Do something.

So, I've been sick. 

The kind that sounds dumb. the kind that is really no big deal- 

I have a cold. 

But woah. colds can be fierce. and I believe there is a cold scale.

they range from 1- "can I borrow a tissue?"

to 10- "I will NEVER get well. just cut off my head I am nauseated and miserable and barely able to function/ my throat is on fire!"

In an attempt to play it cool, I am somewhere in the middle (with a desire to define my state of being closer to 10. sh)

I have literally had 6 popsicles today. This was practicing restraint.

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So, in more important news,  there is a lot of business to get to. And I am very excited and inspired for a week of concentration on a new series.

A series that will be released in March. 

SNEAK PEEK

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But, the purpose of this post today is to honor the spirit of

one of my favorite people that ever lived. 

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

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To me, the lowest day of life. That would be a day in which you do not dream. 

when you have nothing to reach for. 

when you stand still. 

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I am empowered by the words of this man. 

I am moved by his faith. passion. eloquence. and bravery.

His sermons are beautiful.

He is one person that inspires my work.

So, in honor, 

Here is a tribute to some of his brilliant and wise thoughts of peace and justice.

*It is very hard for me to edit this post.

 And I want to add the disclaimer that I will not be including everything I wish I could.

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from his sermon,  Paul's Letter to American Christians, November, 4, 1956:

(this sermon written by King is in the form of an imaginary letter written by the Apostle Paul)

Never succumb to the temptation of becoming bitter. As you press on for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapon of love. Let no man pull you so low as to hate him. Always avoid violence. If you succumb to the temptation of using violence in your struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos.

I think about such words when political struggles become angry. 

When they become about opposition and "winning": as a party- instead of as a people.

Because most of us agree. But unfortunately, we hold onto ideas that there should be some major division. 

That the justification of our side is the presence of an opposing side.

As one side gets "ahead", the other is fired up. As the other is "ahead", the first is fired up. 

.....

Let us always be fired up. 

but for justice.      Not by anger.

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In times where you may have been oppressed or witnessed oppression. In times that seem unforgivable,

King says-

In your struggle for justice, let your oppressor know that you are not attempting to defeat or humiliate him, or even to pay him back for injustices that he has heaped upon you. Let him know that you are merely seeking justice for him as well as yourself. 

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And remember, these are words from King, but they are written as if from the Apostle Paul~

Honesty impels me to admit that such a stand will require willingness to suffer and sacrifice. So don't despair if you are condemned and persecuted for righteousness' sake. Whenever you take a stand for truth and justice, you are liable to scorn. Often you will be called an impractical idealist or a dangerous radical. 

....

Don't worry about persecution America; you are going to have that if you stand up for a great principle. I can say this with some authority, because my life was a continual round of persecutions.

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I don't profess to always be right. 

or to always do right.

But I love the words of this man. I love what he stands for. and I am moved by him. 

So let these words from Martin Luther King move you today - 

from “The Drum Major Instinct"

4 February 1968

And so Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness. If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. (Amen) That's a new definition of greatness.

And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, (Everybody) because everybody can serve. (Amen) You don't have to have a college degree to serve. (All right) You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. (Amen) You only need a heart full of grace, (Yes, sir, Amen) a soul generated by love. (Yes) And you can be that servant.

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and whatever you dream. 

dream on.

but, yes, dream.

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Some of my friends are made of cardboard.

Yes. I said. Some of my friends are made of cardboard. 

I will not say which ones.

someone's hipster streak is in high gear right now. 

When they are done with their jobs on stage... they work in the studio when I need their opinions. or support.

see in the top left corner... he's running his mouth. It's ok. usually... he is right. 

I am getting used to waking up and breaking into an " IM LATE FOR WORK" sweat.

false alarm. 

I am not late. 

Want to know something really hilariously lame but something that is very true?

I never skipped a class in college. 

I DIDNT WANT TO MISS ANYTHING. 

Once I ran out of French class. 

Let's just say I had Sunny D that morning. and happened to see it again later.

And Once I overslept 8 am Sociology. 

and cried.

my roommate Jameson can tell you. she talked me off the ledge.

Anyways. I'm on my own schedule now. 

Which is a huge responsibility. 

And because I took the risk, I am not taking advantage.

And because I took the risk, I can't afford to be any version of lazy.

Speaking of...

I'm taking part in this.

A SKETCHBOOK TOUR

So I have to crank out the rest of my book to get it to Georgia. 

You get a theme (from a list). 

and a book. 

And a bio. 

And you get to be on tour. I am going to be on a bus I think. 

(IN MY MIND.) 

I chose my theme easily. 

I am totally aware my rabbits are precious and creepy all at once. 

I have always been fond of nightmarish things. 

But, like, friendly monsters.

you know. Dracula made of glitter. 

That sort of mix.

Here is a peek into my sketchbook. 

Again, the theme is nightmare. But that is just a theme. and not a literal boundary. So I made it a little biographical metaphor of risk. and fear. and lovely things.

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In other news. I am working on staying organized.

     my notes are everywhere. look in the top left corner of this portfolio

This one below is new to you.

but not new to my mom.

She got it for Christmas. 

But you can get a print framed for YOUR mom.

(my mom is cool with just the one. but I am sure she will accept lottery scratchers in place of more of these) 

Here are more examples of framed prints:

(framed 16" x 20" print of a blog drawing.)

And I have to jet... because my sketchbook characters are getting irritated.

 

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Trial and Error

Look. Sometimes you have to just try. 

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For me. This time around. 

I am doing a lot of trying. 

And a lot of erroring.

Unbeknownst to spellcheck THAT IS A WORD, erroring.

Unbeknownst looks a lot worse than erroring. like the alphabet threw up a little. Those red dotted underlines can get off my page right now because I have some things to say and they are making me edit my thoughts. and my invented words.

SPELLCHECK , ha! TAKE SOME OF YOUR OWN MEDS. 

......... 

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Currently- I am working on a print that will honor the amazing children 

and all of those who are battling a certain fight. 

More details about this will be in my next post. 

I stayed up forever late working on finishing it and realized at 2 that it was ok to scratch it and start over. 

because I had better plans for it. 

And I occasionally make things a 2nd grader could make. blindfolded. with a melting popsicle in both hands.

So. it is on the way. I can assure you as I formally set a personal deadline of : soon.

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In other news: 

I talk about framing my prints ( on the right hand side of this blog and on my website.)

and now, I have some examples to show you.

I use fabric. and mount the piece so there is a bit peeking out.

For a little punch.

excuse the glare. Ew.

They're all one-of-a-kind when they are framed with the different fabrics. 

See.

So if you order one this way... it is a surprise what you will get behind your print. 

Working for yourself is 

part glamorous

 part WHAT AM I DOING!? 

Wait. I will make it more clear in a graph. 

For you who are visually inclined or very exact mathematicians.

title of graph: HOW IT FEELS TO QUIT YOUR DAYJOB AND TAKE A LEAP.

So, see what I mean. 

basically- rocking out.

trial and error. 

But rocking out.

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staying focused.

Rain. I do not mind you. In fact. I love you.

My New Year.

feels like this.


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Last year was big.


art.art.art.art.art.art.art.art.art.art.art.art.art.art.art.




The birth of THIS BLOG- Riding Bareback Beside a Train




I didn't want this blog to be a diary, or journal. But I wanted it to be real. and sort of sticky.




Are We Bourgeois, Mon Amour? theater/puppet design.



hey you- read about an ultimate collaboration: our mockumentary ran a 10k.




my canvas squirrel traveled to a contest and won some amazing fabric from Brooklyn General Store




A video interview.




A print went to Norway. via the blog world.. look ma, I have a real blog.




Art director at MADD camp. kids are crazy. I support that.




I handmade 23987129 bajillion business cards.




made Carousel Series.




Production/puppet work with show- Bethlehem or Bust.




Costume work- baby Michael Jackson. ridiculous.




Emancipatory Politics set design.



and 


* I just quit my day job. *


yes,
this year will be bigger.