pwnding hillary

My little brother Darren made this. He is Hilarious. No offense Hillary.

In the past week

I have had a very busy art week. This is all of the art I have made in the past 2 weeks:

Learning to read

I went to the Graffiti Zone again today. They moved into a new studio upstairs with giant windows, which is totally fantastic. The dirt and clutter are also minimal at this point making it a happy space with good energy. There are still bullet holes in the windows and ceiling and Jody (my super)told me that the church is haunted by a basketball playing teenagers who was probably shot at somepoint during the past 100 years. (Which makes me really excited to spend more time in the tall, tall tower of this ancient church. creepy!) The kids are great. Mostly junior high boys that don't really know what to do with me... but it's okay we're learning more and more about each other each week. Jody and I are also getting to know each other better which is awkward and cool at the same time I guess.

Today was tough though, we just found out that all of the kids are doing really crappy in school. Probably all of the kids in that school are doing really crappy thanks to CPS. All D's, never do your homework, etc. I can encourage kids to make art and to be creative and to use more paint on the canvas. Can I really encourage them to deny the societal labels that have been put upon them and to prove to them that they truly can succeed in the real world, while I, educated and priviledged cannot even guaranteed my own medial success? It's really hard! These kids come make art because it's an escape from their world of drugs, abuse, hurt, poverty, and broken promises, but they can't escape that world forever- especially if they don't make it to high school. I want to motivate them and to encourage them, but I don't know how. I'm really under-qualified for this task and I have been given an enormous amount of responsibility. Yet, I show up exhausted each week because I'm doing my own art and my own homework with such force and emotional intensity that it's hard to have anything left for them. But that is why I go. I want to learn and I want to make a difference.

Perhaps this Sankofa trip in 2 weeks won't be "oh wow! racism!" but will be a chance for me to ask some honest questions with honest answers about how the hell and why I feel a call to this group of people that I have almost nothing in common, yet I can't shake them from my thoughts or dreams or inspiration.

sitting desk

yeah for 100 views.

i'm sitting desk and i have 29 minutes left of my shift but i really have to pee. hopefully someone will come by that i can grab so i can relieve that annoyance.

i am in the studio all of the time.
3 studio classes is 20+ IN CLASS studio hours a week (not to mention 2 other classes and an internship) but then I spend every night extra in the studio. It just doesn't seem like I ever finish anything. so hopefully one of these days i will get something done and post it.

i may live with 7 other girls next year in a house. thoughts on that?

sankofa is in 2 weeks. i'm excited.


Here's an intaglio print from last semester

thoughts for non-football watchers

so being a non-avid football fan and non-owner of a television i don't think i'll get around to watching the superbowl this year. whatever.

1. i got a brand new stove and am now bff with ron the stove installer man.
2. the church i've been going to is officially launching it's official "first" sunday Feb. 7. i'm really excited about it. the philosophy is sort of two things. (a.) love god, love people. (b.) God told us to go into all creation and preach the good news... but really the nations have come to us in this neighborhood! it's very exciting.
3. still don't know what i'm doing this summer. today the scales are tipping towards staying in chicago.
4. i have way too much painting to do tonight but zero intellectual homework. whoo!
5. sankofa, the racial reconciliation trip is coming up in 3 weeks. i'm excited but it's going to be really tough. racism sucks. yet, i think i have a handle on it more than some of the white kids. i want to make new friends but i just feel so socially awkward, but that's why i'm going on the trip: to intentionally make friends with students of another race. and to figure some of this stuff out. i have to fully understand what the issues even are before i can attempt to solve them.
6. becoming a real live artist feels so freaking far away sometimes.