Pretty bummed but some things are coming up. Really.

Past going ons that I have yet to write about:

• Back in February 2010, last blog post, I was supposed to write about the Masks show where I showed a couple pieces in March
• Put up another piece in Art of Connection 2010 in late May / early June

Was working intensively in early April – May so didn’t have time to settle down and work on things. But many of you wage earning creatives know how that is like.  So sorry for not getting back on correspondence and comments, etc.

Tonight there’s a concert by Ween and alas I cannot attend due to budget restrictions (still want to go to Public Enemy tomorrow though). The reason I mentioned this is because tonight’s show also has another on my personal project ideas tacked on it. The last time they played was in 2007 and some ideas came up and was gathering my materials then (missed that show too but there was an emergency that came up). Like my other pieces, it’s very difficult to determine how to build something from scratch so it takes so much longer – even years. I am also not a big fan of the venue they are playing in. I don’t want to sound like the Aesop fable of the fox versus the grapes but come on, concert ticket costs are so expensive and prohibitive. The amount of events in the summer further exponentiates the costs. I have different designs tonight.

My birthday is on this week and like any other birthday I do a lot of thinking about the past, present, and future. Kept it private and introverted and turned down every social invitation. I thought about my earliest memories and what my purpose and my skill set is. And really, it’s art. Plain and simple and those are my roots deep down no matter what my environment and circumstances.

The spoken word can be very affirming so I need to remind myself of who I am again. I didn’t call myself “artist” when I described my profession this week but my other one which is supposed to be a side career. I kind of regret it but I was caught in the moments of conversation and said it for the sake of brevity. Another thing for me to keep in mind so as not to lose touch.

I’m doing what I can not to lose touch with my artistic side despite trying to earn money to keep on living. It’s been hard for us all internationally with this recession and economic meltdown. I don’t know of anyone immediate in my life who is having the time of their life right now. It’s very hard to decide which equipment to buy to feed the creative fire. My desktop is over 5 years old and still do not own a dSLR. So frustrating to want to shoot photos and no gear to support it. Meanwhile, so behind on documenting work. So yeah the birthday week has been sobering and just have to refocus on the things that I still have and not only cut back but work with what I got.

Trying to lighten my load of possessions too and need to start selling off and give away unused things. Earlier this months read a great article about a man who sold everything so he can get a Lamborghini. I will not do something that drastic but I need to loosen my grip and try not to be such a pack rat. The article was inspirational and the man has a point:

“For me, it’s wasteful not to use it. That’s anything. It doesn’t matter if it’s a fucking dishwasher,” says Richard. “That’s not really socially acceptable. It’s not the way we’re programmed… most people don’t live like I do. I’d eat ramen noodles to pay for gasoline, just to avoid the monotony of being stuck in four walls.”

Ugh, I still have a tight grip on items such as my Sekonic light meter due to its cost and that “just in case” mentality but I don’t think I’m a hoarder (gulp). People can still walk around my office workshop space without navigating a narrow passageway – the classic sign of living with a hoarder.

On a lighter note, this month I have been writing on an idea that came up during a talk with a researcher back in July 2008. I casually mentioned it on and off to people but never really sat down and typed it out. It’s being previewed by a few folks and it looks like it’s almost done but I don’t know quite how to finish it. It’s a piece of work called, “The Three Audience Types.” Like the the birth of the Greek goddess Athena popping out of Zeus’ head, this idea is materializing in written form and ready to pop out soon.

Okay, need to stop writing now.
occasio praeceps = opportunity fleeting right at this moment now