Here Comes Winter!

 

It's about time, isn't it?!? I'm not winter's biggest fan, but we're well into the second third of January and... what? No sub-zero temperatures, no snow (or hardly any) as the above picture suggests. We've had a miserable amount of chilly, dreary days. And rain! (In case you hadn't noticed.)

It was just Monday that we had snow and most of it had melted by this morning. Today's promised rain/snow/sleet "event" (with high winds!) was largely a no-show (no-snow?) Yes, we now have a 1/2 inch of white stuff that will disappear later tonight- when the temperature rises to the 50's.

Here's one of Bob's sculptures, enjoying the winter weather. You will notice the grass is actually turning greener. Okay so my mixed feelings run like this: I'm glad for mild weather as I have an opening for my show on Friday and it's supposed to be pretty nice: sunny and in the upper 30's. But another side of me is scared that we're so far along the Climate Change curve that we're at a point of no return. (*1) January should be cold, dark, snowy and yes! Miserable! It shouldn't be masquerading as late February or March.

So... can we (ironically) cross our fingers and toes that nasty weather finally finds us? It's a mixed hope whatever comes our way...

(*1) And don't get me started on the fact that the so-called Dooms Day Clock is closer to midnight than ever before.

A Remembered New Year's Resolution

 Aha! I recall my New Year's Resolution, mostly in time for the so-called Chinese New Year (*1). So it's to absolutely ban all GMO foods from our house! We have done a generally good job in avoiding this biologically engineered plague from entering our mouths, but I have slipped up a few times. Yes, thanks to Vermont, they are required to label GMO or suggest that there may be a bio-engineered ingredient (typically corn or soy products) but I had been under the mistaken idea that Vermont BANNED all GMO products. Nope- they just have to be labelled.

Which is no doubt why suddenly everything seems happy to proclaim they're GMO free:

I love seeing that little insignia. Surprising things claim to be non  GMO... like Domino's sugar. Hard to believe but I'll go with it.

Sneaky companies print the inclusion of bio-engineered foods in tiny hard to read lettering; this is why it's easy to slip up occasionally. I am such a crank at the supermarket. I read everything. We've been avoiding high-fructose corn syrup and their treacly friends for years. But it seems suddenly, the GMO crowd is pretty rampant. I know there are many who insist that there's "no difference" or that some genetically modified foods are better (in that they may keep fresh for longer or they may be more packed with vitamins etc) but I want to avoid Frankenfood that is Monsanto inspired and full of harmful forever chemicals. Look at Round-Up ready crops! Corn! Yuck! People are winning law suits and getting seriously sick and yet these dandy bio-hazards are winding up under you slice of cheese or in your breakfast bowl.

So I say: eat what you want! If downing a chemical-laden breaded coating or drinking milk that comes from cows treated with BST makes you happy... go for it! But our household is not buying! Happy Lunar New Year!

(*1) I believe it occurs this Sunday and it's the year of the Rabbit. Supposedly a kinder, gentler year as befits a bunny. Last year was the year of the Tiger and obviously it was a ferocious tiger!

It's (Almost) Show Time!

 

I have to admit, it's a great way to begin the New Year... with a really terrific 2 person show (with my friend and fellow fabulous artist Lydia Viscardi). It's opening... sometime in the next two weeks. We were busy installing yesterday... and I discovered I had forgotten (oops!) two of my pieces at home. (*1) No big deal as we're making another trip back to Westport to install two of Bob's sculptures, too. Plus it gives me another opportunity to tweak my parts of the show...

So above, you'll see one of the pieces I was finishing up for inclusion. And like the ridiculous joke sign that used to be available in gag shops (*2) the "P" is missing. So I was so close to completing this piece and I was thinking "great!" because I didn't have a whole lot of time... when I noticed the "P" was oh so slightly crooked. It really bugged me, like there was no way I could leave it like that.

So I painstakingly pulled alllll those minute stitches out and resewed it back on. Fun! (Not! But an artist's gotta do what an artist's gotta do. Chances are, no one else would have noticed.) But would you look at the lovingly faux-alligator texture; I adore pleather and fabric like this. A true bitch to sew- thick and nubbly- but looks so good!

Here it is, in all it's glory with the "P" restored and the crocodile tear fringe and the snake-head metal hanger realized for me by Bob. A triumph of artistic genius.

In case you're wondering (or even if you're not as you're a captive audience reading this!) The phrase comes from a discussion that I had with a good friend and fellow artist. We were talking about how petty some artists can be and instead of congratulating other artists on getting shows, or good reviews or grants, they get snarky and seek to belittle other artists accomplishments. I said, "It's like they're diving into the envy pool" and he responded, "That sounds like one of your pieces". Challenge accepted!

(*1) I neglected to bring them because I wrapped them up in a white garbage bag, not a black one. All the others were black and so stood out against the white table. They were waiting for me when I got home. 

(*2) Granted, this is a bit obscure. There were these novelty signs that read: "Welcome to our "OOL". You'll notice there is no "P" in it... and we'd like to keep it that way." We can all groan now...

Where Does The Time Go?

 Okay! Let's end the old year (2022) on a happy note; and here's Ganesha to help us out. I think he's associated with removing obstacles and ushering in wisdom and understanding. And do we need that now! (*1)

What a year! We don't even need to go back over that... let's just look forward and hope that "things" get better. I guess they couldn't get worse, what with wars in Ukraine (and elsewhere), year three of the pandemic, inflation, and gun-loving right wing white supremacist MAGA goons... oops! I wasn't going to go there!

I am happy to report that at least one of my two New Year's resolutions from this past January came to fruition. I had vowed to find a gallery to represent me, and Lo! and behold, I am signing a two year contract with a commercial gallery and participating in a two person show this January... so that makes me happy. I wasn't quite as successful with my other New Year's resolution... (*2) but one outta two ain't bad. (To paraphrase Meat Loaf).

So as we sally forth into the new year, I am trying to remember what I thought of the other day as a really appropriate resolution. But I'm forgetting what it was so we'll just leave it there for now. So onward and upwards and into the future we go.

It is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese Horoscope; a year supposedly "lucky for families"and a gentler kind of year... we can only hope. Happy New Year!

(*1) And yes, this particular representation of Ganesha is interesting in that he seems to be wearing bright red long-johns.

(*2) My other resolution was to not pick things up off the floor without first identifying what the thing is. I wander around without my contact lens out and I often mistake nasty things (dragged in by us or Robin the Good) for innocent things.Like I picked up what I thought was a leaf and it was a slug. Eewww! Or I picked up what I thought was a small piece of cardboard and... no, you do NOT want to know!