Happy Birthday Isaak

I know I've been a horrible slacker with blogging. Sorry! 

Having a job where I actually create things everyday, I get into work. 

Isaak, you turn 14 today! Woo hoo! You haven't even hit that gigantic growth spurt yet, and you're already taller than I am. I have a feeling you are going to be taller than Mica. We shall see. 

Lots of good things have happened to you this year. You decided you're going to let punks roll off your back because you are better than that. You have great teachers this year, so your grades have been all A's. Some big projects are stressing you out at the end, so we'll see if your grades stay all A's. In the past you had some not so nice teachers, not all supportive teachers, and excuse my language – asshole kids that put a negative light in your life. It's wonderful things have turned around.

A few things with school: You got the Rotary Honor Roll, your team won Think Tank. 

You got into a new high school called Buena Vista. I'm a bit stressed because it's kind of far, but there is busing. Knowing Omaha Public Schools, busing isn't always a guarantee. Of course Mica looses busing, with the new schools built. I really don't want him driving my new car. The schools are very far apart. Fingers crossed it all works out. I hope the bus gets you, and then I'll only need to worry about Mica. How cool will it be to go to a new school, with a beautiful outside and inside, and no upper classmen?! You are excited about your fresh start. 

You started back up with one of things you love, piano lessons. When Covid happened they got shut down. Then your teacher got pregnant and didn't teach any longer. Her mom teaches, but she's really strict and not into creativity. We found someone walking distance. He loves to teach the notes, but also encourages creativity. They have recitals with other kids he teaches. You are motivated with that. Your instructor said you can come to practice on one of his three pianos as long as you text ahead of time. All we have room for is a keyboard. He has a story for every song that I person plays. I love storytellers. He's all about you writing songs too. Here's a song you wrote.

You still love to draw, get excited about small things like the bird's nest outside your window. Right now you want to be a phycologist. 

I got you a few shirts. You're into artsy tees. You love being in the kitchen, so you got a sushi set. I'm looking forward to that.

Happy Birthday! 

I hope things continue to push forward in a positive light.

Love,

Mom

  

Assignments for the Week

I thought I'd share these. I had an assignment this week. More about that later. 

I had to do an email blast about a new mobile app! 

+ a poster about a new sushi place being in Nashville. 

I was given fonts, images, and color swatches to use. I could use my own images with the things given to me, so I added one of my rainy images to the Nashville poster. 

Which image do you like better? They did not have to look the same. 

Frisson

Have you ever looked at art or listened to music and got goosebumps? Possibly one of the two art forms brought tears to your eyes. 

It's happened to me quite a few times. So much so I find it embarrassing when it happens. Someone typically asks, "Why are you crying?" Um, Because I was moved to. It's just kind of awkward. 

To make an audience feel is an artist's job. It doesn't always have to be that strong of an emotion. Storytelling should be in work that's created. 

Frisson ( French for "shiver"), also known as aesthetic chills or musical chills, is a psychophysiological response to rewarding auditory and/or visual stimuli. Apparently if frisson has happened to you, you have a special brain. Here's an article that talks all about it.

Do you have a special brain and are moved with frission? 

WW: Duct Tape Room {Linky}

We ventured out of our home to go to two gallery closings. With gallery openings and closing most of them you have to call to make appointments to go to them. We ended up having the spaces to our selves. Certainly distancing! We still wore masks. 

This one was pretty cool. The artist's name is Nick Miller from Omaha, Nebraska. He built the entire room out of Duct Tape. 

Cool, trippy, and fun!

WW: Art Award {Linky}

Before Spring Break happened Isaak won the Art Award at school. They only awarded 2 kids per class. When he had Piano he was awarded that too. He was the only one that got that award.

Cheers to our creative one:

Peace to you during the time of COVID-19! I hope you, your family and friends have wellness during this time!

WW: Brightly Colored Lady {Linky}

WW: Mask {Linky}

We were out, going to gallery openings and happened upon this crazy mask. Isaak kept looking at it in its eyes.

When was the last wedding that you went to? 

Happy Halloween!

This is the first year I won't have my boys going out for Trick or Treating. Actually Mica stayed in last year as well.

It's supposed to snow AGAIN! I'm afraid we won't get too many Trick or Treaters. I might be wrong though.

I'll turn on something spookish, for the boys.

Isaak is dressing up in his all one colored body suit; to hand out candy. He wanted all black, but they were out of stock. It was supposed to be all white, but came red. I won his costume, so I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I thought if it was all black he could be a shadow, or throw anything scary with it. If it was all white he could be a mannequin, or ghost. What does one do with an all red body suit? Ideas are welcome. Otherwise he's happy just answering the door with his all red body suit, for the Trick or Treaters.

Since my work is crazy about Halloween, I went dressed as Salvador Dali. 

The Good: 

It's an art school, so why not dress up like an artist?

It wasn't expensive! All I had to buy was a T-Shirt that I'll wear other times, plastic ants, a mustache, and I did buy black, white makeup, eyeliner, and black hair spray (all of which I can use again).

The Bad:

I didn't get up any earlier than normal; to get ready.

I couldn't find my face glue, and know I have some.

There were students that didn't get it. I had one student ask me if I was Charlie Chaplin? Not the right mustache, for Charlie Chaplin. I found out first year hasn't gotten to Surrealism yet, in Art History. My Aunt Becky said on Facebook, "Who are you supposed to be?" Ya she isn't into art. I even had a hashtag #salvadordali in the post. Some people just don't read.

I didn't get first, second or third place, for my costume - when it came to the staff. I don't get anything for it anyhow, but I thought it was original, and I fit the part. I also was in my office quite a bit. It wasn't a teaching day.

A little bit about Salvador Dali:

He uses crutches and ants in many of his pieces.

 

I added ants, and borrowed a crutch from my Dad - put ants on that. I wish the ants were smaller.

I made myself more black and white because that's how I view Salvador Dali mostly. From black and white photos. 

My shirt had The Persistence of Memory on it:

 Will you, did you dress up for Halloween?

WW: Huipils {Linky}

We had fun going to El Museo Latino, to look at their latest collection. It was a bunch of Huipils from San Martín Jilotepeque.

I love their patterns and colors!

 Afterwards we did a craft together. It was a weaving. I had fun!

Do you like fiber art? Have you ever made a weaving, or anything close to it?

WW: Art of the Seating {Linky}

In the summer I went to Art of the Seating: 200 Years of American Design. It was pretty inspiring considering that my husband was making a chair, for a different show. 

It's odd going to a chair show, and not being able to sit in any of them.

My favorite:

What chair design was your favorite? Do you like modern, or classic better?

My husband's chair is out of its exhibition, and is now in our living room. It's both good and bad. It looks good, but every time one of the kids walks by it he's like, "Be careful!"