neil gillingham
On Friday, a college alumni of mine is having an art opening at five15arts.
Reception: 5p.m.-9p.m. Downtown Phoenix.
I’m going. Anyone else?
soapdish
Part of “living green” is reducing consumption. This may include gasoline, paper products, or materialism. One thing I try to focus on in my own life is reduce my consumption of plastic. Plastic may be recyclable, but it takes a lot of energy to do so. (I also believe the recycled plastic may not be used for food containers. Correct me if I’m wrong).
I’ve started to slowly replace the liquid soap pumps around my house with glass or porcelein soap dishes. The reduction of plastic is two-fold. First, there is no longer the pumps themselves which eventually break and must be thrown into the trash. Second, the refill bottle is no longer part of the cycle either. Thirdly, (I just thought of this one) the soap bars I am using are more natural products themselves and do not contain petroleum products. Yay!
I love the way the light hits this dish. This happened to be the only one I bought new. The rest I have purchased at thrift stores.
a few new pieces
I’ve added a new series to my art site called five by five series.
Because they are five inch drawings.
I’ve also added a portrait section.
holy blazes
It’s really hot outside. I’m certainly not complaining (although I wish it were seventy or eighty degrees), but it’s given me sympathy for those who walk and bike and bus. I try not to go out in the middle of the day, but I had to meet my knitting group at six this evening, and sweat was dripping down my face. And my jacket needs a good washing and deodorizing on the interior if you know what I mean.
I did expect this heat, but I am happy to do my part to downsize.
town hall
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 6-8p.m.
Chandler City Council Chambers/Downtown Library 2nd Floor
Help shape Chandler’s transportation future. What direction should we take? What should our priorities be? Wider streets and intersection? Improved pedestrian walkways? More bicycle lanes? Urban trails? Light rail, trains, buses?
I don’t get it.
Why do so many “green” products come in plastic packaging?
Light bulbs have for years been in cardboard and yet the new cfl bulbs are in that hard-to-open plastic?!
shout out!
Congrats to Sean and Bekah. Sean just recently graduated with his Master’s in Clinical Psychology, and Bekah is soon going to be a Rabbi! Woot!
Both have worked very hard for many years, and I am proud to call both friends. They recently visited Phoenix to celebrate with their friends and family barbeque style. Later in the week, we had dinner at Pita Jungle and visted the almighty Golden Spoon.
SOLD!
Just sold my car. I’m pretty nervous about managing without one, but everything has been moving towards this moment: books, thoughts, inclinations, people, phone calls, gas prices…
Pump for Chandler Biodiesel
Woot! This is really exciting news. Some friends of mine have cars that run on biodiesel, and I know that it is inconvienient to collect and process one’s own grease. Having a local source for already converted oil will be a huge step for those who have been considering the switch. It sounds as though it will be at a much lower cost than traditional diesel as well.
More and more alternatives to traditional fuel will be a better solution than one. In other words, we can’t all switch to one other type of fuel–we need diversity. A community that has a strong mass transit system combined with telecommuting, biking, electric and algae fueled cars, motorcycles, and transportation options that haven’t been invented yet are a better solution than simply processing mass quantities of corn and soy for fuel.
Growing food like we have been is not sustainable and is poisoning our water and land. We need to return to closed system farming that recycles the waste of animals into fertilizer for the crops. Farms like Polyface Farms in Vermont are an example of the types of farms we need to support as consumers. I know here in Arizona we have access to CSA’s and local farms like Crooked Sky Farms and Tonopah Rob’s Farm from which we can buy our produce.
If you aren’t able to garden yourself, I recommend joining a local CSA or finding out how you can buy produce at a farmer’s market.
david and thomas
One of David’s brothers, Thomas, stayed with us for a few days in April. I tried to get a nice picture of the two of them before Thomas left, but something happens to the Mulhern boys when they get in front of a camera lens. They fidget. They laugh. They poke each other. It’s an impossible task. So I take what I can get. Here is my concession.
toe jam
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.
community garden
So the garden is looking pretty good. If anyone is dying for arugala–come and get it. There is aplenty. Even though it was pretty late in the season, we managed some broccoli and this one small cabbage head. The chickens get to eat most of the late winter crops because the aphids seem to target anything that liked the colder weather. Hopefully, the chickens will start to lay eggs soon. We are talking about buying a dairy cow. If you want in, let me or Wendi know. (preferably Wendi because her friend will keep it.) The purple beans are looking beautiful. I cannot wait to try them. I hope they produce a million beans.
Happy Birthday Stacy!!!
Happy Birthday to my friend Stacy.
She and I have known each other for about ten years now…whew, ten years, REALLY?!
We met after she broke her ankle ice skating. (Go awkard college church events-woot!) I felt sorry for the poor girl who couldn’t stand like every one else during the singing time at church, so I would sit with her. (Actually, I liked being able to relax–man, those songs go on forever!)
Anyway, we went to ASU, lived together, laughed together…she was in my wedding…ate sushi together…I think I got her to like mustard…I crashed her car…she introduced me to personality profiles and being a more sensitive person…
Here’s to another ten years!
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.
we have spring too
So everyone on the internet around the country is posting pictures of sprintime blossoms jutting forth from the snowy ground. Pushing tiny green leaves towards the sky; bursting delicate flowers on a tree branch. Ha! Those sissy plants would burn under our scorching sun! I see your pansy petals and I raise you a prickly cactus. You haven’t seen beauty until these plants have shown your thirsty soul a vision in the desert.
magnet art?
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!”
it’s coming…
Taco Day Tres is May 10th! 10am-10pm
View last year’s tally: Taco Day Dos
Donations will benefit: JustOne
Mark your calendars!
Location will be at the Newsome house in downtown Phoenix. (Don’t know where that is? Send me an email, and I will send you directions).
thoughts
I have a lot of thoughts running through my mind from the past week in Austin. I am still processing through them. I need to reread my notes and explore what I wrote during the week. The speakers were fascinating: the pastor and writer Eugene Peterson, the musician and writer Jeremy Begbie, the poet Luci Shaw, the writer and ex-nun Barbara Nicolosi among others–I actually was able to get Peterson and Begbie to sign my books.
I met so many interesting people, I went to interesting places…I got to know Stephanie better…
I was surprised to have my ideas and notions regarding church challenged, especially since that isn’t really what anyone was talking about–I’ll say it was like smurfs never really talking about the fact that they are smurfs. (Credit to the pastor of Mosaic in Austin.)
And to change the subject, here is one of my latest portraits. This man’s name is Craig, and he tells stories that always make me wonder:
austin
Tonight Stephanie and I leave for a week for Austin, Texas. I am thrilled to go to a place that I’ve wanted to visit for years. The art culture, the food, the music…the river…Iwould wag my tail if I had one.
Tuesday through Thursday we will attend an arts symposium. The questions of the conference will center around the role of an artist within the context of faith–in what way is art a gift, a calling, an obedience? What are the dangers of artistic activity? I myself see an artist as a prophet of sorts–one who challenges a sleeping populace.
I am looking for answers, more questions, inspiration, and challenges.
The rest of the trip will be spent in a combination of exploring Austin and hanging out with Stephanie’s best friend Melanie who is also kind enough to put us up for a week.
anniversary numero seis
David and I shared our sixth anniversary yesterday. On Saturday we ate dinner at the Citrus Cafe which is a little French restaurant just down the road from us. Everything was delicious, and my amuse-bouche definitely amused my bouche. The last one was a homemade tarragon ice cream.
I can’t believe how quickly six years goes by…it seems as though we just married yet we’ve known each other for so long. I’m so happy to be married to David. He is intelligent, funny, hard-working, and he makes a mean tuna casserole. I am not kidding.