Okay, I think I’ve found enough time for a little update.
I spent last week in Chicago. The following was a fortune from Wok ‘n Fire in Elmhurst:
Still puzzling over that one.
Has anyone seen Spiderman 2? I watched it when I got back home from my trip. I liked it much better than the first one, mainly due to the incredible performance by Alfred Molina as Doc Ock. I think it’s about time Hollywood discovered such good looking leading men. I mean, forget Colin Farrell and Brad Pitt – Molina’s the man.
(grin)
I was in Chicago working with Empire Carpet. Those of you who are either from Chicago or grew up watching the Cubs on WGN may remember their jingle “5-8-8, 2-3 hundred”. Well, here is where the magic happens:
Much of their business is based on financing, i.e. no payments until 2006, etc. Well, the guy who does their commercials is getting up in years, so I heard that they have him saying “no payments until 2007, 2008, 2009” etc. all the way up to 2020.
It was a nice trip, and I got to see a little snow. I shouldn’t have to travel much more until the new year, for which I am thankful.
This weekend was spent on the yearly Chatham Arts Studio Tour. For the first and second weekend of December, a number of local artists open up their studios for people to visit, and mainly so they can sell their work.
I love it, although at times it can be a little bit pretentious. At one place we heard about a woman who was not allowed on the tour because she made her jewelry from beads she purchased. The derogatory term was “bead stringer”. That sort of pissed me off, as I think art should be judged as art regardless of the process of creation. I mean, where do you draw the line? I saw metal sculpture made up of “found objects” – the artist had welded together interesting pieces he had found – which to me is analogous to making jewelry from beads. Should someone who makes mosaics have to create and glaze the tile used?
I think they should just simplify it and simply say “No Riff-Raff”.
But I think I’ll go back next year. I wouldn’t want to miss my yearly pilgrimage to studios like that of Steve Cote. He makes really whimsical metal sculpture, and I want one of his rocket ships.
Maybe I can afford one once I am discovered by Hollywood …