A few bunnies appeared

Some pixies showed up

let their be light 1.0

Culture Lab // Margin

An art/performance piece featuring myself and 4 other artist debuting this Saturday

I was invited to participate in an ongoing project called Culture Lab that brings together small groups of artists to collaborate on a Jewish theme. Culture Lab is organized by a group called East Side Jews which was started three years ago by TV writer Jill Soloway because there was no interesting or creative Jewish activity on the East Side. The early events were like happenings – very creative, spoken word events with local writers in unusual spaces. I love their mission statement: “East Side Jews is an irreverent, upstart, non-denominational collective of Jews living in Los Angeles’ East Side. We hold monthly events at unlikely venues during unpopular holidays for Jews with confused identities.” They received a large grant last year and became a part of the Silver Lake Independent JCC with even more innovative programs.

This is the third iteration of Culture Lab. I was paired with 4 other artists to make a piece around the theme of Margin. There are 2 choreographers, 2 visual artists and one storyteller/filmmaker. I am creating an 125ft mural that wraps around the performance space. There will be dance, installation, interactive components, storytelling. You can arrive anytime between 7p-11p – it is a durational piece so everythign that is occurring (dance, interactive activity, storytelling) will continue to do so throughout that time. The show will be performed twice – this coming Sat. and next Sat. the 20th. The flyer is below plus a sneak peak of the mural in progress. If you are in LA, please stop by!

Immanence

muscle building doodles

I haven’t drawn much lately and I felt rusty when I sat down to draw this morning. It feels like my hand won’t obey my mind. But slowly, slowly, the energy starts to infuse my finger tips and then I just follow along a winding trail. The blank page can be so intimidating after a long absence.

I think it will be a good exercise to occasionally post my doodles – they don’t have much deep meaning but some of them look like they do!

sending some heartlight for you tough new yawkers

day dreams

Sometimes, when I am feeling low, I pick up my sketchbook and just follow wherever the pen wants to go. I’m seeing angels lately. It used to be mermaids.

They feel comforting. Maybe if I just keep letting them pop out, they’ll eventually let me know who they are.

once upon a star

the smallest word

falling into grace

rose heart

a few characters in search of a story

little helpers

how do you know who you are?

My favorite illustrator/writer/artist on the planet, Maira Kalman, has posed this question repeatedly throughout her work. I have secretly, and not so secretly, wanted to be her. I tend to pose these questions silently or obscurely because I am afraid to be too direct. And when I venture out, it feels like my skin has no sheath.

In this interview, Kalman talks about her work and how she moves through the big questions of life. She is able to cut through the clutter to what is essential and meaningful for her path. And the biggest lesson for me – understanding when we have exactly what we need, no more, no less.

some los angeles characters

heart’s afire

my cards have landed

Yeah! A fun store in the neighborhood, Co-op28, is showing my card line. It’s a great feeling to finally be out there. And the cards look great. If you find yourself in Los Feliz, stop by. One small step…

the power of negative thinking

The Anitidote, by Oliver Burkeman, proposes that living with uncertainty will make you happier than positive thinking. I’ve been living with uncertainty for over 5 years (actually my whole life but that’s another blog) and I’m not sure if I agree about the happier part but it is a more realistic way to navigate our current crazy economy.

I saw this trailer on my favorite blog, Brain Pickings. Blogger Maria Popover has an omnivorous curiosity for all things science and art. I highly recommend signing up for her newsletters. It’s like Christmas (or Hanukkah?) for the mind every Sunday morning.

everything starts small

The message in this animation hits me in the tender spot.  I need to embed it deep inside my brain so when I get monumentally impatient, I remember that sometimes a wobbly little toot is as loud as it’s gonna be.