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Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Bewitching Sirens

If you're in the Richmond area, you're cordially invited to visit with me this weekend as I open my latest assemblage exhibition, Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Bewitching Sirens at a 12 12 Gallery Artist's Reception on Sunday afternoon, February 22nd, from 2-5 pm.

This latest exhibition represents a culmination of exploring new directions in form and thought,content and materials. These assemblages are distinct and nostalgic, as well as deeply spiritual and earthy. Some bursting with colors, others juxtaposed with surrealist compositions and whimsy, this collection of my work is full of energy; warm and rich with the images and symbols that continue to be focal points for meditation and inspiration in my life.

While assemblages anchor Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Bewitching Sirens,there is also a modest selection of bright, sassy collages and a new assortment of my altered image jewelry. If you're interested in what I've been up to and love color, bold spirit, and the unexpected, I know you'll enjoy this latest exhibition.

If you can't make the reception on Sunday, feel free to come visit and see Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Bewitching Sirens Thursdays and Fridays 12-4, Saturdays 11-6, and Sundays 12-5 through March 29th.

12 12 Gallery,  is located in South Richmond at 12 East 12th Street,just east of Hull Street.  Need Directions? You're welcome to  phone the gallery 804.233.9957 for directions or just call me directly.

See you there!

Art & Disability: Call to Artists from Sins Invalid

 Call to Artists from Sins Invalid

An Unshamed Claim to Beauty in the Face of Invisibility

Sins Invalid is seeking submissions from performers, writers, visual artists and other cultural workers on topics of disability and sexuality for relationship-building and future collaboration.

This call is open to all artists familiar with the experience of disability, especially artists from queer communities and/or communities of color. Submissions can include all types of artistic expression - performance art, video, spoken word, dance, storytelling, song, visual media, and words on page - whose core expresses sexuality, power, healing, embodiment and activism.

We define disability broadly to include physical impairments, sensory minorities, emotional disabilities, cognitive challenges, chronic/severe illness, and others whose bodies do not conform to our culture(s)' idea of "normal" or "functional."

Sins Invalid began in 2006 as a performance project that incubates and celebrates artists with disabilities, centralizing artists of color, queer and gender-variant artists as communities who have been historically marginalized.   In 2007-2008, Sins Invalid grew to include an annual show, community-based performance workshops, political education workshops, and our growing presence online at www.sinsinvalid.org.

Submissions will be looked at for all Sins Invalid projects, including performances, workshops, online blog, and possible printed media and/or visual art shows.

Please submit a CD or DVD of your work (those submitting written work for publication can email or send a hard copy), along with a short personal statement about why you are interested in working with Sins Invalid, and how your work relates to issues of sexuality and disability.

Sins Invalid Submissions
c/o 1370 University Ave. #316
Berkeley, CA 94702

Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want your work returned to you.  We will contact you to confirm receipt of your work. If you do not have examples of your work on CD/DVD, please contact us for alternate formats.

Deadline for entries:  Received by April 25, 2009.

Please feel free to email any questions to info@sinsinvalid.org or call
(510) 689-7198.

Tweet @ComcastBill

Disclaimer: I've got my Rantipants on. Coarse language ahead.

We were Comcast customers for many, many years- close to 14 years I think. It was not out of any loyalty after a few years though. It was because it was the only game in town.  My issue was rarely with the service itself- that was pretty ok most of the time. My issues were always with customer support. It sucks ass at my local office but I thought it was the same everywhere.

Everytime there was technical issue, it was our router or our fault. Nothing was ever their fault. Everytime there was billing issue, it was a nightmare. Once, after a hurricane that knocked out power for 10 days, they doulbled our bill and INSISTED we had equipment and service we didn't have. The customer support philosophy at my local office seemed to be "We're doing YOU a favor." And it only got worse.

Then at some point in the last several years, they began billing one month in advance with no advance warning. When I called to question it, I was told that Cable and Internet service was a subscription service, not a utility and therefore they could do what they wanted. If I didn't like it I didn't have to subscribe and it was afterall instituted to benefit me, the subscriber. It would lighten my load, help me out. Well, yes, except there was no cable or broadband service unless you paid them for it. 

When we moved, they refused to apply the month in advance I paid to the new address. We moved in the middle of our billing cycle and therefore it was possible to transfer service but not payments to a new address. WTF? At the time, we were doing ok and the bill wasn't that much at the time it was less than $100 so, I let it go EXCEPT I quit paying that month in advance. That was I was only paying for what I was using and not more, so I thought.

Then I got the bill. I was charged a two buck late fee on the amount I didn't owe because according to them, the bill was not paid in full. So, I lived with the late charge. In the mean time, they began charging  a five buck fee to process credit card payments using customer support. If you called customer support  more than three times in a month for a non-technical issue, they assessed another five dollar fee. Online payments were wholly incovenient unless you enrolled in automatic payments every month. Then, when I got my bill in January 2009 I saw an EIGHT dollar late fee assessed. Eight fucking dollars? Really? WTF?

Art Show and Benefit - Equality Virginia - Celebrating 20 Years

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Equality Virginia is currently accepting submissions for an Art Show and Auction Benefit. The application deadline is February 27, 2009. Selected artists will be showcased at the GCCR Gallery March 13 through April 2, 2009. All works will be auctioned at the Equality Virginia Commonwealth Dinner April 4, 2009.

Equality Virginia
Equality Virginia is a statewide, non-partisan lobbying, outreach and education organization seeking equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Virginians. We work to help protect families, end discrimination and build safe communities. Your donation of art will help Equality Virginia achieve these goals. For more information, go to Equality Virginia's website.

2009 Commonwealth Dinner
More than 1000 GLBT and allied people are expected to attend the dinner this year. The evening will include recognition of twenty OUTstanding Virginians (historical and living). Emmy award winning actor, Leslie Jordan will provide the evening’s entertainment. For more information, visit Equality Virginia's Commonwealth Dinner page.

Art Show and Auction Benefit
The application deadline is February 27, 2009. Selected artists will be showcased at the GCCR Gallery March 13 through April 2, 2009. All works accepted will be auctioned at the Equality Virginia Commonwealth Dinner April 4, 2009. Submit JPEGs to artshow@equalityvirginia.org

Awards
Cash prizes totaling $1250 will be awarded. All selected pieces become the property of Equality Virginia and will be included in the auction. Artists have the option of retaining up to 25% of final auction sale.

Eligibility and deadlines
Original works in all mediums considered. Pieces should have a minimum value of $250 and be easily transportable. Submissions should be made to artshow@equalityvirginia.org in JPEG format by February 27, 2009. in JPEG format by February 27, 2009. Images must be less than two megabytes in size and submissions should include a brief description of the work and the artist.

About the Juror
Norman F. Goodwin: Born and raised in Norfolk, Norman Goodwin was educated at Cooper Union, Columbia University and the London School of Conservation. His paintings are widely collected by both individuals and museums, including MOMA, the Chrysler Museum, Art Institute of Chicago and the Nasher Museum at Duke University. Norman is a certified fine arts appraiser and conservator.

Playing For Change

Peace Through Music

My friend Erkia sent the music video below to me via Facebook and I was so impressed and pleased that I found it on YouTube, listened to it again  and still got chills.  Some awesome stuff...Check it out. Erika's right- music can shrink the distance between us.

Shave Yer Pits

For Eden: Her Boy Joaquin

I just could not resist... (ducking)
Who knew he was so hairy? LOL

Miss Dorothy Parker

When All Else Fails

...snarf a meme and do it.

Make a list of things you can see without getting up: the TV, my cactii, walls of books and DVDs, some of my artwork, the Manthing, 3 cat beds with 2 kitties in one.

What were you like when you were five? Creative, imaginative, interested

What are you wearing now? A sleeping costume and slippers.

What story/book/novel have you read over and over again in your life? The Mysts of Avalon

What’s the last thing you read/are currently reading? Last week: No Country for Old Men & The Road. This week: Continuing the Outlander series and some artsy-fartsy mags

Do you nap a lot? Yes. Pain meds have that effect on you.

Who was the last person you hugged? the Manthing

What’s your current fandom/obsession/addiction? Damages

What was the last thing you ate today? A pickle

What was the last thing you said aloud? Dooce can send me the cupcakes if Leta doesn't want them.

What websites do you always visit when you go online? Facebook, Google Reader, Twitter

What was the last thing you bought?   Tennis balls

What are you listening to right now? The TV

If you could have any super power, what would it be? The Midas Touch

What is your favorite weather, and why? Sunny and cool, low to zero humidity.

What time do you usually get up? Around 8 AM on the weekdays

What is your most challenging goal right now? Staying motivated.

Say something to the person who tagged you: Erin- I don't comment enough but I always enjoy reading your blog and FB Stream

If you could have a house–totally paid for, fully furnished–anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? Here.

Favorite vacation spot? Anywhere that doesn't require me to cook and caters to my every whim.

What is your favorite children’s book? Miss Twiggley's Tree

Name one thing you just can’t resist no matter how bad it is for you: Cookies and pie

If you could meet anyone famous - dead or alive - who would it be? I have to pick just one? Maya Angelou, Bette Davis, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Harvey Keitel,Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant

What was your first job? I don't remember. It was probably illegal.

What’s the last movie you saw? Reign Over Me

Are you a morning person or a night owl?  Night Owl for sure.

Thordora , NATUI, Atilla, RedNeckMommy, Nan, RT, Mad, Gus, SJ and anyone else who wants to play!

THE RULES:

Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
Step 2: tag—eight other un-tagged people will be tagged.