Process: November 2011

November 24, 2011

Cornucopia

Hudson, NY. View from my room.

My packing job was an art form in and of itself.

Bruce Gagnier at John Davis Gallery

I love this painting hanging downstairs at John Davis Gallery. I can't remember the artist's name right now, but I will find out.

Waiting for the train.

Dia: Beacon.

NYC. View from my room.

On rainy days he gets the towel rubdown treatment. He seems to like having a towel on his back. He wore it for awhile.

Ok, this is a total re-edit. I started feeling the need to be very private and not share my art-related comings and goings so far in advance. On the other hand, it's not that far in advance and I'm sensing I'll be full throttle in the studio. Plus I need to remind myself I have a good year ahead. My trip to Hudson was fantastic. I dropped off some small paintings with John Davis Gallery and he offered me a show next spring/summer. It was a lovely visit and I had a chance to see some wonderful work by some of his gallery artists. In general, the New York trip was energizing. I like solitude and I like to work alone, but I need to feel connected. NY and LA do that for me, as well as visits with other artists with whom I share common ground. I came home to a good review of my solo show here and a couple of emails regarding some shows next year. Two in LA and one back here. Really all very good stuff, and no reason not to share the good news.

After staring at a couple of paintings going nowhere fast, I managed a breakthrough. I have 2 solos scheduled about the same time next year, so I am switching into my ultra disciplined studio mode. That means I show up on time, wear my Bulwark coveralls, and stay in the studio no matter what until my studio hours are over. I haven't decided whether I will post pics as I go along or hold back until the exhibit. I'm past knowing what's a good strategy-do I try to build hype by posting new work? I don't know. Hype is not my forte.

November 15, 2011

Compression

First thing this morning, I saw a huge, say half-dollar size, including legs—spider on the kitchen floor as I was sweeping. I like spiders and usually release them, but this guy was too big and I hadn't had my coffee yet. I stepped on him and the crunchy sound made me jump. I injured my calf again. I might have jumped too high. It was the sound that made me jump. I simultaneously thought of spider rolls.

I have to take a week off running for it to heal.

I am looking forward to getting back on a precise studio and running schedule. It's been rather hectic lately. Yoga would be a good idea too.

November 11, 2011

My morning run

I was excited to get back to a regular running schedule after slacking off for a few months. I injured my calf on day two. Did the RICE thing and took a day off. Thought I was better today, but calf started hurting, so I walked up and down the hills.

November 10, 2011

What I miss the most.

A Sense of Family Aesthetics:

I'm guessing I made this abstract sculpture in the mid 80's. I came home one Christmas to find that my mom had co-opted it into a holiday coffee table arrangement by spray-painting pine cones and sticking a candle in the middle of it. I found the box today as I was clearing out the closet containing holiday decorations. I'm going to paint this.

November 06, 2011

A video tour.

Mary Addison Hackett
"Acts of Moral Turpentine"
Track 13 Gallery
Open on Saturdays from 12-4pm, and by appointment at 615. 259.0999.

I forgot about using horizontal format. I'll reshoot and repost later this week.

November 04, 2011

Showtime

I'm still getting over the coldy flu thing. I finally broke down and bought some over the counter cold meds, and thanks to my local meth labs, I had to show my driver's license, which the druggist promptly recorded. Tweakers aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer, but if I were buying amphetamines for my DIY meth lab and the druggist asked for my ID, I might bail on the transaction and take my business out of state. But since I am a woman with a 8-day head cold, they have my DL number and address on file.

Possible day job:
~~meth lab operator~~
***

The show install went really well. It's been tough working in a different city and I've felt more isolated than usual. I did a lot of second-guessing myself, but plowed through anyhow. As soon as the layout began, the angst fell away. The show unfolded nicely after being tethered to me for a year. It felt good to release the work and see it function on its own. The moderately large-scale works mingle with the small works. The abstracts inform the representational works and vice-versa. Conceptually and visually, it looks to be a good mash-up. I hope I feel that way at the reception. A couple of paintings I assumed would be in the show didn't find their way in. I had about 47 works to cull down. Editing is a funny thing. I could have hung another version of the show- not better, not worse, just an alt version.

The opening is ~~tomorrow~~. tonight. The show is tucked away in a train car-cum-gallery on a portion of the old L&N tracks. I wish it were a traveling show, Wild Wild West style.

I usually google my titles to make sure 5000 other artists haven't used them first. Somehow Jimmy Durante's catchphrase, "Dat's Moral Turpentine" eluded me, though I find it quite funny.

***

Also funny and coincidental is that this morning I stumbled across Keith Mayerson's portrait/self-portrait. His is '83. Mine's '79.