Transitional Times
Weekly Wrap:
There’s been a lot of starts and stops this week. Caring for my declining dog it became clear over the weekend that it was time to say goodbye. On Tuesday I did. I know most dog owners think they have the best dog. Cece was my best dog. I’m happy she stayed with me for so long and happy she is finally free of her tiny body that was very cute and very faulty causing a life of ailments. And also I’m gutted.
Earlier in the week I came up with an idea of “see flower, hear flower, speak flower” and made some reference images for the Brassworks postcard show. I started painting in gouache and am not loving the limitations of the medium. I squeezed out some oil paint to use and that is when I heard from the vet that they could fit Cece in. That paint has sat untouched, drying out since Tuesday morning. This week I’m not up for much of anything. This morning it sounds nice to pick up a paint brush and push paint around without feeling a need for outcomes. I think that is a good sign. I started listening to the book “How to do Nothing” by Jenny Odell a couple of weeks ago but haven’t been listening this past week and my brain is such a mess I don’t really remember most of what I’ve listened to. It is about the attention economy and how to fight to reclaim one’s own mind space and have time outside of capitalism’s drive for all to be efficient, productive and product-ized. For me making a mess pushing around paint without the need for it to become something, to be like a kid and get dirty in the sandbox wasting material and time is a relieving balm. The wasting part does stress me out some but how could giving my mind moments of peace be a waste?
I came across this article in the New York Times this week offering up art to go see throughout the United States. I thought it was refreshing to see shows highlighted beyond NYC and L.A. and interesting to see what is being shown in different regions.
Open call:
New Mexico Lottery Authority Zozobra 2025 Scratcher Art Competition
Must be a New Mexico State Resident
Deadline: November 15, 2024
Fee: none
For the last 100 years, the Burning of Zozobra, aka Old Man Gloom, has taken place in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Zozobra is a 50-foot-tall marionette stuffed with obsolete police reports, divorce papers and other items meant to be forgotten. He waves his arms and roars as his archenemy, the Fire Spirit, dances around him with a pair of blazing torches. Thousands cheer as the Fire Spirit sets Zozobra ablaze and flames engulf his paper-filled form.
Staged by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe, this annual event takes place at the end of summer to say farewell to worries and troubles of the last year and set spirits ablaze with hope and renewal.
This year, for the 101st Burning of Zozobra, the New Mexico Lottery plans to commemorate the historic celebration with a Zozobra Scratcher. New Mexico artists are invited to submit their Zozobra Artwork for a chance to be featured on the ticket and in promotional materials. Up to three Artworks will be selected to display on the New Mexico Lottery Zozobra 2025 Scratchers and support and promote the game. Each selected Artwork will receive $1,000.
WOW, what an event—This would be incredible to see! Here is a link to the event website https://burnzozobra.com