Veggin' out!

Can I just say that I looooove getting payed? In fact, as soon as I got payed last week, I high- tailed it over to Kramer's Health Food store to partake in some tasty vegetarian delights.

A short list of the things I consumed:

A "BLT" with soy - based bacon, packed with thick slices of veggies and fresh sprouts. Like I died and went to veggie bacon heaven!

Peanut butter cookie from the Alternative Baking Company (vegan). I only do these once in a while because they're so rich and dense but gooood for those mid - day sugar highs.

I used to hate Kombucha but it has undoubtedly grown on me. Good for flushing the system but tastes like you're getting punched in the mouth.

Btw, I've got a lovely recipe for a barley salad if any of you out there are interested!

Eat vegetables and listen to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs!

Spring things...[Spring Updates]

So to all of you out there that are just dying to find out- I did not get that lovely huge grant I applied for. (BOOOOO!!!) After cursing and swearing at my computer screen for a lengthy amount of time, I decided that all is well and I will still continue to make the art I make, with or without their filthy money. (You hear that art school!?)

On a similar yet happy note, I have so far gotten into one of the craft fairs I've applied to! Yippeee!!! I will be a proud participant in the Mercadito DIY Arts and Crafts fair at the Rumble Arts Center on Mother's Day, May 8th from 11am-3pm. If you are in the Chicago area or more specifically in Humboldt park, please stop by my table and say hello. I will have lots of lovely jewelry waiting to greet you!!

Recently went to an artist talk with David Leggett at the 65 grand gallery. I really am fascinated by his work and some of the stories that went along with it but a lot of his art makes me so sad, I just want to pretend it's not there. Even though he had a great sense of humor, my heart hurt a little when I left.

From the book Until Friday, 2006

Red Hoodie Slow Jam, 2008 (currently at 65 Grand)

Smoke the purple out of the rainbow, 2010 (Currently at 65 Grand)

From the book Until Friday 2006

Sometimes his level of honesty in art just kind of makes me want to back away. (Which I think says a lot about my character, unfortunately.) He did, however make me want to go home and listen to some Parliament and dance! Check out his art and tell me what you think!

I've got some new jewelry in my etsy shop. Feel free to tell me what you think about those things, too or you can always just buy stuff!

Social Butterfly Earrings. For all you ladies who dream of one day flying away!

Round and Pretty Earrings go great with tea!

So that's that! I need a hot shower and a warm hug. Happy Tuesday. <3

my hand wil always be imperfect because it's human

I just watched an art:21 episode that featured Margaret Killgallen and Barry McGee and I highly recommend it to any of you out there interested in folk- inspired illustrations and graffiti.


Margaret Killgallen was a San Francisco based illustration artist who was part of the very influential Mission School movement in the 90's. I first heard about her and Barry McGee in a documentary called Beautiful Losers which I encourage you all to check out.





It took me a while to warm up to her work but after I heard her talk about it, I appreciate how rich and how alive with narrative it is.






"And in my own work, I do everything by hand. I don't project or use anything mechanical, because even though I do spend a lot of time trying to perfect my line work and my hand, my hand will always be imperfect because it's human."






Barry Mcgee was her partner for many years, before her untimely death in 2001 (due to breast cancer.) He was another artist to come out of the Mission School movement, who occasionally goes by the graffiti name Twister. A lot of his art work comes from his pessimistic view of San Francisco culture which he believes to be rampant with addictions and hollow commercialism. He makes a lot of installations with these weird zombie mannequins doing graffiti on the walls.




The art:21 interview showed a lot of delicious establishing shots of their studio space packed with collected found objects and images painted directly on the walls. There were also a lot of nice scenes of them painting on non- art related objects like box tops and narrowly getting caught doing graffiti on trains.

The graffiti of Matokie Slaughter and Twister (Margaret and Barry)

I think it must be so wonderful to have a partner who's also an artist. Though I mostly prefer to do studio work alone, every now and again it seems like it would be nice to share that personal space with someone, or to have someone around to snap photos of your graffiti work before it gets demolished.

Watch both documentaries and tell me what you think!

mr. fox has marble eyes

I've been super busy this week (3 crits so far) which is why I've been so illusive. Anyway I spotted this video back in October on an amazing blog and haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. It's like the acid trip/dark side of Fantastic Mr. Fox (which I still haven't seen by the way).



Check out More from Max Swinton. He also made a similar video called Mr. Pike.

On a related note, I just registered for an awesome class next fall called Alternative Animation: 1960- present. I'm so very giddy about it because we'll be viewing the work of Janie Geiser, Jan Svankmajer, and Susan Pitt to name a few.

If you have any animation recommendations, I'd love to hear it. And I hope you all are soaking in some fickle April sun!

Mucca Pazza and weekend mayhem

This past Saturday I had the privilege of watching Mucca Pazza perform at Martyr's.
For those of you who don't know who they are, Mucca Pazza is a 30 piece circus punk marching band based out of Chicago, Illinois. They are always a blast to watch! Saturday was my second time. There isn't much actual marching going on except for when they are coming out on to the stage. They disperse through the crowd, playing their instruments and interacting with the audience. I turned around to find myself face to face with Mark Messing, blowing the sousaphone and smiling at me!

Mark Messing, the creator and head conductor of Mucca Pazza.

I probably shouldn't have flashed in this dude's face.

Half of the members playing away!

Mostly they do semi- synchronized movements and interact with each other. They even have a group of cheerleaders that do routines with frightening amounts of energy. After a powerhouse set of songs, the band somehow managed to do an encore of four additional songs!! My favorite moment was when the "junior conductor" came to the front of the stage and directed the audience and the band in an original piece.

The junior conductor doing his thing which was in my opinion, the highlight of the show.

The Mucca Pazza cheerleaders in the midst of their "Hand Signals" routine. I recognize some of them from various Redmoon events.

The reaaallly intense fiddle player. Doesn't he look like he's about to battle Darth Vader?

I danced the entire time! My cotton dress was clingy and sweaty when all was said and done. I was right in the front and even though my ears were ringing by the end of it, I didn't care. My knees hurt a little from all the jumping up and down but surprisingly my voice was not hoarse, despite all the screaming and yelling.

Go see them when they come to your home town and tell me how much you love them!

Aside from them, my weekend has been peachy! I went to an art opening Friday night and danced awkwardly to some reggae music and today I had my first couple Etsy sales (yay!) followed by a nice Easter potluck at a friend's place. Now back to school tomorrow to try to diminish the huge workload that I keep putting off. Yay me.

A small portion of Easter dinner. And yes, that is a chocolate cake with strawberries on it. In case you're wondering, it was dense and amazing.

Happy Easter!

Some News

So..I actually walked outside today wearing a dress with a cardigan, scarf, and NO COAT! Can you believe it!? It felt like seeing the sun for the first time in months. It was dizzying.

Speaking of being dizzy-ingly happy, I've finally got my Etsy Shop up and running with a small amount of items for sale. More to come, real soon...promise.

On a side note, I've discovered Polyvore. Heaven help me! I envision so many precious art-making hours being wasted looking through oodles of cute clothes.

My most recent creation:

That bag is super sweet, huh? Happy Tuesday!

Spring Things

It's the last day of spring break and it's 38 stinking degrees outside but I am in a right, cheerful, mood because I have cleaned my room and I had the honor/privilage of attending Swap o rama rama today, leaving with two bags of "new" clothes.

Swap O rama rama is a giant clothing swap and D.I.Y community workshop that travels around the U.S. Everyone brings a bag of clothes which are sorted into large tables, ripe for the picking. Various D.I.Y stations are set up around the room depending on what day you go.When I went there was a puppet making workshop, jewelry making, embroidery, leg warmer making, and silkscreen/ tie dye. They even had live bands that played!! I left feeling pretty giddy about my new finds, though they require a decent amount of alterations on my sewing machine.


Other than that, here are some other things I have been up to lately:

-I've finally put my Doc Marten- covered foot down and asked my lovely friend take some photos for my Etsy page. I have been giving myself quite a headache trying to figure out my shop policies but at the same time, it's loads of fun. All those looong hours in the metals department are finally paying off. A little taste of what's to come:




All handmade by yours truly. I hope your interest is sooo piqued! Check back in a week or so to see my finished shop!

- I'm applying for a $1000 grant to cover various metal/ jewelry making supplies. This is developing into headache number 2 but the thought of having a proper home studio is unbelievably alluring. Any tips for successful grant writing would be greatly appreciated!

- Tried to watch Skins on Netflix since I keep hearing about that show. It's the standard popular- boy -obsessed -with- sex -and -himself storyline except it takes place across the pond. The smoggy weather and green fields in the background were lovely but the majority of the show involves nude skinny teens straddling each other. Makes me a little bitter My So Called Life was canceled.


- I am going to see the Women's Roller Derby tournament next month and I'm super excited about it! On a side note, I recently watched Whip It! which is a really fun movie if you're into roller skating and surface messages about girl power. I occasionally go by the alias Bambi St. Valentine when I'm a back up dancer for The Dangerous Strangers but in honor of Whip It! I'm thinking of changing my alias to Cat Snatch Fever!

The lovely Windy City ladies doing their thing!

So that's that...I hope this weather soon breaks so I can move forward with my late night picnic plans :(