Form & Substance

Working with clay
the hands recognize it
the mind understands it
the spirit welcomes it

connected as it is

back to the one land

and the one people

we have always needed water

and something to hold the water

we have always needed food

and something to hold the food

we have always decorated

the vessels that help us live

with the substance of our lives

intertwined

the essence of ceramics

is the history of humanity

no wonder there is familiarity

as I sit at the wheel

and shape the wet earth

and think of nothing

save form and substance

'Leaning Into The Wind' A Review

Leaning Into The Wind is a documentary about land artist Andy Goldsworthy, a sequel to/ continuation of 2003's Rivers and Tides. The film follows Goldsworthy over various projects and installations, both international and domestic. We follow Goldsworthy as he observes and shapes clay, stone, sticks and leaves this time working with his daughter Holly and even doing some work within city limits, something he acknowledges he previously thought he would never do.

The film, much like it's predecessor, is simple. It is an engaging meditation on the process and work of a particular unique artist. Goldsworthy is a bit more forthcoming in this installment, a bit more sociable, with a somewhat goofy sense of humor on display. One particular sequence, pictured on the poster above, where he struggles horizontally through a hedge is both captivating and kind of hilarious.

More comfortable with the camera, and perhaps his place in the world or art community, Goldsworthy seems significantly more relaxed, less driven and more contemplative, more playful. And that is reflective in the various pieces and projects the film captures.

Describing the film further would quickly degenerate into describing the pieces themselves and that would only cheapen them. Sufficient to say the art and the artist have a stunning, inspiring clarity and magnetism along with a kind of subtle absurd wryness. A must see for creative types.

See It.

City Park

Took the streetcar up to City Park this morning, there are tons of tourists out and about and its amazing how patient not only the RTA employees are but the locals too. The laid back reputation of the New Orleans citizens is not unearned.

There's a mini railroad that runs through the park, presumably some kind of ride but it wasn't in operation today.

We went through the botanical gardens which were gorgeous and extensive. The first section is a sculpture garden from artist Enrique Alférez.

The rest of the gardens were immaculate, we got there right when it opened so it was relatively deserted.

Next to the gardens is StoryLand this incredibly bizarre kids park with huge fiberglass fairytale characters and playground equipment.

On our way out of the park we walked through the art musuems sculpture garden. Also very striking.

I was surprised about how much stuff was out in the open air throughout the park, shouldn't be a surprise really given how temperate the climate down here is. It's our last night in New Orleans tonight and before we leave tomorrow were going to Dooky Chase's.

Selling Out

The thing about making visual art
is you need rich people to buy it
and rich people kinda suck
and don't know anything about art.

That rich lady with the martini
almost fell on the potters wheel
while Claire was giving a demo
I bet martini lady makes 200K a year.

I'm glad I do free comedy.

In The Moment

Nicole and I went to the Art Institute this morning to catch the Van Gogh Bedrooms exhibit as it wraps up on May 10th. It was very cool albeit not as conducive for contemplation as I would have liked. It was packed, no surprise there, what was surprising was how many people were glued to their phones.

In a shoulder-to-shoulder mass of a hundred people a good eighty were jostling not to stand and soak in the venerable art work but to snap pics with their phones. Not even selfies, which although equally irritating, might have been understandable. People were just trying to get pictures of the artwork itself devoid of context. Images of famous art work are readily available on the internet, prints easy to purchase in the gift shop. The motivation behind all this wanton documenting is beyond me. And this was not only young people, in fact, the majority of these camera frenzied shutterflys were people over the age of 50.

In this our capricious digital age this compulsion has developed to constantly document and post on social media. To obtain proof that you saw this person, saw this object, were at this place. But at what cost? I've fallen prey to it myself. Taking numerous pictures(not with my phone but with a camera at least) of shows or vacations at the detriment of actually experiencing and enjoying them.

Taking pictures and having images to reference of an interesting experience is fun. But actually being in the moment, soaking in the experience as it happens, being present in your own life with minimal distractions or barriers is infinity more enriching.

It can be a hard balance to strike, snapping a couple pictures to remember the experience but not over doing it. But less is more. Take a couple pictures then put down your phone. You can't sleepwalk through life. We're not robots, at least not yet.

The Inside-Dark

We are all susceptible to darkness.
All of us prey to the periodic blues.
Lethargy, apathy, and depression
are not constant companions(for most)
but occasional and unwanted visitors
who sometimes stay long after our endurance has been eroded.
How do we purge this inky and viscous blackness
that clouds our eyes, pollutes our mind, and weights down our spirit?
Companionship, nature, the warm reassuring embrace of a loved one.
A heartfelt kiss, a sun-filled walk, a good book with a hot cup of tea.
Clichéd remedies, maybe, but even so- effective.
The light banishes the dark.
The artist, we acolytes of Dionysus, have other methods.
We spool, we spin, we weave the dark.
It spills from pen to paper, from paint to canvas, from mind to stage.
Even now I feel lighter, brighter, free.

Graffiti 168

"Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse." -Winston Churchill

"A line is a dot that went for a walk." -Paul Klee

"Art! Who comprehends her? With whom can one consult concerning this great goddess?" -Ludwig van Beethoven

Graffiti 167

"Art hurts. Art urges voyages - and it is easier to stay at home." -Gwendolyn Brooks

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for." -Georgia O'Keeffe

"If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him." -John F. Kennedy

Murals 4

Like Richmond, LA has a ton of murals decorating a lot of would-be-blank building space.

This was in an alley, virtually hidden from the street.

This was in a parking lot.

Such a casual acceptance of street art, its enviable.

The prevelance of murals and graffiti really make LA feel alive, evoke a sense of personality. If only all cities were as liberal with public art.

Getty and Beach

This is my final day in LA. We went to the Getty Museum on the way to Santa Monica. The compound is set on a hill and we had to take a trolley to get there.

The complex is large and incredibly beautiful. Clean architecture and an amazing garden. We didn't walk through many of the exhibits just explored the grounds.

Caroline and Alex are not only incredibly gracious and accommodating hosts but fun and funny travel companions. They've been so great about doing what I wanted to do and making me feel included in their lives for a little bit.

When we got to Santa Monica we headed straight to the beach. Swimming in the Pacific was the thing I'd been looking forward to the most about the trip.

Alex and I swam and the ocean was as invigorating and playful as I could have hoped. I've only been in the Atlantic two or three times in my life, never in the Pacific, so the whole experience was very special.

After we got out and dried off we watched while the sun set. It was majestic and big, almost cliche in its picturesque beauty.

In the evening Alex and I walked around the Santa Monica Pier and then through the Third Street Promenade which is basically an outdoor mall. We grabbed a bite at ShopHouse and then sat by the beach and talked about the future, comedy, ambition, and dreams. A nice ending.

Downtown LA

Alex, Caroline, and I explored downtown today. I suspect I'm making them do tourist type stuff they wouldn't normally do as actual residents.

On the way downtown I made them stop just so I could take this picture of the Scientology Center.

Something I've noticed in LA is the diversity. Not only all types of people but all those people mixed together. Highlights the rigid geographic segregation of Chicago.

One of the places I wanted to stop was The Last Book Store, one of the largest used book stores in the country. It was very cool, the store was enormous and they had furniture made out of books.

City Hall.

Downtown like the city at large is sprawling, doesn't seem to have much of a focal point, however there are a lot of fun murals.

We were all pretty worn out from walking around most of the afternoon so Alex and I napped while Caroline went to yoga.

In the evening I met Alex at Rafa's Lounge where there are two shows produced by former Chicago folks. There were a lot of friends and acquaintances there including Mark who was on my first harold team FireCup, I was hoping to see him on this trip and it was really wonderful to be able to reconnect with him. We hadn't talked in around three years and we picked up right where we left off. It's very refreshing and affirming to find a friendship undeteriorated by space and time. Mark is very direct, absurd, and darkly funny. So great to see him.

We didn't stick around too long because Alex had a show at iO. We got tacos from a food truck, the best meal I've had out here, maybe the best tacos I've ever had. He dropped me off and I went to bed early. I think I may have planned on doing a little too much without allotting time to rest.

Triumph And Defeat

Came across this quote this week. A good metaphor for artists and creative expression.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs,
who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions;

who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." -Teddy Roosevelt

The Numbers For 2014

For the second year in a row I went 365 days without a drink.

I went on two vacations, one to Richmond, VA the other to New York City.

I saw 72 movies in the theater.

Deep Schwa had 51 shows.

Prime had 49 shows.

The Night Shift had 20 shows.

The Hague had 3 shows and was cut.

We formed Sight Unseen and had 12 shows.

I read 37 books, my favorite of which was My Real Children by Jo Walton.

I wrote 46 poems and did 5 readings.

Tisher, Tim, and I released 10 episodes of Bubble Boys compromising season 2 completing the series.

Tim and I recorded the first season of a new podcast The Hindsight Hour yet to be released.

I conceived of and co-wrote a play, Contention, which will open in the new year.

I made 1 collage.

I made 1 mix tape.

I wrote 1 song.

I moved twice.

I went to 1 audition.

I rode my motorcycle for 7 glorious months.

I went to 0 concerts.

I went to 11 plays.

I went to 2 weddings.

I went to 0 funerals.

I had the love of a beautiful and supportive woman for the entire year.

Contention: A Love/Hate Story

Beanpole put this together for my upcoming play at The Annoyance. We have two previews January 2nd and 9th then an eight week run. It's still a ways away, they don't have the info up on the website yet, and we have a lot of work to do.

Very excited to keep working, hone this thing, and put it up. Coming soon!

Murals 3

Have been feeling a bit uninspired recently. I've been really busy but feel a bit worn down. Lots going on, not a lot of time to soak things up, just on the go all the time. These are a couple more murals from Nicole and I's Richmond visit back in April.

Big Bad Wolf.

Matt told us the writing on this mural is all stories of people who were helped by strangers.

Pride of Panthers.

"How much art can you take?"

Mountain Top Water Drop

The third installment in Beanpole and I's quote collaboration. This comes from the inspired yet poorly received documentary I'm Still Here about Joaquin Phoenix's maybe fake/maybe real retirement from acting and his attempt at a hip-hop career. In the most engaging scene of the film Edward James Olmos gives Joaquin an inspired new age pep-talk.

"I'm a mountain-top water-drop."

Murals 2

One of my favorite things about visiting Richmond is seeing all the new murals that pop up. In 2012 there was some city wide mural initiative and because of the success and positive response from it they just kept making them.

Matt took us to an abandoned bus depot which they rehabed and covered with art, turned it into an urban playground. Unfortunately it was closed because the security guard got mugged a couple months ago but we could see pretty well from the fence.

A lot of the images are somewhat challenging or aggressive. It certainly speaks to the open mindedness of the city and its appreciation for art.

Killer panda. Evidently there's a series of them around town but this is the only one we saw.

This is probably my favorite one from this go around. Weird bear worship/sacrifice by skull masked druids.

Robot snakes.

Rain paint.

Sad vampire.

The artist who did this wizard also did the mural in the Coalition Theatre.

This is an old mural from before the cities big push for them. Murals and building art can really bring a city to life. Make it more welcoming and warm. Create another dimension. With all the blank walls in Chicago it is my dream that we will one day wise up and follow suit. Slap some paint on all those gray buildings. Breathe some new life into the windy city.