Together we are more complete

Our final project was simply amazing and eye opening.
We were all given a small image and we had to draw it exactly as we saw it. The images from the 16 students would make up a complete picture when finalized. As we assembled this final image we were all amazed at our ability and even though we had very different drawing styles the image came together as one. A cohesive image with the left eye (the one I drew) being the focal point of this composition.

Autumn in Wine Country

Remember growing up?

Remember four seasons?

Remember the leaves changing color and the beauty of that time?

The only thing I miss from childhood is the autumn season.

The leaves turning and the glorious colors that happen during that magical time before the horrid winter.

Well, here are glimpses of our northern Cali autumn in wine country.

i think my mind is too chatty

i think my mind is too chatty
*******************************
sleepless nights
too many thoughts to chase
as random as a dream
I'm sleep-walking
I step into cyberspace
looking for clues about the world
acquiring useless information about 'can openers'
I did everything "balanced" today
I fed myself
challenged my mind
worked up a sweat
yet here I am
...trapped in this vortex...
the black hole of the mind
keeping me from my traditional orbit
all the thoughts that generate over months
started to boiling over...now
the state of the world
the state of the economy
finding myself in this puzzle somehow
getting a job...or not
creating moments of bliss
drawing pictures
writing stories
songwriting
musing a melody
and there it is
the melody without an actual key
the mind blowing symphony
without a conductor
no music to read
directionless
the flesh is present
the spirit is empty
yet, the glass is half-full
*****INSERT IMAGE of chatty mind****

Lucid Lovers: not up to snuff for Red Poppy Art House

Here was there response to my interest in playing at Red Poppy Art House.

I just have to ask, if someone finds music "beautiful" why is that not enough?

Oh, I forgot to mention they do book "Classical chamber ensembles" ...that cover Depeche Mode and U2.

****Red Poppy Art House email to me *****

hi kristina,

thanks for your interest in performing at the red poppy art house. i have checked out your website, and you've got some beautiful music.

however, we don't book indie rock at the red poppy art house. i've copied our selection criteria below for your review. thanks so much for your consideration and keep playing beautifully.

best, c

*Music Programming*

The Red Poppy Art House presents local, national, and international artists. Selected artists generally fall into one or more of the following categories:

Contemporary/innovative music ensembles, from varying countries of origin, performing original compositions
Traditional/folkloric ensembles with extensive knowledge and training in their discipline, and firm relationships to the respective country of origin.
Contemporary/innovative music ensembles thoughtfully integrating/crossing music genres from multiple cultural origins.
Jazz Ensembles with a particular emphasis on original compositions
Local established and emerging composers presenting new work and/or arrangements
Classical chamber ensembles

The Red Poppy Art House performance program tends NOT to feature the following:

(Due to both sound restrictions and stylistic preference)

Highly electrified high-volume music (rock, metal, punk, etc)
Indie rock
Singer-songwriter (some exceptions)
Solo Artists (some exceptions)
“World-fusion” groups that do not present clearly defined material and substantive relationships to the respective cultures of origin. (This is a challenging area. It is our intention to present work, yet work that is grounded in terms of cultural sensitivity and training. We are weary of casual attempts to combine genres from multiple cultural origins, particularly if there is tone of exoticism. An exaggerated example would be a Celtic-flamenco inspired fusion group with Middle Eastern and Balkan influences joined with Yoruban invocations to Elegua.) While the world is becoming ever more culturally mixed and complex, we recognize the need for thoughtfulness in this kind of endeavor so as to avoid a kind of multi-cultural overdose that does not do justice to any of the referenced traditions.

e=mc^

Sometimes I don't want to tell the whole world my thoughts.

Sometimes I just want to sleep and wait for the train to stop at my desired destination.

Sometimes I just feel like I'm not trying hard enough.

Other times I'm overachieving.

The ups

The downs

The frequencies of life's channel.

All of those experiences shape my perspective.

My perspective becomes my story.

My story is my life.

My life changes and I have a new perspective.

And a new story.

And the yo-yo playing, train stopping, boat hopping, merry-go-round, roller coaster riding continues.

Foggy thoughts for a foggy day...

It's 2pm on Monday. I just finished my 2nd cup of coffee and a cup of homemade granola.

Serious thoughts for a seriously foggy day.

I know that many people love music they just don't want to pay for it. Music never made it on Maslow's hierarchy of needs but there are groups of people that wake up in morning and if they don't have music, they will die. What about those people? Those people cross all demographic lines and cultural lines. Those people have a special part of there brain that crave music like some people crave chocolate, fresh air, caffeine or cigarettes.

Do you think with the internet that we can reach these people easier? Perhaps. Or is it those three words that I believe describes much of our current urban culture today "Too(.) Many (.) Distractions(!)"

Without a doubt, I'm much better at promoting other people's accomplishments and/or idea's then my own.
Especially when it comes to art and music. I guess I feel somewhat conceited always self-promoting "I'm an artist and I'm great", "Come, come listen to me!". I certainly want to have people come see our shows but I don't want to be one of those annoying people that send out 30 invites in 30 days.

With all the tools we have to tell the world what we are doing, thinking, where we will be etc, I often look at other artists posts and see what they are saying. Sometimes, I wonder "do I really come across like that?" Perhaps I need a manager to promote us and then we can just concentrate on the music and delivering a great performance. You know, like the good ole' days.

A few things I know right now that I feel to be true for me in this very moment:(maybe later I will eat my words)

1. I don't need a lot of money to be happy.
2. I believe working for someone else ultimately sucks. Yet working for yourself is ultimately a much harder task.
3. Being confined to an office 8-5 is like dying a slow death.
4. At 30 years old I am making less money then I have ever yet, I'm really happy!
5. I have no idea what I will be doing tomorrow, except it likely won't require me to wake up before 10am.
6. I would rather die broke then die bored.
7. Using my mind, my voice, my hands to make something that touch people emotionally or stimulate there senses is the ultimate feeling...now how to make a living doing just that...
8. To be an artist in a world where the priorities are different ... that is the question ... that is the challenge

Summer Eats...

A new creation using sole of fish, seasoned the fish with salt, pepper and smoked paprika. I then drenched them in flour and sauteed them till crispy on the outside. Removed them from the burner, added red onions, butter, white wine, chopped capers, some minced jalapeno' and more seasoning and cooked that till the onions were translucent. Placed the sole' of fish back onto pan over the onions, covered with foil and placed in the oven for 8 minutes, to get all the flavors of the onions. Removed the foil and then placed them in the broiler for 2 minutes to get nice an crispy on top.

On I side I had some baked sweet potato fries, broiled carrots with butter and cinnamon as well as chilled lightly salted cucumbers slices.

Overall, a very successful and delicious meal. The spicy fish was complimented by the sweet potatoes and the carrots as well as the coolness of the cucumbers.

I love cooking!