Dim Sum

Yesterday we went for lunch with Ruth and Jonathan. Ruth suggested Ton Kiang, her favorite Dim Sum place in the city. The food was very good, and we were able to eat lots of non-meat items. My favorite, by far, were the sesame balls, which are fried dough balls filled with a sweet red bean filling.

Love Class

I am taking a graduate seminar called 'What's Love Got To Do With It?", taught by Tammy Rae Carland. It's an amazing class, and she is a fantastic woman.

Today she brought in two guest speakers: Artist/Professor Beth Stephens and Artist/Sexologist/PhD Annie Sprinkle. They are doing a very exciting project: 'OUR SEVEN YEARS OF LOVE AS ART piece is a satellite project to Linda Montano’s Seven Year of Living Art piece. It is intended to share our love with our friends, family and community. We see this as an opportunity to look hatred, war and discrimination in the eye and state that we will not only be married once but that we will do so again and again despite governmental prohibitions, censorship, and discrimination. Through generating and celebrating love we hope to bring about positive change.'

I took these pictures today. Their love for each other was contagious. Ginny, Hans and I went to lunch with them after class, and just enjoyed being in their company. It was really inspiring and lovely.

What is wrong with the cinema

It's been ages since I've seen something really good. Aside from a few gems like Napoleon Dynamite; 21 Grams; My Life Without Me and Mystic River, I haven't seen much that knocked my socks off. With movies costing as much as they do,it often feels like a real scam when I walk out of the theatre. Are people becoming dumber or more complacent or am I just becoming too critical.

In the last week I've seen Constatine and The Woodsman. Two very dark and disturbing films. One about God and the Devil, and one about a child molester. Neither of them was very moving and neither of them will probably stick with me. Mos Def plays a cop in The Woodsman, and was by far the best performance in the film. Ultimately the other big disappointment is that there are just so many actors being given parts these days. It's like a small incestuous pool of people roaming from one movie to the next.

Give us some new blood and some interesting stories! No wonder documentaries had their heyday as of late -- people are tired of watching the same thing on the screen all the time.

Funny rug

This rug has been laying outside the entrance to my school all day. When I left tonight at 7.15 it was still there. I love that people are just digging on it, and walking around it. Art school is so much fun!

Friends and Family

This weekend was really wonderful. I was surrounded by people I love, and just shared in some very simple moments. The kind of moments that you remember long afterwards, as being the simple but beautiful instances that remind you how you have everything you need at hand.

On Saturday, I held a Notebook party. We sat and ate popcorn with brewers yeast and watched The Notebook, taking a break to have tea and cheesecake. It was a real cozy girl-fest. Something I don't do often. Some people arrived in their sweats, Melissa even brought her favorite pillow. I pulled out all the soft blankets, we drew the blinds, moved the couch and lit some candles. It was a very comforting environment. And then we watched this movie. This enigma of a movie. For some reason, it makes everyone (but Deborah) cry. It's a cheesy, Hollywood-formula film, and yet I cry every time. It's actually a beautiful love story, and the ending is maybe the most romantic moment I've seen in any film EVER! At the end of the movie, there was a choir of sniffles, deep breaths and tears. Thanks for coming over ladies! I had a wonderful time.

Today was my brother's birthday. The whole family chipped in and we gave him an iPod. He was so surprised and happy. It felt good to give him something he likes so much. Max had prepared it, and filled it with all his favorite music ahead of time. So he was able to turn it on and listen immediately. We went to the Jewish Museum and saw the exhibition Jewish Journey. Melissa came over aftewards, bringing cheesecake cupcakes with fresh berries. We lit some candles, and sang him Happy Birthday. Then we were off to the movies and a dinner afterwards at Mels Diner. A very nice time indeed. Happy Birthday Shaunie - I love you!!!

Just how scary the internet can be

My friend Shawn informed me today of a site that keeps old copies of other sites. The WayBack Machine is an internet archive. I was able to look at my website as long ago as 2000! There have been so many versions and changes, it's unreal. I also see now how much I've learned about web design. In fact, I would say I've come a long way baby!

Top 10 Reasons Why My Valentine Rocks!

1. You insist on seeing me smile each night, before I turn the light out.
2. You do all the cooking. And you do a gourmet job of it!
3. You insist we dance and laugh every day.
4. You convinced me we needed TIVO, even though I didn't understand why.
5. You've been consistently kind and thoughtful for over ten years.
6. You always push me to be better.
7. You have always told the truth.
8. You make me laugh until it hurts.
9. You never make important decisions without talking to me first.
10. You married me in Hawaii.

Happy Valentines Day to the Center of my Universe!

How cool is that?!?!

By watching SNL this evening, I discovered some awesome news. My two favorite funny people are married. They must be the funniest couple in America - and I love them!

It was amazing

The opening this week was amazing. Many strangers walked up to me to talk about the show and tell me how much they liked the work. This was a first, and I was really overwhelmed by the reaction and participation of people. And thrilled with the support/turnout of those who came to the opening. Thanks to all my friends -- I'm a lucky woman.

I am documenting all the chalkboards, and will be making a book afterwards.

[Guest Post] Shaun Gordon: Living Art

A while ago Lori had asked me to write a guest spot for the blog of all bloggness. I decided to actually write something of substance rather than be "crass" as she thinks I present myself.

I went to an opening of Lori's last night. Although I have been to a few of her events thus far- it is still a new experience for me and really a wonderful perk of now living in the same city.

The show was really a great idea. Living art is the way I perceived it. Interactive, thoughtful, and visually appealing in its simplistic- but effective medium. It was really entertaining to see the responses the piece elicited. The show was a collection of chalkboards with varied questions framed on the wall. Each person viewing the show could create: with the artist, and put their answers to the questions on the actual work itself.

It is interesting for me to see how these shows work in a school environment, and how in turn that will translate to the working world.

I have only ever worked since leaving college- so to me-deal making and networking was something I learned in the real setting. Watching how the art crowd mingle is interesting-because it's like watching future business transactions in a safe test mode. Everyone busy and watching, looking for an opportune moment to discuss what they're working on- and why it's important. Very interesting indeed.

The show last night was great- Lori will surely be a big success, and I am not saying that because we're related-but because the work was fresh, creative, and received well. If I, of all people can make a serious observation rather than just poke fun- you know it was a good show!

I thought I knew, but I had no idea.

My brother makes me laugh. But, he's my brother. He's supposed to. He has a very crass sense of humor, and oftentimes after the punchline, he has to yell at me, "Oh come on! It's a joke! You're supposed to laugh!"

Moments with him that have made me laugh:

1. For my 18th birthday, my parents bought me a beautiful book on Gustav Klimt. When I opened it, Shaun yelled, "They bought you a book on the clit?!?!"
2. On one of the occasions he came to stay with me and Max at UMASS, we had to transport a mattress from my room in the basement of the dorm to Max's room on the 3rd floor. I am a weakling, and it was taking forever. He suddenly got annoyed with me, grabbed the whole mattress, flung it over his head and started running up the stairs. All I could hear was grunting and groaning.
3. Shaun has coined a much used (and loved) phrase: I'd rather snap my own neck.

I read his blog today, and bellowed out loud at some of the comments in this post. It's mean people -- don't read if easily offended. But it's also very funny.

Shaun - 14 yrs old.

Shaun - 25 yrs old.