Just Doing It

Feb 24 2015

Hardly Working

By melissasasichambers New Orleans Sojourn

Mike is back to his regular work schedule — albeit from a tiny “desk” in the corner of our tiny bedroom, and I am also beginning to get a little work done. Well, a tiny bit of work done.

Don’t give me that look!

As you might imagine, there are quite a few distractions here, which come to think of it, are what we came here for! Well, inspiring distractions anyway.

I got a Library card yesterday, and this Mardi Gras bead Indian by JEM Bead Art was in the reading room.

Our friend Joy played tour guide and chauffer for me, and after our stop at the Library we got Lattes at Fair Grinds (near the Fair Grounds where we see Jazz Fest) and walked through the Sculpture Garden by the NOMA…

We Stand Together, 2005 by George Rodrigue

Karma, 2011 by Do-Ho Suh

Window with Ladder – Too Late for Help, 2006 Leandro Erlich

Standing Man with Radiating Words, 2006 Leslie Dill

Three Figures and Four Benches, 1979 George Segal

Tree of Necklaces, 2002 Jean-Michel Othoneil

Nice, right? But what I love most about New Orleans is that no one feels like they have to wait around for “Them” to provide what ever “it” is for us.

In New Orleans everybody’s “just doing it”…

and we like it like dat!

Jan 24 2015

New Habit

By melissasasichambers Everything Else

I’m still getting used to being my own boss. I’ve mostly managed to stay out of my own way, which is important since I’m not fond of being told what to do. I do have certain expectations about how much attention I pay to the whole “making art” thang but I purposely don’t have specific “numbers” associated with my production — no number of pieces by a particular date, or amount of money I need to earn. It’s still numbers that come to mind though when I evaluate how I’m doing. That’s something I want to change. Sometimes old habits can really kick your ass, and new habits take longer than you think to instill.

Since the New Year I’ve been very productive. I’ve not felt pressured so my process has been relaxed, and even though I have put in lots of hours it hasn’t felt like work. It’s been FUN. More than fun, it’s been that satisfying “all is right with my world” feeling at the end of the day. THAT feeling is how I want to “evaluate how I’m doing.” If I can continue to feel that way then I must be a damn fine boss, right? I’ll keep you posted.

So far I’ve finished a big new Pom Pow blanket, “Clown Daddy”…

Also my second Treefort tarp, formerly known as “Winter Trees’ Dreams of Spring”…

now has a Second Life as “The Unconscious Arsonist” (details)….

TVAA has a juried exhibtion, “Menagerie,” coming up and I did a brand new tarp for it titled “Sss(mmm)sss…”….

It’s big, 10 feet by 3 1/2 feet, so here it is in sections:

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about looking at life from new angles — choosing different perspectives from our usual choices in a way that gets us out of our ruts. I don’t think we should waste our time feeling pressured to do things just so we can say we did. I do think we should DO the things we can’t stop thinking about (the life enhancing, won’t hurt anybody including you, things) in spite of the naysayers. And I think sometimes it helps to actively choose your new perspective.

Well, I’ve put making art that only stresses me out on my Fuck-it List, I’m Just Doing the kind of art that I can’t wait to get out of my head and into the world, and I make sure I get at least a couple of hours of play done every day in my studio.

I’m making a choice: instead of letting my old habits kick me in the ass, I’m going to make it my new habit to kick ass.