All day

All day

All day

NYTimes: At 94, She’s the Hot New Thing in Painting

From The New York Times:

At 94, She's the Hot New Thing in Painting

After six decades of very private painting, Carmen Herrera is basking
in the realization that her career is finally, undeniably, taking off.

http://s.nyt.com/u/vFv

All day

All day

All day

All day

23 all day today

23

Evolving

I am not sure there is even a remote indication

Of how this actually presents itself as it fills out my studio and invades my kitchen, bedroom and general living space. My work does not lend itself to a static flat replication or recitation...nor does my life.







This side is a little too squid like for my tastes, will adapt and push it away from that connotation.

friend's blog worth a read

"Dismantling Image and the Self's Illusions:
Tiger is no different from us" -- Jerry Webber

"we are no different than..." -- Jerry Webber

"shattering the frozenness"

Fog soup

Like driving in a dream.

Tube growth

Messy studio tube growth

mecca

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I hope you have a good day.

I hope you find the gift of breath, the sky rich with blue, the air crisp with the cool December 10th morning, that you find peace in the green that grows wild even in the city and joy in your friends. I hope this December 10th is a good day. It and you are not forgotten and are of great value. I am glad you are.

I'd tell you myself but it is not an option. So I'll just have to hope these things for you in the silence of cyberspace. And so I do.

Beginning to wind down the hallway

Then it will spill down the stairs. Will spend day sewing.

Finished back steps

Now outside to sew tubes that will be tension mounted into back door,
the tubes will stretch taunt down the hallway and spill down the front
steps.

I am still finding snow outside hiding in the shadows

doors shut; studio heating up after a day of cutting floorboards

burrrr! i am still a bit cold.
studio will warm up and then
i will hunker down for the night!


tomorrow i'll brave the cold and begin sewing the tubes for this piece...this highly modular piece! yes yes yes yes it is modular!

It was just like this last year

I recall sitting in a freezing cold sushi place with people I once knew and loved. I watched the snow while they discussed all the things wrong with the world. The snow comes again with the cold; they do not.

Can I name one of my own inner contradictions? Do I think God can still love me? an I love myself?

We must be willing to admit to the contradictions inside of us, and still let God love us in that partial state. Once we agree to see our own shadow side, our own foolishness, and our own sin and still know that God has not abandoned us, we become a living paradox that reveals the goodness of God. This is what the tax collectors and prostitutes had to do, and this is what changed them.

Once we know that God lives inside our contradictions, and God’s love is not dependent on our perfection, then other peoples’ contradictions don’t scandalize us or surprise us anymore.

I am a mass of contradictions and yet I am also a saint. I am a very good person, and I am also a sinful person. I get it and yet I oppose it too. Are both of these true? Yes, both are always true and forever true; for some wonderful reason that is what God loves.

Adapted from Preparing For Christmas, pp. 41-42

Current Mantra: Be Awake.

Copyright © 2009 Center for Action and Contemplation
PO Box 12464, Albuquerque, NM 87195-2464 (505)242-9588
www.cacradicalgrace.org

Omg I think I've gone and actually made it modular!

Each door unit is free standing, front deck and stairs are each a separate unit which attaches to front door unit, back will be different but utilize a similar system, and tubes will be a tension mount system. Thus making each unit chica moveable (in theory)
Will harvest used wood for flooring and just lay in place. Almost time to start sewing. Oh yeah!! Truly a woman and her work in preparation for women and their work art space (opening Austin March 6th). Think snoopy dancing on roof of his dog house.

Neither hears nor understands

I listen as I hear each of our distortions and misunderstandings and misinterpretations as they are exasperated by intermediaries, hurt feelings, histories and anger. And as I make stairs that descend from my own history for my upcoming show, treading where no one hears the echoes of her foot falL, I see that i hear not his foot fall's echoes as well. Neither understands because neither walks within the history and experience of the other, neither sees from the others vantage point, neither can.

Oops. It lists to the right

Good thing I am not an engineer or architect and that I make gnarly art, so in the end the list will simply become a part of the piece. I suppose it is fitting since I naturally seem to list a little more to the right then the left.

"we bring our lares with us"

"we bring our lares with us" - Louise Bourgeois

Well...of course, how could it be otherwise. Not a new thought, but always jumps off the page at me no matter the author.

Louise just past mid-ninety and still making art, yes, that is my goal, what I feel compelled toward, feel called to step into. And so I move forward bringing with me all that I am and no more.

Standing at the "fence edge of a religious petting zoo"

I am yanking this quote a bit out of context, but would like to unpack it because I can feel the trickle of truth in it.

"Are you doing justice to the __, or just creating a petting zoo for religious __" Greg Wolfe, 1994

Specifically he is talking about the arts harvested and embedded in Art, faith, mystery -- Image, a visual arts and literary journal and wondering if he's just created a petting zoo for religious artists.

What strikes me about this is it's cross applicablity to all areas of calling.

How does this apply to me?

Do I have an expectation for others to create a religious petting zoo for my comfort--with Music? Community? Books? Church programming?

Do I cater to others needs for pretty comforts that numb them to their own callings that require courage, neutering and numbing even the calling on my own life?

http://kathrynkelley.blogspot.com

Not sure but in process

in I breathe


Good news though is the piece rolls and will fit through double doors. In theory, no lifting.






Wooden discs are about 5' in diameter and distance between the two discs is 36" (and women and their works back door is 41"...so in theory this will roll into the gallery in March 2010).Needs serious refinement
>

in I breathe

What is it that I have
That I was not given

Even the air
I did not make it
I did nothing to deserve it
I did not cultivate it
It was just given
Ready for my harvesting

In I breathe

What of grief
Even that bears witness to gift
The gift of connection
Enflamed with ache
Because it exists
In the field of my heart

In I breathe
With ragged gasps
The gift

He is so arrogant and brazen

As he explored a scant distance from where I propped my feet. I know he exists and don't mind the cohabitation so long as he stays hidden away, but when he scurries in his arrogance with his brazen mindset, in the broad daylight, his furry little ass across the floor in such close proximity to where I lay my head in slumber, he must die!!!! Armed with a fresh set of glue traps and poison, I will end this before the day is through!!!

I am pretty sure sleep will elude me this very eve!

Gosh dang mouse!

How do I de-construct another?

"when we are prejudice against another, we can reduce the other to something non-human. If we truly saw each other as human beings all created in God's image, it would be hard to be so destructive toward each other." -Marsha Mirkin, PHD

Who do I dehumanize? Who do I destruct? Who do I de-construct? And as I open my eyes to my actions, will I be too ashamed to change? Too angry to change? Or will I hope enough in light and goodness to change and value?

Will I begin changing my actions to humanize and honor another as being of value and infinite worth?

Will I harden myself, ploughing on, and solidify my rationale?

What are the ramifications to the other, to those who stand in proximity, to myself, to the trickel into the present, into the future?

Will I construct and build?
Will I de-construct and destroy?

http://kathrynkelley.blogspot.com

students working ghost drawings

Melissa L drawing Melissa


Melissa L drawing Melissa


Melissa L drawing Melissa


Melissa L drawing Melissa


Melissa L drawing Melissa


Rachel drawing Rachel


Rachel drawing Rachel


Rachel drawing Rachel


Rachel drawing Rachel


Rachel drawing Rachel


Jeremy of Jeremy


Jeremy of Jeremy


Jeremy of Jeremy


Jeremy of Jeremy


Jeremy of Stephanie



Kimi of Kimi (Tuesday)


Kimi's evolution from Tuesday and then several explorations on Thursday


Kimi of Kimi


Kimi of Kimi


Ethan of Ethan


Caitlyn of Caitlyn


Caitlyn of Caitlyn


Caitlyn of Caitlyn


top is Sarah's Tuesday exploration;
bottom is her exploration in trying not to outline
and is much more expressive and three dimensional


Sarah of Sarah


Stephanie of Stephanie (Tuesday)


Stephanie of Stephanie (Thursday)


KP of KP (Tuesday)


and trying not to outline so much, but to explore the inner shapes.
KP of KP (Thursday)


Melissa V struggled with lines being too pretty (though this does look like her and captures her smiling nature)


Melissa V struggled with lines being too pretty SO we explored drawing with the left hand just to see. Thought this drawing is not pretty, it is strong and expressive.

More student explorations in self and classmate portraits

the ghosting technique is extremely helpful in helping the student find their subject. note melissa's early drawing and then were it is an hour and a half later.


melissa l of melissa v, early in the afternoon


melissa l of melissa v, late afternoon


Jeremy of Jeremy



technique: ghost drawing--repetitive gestures, wiping image away after each gesture and then comparing residual image to actual object and making adjustments with each gesture. this process is repeated about 10 times until the student finds their subject. they then begin erasing high lighted areas working their erasure strokes in a cross contour fashion. not only is it fun, but the students are usually able to capture the feel of their subject.


aerli of aerli




thomas of thomas.


thomas forgot to bring a mirror and adapted by using the video feed off of his phone.


stephanie of david




melissa l of melissa l


mike of melissa l, early afternoon


mike of melissa l, late afternoon


david of edwin


KP of KP. using only straight lines


keely of keely, early afternoon


keely of keely, late afternoon

couple of problems i am running into with these explorations are 1) too much outlining 2) too many closed forms (which still goes back to the problem with outlining) versus open (think geometry). need to work on communicating this idea of closed/open shapes...

Contemplating exhibition elements for UTSA GALLERY

Re-purposing 8' diameter megaphone-like structures with additional elements to appear to be squishing out of ceiling and wall.


there is a 14" gap at the top of the wall that leads into an adjacent gallery space, the units will appear to be oozing through this gap and be in both spaces.

Officially deinstalled

Yes. I believe this is so

"Why God chooses to answer some prayers and not others, I do not know. All I know for certain is that it's always right to ask."

A quote from a quote off a friend's blog.

and it's wake pushes forward into the future with ferocity

hurt begets hurt
which in turn begets

hurt

which ripples
linearly and laterally
with a ferocious push out
into the future through
generations, through lifetimes,
through what is forgotten and
yet to be known
clinging to each swell

blame is a fruitless fathoming
leaving the heart empty
in cold abandoned tatters
adrift, unrescued

the only thing that impedes the push
is, as one is able,
to navigate one's own actions and heart,
bestowing acts of mercy and forgiveness*
both inward and outward

all else accelerates the linear and lateral
waves of harm that emanate
as through a portal from each of us.

----------

*bestowing acts of mercy and forgiveness
casts ripples that not only impede those of harm
but redirect them for good

am collecting old belts; will take your old ones off your hands

if you've got some belts you want to dispose of, i'll take them and embed them in an upcoming piece of art i am making.

Drop 'em by my studio at BOX 13 ArtSpace (6700 Harrisburg 77011) or if you see my truck toss them in the back.

"You can never go wrong stopping by an opening party at this scrappy East End artist-run space. "

Box 13 Artspace: The latest round of exhibits kicks off from 7-9:30 p.m. Saturday at 6700 Harrisburg.

WEEKEND PICKS
Weekend events provide options for arts lovers
By DOUGLAS BRITT Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle

Hope to see you guys at the BOX
Saturday, November 14
7-9:30 pm
6700 Harrisburg Blvd (77011)
Parking on Cesar Chavez and Capitol

Hasta La Basura Se Separa [artcrush] is an exhibition curated by the Austin-based group Los Outsiders: Salvador Castillo, Michael Anthony García and Hector Hernandez. Originally presented at the Galleria del Espacio Cultural de la Antigua Aduana in the border town of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Hasta La Basura Se Separa [artcrush] features the work of 13 contemporary artists from Texas, New York & Utah.

And i would be one of the artists, so come on out this Saturday.

How can my false self lead me to the real Light?

CHOOSE LIFE—CHOOSE DEATH

There is a darkness that we are all led into by our own stupidity, by our own selfishness, blindness, or by just living out of the false self. And there is a darkness that I believe God leads us through for our own enlightenment. In both cases, we have to walk through these dark periods by brutal honesty, confessions, surrenders, letting go, forgiveness, and often by some necessary restitution, apology or healing ritual. I still hear of Vietnam vets who feel they must go back to Vietnam and help some Vietnamese children to be healed.

Different vocabularies would have called these acts of repentance, penance, mortification, dying to self, or ego stripping. By any account it is major surgery and surely feels like dying (although it also feels like immense liberation). We need help and comfort during these times. We must let ourselves be led by God and also by others. But how can we know the light if we’ve never walked through the darkness?

Taken from Hope Against Darkness, pp. 165, 173

Current Mantra:
Lord, teach me to choose life

Thoughts from Fr. Richard Rohr, Fall 2009

Meditations from Richard Rohr
Of Center for Action and Contemplation www.cacradicalgrace.org

Ghosting technique for portraits student explorations

Rachel of Kim


Rachel of Kim


Caitlyn of Edwin


Caitlyn of Edwin


Keely of Melissa L


Keely of Melissa L


Melissa L of Kimi


Melissa L of Kimi


Jeremy of Aerli


David of Melissa V


David of Melissa V


Stephanie of Melissa V


Ethan of KP


Ethan of KP


Jeremy of David


Stephanie of David


Stephanie of David


Stephanie of David


Stephanie of Jeremy


Kimi of Keely


Kimi of Keely


KP of Mike


KP of Mike


KP of Mike


Melissa V of Stephanie


Rachel of Aerli

student explorations in portrait

using only straight lines as though they were working a 2 or 3 point perspective (self portraits and portraits of classmates)


Melissa L


Rachel


Rachel of Kevin


Melissa V of David


Melissa V


Kim of Rachel


Aerli


David


Mike of Keely


Ethan of Mike

Caitlyn of Sarah


Caitlyn


Stephanie of Melissa


Melissa L


Keely


Kimi of Keely


Kimi

insanity?

I beat my head on the same wall
still believing that goodness
is more real than malice
more real than historical hurts
more real than secret shadows

i choose to believe
goodness and mercy reside there
as well, in these hiding places

I work to look past the visible;
I continue to move toward walking and gifting
mercy, goodness and forgiveness

So I focus on opening and listening

and what i hear:
it is time, kathy, to gently stand up
stand up, kathy

and i will
as gently as i can
in spite of what i see

in the space of absence installed as part of artCrush at the BOX

Opening Saturday, November 14
7-9:30 pm
BOX 13 ArtSpace

How do my emotions help me to understand more deeply?

We must go through the stages of feeling, not only in the last death of anything but all the earlier little deaths. If we abort these emotional stages by easy answers, all they do is take a deeper form of disguise and come out in another way. So many people learn that the hard way—by getting ulcers, by all kinds of psycho-somatic diseases, depression, chronic irritability, and misdirected anger—because they refuse to let their emotions run their course, honor them consciously, or find some appropriate place to share them.

Emotions are not right or wrong, good or bad. They are merely indicators of what is happening, and must be listened to, usually in the body. People who do not feel deeply finally do not know or love deeply either. It is the price we pay for loving. Like Job we must be willing to feel our emotions and come to grips with the mystery in our head, our heart, and our body. To be honest, that takes years.

From Job and the Mystery of Suffering: Spiritual Reflections, pp.54-55
Richard Rohr

what can't be changed.

texture project experiment

will have to contemplate this project.

Evangelism on all hallows eve

The Mormon gets the

girl