Motivate Your Madness

2010-04-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

http://yourspaces.tumblr.com/

Check out the ABOUT tab to learn more about the project and to participate!

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions please email me at ARRANGINGTHINGS@GMAIL.COM

Mother Fucker!

2010-03-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

these already exist:
http://wearecampfire.com/shirts/state-series/

plus, there is a Great Lakes one that is sold at the Museum of Contemporary Art gift store by the same company. Paul, you need to talk to kevin cloutier. remember him? he would test well during your lectures!

mother fucker...

2010-03-24T15:10:00.001-07:00

UNDERGRADUATE EXHIBITIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Spring Undergraduate Exhibition
March 27–April 9, 2010
Reception: Friday, March 26, 2010, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Sullivan Galleries
33 S. State Street, 7th floor

Nearly 230 talented SAIC students completing undergraduate degrees this spring exhibit their innovative work. SAIC promotes crossing disciplines and challenging assumptions, and the results of this approach are showcased in this exhibition.

Image credit: Jolie Cota Flink (BFA 2009), Tendrils, 2009, pigment paint

try, week-to-week

2010-01-19T13:20:00.000-08:00

2010 post was a little overwhelming, i think.

i will start smaller. this week, i would like to:

-go to the gym 3 or more times
-apply to one or more jobs
-eat salad every day for lunch
-call my parents/talk to my sister
-edit some writing and start to use one of the writing exercise books i already own
-keep an accomplishments notebook again, per the exercise from former career coach
-talk with dez about collaboration
-call paul to figure out what stuff he is doing, if starting something together makes sense
-order a Rio Grande catalog

hope you are all well...

new work

2010-01-10T10:51:00.001-08:00

http://lucretiabrower.com/photo_alabama.html

I put up some photography from my trip to Alabama. Not the most brilliant ever, but I like some of 'em!

2010

2010-01-09T20:46:00.000-08:00

trying to be positive while realistic.

seriously, something has got to give. certain aspects of my life will have to change so that i make time for myself and making things. i feel the composite of all of the parts of my life are maddening, frustrating, exhausting. however, i know i should feel excited, inspired, enlivened, hopeful in so many ways. and because i do not feel these things, i add depressing and guilty.

so damn tired of the routine of every day. rote behavior is one thing, but i am a fuckin' robot.

i realized in the jackson street station, on my way to work, going from the blue to the red line, i ALWAYS turn left at the end of the tunnel and take those stairs. While going home, traveling in the opposite direction in the same tunnel, i always turn right. in a way, it is smart because then i always know which train is pulling in without having to stop and find a sign. i am so alone in my own head, that i can't even bare to think about having to stop and read a fuckin' sign in the subway; a robot is what i am.

why don't i make routines and behaviors that make me feel better, be better:
21 days to make something a habit is what the experts say.
- eat breakfast
- go to gym
- drink water
- be happy for christ's sake

enough for now. have a good weekend. - hsieh

10 goals for 2010

2009-12-30T21:57:00.001-08:00

Good idea from my friend-- 10 Goals for 2010! Some of these are big goals, mind you-- like "Get a job." That's not like a single-step process as I'm sure you all know. Ha!

1. Get a new job with the renewed focus in project management in creative services.
2. Get myself on a normal sleep schedule of 12 am- 8 am.
3. Go to the gym at least three times a week. Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are the possibilities while avoiding rush-hour times.
4. Actually follow the Atkins lifestyle into the next phase by finding my maximum carbohydrate index--aka how many carbs I can eat in a day that my body will actually burn, so that I can add more diverse foods to my repertoire.
5. Drink 64 ounces of water a day. Diet Coke is not water, Lucy.
6. Talk to my Grandfather more, at least twice a month, just to catch up. And to e-mail him more too.
7. Read. Something. Anything... more than WSJ online. Just got the collected works of Poe.. that might be a good place to start.
8. Continue to find age and profession-appropriate clothing. As much as I love my Black Sabbath and Aerosmith tee shirts, I know there is a way to feel like ME and still look at least slightly sophisticated.
9. Update my website with new work on a regular basis, at least once a month. However: BLOG cool stuff more often than that.
10. Get crafty and start my tote bag project. Village Discount and my sewing machine need to be my best friends in 2010.

That's what I'm thinking thus far.

what is going on here?

2009-12-26T18:41:00.000-08:00

hi everyone,
sorry i have been so lame with the blog. now that holiday retail is letting up some...
done some interesting things and have seen some cool stuff.
1. went to One of a Kind, huge craft show at the Merchandise Mart. saw stuff that-- for sure-- i can make or that i have made. if those people are making money, then i can, too. just need more time. but, def. did research and saw what works and what doesn't, at least in that venue!

2. grace-- see this woman's work: http://www.designspongeonline.com/; she also has a blog and an etsy site. she is trinidadian, canadian, dutch. yah, she is hot. but the point is, she makes felt stuff that you would like! (thanks for the felted pom pom! i am going to make it into a necklace tonight!) everyone, grace finished up the semester at SAIC with a couple of installations and a performance piece! she also got more money so she can stay!!!!

3. went to studio with friend, nancy. (f-ing COLD. never heard of HEAT, i guess. shit!) but worked on some jewelry. have a line in mind- why is gold so f-ing much right now? maybe i can make it plated.

4. lucy- websites and t-shirts just not happening. we're too tied-up in alessi! need a game plan. everyone, lucy has been getting her work apps and informational interviews together which is good for her and bad for me! her website is up with portfolio. it is www.lucretiabrower.com. lucy, i like the layout, the portfolio and the resume section! the "x marks the spot" is a freaky piece. you SHOULD do your blog on that site; i believe i did post a comment to you in response to your question.

5. desmond- need your help to write some apps/proposals. just don't have the time. can regroup and discuss if we want to pursue a joint venture. working on writing, but maybe hit a snag? in book-writing.

6. got into that canadian show, toronto, i think. will find out on the 5th if any of my pieces sold. potential for some bucks if they did.

7. paul has TWO big shows in NY. nuff said. but is also apartment hunting.

8. em has successfully negotiated a work/work-home schedule with her office. fingers crossed that she'll make it through another round of cuts at MIT.

9. christine has finished her first round of advanced, indep. studies with a whole group of students. is also applying for some gigs that she will be able to interview with at CAA (college art association) in chicago in feb. (SOOOOO out of my league at this point.) Chrissy, do you know that both shannon and matt left SAIC. now they are hiring full-time in ceramics again. CALL KITTY!

10. rob has been commissioned to do three paintings. cool! at least one has been completed. pretty awesome. making money on your work. congrats.

hope you all had a good holiday. happy new year to you all. you know where to find me...

lucy's updates

2009-11-16T07:40:00.001-08:00

1. applied to a job on CAR, didn't get it. oh well!

2. creating a profile on Brill Street to get job leads (need to work on this.) this is actually a very involved job site, so it's taking a while.

3. submitted resume and information to Creative Circle, job suggestions are coming in weekly. Thus far I have not been duly qualified for the jobs they are suggesting-- mostly web/marketing jobs that I need a bit more experience working with in order to confidently say I could do it. also, they are mostly freelance--and one thing i have learned about myself is that i do not want to work freelance yet. i get WAY too annoyed. My work @ M****a is actually preparing me pretty well for familiarity with social media/marketing, SEOs, and web optimization. So, it's another possible direction.

4. I want to start a blog-- but what do you guys think? I post eeeeeeeverything on Facebook... I don't really want to be redundant. I also have a website of my 'portfolio,' should I integrate a blog into this? Instead of creating a blog on wordpress.org or something, should I just have a blog part of my website and write + have control over it there? I like things to be integrated... I don't like having a blog be totally separate because traffic (not that there'll be a lot of it, but you never know) is then split and if you see my blog u won't see my website/portfolio and vice versa. What I like about facebook is the ability to upload via mobile phone, and to allow people to comment. I know of photo blogs that allow you to upload via mobile but don't allow you to write along with them. Maybe this is God telling me i just NEED an iphone. ;) So whaddya guys think: separate wordpress blog or add a blog integrated into my website? if I sit down and upload to my server instead of uploading to wordpress it'll take me about the same amount of time after i create a blog page in general. i think i'll do it on my website. little did I know when i paid for my hosting for 3 years that i could have done it on wordpress! at least now i know i can independently build a complete website. good skill. wow. i'm rambling.

5. gym: stopping by xsport on ashland with the roomie sometime this week--i have 10 more pounds to lose and there is no possible way i can lose them without exercising. also, i'm weak, and being an athlete my whole life--it feels terrible.

6. write to my teacher/dean in rome. lucy, NO FEAR. i am afraid of going to rome because of all the logistics... but i have never been so passionate about anything in my whole life. lucy: you will never know what the possibilities are for you to return if you don't ask. better to ask and turn it down than never ask at all. i love roma. viva roma!

7. take some time to listen to my italian immersion CDs. i was watching a Reuters video about something in Vatican City yesterday and I could understand EVERYTHING the italians were saying, and on the train the other day two italians boarded and i could understand them too. i don't want to lose it, and i need to be able to speak it. french is fine--i have a feeling i could jump back into that pretty well. i learned it well enough as a kid that i can understand it and fake it pretty well when i'm not mixing it up with italian! yikes! italian is more fun to speak, anyway.

8. lucy: keep job hunting. I am going to need to make a very rigid schedule/goals for this. life is SO hectic it's easy for this, coupled with my present jobs and responsibilities, to be put off indefinitely.

9. alabama! i am going to alabama nov 26-30. laura + grace thank you for rearranging schedules so i can go. i am totally in love with my grandfather and it is important for me to have him in my life, and see him. my dad was not around for a long time, and now that i feel as close to him as i do, i don't want to lose it. i am taking my relationships with my family into my own hands--something my mom had been encouraging me to do my whole life when i complained about my dad's absence--but i guess i wasn't strong enough to do it (and i don't think he was ready to put forth the effort, either,) until recently. but damn am i glad we both grew up enough to do it. :) i love my daddy!

10. i can't fight it anymore: i need a digital camera. i'm sick of not being able to take pictures all the time, anytime, in any light, without lugging around a 10 pounds few-thousand-dollar manual film camera. sometimes that camera is appropriate. at the bar with my friends? ehhh...

11. i need to update my projects on my website. i have some new ideas for photo projects that i actually already have images for i just need to organize them/edit them/ upload etc. ALSO-- i have lots of new, good graphics from my other job that i made-- i need to put them up, too!!!!

12. laura! we need to find time, somehow, to work on shirts/bags/accessories/etc.

that's... just about it. any ideas/comments/whaaaaaatever lemme know!

2-Week Goals/Projections, November 13 '09

2009-11-13T07:57:00.000-08:00

I. Book
Objective: Make significant progress re: book
Activity: Write, write, write
Outcome: Book contains a solid, substantial Introduction for review/editing
Deadline: November 27, 2009

II. Business Plan
Objective: Add substantial content to the business plan
Activity: Develop the 'Company Summary' and 'Services/Products' sections
Outcome: Business Plan conveys logical, developed, realistic analysis of company and accurately
reflects services and products for consumption
Deadline: November 27, 2009

III. Client Search
Objective: Identify pool (7-10) of high-probability prospects to contact
Activity: Online research via industry websites/periodicals, utilize network connections
Outcome: Contact made with 3 prospects with high chance of success (recruit as clients)
Deadline: November 27, 2009

Updates

2009-11-02T20:04:00.000-08:00

Completed show (on display until Nov 20th at Betty Rymer Gallery)
Applying to the Chinati Foundation's Internship Program
Rough draft of Artist's Statement (see below)
Begin new site-specific proposal (also to follow, later)

Artist's Statement:
My work explores the experience of materials through the use of craft and object interaction. I choose to use everyday objects, such as curtains or cups, to draw attention to the assumptions of spatial and object relationships. These everyday objects initiate a narrative determined by the viewer, exploring their form in the context of her or his life. Such a practice dismantles the barrier between art and life. Through material choice that is absent in association with the objects created, attention is drawn to mundane details and value that would have otherwise been overlooked. I simply choose to make the elements of my pieces as a direct rejection of mass production. The realization of art in everyday life would be absent if these objects were viewed in the same context as they are normally.

Any AND all suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
agd

LLH Nov. 1 update

2009-11-02T19:01:00.000-08:00

Done:
1. applied to Canadian show for print/2D-hanging work
2. wrote/edited new combo statement
3. have written every day
4. applied to SAIC job
5. contacted recruiter who formerly wanted to hire me, like 3 yrs ago!
6. sewed two costumes for halloween!!! fun!
7. sourced screen printers in Chicago; Windy City Screenprinters highly recommended
8. Bought fabric for a sewing project
For the next week/ two weeks:
1. apply to on-line teaching job
2. print work and frame them. (chicagoans, wed. is dirt-cheap-digital-day at Helix!!)
3. work stuff: customer appreciation night, 2-day inventory, sundays open (all of this sucks but will take a lot of my time and energy)
4. source quote for statement from the book that MJJ suggested. can not find the author!
5. read Everyday Intro and 1 essay.
6. sew one animal that the boys designed; "Mr. Ravioli" (yes, the boys have designed these stuffed amoebas that jadyn named Mr. Raviolis!)

Also Delinquent...

2009-11-02T18:50:00.000-08:00

Motivation #2:

So, we have all been busy with jobs, getting jobs, looking for jobs, etc. Can we try to:
1. post specifics for the next week or two to attempt to accomplish.
2. comment on others' lists with suggestions/encouragement
3. keep your own progress and check back to the blog, updating as you can

Hope everyone is well. I know we are all busy, so this is not meant to cause stress. Just keep doing what you need to be creative. We are out here to help each other.

Update

2009-11-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

Hey Folks,

Just wanted to provide you with an update on what I have been doing during the past 2-3 weeks:

GOAL ONE: Business Plan/Manifesto

-Developed Business Plan outline, highlighting key components for inclusion

-Have begun writing the executive summary of the Business Plan

-Conferred with personal contacts/network re: business plan development, marketing strategies, business development processes

-Interviewed with 3 potential clients: Midwest (MI, central IL)

-Researched/reached out to NY- and Boston-based organizations (letter writing, applications, etc.)

GOAL TWO: Spanish Language Proficiency

-DELINQUENT DEZ has established a new, bi-weekly schedule of Spanish-based work. Hopefully I stick with it this time (starting the week of November 2nd)

-Will review past text book-based exercises/syllabi, re-do the work, etc.

-Eventually will "graduate" to reading Spanish language children's books, then periodicals (ummmm, much, much later)

GOAL THREE: Book Development

-Have fleshed out concepts/ideas

-Researched some statistics directly related to book thesis

-Established preliminary book format, along with outline

-Created a writing schedule through November 30, '09

-Have begun writing the Introduction (ummm, a paragraph, but HEY, it's a gotdaaaam PARAGRAPH!)

ANY and ALL suggestions, recommendations, thoughts, expressions of sympathy, and donations (er, yeah, make checks out to Desmond Bailey, Jr., Memo Line: Help a Brotha Out Foundation)

job opportunities this week

2009-10-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

tomorrow, saturday, i need to go to Kinkos and get my resume printed, because TUESDAY after work is the resume help/how to sell yourself (not in the street corner way, but in the 'hire me,' way) seminar and THURSDAY is the job fair. yikes. i'm scared! i do finally have appropriate clothing (almost.) Should I invest in a suit? will i be taken seriously enough without one?

llh, Goal #9 and Paul's amazing list!

2009-10-13T21:50:00.000-07:00

Paul sent me a CRAZY-AWESOME list of 56 names to talk about for his idea. i love it! I forgot to add one more that I like: Ox Eye (possible on-coming storm on the horizon). WTF? on cuntline (eye-splicing, joining two sections of line). More later but one to cross off of the list soon!

Em's old list

2009-10-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

FYI- Em, here's your old list, condensed.- hsieh
Creative Goals:
1. Genealogy Project
2. Photography
3. learn CSS
4. Redesign business website, www.kathandesign.com
5.Baby books
6. Creative Collaboration
Personal Goals:
1.work/life/balance
2.Lead more at work. (okay, ms. Creative Director!!!) http://alum.mit.edu
3. read more
4. be more present with the kids
5.find a new house
AMEN to all of THAT, EM!

Christine's old list

2009-10-13T17:11:00.000-07:00

FYI, Chrissy, your old list is as follows:
1. organize computer files/photos/teaching stuff
2. make art (HAD A SHOW THIS YEAR!! YEAH!!)
3. finish web site
4. go to gallery openings/apply to shows
5. be a better writer

still your goals? you have accomplished some. post back!- hsieh

if anyone is interested...

2009-10-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

this group produces shows. you have to pay to participate, but some of the ideas are interesting "assignments" that one can do just to kick-start an idea.

http://www.arthousecoop.com/

just an FYI.

llh new goals, long and short-term

2009-10-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

find new source of income
write everyday!!!!!!!! No joke, no matter what it is, no matter for whom, and no matter if it is any good.
Figure out: What the Fuck am I doing? Or, what is the theoretical basis for my work now?- theories and work addressing the Everyday
read The Everyday and discuss with Grace
write a new artist statement based on goals 3 + 4
research shows on College Art Association and Chicago Artists Resources EVERY WEEK; organize entries and update by due DATE
apply to hyde park art center’s Open Critique program
apply to 2 shows for “small works” (before end of october)
name line with Paul
write Mission Statement or basic company description
design 6 bathing suits and bags for line with Paul; get Paul to do the Ts
website- finish layout, overall design/colors, upload whatever have/new project descriptions and images—JUST DO IT/get help from Lucy
make other shit!!!!!
finish 4^th floor- put up new lights, move couch, move boxes, hang beads, build shelf, build bed, etc.
make jewelry- silhouette pendants, Chinese iconography, words in plate necklaces or stamped, cast found objects, same shit i have been making for 15 years
make Gino Zucchino in Plasticine, make mold, cast in porcelain/get help from Chrissy
plan public performance with kids for CAA (february)
possibly write abstract for Canadian conference about art and the everyday…
re-edit first 3 minutes of bravo video, re-make credits, export and burn DVDs
start kids' own sports site
talk to my parents more!!!!!!
keep weight off/work out 3 days a week at least

Goals Update

2009-10-10T22:41:00.000-07:00

GOALS UPDATE

Original List

-Business Plan/Manifesto

-Website

-Recruit N.Y.-based client

-Sustain retainer-based Chicago clientele

-Solidify Boston-based clientele

Updates/Progress

Business Plan/Manifesto

Develop manifesto/statement of operations for Annexe Consulting (current work, clients, principles, etc.)

:: Timeline: Complete by October 31, 2009

Marketing Plan- element of Business Plan

:: Timeline: TBD/Ongoing

Develop Vision Statement for where Annexe is ‘going’ (new segment, services, etc.)

:: Timeline: Complete by September 30, 2009- COMPLETE

:: ‘Working’ Vision Statement: Annexe Consulting adds significant value to a thriving and vibrant nonprofit sector through resource development services and executive leadership cultivation

Develop Business Plan from combined Manifesto/Vision Statement; draft, edit, finalize

:: Timelines: Target- November 30, 2009

Recruit NY-based client

Currently in the running for grant writer consultant position with two NFPs in NYC

:: Timeline: Target Date: November 30, 2009

Solidify Boston-based clientele

Establish a new Boston-based client

:: Timeline: Target Date: November 30, 2009

Sustain Chicago-based clientele

Spanish Language Proficiency

Prepare Bi-weekly Schedule of time devoted to Spanish learning

:: Timeline: Complete (Tuesdays and Thursdays, a.m.)

Review past Spanish instructional texts, exercises, notes

:: Timeline: Ongoing, Restart October 6, 2009

Read Spanish language children’s exercises/homework (Jai’s homework from last year; current vocabulary words

:: Timeline: TBD

Read Spanish language children’s books

:: Timeline: TBD

Book Development

Brainstorm book ideas/concepts

:: Timeline: July-August 2009- COMPLETE

Develop book format

:: Timeline: September 30, 2009- COMPLETE

Begin research/writing of book

Develop Regular Writing schedule

:: Timeline: October 15, 2009- COMPLETE

Currently researching, developing ideas, etc.

Items to Be Addressed

-Website: No progress to date

-Client Recruitment: I must explore additional strategies for recruiting AND retaining clients

-Research historical context and future forecasts re: book subject matter

G.Davis' Evolving Goal List

2009-10-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

1. Polish up Artist's Statement (draft to follow)
2. Complete applications to exhibitions, residencies
3. Focus on and add to a collection of found objects/create project
4. Read/discuss/be influenced by The Everyday

Lucretia's update and some new goals

2009-10-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

first things:
1. I added more images to my site under the 'miscellaneous' section, and I fixed my contact form so it works AND I uploaded my resume so it is now available. lucretiabrower.com ! yay!

2. resume: DONE! done done done! now I just have to double check my tear-sheet pages and I am good to go to Kinko's and start printing!

3. i am starting again on SuperAtkins wednesday morning. this means no peanut butter for 2 weeks. i am unsure if i am going to make it through...

4. buy new pants. i lost mucho weight and now my pants don't fit!

5. baseball jersey style shirts/sweaters etc.

6. MILITARY STYLE JACKETS. must procure...

7. giant canvas poster collage

8. do some more photo

9. i think that's it for now.

Motivation #1

2009-10-04T13:27:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 5th
Motivation #1:
Compile a list of the top 10 things you want to accomplish with this Motivation Group.

Just get the list down in print, ranging from specific to broad, from this week to this year (or through 2010). Put those things that you know you will need reminders to accomplish but won't need much help from us at the bottom.

For those of you who have used the Group, you could post an old list and give an update also. This may help to acknowledge what great things you have been able to cross off of the list. (I have our original lists and some updates if you need them.)

Post the list(s) by next Monday, October 12.

Keep a copy of the list, so that you can use the Group to help accomplish one thing at a time but also refer back to the list and update it as needed. Everyone should feel free to comment/question openly to and about each member's list. It should go without saying that we all may have different processes and pacing, so let's not be negative or disrespectful. I would like to ask that we not use the Group as another venting or social network site. All of us but one are already on Facebook. Unless we are critiquing a story or work about your life, please keep the casual banter and postings focused. The last Group failed to respond via email at some point; therefore, I hope this format will encourage submissions and comments. I will do my best to keep the Group going, even if individuals need to take a couple of weeks off to think or regroup or whatever. No judgments on other's work habits will be made.

Good luck and happy accomplishing!

Motivation Group Revisited

2009-09-26T16:01:00.000-07:00

Our Motivation Group has fallen by the wayside. I have been asked to restart the Group, knowing full well that so many of you have been accomplishing a lot without the benefit of the support or knowledge-base of all of us.

We are a collective of creative people who want to share our goals and processes with each other. Our Group suggests methods or readings or contacts while using critique of processes, ideas, and products in this open and constructive meeting place.