Three Weeks From Tonight

It's just after 10:00 p.m. and I expect that in three weeks time, we'll all still be at Irma's with a margarita in hand and the opening reception of Second Seating will be over. Folks will have seen Gonzo247's incredible table and chairs (see the detail above), they'll have been amazed at all the work they didn't expect, the throwies will have been tossed at dusk, the mariachis will have sung, speeches made, if there are any, and the parking lot emptied of guests.
Except those of us who are still there. The artists, best friends and family. That number will include my three daughters from the Pacific Northwest and Lulu Bell, my youngest grandchild. I am excited and we still have three more weeks in which to work. I am seeing time as long, extended, 'still have,' instead of fretting that we 'only have' three weeks. Three weeks is a quite a lot of time and things are moving forward with each day.
Invitations will are not back from the printer and won't be until the day after Labor Day so folks won't get them until 5 or so days after that. But I am trusting in the universe on this one. It'll work as it should.Here's today. The alarm woke me at 5:30 and it was hard to get out of bed and head for Fiesta once again for more boxes. Didn't get there until after 6:00 a.m. and this time the boxes weren't broken down so I made two trips from Fiesta to home. It was nearly daylight when I finished. Truck drivers were unloading new boxes filled with cereal and soap and their motors are left running, so it's noisy. Inside it's bright and everyone is wide awake. The supervisor helped me down the ramp with a dollie loaded with boxes. I think I have enough corrugated boxes now to assemble a table top, that is unless I totally screw up trying to channel Rauschenberg.
At 8:30 I met Bobby Schlitzberger at Spectrum Metals and he and his grandson got the 1000 pound bale of compressed cans on their truck which has a small crane on the back for manuvering heavy loads.
Bobby can move anything safely and with humor. He tells his staff that the granite they usually move is 15 million years old and it's been waiting a long time to fall on someone, so there's a lot of care taken in transporting and laying things gently on the ground. The bale of cans is now in place. Thank you, Spectrum Metals Recycling for loaning this tremendous hulk of cans and thank you, Schlitzberger & Daughters Monument Co. for getting it on site. Once again, I am reminded, as if I ever forget, that Second Seating wouldn't be happening without the help and generosity of dozens of people each making individual 'yes' decisions. After the bale was in place I went to the studio on Harrisburg and emptied the car of boxes and newspapers. Alex and I are going to pack things on Friday a.m. and move all the tables and a couple of chandeliers into the space. We may even get to the oyster shells which have been in a natural cleaning process for over a month now behind my house. We'll need a wheelbarrow and a shovel. The more stuff that makes it way into the gallery space, the better.
The shelving for Wall of Plates has been rescheduled once again. Now we'll assemble it on Labor Day and I'll paint it all next week. I'll be spending the better part of my days there from now on. This is not a show where you move things in and arrange them on walls. There are parts of this exhibition that will be created in the moment.
Electricians have ordered a few connectors for the track lights and so they'll be back next week to finish up. All in all, the space looks as if something is going to happen there.
This afternoon, Modelle and I went over the details for the opening reception, making note of all the loose ends that need to be gathered up and put on the 'done' list. There are dozens of things that need to move over to the 'done' column.
At 5:00 I went to see how Gonzo247 is doing with his table and chairs. They just get better and better. See this series of photos.I've spent the evening listening to bits of opera arias while sewing on the Bayou, Bay, Beach chandelier. Lots of hand sewing. Why didn't I see this coming? It's been another good day, even though the arias brought on a touch of evening melancholy.

Half Ton of Aluminum Cans and Various Other Things

This afternoon, I chose a bale of compressed aluminum soda and beer cans at Spectrum Metal Recycling. They'll power wash the bale and on Thursday afternoon, Bobby Schlitzberger will cart if off to the Second Seating space where it will not move a fraction of an inch until the show is over.
Today I learned that it takes just six weeks to manufacture a can, fill it, sell it, recycle it and then remanufacture another can from the original metal. This process goes on forever. The same aluminum will be back somewhere on a shelf within sixty days. And someone will drink the Coke or Bud Light or whatever, throw the can out and all will begin again.
In the last twenty years Anheuser-Busch Recycling Subsidiary has recycled 8 billion pounds of cans from 48 states. There are 30-32 cans per pound. Do the math.
I set my alarm for 5:40 this morning so I could be at Fiesta at 6:00 a.m. to pick up a load of corrugated boxes to assemble a table top for this bale of cans. I am going to try fashioning a tabletop of layered boxes held together with staples and glue. It will either work - or not. Should have some paint on it too. I will get up early again on Thursday a.m. to retrieve more boxes. Then will set to work once the compressed bale of can is in place.
Also worked on the Bayou, Bay, Beach chandelier a bit this morning after the tirp to Fiesta. When I finished stretching and pinning the fabric over the frame, I'll hand sew it on and then call Gonzo247 who will come for it and so some aerosol oceany, oystery stuff on the fabric.
There is so much still to do. Actual artwork. More media stuff. Planning for the openngModelle and I will talk about all of this on Thursday. Melissa and I talked about money tonight and that always does me in and I get nervous. Because I know what I do with a project, any project. I'll do it right. And not think about the money.
If the wall needs repainting, or I decide to make shelving for the plates, or pay someone to hang track lights, or ask another person to develop a trove of music to play in the space, or think it's a good idea to hire mariachis for the opening reception, well, then all these things happen. And each costs money. But if all these things make the show terrific, I'd say it's money well spent.
So, the point here is that it's good that I have a friend keeping track of the money.
I am tired. I need to go to bed and not think about this anymore. Funny thing is, I hardly know how to read a magazine when I get into bed now. All is Second Seating. Totally absorbing.
By the way, I did get everything done on today's list. Seemed as if I was in the car all day long.

My New Favorite Words

What exactly are my new favorite words?

'Made possible in part by a grant from the City of Houston
through the Houston Arts Alliance.'

I'm loving those words. Now I can use them when I talk about Second Seating. Late this afternoon my cell phone rang when I was right in the middle of a nice long shower. For whatever reason, I emerged from the shower with wet hair and much dripping on the floor. And with wet hair and much dripping, I received a call with the news that the grant application submitted on my behalf by Neighborhood Centers, Inc. had just been approved for funding. On this very day.
I am really happy about this funding. And I am breathing deeply, one breath after another. I'm enjoying every one of these deep breaths. The estimates of expenses for production that I poured over weeks ago? Now, I can pay for them all. Not that Second Seating was ever in danger of not opening on September 24, exactly one month from this evening, by the way. But funds would have been tight and I'd have thought twice about postage for any extra invites that needed to be mailed. I might have fretted if the paint color I chose needed to be covered over with a better shade of green. The exhibition's signage will be classy now. The electrician's fee to make the place ready for a dozen incredible chandeliers doesn't seem as scary as it did earlier this morning.
This particular funding didn't come out of thin air. I had lots of folks championing Second Seating. Folks went out on a limb to support this endeavor. Not one person really knows what to expect. And yet, they do know some things. They know the tenacity and salesmanship I bring to bear on a project. They know I am both responsible and creative. They know I'll pull it off and surprise them. And the folks who supported this particular funding understand that Second Seating is about inclusion and collaboration, the most important things to know.
One never, ever, does anything alone. At least, not in my experience. People see that common goal, jump on it and play a part. Second Seating has eight participating artists and quite a mix they are, each one talented and contributing something unique to the whole. We're all telling our stories about community and the visual narratives are what makes Second Seating.
So, my thanks to each of you who supported this special opportunity funding and who believe that Second Seating is truly 'a one-time offbeat arts destination in downtown Houston' as the most recent press release states.Second Seating is just blocks from the George R. Brown Convention Center where, in October, 55,000 quilters will wend their way through miles of quilts. These visitors to Houston not only get to see Second Seating, should they choose to take a break from those miles of quilts, but they also get to eat a Second Seating Lunch Special at Irma's, winner of a 2008 James Beard American Classics Award.
This is a lot about marketing. Special opportunity? You bet. What a combination. And today, Houston Arts Alliance joined the list of underwriters of Second Seating. At last.

Identity

My thanks to Sherri and Kelley at S.O. Creative for designing Second Seating's logo. It's on the masthead of this blog now, on letterhead, business cards and labels. We worked on an image for Second Seating for a long time and with Diana Hickerson's tag line, I think it represents what's happening. I'm liking it. Sherri's branded the Greater East End District. Diana written many a district newsletter. We go back a long time. When Sherri offered to create an icon for Second Seating, I said 'Thank you. Thank you.'
I'm also working with SquidzInk, making updates on my MM Hansen Communicates website, so you'll see the logo there as well. Along with press releases, listings and images for download.

All In A Day's Work

Everything in life takes longer than anticipated. At least, that is my experience. I've been back in Houston two days and I'd say I've accomplished many tasks for this exhibition of mine. Yet in the grand scheme of things, there is so, so much more to be done. Guess it might help if I made a 'done' list and then simply go to bed.
Here goes:
1. Got a request for a 100 word bio, a 100 word project summary and three images for The Idea Fund website. You'd think that would be an easy one, but I messed with that bio and summary for far longer than I'll admit. Couldn't get them down to 100 words. Slept on it and early this morning, made the revisions in minutes. Always helps to sleep on things.
2. Always worries me to send images when things aren't really 'done', but I photographed the filigreed Clorox bottles, a section of the patched together velvets and brocades salvaged from Hurricane Ike flood waters and pulled up a photo of the compressed bales of soda cans at Spectrum Metals. One of those bales will become a table base for Second Seating. Had to call Laurie P. over to get the images at 300 dpi and put them in an email ready to send.
3. Drafted a follow-up letter to a probable donor who expressed interest in February and told me to write/call him again in April. I still must drop the envelope in the mail box, but he'll have it on Monday and it'll still be April.
4. Called for an appointment with another possible donor and it's set for next Monday afternoon.
5. Called a good friend who is chairperson of a potential donor organization and found out how to get their attention. Resulted in having to fill in another application - why do these things take me so long, even when I've written the words before?

So you think that Second Seating is all about fundraising? Well, it does take up much of my days, but in between those letters and calls, I did the following in the service of making the art for this installation:

1. Gathered all the filigreed Clorox bottles affixed to rolled tablecloths and began to hang them from the structure that allows the garage/studio door to go up and down. Need to string the most recent bottles on to more rolled tablecloths and attach a few wooden clothes pins here and there.
2. Called the man who made the structure for the Clorox bottle chandelier. Must call again tomorrow when he available in order to make an appointment to assemble the chandelier and try out the lights and the mirrored ball AND have Laurie P. photograph it for press prints in the media packets.
3. Ducked in for 15 minutes at The Guild Shop on my way to an eye doctor's appointment. Yes, the right eye is still crying. Make that tearing because the tear drain is covered again with scar tissue. How many months can this go on? In a week, I have an appointment with a specialist who'll put in a 'something' to hold the tear drain open. For the rest of my life. Back to The Guild Shop. Found a few more dishes on which I can put photo images. I am imagining a wall of plates with very strange images - mostly of food.
4. Called Jesse who came over to pick up a couple more dozen coffee mugs for the mosaic on the sides of the coffee table/buffet. We will meet again tomorrow to examine the table and give ourselves a schedule for completing it.
5. Mailed Jose Solis a copy of the architect's floor plans for the space so he can estimate the size of the coffee can chandelier he's constructing. It needs to be really big.
6. Picked up the fishing net that Trudy found for me in Rockport for the Bayou, Bay + table.
7. Got a call from the graphic person who created a logo for Second Seating. My stationery and labels and cards have arrived and I can pick them up tomorrow. I have had so much help from friends for this exhibition. I am amazed.

Well, now that I review the list above, I see that what I initially considered working on 'art' is all about administrative details. Every bit of it, which leads me again to what a joy it would be to have a personal assistant, an intern, staff, help. Tomorrow, I add to those admin tasks as I need to think about drafting revisions for Second Seating calendar listings, thread rolled table cloths through Clorox bottles and pick up a CD which holds a really good database. Where's the art in those tasks? Ouch.

There were also hours today that were filled with friends and a few household tasks. Paid all my bills early this morning and mailed them off, went to the bank, called my sister to see if she'd heard anything from Mom and Dad (not much which means they are probably doing well at their new care facility), made two calls on behalf of an organization for which I am a board member. One of the two calls was successful, or will be with some follow-up. Ate Vietnamese noodles for lunch at Les Girval's, met Moises for a Thai supper and loaned him a book by Joseph Campbell and another by Carl Jung after he said he's beginning to feel like a Buddhist. Good for him.

My house is totally upside down again which means that every surface is covered with papers and 'stuff.' Tomorrow I need to check in with Irma and her architect, fill in yet another application for funds, catch up with the chandelier man, meet with Jesse, straighten the diningroom table that I use for a desk, and wouldn't it be nice to go to a Pilates session at 9:00 a.m.?

So, is this how art gets made? Perhaps. I could go on. Instead I am going to bed with Netflix, know that I - one person - really have accomplished a few things today on behalf of Second Seating, even if art didn't enter into it.

Second Seating: An Accounting

'Taking stock' of a project's progress is a good exercise. I've always been a big list maker - those perennial 'to do' lists keep me pushing forward, but I am finding that with 'Second Seating', acknowledging accomplishments large and small is a way of affirming real progress and frankly, a good way to keep track of it all.

Since the new year began, I've been keeping very close tabs on where and how 'Second Seating' is moving. I note accomplishments in my day timer along with the meeting dates with potential funders and contributing artists. I think it's made a difference.
Several days ago, I bought a really large desk calendar and am color coding meetings with funders and visits with contributing artists and resource people. I'll know how many calls or visits pushed 'Second Seating' forward, month by month.

It's interesting, or perhaps it is horrifying to note that until I began to write this post, I hadn't color coded time for actually making art for 'Second Seating,' though I have been very busy getting others lined up to make art.

And how does one color code the hours spent 'thinking about making the art'? On my walk today, I designed the internal structure for the Clorox chandelier. It would be interesting to make note of the hours spent 'thinking.' Are there, perhaps, better verbs to describe what goes on in one's head? Mulling? Wool gathering? Day dreaming? I sure spend a lot of time in my head, doing whatever 'it' is.
Here's what happened in January that 'moved the meter' as CK used to say:
1. 'Second Seating' was selected for grant funding from The Idea Fund, a program of Diverse Works, Aurora Picture Show and Project Row Houses that is supported by The Andy Warhol Foundation. This was very good news and a great way to begin the year.
2. I moved a lot of 'stuff' into a large studio space on Harrisburg where I can see how things are shaping up. Most of the images in this post are things I took to the new space. Sometimes, seeing them there comforts me. Other times, I panic.

3. Invited two major East End companies to become underwriters of specific chandeliers or tables. Outlook is positive.
4. Set the stage for meeting with three other companies.
5. Found an electrical contractor who will make sure that the chandeliers are properly wired and workable and will install them when the moment comes. Thank you, thank you. This means that nothing will blow up or short out.
6. Met with three artists who'll participate in 'Second Seating' by creating chandeliers and/or tables. I'll write about these terrific artists in other posts. They are each skilled and talented in different ways. Ceramics, metal work, painting, batik. It will be grand to watch how and what they produce for this installation.
7. Met with an artist friend who teaches at HCCS Southeast who asked if her two classes could participate in 'Second Seating.' They'll help make the chandelier of Clorox bottles in the weeks of late February through mid-March. June and I are now making samples of filigreed bottles and I'm wondering where I'll go to buy several hula hops for part of the structure.

8. Met Irma's architect who declared she'd been looking for resources for recycled objects to put in the new space. We're a match.
9. Drafted a first press release that I hope will generate two hundred coffee mugs from East End residents. Still must send it on its way.
9. Rewrote a grant application for Houston Arts Alliance - it took many hours of the last week of January. How I labor over words. Pushed the submit button at 4:24 p.m. last Friday.

In addition to all of this, I spent a weekend seeing as much as I could of Prospect.1 New Orleans, traveled to Brownsville with Irma to meet with Ted and Jose about the project and yes, Irma and I spent a day shopping in Progreso. A friend hosted a Sunday afternoon trunk show for me and I sold ten pieces of crochet collars and capelets (Will I ever find a fit name for this wearable art I crochet?). Throughout all of this, my siblings and I are communicating daily about Mom and Dad's increasing care needs, quality of life, meds, caregivers: there are no good solutions. We spin our wheels and try to make decent decisions. Not a bit of it is easy.

Had a cold, tachycardia overtook me twice, currently have an inflamed right eye... are these coincidences? I think not. And then there just happened to be a presidential inauguration amidst the growing financial doom that is beginning to affect every single one of us. Safe to say I absolutely loved Barack Obama's Inauguration Day and am in denial about financial doom.
So that sums up January 2009. It's February 2 now and I've had a late evening sinking spell of acute proportions and am calling in more troops to help with this whole colossal task. Am I an absolute fool or is this all doable?