Prune Juice: The Drinkable Oxymoron

Is that the best title ever or what? I made it up. I love being a teacher. The following is a portion of the homework I just sent to the discussion sections I teach on Tuesdays:

2. Bois, "The De Stijl Idea": Cite a specific part of the reading (a paragraph or quote) by page number** that you believe to illuminate an important concept relating the reading to today's lecture. Very briefly explain how it relates, and be prepared to share it and your thoughts in class Tuesday.

**You don't need to type out the quote for me, but I should have some way of knowing what specific paragraph or sentence you are referring to. For example (using an imaginary essay so that I don't steel any of your thunder): In reference to the two paragraphs above the heading "Prune Juice: The Drinkable Oxymoron" on page 100 of the "Plum Crazy" article, the author states "there is an inherent contradiction in juice that claims to be extracted from fruit that is, by definition, dried..."

3. Optional, but recommended: Eh-hem...In your opinion, what is the funniest/best you-tube video ever? How might Kyla find it and watch it on the internet? I highly recommend "Aussie Party- Australia", anything from the "Drunk History" Series, and of course, the ol' stand-by, "Leprechaun in Mobile, Alabama".

The art I've been doing

I've been promising to post the art of done, and I'm finally getting around to it. This isn't everything, but its some. Some I'm happy with, some I'm not, but you all have been asking, so here it is. Okay, I thought I had more images on my flash drive. I'll post more soon.

Coincidence?

Does it mean something when you break 5 glasses and need to replace 4 light bulbs in one week following a year of not breaking or replacing any?
It feels like it should.
I like to think that it does.
I'll just pretend that it does.

Vacation Bonanza

I've just returned from what, by all means, can only be called a vacation bonanza. There was a week at the lake (Waupaca?), then home for a week, then to Iowa to help my sister Samara move, then home for a week, then I drove east to NY state, taught a week long screen-printing course at Women's Studio Workshop (Rosendale, NY). From there I drove south to Delaware, and spent a week at the beach (Rehoboth, DE) with my family. Now I am back and find myself lost in a steady, immanent sense of dread at the barrage of responsibilities that will accompany the new school year.

But let's keep things light.

What can I say, the extended vacation is a luxury that few can have. The beach was lovely. Dolphins swam up and down the coast line every day. The weather at the beach was flawless.

I also got to do a fantastic photo-shoot of my sister Jesse. Last spring, for reasons I don't care to share now, I sewed an adult version of a Disney princess dress. It's gold, poofy, and I'm very proud. The following are photos of Jesse on the beach in the dress. My apologies to Samara, who also looks lovely in the dress, for not having time to photograph her as well. Maybe next year.

Need a laugh? I thought so

Thomas (my hubby) just introduced me to the wonderful world of "Mascot Bloopers". Here's a sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTg3e-rnFG0
As Thomas describes, there is something so hilarious about their unflinching optimism. Just watch their smiling faces and plump, plush bodies, as they experience one physical tragedy after another.

here she is again

as she progresses

You asked for it.

My sister, Jesse, keeps bugging me to post more of my recent work. I've decided to catalog some work as I go. Here's a piece I started the other day that will be one of several to be shown together. Each will be a young lady offering fruit, all the same scale. Eventually their will be pattern on the walls and floor as well. I don't know how I like the idea, but I'm just trying to get more work done, and regain the creative momentum that I had going before I moved to Madison. It does feel good to put in some real time in studio.