10 years

while everyone was at ACL yesterday (and all weekend), i took some time to venture to my old stomping grounds, San Marcos, with old school mates/friends for Eric Weller's Photography Exhibit opening at Texas State University. i never had Eric as a professor, but i used it as an opportunity to hopefully run into the ones i did have in undergrad and who so influenced my life. i got to see Michel Conroy which i was so happy about. she was my ceramics prof (which was my concentration). we spoke briefly, which is typical of such events..brief discussion...and vowed to keep in better touch. it meant a lot to me to have her say that. since graduating, there is always this sense of 'am i letting my old teachers down by not being this awesome artist who is teaching, blah blah blah" and she really validated me in positive ways last evening and it was relieving. it's like letting down your parents in a way...no one wants to do it, but you live your life to the best of your abilities and see where the pieces fall. here it is 10 years later, and she still said "it's not too late" to go to grad school. not something that i am currently considering, but she still believes in me and that is awesome. thanks michel!

it was a pleasant surprise to run into my friend Derrick and have a few drinks one on one before other friends showed up at The Restless Wind for fun times. i miss these people in my life and the discussions that can happen. i need to make a better effort to stay in contact with them. fo sho.

don't forget...

illustration i did for an invitation i'm working on.

"by the airport, a Thai pad"

the best damn Thai food i've ever had. in the words of mi amiga "where else in the greater Austin area can you eat like a Thai queen/king, shop for windchimes, LED cuckoo clocks, and baby chickens?!"

Purple Rain

Last evening we went to an awesome event with a cosmic ending. After days of 'preparing' for hurricane Ike, expecting horrific wind and inches upon inches of rain, Ike took a turn and ended up giving us NOTHING...maybe 5mph winds. We went along with our plans to attend a Prince Tribute Night.

Purple attire, purple drinks, purple makeup and nails later we walked over to the Scoot Inn and settled in for a hot and humid night of dancing our booties off to the likes of Foot Patrol. By the end of the night we were tired and sweaty and having a blast and just at the end of the set, right as TJ was about to perform Purple Rain...the heavens opened up and poured down upon us. As soon as the show was over, the rain stopped and left us sopping and walking home giddy in the puddles it left behind.

Spectacular.

iSuck not iPhoto

http://rodhunting.com/

my iPhoto is acting up. my Mac is probably trying to say, "i need a break, chica." but i can't give it up. can't afford a new 15"er. i'd have to downsize...and who wants that? anyways, i had taken pics of some freehand drawings i've been working on, but it doesn't want to download them from ze camera. poo. so now i have to play musical computers and Flickr in order to get them over to said Mac.

patience.

i'm cryin' in my Michelada too! Laters, Las Manitas?

Our beloved restaurant in downtown Austin has apparently closed for good. The cinnamon coffee and refried beans we awoke thinking about on Sunday mornings for the last 3 years and the Chilaquiles Verdes i've loved for over 10 years is gone. I'm so upset...

From the Austin Chronicle
"Surprise and shock coursing through Downtown workers, nearby City Hall staffers and Chilaquiles enthusiasts across town: venerable eatery and community hub Las Manitas has closed its doors, apparently "forever," with seating, equipment, and even the floor ripped up.

Texas Monthly (who's Manitas-enthused editor Evan Smith must be crying in his michelada right now) has the details, but the "closed forever" sign up at the establishment seems pretty definitive – and doesn't bode well for the eatery's plans to move up the block into the La Pena art gallery Las Mas proprietors Cynthia and Lidia Perez own.

The Monthly caught up with Cynthia Perez, who was as coy as they come:"

from the Austinist:
"Las Manitas closed forever on August 31 according to Cynthia Perez (one of the owners). The restaurant will probably be replaced with a complex of three new Marriott hotels.

City council initially tried to convince the Perez sisters to move a few doors down by providing financial assistance in the form of a forgivable loan to the restaurant, but public outcry caused some council members to attach strings to the loan and the owners backed away from the deal.

According to the Statesman, no permits have been filed to indicate that Las Manitas will move without the loan. Marriott developers have applied for demolition permits for the restaurant and other buildings on the block (except for the two landmark buildings on the northwest corner, which will stay in place). They expect to begin construction of the hotel complex next year."

For more info on the saga of Las Manitas: click here. It's pretty sad.

Time Travel

yesterday, i went to visit my friend Kayci at her shop Moxie and the Compound (& picked up a nice check...surprise!). after catching up, she drug me over to this shop i have been meaning to check out for sometime now...Aviary. she thought my work would look smashing in their space and after talking with the delightful owner, Marco, and showing him some of my newest work we decided to work towards an installation of my work. one big 'piece' containing all the smaller pieces. i have always been in love with the concept of a ton of small items making up a larger piece. there is a monumental aspect about it that fascinates me.

we also discussed (over wine) other possibilities of more permanent or large scale designs. i had told him of my desire to actually make one of the pieces an actual mural and using 3D elements (like floating shelves with objects on them) to implement as part of the design. to actually make up the "imagery" of the piece (we're talking about those 'background' pieces i just showed you here . Yay!

i am just so pleased and taken back by the thought that design processes & application techniques i used close to ten years ago can still be considered contemporary and refined enough to be utilized in today's decor. it just goes to show that art is timeless and not trendy and it's a breath of fresh air to me to see that right now.

i see a full circle ahead.

Cleaning OUT that closet!

I am listing my "skeletons" for sale on Etsy. Click here to see them. I am also going to be giving a sneak peek at my new work RIGHT NOW. These new LOVELY pieces will be available this week and I'll let ya know when!

Love and Stars,
Stephanie

SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET - ramblings

lately, i've been a little nostalgic. with the recent activity of 'high school reunions' on Facebook, i've been thinking of that era in my life...sometimes reluctantly, sometimes with a smile on my face; and then the recent re-discovery of some artwork i did in college, it all has caused me to revisit past processes and techniques and loves...mainly in art.

i've been struggling with the over saturated blogland out there because there is so much amazing talent and i get so wrapped up in the brilliance, it sometimes leads to intimidation. and then, sometimes i'll see ideas that i had once thought of doing being done and it upsets me that i didn't get to it sooner. so, then that leads to paralysis, of the creative kind. it's one big self sabotage snowball. I look at blogs and the lack of fear written in them, they are so confident and show no vulnerability. i like to show mine sometimes, i am human. ALL artists are vulnerable, some just choose to not show it and that is fine. for me, wearing it on my sleeve (occasionally) is okay.

here are some new pieces i have been working on. more on the fine art side, if you will. they don't have imagery on them yet, but will. i do love them just the way the are though too...so i am sort of torn. i'm thoroughly enjoying the process of making them and the way they evolve and the fact that the techniques i'm using don't allow for complete control. accidental art maybe? with a hint of deliberateness.

as for the blog front, i'm on a bit of a fast. i will visit my faves of course, but try not to get wrapped up and spend more time in the studio.

and here is a computer sketch i did before i physically did any of the paintings/collages. to give you a hint of what i am after!

SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET

i am working on some new pieces (on paper) that i am way too excited about. i wish i didn't have to work so i could be in the studio today. i'll have to keep you in suspence for a day or two until i get them scanned. you will LOVE them! and then i'll explain this post title.

have a wonderful day!