BUSY BUSY BUSY

Now that I'm back from the TMEA conference in San Antonio,  it's time to get busy.  Off to a good start already!  First stop:  Houston City Hall to retrieve my art that has been on display for the past 9 months.

Painting the Walls on a Rainy Winter Day

I was busy painting the walls back white today in my space at Spring Street Studios.
So, what is....

 ?

Keep watching and reading.  I'll be unveiling the new name for my space and announcing my first Experience very soon.

Art Market Illness

I have been following the Facebook/Twitter posts of art critic Jerry Saltz for several months now.  He is one of the only critics I like because he speaks very bluntly about art topics as he sees them himself.  He doesn't appear to be on the same Art World Bandwagon as many of his contemporaries.  Well, today he posted this story about Art Flippers.  The article draws comparisons between today's frantic art market(only the biggest names, mind you) and financial bubble.  What do you think of the hysteria?  I think it's an old institution's last gasp.

Cleaning House

There is a Buddhist adage that states "If you have nothing else to do- sweep."  Another more aggressive version would be "Idle hands are the devil's playground."  I was feeling a bit uninspired today, so I decided to tackle my bedroom which has been in need of a good thorough cleaning.  I eliminated so much from my closet that I either can't wear, won't wear, or was just plain too old.  The interesting thing about old shirts, if you wear deodorant, is that the underarm area sparkles from all the aluminum that builds up over time.  I decided to capture this and share it with all of you:

Now a little something for your ears: 

Faithless: "Sweep"

Millennial-Minded

Good evening everyone.  I recently rediscovered one of my favorite artists, Hennessy Youngman yesterday and have been catching up on all the videos of his I've missed on YouTube.  Although, I was born in 1977, I am very much in line with the Millennial generation's mindset.  I love how Hennessy lays it all out to the Art Establishment in a very blunt and truthful way.  This video can also be a hint to what you can expect from me.  Experiences.  Art that can be made to fit people instead of vice-versa.  What do you think?

NEWS, AND SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT

I hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!  I know many of you are looking forward to the Super Bowl, but I'm just excited to have some great weather to enjoy on this February 1.  I'm wearing shorts and writing this blog on my patio.  First, the news.  I will soon be revealing the new name and logo for my space formally known simply as Will Brooks Art Studio.  I am also quite busy finalizing all of the elements of my inaugural project.  All details must be considered thoroughly to ensure a Will Brooks Art quality experience.  I am 90% sure that the first show will be invitation only.  However, if all goes according to plan, that show and many to follow will be streamed live.
Now for the thought of the day:  I saw this story as a post on a fellow artist's Facebook page, and thought it was quite relevant to my new art direction.  What do you think about the interaction between viewer and art in our society?  I will agree that this was inappropriate conduct in this environment even though it was funny that the child simply saw a space to play in.  I want to take art from something to stand and observe to something that is an action and experience.  Wouldn't you like to be able to interact with art and create?  I'm waging my career on the hypothesis that people are ready to experience art in a new way.  More info coming soon.

My Stuffed Frog

Monday I shared a link discussing people's favorite personal Teddy Bears.  Today, I thought I would share the story of my favorite stuffed animal as a child.  When I was 4, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur.  I remember being told that I needed to have surgery and that it had to be done in New Orleans, LA.  Having been born 4 hours away and being so young, I had no idea what any of that talk really entailed.  I knew I should be worried though because my parents were.  Pediatric open-heart surgery was complicated for 1982 and there was only one doctor at Tulane University- Doctor Brunswick, whom I do not remember, but wish I did.  Anyway, I do not remember much of the pre-op besides being taken on a gurney to the operating room.  I was frightened because I had already been incubated and was unable to speak.  I remember being very frightened and crying and not taking my eye off of my Mom.  The next thing I remember was the after image of a very bright light, which I assume was the operating light.  Then, the very next thing I can remember was lying in a bed on my back and staring up and seeing a stuffed frog dangling over my head.  My Dad had gone down to the gift shop and bought it- I suppose thinking it would keep me distracted.  Over the short time I was in the hospital(I was told I had recovered exceptionally fast), I remember being flooded with gifts from all kinds of people- relatives, church folk from the church my family attended at the time.  I had never received so many gifts at once in my life- a record still held to this date!  However, the only one I can recollect is the frog.  A few years ago, my Mom put together some boxes of my 'stuff' so that I could take it back home with me - an exercise of letting go for my Mom.  In the box, among many other childhood toys was the frog which still looks remarkably well for being over 30 years old.  If any of you have any interesting, crazy, or funny stories about your favorite stuffed animal, please feel free to share it.  I would love to read your stories in the comments.