I will be in Vancouver! About a week from now I’ll be back to tell you all about it!
I will be in Vancouver! About a week from now I’ll be back to tell you all about it!
I just had an interesting conversation about art (and lots of other things) with Britney a few days ago. We were talking about the value of art, especially abstract art. Britney is hands down my most practical friend. She is amazing when it comes to advice about relationships, or in my case (un)relationships. She has a way of cutting right through all the nonsense. Because of this, I was not surprised when she questioned the validity of abstract art in general.
She brought up a study done by someone (Leslie probably knows) where young children were given two hours to do whatever they wanted to with finger paints and paper. Later, the paintings were put in front of experts in the art field. Some of the experts saw right through it, declaring that the paintings were worthless. Others made dramatic comments about the exquisite use of color, etc.
I really wouldn’t want to be fooled into spending a ridiculous amount of money for something that took a second grader 2 hours to complete, but at any rate, give an adult 2 hours with some paint and some paper, and I’m willing to bet the results would be much less impressive. That, for me at least, makes the “art” worth something.
I like a lot of art, but I’m particularly intrigued by art that has clear evidence of human interaction. Distinct brush strokes, fingerprints in clay. I can remember visiting the ruins at Walnut Canyon in Northern Arizona, and being absolutely fascinated by all the hand prints in the adobe walls. One glimpse at a Jackson Pollack and I see arms flailing.
Someone found my blog by searching “sniff my sweaty ass!” My stomach hurts from laughing. Was it you?
I have lots of random thoughts – here’s one –
I was going through old mail that has piled up on my desk for months. I came across a letter from Virginia Tech. I got accepted. I declined. I put my response in the outgoing mailbox before I went to work on the morning of April 16. Later that day I learned that over 30 people were killed on the campus. I feel weird that my rejection letter was sent on that day.
Recently, I saw a story on the evening news about the lowering of the American Flag – how it happens too often, and therefore; its meaning is taken for granted. They used the Virginia Tech Massacre as an example. The story went on to explain that each state government had its own authority to decide when to lower the flags, and when not to lower the flags, and at one point questioned whether or not state governments should lower their flags less often. If we lower the flags all the time, what does that say about the American flag? - End of news story –
This angered me.
If we lower our flags too often, what does that say about our country? Clearly the problem is not the flag.
Today I went running at Wash Park. I saw this guy on a skateboard, doing a handstand ON THE SKATEBOARD…all while the thing was moving…through Wash Park evening traffic…
It was RAD!
The dog that freed himself from his leash to sniff my sweaty ass was not.
So I’m having a bit of a crisis. I just had my last day of work on Friday. Now I have a few months off before my life completely changes (in a crazy amazing way!). I know, I know, you’re thinking, “time off? crisis? what??” Thing is…I tend to go get pretty irritable/emotional/restlessly confused if I don’t stay busy. I’m thinking about taking Chris’ advise, and just letting loose, going out on a limb. When is there a better time?!!! So what would you do with a weekend that lasted 68 days? So far a week in Chicago is the only thing set in stone (Carly, if you read this, I am super excited!). I also have amazing friends in Costa Rica and London.. and I really want to see Vancouver. It’s the densest square mile in north America. more dense than Manhattan…with beaches, and mountains!!!!! hmmmmmmmmm…
