Finding Beauty in Darkness

Untitled © NKD 08

No matter how deep we sink in sorrow, we catch a furtive glimpse, an unposken word, an extended hand...No matter how dark the present may be, we open our heart and hope.

My posts here and my comments on your blogs may become sporadic due to some personal issues. Thank you all for your emails and kind thoughts. May your lives sparkle everyday...even in the dark.

The Difference between Collage and Scrapbooking

"Daliesque" © NKD April '08

If you have ever googled the word “collage”, you may have been stunned by the staggering amount of entries (43,200,000 results) for that word alone (and this without counting all its derivatives). Putting aside the obvious inadequacy of any search engine, it is still possible to stumble upon if not exquisite, at least intriguing, collage art. However, the majority of returns on Google gives you stuff like “Create a celebrity collage,” “Collage.org: A music and dance ministry,” or the ubiquitous images of kids with drawn-in dunce hats (and that’s only on the first page).

Now before you throw your Fiskars implements at me, please know that my post is meant as a sincere attempt to engage all of you in a constructive discussion about collage and scrapbooking. Although the latter may not be my cup of tea, I have nothing against those of you who love and practice this artform. In fact, more power to you for being creative! However, I would like us to be honest and talk about issues that so far have gone unexplored for the most part. I really encourage you to participate in this discussion.

Although both collage and scrapbooking share similar materials and techniques and are highly addictive activities with definite fringe benefits *smile*, they are different at their core. While scrapbooking stems from a genteel tradition of journaling and ephemera, collage burst on the art scene as a revolutionary art form. As both evolved, scrapbooking remained true to its nostalgic themes but managed to morph into a mega $2.5+ billion industry. Traditional cut-and-paste collage, on the other hand, stuck to its avant-garde origins while painstakingly struggling to establish itself as a legitimate art form. The differences do not stop here, I think.

Collage art is all about individuality, innovation, risk-taking and creativity. As in any other artistic endeavor, this means going deep into yourself and exploring what makes you who you are. Whether your art is expressionist or abstract, the core motivation is still the same: creating artistic meaning as individual as we are. It also means stretching the limits and going beyond what seems safe and/or familiar. Some scrapbookers do follow these guidelines and their art is truly delightful. A few though seem to hesitate and prefer to stick to standardized imagery and themes. And that’s a pity I think, because given the infinite possibilities available, it would be a shame not to take a few risks here and there (spending half your paycheck on a couple of Jimmy Choo slingbacks is not an option though).

Whether you want to buy scrapbooking or collage supplies by the truckload, it’s up to you. The main thing is to be creative and have a clear purpose in your artistic pursuits. In other words, make what you do meaningful to you. If putting a clown hat on a favorite image is significant to you, then by all means do it. Otherwise, you may want to ask yourself some important, albeit difficult, questions about what you are trying to do and where you might be going with all this. It is not my intention to rain on anyone’s parade here but to invite kindred spirits in exploring potential ways to attain higher levels of creativity and a deeper sense of achievement and satisfaction. I struggle with these issues every day and I would really like to hear what you think.

If I were to summarize my collage aesthetics, it would start with the following ideas:
1.Make art that ten years from now will still be of value to you personally.
2. Invest in yourself and your ideas.
3. Create mindfully.
4.Trust your instincts.
5. Free yourself from constraints imposed by yourself or others.
6. Liberate your creativity from the confines of marketed art. Find free and unexpected sources of inspiration around you.
7. Challenge – yes challenge!—everything you have learned so far (be it from books, workshops, friends, etc.)
8. Separate yourself from the crowd.
9. Dig into your own past and present and discover your own narrative. Create your own personal myths, imagery, and personal meaning.
10. Put aside the familiar and open the door. You will be pleasantly surprised!

Now, it’s your turn!

A Pressing Issue: Worldwide Blogging and Freedom of the Press Day

"Envie de Voyage" Collage papers, acrylics, pastels, and India Ink © NKD May '08

May 3rd '08 is the 18th Annual World Press Freedom Day(La Journée mondiale de la liberté de la presse;El Día Mundial de la Libertad de Prensa;ليوم العالمي لحرية الصحافة‎).

Why should we care? Well, beside the obvious reasons, remember that some worlwide bloggers are still striving to make their voices heard across the Internet. As the Reporters sans frontières press index shows*, the ranking of several countries fell sharply this year because of serious and repeated violations of the free flow of online news and information.

* FIY, we ranked #48 between Nicaragua (#47)and Togo(#49)

Not-So-Fairy Tale

"Diving Ms. Devine" Collage ©NKD May '08

Mademoiselle Delinda Devine was not a happy palace camper. Upon rising from her afternoon slumber, she went to her mirror determined to solve the irritating problem which angered her that very morning.

It all started quite innocently. Sipping her first coffeelatte of the day (1 packet of Splenda, no foam please), she sat at her aptly-named vanity table and smiled at her reflection... but to her horror, the mirror did not smile back.

At first, she thought that yesterday's little sleeping pill was still working its magic...but alas, it wasn't the case. A little shaken but undeterred, she tilted her head to the side and coyly asked the familiar question: "Mirror, mirror on the wall...who's the fairest one of all?" There was no answer. Just the sound of bees buzzing somewhere in the garden. Inspired (catching flies with honey and all that, y'know?), she decided to cajole the mirror by promising to change glass cleaner brands (that Lilac Vanilla one that was advertised on the teevee perhaps?)...To no avail.

By now, she was royally angry. Batting her false eyelashes furiously, she screamed French obscenities at the mirror and threatened to donate it to the next Goodwill truck that comes to town. Alas again! All her efforts were met with cold stony silence. Miffed at such uncooperative arrogance, Mademoiselle went back to bed and burrowed herself under tons of satin sheets, dozing off while planning her sweet revenge.

When she woke up, she had concocted quite a plan: if the mirror refused to fulfill its contractual role, then, by Igor, she was going to get to the bottom of it. Literally... And that's exactly what she did!!

...The palace -- and her cousin Madame Caprice -- are still waiting for her return. Have you guys seen her?

Happy Birthday, mon blog!

One year old
What a journey
Gathering companions
Along the way
A gift of love
What a delight!

PHOTOBUCKET UPDATE

Early Friday morning (at precisely 1:00am), I posted an alert on this blog warning all of you that some of our images are being used without permission on other websites. In my case, the infringement occurred on Photobucket by a person I have never met nor given her any permission to use my work. Subsequently and after contacting Photobucket (no address was listed for that person), I received a formal email from the company stating that they have removed the said page "in good faith": "Photobucket's response as set forth herein is a good-faith attempt to courteously comply with your request at face value. It should not be taken as an admission or acknowledgment, of any kind, and Photobucket expressly reserves all rights at law or in equity."

It is really disheartening to see that such a violation occured (even though it may have been meant as flattery since I was listed with my hero Max Ernst and the like). I think we need to think very seriously about copyrights issue and how to protect our rights as creative thinkers and artists. In fact, my good friend Diane Clancy had a couple of posts that were even more disturbing than mine. The Congress Orphan act 2008--if passed -- will LEGALIZE art theft. Diane includes a great reference to an article by Mark Simon who writes: "This is not just about professionals…it will cover amateurs, hobbyists, your grandmother’s hand made quilts…even family photos posted on the internet will be fair game to be “orphan images” and swiped up and used by companies WITHOUT YOUR OKAY.” Please sign the petition to STOP THIS OUTRAGEOUS ACTION! Spread the word too!

Okay, I calmed down. But I will not end this post without thanking all of you from all my heart for commenting on my post and sending me your wonderful emails. Thank you for being there for me. I love you all!

Cutting Class

"Cut Figure" © NKD 08

I made this collage using pieces of torn magazine papers, erasing parts of the image by scratching the paper with a regular kitchen scrubber (duh!) then painting over it with diluted acrylic paints. Et voila! That's my technique... but also only half the story.

I am in the habit of cleaning up my desk area as soon as I am done playing with my paper scraps. I actually follow a daily routine, making sure that every paint jar is tightly closed, that all my pencils are duly sharpened, and that every instrument is back in its dedicated (and labeled) drawer. As I was going through the familiar tasks, the blade from a cutting knife fell off its socket unto the floor and glared back at me ... almost defiantly.

And this is when it hit me: I was actually petrified by this tiny little sliver of metal and it wasn't the first time this has happened either! I cannot tell you how many times I had to come up with clever subterfuges to conquer my fear of handling an x-acto cutter or even a harmless steak knife. I can undertsand staying away from butcher knives, electric saws, and other dangerously sharp instruments. But being afraid of a tiny little blade? Albeit a very tiny but sharp blade? I have to laugh at myself though and acknowledge that it is quite ironic that I have actually chosen as my favorite art tool the very instrument which scares the life out of me! Must be all that psychobabble* I encountered as a teenager :)

Being incurably curious by nature, I decided to research if my phobia had a name and ---you're right-- it does... it's called "aichmophobia" or the fear of knives and other sharp objects. Translation: if my apprehension has a scientific name, then I must be okay (others must be dealing with it too given that mysery loves company and all that jazz**:)...

And since I was having too much fun doing my research, I could not stop at finding just one phobia; the linguistic game was too tempting. So, I compiled a little list of my favorite phobias with exotic names and some interesting applications :

Acousticophobia- Fear of noise (I'll have to remember this one when my son is practicing with his band!)
Atychiphobia- Fear of failure (I'll add it to my resumé)
Atelophobia- Fear of imperfection (ditto)
Catoptrophobia- Fear of mirrors (I'll leave this one for my old age...gotta have something to look forward to, no?)
Epistemophobia- Fear of knowledge (Must have been what my poor ex-students were suffering from....or were they just ideophobic and they simply feared ideas? )
Papyrophobia- Fear of paper (not to be confused with porphyrophobia- fear of the color purple)

Pupaphobia - Fear of puppets (and we’re not talking about coulrophobia- fear of clowns)

Alliumphobia Fear of garlic (huh?) Alektorophobia Fear of chickens (what would you call someone who’s afraid of chicken and garlic? An alliumalektrophobic??)

Pentheraphobia- Fear of mother-in-law (also known as novercaphobia…no, I did not make that one up!honest!)
And my absolute fave: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia- Fear of long words!

Now, if they could just come up with a name for my intermittent fear of blogging :)...who knows? maybe they already have!

What's your favorite phobia, y'all?

* Stuff like "transactional analysis,"neuro-linguistic programming, and endless hours of Bugs Bunny, The Mod Squad, Lost In Space, and The Fugitive :)

**Pierre Janet (1859-1947), Freud's precursor, divided phobias into 3 categories which are still in use in psychoanalysis today: object phobias, situation phobias, and function phobias....I am not too keen about the subsequent Freudian explanations (sorry, sis!)

The PG Version**

"Bubbles" © NKD April '08

That vicious virulent virus vexed me vehemently! I thought the agony would never end...Okay, a bit melodramatic but hey, what did you expect from such a paper prima donna like me, huh? All sick kidding aside, I really thank you for your sweet emails and cross-Atlantic good vibes, as well as the thoughtful award which the papercut maestro Patrick honored me with and which I would like to share with all of you (please don't make me choose again).

I will be returning in full swing very soon (with some news too). Till then, stay creative, my dear friends :)

-------------------------

** Thanks for the earlier comments on my now ghost post...Note to self: never take creative risks publicly if you are a chicken. Lesson learned. Signing up for eagle flying classes soon :)

Collage is for the Birds

"Inner Thought"© NKD April '08

Fighting a very nasty virus. The bug is winning :(

I will visit y'all soon.

Collage ex-Machina

"Modern Times" ©NKD April 08

In-TAX-icated daze
Filed 1040
Or was is 1510?
April Fool’s Day
too late
May Day May Day
Alas...too early

April 15th is almost over...Tough day? A refund on the horizon? A last-minute extension? Living in Canada?(Zan, wipe that smile off your handsome face...you guys have only 2 more weeks of respite and then you have to cough it up :). Whatever the case may be, you deserve a break tonight. Check my latest find: the very silly but op art fun collage machine (example on the left). Guaranteed to waste your time and make you forget your latest painful contribution to Uncle Sam....at least for a little while.

Collage At First Sight

"Art and Seduction" Collage and acrylics

© NKD April 08

"I don ’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as one loves certain obscure things,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom but carries
the light of those flowers, hidden, within itself,
and thanks to your love the tight aroma that arose
from the earth lives dimly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where
I love you directly without problems or pride:
I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love,

except in this form in which I am not nor are you,
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,
so close that your eyes close with my dreams. "

—Pablo Neruda (1904-1973), Sonnet XVII (100 Love Sonnets, 1960) ; Translated and © Mark Eisner The Essential Neruda (City Lights, 2004)

And the Collage goes to.....

"Giving Thanks" ©NKD April 08

Let me start by thanking each and everyone who took the time to participate in naming my recent collage; I really loved every suggestion and believe me, I had a tough time choosing a title among all those you submitted. But since there could only be one "winner", I selected Juan's "Tiger Rag Nude" because it had a cut-and-paste feel that fit the collage to a T(itle). Felicitaciones, Mr. J!!!

But this is not all.....For the rest of you who participated, you will soon receive a little surprise in your email inboxes. Hope you'll like it! Thank you all for making this community even more wonderful!!

Collage In Search of a Title

"Untitled" © NKD 08

Bored? Having too much time on your hands? Look no further, I am flying to the rescue. Here's the deal: help me find a title for this collage and I will send the author of the best original suggestion one of my collages. See? I told you I'd keep you busy :) ... so, don't lose another minute and get bee-sy, honey!

Collage Cartographie

"Mapping the way?"© NKD '08

"How I escaped the Labyrinth? It was easy....I kept losing my way." - Philip Dacey (American poet, 1939-)

"I have no knowledge of myself as I am, but merely as I appear to myself."- Immanuel Kant (German philosopher, 1724-1804)

The Invisible Collage

"2 in U" © NKD '08

"La raison ultime de l'art n'est pas de reproduire le visible, mais l'invisible." Jacques Guitton (peintre et sculpteur). The ultimate object of art is not to reproduce what is visible but the invisible -

"The poet is the priest of the invisible." Wallace Stevens (1879–1955, was a American Modernist poet) -Le poète est le prêtre de l'invisible -

The Truth about Blogging

"Shhhh" © NKD March 08

It seems everyone is getting burned out these days. Many blogger friends have come to realize the heavy and unexpected toll blogging could take out of one's life. Been there. Done that. It ain't pretty. I know. I empathize. So, let me say this up front: there is no need to go into overdrive and crash your system. Your well-being is of first and foremost concern in that equation. But I would like to put a few things in perspective and offer some advice to help you ease yourself into this noman's land of being in-between posts:

1. Over the past few months, we have spontaneously come together as a living breathing dynamic group without any preset conditions. Our group morphed into an incredibly smart, funny, and supportive community. We reached across age, race, ethnicity, and other platitudes to create a virtual space where we delighted in each other’s company. We discovered a brave new world and together, we shrunk the globe. I, for one, feel grateful to have met each and everyone of you. I BS you not (and that's why my post today might seem uncharacteristicly blunt).

2. Because of this unique dynamic set-up, we have been very sincere in our comments and questions. I have seen enough blogging interactions elsewhere where the exchange is perfunctory if not down right pathetic. This is not the case here! We all have transcended the artificial set up and have created a caring and honest space for ideas and social contact. In fact, some of us have actually developed deep friendships outside blogging.

3. I totally understand the need to take a break. This is your right. No questions asked.

4. Take this time to reassess. Know why you are taking time off. Remind yourself why you wanted to blog in the first place. Can you truly go back to that hazy pre-blogging time in your life? If so, do it with no regrets. If not, then you may have a lot more to say and you will find the right time to do it. Don’t feel discouraged; blogging means never having to say you are sorry.

5. If blogging became tedious or obligatory, if you commented on blogs out of pity or charity (it happens), then it is time to take a breather. There are no rules. My only advice during that time is to find your focus; think of your blog as your personal niche, your secret treasured place, your home. At the same time, never feel obligated to post or comment just because “you have to.” There is no test at the end of the week :)

6. Be true to your instincts. There is no reason to blog just to please your readers or to look good (unless that’s what you want). You have something to say, to share, to vent, do it acording to your own inner timetable. What's the rush?

6. I know that blogging is a great vanity trip, but the trick is to avoid falling into its narcissistic trap. I found out that if I post everyday, I did it half-heartedly. Of course, I never tire of talking to myself but what’s the point, huh? When I posted less frequently, I realized that blogging was a way of stretching my mind and experiencing the world as if I had a third eye, an extra heart chamber, an additional dimension..

6. For me, this blog is about art and collages, a way to examine my art and to grow and learn; to find friends who share my diverse passions, no matter how small these may be. To find my center. I have no inkling whatsoever to share with you the latest news about my dental adventures nor to subject you to my views on politics or religion (unless they fit within the framework of this blog). Let’s be really honest here: blogging just for the sake of blogging makes for a boring copy and scares off the most charitable of readers. And worse, it really does not feel rewarding, don't you agree?

6. I will be ever more blunt : blogging is not a competition. It’s not a psychiatrist’s couch nor your husband’s shoulder. I don’t post just because I like the sound of my own voice or because I delight in my cleverness. Blogging is not a rote exercise. If I have nothing to say that day, I just walk away. No guilt. No need for excuses. We are all grownups with enough real life issues to play coy. Let blogging be a sincere pleasure. Don't harm your sanity in the process. Be gentle to yourself . Period.

7. Blogging is more than the mere sum of your posts. The old adage may still be true here too: less is more. Write often or sporadically. Write a long post or a short one. It’s all fine as long as you feel truly inspired and you keep the integrity of your blog.

8. Enthralled by your stats? What ever makes your boat float. I never check mine. Personally, that’s not why I blog. But if you like to keep tab, delight in the numbers but don't let a slow day bring you down.

9. Blog without obligation; no pressure, no guilt. Just pure and sincere pleasure. Do it for yourself. It will keep your blog fresh, sincere, and most of all, it will keep it flowing naturally at its own pace. One post at a time…

I am writing all this because I care. My blog is almost one year old. So, I really know what everyone is going through. I just don’t want the dream to stop. For you, for me, for us…

I miss you when you don’t post. But I am thrilled when you do. I will not judge or like you less if you don't. I will be here for you as I know you will be there for me too. Take your time. Breathe. Live. Love. No pressure. Just utter bliss..............

Let’s keep the conversation going on our own terms and whenever we feel like it.... We're building it together, right?

Any thoughts?

Paint this Collage Pink

"Pink Rug" Acrylic and Paper Collage © NKD March "08

Switch On or Off?

"Switch On"© NKD March 2008

Creativity is a strange animal.

I have slumped many times into the depths of artistic despair only to re-emerge bursting with ideas. But in these dark moments, I was gripped by a pernicious fear of never being able to create ever again: I thought I had lost "it" forever and worse, I was this close to admitting that I was drowning in grand self-delusions and that I needed -- mixed metaphors notwithstanding -- to fall off my pedestal and behave like a "normal" person (whatever that meant).

Inevitably, I would spend several days trying not to think about art only to realize that it was like asking myself to stop breathing. Given the latter alternative, I had no choice but to succumb to the irresistible force pulling me back to the drawing table.

Once in my studio (a small room with windows overlooking the garden and swimming pool), I was faced with the all too common linguistic twins "so what?" and "what now?" Having spent days exorcising my twisted demons and convincing myself that I was really not cut-out for art :), I had to come up with a strategy to jolt any ounce of creativity left in my soul. Did I brush up on reading the classics? Did I peruse art books? Did I pick up scissors and glue? Nope. I did nothing at all. I just sat there. I knew that I had to trust whatever it was I had trusted before to come to me again, to guide me and teach me anew. I did nothing. I waited. And waited.

Patience paid off. So did my blind trust in the magic of "creativity". My time off was a way of unlearning what I knew, of scrambling the familiar gestures and patterns in order to see and feel again. It was yet another beginning in this journey toward art, another open parenthesis to live anew and turn the switch on. That's my little story. What's yours?

Spring Fields Singing

"Le Bateau Ivre"© NKD March 2008

Back from hibernation

A bouquet of dreams

Blossom in my eyes

Drunk with hues

Lush grass

Birds usher

Spring anew

-NKD

So glad to be back where I BeLOnG :)

A Whirlind of Paper

"Tourbillon" ©NKD March 2008

Still sorting things out.

Ideas aplenty

Still busy

Miss y'all...

MarchMellow

"Safety Net" © NKD Feb 08

Blame it on the cherry blossoms or Spring fever..but I feel I am at an artistic juncture at this time. I am taking a few days off from my blogging journey to ponder and think things through..I will be back in a few days... Until we meet again, stay creative and savor every delicious moment of your life (even if you don't feel like it).

See you soon, my trusted companions!

Collage In-the-Round

"Round 'n Round" © NKD Feb 08

"exercise"

first forget what time it is
for an hour
do it regularly every day

then forget what day of the week it is
do this regularly for a week
then forget what country you are in
and practice doing it in company
for a week
with as few breaks as possible

follow these by forgetting how to add
or to subtract
it makes no difference
you can change them around
after a week
both will help you later
to forget how to count

forget how to count
starting with your own age
starting with how to count backward
starting with even numbers
starting with roman numerals
starting with the old calendar
going on to the old alphabet
going on the alphabet
until everything is continuous again

go on to forgetting elements
starting with water
proceeding to earth
rising in fire

forget fire

- by W.S. Merwin, Migration: New and Selected Poems

Art Calendar Feb 24-March 1st: Paradise and "Versace, Vini, Vici"

"Two Faux The Show" (1 & 2)

(1) Collage; (2) Color Copy and markers © NKD Feb 08

I am THRILLED to announce the upcoming expo "small passions" of my dear friend and wunderkind Alfonso Brezmes at the Camara Oscura gallery in Madrid this Friday! Please join me in sending him our félicitations and don't forget -- if you haven't already done so -- to feast your eyes and souls by visiting his dreamy world called "paradise under construction"...

Fashion and Collage? I must be in .....Wall Street paradise?! Yep, the usually stern WS Journal has folded its bear claws and is gushing over some "smashing" pieces offered by Donatella Versace's latest couture collection. The Italian platinum blonde teamed up with artist Tim Roeloffs to create wearable art dresses. The result? A collage fusion of Berlin street scenes with the unmistakable V iconography. Might be worth checking out while waiting for Wednesday's Event :)

UPDATE: Oscar Tanks

I could talk about the globalization of the Oscars (may be a good thing, after all), or how John Stewart fizzled as soon as he opened his mouth (too bad, I really like him), but I have some long-overdue kudos to distribute today:
The California Master of Art Ceremonies, Kris Cahill, has sent me the cutest award and I, in turn, would like to share it with Jin, Frances, Andrea, Julie, Rima, Bobbie, Diane, Trijnie, Belinda, Sherry, Belinha, Joy, Deb, Lisa, Shani, Sue, and Debi.

And guys, I have not forgotten abt you: here is your special "politically correct" version of the award (kind of an artistic reverse engineering if you get my drift) which I dedicate to Alfonso, Fawzan, Mauricio, Dylan, Deef and John.

Oscar Collage

"Strip" Collage with added frame © NKD Feb 24, 08

Silly? Yes. Vain? Maybe. Addicted to movies-- I meant "films" dah'lin'-- and all that Oscarian fluff? You bet! The only parts which I will ignore will be the musical atrocities which have managed to get worse every year (I will engage in something more meaningful and exciting such as tweezing my eyebrows or cleaning the kitchen drawers instead).

..I confess though: I haven't had the chance to see any of the nominated "films" yet, any recommendations? Pass the wine and/or popcorn, y'all!

Update: Two looong hours into the show..I just gave up! Grrrrr

Collage City Walk

"Jardin En Béton"©: NKD Feb 2008

In the urban cement

They walk.

In their dreams,

Dance green pastures...

Collage of a Million Pieces

"Fancy" Collage and markers © NKD Feb 2008

For D and J: You Made Me Do It!

At the behest of two artist friends and regular commentators (who, for their own sake, shall remain nameless), I have decided that -- for this post only -- I will NOT talk about art nor collage. Instead, I will reveal a few tidbits about myself (you may stop reading at any time if you get bored or fall off your chair whichever comes first). The following is pure stream-of-consciousness babble in no particular order:

My birthday is on Dec 22nd - I am convinced that there is a conspiracy out there which insists that I am a Capricorn.
I love loud parties, football, and beer. Not!!!
I had my first crush on a boy when I was in kindergarten... my latest crush has lasted over a quarter century (and yep we're still together).

I have one teenage son whom I adore.
I love boxes, notebooks, and exquisite writing instruments.
I am a control freak…or so I’ve heard.
You could say I am an introvert, I really dislike most social gatherings although I could lecture a hundred strangers at any given time;
The favorite class I ever taught was “Gender and Communication,” the least was “Group Communication in Organizational Setting” zzzzzzz

I hate to cook. Need I say more?
I don’t have an affinity for numbers. I terribly dislike telemarketers.
The American Clothing industry charitably refers to me as “petite” (less than 5'4” = 162.5cm). And no, you may not know my dress size.
I have brown hazel eyes (some say they turn almost honey yellow in the sun).
I am allergic to red wine (hives) and toxic people (mental hives)

I love driving at high speed (but I don’t do it…); I am the best female driver in the world (ask anyone…tee hee)

…Getting cocky, aren't we? Well, duh! ...Shall I go on?

My favorite 2nd skin is Allure (Chanel's eau de toilette);
I (I…I…I…aye..yay yay!) am partial to urban life and would rather live in a truly cosmopolitan city but at the same time I dream of owning a one-room beach house on the Mediterranean and living there for the rest of my life;
I have never been camping (roughing it out for me is going to a national park);
I love biking (stationary or otherwise);
I used to exercise at the gym everyday and now that I own a complete home gym, I totally ignore the subject;
I regret not having majored in Fine Arts;
I love to dance (without any witnesses);
I would have loved to be a teenager in the early 60’s;
I cannot stand mediocrity, avarice, and pettiness;
I started collecting stamps when I was very little and I own some stamps dating back to the 1900’s (these are the only things in my house which will never be cut-and pasted);
I don’t get scrapbooking; I am terrible at it.
I love travelling;
I have been trying to teach myself Spanish for years and all I can say is “Ola” and “miho” (which will not get you very far in Texas..or anywhere else for that matter);
I cannot sing if my life depended on it;
I love collag..ooops..my bad!…..to be continued…maybe…

Thanks for dozing off :)

Art Calendar Feb 18-14: Mirò and Venus in the Subway

"Interiositées"collage and acrylics © NKD Feb 2008

For the first time in 25 years, Italy is holding a major exhibit of Spanish artist Joan Mirò (1893-1983) in the city of Ferrara. Mirò was a multifaceted artist whose artwork is often misrepresented as the embodiment of childlike "innocence;" in fact, Mirò was quite an Enfant Terrible who once reacted to the pre-eminence of Cubist painting in postwar Paris with the alleged remark “I will break their guitar.” His art is as much a matter of anti-painting (“I want to destroy everything that exists in painting “-1931) as well as a social manifesto of his revolutionary ideas (he often liked to describe his art in violent and perverse terms).

The National Galleries of Scotland is hosting an exhibit entitled “Collage City” which highlights the importance of urban space as a playground of ideas for artists in the past 60 years .... whatever that means.

“Nobody Jones” is an exhibition featuring Mark Bradford’s at the Sikkema Jenkins &Co. gallery in Chealsea (NY). Los Angeles critic Ernest Hardy sees Bradford's collages as "the signs and the subtexts of everyday life, as multihued and multilingual as the place they come from." I suggest that John goes to that exhibit and reports back to us (you might actually like it :)

Factoid: Forget Britney's antics or Paris Hilton's lobotomy, the news today are buzzing about a frail-looking 16th C Venus : the London’s transport authority has recently refused to display a poster featuring the "scandalous" portrait by German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder, saying it is "overtly sexual". The painting is one of 70 works due to go on display at London’s Royal Academy of Arts on March 8. The Powers That Be at the capital’s subway system refused to display a poster of the work unless the bottom half was cropped out… Never mind that we are bombarded by inhuman images of war dead everyday. We are not amused, to quote you-know-who....

Community Calendar: Two Things Challenge has an unusual theme this week: "Box /Car" (I sure hope they're not talking about my beloved Volvo :)...The prompt for Illustration Friday is "theory." Enjoy!

Collage Open House

"Sitting Pretty" © NKD Feb 08

Collage Questions?
Suggestions?
Tips?
Rants?
????
It's Open House at the blog :)



Thank you Diane for this Mwah! Mwah to you too!
Thank you Frances for giving me this "Kind Heart" Award (You both are too kind, my friends)

Semi-sweet Kisses

"Love Strings" © NKD Feb 14, '08

Sweet. Dark. Semi-sweet. Chocolate kisses. Strawberries dipped in white fondant. Fat little cherubs wrapped with pink ribbons. Caramelized hearts. Dinner for 2 for just $199 with a stomach-churning décor of cupids, arrows, and beatific fake smiles. Enough to give you acne or heartburn, depending on your hormone levels. Never ending syrupy commercials about diamond jewelry guaranteed to buy you eternal love (or a heck of an expensive one-night stand). Ain’t love grand (or two)??

When did Love become so perfunctory? What happened to good ol’ fashioned handwritten secret letters or to those stolen kisses? What happened to Romance and Free Love?

Has the world become a giant chocolate factory minus Willy Wonka’s quaint charm?* A national day to torment those who are partner-less? A heartless manipulation by the greeting card companies to sell us yet insipid sentiments and sugar-coat our tears? Shouldn’t this day be also referred to as “Be Nice or Else Day?” Are we not supposed to argue with our spouse or tell them to pick up the laundry from the floor just because it’s V-Day honey? What if you had just broken up with the man of your dreams or been jilted by your latest Prada-clad-girlfriend-in-high-heels? Ah love, the commercial fiends have ruined your good name!

(Still reading? :)

For all of those seeing red, I’ve got the perfect remedies for the V-Day blues (hey, I didn’t say I’ve got the best bonbons…I mean....bons mots.)

You may log-on to any online greeting card company and pick a slew of anti-VDay cards. Be warned though: just like their lovey-dovey counterparts these cards lack heart and imagination ..Besides, if you do buy them, you would be falling right into the (penny)-loving arms of Big Brother. Ditto for tee-shirts,mugs, or even bitterweet bites .Don’t waste your energy there. Love cannot be bought, traded, nor dictated.

You could attend your local non-Valentine gatherings hosted by well-intentioned bleeding hearts..but that would be too depressing even if you had nothing better to do..How about catching a rerun of some glorious old movie starring your mom’s favorite actor from the 50’s or 60’s…Cary Grant anyone? Sophia Loren perhaps?...Or better yet, how about volunteering for a couple of hours at a home for the elderly or the children's hospital today..

Or you could follow Charlie Brooker’s advice (from the UK Guardian Newspaper) who proposes an Un-Valentine’s Day (Feb 15th ..because there will be a lot of willing participants). Among a variety of ideas, the author cheekily suggests that restaurants host Unvalentine meals especially designed for couples on the verge of a break-up (there'd be no red wine so you can chuck drinks over each other without ruining your clothes); or people could throw parties to commemorate thwarted crushes, unrequited yearnings, and hopeless unspoken dreams (the kicker? no one is allowed to pity you that day)…I guess you’ve got to be British to appreciate all that.. (no offense, Frances and Bev)

Or you could simply stay at home, scratch Feb 14th off of every calendar you own (including the one in your Blackberry), put on the most depressing songs, and weep in the shower while savoring that last macademia cluster …but .. y’know….it might not be such a good idea after all, you might just crack a tooth..or worse…you might have to stay in the tub all day long..

So what’s a girl/guy to do on that fated day? We’ve all heard it before: true love does not come in a box of chocolate or in a blue Tiffany bag.…So, what are we to do on this Valentine's Day?

Nothing if you don't want to. Just let it be. True love is unscripted, elusive, ethereal. Love is now, today, next year. Love is you. Me. My son. Your sister. Your Mom. Your niece's dimples. Your baby's laughter…Love is where you are right now. Look in the mirror and smile. It’s all in your heart. .. Turn around and share some of it today.. (and while you're at it, pass me that chocolate kiss, please :)

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* This post excludes all references to children on Valentine’s Day. This is a day of joy and celebration for them; it’s their day of exchanging sweets and sentiments with their family and friends; let them bake homemade cupcakes and offer handmade cards to their little hearts’ content. It is their day to celebrate without cynicism -- a rite of passage of sorts. Suggestion: a beautifully illustrated book of poetry and a quirky story for children over the age of 13 is The UnValentine, by Sam Beeson,illus. by Jesse Draper

This is not a Meme

"The Letter" © NKD Feb '08

The ever witty and hilarious Frances just tagged me (check out her latest ohlala mandalas,y'all)..Can't slow down now ! It's a Book Meme and it goes as follows: Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. (No cheating!)Find Page 123.Find the first 5 sentences.Post the next 3 sentences.Tag 5 people.

I am reading "dada: art and anti-art"(and no, it's not a mistake, the title is in lower case) by Hans Richter (Thames and Hudson, 1964; rep. 1997). Here's the excerpt:

"Huelsenbeck reproached Tzara with never having practised the poetic method he had devised - that of eliciting a poem from scraps of newspaper scattered at random. Huelsenbeck nevertheless claimed the same privilege for himself and went on creating art while preached anti-art. He wrote poems which fitted just as well into the Expressionist tradition (on which he poured such scorn) as they did into anything that one could call 'typical' of Dada."

...I have to confess though that I'm still at the first chapter of this book: I like the idea of making poetry from scraps of newspapers...just like the magnetic poetry kits (see..there is never anything new under the sun...except for recycling ideas and profiting from them!).

For this meme, my victims are Jin, Andrea, Lisa, John, and Deef. Let's see what you are reading!

Art Calendar Feb 11-17: Max Ernst, Hannah Hoch, and les Nanas de Niki