Spiral Averted
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February 28, 2008
Starting to Spiral
The Downward Spiral
As midterms and the BFA show approach the stress of the semester is mounting. I find that, for myself, there are varying degrees to the downward spiral out of control. Basically the work and commitment load can become overwhelming at various points in the semester. This results in psychological and emotional stress, but usually the physical indicators of stress are more apparent. It is crucial that I pay attention to the common sense warning signs and make the proper adjustments. The progression down to the bottom of the spiral starts with late nights and early mornings. The progression then continues to not taking time to prepare proper meals, and letting the daily shower slip. After that it opens up into the wide world of sleep deprivation, spacial disorganization, and wearing the same sweat pants for 70+ hours. I was probably the most oblivious to the spiral my first year, but now when I see the dish stacked up I take a break, or schedule time to get them done. Then I cook some food and put it in the refrigerator or freezer so that I can have solid meals for the week. The Residence Life department as a whole has placed a large emphasis on personal wellness this year. This week a number of dedicated RAs and SRAs have put together some excellent programing concerning nutrition and eating disorders in recognition of National Eating Disorders Week. Thanks, Belinda, Lisa, and Sabrina for all the hard work! There is much about nutrition that would seem like common sense however there are many things in our daily dietary routine that can be included or excluded to gain much better positive long term results. Its hard enough to have time to do homework and work a job without adding unnecessary physical stresses on top of that. Beware, and avoid the Spiral!
-Kyle
February 25, 2008
BFA show quickly approaching.
Just got back from a crazy show up in wi. My band played a farewell show Saturday night to end a 8 year project. It was a train wreck which was oddly befitting. The show started 2 hours late, the sound guy new nothing of live sound re-enforcement and on top of that the we kept blowing the breaker. All and All it was good to see everyone again. there should be some good video of the show anyway. check them out at: www.myspace.com/newskinkicksass
Now on to the BFA show. My project is about teaching folk arts. kind of... If your in the Chicago land area, you should come to the opening March 14th 7PM. 847 W. Jackson.
Well thats enough selling of my soul for the day. ta ta.
February 20, 2008
snapping turtle
seadragon
lizard
dolphin
giraffe skull
Extenuating Circumstances
I realize that today is Wednesday, and not more than three weeks ago I committed to posting on Sunday night/Monday morning by the code of the blogger. However, this week there is extenuating circumstances. As a part of my Scientific Illustration class we visited the Shedd Aquarium. So I decided to postpone by blog entry in order to include the applicable pictures.
Normally my Scientific Illustration class meets in the basement of the Field museum. We draw from 9-noon. Then we take an hour for lunch. After the break our instructor takes us to one of the many departments where researchers, scientists, and field museum staff work. This week our instructor took us to see one of the specimen prep labs. In this lab there is a room where they keep cages of Dermestidae beetles. These beetles are used to clean off skin and meat from skeletons. This is one of the steps in preparing a skeleton specimen. The skull picture that I have included this week is a giraffe skull that was in the beetle room while I was there....enjoy!
-Kyle
February 17, 2008
Knit one crochet two
Hey so I just had my first knitting/crochet workshop it turned out great a lot of people showed up for the event and listened to me ramble. Its funny, I use to try to figure out ways to avoid speaking in groups and now i kinda like it. Maybe its just the attention. I was on call last night. Not a bad night. I finally was able to get a website with my current work up.
http://www.myartspace.com/artistInfo.do?populatinglist=home&subscriberid=a3x1cqarc9tx8sl1
dang not a very catchy tag is it. Its cool, I'm trying to figure out how to put just sound files up without image. It's sort of myspace for artists.
So this week I have the usual meetings, classes, and work. Also I'm going back up to green bay next weekend for the last show my old band has put together- I've worked these guys for the past 8 years. 10 years for some of them. Its bitter sweet. I'll get to see some old friends. Wait, at what point does a person begin to have old friends?
Well I've got to bands brewing at the moment one called Gastronaut and one called Something French. Very different from each other but both are promising.
Something French is a project I started working on last year with my good friend Graham Hoppe (an alumni of the school as well) We both love folk, blues, and punk rock-our sound isn't any of those. Its a mix between folk elements and experimental electronics.
Where as Gastronaut is an amalgamation of Westerns, Sci-Fi, (both from 50's americana) and Sludge Heavy Metal. It's the guitarist and drummer from new skin and I. We haven't taken off really but have a few tracks recorded to start out with.
Damn I can't stop rambling.
February 11, 2008
Traveling Trophy
Lowkey
This past week was jam packed with normalcy. There were many activities going on around the building and school wide. However, I did not get a chance to participate seeing as it is week 3 and the homework is really kicking in. Of my 5 classes two of them are comics classes. One of the classes is an art history class and the other is more of a studio class. Both have assigned readings every week as well as other various assignments. The weekly reading assignments have been good for both thus far, but my studio teacher also gave us a list of recommended books that we should try and squeeze in. The first book on the list was 99 ways to tell a story: an exercise in style by Matt Madden. He takes a simple 8 panel comic that takes up one page and then proceeds to tell the same basic story more than 100 ways. The point is to try and boil down a story and identify its intrinsic parts while also realizing that any change to the form is a change to the content. Overall Madden's book was awesome. One of the assigned readings for the studio class has been Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud, which is excellent as well. However, I have read Understanding Comics a number of times so I thought it was high time that I finally read Will Eisner's Comics and Sequential Art for the sake of comparison. I'll keep you posted on the progress of that.
thats about it for today.
-Kyle
PS I was staff member of the week so my picture this week will be the Chicago Building's traveling trophy...The Peeing Dog
February 10, 2008
John Rambo- possibly the calmest scene in the movie
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, one of the great scenes
Movies!
OH Yeah, I was able to squeeze in some movie viewing this week as well, Rambo the final chapter and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. talk about polar opposites. Both movies really helped me to appreciate the other, since I watched them in a row.
Rambo- dang. It's intense. Good build up. It brings up a good question about CGI.... Now that we can realistically create fake death-how much do we really want to see.
After seeing this movie I can safely say I know what it looks life for someone to trigger a land mine. I'm not sure I wanted that. Just because we can recreate that experience with a click of the finger doesn't mean I need to see it. I know no one forced me to watch, I understand that and looking back on it, it was great to see how amazing technology has become.
I guess I'm just stating= I like action films- it's out there. But I also like that they are fake. Classics like Die Hard, Commando, Night Hawks are awesome because they are have the impact of suggesting these scenarios without really showing death.
Ok- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
I haven't read the book. I should. I have a feeling the movie is a lot different- Which in my opinion is great. The movie is beautiful. It has a French charm to it. As well as a heart breaking story. But the most powerful aspects of the film are in specific scenes. They are moments at which the tension becomes unbearable yet you need to watch and experience it. I don't want to give them away but a hand full of scenes are all this movie needed to impress me. All in all it is a great film through and through. But I would definitely say check it out to get your own opinion. Just bring your motion sickness pills if you have a problem with shaky cameras.
This week.
So graduating can be stressful. I'm graduating in May, so for the past few months I've been scoping out fellowships and residencies. I think I've written more papers in the past three months than the past three years. That aside I am doing an independent study with Michael Ryan, if you don' know who Michael is you will at least one semester into your career at SAIC. Michael is the man in charge of helping student with exhibitions. That being said Exhibitions covers a lot of ground at an art school. I meet with him at least once a week to discuss my BFA show. I will be posting more about that progress as the semester plugs along.
On top of the independent study, I am enrolled in two sound courses, instrument construction, and Electronic Performance. As well as an Internship at Walk West Music Productions. Its hectic to say the least.
I will address those roles too.
As a RA I'm working on planning some programs to help fellow students excel as independent artists outside of the classroom.
Yet another thing I will be talking about later on.
Dang thats turning out to be a lot.
February 6, 2008
This is easily my favorite piece of art I have to report from South Beach
This is my favorite thing about Sarasota
Caroline and I at a Sarasotan Waffle House
On the road to Sarasota
Me in Miami
February 4, 2008
Flight of the Conchords
In the halls
Last week was the first full week of school, and it start it off with a really solid batch of programs. On Monday I took a group of people to the Threadless T-shirt shop on North Broadway Avenue. For all of you out there who are not familiar, Threadless.com is a website that sells T-shirts. Not just any old T-shirts, but T-shirts that are designed by the Threadless community. Anyone can submit a design and if that design is selected, via the voting process, it gets printed. New shirts come out every Monday so check it out.
Thursday night my good friend, and fellow RA, Nanci hosted a Flight of the Conchords marathon in the Chicago Building media room. The marathon covered the entire first season of their top notch HBO TV series. If you've never heard the Conchords I suggest you consult youtube as soon as you have a few minutes to spare. Thanks Nanci for adding a little New Zealand to our lives.
Last but not least there were the Superbowl gatherings last night in both the Chicago Building and the 162 Building. So i guess congratulations are in order for Eli Manning considering that for the first time in his life his parents may actually love him as much as Payton. Anyway thanks go to David and Maddie for hosting, food, and fun.
Be here next week!
-Kyle
February 3, 2008
MIAMI
So I went to miami last weekend, I'll have some pics up soon. It was a blast, i went to south beach and the weather was around 70 degrees the whole time. I'd have to say south beach is one of the weirdest places I've been, the whole place felt like a resort but with less friendly people. its odd I've come to realize the people in Chicago are far nicer than that of all of people I've meet in other cities. maybe its just me, or bad timing but on a much more base level the people in Chicago at least pretend to be pleasant. There is always exceptions to this of course! (All my friends from New York!)...
This statement might be a point of contention among many people I'm friends with, so here's the question: whats better/worse- people who are nicer to you on a surface level even if they really don't care or people who may come off rude but are really just being straight forward and just don't care?
I frankly appreciate the effort of being nice even though we both know they don't care... Though I do understand why people prefer a straight forward approach because it cuts out the bs. However, I feel that approach to be boring, it's easier to be blunt than be conscientious of how people perceive a social situation, and easier isn't always better!
This opinion only pertains to casual acquaintances. My opinion is radically different for friendships.
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