper" drawer of the fridge. He thought he had won best gift idea this year... that is, until he received this in his email.

Christmas in In-dee-ah

2011-01-15T11:05:00.000-08:00

When the boy and I first met, and found out that we shared the same intense desire to visit India, we promised to make the trek together. This trip would be the most advanced for both of us. The preparation was almost as exhausting as the trip itself. We had to get several vaccinations, create travel-safety and medical kits, and purchase appropriate clothing. Then we had to figure out how to fit it all comfortably in a backpack, as that's all we took. The ever-prepared "M" created an immaculately detailed excel spreadsheet of our travel plans including hotel addresses, phone numbers, dates/times, etc. Our hotspots included Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, Sawai Modpuhr, Mumbai, and Kerala. It was difficult at times, scary at one point, but always ...amazing.

Portfolio Days

2010-11-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

Graduate Portfolio Days is an event where several schools from all over the country come together and hold a large (free) portfolio review for prospective graduate art students. It's held 3 times a year in different major cities. This past November it was held in Chicago, and hosted by The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

I got downtown about 15 minutes prior to start time to find a line of artists going around the block. Hundreds of people were standing, waiting, with their huge portfolios. Once inside, there were booths and tables for each school, but only 2 or 3 spokespeople at each one. This created long lines and some schools didn't even get through their entire line before it closed (4 hours later). I sat down with Parsons, University of the Arts, SAIC, MICA and Montclair University. I waited in a really long line for Cal Arts and ended up missing it because we ran out of time. I had some great feedback on my work and great tips on how to better present my pieces when applying.

I have a friend living in Chicago currently, and getting his MFA in painting from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. SAIC is ranked among the top 3 grad schools for fine arts/painting. I was interested in possibly applying to the school in the future, but curious to learn more about the program. My friend let me crash at his place and then was kind enough to show me around the school (and the amazing view of the city from the critique room). Luckily, there was an "MFA Open Studios" also being held that weekend. This is where you get to walk through all the students' studios, viewing their work. Afterwards, I got to hang out with the entire painting department as we had dinner and drinks downtown. I asked their opinions about the school and for advice in applying.

I'm very glad I visited, because after seeing the work, and meeting the students, I decided not to apply. This school has one of the best reputations, but it was not a good fit for me for a few reasons:

1. It is one of the most expensive programs out there. And I'm frugal.

2. Chicago is really, REALLY cold. Location is a huge factor for me. I like 4 seasons, but that is just brutal.

3. The work is HIGHLY conceptual. These kids are smart, that's for sure, but I'd be the odd man out if I'm the only one who's actually drawing.

4. The program is self directed. There are weekly critiques, but I need guidance. I'm just not that disciplined.

I don't discourage anyone from applying or attending SAIC. You could probably have any job you wanted after graduating. I just encourage visiting schools before including it in your 'desirable' list.

Fragments Art Exhibit

2010-11-03T18:14:00.000-07:00

So I had an art show in the Delano district of Wichita. I paired up with a film photographer for the Final Friday opening reception. I had a few sales and acquired a long list of commissions... Success!

...aaaand we're back.

2010-07-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

The boy and I decided to take a road trip through the west for the 4th of July holiday. We started in Spokane, Washington, drove through Idaho, stopped at some local breweries along the way, and ended up in Glacier National Park, Montana, where we did some hiking. I LOVE the scenery. It's definitely a contender for possible future living. Here are some highlights:

toodles

2010-03-19T13:11:00.000-07:00

i will be taking a break from blogging for a while.

stay tuned.

-a

allow me to clarify...

2009-12-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

i've been getting shocked responses to my last post.

1 regarding me residing in wichita "temporarily."

and

2 a full time job??

let me explain.

yes, i quit the gap in order to work comfortably full time at an offset printing company downtown. i'm working in the art dept in graphic design/prepress production. i basically re-organize messy documents and make the files acceptable to fit our printing process standards. and sometimes i get to design stuff from scratch. and my bosses and co-workers are the sweetest people.

about re-location: there aren't any plans yet, so don't get your panties in a bunch. but i originally moved here with the intention of only staying a year or so. i adapt well to anywhere, but this place is not forever for me. the sole purpose of coming here was not to settle down. it was to A. follow my heart, to michael B. live in a cheaper place C. it's risky, it's funny, and why the hell not. it's kansas! so there are a few potential cities on the list for the future, but my next move will most likely be for grad school. (there have been hypothetical conversations about chicago) at least thats the plan for now. again, this is coming from a girl who said she'd never leave new york. so who knows where the wind will blow me next. but rest assure, it won't be until after our lease is up in august.

the holidays

2009-12-18T12:16:00.000-08:00

sorry i've been sucking lately. at blogging, that is. the holidays get me in a proscratinating, stay in and watch movies, eat lots of junk kind of phase. it shall pass, i assure you. lately we've been steadily following the dexter series. last night we saw the finale and HOLY _____. i've never been that surprised by a televsion show ever. it was excellent because it was exciting and unpredictable. (seriously, someone shouldve videotaped me watching the ending) but at the same time, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. it's too f-cked up. jerks.

i'm almost done with mxas gifts, hooray! shopping around these here parts is not fun. in fact, im sure its pretty close to what hell is like. traffic is insanity. people can't drive. there's no sense of urgency. it makes me want to hibernate.

as for santa, so far i've made an amazon wishlist. but here are some random items i've been loving on lately.

misma on etsy

bead in babe in etsy

in other news, i've quit the GAP. now that i'm full time at my day job, i'd like to have a life. it was fun while it lasted. but i can't be bothered with retail.

i have also cut back on blogging lately because i mostly feel like writing when i'm "traveling". and since this is becoming my "home" (temporary, but still) it feels like i'm sharing normal everyday life instead of stories of foriegnness. i'm not going to completely close the blog. but i will most likely be writing a lot less frequently than i'm used to.

i wish everyone a merry christmas and happy, safe and economically stimulated new year!

dolci & joes

2009-12-06T16:03:00.000-08:00

sorry i havent posted in a while... you know how the holidays are. but this post is going to be more for the wichita locals then for my faraway friends.

i have complained before about the quality of food in this town. i just want something different. well, dolci & joe's just recently opened in my neighborhood. michael and i tried it for lunch and it was so good i had to go back. well, i was driving around looking for any open establishment on saturday night around 845 pm (yes, everything here closes at 8, its dispicable) and i saw the lights still on in dolci & joes. i walked in at about 5 til 9 and they were just about to close, but the owner let me order anyway. i got to talk him up a bit and he's not only super-nice, but also has originality in his menu. they make everything fresh, all the dressings and sauces are house made, including the ketchup. not only do they serve sweet potato fries, but you get the choice of having them sweet or salty. yum! they have old-fashioned hand mixed sodas. their portions are enormous AND it's totally affordable (all burgers and sandwiches are $6.99)

if you want a recommendation: sophia's sophisticated chicken sandwich and salty sweet potato fries.

if i had to choose a con, the only thing this place needs a little interior decorating help.

i also hear that starting next month, they will have a working drive thru and will be adding coffee to their menu.

a voodoo halloween

2009-11-18T18:54:00.001-08:00

i told michael when we first met that i had never been to new orleans but i had always wanted to visit. when he found out that one of my favorite bands, the black keys, would be playing the in the voodoo music festival at new orleans for halloween... he bought us tickets for my birthday! once we moved to wichita, we made friends with a couple (the homeowners of the article from previous post) who spent their honeymoon in new orleans during the voodoo music festival a few years back. they said it was a blast and decided to go again and join us on our vacation!

we arrived on that thursday evening, and the weather was warm! booked a hotel right on bourbon street. our first night there, michael made us all try raw oysters. i thought i would hate it, but they were tasty! we sampled some bars, heard some blues, and after a sufficient amount of drinks we headed home to rest up for our big weekend.

friday started the music festival. it was so warm outside we had to go shopping to buy skirts and lesser forms of clothing. we changed and headed out to see the black keys, my main attraction. about 30 seconds before they hit the stage, it started POURING RAIN! not to worry, we packed ponchos. and they put on the most kick ass set anyway! i sooooo love them! once we were soaked and then freezing cold, we watched some more bands while waiting for the headliner of the evening, eminem. the people in this crowd did not obtain proper concert etiquette. there was a lot of pushing, trying to cut ahead, and sitting on the shoulders of your friends so NOBODY CAN SEE BEHIND YOU. that was my limit. i pulled a little amanda-tude and shortly thereafter, things were settled. eminem, was, not the greatest live performer. his songs are good, so it can confuse the average concert goer. i caught him LIP-SYNCHING. bastard. it was still mildly entertaining. afterwards we met up with one of michael's friends who's living there and headed out for drinks. after the long day of standing, walking in mud, jumping around at a concert, getting rained on, it can be tiresome. but i wasn't about to be the party-pooper. our friends couldnt even last past 1 am. because we were accompanied by a local, we got to see some off the path bars. we stumbled upon the oldest standing bar in america. there was an elderly pianist hippy-lady taking requests from the 60-70s eras. we at around her and sang along. awesome. we sampled some other bars and ended up finally going home at the close of business. 530 am. yeah.

next day: halloween! our friends went as billy ray and miley cyrus. creepy, yet hilarious. michael and i went as the swine flu. and i have to admit, we were definitely a crowd favorite!

we partied our butts off at the concert all day and got to see KISS! then we went back to bourbon street. it was packed. i don't think i've ever seen so many people in one place before. halloween is the second highest grossing day for the city of new orleans. luckily, we knew where to go to avoid the tourists. we had a keg-out-of-van party on frenchman street. make that 3 kegs-out-of-a-van. there was dancing in the streets.. and even a taco truck! superfun. superdrunk.

the next day was dedicated to recovery. a nice walk through the french quarter (i am in love with the little patios and gardens and the buildings and the windows and the doorways...). then a nap before our final concert day. then we saw the last headliner, the flaming lips. i have to say they gave the most visually appealing show i've ever seen. kiss had pyrotechnics. but flaming lips had human sized balloons. and lots of pretty colors. apparently they recruited audience members to go on stage dressed in bunny suits. one fanatic lady got so excited she undressed completely and ran around stage nude and even humped the lead singer during his performance! we ended our evening with a perfect dinner at a quaint restaurant.

i heart new orleans.

writing debut

2009-11-17T18:43:00.000-08:00

so the lady of a california girl in kansas also happens to be the editor-in-chief of [verb]ICT, a blog/online magazine all about wichita. she stumbled upon my blog one day and asked me to write an article. i ended up doing a house tour: writing about and photographing my friend's house. it ended up making the front page headline. check it out!

a short-lived case of the blues

2009-11-10T08:50:00.000-08:00

image from homesick clothing

michael was away again this past weekend in virginia. although i miss him, i do value alone time. depending on my mood, i can be productive without distraction, or quite the opposite, i can vegetate without feeling guilty. luckily, i got to spend some time with my new found girlfriend, amanda. i got to telling her about me, before meeting michael. you now how girls do,.. sharing old photos, funny stories, etc. during that evening i realized that nobody here knows me prior to my romance with michael. kind of cool if you want to change identities i guess. but it was a small realization that kind of got me bummed for about a 24 hour period. it was almost as if it hadn't hit me until this day: i changed my life ...and my lifestyle. in efforts to comfort me, M asked me to list the things i miss the most. but it's not so black and white. i could individually select 'things' but i don't have that kind of time. if i summed it all up.. i miss the "state of mind." this is nothing against wichita. i like it here. and i think i've adjusted well. i think it takes time to nest into a new place you want to call 'home." just a small case of the blues in facing reality. nothing a little upbeat hipster single can't cure.

blog love

2009-11-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

photo found on dudecraft

the blogger of "two is a pair" recently received a well deserved blog award. in order to accept it, she must pass the award onto 15 of her newly founded blogs, where she so kindly included mine! (thank you so much!) so in order to keep it going, im going to list my most visited blogs. i award:

adventures in wheelville - this little spitfire was my old roomie in brooklyn. she went to slovenia, fell in love, and then picked up and moved there!

the pioneer woman cooks - gotta love these tasty recipes! i just made her pumpkin cookies last night!

women painting women - paintings of women, by women. maybe someday one of my pieces will make the list.

the anchor and the bird - one of my besties from back home in ny. this lovely lady is so complex, she needs 2 identities.

this is that - this is my daily dose of creative imagery. new, weird, neat, stuff.

travel. experience. live. -this is written by the man i crossed states for. somewhat inspired by my spain blog "please don't tell my landlord", he began documenting his numerous travels while residing in france. even though he's home now and hasn't written in months, his stories are worth the visit. and his videos are more than entertaining, including footage from running with the bulls, a hang-gliding adventure in switzerland, and our romance in toulouse (equipped with a bee attack!).

the aesthetist - a copywriter who keeps a pretty blog of pictures only.

douglas and main - named after a central intersection in wichita, kansas, this blog is a promotional avenue for other wichita related blogs. and "clicking heels" made the list!!

i heart photograph - interesting imagery

ace to ace - another blog from my fabulous old roomie. shared with her brother, she updates from slovenia, and he writes from hong kong. if you want to hear underground funk/soul/hip-hop or want to find out about a musician waaaay before they make it big, check here.

new art - where i get my daily art fix.

aesthetic outburst - i like her little finds.

le love - ALL THINGS LOVE.

greenpointers - this is how i keep up to date with what's going on in my old 'hood.

one d at a time - tracie egan is my favorite online personality. my second favorite is her partner in crime, rich. together they make up the genius that is pot psychology. and her personal blog can get very,... well... personal.

---hope you enjoy!!---

catching up: part 2

2009-10-27T20:35:00.001-07:00

the midwest beerfest
--------------------

this is an activity which M signed us both up for. not to attend the event, but to volunteer for it. he told me of fun times past and got me excited to join him this year. that was about a week before he got called into south africa for work. me, not knowing anyone that would be there, or what would be going on, decided to go on and do it alone anyway. i was set up with m's co-worker and we went to it. it was held in an arena where beer companies set up booths and give away tastings of beer. you pay $25 to get in (free for volunteers) and it's all you can drink. all we did we pour beers for the public, while taking a few back ourselves. people line up at the doors hours before they open. i saw homemade pretzel necklaces, and blow up dolphins. the booth i happened to be helping had a cardboard cut-out of a promotional model. a large number of drunks were making bets on whether i was actually the model on the ad. i'm pretty sure she was mexican, but that didn't stop me from embellishing. i even took pictures with these people and the cut-out model, which i told them was me.

focus group: wichita
--------------------

through a random string of people (mostly associated with ROK ICT, a site about and promoting the culture in wichita), i was connected to someone who invited me to participate in a focus group about the city of wichita. i attended, not expecting much. it ended up being rather interesting, comparing a midwest city like wichita to the bigger, coastal ones. i gladly gave my opinions on what would make this city better... and there seemed to be two big topics that everyone agreed on: better public transportation and late night food joints. in this 2 hour long discussion, i happened to connect with a few of the other voices in the group. 1 girl found out i was keeping this documentary-style blog and was kind enough to introduce me to other awesome blogs including "a california girl in kansas".. a story of a girl who moved here from cali for her boyfriend (sound familiar?) another girl from the group even created an entire list of must-tries in wichita for me. it consisted of bars, restaurants, shopping, etc. can't wait to try them out and rate accordingly.

shout out

2009-10-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

i started my job at the GAP this week, hooray! just tonight i met a co-worker and was telling her my story. when i said i was from new york, her ears perked. not in the usual, glamor-curious way, like when i told my employer and he said "so did you live in a skyscraper like seinfeld?" it was more like a familiarity response. her face lit up and she squealed, "WHAT PART?"... i didn't even finish saying "brookl..." before she blurted "i'm from queens!" and with the sweetest demeanor and friendliest of smiles she continued "...and i hate brooklyn." at which point i replied "ha, i hate queens." we went on to share life stories and she helped me pick out a pair of jeans after work. nice girl.

i'm slowly gathering a list of things i miss most about brooklyn. i'm adapting here just fine, but some things just can't be substituted:

-bagels. fresh, from the corner, new york bagels. europe could also take a lesson.

-bodegas. god bless the "god bless" deli on manhattan ave. for staying open 24 hours and having cheese fries.

- creme fraiche. ok, i know it's french, however, it was always conveniently located across the street from my apt back home, and i CANNOT find it ANYWHERE in wichita. not dillon's grocer, not target, not walmart, not anywhere.

-people watching. i mean, you could do that anywhere but it's most fun in mccarren park.

this is, in no way, me complaining about my surroundings. just noting differences. except for the bagels. they do suck.

catching up: part 1

2009-10-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

there have been a few events where i delayed blogging due to technological difficulties or just plain procrastination. i happy to announce that i'm back on track.

hamilton, kansas BBQ extravaganza
---------------------------------
a while back, michael's family threw a big bbq in celebration of his dad's birthday/michael's return home from a year abroad. if you remember, this place was where michael grew up, a town of 300. not sure if i ever mentioned, but his high school graduating class had 4 students. 4! he and 3 others. this place consists of grass, dirt road, and farm animals. in other words, i was out of my element. but hey, i can mingle with the locals.

we played games from our childhood,... like flip cup.

and ate lots of good, home cooked, country food

and michael entertained family and guests with stories from europe.

NEXT:
road trip/concert: tulsa
-----------------------------------------------
michael and i took a road trip to tulsa, oklahoma to see the decemberists in concert. they've added a few new females to the show, which was GENIUS. (especially that of becky stark). the concert was a fantastical performance of their latest album, from start to finish. following a short break, they then continued with their older hit songs. and the finale was a cover of heart's "crazy on you." AWESOME.

out and about

2009-10-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

oh yeah, baby. before michael's departure, we had a weekend breakfast get-together with some of his extended family. and i got my golden corral cherry popped. for those, like me, who had never even seen a golden corral before... it's a really, really big all-you-can-eat buffet. the rolls are made with buttery awesomeness, the variety of meals is endless, the general consumer is more than averagely overweight usually with 4+ children (who, might i add, do NOT obtain table manners), and the dining experience will unclog your pipes pretty fast, if you know what i mean. and the "ice cream" is fantastic.
--
in other news, i had my first real night out in the bars of wichita. i met up with my new girlfriend and her posse in a bar that looked like it came from brooklyn. kids with tattoos wearing plaid, pool tables, pbr. i will most likely be going back there. after a few drinks, she then wanted to take me to the other "hipster bar". haha, there's only 2! maybe 3. it's endearing. there we found more pool tables, more customers, and an ipod playlist that consisted of music from popular indie films. then, out of nowhere, the waitress brings me a glowy green type drink called "martian piss". it was supposed to be a shot, but looked more like a double or triple. she said it was from a guy at the end of the bar, and that he insisted we all take the shot together since he bought the whole staff one as well. i was so flattered! i chatted him up for a bit, before dropping the "i moved here for my boyfriend" story.
--
tomorrow i am going to volunteer at "the midwest beerfest". woo-hoo! that story to come...

alll byyy myyy sellllf

2009-10-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

michael took a business trip to south africa for 11 days. so im left here. with the cat. and continuing the job search. i DID pick up a very part time job at the GAP doing brand/visual merchandising (translation: windows and mannequins). i get to work with my new girlfriend,...amanda! there are 4 of us amandas there. i just can't get away from them. :)

other than that, i've been dealing with the woes of the newly rented house. you see, no one has occupied this house for about 4 years. everything is new.. carpet, walls, kitchen, garage door, etc. however, we did not anticipate other glitches such as a gas leak or until recently-a sewage back-up. that's right. i had poop in my basement. poopy water to be exact. and the smell carries. we had a plumber work on it for about 4.5 hours before he could clear it. he said tree roots were the cause of the blockage... a common problem in residencies with long periods of vacancy.

so far, this week has been pretty shitty. pun intended. but that's until i found ....SAM'S CLUB. my mom got me on her membership and now i have 38 rolls of toilet paper in my bathroom closet. and a 3 gallon jug of OJ in my fridge. i thought walmart was the extent of sam walton's genius. apparently i've been living under a rock. or in a big city.

neat finds

2009-10-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

i found these precious gems at a thift store for .... 4 bucks!!

AND in my size, i couldn't NOT buy them.

unemployed adventures

2009-10-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

while im waiting on my boyfriend to upload photos from his camera from our bbq in hamilton, kansas... i will tell you about other recent events, like the walnut valley (bluegrass) music festival. held in winfield, kansas it attracts hippies and groupies worldwide. i hear the die-harders start camping a week ahead of time to get a good spot. national and international contests are held including flat picking, banjo, mandolin... and, the hammer dulcimer. for those that aren't in the know, let me enlighten you. a stringed instrument that is operated by delicate "hammering", the sound is heavenly and was a precursor to the piano. often in the night on a dirt road near the campsites, you can find random hammer dulcimer-ists freestyling with random musicians and being surrounded by a small audience. listen:
other coolness includes the awesome food. biscuits and gravy, funnel cakes, turkey legs, roasted corn, the biggest baked potatoes i've ever seen. though you have to be careful, sometime they rip you off and give you a sprite with grenadine instead of fresh cherry limeade (i had a mini-tantrum). and we fit right in with the hippies with michael wearing my old mariah carey tee shirt. see that? that's our holiday inn size tent. equipped with a built in, remote controlled light and an air mattress.

we also had the privilege of visiting the kansas state fair, held out in the middle of nowhere. the petting zoo was fun. the food was great (deep fried oreos and dippin dots). the market was filled with yummy local jam, honey and salsa vendors. but i had the unfortunate and accidental experience of watching a cow get inseminated. it almost made me cry. it was basically held down in a steel cage and fisted. another first for me was getting to see an auction. it was a contest and it just so happens michael knew one of the contestants. she was the only girl and ended up placing second! here's a sample of what was going on:

PS: sorry it's been so long since i've written, but the persistent requests really are encouraging. so thanks!

photo upload

2009-09-22T20:24:00.000-07:00

i've been doing lots of country-like activities for the past few weeks - a pork roast bbq in hamilton, the kansas state fair and the national bluegrass music festival. other than that, i've been doing the same routine: job searching, teaching catan to kansans, decorating and playing house. here are some random photos from the past weeks events.
our living room is starting to come together

corn contest. blue ribbon is first prize.

little chickies

there was a petting zoo.

and this is the mall :)

smoker. where dinner comes from.

THIS is hamilton, kansas. population 300. home of the schlotterbecks.

off subject

2009-09-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

those of you who have read my spain blog know about Barton Brooks and his organization Global Colors. Guerilla Aid was the mission he was on to spend 52 weeks around the world volunteering and helping people in need. earlier this year, his journey was cut short by a terrible motorcycle accident in Uganda. he is still in recovery.

on top of that, he's super nice and has helped me with all my questions about volunteering.

he's been nominated for GQ's Better Men Better World Award. The winner gets $10K to donate to their charity. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE vote for him: http://thegentlemensfund.com/final_vote.asp

you can read about his work and his accident here: http://www.guerrillaaid.com/

thank you in advance.

nesting. and painting.

2009-09-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

we've been doing nothing but trying to get our house in order. and after a few low blows... its finally starting to come around. i found out there hadn't been residents living in this place for about 4 years. which explained why the shower didnt work at first. and why there are probably 400 spider nests in the basement. remember arachnophobia? thats my reality. and the crickets.... they sing all the damn time. especially when they mate. if i dont find a job soon, i might have to call discovery channel and see if they'd be interested in cricket porn. until then, i'll be decorating.

well, michael and i have slightly different tastes when it comes to home decor. he prefers brand new furniture and very dark (if not black) wood. i prefer worn in and natural looking wood. i don't mind new. but i do like the chase of finding a unique gem and saving a buck at the same time. i'm currently trying to marry our preferences into a modern mix n match type deal. i will admit it's been a challenge trying to get my bohemian color palette to go with michael's 56" television and complete surround sound system. i;ve been trying to teach him the art of budget shopping after we spent a ridiculous amount of money on a brand new bed, tv stand and dining table with chairs. i usually do flea markets... but they seem to be lacking around these parts. HOWEVER. they have something way cooler: estate sales. this is news to me. its where the home owner dies (usually of old age) and they need to have their home and all items inside sold. you're basically going shopping out of a dead person's home... and the stuff is right where they left it. (me and my morbid fascination were so giddy to find this out).. so if you want dishes.. go look in the kitchen. if you want tools, go in the basement. old people have the coolest stuff. this is how i found my lovely mid century modern chartreuse sofa sleeper couch. go ahead, oogle over it. oh, AND it only cost me $55. see the cute coffee table from the same era? 10 bucks at a garage sale. mm hmm.

we are slowly making this house a home, and when we get to a good place i will post more pics. for now, i must keep job searching and stalking ebay. this weekend michael's parents are throwing a huge pig feast bbq party in hamilton, kansas. remember.... me shooting the gun?... that's the REAL kansas. the one in the middle of nowhere. it should be fun, check soon for updates.

a few glitches to start off with.

2009-09-04T18:05:00.000-07:00

so far, since moving into our new place:

we've had a gas leak.

no hot water.

no internet (until now)

our truck broke down.

and there are crickets living in my basement.

getting acquainted

2009-09-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

in between moving from a 3rd story loft (stairs only), to buying furniture, to trying to get the new place in order... michael initiated me into the midwest and took me to "Rodeo Bar," a huge country club... and i don't mean golf.

i don't think i've ever seen so many pickup trucks and cowboy hats. it was fun line dancing, two-stepping, and people watching. however, i wasn't so amused by the animal torture they call bull riding. this is where they hold a bull in captivity and right before they release him, a knot will be tied with rope around his testicles and yanked, causing him to "buck." not cool.

i'm starting to note differences in this city, the culture, etc.

-i've already previously stated, but will repeat, the portions are doubled. not only that, but they also have meal deals like $3.79 all you can taco mondays.

- everyone says "hi".... EVERYONE. i pumped gas at 730am today.... the guy at the next pump jumped between the pillars to say 'good morning!"... i was grocery shopping yesterday,.. every employee i saw greeted me. cashiers even talk to you.

- air conditioning is way too cold. and even on cooler days, they have it blasting!

-everything is this city is a 12 minute drive.

hopefully soon i can post some pics of the new (rented, not purchased) house... i want to get settled and decorate first. we get our furniture this week. stay tuned.

arrival

2009-08-26T10:01:00.001-07:00

we stuffed a dodge journey full with my things and we drove for what seemed like forever. we took turns sleeping and driving since we didnt plan to stop overnight. we left at 930am and arrived at 2am.

since then i've been searching for jobs like i'm right out of college again. that's why i haven't written much. plus, i can't post pics until my computer is up and running. that won't be for a few more days. until then, i'll continue doing nothing except applying for jobs and sampling the kansas fare.

first notable difference so far: the food portions are doubled in size. even the hot dogs are twice the girth. we went to a cafe and order the "half sandwich and bowl of soup" deal....and i got 2 large halves. ? we couldve shared and still had leftovers. THEN he took me to the movies. we were escorted onto the balcony where we found plush loveseats and individual tables with full menus for bar and restaurant. a red curtain drooped over the screening area. there was even a mini flashlight to read in the dark, a button to call the waiter, and seat warmers! no wonder the tickets were $18 each.

we also found a house. :) we sign today. updates to come.

i (will always) <3 new york

2009-08-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

leaving new york is something i could never have envisioned for myself. it wasn't an easy decision. i had a bittersweet departure. i wasn't finished with it yet. but i don't think anyone can ever be "through with it." unless your bank account tells you different.

I got a lot of flak for choosing such an extreme change. some of it lighthearted, some of it not. and i enjoy a healthy dose of criticism.

"Dorothy, where's Toto?"

"Kansas!?,.. what are you gonna do there? Milk cows?"

i do realize i'm taking a big chance here. especially on paper - no job lined up. only spent 18 days with this guy. total culture change. away from everything i know. - but the risk only adds to the fun. i generally like to avoid comfort zones. and this might be my biggest challenge yet. i'm excited to be out of my element and experience something new. i loved my life as it was. but i think it's important to be open for change. and have the ability to adapt.

tomorrow michael and i will drive 17 hours straight to wichita.

trial run

2009-07-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

We decided to do a meet the parents/see where we come from, kind of visit. It started with a float trip in Noel, Missouri. For those not in the know, a float trip consists of camping, followed by a bus trip about 8 miles up the river, where you and your friends then float in a raft all the way back down to your campsite, all while drinking in the sun. I have, in the past, rafted down a river before, but I've never experienced anything like this. Superfun for everyone. I even got peer-pressured into jumping off a bridge into the water. We had a pretty awesome group of people, and they were very welcoming to their east coast newcomer. Overall, the only damage done was a few cases of uneven sunburning.

The drive home consisted of 2 stops to meet the family. First, with a stop in Pittsburg, Kansas to see the sister plus babies. And then onto Hamilton, Kansas to see his hometown and have dinner with mom & dad. I will admit I had a bit of culture shock upon arrival. It's basically a whole lot of nothing. He drove me around in his pickup truck and showed me the town. Very green. Very flat. Very surprising that this person I've grown to know could come from such place. He taught me how to shoot a rifle and shotgun. See for yourself. Prepare to laugh at my expense.

So, his parents are about the cutest people in all of ever. So hospitable, his mother had all my favorite beverages ready for me. We had a feast with steak, and she even spared using the black pepper! Later on, as we were relaxing, he was about due for a prank. He handed me a root from a plant he dug out of the ground earlier in the fields. He told me to chew on it. I was reluctant, at first... but then he did it, so I trusted it was okay. Dummy. Nothing happened for the first few minutes... so I chewed harder. I'm waiting, wondering... then BOOM- mouth completely numb. Tongue limp. Pins and needles all over. The worst taste ever. Forcing you to salivate, and subsequently spit. The name is snake root. Not recommended.

When we returned to Wichita it was a good 110 degrees. With very, very high humidity. I think the ozone layer is thinner there. It looks like any regular suburban town... wide streets, shopping malls, walmart. We spent most of our time house/apartment shopping... but we did at least go out for lunch a couple times, and dinner. Both of which were very good, and very cheap. They like their burgers big and greasy. This is especially apparent at "Bomber Burger"... a little hole in wall, semi-sketchy, Steeler joint. That's right... Steeler fans in Kansas.

Next was onto my hometown, Pittsburgh, PA. We started with a nice evening out with my dad and stepmom. The next day, my mother had a large portion of our family over for a get together. Michael had no idea what he was in for. Those that know us, know that we aren't very traditional, but I think he handled it well. He fit right in while we told politically incorrect and what some would consider offensive, jokes. My mom even got him initiated with a Hines Ward Steeler Jersey! During free time, I showed him downtown, with a view from Mt. Washington. And then onto the next: road trip to Erie, PA.

We stayed with my girlfriend Amanda in her cottage on the Lake. We made camp food and taught Michael the awesomeness that is Settlers of Catan. Sailing on Lake Erie followed with me getting seasick and having a sunburnt nose. Then switched to our friend/captain Nagle's cottage, played with fireworks, and ate the famous local "Smith's" hot dogs. We then sped home in order to just make it to the airport in time to fly back to New York. 3 hours later, Michael was on his way back to France.

We are now up to 16 days total together.

toulouse myself in wichita

2009-06-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

Before my temporary move to Spain in January, I had an evening out with the fam to say bye. My brother feared that I would not ever come back from Europe, and he was not inaccurate in those worries. So, he gave me a gift to depart with: a picture of the two of us in a frame that was inscribed with "There's no place like home." Sweet, right? Little did he know what kind of foreshadowing had taken place.

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Here is a description of the relationship between non-sense and enlightened intuition from Borges’s lecture on Buddhism:

We always think in terms of subject-object, cause-effect, logic-illogic, a thing and its opposite. We must go beyond these categories. According to the Zen masters, to reach truth through sudden intuition requires an illogical answer. The neophyte asks the teacher, “What is the Buddha?” The teacher answers: “The cypress is the orchard.” An answer which is completely illogical but which may awaken the truth. The neophyte asks why Bodhidharma [the monk] came from the West. The teacher replies: “Three pounds of linen.”

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I'll spare you the gushy details. The short story goes something like this:

I was living in Madrid, Spain. While on vacation in Lisbon, Portugal, I met a boy in a tram. He's from Kansas, but was living in Toulouse, France at the time. We kept in touch. Silly things happened. I'm moving to Kansas.

I think it should also be said- to this day, we've only seen each other 6 days in person. Thank God for webcam.

I never thought I'd leave New York. This is the story of a big city girl gone midwest.