Homelessness

I post for the time being as I venture into unchosen, unwarranted, circumstantial homelessness today, an essay on my own homelessness.
Many voices are sending their words of love and support to me. If you have such words, please post them here.
There is also room for other responses, especially to solution-find with me. Understand that within reasonable measure of my own endeavors along with your support, my conditions in this state will not persist for very long at all!

I will close by leaving a copy of a posting I submitted concerning my own impending homelessness to the local craigslist. It is confounding to me to realize what is happening in my life as the artist in America in the 21st Century. Arriving at this moment, I can see that in my future creative work, a book and a painting series will come out of what I've learned so far. For the sake of America's well being, invest your spirit and faith in what this country stands for in all her ideal by considering in your own communities, the pro-active ways you support the artists' fiscal access to an income much the way a plumber and electrician are enabled to support themselves:

My craigslist post of July 22, 2008:

A Call For Social Justice

Date: 2008-07-22, 4:28PM PDT

I am a fifty-three year old woman who has very recently completed 20 years of full time, single parenting_ yet not parenting itself, as one can never "complete" parenting. During that twenty years, I earned my undergrad degree and home-schooled my child. I built my foundation as a producing, exhibiting bartering/selling artist, while I negotiated all levels of cultural exposure, choices and access for my child through on-going activities and travel that has only added to the quality of experiences with which my child has grown up. I am skills-rich where work is concerned, and I have done more years of therapy, self-examination and spiritual enlightenment discipline, than many people my age it seems. In a nutshell, my child now a young adult, is doing quite well at a very good college with lots of scholarships. Likewise, I have finally been freed up to rejoin the world of healthy social connection and most importantly to work long and well! I relish this part of my path, except the on-going threat of homelessness that shadows my every step right now.
After many months of struggle pertinent to me, I have at last found wonderful employment. Yet, the benevolence of one who has housed me in my efforts to transition from a small town to the "bigger city" where more employment choices abound, has run its reasonable course. I must leave this coming week-end: 7/25/08.
I have titled my plea for reasonably supportive access, "A Call For Social Justice," because this seems to be all too common a scenario out here: women who have sacrificed willingly for the well-being of family to be faced with an uncaring society in large measure. This is simply a reality-based recognition. I understand the system very well, having made myself unfit for it by virtue of its challenges that a recipient better one's life. My own background of understanding, isolation and lack of traditional forms of support coming into this nature of experiences so many years ago, also plays a role. In effect, I am truly as unique as anyone in this world.
In greater advocacy for the well-being of our collective humanity, I do call on the greater community to cognizant(ly) recognize the wealth that is here in this society among everyone who is working, earning benefits, and able to care for a family. There are those among you all, who have gone without all those traditional mechanisms of support, courageously, ingeniously, persistently providing for self and family against all the odds, that have in other ways evolved by forced choice, yet have made it heroically nonetheless, most of the way to responsible social participation. I personally have done this in ways from which even the most materially successful, can learn. Creative business people take note. I embody those ways that can inform solution-building processes that do not have to leave human lives on the street with no place safe to live.
At this juncture, at this moment, I need your help to get into my own place to live in order to complete my return to responsible social participation. I may even have help for your own enlightenment on compassion, beginning with your own self. Simply. Not judgmentally_ that informs how others can also find solution for homelessness, for reasonable social access, education, and in natural health resources. Portland, you are not as enlightened or as organized or as motivated as you market yourself in the media. Please hear my in-earnest plea, for reasonably accessible support, to get on with my own successes for self and my child. Let us open a door together on possibility that can only result in what is always bigger than what any one of us can ever accomplish alone. My position of resource-lessness at this moment in my life, is truly only in-part, a reflection of my individual choice-making. Will you meet me in this opportunity where I am right now? To step into solution-building with me is to learn what is possible together for (your) own self and many more!
I am hopeful for this city and our country. I hope you will respond to my call for social justice, as compassionately as you know how. I am yearning for this in earnest.

Namasté


Look over my new blog. It is my calling card for a more streamlined manner by which to be self-employed; to offer my creative services in a manner to meet regular folks incomes where they may be during this down turned market.

Rufus, the final sketches- a comparative

If you have been keeping up with the process and progress of Rufus' portrait, his painting two-thirds complete_ is on-hold for now. I am so disappointed. Rightfully, albeit graciously, so is my client.
Even though the canvas as I say is two-thirds complete, and I have completed all four of the full-color drawings I knew I wanted to do in order to learn this dog, and get myself back into the habit of looking, seeing, and drawing in order to paint after nine years(!)_ it just got to be too tough to get through a creative project without my own roof over my own head! All the while attempting to keep up with a traditional job search, living in someone else's home who is unyielding and quite giving in real limitation, (yes it is a paradox!)_ think though, for the past twenty years I have been sovereign in my own queen-dom! Nonetheless, as awkward and disappointing as everything is right now, I am equally_ awkwardly grateful!
It is such a huge transition I am making in my life, and I really don't have quite the adequate resources to do it properly, to be affective economically and individually at the same time! I am pulled in too many directions where just an ounce of right resource support would make a universe of difference for the better!!
I think over and over, between meditating and looking for work I could sure do with an old-fashioned rescue: re-defined in an updated and healthy context! (i., e.; No obligations of sex for money or marriage, kind-of-fantasy_ bluntly put.) Just intelligent, human being-to-human being trust in the invested, based on my track record! Just plainly and simply, because you can and want to, and that is fulfillment enough for you.
Meanwhile, as sad as it feels not to be finishing this project and beautiful portrait, still(!) in the making, I will come back to Rufus when I am reestablished in my own place! I am a follow-through person. My client, has at least assuaged me with a good-hearted agreement to revisit this possibility, when that wonderful time comes.

As the wheel turns and I embrace the traditional job search full time again, I have also put out a new calling card/ business in art, to keep creatively active and try another approach to earning money by my trade. This approach is in a more streamlined manner, and meant to accompany the renewed full time search for the job-job_ the details of my newest hunger to be creatively fulfilled, can be found sketched out_ here. It is what I call painting the muralette: small murals, commemorating what is important in your life, for a set price! Done inside your home or office in a four-hour turn around from hire to finish! Simple, memorable, pleasurable imagery!

So come on world, be open enough! Be awake enough! Be brave enough! Allow in beauty enough to celebrate your world! Be open-minded enough! Support the artist enough!
Do you know how you got your favorite anything in your world? Design! Someone creative had to put the intelligence into making any object you may take for granted. It has to be functional for your use! That is all about design. So how valuable is the artist in community?!
Listen, most all artists do earnestly want to work for a living (doing their own work) and thereby be financially able to independently provide themselves their own place to live. How hard is that?! It's wanting a life that works, just like everyone else. Therefore, check out my new muralette idea and hire the artist! Thanks_ really!

By the way, I have posted all four of those color studies of Rufus on this blog. You can see them in the scrolling slide show at the top, or you can go back to December '07 and look over the progress posted to this blog, through the months to June '08. Again, thanks for your interest and support of goodwill at the very least! Hire the artist to assist you in beautifying your world! Celebrate! This is your life!

The Launch of a New Project blog

Ok! Here it is! I got the site launched late last night. There are rough spots perhaps, yet I wanted to get the idea out there no matter what. Being good at what I do, I would rather get out there and connect with people so I can help others to enjoy in their special moments in life!
Use these muralettes as gifts for yourself, someone you love, a friend or special person you care about, a boss or someone in your life to whom you wish to communicate something special; something important to you both!

I will be launching this idea on craigslist in the next few minutes, so I look forward to hearing from you!
I am really excited about the journey to paint that special muralette for you, or someone you care about and wish to communicate more than words can say. A special image to be shared and enjoyed about a special place, a special time, special idea, goal, or object of desire in the goodness of the heart!

The Final sketch for the Painting

I will replace this image maybe tomorrow. If one looks closely there is a shadow from the 'batch automation' process!
Yes, that is a Fall season reflecting river with no leaves on the grass! You could say that I was excited to get it finished...! They will be in the painting itself. Still this image deserves a lot of touch-up time in, PhotoShop!
When I do get into the painting tomorrow, I am thinking of giving the light more gold, hence all the colors will appear a little less "Easter egg-ish" in tone; slightly more toned down! Maybe it is just the fallen leaves that are needed and that will tone down the grass.

Impressionist Rufus

In gratitude, I post the latest painting progress!

Get Involved

policy and advocacy

Americans for the Arts Organizes Hearing on Arts Advocacy Day 2008

For the second year in a row, in conjunction with Arts Advocacy Day, Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior hosted a hearing on the importance of investing in the arts. Rep. Dicks once again invited Americans for the Arts to organize witnesses to give testimony before the subcommittee which determines the budget levels for the National Endowment for the Arts. The hearing, Role of the Arts in Fueling Creativity and Innovation, was held on Tuesday, April 1, following the Congressional Arts Breakfast. The entire hearing can be viewed at CSPAN's online archives.

Those testifying and topics addressed were:



Robert RedfordRobert Redford, Chairman of the Sundance Preserve, actor
Mr. Redford is both an Oscar winning filmmaker and the chairman of the Sundance Preserve in Utah. He has been in such notable films as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and also won an Oscar for his directorial debut on Ordinary People. As the chairman of the Sundance Preserve, he is the creator of the noted Film Festival held annually. Mr. Redford spoke to the subcommittee about both the importance of the arts in his life and his work with the Americans for the Arts National Arts Policy Roundtable. Read Mr. Redford’s testimony (pdf).



John Legend

John Legend, musician
Mr. Legend is a five-time Grammy Award winning R&B singer, songwriter, and pianist. His latest album has been certified Platinum and has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Mr. Legend is a member of the Americans for the Arts' Artist Committee and was awarded the Young Artist Award in 2007. He is also the founder of the “Show Me Campaign”—a grassroots movement to fight worldwide economic and spiritual poverty through fostering sustainable development at the individual, family, and small community levels. Mr. Legend discussed the importance of a creative foundation in today’s society and the opportunity to use arts to spread a positive message. Read Mr. Legend’s testimony (pdf).



Kerry WashingtonKerry Washington, actor and filmmaker
Ms. Washington is an emerging actress who has appeared in such films as The Last King of Scotland and Ray. She has also worked behind the scenes as both a director and a producer. Ms. Washington is a member of Americans for the Arts’ Artist Committee and was awarded the Young Artist Award in 2005. While attending George Washington University as a presidential performing arts scholar, Ms. Washington helped create a support system for people of color in the arts called Shades of the Fine Arts. She spoke on how National Endowment funded programs impacted her life and continue to affect children’s participation in the arts. Read Ms. Washington’s testimony (pdf).




Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Mayor of HonoluluMayor Mufi Hannemann
Mayor Hannemann serves as the Chair of the Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He represented the whole U.S. Conference of Mayors when he discussed their new 10-point plan, Strong Cities, Strong Families, for a Strong America, which includes the arts as a driving force for America’s economy and diplomacy. Mayor Hannemann also discussed the example that Hawaii’s arts culture can give to the rest of the country. Read Mayor Hannemann’s testimony (pdf).



Jonathan SpectorJonathan Spector, CEO of The Conference Board
Mr. Spector joined The Conference Board after serving as the vice dean of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a trustee of Wesleyan University and a Board Member of the March of Dimes. He is a former senior partner at McKinsey & Company, and chief executive of two startup technology companies. Mr. Spector also co-authored the 2007 book We Are Smarter Than Me, which addresses the way businesses can harness the power of collective intelligence. Mr. Spector discussed the importance of creative professionals in the workforce and the results of the report Ready to Innovate: Are Educators and Executives Aligned on the Creative Readiness of the U.S. Workforce. Read Mr. Spector’s testimony (pdf).



Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts Robert Lynch
Mr. Lynch discussed the economic impact of the arts (including statistics for some of the subcommittee members’ communities) and the dynamic work of local arts agencies that are providing resources and programs to citizens across the country. Read Mr. Lynch's testimony (pdf).

This is Lame All The Way Around!

Tate Admits Need to Buy More Works by Women Artists

By Arifa Akbar
Monday, 26 March 2007

The trustees of Tate Modern have admitted that the collection fails to give adequate recognition to female artists and that they need to rectify the gender gap.

The gallery's trustees acknowledged the imbalance in the existing collection at a recent board meeting, and have resolved to acquire more works by female painters and sculptors, according to the next issue of The Art newspaper.

Of the 2,914 artists represented in the Tate's collection, only 348 - less than 12 per cent - are women, and only two of the 39 major works bought over the past two years were by female artists.

The initiative was inspired by the need to recognise female talent that had so far gone unacknowledged, the Tate said. "We examine our holdings on a regular basis to identify what may have been overlooked in the past and research what may be available to fill the gaps."

While some contemporary female artists are well represented in the collection - especially those who emerged in the 1990s Young British Artists movement, including Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Rachel Whiteread - those from previous generations are not.




(above photo of) Shibboleth, by sculptor, Doris Salcedo

Those who have been overlooked include the US painter Georgia O'Keeffe, the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, who was the subject of the 2002 Hollywood film Frida, and the British painter Alison Lapper, who received an MBE for services to art in 2003 and was the subject of Marc Quinn's Fourth Plinth project in Trafalgar Square.



Dame Barbara Hepworth, the Cornish sculptor whose major works are displayed at Tate St Ives, is the best represented female artist, with 128 works. The collection holds 31 works by the German performance artist Rebecca Horn, 30 pieces by the Op Art painter Bridget Riley, and 21 and 19 by the Turner Prize winners Rachel Whiteread and Gillian Wearing. There are also 14 works by the early 20th-century Welsh artist Gwen John.

Sir Nicholas Serota, the director of the Tate, said: "It is striking that among the emerging contemporary artists, the gender balance is much more even. And that is pleasing."

A spokeswoman said: "The contemporary female artists are pretty well represented. Historically, it has been difficult prior to the 20th century."

The Tate said its drive to purchase more works by women was not part of a positive discrimination policy. "While we do not stipulate positive discrimination in relation to women artists, we are very concerned to address areas where, historically, women artists may have been neglected."

The two works by female artists acquired by the Tate in the past two years were by Emin, for less than £50,000, and the Spanish artist Christina Iglesias, which cost £115,000.

Tate Modern has staged several exhibitions by women artists including Kahlo and Riley.

The current programme includes displays of works by the Indian artist Amrita Sher-Gill while a show by the English painter Prunella Clough, opened at the weekend.

Tate artists

The best-represented women artists in the Tate are:

* Dame Barbara Hepworth - 128 works

* Rebecca Horn - 31

* Louise Bourgeois - 30

* Bridget Riley - 30

* Cindy Sherman - 29

* Rachel Whiteread - 21

* Gillian Wearing - 19


Prunella Clough, Alison Lapper, Bridget Riley, Rachel Whiteread, Gillian Wearing, Gwen John, Emin, Christina Iglesias, Amrita Sher-Gill

I don't know if it is the cute short list of women artists' works catalogued at the end of this article, or the lack of specificity written about committees looking at...
I left this article wondering where was there even a mention of any intelligent, proactive program at the Tate, not just recognizing but rather, one that is also already collecting_ historic Women Artists works? Then, it wouldn't just be a committee "looking at" the issue would it? Yet, from this article, it really doesn't seems that there is yet to even be such a program at the Tate Modern! Isn't this what is still institutionally still true here?
Not a real program taking specific action(s), to rectify historical prejudices against women artists' works_ right?
So, the lameness I refer to, is making careers out of writing about admissions of inequity. Boring!
This is writing about institutions that are still not doing something relevant. Writing again about facts that have been highlighted in contemporary culture, since the second wave!
Hello young journalist, it is way past time for the details, the specifics on what is being done!
Looking at women as nouns is a tired, tired subject.
Looking at, has been dragging on and on, over the thirty-five years I have been an adult female, working artist!
"Examining the issue", "finding" mere examples of works," "cataloging" those examples by whatever criteria seems important the time," and actually getting the works into the general institutional setting has lain fallow for hundreds of years, even before my lifetime!
How is it relevant that a younger woman-journalist's voice, view, perspective, hunger for a career, comes along again later to say the same things in the new century?
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Don't the young want to write about that instead? Why should your life be just a repeat? How does repeating continue to happen? No, really_ to the extent that one can proactively change old habits? A young collective mindset assumption is rightfully in question here.

I realize the article above does describe committees with quotes even, who are 'looking at the issue'... H-m-m, really?
What quality consciousness is this?! Looking, not doing? This is us, folks!
Is this all anyone really has the courage for, during a lifetime?
Just looking and talking about looking?
Systems, institutions, money-lack-of-consciousness, and change happen all so-o-o very slowly...
First, there is the reactionism to change at all. Then, there is the manipulation of any subject.
Next, seems to come all the varieties of forms that express confirmation that indeed a noble slight has occurred within an environment; a society.
Media manipulation, perspective manipulation and awareness confusion.
These pattern just continue. The goal is to influence all who refuse to see, all who know no better and especially targets those who are newly arrived to the weight, the inertia underneath old, old habits centered in the ego!
You know the ones: "the way it has always been," "the way it has always been done!" "Those in the know, know best and one needs approval from them to go forward!"
No one is in the know!
Anyone holding power, or even imagining themselves as powerful over others, is ultimately only holding onto fear_ even in settings with the best of intentions.
Power and control centered in the ego, is so insidiously endless.
Wake up young journalist to what is possible about the challenges of looking, seeing, understanding_ everyday!! Wake up first! Understand more what it means.

I would love to be independently contracted, housed and fed by the Tate Modern, to research and curate such a project. At least as one active and contributing to the action of collecting the works of women artists; working in an authentically appreciating environment. Undaunted intelligence, flourishing motivation, pro-actively participating in pursuit, acquisition and development of such noble work!
I can draw on my own research skills in addition to contemporary, personal experiences as a woman artist!
I can start if not create, a foundation from which to build a truly, dynamically alive collection of women-centered art. To do so reflects gender balance_ duh!
Again, I bring experience as a researcher of women artists!
Yet, me getting a contract is not going to happen as long as there is the perspective that one is only clamoring to get in. No.
I say outloud to the universe, where are the truly independent teams of women? The courageous, intelligent and motivated? The female dream team of the twenty-first century that is fully self-sufficient monetarily? Women poised and ready to take independent action outside and inside the institutional walls!
As a woman and artist, I do express ego in relation to absolute hunger for greater balance; real tangibility in outer reflection for women like me. Women artists who have been doing what we each do and have done all along!!
I am willing to take action, at the risk of "sounding" lame from my unfunded position on the social spectrum at present.
Again outloud to the universe I say, how long will this walking nightmare of isolationism remain present?!
I am willing and able to actually help build a solid collection of historically representative women artists' works, NOW!
What say you Tate Modern, to contracting an independent woman artist, curator and researcher of women artists' works?
What say you to one completely available to aid in this noble collection-building work in this lifetime?
Oh, one can refer to my post dated May 12, 2008, titled : 3 Lovelies about a woman artist in action; in the verb tense not subject!