Thanksgiving

I am thankful that my friends in Chile are all okay. One friend put it best having written, Thanks for writing, the earthquake happened in the north of the country, here in Valpo [Valparaiso] there are aftershocks, but with red wine. I'm not sure what that means exactly, but on a whole other level I understand EXACTLY what that means! Everyone else seems to be taking it for what it is: if you live in Chile there are earthquakes.

Off the fault line, I spent Thanksgiving with some dear friends, Megan and Phil. We went to Phil's grandparents' home in Delavan, Wisconsin (that's near Janesville for anyone in the know, or closer to Chicago than Madison for anyone less in the know). It was buttery good topped off with apple crisp and Lambrusco. Dinner conversation involved guns and hunting. But, it was the butter that killed me until just recently (I was hoping I had the lactose intolerance all wrong). After dinner we were all put to work putting up Christmas decorations, the Christmas village, a few trees and general redness and greenness. The remainder of my day was lazy-time, which involved slow movements, lots of belly rubbing and book reading, followed by an early bedtime. It was a mellow Thanksgiving. Amen.

I started some new projects this weekend too. The most interesting of those new projects is very unrelated to art: in-house slaughter. I have 2 kills under my belt: 2 field mice who made it inside. Honestly, I thought it would be more, well, wretched. But, I seem to be able to kill, kill, kill without thinking twice. There are many left, so these numbers will be increasing over time.

From: Art, To: Love

I have been all over the place these days, spending extra time at Silver Buckle Press trying to get in some hours before the Winter break takes over my life, voluntarily reading over four hours worth of Vilas travel grant applications, or missing the bus after work again (today I walked home in the misting rain, sans umbrella). To catch you up...

Now on exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum is Martín Ramirez: Mexican-American, outsider artist and bricoleur. Other than some great cultural references and Medieval manuscript-esque images, the work was psychologically fascinating. There were works which just punched you in the chest and left you stunned, gasping, sometimes crushed. It was definitely worth seeing. Heck, I even bought the catalog!

(Martín Ramírez, Untitled, [Three VW Vans], c. 1948–1963, Crayon and pencil on pieced paper, 22 7/8 x 30 in., Blanchard-Hill Collection, property of Edward V. Blanchard Jr., Photo courtesy Phyllis Kind Gallery, New York)

The Milwaukee weekend was the weekend that Tracy and Gretchen and I had planned a month ahead of time. Our plan: hang out, see some art and but some Italian goodness. Check. Check. And double check. The company was excellent. The art was excellent. The Italian bakery and grocery were both great (and authentic--in oh-so-many ways).

And, it was nice to be in a city for a change. I am ready for a city.

This leads me to my next topic: jobs. I should be moving again in June, July or August as I am on the job market for the next academic year(s) and have begun a new round of job applications. So far the Utah State-Logan and San Francisco State University packets have been sent in, while many more applications are awaiting printing and mailing.

Teaching is going well. After December/January travels I'll be back at the UW for the Spring 2008 semester to teach Art of the Printed Book (letterpress and books).

I'm still printing for Warrington. We are meeting the two days after Thanksgiving to print. I have also picked up a little extra job on the side, making boxes and assembling prints for Elaine (I have a hard time saying "No" to people I like and respect so much--how can I say "No" to Elaine, a dear heart?).

As for the self-employment, I should be posting the nine new etchings on my website soon. I mean, it's only taken me since April to get them done. My bad excuse: I've been busy. However, I am planning out an entire new body of work, in the meantime, to show in Portland, Oregon. I am also trying to find venues to show other works when I can.

Currently, I'll remain angry at the cat for clawing through some of my finished etchings instead of killing the mice which are running around my house, and have so graciously defecated on my etchings. The animals are messing with me!

In the works: [as of today] I am hatching up a new plan to go teach bookbinding (among other things) to a group of Hondurans. This would be directly in relation to the Cocal Gracias project that my dear friend Brian has been growing and nurturing for the past few years--proving that love and dedication make a difference.

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving, which I will be so sweetly passing with Megan and Phil and their parents and grandparents in Delevan, Wisconsin, then to being with my own family a month from now.

I am well, my family-tree is well, and my family in the world is well. Rosa and the rest of my surrogate family are arranging to meet me at the airport in Santiago. Lilo is jockeying for position too. Rodrigo tells me I'll be arriving in plain ol'e summer. And, Juan Luis is waiting with open arms, with big abrazo and besito to follow--and I'm not actually related to any of them.

Add my own family's love to my friends' love to the Chileans' love and all that love could just make me explode! At least, it forces me to buy [real adult] luggage that will hold lots of presents.

So there you have it...

From: Art, To: Love

Earthquake in Chile

Following Wednesday's earthquake in the north of Chile, I assume my friends are ok. Although, they all live in the central area, I am sure they felt the quake.

Here I Come!

It's official! I bought my tickets to (and from) Chile. January! Summer! Any suggestions on where else to travel other than Navidad/La Boca are welcomed. Maybe I should go buy a tour book and figure out what to see in that beautiful Chile.