UM 273

1. Questioning :: authority
2. Immunity :: from prosecution
3. Online dating :: seems to work???
4. Calcium :: deficiency
5. Dressing :: French
6. Bucket :: hat
7. Stain :: Away
8. Advanced :: degree
9. Dramatic :: results
10. Self-medication :: has its points…

And the things on my mind tonight, as I edit my blogroll and bookmark list. I am watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Oops, here come the Dementors!

As always, pop culture comes into my UM. I think the advertising world does a very good job of drilling catch phrases into us. I have never used or contemplated buying Stain Away, and yet there it is! French dressing – I had salad for dinner and it is still sitting in front of me (although it was balsamic vinaigrette…)

I am contemplating some self-medication – I have some cider in the fridge and may just indulge, since this head cold is sitting, unmoving. Maybe alcohol will budge it? I have peppermint schnapps in the freezer too… And I made chocolate/peanut butter/mini marshmallow squares. I have not had them since, what, 1983? Maybe booze, chocolate and a hot bath would do the trick!

ArtFest Show and Tell

On the last night, there was a show and tell, in which anyone could enter their piece(s). It was fabulous, but too many people, and way too hot for me to hang around long. It was an excellent opportunity to check out classes and teachers. There were several classes I would definitely take now, and others I would not bother with. This is just a very small selection!

Keith Lo Bue class

Okay, here I am. I am still sick, but getting better. Slowly, I am working through my AF pictures.

I came across Artfest in a rather round about way, for someone who has spent a decent amount of arty time in Port Townsend, and has shopped Zettiology for years. I found the website in January, and immediately checked to see if there was space. The Keith Lo Bue class, Precious Little, had space, and although it was 3 days long and I had never heard of Keith, it felt like a perfect fit. I jumped on it.

As time got closer to AF, I started to worry about what we would actually DO. And worse, what tools to take. I had looked at the supply list, and it is huge, mostly because you take what interests you. So I packed about 80 lbs worth of stuff. I ended up using my jewelers saw, bench vise, bench pin, bench block, and some hand tools and that was it. I forgot my drill, but borrowed one.

I am not going to try and explain exactly what we did in class, but it was a combination of lecture, demos, and making things. Day one was making a wearable object out of three items. It was a challenge to figure out connections, when I am so used to being able to solder or at least wire things together. I was not thrilled with what I came up with, but I think in a whole new way, which is all you can really ask for from a class!

On day 2 and three, we moved on to make whatever we wanted, with an autobiographical theme. It took me all 2 days, with many changes along the way, but this is what I came up with:

The pendant is a piece of copper hardware, with a bone face inset into a copper bezel that I riveted on. Under this layer is a computer circuit board on one side (riveted on), and a watch face on the other (pegged with rebar wire). I screwed the top piece down to another piece of copper.

I stamped out the words “wisdom”, “live” and “love” on brass tags I cut and wired them to the front of the copper hardware. I would normally patina the brass and shiny copper, but have not done that yet. I made a rebar wire loop and hung the pendant off a silver heishi and rebar wire neck piece.

I like how it turned out. The autobiographical aspect is pretty evident, I think. Computer – insulin pump, clock – foreshortened future, the words come from my favourite quote. I think I should call it “Mechanical me(n)tal me” but I suck at naming things!

An idea of the depth

And the back.

Artfest – Place

My boring life

Umm, okay, maybe deciding to watch “The Stand” while fighting the flu is not a good idea. For those not in the know, “The Stand” is a book and then miniseries by Stephen King about how the population of the US is decimated by a super-flu developed by the government. And then there is a huge fight betrween good and evil, of course.

It is a good book, especially the uncut version, but watching people die of the same symptoms I was having was kinda weird. Good thing I am not superstitious!

Of course, Canada and the rest of the world must have been fine, since they were never mentioned. Borders are SO useful!

I am feeling somewhat better, although still sleeping a lot. By the time John goes to work, I am up. 6pm, that is. I can’t talk very well still. and when I do it is like this.

I

wish this

stupid flu

would

go away

(pant pant pant)

Sort of like the kid from Malcolm in the Middle.

I did take a picture of the piece I made in Precious LIttle, the Keith Lo Bue class I took at Artfest. Not a great shot, but there ya go:

Unconscious Mutterings 271

This weeks UM:

1. Silence :: is golden, is deafening
2. Wall :: Pink Floyd
3. Killed :: creativity
4. Wishful :: Thinking (ie I am getting better)
5. Poodle :: labradoodle
6. Sullen :: a border collie that needs a walk
7. Do not disturb :: leave me alone!
8. Philadelphia :: Tom Hanks
9. Anticipation :: Heinz
10. Sidewalk :: sale

I am surrounded by dogs.  All 4 want something from me, and generally it is something different.  I need a do not disturb sign, but they don’t read or give you time off for the flu!

Oh, come on!

I finally got out of bed at 6pm, and my mommy came over and took me out for a veggie burger at White Spot. After being sick, this is my meal to signify to the universe that I am better. However, I still feel atrocious, but mostly a complete lack of energy. The rest seems to be fading, finally.

I looked at my trade bag and will take some pictures and post my faves. So far I am completely in love with several, one of which is a zine by Tina Abbott, who was in my Lo Bue class, which someday I will actually talk about.

Sometime in my delirium of the last while, I was trying to explain the concept of bracketing to John. Since I was whacky, I doubt it made much sense. I am going to attribute it to Milton Erickson for now, since I am not looking it up.

It is the idea of bookending an experience for containment. In therapy, a session might start in the waiting room, with the therapist saying, did you have a hard time with parking, how was your drive in? And after, saying, I hope the traffic is better or something that refers back to the initial conversation. This brackets the session, pulling the client back into daily life and reality, allowing the session and its content to recede for a while.

So my bracketing comment was about the fact that I had the flu, was sick for a week, went to Artfest, felt great, and then came home and got the flu again (yay, a different kind at least…) I am not particularly appreciating this bracketing, and while the idea of getting back to life after an admittedly life changing event (really, they all are in some way) can take a bit of mind power, I really don’t think I needed my body to be punished quite so badly. SO please take note, arranger of all things, please!!!

Post AF delirium, literally

Oh, sick. temperature, cough, sore throat, sooo tired. hallucinations… John stayed home from work the last 2 days since I couldn’t walk or eat. Boost is my friend. Upright now, but still wasted. No voice. Pictures up but not edited or labeled. Going back to bed.

Haven’t even looked at my loot yet…..

Oh, Julie posted some great pictures – go look at her site for some eye candy and a good overview – http://julbie.blogspot.com/

And Lisa has some great posts, including a not so great class – I love the results anyway! http://www.bloggingqueen.com/

Artfest Experience

Now, that was a party! Wow! I am back home, have immediately come down with a cold and am trying to navigate the line between a fabulous experience and my day-to-day life.

I decided to go to Port Townsend a day early, in order to try and calm my nerves and not feel rushed. I stopped on my way into town at Akamai, a new and very good art store, knowing that there would likely be AF people there. And there were! I met a group of fabulous women who set my mind at ease a fair bit and were so friendly.

I then went to the Swan hotel and checked in, meeting Julie, who I knew from online. I wandered around town that night and the next morning, meeting groups of AF’ers all over the place. I was really anxious about the dorm situation, because I knew it was 4 people in a room with bunk beds, so I figured 2 bunks beds, 4 people.

The dorm I stayed in, with the Commons block in the foreground

I headed to Fort Worden and got checked in. We each got a great bag, with a huge but very useful nametag, and a pile of goodies inclued a AF logo thermos. I headed over to the dorm and was thrilled to find out that it was 8 beds, 4 people. So we all got to sleep on the bottom bunk and store our ever increasing piles on the top bunk. I signed up for showers and met the only roomie I had not talked to online – Amy Lee (Seattle). We bonded immediately, in that weird way you can.

Julie, Morag and Amy Lee

I was looking out the window and saw a woman outside and she waved and came in and that was the divine Lisa (Seattle). The three of us basically did most everything together for the rest of the event, and I miss them! Even though Julie was off campus, we dragged her into our circle. What amazing and artistic women they are!

Lisa, Julie and Amy Lee

Morag from London arrived, as did Jill from Eugene, and our room was full. They were the best possible roomies and we had a blast together. I was so worried, and they were all just so much fun. Morag brought a ton of real Cadbury chocolate, and Jill made us each a lovely book. She also brought me the coolest Art History book, full of inspirational architectural drawings. I love it! Our other floormates were also a lot of fun, so everynight was a mix of making art, talking and generally having a good time. To bed late, up early, very full days!!!

Morag being her wonderful weird self

The Common room, every night!

The other thing I worried about was food, given my wheat allergy and general need to be careful with food, especially given my stay in the ER last week due to stomach/intestinal issues. I was very pleased to find out that the food was excellent, with lots of non-wheat choices and a ton of beautiful vegetables. Everyone was pretty happy.

I had heard that trading was a bit of a frenzy, and I made sure I took my thesis charm trades and moo cards. I was completely not prepared for how rabid it was. I was sitting in one place and had 6 people at a time trying to get my attention and trade. And this was going on all over the place. At one point my case was pulled away and several items that were NOT trades were taken. That really upset me, and I learned that you have to keep things separate, because people just take, without asking. I did not expect that and it was the only thing that pissed me off the whole time.

Artfest update

It is the last day of classes and I am sitting in the Commons lounge. Internet and cell service is intermittent and this is the first time I have turned on the computer since I checked in. The truck has not moved, since I only went off the Fort once last night with some of my pals.

I think that Artfest will come out slowly, since I think it needs to be digested for a bit before I can get too deep into it. The dorms were great – my 3 roomies are fun and hilarious! The food here has been excellent and I have had no problem being wheat-free.

My 3 day class with Keith Lo Bue was FABULOUS!!!!!! I am wearing the piece I made and will take pictures and upload all the others later. I am sort of tired but energized. I know who I want to take classes with next year, and what does not appeal. Tonight is Show and Tell, so I will have an even better sense of who to pick for next year. Yup, I am coming back!