It's just my opinion ....

I have managed to do some work in the studio this week. I've finished a little of the newspaper knitting and I've been sewing like mad on these knit images.

Today's studio wall
and a very bad/dark photo.

So far I was only in the courthouse for one day of jury duty. I was lucky and didn't get picked for the first trial, and my # hasn't been called for any others this week.

Has anyone been to NYC to see the radical lace & subversive knitting show at the Museum of Art and Design?

Over all I thought the show was a disappointment. I'm not sure if it was the installation or the ambitious/ambiguous agenda of the curator that killed it. I walked away with a very bad feeling about knitting + lace as art and a really terrible feeling about the state of "Fiber Art" in general.
but I have got to say....
There were artists who's work seemed to overcome the limitation of the show.

*link heavy area ahead*

Piper Shepard - is it radical? is it subversive? I don't think so - what it is is good design and an extremely interesting take on the process of cloth making vs. art making.

Sabrina Gschwandtner - What can I say, I love her approach to knitting and the way she keeps broadening the definition. Sabrina, if you read this post I'd love to hear from you with thoughts on the show. You have my email.

Cat Mazza - Everyone who reads my yakkity yak knows that I have nothing but good will towards Cat, I've linked to her since I started the blog. I think her projects at MicroRevolt are radical and subversive. Her work is so accessible, I almost would categorize it as trans formative, both to the genre and to a larger audience.

Anne Wilson - please watch the video excerpt and then explore her site, lots of process going on there.

Yoshiki Hishinuma - I love the industrial applications stretched and manipulated to make us think ... handmade.

So there it is a little bit of my opinion.

Jury Duty Today

I'm hoping to have a post on the latest shows that we saw in NYC this weekend, for now though I've got to get ready for jury duty.

knitting and looking at art

I have been working on the knitted newspaper, All the while Chet stays nearby. Yep, it's true, he is developing separation issues. He gets anxious if we leave, even if it's just to check the mail. We're trying to train him to a crate (lots of "accidents" if he is just left to run around the house if we go). Any body have suggestions to help him get over this anxious state. I'm sure it has something to do with being in a kennel for 3 months so maybe the answer is just time.
Bad photo, i know, but that's him laying next to the newspaper I'm knitting.

....We got into the city on Friday for the Armory Show. I don't really remember specific pieces of work , but the feeling there was very "buzzy" it felt like the place to be. Galleries were selling and all the NY art world seemed to be there. kinda crazy kinda fun.

Being in the art sphere set off a crisis of sorts with me. I developed a terrific headache, and felt pressure pressure pressure to have my work out there. All of this culminated in me sending off some feelers to a couple of galleries. I think it really is time that I do this instead of hiding out here in the woods in my studio making things that never are seen.

I'll keep you all updated. - The headache is gone.

on a knitting break

I just saw this and even though it's been floating around for a while I thought I'd share it
BjorkDiddy.

That's my knitting break.

snow day

A 12 inch tall dog walking on top of 12 inches of snow.

and his own cleared path.

idle day

We do love Chet.
I admit it, I have pulled out the pattern books and maybe I'm considering knitting a doggie sweater.

I have also been trying to get some work going. The studio wall has been changing but creatively I'm feeling so so flat.

I keep forgetting that I wanted to link to this site, Pandora, created by the Music Genome Project. I've been using it to personalized the music I stream. Today I'm listening to Wax Tailor. Now I'm off to get some work done.

Chet has 2 Daddies

I haven't made the new dog sweater, yet.

But Fran and I are fighting over who get's to wear this hat. It says " Chet's Dad"

Dog Blogging

We have a name.

Chet.
There will be more photos.

A day in CT

We went to the shop in Stamford to rearrange and bring in some new stuff.

I had the idea to go to a shelter in West Chester (NY) since it was only 12 miles away.

here's what happened.



Oh, yes it is.
A young Affenpinscher, probably 2 or 3, and so far he seems really well behaved. The shelter people acted like he was a terror, but neither of us have seen it with him yet. Here's the strangest thing about it. They just gave him to us because they were so happy to have people who knew something about the breed and it's temperment. I think mostly they dealt with large breeds (staffordshires, mastiffs, bulldogs) so they just didn't get the small dog.

We are happy. He should be named soon. and there wil be plenty of photos.

Things to do as you get closer to 50

Take clippers and cut off all of your hair.

Freak out because it looks like a bald spot developing.
but wait.... it's just the lighting, really.

Yes, I am still here

Howdy everybody,

oh.... it's been busy. Shows and the shops and loads of travel. I have barely been able to check my mail.

And I've been in full on looking for a dog mode. This week I've traveled to CT and to Long Island to see dogs and so far I haven't found "the one" I want to adopt. I came very close at our local shelter, but I really don't think I should adopt a 7 year old dog. So the dog search continues.

I woke up this morning thinking.... I haven't even seen a knitting needle for weeks. The studio is neglected and now I've got to work on the web site and vacuum the house. got to go.......

for knitting fetishists

chastity and
a sweater.

Gotta love modblog.

Something to entertain you while I'm away for a few days

We have a big show this weekend

All of my time has been doing stuff revolving around getting ready for the show.
Plus the thinking about the Hampton's space. We're going to be moving in to that next week, Friday, I think.

Oh yea, and I've been checking out petfinders.com looking for a dog to adopt. I did find one that I've made an application for we'll see how it goes.

I'm really missing the studio. Little ideas for things are dribbling out, but mostly it all feels like doodles.

whine.........................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................

Yep, that's me the whiner.
When I'm not busy whining I'm gazing at my navel.

How I spent my Blogiversary

I was all prepared to do a wonderful Dfilm. I sat down to begin and my mind went blank. A little bit like it is right now. Then Fran asked if I was ready to go to the space in CT, yes, yes, yes, a way to avoid the studio. and off we went to replenish the booth. I took along a little knitting and an html book thinking that I should do something instead of just stare out of the window. But that's what I did stare out of the window for the entire ride (2 hours) and the ride home.

Exciting, isn't it?, my life at the moment.

We did have "dog" discussions on the drive and it looks like we're both ready for a canine to enter our lives again, I immediately began pushing for 2. Here's the deal with that. We're looking for a small to medium sized terrier type female who is spayed. In the past we've had pure bred dogs, now we think a mixed breed would be best, although I wouldn't say no to an Affenpinscher.

Today we'll be running around looking for things to buy for the 2 spaces. That is very good. It means that we're selling so we need more things. Ah, I'm thinking that Mexico may be a possibility this year after all.

Finally it's snowing

I've been playing around with photoshop. Just trying to get some ideas generated. I feel so stuck, I've been in this creative rut

gosh..... I think since we closed the shop. The problem is it takes me soooooo long to adjust to changes.

I'm also still in the slow / readjustment period that follows the holidays. For us It means being busy again, We have 2 spaces rented (one in Connecticut and one in the Hamptons) so we're working on filling them.
O.K. so reading back over this I can see the problem immediately. I spend all of my time thinking about the business (we do need to eat) and it uses a lot of my creative energy.
I still feel like I'm in a rut.

Good things....
Tomorrow it'll be one year since I started the blog. I'm glad that even though I go off course (this post for example) you all still return for a read. Thanks and thanks for all of your comments.

It's January 6th - the temperature outside is 78

I admit to being slightly freaked out today. It actually feels hot out, IN JANUARY, IN THE MOUNTAINS! All of my doors and windows are open. I think I'll go for a bit of a walk. It's freaky though.

To the more mundane.... It's time for Bloggie nominations so go to their site and make your nominations before Jan. 10th. ... pass it on....

Did you know that 4 species of mammal have gone extinct since the year 2000?

oh, sorry I'm babbling. I'm in that "worried about the world" mood.

Thursday in Chelsea

Yesterday I spent the day with Fran and Melissa running around NYC checking out galleries, eating, and shopping. As we were leaving the Sonnabend Gallery someone (who had seen me in the gallery and was waiting for us to come out) came up to me and asked "Aren't you Robert Longo?"

Ha Ha Ha
I was wearing those sunglasses.
I was coming out of an Art Gallery.
Fran thinks I should have agreed and offered to give an autograph for five bucks.

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Get an invisible friend. Get your resolution here.

I am around and working in the Studio

Really.

Francis sent me this video.

I'm sort of in love with it.

A longer post later.
I just wanted to let you all know that I did survive New Year's Eve.
I have new work on the studio wall (it's not knitting). No photos, yet.
Tomorrow it's into the city for a visit with Melissa.