GJ Willis' Art Notes

Yesterday, I decide to go to the opening of the Phoenix Rising Mail Art Show at the Creative Alliance. I went because I wanted to see if my work made it to the gallery. Come to think of it this is the very first opening I’ve been to at the Creative Alliance or any other gallery for that matter. I tend to avoid openings. I prefer to come back and visit my artwork a few days after openings just to see if it’s really there. I always have this fear that the gallery owner might change there mind at the last minute and decide not to display my work. I usually end up having panic attacks about attending gallery receptions for fear my wok won’t be there.

Anyway, it was bitter cold outside on the evening of the opening. Jed Dodds, the artistic director of the Creative Alliance was sitting at the front desk. He asked me curtly, why I was there. I told him that I wanted to see the mail art show. He directed me upstairs. Sometimes I wonder if he would have been as curt to me if I were white. It was opening night for goodness sake why else would anyone be there tonight?

I went upstairs. There was mail art hanging everywhere on the walls and on a clothesline. I decided not to look around specifically for my work but instead to view everything I saw. If I saw my work fine, if not then, “Oh, well...”

While looking around I thought maybe they’d have light finger food on trays like they have in the movies or on tv shows when they show art openings. All that was there was a cooler filled with beer. I don’t drink. Then it happened I spotted my two postcards hanging on a line. They looked like actual pieces of artwork! I felt relieved that they were really there! I kind of relaxed and then Rev. Paul came up to me and told me about the exhibit. He asked if I was a participant. I of course told him, No.

I don’t quiet know why I did this. I’ve been exchanging mail art with him for a while without formally meeting him face to face. Why I couldn't sum up the courage to say, “Yes! I’m one of the artists whose work is on display here tonight!”, is beyond me. I guess it was fear of someone finally being able to pin a face to the artwork. My anonymity would be dissolved. I would have to start talking about esoteric things like the creative process and my artwork. I would have to start dressing in black 24-7 and violently ripping apart canvases whenever I’m upset. The simple truth of the matter is that I just like to paint, there’s nothing fancy or esoteric about it, me, or my work.

There’s this woman that works at my company who is an artist. I think her name is Carol. I think that when people meet an artist they are expecting someone like Carol. She’s very pretentious, talkative, giggly and is always changing her hair color and look. I could never be as artsy and outrageous as Carol. I can only be me.

So thus, you’ve learned that I prefer to be anonymous and rarely show up at gallery openings where my work is displayed. If ever I should gather the courage to go to another opening I would never admit that, “Yes, I painted that!”, to anyone there. I would prefer to just blend into the background and mock my own artwork if that’s the general conscientious of the evening.

WHAT I’M WEARING:
Today, I have on a green v-neck sweater. The turtleneck of the day is a cream colored one with a colorful red patchwork design. The pants are blue jeans. The shoes are brown leather lace ups.

Took the light rail train to the shuttle bus stop across from the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The shuttle bus that was waiting was the B Express bus. This bus makes no stops until it gets to the Timonium Fair Grounds. However, it’s last stop is Warren Road. My job is further than that so I had to transfer to another bus at Timonium. Luckily, despite having to transfer buses, I got in to work again at 6:30!!

I love getting in to work early. I can do things like eat breakfast and brush my teeth. I think I could probably run through the halls joyfully, screaming like that kid in Home Alone did when he realized he was.... home alone. The only thing keeping me from doing this is that there are security camera’s hooked up in the halls and entryways. Trust me, if they weren't there I would probably be running wildly through the halls, arms raised, screaming, “Ahhhhh!” every morning at 6:30. Damned, security cameras!.......

Academy Award Nominations
All in all, I’m pretty happy with this years Academy Award nominations. I’m a bit surprised to see that Fahrenheit 9-11 wasn’t nominated for Best Documentary or Film. Also, I was shocked to see that Clint Eastwood was nominated for Best Actor, instead of Paul Giamatti. It seemed like the entire cast of Sideways was nominated except Giamatti.

I feel that the most undeserving of a nomination was Virginia Madsen. She added nothing to Sideways. You could have cast a Smurf in the same role and the outcome would have been the same.

The Best Actor award should go to Jamie Foxx. He was absolutely phenomenal in Ray. I would really like to see Hillary Swank pick up another Best Actress Oscar for her role in Million Dollar Baby.

This year is unique for me in that I’ve seen four of the five nominated Best Pictures. I’m not really interested in seeing Million Dollar Baby now that I know that it’s about euthanasia and not a feel good boxing flick.

As far as the nominees go my heart wants it to go to Ray but my head says that The Aviator will win Best Picture. It would be icing on the cake if Marty (I’ve never met Martin Scorsese, but I like to think of him as just plain old Marty.) finally gets a Best Director award. The man is a genius! It’s an absolute crying shame that this man as far I know has NEVER picked up an award or best director!

WHAT I’M WEARING:
Today, I have on a blue fair isle knit sweater. Under the sweater I have on a blue flannel shirt and blue jeans. The shoes I’m wearing are of course brown leather lace ups.

bush1, originally uploaded by willisgirl.

Our fearless leader.... This has to be hands down my all time favourite picture of Bush. I like it because in this photo, to me, he looks just like a pimp.

Since there was a bit of snow this weekend I took the light rail train to the shuttle bus for the first time. The reason for my change of transportation mode is that the #8 bus runs across residential streets at certain sections. Some of these streets are very narrow. I imagine that not all of these streets have been plowed.

Despite, leaving out much later than usual I was just five minutes late for work. I thought I would make it in around eight. Hmmm, I might just give this light rail to the shuttle bus business a try.

THE NEW OTL SHOW
Sadly, the Best of Out To Lunch Shows with Miles and Thrill have ended. They have installed a group of people to audition for the show. The auditioners this week are a guy named Dakota, Maynard from WQSR’s Rouse and Company Morning Show, and Josh Spiegle.

Of all the folks this week Maynard is the one I’m most familiar with. He’s practically the official jock strap carrier for Steve Rouse. Not that I think there’s anything weird or impropriatous about a young hot strapping 20something being the sidekick of an aging DJ. Maynard, generally comes off as being likable on air. I wish they would keep him for the show and throw the other two to the curve. They would of course have to find two other people for the show. I seriously doubt that he could sustain a show entirely on his own. He, doesn’t have a wild, wacky, radio personality. He’s more of a straight man or sidekick...

As far as Josh Speigel, goes I recall listening to him when he used to do the news for another morning show. First off I have to say I can’t stand the sound his voice. He over enunciates his words. He thinks he’s being funny but it comes off as annoying. I want so bad to go over to the studio and bitch slap him a couple of times. Talk Normal Dammit!!

I also briefly recall hearing Dakota as a DJ on another station. Overall, I find him annoying. I get the feeling he is auditioning for a spot on The Sports Junkies. He seems to be suffering from ADD. The only person he allows to get a word in edgewise is himself. Also I find him overbearing. He should just go back to spinning his box of records.

All in all I hope they audition more people for the spot. Listening to the show today was like listening to an on air abortion. They all lacked chemistry. They all seemed humorless and glum. They had to resort to resort to asinine tactics like having listeners call in to tell their favorite Yo Momma Jokes.

I hope that the station gets wise and hires a local comedian like Big Ben Kennedy or any other local comedian for that matter, other than Mickey Cucchiella to fill the slot. The thing I liked most about the show was that it was funny, right now it’s horrible. Bring Back the Funny!

WHAT I’M WEARING: Today, I have on blue jeans brown, leather lace ups, and a blue denim shirt and a very heavy large long blue sweater. It’s made out of a kind of fleece material. The temperature outside this morning is minus something degrees. This is my heavy duty, baby it’s cold outside, sweater.