A Very Busy Week!

Yes, that's me and my fellow women artists being interviewed on WPKN, a local very independent radio station. Thanks to Debbie Hesse for the invitation- and the photograph! We were all radio neophytes (and quite nervous initially!)but settled in and had a delightful hour long discussion of art, music, politics and Nasty Women in modern day America.
On my way to the radio station, I was enthralled, listening to public hearings into intelligence gathering and the evidence coming forth about Russian meddling in our recent election- shades of Watergate! Yes, I was one of those youngsters who couldn't get enough of Senator Sam and the rest of the subcommittee as delved into nefarious Nixon White House doings...
I had work to complete for my inclusion in the show "Mincing Words" curated by the artist (and organizer of wonderful shows) Martha Lewis. Hangers to be affixed, work to be delivered- the typical pre-game details. And this was at the same time as trying to get the car repaired, go to work, finish a collage for another fund raiser auction.
Not to mention Maggie still needs additional TLC because while her hoof is on the mend, she needs to regain the weight and strength she shed while hurting. Maggie actually broke into a trot and then a bit of a canter yesterday so I know she's improving. And of course, the extra attention that Maggie gets requires me to lavish more focus on Lil' Robin (who waxes jealous...). No wonder I run around like a nut before leaving for work.

(Another shot, taken by the station manager, Steve Constanza).
Bob and I were jubilant and celebrated the rethuglican defeat of their non-replacement of ObamaCare. Hooray! You can't take away benefits and give a tax break to the wealthy and expect to pass a cruel and unusual law (that the Unpresident doesn't seem to have read...) Can we nowpush on to Single Payer Universal Coverage, please? Instead of pandering to the Tea Party turned "Freedom Caucus" who didn't think the absurdity proffered went far enough... yeesh!
And then the truck screwed up as we dropped the car off for brake repairs, essentially leaving us transportationless. Thank goodness for our good friend Joe who ferried us to my opening in New Haven yesterday afternoon! I was able to drop off my work for the auction and then we were all free to enjoy a crowded and boisterous opening and dine on Japanese food afterwards. A good night!
But I experienced a funny moment when I went into my studio the other day and my walls were entirely bare. It was shocking! I guess it's good to have a bunch of your work out in the world and empty space to fill up with new art.

The 900 Pound Patient in the Field

Yup! That's Miserable Maggie and her delightfully abscessed hoof. Here's a close up:

Swaddled in the ol' standby remedy of Epson salts and iodine mixed into a poultice and slapped into a disposable diaper and strapped on with duct tape! My poor Mexican pony!
Maggie started favoring her foot on Thursday.On Friday, in the midst of a spontaneous snow storm and swirling winds, she was really down for the count. Her leg was so retracted upwards to her belly that I began to fear that she had ruptured a tendon or broken a bone. And when I came home from work, she wasn't even standing: she was laying full face down in the snow and mud. I thought she was a goner.
I called the vet on Saturday and Hallelujah! They have Saturday hours. Since Maggie had made it through the 6 degree night (with a minus zero wind chill) I was pretty sure she'd survive, but the vet came and confirmed our diagnosis of a particularly deep and nasty abscess. So once the hoof was wrapped and she had consumed a couple of sizeable horsey pain pills, crushed and camouflaged in molasses and grated carrot, I was relieved that she didn't require a bullet to the forehead. I am happy to report that two days later, she's actually walking a way that resembles walking*- just in time for a Bombogenesis or Bombodelic or Bombolicious (something like that!) storm! (A sudden drop of 24 or more milibars... whatever that means.)
 So we await Stella and already have four or five inches of the fluffy white stuff. Our house is warm (that's another story) and Bob's going to make a pork roast and we have a coconut cake (looked like a snow storm!) and a box of wine. I think we'll survive! Here's a picture to warm us up and cheer our flagging winter-weary spirits:

I am a sucker for the primroses that all the supermarkets sell at this time of year. And these were marked down! The weirdest part to me is that they are actually hardy and if I don't kill them with intermittent over watering and allowing them to dry out and wilt, I can plant them out if Spring ever arrives!

* You have to imagine a 900 pound beast limping on three legs- not a pleasant sight!

This is Why We Do Art

One reason to make art is to respond to the world. Let's face it: the world (at present anyway!) is pretty messed up and very confusing. Making art can certainly be a way to order your thoughts, express concern, channel outrage (or even hope!) and at the very least, vent some pent up steam. Since The Orange Menace ascended to the throne of The Unpresidented, artists and writers and musicians (and yes! comedians!) have been venting and expressing and that's a good thing.
The piece above is a case in point. The phrase "kompromat" is Russian for "Compromising Material": essentially blackmail. I made this piece as a way of commenting on all the information pouring out about the present administrations ties to Vladimir Putin and the Russian government. Let's face it- there is plenty of evidence that the election was hacked and influenced with the "help" of foreign agents. And there is that disturbing dossier full of weird allegations about "golden showers" and other compromising materials...
I worked with gold and other sumptuous fabrics as both Putin and The Donald enjoy luxurious shiny things and a life of opulence. And I wanted the piece to reference heraldic banners as the present administration clearly sees itself as an imperial presidency. Let them eat cake, indeed!
I also employed semi-Cyrillic lettering that was still easily readable but looks vaguely foreign. I thank the curator of the show "Mincing Words" with suggesting the word "kompromat"! The perfect word at the right time. (Thank you, Martha Lewis).
It's worth remembering that Russian artists have labored under restrictions and censorship for years. Speaking one's mind during the Soviet Era was seriously dangerous and artists daring to produce music or art or books that were considered decadent or not for the glory of the Russian people or government were banished to Siberia or killed. Things aren't much better recently; think of the Russian rock band Pussy Riot. They were jailed but continue to make art, music and revolution. We consider these events occur in distant countries, under repressive regimes... until it happens here.
I am deeply horrified and troubled by the rise in hate crimes, the repression of a free press, the belief in fake news and the passing of bizarre laws (such as the one in North Dakota that was to allow drivers to run over people if they were in roadways protesting. Yikes!) Our democracy is being sorely tested and our rights are being eroded. (Why is it that the rethuglicans only like to protect SOME rights- like the right to bear arms?) I think- no, I KNOW- it's an especially important time to exercise our freedom of speech.
So... the only response possible is to make art. Viva La Revolution!