Wednesday, June 3, 2009

It's been awhile

It's been awhile since my last post. Actually its been 2 1/2 months! I've been busy lately. In addition to working for the Boys & Girls club at nights, I've been lucky enough to land a great leave replacement position in an absolutely FANTASTIC school district teaching middle school art. What's even better is that I teach 2 classes of advanced level 8th great art and the kids are superb artists! What's ironic is that I started this blog to post all the wonderful art related things I've been doing and to share my ideas with those who view the blog, but I've been so swamped with art that I haven't had time to post! Needless to say I think after 2 1/2 months I have enough materials to make at least 20 entries or so. Even better I'm teaching a cartooning course this summer, something I've never taught before, so I'll be able to post a whole new crop of interesting items once I get going with them. For today I"m going to share with you a great quote I happened to come across as I was cleaning out a desk at work today. It's pretty long but its awesome.

Sol Lewitt's advice to Eva Hesse in a letter dated April 14, 1965:

" Just stop thinking, worrying, looking over your shoulder, wondering, doubting, fearing, hurting, hoping for some easy way out, struggling, gasping, confusing, itching, scratching, mumbling, bumbling, grumbling, humbling, stumbling, rumbling, rambling, gambling, tumbling, scumbling, scrambling, hitching, hatching, bitching, moaning, groaning, honing, boning...searching, perching, besmirching, grinding grinding grinding away at yourself. stop it and just DO...trust and tickle something inside you, your "weird humor." you belong in the most secret part of you. don't worry about cool, make your own uncool...if you fear, make it work for you -- draw and paint your fear and anxiety. and stop worrying about big, deep things such as "to decide on a purpose and way of life..." you must practice being stupid, dumb, unthinking, empty. then you will be able to DO! i have much confidence in you and even though you are tormenting yourself, the work you do is very good. try and do some BAD work. the worst you can think of and see what happens but mainly relax and let everything go to hell."