Funny Fowl Art

Each year, prior to October and the big Halloween build, I venture to the swapmeet to study odds and ends for anything that might inspire. I’ve found many fabulous treasures amongst other people’s junk…and it emerges re-invented…fashioned into something that they never dreamed it might become. Last month, while perusing the isles, I saw this hand made piece. The more I stared at it, the more interested I became. The lady who owned it said she acquired it from a garage sale and thought that her market would be a Japanese Folk Art lover. I told her that I thought it was wonderful and started interpreting everything I saw. She offered it up for 50 bucks (which I passed at) but became more interested in the piece herself when I kept on with my thoughts. When I walked away, I had a smile on my face. She was left staring at it …in a totally new light. I’ll bet the price went up…or better yet…it’s on her wall 😉

Boodeeful

Town Ordinance 19-4

On a recent trip to a very unusual city called Silver City (Haight Asbury meets Wyoming)… we came upon this sign.In my town (down at the beach) ours just says closed from 10pm to 6am.  Once I met the folks in town…it all became clear 😉

Number Lore

I have, for the last 5 days, been working on the sales tax for the gallery. Now for those of you that don’t know me, numbers and my brain don’t always coincide. You can ask all the folks at my bank. We’re on a first name basis. Imagine a meteor hitting a small planet at a rather accelerated speed. It’s not that I’ve sold a great deal and there’s a plethora of receipts (not sure what people see in that word). After all…It is art we’re talking here people. But the fact that I’m doing any type of accounting is about the equivalent of me making a pot roast with all the trimmings. It’s quite an unnatural thing.

I feel certain that my accountant ascertained something in me early on that made him come up with an “idiot proof” chart. I’m to fill in “only the little green squares”. I’m to “utilize the drop down menus” and use “only the categories created”. He’s made it “H proof”. It won’t let me type ANYWHERE I’m not supposed to. Ahh, what’s the fun in that? He asked me to send him a small portion of my handiwork to be certain I wasn’t “coloring outside the lines”…screwing up his perfectly executed spread sheet. It even gives me a big red “OK” when I’ve done a good job. Kinda the equivalent of one of those gold stars in elementary school. I sent off my first draft. Sadly…it was for the year 2009 ;(

I did all the requested revisions to round one. I’ve just completed my 4th quarter, sent it off and am eagerly awaiting my grade. It took 6 cups of thick, black, pumpkin spice coffee just to finish. I remember the day when he looked me straight in the eye and asked me if I knew not to keep writing checks if I didn’t have any money in the account. I’m still chuckling over that. I distinctly remember my Father asking my Mother that very same thing! I can say in all honesty, on that one point, I’m pretty clear. I still wish I’d said “That’s when I’m supposed to pull out my credit card, right?…What’s life without messing with the analyticals?

As far as my relationship with numbers goes, I’m not concerned. One of the bank tellers yesterday told me I had wonderful “fashion sense”. The next teller readily agreed and so did the head of business accounts (and he’s a man). So you see…no worries…I already have some form of “sense” down. 😉

Guarding the Gallery

Photography by Photo444

June 5th

If you are going through hell… keep going.
Winston Churchill

I need anyone and everyone that reads my blog (and those who just happened upon it) to get up on Thursday and simply say “Keep going”. I believe in Karma and the power of positive energy sent from others…even when they don’t know why. I promise to write an “Erma Bombeck” explanation in exchange for those blindly given positive thoughts.

June 5th Folks. Please remember…It’s important.

Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours

Well, it all comes down to feeling secure…doesn’t it? Today when I arrived at the Studio… already gathered there were my Carpenter Tim, my electrician Alex…and my new friend, Walter. Now Walter is in charge of security and we sat and chatted about how I wanted to keep everything safely where it’s been put, not to mention the classroom across the hall.

I only wanted one service and didn’t want a separate cost for each room…since I am literally bleeding money at this point. I really hit a main artery in that last 2 days…(Man, that imaginary wealthy benefactor has been a God-send). (That and the fact that I don’t drink)

Walter came up with a wonderful plan that includes motion detectors and separate key-pads and secret codes and even a “hang-around-my-neck” panic button. (Not a German Shepard in sight). It all sounded so very James Bond…who could resist?

Walter took a seat at my half finished, gigantic reception desk…(which I totally deserve at this point). It’s all shiny and new, even without the top on or the aluminum (way cool) sheet metal that wraps around the front. I rolled my lobster red chair behind it and sat and stared for a while…then I rolled it safely away again. I shot him as he sat writing up yet another contract for me to sign…I may have just bought a Yugo for all I know…

Taking Notice

I have been wracking my brain (well, what there is left of it) to find a way to make Anuvue Studio’s new Gallery more noticible from the street. The tenants below me (although gracious and lovely people) have a “less that wonderful” sign (which I would gladly torch, steal, hide or shoot bullet holes into) (just kidding) (not really kidding) attached to my balcony…yes, it’s the only place he/she can actually hang a sign. It has been so since 1972…and who am I to re-invent the world.

So, I thought above this “Less than wonderful” sign, on the equally less than lovely wrought iron in “Baby Blue” (the first color I think of for wrought iron) …I would hang my nice new sign…with lighting…to blast both the blue iron and ug-sign to OZ. Sorry Toto. BTW, I hated those flying monkeys too.

Above my sign, I have 10 windows…and although these windows would be partially blocked (by my sign), if I picked just the right combo of photos that have most of the image on top…I could even enhance the sign with photographics, drawing the eye up…and maybe everything else would disappear…like my money. Hey, it could happen…

Some photos courtesy (stolen rather) from Photo444 😉

2 weeks to keys

I will take the keys to my new Studio Gallery in about 2 weeks. Needless to say, my mind is spinning with details…all in a good sense…while my pocket book deletes at an alarming rate. I have met some very talented people in my travels the last few weeks. Everyone that meets a certain criteria will be asked to join. I have selected to begin with a few unknown Artists that specialize in jewelry, textiles, acrylic and watercolor, fusion glass, sculpture, basketry and photography and have been so very pleased with the diverse backgrounds they come from. They are all great, unique people and I am truly blessed to have connected with them. I will also add to this 2 Teachers who talents lie in drawing, painting and photography to allow the locals a chance to learn in a personal setting with no more than 10 students per class. Probably a class for the youngsters and one for the adults…depending on what we have time for. I’ve also ordered some really crazy toy-like cameras for folks to purchase. They can do things like “split screen” and “Warhol” your photos. I can’t wait until they get here!

I’ve also been able to re-join with an old friend who is a cabinet builder extroidinare. He has been so very patient with all my changes and my perfections as we’ve worked on many projects in the past. I can be quite picky when it comes to how something should look (including myself) and Anuvue will be no exception. He and I connected instantly, exchanging ideas and finding solutions for a very small building. I picked out some very unique materials to work with as I want it to be fresh and modern in styling. I will also be investing in at least one, possible more large flat panels to show off the work of other Photographers. I have selected a few Photographers that aren’t even in this Country but was so impressed by their unknown talent…well, they just have to be included. I have a few more American Artists in mind as well. (Alan and yb…are ya out there?) 😉

I’ve made connections (and friends) with 4 Galleries outside of my city, but within 5 miles or less… and we all look forward to forming a relationship that works together for the benefit of everyone. In the meantime, I have signs to produce, graphics to complete, vendors to annoy and banners and lightboxes to be made…yikes! I’m working on botanicals at the moment…I have an idea in my head…uh oh :0

Things found