WOW, The days have gone by since my last blog post.
I have been working on "Portrait Series: Transformations".
I have been thinking heavily on transformations. Humans, like nature, transform or have things/events happen too us that cause transformations all our lives. We experience changes from changes in life,relationships, death,natural disasters, the list goes on.
These life size androgenous figures are mixed media on paper and allow the viewer to be a pseudo image, while looking at the piece. An insidious experience.
The series is also personal on the level that we all experience (rudimentary) changes.
Have a wonderful summer!!!
PEACE
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Just Sitting Here Being Weird.........
Wow, the end of May; My calandar shows April still. Life has been steady to say the least,this has me a little out of whack, since I have not had much time for my art work. So, the main content of this posting will be on events and other things: Mothers Day,camping, Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival and SoWeBo Art & Music Fest.
In time line fashion. I will begin with the cool visit from my baby boy (almost 21). He came to see me for Momma day and for the week he was here; He helped get my garden together. We planted 3 types of tomatoes, strawberries and squash. I also planted a bunch of herbs and flowers. It was very nice taking him to work with me, being an artist himself, I think he really liked it. The end of the week brought camping at Capitol KOA and both days at the Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival. Man what a weekend (Todd really liked Big Bad Voodoo Daddy & Jonny Lang). Ana Popovic and Shemekia Copeland are at the top of my list.
SoWeBo Arts and Music Fest...........has to be the best art & music fest I have attended. With the exception of the 3 curious, yet scared men following me around it was great. One of my favorite artists there was Loring Cornish. He does these mixed media assemblage pieces.
I have some photos posted at www.myspace.com/lotus_beauty
so check them out there are pictures from all the mentioned topics.
Well, June will soon be here Todd will be 21!!!!! and we are going to the Orioles and Mariners game, then who knows what. Work will be slowing down and I have no real big events coming up, so I will be doing more writing(poetry) and my book reviews for Reviewer Magazine www.reviewermagazine.com and some ARTWORK!!! I might travel as well.
I almost forgot you can follow me on twitter now. I am not doing it mobile since I am not that attached to my cell. I am not even sure about twitter, so I'll try it and see what happens.
PEACE
Friday, May 1, 2009
Bird Woman
This has been a very strange couple of weeks. Recently, I lost a friend I have known since kindergarten( see image). She was such a wonderful person and I feel very honored to have had her in my life. She was given the most beautifully tragic funeral service. Patti was a firefighter for many years and had a FULL firefighter service, with hook and ladder arches going into the cemetery.
On the art side I have been working on a “Bird Woman” this is a different art form for me, but it is taken from the bird women oil painting series. I like the challenge of altering a barbie doll and working on a sculptural piece.
I am going camping in mid May for the Chesapeake Bay Blues Fest ( May 16th & 17th) www.bayblues.org I hope to get some awesome photos and some peace in nature.
Monday, April 20, 2009
BMA & The Pirateer Fest
I woke unknowingly to an auspicious day on Saturday. I went out back to have my fix of coffee and to dig the beautiful day; as I sat there, I noticed a white dove sitting alone in the tree this was the start of my day!!!
I then decided to go check out more of this CHARM CITY, so with camera in hand off I went. After going to several parks and taking a few pictures (one of a one legged duck). From there I went to Fells Point; I did not know Pirateer Fest was going on. I walked around there for a bit, took a picture of an old building advertisement, which ironically was done by my bosses Grandfather. Shopping and sightseeing mixed with the perfect weather made me thirsty so I had a great bloodymary; I mention this drink because they put old bay seasoning on the rim and in it, YUMMY! From there I went to check out the exhibit at Baltimore Museum of Arts.
The current show is called A Circus Family: Picasso to Leger. I DO NOT like clowns, but I figured it's art so it's all good and it was. There was only one clown image that creeped me out. This was the 1st time I have been to an exhibit at BMA. There are so many wonderful pieces there. I ended up as I always do, in the Contemporary Art section. I am wandering around looking getting real up close and personal with the artworks; I turn the corner and there is a REAL Anselm Kiefer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I shrieked, squealed and I CRIED!!! I have had such huge admiration of his work WAY before he became as popular as he is now. I am still reeling from seeing an AK piece with my very own eyes. I am impressed that BMA has one of his paintings in their collection. Well I broke museum policy (at least I was not kicked out of this museum) and took a photo of “Poland is Not Lost”.
Another painting that sucked me in was a Van Gogh. I do not recall the title but the content, his painting style/technique and from what I know of his life from research had a very profound affect. I started going into some thought strand on the Van Gogh's in this era. That is just too cerebral and long for this posting.
Saturday evening I went back down to the pirateer Fest and discovered this great micro brew from The Brewers Art the beer is called Resurrection. This beer tastes like Dick Danger beer from Washington and it will be one of the many beers next Saturday at Brewfest!!!, which I am attending as well as Lotta Art. The weather is fore casted to be around 80!!!
Appreciate the happy/lucky things in life.....Till next time.......PEACE
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
R & R
Baseball season has begun, I say this not because I am a fan, but because I have been working around the clock doing 90% of ALL the graphics you see at Camden Yards. Working from 8 am till midnight is not the glamorous side of graphic art, but all the perks (like walking down the tunnel with the team was a real kicker) are great. I really like my job the company I work for has contracts with the areas( MD. & D.C.) major sports teams and venues. I can't wait till football season starts!!! anyway on to something else.
Another holiday has come and gone.............wheeeww. I went to the beach for some much needed R&R
I had so much fun beach combing(I just love that I was born there). After all the much needed rain it was wonderful to just sit and listen to the waves, the sea grass blowing and to do some writing and some sketching. I loved the solitude and quiet that I needed.
Now back to the day job..................
PLEASE IF YOU LIVE IN THE BALTIMORE AREA DO NOT FORGET TO READ MY PREVIOUS POST!!!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Baltimore/City Council & ARTS ISSUES
Subject: CITY COUNCIL TO BAN "UNLICENSED" LIVE PERFORMANCES!?
YOUR FAVORITE CLUB/LOUNGE/CONCERT HALL/RESTAURANT
MAY BE SHUT DOWN WITH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN NEW "LIVE PERFORMANCE LICENSES"
YOUR FAVORITE COFFEE HOUSE OR SOCIAL GATHERING MAY NOT BE AROUND TOMORROW. NO MORE LIVE MUSIC!!! THEY ALREADY HAVE THEIR EYES ON THE COPY CAT AND CREATIVE ALLIANCE ..
EVERY ARTIST, ENTHUSIAST, SPEAKER AND MUSICIAN MUST SPEAK OUT FOR THE FREEDOM OF LIVE MUSIC IN BALTIMORE - OR ELSE THEY WILL TAKE IT FROM US!
FIND YOUR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE
CONTACT THEM AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
Click the following link to find your City Council representative: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://cityservices.baltimorecity.gov%2Fcitycouncil%2F
IF YOU THOUGHT THAT HAVING SOMEONE PLAYING A GUITAR IN A BAR WAS HARMLESS, IT WILL NOW COST A BAR OWNER ABOUT $2,000-$3,000. IF YOU THOUGHT THAT GOING TO A RECITAL AT A CHURCH WAS NICE, IT WILL COST THE CHURCH THE SAME AMOUNT. OH, AND NO MORE STREET PERFORMERS ANYWHERE...
ONLY THE BIGGEST CLUBS AND VENUES WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE LICENSES. IT WILL BECOME ILLEGAL TO PERFORM OR PLAY MUSIC ANYWHERE WITHOUT A LICENSE! HOW ABSURD!
EVERYONE PLEASE ATTEND THE BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL'S NEXT COMMUNITY WORK SESSION TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS BILL
**************************************
TUESDAY MARCH 31ST, 2009
6:30PM to 8:30PM
Morgan State University , Communications Center , Room 101,
5601 Perring Parkway
**************************************
________________________________________
NEW BILL PROPOSED: BALTIMORE CITY "Live Entertainment - Licensing and Regulation - Hospitality Services - Promotion and Coordination
________________________________________
City of Baltimore Legislative File ID 08-0163
________________________________________
"Live Entertainment - Licensing and Regulation - Hospitality Services -
Promotion and Coordination FOR the purpose of deleting live
entertainment and dancing as a zoning use category; requiring the
licensing of certain establishments that provide live entertainment or
dancing; establishing the Board of Licenses for Live Entertainment and
providing for its powers and duties; establishing an Office of
Hospitality Services and providing for its powers and duties; defining
certain terms; imposing certain penalties; and generally relating to the
licensing and regulation of live entertainment and to the promotion and
coordination of hospitality services."
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT is defined as:
MUSICAL ACT, CONCERT, OR RECITAL;
THEATRICAL ACT, PLAY, OR REVUE;
CIRCUS, AERIAL, OR ACROBATIC PERFORMANCE;
DANCE PERFORMANCE;
PARTICIPATORY DANCING;
MAGIC ACT;
KARAOKE;
DISC JOCKEY;
POETRY RECITAL OR BOOK READING ;
PERFORMANCE ART;
STAND-UP OR OTHER COMEDY; OR
SIMILAR ACTIVITY.
Details of the Bill include:
"NO RESTAURANT, TAVERN, OR DANCE CLUB MAY PROVIDE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT OR DANCING WITHOUT HAVING FIRST OBTAINED A LICENSE TO DO SO FROM THE BOARD OF LICENSES FOR LIVE ENTERTAINMENT."
ON RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION, THE BOARD MUST INVESTIGATE THE CHARACTER AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE APPLICANT. A LIVE-ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE MAY NOT BE ISSUED FOR ANY PERSON UNLESS THE APPLICANT IS OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER; AND IS AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD. IN DETERMINING MORAL CHARACTER, THE BOARD MUST CONSIDER: ALL CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS OF THE APPLICANT; AND THE BUSINESS HISTORY OF THE APPLICANT."
"THE BILL ALSO ESTABLISHES AN OFFICE OF HOSPITALITY SERVICES...THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES THAT THE ANNUAL OPERATING COST FOR THE OFFICE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $315,600...THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION INCLUDES A PROVISION TO SET LICENSE FEES, INCLUDING ANNUAL RENEWAL FEES, AT SUCH A LEVEL AS TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE OPERATION...IF THERE WERE 200 BUSINESSES THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY APPLY FOR THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE, THE AVERAGE LICENSE AND RENEWAL FEE WOULD NEED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $1584 TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE OPERATION..."
"IF THE BOARD DENIES A LIVE-ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE OR RENEWAL LICENSE, THE APPLICANT MAY NOT REAPPLY FOR AT LEAST 9 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE BOARD’S FINAL DECISION OR, IF THAT DECISION WAS APPEALED, FROM THE DATE OF THE FINAL COURT DECISION."
This Bill will permanently change the artistic landscape of Baltimore , potentially driving local performers away from our city and forcing touring bands/promoters/DJ's/etc. to avoid Baltimore all together. ALL existing restaurants/taverns/dance clubs would need to apply for a license, and ALL would need to re-apply on a yearly basis. A venue's license application can be blocked, and existing licenses can be revoked, by as few as TEN complaints by property owners or residents within a 10-block radius of the venue's location. There is NO grandfather clause in this bill that protects existing venues.
________________________________________
From the Office of Councilman Kraft:
"Because of the need for strong community input on this bill, a number
of public hearings located throughout the city have been scheduled. You
can find more on the bill, including the hearing schedule, here:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com%2FLiveEntertainment_Licenses.html."
________________________________________
If you wish to speak out against this Bill, please attend any of the
following meetings:
Station North Arts District Community Meetings:
Community Work Session (NE)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Morgan State , Communications Center , Room 101, 5601 Perring Parkway
Community Work Session (NW)
Thursday, April 16, 2009, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Baltimore City Community College , Liberty Campus, Auditorium, 2901
Liberty Heights Avenue
Community Work Session (SW)
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Federal Hill Preparatory School , 1040 William Street
Hearing at City Hall and Final Vote of Committees
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Clarence “Du” Burns Chambers, 4th Floor
________________________________________
This is not the time to sit back and watch what will happen. This is the time to educate yourself right NOW on the bill. This pertains to operating in Baltimore City as a resource for arts and entertainment and will also affect individual patronage of the arts and entertainment in this city. There is also a proposed State House Bill seeking to establish a new party promoter license. Read a summary of the bills below.
Documents pulled from http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com%2FLiveEntertainment_Licenses.html
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com%2Fcc08-0163%28Aggregate%2520Reprint%29%7E1st.pdf
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://legistar.baltimorecitycouncil.com%2Fdetailreport%2F%3Fkey%3D4033
--------------------
YOUR FAVORITE CLUB/LOUNGE/CONCERT HALL/RESTAURANT
MAY BE SHUT DOWN WITH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN NEW "LIVE PERFORMANCE LICENSES"
YOUR FAVORITE COFFEE HOUSE OR SOCIAL GATHERING MAY NOT BE AROUND TOMORROW. NO MORE LIVE MUSIC!!! THEY ALREADY HAVE THEIR EYES ON THE COPY CAT AND CREATIVE ALLIANCE ..
EVERY ARTIST, ENTHUSIAST, SPEAKER AND MUSICIAN MUST SPEAK OUT FOR THE FREEDOM OF LIVE MUSIC IN BALTIMORE - OR ELSE THEY WILL TAKE IT FROM US!
FIND YOUR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE
CONTACT THEM AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
Click the following link to find your City Council representative: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://cityservices.baltimorecity.gov%2Fcitycouncil%2F
IF YOU THOUGHT THAT HAVING SOMEONE PLAYING A GUITAR IN A BAR WAS HARMLESS, IT WILL NOW COST A BAR OWNER ABOUT $2,000-$3,000. IF YOU THOUGHT THAT GOING TO A RECITAL AT A CHURCH WAS NICE, IT WILL COST THE CHURCH THE SAME AMOUNT. OH, AND NO MORE STREET PERFORMERS ANYWHERE...
ONLY THE BIGGEST CLUBS AND VENUES WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE LICENSES. IT WILL BECOME ILLEGAL TO PERFORM OR PLAY MUSIC ANYWHERE WITHOUT A LICENSE! HOW ABSURD!
EVERYONE PLEASE ATTEND THE BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL'S NEXT COMMUNITY WORK SESSION TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS BILL
**************************************
TUESDAY MARCH 31ST, 2009
6:30PM to 8:30PM
Morgan State University , Communications Center , Room 101,
5601 Perring Parkway
**************************************
________________________________________
NEW BILL PROPOSED: BALTIMORE CITY "Live Entertainment - Licensing and Regulation - Hospitality Services - Promotion and Coordination
________________________________________
City of Baltimore Legislative File ID 08-0163
________________________________________
"Live Entertainment - Licensing and Regulation - Hospitality Services -
Promotion and Coordination FOR the purpose of deleting live
entertainment and dancing as a zoning use category; requiring the
licensing of certain establishments that provide live entertainment or
dancing; establishing the Board of Licenses for Live Entertainment and
providing for its powers and duties; establishing an Office of
Hospitality Services and providing for its powers and duties; defining
certain terms; imposing certain penalties; and generally relating to the
licensing and regulation of live entertainment and to the promotion and
coordination of hospitality services."
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT is defined as:
MUSICAL ACT, CONCERT, OR RECITAL;
THEATRICAL ACT, PLAY, OR REVUE;
CIRCUS, AERIAL, OR ACROBATIC PERFORMANCE;
DANCE PERFORMANCE;
PARTICIPATORY DANCING;
MAGIC ACT;
KARAOKE;
DISC JOCKEY;
POETRY RECITAL OR BOOK READING ;
PERFORMANCE ART;
STAND-UP OR OTHER COMEDY; OR
SIMILAR ACTIVITY.
Details of the Bill include:
"NO RESTAURANT, TAVERN, OR DANCE CLUB MAY PROVIDE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT OR DANCING WITHOUT HAVING FIRST OBTAINED A LICENSE TO DO SO FROM THE BOARD OF LICENSES FOR LIVE ENTERTAINMENT."
ON RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION, THE BOARD MUST INVESTIGATE THE CHARACTER AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE APPLICANT. A LIVE-ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE MAY NOT BE ISSUED FOR ANY PERSON UNLESS THE APPLICANT IS OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER; AND IS AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD. IN DETERMINING MORAL CHARACTER, THE BOARD MUST CONSIDER: ALL CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS OF THE APPLICANT; AND THE BUSINESS HISTORY OF THE APPLICANT."
"THE BILL ALSO ESTABLISHES AN OFFICE OF HOSPITALITY SERVICES...THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES THAT THE ANNUAL OPERATING COST FOR THE OFFICE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $315,600...THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION INCLUDES A PROVISION TO SET LICENSE FEES, INCLUDING ANNUAL RENEWAL FEES, AT SUCH A LEVEL AS TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE OPERATION...IF THERE WERE 200 BUSINESSES THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY APPLY FOR THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE, THE AVERAGE LICENSE AND RENEWAL FEE WOULD NEED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $1584 TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE OPERATION..."
"IF THE BOARD DENIES A LIVE-ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE OR RENEWAL LICENSE, THE APPLICANT MAY NOT REAPPLY FOR AT LEAST 9 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE BOARD’S FINAL DECISION OR, IF THAT DECISION WAS APPEALED, FROM THE DATE OF THE FINAL COURT DECISION."
This Bill will permanently change the artistic landscape of Baltimore , potentially driving local performers away from our city and forcing touring bands/promoters/DJ's/etc. to avoid Baltimore all together. ALL existing restaurants/taverns/dance clubs would need to apply for a license, and ALL would need to re-apply on a yearly basis. A venue's license application can be blocked, and existing licenses can be revoked, by as few as TEN complaints by property owners or residents within a 10-block radius of the venue's location. There is NO grandfather clause in this bill that protects existing venues.
________________________________________
From the Office of Councilman Kraft:
"Because of the need for strong community input on this bill, a number
of public hearings located throughout the city have been scheduled. You
can find more on the bill, including the hearing schedule, here:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com%2FLiveEntertainment_Licenses.html."
________________________________________
If you wish to speak out against this Bill, please attend any of the
following meetings:
Station North Arts District Community Meetings:
Community Work Session (NE)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Morgan State , Communications Center , Room 101, 5601 Perring Parkway
Community Work Session (NW)
Thursday, April 16, 2009, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Baltimore City Community College , Liberty Campus, Auditorium, 2901
Liberty Heights Avenue
Community Work Session (SW)
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Federal Hill Preparatory School , 1040 William Street
Hearing at City Hall and Final Vote of Committees
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Clarence “Du” Burns Chambers, 4th Floor
________________________________________
This is not the time to sit back and watch what will happen. This is the time to educate yourself right NOW on the bill. This pertains to operating in Baltimore City as a resource for arts and entertainment and will also affect individual patronage of the arts and entertainment in this city. There is also a proposed State House Bill seeking to establish a new party promoter license. Read a summary of the bills below.
Documents pulled from http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com%2FLiveEntertainment_Licenses.html
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com%2Fcc08-0163%28Aggregate%2520Reprint%29%7E1st.pdf
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://legistar.baltimorecitycouncil.com%2Fdetailreport%2F%3Fkey%3D4033
--------------------
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Spring Smells of Creativity
I played hookie from work today. I had to paint. The painting I am working on well, trying to, lighting and a few other issues are not beneficial. The painting has some of the same feel as "Male Figure, Bird on Head"
“Loves Anonymity” is a 24 x 18 oil on canvas and in this picture a work in progress. I have another painting I am working on so I can submit it in the London Calling show on this new favorite art site.
http://www.myartspace.com/ You can have music playing in your gallery, plus they have opportunities to show in REAL exhibit locations. My art space is free, except for the entry fees to shows.
I almost forgot something else............ A friend of mine, a writer from Delaware sent and asked me to read his soon to be published book. I really and truely enjoyed the Native American story. I just can't wait to see my autographed published copy. CONGRATS Steve Gibbons.
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