I want to preface this post by expressing my disappointment with the fact people no longer gather. We are social creatures and the lack of opportunities to trade, learn from and play with one another is extremely frustrating and limiting to our growth. We, with reference to our Paleolithic ancestors, use to forage and hunt together, raise our children together and groom each other. Grooming alone was a huge big part of group dynamics! Now we do everything separately.  We own everything separately. We live separately. Everyone has a microwave, stove, oven, refrigerator – and that’s just the kitchen. Then there are products like vacuums, sewing machines, work out equipment – there are hundreds of these items in the homes of your neighbors that are most likely used very infrequently. This being said, I would like to introduce the idea of sharing and using each other good’s and each other as resources.
       I live within close proximity of, at the very least, 32 individuals. Of those 32 individuals, I know two of their names. We’ve never hung out, we’ve never even spent more than ten minutes talking. Even the on site laundry room did nothing to bolster my acquaintance with other apartment mates, which has remained at two for the duration of our eight month stay. And there’s no reason for us to have any further communication. We aren’t offering each other anything.
       Of the few people I call friends, I met nearly all of them at work or school. At both of these institutions, the bonding occurred over bitching. Bitching about the customers and the ridiculously low level of redundant work we are paid to do, bitching about the workload and our lack of free time. Now that I have chosen to no longer have an hourly job or attend school, I meet and spend time with significantly less people.
       In place of having in common the knowledge we are extremely unhappy people with unsatisfying lives, I’d much rather make friends by growing, learning and playing together. So I want to start some interest groups. Learning from and beside my fellow man sounds like a treat when my interaction with the public occurs at the grocery store and my most in depth of communications when our server takes our order while dining out.
       I want groups and events that encourage and foster trading and meeting. I want tea parties and poetry readings; yoga sessions and produce exchanges. I want to learn how to grow my own food, to sew my own clothes, to ferment and can my own food.
       I’m currently working on invitations for my tea party, which will be the first of these revolutionary events. And I’ll be pleased as punch if even one person attends, because I'm excited to be changing a problem I discovered in order to increase my happiness.

I'm taking this opportunity to post on a few things I've discovered 
recently that are related in the most important of ways - by fun. 

If I was anyone other than the person I am at this very moment in my life, I might have scrolled right on by this photograph. If anything, that makes it even more the treasure. This photograph represents everything I love and hold dear - that even the most mundane objects of function can be marvelous and grand. How beautiful this concrete landscape, how exquisite this gesture. 

Why can't the seating be as wonderful as the conversation that takes place whilst it is in use? I want these everywhere - as benches for bus stops, as picnic tables at parks, at my favorite restaurants and coffee shops. Everywhere. 

I've been twice to Martin Creed's exhibit at the Nasher Sculpture Center. The balloon room is glorious. Upon entering the room, you are immediately and wholly immersed in a happy little world of golden goodness. While running or jumping or dancing or battling or sneaking through the room, all you can hear is the rustling of balloon on balloon action caused by your movements. You're alone in there, whether in reality you are or you are not, and it becomes your own private playground. I nearly cried with joy at the pure delight I experienced, such a simple object bringing so much fun to world. I noticed that day, everyone seemed to be in a pleasant mood. The effect the installation had was magical -  when my eyes met those of the other patrons, we were all smiles. Peals of laughter and wonder were everywhere. 

For the last couple of weeks, I have been communicating via email with the great and wonderful Lisa Chow and am excited to present to you now, our interview! 
I first saw Lisa's work back in February at We are 1976, the gallery and design shop on Knox/Henderson in Dallas. I contacted Lisa almost immediately afterwards, excited to speak with her about the installation, and received a prompt and sincere response. This is just one of the reasons I love Lisa - she was pleased to speak with me then and likewise was happy to take part in the interview when I contacted her more recently. 
Lisa's work is wonderful, fantastical and colorfully brilliant; ultimately just plain lovely to look at. I also enjoy equally her witty blog, on which she readily admits to embarrassing childhood habits and frequently ties in some mention of dessert.
The interview covers the joys and pains experienced in the aftermath of ditching an hourly job in favor of becoming a full time artist - a topic particularly relevant to my personal life. Obviously I am 'down with' her decision, as it is one I have made for myself, but how to handle the ensuing scads of free time without going completely 'round the bend was a mystery that needed addressing.
I hope you enjoy the post (both informatively and leisurely), and that you come to love Lisa Chow as I do!

Her work is available for purchase on her website and she will have a booth at the 2nd Annual Renegade Craft Fair in Austin the weekend of May 21-22, of which I will also be attending. For more information on Lisa Chow, click here. 

What was your impetus for quitting your job (also, what exactly was your job? I remember reading office somewhere) and moving to full time artist? Was there a final straw? 
For five years, I worked at a large oil and gas company in the Information Technology department. I won't bore you with the details but my daily routine involved a lot of system analysis, specification gathering and applications mumbo jumbo. I think from my very first day on the job, I knew it wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. And that nagging feeling only grew larger and louder as time passed. I don't think there was a 'final straw'...but if there was...it would be when I had to work for someone who clearly thought I was a complete idiot (and the feeling was mutual).

What changes did the decision produce in your daily life? Specifically, you must have much more time to work on your art and enjoy your days - has that helped in the production of work? 
I felt complete exhilaration and freedom when I put in my two weeks notice; then complete terror and worry. While there are many, many fantastic changes that come with being a self employed artist (more time to devote to art, flexible schedule, FREEDOM) there are also many, many changes that stink (isolation, no set salary, no set shut down and go home time). But, I must say, I feel a lot less frustrated now that I have time to work on something I feel passionate about and I believe this helps creativity flow. 

I also work from home and find it difficult to start projects and more frequently, I get distracted by things within my apartment. Do you experience these troubles as well? How do you deal with them? Do you set aside specific work time? Do you have a set of goals you plan to accomplish during the day? Working from home can be VERY distracting; the T.V. is one door away, the sunny outdoors beckon to be frolicked in and a very adorable feline is always vying for my affections. I admit, there are some days when the distractions win. But, one rule I try very hard to stick to is to work a regular 9-5 work day. If I get distracted for a few hours, I try to make it up by painting later in the night (when I'm most creative) or by working a bit on the weekends. Also, I am a big fan of Post-its and to-do lists. 

Saturday April 30th, Hayley and I were aimlessly driving down Knox/Henderson when we happened upon the Vegan Bake Sale for Japan. Once spotted, we pulled into the parking lot of the Beauty Bar, the location of the sale, to gander at some animal-free goodies. The treats were delicious but my excitement at the apparent success of the event outweighed the sugar fix and led me to promptly contact Jade Degrio, the organizer of the bake sale. 

Jade’s passion and commitment to the event was apparent while talking with her, she was excited at the interest the bake sale had drummed up and more than happy to discuss it's success. 

Jade held her first bake sale last year for Haiti at the Transit Bike Shop in Dallas. Direct Relief International was the receiving charity for the raised funds at that time and DRI was the charity the Japan proceeds went to as well. Jade explained: 'They are still on the ground in Haiti, they're even still on the ground in New Orleans - that's important to me. I didn't want to give money to people who would drop it and leave". The impetus behind the first sale was found in Vegan with a Vengeance, by Isa Moskowitz  - also the famed author of Veganomicon, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World and Appetite for Reduction. The book featured advice and suggestions for vegan bake sales in your community. This inspiration was coupled with the fact that around April and May of each year, there is a national call for Vegan Bake Sales. During these months, the events get a good amount of press, including CNN coverage. On the site VeganBakeSale.org, you can find a compiled list of locations where the sales will be held around the nation. On the same site there are instructions and recipes offered that make holding a bake sale feasible for anyone who has the proper motivation. 

Between 25 - 35 bakers volunteered their time and skillage for the event and close to 50 different items were available. The (Vegan) Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies, made by Jade herself were among the most popular and more notable contributions. There was also a gluten free table at the sale, where Hail Merry's goods were the crowning jewel. Jade had contacted the Dallas based company about giving something for the raffle and they responded by contributing two entire cases of their killer macaroons.  On this Jade said, 'I was happy to promote a company that's local, that I personally support and to introduce them to a new demographic.' For a complete list of sponsors, click here. The Bake Sale for Japan raised just over $2500, making the Dallas event the most profitable of the bake sales in Texas. The sale last year for Haiti had raised $1001, and Jade was happy to have gained momentum. "The sale started at noon, but by two we were already worried about running out,” Jade explained. 

Brook Humphries owns both the Beauty Bar and Barcadia, the latter of which has vegan options on their menu, and was said to be glad the Beauty Bar was considered for the location of the sale. The future event locations will also be aesthetically pleasing local businesses that Jade wants attention brought to. In September there will be a sale to sponsor Serenity Springs, an animal shelter in Fort Worth. This bake sale will be around the same time as the Texas State Veggie Fair, hosted by Jamey Scott of DallasVegan.com who has worked closely with Jade during the course of the fundraisers. The Veggie Fair is an event that came into existence to meet the demand for vegan fried food  and offer a vegan friendly alternative to the Texas State Fair. I will definitely be in attendance. 

The goal is two bake sales a year, a National fundraiser as well as fundraiser for a local animal based charity. I'm personally excited to volunteer with the bake sales in the future, largely because of the fantastic job Jade has done at fostering community with the events. To badass chicks with motivation!

Yesterday was my first, and far from last, visit to the Rachofsky House. The house, for those who don't know, is a private residence in Dallas that entertains a large collection of contemporary art. Tours are available to the public when scheduled in advance; I was lucky enough to be invited along on a field trip for a 3d design class. The visit was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and I was surprised to find that I delighted equally in the installations and the house itself. 

Stationed in a bathroom on the third floor of the residence was my favorite conceptual piece, Untitled, by Félix González-Torres, which features 50 pounds of  lime green candy filling a bathtub. González-Torres installation was exciting largely because the viewer could take a piece of candy - I am extremely fond of the ability to interact with artwork, but also because this piece illustrates so perfectly the reason I adore the Rachofsky House.  

The space itself was beautiful - the architecture a marvel, the excess of natural light glorious and the lawn painstakingly manicured. But it's the idea of a home, a space constructed for shelter and dwelling and at the same time being a very personal and intimate refuge- it's this idea I want to employ and this idea that makes the Rachofsky House of interest. Here on display, the essence of home is preserved while the space simultaneously becomes this wonderful ambassador of art. There is no venue quite like it. Touring the house, watching it unfold before my eyes, adventuring into the spaces that open around every corner was an experience I will treasure and the power of which I will harness into my every day. 

I felt overly privileged to be allowed such a glimpse into the House and I can't wait to visit again, this time armed with pencil and paper.