Category Archives: art

prescott

Last week, David and I drove to Prescott.

Ahhh…out of town…it was so nice to get out of the heat, and even better that David went too.  We had a wonderful time.  We stopped at the Rock Springs Cafe both on the way up and back.  In Prescott we stayed in a little B&B called the Gurley Street Lodge.  The owner’s wife was an artist, and I was able to spend quite a bit of time talking to her about art.  That was encouraging.  We walked around town, shopped, drank beer, watched the clog dancers, and hung out in The Raven.

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This is the cabin in which we stayed. Full kitchen, two bedroom, nice and clean.  The weather was amazing; on our drive up, it was pouring rain.

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You know you want some world famous whisky pecan pie.  You do.

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David wanted a red cream soda, but we didn’t have any cash.  The minimum for debit was ten dollars, so I bought some local orange blossom honey.  Mmmmm…

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The Raven serves local and organic food whenever possible.  I had a salad and soup as well as an iced americano here.  They have lots of art on the walls and support the music scene as well.  David and I hung out here for a few hours.  I read a book about photography, and he read one about a journalist traveling to China.

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And how many coffee shops in your neighborhood have the awesomeness that is this?

Phoenix Photographers

There is an exhibit being planned in the Pie Braggs Factory, opening October First Friday (October 3rd, 2008).


The theme is: Mysterious: simultaneously arousing wonder and inquisitiveness
The photographs do not need to be Halloween themed. They do need an air of mystery.

If you have photographs you would like to be considered, please contact the curator: mysteriousexhibit@gmail.com
Please send along your artist resume/bio including a list of all exhibits and publications, as well as links to photographs you are submitting.


This is open to Phoenix based photographers only. It is a local exhibit.

update much

So, Steph gave me a hear time because I hadn’t updated in awhile. Meanwhile, her blog hasn’t gotten any action in over a month. Not that I’m saying…okay, I’m saying it. Pot…kettle.

I have been doing my best to survive the summer. In case anyone was wondering, it’s still really hot here. Somedays, it’s a bit humid. Not Tennessee humid, but humid. Supposedly, the monsoons are around. Somewhere. I think it rained once.

I realized the other day that I live in a pretty diverse area. Within a mile of my home is a Jewish Community Center, a Seventh Day Adventist Church, a Korean Church (Presbyterian I believe), a Jehovah’s Witness building (not sure what they call those), a Lutheran church, an Episcopalian church, and the Mosque is nearly ready to open. They said it would be ready in time for Ramadan. I am really excited because I can see the dome in the view from my bedroom, and they are going to paint it gold.

It’s about time somebody around here decorated something. Thanks local Muslim congregation! Perhaps it’s the artist in me, but I love love love religious buildings. We need more creative spiritual beautiful inspirational spaces to be in.

In other news, I am working on two projects for hire. One is a wooden dragon set from China. Another patient at the chiropractor’s overheard me talking about art, and said he had bought the set for over his door, but it was unfinished wood. So…it rode home on my vespa on day to be painted. Not sure if I want to paint the two dragons identically (I like mirror images) or just have them “go”.

The other project is a large painting to go over someone’s couch. She gave me a swatch of fabric with colors that she likes, and a picture of another painting she liked and asked me to use it as a jumping off point. So we shall see what comes to pass.

I’m also giving a temporary home to my friend Alyssa’s shiba inu dog. His name is Kishu, and he lives downstairs. Peter bossed Kishu around when he first arrived, but the other two cats have been chased upstairs.

I am also planning on going to the scooter rally in Flagstaff next month. Yay for scooter rallys. Rallies? I have no idea what people do at these things, but I plan on going with a group of other scooter enthusiasts. And hopefully some of my friends. And hopefully, I won’t be a big dork with my helmet and jacket. Safety first though, right?

Below is a picture of just how awesome trampoline are because of how they make us feel. Hooray for trampolines! And hooray for MacIntyre’s and Schroeders!

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toe jam

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I received an email from my friend Michael Mullowney today. We took several classes together including watercolor and jewelry design. (By the way, never take jewelry class at 7:40a.m. No one should be handling blow torches or acid that early.)

His watercolors will illustrate a children’s book called Toe Jam. The book is about little fairies similar to the tooth fairy but with a much more disgusting job. If you can think of a job grosser than collecting teeth.

Congratulations to Michael.

yellow light

Argh. I struggle everyday with disciplining myself. I want so badly to go into the studio every day and create amazing works of art of which I am so proud. But everytime I complete one, I am mostly dissatisfied with the result. It isn’t what I intended. I want to draw and paint like someone else, but whenever I start drawing I draw what I draw. It feels derivitive and illustrative.

Worse yet, I feel compelled to sell out and create what everyone else is creating right now–art inspired by fifties throwback ideals. Little drawings of birds, children, owls, and men with horn rimmed glasses. Stencils seem to be pretty hot right now too. What is out there right now, what is selling, is a mix of craft and high art and interior design.

The light is always best in my studio in the mornings, but I distract myself doing the chores around the house until the light goes bad, then tell myself I can’t possibly work in the dark or under that terrible yellow bulb. Then I go outside to run errands and water the yard and answer email. (I certainly haven’t spent much time blogging.)

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Here is a picture of Stephanie in Austin looking snarky.

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magnet art?

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I just pulled this off the internet; I thought it sounded really interesting. But I wonder what they will do with all the magnets when the exhibit is over. And I think the rule obeying the sign ordinance is against the spirit of graffiti:

“On Thursday, May 1st SMoCA’s May Magnet Month kicks off with artists and visitors of all ages invited to participate in this month-long event. We invite you to to bring magnets to SMoCA and place them on the Museum’s metal exterior.

Special guests from the Denver-based Magnet Mafia will be joining the magnet madness this year and will be leading a magnet making workshop in the spirit of graffiti art on May 1st along with Phoenix’s own Spraygraphic and the Alphamonsters.

Express your individuality and come be a part of the growing collection on our magnetic museum!

When creating your magnets please remember we have over 1500 ft2 of surface space so don’t limit yourself on size or quantity. Additionally, magnets larger than 5″ x 7″ can not have any text incorporated in the design due to city sign ordinances.

Otherwise, the sky’s the limit!

Create your own graffiti MAGNET launch party on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 5pm.

There will be blank magnets and light refreshments.

Magnets may be dropped off at the museum front desk anytime throughout the months of April and May.

The museum hours are as follows:

Closed Mondays
Tuesday, Wednesday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Free Thursday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm (free admission on Thursdays)
Friday, Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm

You may also ship your magnets to the address below.

Kenny Barrett
SMoCA Community Outreach
7380 east second street
scottsdale, arizona 85251

480.874.4685

480.874.4655 fax

www. smoca.org
Happy magnet making!”