Cube and Cushions

These two pieces made for very relaxing lunch hours. The first of which I spent sitting on the three-sided cube by Scott Burton. A surprisingly comfortable perch, from which you can see every other piece in the gallery.

Including the clamshell I enjoyed sitting in previously.

Next I enjoyed what became a new favorite, Good Separation by Long, which I refer to as the pod cushions.

The music written by Stereolab was relaxing and diverting, making for a great knitting.

I actually finished my last stocking in a set of four for the Childers family, which was really exciting. I couldn't resist a photoshoot with another piece, which made a great background for my piece.

The sculpture is make of plastic bags and has a slightly bouncy, grabby texture. Very comfortable to sit on, if awkward to walk on. I was glad to get these stockings done in time for the holidays, which is looking to be a very busy one!

Without You I am Nothing

So much of our culture now concentrates on things that are participatory. It seems that the more we get involved in the virtual world, the more we use them to feel connected to others. Blogs, Facebook wall debates, and voting on our favorite American Idol all make us feel involved an connected to the larger world.

I think this is also why I love the new exhibition at the MCA, "Without You I am Nothing." Art that engages has its roots in the 1960's, this show ranges from that era to today. Many of the pieces in the show are from the MCA collection, and it is nice to see these old friends again. But even beyond that, the power of this show are how these pieces beg for a connection. The idea is that all these pieces gain new dimensions of meaning when engaged by the viewer. It is a case of, if the art exists in the forest, where no one can see it, does it mean anything. And the curators take the stance that these pieces mostly don't. (In the pic above take special note of the clam shell, it will come into play later.)

I have a little bit of an extra thrill when looking at this exhibition, beyond loving the pieces. I assisted a curatorial intern to find quotes from each artist to be included in the labels:

It was very cool to see such a direct result of my work/time at the MCA library. Very cool.

Speaking of old friends,

Who doesn't love Koons's rabbit? It is gorgeous, and adorable, and literally awesome.

So many pieces in this exhibit must be experienced to really get the impact of the art. I plan on spending part of my lunch hour every day I am at the MCA enjoying this show.

To that end this week I took my knitting and sat in the clam shell. It really requires you to lay down, and as you enter the shell, you realize that there are gentle ocean sounds emanating from the center of the piece. When you lay back, the effect is extremely calming and almost womb-like. The ultimate relaxation break. The pic here is my point of view while laying in the shell. I look forward to sharing a pic of the POV from each piece which can be sat on, because the clam shell is not the only one. This is another thing which I believe truly thrills in an art museum--"You mean I can touch it!? I can sit on it!?" Wow, who can resist!? I for one often have to resist the urge to touch sculptures, which often seem to be begging for a caress. This exhibit has plenty of pieces you must still resist the urge (the Koons bunny), but pieces like the clam shell are a welcome respite, in more ways than one.

A Family of Art

I was very excited to act on the inspiration the education department gave me at their intern talk and volunteer at the MCA's November Family Day last weekend. I was assisting with a project called the Art Telescope. Kids were given cardboard boxes in their unfolded state, they were asked to paint them as fully and as abstractly as they wished.

Once the paint was (mostly) dry we volunteers folded up and taped up the boxes, with the painting on the inside. Because of holes that were already cut in the boxes, the kids could peek in from different angles and see what their work looked like from a completely different perspective than they had when they painted it. It was very creative and fun.

I loved getting paint on my hands and helping the kids. It was interesting to see all the different styles the kids had and styles of parenting the parents had. But even though it was fun, and I could have kept doing it all day, I was glad when my shift ended and I could check out all the other fun things going on around the museum.

In the 2nd floor annex there were performances by ensembles either completely, or at least featuring, kids and teens. It was great to listen to this very accomplished jazz ensemble of young musicians.

The third floor also had some arty activities, the most visually stimulating being the dress up area. Big squares of color-sorted clothes for kids to try on and get their picture taken in. I loved this little girl with a mulit-layer cape.

Family Day at the MCA was just as fun as I hoped it would be. And the atmosphere was truly like a big block party. Definitely a community, or even better a huge extened family. I will look forward to going back, and hopefully bringing some more people with me.

Halloween Magic

Can you see the witch? I loved this drawing when I passed it a couple weeks ago. Classic witch.

We had a good Halloween.

We were the Honeymooners with another couple (Al and Lindsay, aka Ralph and Alice). My "character's" name was Trixie, which Mike decided is going to be his new nickname for me.

On my own, most people thought I was supposed to be Peggy from Madmen. But no matter, wearing vintage clothes is a favorite past-time of mine, so though this was not so much of a recognizable costume for me, it was fun.

Where were we, you might ask. Well our dear friend, Cindy, has her birthday party every year on the closest Saturday to Halloween. This means we all have a fabulous Halloween party to attend every year. This year was the most fabulous yet, a private room at Fat Cat with lots of yummy snacks, candy and friends.

Thanks Cindy! (She's the lovely sinorita on the right, Cindy's fellow flamenco dancer on the left is Meg)

Their husbands were hilarious as a Chilean miner and the rescue pod.


They weren't the only Chileans in attendace here is another miner with his loving mistress.




We were also exceedingly lucky to have visitors from the west--our good friends Maria and Diane (aka Lady Gaga and Cleopatra) came back from San Francisco for the party!

We were so happy to have them stay with us. We have missed them so, it was great to hang out for two whole days. (Here with Maria, Diane and me is Megan, who makes one cute alien.)

I have to say that one of the funnest and most magical things about Halloween is how people in costume are normal and people in street clothes look strange. You see someone out of costume and they turn your head, like What the Heck!?! Isn't that funny? What a magical night it is, when the fun of make-believe reigns!

But sooner or later the good times had to end. We took one last picture before the last of us went home.

Speaking of magic, I wanted to mention this great children's book I recently finished.

A wonderful adventure about the power that books can have to transport a reader, the book in the story actually transports three children into the world of books they had read. The children are about 7, 9 and 11, giving the story parts that many children can relate to. However, there is one scene where the oldest girl innocently wonders at her changing body, so I wonder whether this should only be recommend for older children. But I enjoyed it and it was a fun read for anyone who likes to get nostalgic about memories of lazy summer days past.

Education at the MCA

One of the fun things about being an intern at the MCA are the intern talks. Members from each department give talks about who they are, now they got their job and what working in that department is like. It is a unique opportunity and I am trying to take as much advantage of it as I can.

So yesterday I went into the museum, just to hear the talk by the education department, which includes serving schools, adults, and families. And I am very glad I did.

The first cool thing was that I didn't fully realize the museum was closed! I went in through the employee entrance, everything as per usual, until I got in the elevator and it wouldn't let me go to the main entrance floor as I usually would. I had to scan my id. I got out of the elevator. And woa. Everything was dark. Everything was locked. I was in the museum and it was closed. Flash to From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler! Except there is no bed for me to sleep in. Anyway, totally cool.

Then the actual talk, which really opened my eyes to how an art museum can be more than a place to experience beauty, emotional connection and widening of horizons, the MCA wants to be a place that creates a communal contection and experience. Looking at art has always been a solitary experience for me. But the education department thinks that art can bring people together and can change the way they look at the world.

Then we had to look at a piece of art and create a family oriented activity. At the head of this entry is a picture of a sculpture by Niki de Saint Phalle, which I actually saw on display at the Garfield Conservatory a few years ago. One of the other groups had a piece by her called Vivian, which is shown right here, and is my favorite piece on display at the museum right now. Same sort of figure, but instead of mosiac, it is worked with scraps of fabric and yarn. Beautiful and imaginative and ya just wanted to reach out and feel the texture!

Anyway, I was paired with an intern from the education department. Unfortunately she mostly works with adults, not children or families. Our painting was Kim MacConnel's Taco Bill, shown here, and is now a new favorite. Five panels of commercially available fabric with paintings of familiar objects (like many tvs) painted in repeating patterns over them. Colorful and kitchy and fun. We had to come up with a movement based activity. I suggested a game where one person does a movement, the next person repeats the movement and adds another, the third does the first two and adds their own and so forth. It shows the development of pattern. The education people loved it! Triumph!

Before we parted ways I made sure to tell them both how much I enjoyed the talk, and asked if I could ever volunteer for events. They are going to be in touch. I really felt a connection with what they are doing, and hope that I can gain some useful programming experience. I look forward to many more such experiences during my time at the MCA.

Holiday Knitting Begins

This Saturday morning in October I am thoroughly distracted from my school work, and a little disappointed that my plan for baking bread and making pumpkin apple soup has come on an unseasonably warm day. Should I heat up my kitchen and force my husband to eat distinctly fall food on a late summer feeling day? To put off this decision I am dreaming about the things I will knit.

Knitting makes me a better person, by testing my weaknesses. I am impatient by nature and knitting has taught me that some things take time and that the rewards for patience can be great. I am a perfectionist, and while I love that knitting can be frogged (taken apart) many times, elimnating mistakes, there are also times when a mistake can be beautiful or at least ignored.

But even more than these knitting also plays to my strengths, the most prevelant is my love of planning. I lay in bed at night planning the next day; first thing when I wake up I run through my plan again; on Sundays I plan my whole week; on Thursday I begin planning my weekend, and in September I start planning for the holidays. Many elements, the cards, the gifts, the plans with family and friends, but the most vital is the knitting. If I want to make something for someone, I have to think ahead. I often give at least four hand knit items, which each take anywhere from a week to a month to knit. This year I am planning on giving no fewer than nine knitted items this holiday season. I've also been commissioned to knit four stockings for a friend.

Above are the beginnings of these gifts: two pairs of corn cob slippers, and a sweater coat for my nephew. The last of the yarn was ordered this week and I can't wait to get my hands on it, especially since two of the items will have hand-dyed yarn. That I will dye. I just love how hand-dyed yarn looks. But it does add an element of risk, especially with items that are large and therefore require the yarn to be dyed in batches, which then may have variances in color. But I LOVE taking risks in my knitting. I hate knitting the same predictable things over and over. I need a challenge!

But though I am impatient to start all of these projects and be proud of the finished gifts, I must try and slow down, and concentrate on one at a time, giving each my love and attention, which will hopefully be felt in turn by the recipient.

A New Internship

It Is Awesome. This is the Museum of Contemporary Art. As an art enjoyer, the MCA is my favorite. I was thrilled to have my intership application accepted. And this week I had my first day. I got a tour of the whole building, including the backstage elements, like the loading dock where there are big crates of art! I can wander around the galleries on my breaks, I really enjoyed the Calder and Calder influenced artists, hence this cool paint job on the front steps.



All this I did with the other intern, who just got her BA, but she has TONS of great experience for this internship. She worked at her college library cataloging zines! Crazy jealous! So we both started classifying Artists' Books. Which range from the traditional children's book, to the conceptual, from companions pieces for exhibitions, to standalone works. My fav was a promotional piece, a seed for a tree, which should bloom in ten years, which is how long until the opening of the artist's exhibition! Crazy!



Stay tuned for more cool tid-bits.

My first ILA Conference

My first Illinois Library Associate (ILA) annual conference was about what I expected it to be: A lot of people who know each other, almost all of which I do not. Some speakers that may have that inexplicable X-factor that makes them great speakers and some that do not. But even more than that I was hoping to find something to push me forward in this, my new career. This came in the form of a program moderated by the Head of Children and Family Services at Glencoe Public Library, Melissa Henderson.

Her program was called “Getting Read: Writing for the Profession.” It held many themes that you often hear about why writing is good for you and the profession as a whole. But the speakers also had some very ILA-region member tips that were very helpful. Best of all she gave the opportunity to fill out little accountability slips, where you would write down an “attainable” writing goal, with two phases, each with a due date. And your email. Then one of the ILA Reporter (the ILA’s newsletter) Advisory Committee members will contact you about your progress.

So there I was, sitting there listening about how writing is great and fun and can help you explore your interest. How blogs can help you develop a voice and showcase your ability. And in my stomach I get that achy feeling, that a pastor once said is your better angels showing you the way, and I knew. So I filled out my slip of paper saying I wanted to start writing in my blog again by November and that by February of next year to be able to write a blog entry for one of the ILA series. And here I am.