Extra, Extra!

I just found the University of Utah article (published today) that was written about my show! Thanks, Adam Fifield!
Saans Gallery looks to straddle art and commercial - Redux

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The Jurassic Park Theme Song

.. is stuck in my head. Weird, I know.

So last Friday, August 17, was the official opening of my Beauty+Decay show. I'd say it was tremendously successful. There were quite a few people who came through during the course of the night, many of whom offered sincere compliments and praise. It was strange and thrilling to share my work with such a wide audience. I've kept both series pretty close, with the exception of friends and family. So displaying it in a public space felt a little bit like the first time you walked to school by yourself - frightening and liberating all at the same time. I'm glad the show went well, though. Hopefully this will open up some doors and things will start to take off. I have already sold one print, which is absolutely wonderful! A nice lady came in to the gallery and bought one of the B&W "Sister" prints (as I call them, officially they're untitled). Here's the one she purchased:



I also had an interview today for the University of Utah's student paper, The Daily Utah Chronicle. A nice young man interviewed Ross, Shalee, and I about the gallery, my show, and possible influences for my aesthetic. It's always interesting to hear how other people interpret your work and the conclusions they arrive at. As an artist, I don't set out saying "This is what I want people to think and these are all the subplots I want people to detect".. I just don't work like that. Generally, I think "Jeez, wouldn't this look awesome?" not, "I'm going to do it this way so that people will draw these social or political conclusions, because my art is soo deep and important." That's not to say there aren't themes from my subconscious that emerge during the creative process. I just prefer to let those themes, ideas, and implications manifest themselves slowly, as the work takes shape or I look back at finished pieces with a new perspective.

In other news, I bought an office chair today from eurway. It's pretty rad. Here's a photo so you can have a reference and understand it's true beauty:





Say it with me now, "Oooo... sexy chair....".. Yes I know. I also kind of want to get these planters from Hip Haven.. Check it:

Look at all those colors, too! Yay!

We're also thinking about painting our living room and really making this place our own. Here's some sweet wallpaper I really want to use in the dining room area:





We got this dining table from Ikea..



and we will be getting 4 or 6 of these chairs (in White) from Modern Materials (if they stop jerking us around.. but that's another story).


So, our dining room area will be Black & White.. and connect to our living room area, which is Grey & Lime Green with turquoise accents. I'm excited. I think once it's all finished (of course, we haven't even started yet) it will look amazing. We're planning on ripping the carpet up from these areas and doing treated concrete (which I LOVE) or maybe hardwood floors. I'd prefer the concrete, because I think it's beautiful, but hardwood floors may be a better investment when it comes time to think about selling the home (which won't be for a while). Anyway, we have big plans for this little townhouse.. Once we start the renovation/remodeling, I'll be sure to document it and post updates.

For your patience, I give you this:

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Ants in your pants

Some of you may be aware of this or at least figured as much, but I have social anxiety. With that being said, I cannot quite explain to you how anxious I am for my show opening on Friday night. I don't really like talking to people much and I especially don't like talking to people about myself. I'm just hoping that I can get through the 4 hour gallery opening without having too many terribly awkward moments. My current state of anxiety over the whole thing is getting to the degree that I almost don't even want to go or even have a show at all. Completely unreasonable, I know. Those aren't my true, deep down feelings about it. I really do want a show and am crazy about this opportunity.. I tend to get blinded by my anxieties and lose sight of my passions and dreams. I can't tell you how many opportunities I've let slip by simply because I was afraid to talk on the phone. Phones are the worst. Often, talking on the phone makes me shake, get hot, turn red, and sweat. This is generally the case when I'm talking to someone I don't know well or have spoken to rarely on the phone. Sometimes it's even with people I am very familiar with. I can't really explain it other than to say it's a completely unreasonable, but paralyzing, fear. The weird thing is I'm fully aware of it while it's happening. I can tell myself how ridiculous my reaction or response is, how completely invalid my worries/fears are about a certain situation, but it doesn't help. In fact, it often times escalates the problem. I become hyper aware of myself, the way I'm acting, and especially of how I perceive the other person to be responding. That last one is the killer. I know I'm acting awkward and that the other person is simply responding to that.. and it only makes it worse. The more awkward the other person acts, the more aware I am of that fact and of myself, and that makes me even more awkward, which in turn makes them even more awkward.. and it's a cycle that sometimes seems endless. Here's a tip: if I'm acting weird, just ignore it. If you don't respond to my obvious awkwardness, then it will eventually subside and I'll return to normal. Otherwise, it will keep getting worse and I'll eventually just implode. And nobody really wants that.

To further understand some of my thought processes and those of others like me, check out these links:

Social Phobia / Social Anxiety Association
Wikipedia's Opinion
Social Anxiety Support

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Pidgeon Hole

So a guy that Tom (my boss) knows came into my work today. Approximately 27 years of age, male, white, married, lives in Sandy/Draper, bulbous, Ron Paul promotor, with piercing blue eyes. Out of nowhere, he asks me if I was at the Fiery Furnaces show. I thought he was talking about the one 2 or 2.5 years ago, which I did attend, so I said yes and asked if he recognized me for some reason. He said no, but I looked like I was one of those hipster kids that would go. Apparently they had a show here last week (which he himself attended). I was mildly taken aback by this sweaping generalization and the fact that this man thought he could so quickly categorize me - based on what? my bangs? Anyway, a little while later he comes back in and after several insinuations about my status as a supposed 'hipster', he asks me where Brady and I are living. After my response he says "Oh, shouldn't you be living in the Avenues? That seems like it's your kind of place. I know some girls who live there that you'd probably like." To which I respond, "Oh and how is that?"
Bulbous man: "They just seem like they're your kind of people"
Me: "You don't even know me. You don't know what I'm like or the kind of people I like"
BM: "Oh, so you're saying you're not a hipster, indie-kid then? You're not into that scene?"
Me: "Actually I've moved beyond Indie-rock and I've never been a part of that scene. And, I don't appreciate being labelled by someone who doesn't know anything about me."
BM: "Oh. So what are you listening to then?"
This was followed by him quizzing me on various bands. yay.

Who is this guy? Other than an arrogant, self-righteous, hypocritical scenester? I mean really. He later ended up requesting that I email him a list of some of the stuff I'm listening to because he hadn't heard of most of it and he's wanting to "get into some new music". Why would I really want to share that with someone like that? Anyway, he was a jerkoff.


Switching gears, I really want to get this dog and name him "Tendo". I think he's rad.






I saw him in the classifieds. I really, really wish I could get him. But, seeing how we just bought a home, don't even have furniture, and have no time, I doubt it will happen. I just think he's adorable. No other boston terrier will look like him - he's completely unique!


Tomorrow morning I'm doing an interview for a press release for my upcoming show. I'm kind of nervous, because I don't articulate well when I'm speaking to most people. I just hope I don't sound retarded.


When I can find our card reader, I will upload some of our photos from Comicon. Excitement!

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Wow.

Alright, Kidlings. Brady and I got back from Comicon Sunday night - but that is news for a future blog. I really just want to post the flyer and postcard designs for my upcoming show! Sweet!

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