Whetstone Diaries

I'm going to kill this blog

2011-07-23T16:06:00.002-04:00

Hey folks. I'm not really using this space, so I'm going to get rid of it.

You can find me at:
http://saraadrian.com
http://www.facebook.com/sara.e.adrian
http://twitter.com/saraadrian
http://saraadrian.tumblr.com/

See you on the flip!

(INSTALL) Art Exhibition at Go West!

2011-06-07T05:56:00.002-04:00

For the third year of Franklinton's Go West Festival Chris Sherman and Nikos Rutkowski have coordinated a show revolving around various concepts of installation art. Each participating artist has been given a room in to explore various concepts and media.

Go West is taking place Saturday, June 11 · 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Please visit 937 W Broad St. in Columbus Ohio during this one day only event.

...& by the way, it's free!

The following artists and their projects are:

Sara E. Adrian presents a painting environment exploring the veil between myth, modern primitivism, and urban decay. For more information about the artist please visit http://saraadrian.com/

Tyrome Stewart- an interactive installation involving video and movement.

b.b. Grimm presents a collection of mail art gathered from a global network of poets, vispo, artist, & others inclined to collaborate and exchange art through postal and email. Mail art has come from around the world such as Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, and every corner of the U.S. including Columbus, Ohio's own Visual Poet John M. Bennett
For more information about the artist please visit http://www.bbgrimm.com/

Keida Mascaro is showing selected abstraction film pieces. His work mainly focuses on people's triumphs and tribulations, finding charm in the shadows of human existence.
For more information about the artist please visit http://KeidaMascaro.com/

Chris Sherman- an instillation focused on the exploration of light.

Victor Nombre (aka Nikos Rutkowski)- an environment involving a sculptural dragon.
For more information about the artist please visit http://www.nikosfyodor.com/

The Facebook event page is http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120271111392628

For more information about the rest of the festivities at Go West, please visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103634786393306

Countdown

2011-06-04T11:08:00.006-04:00

Go West is one week away. Starwood (where I will be vending) is a month away. I'm stoked, but there's much to do, but I'm just going day by day & doing what I can when I can. I'm ordering supplies for the Starwood festival so that when Go West is over I'll be able to put those ducks in rows. More limited editions will be ordered. I got stickers coming, and I may experiment with other things that look like fun. It's not so much that I want to see my stuff on things, but more that how I think people interact with art is more in the things we use vs going to see a show. Both are important, the thoughts and emotions evoked by a creative experience can't be underestimated but also so are the create reminders that we carry that may happen to be a compact mirror, or refrigerator magnet.

But more about that later, on with the show.

So, at Go West, in the building at 937 W Broad Street is Nikos Fyodor Rutkowski, Keida Mascaro, TJ Stewart, Chris Sherman & myself will be showing installation art & video. Mail artist b.b. Grimm is presenting a collection of work gathered from a global network of poets, vispo, artist, and other interesting folks from around the world. I know some of what the others are doing. Nikos Fyodor Rutkowski is taking a room to do a large sculptural piece (I know what it is but I ain't sayin'). Keida Mascaro will be showing some of his films, I believe he may be debuting something. TJ Stewart is doing an interactive piece, & Chris Sherman is doing something with light. If you come you may be overwhelmed with what b.b. Grimm has to show, those mail art exhibitions always have so much to look at. As for me, I'm taking over a whole room, & it will be the largest thing I have ever done to date. The space is a derelict building that is about to be renovated, so we get to do almost whatever we want. What I'm doing visually will be a combo of paint and paper, and I'm exploring a crossroad between myth and urban decay. Using the idea of Shinto spirits, that every thing and every space has a spirit or essence I'm remaking the room be... not a temple or sacred space per se, but a space where the idea can be recognized. I'm not leaning on any particular mythos I can tell you that much. I'm communicating my impression of what might be there, if such things existed (it's up to the viewer to want to believe in fairy tales).

Of course, scientifically, logically it's just a room in a building left alone for too long. A commodity to be transformed for financial gain which will hopefully help renew that part of Columbus. Just for a moment I want to divorce from linear thinking and explore untold stories and dream about what might be, and share that so that maybe other folks may dream a little more too.

So yeah, next update will probably have photos and maybe a video if I get around to that. As always we shall see what happens next!

here is Michael Hedges - All Along the Watchtower

Apocalyptic footnote

2011-05-21T09:19:00.004-04:00

We're getting near the end of May, so here's a reminder that on my Etsy store there's a coupon code for 10% off, and that's MAYDAY. So yeah!

Ya know, I've been wondering if I should take a different direction with this blog. I -really- don't like to spam, and when I'm talking only about what I'm doing... well, just seems self indulgent (and nobody wants to hear someone talk about themselves all the time).

I'm on the fence... ah well.

By the way, stickers are coming!

Must be spring, the Festival season is starting.

2011-05-18T15:25:00.009-04:00

Ok! First off, I've been asked to take part in Go West again in the Franklinton district in Columbus Ohio. This year I'll be doing a full installation, which basically means I'll get a room to do whatever I want, so that'll be interesting. That's on June the 11th (Saturday), and will be free to the public... more on that in the future.

Come July 5th I'll be Starwood bound (actually I'll be at the camp site probably July 1st or 2nd, but that's when the festival starts so whatever). For you folks just tuning in', I'm going to be vending full-out for the first time. This is going to be rather interesting!

I've posted before about going to these weird pagan/hippy camps, I don't know if I've explained them or why I go. So... er... well... Imagine going somewhere where you will be accepted just as you are. You can wear whatever you want, & meet some interesting, amazing and/or weird people, and just have a good time (as long as you're not a judgmental asshole, the golden rule is in full effect!). These are primarily geared towards people who are pagan, but not always, it depends on the event. If you're not, and you want to go you absolutely can, just be ok and accepting to what you will find. Stuff that happens at these events are... well there's lots of hanging out, there are workshops on any number of topics, from spirituality to recycling/conservation, to various crafts, to sex and sexuality, to... well you name it. Oh yeah, these places aren't open orgies, but they are more sex-positive and GLBTQ's are most welcome (there's a sizable rainbow camp at any event I've been to). Most are clothing optional, most people wear clothes, and no it's not as weird as you think (and btw I wear clothes as I don't like bugs and I don't like to get sunburned). For the folks local to me, it's kinda like Comfest, only more relaxed and with less douchebaggery. There's generally lots of music and performances, especially at the larger events like Starwood. Also, there are drum circles, and they go on for hours and hours. I go because I am a gigantic fan of places that accept people as they are, and places were people discover themselves. I've met people and had experiences at these events I would not have anywhere else. The camp-culture is very honest, people are generally in a good mood and very friendly. With regards to Starwood, I've not been to this event before but here's what I've heard. It's one of the longest running events of it's kind (31 years). It's been compared to Burning Man to people who have attended both. There are 'themed areas', art, weirdness, and at the end there's a huge bonfire that goes up several stories (I'm told they're going for three this year). Sounds interesting. Friends that have been say I should go over well there... so we shall see how that goes. If you come, find me and say hi!

Like I've said earlier, I'll be vending at this one. I'm bringing prints, shirts, stickers, buttons, and maybe some other stuff (we shall see!). This is kind of a test-run, I'm very familiar with Wisteria (where it's being held at this year) and many of the people I know down there will be at the festival, so I'll feel pretty comfortable. I want to break even at least, and get a feeling for setting up, layout of my space and all that. I'm going to do a dry run before going down of my booth set up, but at festival I'll have feedback, and I can see how it all works for me. My plan is to go up the weekend before, set up camp, and relax and have a good time. No stress, no pressure. Once this is over with I'll know what else I'll need to do before going on the road with vending (or if I should try something else).

By the way, that photo up above is one i took at a festival last year (Cornstalk at Wisteria). That bonfire was built up about 6 feet, the fire shot up to at least 20 (they added too much torch fuel).

That's what I know for now.
Later!

randomness and vending preparing

2011-05-14T18:28:00.003-04:00

ok, first off...

also, check out this guy's blog, I really like his work.

Anyway... I've been busy, which of course means I had to get a sinus infection on top of that, very annoying. In pushing the vending bit, I've been compiling a list of what I may need. Here it is... subject to editing of course, and btw I modified this from a list I found online:

Product/Packing
• Envelope with:
• Business card
• Return custom coupon code for Etsy shop
• Thank you note
• Bags (sm, med, large) for sold items

Literature/Paper Products
• Business card book
• Business cards
• Brochures/post cards
• Vendor coupons
• “Good luck at the craft show today! Take 15% off any product at my
booth to celebrate all of your hard work!”
• Include booth number
• Extra price tags
• Extra price stickers
• Sales binder (track which items sold and for what price – make chart)
• Custom order forms
• General price list signage
• Photo album
• Cheque ID verification chart (name, phone number, amount)
• Craft show information sheets
• Receipt book
• Email sign up sheet

Office Supplies
• Calculator
• Pens (lots)
• Sales notebook
• Sharpie
• Clip board for custom orders
• Extra loosleaf on clipboard
• Stapler
• Extra staples
• (painted?) covered bulletin board
• Thumb tacks/pushpins
• Five drawer rolling shelf to contain items

Sales Related
• Cashbox
• Float
• $20 – 5
• $10 – 7
• $5 – 7

Tool Kit
• Exacto knife
• Scissors
• Tape
• Double sided tape
• Duct tape
• Tape measure

Display Related
• Camera
• stool/chair/s
• Table cloths
• Small mirror
• Booth set up (stand, ???)
• Vista print banner
• Bakers twine
• Business card holder
• Decorations for table
• Dolly for transporting items
• Corner shelf for display

Cleaning Supplies
• Mini trash-can
• Trash bags
• Hand sanitizer
• Tide to go
• Paper towel
• Lint roller/brush

Clothing
• Linwood avenue apron
• Change of clothes (inc. Socks)

Food
• Bottled water
• Protein bar
• Simple snacks
• Spill proof coffee mug
• Spill proof water bottle

Health & Toiletries
• Bandaids (first aid kit)
• Advil
• Hand lotion
• Deodorant
• Make-up kit
• Mints
• Hand sanitizer
• Kleenex
• brush
• Hair ties

During down time:
sketchbook
small painting (bring acrylics and brushes)

Of course this doesn't include the booth or the inventory, which I'm working on. I feel this is just going to be an ongoing process...

Mythos

2011-05-04T22:52:00.006-04:00

I think about what the purpose is of why I make art occasionally. These things are necessary, as the whys and wherefores directly affect all future decisions as to what and where I go next in my life as a whole. As I've stated earlier, I'm making inroads into vending. The reason why is not entirely so much because I have a strong need for capitalistic gain from my work, but more so that I am trying to achieve a certain lifestyle. I want to make art, travel around and meet interesting people, take part in events and performances, and otherwise live a quiet life surrounded by wonder. Today I've been chewing on how great it would be to buy some wooded land in the country, build and rent out a cabin or two for folks who want to go all Walden. In order to do these things I need to get closer to working full time as an artist, which will also involve other things I'm sure, such as teaching, or lecturing, or something related (doing one thing all the time is boring anyway).

But that's not the purpose to making art. Everyone has a mythology, a story about themselves that makes up who they are. The things they surround themselves with reinforce the story, and advance it (because the story of our life doesn't end till we are dead... and sometimes later than that). Clothing, furniture, tv shows, things we like, even the people we hang out with help validate who we are and can push us forward towards self discovery as we continue the path of the story of our lives. I call it a myth because what we believe about ourselves isn't always the reality, like say how a boy may have grown up in an abusive household and now believes he is worthless. That's not true, but he's decided as of this point that this is what he is, and whether he continues to believe that or whether he chooses to change the story about himself is entirely up to him.

This is why stories and images resonate with us. Sometimes we come across a song or poem or see something that reflects where we are and adds a bit of truth which helps us move past or move forward. Sometimes that bit of art or music of performance exposes us to something entirely new, and in this we grow in new and unexpected ways. This is how we feed our souls. Often folks may not even know they're doing it, like when a teenager hangs a poster of some formulaic pop icon on their wall. As much as that pop icon is about selling product, that message speaks somehow to the young person. They want to be with or be like their idol, even though they are unknowingly falling in lock step with a machine created to make a lot of money using vapid messages that have no real substance. We are what we consume, if we only absorb material that is fed to us on a mass market, or believe what we hear on radio and tv without questioning, then our stories become vapid and carbon-brittle.

So what I've been doing and will probably continue to do is try to present images that are unexpected. I make images don't see, that I think should exist... such as the women I paint, they have been described as strong and in some cases erotic. I often choose to create images of women that are average to extremely thick because that's what the reality is, and yet that's not the kind of images I see. The symbols, the alchemy, or any other hidden meaning that I work in doesn't need to be fully understood by the viewer (although it can be more fun if the viewer gets it), what I want to let people know is that there's more to our lives than what we currently know. The world has layers of existing, layers of culture, layers of thinking. We live side by side with people who may have a completely different understanding, like your neighbor may be obsessed with Trans Mississippi Wooden Submarines from the civil war, and recreating them may be apart of what he does. My point is there are things that go on in this world that aren't easily accessible, and takes some digging to discover. I don't necessarily want to show you what they are, but I want you to know that what you know can be completely different to what may be possible.

So back to the myth thing. My work is partly about those mysteries, and what I think is great is to create these little mysteries that people can take with them. Existing with original art affects a person, the image they see every day becomes a part of them, and how they react to that image (even if on a subconscious level) becomes a part of their mythology.

I guess I will see how the vending thing goes. I'm looking into creating more practical and portable items, and if/when that happens I'll let you know of course.

instead of music, I'm posting a video from the Starwood Festival. I'm going to be vending there this year, more on that later.

Past shows and what is coming next!

2011-04-26T09:08:00.007-04:00

Well, the Comfest benefit went well. Ran into some people I hadn't seen in a while and met some new & interesting people! A couple of weeks after that I took part in the CCAD Spring Art Sale. That was my first time test driving a booth, and it was most definitely a learning experience (note to self, bring some snacks). Since then I've updated my Etsy Store with some of the new prints, and I'm working on more (lots more). I'm not showing any of the paintings I've been doing as I'm saving them for shows later in the year. I don't want to reveal everything all at once... what's the fun in that?

So anyway, I have a coupon code for my store that'll give you 10% off. That code is MAYDAY

So yeah, check it out ;)

Here's what's coming up art-wise:
On Saturday May 7th is PAPERazzi, works on paper. This show is being put on by Creative Arts of Women (CAW)at MadLab Theater in Columbus Ohio. The Facebook event page is here. The show reception runs from 4-7pm and will include visual art and performances by members of CAW. Food and drinks provided by MabLab. Stay after and watch Theatre Roulette!
address is 227 North 3rd Street Columbus, OH 43215-2530

Then, in July I'll be vending at the Starwood Festival XXXI in south east Ohio. I've never been to this festival before, but I've heard a lot about it over the years. A friend I spoke to last night billed it as 'The Burning Man of the East', and it's one of the largest festivals of it's kind. I can't speak from experience, but what I've heard is there are lots of workshops and events to work on personal growth, and lots and lots of partying. At the end of the festival they are known for putting on a bonfire that can get as high as three stories. Should be crazy-good. I'll write more about it when we get closer to the event date. If you're interested ticket sales are on sale now, and go up towards the end of May.

That's all for now! Later folks!

If you're in Columbus Ohio and are looking for something to do...

2011-04-09T10:30:00.004-04:00

So today is the Community Awareness Benefit. Before you even ask, it's free but they're taking donations on behalf of the ComFest Grants Program. Basically today in the spirit of ComFest at Woodlands Tavern (formally Thirsty Ear) there will be music and art and interesting people to hang with all day long (from noon to 2 am). I will be there, showing some paintings and giving a bit of a preview to the CCAD Spring Art Sale happening next Saturday (the 16th). Also I'm going to be showing a few new prints. So Yay!

Go here to see a rundown of the live acts playing today.

The address to Woodlands Tavern is:
1200 West 3rd Avenue
Columbus, OH 43212
...(614) 299-4987
Near Northwest Blvd. and 3rd

If you come down, be sure to say hello!

For music, here's one of the bands playing tonight, Lost Revival

I Love It So Live from John Thorne on Vimeo.

Lady Power Rant

2011-04-06T09:38:00.008-04:00

So not to long ago I got a request online from a guy for my website URL, which I of course did give him. He later responded with something to the effect of 'wow, you're really into women power huh?'. I was bemused.

I don't really often explain what my work is about, but of course I have some notion. It's fine if people don't come to the same conclusions. My goal is to nudge people in a direction, not drag them kicking & screaming to whatever point I'm trying to make. I feel that 'all art is propaganda', meaning that everything we see, from commercial advertising to high art and everything in between, that is created by man presents a concept, belief, idea, and leaves an impression. When we see something it can leave a mark on our psyche. For example I saw a commercial for Arby's the other day, talking about how it's 'feel good food' and showed an example of someone eating the food and thus... feeling good. Who doesn't want to feel good? I almost kinda wanted some, even though I try to avoid eating fast food. Another is I was looking at a jewelery shop selling hammered wire hair barrettes, naming them after goddesses and likening them to stars, moons, and suns. The influence here is one would buy a piece not only because they thought it would look good on them, but that it may also align them with the ideals that the piece represented. Granted these examples use words in conjunction with visual stimuli to sell products, but it also works in art. A woman viewing an old painting of mine that involves a stripper smoking said seeing that kinda made her want to smoke too, even though she had never done so before. This extends globally. Places in the South Pacific got television later than most other parts of the world, and this was one of the places that were less concerned with body image. In fact they actually have a dance that the women do where they tied sashes around their hips to make them look as large as possible & then danced on tables, people (men and women) who were on the thicker & more robust side were considered desirable. Then in 1996 TV arrived, and eating disorders shot way up in teens 36 months later. 74% believed they were too fat, and 15% used vomiting to control their weight, something unheard of before. When something is presented as the ideal, seemingly regardless of where it comes from, we seemingly subconsciously align with it, even try to become it.

We divide things into little boxes. Tv, movies, boxes of stuff we buy at the store, magazines, youtube clips, cheap prints you see hanging in office hallways, commercials, graffiti, comic books, fine art, etc... while consciously you know the difference between all these things, your subconscious is less likely to do so. We are so strongly influenced by what we experience, whether it be 'real world' or virtual, or even from dream. How much one gets affected will depend on the person and the type of stimulus shown to them. If it's something they're already interested in they will be more likely to be influenced by the idea that the image/s represent, also the same if they are the kind of individual that is easily influenced vs someone who isn't. Regardless, if you are constantly bombarded by images & sounds that center around an idea, you may eventually be led to believe that what those images & sounds are 'right'.

Kinda puts truth to the saying 'garbage in, garbage out'. If you surround yourself with people & things with no substance, you will be much less likely to have substance yourself.

Anyway, back to why my work is all 'Woman Power-y'. It's not really something I intended (well, not entirely). My art is somewhat biographical in the sense that most of it is based off of something I've seen, felt, or heard. I think I paint mostly women because I am one, and I've always had a certain fascination with icons. Too often when I talk to women do they put themselves down based off of their body image, or defer to the opinion of others when making decisions on what they wish to be, so one of the concepts behind my work is that women can be different, there's another way to exist. I don't care if a lady chooses to be a barefoot and pregnant housewife or a CEO, I just want women to accept themselves with grace who they are and to feel empowered to be whatever they want to be. This isn't an anti-male thing. I love me some mens, don't get me wrong here. In my world there is no such thing as 'if you're pro-this you're anti-that'. Besides, showing women in this way is a message just as much for the guys as it is for the chicks. I wouldn't say this is a conscious thought every time I set down to compose a work, but it's a base theme as I this is very much a part of what I'm about.

Part of what's bringing this up for me is there seem to be wave of anti-feminist backlash that is just rolling along and getting stronger, which is leaving me concerned. An officer in Toronto during a presentation at Osgoode Hall Law School regarding sexual assault told the students that women can avoid being raped by simply by 'not dressing like sluts' which prompted this amusing backlash. Apparently now Slutwalks are being scheduled in other parts of Canada. Related is is how women need to dress less provocatively & maybe let their daddies pick out their wardrobe because men can't control their lust. I have always found it interesting how some men put the blame on women for their misogynistic tendencies. Ugh, there's lots of other related crap I can rant about, like this (they're trying to do the same in Georgia and tried and failed in Utah), and this, and this, etc. I'm all for ladies expressing their sexuality, but it seems to me that many artists (musical and otherwise) are being sexual without any context... meaning they're being sexual not because that's how they feel or who they are, but because they want the attention that it brings (example: Britney Spears). It's been an amusing thought lately that when the Spice Girls where big in the 90's how cheesy they seemed, and now they seem so 'Pro Girls' than any role models out there today (Lady Gaga aside, not really a fan of her music but I find what she does interesting).

Whew! Enough of this lady-ranting business! Here is Ani DiFranco, 32 Flavors

ducks marching!

2011-04-02T09:40:00.002-04:00

Ah yay look at everything in little rows! Now all of my feeds are directed where they're supposed to go, and info is updated where it needs to be updated. Ok so enough of that!

In two weeks I'll be vending my work at the CCAD Spring Art Sale on Saturday April 16th. Admission is $5 for general admission (10:30 a.m.) or $50 for first choice (get in early at 9 a.m.). Admission is taken at the door. But trust me it's worth it. There is going to be a TON of artists there (over 100) with some students, some graduates like myself, and faculty as well. Parking will be free, so don't worry about that. This is going to be at the Crane Center (#2 on the map), and I will be at booth 52. Address is 60 Cleveland Avenue | Columbus, OH 43215. So yeah, come on out and say hi!

In other news I'm gearing up for the rest of the year with this whole vending thing. It's going to be a very slow transition from working a regular job to hopefully vending at festivals for my income. I like the idea of traveling around and meeting interesting folks which I feel will be much more satisfying for me vs working in an office like environment. I'll let you know how it goes, and where I will be next of course.

So that's mostly it. Happy Spring everyone!
Here's something appropriate, a song from the Finnish band Gjallarhorn - Suvetar (Goddess of Spring)

oh please LIKE ME! (and other social crap)

2011-03-26T11:37:00.005-04:00

I think, that when all my social media sites are properly in sync it'll be a happy happy day. I'll be taking part in some shows later this year, and I'm planning on doing some traveling around (more on that later). So I figure it behooves me to make all my ducks be in little rows. I admit I do like the Facebook, but I don't want to publicly broadcast the conversations that I have between friends (who cares right?). So, I made a Fan Page. If you'd like quick posts, seeing my art in progress & new finished stuff, or interesting art related things, go ahead and like my page (you can also just click the 'like' button on the right). I promise only interesting things, and not to spam the newsfeed. I'm working to link it up with this blog and the sketch blog I have, so you should, in theory, be able to get all your updates there. I also have it synced to Twitter, so if you use that you can just get all your updates from there.

So yea, all terribly exciting eh?

So here's Thelonious Monk, Nice Work If You Can Get It.

Post Roanoke and whatever!

2011-03-12T20:14:00.008-05:00

Soooooooyeah! I got busy and neglected posting. It's winter, I'm busy, don't make me spork you. Anywho, last weekend I went down to the Marginal Arts Festival in Roanoke Virginia. Super Great Time! I didn't have any work showing there... but I did get a chance to take part in a few performances, one with Warren C. Fry that you can see here (yeah I gotta project more) and another with the Be Blank Consort, where we read several avant garde poems. The rest may go online at some point (I don't have video or they would be by now). I did shoot some other stuff at the festival, check out my youtube channel to see what if you're so inclined (0r if photos are more your style you can check out my album of the event). I still have a few other things to load, which I will do eventually. Stuff I think you should see are these:

The first video is some stuff I shot and put together of festival overall... lots of stuff I didn't personally record though.

This performance by Zierle Carter was very interesting and many were moved by it. These folks were flown in from Europe just to perform here, and they did several 'acts' as it were. They are also super-awesome inspiring folk with lots of interesting ideas, I'm glad I got a chance to meet them.

There is this bit of silly, during the Marginal Arts Festival Parade, Piano Activities by Philip Corner (1962) was re-enacted.

Above are some photos I took of a side performance by Zierle Carter.

So yeah, lots of fun and it's given me lots of food for thought as well. I got to thank Sue & Jim Leftwich who gave my friend Bela Grimm and I a place to stay during the event, John M. Bennett for giving me a chance to perform with the Be Blank Consort, and everyone who participated! I don't know if I can be called a 'marginal artist' per-se, but I'm definitely influenced by it.

tumble

2011-01-30T17:23:00.008-05:00

Contain your excitement, the tumblr sketch blog is up. Fun trivia about me, I (or rather, my mom) have been keeping sketchbooks as far back as when I was eight. Not a one tossed, only time I lose one is accidentally (hey room service people in Chicago, I hope you enjoyed that!). What they mostly contain is metal vomit, observational drawings from cafes or wherever I'm at, and notes about whatever I want to look into later. Also of course are rough ideas for finished paintings, and the line work for digital prints. I want to post about once a day, but right before I set to do this my scanner decided to have some software issues and doesn't want to scan anymore. Honestly all my equipment needs upgraded, which will only happen when it needs to happen... and will probably happen soon if this laptop will stop being a bastard.

All this random joy can be seen at http://saraadrian.tumblr.com/

And also, I'll be going to Virginia for the Roanoke Marginal Arts Festival which runs March 3-8. I'll be taking a crack at performance art in the parade on Saturday, and causing general mischief. If you're in the area, come on out. The event happens in various places all over the city so check the website or Facebook for details. If you want to find me I'll most likely be with the Pos-Neoabsurdists.

& I don't feel like posting music today, so you get this instead. Later!

Cloud Cover

2011-01-23T15:31:00.004-05:00

Right on new years I got a horrible plague that set me down for a while. Then life got busy, and with the weather as cold as it is I've been feeling a strong desire to go inside and not, well, basically be more selfish with my time. It's necessary, time to start new work, which means telling the world to fuck off. I mean that in the nicest way possible of course. I love my friends and there's a litany of people I want to see more, but if I do that, then I'm not making work. My energy is finite. This is by the way one of the reasons why it's rough dating artists, or anyone with a drive/passion that isn't their primary partner. Sometimes (well, oftentimes) we have to put the work first. If we don't we can't be who we are...

So anyway, last month or so I've been prepping panels. These are pine plywood panels that are about a quarter of an inch thick. They have been treated to prevent insect damage, and primed with a high grade gesso, and then left to hang out for a while. The cracking was unexpected but rather desired. I want the wood to show through, I want the viewer to know the materials they are looking at.

When I go to make a painting, I have an idea of course, but it always changes. I will do some sketches, to decide the general composition however I always change it when I lay out the underdrawing. You can see on the right one of those sketches (by the way, click the images to zoom in). I don't use models, what I do is I'll go make reference sketches, take photographs, and look at photographs online of people/things/situations that contain what I want. When the drawing is done I don't use any one person as reference, the people in these drawings don't exist. I may borrow a nose, shape of the eye, or something, but I always change it. I will also use myself as reference also, sometimes (rarely) I may as a friend to help, but with the type of drawing I do and my years of studying human anatomy it's rarely necessary. Most of what I do is observe, internalize, and regurgitate.

So the image on the left is on an 18 x 24 panel (which is what most of my paintings will be for a while, I had a bunch cut to that size). Right now it's winter, and while many complain about the grey Ohio winters, I rather like the clouds, and how they change. So hence the color palate is going to be largely greys, purples, blues, greens, blacks, with highlights of gold with this one. The background's palate will be cooler than the figure in front (from a color standpoint). I'll be painting this largely in acrylic, and may switch to oils later if I am so motivated. What's it about? Well you'll have to decide that for yourself. Of course I have something in mind but in the end it's not what I say but what the viewer gets out of it. I may make a video of the process if I get off my ass and get a tripod. That's something I want to do... When I started my youtube channel it was supposed to be more artwork, but I do like to document, so there's lots of stuff on there from when I go camping, and that's ok. It is time though I show more about my process, especially since now I can edit videos again (that's largely why I haven't made any art related videos of my own work in a while).

So yeah, aside from the work I am planning out my year. Odds are good I'll be going west for a visit that I've been meaning to take for many years. I'm also looking into vending again, which is something that I want to do but kind of intimidates me. I like stability, and vending full time at fairs and festivals would mean quitting my day job. For a time I'd be flying blind, and that makes me nervous. I have already done a lot of research on taxes, I'm on several mailing lists, and I've worked for and assisted with people who have done this for a living... it's a plunge though, and I don't want to mess it up. The idea of traveling during the summer and painting full time is too rich to pass up, and I think my more conventional paintings and prints would do well.

Soooooooooooo anyway. Workworkwork, time to get back to it!

For music we're going back a few. Here's Simply Red, Holding Back the Years.

They say all rivers flow to the sea...

2010-12-31T09:54:00.005-05:00

Well, that's it for 2010. Here we have the obligitory year end post where one sums up one's year or some shit. So sure, a year of up and downs, of deaths and births and the ever present change. Not quite what I expected, but then life never does go according to plan, does it? But despite the oncoming cold I'm getting, I feel better about things than I did last year. Only regret is I didn't produce more, but that can't be helped I suppose. So 2011, what does it hold for me? Seems travel is in the works, I've been invited to several different places for various different reasons. I'm working on a new series, which is going to be a departure from my previous work. I have a solo show in Columbus in September at What the Rock, and it looks like I'm going to be showing out of state, more of that later.

So yeah! Happy New Years to you and yours. May you get what you want and not what you deserve!

Blessed Be ;)

Below is a few videos of my favorite videos that I took this past year. I hopes ya dig!

In memory of Angelo Head, RIP

Winter Solstice

2010-12-20T10:21:00.005-05:00

Regardless if you're Pagan or not, I think the Winter Solstice (and all the solar holidays really) are interesting and worth some acknowledgment. Today in the northern hemisphere it's the shortest day, and the longest night. This is caused by the tilt of the earth's axis in relation to the orbit of the earth around the sun. Right now the north end of the planet pointed as far away from the sun as it can get, see below in the handy-dandy graphic I found.

What I find interesting about observing the cyclical wheel of the year (the solstices, the equinoxes, the growing and harvesting) is what a metaphor they are for the way life can be. We all have moments of darkness that seems like they'll never end. Where we lose, where what or who we love or tried so hard to create and keep is gone. It's the long dark. Fortunately though the nature of the universe is change. Just as the sun comes back after the longest night of the year, so too does the dark moments in our life go. Not all at once (most of the time), but hold on and the light comes back a little more each day, and the world will warm up and things will start to grow again.

Tonight for us in the Americas also there will be a complete Lunar Eclipse. It's going to last all night long, peaking for us in Ohio at around 3:30 am. There's going to be cloud cover, so I may not be able to see it, but here's to hoping. Friends down south are lighting bonfires in the night, hoping to watch the lunar event, my thoughts are with them.

In contrast to the festival I attend for the Summer Solstice, today I'll be alone and self reflecting. I'll probably make cookies, Christmas too is coming (which I celebrate with my family) and damn it they need some cookies!

So it's all good.

Here's hoping your holiday season is most festive, how ever you mark or celebrate it (or not). So Happy SolsticeYuleChristmasHanukkahKwanzaaAshuraETC ETC ETC and New Years to All of you crazy cats! Next time I post it'll be back to normal... whatever that is.

and for those who require poetry today, here you go.

December and it's wild winds

2010-12-06T09:57:00.005-05:00

Well I don't know about you, but I'm ready for the Winter Solstice (December 21st this year). The sun setting at 5 pm, what can I say, I'm not a fan... however I appreciate the symbolism, especially now.

So here's what's going on. December the 18th (Saturday) there is the closing reception for Fortify! the Fort Hayes Alumni Art Exhibition. The address is 546 Jack Gibbs Blvd.Columbus, OH 43215, and it will run from 5-8. Should be a good party, and I'll be there of course.

With other stuff I'm working on... well I'm just working. The collaboration that I'm not talking about has officially begun, with the first session completed. What's different about this is it involves me working with photography, which I generally only do as a hobby (if that). I'm modifying them digitally, and I have to say I am pleased with the results so far. Yay for new challenges. Thing is though, these still may never be shown in public, due to their um... sensitive nature in tackling certain aspects of the human anatomy. Yeah I know, teaser. That's what I do... tease. I think though that this will all come off very well (in theory). As for the rest, I'm doing my mix media paintings (combining acrylics and/or oils with metallics) and researching trickster myths in contemporary contexts.... or something like that.

So for music, we have Beats Antique, Beauty Beats.

Lax

2010-11-14T13:09:00.004-05:00

Hoo boy I have been neglectful! Well lots going on, so let's get to it. The Fort Hayes Alumni exhibition is now up! Check the blog for more info about the who's and whats and wheres. I want to personally invite you to the closing reception on December 18, it's going to be quite festive! Also the Columbus International Film and Video festival that I helped jury will be showing films from November 16-20 at CCAD's Canzani Center and the Gateway Theater. Check the website for times. This coming Saturday November 20 · 7:30pm - 11:30pm there will be an animation and mead tasting event at the Canzani Center that'll help wind down the festival nicely. I will be there, and so should you, check the facebook page for event details.

Oh by the way, if you like beer and are interested in reading a blog about how to brew it, check out this new blog by a friend of mine.

For me things are winding down finally and my goal is to focus on making art and little else. I'm also doing a collaboration, but I can't really talk about it. Because it's experimental it's possible it may never see the light of day, and this may be the last time I ever mention it... so just pretend you never saw this... yeah.

So, sometimes I get song-obsessive, and here's my latest.
Song is Carry Me Ohio, by Sun Kil Moon.
Reminds me of something bitter sweet that didn't work out.

back in world

2010-10-23T11:59:00.004-04:00

Well finally got the computer situation taken care of for now. I am now the proud owner of a barely used 3 yr old ibook, which may not have all the juice I want, will at least get me back on line and able to network and manage and do all the stuff I dig doing. So lets get on with what I've been up to.

Last weekend I attended Autumn Fires at Wisteria. It was a short weekend but good fun. I got to do a little iron oxide glazing on some slip cast bisque wear that my friend Casey Bradly had (see left), he runs the ceramic pit firing they have at this festival every year. So here's a fun footnote, this laptop has video editing software, so I get to show you how the event went. This was shot in one day, and shows the process from people making little ceramic works, to the firing (and the resulting bonfire party) to the finished product.

Wisteria Autumn Fires 2010 from Sara Adrian on Vimeo.

So yeah, it was brief but everyone had a great time.

& now, back to the studio! I've been buying wood panels and preping them for painting, and drawing up notes/ideas. That's my goal this winter season, just make stuff and not worry about showing and all that. With working full time and trying to make art I find it difficult to focus on showing as well, so I oscillate between being public and being... not. Just how I'm wired I guess.

It's Halloween/Samhain season, and it's time to get spooky. Here's The Raven, the poem by Edgar Allen Poe, interpreted by Omnia

A bit behind

2010-09-28T11:20:00.009-04:00

Well let's jump to it, I have a lot to catch you up on. I've been having a few technical setbacks which have made it not-so-easy for me to update. Most recently my computer's power supply went bad, and possibly the logic board as well. It's a 5 year old mac, and becoming obsolete so... yeah I'm kind of looking for options. But enough of that! I have much to tell you about what I've been up to.

Well, last I chatted with you Urban Scrawl was immanent, well things went well and it was a good day. Bela Grimm, myself and a few random people we invited in collaborated, and I think it came out pretty decent. She provided the background and collage, and I did the more painterly stuff (as I do). So yeah, results below:

The final is 8 x 8 feet

and here's a video

the music is just so you don't hear me rambling on to people.

& here's some of the dancing, in the background you can see the skate park.

After all that was done, I went to Wisteria for their Autumn Fires Festival. Good times were had by everyone, and the weather was great. The folks from the Starwood festival inspired the folks from Tent City and on a couple nights bonfires were lit that were bigger than I am tall, so at least 5.5 feet. It was pretty laid back, and the community was great. Videos below.

Pre-bonfire, the folks in Paw Paw just hanging out

Later that night...

One of the musical acts, Brian Henke & Kenny Klein playing at Caffina's

So yeah... Good times! I'm going to do my best to keep up with things, but until I get this computer thing fixed I'm probably going to post intermittently.

But on we go!

Below is Old Crow Medicine Show, Wagon Wheel. It's been in my head lately...

Urban Scrawl 4

2010-08-27T10:56:00.014-04:00

Yep, Urban Scrawl is tomorrow August 27 at Dodge Park, 667 Sullivant Ave, Columbus Ohio. Festival runs from 12 - 8, and is free. There will be music, local craft vendors, break-dancing, skate boarding, and of course... live painting. This year, Bela Grimm and myself will be collaborating on a large panel of 8 x 8 feet. For more about the festival (when bands come on and stuff) check out this article in the Alive. Should be fun! If you come out say hi. By the way the image is from Urban Scrawl few years ago, photo by Bill Minckler.

In other news, I've been crazy busy since I've gotten back from Florida (which was very nice by the way). I've had to review more movies for the festival, I have about six that I need to see by Tuesday. It's been a good experience, and the ones that are going to get in I think you'll like. I'll give my personal opinion on them later when the judging is done. Then there's the painting... I feel like I've had no time to do much else.

By the way! Last Saturday I got to go to the opening of the John M Bennett Skylab Retrospective and Skylab Mailart Visual Poetry Exhibit. Very cool, I got to see my friends from the Post-Neoabsurdist Anti-Collective perform, plus John M. Bennett's visual poetry & mail art he's collaborated on from all over the world. Good Times. Below is a sample of John M. Bennett reading a poem at the Avant Writing Symposium, which just ended (see photos of the event here).

Bummer I had to miss that... this is what I get for having a job.

... so yeah, more stuff coming as always!

So, here's Iron & Wine - Wolves (Song of the Shepherd's Dog)

Headed South & showtime

2010-08-12T10:13:00.004-04:00

Yep, I'll be spending this weekend in Fort Myers paying a social call to some relatives. I just checked the weather, looks like it's going to be very stormy and hot, however I'm sure it'll be interesting. I have not seen the sea in a long time (and I hope I don't see any tar-balls... I shouldn't, but, well ya know). I'll see if I can't take some moderately interesting photos.

There's a couple of events that are coming up. I'm taking part in a show with CAW called Rights and Representation at Wholly Craft at 3169 N. High St. Columbus Ohio. Show is open Aug 11- Sept 3 & the reception is August 20th. Come on out, there shall be all kinds of performances and festivities. The Fort Hayes Alumni Arts Exhibition deadline is coming up on August 31st. If that applies to you check the info here for the call for entires.

I've been spending a lot of time in the studio making new work, so soon I'll be posting some stuff. See you Later!

Here is Captain Beefheart, Abba Zaba

Lughnasadh, I wish I had my camera.

2010-08-02T18:19:00.004-04:00

So yeah, that was yesterday (August 1st). For those of you that are unfamiliar Lughnasadh (or Lammas) follow the link, but commonly it's to celebrate the first harvest. Interestingly enough the holiday falls in the same weekend with the Ohio State Fair. I don't know if I'll make it out this time, I have a bunch of deadlines. Ah we shall see.

One of the things I like about Columbus is that it's filled with a weirdness. Not an obvious weirdness or a funk. You can't come to my town and just stroll down the street and see random weirdness randomly. It's like the rest of Ohio, you have to be willing to look beyond the surface, get out, investigate, be open, and you will surely meet some interesting folks, and see some unexpected things. This place does not fail to disappoint the curious and the persistent. So, yesterday I met up with a friend to go to a drum circle. There are a few advertised around town, but neither of us have been. Generally we only get a chance to drum at Wisteria during festival, which isn't -that often-, maybe three or four times a year, & we never get out because we are antisocial artists. So we go, down to Como Park. There is a network of bike trails that run north to south along the Olentangy River, with many pocket sized parks like this one. We pull up and see more people than we expected drumming under one of the permanent shelters. As we got closer we saw people dancing, wearing brightly colored costumes and outfits. One person looked like she was wearing a plushy chicken headdress with a rainbow skirt and bright yellow ruffled leggings. There were a couple children in handmade costumes that looked part octopus, part jellyfish, and part sock monkey, all stitched in an array of bright fabrics. They ran around, climbed on things, having a grand ole' time with their parents who were also dressed in festive fashion. I asked one of the folks who... well I suppose hosts but he more guides, if that was normal. He said with a smile 'no, they just came out of the forest'.

The drum circle vibe was pretty friendly and chill. There were plenty of drums and other instruments left for people who just happened by. One of which was a gent who looked like a very serious biker, in his mid 40's I'd say. He stood for a while, still half mounted on his bike watching us. Then one of the guys offered him a drum, & he took off his helmet and gloves and soon he was in the thick of it drumming away for what seemed to be the very first time. He was still there when we left. This runs on every other Sunday from 2 to 4, or whenever. I'll come back when I have time. Some of the folks there also play with fire, poi, staff, and the like. I gave my info to one of the guys who will hopefully get in touch with the dude who hosts that gathering which is on Tuesdays. That would be great to get in with the fire community here.

So after we left we then went to a friend's house and met up with people I had not seen in a very long time. I was invited to a Lammas party, which had a very lovely potluck, and for games to honor Lugh we took turns hacking at cantaloupe heads with a medieval looking ax and shot a small crossbow at a target. There was much hilarity, and it was good to see old friends.

and now, back to work.

Here is Cottonbelly, Give Thanks & Praise

Narcissus a bit

2010-07-28T13:27:00.005-04:00

So, first to what's going on. I'm painting a lot, and I'm finishing up watching the first batch of videos for the Columbus International Film+Video festival (for those who don't recall I'm one of the judges for the arts division this year). Some are really good and I think you'll really enjoy them, & some kinda make me want to die a little. Regardless I think once the festival rolls out it'll be worth checking out. More on that later.

Not much else going on. I'm just making art and getting ready for the Fort Hayes Alumni show deadline in August (hey do you like the logo? I did that). By the way, I will be going down to Fort Myers Florida in the middle next month briefly to visit family. Just a long weekend but it'll be good.

So here's a footnote for you. I used to take part in forums a lot more often than I do now, and when I did that I used to just write stuff. I wouldn't call it poetry, or stories, or... anything, but people after a time seemed to like it and I did get something out of it... sense of satisfaction I suppose. I've been thinking about getting back into doing that to help explore my creativity. I have a constant dialog in my head, and sometimes I think it's worth writing down, but then I don't. This kind of writing I admit is completely masturbatory, and self indulgent, doubly so because I know if I don't publicly post what I write I won't do it in the first place. It's narcissistic, I'll be the first to say so, but that won't and has never really stopped me. This need to share what I create is a big part of what makes me an artist I guess. Besides, I guess I got some stuff to say and too many people feel that way and don't. Since I know I can and will, I suppose I should. Why not, right?

Anyway, so I'm gonna occasionally post some of that crap here... because where else am I going to do it? Maybe later I'll take the stuff I like and make a book out of it with little illustrative comments or something. We will see.

So what I have right now is a kind of short story and a poem...

Williams Canyon

They giggled like doves together. She said ‘come to Williams Canyon with us tonight!’. I followed them both as they held hands before me, She with her impossible beauty and her internal damage, he with his rough leanness and his simple thoughts. I plodded slowly behind, watching them, listening. The small town we lived in fell away to a dirt road, and the rocks that would have been tan or red began to arc up on either side.

We come to a sign, “DO NOT ENTER” which we ignore as children do. What was left to is was a road long since abandoned, the memory of a creek, and the canyon walls climbing ever higher. We continued on, at times I lost sight of my guides. They were too busy with each other, trying to impress the other with stories or wry jokes, they seemed innocent, but so was I, and I knew it.

Eventually whatever road was left was gone, giving way to gravel and scrub oak. I picked my way through the rocks, slowly climbing till we reached the end. A waterfall trickled down to a small pool below us, and my friends slipped away to attend to the flirtations natural evolution for a moment. Leaving me to contemplate, I turned to see where I came from.

I have never seen a moon like this. She hung low in the sky, large yellow and full. Mountains framed her, the winking lights of Manitou decorated the dark base. I wanted to ask it everything, what was I supposed to be doing, why was I in this foreign place, what will happen next? There was no sign, no answer. Stars didn’t shoot across the sky, no animal revealed itself, it was just the scene before me and myself alone to contemplate it for that one brief moment in time.

The couple emerged dusty after beating against each other. We made our way home much as we came, but I felt like I had an answer no matter how undefined. All I could do is go forward, in the moment.

Surgery

A constant dissection running through my mind
Pulling you open with my mouth, teeth, tongue.
Flaying you, spreading you open.
Rendering you helpless.

Humility and shame will not protect you
Bodies clothe expression
Lay aside fear
This won’t hurt much, I promise.

After your assembly
When I have seen what I have recreated
I will whisper silently
Do it to me.

Here's something somewhat local to me, Roger Drawdy and the Firestarters performing Hallowed Ground (music starts at :25, -shrug-)