Art I suck

My hearing is over, 3 weeks of panic over, much relief. I am not unhappy with how I did but that does not mean I did well. All I can see is what i should have done, done better, and done sooner. All I hope is that I don't get yelled at.

I've had shit internet connection while here - the ethernet isn't working, the wireless drops faster than a hot poe tay toe - while I get a signal, it always fails to establish a connection. One connection I saw popping up on occasion, encrypted, was hotshops. Behind the Omaha, NE, homewood suites they are installing a sprinkler system under the fresh dead sod. Also behind the Omaha, NE, homewood suites is an art studio.

After the hearing I dropped my coworker off at the airport, took a nap, and ran 4 miles. Well, I ran 2 miles, then I ran back. I was huffing at the end (could still taste lunch, bad when you're running) so I kept walking a little to work off the run. I kept walking to the arty stuff.

Omaha has lots of preserved and converted industrial areas. Lofts, like in Toronto, appear here and there. When I went behind the hotel -
The hotel is beside some railroad tracks - I've been hearing and watching trains
- I saw sculptures around the building. I followed the sculptures, and building, past the red vw bug with ladybugs on the dashboard, until I saw the door to hot stops art center. I peered through the window for a bit not sure if you could go in. I went in and a sign noted you can wander anywhere so long as the door is open. I did, passing a series of paintings of skateboarding ventures to start. I wandered around looking at everything, glass, metal, junk sculptures, photos and paintings galore. I talked to a woman that did glass - she had some neat designs, triangle plates that were cats, a gecko bowl (hi Sue), and she told me the 3 story building was bought by a group and now 45 or so artists inhabited the location doing and showing various art. they're doing a formal open house May 3 & 4 if you happen to be in Omaha, NE.

I think I'm everything that sucks about art. I like art, but know nothing about it. I almost never buy it. Half the time I see something, like the painted aztec masks made of soda bottles, or the sculpture made of painted circuit boards, I just want to make it myself - isn't that stealing the idea? One thing that just floored me was a wooden box with camera lenses inserted on 3 sides - it was lit inside and you could see different things if you looked in each lens.

If you suck as an artist - use an unusual media. Everyone takes pictures so you can be criticized (and chances are, you really do suck) if you do photography. Many paint, even more sketch. However, the market of people that sodder vacuum cleaner parts together is much smaller.

One thing that really sucks about me in this particular art studio is that I'm borderline more fascinated in the building than the art in it. It has ancient brick in interesting patterns. It has weighted industrial fire doors - the giant metal doors are hanging on wheels that rest in tracks that slope down. I guess if there is a fire, the rope burns, and the giant metal door slides downhill and covers the door. They. Look. So. Cool. The stairs are distressed wood - not fashion acid-washed vinyl home depot distressed, old wood cut down from forests, made into stairs for going up a factory floor, walked over and shit dropped on for 50 years distressed. The building was just made as a factory, but it has more architectural details than a modern office building. There is much art for me to appreciate in the building full of art before you get to the art in the building.

But I suck. I'm more of an art groupie. I like art in a general sense, but don't educate myself. I don't do art. I just kinda of look around, enjoying the art for free. In fact, I sort of like looking at myself looking at art. Maybe I just like art because I think, mistakenly, that art somehow makes me pretty.

Steve recently asked for pictures of his art in various locations since so many of us have bought some of it. I keep wanting to but never quite finding the piece I want of his stuff - but it just occurred to me I do wear a t-shirt I bought from him to this day. I should take a pic of that when I get the webcam set up. You see, then I'll be working on my favorite subject.

Look, at me looking.