Some of you know some of you don’t, I have a thing for churches and sacred spaces. In the near future I will be moving home for better job prospects, and to zen my soul for a bit. It dawned on me today; I have never checked out the churches in kcmo that have spiked my interest. This is my mission for my remaining time here to view these churches, take reverence in them and to document them as future resources. Ill post my findings here.

Top Churches to see

1. The big catholic church on Broadway, I think its name is Our Lady of Benevolent Sorrows or something
2. The gigantic Mormon temple out in Independence, I probably have no chance at seeing the sanctuary but Im going to try like hell to see that nautilus ceiling
3. Community Christian on the Plaza- I grew up going to this church, It was originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
4. McMurry Methodist another church I grew up going too it is fantastically 70’s through and through

There will probably be more but four is a good number to start with

Once I get back to Maryland I will document the sacred places there too starting with the church I grew up in, the Basilica in Baltimore and Christ’s Church in Annapolis.

Anxiety is killing me, insomnia is not helping, job search demoralizing I’m throwing in the towel.

I decided Wednesday after a panic attack: I’m moving home.  I can’t take the midwest anymore. I’m home sick. I’ve been home sick since my grandma died. It was hard being out here by myself when that happened and not having people around me to support me through it was even harder. I miss home. KC has never been my home, I’ve never felt comfortable or a connection here. I miss the buzz of the big cities, the sounds of the light rail whooshing past, the look of the sun setting on the bay. I miss my best friends, my Maryland grandparents, the beach and beach fries.

I feel bad in leaving, I hate that I will be leaving my dad and my grandma. It was nice to live with them for a bit and to see them on a daily basis . I will miss them dearly, especially getting to go places with my dad and the going to the movies with him. I’ve treasured spending my time with him and I know it pains him that I’m leaving to go back home. It’s been nice to let our relationship heal.

Moving home will hopefully be a good move. It’s not permanent it’s just a resting area where I will regroup, strategize and make my next move to either grad school or a decent job someplace else. As much as I like Baltimore, I’ve always known I won’t stay there forever.

I finally put those creative juices to good use and carved pumpkins for halloween. I think they turned out well

I forgot how bad pumpkin guts smell, and that the bigger the pumpkin the thicker the shell...ooops

All four pumpkins (l-r) Hello Kitty Pumpkin, Where the Wild Things Are Pumpkin, Spock Pumpkin and Snoopy Pumpkin

Hello Kitty Pumpkin. This one I etched the image onto the pumpkin using a lino cutter.

Boo!

I let my inner geek out and carved the live long and prosper hand. Yes I am that big of a dork. If I had, had one more pumpkin I probably would have carved Yoda's head into it.

I carved this for my grandma for her churches harvest party and forgot to get a decent picture of it before it went all ookie

I’m getting that itch again.

That itch to make.

It feels good.

It’s been along time since I have had the want to make.

What do I want to make?

A couple weekends ago my dad, his girlfriend Darla, her daughter Maryl and I took a trip to Des Monies to see the Broadway tour of Wicked. For those who don’t, Wicked is a musical about the lives of the witches of Oz before Dorthy dropped in. I can say without a doubt I had the best seat of my theatre going life (so far I’m only 23) at that production: 3 rows back from the stage dead center. I almost cried out of pure joy in the fact I could see the detailing on the costumes and sets.  If you haven’t seen this musical go see it because you will be blown away by it.

While in Des Monies we watched Abigail Breslin film scenes for her next film Janie Jones and we went to the Botanical Garden. I loved the botanical garden, why can’t Kansas City have one? Or if it does where is it? Favorite plants at the garden: the screw pine-hands down the coolest plant I have ever seen, the Vanilla Orchid-I didn’t know vanilla was an orchid, and the Banana Tree.

On October 7 at 8/7c PBS will show two episodes of Craft In America. Please watch this! My former Porfesser Cary Esser is featured as well as my Alma Mater: the Kansas City Art Institute.

The director of the segment is interviewing Victor Babu

This was taken on one of the two days the Craft in America crew was filming, one of the producers owns a gallery in California? she was speaking to us about gallery representation. Notice how we all look so nice and clean? On both filming days the entire studio was dressed to the 9' it seemed which is funny for a bunch of dirty ceramics kids.

I’m sorry faithful readers, if there are any, that I have been so bad about updating this regularly.

I have been looking for a job, and had no, zip, zilch, nada bites yet. Not even and interview. WTF? JC Penny’s didn’t even want me, again I ask WTF?! seriously? I have a college degree. I can fluff and fold with the best of them. I shop at your store. What’s wrong with me? And another thing and this is to ALL employers out there what’s up with this putting up a “WE’RE HIRING INQUIRE WITHIN” sign and then telling the perspective applicant to go home and apply online. WTF?!!!! Do you know what apply online means to those of us desperate for work it means 20 minutes-hour of time we could be doing other things like looking for other jobs filling out your online app and stupid personality test! It means a guaranteed we will not call you, a because of the volume of applicants we can not tell you why you were not chosen and a don’t call us.

Another thing what’s with this “accepting applications” stuff. Do you know what that means?  It means I just spent 30 minutes filling out your application for a NON-EXISTANT position, and that you may or may not call me if something becomes available, And just incase something does open up you’ll keep my application on file along with 4 billion other ones. Maybe my name will come up one day……..when I’m 50.

I’m sorry dear readers I had to get that out because looking for a job has been the most demoralizing, self esteem killing experience I have ever had. I know a lot of people out there are looking for work. People like me who are college educated, skilled employees who don’t want to throw in the towel and work at Wal-Mart and who shouldn’t have to say do you want fries with that? just to make some money. I realize I am young and new to the work force, but competing against people my parent’s age for the same job is not fair to me or them.

I’m going to climb down from my soap box now………..

I recently took a trip to the Des Monies Art Center to see the Tara Donovan exhibit. I cannot begin to tell you how her work has affected me as an artist nor how seeing this exhibition has helped me understand my work and place it into context.

My favorite piece was entitled Haze, and completely made of drinking straws.  The beauty of this piece is indescribable, The words that come mind are etherial, heavenly and mystical.  Like something you might see when entering the twilight zone(no not the stupid vampire movie, okay maybe the Bermuda triangle is a better smilie).

Haze by Tara Donovan 2003

Other pieces I really liked at the Art Center where: Francis Bacon’s Study After Velasquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X, Jeff Koons Vacuum’s, and one of the actual subway drawings from Keith Haring.

It’s been 3 months since I posted on here, wow that is a long time! I blame my absence on the fact I pretty much lost it (and by “it” I mean my sanity, and will to make art) at the end of my exhibition semester, and have been hibernating and job hunting. 

The job search btw, completely sucks. I have no idea what I’m doing. I just want something so I can pay my bills right now, and start saving for those enormous student loan bills I will be receiving in October. any suggestions? 

I realize now I am graduated this site needs a fix-up, so be on the look out; I’ll be posting new things and deleting old things over the next week or so.