An exercise in describing practice

After some very practical and fun exercises in Pat's AAW class, we have put together outlines for our theses. Though I am not so focused on my thesis at this moment, it has been an interesting exercise to list/organize a variety of keywords that also incorporate Patrick Rock's idea of presenting the who/what/when/where/why & how. Here goes:

Artist Roles

            Facilitator

            Provocateur

            Participant

            Multiple Authorship

            Collaborator

            Pseudo Scientist:

                        Ethnographer

                        Cartographer

                        Archivist

                        Librarian

                        Anthropologist

                        Historian

                        Explorer

                        Collector

                        Chef

                        Hostess

                        Entertainer

                        Tour Guide

                        Disseminator

                        Curator

Form

            Music

                        Harmony

                        Accessibility

                        Immediacy

                        Stage presence

                        Audience/Artist

                        Music Styles

                                    Jingles

                                    Anthems

                                    Janthems

                                    Work Songs

                                    Songs about Work

            Conversation

            Singing and Dancing

            Cheerleading

            Cooking & Meal Sharing

            Recipe Sharing

            Everyday Pastimes

            Library/Archive

           

Method        

            Economy of Form           

            Improvisation

            Energy

            Ritual

            Essential

            Generosity

            Inclusion

            Reciprocity

            Engagement

            Performance

Results

            Experience Making

            Community Building

            Relationship Building

            Resource Sharing

            Education/Pedagogy

            Space Making

            Place Making

            Feel-Goodness

            Fun

Art Objects/Documentation/Residue

         Recordings

         Videos

         Printed Matter

         Photographs        

         Sculpture

         Text

Location

            International

                        Cultural Ambassador

                        Interpret

                        Misinterpret

            Local

            Site Specific

            Public Space

           

Alternative Economy

            WPA

            Business Cards

            Gifting

            Jingles

Conflicts

            Renaissance Woman vs. Dilettante

            Expert vs. Amateur

            Positivity as Radical?

            Lack of criticality?

            Generosity vs. Reciprocity

Influence/Related Research

            Family

            Catholicism (inadvertently)

            Artists & Movements

                        Harrell & Jen

                        Dan Walsh

                        Sophie Calle

                        Janet Cardiff

                        Annette Messager (early work)

                        Eva Hesse (early work)

                        Finnish Complaint Choir

                        Nina Katchadourian

                        Suzanne Lacy

                        Nathaniel Parsons

                        1960s-1970s

                        Conceptual Art

                        Performance Art

                        Dada

                        Fluxus

                        Duchamp

            CESTA

                        Curatorial practice as art & activism

                        Anarcho-Communal Living

                        Life-Art interchange

            Song Poem movie

            Malcom X

            Pirate Radio

            Punk Rock

            Food/Cookbooks

                        Kitchen Sisters

                        Jaime Oliver

                        Alice Waters

                        Deborah Madison

                        The Splendid Table

                        Michael Pollan

            Martha Stewart

            Stephanie Syjuco

  

Readings/Criticism

            Bourriaud

            Clare Bishop

            Miwon Kwon

            Hal Foster

            Claude Levi-Strauss

            Boris Groys

            Buddhism

            Nihilism

            Ted Purves

            Suzanne Lacy

            Loosy Lippard

            Dick Reuss

            Julia Bryan Wilson

Needs work:

Motivations

         Travel, Make Art & Get Paid for it... (this was at one time a motivation)

Context/Framing

Process

I would be happy if anyone wanted to add/subtract/comment- Thanks

Making Music

Today I used "lexa's time" to get some help and inspiration to write music for this commission of sorts mentioned below. What happens when you give a bunch of "non-musicians" some "instruments" and words?
Well, they make music. Really good music, Music I didn't know could be made. Music with phones. Music with canes. Music with glasses of water. Music with paper towel rolls. Music with toys (yeah, I brought those but hardly anyone needed them).
Now we enter the great world of Multiple Authorship.
I wonder if anyone wants to continue this collaboration?

Recipes forJanuary 10th with Roger Peet

Pumpkin Chili with Roasted Pepper-Cilantro Cream
Soak Kidney beans overnight. Drain and cook with plenty of water until tender- about an hour+. Do not salt until cooked. Drain again.
Peel and chop a small pumpkin or other winter squash into cubes, roasting with a little olive oil and S & P in a very hot oven
In that oven, toss in 2 heads of garlic that have their tops chopped off and are wrapped in foil. Take both out in 20 minutes.

Make Chili Paste: 

Toast a tablespoon or so each of cumin seeds & oregano

Add same amounts of cinnamon, cocoa, spanish paprika and remove from heat

Soften a variety of dried chilis: Ancho, New Mexico, California, Chipotle, etc. by soaking in boiled water, covered, for 5 minutes

Blend with the spices and few cloves of garlic, adding soaking liquid if necessary.

If using meat, brown in cooking pot before following the next instructions

In a large heavy-bottomed pot, sautee 2 chopped onions in olive oil & salt until translucent
Add beans and a large can of whole tomatoes, or fresh blanched, de-skinned ones if it is the season
plus the pumpkin, a big heaping scoop of chili paste, the squeezed, roasted garlic, S & P, stir, and let simmer, uncovered

Roast many green or anaheim peppers in a very hot oven on on a grill until skin is blistered/blackened
If roasting in the oven, use a pan on the rack underneath so they can drip- they will
Peel off whatever skin will easily come off, and tough tops/seeds- then puree with a dash of salt & a splash of lemon juice. Reserve half while putting the other half in the chili.

With the reserved half, blend with the second head of roasted garlic, a big handful of fresh cilantro, a teaspoon of chili paste, a dash of sugar, S & P and a cup of thick yogurt

Adjust seasoning on chili: S & P, a dash of sugar, more chili paste, cocoa, etc.
Serve with a dollop of Roasted Pepper-Cilantro Cream

January Plans

Yikes. I have no idea what I cooked for the last two meals. Rushing off for tour at the end of last term with Kačkala changed my focus...  Meanwhile some interesting opportunities abound:


I have been invited to compose music for Erik Ehn's "michiyuki" (Noh traveling songs). I collaborated with Erik, Suki O'Kane, and many other Bay Area musicians and actors in 2008 for Theatre of Yugen's Cycle Plays. 
In Noh plays, there is a moment when the chorus chants the Michiyuki, or “travel song” describing the character’s travels. The vocals often include the place name and description of the setting as well as the events of the journey. In kyōgen, journeys and excursions are known as Michiyuki, with the performers usually reciting lines while circling the stage. After the Michiyuki, a line is included to indicate the character’s arrival at their destination, which is known as the tsuki-zerifu, or “arrival line.”
This should be a remarkable experience.


Some of us in SoPrac are collaborating on a public art/design project with the Center for Sustainable Solutions, which is both interesting and providing new challenges, serving a specific public, under specific guidelines. We are creating a multi-use space that is slightly utopian, very user friendly, and as green as we can go (which is not so easy, btw).


The Library is Open!
The library/resource center is officially set up again, and open: Wednesdays from 2-5, or by appointment. The library is located in the back room of Field Work. We have a ton of new show cards/artist info from recent visits to New York and San Francisco, as well as new book titles and updated periodicals. Come visit, research, work and have some tea.


Field Work
We are meeting this week to curate the next months of exciting events & projects. We received over 20 proposals, so I look forward to the space being truly active.


Food Cart Songs
are gearing up... Cyrus made me a sweet comp of work songs to add to my research.

Your Garden Cookbook

Nicole and I are now working on some final details of the current cookbooks, meeting new participants for spring, adjusting our focus a little, and hope to take a slight break for winter. 

Last workshop for YCG

This week's workshop is about getting your garden winter-ready with Nolan & Chris of Wealth Underground Farm. We welcome anyone with questions, answers or comments to come and join in the wealth of knowledge and experience

song types

Work songs, songs about work, labor songs, serenades, lullabies, song poems, anthems, jingles..... JANTHEMS!

We're cooking, good looking

This week's YGC public activity at Field Work includes a Cooking Workshop
12-2 Saturday
Fermentation
Risotto
Roux-based sauces

Meanwhile, we'll be working Thursday & Friday afternoons on recipes, outreach strategies and ideas- come visit.

Recipes for November 1st with Chris Johanson

Winter Vegetable Masala

Sautee whole spices in olive oil:

black cardamon, cinnamon stick, cloves, cumin seeds, peppercorns

Add a cup+ pureed onion/garlic/ginger and add ground spices:

coriander, tumeric, chili, salt

Sautee until oil separates

Add a can of chopped tomatoes (or about equal amount of tomatoes as onion paste)

Sautee some more so flavors blend. Add tamarind paste or a lil sugar if it needs sweetness

Add vegetables: chopped, peeled kabocha squash, rutabagas & carrots (or any you like)

Cook until vegetables are tender, sauce has thickened and flavors are melded. Adjust S & P, sweetness, and chili.

Curried Mashed Potatoes

Boil peeled or unpeeled potatoes til tender

Sautee cumin seeds and mustard seeds in oil or butter

Mash potatoes with coconut milk, butter, salt & pepper, spices in oil, curry powder

Yello Dahl

Soak yellow split peas overnight if you can

Change water and boil for about an hour or until soft

Drain most of the cooking liquid

Add some onion/garlic/ginger puree

plus ground green cardamon & coriander, or curry powder if that's what you have

S & P & chili (optional)

Cook 15 min. more & process with a mixer for a smoother consistency, if you wish.

Yogurt Raita

Grate or finely chop cucumbers, carrots, green peppers, whatever crunchy raw vegetables you have on hand

Mix with yogurt, S & P, a bunch of chopped mint, a few dashes of cumin, and a little sugar

Green Tomato Chutney

Boil 3 tbsp cider vinegar  and 3 tbsp sugar

Add chopped green tomato, chili flakes, fresh ginger and a few cumin seeds.

Simmer for 20 minutes and if inclined, put in sterilized jars or just keep in the fridge for a week or two.

Recipes from October 25 with Natalie Jerimijenko

Lentil Soup
This could be constructed a million ways, but here's a really simple version
Saute 3 onions, a half head of garlic, some shallots, and a bunch of peeled, chopped carrots (& celery, if you have some) with S & P and red chili flakes til onions are translucent and sweating
Add a few cups of green lentils, stir, and add water or stock to fill the pot (how many cups depends on how thick you like it- I like a thinner soup)
Season water, if using, with soy sauce, molasses and tomato paste, plus more S & P if necessary
You can always add a heel of hard cheese to extract a sweet, nutty, salty flavor
Cook on medium til lentils are just tender, not mushy

Kale, Chanterelles and Carrots
How lucky to get chanterelles!
Peel and julienne carrots
Steam carrots for a few minutes in a covered pot with a bit of water and dash of salt
Finely chop a whole head of garlic
Carefully clean mushrooms with a towel, and chop roughly
Clean and chop kale, including most of the stem
Saute garlic in olive oil, add mushrooms and cook til mushroom extract a lot of juice and brown slightly
Drain mushrooms, put aside, and reserve liquid
Steam kale in the same pan with a lid, the liquid from cleaning will act as a steaming agent
Combine kale, mushrooms and carrots with a little S & P
Use mushroom liquid in soup, make a sauce with a little roux, or drink it up!

CousCous with Dijon-Tahini Dressing
Here's another thing you could make in a variety of ways. Today's version:
Toss measured couscous with olive oil, salt, ras el hanout (a moroccan spice), and currants until each grain is separated
Add the equal amount of boiled water and cover
Fluff with a fork and Serve with a bit of dressing on top

Dijon-Tahini Dressing
Mix or blend a heap of dijon mustard, a heap of tahini, a shallot, S & P, 1 part cider vinegar and 3 parts olive oil til combined. Adjust flavors if necessary

Wealth Underground Farm supplied the kale, carrots, and chanterelles (amazing!)
Thank You!

Your Garden Cookbook at Field Work, 10/29-11/15

We're pleased to announce the new project by artists Lexa Walsh and Nicole Penoncello: Your Garden Cookbook

 

      http://yourgardencookbook.wordpress.com/

Your Garden Cookbook at Field Work, October 29 - November 15, 2010

We’ll be using the Field Work space as a workshop: researching, gathering and sharing recipes, photos, our first cookbooks, cooking and gardening tips, plus there will be visits from local chefs and gardeners. Field Work is a new project space started by PSU MFA and Graphic Design students and faculty. Field Work is located at the corner of SW 11th & Jefferson in Portland.

Come by to talk, look, exchange, request a cookbook... Your experience, tips and participation are welcome!

EVENTS: 

Friday, October 29, 6-8 pm: Opening reception, presentation of project, samples of recipes using produce from participating gardeners

Saturday, November 6, 12-2 pm: Cooking workshop with chef David Barber, owner of Three Square Grill, and Lexa Walsh of YGC

Saturday, November 13, 12-2pm: Urban Gardening workshop with Nolan Calich and Chris Seigel of Wealth Underground Farm

ADDITIONAL OPEN HOURS:
Thursdays November 4th & 11th 12-4 pm
Fridays November 5th & 12th, 2-4 pm

"Jingles- they are the 'Tweets' of Music"

a quote from musician Rolf Wilkinson

Teachingology

Assisting Steve Beatty has been great, as he has allowed me a lot of freedom and respect to co-teach with him. We both think similarly about traditions and rules (no thanks!) and want the students to have a lot of fun working on projects that explore contemporary issues while learning the basics of 3D.
My first project was based on Irwin Wurm's one-minute sculpture, turned into three-minute sculptures- a project to explore collaboration and immediacy

Recipes for October 18th with Clare Rojas

Massuman Curry

Sauté lots of chopped onions, garlic, ginger and galangal in vegetable oil til onions are tender

Add a heap of massuman curry paste and some more oil, if necessary. Some curry pastes are really freaking hot, so know what you are dealing with

If not veg, now is a good time to add some squirts of fish sauce and some brown sugar

Add chopped potatoes and carrots

Stir around in the oil, then add a few cans of coconut milk. It’s fattening- get over it

You can supplement some lemongrass stock or vegetable stock if you are on a diet

When simmering, add a big scoop of peanut butter, S & P to taste

When potatoes are soft, add other vegetables, like summer squash and peppers

Cook til just tender, and add a big handful of fresh basil leaves before serving

Rice Salad

Cook sushi rice 1:1-1/4 rice:water ratio

Use a rice cooker if you have one- it really does perfectly cook rice. Otherwise, bring rice and water to a boil, cover and lower heat dramatically. Cook til no more steam appears. Do not let steam out!

When cool enough to touch, lay out rice on a pan and add chopped celery, shallots, ginger, grated carrots and dried currants- mix with hands, trying to separate grains. Add a splash of seasoned rice vinegar, mirin, and oil (try flavored oils if inclined)

Add chopped cilantro and basil or any other fresh herb you’d like, toss, and eat

Beets, Greens & Apples

Fresh beet greens are so wonderful, both earthy and tart

Roast beets in foil, clean greens well and chop

Chop crisp apples and dress with lemon juice

When done and cool, peel and chop beet roots

Toss together and eat with or without dressing

Wealth Underground Farms supplied the beets, squash, onions and peppers

Thank you!

Music Research

Smithsonian Folkways has some great titles for labor songs, among others.
Amazingly, not all are the Pete Seeger folk tunes we think of. There's a song on the record "Songs of Steel & Struggle" about Pittsburgh by Joe Glazer that is a veritable chipper jingle!

Shine A Light, Recording Session

Sean Flora's studio is filled with fun! He's a great engineer- I highly recommend

Being flexible to the needs and time constraints of the staff, we ended up recording a lot of the songs for them, though the staff was very involved in writing the words, some of the melodies, and directing the accompanying videos. It was interesting to be working on two simultaneous collaborations, one with the staff, and one with the musicians: Sean, Garth, Jessica and Dan
Rob Bearden, Operations Manager, recorded his own, incorporating 40 members of his staff

Shine A Light

I collaborated with various staff members of the Portland Art Museum to write, record and perform jingles about their respective jobs. We made snappy work songs with the staff, offering a voice to the often behind the scenes workers that make the museum function.  The songs got even snappier when I collaborated with some fellow musicians. Music videos were projected throughout the evening in the passageway connecting the two buildings, and live performances took place throughout the night.

Somehow two of our band members were missing for this performance...

Guest and Member Services

Downstairs

Straight ahead

to the left

Follow the

Carpet

Welcome to

The museum, we're fine

55 is senior

Is this your first time?

You can apply

Your tickets today

Maybe that money

Can get us a cafe

Special Exhibitions

Is up the stairs

We don't sell film tickets

If anybody cares

Spotlight is

Our guidance bright

Please don't crash

On Shine a Light

Go through the glass doors

& take a right

Into the other lobby

Have a Good Night!

-Kristy Abero, Shelly English, Jennifer Shumway,

Cicely Waters, Stacie Webb, Kirsten Wray

& The Portland Jingle Orchestra

Maintenance

When eating lunch upon your desk,

to clean your crumbs would be the best,

‘cause if you don’t the mice will come

and leave you with a pile of dung

-Greg Henderson

& the Portland Jingle Orchestra

Education

Meetings and emails,

Emails and meetings…

Welcome to education

We develop and implement programs

We get to work with artists and students

Families and teachers and docents

We're the link to the awesome people

The good vibe, good hearted do-gooders

We try to do more than most humans

We're the rusty squeaky hinge that holds the door open...

Meetings and emails,

Emails and meetings…

-Amy Gray, Tina Olsen, Jillian Punska & The Portland Jingle Orchestra

The Director's Offices

They call me the White Swan in the Castle

Sometimes Rapunzel is referenced too

I love my job but

it gets lonely here

I invite them up

to visit me

We’re not Divas we’re

just regular folk

We compliment each other we are a

good team we are a good team we are

97 or 99 steps

to the best office in town!

-Elizabeth Thomas & The Portland Jingle Orchestra

Operations

We’re Operations, we’re Guest Relations

We make you comfortable and welcome while you’re here

We’re information, member applications

Rules and regulations, It’s stuff you need to hear!

I’m an audio guy, I’m the eye in the sky

I roam the galleries every night

I dump the trash, I count the cash

I hear visitor complaints and make things right

I’ll direct you, And I’ll connect you

I’m the guy you call when you need Lost & Found

I polish all the brass, I trim the shrubs & mow the grass

I paint and I buy coffee by the pound

I set up chairs & tables, I manage lights and cables

I take the air conditioning apart

I greet you at the door, I mop & buff the floors

We say politely, “would you please not touch the art !

We are Operations, we meet your expectations

By constant observation; we’re lookin out for you

We’re Operations; visitor orientation

Emergency evacuation, and housekeeping too.

I smile when guests are snotty, I’ll help you find the potty

I’ll call a taxi, if you need a lift

I power wash the walk, I run the loading dock

We’ll even help you find that special gift

I keep the phones in order, give you parking meter quarters

I’ll call the paramedics when you faint

I’ll rent you a Chris Mooney, or draw you a cartooney

I use a brush and roller when I paint

I’m your event space connection, I expect perfection

I hand out the i-pod tour

I’ll show you great event space, help you load your road case

I make sure the place is secure

I’ll check yer coat & bag, give you a numbered tag

I’ll run your credit card and put yer purchase in a bag

We are Operations, we want your visitation

To lead to conversation that hooks you up with art

When you come through our door, we want you to explore

Just ask us and we’ll show you where to start

-Rob Bearden and The Operations Staff:

Marc Jordan, Bill Spainhour, AJ Beatty, Andrea Watkins, Anthony Sutter, Big Mike Gilliam,

Carlton, Derek Schrick, Diane Ramey, Dot Lukin, Doug Froman, Eric Heyer, Gage Mace, Georgeanne, Greg Muhr, J Swofford, Jasena Lovric, Jennifer Zika, Jocelyn Bray, Jon Reynolds, Kirk Keen, Kyle Embelton, Liana Potof, Luke Christian, Mark Anderson, Michelle Betcone, Mike Tabor, Milissa Ferrari, Miro Lovric, Mitch Welliver, Paul Scarpelli, Randy Richmond, Sascha Langsten, Sean Whiteman, Seann McCollum, Ted Smith, Victor Sabula

Recipes for October 11th

October 11^th, with Mel Chin

Mushroom Barley Soup

Cook barley like you would brown rice- 1 part barley to 2 parts water. Bring to a boil, lower heat, cover and simmer til plump. Set aside

Pour boiling water over dried mushrooms (1 part mushrooms to 5 parts water) and cover for 10 minutes until mushrooms are soft. Squeeze out liquid and chop mushrooms. This liquid will be your stock, or you can use other stock or water

Sautee chopped onions, garlic and plenty of thinly sliced fresh mushrooms, along with the chopped reconstituted mushrooms. There could be some carrots and celery in there too, if you wish. Simmer until lots of juicy mushroom liquid has formed, but not long enough for it to have evaporated.

Add a genrous splash of sherry or vermouth and cook for a minute

Add your stock, some soy sauce, S & P, fresh thyme, a dash of molasses, and bring to a boil, making sure the flavors are intense and that there is plenty of liquid

Add the barley, lower heat, and cook for just 10 minutes or until flavors have melded, but barley has not expanded, which it has a way of doing

Summer Lasagna

I use the lasagna noodles that needn’t be cooked first

Roast peppers: toss in a really hot oven or grill until blackened. Remove from heat, place in a paper bag or bowl, cover and steam. When cool, remove skins, stems and seeds without using water

Sautee chopped onions and garlic til tender

Add thinly sliced summer squash, chopped roasted peppers, S & P and red chili flakes

Make sauce (summer or winter tomato sauce, depending on what’s available), and make it wet

Layer roasting pan with sauce, lasagna sheets, more sauce, grated cheese (parmesan, mozzarella, … whatever you like), filling, and so on, until you have at least three layers

Bake in a preheated 400 oven for 20-30 minutes

Best to make enough sauce for ladling on top

Garnish with fresh parsley or basil

Greens with dressing

 Wealth Underground Farms provided the squash, peppers, onions, & carrots. Thank you!

Recipes for October 4th with Tina Olsen

Roasted Tomato, Pepper and Squash Soup

Thanks to Jen and Daniel for their plethora of gorgeous tomatoes!

Toss a roasting pan full of any tomatoes you have growing with olive oli, salt & pepper.. if they are really big, cut them in half. Add a head of garlic with the top cut off

Roast at 375 for about 45 min-an hour or until shriveled and juicy

If you can fit it in your oven, roast some whole peppers and a whole acorn squash at the same time. When done, peel and chop them

Sautee a large, chopped onion til tender in a large soup pot

Add tomatoes and their juices, and squeeze the roasted garlic in

Add a pinch of sugar and simmer until it starts to reduce

Add the roasted peppers and squash, stock or water to cover, chopped basil and parsley, a few bay leaves, a dash of red chili flakes, and simmer for about 30 minutes, or more if you want to let the flavors meld… depends on how hungry you are

Blend, or not, (if you do, don’t forget to remove the bay leaves) and serve with a dollop of something creamy, like roasted pepper cream or aioli or herbed yogurt..

Impress Your Friends Bread

Leftover spreads from our lovely weekend

Salad

Peach-Rosemary Ice Cream

In your frozen Ice Cream maker, put

1-1/2 cups cream

1-1/2 cups milk

1 cup sugar

1 cup of chopped, peeled peaches

a teaspoon of chopped rosemary

let it churn, and in 1/2 hour, you'll have some serious YUM

Paul Thek "Teaching Notes: 4-Dimensional Design"

 Paul Thek Teaching Notes

Thanks, Harrell

This could become very useful when working on my thesis, which at this point is a study of my family as a society. I discussed the subject with the great Jorge Columbo while visiting Mildred's Lane- getting down and dirty with the data, and working from there- the essence of the interesting stuff would reveal itself.

I might use it on my students, too...

                        

Summer Loving & School Daze

Yay. School has started. I'm not being facetious. After returning from the Condensations of the Social collaboration in NY, which was tricky but in the end successful, I spent my summer with plenty of projects floating around in my head and starting to get activated, but somehow the lack of time structure mixed with trying to find a job, failing, and the guilt of being a housewife left me less productive than I would have liked, and now it is coming to bite me in the rear... Wow, that is a run on sentence.

Some things to check out are the new Your Garden Cookbook blog, which is up and running. Nicole and I have started two cookbooks and are slowly finding solutions to many questions that have come up for us. Aesthetic choices, printing, format, purity of concept, web vs. object, etc. I can tell you writing a cookbook is not as easy as I thought. I did intern for two different professional cookbooks, as a food stager and a chef- both great experiences. Don't forget we have a show at Field Work in late October, where we'll give cooking lessons, share recipes, and more. We welcome contributions, feedback and participation. 

Oh yeah, the Monday Night Cookbook. I promise to never design anything in Microsoft Word agin. I swear. Coming... better late than never.

Speaking of cookbooks, they will be in Stephanie Syjuco's Shadowshop at SF Moma in the late fall through spring. We are figuring out a way to make recipe cards that can be chosen individually to make your own cookbook.

Bohemian Omnimedia is, after failing to find work, my solution to be employed in Portland. Unfortunately I didn't really finish it until the summer's end, when I had no time to actually implement the plan. I am prepared for next time, however. It is half conceptual art project, half reality check business proposition. Maybe some parts of it are more of one than the other... . Surely we'll discuss it. Meanwhile, I am accepting participating artists to join me in messing with the art world system to make pretty, decorative, affordable art under the name Fäkart. 

Jen, Pat, Kate, Nicole, Josh, Justin Flood ( Graphic Design student extraordinaire) & I started busting butt on the 11th & Jefferson PDC space formerly known at the Mandrake Museum / Hotel Mandragoria. temporarily called SuperGeneric (sigh), now Field Work, we have created a modern, flexible space for classes, workshops, events, projects, exhibitions and a home for the library. There is still a lot of work to do but we will have an open call for projects in the late fall.

Another work in progress is my jingle writing with the staff of Portland Art Museum for Shine A Light. It took a while to break them in, but now I have a number of departments ready, willing and able to participate. I shall say no more as it is coming soon to a museum near you.