the decemberists, 'the king is dead'

This album has been streaming free on NPR music: Frist Listen. It feels lighter than their previous work with a grounding in American folk. I can't get enough.

Supakitch and Koralie

SUPAKITCH & KORALIE - VÄRLDSKULTUR MUSEET GÖTEBORG from elr°y on Vimeo.

this couple is from sweden and they are pretty rad. i want to do this!

a single man

what do you do when you are stripped of the love and goodness you found in the world? when your heart is in despair, how do you look on the bright side? in the end, it is the trite, seemingly insignificant things that get us through. a single man makes me remember: it's the small things that count.

"...so many things are possible so long as you don't know they're impossible."

Recently I took a journey through a phantom tollbooth with a little boy named Milp. I met friends Tock & Humbug. With these new found friends we traveled through unknown lands. Starting at the Kingdom of Wisdom, we saw the cites Dictionopolis and Digitopolis. These two cities were ruled by brothers both believing their land was greater than the other and who had banished their sisters Rhyme and Reason, resulting in disorder throughout the lands. Many magical and unusual occurrences were had. One of my favorites being when Chroma the Great conducted his orchestra of colors. We knew our goal must be to bring the sisters back to the land when more and more we saw the un-right state of these two towns. Making our way through the Mountains of Ignorance, many demons tried to steal our motive and distract us from our purpose. One in particular struck me as interesting: the Gelatinous Giant. This enormous beast tried so hard to instil fear into us by his great presence. When we talked further with him, however, we learned that he was the one who feared- he feared change. Finally, after many great obstacles, we made it to the Castle in the Air to recover the sisters. On our return there was much rejoicing and the kings told us something very important. They said our task was an impossible one and no one else would have even dared to accomplish it. Yet, "...so many things are possible so long as you don't know they're impossible."

I found the unassuming tale The Phantom Tollbooth a wonderful, encouraging story of overcoming those things that stand in our way. Being a creative person, it was especially poignant. Being able to name the things that distract and separate them from the things that assist is vital. This book breathes life and speaks truth to the creative process. What a great find!

Steps

All too much I grow frustrated with myself and become upset when I expect too much. I want to be great, and I want to be great now: I am a product of my culture's wanting instant gratification. Learning, however, takes time and energy and patience and endurance and focus and, and, and... When I take a minute, what I really long for is space to slow, to breathe, to give myself time.

I went skiing on Mt. Rainier yesterday (my first time in the back-country) and I was frustrated that I wasn't as accomplished as the others. I wasn't able to 'enjoy' our experience on the same level. My longing for sameness actually only defined more clearly my separateness. The goal must be to accept my situation. Accept where I am and move forward. Only there will I be able to take the first step.

I need to apply this to my life as an artist too. I see where I am not and grow frustrated, my fear prevents progress.

The goal: accept my situation and relinquish fear in order to take ONE step at a time.

learning to ignore everybody

"Work hard. Keep at it. Live simply and quietly. Remain humble. Stay positive. Create your own luck. Be nice. Be positive."

This quote is from the book I just finished reading: Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh Mac Leod. It has struck meas quite profound application for my life right now. It is simple advice that will take work to accomplish. I think I am ready for this next step in my life. I guess we shall all see...

see his website here.

longing for art again.

This website was a great find to me- it is a collection of works from artist all over who just want to share works and be seen. It is fabulous.

brooklyn art project