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Friday, September 4, 2009

"I want to play Library"

Internet is still going strong.

I worked on sloooowly reading Revelation today. It's the reading for History of Printmaking. Some weird stuff going done. God is all like, "yo yo yo my tongue is made up of swords!" Yeah.

Katie cleaned the apartment and tidied. I took out recycling the other day and unloaded and loaded the dishwasher. Keeping things clean is never ending. I need to work on sorting out my room a little.

TBA for today was Young Jean Lee's Theatre Company's performance The Shipment. Reading the description it sounded like another white guilt trip. The line was full of rowdy ladies in their 60's who got grumpy the moment they had to stand in a crowd for more than a minute. They complained that as ticket holders they were being treated as second class citizens or something. Annoying.

The show was really good. It far surpasses my expectations. The first part was a monologue of the standard how white people different from black people humor. The performer was good and kept the (very much dominantly white)audience on its toes. No one walked out, which surprised me. From there it went to a very dramatic tale of Omar; a young man who dreamed of being a rapper. There were five actors and they switched out roles. It wasn't smooth acting but more exclamations of stereotyped dialogue. It was good. Three of the members got together for a song and then the final act commenced. I knew that the five actors were playing white characters from the get go because the opening lines were about the characters highly selective diet (no dairy, no red meat, no alcohol, no gluten, etc.). It was a riveting little drama though the end line, which revealed that they were all playing white people, lost its impact because I figured it out. It was a good start to TBA. A little bit of controversy. A little bit of dancing. A few new ways to think about things.

Saw Robin after the show. We didn't really chat as she seemed to be chilling with other people. Went back. Hung out with Katie. Watched some Buffy and some Angel. Now to return to my Bible studies.

just a word about missing posts

The Goose Hollow internet is now frequently going down every couples nights. Sometimes it lasts an hour and sometimes it is out for a night and a day. If there is no entry, assume that this is why. I like writing my blog and only don't write it if I am completely and totally unable to do it.

the bike came back (as did the internet)

Wednesday:

Nets down. Again. Writing now so that I don’t have to write later.

6am alarm for my only 8am class.

Ran into Bekka on the way to History of Laughter. She is in the class with me! Whooo. The class is full with a few waitlisted. Diana is in there. Gavin and Taryn as well. A guy named Marshall is in the class. He went to School of Visual Arts in New York. Really nice. There are a few MFA’s in the class. They mostly kept to themselves. There are about 25 people in the class.

Discussion went all over the place. Barry talked about how comedy is better than tragedy because comedy includes tragedy. The origin of the word laughter is unknown. It was also a sum up of his lecture from the day before. I listened but didn’t take notes. I learned in 10th grade that if I focus on just writing what the teacher writes, I won’t learn anything.

I can’t wait to get into the discussions. First reading is some Freud. It’s an interesting crew. Next class I will sit next to Marshall. Well, I will sit on the side of the table facing the white board. And try to sit next to Marshall. Seems nice.

We used the whole class and off I went to 207 for History of Printmaking. Cherish, Daniel, Robin, Diana, Antonia, and Danielle are in that class. When Morgan entered, he declared the room unsuitable for class and went to claim 204 instead. We sat on the floor and had printmaking story time. We tried to narrow down a definition of printmaking. Talked about Durer and the Bible. Our first reading is Revelation. The syllabus he gave us is genius. Very minimal but very Morgan. The date that we take off for Thanksgiving is simply listed as, “Bird”. There is one big project for the class and we also have to read two books. Any two. I was thinking Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch for one.

Lunch came and we were told not to return after it. Diana and I went to Laughing Planet. Mmm burrito. We sat on the roof of the building (there is a dining area up there). Very warm. I picked up my TBA tickets and we walked back.

I was very sweaty upon my return and took a second shower and relaxed. I got my mail and my package. After that I wheeled my poor bike to Bike Gallery. The tire deflated not 6 blocks out the door. The tube fix and brake pads came up cheaper than I expected. Occasional repairs > constant gas money. I now have my precious bike! I have to attach my brake pads myself but I’m sure I can do it. The tube was a bit beyond my comprehension.

Now I get to sleep in 30 minutes more and go to Trader Joe’s.

Katie and I made a Safeway run. Halfway through I experienced a sharp pain in my stomach. Very sudden and very much ouch. In 10 minutes the pain was gone but it sure did suck. Bought a pile of Granny Smith and some bagels and some crème cheese spread. Emergen-C is on the Trader Joe’s list.

I haven’t been productive these nights. I have a four day weekend so I’ll be productive then. Friday and Saturday I have TBA shows but Sunday and Monday I have nothing. Lots of reading to be done!

Thursday:

Night two of no Internet. You would think that they could figure a way to resolve this within twenty four hours. Booo!

Final class of the week is Illustration. It’s the biggie. It is why I am here.

Danny, Kristen, Madeline, Sonoma, and Chase are in my class. And about 5 others with names I can’t recall. It’s a cozy little size.

Martin talked about the market and his experiences and how hard you should work yourself (the hardest possible). He asked us about the first images that inspired us and if we had any initial questions. We broke for an early lunch. I sat the commons and waited for Mel (I am loaning her my History of Design texts). Kristen joined me, as did Katie for a bit. Later Madeline came and Katie went. We girls talked about hair.

The last half of class was a character assignment. There was a list of archetypes and we had to select one and create a portrait of a character taking the archetype in a new way. I made a triad formed by a prophet, her twin brother the messenger, and a warrior who protects them (who is a lady). The initial designs I liked, but the final wasn’t to be desired. I didn’t have my good ink or my good brushes. Only my crummy ink and my gunked up brush. Still, I finished it before 5pm.

Bryan gave me his TBA pass and I gave it to Kristen to give to Natalie. Nats will get whatever she wants to see, and I will use what is left. I’m pretty fine with the five shows I have picked out.

Went to Trader Joe’s. The kitchen and cupbards seem to be finally rounded out with enough food to last me a decent while. Hurrah!

Made myself some udon with two eggs. Later had a banana dipped in chocolate. Mmm. Watched Shallow Grave. Definitley not the movie I thought it was. The apartment is a good piece of set design.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

day two of year three

Katie made me breakfast! Egg and toast and bacon! We walked to school together as well.

Monotype looks like it will be fun. You draw with oil on Plexiglas plates and print them on paper and it looks cool. I'm excited. It's my "no reading required" class. Hopefully a little chance to relax. In the class are: Robin, Phil, Ali, Patsy, Chelsey, Danielle, Taryn, Darya, Erin (different Erin), Antonia, and another one who will have a name I remember eventually. There is a TA as well. Also has a name. Tom is our teacher. Seems really cool. There is a half jovial spirit, half seriousness thing in the class right now. I lean towards jovial though Robin didn't seem impressed. Oh well. We had a quick explanation and we broke early to get food and paper (that will be the main cost this semester as all the other supplies are there in the studio).

Lunch was free pizza and cupcake! We had convocation in the commons. I sat with Jay, who had a magnificent new short do. I sat next to a new fella named Jason. We talked about movies and names. Barry Sanders led the convocation and talked about the dawn of humor and how laughter is what creates our soul. It was a lovely speech and I cannot wait to get up and go to class tomorrow. Sucks that it is early in the morning but oh well. I'll probably get my tire fixed after History of Printmaking gets out.

Ran into Katie and we walked to her studio together. She has one in the Stevens! I drew a picture of Luna and her doing a jig on Luna on her wall. It is awesome. Afterwards we went to this grocery that Fawn recommended. Cheap by Whole Foods standards, expensive by my Trader Joe's standards. Picked up a yogurt and some mochi thing that didn't look like any mochi I had ever had. And some fancy apples. Ginger Gold. Had one later on in the night. Way too delicious. Juicy and just. Yum.

I planned out the first five TBA events I am going to go to. Once Bryan gets me his thing, I'll see what else I have time to attend. Right now it is "The Shipment" by Young Jean Lee, "Last Meadow" by Miguel Gutierrez and the something something, "Bolero Variations" by Raimund Hoghe, "Erased James Franco" by Carter, and "...Hers a Queen" by Neal Medlyn. I saw Neal last year with Averie. He is back and seems twice as awesome as he was.

Still beat and recovering from the return to school. Once I get my tire back, I am going to Trader Joe's! Good deals, here I come!

Monday, August 31, 2009

good girls wear green

Still no fixed bike tire. Walked to school. Not so bad. Just takes 20 minutes longer. More time to think I guess.

Narrative Image is going to be TOUGH. The first assignment (due in four weeks) is a 8-40 page memoir. We also have to illustrate three images for it. Huge. We don't have class next week so by next class we need the rough draft and some thumbnails. It's scary right now but hey, I write every night. No biggie. We also have some reading but I can read.

Bryan, James, Danny, Kristen, Natalie, Rachel, April, Alex, and about 9 others I don't know round out the class. A fair size. The room is the new 815B classroom. The large open section is reserved for a computer lab, the narrow part is where the two tables are grouped. There is already a table division with the people who sit at the different tables. But whatever, my table is cool. Bryan shared some of his M&Ms.

First exercise was a contour drawing of the person across from us. I did James. Then we traded paper and wrote some adjectives about ourselves. Then we traded again and did a proper portrait of the other person. James trimmed his hair but not his beard. He has a major Rip van Rasputin vibe going on.

We worked on time lines off our remembered history, lists of family memories, analysis of the family memories and three events from our history and our fears from around that time. Daniela always has a ping pong effect with her class structure. It bounces around but it is always fun. There is a lot of writing in the class but that is good. By this point it is assumed that we know how to draw and don't need that coaching. It's a hardcore class but hey, I'm up for it. I'm a Junior.

Lunch broke early. I bought some sushi and animal crackers from Safeway. I recon I can buy some seaweed and cucumbers and make a big sushi roll and eat it like a sandwich. A pretty low impact meal. I'm getting ideas. Kristen and I sat in the park and chatted. We migrated around the school. Saw people. Old faces. Leah, Tabitha, Robin, etc.

All the Freshmen look alike. Same styling and all that. I feel like I stand out when I loiter near them. I need to be more filthy or something. Oh well. I was rocking huge fluffy hair today and even put on some makeup. The mascara is giving me trouble. I need to buy some fresh stuff. Right after I buy more freaking food!

After class I waited around for an hour for yoga. I looked through the TBA book. Tons of cool dances and a few neat videos I for sure want to check out.

Yoga was just Ruth, Fawn, and myself. It was fun though. Tough. I'm so out practice for it. Wrists were paining. Fawn helped me go into a hand stand.

Exhausted, I slumped over to the streetcar. I had a wait so I bought a soda from Cool Moon.

So exhausted. Adam was in town for the night. He and Katie went out on the town. I was exhausted. Just watched True Blood and organized the Narrative Image handout.

Monotype tomorrow! Back in the Print Lab. Whooo!! But once that is done, my week will be half done! Four day schedules ROCK!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

goodbye

Michael Davis died. He was our Resident Advisor. Always had a smile. He jumped off a bridge on Thursday. No one had any idea he was unhappy. I'm sad I never got to know him better. He was always around school. Always a friend of a friend.

Yesterday:

The net was on and off. Katie was out at her sisters dog sitting. She came back late because she was trying to round some people up to see The Final Destination in 3D. Only Liz and William showed up so they decided to stay in. So we all played some Mario Kart. Then we popped some wine and wrote up some drinking rules and watching Thirteen Ghost. Drink for death, drink for when they put on the ghost seeing glasses, drink for a Matthew Lillard psychic attack, drink for nudity, drink with the maid is being sassy, and drink when someone tells someone else to shut up. I drank a little more responsibly than the others but we had a great time all around. Thirteen Ghosts had an amazing set design. All these glass panels and a reliance on physical creation over computer graphics. We decided to make it a Lillard double feature and Liz and William sobered up during SLC Punk. Also good. Love Til Schweiger.

Net wasn't working so I popped open a book, read a little, and went to sleep.

Today:

Katie left early in the morn to go care for her sisters dogs. I watched some Torchwood and then later the net got fixed.

When checking the mail, I found a post-it informing me I had a package. A post-it is not a great way to tell someone they have a package.

At 8pm all the new Goose Hollow students gathered in the courtyard. Michael Hall was there and told us about Michael Davis. We separated into our pods, with Hall taking over to talk to us because we were in Davis' pod. It was a quiet little discussion about loss.

I am off the waitlist for Monotype. My Junior year starts tomorrow.