The opening on Saturday night went very well. Good people, good food, encouraging words- I'm very happy with it. It meant a great deal to me for those that made the effort to come out, so, thank you.

If you didn't make it Saturday, the show will be up until November 30th, so stop by the Birdhouse for another event this month to see the work. I'm in the process of finding out about holding open hours there, too, so be on the look out for that. Also, don't hesitate to contact me and I can let you in the space. I WANT to show as many people these pieces, so just let me know.

I will write more about the work later but am anxious to announce the winner of Saturday evening's drawing to win a Beth Meadows original.

And the winner is, with Per-Ole Lind as my witness...



!!!!!!!!!

Bethany, it warms my soul that you are the winner. I would like you to take your pick of the following, any time you are ready...



Canoe 2011
embroidery thread, acrylic on salvaged screen



IGA 2011
tin ceiling tile, graphite, colored pencil, marker






















Reading Poetry by the Danube: A Peaceful Respite Between Two Sisters 2008
acrylic on canvas



or pick a house drawing from my show in September.


Happy Monday Funday, everyone.

This Saturday*, November 5, I'm having an art opening at the Birdhouse** in Knoxville. It's from 6-9pm, and you are invited.

This is a big show for me, and I'll tell you why.



1) I haven't had a solo show in a gallery in almost four years. The Birdhouse is not solely dedicated as a gallery, but it's closer to it than a coffee shop, restaurant, or small corridor, places I've been showing the past few years in Knoxville.

2) I've made seven paintings in the past two months. That's worth celebrating!

3) Many of these paintings have been on my mind for some time, and I've finally been able to put them on canvas. It's so fun to finally see them.

4) While some of the ideas I've painted have been around for some time, others came to me in the past month. I've finally found the time to paint ideas right as they come, which is not a luxury I've had in the past.



5) I've been able to delve into and include certain elements I enjoy in architecture, fashion, film, literature, and music. I mixed these things with the style I've been developing over the past few years. I'm making decisions as I go along, letting the paint respond to the initial idea.

6) I see this, and hope it turns out to be, one of my last (solo painting) shows in Knoxville for a while. The idea all along has been to take these paintings other places. I am dying to show in other cities, so if you have any advice on how to do so or have contacts in other cities, please email me. I'm a slow learner with these things, so I can use all the help I can get.

7) In regard to the opening, I'm buying food, beer, and will be present to mingle and talk about whatever it is all of you want to talk about. I don't do a lot of hostessing these days, so I'm looking forward to it.

If you are in Knoxville this Saturday evening, please come out. I want you to be there!!

*Not First Friday, but the day after!
**The Birdhouse
800 N 4th Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37917
Saturday, November 5, 2011
6-9pm

RSVP here

I need to get something really important off of my chest.

I do NOT like Beyonce's new music and realize that maybe I never liked her old music either. Granted, I only hear what's played on the radio, and I try to listen to her songs all the way through, but I can't! Her voice, her lyrics- I can't stand it!

Even her old music that I kind of got, there is always a part that makes me cringe.

It bothers me because I'd really like to like her. She dances like awesomeness, and her music has potential, obviously. I'm just waiting for her to quit annoying me to death.

... ok... I feel better.

In other news, my guilty pleasure is listening to Rihanna, and if I could ever look as awesome with orangey-red hair, I'd do it.

Also, Halloween party discussion around the urban, starter-log campfire last night was about Brittany Spear's come back. She did it, y'all. She came back from the dead.

Facebook has me all flummoxed again. Bear with me as I delve into the matter, and try not to let these thoughts infer how I must feel about you.

***

Lately, I've felt the need to "de-friend" certain people that I've been close to at certain points in my life but are no longer. It's only a handful of people, but it still means something to me.

The nature of my friendships and relationships are changing. Boys I was once very close friends with are now married. Girls I used to see multiple times a week have boyfriends or husbands and have dropped off the face of the earth. Couples are having babies, old boyfriends have girlfriends (or boyfriends), and many single people I know go out a lot while I'm beginning to stay in more and more.

My point is not to expound on how all of this makes me feel but to express that times are changing, and it makes me think about the natural ebb and flow of friendships and relationships, and how a thing like Facebook counters that. In reality, people move in and out of our lives at different times, and this is healthy. It's strange, however, that now when someone moves out of our real lives, we are able to read on Facebook what they ate for lunch or see pictures of their wedding to which we weren't invited.

If we could, I'm sure we'd remain friends with everyone we'd ever been friends with or dated in the past, but life doesn't offer that. Even as we accept this natural, sometimes difficult,  progression of real life relationships, Facebook throws us a curve ball.

It may just be me, but it doesn't seem right that someone who won't return my phone calls would write on my Wall to tell me: I've been stalking your photos. Looks like you're doing great!, Let's hang out soon!!, or I miss you!!!

It also feels unhealthy to have the ability to see my ex-boyfriends' engagement, wedding, and/or baby photos.

With most people, the superficiality of a Facebook friendship doesn't bother me, and there are different reasons for this that I won't explain now. Concerning a handful of others, however, it's become problematic. I find myself looking at their photos, scrolling through their wall, and a sadness and sense of loss overwhelms me, even if only for a few minutes.

I've gotten to the point that as soon as this behavior begins, I remove these people from my Facebook friends. While it feels like a necessary and healthy thing to do, it also makes me feel... silly. When someone fades from my real life for reasons out of my control, I have to make the conscious effort to remove them virtually as well?

I worry these people will see that I've de-friended them and conclude I dislike them, but reality is the opposite. To "de-friend" is a weird way of saying, "I liked/like/loved/love you too much to merely be your Facebook friend."

In response to my friend Amelia bringing back Timberlands, I've decided to start sporting Hi-Tecs.

I found these lil puppies a while back at a thrift store and finally wore them for the first time today. The color scheme is simply breathtaking. 



In other news, two different people in the past two days have sent me emails about fat cats. I must be developing a reputation for liking this sort of thing.

My friend Alice sent me the photo below. It made me laugh because when I lived in Maplehurst, Juicy would sleep over at neighbors' apartments and they would feed her. I finally wrote on her collar:  LOOK AT ME. I'M NOT HUNGRY. PLEASE DO NOT FEED ME.

I gave my first artist lecture yesterday morning at Walter State Community College in Morristown. Considering I had to wake up at 5am to prepare myself and drive there, I think it went fairly well.

My friend Brian teaches an Art Appreciation class there, hence why I was asked. I wasn't too nervous about it because, although I don't know much about most things, I do know quite a bit about the work I've been making for the past decade or so.

It was beneficial for me, too, to look back over the paintings I've made the past 7 or 8 years and see patterns and everything coming together currently. It's also nice to realize I've been an art making machine this year.






















^ Self Portrait
mixed media on paper
2004
The beginning of something grand for me...

I also now know what it's like, as a speaker, to see people's eyes roll to the back of their head as they fight off sleep. I was a little shaky at the beginning, so I don't blame them for not being engaged, but as I warmed up, I think they did, too. They asked some good questions and shared helpful feedback. I really appreciated engaging with people about my work in this manner.

Brian walked me to my car afterward and told me he finally realized what I've been doing all this time (in regard to my artwork). He has a great way of summarizing the work artists' make into one sentence, a thing you apparently learn to do in grad school. He said I am a conceptually minded illustrator.

It's given me something to think about.

My sweet sister gave me a subscription to Vogue for my birthday this past June. Considering I haven't subscribed to a magazine since Highlights for Kids and American Girl Magazine, I had forgotten that feeling of excitement, to receive a magazine each month. (I'm pretty sure I squeal when I see it in my mailbox.)

What clothes, models, and photos will I  adore, make me swoon? And even, Which ones will be hideous?



Looking at me, you may not realize I have this interest. I don't spend a lot of money on clothing; most of my wardrobe comes from Target and thrift stores. I am also a minimalist when it comes to fashion. Less is more. This is what I tell myself, but it could also be that I am lazy.

I allow myself the occasional trip to the mall. I legitimately used to not like it, but I now admit that the reason I stay away from the mall is to avoid the temptation to buy pretty and expensive things.






















^ I love this ad. Love it.

My sweet mother*, who tires of the fact that I wear second-hand clothing, tells me about once a year to use her credit card to go shopping. I did this recently, the first time since I've been receiving Vogue, and I felt a difference in the experience. I didn't just want any old thing, which has been typical of my 16ish to 25ish year-old self. I want the best, the most wonderfully designed pieces. I am meticulous in my search. If all of these designers are spending so much of their time designing and are charging an arm and a leg for their work, those buying their product better look smoking hot, right? I think so.

Sometimes (sometimes) I'm glad I don't have a lot of money. I'd be able to spend it all in the most frivolous manner.

For now, I'll admire from afar the beauty of the painstakingly tailored garment and well-designed shoe. I will also allow my paintings to be influenced by this recent interest.


* my family is sweet.

I now have an Upcoming Events page. You can reach it by clicking on the Upcoming Events  link right under the banner at the top of this page. Now you never have to wonder when and where my artwork will be displayed. (You can thank me later)

I'm thinking in a couple of months I may get around to making an About page, too, so that's something you can look forward to as well- right in time for Christmas!

Lastly, because I had a nightmare about Juicy being in danger last night, here are a few cute pictures of her, where she is not in danger.