I thought maybe I should start a new blog. Not that anyone will read it, and I don't know if I really want anyone to read it, more that its a place I can write about my daily struggles with finding contentment and making the changes in my life nessesary to do so....
Alot has happened since my last post almost exactly 2 years ago....
the biggest thing is that my Mom died.

Today, I am loving New York. Living here is unlike any other place on the planet. I guess one could say that about anyplace, but honestly alot of places are beginning to look an awful lot alike.
Something I really enjoy about NYC is starting conversations with strangers on the train. (or anywhere for that matter) Tonight I was sitting waiting for the G train next to this dude who was reading the paper. I completely unabashedly started reading it with him. It was a comfortable comraderie we were sharing without talking. I broke the silence with a comment about how messed up Iraq is now, how the war has made it ten times worse than it ever was before with Saddam. We ended up having a very interesting conversation. He turned out to be a very intellegent, well read guy and an artist as well. I gave him my card and said please email me, I'd like to continue this conversation. That would be funny to me if he read this. I am so terrible with names and despite him having told me it twice, I can now only remember that it was an unusual name starting with a G. Garell? Sorry I forgot your name, I did not forget your face, however.

I started to actually get into the holiday spirit tonight as I went christmas shopping. I bought a bunch of clothes for my boyfriend. That was a novelty. I have never really had enough money to actually go out and buy clothes for a lover like that and it was really fun imagining him in different outfits. He told me "dont buy me anything" which of course is the sure way to get me to do just that. Au contrar, my dear. I got giddy wrapping the present for him later. Giving really is better than recieving sometimes. Well, receiving isnt bad though.

I had this thought when I was in the check out at whole foods that people in the city are like one big person talking to themself.

I am heading upstate tomaro morning to go to a solstice celebration. Chris is coming down for the bonfire and I will be seeing my Family and extended family friends there. Driving isnt so bad, but I really hope there will be no traffic. That's a pipe dream, huh?

Well, I have neglected this blog for many months and now I feel sorry for it. It's jealous of my livejournal where I post almost daily and my myspace which I check everyday too. I'm sorry, Bloggy, I should spend more time with you, posting all the new fabulous photographs and paintings I have been making and selling. My new years resolution is to do that. Ok?

I sold my first photographs this month. I had major trepidations of putting my art in a hair salon, so I decided to frame up a bunch of my favorite photos instead of exhibiting my paintings. I have always considered photography to be more of a hobby than a serious pursuit, anyway, and I figured how could it hurt to show them in a hair salon. (Insitu Salon corner of 19th and Irving Place, 2nd Floor above Sushi Choshi) Well, turns out it doesnt hurt at all. It feels great and people love my work! I have sold a bunch of framed photos. Also on display are a series of photographic reproductions and enlargements of my paintings.

This is perhaps the start of something wonderful.
Happy Solstice.

these are all work in progress....... for the upcoming show

I have not been blogging on here for many months.
More of my recent work can be seen here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calliopi/

I am currently preparing for my debut NYC solo show which will run from October 7th until November 2nd at the PLP Gallery at 43 Greenwich Ave in the West Village of Manhattan.
The opening reception will be held on Saturday October 7th at 7pm.

My work is continuing to explore the dynamics of protest and oppression. Lately I have become more and more interested in the perspective of kids experiencing war and racism.

Please contact me if you are interested in my work.

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Actual work for money is constantly frustrating my efforts to paint. Today my painting session was rudely interupted by a work call at Grand Central. When I returned home at 11:30 pm, I resumed painting. I started a new piece, a portrait of Emmett Till. I worked until 3 am. This is what I painted in 3 hours.
Next is a detail of the same painting.
Here we have a side-ish view. It is a trapazoidal shaped block of wood. small, I dont have the actual measurements. It's late, I'm tired

Top view............. you can see it slopes