Nowhere but HERE

HERE is now Red Lodge, Montana

2012-02-07T00:13:00.000-08:00

It has been that way since September 2nd, 2011.

Four months into my eleven month residency. I can't believe how fast time goes by and by and by.

I can't believe it doesn't stop and I, along with all my friends, keep getting older and their families keep growing. I've just done some internet catching-up on friends and it makes me sad that our world is so big and distances are so great from me to all my friends. I wish the world was really small somedays and that life was a lot more simple. Alas, tis not the case.

Hopefully, I'll find more time to update this blog more regularly so others who may be interested in my doings and find themselves with a late night break can check up on me.

Tomorrow night is an opening for a show in which I have two new pieces on exhibit. The other artists in the show are: Katie Coughlin, Jill Foote-Hutton, Andrew Gilliatt, David Hiltner, Andrea Moon, and Markus Urbanik. It's my debut in Wyoming.

I miss y'all.

Read all about it...Extra! Extra!

2011-08-25T07:34:00.001-07:00

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2011/08/21/heady-ideas-offer-food-for-thought.html

I won! I won! I won!

2011-08-09T21:20:00.000-07:00

What an honor it is/was. I received the "Best in Show" award! Here are a few links to articles about it below.

http://www.columbusunderground.com/time-and-place-the-2011-ohio-state-fair-fine-arts-exhibition

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2011/07/31/2-yates31-art-gt1dh2so-1.html

Ooops I almost forgot about this one....

2011-07-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'll be a winner...anything from a blue ribbon to $2,000...it's all very exciting!! Oh the potential. Oh the crowds. Oh the cows. And two of my works there! Woo-hoo my art in the Ohio State Fair!!! Who would've thunk?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2011

COLUMBUS – The Fine Arts Exhibition opening reception and awards ceremony will take place from 6 to 8 pm on Tuesday, July 26 in the Cox Fine Arts Center at the Ohio State Fair.

A number of awards will be given to outstanding artists from this year’s exhibition.

“There are numerous awards from various arts councils and sponsors this year,” said Fine Arts Director Pam O’Loughlin.

The Fine Arts Exhibition will showcase approximately 300 pieces of Ohio’s best artwork during the Fair. Collectors can participate in the Patron Purchase Program to add beautiful pieces of Ohio artwork to their personal collections and to support local artists. Last year more than $17,500 was awarded to the artists through local and corporate sponsors and more than $7,800 in artwork sales.

The Ohio Expo Center is proud to host the Ohio State Fair. With a spectacular midway, big-name entertainment, hundreds of exhibits and one of the largest junior fair shows in the nation, the 2011 Ohio State Fair will run July 27 - August 7.

This up next...I hope you can all make it...

2011-07-22T21:33:00.001-07:00

Bound by Order

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 6th, 6-10pm

Location: Sean Christopher Gallery
815 North High Street,
Columbus, OH 43201

Confluence(s)

2011-05-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

AKA The OSU 2011 Group Thesis Exhibition

'Tis that time (which I can hardly believe) when I'll soon be an honest to goodness MFA degree holding artiste. Here are the details for the culminating show that opened on April 19 and runs through May 14, 2011

The Reception is Saturday, May 7th, from 6 to 8pm

My fellow MFA candidates include:
Susana Alvarez
Jessie Blackmer
Nick Bontrager
Undine Brod
Joshua Cloud
Virginia Colwell
Clare Fox
Florence Gouvrit
George T. Gregory Jr.
Rachel Heberling
Brooke Hunter-Lombardi
Emi Inoue
Yoshinaga Kawamura
Ash Kyrie
Robert Paul Lewis
Ashley Moore
Philmore Peterson V
Zachary Podgorny
Tara Polansky
Stephanie Brooke West
Lauren Whearty

@ The OSU Urban Arts Space
50 West Town Street
Columbus, OH 43215

More information can be found here: http://uas.osu.edu/exhibition/2011-master-fine-arts-exhibition

Do come out and see my work, hopefully during the reception when I'll for sure be there.

Photos to be posted soon...I hope....

MFA Candidate @ The Ohio State University

2011-05-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

John McCaughey

http://www.johnmccaugheyart.com/index.html

Storm of Broken Dialog (Stage I) (2011)

mixed media on panel

6’ x 9’

Switching Slates of Mind (2011)

mixed media

10' x 3.5'

Translation (2011)

mixed media

3.5' x 3.5'

Another Review??

2011-04-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

That is, if you want to call what someone is doing hiding behind the blog Slum Cab Tours a review then go check out the February 20, 2011 blog post at the aforementioned blog. Great blog name, definitely a bad review. Not necessarily bad as it pertains to the work, rather, bad as it pertains to the writing. But hey, that is the tag line of the site, "horrible reviews of art in Columbus, OH" so what can one expect. I just wish the writer had quoted the questions of the woman who was "shrilly quizzing" children in the gallery. I wonder if I would have passed?

PS: The author of the blog isn't too hard to figure out if you do a wee search: Kate Rhoades. And I want to thank her for stating that I have, "more zest and vigor than was apparent in this exhibition." Check out her blogs, she does after all seem to have a good sense of humor.

And a little article about the aforementioned show that is now down...

2011-03-11T20:37:00.000-08:00

http://ohioartleague.wordpress.com/

By Elissa Marcus

This Thursday....

2011-01-30T22:44:00.000-08:00

Recent places my work was, is, and will be...

2011-01-16T08:18:00.000-08:00

At the Hopkins Hall Gallery:
Image—Self
Conceived and developed by Ardine Nelson
January 3–19, 2011

Image—Self travels to:
Upper Arlington Concourse Gallery:
March–April 2011

At the Ohio Art League:
Transforming the Mundane
The Mundane Transformed
Works by Undine Brod and George Gregory
Reception: First Thursday (Feb. 3) 6-9PM
February 3 - 26, 2011

Oh how time flies...

2010-12-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

I got this here wee mention on July 10, 2010 at Jeffrey W. Bussmann's blog:

http://postnonprofalyptic.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-07-26T01%3A35%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=7

How lovely to be thought of as a "standout oddity" and not so easily forgotten. Thank you Mr. Bussmann for recognizing my efforts.

Press for the Ohio Art League's Annual Juried Exhibition

2010-10-11T05:17:00.000-07:00

What the article doesn't mention is that I was the top award winner!! Thank yous to all my friends that came out and supported me and that went/will go to the show at a different time. And thank you to the juror: Christopher Bedford. And thank you to OAL. And thank you to Mary Lou Chess...still trying to figure out who this woman is that the Memorial Award was named after.

Click right smack here on this here blue group of words to be directed to the article!

Reception this Friday, October 8th, 2010

2010-10-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

Annual Fall Juried Exhibtion
October 4 - November 5,2010
Fort Hayes Shot Tower Gallery

Juror
Christopher Bedford, is the new exhibitions curator at the Wexner Center for the Arts. A citizen of the UK, Bedford was previously an assistant curator at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and served as a curator in the department of sculpture and decorative arts at the Getty Museum in L.A. Bedford has published essays, book reviews, editorials and exhibition reviews in a variety of publications, including Artforum.

Location
Fort Hayes Shot Tower Gallery
546 Jack Gibbs Blvd
Columbus, OH 43215

My Work in Kentucky for the First Time

2010-09-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

KY.7 Biennial

KY.7 Biennial | LAL @ Loudoun House
209 Castlewood Drive, Lexington, KY 40505 | www.lexingtonartleague.org
September 11 - October 23, 2010

The second in a series, KY.7 Biennial is a regional survey of contemporary art produced in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its seven contiguous states: Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Artwork selected is innovative in concept and execution, is culturally relevant, and addresses issues important to contemporary life.

Juried by John Begley (Gallery Director and Coordinator of Critical and Curatorial Studies a the Hite Art Institute), Jason Franz (Executive Director and Chief Curator at Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center) and Becky Alley (LAL Exhibitions and Programs Director).

--As written on their website: http://lal09.jalbum.net/KY.7-Biennial/

Undine Brod, Scrim III (2010)

Thrift store bric-a-brac, gesso, permanent marker, fabric

Upcoming Exhibition

2010-06-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

The Seventh Annual Marge Brown Kalodner
Graduate Student Exhibition

Reed Smith and Harrison Galleries
July 2 - August 1, 2010

Opening Reception,
First Friday,
July 2, 5-9pm

http://theclaystudio.org

Undine Brod
Trophy Heads I, II and III
clay, fur, glue, marker & fingernail polish
largest piece (bottom) 8" x 4.5" x 4.5"
2010

MORE NEW WORK: PHOTOS WITH DRAWING

2010-05-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

NEW WORK: Found and Altered Photographs

2010-05-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

Some Stuff I Recently Made/Quick Sloppy Shots

2010-04-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

First three images are drawings on photographs:

Next three works are laminated photograph collages:

Clay animal heads, in progress:

Animal Portraits, stuffed animals & frames:

Refunctioning/An object of reconfigured parts:

An altered book:

Attempts at quieting the mind and pushing back doubt:

These are things I acquired,
I painted all the objects white.
Here's another collection of objects:

Below are two pieces that I made in the Fall.
Fluff Educated (left) and Educating Fluff (right)

Long Awaited Photos of My Studio

2009-12-29T19:28:00.000-08:00

Yes! I am finally posting some photos of my now filled up studio at OSU. It's packed already, but rather cozy. At least that's what I hear from the locals. I like it a lot, just wish I had more time to be in it creating. I aim to have better time management this upcoming quarter now that I've settled a bit into a routine here. The Winter Quarter starts up this coming Monday, and I've got a lot to prepare for and hope I'm able to stay on top of all things. I'll be taking a fuller than full load including three seminar classes and one beginning hand-building class that I will attempt to teach. Phew...I'm tired just writing about it. I'll have one other studio class, maybe two, and then a departmental group thing for one credit. Plus I can't forget my Ice Skating II class that I'm registered for and excited about! I'll be gliding all my worries away as I learn to skate with level two skills and abilities. In no time I'll be triple clutzing it I bet.

Back wall of studio, it's a bit below ground hence high up windows.

Little nook with tchotchke shelves, my ode to thrift stores.

Dust-free desk on left and tall saved-from-the-dump cabinet.

Top of my desk treasures & I love magnetic furniture.

And the clean corner, sometimes it's not so clean though.

Right now the clean corner has some photographs I've been working on that are images of casting molds. I'll put some detail shots up on my Facebook Page (it's easier to upload photos there). My studio looks rather organized and clean because I had just rearranged it for a critique and OSU's first ever Open Studio Night. And there you have it: the long awaited albeit brief space synopsis. More to come sooner rather than later this time...I hope.

I've Arrived.

2009-09-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

Here I am in Columbus, Ohio...school starts in a bit. I've found a home and received my studio. I'm trying to get settled. I like it all so far. Here's my first wildlife sighting in the mid-west:

And in case you were worried about
my cleanliness & color, fret no more:

Drum roll please,
My New Studio (curtains included):

More pictures to come as I unpack and settle.

DON'T DESPAIR!!!!

2009-08-06T06:11:00.000-07:00

If you missed the first garage sale and/or just seeing me on my working-vacation in Seattle then have no fear......we're having ANOTHER garage sale. This weekend, new location - Roosevelt neighborhood - details to come.

Were you confused too?

2009-08-03T06:16:00.000-07:00

A dear friend in Israel wrote me an email that read: "You were in Seattle at your own yard sale? I am confused."

"My response: I know it IS confusing. Yes, I was running a yard sale in Seattle. I'm here helping to clear out my godmother's house because she is now living in a nursing home. We have to consolidate. 50+ years living in one house - being an artist, traveler, collector, shopaholic, design maven, big party having, animal owning, buying addiction, hording, ocd type of person makes for a huge ass sale! And that is just the tip of the iceberg. We had to clear out yard sale types of things just to make room for the "real" part of the estate selling part to take place. It's nuts. I've extended my plane ticket once, now I might have to do it again."

And that was the story of my weekend. Here's some photojournalism:

One of five truck loads being tied down by my father. In addition to the five truck loads, we had four mini-SUV loads also. (Lovely truck courtesy of Rebecca Mizhir, life saver extraordinaire.)

First load emptied at yard sale location:
the fabulous building of Jim Smith in Wallingford.

The fabulous James Addison Smith (r) with my father, Michael Brod (l) modeling items for sale. (Red straw hat "rehomed" by the wonderful Heather "Holly Hobby" Reese .

Day one photo courtesy of exceptional shopper Rebecca Bush.
(www.rebeccabush.com)

Cutest yard sale entertainment, Vivian Guillen,
adorned with mini-clothespins.

Roses donated by frequent shopper and highest spender Jim the
neighbor, who made purchases to adorn his recently self-restored craftsman house.

Day one "Free Pile".

Best "drive-by" customer, window shopping.

Day two's splendid helper-friend, Heather Reese, examining items.

The husband and wife team Leah Kiviat and Ian Horton, unbeknownst to one another, examining cutting boards on separate sides of a table at the exact same moment. (Neither boards purchased, but plenty of other things aquired.)

End of sale "Free Pile" number one.

End of sale "Free Pile" number two.

Additional visits and support from many many great friends: Shawn Peterbug, Jenny and Rick Jerabek, Meghan and Vivanne Guillen, sisters: Diane and Kathy Dickeman, Erik Podenski, Consuelo Javier, JoAnna Rockwood, Susan Zoccola and all the friends they brought. I really hope I didn't leave anyone off this list, if so please forgive me I'm so so so very tired and was so very busy.

Stuff, stuff, stuff....

2009-07-26T01:02:00.000-07:00

In my Godmother's house I work to unpack, clean, sort, admire, organize, repair, and wonder about a long life lived fully through collecting.

Westside Living

2009-07-15T15:57:00.000-07:00

I'm in Port Townsend, Washington now. This is after several days in Helena, Montana. Saw a wee bit of the beautiful Glacier National Park, on a long long drive. Life out here is nice. So is vacation. And so are my friends.

Constructive Vandalism!

2009-06-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this idea, so go read about it on my friend's blog:

The Wehler posts at: GEORGE, GOLDIE AND MILO

http://georgeandgoldie.blogspot.com/2009/06/constructive-vandalism.html

PS: I'm traveling to Seattle soon, stay tuned.

Nowhere now = Rhinebeck, NY

2009-06-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

No more Alfred for me. I'm now using my parent's place as home base for summer jaunts. My nowhere space is now Limbo Land.

An Exhibit: "Special Enough"

2009-04-28T20:58:00.001-07:00

The 2008-2009 Alfred "Special Students" and I organized a show in the Rhodes Room at Alfred University. Here are the results of our artistic and organizational abilities. More photos of my work will be uploaded on my Facebook profile (and hopefully one of these days on my updated and fancified website). Fella' artists include: Normandy Alden, Marisa Hricovsky, Elizabeth Perone, and Tracy Teagarden (in absentia: Carol Koffel).

Apparently, having toys at your opening is a good idea as this seems to hold your guests attention a bit longer than just the art and/or food would do.

IVAN'S IVAN'S IVAN'S IVAN'S IVAN'S IVAN'S

2009-04-10T08:01:00.001-07:00

He's been working at this location for over 30 years.
It is fantastic.

It's a store of sorts.

An entrance to an interior (?) space.

A favorite scene of mine.

Tools to be had.

Beautiful bins.

Still Life 1

Still Life 2

The most order you'll find at Ivan's.

Ahhhhhhhhhh.

Beauty.

The view from inside to the outside.

Brewing and steeping.

I am now the proud and confused owner of the thing above thing
in the above photo, and of all the things below:

I plan to return.

Driving Around Alfred, NY

2009-03-23T17:40:00.000-07:00

These are some of the things I see:

In Amish Land.
I think the first sign is the school bus,
second must be for a small family?

I'm not sure if this was a self-service shop or just someone's personal collection in Angelica, NY.

A great find (for me) in Angelica!
It came just like this all boxed up nice.

JUST FOOD is:

2009-03-18T20:32:00.001-07:00

Just cool! Check them out and sign the honeybee petition for NYC to legalize beekeeping. I just did!

http://www.justfood.org/issues/index.html

Ohio Bound

2009-03-06T14:39:00.001-08:00

Anybody have any tips for me?

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to ME!

2009-02-28T08:12:00.001-08:00

I'm 35 and still alive.
I will try harder to post more often and eventually, well maybe not, get to the Inauguration Story. It seems so long ago already, do I have permission to not blog about it?

And Happy Birthday to all of you!

Facebook's Got the Pictures Now.

2009-01-25T16:32:00.000-08:00

Go view my photos on my Facebook Profile to see more images from my DC weekend extravaganza. There was time with friends, time with strangers, time in a tunnel, time listening to Obama's speech via a cell phone on speaker-phone, time in the freezing cold, time eating good Latin food, time at museums, time running into a friend-of-a-friend, time warming up, time at a Ball, time getting squished, and many more other good times to be had. More details coming soon...

WHOA!

2009-01-25T11:00:00.001-08:00

Long time no write on my part...so sorry.
It has been a whirlwind of a Winter Break.
I went to big cities, visited with friends and saw a lot.

As soon as I catch my breath (this may never happen) I will post some pictures of my adventures outside of nowhere, although at times it felt as if I was nowhere due to standing in the "Purple Tunnel of Doom" for hours on end, only to come out the other end and NOT see the President take his oath and speak. What a run-around. But, I did get up close to him and others at the Staff Ball on January 21st. You know, me and thousands of other people up close and personal like.

More soon...hang tight...until then enjoy life from Jackson's point of view:

A Shoe in the Face...

2008-12-16T08:14:00.000-08:00

Isn't it great!

Trying to finish up some things here in Alfred before I take a break and visit parts greater than this here small one. Here are a few recent photos to tide the masses over:

For Eva

Bacon in the Fridge

Bunny in the Bucket

Snow in the Town

Snow here, snow there, snow is now everywhere!

2008-11-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

Cool Installation and Some Art of Mine.

2008-11-16T05:49:00.000-08:00

Here's my dad and J-Boy, his first and only son, how obedient!

They are standing in front of gallery 221 and my dad's installation.
If you're in NYC, I suggest you check it out @ 221 East 88th Street.

Now, as for me, below are some of my recent works-in-progress.

The guy below is actually done and titled "The Rat in the Wood"

Will Wonders Never Cease???

2008-11-08T14:13:00.000-08:00

My studio mate and her wild antics...
the one I warned you about in the beginning of my blog!

PS: I don' t know why it uploaded sideways, nor can I figure out how to correct that.

Tip of the day: Turn your computer 90 degrees to view video in proper alignment.

Who knows this word?

2008-10-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

FLOCCINAUCINIHILIPILIFICATION

From Wikipedia: is the act of describing something as worthless, or making something to be worthless by deprecation.

With 29 letters and 12 syllables, it is the longest non-technical word in the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), which presents it as "enumerated in a well-known rule from the Eton Latin Grammar." The OED dates its first use in literature at 1741 in William Shenstone's Works in Prose and Verse: "I loved him for nothing so much as his flocci-nauci-nihili-pili-fication of money." In recent years, the word has been used in many scholarly articles in philosophy.

Though the OED gives no specifics on its derivation, the word is said to have been invented as an erudite joke by a student of Eton College, who, upon consulting a Latin textbook, found four ways of saying "don't care" and combined them:

flocci facere (from floccus, -i a wisp or piece of wool)
nauci facere (from naucum, -i a trifle)
nihili facere (from nihil, -i nothing; something valueless (lit. "not even a thread" from ni+hilum)) Example being: "nihilism"
pili facere (from pilus, -i a hair; a bit or a whit; something small and insignificant)

Try using it in Scrabble!

Check this out...cut and paste and you're golden...

2008-10-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

Barak and Basketball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Lqm5emQl4
First USofA Prez to be a b-ball player. Go Obama!

Funny stuff out here in the middle of nowhere...

2008-10-22T19:14:00.001-07:00

I found this in the 50% off bin at the local Dollar General:

I can't really beat five and a HALF rolls for .50 cents. Can you?

And do you think the folks at this dead end really need notice?

Yeah so...well, ummmm...

2008-10-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

We've got snow! What? Yeah, no way! Yes way.

Hello, it's October 21st, what the....

I'm in the Middle of Nowhere! OR: Is it just a Warped Dimension?

2008-10-14T06:58:00.001-07:00

News bulletin as reported in the school's daily email, "Alfred Today":

Hunting Season is Upon Us - Use Caution
Hunting season is now upon us in Western New York. The first season begins Saturday, Oct. 18 this year (sunrise to sunset), and the final season is over on Dec. 16.

Please be very careful if you decide to walk in any wooded area during this time. If you do, wear blaze orange or some other very bright color. If you see a POSTED sign, get the landowner's permission to enter or you could be fined for trespassing.

Hunting is not allowed on Alfred University property which includes the woods behind the campus and around Foster Lake.

(This is so foreign to me. Why is hunting considered by some to be a good sport? Why do so many VPs and VP candidates go hunting? What would happen if Cheney and Palin met in the woods? If you want to see one possible out come look up: Vice President Aaron Burr.)

Adventures Just Outside of Alfred

2008-10-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

So, I and two friends went to this place called Pollywogg Holler. If you got rid of all the sleezy drunk slime men and the few drunk trashy women the place has a lot of potential. But, whoa the amount of too-old-to-be-getting-that-drunk folks that were there yesterday really put a damper on all the potential this place has. Maybe it was just that particular night that attracted the riff-raff. Still worth a visit though, and the pizza wasn't half bad. I'll keep my eye on it and hope to go back when a different crowd might abound.

This beauty was alongside the main trail.

It was in what seemed to be a sculpture graveyard.

One of the rooms for rent.

More pretty forest.

Overall, it's a strange and interesting place (sans the drunkards),
with tasty sweet berry wines, and a friendly young cow to boot!

(More pictures will soon be on my Facebook profile soon.)

I was thinking...

2008-10-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

if I perfect my wink, could I run for VP too?

Alfred Is Making Me Crazy...

2008-10-12T06:19:00.000-07:00

But maybe it's a good thing. You decide....

Studio "shots" from, Saturday, October 11th, 2008.

Part of what I sent my family...

2008-10-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

and probably also pertinent to other folks I know, therefore this posting here. Unfortunately, it probably is a useful & necessary "house cleaning" to do at least once per year....

Just maybe, perhaps...maybe...uh, next year will be different, but since I'm human (at least I'm still under this impression) it probably won't be the case. So without further adieu (both literally and figuratively):

I want to truly and sincerely ask all of you for your forgiveness for any transgressions, conscious or otherwise, that I may have crossed you with during this last year. It is never my ultimate attempt to anger and/or hurt you, although I know at times I may have said or done things that did/do hurt and/or anger you, please forgive me for any and all ways I have erred this past year (and truly for all the years before this one) that directly and/or indirectly effected you. May I have learned and continue to learn from my mistakes this past year and improve upon my interpersonal relationships in the coming one. People and my relationships with them are very important to me and I hope to leave this world with a clean street so to speak. It is my hope that I never hurt anyone to begin with and certainly never beyond repair. Please forgive me for any and all indiscretions on my part.

May we all be transcribed in the "good book", whatever that may be...and yes, I'll ask for repentance next year about using the computer on this day.

Sheesh, am I hungry.

Special Student Thoughts:

2008-10-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

So being back in school is a combination of: creating, doubting, creating, getting stuck, rethinking it all (and life), making more work anyway, questioning, distracting oneself with self-guided tours (snooping) in the studio, hitting up the thrift stores, acquiring unnecessary crap at rummage sales, making more work, more self-doubt, excitement, developing ideas, creativity, watching cool people create cool things, observing amazing firings, making new friends, watching a bit too much of television, watching a bit too little of the leaves changing, getting to the studio, getting stumped at the studio, creating, getting dirty, making order, making decisions, worrying about the next round of school, making contacts, learning, growing, changing, and creating all the while trying to maintain my identity and develop it further towards the person I want to be.

Here's my first finished piece at Alfred:

The piece is yet to be titled, the background square is 12" x 12", and the materials are clay and electrical tape. Nu?

She's the best the 'pubes could do?!?

2008-10-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

ROLL CALL

2008-10-03T07:23:00.000-07:00

Anyone reading this?

More on My New 'Hood

2008-09-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

With beautiful trees...that seem to be on fireall a blaze in full glory

And free range chickens too.

Somewhere in my "neighborhood"
(aka further on up Route 244)
chickens and turkeys roam free.
I have yet to figure out where
exactly they live because
I've seen them out and
about around several
different homes.
(Turkeys not pictured.)
The road to my apartment
that is flecked with gold:

Visitors welcome!

Two Reasons Why I Thought It Would Feel Good To Be Far From New York City:

2008-09-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

1. No roaches

2. No ghettos

I guess it was wishful thinking on my part, because look what is only a few steps from my studio space, just over two yellow lines:

Lovin' the Fall and here's why:

2008-09-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

The leaves are changing, and all around some

trees appear to be on fire. The ground is

damp and I need good soup recipes.

Well not everything can be true...

2008-09-24T11:09:00.001-07:00

So the GREAT rummage sale of Roscoe, NY apparantly is not daily! I had another bris to attend and passed through Roscoe on Monday, alas it wasn't open and I was sorely let down. I'll have to do some research on the event, but I do hope whenever I go through again it will be open. It is the perfect stopping point for driving between Alfred and Rhinebeck.

One Reason To Love Small Towns:

2008-09-21T19:35:00.000-07:00

You can get all this stuff
(sans the stove) for $5.00!!

Yup that's right! Believe it.

Doesn't every person need this kind of stuff?

Small towns, strange dolls.

And plans for more....

If you ever pass near Roscoe, NY don't hesitate to stop at the church's daily rummage sale. I collected a box of things, went to pay, told the woman I wasn't sure I was going to get everything because I didn't know the prices, and then she stopped me from unpacking the box and said, "Before you take it all out, how about $5 for all of it?" And the rest is history. From now on I'll be making it a tradition to stop for food and rummage sale shopping every time I drive between Alfred and my eastern destinations. I mean really, how could I not want to eat with this fine specimen watching over me:

Pictorial of the Basics

2008-09-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

Enter quaint Alfred, with the original office of the Celadon Company (AKA: The Terra Cotta) built in 1892 at one end of town. The contemporary building in the background (photo above right) is Harder Hall, of Alfred University, inside of which is located the Ceramics facilities in the basement (where I have a small studio).

HOT STUFF!

(Test rings being taken out of a Soda Firing,
one of the first firings I witnessed briefly.)

Welcome to my town, I live 1.5 miles from campus. Traveling past my town, further east of Alfred Station, if you blink you'll literally miss the next town. Or maybe it's just a town within a town because shortly after you go through it you are back in Alfred Station. I'm not sure really how it works, all I know is that across from the above sign on route 244 you find this sign:

This town seems to be about the size of one property lot.

Welcome to my home, I call it the shack in back. I have no idea what it was originally, but now it's my humble abode. It is awaiting visitors from far and wide that want to venture on over to western New York , a far cry from upstate but that is often where people think I am when I mention Alfred University. I guess for many Big Applers anything outside of their borders but still in NY state is considered upstate regardless of actual location.

I live upstairs on the right side. Note the maroon Volvo on gracious loan to me from my parents. It helps me keep my sanity by giving me easy departure tactics when I'm feeling claustrophobic.

This is the property next to the lot where I live, it is commonly known as "Grad Ghetto" perhaps because between the two houses are multiple trailers (one of which I looked at to rent). Thankfully, I'm apparently on the "right" side of the bushes, allowing me to glow in my upscale status or at least rave about it online. And I thought leaving NYC would get me far from any ghetto...guess not. At least the ghetto tenants here seem to be of a high caliber without firearms nor drug dealers on the corner (that was reserved for my Northgate/Seattle house of 1997).

Uh-oh...

2008-09-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

My hand-me-down computer, which already was limited in its scope of abilities (i.e. not one iota of office tools), has multiple (?) viruses now. It opens up everything multiple times, so far the record is 79 windows of Internet Explorer open at once. All though I get so many internet windows opened it seems I am not able to even get access to the internet now as I instantly get a warning message that it needs to close. So, in the end, I can't download any software to help me cure the problem(s)! All this written to express that this is putting a bit of a damper on my vast plans for putting up photos. I'll try to figure something out soonish. In the meantime, enjoy some other blog and check back here soon.

So, I introduced my studio mate to a Seattle phenomenon...

2008-09-10T09:27:00.000-07:00

This was her response:
"Marisa why were you evicted?" Because I spent all my money at http://www.mcphee.com/

If you don't know about McPhee and you're wacko then you might consider visiting it as well, but consider yourself forewarned: lock your wallet away first!

Just a Run Through of My Happenings Today

2008-09-07T20:02:00.001-07:00

It was a sunny day that turned cloudy. I was given a few Fall colored leaves today that reflect the colder nights we've been having. I worked on another chanukiyah, participated in a small group of Hebrew learning hopefuls, returned to the studio to finish said chanukiyah, then to a meditation group, afterward out for pizza with Incognito to the one-and-only pizza parlor between towns, and home again home again jiggedy jig.

Well, well, well...look who's learning something....

2008-09-06T19:08:00.000-07:00

So, it looks like I finally figured out how to add photographs here. I'm told that photos make a blog all the more interesting. You'll have to let me know what you think...enjoy!

This is the back entrance to the ceramics studio, the loading dock to be precise. The ceramics studio is in Harder Hall on the basement level. Basically, the shape is like a big donut with all the kilns in the middle, Graduates on one side, Seniors and SpEcIaL StUdEnTs on the other, Juniors & Sophomore classes on yet another side, and then the raw materials, plaster room, grinding room, & hallways off to other various places on the last side. It's all rather confusing and HUGE. They have so many kilns; oh, there is also an outside kiln space for the atmospheric kilns (think soda, salt, and wood). I'm truly blown away by how much equipment there is here. It seems every student that wants a wheel gets one, even each individual beginner thrower! Phew. Even though there is a lot of stuff and space and Alfred is notorious for being a great school, a wise man said today that Alfred has three great things going for it: 1) a forklift for moving your big work, 2) a great library, & 3) if you don't like your teacher there are others to chose from! So, yes it's a fabulous school but it still has some crap tables like all the other schools and I guess school can only be what you ultimately make of it. Basically, I'm still getting used to it all and I'm sure it will take a few more weeks to fully acclimate and get a rhythm/routine going.

The above and below photos are my actual studio space, it's probably about 7' x 12' nestled in amongst the spaces of the four additional SpEcIaL StUdEnTs who are all wonderful thus far and diverse! I'm grateful having a cohort that is working at Alfred in the same realm as I.

The line of critters on the left was created last night and hopefully will be a working Chanukiah come December. Above right is qualifying signage painted on the backside of every work station in each person's studio space in the Senior and SpEcIaL StUdEnTs area. I managed to snag two of the stations, a huge locker, plenty of boards, a ware cart, drafting table & a variety of seating options to put in my space. It's rather cozy with all my tchotchkies hanging around.

This mysterious bandit is someone that I ought to be afraid of, but I've grown to really appreciate. If you're at all curious who might be influencing any delinquent behavior I aquire while at Alfred then you will want to also read on a regular basis the following blog: http://www.awwnaw.blogspot.com/ and save me if you're worried and/or concerned. In truth, I'm sure I'll be a better person after my nearly daily contact with the bandit that is my studio neighbor. Need I say more than the following: she has a dead fly collection, a bubble gum museum forming, is making rat feet, and is often found incognito! It makes everyday thrilling.

And tomorrow's a new day.

Just The Beginning....

2008-09-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

Here I sit in my new home: Alfred Station, NY
Here I type for all to see if they are so inclined.
And here I go for now, as there's other things to be done.