Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Brick Wall

I hit the proverbial "brick wall" yesterday. I really did. I really, really did.
I remember about a month ago, I checked my April calendar. I remember thinking that the middle two weeks would be absolute insanity.

I am reaping the fruits of that insanity.

I have had something scheduled every single day (after work) and on weekends. These would be meetings, classes, field trips to Pittsburgh (but the Andy Warhol Museum was well worth the drive!) Long nights, little sleep. Oh and kids concerts and invitations to Youth Music Abroad, and signing away income tax money and field trip money and forwarding money and having no money and freaking and stressing and not sleeping and.....

I committed to the Degas project. A photo/sketch shoot of dancers at a studio. We have three weeks to turn in a painting. I thought it was a cool idea but I haven't had a free moment. I know you think I am on the internets blogging, but....

I am writing curriculum for four new classes. I thought I had until July. I have just been informed that it is all due on April 26th.

The day after the Pittsburgh trip I couldn't find my keys. I left them in my unlocked car. The Monday after I could not find my keys, went out to my car, found no keys. Walked back to my desk, found my keys but left my purse. I discovered I was purseless at the halfway to home point. I wasted about a half hour retrieving said purse. Last night I locked my keys in my car while daughter was taking flute lessons. After the "coat hanger treatment" failed, flute teacher's husband took my husband and daughter home while I sat in her gazebo, trying to stay dry. Thunder struck and the dogs howled. I huddled in the gazebo like a homeless person waiting about an hour for the hubby to return. I stopped at the supermarket. When I pulled into the drive I received a call that I left my checkbook at the supermarket. It was close to nine, I was exhausted. I retrieved the checkbook.


I have wasted hours looking for lost things.

Today I came in and a substitute teacher rearranged my desk. I could not find anything. Why do people insist on rearranging my desk. I know it is messy, but I thrive in creative chaos. I hate neatness.

I could not find crap today.

Oh, and Dive, I tried writing, it was crap. I haven't had time to fix it so... The hell with it.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Chalk it Up!

Every year the YorkArts organization hosts the Chalk it Up! Mural competition for high school students. I was happy to sponsor two teams from my high school's National Art Honor Society. It is a fun, but stressful afternoon. The students must complete a carpet sized chalk mural on canvas in four and a half hours.

The first photo is of Team #1's finished mural. (Sorry it was a little difficult to photograph). This mural took second place in the competition. Eighteen teams participated.

If you click on this photo you might be able to see some of the rich textures applied by these wonderful students!


Team#2 is working very hard on their mural. Rachel loves to draw dragons and imaginary creatures. I think she did an incredible job. Unfortunately her team did not win anything.



It must be very difficult for these young students to work on such a collaborative mural.

Personalities and heads tend to clash, coupled with a short deadline. One student lost an Ipod.

All in all the results these year were tenfold greater than the last two years!

The kids are covered with chalk and pastel.

The public is amazed that our students are so talented.

If we do not support the arts, opportunities like this will disappear.

Our governor wants to make drastic cuts in school funding.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Back in the burrow

Spring seems to have flown the coop. Winter weather patterns persist. Snow is flying and temps are hovering just above freezing. Yuck.

I have retreated to the burrow once again.