Studio8 - Uniting the Arts

Master (his, not mine) Empty Mind told me that somewhere here Doreen had asked for input about the classics (art) to use as banners.

Couldn't find it but here are my requests:

Calder and Chihuly, either/or.

I guess we can go beyond Paint for Art, can we not? Being an Artisan myself and using wire and/or glass, these two are on my Hero list.

http://www.chihuly.com/
http://www.calder.org/

Thanks for asking Dor!

Sorry, SooZ... guess I should have posted it at the top of the forums in Feedback but it was just an idea I had one day while I happened to be posting in my artlog forum so I posted it there.

Thanks for the references! Yes, of course we can go beyond paint! Art covers many media!

Adding these to the list as I continue to make banners by artists who are more well known than those of us at Studio Eight. I'd never heard of either of these artists. I'm looking at the sites. Wonderful! Thanks.

(That said, I'd also like to make some banners from your jewelry.... so if you have any reasonably high resolution images, meaning they'd have to be as wide as the banner up top... please email them to me)

Thanks Dor, both of those artists are very well known and masters of their genre.

Plus, Chihuly collected antique Pendleton and other trade blankets (to the Native Americans) and I saw that collection when it was here at the EP Art Museum. Some of them are really ancient and the colors were still bright and amazing. (Got in trouble because I was inspecting the weaves so closely, didn't touch, but they thought I was about to!!!) The exhibition included huge glass vases from his factory that had the blankets as inspiration. Beautiful!

Calder was the master of the original mobile and his works are very well known. He also created an entire circus out of wire that actually had working parts! As far as wirework goes, he had and has no peer. Ask the Wireman about him, he knows.

May I also suggest some women artists. The first in my mind is Georgia O'Keeffe and Frida Kalho, also hero's of mine.

Georgia really bucked the art world at the time, showing her independence from the "Men in Art Only" norm and of course, she loved the Land of Enchantment as much or more than I. We both collect the flotsam of Nature; bones, rocks and feathers but she could paint them!!! And her flowers are sensual and amazing too. When I visited her museum in Santa Fe, I was astounded at how tiny some of her flower painting were as they feel so big when you see them in print. Her skies and skulls with the desert backgrounds are unsurpassed.

Frida, of course, has finally received the accolades she so richly deserved with the publication of her diaries and the film. But I was a fan long before that and understood how difficult it could be to stand beside and be mated to such a talented and larger than life man-artist. We have much in common (besides that) including, but not limited to a painful existence, hers much more so than mine, but she never lost her zest or love of LIFE!

As for the jewelry banner, I have no idea how to accomplish the tech details but I think M.T. might so I will ask him. My Frida Necklace might be a nice start if it fits the requirements.

http://www.fridakahlo.com/
http://www.okeeffemuseum.org/

Thanks for this opportunity.

Yeah, I'm a fan of Frida Kalho on Facebook.

Thanks for the details/info about these other artists. I'm not great at remembering artists so some famous artists, I've never heard of. I got a D in Art History 101 my first year of college. I hated that class. I couldn't figure out which flying buttress belonged to which church and I couldn't identify many of the artist's names just from viewing their paintings. That's what the class was. A large lecture room where they showed slides and you had to study architecture and eras of art and the exams consisted of viewing a slide show and writing about what you were seeing. I was terrible at it. There went my art major. In order to remain an art major, you had to take several classes in Art History and I hated that class so I changed majors.

haha

TMI ... too much personal info... sorry

I'm going to start a new thread in the Feedback forum when I have some time with a list of the artist's names already submitted... so others can add to it. Need to put it all in one place.

Thanks again, Soo

Ahhh, thanks Dor,

Funny you should mention Art History...My DIL, Jenni Lee is graduating this month from UT Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History. She is an Honors Society student and writes their newsletter and received one of the highest honors of the society (presented to one student in each graduating class.) She loved Art History (as is apparent), the Latin, the classics, the artists and their schtick, all of it fascinates her. She wants to curate a museum or teach art to students (as her mother does.)

I love history, of any kind and would probably find this wonderful as well. Always researching art and artists has been life-long for me (and mine, I guess.) Noah picked well when we added Jenni to the family. Creativity ranks high in our ranks.

Cec and I both love any kind of Art, be it architecture, sculpture, fringe, outsider, insider, writing or creating/creations of any kind. Now if I had to study Math, I would rather eat a bug or a volkeswagon with a fork!!!

I think posting a list is an excellent idea.

I love art, too. All kinds of arts. I've loved the arts all my life. ALL arts! Arts ARE my life. Creativity IS my life. I live it and breathe it.

I just hated Art History class. My idea of studying art is creating it. I like to study the styles other artists use. But that doesn't mean I can tell you the names of 1000 artists just from viewing 1000 different paintings. I love architecture, also. But that doesn't mean I'm able to distinguish one flying buttress from another in various churches throughout Europe.

I love the arts so much, I even created a website called Studio Eight which has a tagline of "Uniting the Arts." It's a site for artists of all genres.... writers, poets, visual artists, musicians, craftspeople, etc. Stop by some time!

http://studioeight.tv

LOL!

In addition, we have an online Radio show for musicians and spoken word artists called Radio8 and we have had a performance group which has performed several shows called Cabaradio.... a variety show with artists who perform stand-up comedy, dance, spoken word poetry, music and skits. It's loads of fun! Hope to revive that show some time soon. Performance Arts.

Sorry, I'm feeling rather uninformed. Who's Jenni Lee? (and who is her mother?)

Congrats to her! Her future sounds very bright!

Okay. I think I know what you have done and well...

If you read my post, Jenni is my DIL (daughter-in-law.) Lee? DIL? Her mother is an in-law.

I was just being chatty.

Ohhh... OK.. sorry... I didn't know what DIL was. Thanks!

And chatty is good! I was just being chatty, too.

I like talking about the arts. One of my favorite topics.

Wish I had had the type of mind to be able to memorize flying buttress photos. LOL.. because I hated to change my major from Art to English.

Hum, well I wondered "why?" you were giving me the history of the Studio. I think I was there, or here.

I wondered for a minute, "what the hell is that Dor going on about?" because I thought I was clear that Jen was a member of our family. Noah is Numero Uno of the Lee brood and I guess I assumed you knew that.

Am very proud of both of them and just wanted to brag a bit. Jen and I both love id-ing stuff and putting names to them. That is just us and is no reflection on you or your accomplishments which I am very proud of also.

(Everyone has their niche and passion and those are no way better or worse than anyone else's loves. I believe that.)

I Loved English too! I have always written, journal-ed, and poet-ed. I would read dictionaries and encyclopedias for fun.

History and English were my favorite subjects. I tolerated Latin because of its rootiness in English, hated Algebra (too abstract and based on formulas) and understood Geometry (a line from here to there) and mostly liked Biology, that included dissecting frogs, which was a little much for a sensitive young girl who loved animals (I could do it now, dissect, but not a frog, they are too endangered. Give me a chicken! )

I will stop this Soo chatter now... Gotta move.

Sorry... I didn't mean to make you wonder why I wrote what I wrote.. I just have an odd sense of humor I guess.

You said that the arts were your life... for you and Cecil... and when i read that, it felt like you were saying it as if I didn't know that.

And of course I know that!

And so I thought it was funny to say stuff about my involvement in the arts as a huge part of my life .... as my reason for living and breathing.... even though you know that because my sense of humor is odd, I guess, and since you said something that I knew about your involvement with the arts, I did the same thing. Sigh... silly maybe but ... *shrug*... I like being silly. That's why I said I have a website for artists and said "Stop by some time" ... and you're already here! I thought that was funny. Which is why I added the "LOL!" meaning I was laughing.

..... Anyway... sorry to confuse you and I'm sorry I think I'm funnier than I am, apparently! LOL

So, you were bragging as you have every right to and I think it's great! And I guess I was bragging a little, too.

But I'm a little envious of you being able to make a living with your art. One day I'd like to do that. Well, I guess many would think that I DO make a living at doing art because I'm a Graphic Designer for my day job but gawd I hate sitting in front of a computer! I am soooooo sick of it. I'd love to have a Studio Eight Live venue... an Arts Center... with artists of various genres who get together in real life. I'm so damn lonesome for a real life I can't even tell you. If it wasn't so sad, I'd be crying, but I have to laugh because who wants to hear someone complain like that? LOL (was that funny? No? Well, it doesn't make any sense which is why I thought it was funny because to me stuff that doesn't make sense is funny. I guess I'd never make it as a stand-up comic)

Also, I DID know you have 2 sons. But I didn't know one of them was married and so I didn't know you had a daughter-in-law. That's great! And she sounds like a wonderful lady! I'm happy for your families! How long have they been married? Do they have any children? (are you a grandma now?)

I was a terrible history student. I didn't like history until one class in college where the professor made it come alive with the most engaging stories about the people! I hated memorizing facts. I was a miserable failure at it. But give me a story about people, and I'm there!

So, I ended up as an English major but I was also a Dance major for a while. Art, Dance & English.

And my Dad used to say, "A degree in one of those and $1 will get you a cup of coffee".

Now HE was funny!

Thanks for the chat. I've enjoyed it. Again, sorry to confuse you with my silly not-so-funny attempts at being funny.

Well, I write a journal every day and all the details are an "open blog." It is understandable why few would want to read my babble, drivel, general shit and lofty ideals that I publish each and every day (almost.) I arise before the crack of dawn and write and answer email, stuff like that. Today, I am tired and taking a break, hence I am here, talking to you.

Odd senses of humor are appreciated. Just because I didn't get it doesn't mean a hill of beans. I don't get a lot of stuff as I tend to be very trusting (and skeptical, a dichotomy, I know) and take everyone at their word. It is easy to pull the wool over these eyes, nothing to do with your humor. Just me.

Dor: You said that the arts were your life... for you and Cecil... and when i read that, it felt like you were saying it as if I didn't know that.

Naw, I know how creative you are, no doubt here.

Dor:"And so I thought it was funny to say stuff about my involvement in the arts as a huge part of my life .... as my reason for living and breathing.... even though you know that because my sense of humor is odd, I guess, and since you said something that I knew about your involvement with the arts, I did the same thing. Sigh... silly maybe but ... *shrug*... I like being silly. That's why I said I have a website for artists and said "Stop by some time" ... and you're already here! I thought that was funny. Which is why I added the "LOL!" meaning I was laughing.

..... Anyway... sorry to confuse you and I'm sorry I think I'm funnier than I am, apparently! LOL"

You are as funny as you think you are and I have no reason to disbelieve you. I crack me up and frankly couldn't care less if anyone else thinks I am funny or not.

Dor: "So, you were bragging as you have every right to and I think it's great! And I guess I was bragging a little, too."


You go gurl!! Pat yerself on the back, even if no one else does, I do.

Dor: But I'm a little envious of you being able to make a living with your art. One day I'd like to do that. Well, I guess many would think that I DO make a living at doing art because I'm a Graphic Designer for my day job but gawd I hate sitting in front of a computer! I am soooooo sick of it. I'd love to have a Studio Eight Live venue... an Arts Center... with artists of various genres who get together in real life.

My theory is, take a leap, jump and let what may happen, happen. Sometimes I worry about the "numbers" and the fact that we live on the edge of the abyss but most of the time, I am loving every minute of my life. Do what you want my friend, do not live in fear because that will rob you of your joy. And who wants to end their lives joyless?

Dor: I'm so damn lonesome for a real life I can't even tell you. If it wasn't so sad, I'd be crying, but I have to laugh because who wants to hear someone complain like that? LOL


I complain all the time, If I feel like it, and don't really care what everyone else thinks. I am too old to be concerned about what others are thinking and have no control over them or their thoughts, just myself, the only person I can control.

Surrounding yerself with support systems is important, like the folks here on the Studio, to maintain and get compassion for life's sufferings. We all suffer but we all have the capacity to love and be loved. Hence, we are never, ever alone, just lonely sometimes.

Dor: Also, I DID know you have 2 sons. But I didn't know one of them was married and so I didn't know you had a daughter-in-law. That's great! And she sounds like a wonderful lady! I'm happy for your families! How long have they been married? Do they have any children? (are you a grandma now?)

Noah and Jen will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary this year and are living most happily in Austin, TX. They do not want children (maybe because she has a congenital heart defect and Noah a genetic marker for Translocated Down's Syndrome or just maybe they realize what a challenge and responsibility they are.) I don't know, they haven't told me and I haven't asked.

Nate of course, will never have children and he, frankly, thinks babies are a whiny, pain in the ass so that is a good thing, I guess. It would be sad for me if he really wanted them.

So, sadly, I will never BE a Grannie altho, I would like to and envy all my buddies that are. It would be lovely to have children that I could return when they get ugly.

I have my dogs, my garden and backyard habitat, my art and work and passion, Cec and Nate (which are more than a handful) and my life is very, very full (of laughs, tears and otherwise.)

Thank you for the intercourse (I do crack me up lol) and I have enjoyed our tete da tete. Have a nice evening.

SooZen

My theory is, take a leap, jump and let what may happen, happen. Sometimes I worry about the "numbers" and the fact that we live on the edge of the abyss but most of the time, I am loving every minute of my life. Do what you want my friend, do not live in fear because that will rob you of your joy. And who wants to end their lives joyless?

Sounds nice on paper. I mean, I know this isn't paper but you know what I mean. Thing is, gotta pay the mortgage and take care of a dependent and put her through college. Can't just jump and do what I'd love to do because what I'd love to do won't bring in any money probably for quite some time.

How do people do this? They get grants or loans, probably. Or they are otherwise funded. Maybe they own their houses outright already and don't have a mortgage to pay. Maybe they don't have someone to put through college.

I donno, SooZ... I really LOVE the idea but I live in the real world and I don't know how to do it. Any ideas about HOW? I'm all ears.

I'm so happy to hear you are loving every minute of your life! You're blessed to be able to make enough selling your jewelry to be able to pay for your living expenses. I'm very happy for you!

But don't worry, even if I can't financially do all the things I want to do, I'd never end my life joyless. I always say, "I may not make a living doing what I love to do.... but I make a LIFE!" ... that's my philosophy.

Oh and... I'm glad we both crack ourselves up and don't care whether anybody gets it or not. Makes me feel like we're sisters. LOL

I don't think I've ever seen a photo of Noah. I feel sorta bad I didn't know he was married.... 10 years? I've known you for almost that long, you'd think I'd know this.

Thank you, too, for the conversation. It's been fun

Well, I don't make a "living" selling my jewelry or any other thing I do. We live on the red line edge. It is always "iffy" whether or not we can make it monthly. No extras but we do try to eat healthy above all else.

Noah had to earn a scholarship to go to college because we couldn't afford it, so he did.

We don't have health insurance but I know how to work the system, I had to learn between, heart disease, spinal surgeries, mastoidectomy, leukemia, psoriasis, diabetes, lupus, osteoarthritis, psoriaritic arthritis, fibromyalgia, chemical sensitivities, severe allergies and a few others. (sheesh, it looks pretty awful when I list it like that!) Heck, we have had to deal with it all almost but we do because we have no choice. Do any of us? Nope.

My first real job was working with children with cancer. I saw death first hand in innocents and I know what suffering looks like. It ain't purty.

And through it all I maintain my sense of humor because I have no choice unless I want to indulge myself in pity.

I said, "most of the time, I am loving every minute of my life." Most is not all but I refuse to give in or to give up. I am not special or unusual or unique any more than any one else. But I am hardened by fire, tested by trial and I know the value of myself and try to be kind to the old gal, she's worth it.

I get down, I get back up again, it is all I can do and smile at the absurdity of it all.

Noah is a film critic and in charge of the techies at a gaming company. He does really, really well and doesn't live anywhere near like his parents. But he is as happy.

I will try and dig up a pic but I have a show coming up, I sell herbs at the market and have to harvest them and we have to hang some Cecil paintings tomorrow for a new restaurant so I may be too busy. Today was a mini-vacation for me, hence the time to write all this stuff. Such as it is...

You guys sure have been through a lot! I can't even fathom it. I can't imagine going through all of that without health insurance for one thing. I'd probably have an anxiety related heart attack if I didn't have health insurance. I depend on it for so many issues. That's a huge worry of mine... losing my insurance should I find myself out of a job.

As to making a living, I have to have steady money coming in because my mortgage is expensive. It's expensive to live around here. One day I'll move somewhere where it's more reasonably priced to live, I hope. But not any time soon, I'm afraid.

I remember years ago when I ran my own business and my husband ran his own business. Neither of us had steady money coming in. It was very difficult for me. I guess I require more security than that. I was stressed ALL the time, worried about where the mortgage payment and the food were going to come from. We made it.. month by month... but it wasn't easy and I don't want to ever have to do that again. It was hard enough when I was in my 30s. I can't imagine living without steady income and health insurance at my age.

That's great that Noah got a scholarship! Even though we can't afford college, my daughter's grades just aren't good enough to get one, I don't think. She tries her best. Noah's job sounds very interesting! Good for him.

Anyway, hats off to you and your family for your resourcefulness and fortitude! I admire you.

I feel like I've been struggling all of my life but my struggles don't even come close to the ones your family has had with the health issues you've listed.

Yes, be kind to yourself! And never give up.

Dor, I guess the reason I am used to living day to day is I've had to do it for so long and it certainly has made me resourceful. Every since I left home (where I was an indulged and sheltered child) my income has always been under the radar. Call it luck or whatever, we have always managed and my mantra has become, "trust in the Universe that things will work out" and they have, and do.

Maybe I am just dumb or stupid but I don't worry so much about it anymore. (And maybe that is why I hate numbers as they have been the bane of my existence.) But the bills do get paid, it seems something always comes along to bail us out when the going gets really tough. I honestly believe in karma and what ever you put out, comes back to you (laws of physics) so why worry?

Stress causes dis-ease and my body tells me that in no uncertain terms. I was lucky that Noah was so smart, I was lucky that Nate was Downs, I am just a fortunate child grown old.

Hang in there Dor. I know things will work out for you, as they should. I am on your side, whatever happens.