Goodbye Again

 

I have previously mentioned my last night in Houston proper, but I had one more stop before I left the Lone Star State for good. Instead of leaving my truck sitting idle for a long period of time at my apartment, my parents were generous enough to come down for my last supper (Tex-Mex, duh) and take the General back to Crockett for his own little summer vacation.

I see you trying to photo-bomb our picture, man in the back!

 

As is apt to happen before a flight out of George Bush International Airport, I stayed with my friend Mallory the night before so that she could take me to the airport.  But first I had to finalize some of my packing with a little help from my assistant.

I know you’d love to see your great godmother when I’m in Belgium, Paige, but I’m pretty sure that you’d show up on the x-ray screening

 

She even made time in her busy schedule to ride to the airport with Mal and me:

“NO PICTURES OF THE STARLET WITHOUT HER PERMISSION!!”

 

For some reason I didn’t get a picture with Mallory before I left and the next time I see her she will have had baby numero dos, Pressley!

And finally, for one more parting shot, I leave you with one of those cheesy sunset picture from the plane worthy of Senor Velveta himself:

 

Artist: Vertical Horizon/ Album: Go

Ice Dance

 

The night before I left Houston proper (I still had my stop in The Woodlands the following evening) I was lucky enough to go to my first hockey game evar with my friend Jennifer and her family.  That’s right, readers, Houston has a hockey team: the Aero’s!

They literally rolled out a red carpet for this guy to toss the coin.  Or the puck.  Or whatever was being tossed.  I WANT HIS JOB!

 

When going to get my requisite nachos and beer at one of the breaks I came across this “green” ad for the Prius:

 

That’d be nice except I’m pretty sure it’s a rip off of a Pushing Daisies episode that featured a dandelion powered car… …

 

 

The Aero’s were playing the Binghamton Senators and unfortunately did not win the game—a fact that everyone in Jennifer’s family blamed on me because they had been doing so well in the past :(  At any rate, I had a great time and would count hockey high amongst the different types of sports I would go see again.

The plus side of the evening is that I got to see Jennifer one last time before heading away for the summer!

CLOSE UUUUUUP!!!!!

Artist: Danny Elfman/ Album: Edward Scissorhands

Night in the City

Goooooood night sweet Houston!  By the time this posts I’ll be off into the great Blue (Lake) yonder.  The next ten days will be spent rehearsing and then it’s off to Europe for the tour!  I’ll miss you, fair city, but I’m sure you’ll survive without me.

Artist: Joni Mitchell/ Album: Song to a Seagull

Hello, Goodbye

 

The beginning of June is bringing about lots of changes here at the John Cleary Gallery.  Henry Horenstein’s Show photos have come down to make way for Mitch Dobrowner’s Storm Series.  (Even though the opening has passed you can still catch the exhibit until the end of August!

You don’t have to go but you can’t stay here! (No seriously, we don’t have the storage)

 

At the close of tonight’s opening my tenure as assistant director of the gallery will officially come to a close.  I have enjoyed coming into this building every single day and being surrounded by such a fascinating range of photography for three months has been more than an amazing experience. 

Let’s take a quick look back at the fun times, shall we?

My FIIIIRST gallery opening… look how young we all were back then! Keliy Anderson-Staley, Catherine and I.

 

Picnic day with Betsy from the gallery two doors over!

 

 

With the help of Andre we celebrated both Easter and Mother’s Day

 

   

Getting a little silly with Henry Horenstein’s SHOW pictures

 

Celebrating the anniversary of Catherine owning the gallery (with margaritas OF COURSE!)

 

My last opening :(

 

Most of all, though, I am beyond appreciative to Catherine for the opportunity and the highlight of my experience was making such a fantastic friend in the process.  Now DO IT!!!!!!

 

Artist: The Beatles/ Album: Magical Mystery Tour

Picture Book

 

Regular blog followers will remember my first show at the John Cleary Gallery a couple of months ago with artist Keliy Anderson-Staley (or perhaps you might remember the Cookie Baking Fiasco of 2011).  At any rate, I received an email from Keliy letting me know about a really cool project she is working on and I thought I would share it with you all!

(So for some reason the embedding of the video isn’t quite working.  Click on the link in the box or below and watch the video!)

Now… I am a huuuuge fan of supporting the arts (in fact, I can often be found on the street with my hand out and a sandwich board with SUPPORT THE ARTS on it).  I think this is a fantastic—and extremely reasonably priced—way to not only help fund a fascinating project but get some really great and unique art work in return.  I got a wonderful thank you note from Keliy after the show and I love it so much I’m going to frame it and put it up in my house!

 

 

Installation shot

 

For the official website and donation options check out the Kickstarter page here, and ahorn magazine has a wonderful interview with Keliy about the project here.

As a bit of a side note, if you are a regular blog follower then you know I don’t regularly (if ever) put out these kind of requests.  However, I am a big fan of Keliy and her work and think this is a very smart way to support the arts AND have a tangible reminder of what a philanthropic, sophisticated, thoughtful person you are!

Artist: The Kinks/ Album: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society

OK Computer

 

A little backstory first… I haven’t had the best of luck when it comes to the combination of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and laptop maintenance.  The day before we were to fly out last year I opened up my well-worn Inspiron and the screen was dead black.  Two things: 1. I’d rather it have happened the day before than the day after.  I’d have been much more pissed lugging around a lifeless piece of metal around Europe.  2.  Luckily it was just the screen and not the computer as a whole—I was able to get all of the data off no probs.  Until I got my new one I was lugging around not only a laptop but my old desktop monitor just so I could check my emails, blog, etc. 

Now, the morning I woke up to leave for this most recent rehearsal weekend I opened up my computer and there was a large black swath of screen at the top that was blacked out.

I mean SERIOUSLY!?!?!  You can’t even see how furrowed his eyebrows are!

 

I didn’t really have time to worry about it then but called Dell when I got back because it’s still under warrantee and let. me. tell. you—I’m a huuuuge fan.  Not only did they send the parts to a repair man here in Houston, but he came to the gallery and fixed it.  I didn’t have to do nothins! To be fair, a guy showed up last week and started working on it and realized they sent him the wrong screen:

Service Guy: Hey, did you order a touch screen?

Me: Ummm, no…

Service Guy: Looks like they sent the wrong one.

Me: *shifts eyes* So… you can’t just put that one in and not have to worry about it?

Service Guy: Won’t fit, you’ll have to wait til Tuesday.

Me: Llllllaaaaaammmmee!

Luckily it was just a two day turnaround until I got the new new one.

Hello HD, my old friend!

 

So I guess that’s my post and Dell got a little plug as well.  I will await my free printer whenever you wish to send it (that’s how this works, right?)!

 

Artist: Radiohead/ Album: OK Computer

June is Bustin’ Out All Over

 

My friend Kyle showed this to me quite a while ago and I’ve been waitin’ for June first to roll around ever since! Poor Leslie Uggams does the best she can for not knowing the words to the song.  (P.S.- I saw her do Desiree Armfeld in A Little Night Music with Detroit Opera Theater.  [P.P.S.- I was a little sad that was the first time I saw the production live]).

 

“Just because it’s June, June, JOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAANNNNN!!!!!”

Artist: Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein II/ Album: Carousel