Lisa's Musings

there's no standard mom job description. sure there's snot and baths and dinner and laundry.... there's also all that intangible stuff - the looks, the stickers on your lunch bags, the staying with you until you fall asleep. every mom i know admits that sometimes its a thankless, completely overwhelming responsibility. but they all wouldn't trade it for the world. well i wouldn't trade my mom or my grandmother in for anything. thank you for everything you've done for me. every hug, every encouragement, every prejudiced praise... even though i can't be with you tomorrow know that i am thinking of you and love you very very much.

to • all• moms• in • blogland• who • share • with• us• and• inspire • us • thank• you

to the • new and• expecting moms... a special congratulations

and of course a big hug to all the pet moms .... i'm sorry i couldn't list every single mom out there - but give yourselves bit pats on the back!

hope everyone gets breakfasts in bed, lots of hugs, and special treats galore! i'll be back next week with some robot photos

Labels: life

wow you guys are so great. thanks for all the balance sympathy! [but duh you guys are just as crazy busy as i am]



sometimes i feel like i need to tackle a material - something familiar in a new way.

ali and i are working on a trade. i saw an image of hers on her blog and had to have it. she's going to get some tanks and i told her she could hang them as "flowers"....

tonight we are going to see dengue fever . i couldn't be more excited. it's been so long since i've seen a live show....

ok - off to work in the studio. i have a LONG list of things that have to get done in there today.....

happy weekend!

Labels: art, life, music

i often feel like if i stop for one minute i'll shut down and i won't be able to start back up. and then like a house of cards everything would tumble and i'll live up to the flaky artist stereotype that drives me crazy. but luckily i have a husband who misses me - and who tells me that my priorities are sometimes screwy.

we had the most amazing weather this weekend. what we usually have in fall. sun, warmth, slight breeze.... not too hot, not too cold - bust out the summer shoes weather. and D insisted we picnic.

so i gave up the laptop [after doing my traffic school course] and i stopped grading and we listened to baseball and i lay in the grass with the dogs and cats.

i don't know why i feel like i have to be forced or given permission to take a break, but.... it's OK to not get to every blog, or every friend's photo on flickr, or write a 2 page response to a 2 page paper.... i don't feel slighted when people disappear for awhile and weave back in. it's all part of life. i'm a slow learner in this area, but i'm trying i really am.



just because tonka wanted to say hi to everyone....



and this is the 22 foot tall bot i was talking about a few posts back michael salter is a very cool artist. i'm really glad i got to meet him and see his work.

Labels: artists, life

um - first i just want to thank you for all the kindness regarding my last post. thanks for being so enthusiastic about my endeavors. it really means a lot to me.

my tanks came back from the japanese museum show . and of course the museum stacked them perfectly by color. it's just one of those things that would happen in japan - and why i feel such an affinity - it's like a little bit of order in some chaos. structure within something that doesn't really warrant it - i opened the crate and there was just this little bit of ordinary beauty to make my day [and make carrying the heavy crate worth it]

i have been sicker than i've been in a long time - so if you have been wondering why i haven't been around the internets - that is why. thank god for my amazing husband who took the greatest care of me. i am so so lucky. he doesn't allow me to take care of him in the same way so i'll have to find another way to repay him....

last night as i tried to fall asleep without dry hacking out my lung i kept thinking of tether ball . i'm not sure why this is, but i kept trying to make it into a metaphor for life. random yes. did you play as a kid? it's not like it's the most interesting game, and yet i remember playing it for entire recesses. and then i had this desire to pull out a pair of scissors while the ball was spinning around and just cut it free. a yellow ball catapulting in some direction. [sigh. what in the world does this say about my mental state?]

hope your weeks are off to a good start. i'll be around soon.....

Labels: life

the other day i was in a bookstore and i snatched up the above Donna Hay - Instant Cook cookbook. the images are divine, the recipes easy but seem flavorful. here's more images from the book



i like to cook "big meals", but often falter on the day to day cooking. i am hoping that this book will help me out a bit.

but really, i am so lucky. my husband loves to cook. he cooks all weekend long. breakfasts and dinners. it's so wonderful. i feel totally spoiled - he marches out of the kitchen and hands me giant plates of food. he's always trying new recipes and recreating old favorites.... here's what he made for breakfast yesterday!



build your own breakfast burrito....

so... in a very few minutes i'll be picking up lisa and wilfredo. we are meeting to talk about our show this summer together [so excited about this !!] lisa just turned 40 and i have her present for her :)

tonka would like to thank all you [lovely ladies is what he's calling you] for all the well wishes. he's doing much better and isn't giving me the i'm in an e-collar death stare....

and i have 2 studio visits this week. yikes. lots going on..... more on all of this shortly....

happy monday

Labels: life

for abby's beautiful film week

jim jarmusch is an all time favorite director and Dead Man is full of such amazing imagery.... i love the scene on the right - i've never seen a dead person look so hauntingly beautiful. plus the plaid suit johnny depp wears is beyond perfect. this is a movie that i'm glad was not made in color.

i was just "talking" to someone about how i tend to remember/like movies that aren't happy. i like darker, sadder, slice of life movies.... not sure what this says about me but it seems to be true.



please think good thoughts for my little tonka. he had surgery today. i will miss his snoring in bed tonight.... i hope you get to come home tomorrow.... i'm sorry you'll have to wear an e-collar yet again. sigh

and a few links....
i haven't met viola yet, but i hope to. she just launched her website chewing the cud . very sweet

sarajo frieden updated her website. she'll have a show at little bird soon.....

and ... did you know the library of congress is on flickr ?!?!?!?!

happy mid week.

Labels: blogland, life, links

so... it's hard to describe meeting shari . if you read her blog you feel like you know her. when i have met other blog friends, they just seem more of what they are like online. with shari, she is as kind, sweet, thoughtful and quietly funny as you might think [anyone who can name bands the measles and the mumps is kosher in my book]. she thought she was too quiet for our meet-up - but honestly we were in a big group of folks. many of whom can hold a room full of attention no problem. her traveling companions joe and tom were quick witted and very fun... i felt as though our group - including kathleen and aurora had known each other for much longer than we actually had. it's the beauty and sadness of these types of meet-ups. thrown together for span of time w/ a common allegiance knowing that the grouping is temporary... which really only makes it sweeter, no? i feel super lucky as shari will soon be coming to calif. for a visit and we will then have some one on one time.

shari brought me the most AMAZING books. the one on heath that i have been eying for ages, and this amazing collection of cool indian stuff . and some chocolate. swoon. thank you friend!

despite the missing art, aurora and i DID get to see a little bit of nashville. i haven't been anywhere in awhile where everyone KNEW we were not from the area.... it seemed like we were exotic species coming from california and new york. ha!



one of the highlights of the trip was our visit to hatch show print . an amazing print studio. what i wouldn't do to work there.



the arcade - where sq ft lives - is this very neat old fashioned mall. i had fun looking at the old type, other galleries, and nooks and crannies there. [are you noticing how many of these photos are ending up as diptychs? couplets on the brain] BTW. there is a nice write up of our show by david maddox here













artists/designers are also using the shops as their work spaces. quite nice.

and a few shots of nashville:



i don't think this is the real location of sun records at least not anymore? but one they set up for the country music museum [my guess as it was close by]. just thinking about johnny cash and sun records made me happy



can't go to the south without eating BBQ. jacks bbq is what we sampled.





shari has a day shot of this place!



and there you have it.

started teaching last week [where did my break go?]. i'm excited to be teaching creative process again. it's a free for all class - 2D, 3D all media - and so it's really fun. plus it has a lot of non-art majors in it - always makes for lively discussions and approaches.

finally - i wrote our last post on amy hempel's book for ship of fools . if you are interested in joining in the book club next round we have to pick a new book. help us decide!

happy weekend!

Labels: blogland, books, life, travel

the above image so reminds me of this painting by one of my all time painting heroes gerhard richter

have you ever had one of those days [weeks, months... spans of times] where you couldn't even think the words "well it can't possibly get any worse" because you knew that it could. and it would. and it does. where minutia of humor become ever so important... where you have to find some other place, thing, person to hold onto. where each step forward, each minute of progress, each phone call that doesn't bring bad news is to be treasured.

these last few days i've spent time thinking, trying not to think, and then reflecting on what it's like to show, hide, respond to, and ignore a roller coaster of emotions. one thought that has entered my mind [yet again] is how remarkable this community and this space is. i have real, special, and true friends all from what happens out on these here internets.... i want to thank everyone who comes here, who comments, who reads, who reflects, and who participates in any way shape or form. i want to thank all of you who have sent emails, packages, cards and the like all through the year and specifically through this season. thank you, really. thank you.

i hope everyone had a good holiday. and that we all have a peaceful and happy new year. and i want to share a song that i heard again the other day and seems just right for this time.... [you may have to click out of your reader to be able to hear it]

Labels: life

but i really don't want to believe that. i just got thru the last of my one-to-one meetings with my professional practice students [15 minutes each. they had to present their cover letters, resumes, portfolios and website]. word of the day is consitency. some of them are ready and some of them are not. and i have to let that go. i can only do so much in 10 sessions minutes before they graduate.

above is a photo from the wedding over the weekend. it was hot. it was on a lake, in a vineyard, everything was tinged in earth tones. you can see a bit more here .




this little squirrel - a prize that gracia won {eons ago - i'm so sorry for the delay}. landed safe in the other hemisphere. i think he will be most happy amongst all the critters in gracia and louise's welcoming home....

and i have my own laundry list of thank yous to accomplish:: [deep breath]


from the top.... a surprise [which could really suit me no better] from camilla - or more accurately a hug from sweden. i just sent her a kiss back, so hopefully it will arrive safe too.

row 2 :: books [and passes to moca!!] from annabelle. pictured on a right is a detail of the work of liz larner . also right up my alley.

row 3 - left :: marieke and i traded. swoon. i actually want it to be cold so i can wear the adorable hand warmers. and she threw in so many extra goodies. thank you sweet one!

row 3 - right :: vintage buttons of the most amazing variety from paula

row 4 :: once again dear bablefish has provided eye candy of the UK variety. sigh

row 5 :: the ever so kind abigail sent along absolute delights - more fashion inspriation, some colored pens, her kraft paper prints {!!!} and adorable moo cards, and 2 silk bobbins all the way from france {sigh}. i think they are getting along nicely w/ my giant bobbin, no?

row 6 - left :: i met with lisa c the other week hoping to teach her how to crochet . [i hope you are practicing lisa!] and she brought a bag full of goodies. lucky me.

row 6 - right :: amisha sent along a bar of lilac cocoa butter soap. [that's her picture btw]. if you have been lucky enough to try her soaps - it's hard to go back to store bought once you have. she is travelling, but perhaps with some nudging we can get her to sell her soap sometime soon.

i also need to thank christine who sent the nicest easter goodies - how long ago was that??!! [of which all were devoured] and of which i never properly photo'd.

i have a feeling i'm forgetting someone - so if i have - forgive me. my mind is awhirl. there is so much going on right now i think i might burst - but i'll save that for my next post. [where i will promtply pulverize, shoot out of the screen, and make a mess of all your monitors]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

AND.... if you need something to go visit. i just finished helping artist Jen Garrido design/launch her website

is it really wednesday?

Labels: art, blogland, life, teaching

in case you didn't get enough of the blue sky from the last set of photos.

what to tell you? let's make a list ::



over 100 flavors of gelato!!!!

1. eating desserts and laughing till you cheeks hurt are very good things. till next time wenders , ky , christine [happy anniversary!!], regina [who does great voices], and ms. blackburn who, by the way, made this cake and sangria [dangerous stuff that sangria]:



2. meeting melissa was like seeing an old friend. we must have known each other in another life.... seeing her gallery space made me excited and nervous about the show i'm going to have there. [in october - please come!!]

3. seeing the andrea zittel show restored my faith in art. oh my was that ever one of the most lovely shows i've seen. what i respond to most in her work is the fact that she is so incredibly conceptual and intellectual and responsible. her ideas are just that good. and then she makes these GORGEOUS things. whoever says conceptual art isn't aesthetic hasn't spent any time with miss zittel's work. i had a big big art crush and it's only bigger now.

4. if you are in the LA vicinity.... PLEASE go see the poetics of the handmade . i walked through this show twice. and i don't ever do that. obsessive, hand crafted beautiful work on a grand grand scale.... just look at this . i really really fell in love with Máximo González's installation [no good pics on the moca website]. i could have spent all day in there....{giant thanks to annabelle who sent me passes to the museum}

5. spending time with my grandma, eating good food, talking politics and of course shopping - is such a treat. especially when you get to go home with these . i got other cool stuff too, but those pants just make me giggle every time!

um... so what else? shari posted our documentary project on monday.... and karen posted our last on beauty section on ship .

the mail has been good to me again of late.... will try to get to that this week. happy hump day! one final shot from down south:

Labels: artists, blogland, life

*update* i just got told you can't "See" the song i linked to in bloglines... so after the line that says a hint to where i go.... you have to visit my blog to see/hear the song :) *end of update*



the fog came back this morning.... so i dug up these old polaroids from oceanside to remember the sun [which i'm sure will be out this afternoon]



i'm so excited to see my drawing student's final projects next week.... they are furiously working away [this is the assignment where they get to come up w/ the entire premise themselves]

and here i am frantically getting ready to escape for a few days. [i am taking grading with me - how sad is that?]... i should have some good tales to tell.... good sightings, good food, i predict smart, funny, charming, women in my future. [one of them being my grandma!]

a hint to where i go:


if you haven't seen radio blog club, where the above came from, check it out! it's super cool. and free! you must just suffer with my future posts peppered with punny songs [yes as in pun]

and the clafoutis recipe is here . it came out really well... i can now imagine berry clafoutis.... with vanilla ice-cream and a berry sauce.... oh heaven. if you like bread pudding you will LOVE it.



catch you later [pretend i'm a surfer]

Labels: life, links, polaroids

yup. today it sure is - i love the first day of wearing flip flops every year. how exciting! how's your sunday?



friday i went to see lisa and stephanie's show at doe . i love the pic of stephanie's hands because that's exactly what i do at openings when i'm nervous. the show is really amazing. if you are in the bay area you should definitley check it out. [bring a step ladder, though, as everything is way above eye level - esp. for the vertically challenged like me].

if i was brave i would show you the stacks and stacks and piles and piles strewn around my house. almost every surface is covered with something. the packing pile... the book pile... the grading pile... the projects [multiple] in progress piles.... but i'm not brave, so i'll show this instead



when heidi posted about her new sewing machine that could create letters i swooned. i needed an excuse, though, to purchase such machine as i already have plenty of sewing machines that work just fine. luckily the universe decided to oblige me. i got a job with a materials fee and the need for more precise stitch measurement and voila ! the machine is now mine. it also has an amazing array of decorative stitches. if only i had more time to play with it.



the farmer's market had these amazing cherries. yum. and then this recipie for a clafoutis appeared in williams and sonoma's catalogue. so i'm going to give it a whirl later today. we're having a birthday BBQ today. i'm planning on serving the clafoutis with pistachio gelato. yum.....

bye for now!

Labels: artists, life