great day -- bad allergies

-----------------------------------------------photo by Elaine Russell

So -- had an awesome day. Great evening.. somehow now am having a bad allergy attack. So. Will write more tomorrow. I am including a photo that pretty much represents how I feel at the moment...like some big giant monster mantis is attacking me....

GEDs, ACTs and the luxury of a handmade scarf

-----------------------------------photo and scarves by Elaine Russell

Today was kinda crazy. My son is trying to graduate from high school early ( we homeschool )... so that he can start college classes NOW. He has been very eager to get out into the world, and I am trying to help all I can. So today, we went to CNM to see about registration. He needs to supplement his homeschool diploma with either a GED or ACT test.. which he hopes to take ASAP. Then he can register on-line and see what is out there for him !

In other news --- I have been neglecting my Etsy store for awhile now, and it's time to kick it in gear. One of the things that I enjoy making are simple scarves. Nothing too fancy, just warm and soft. Today I was able to list some.. so feel free to check them out in my Etsy store. And at $12-15... a good deal for a good handmade scarf.

hello tuesday.................

------------------------------------------------photo by Elaine Russell

I've been really stressed out and exhausted (physically and mentally) for a couple of months. My life just got crazy chaotic... and I feel like I am finally reaching the end of this crazy period.

Today seemed to be a catching up kind of day. I really didn't get much done in the way of chores or anything... I somehow slept until 4:30 in the afternoon. Yah. 4:30 pm. I made coffee... and cooked supper.... hearty chili from scratch.
I'm thinking it'll be a fire in the fireplace kind of night, and maybe a movie.
Yah. Winter is good.

It's monday

------------------------------------------------photo by Elaine Russell

So I was wandering around Barnes & Noble last evening... and taking happy snaps. I was approached by the manager.. and told I was not allowed to take photos in the store. Who knew ?
Kinda bummed me out.
I had always considered stores like that to be the perfect place to take random photos.. and it is a public place ? So I thought there was no problem. hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
That makes the 2nd time I've been asked to not take photos in a public place. The other place was a grocery store. Does anyone know the rulings on this ?

Sketching

-------------------------------photo and art page by Elaine Russell

I have always loved to sketch. As a kid, it wasn't that I was discouraged from doing art things... but it was rather well known that my brother was the artist in the family.. so it was implied that if I did anything art related, I was copying or sponging off of his "glory."
weird I know. Personally, I am of the opinion that you could give the same 10 people the same materials and inspiration object, and you would still get 10 completely different results. No copying involved... no stealing anyone else's thunder. whatever.

So -- today's photo is of a page I embellished for a friend. It was just a quick sketch, but I really like it. I need to do more art.......

Bamboo and Zen

------------------------------------------------photo by Elaine Russell

"The name "Zen" is Japanese. It derives from the Chinese Chan'an-na, which is a corruption from the Buddhist Dhyana, meaning Meditation. Zen means waking up to the present moment. That is, perceiving this moment exactly as it is, rather than through the filter of our ideas, opinions, etc.
You can learn from an ordinary bamboo leaf what ought to happen. It bends lower and lower under the weight of snow. Suddenly the snow slips to the ground without the leaf having stirred. Stay like that at the highest point of tension until the shot falls from you. So, indeed, it is: when the tension is fulfilled, the shot must fall, it must fall from the archer like snow from a bamboo leaf, before he even thinks it. "

I've been thinking a lot about peace, zen...openness of being. Not being trampled on by other people and their ideas, and yet being open to possibilities. Which brought me to thinking about the bamboo plant I have in my meditation area.... which led me to the passage I quoted above.



restless

------------------------------------------------photo by Elaine Russell

My neighbor's little dog keeps getting out of his yard. He's a very cute little guy.. but restless. Today he was trying to chase after the garbage truck, and most certainly would have gotten lost or hurt. I grabbed him, he urinated on me. I took him home and patched the fence where he got out.
Sometimes I wonder how God/ the Almighty/whatever name you choose....feels when He tries to save us from a more dangerous fate, and we pee on him. We are restless beings.. too focused on what we want; and not necessarly what is in our best interests.
So -- today -- I am trying to listen more closely to what would be in my best interests...what is the best course of action from this point on ? What would the Almighty choose to direct me towards if I just listened more carefully ?
Time for some reflection.....

BMG, La Casa, and the NM Gypsy Queens

-----------------------------------------photo by Elaine Russell
Today was kinda weird. I've been sick, and so much has gone on in the past month.. that it's been a very emotional time. I feel like I am just beginning to get a grip on it all.
So -- today I was very emotionally and physically exhausted.

On a plus note.. I have just rented out a space to use as a studio. I have always worked out of my house/ garage... so it will be rather strange to have everything in a studio space to work in.
I think it will be good.

I have also signed up to be part of the Grand Opening show at Black Market Goods (NOW at the formerly STOVE gallery site in ABQ)(http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=8960449). I know what I want to take; it's a matter of getting things printed up and ready to hang.

And -- I am going to be donating some art pieces to The New Mexico Gypsy Queens (http://www.myspace.com/gqnmchapter). They are working on a fundraiser to benefit LA CASA (http://www.lacasadelasmadres.org/), a NM Charity organization. Woot !

If you had wings to FLY


----------------------------------------photo by Elaine Russell

About a month ago, I was fortunate enough to go with a local FlickR photo group to the NM State Penitentiary. The site was the location of the worst riot in NM history. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico_State_Penitentiary_Riot
It is now derelict, but was an awesome location to photograph in.
Many, many thanks to our guide for the day RICH.

This photo was taken in the prison chapel. Someone had apparently found the wings from a pidgeon, and placed them in an altar like fashion in a set of stained glass windows.
This was going to be another entry into the Art of the Shrine show... but alas.
I call it "If you had wings to FLY"

Art of the Shrine

--- -------------------------------------photo by Elaine Russell

So -- the next show at the Wooden Cow Gallery was going to be ART OF THE SHRINE. I was soooooooo excited because I have worked with religious icon art for years and years. In my jewelry making, I have specialized in prayer beads of all faiths for over 15yrs.
And --- I am in the process of writing a book.
Bummer.
But.... I can still show YOU some of the art I was going to enter... so here is one....

Photography Services

-----------------------------------jewelry and photo by Elaine Russell
One of the things that I was trying to get started at the Wooden Cow Gallery, was to be able to provide photographic services for artists and craftspeople in the Albuquerque area.
As an artist, I know that it can be hard to find someone to take quality photos of your work, as well as being a very time consuming and expensive venture.
As a photographer, I have a degree in photography from the New York Institute, and have been taking photographs professionally since 1986. My professional services have included portraits, weddings, pet studies, advertising, journalistic photography and more. My photographs have been in several publications and newspapers nationwide.
What I am offering to the Albuquerque community is the opportunity to get your artwork photographed, and burned onto a CD. All photographic images would then be the sole propriety of the artist, to use in any contest entries, promotional pieces, or whatever they so choose.

Cost is $50 per hour, 1 hour minimum for the services.
I now have a studio available at http://www.factoryon5.com/.
You can write me for further information.

new beginnings

-------------- ---------------------------------photo by Elaine Russell

After much introspection and with a heavy heart, I have decided to leave the Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space. It is my fervent hope that they will continue to be a shining light in ABQ for all kinds of art, and I wish them the very very best.
Sometimes; it is just time to move on. I believe in the concept and ideals that were the initial spark of what is now such a fantastic gallery. Having been involved in the process since its inception, it is very hard to let go of something that has been so close to my heart. It has been a ton of work, but it has all been worth it in the end to be able to see something that started out as a dream, and see it blossom and become a stunningly active place that embraces all forms and spectrums of the art community.
I also know without a doubt that it is possible to bring such dreams to life.. and that is an encouragement to us all.
The last show was fantastic.. and it was wonderful that such a great artist, Ren Adams, was selected as the featured artist. As one of the creators of the Wooden Cow, she is an inspiration to us all that alot of work, and some very cool ideals can indeed become a reality.

New year... new ventures... constant inspiration.... This is going to be an interesting year.

Surrender


---------------------------------------------photo by Elaine Russell

So -- sometimes you just have to give in to things. Like when the powers that be keep pointing you in a certain direction.. and in spite of all that you think may want on a personal level... it may not work.
Some days are like that. I seem to have had quite a few lately... and sometimes you just gotta stop banging your head against a wall. It's ok.
I have faith. I have faith that everything will work out just as it is supposed to. I have faith that my family and I will continue to grow in love and continue to nurture each other's talents. I believe that I have made some of the best friends I will ever have.
Woot !
So -- even when it seems like you are drowning in a tidepool... there is always a safe shore nearby.

dirty laundry........


------------------------------------------photo by Elaine Russell

and no -- I'm not talking about the song by Don Henley. Real laundry... the stuff of everyday life. It's piling up.
I have been so busy with the art gallery I belong to; that I have been neglecting some of my regular chores and such around the house. Oh.. and I can't even remember when I worked on an art piece. Not complaining.. just saying. Sometimes I tend to get so involved in something that I work on it to the exclusion of alot of other things in my life.

So-- If I were to make a New Year's resolution ( and I usually don't )... it would be to have more balance in my life. I know -- seems simple huh... but is it ?!

it's late

------------------------------------photo by Elaine Russell

Sometimes I have a hard time sleeping at night. I think it probably has to do with the fact that I worked night shift as a nurse for 17yrs. But, even as a kid I wanted to be up at night and sleep til noon. Course, that never happened. But still.

It's funny how there is this whole other culture that lives at night. It's something that I have contemplated on before.. but it becomes so much more noticeable when you live in a city of any real size because there are actually places open for people like us.

As an example. The town I grew up in has a total population of about 2000 people. And we are the biggest place in the whole county. Yes, one of those sleepy little towns that have lights that go to flashing yellow at 6pm. So.. for a person like me; the best I could do as a night owl was to hang out at the local gas station and drink bad coffee. Now that I live in Albuquerque, there is really quite alot to do at night. So --- here's to the night-owls of the world... and to the cool lights at the nearby McD's.

have I mentioned the windows ?




-----------------------------------------------------photos by Kristin and Elaine Russell

Sorry for not posting yesterday. Things were a little crazy. Any time you are part of a group of people you are bound to run into personality conflicts and a little drama. Yesterday was one of those days.
If you belong to any group.. you know what I mean. Now personally, I would not say a group of artists would not be any different; but there are some who would sigh and disagree. More drama than usual... some would say.
At any rate.. things are starting to quiet down.. and perhaps things can go "as usual" for a few days.
Now -- don't misunderstand. I absolutely love being part of an artist community.. and wouldn't trade it for anything. One of the perks of being in this group is the energy and excitement you get when talking with artists about the creative process. For the past couple of days I have had the opportunity to work a bit with the creative souls that do our window displays. They are fantastic. Where they come up with some of the ideas.. I don't know.
Our grand opening window was a colorful mix of a selected art piece from each of our founding members. Imagine 20 -some pieces of art in one huge window. Black backdrop and red accents. Coolness.
The Day of the Dead theme show window was amazing. We had life size sculptural renderings of a skeleton wedding party. Accented with Dia de Las Muertos papercut flags and flowers.
The "What's in the Box" theme for December was carried out with elaborate styrofoam snowflakes, faux snow, a winter goddess cloaked in her winter finery and these really cool boxes with pictures in them that glowed from within. Hard to explain.. but I will try to upload photos.

So-- here we are for the Chinese New Year theme...and it is coming along nicely. There is an antique costume cloaked mannequin with a vintage paper umbrella, as well as lanterns and RAIN. Yes, faux rain.
WOW.