Month: October 2009

Art, Paintings

Big Al’s Birthday

Shelly

It’s Big Al’s birthday. I remember the date, because it was the database password when I worked at the art museum. Altogether, I worked there seven years, so that string of numbers may be permanently tattooed on my brain. I often can’t recall my phone number, the last four digits of my social security number, or my checking account number, but I will always remember Alain’s birthday.

So, happy birthday, Big Al. You were the best and most infuriating boss I’ve ever had. I will always remember you chain smoking, cussing up a storm, and chugging warm Tab from a 2-liter bottle. You made me laugh and cry and I’m pretty sure I wanted to kick you in the shins at least once a week. You also let me create my dream job, turning what could have been a boring data entry position into one where I got to research, write about, and play with art. And when I graduated and was no longer eligible for student employment, you wrote a grant to keep me on full time. I will always be deeply appreciative for that. Not only was it a wonderful way to finish off my work there, but it let me segue into another university job, which in turn was a stepping stone to the job I have now. Thank you.

This is one of my very favorite paintings. I love the Fauves, and this one is, as Alain would say, “seriously cute.”

Under the Trees I (Sous-Bois I)
André Lhote, Under the Trees I (Sous-Bois I), 1906, oil on canvas, 28 3/4 x 23 5/8 inches (73.02 x 60 centimeters), Ball State University Museum of Art, Gift of David T. Owsley

Art, Crankypantsing, Doodles

Staff Meeting Doodle

Shelly

Staff Meeting Doodle
gel pen in steno pad
4 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches

We are hoppin’ mad this evening! I paid my cable bill last week, and the charge has hard posted to my account, so it went through. I came home to find that cable, internet, and phone were all disconnected! So I called Comcast, and they gave me no explanation. The customer service person told me that they would put a trace on the payment, and then she asked if this was a good number to reach me at. I tried to explain that no, it wouldn’t be, if it’s disconnected, but she’d already hung up on me! Aaaaaaarrrrgggghhhh! CUSTOMER SERVICE FAIL!

So they’ve apparently turned the interwebs and TV back on, but the phone is still off. I’m trying to count to a million before calling them back, because I’m afraid that will not go well if I don’t decompress first. But, I’m not going to decompress until A) this is resolved and B) I get an apology.

Photography

Pens and Nibs

Shelly

IMG_4167

IMG_4164

One of my coworkers is helping her mother clean out her home, in preparation for moving to a retirement community. Apparently, her parents had a hard time throwing anything away, so there is a lot of stuff to sort through. She’s been bringing me odds and ends of art supplies, as she comes across them. Today’s treasure was a small Faber Castell tin with dip pens and nibs, along with a handful of old watercolor brushes.

Music

Pentatonic Scale

Shelly


World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale

Andy sent me a link to this video, and I finally had time to go watch it. I have to admit that seeing “Bobby McFerrin” in the URL made me a little apprehensive (Oh noes! Not another horrible ear worm!), but my fears were for naught. I promise, it won’t hurt, and in fact, it’s pretty damn cool.