there and back again

Tested out how long it takes to get to PNCA on bike when going down 12th. An amazing 12 minutes. I should allow 15 at the minimum, and set to leave at about 25 till. Really easy, all downhill. A little tricky at times when a strong wind was pushing at me, but I stayed upright. Going back on 13th took about 16 minutes, which makes sense as it is uphill. The wind on my back was only there when I was stopped, so I didn't have its aid. The hill isn't so bad, just all the other times when I am going against it I have always been tired.

Today had a slow start as I didn't get much sleep due to the balcony party going on till 2am.

All I had planned for today was to go see a movie, and Sean texted me indicating he had the same idea. Portland, being a cool hip city, has lots of cool hip theatres. Some of them are 21+ after a certain period of the day, blocking me from seeing the indie movies they flaunt at me with posters tacked to the side. One movie I have wanted to see for some time, but was never available to me for seeing, turned up at one of these 21+ theatres; the Living Room Theatre. It was only showing twice a day, at 6:20 and 2:10, Friday-Thursday. At 3:30 the theatre/lounge/cafe turns over to 21+. Here was my chance! I could see this movie today or tomorrow, without fail or scheduling conflicts! Hurrah! I tried to round up some more people to go with us but David, Mike and Bryan were out, James had beach plans, and the boys in 111 weren't up for it. So it was just the two of us.

At a little after 1:00, Sean and I started walking towards the theatre to go see Paprika. Loved it. Absolutely fantastic movie. The animation seemed near flawless, the imagination that went into the concepts, yow! I wish more movies like this were spread across the country in every Regal cinema, instead of tucked away in limited 14 showing releases. I thought A Scanner Darkly was a good step in the right direction of using animation to present concepts otherwise unattainable in other mediums. Paprika is a trip, and one I'd like to take again tomorrow if I can round up more people. Sandwich a second viewing in between my maybe haircut and the William Kentridge show. Ohhhh I want to see it again, can't wait for DVD. Could have a Satoshi Kon night; Tokyo Godfathers and Paprika, movies that transcend their genre.

Walking back we stopped by the Cheese Steak Sandwich guy for lunch, and ate our tasty sandwiches as we meandered home. A nice, easy going day. There are PICA/TBA events going on tonight, I just can't be bothered to pay $20 and see them.

Now to do my homework. Triptych first or contour drawing? Reading later on.

chervona & enjoying my day off

Whew! I attempted biking around the city today at was fairly successful at it; I didn't get lost, get hit by a car (or almost get hit, no car-related trauma at all), and found a convenience store before I dehydrated. I'm still a little fearful but I'll get past it the more I do it.

First Thursday was pretty fun. Lindsay, Brandon, Sean and I got a semi-late start to the show in Pioneer Courthouse Square. It was pretty packed when we got there so we didn't stay long. The music was pretty, not totally right up my alley but still nice. We back-tracked to 13th and walked towards the Pearl District. We saw a nice exhibit with glass work, it was so tempting to touch it. Lindsay says at her first show she will let people touch the work, I suggested that you give out texture samples for people to handle. I wish more art was touchable, and not so much like that massive iron sculpture in Seattle's Olympic Sculpture Park which had oodles of warnings about how fragile it was. There was a nice Alice in Wonderland inspired show in a real estate office, more illustration than fine art (but that is fine by me, illustration is what I want to do after all).

13th quickly gave way to blocks of tents and tables of local artists selling paintings/jewelry/hats/gauged jewelry/cookies. I only had a few bucks in cash which prevented me from buying a silver necklace and a flapper-esque hat. Both looked great on me but I would rather buy food than jewelry and clothes I probably wouldn't wear that much (I wish I had my camera, would have been nice to get a shot of me in that hat, it was super cute). Roaming the market made me wish I had a job so I could be a little spendy, but if I had a job I'd be a little more spendy food wise (gosh I could really go for some Ben & Jerry's). There was a great band playing near PNCA, a Russian Gypsy/folk/jazz band, Chervona. I donated some of the few bucks I had and grabbed their CD. While listening to them, David showed up and asked me to dance, which amazingly I did. I'm not normally one to dance, and certainly not in front of a large group of people gathered around street performers. We danced for the rest of the song; the moves I remembered from the Swing/Ballroom class I took a year or so ago. Despite my shuffling and embarrassment, it was great fun! I hope to see this band preform again.

The exhibits in PNCA were not anything new to me, I've been seeing them for the past week. But this time one of the installations had its audio turned on and the howling was annoying. Somewhere near the hat stand I had lost track of Lindsay and Brandon, but they were going out to dinner after so no biggie. I didn't feel like walking around more so Sean and I decided to catch the streetcar back. Walking past the West Cafe we decided to have an impromptu delicious dinner. I had the Quesedilla Salad and he had, as per my suggestion, the Granny Smith and Grilled Chicken Salad. I didn't quite like all the parts in my salad, but it was overall tasty and filling the parts I did eat. We finished off with steamed milk and whipped cream, mine was chocolate and Sean said "surprise me" and he got hazelnut. A nice warm treat to end the day on.

Had a very nice night sleep, the adjustment to the city is going pretty well.

As I wrote earlier, I decided to take another whack at city biking today. I planned out my trip and made direction notes so I was super prepared. My plan for today was to get a proper bike lock, to make my comic run, pick up tickets for Cats from Japan, and see how easy it was to get to and from PNCA from Goose Hollow.

Description of my route: Turned right after walking my bike out of Goose Hollow, biked up a hill, turned right on Columbia, continued on Columbia till 12th, turned right on 12th, continued on 12th till Salmon and turned right on Salmon, arrived at bike store on 10th & Salmon. Headed East on 12th, turned right on Everett, turned right on 4th when I realised I passed 5th, looped around block, went down Davis, turned left on 5th and parked my bike in the hallway outside Floating World Comics, which is located between Burnside and Couch on 5th. Went West on Couch, turned right on Broadway and continued straight. Crossed the Broadway Bridge, Broadway Y'ed into Broadway and Weidler, I went straight on Weidler and turned left on Williams. Continued straight and then turned right on Russell. Stopped at Wonder Ballroom. Headed West on Russell, turned left on Vancouver, turned right on Broadway. Crossed the Broadway Bridge again and turned right heading towards Lovejoy. Merged onto Lovejoy and turned left on 13th. Stopped at PICA. Continued straight on 13th, turned right on Jefferson. Continued straight on Jefferson, went down the hill and turned left on 18th and left again on Clay. Arrived back at Goose Hollow.

The Kryptonite lock that I bought is magnificent, works like a breeze. Ain't nobody taking my bike now!

Had a great comic run at Floating World Comics. Picked up Doktor Sleepless #2, The Boys #10, Y the Last Man #58, American Virgin #18, and 30 Days of Night: Eben and Stella #4. More comics than I was expecting to be in my box, but I can't complain about having more Ellis and Ennis. Five issues do not amount to much dough, don't worry mother. Also once the Eben and Stella arc end, I am taking that off my subscription, it just doesn't hold my interest anymore. And Y the Last Man ends in about three issues, and Pirates of Coney Island has yet to have the final few issues published (grr!) so really Doktor Sleepless, American Virgin, and The Boys are the only comics I'm buying on a once-a-monthly basis. I know and realise I can't crazy-splurge like I used to, but if anyone wants to visit and be the enabler they are more than welcome to! FWC has a spectacular indie/zine/self published section. They have a great selection all around, but their "Trillian really wants this and hopes it will still be there when she gets a job" selection is phenomenal.

The Broadway Bridge climb was killer, I was exhausted as it finally went downhill. The grocery store on Williams was a god-send, as I didn't bring any foot/liquids with me. Turns out Lindsay's voucher didn't work at the Wonder Ballroom, I had to take it PICA to redeem it. Got my ticket just fine for the Cats from Japan show (not about cats). The return was easy, as it was downhill. Ran into Laura at PNCA (not literally, just sort of chatted and gave off the general impression I was someone with somewhere to go). At PICA I found out the voucher would not work for events at The Works (things that take place at Wonder Ballroom). The WONDERFUL FABULOUS people gave me a "get into one show at The Works" ticket, I don't think that was their policy they just did it to be nice. I am thinking about sending them a thank you card, a general "you guys are supremely awesome and nice" sort of thing. I'd give them Banana Bread, but I'm all out.

13th is a slow hill heading south, but I made it up all right. Long day, even though all in all it probably didn't take me more than two hours to make the trip. No plans for the rest of the day, probably hang out with Lindsay or something.

clack clack clack

Today I wore my leather shoes auntie Celia gave me, they give off a lovely sound as I walk in them. A sort of empowering feeling. I dressed up(ish) for First Thursday; shiny shirt, black tank, black skinny leg jeans and my pointy leather shoes. Got lots of compliments (about four). Not the best walking shoes, but walking was easy today.

First Thursday is the first Thursday of every month, it is when galleries have their openings. The TBA Festival also begins today. I received a ticket for tEEth from Arvie for the September 11th show and made a reservation for that hair cut thing (Sunday, 1pm), there is a chance for chickening out so never fear (mom) I might keep it how it is. I ended up not buying any tickets from PICA for Nathan and Rubie when they visit, there are some free open events going on I'll try for first, before I spend $60-$75 on tickets. Plus I want to see what I am getting tickets for (I am supposed to get more from my remaining classes) and what times I will be busy before committing myself to a show. I also have homework so Nathan and Rubie might have to entertain themselves.

In Digital Tools we reviewed the homeroom site, the Apples, and photoshop. We took photos in photo booth and messed around with them, we will turn in our five best on Monday. Nothing to exciting, rather basic, but it is just starting out. Will get more intensive soon. Drawing I was figure drawing, gestures and contours. Really basic stuff I'm used to and sort of bored with. Arvie did knock it up a notch when we started sketching and then he told us to trade seats with the person next to us and draw on their work. We did a full rotation and then he said we had ten minutes to "fix-it", I don't think I "fixed-it" but I do like the outcome.

Had egg-salad sandwich for lunch. Mollie, Kat, Eva and I sat on the Jamison Square Park Fountain while enjoying our food. Kat and Eva got some food from a cart, it looked really hearty and filling. Sort of a mish-mash of beans and rice and cheese and lettuce and peanut sauce and some other unidentifiable things. I might try it out, but, you know, without all that weird stuff.

Tonight I am going to see Rinde Eckert's On the Great Migration of Excellent Birds in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Going with Lindsay, Brandon, and Sean.

should I?

Should I get my hair cut by children? On Saturday and Sunday, as part of the TBA Festival, Mammalian Diving Reflex is putting on this show that features people getting haircuts from children. You call in for your free appointment and show up 12-4 on the two days. I need a haircut, and this might be fun. Or a disaster, but I've had heinous haircuts before. Also it would make a great story. Some days I like where my hair is at right now, some times it is fussy and annoying to have to work with it. And this is a new time in my life, so maybe the cut could be a good way to usher in this time?

What do you think?

Yesterday was really easy, so I wasn't exhausted when I got home. Today I am wiped. Set my alarm wrong again, but got up no problem. Caught the shuttle, which brought me to school in five minutes. That thing is wonderful. Chatted up Lindsay and Karen before my 2D design class. Matt, Chris, Cidney, John, and James from the dorms are in that class with me. James and I talked about comics and we set up a lend later on(Promethea for Transmetropolitan), he also remembered (and really liked) the Banana Bread I made for the pot luck. This class is half painting, half photography. We won't be developing our own film but we will be making prints in the dark room. I will be using gouache for the first time, so that is exciting.

Lunch was the mangled sandwich I made yesterday, still good just a little ravaged from being lugged around. There is such a wide variety of students at PNCA, can't wait for things to really get going.

Finished off 2d Design with a slide show and some camera talk.

Time Arts has Amina and Mike, everyone else is sort of unfamiliar. One awesome girl prefers Eccleston to Tennant, just like me. In the class we discussed duration, tempo, intensity, scope, setting, and chronology and how they relate to performance and art in general. This class is currently the front runner for my favorite. We are starting with performance and idea generation and we will perform in front of people (class or large group, I don't know) then animation, cinematic structures and media, video poetry, sound, and then the wonderful part: graphic novels!! Yay! First semester and I will be working with comics, woo-hoo! Then finals with installation and critiques throughout.

Walking back was the bad part. Mike and I just missed the streetcar by 45 seconds, so we walked along 11th and waited a few stops down for it to catch up with us. We rode it for about three blocks when it stopped due to a truck blocking the way. A large group disembarked, the people lacking portfolios, and we stayed behind. Eventually we gave in and walked the rest, taking turns lugging my portfolio (Mike is so nice). Loathe the steady uphill walk and despise the face my portfolio wasn't opened once today. Well, now I know that I probably won't need it Mondays and Wednesdays, so that's good. Less lugging.

Now I'm home again, trying to decide which TBA events to take Nathan and Rubie to when they visit (need to get tickets) and thinking about getting my hair cut.

my first day

Ate some Hot Lips Pizza for lunch. The five of us (Mollie, Kat, Mel, Brendan (?) and myself) climbed up the stairs to the rooftop patio and ate overlooking the yuppie Pearl District. Love Portland, love the trees and the fact you can drink the water.

Having two classes makes for a nice day, not that much to clog it up.

I set my alarm clock wrong, but awoke at 6:03 with a charlie horse. It was like, "gah oh my leg! oh shoot I almost overslept, whew! Oh my leg...gotta get up and start my first day now." I set out my clothes and portfolio and supplies the night before so it was easy getting everything prepared. Had to make my lunch, which I ended up not eating (dinner/breakfast/lunch tomorrow, it will be nom nom nommed some how), and breakfast but that was pretty much it. Danced with Ibanez a little before heading out with Lindsay to start our exciting lives as art students!

Walked about 1/3 of the way there, then the streetcar caught up with us. My hands and arms were aching from the portfolio and I sure hoped they wanted us to use them the first day like they said. Some other PNCA people were on the streetcar, but we didn't realise until we disembarked.

Found my class, sat down next to Karen and Mallory. The teacher looks to be in his mid to late twenties, not the operatic nutter who gave us the presentation. Not much happened, just went over the syllabus and that was it. Forty-five minutes in he said, "Okay, you are free to go." I was a little slow to stand, in case he was pulling a fast one on us but it was the truth. He let us out at 8:45, and i had two hours, fifteen minutes to kill till my drawing class.

Mallory, Karen and I went to Office Max to get the supplies we needed for digital tools, got the heavy paper and a USB stick because, lets face it, no God-fearing iMac will accept my Creative Zen V Plus as a USB device. We parted ways with Mallory and Karen and I decided to hang around in the student lounge and play games. She whooped my butt twice at checkers, twice at Speed and once at go fish. I went to find my class and she left to check out the library. There was a little mix up in what I thought to be the class number, but I had enough time and ended up in 203 just fine. Read Crooked Little Vein while waiting for people to show up.

Drawing I has a few people I recognise and a lot I don't. But the people I met seem interesting and nice, seeing as how we skipped off to lunch together. One guy said he was majoring in photography even though painting was what he wanted to do. His reasoning was that he didn't want the painting program to destroy his love for it, which just seems silly to me. You gotta test your love, and hes just going to end up taking a lot of photography classes and shooting himself in the foot because he will be missing out on all the painting classes. Oh well, his choice. Another guy, Daniel, is almost thirty and going back to school for the first time. His wife is going to the Culinary institute, so they are both in the same education boat.

Arvie Smith, my drawing teacher, seems awesome. He was really nice and had a good laugh and good things to say about our work. We talked for the first forty-five minutes and then we took the campus wide hour lunch break. Returning, he assigned us all to do a self portrait in the remaining two hours. Some people are really talented, I feel right at home and cozy with them. And all are humble, which is nice. My RA Jennifer is in my class, shes photography major and isn't as adept at drawing but even she was excited by the work she did so that was great.

My portrait, which I may post later, ended up a little intense. The mirror I was using was tilted down so that is the perspective I was going with, the eyes aren't totally aligned, which is something I only noticed near the end when I stepped away. The further and further I stepped away the more the eyes drifted away from each other. But not so bad for a first start and two hours.

The art supply kit they wanted us to buy had pretty much everything I needed, save for some vine charcoal, which I picked up after class got out. Walked with Bryan and Danielle to the streetcar, which was pulling in right as we arrived at the stop. I was sweaty and feeling icky when I got back to my room, so I changed my shirt and started my usual habit of relaxing.

About thirty minutes into my relaxation there was a knock on my door. Daniel was standing there and loudly proclaimed, "Hey Neighbor!!" Caught up in his excitement, we clasped hands and hopped up and down together. He is moving from the Tower into the Plaza, and will be right down the hall from me. Yay! Sean and I helped him move his stuff down into his room, not all of it but a good amount. He (David)had to leave for a 6:30-9:15 class, so we all parted ways and I resumed my cooling off from the long day.

A good first day, though Visual Elements: Digital Tools was a little disappointing. Can't wait for tomorrow!

Oh and I ran into Vosse, who I met last summer.

here I go...

Okay. It is here. I will go to sleep, wake up, shower, get dressed, eat, make my lunch, grab my stuff and go to school. Will leave 7:20ish, try to catch the streetcar but if not, no biggie I will just walk to school. The walk takes the same time, if not a little less, as it did to drive to Olympic College. No biggie. Then I will arrive at school, go to Visual Elements: Digital Tools at 8:00 then Drawing I at 11:00. I'll eat my lunch, continue with Drawing I until 3:00, at which point I will head home. I will arrive at Goose Hollow at around 3:45 at the latest. My first day. Real simple.

as I said before

Lots of slacking done yesterday, lots of sitting around. David popped in for a bit and we chatted. He is volunteering for the Time-Based Art Festival, and I kind of want to volunteer as well but I don't want to over burden myself. He said there is a performance where three nights in a row a group of people read and act out The Great Gatsby in its entirety. I will see some shows through PNCA so even if I don't volunteer I will be part of it (audience wise). During the orientations they talked about how PNCA is one of the few (if only) schools that weaves its curriculum around a major world-wide art exhibition like this. Exiting! And it all starts tomorrow.

Went over to Sean's and ate chicken and corn then we (Sean, Mike, and I) watched Breakfast on Pluto.

thump thump thump

I just got back from telling my upstairs neighbour to not do whatever it was that made him thump so much at 3am. His name is Bo and he was very nice and apologetic about bouncing his tennis ball (I'm sure he wasn't aware of the noise it was making). Outside of his thumping, I think the PNCA students will be the more likely noise makers in the dorm.

Yesterday was for taking it easy, as is today most likely. Went to get some stamps, saw something AWESOME on 6th and Madison, went to Payless but couldn't find any sneakers that I liked, and then I went to Powell's. I wanted Arkham Asylum and Ode Less Travelled (by Grant Morrison and Stephen Fry, respectively) but I ended up picking up Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis as well and giving Fry's book a pass. Sure Stephen Fry is the man but I don't think I am at a time in my life where I really need a book on how to write poetry. I think I'll just watch QI instead.

Ran into David at the streetcar stop and we went back to the dorms together. He had this sparkling water lavender soda that looked really tasty but I didn't catch the name of it. I made another loaf of Banana Bread for the PNCA Goose Hollow pot luck tonight. As it was baking Mike and Sean showed up and we chatted and hula hooped until it was time to head down.

A nice amount of people showed up and my Banana Bread was a pretty good success. Chatted with Ty, Aubrey, and Laura (or how I remember: to tie a ty, Aubrey Beardsley and Larua Dern) and munched on much delicious stuff. I'd say about half of the dorm people showed up at some point and another during the potluck.

Afterwords I just chatted with Lindsay (who got a cute haircut at Bishop's) and hula hooped some more. The rest of the night was uneventful except for Bo thumping at the wee hours of the morning. No plans today, but something will happen.