Upcoming Panel Drawings

I've set to work on a new set of panel drawings, and I'm very excited about them.  I've been at grad school for a year, and have not done a single drawing since I arrived (aside from some illustrations in my various booklets), so I'm feeling like it's about time!  

They look very blank and intimidating right now, but I have some ideas flowing, and I know they are going to relate in some way to the grant subject matter (Fanaticism, Sustainability, & America).  The panels are all primed and ready to go, so I just have to get to work developing the compositions to go on them.  8 new works!  Woot!

Ellen Update - Summer Edition

So I just wrapped up my first year of grad school, and am loving the free time to finally take full advantage of the beach! This semester has been a hectic one (when isn't it?) full of exhibitions and performances (and more and more and more).

This summer is going to be busy, but very fun:

- Today I start an art history course entitled, "Against Interpretation," which should be a good time ;)

- Then, June 16 - July 17 I'll head out to Dell'Arte International in Blue Lake CA for a month of performance workshops, for which I cannot wait! I'm hoping it will stir up some inspiration for the grant performance I have to conjure by next October.

- I'll also be swinging by Minneapolis for a visit August 4-9, so I'll be very excited to catch some MN Fringe Festival shows and see my dentist (I had no idea it would be so hard to find a good dentist in FL)!

- And before you know it, school starts Aug 24 (I'll be teaching my own section of Beginning Drawing - awesome!).

That's about all the news from Tampa for now...

1st week Grad school DONE & Going to NYC!

Well, I've completed my first week of grad school, and am sufficiently over-whelmed. I have a "Contemporary Thought" class that requires 1 full day per week just for reading the articles required for class (the professor suggests using Saturdays). I have a "Graduate Seminar" class that surprised us with a required trip to NYC in October (I'll get to that in just a moment). Then, there's the "Intermediate Drawing" class in which I am assisting a professor and a "Directed Study" course, so we'll see what fun surprises I'll be challenged with in my studio time. It's been overwhelming, but good - I came to grad school to be challenged, and they are definitely holding up their end of the bargain!
Tampa is a very hot and humid place right now (we're in our hurricane season), but I'm told time and again that the weather will improve soon. Other notable Florida items: there are little lizards everywhere, people are generally shocked and do not believe me when I say I don't have a car, and voter registration ends Oct 6th here! (I didn't realize how spoiled I was in MN where you can register the day of the vote)
Finally, as I mentioned before, I am going to be taking an unexpected trip to NYC October 9-12, 2008. If anyone is currently in NYC or knows someone there with a spare couch or floor space, please let me know... I am small, polite, and unobtrusive. I'm hoping to cut costs by finding some way to crash for free, or at a steep discount - any thoughts or suggestions are welcome!

FLOCAS postcard almost ready to go...

I just finished prepping the postcards for the printers. Once they've been proofed, off they go! (let me know if you see any mistakes!) I'm pretty excited for this show. I'm learning a lot of important things about marketing a show in Tampa, which was one of my main goals in joining the marketing committee for this FLOCAS show.

Aside from this project, I'm just excited for school to start on Monday. I can't wait to get into classes again... and even homework! (I know, I know, I will be laughing at that line in a couple weeks, but for now I'm itching to get moving).

Traveling show down in Florida

Three of my pieces from the Their Turn Series have been selected for the fall traveling FloCAS exhibition (Florida Consortium of Art Schools), juried by North Miami Museum of Contemporary Art Director Bonnie Clearwater. I'm super excited because the show will travel to Tallahassee in August, Gainsville in September, and Tampa in October. Three cities all in one sweep as I start things down at grad school!

The 3 pieces going in the show are entitled: "January 8", "April 30", and "March 19" (pictured here). "March 19" (pictured here).

I'm going to Grad School in Florida!

I have some very exciting news: I have been accepted into the MFA program in studio art at the University of South Florida starting this fall, and will be moving down to Tampa in mid-July! The program has a very strong emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, so I will be able to pursue performance and installation work while taking classes in both the art and theater departments.
This process of applying to, and picking a grad school has been very challenging and exciting... In the end, USF was able to offer the best package, and seems to have a program that best fits my individual goals as an artist, so off I go! I'm looking forward to a few years spent with the sun and beaches of Tampa (hooray for the Gulf of Mexico!).

In other news:
- About a week ago, attended a 6-day Movement and Light Workshop led by Dana Reitz/Jennifer Tipton in Duluth, where I met a fantastic group of artists. It was a great learning experience and creative indulgence - I could talk all day - email me if you'd like to hear more...
- Just this past weekend, I completed my 200 hour RYT yoga certification! I'm very excited (I've been working towards this certification for 3 years)!

So, keep me posted on how you're doing, and be sure to let me in on any Florida knowledge you might have!