A Life That Doesn't Suck, Part One

We had the first meeting of "A Life That Doesn't Suck: Financial Crisis Edition" last night. Andrew Simonet of Headlong Dance Theater is running the workshop, and spoke eloquently about how important it is - crucial, in fact, for both ourselves and our culture - to create a sustainable creative life.

He spoke about initiating a shift from being a career-driven artist to a misson-driven one; about creating a community in which the success of other artists is also a success for you/me; and about the importance of strategic planning, including setting a large, even improbable goal and then making incremental, manageable steps towards that goal.

The second half of the workshop involved us taking little steps towards our own artist statements, working to scuplt a paragraph that speaks in the voice of our work, is an accurate reflection of our values and vision, and is still accessible and interesting to others. We made a list of seven words that describe our work, then a list of fourteen words, then a paragraph. Here's my list of fourteen (I'm dealing with my dance work here, though there's a lot of overlap with my collage work):

whimsy
reciprocity
pattern
juice
hobble
eraser
between
group
gifts
touch
askew
relationships
crystallize
wonky

3D Debacle

I taught myself a lesson this week: never think your first attempt at an unfamiliar art form will be worthy of giving away as a birthday present!

I got all excited about making a 3D tree out of paper inside a shadow box. Problem was, I had the idea two (already very busy) days before the birthday party where I wanted to give it away, and I hadn't made a 3D anything out of paper before. I didn't really think the thing through, I just started going and imagined that something decently interesting would come out the other end. Boy, was I wrong. The result was a disappointingly dull tree emerging from the back of the shadow box and extending onto the top and bottom of the frame. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

The trunk of the tree was cool enough, though, that I think my general working method is pretty strong. My next try will be a wholly freestanding tree (or some other object) shaped out of layers and layers of paper.

In case you're wondering, I gave the birthday person a coupon for a future Bell Buoy Press item. When I'm better at this 3D thing, I'll make him a tree.

Doldrums

Holly of decor8 blog recently posted about daily flower arrangements as a way to overcome the end-of-winter blues. I like this idea a lot - I love flowers, especially daffodils and irises - but it's not financially feasible for me right now, given that I'm mostly unemployed.

So here I am, stuck in the creative doldrums, and waiting anxiously for spring. Somehow this unpleasant transitional season makes even more acute the questions I always wrestle with: how do I balance art, time, and money? Why do life concerns of bills and housekeeping always take so much time? How come I can't find a job? (Thanks, economy. Thanks a lot.) How can I learn some sense of discipline inside creativity, so that I'm not always only prey to the whims of my impulses?

I'm really looking forward to a workshop in April called "A Life That Doesn't Suck (Financial Crisis Edition)", run by several professional dancers in Philadelphia as part of the city's annual Dance Theater Camp. While I expect most of the discussion to be immediately relevant to the dance side of my art world, I know the issues we'll be talking about - the value of art, building community, time, money - are relevant across the board.

In the meantime, I think I'll go riffle through my box of paper goodies and send friends some unexpected mail. Hopefully that will briefly lift any sense of blah they might be struggling against, and perhaps help my sense of wellbeing, too.

Mew Gallery Pay the Rent Event

Calling all Philadelphia lovers of the handmade!

Mew Gallery is holding its third annual fundraiser next week in order to help - you got it - pay the store's rent. It's an art auction and raffle with lots of exciting perks, including beer specials, DJs, and dancing. $5 suggested donation at the door.

Tuesday, March 3
6 - 10 pm
South Philly Tap Room
1509 Mifflin Street, Philly

You could walk away with some of my cards! I've made two sets of three cards each, a set called Winterberries and a set called Herbs & Spices.

You could also walk away with jewelry, zines, clothes, photography, ceramics, and much more. Some of the other artists who have donated work: Alina tees & zines, Anna Burke photography, Beck's Buttons jewelry, Boto Designs, Carolyn Giordano, Faceplant Wasted, Flying Fox, Gray Nation, Isaac Bushkin, J.L. Schnabel, Jessica Liddel, Joy Stember, Julia Blaukopf, KnitKnit, Lana Heckendorn, Lauren Lopez, Leslie Albend, Megan Dorien, Mike Geno, Miss Koco, Nicole Rae Styer, Rebelle Couture, Sarah Myers, Shannon McLaughlin, Sideways E, Tiny Airplanes, Tranquility jewelry, Un De Six clothing, WabiSabi, Warren Veith...

Please come and support your local artists and this gallery that brings them all together under one creative roof!

Ta-da!

My cards are now available at Mew Gallery, 906 Christian St, Philadelphia!

Here are a few tasty morsels to whet your appetite. Please go to Mew for the complete meal.

Another heart-slayer of a book

I found this one at the Bryn Mawr Bookstore, a used bookstore in Cambridge, MA where I used to work.

Paintings: Forces of Nature II, 1994-1998
Marlene Tseng Yu
Las Vegas Art Museum (exhibition book)

Marlene's paintings are extraordinary. She works mainly with acrylics, often on a very large scale, and creates works of improbable, strange beauty. They are mysterious blooms of color textured and sculpted to present something cosmic, oceanic, microscopic.... These are grandiose words, I know, but I promise you they're apt. I have never seen paintings so organic and so resonant.

This is her website: www.marlenetsengyu.com. You can see a few examples of her work in photographs there. The book does them better justice. I hope to be able to see some in person one day.

A Note to Philadelphia

Dear Philadelphia,

Mew Gallery in the Italian Market will soon begin carrying my cards! A community oriented, quirky gallery and shop that carries hand- and locally-made items, Mew is on Christian St. just west of 9th St. This is their website.

I will write to you again once my items are on the shelves and waiting for you.

Sincerely,

Hannah

Back in the Saddle

It's been a strange holiday season, but I'm back in the saddle and excited to start new work. I'm particularly keen to tinker with shadow boxes and otherwise play in 3D. I found an old red wooden frame at my parents' house last week; I kept things in it as a kid (shells, rocks, etc) but had since completely forgotten about it. I think my grandfather made it. It measures maybe 3' x 3' x 2", but is divided into many small squares and rectangles of various sizes. Infinite possibilities!

Updates to follow.

Ice

It poured all morning, but as the sky cleared the trees were left coated in a thick sheath of ice. The tiny branches look so fragile, and somehow also highlighted, more precise. Here are a few photographs.

I probably won't be posting again until after the holidays; it's time to relax and spend some time with my family.

Commission, continued

I just finished that 10 card commission. It turned into a 15 card commission by the end! I shipped the set off to Canada this afternoon (kudos to UPS for friendly and helpful service) and I hope the recipients are happy with the results. I continue to be very pleased with what I've made - several new designs and fresh variations on old favorites. There are a few more photos below.