GJ Willis' Art Notes

Star Trek (Theme Song Theme To Star Trek) Words by Gene Roddenberry, Music by Alexander Courage, @1966(Renewed 1994), 1970 by Bruin Music Company

This goes into the Believe It or Not category. Yes, I was just as shocked as you were to find out that there are lyrics to the Star Trek theme. It appears that series creator, Gene Roddenberry, was also a lyricist, not a great one, but a lyricist nonetheless.

This is one bit of Star Trek trivia that I wonder if my ex-boyfriend, Michael, knew about. Michael, was a Trekkie but hated being referred to as such. His entire apartment was dedicated to all things Star Trek. He owned the uniforms, had ship replica’s, posters, autographed trading cards. He could even tell you stats on the various classes of ships. He took me to my first star Trek Convention at the Marriott in Towson. I’m more of a Star Wars fan than Star Trek fan. Therefore, I found his ability to quote Star Wars and Yoda endearing. After a while it became annoying. But still I found his ability and knowledge of different sci-fi genres mesmerizing

Come to think of it the majority of men I’ve been involved with or have had crushes on have been geeks. I don’t believe I’ve ever dated any one who was an alpha male. David is the only one who comes closest to being normal. David has never seen Star Wars, hates sci-fi, does not own a computer, and does not collect comic books. In fact we don’t have very much extracurricular interests in common, yet, somehow we work.

Nothing terribly exciting happened today except that I received a card from the woman who bought my poster at the auction for the Sowebo posters. She wrote that the poster is now hanging in the teachers dining room at the Learning Bank on Baltimore Street. I hope one day to visit my poster.

Don’t get me wrong I’m very excited to hear where it ended up at. In the back of my mind, worse case scenario I pictured it as never being bid on and sitting in a closet somewhere or in the trash never to be seen again by human eyes. It’s only acquaintances dust bunnies and rats. It’s nice to know that it is hanging somewhere and was not abandoned and all alone.

Today’s writing prompt says to write a story in which a horrifying chain of events happens to the main character, Happy Friday the 13th!!!

77 Sunset Strip (Theme Song to 77 Sunset Strip) Words and Music by Mack David and Jerry Livingston, @ 1959 PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. and hallmark Music Co., Inc.

Today, was a banner day for me despite the rain. I paid for my driving classes at the downtown Pro Drive Driving School and I found out that someone bought my Sowebo Festival poster.

First off I’d like to thank my wonderful niece Arlesia, who gave me her old car. The reason for this is that she has recently bought herself a brand new car and does not want the old one anymore. I feel that the real reason she is doing this is as payback. You see when she was younger I took her on her first shopping trip to New York and I also took her and her brother David, to Disney World. Back then (the late 90’s) I could afford to play the role of the pseudo rich eccentric aunt. I also wanted to take her younger sister Alexis as well, but I can’t get into the long winded reason why she didn't go....That’s for another Blog.... So I’ll give you your own pick of reasons who Alexis didn't go:

A.) Do to Legal Reason She Couldn't Leave the State of Maryland
B.) She Didn’t Want to Go
C.) To Punish Her, Her Mother Refused To Give Permission

Thanks Arlesia! Thanks Arlesia! Thanks Arlesia! Thanks Arlesia!

The driving school I will be going to is called the Pro Drive Driving School. I have no idea what there reputation is. I chose them because they were close to where I live. One thing I got to say is the guy who was in charge of registration, Mr. Law, has got to be the slowest man on Earth. He’s like the Black version of the guy on Win Ben Stein’s Money. I kept fighting back the urge to yell, “Speed It up!!” This I felt would be a bad thing to say while registering for driving classes.

My classes start next Thursday evening and will run for three weeks. The majority of students registering for the evening classes I noticed were older. This would mean I would be taking classes with my peers.

I hope the instructor for my classes will be a much livelier person than the aforementioned Mr. Law. In just three weeks I may be driving a car, Not Just any Car, MY CAR! Wish me Luck!!

Also today I got an email from Scotty Stevens. Scotty wrote that someone bought my Sowebo Festival poster. Wow, I still can’t believe it! Since I’m not a well known area artist I felt that no one would be interested in it. Looks like someone was interested in it after all.

The writing prompt for today is to research an exotic remote destination and use this setting for your next story.

I Love Lucy (Theme Song To I Love Lucy TV Show), lyrics by Harold Adamson, music by Eliot Daniel, @1953 (Renewed) Desilu Music Corp.

Yes, boys and girls those are the lyrics to the Lucy Show. I believe Desi sang them once in a show where he was playing at the Havana club or was it the Copacabana club? I don’t have cable so my classic TV memories are kind of fuzzy. The lyrics are genuine I again got them out of the Classic TV theme show piano book

It’s time I admit my inconsequential lofty cyber artist goals for 2003. My lofty goal is to beat TeAnne on Wetcanvas for most Projects completed. Currently, TeAnne ranks #1 with 253 projects completed that averages out to 70% participation. Right now I’ve completed 16 projects. So as you can see I’ve got quite a way to go. I figure that if I can complete 5 or 10 projects a week I might be well on my way to at least making Top 20.

I know that this is a stupid goal. As far as I know you don’t win a prize for completing most projects on wetcanvas nor do you get a write up in major art magazine, or an interview on NPR. I just think it would be neat to be ranked in the Top 20 just by merit alone. It would almost be like getting Girl Scout Merit badges. Growing up I always wanted to be in Girl Scouts but my parents could’nt afford to it.

Today, nothing earth shattering happened. I went to the downtown Enoch Pratt Library to return some books. I looked through other Baltimore Blogs and wondered how is that some of them have links to each other. Is there some sort of Baltimore Blog club I don’t know about. If so how do you join?

The writing prompt for the day says that if you could revoke one celebrity’s stardom, who would it be, and why?

The celebrity stardom I would revoke is the Pauly Shore. I know he’s washed up. But I still can’t over the fact that he ever had a career. He’s an unfunny talent less hack. The only reason he ever got jobs in the Industry is because his mother is some big time comedy club owner.

Dobie (Theme Song to The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis), Lyrics by Max Schulman, Music by Lionel Newman, @1959 (Renewed) by Weiss & Barry, Inc.

Finally, against all odds know to man. I turned in a sketch from my sketchbook to Artscape. Above is the sketch I submitted. I did it in the fall of 2002 after I won a set of Holbien oil pastels on eBay. I chose this one because it’s one of my favorite sketches. It was done with oil pastel. I love doing sketches with oil pastel because in my opinion it gives you an idea of how the colors will look in the final painting. It gives you the opportunity to play with the colors and get an idea of the problems you might encounter before you tackle the actual painting.

I do not know if my sketch will be among the final selected for display at Artscape. However, you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be hoping and praying real hard that it will. If it’s not selected then I can assume that they were looking for more avant garde experimental sketches or things sketched with traditional media.

Anyway, also so that you will know I also sent in the two entries that I wrote for Writer’s Digests monthly contests.

The writing prompt for today says to take a scene from an earlier short story and expand it. Describe the colors, sounds, scents, and feelings.

Hogans Heroes March (Theme Song To Hogan’s Heroes), words and music by Jerry Fielding, @1966 ASCO Music

Ha! I bet y’all didn't know that there were actual lyrics to Hogan’s Heroes. I found it one of my many music books. I did mention that in addition to being an artist/writer I’m also a closet keyboard player. Meaning I can play the keyboard/piano but I’m too frightened to play in front of a real live people other than friends and family.

Today, I am suffering through the aftermaths of a cold. I’m sure I got infected on Friday or Saturday. Friday seems suspicious because I wore damp clothes to work that I had to iron dry. I was sneezing a lot all of that. Also Saturday seems likely because it was raining that day and when I got home later that night I found that my socks were still wet. Also my throat was getting sore.

I took the day off from work today. I barely got any sleep last night because of my stuffy nose. Whenever that happens I become afraid that I might die in my sleep and end up not falling to sleep at akk. Besides, I didn't want to go into work half sleepy and make a million errors and have everyone mad at me. As of 12 pm today I have my decongestant and throat spray and now I’m ready for action! All that’s wrong with me now is a runny nose and sneezing. If I’m still stuffy tonight I suppose I’ll be too drugged to notice.

Also I got an email today about a call for artist for the local Pigtown Festival. I think I may do it. However, I won’t do it unless I can con.....‘er, talk my nieces in joining me in working the booth. They both have had experiences mining a cash register. I have none. That’s my primary hesitance in doing art festivals on a regular basis. I’m afraid I might mess up someone's money who hands me cash. I was never that good at math. If there was a guarantee that all transactions must be charge. Then I’m there baby. I suppose if I do the festival I would have to invest in a credit card machine. I know that not all customers are willing to charge their purchases some people still actually carry money.

The writing prompt for today is to send in my entry for the Your Assignment portion of the magazine. This is a monthly contest that the magazine holds. Top prize is $100 worth of Writer’s Digests books.
Also they have another monthly contest called, Your Opening Line. The top prize for that contest is a a copy of the 2003 Novel and Sort Story Writer’s Market. Just for kicks I think I’ll do both assignments and turn them in.

Your Assignment Entry:

Writers: We make things literal!

Opening Line Entry:

Even though my journey began 365 days ago, I still cannot believe that I am literally shrunk down to the size of Natasha’s hamster!

All Apologies, words and music by Kurt Cobain @1993 Virgin Songs/The End of Music BMI

I was shocked today when just for the heck of it I did a Goggle search on my name. I thought I’d try it because I learned recently that if you add quotation marks to the search it makes it more precise. So I searched, “Gail Willis” Baltimore. In addition to my Amazon book reviews I could not believe what I came up with. I’m listed among the artist exhibiting at Artscape. I have yet to turn in my page for the exhibit. It’s due June 15, 2003. I’d better get hopping. I wouldn't want to let down my public down. :)

I feel bad for missing out on the Sowebo auction that I thought was held at the Carriage House last night. It turns out the auction was held today. Anyway, I just couldn't bare it. I was afraid that if I went there no one would bid on my poster and if I did go there what if no one bid on my work at all? I decided that I’d have one rainy miserable night on my own without worrying about if my poster sold or not.

I spent the remainder of the day browsing at the inner harbor Barnes and Noble book store. I went there after the play to pick up my new favorite art magazine, International Artist. While there I toyed with the idea of buying a book I’ve always wanted, the The Complete Italian Vegetarian cookbook. However, the damned thing is huge! It has no indication of fat, calorie, or fiber content. By the way I’m still following Weight Watchers and I need to know that information. To top off all the negatives the book costs $35. I still want the book so badly I can taste it. Oh well, maybe next time.

Today’s writing prompt says to write a story where you appear as the bad guy.

“Mr. Jacobs’ what’s the matter?”, said the little boy.
“She’s coming to town. I can feel it.”
“Who’s coming?”
“That Willis woman that run’s those Bad Men back up in Miller’s Creek.”
“Oh, no! I heard my Ma and Pa talking something awful about her. I’m scared Mr. Jacobs!”
“Go home to your Ma and Pa, son. I’m sure Sheriff Milo will gather up a posse to run her and the Bad Men out of town.”

The little boy ran as fast as he could out of the General Store. He ran so fast that he forgot to pay for the candy that was in his hand. Mr. Jacobs, the owner of the general store took a drag on his pipe looked out the window and said, “Yep, she’s coming.”

Just then Sheriff Milo came into the store. “Jacobs, you hear all that wild commotion up there on the hill. I think that Willis woman and her Bad Men are fixing to come here and terrorize our town again. We gotta do something!” “I agree Sheriff. I’m more than willing to join a posse to run her and her gang out of this town.”
”Jacobs, are you sure you’re up to it?”
”You don’t think I’m up to it do you? Just because I’m a little gray on top doesn't mean I can’t still be useful. My sight ain’t so bad that I can’t see to shoot a gun.””Sheriff, what are going to do?”, said Mr. Jacobs, “Everyone is afraid of that woman and her gang.”
”I guess the only thing for us to do Jacobs is to go and set up in another town.”
”Sheriff, you can’t be serious! We can’t let that woman and her Bad men run us away! we’re stronger than that! Why we can’t just up and run when things go bad. What kind of lesson would that be teaching our young'uns?”
”It’ll be teaching them how to stay alive!” Sheriff Milo ran off towards the jail packed his things got on his horse and galloped away.”Cowards, they’re all cowards!”, muttered Mr. Jacobs as he looked around at all the town folks scurrying away gathering up their goods for a hasty retreat. “Don’t they know they’re all damned cowards! Stand up! Damn you and fight! Fight!!” No one was listening to Mr. Jacobs in the sea of the commotion to leave the Oxen Hill settlement.

Just then a shot rang out. The sound of the heavy thunder of horse’s could be heard drawing closer. “Oh! No! They were closer than we thought!”, someone shouted out. Just then a throaty female laugh pierced the sky. “People of Oxen Hill. We’re the new law in town!” Then the other twelve bad men joined in the evil throaty laughter. They began to shoot their guns at the townsfolk in what seemed a random sport. The settlement of Oxen Hill was now at the beck and call of that Willis woman and her gang of Bad Men forever more.

One More Night, words and music by Phil Collins, @1984 Phil Collins Ltd., Published by Hit & Run Music (Publishing) Ltd.

Ironically enough, it was raining today when I saw The Rainmaker at Center Stage. The play was excellent. I laughed out loud a million times. The Rainmaker is now tied with Ain’t Misbehavin as my favorite play for Center Stage’s 2002-2003 season.

I was saddened to find out that this is the last play that Tim Vasen will direct for Center Stage. Tim Vasen was in his fifth and final season as Center Stage’s Resident Director. The Rainmaker definitely goes down as one of his most memorable directorial achievements. Of the plays he has directed my favorites in no particular order have been, The Woman in Black, Dinah Was, and Short Plays by Thornton Wilder. I never saw the two plays that he also got raves for, The Glass Menagerie with Robert Sean Leonard, and Blithe Spirit.

The Rainmaker


By N. Richard Nast


The Cast

Matthew Boston
NOAH CURRY

Tom Ligon
H.C. CURRY

Kevin Wheatley
JIM CURRY

Katie MacNichol
LIZZIE CURRY

Jeffrey Ware
SHERIFF THOMAS

Thomas M. Hammond

DEPUTY FILE

Kevin Isola
BILL STARBUCK

THE SETTING
In a Western state during a time of drought.

Henry “H.C.” Curry has some problems. There is no rain, his ranch is suffering, and cattle are dying in droves. His elder son, Noah, manages the ranch and frets, trying to run the family like an orderly business. Jim, the youngest, is either tuning in faraway places on his crystal radio set or scooting off with town flirt, Snookie McGuire in her new car. Daughter Lizzie, the sensible bedrock of the family, has them all stumped in their best efforts to get her married off. She just can’t talk to a man without scaring him away. Maybe Deputy File, the town’s most eligible bachelor (seems a widower from way back), can be lured over with a promise of supper? Or maybe the smooth talking Starbuck can help, the stranger who just rolled up in a wagon, promising to bring rain-and-hope for a flat fee. Can all his fancy stories and all his magic bring a downpour to the dry places inside and out?

The play was an enjoyable magical mix of a comedy as well as a romance. The stage set gave you a feeling of a drought. It was designed on a very extreme slant. I know that almost all stage plays are on a slant of some kind but this one seemed more extreme than usual.

The stage floor had the look of parched earth or stone. I thought this was neat because it gave the feel of a drought. Also the backdrop was a painting of the sky with a series of telephone poles doting the landscape. This gave it the feel of the open spaces you find in the Mid-west.

My favorite standout performers in this play are Kevin Wheatley, Tom Ligon, Katie MacNichol, and Kevin Isola.
Here’s my brief summary of each individual actor’s performance.

The man who played Deputy File, Thomas M. Hammond was an absolute dead ringer for Harry Connick Jr. I half way expected him to break into song any second. His performance was also very laid back like I’d imagine Harry Connick Jr.would be if he had this role. I found it difficult to believe that this guy(Deputy File) was passionate about anything. He seemed to be sleepwalking through life. I still can not believe that Lizzie chose him over Starbuck

Kevin Isola who played Bill Starbuck aka the rainmaker was very energetic. He kind of reminded me of the way Fonzi played the role in that Happy Days episode I vaguely remembered from long ago. Despite his energy he was shorter than the woman who played Lizzie. In the back of mind I kept thinking he’s a miniature man! Why I could just put him in my pocket! Overall, he gave the right tone to a character you could call a dreamer despite his coning ways. I honestly felt he believed the lies he was telling. I also felt sorry for him when Lizzie chose boring unimaginative Deputy File over him.

Tom Ligon who played the part of gruff, H.C. Curry, seemed vaguely familiar to me. When I looked back at my play book during intermission I knew why. He has a lot of TV and film credits. His noted TV credits include, Alvin Wood on Oz, and Lucas Prentiss on the Young and the Restless. In the movies he played Piney Woods in Bang the Drum Slowly (in which he sang the title song), and Horton Fenton in Paint Your Wagon. Paint Your Wagon was a movie oddity which I loved. It is the only musical to feature, tough guy actor, Clint Eastwood singing and dancing.Ligon was absolutely the best person for the part. I have no criticisms what so ever.

Matthew Boston who played Noah did an adequate job. There were times when I felt it seemed like he stumbled through his lines. Also it seemed like he was mumbling half the time. I don’t know, his characterization just did not seem strong to me.

Kevin Wheatley as Jim did an excellent job. I really did feel that he was stupid. I couldn't discern any miscues or stumbling or mumbling like I did in the guy who played Noah. There was absolutely no over emoting. He had his character down pat. I hope to that Wheatley makes it big.

Two returning actors for this show were Katie MacNichol and Jeffrey Ware who played Lizzie Curry and Sheriff Thomas respectively.

Katie MacNichol’s performance was good. However, there were times when she seemed to over emote and I could tell she was “acting”. I did feel a little creeped out in the scene where she pretends to be the town flirt with her father and starts to tickle him and then he tickles her. In the back of my mind I thought, incest? However, I know that this wasn't Nash’s intention when he wrote the play in the sexually innocent 50’s. It was my cynical 21st century mind working overtime. Overall, MacNichol’s performance was good. I really did believe she was Lizzie.

However, the actress was beautiful despite her character’s insistence that she was plain. It kind of reminded me of if someone like Nicole Kidman was in this play. I imagine that audience goers would role their eyes every time she said she was plain. This was how I felt watching the play. When her brother Noah said she was plain I was shocked and felt like crying. I mean look at this woman! She’s a knockout! Are you blind!!

Jeffrey Ware is another returning actor. Overall, Ware’s performance was adequate. It was not the center standout role like he had in The Investigation. The character he played kind of reminded me of Barney Fife. I didn't hate him. I didn't like him. My feelings are neutral on his role because it was so small. I do know that he can deliver the goods and create a connection of emotion like he did in, The Investigation.I believe I gave him raves for his standout performance as the vicious Nazi Fredrich Boger in that play. Also earlier in the season he read Eliahu in the First Look workshop of Mott Lerner’s, “wonderful, incendiary” The Murder of Issac, both directed by Irene Lewis.

Hmmmm, two consecutive season at Center Stage, how unusual. I wonder if they’re thinking of making him an Associate Artist. Making an actor an Associate Artist in my opinion is a huge complement because then they are a part of the staff. It means in short that they really, really like you. Currently, there are seven Associate Artists at Center Stage they are, Wiley Conley (a deaf actor and playwright), Judy Dennis (casting director), Robert Dorfman (an actor that does broad comedic roles), Karen Hansen (musician/composer), Danny Hoch (actor/playwright who does one man shows where a he talks about his life as a white boy who’s into the hip hop culture), Marion Mclinton (director of African American plays), and last but not least, Laurence O’Dwyer (lovable elderly actor).

The writing prompt for today is to write about what you avoid doing more than anything else and explain why.

The one thing I avoid doing more than anything is washing my underpants at the laundromat. The reason for this is that I’m still creeped about a time long ago when I in my teens and in a rush to leave the laundromat. I was in such a rush that I left my blue underpants in the washing machine. As I was leaving out the door a man held up my underpants and said, “Miss you forgot these.” I was horrified to have a strange man touch my wet underwear. I vowed that that would never happen again. Who knows where his hands had last been? To this very day I wash my underpants by hand to avoid the possibility of a stranger coming in contact with them.