things i learned at work

- Article on a book about luv- well, that was depressing...

- Vik Muniz: Overrated and flat imo. Also, left Sao Paolo for New York, wtf, it is 18 degrees today. Then again, he is probably not here anyway as he is an INTERNATIONAL ART STAR**

- Edward Butynsky: Fuck yea...is it really asking so much for artists to go mainstream and make their work into wallpapers so I can surround myself in their artistic glory? Canadians are cooler than I wanna admit.

**I LIED, he had an opening on Saturday in NYC. When I told my boss I didn't like him becuz I found him boring and lame I was advised to tell no one else in the *art world* such things. *eye roll*

Running out of steam? noo0o

Ahh yes...there is something endearing about eating cup noodles from the office kitchen for dinner towards the end of the month...

The biggest "issue" in my life right now seems to be the acquisition of enough sleep, which doesn't come easy when one maintains "work hard, play hard" as their life mantra. I got the promotion @ work, but it feels worthless when I don't have the energy to grab it by the balls and own it.

That being said, I have at least 4 friends with birthday parties this weekend, but I think I'll be staying home and sleeping instead. I'll get some fake nails on Sunday afternoon and maybe even watercolor a bit before if it's sunny enough. I definitely need some jogging/yoga/butt kicking (pole/belly-dancing classes start in two weeks...). In short, taking the weekend off to be me...

Will likely be out drunk and nasty by Sunday.
x0x

Whoa Whoa Whoa

Been looking for regularity these last few weeks, that didn't really happen. The last three weeks have been somewhat tumultuous:

-Given the insane and very blessed opportunity to live/study in Asia for 3 months come spring. I leave March 3...or do I (see next).

-Returned to the gallery, super intense stress-time as we prepare for a new exhibit (opens tomorrow!) while organizing/designing material for the next shows catalogue. The upside to these newfound responsibilities is that I was offered a promotion my first day back! Still deciding whether to take the opportunity or go to China...(many things have yet to be discussed...)

-Have been forcibly thrown into the world of bedbug victimization. Many hours @ reception job are consumed with hunting for better ways to kill them. That being said, they have yet to invade my own living area (knock on wood) but that has not stopped me from living in a state of constant paranioa.

- Moved into the new apt yesterday, that is, after a week of non-stop painting, caulking, flooring and w/e else we could find to renovate. It feels like home though already, and the fridge isn't even plugged in.

Okay. Till next time.

Holy Crap, ....December

Been taking things easy the last few weeks...The beginning of this month was actually pretty hectic, the heads of the gallery left to attend Art Basel in Miami and left me in charge. It was a fairly exciting and definitely very motivating week for me.
I left for Vegas shortly after their return and stayed there for about a week. Had a lot of fun, perhaps danced with too many sins and demons. By the last day, I was counting the hours till I would arrive home in New York again.
The gallery has been closed for the holidays, so def. taking it slow as I work just the night job. Even so, things seem to be moving a mile a minute. The holidays, mixed with new responsibilities and possibilities that I have been exploring and embracing have really made each day feel like a whirlwind. Honestly though, I feel really fucking alive, as if that...24/7 make-that-money/live-the-life attitude feeling I got from Vegas energized me for New York.

I think that's it; it's corny, but I am filled to the brim right now with positive emotion and optimism about the future. I'm really feeling the statement "carpe diem" right now, and I don't think I have ever in my life felt more in tune with that statement. (Even as I type this blog at work, haha ;P )


Happy New Year Ya'll, may we continue to grow and learn while feeling happy and fulfilled.

Hustled by the hustle

Fuck everything, I'm so over the 'Ugly Betty" bullshit. I've spent so much fucking time always being such a pristine little clam, and now I realize that laying down to get stepped all over WILL get you completely owned.

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Tracey Emin: Only God Knows I’m Good

To the man at the opening with the fancy camera and the mike (and a pretty girl acting as his mike stand): I know calling Tracey Emin’s work “pussy-centric” seems like a wittily caustic comment, but your inability to look beyond the pussy was more irritating than a fresh outbreak of herpes.

Sure, there are a lot of vaginae in “Only God Knows I’m Good” but like the eyes for a more romantic (naive) character, they are the windows to the soul that she bares to you, albeit spread eagle. The show consists of mostly monographs and embroideries, as well as a few pieces in neon and deals primarily with thoughts of lust, desire and love, and the awkward confusion they often have between them. Issues of fantasy vs. reality and the hanging responsibility of “being good” also loom above.

This is literally the case with “Those Who Suffer Love,” where enclosed in a private room, a rough and harried looped animation of female masturbation is projected on the wall while neon lights hang high above proclaiming the show’s title. A shy memory of private, prepubescent self-discovery may be initially referenced, but this is much more carnal, and far less curious. Is this desperate reach for pleasure the flipside of the strong independent woman? Why does the pursuit of pleasure have to feel so depraved? And who is it making me feel so bad?

As with all of Tracey Emin’s work, it is a mix of voyeurism and sincerity. The challenge is to stop staring enough to appreciate the message itself.

The use of embroidery is especially wonderful. There are the obvious and already discussed points of embroidery as a female craft, rooted in frivolousness. But the use of black thread, as with “Totally Engaged” and “No More Mirror” (both 2009), emphasizes the hair of the real human body.

(Am I the only one who associates bad one night stands with finding another person’s hair in one’s mouth the day after?…Anyone?)

One oddity though was how consistently sell-able these works were. Large scale and easy to hang, it was clear that these were made to sell. If I had a fireplace, these works would look great above it. Coming after her 20 year retrospective, it was a departure from the more jarring installations, mixed media and applique projects that brought her international fame. But hey, let’s not be naive here and pretend that the art world isn’t hurting. And as an original member of the YBA, making money is somewhat of a specialty, if not the talent itself.

*Image from ArtNet: Tracey Emin, "Totally Engaged" 2009 (May or may not have been in the show?)

Link to the show: http://www.lehmannmaupin.com/#/exhibitions/2009-11-05_tracey-emin/

Shiftin' Gears YA"LL

The first of every month tends to resonate with me as a point of re-upping my hopes for a brighter future. Happy November 1st yo.

My last entry makes me lol a bit. It is all still very true; I consider all of the things that have happened since that last entry, in those same fields of personal, social and career oriented growth and continue to feel overwhelmed. My last shred of sanity tells me to laugh it off.

Maybe it was my birthday coupled with Halloween, but my focus these last few weeks has been the instant gratification of fun. Maybe in a week, there will be update with pictures. 

At the gallery now, and can only think about how bad I don;t want to be doing work right now...