rollertrain

My patriotic streak by Paul Dagys, 2003

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:13:46 -0400

My patriotic streak by Paul Dagys, 2003

Ms. Daughtry is movin’ on up in radioland: Debbie Does...

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:15:51 -0400

Ms. Daughtry is movin’ on up in radioland: Debbie Does WFMU

(displaced southerners, soul fans, obscure hip-hop lovers and james brown fiends - this is your new favorite show)

NCCU in the News

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:30:10 -0400

(even the administration mistakes me for faculty. enjoy.)

Dear Faculty and Staff members,

This memo is in response to the news report indicating that North Carolina Central University will install software to monitor faculty and staff computer use, i.e., “computer monitoring software.” As an institution founded to provide academic excellence in teaching, learning, research, and service, North Carolina Central University provides for members of the university community an electronic communication infrastructure that includes computing resources, network connectivity, and tools for electronic communication. This infrastructure is provided for the purpose of facilitating the business of the university including, teaching, learning, scholarship, research, communication, and other creative endeavors.

In providing and maintaining its electronic communication infrastructure, the university complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws. The University Information Technology Services division utilizes software to ensure compliance with said laws, to enforce university policies and standards pertaining to our electronic communication environment, and to ensure resources are used efficiently for University business. The University has not deployed any “content monitoring” software. The University is however investigating software that will block access to questionable websites. Access to these sites would require approval.

The University will form a committee with Faculty, Staff, and Students to establish criteria for appropriate website usage. The University community will be able to vet with the committee what is deemed as questionable websites.

North Carolina Central University is proud to have one of the most sophisticated electronic communication infrastructures within the UNC system with wireless and wired connections campus-wide and the university strongly encourages the free exchange of ideas and information among all members of its community and with members of other communities throughout the world.

Thanks,

Chief Information Officer
North Carolina Central University

CONFIDENTIALITY: This email (including any attachments) may contain confidential, proprietary and privileged information, and unauthorized disclosure or use is prohibited. If you received this email in error, please notify the sender and delete this email from your system.

Violet Blue vs. Violet Blue (nsfw)

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:01:00 -0400

Violet Blue vs. Violet Blue (nsfw)

Photo

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:45:13 -0400

XXX Monster Video (dying, but not quite dead)Read the history...

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:46:00 -0400

XXX Monster Video (dying, but not quite dead)

Read the history of this once-loved building on Main Street in East Durham at GK’s amazing blog Endangered Durham.

(via hubs)

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:34:55 -0400

(via hubs)

Web Gem: How To Get Rid of Things

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:55:56 -0400

Web Gem: How To Get Rid of Things

Red still life - 30 x 30” acrylic and oil on woodFinished...

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:13:18 -0400

Red still life - 30 x 30” acrylic and oil on wood

Finished this summer studio painting in a week and a half, which is the fastest oil painting I’ve made so far. Although I’m still struggling with drawing and painting (my elipses, scale and proportion are always off; I had to glaze the really red objects because I was mixing the wrong colors; the fabric high and lowlights are a little too intense; the composition has the same awkward spots that all my paintings have had, etc), it’s getting easier to develop my own process for tackling a project.

I’m sure that looking at still life after still life is boring, and you must be wondering (along with me) “when is she going to make something INTERESTING or MEANINGFUL?!” After the expensive fiasco of the bee thing, I realized that as much as my brain has 34 years of experience to come up with heavier concepts, I’m still a first-year(ish) art student, and my skills are at the same level as all new art students.

I decided to take at least two independent painting and drawing studios per semester, so I can get to the point where I feel comfortable with what I think is the hardest part of making art: Being able to reproduce what you see. Painting and drawing from life are much more difficult than reproducing a photograph in different media - at least for me - and it’s important to “go to the gym” at least 3 times a week until I build some bigger muscles.

Today was the last day of the first summer session. The painting studio was quick and difficult, and I enjoyed it very much. The photoshop class was lame. I didn’t learn anything new; photoshop is still an overrated tool.

When I met up with some old coworkers last week (all of whom work in some kind of design or advertising or porno), they were pretty baffled as to why I’ve been leaning more towards studio art than design. Honestly, the design stuff bores the hell out of me. I’ve spent so many long, exhausting hours working with designers, and the more I get into fine art, the less interest I have in graphic and web design. I’m still going to take the classes, though, because I’m at least smart enough to know I’ll probably need those skills once the fantasy land of college comes to another end.

I’d be pretty happy to never work another advertising job again. Mark those words with a pencil, though, because the only thing I really know is that I know jackshit.

I’ve already started one of two big, more interesting projects. Thanks to Miss C for the strap-on, and wish me much luck on the second one, because it’s going to take at least seven months to finish, and I have no idea if it’s going to be successful or not. But after meeting with a few people in Durham, I think my chances of getting into legal trouble aren’t as good as I’d hoped.

If you’re really fucking bored, process photos for the red still life are here. If you’re interested in owning it (cheap!), my email address is up there on the right.

(via zackgonzales & picturesforsadchildren.com)

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:44:00 -0400

(via zackgonzales & picturesforsadchildren.com)

7 dirty words scarf by Anja Louise Verdugo(always sad when the...

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:09:50 -0400

7 dirty words scarf by Anja Louise Verdugo

(always sad when the good ones pass)

Fables 69 by James Jean (via kneel dillon)On top of his...

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:06:00 -0400

Fables 69 by James Jean (via kneel dillon)

On top of his multimedia work, Jean has created one of the best blogs and professional sites I’ve ever been sucked into. The way he incorporates his work, process, information and *STORE* into both arenas is something that every single practicing artist should check out and deeply consider recreating.

The gap between fine art and how it’s presented and sold online is pretty frightening. Ever since I started art school, I’ve been searching for more information on how artists sell their work online without having to deal with the scary, limiting and often silly art gallery industry. I understand that galleries are a necessary business for a small and generally very expensive segment of artwork. What I don’t understand is why more established artists - whether they’re younger or older, or whether their work has hefty price tags or not - aren’t taking more advantage of the internet. It’s not easy to set up a commerce site or build a store onto an existing professional site or blog, but I’d guess it’s always a wise investment for the small percentage of artists who’ve done this. Finding the right audience is not impossible, and I think any artist would be pretty damn thrilled to receive 100% of the money from a piece of work they made and love.

Craft artists and photographers figured this out several years ago. I really don’t understand why all the other folks are lagging behind on how much more financial potential the internet has for expanding an audience (customers!) and exposing work to people who’d never otherwise know about it (advertising!) Not to mention the comparatively low overhead costs of having your very own online gallery, and not having to deal with the difficult process of actually finding a gallery that doesn’t suck - in terms of how it treats its clients (artists!) and how well it conducts its business (sales and commissions!).

This is something I care about a lot, and will hopefully learn more about, because I’d much rather be in full charge of my own business than have to deal with the alternatives, and I suspect a lot of people in my position feel the same way.

If you ever come across some good information on how the internet is changing the fine art market, I’d love to get my hands on it.

(that’s where the comment box comes in handy.) <—that was a hint.

Cheryl in gold: The art of bodypainting at Lightspeed Images

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:38:21 -0400

Cheryl in gold: The art of bodypainting at Lightspeed Images

Up Shit Creek with Luciferin - 60 x 6.5” acrylic on a...

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:34:52 -0400

Up Shit Creek with Luciferin - 60 x 6.5” acrylic on a wooden paddle

Luciferin is what makes fireflies glow. A paddle is what makes asses glow.

Mr. and Mrs. Christopherson by Ilka HartmannThird Friday is...

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0400

Mr. and Mrs. Christopherson by Ilka Hartmann

Third Friday is tonight in Durham! Branch Gallery has two shows up: Casa de Carton (which features a slew of great artists, including Robert Thiele and Rashawn Griffin) and Up Against the Wall (photography by Ilka Hartmann). More info at the N&O.

Bull City Arts Collaborative has a Sarah Powers show that’s worth checking out. Sarah is the executive director of the Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh, so it’s always good to return the many kindnesses VAE offers to local artists - you know, by actually showing up to an art event. More info here.

There’s also some good music at the Bull’s Balls (CCB Plaza). Maybe we’ll see you there.

Selling Art: There’s a sucker born every minute(thanks,...

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:11:14 -0400

Selling Art: There’s a sucker born every minute

(thanks, pop!)

pig head centerpiece by melaleukaIt’s Hog Days in...

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:30:46 -0400

pig head centerpiece by melaleuka

It’s Hog Days in Hillsborough this weekend, for all of us pig lovers.

(Fond barbecue memory: Driving past a group of old timers outside of Dreamland in Birmingham, Alabama, with my best friend Graham, who is screaming out her car window “PORK ME, PAPPY!”)

Photo

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:35:30 -0400

via dacia:village voice sex naked city - Christen Clifford:...

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:23:10 -0400

via dacia:

village voice sex naked city - Christen Clifford: (What I Know About) My Parents’ Sex Life
From nursing homes to granny porn, from her father’s Viagra prescription to her mother’s racy letters: award-winning solo performer Christen Clifford takes you on a journey through senior sexuality. (What I Know About) My Parents’ Sex Life a.k.a. Fuck Me Like It’s 1945 is Christen’s second solo theater piece about family life and sexuality. It’s something of a follow up piece to her BabyLove, which is enjoying an extended run at The Green Room (45 Bleecker Street) through July 27th.
Naked City TV got a sneak peek at the new piece last week and got to watch Christen do her first full run through of My Parents’ Sex Life in front of an audience.
(this is amazing. christen clifford has real guts.)

Chair by Scott Jackson(a broken hearted day, for the little one...

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:27:00 -0400

Chair by Scott Jackson

(a broken hearted day, for the little one that got away.)