Thursday, December 24, 2009

OK, I'm A Fan

A new friend just recently turned me onto The Avett Brothers. Listening to their music and hearing them speak allowed me to see that they are just good'ole country boys going through and thinking some of the same things I do. I absolutely love this one particular song, Laundry Room. It speaks to me alot and ends with a bluegrass jam. And, well, even though I'm listening to Miles and Coltrane in the car, and produce ambient electronica music, and play the blues on the guitar . . . bluegrass is where my heart is. My grandfather played barn dances in the 20's and on the local radio stations in the 40's and 50's. I have his mandolin, Gretsch guitar, and violin. After he died, I missed him so, that I picked up the guitar. I play upsidedown like Jimmy Hendrix and pick note for note like Doc Watson. I'm not that good, so I play along with simple blues jams by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, Etta Baker and John Dee Holeman to name a few.

Laundry Room

Don't push me out,
Just a little longer
Stall your mother,
Disregard your father's words.

Close the laundry door,
Tiptoe across the floor
Keep your clothes on,
I got all that I can take
Teach me how to use
The love that people say you made

Stop your parents' car
I just saw a shooting star
We can wish upon it
But we wont share the wish we made
But I cant keep no secrets,
I wish that you would always stay

Last night I dreamt the whole night long
I woke with a head full of songs
I spent the whole day
I wrote 'em down, but its a shame
Tonight I'll burn the lyrics,
'Cause every chorus was your name

Break this tired old routine
And this time don't make me leave

I am a breathing time machine,
I'll take you all for a ride

Don't push me out,
Just a little longer
Stall your mother,

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Revisions to my Previous Response

I need to make it clear that my last entry was a bit early and fogged with the notion of there being some sort of heirachy in creating. I throw out any mention of Maslow's heirachy and admit that my memory severed me wrong, he's chart had five levels of being. Well, Maslow did still have it all wrong . . . that is to say that there is not a heirachy of being. To be so forward I will give a very to the point example. Sometimes I find my self needing to go to the bathroom, but will hold it so I can continue to create at the wheel. So there, even the very basic of needs are pushed aside with no heirachy in mind when you are an Artist, a creator, and existor. I have had about four hours of sleep in the past two days but the need for sleep didn't superceed my need to create. I've had things to say, do and create. Nevermind I'm weary, the mind can overcome matter. Ever watched T.V. and was so entertained by others creations that you held off from going to get a sip of water or to use the bathroom? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying to fast or back up your bladder, I'm just affirming Steven Pressfield's notion that there is no heirachy of needs to an Artist. With these statements I am affirming my territory by saying what I wish and how I wish cause this is my blog. :b . Oh, One last thing, I know some don't believe in God as I do. However, if those who don't believe in God can accept love as their central being just as I accept God as love, then our common ground will be just that, love, and we can worship it together. And please read the book to anyone who hasn't. It was a great recomendation and said so eloquently all the thoughts I have struggled with as an Artist. I think I can say I am a professional now. :)

Monday, December 21, 2009

Response to the Book "the WAR of ART"

Who do we as a society or who do you hold in higher regard, Mahatma Ghandi who changed the world without a penny in his pocket or Donald Trump who has changed the world with all the pennies in his pocket. One man lived selflessly and the other greediously.

The greatest gift an Artist can give is the inspiration of an utopian nature. Selfless giving gets a greater reward from society. Greedious attitudes only give temporary results and satisfaction, so Mr. Trump will be a footnote in history as the Medici family is a footnote to the life of Michael Angelo. An Artist can never leave the world behind, he or she must always bring the world forward with him or her. Such is the saying in the military, never leave a soldier behind. You may notice the attitude in America toward teaching Artists (those in the univeristy system, public/private schools, giving workshops) is far more positive than that given to those Artists who do not give back. We tend and should tend toward lifting up those who give back the gift of vision and enlightenment.

The problem with procrastination is that most people spend their lives romanticizing these concepts of unconditional agopic love and never actually put into action the selfless act of loving another human being. Religions, (transcendentalists, Buhdhists, Christians, Hindus) all point to this circle of giving love to receive love. That is Karma. Yes we must be careful with selflessness, as it opens our souls up to be drained of our love. Least we judge first though. Do not create conclusions about someone until you have given. See the fruit of your seed. Yes, it will grow. But be patient, as for some do not seek water, soil and light.

As in the yin and yang yes the evil must exist to help us understand the good. And the evil of resistance does exist in all of us. But as we meet those who have overcome, we began to understand that contentedness in resistance leads to contemptedness in our soul. As we remove the resistance like an old torn coat, we then become ready to help those who are weighed down by theirs.

As in relationships, couples walk a tight wire act. It is an effort from both that makes for the balance . . . just with the yin and yang. So, for balance to exist, yes we must accept that resistance will raise its ugly head from time to time. However, our expanding understanding of how to tackle the legs of resistance to keep it from moving any further will ultimately keep the balance.

I as an Artist find so much irony between how I apply the principles of organization to my work and to my life. Truely, these rules are like the ten commandments and guide us as we design our present and future toward completing the circle of love, toward being selfless, toward caring enough to bring everyone else along. Davinci, George Washington Carver .. . . . and many many more great leaders didn't leave the world behind. They shared themselves selflessly. You know I often defend Art's purpose in our schools with a quote I once heard from George Lucas. He said that Art gives purpose to the other subjects such as Science and Math. It is the Artists that lead the world with their imaginations that give progress a push and nudge technology. Growing up during this developing internet era and watching how Artists have paved the way for software has amazed me and given me reassurance that it is an Artist's life to push, pull, tear down, build up all things with the intent of moving the world toward a better place. Maybe Maslow had it wrong with his heirachy of needs. I kind of think that the greater good of all should be our number one goal. Taking care of everyone allows everyone to take care of you - i.e. utopian thinking. So what that Ben Franklin said that if utopia could have existed it would have already. Ben Gufford says, yes humans aren't perfect but that doesn't mean we have to stop trying to reach perfection. That is what an Artist does.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Merry Christmas


Myspace Comments,

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Whose At The Wheel

You ever feel like everyone knows what is going to happen to you before you do, I do
All the time, like when i write a poem you already know I'm going to rhyme, Sometimes I feel "a day late and dollar short",
Like I "should-a could-a would-a" and them I'm all out of sorts
but somehow you pull me through with some kind of force,
Helping me overcome my resistance, so I stay focused, steady and true to the direction and sail of my ships course :)

Friday, November 13, 2009

Dan Finch Pottery Open House

Below are some photos that my sister took of my booth at the Dan Finch Pottery Open House this November.












Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Tom and Elaine Coleman Workshop

These photos were taken during a two day workshop with Tom and Elaine Coleman and hosted by Dan Finch Pottery. There were over 100 in attendance. The presentation was laid back and less formal, which made for great conversations with very useful information and some with great stories filled with laughter. Having attended lots of workshops, I would recommend going to see and learn from Tom and Elaine. They are very generous, very approachable . . . just down to earth potters with a huge amount of experience. They create some of the most beautiful post modern Art pottery being created in the world today.