JStangroom

New Year, eh???

2010-01-03T18:57:00.002-05:00

So a new year rolls around...
so far, nothing new.
It appears that I've made it through the "holidays"
and we're back in order.
Syl had to work through the big ones, Christmas and New Years Day,
so we had to navigate around that.
I got a summons from my sister to be up at the family place for Christmas...
"might be our last with Dad and we should be there".
She was right.
Now we've got significant snow... over a foot.
Me?... I walked over to the Plough this morning.
Same old, same old.
A nice, wintry ramble.

One of Those Days

2009-12-07T19:22:00.002-05:00

Of course, this has been busy times...
the usual wrestling with life.
Painting our wretched little bathroom after water damage from above.
Once we'd taken it apart we realised that we really didn't want to
reinstall the old medicine cabinet and bought a new one.
Things like that.

As always a stop in at the Plough at the end of the day...
Trust me! It supports my sanity. Good, creative banter with good friends.

Today was a rough one, though.
The van wouldn't start. (I know that I go on about my vehicles, but they are essential to my livelihood)
Got it towed around the corner and Syl generously offered me the use of her car for the job I was doing.
When I got to the framers to pick up there was a 65"x78" (160.5 cm x 190.8cm) painting
that I hadn't remembered. Wasn't going to fit in her car! Wouldn't have fit in my van !!!
So I rented a van... and luckily got the art consultant to pay for it.
The installation was somewhat difficult. The walls were a chocolate brown with a very high gloss.
It was like trying to make a mark on glass with a pencil. I acqired some painters tape and was able
to plot the marks on that. It all went well, just a little more than it should have been.

In the mean time, I'd accidentally double booked tomorrow and had to get that sorted.
Happily, it wasn't a BIG problem.
They didn't get to working on my van today, so I've kept the rental overnight.
This is for a corporate presentation and I'll be glad that I have it...
(already got this other art consultant to cover the cost).

Hell, I'm just trying to make a meager living, here.

The Day After Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T19:58:00.002-05:00

So... Sylvia and I went over to Mickey and Martin's place yesterday for a Thanksgiving dinner.
Good food, good friends... no particular drama, so nothing really to report.
The turkey had recieved some breast implants but on taking it out of the oven
one was rejected. Was a bit crispy, this turkey.
A nice evening... only a small amount of broken glass.
The children behaved better than we're used to.
And today...
Sent an old cutting board to Christine Tarantino... just stamped her address on it.
Started painting a few pieces for the Visual Aids thing.
Tomorrow we'll go visit my Dad, who is not doing well.

Maybe some more info tomorrow.

Prodded On Once Again

2009-11-06T19:34:00.003-05:00

Ah yes, neglecting the blog...

Pretty much the same old... (except that it NEVER is)

So, a couple of weeks ago had to go pick up artwork in Great Barrington... about 140 miles away.
Simple trip out, the gallery person gave me lunch and a bit more money than I'd asked for (both good),
Was on the way back... congratulating myself on a smooth trip when I got a flat tire! I was on the MassPike with the big rigs flying by at 70 mph... no way I was going to hang my arse out on the highway to change a tire. I called AAA and found that they can't service the Pike, but they got in touch with the state police and they sent a truck. They had me back on the road shortly and I was able to deliver the artwork to the Boston gallery on time.

Otherwise it's local deliveries and installations and a couple of painting projects.
One of the painting jobs was the better part of two floors at Mickey's house...
had to work around her husband and two girls, all home with the flu.
(Oh yeah, Mickey and I won $150 in the lottery a couple of weeks ago.)

This weekend is supposedly the 40th anniversary of the Plough's opening...
lot's of music acts. Dunno how much of that I can take. I'm sure there will be
a pile of oldtimers stopping in. I'm guessing a madhouse...

I completed a painting for the Newton Art Center benefit (at the last minute, of course).

Ok, Ok

2009-10-20T19:09:00.002-04:00

So... casting around the other day, I came upon Christine Tarantino's Open Fluxus page, where she mentioned that Allison Knowles was giving a lecture at Radcliffe in Harvard Square. A few messages back and forth and I learned that Reed Altimus was planning to attend as well. So we all met up yesterday afternoon, Christine, her partner Doug, Reed and myself. We were a bit early and Reed and I spent some time catching up and I got to know Christine a bit. Allison started with a slide lecture about Fluxus... not really anything that I wasn't already aware of... then went into a few performances. Radcliffe girls all singing a different song at the same time... Radcliffe girls all reading from different newspapers in different languages with Allison conducting the volume (sometimes for all and sometimes for just a few). I thoroughly enjoyed it and was glad that I'd found Christine's announcement of the event. Afterwards there was a reception where Reed approached Allison to get her to sign a vintage chapbook of her scores (she was surprised to see this). I went to get Allison a glass of wine and found myself shaking trying to bring it to her (what was that about???). From there, I escorted our small crowd down to the Plough and Stars, where we had another beverage before everyone headed home. There were pictures of us all on Christine's Open Fluxus page by 10:30 (not bad, considering they had a 2 hour drive.
Take a look...

By Popular Demand...

2009-10-07T17:55:00.002-04:00

Yes, Michael... I've over extended the week.
Unfortunately, there's nothing very significant to impart.
Today, for instance...
A rain day (we've been working on this exterior)... I'd made arrangements to
start painting Mickey's Living/Dining room area. She's messed up her knees
and was going to get them X-rayed... so I was on hold for the morning.
Did a drawing in anticipation for a painting that I need to deliver to Newton Art Center in a month,
primed the panel a couple of times... doing laundry all along.
Actually sent post to a stranger who had sent me a packet of stuff !!!
Got the call from Mickey around 1:00... too late to get started on anything.
Did some errands and ended up at the Plough (imagine that).
An higher level of banter than usual.
Otherwise, in the past week...
I installed an exhibitin at Clark Gallery, in Lincoln.
Drove artwork up to Manchester, NH.
Rearranged artwork in a woman's hallway.
Assisted with a residential art presentation.
Installed a big, heavy ceramic wall piece.
All while working on this exterior painting job and making sure the guys had what they needed.
Sundays were at the Plough, as usual.

A Sunday Afternoon

2009-09-27T19:32:00.002-04:00

A walk over to Cambridge... cloudy, but the temperature was good and the sky tried to spit at me a few times.
Mickey arrived about the same time I did and we set up camp at our end of the bar... (this is the Plough and Stars, for those not following closely)
We then proceeded to lose money on scratch tickets, before wading into the crossword. Not a bad job of that, a bit clumsy here and there, but we got done only cheating once (the other times we peeked was only for confirmation). Tales over and over again about the evening before... seems like there were lot's of drunks about (I'd gone home early). The music came on at 5:00, I stayed for the first set, then cabbed it home as it was finally raining. A pleasant, but not spectacular afternoon.

Gawd, A Week Went By

2009-09-26T19:40:00.002-04:00

Yes, a week went by...
Nothing really special to report.
Art installations and small painting jobs took up most of the time.
I DID get the guys started on the small exterior painting job, here in Somerville,
but I didn't have any time to work on it myself. I was taking care of a couple of
regular clients in Brookline. Both small jobs that needed patching, priming and painting
so I bounced back and forth between them waiting for things to dry.
There was on installation that STARTED at 8:00 Thursday night!
The woman of the house was much more enthusiastic about the work than her husband.
Eight small encaustic, abstract pieces that were to be hung in two grids flanking the door
in the dining room. A few minutes composing the placement before I installed the first grid (two over two)
which took me about 10 minutes. The speed was commented on. The second grid went up and the husband finally decided that they looked pretty good. In my cheeky way, I looked over my shoulder and said, "Don't be so surprised! It was a good choice". They then wanted to hang a piece that was badly framed and inappropriate for this modern, formal dining room... it would kill the elegance. Both myself and the art consultant tried to dissuade them... we didn't put it up, but I'm guessing that they did it themselves.
Anyway...
A walk over to the Plough in the morning... might be an interesting afternoon.
Supposed to rain, but I walk over, rain, shine or blizzard every Sunday.
I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

The Past Couple of Days

2009-09-19T20:00:00.002-04:00

I just returned from Sally O'Brien's in Union Sq., Somerville.
Reverb Joe's band was playing a tribute to him (Joe passed away in early August).
Sounded good, with Joe's son Jake doing most of what Joe used to do.
Good crowd, most of them I know from the Plough. I always had hoped that I
could get Big Al Davies over here to meet Joe... they would have got along famously,
each of them being terrific stringed instrument players.

Earlier in the day Sylvia and I went up to Gloucester and had a ramble. (I'm sure there's a
few pics on her Flickr site) It started with a rather underwhelming lunch... but the walk was nice.

Let's see... Thursday I took some artwork to Waltham, some sort of pharmaceutical offices.
I was supposed to be supervising the installation (union rules or insurance wasn't allowing me to do
the actual work). But the building was still in construction mode, so the artwork wasn't going
up that day. With about 5 hours to kill, I called Mickey and suggested lunch. She balked at first but in the end she treated me to a couple of beers and a shared sandwich at the Plough. On to the next job, a presentation of artwork in a posh condo downtown. Worked until 8:30 pm... picking up the work, delivering it to the site, unwrapping it, showing it, wrapping it back up and taking it back to the art consultant's place. (she did sell pieces for 4 walls)

On Friday I was trying to get Michael to come look at the carpentry for a job we're supposed to
start soon, but I couldn't get in touch with him. Took a proposal to the client and again spent the downtime at the Plough, doing the puzzles. That's where I saw Spider John... he seemed to take more time with the "Cryptoqute" (even saw him using an eraser... I work in pen) but he beat me by a word in the crossword.

Enough. A walk to th Plough in the morning for the usuall.

Wednesday, and I Finally Shipped the Piece

2009-09-16T19:01:00.002-04:00

Sylvia and I went out last night for her birthday...
Ruth's Chris Steak House (we had gift certificates)
Wouldn't have been my choice otherwise.
Not a bad experience... way too much food.

Finally got the Parrish print crated up and sent it via the post to Mississippi.
Surprised that it only cost $30, including insurance.
More than I'd anticipated, but the piece will arrive safe.

Yesterday afternoon I was doing a residential installation... the art cosultant
had been telling me for two weeks that it was about a dozen pieces.
Turned out to be over 50 !!!
We installed about half in the time alotted and will go back Friday to finish.
I know these people can never count, but I've never seen one this far off the mark.

Today was an easy pick up at the framers and an easy install at the client's .
About 16 pieces in all. Then on to an EMERGENCY install in Brookline.
This client needed a few things rehung before her holiday on Friday.
Everything worked out fine...
Got the work done... got the crate shipped and had a pint at the Plough.

The checking account is in the black for a minute.

A Busy Monday

2009-09-14T19:10:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, of course, I walked over to the Plough. Mickey showed up, but she was going to the ballgame, so I was alone with the crossword. Did fairly well with some help from Duggan. Mickey finally returned after the game, but by that time it was time for me to make the walk home. I returned to find that I'd sold a Maxfield Parrish print on eBay. Now I have to figure out how to ship it.
Today I started by picking up artwork at the framers. When I asked them for advice for shipping my piece they rolled thier eyes (it's under glass). They did give me some low tac adhesive paper to apply to the glass... dunno if this just keeps the glass intact if it breaks or actually helps to keep the glass from breaking.
On to the first client where I installed the 4 pieces I'd collected at the framers, directed by the art consultant. The next client needed 14 pieces moved from her studio to the basement of her home. Simple enough. Went on to pick up paint for the kitchen window and check out mirror boxes at UHaul. When I said the piece was under glass the guy advised me against shipping in that sort of box. I decided that the best way out of this was to build a crate. It'll cost me a lot more for the shipping than I'd planned (or recieved from the buyer) but a much better chance of it arriving safely. Went to Home Depot to get the makings for the crate. Home to paint the kitchen windows, luckily it didn't take as long as I'd expected. Then started in on building the crate. I won't finish it tonight, but I've got a good start.
Tomorrow is Sylvia's birthday... I guess we're going out to dinner.

A Saturday

2009-09-12T18:21:00.002-04:00

Saturday... Rainy. The art moving job I was counting on got cancelled because of the rain.
So I headed out to get glass for the window in the kitchen that Sylvia wanted fixed. On to the grocery store... got everything on the list except ground sage which was $5 for a LITTLE container. There must be a better source, hell we have a sage plant outside! Back to refit the window... applied a bedding of glazing compound, set the glass in and was lucky enough to find some glazing points in the van. Finished the puttying and started to put the window back together. The sash cords were long gone when I took the window apart, so I found some and did the job properly. Washed the glass before all this. Finally got it all back together (took several tries). Washed the woodwork, sanded it, washed it again and found out that I didn't have the proper trim paint. So I'll paint it Monday after work. Tomorrow, as always, is devoted to an afternoon at the Plough.

11 September

2009-09-11T17:55:00.002-04:00

So... eight years ago today, we arrived in London, having flown from Logan Airport in Boston.
We landed quite early in the morning, dropped our baggage off at the hotel (too early to check in) and went on a wander. Just trying to adjust to the time difference and jet lag. Around 2:00 we decided to stop in at the pub, (The Beehive on Crawford St. in Marylebone). We noticed everyone looking at the TV even before we entered. At home at 2:00 it could have been a football match, but here it was too early. We went in to see the first tower burning... Yikes!!! Got ourseles a couple of pints, just in time to watch the second plane hit the second tower. There was very little information at that time and we were glued to the place for the rest of the afternoon. We eventually learned that both planes had flown out of Boston that morning!!! We thought that "bad guys" could have been in the airport when we were there. Obviously, it was dreadful and frightening as we learned about the other two planes... wondering when it was all going to stop.
Otherwise, the trip went well... with the exception of a scare at the Tate Modern the next day. The alarms went off and we were all asked to leave the building. As if we weren't scared enough! Whatever it was didn't last long and we went back in less than an hour later. We got to visit with our friends Hazel, Archie and Michael up in Chester and our friends Graham and Deb in Deptford.
We flew back on our scheduled flight which was surprisingly empty considering the number of people who's flights had been cancelled.

Today I finally had a paying gig... the first of the week. I hung close to 50 pieces of artwork in a condo over in Brookline (the clients had just moved in). It went pretty smooth and only took about 4 1/2 hours.
One beer at the pub and home to take apart a broken window that I'll have to put back together tomorrow.

OK... It's Been a Long Time

2009-09-09T17:41:00.002-04:00

So summer comes to an end...
Not a great summer by any means.
It rained in the beginning and we only had a little heat wave early in August.
Actually, Syl and I went to Montreal for a week in June
and the weather was better. People comented on my tan !!!
(you couldn't have acquired one here)
Sad to report that we had three friends pass away...
in the space of a week. I loved the others, but it was
Joe Scurio that affected me most. He was a great musician and friend.
As I was leaving the pub on my birthday he offered to buy me a beer...
I had to go so he said, "I'll catch you next time".
He had a fatal heart attack 4 hours later.
3 days of wakes, funerals and memorial services followed.
Always makes one consider his own mortality. (selfish, that)
And we wander into autumn...
I've had little work so I've spent time trying to put my studio in order...
actually painted today after a long hiatus.
Doing my best to make lemons into lemonade.

Not Much Attention Here

2008-11-09T18:23:00.000-05:00

So, close to a month goes by...
and during that time:
the water pump on the van quit.
I produced a painting for the New Art Center.
I assisted with several presentations and installations
of artwork at local hospitals and office buildings.
I painted various rooms and some exterior work
for residential clients.
I regularly kept a stool warm at the Plough & Stars.

It's frightening that work seems to be slowing down...
hasn't happened to me in a long time.

We'll see if I can pay the phone bill tomorrow...

This Isn't Going So Well

2008-10-15T18:45:00.000-04:00

So... it appears that no one is reading this.
I suppose that it doesn't matter in the long run.
It's been a terrible few weeks since i last entered a piece.
The worst of it being Sylvia getting mugged.
She was down at the Mystic River taking pictures of the ducks, when a guy decided to rip off her camera bag. She held on to it, yelling...but the guy was big and strong, dragged her for a bit before she let go. A bit scraped up but no real harm... except for the emotional. Nothing too serious was stolen and she's sorted that out and is pretty much back to normal mostly these days. Two 12'x5' pieces today, plus 10 security mounts. This was at a Hope House... a place where out patient cancer patients can stay. I really wish I could donate my time, but I can't, though I think I'm being sponsored.

Today was Tuesday

2008-09-30T21:00:00.000-04:00

Well, we lost our favorite bartender on Sunday...
Dave was given the sack.
Not really sure why...
Although he WAS in tough shape Sunday,
but it must have been more than that.
He is missed and they haven't found a replacement for him.
Must be tough for someone that was so sure of his
competance in the hospitality industry.
(His loyal clientel believes in his competance, too.)
Not a great time to be out of work and I hope he finds something soon.
He should, he's a good man.
Of course, once he does it may require a few "field trips"
to visit him, but most of us regulars don't travel far.

Otherwise, today I installed a show on Newbury St. and stopped in at Gallery NAGA
where they were assembling the furniture that I DIDN'T transport from California.
I arrived just in time to donate some needed muscle, as the pieces were large.

Now it appears that the brake lights on my van aren't working...
changed all the bulbs, tried to check the fuses. No help.
Gotta figure a way to put it in the shop and still get to work.

I'm still just reporting...

Saturday...

2008-09-27T18:47:00.000-04:00

So there wasa problem with the check...
seems they couldn't verify the signature.
I'm hoping that was a Saturday thing and I can make it work on Monday.
Gotta pay Paul, the rent and all else.
Actually, I've got quite a few checks... all drawn on distant banks.
Just can't get the cash when I need it.

So after too much time at the bank it was errands for a bit.
Then on to Lynnet's to outfit a few canvases for hanging...
and she wants me to paint her studio. More work... a good thing.

On to the Plough for some cheerfullness.

Rainy Friday

2008-09-26T19:33:00.000-04:00

So it was a two hour drive to Cape Cod this morning...
Raining and a miserable drive. I arrived at the appointed place at the appointed hour. Having been given very little information. A half an hour later my contact drove right past me, entered the gated community and then called asking where I was... (I'd already tried to call her). Finally got that sorted and went to work. Fifteen or so small pictures... nothing worth putting a hole in the wall for. I was done in an hour and a half. Driving back the rain got worse and halfway home my windshield wipers stopped. Made for some interesting driving... after about fifteen minutes of driving nearly blind and me trying to get the wipers to work again, they finally came on. The check from the library gig came through, but I was too late to get to the bank. In the morning. Still raing but the wipers seem to be working.

Saturdays Errands

2008-09-20T18:36:00.000-04:00

Let's see...
A few trips downstairs for laundry, typed out a bill, post office, bank and package store. Then we were off to the Farmer's market at Union Square, the grocery store and dry cleaners. Home to put away the loot, then off to Allston. Lunch at a Vietnamese place. Across the street to the thrift store... no sweaters (jumpers) for me... all too big. Sylvia found a couple of items for herself and we bought two cheap chairs for the front porch (since we're not smoking indoors we needed something a bit civilized, but wouldn't matter if it was stolen). Home again, then I'm off to the Plough...
Three artists drawing on beer mats... tales of bicycle thievery, sick kids and junked cars. Closing at 5:30 for a private function (Passim's 65th... but Passim doesn't have a liquor license and they only do vegetarian... Passim started as Club 47 and early on had Joan Baez, Dylan and that sort on the stage). The regulars at the Plough held on until we were literally run out. Actually, I think we all stayed longer than we'd planned, in order to be run out.
Still just reporting.

Back Again

2008-09-16T20:05:00.000-04:00

I guess that I haven't posted in so long that I've forgotten how it works.
But, I seem to be onto something, now. (we'll see if it works)

I guess, to back up a bit... We had a lovely visit from Hazel, Archie and Michael back in August. And aside from their luggage not arriving until a day late, we had a nice time playing tourists. Without Sylvia to help guide, I felt a bit clumsy. But I got them to a classic New England junk shop (the White Elephant in Essex) which they enjoyed... too bad we couldn't have travelled on to an even BIGGER one in Newburyport. But we ran back for Syl who'd been waiting for the luggage.
I took them to the Plough and Stars, but again I was clumsy. I introduced them to all and sundry... our beloved, Dave (the barman) spotted us a round. But I failed to get them involved in the conversation/banter. Granted... there weren't many in the room and HAM are quiet and shy (not regular pub flies)... I should have done better.

Anyway... the goal is to become a little more poetic/creative with my writing (no evidence of it here)... I'm TOO literal. I think it would be better if I play more, rather than simply report.

I Don't Know how I Got This Far

2007-04-03T20:07:00.000-04:00

Ah, the Art World...

2007-01-20T20:26:00.000-05:00

Today started out slow, I didn't sleep well last night.
Spent a little time painting in the morning and then it was off on an emergency art delivery (perhaps I should mount flashing lights on the roof of the van).
I got the call just yesterday, "can you deliver two pieces to Hamilton and pick one up in Rockport tomorrow?" (about 3 hours of pick up, driving and delivery) I say "yes" because I'm broke. No real excitement... can't get a late lunch in Rockport because everything is closed for the season.
Back into town to attend Stephen Mishol's opening. Good to see him, we used to work together. (he's gone on to teach at UMass Lowell) Found out that Todd McKie also had a reception up the street so I went and said "Hi" to him. Jeremy Foss (one of my art shool instructors) was there with a few paintings on the wall... so spent a few minutes with him. Pressed the flesh with a few other artist aquaintences... one small plastic glass of the cheap wine for me. I did my round of letting people know that I still exist, (and yes, I'm still painting and making art). I buggered out and went home, where I painted for a few more hours.
Dreadful time trying to e-mail an image to Stephen. It got done.
You can probably Google these names to get an idea of what I was looking at.

Another Colorful Project

2007-01-19T19:56:00.000-05:00

Over the holidays we were lucky enough to work for a furniture artist. Bold color statements on this one... The kitchen was an orange/yellow with dark green trim and the stairway (three floors of it) was acouple of pale yellows on the walls with a pale green trim and accents of deep blues on the front door and stair treads. Actually the stairs were to receive a brilliant runner with a multi colored diamond pattern. I haven't seen that installed yet, but can guess that it's fantastic.
Otherwise, we've done some less interesting jobs and I've been coming home and painting for a couple of hours every evening. Art installation/presentation is keeping me running around the city. The art people seem to be selling stuff, so I'm trying to get my own artwork in order so perhaps they can flog it off to the unsuspecting for me.
Michael Leigh, jump started this with his comments. I hope that it inspires me to write more often.

Short Week

2006-11-22T19:20:00.000-05:00

It's a short work week with Thanksgiving and all...
Started with a delivery of stretchers to Emily Evelith (the painter of donuts)... simple task, that. Then on to work with the guys at an old farm house in Milton.
A brilliant house that's been neglected... we're setting it right. It's a bit of an effort and the client was shocked at the initial bill for labor. Mildew everywhere, learned that the place was vacant for two years with no heat... explains that. We're really making the place look right. It's the kind of job I really like... where we can take something that's sort of a wreck and bring it back to it's glory.
Looked at a potential job this morning via Derek... turns out that I have mutual acquaintances with this client. We'll get the job. It's significant and could get us up to Christmas. Lowell goes home to his wife in Toronto on the 12th, Paul thinks he has some other projects...manpower could be an issue. Michael's around and Rick seems hungry...We can do this.
Thanksgiving tomorrow... I'm making the squash. Sylvia works. I'll be over to Mickey's with a good bunch of friends and bring a care package back to Syl.

About time

2006-11-19T18:52:00.000-05:00

Well, anyone reading this knows that we had a a great time in the UK.
Yes, I was ill for a good part of the trip... I believe that Michael and Hazel were afraid that I was going to die in their front room. Met with Artnaphro, who thinks he walked our legs off (we'd already walked from Marylebone) stayed with the Leigh/Jones lot (Good old friends that we love SO much) then to Cardiff for a walk around with Mord, brilliant, that. On to stay with Big Al and Cheryl, who hosted us brilliantly (being strangers)... I spent half the time in the loo... I'm OK now.
So... I'm on the way to the Plough this morning (as usuall on a a Sunday), nice walk for me. As I head out I notice that there's someone in Sylvia's car. We chased him out... he looked back at me as if I'd wrecked his day. I walked on...spent too much time at the Plough, but the love there is remarkable...

So, We're off to the UK...

2006-09-04T20:24:00.000-04:00

Amazing, the amount of details we have to tie up in order to go away for 10 days.
Change some money... frightening that...2$ to 1£ !!!!
Set up my painting guys for the 2 weeks.
Packing and sorting out the homestead.So... we're ready to go...
Meeting Paul (ARTNAPHRO) at the National Portrait Gallery, stay a couple of nights with Michael, Hazel and Archie in Cheshire, then down to see Big Al Davies in Wales.
Should be a good trip.
I'm going to have to get back into the blog of things once we're back...
Tell about our trip and recommence to tell the everyday...

Cousins

2006-08-17T20:18:00.000-04:00

Cousins
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Rip & Sibs

2006-08-17T20:16:00.000-04:00

Rip & Sibs
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Dad's Birthday

2006-08-17T19:38:00.000-04:00

So, last weekend we celebrated Dad's 80th Birthday... his real birthdate is 26 July, but this is when we could get the most of us together. Fourty some odd of us showed up. Some cousins who I hadn't seen in twenty years... found out that some of them have been lurking my blog and Frickr. Dad was surprised (actually we all were) that some travelled from as far away as Maine (that's his sister, Evelyn). Nice to get reaquainted. Dooley and Diane (brother and sister-in-law), Diane making more food than we could possibly eat and Dooley forever trying to expand and tame the property. In an earlier incarnation the house was once the town "Poor Farm". Someday we might have to reinstablish that...

Painting, then...

2006-08-14T21:20:00.000-04:00

I'm having an awful time trying to post on this blog... after an hour of typing, it all goes away.
Anyway... here's one of the paintings I've been doing. The red lines were painted over an unfinished canvas, given to me be a friend. No thought, just make the lines. From there I discovered / created the images.
Kind of fun, actually.
Sylvia hasn't sent me the pics from my Dads Birthday Party... we'll try that tomorrow night...

P1010030
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

P1010221

2006-08-03T21:32:00.000-04:00

P1010221
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Finally we go see DADA at MOMA

2006-08-03T19:52:00.000-04:00

Friday the 14th... We're all to meet in the lobby of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)at 10:00. So, I'm up early enough to pack my gear back up and check out of the hotel...putting my stuff in a locker, to collect later. Subway uptown (might as well use the card I'd purchased) with enough time for a coffee and a paper. Arriving at MoMa, I see Jas Felter in the queue. He shows me his international museum pass and I'm very impressed. Meanwhile, Joel arrives, with a bunch of others and starts doing a head count, collecting money, trying to get us the group rate. At one point he starts to panic that we won't have a big enough group and tells us to recruit members for our group. Wasn't necessary. He gives us a pep talk, just before we go in... "Don't talk too long about an object... Give others a chance to talk..." And after a photo shoot, we go in and all head in our own directions... no group at all. We do bump into each other as we look it over, but we're on our own. Good to see the real stuff... Duchamp, Schwitters (that was great), Picabia, Ernst, Hannah Hoch collages and dolls, that you don't see often. I'd seen more than half the stuff before, but it was grand to see the lot together. We were to meet up back in the lobby at 2:00... gave me time to take in the rest of the museum. Marilyn Rosenberg directed us to a burger joint down the street and we commandeered enough table space. Lunch, more photos and a few pass around art projects. After that, we were on our own for a while... some went back to MoMA. Me I walked up to a gallery that had a Flickr Self Portrait project going. Sorry, I can't find the details at the moment. The gallery had about a dozen computers set up to access the portraits posted. You could view them by "Gallery favorites" "Public Favorites"... I'm really sorry that I can't find the link. So... downton again. Early again, and I'm back Fanellis. Got into a conversation with the guy next to me and the bartender... I'm about to bugger out when the bartender GRABS the glass from my hand! He tops it up for me! I'm not used to this wonderful treatment.
So it's on to Katz's... the crew is showing up. The usual picture taking and all. Until Mark Bloch shows up... with just two sheets printed up, this time. One, he gives to me, (how did I get into this ???). Entitled "Rãge"... a tirade against an unamed (but known) participant. I told Mark that he shouldn't deliver the other copy. But, then I had to kiss everyone goodbye... in order to get my self and make the bus. Ran into Anna Boschi on the street and kissed her goodbye as well.
10:00 0'clock bus out and I was home by 2:00.
Gawd it was good fun....

P1010200

2006-08-02T20:33:00.000-04:00

P1010200
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

The Second Day in NYC

2006-08-02T19:24:00.000-04:00

That would be Thursday, 13 July.
I woke up rather late and had coffee and read a paper around the corner at Starbucks.
The Special Viewing of Ray Johnson collages had been cancelled, so I wasn't expected anywhere until 6:00pm. Wandered around the neighborhood, waiting for noon as I was treating myself to a Sushi lunch. After lunch, I went back to the hotel and got suitably dressed for the Bill Wilson "Black Tie reception". Over to Chelsea and the galleries, where I saw a couple of hundred Group Shows (it was the dead of summer). Surprised to find two Boston artists that I know in the mix. Nothing bowled me over, but it was good to see what was out there. Stopped in at Printed Matter Bookstore... kind of interesting... kind of interesting, I decided that I don't really have a clue as to what it's all about. Stopped for a beer at an outdoor place before I headed over to Wilson's. Ran into John Held Jr. and BuZ Blurr and we arrived together.
Bill Wilson has this wonderful old house... 3 floors+. Ray Johnson and his mother, May Wilson artwork throughout. The downstairs sitting room is crammed with books and artwork. The upstairs Kitchen has been remodled and the crowd of 35 or so of us was spread throughout. CrackerJack Kid arrived... he hadn't been at Katz's the night before... the same with Jo Ann Hill from the UK. Joel Cohen and Honoria made a great pasta dish and we ate, drank and we socialised. Catching up with old friends and meeting new.
At some point Mark Bloch arrives with copies of PANMAG 53, which he'd produced over night. Eight pages with color. He was defining and copywriting his "Storãge" concept. I was impressed.
We continued on with lots of photo taking and chatter.
When it was time to go, Mark offered me a ride to near my hotel. (what's he want a car on Manhatten for?) He was still pissed off about John Held Jr. and I listened to it for mercifully short drive.
I stooped in at O'Reilly's and had a beer before I went to bed...
More to come

Joel, Neosho and Mark

2006-08-01T21:52:00.000-04:00

P1010181
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

NY DADA

2006-08-01T20:17:00.000-04:00

OK, I can take a hint...
Joel Cohen (The Sticker Dude) had given me a heads up about this Mail-Art meeting.
There was a list of events... John Held Jr., BuZ Blurr, Gaglione, Geert DeDecker and a host of others were going to be there... I signed on.
12 July- I shouldered my bags and walked the couple of miles to Central Square to catch the Red Line to South Station, to catch my bus. Smooth trip down until we were on Manhatten, where it took an hour to get to the Port Authority. As soon as I got off the bus, the skies opened up and I was drenched by the time I made the 5 block walk to my hotel, regardless of the umbrella. (The Herald Square Hotel... cheap, safe... but bare bones).
Checked in, dried off and headed downtown on foot. I made the 30 odd blocks in 45 minutes, checking in with Sylvia as I walked (cell phones CAN be usefull). I was early, so I had a beer at Fanelli's in SoHo. Over to Katz's where the group was starting to assemble. Held, BuZ, Sticker Dude were there and we started to reaquaint. People kept arriving. I finally got some food (this is the land of the $15 sandwich... I went with the $3 Hot Dogs) and sat down properly. To my left was a woman that looked vaguely familiar...turned out to be Anna Bosci from Italy. We'd never corresponded much, but years ago, someone assigned me her name to make a mail art piece about and I had.
As the evening wore on, others arrived... notably Mark Bloch. I commended him on writing about Carlo Pittore. BuZ was taking pictures with a digital camera for his cut out project. A good time was had by all..
As the evening wor down, I found myself on the sidewalk with Held and Bloch. Held is telling us that he sold all of his Mail-Art catalogs to the Getty Museum for an
outrageous sum. Bloch says he's defined a new art form... Storãge. Held says, "That's good, I'll use that".
The night's over... Bloch and I are walking in the same direction. He's mad. "John Held Jr. is stealing my term"...
We parted ways and I went uptown on the subway... back to my room, where I swear I could touch all walls from one standing position.
More to come.

More to come

The Hat Sisters 3

2006-02-19T20:13:00.000-05:00

Mickey and me in fuzzy hats on a snowy night at Sally O'Brien's.

The Hat Sisters 3
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Winter... Sort of...

2006-02-19T19:20:00.000-05:00

So last weekend they told us we had a blizzard. None of us think that and we guess that the weather people just need something to do. Walked to the "People's" as usual, during the snow, last Sunday... on to Sally O'Brien's to watch and hear our friends make music.
The snow is gone but it's turned cold... layers I'm wearing for the walk.
Otherwise, they're trying to work me to death...

Rose Museum...

2006-01-28T19:04:00.000-05:00

So, today Syl and I went out to the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University, to look at an exhibition of work by Dana Schutz that I've wanted to see. Interesting... quite delicious painting in areas, unexpected colors. I'm not sure that I know the stories in these figurative works... the people are either eating themselves or rebuilding with scavenged parts. The figures are carefully clumsy and in the more portrait like pieces more intact than the "discovered" body parts that occur in the larger, more populated paintings. The interesting piece was "Google", an image of the artist at the computer, dated 2005... (with a calendar for December 2005 on the wall)...much more literal than anything else in the show.
Dunno if I'm ever going to understand how one goes from the brush to squeezing onto the canvas directly from the tube...

It's About Time !!!

2006-01-27T19:37:00.000-05:00

Oh, dear...
Well, I'm finally back to it. I think... hopefully, we'll get better as we go along.
It's a busy winter, more work than usual. (how is it that I'm still poverty stricken)?
Paul and I were trying to finish up a job today, but that didn't happen. A few more doors to paint and artwork to be placed.
To the pub we go... The People's Republik... no heat... at least the second time this week. The Plough and Stars is still locked up... it's been sold and all that, but there seems to be little effort toward reopening the joint.
In the meantime, we've quit smoking, here... me, cold turkey. Not too big a deal most of the time, since I haven't smoked during the day for a couple of years. So, at home there are a few "moments".
I've been painting pictures with the intent of flogging them to the art consultants, as I've been watching them sell crap for a while. We'll see...
We'll visit a museum tomorrow...

'Twas the Night Before the Night Before...

2005-12-23T18:12:00.000-05:00

Most of the preparations have been taken care of... and I guess we're finally ready for the Christmas holiday to commence.
They've been keeping me busy with "emergency" art installations and timely paint jobs. January seems to be fully booked, so it looks like I won't be having the usual downtime. (dunno whether to be glad or sad).
Lots of art moving/presentations at the end of this year... must say SOMETHING about the economy. Not sure that I understand it with the threat of ever higher fuel charges hanging over us.
We've been receiving some wonderful "Season's Greetings" via post from our Flickr friends, via post... and I have to admit we've been bad at getting anything out, ourselves. Hopefully, New Years greetings will be forth coming...
Love to all that bother to stop by...
Merry Christmas
Happy Holidays

The Painting Job on the Cape...

2005-12-01T19:17:00.000-05:00

Dunno what happened to that last pic... I'll try to post it back...
Anyway...
It's about time that I told about the latest job away from home on the Cape. Cape Cod, that is... Truro, a good two and an half drive from home.
We arrived to be informed that there was a deadline... something that we didn't know before. To make matters worse, there were floor guys tearing up floors to be replaced on the ground level. We started in on the second level covering the floors with drop cloths and rosin paper. It took all day for the crew to arrive... five of us and actually Paul didn't get there until the second day. Patching, priming, painting... the usual. In the evening we made camp in the middle of the place... cooked dinner and watched TV. To bed, to get up and keep on working. It went on like this for five days... I left the house once to get more paint. No food stealing this time... actually everyone was most generous. The collection of empty beer bottles was rather over the top, but we carted them out at the end of the week.
The second week there were only four of us... Lowell needed some tooth work done. The floor guys were out and we had three days to paint two bathrooms, three bedrooms and a hallway. Three ten hour days... but we got it done.
There had been a scare about scratched floors... only heard from people that hadn't been there to see... turned into nought, thank goodness.
Upon payment, I was told how much better the place looked cleaned.... they have no idea how much cleaning WE did
So, it's back home to three jobs a day... Started today with making an ongoing job continue (start a new room and show the guys what needed attention in the previous), on to paint some accent walls in a gallery, downtown... then an emergency art installation... (the painting is back from getting repaired, can you hang it this afternoon???) Ah... to be home again...

Oil bottle study

2005-11-10T20:03:00.000-05:00

Oil bottle study
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Back to the Cape we go...

2005-11-10T19:16:00.000-05:00

Next week we start a painting job WAY down Cape Cod, in Truro. The entire interior of a summer home for one of our local clients. I went down today to get final instructions and try to sort out some of our living arrangements... we'll be staying there for a week, home for the weekend, then a short week because of Thanksgiving. I brought two mattresses and a futon, belonging to the client down. (The house is unfurnished). There were still plenty of carpenters and floor guys there, but I was assured that they'd be cleared out by the time that we arrive on Monday. Got the specs from the client and she pointed out that there were pots and pans, silverware and plates, a working stove and microwave. It should be interesting to see if we can all live together for a week without too many rifts, given the past springs problems with food stealing and all. The client is thrilled with the place... but it's a wreck from a painters point of view. (I'm guessing that the builder ran out of money and skimped on the finish work). Maybe skimped on everything, as the roof has been replaced, new windows, new exterior siding and the floors have been redone. So, we're the last guys to make this place look right.
Meanwhile... yesterday I brought a painting to Newton Art Center for their annual benefit (see above) and the guy who accepted it told me that he had two of mine and that he enjoyed them.
Not the worst thing to hear.

Just a Quick Note...

2005-10-30T14:47:00.000-05:00

It snowed last night (evidence on Sylvia's Flickr site)... it's all gone now but we got about an inch.
Meanwhile, I'm knocked out with a cold. Didn't even walk over to the pub today (sunny and warm)... let's you know how lousy I feel. Can't remember the last time I stayed in on a Sunday.
Lately, the work has been small jobs and fine tuning previous ones. A bit of hauling other peoples art around and helping the art consultants, as always. A big painting job on the Cape is finally about to happen (we were originally supposed to do this in August, but everyone ahead of us got bogged down)... so, trying to work out the logistics of that.
Anyway... back to the sofa...

A Whole Month?

2005-10-04T18:21:00.000-04:00

Oh dear... I haven't posted in a month...
Well, as you've read on Sylvia's blog we had a fine holiday in Montreal. Too short of course, we were just getting acclimated when it was time to come home. Two things that I don't think that she mentioned... we had lunch with my ex-wife, Jeanne, in Montpelier, VT on the way up. Collected a camera from her that Rick had left for that purpose... a film camera so that I could take some slides. Nice visit... the women get on well with each other, which is good since I was in driving mode and we still had three hours to go. A nice lunch, by whatever river it is that runs through there. We don't get to see Jeanne often, so it was a treat.
The other thing tat Syl didn't mention was that we saw this guy, on Ste. Catherines Street in Montreal, using a magnifying glass and the sun to burn drawings into wood panels. No pencil lines or anything... just making it up as he concentrated the lens over the panel. I was pretty impressed and am sorry that we didn't ask how much he was selling them for.
So we got home and it was back to work... painting the exterior of a small addition to an house in Acton. Collecting the artwork from a client's former residence and installing it in the new one. Everything from an artist made electric sconce to an eight foot long Indonesian carving. Then I was on the road again to Ithica, NY to pick up a piece of artist made furniture for another client. An unbelievable operating room shop this guy had. Heavy piece, nine drawers in a bench sort of thing... all chip carved in a basket weave sort of pattern and nicely painted with the high bits rubbed down to show a color underneath. It was a seven to eight hour drive out, so I made arrangements to stay with Rick on the way back... twelve hours driving for that day. Rick fed me and we made some music and caught up... staying up WAY too late. Back to Boston the next morning (having spent $160 for petrol) and not being able to contact the client. Went on to another job, picking up and security mounting a few pieces in a new apartment building. Made arrangements to deliver the furniture the next day. Did so... painted on my pictures until it was time to see another friend make music at a pub down the way. Back to meet Rick who was spending the night and it was more music. Rick and I were off to a memorial lunch for an old (dead) friend... where we ran into other (living) old friends.
So... this week started with a drive to Rhode Island to install about fifteen pictures at some corporate location and today it was painting some walls at a gallery on Newbury Street in Boston.
Sorry if I bore...

Last Weekend vs. This Weekend

2005-09-05T19:44:00.000-04:00

So... last weekend we had a great time, first going to the Middlesex County 4-H Fair.
I'd been a 4-H member when I was a kid and the fair was always an highlight to the end of summer (even though, the dreaded opening of school was in the offing).
This years fair was entertaining enough, but I was disappointed by the lack of livestock to view. Where there might have been 40 or so cows when I was a kid, there were only half a dozen. The sheep seemed to be holding their own but the goats were far fewer than they had been. Chickens of all sorts and rabbits seemed to be abundant. We had a good time. Sylvia got distressed when the camera batteries gave out... but that gave us a chance to look over the exhibits unencumbered.
The Sunday, we went to the North End to see St. Anthony's Feast. After a good lunch (2 appetizers and a bottle of wine $100 !!!) we followed the saint around as he collected garlands of money and the marching bands followed. Wonderfully, casual marching bands... when there was a stop the tuba player would find somewhere to sit, while the bass drum was propped on a shopping trolley and they'd all play in different directions.
Fast forward through a week of painting and moving artwork...
Saturday... Sylvia's working and I'm doing errands and trying to clean up the place. Sunday, I head out for a walk and end up in the Peoples Republik for a good chat with some friends. Back for a nice dinner and we fall asleep trying to watch a movie.
This morning I noticed that my "everyday" bag had been dumped out and wasn't around. A further search found our two old Nikon film cameras missing... looking some more, the change jar on my bureau (pennies, nickels and dimes)and the silver bunny bank from Syl's (quarters) are gone. In the process of calling the cops to file a report Sylvia discovers that they'd taken her credit cards. Filed the report. Syl called the credit card companies and found that the crooks had used one card to the tune of $700... Including a stop at Dunkin'Donuts !!!!
Now that they know what's here we're scared that they might come back... and we're supposed to go on holiday in a couple of weeks ???

SPAM ?

2005-08-11T19:39:00.000-04:00

Somebody's posted spam on my blog...
That's an interesting turn.
Check out the comments on my 16 July entry...
Sure, my life could use some enhancement.
But, I don't need to be told by some stranger,
busting into my blog, trying to sell me a useless degree.
I allow the anonymous comment so that friends and family
can comment on my ramblings.
Not to be solicited by some dubious, degree granting institution.
If they want to advance my life... get me a new van.
Or, better yet, send money... lot's of it.

If it Wasn't for Bad Luck...

2005-08-09T19:28:00.000-04:00

It probably started a couple of weeks ago when Sue (the dawg) passed away. I came home to find Sylvia holding her in the kitchen. She didn't seem to be in pain, but she was obviously failing. It looked like a couple of seconds of discomfort at the very end and she was gone... with Syl still holding her. We buried her in the backyard, which may not have been the best idea as we think of her whenever we go out there. There's some animal trying to dig at her and that's troubling and requires us to monitor and maintain the grave.
About a week later we were sitting in the living room when we heard a car sideswipe a parked car out front. We joined several neighbors who'd gone out and see what happened. At first someone thought it was Syl's car... but that was just the racing stripes on the side. Of course, it was my van. Some passers by had heard it and actually got a license number and a description. So we called the cops. When the officer arrived he actually laughed that we'd reported a dent on my beat up and rusting vehicle. He came back the next day to say that the car had belonged to a deceased woman, who's underaged and unlicensed niece had taken it for a joy ride with some friends. He said he was going to talk to the parents of all concerned and asked me what I wanted to do. I knew I wasn't going to get anything from my insurance company, I wasn't going to get it fixed (the rust precluded that) and he offered to get me $100 for it. I agreed, realising later that he probably got more from the parents considering that most policies have a $500 deductable. I should have asked for more... but it's not good form to call a cop a crook. He came back a couple of days later and handed me five twenties with a straight face.
Several days after that, while walking back from the store I noticed a bike lock on the sidewalk... Yep, mine. We hadn't even noticed the bike missing from the front porch. It was a good cable and the thief had had to work at it, chewing it up pretty good before he got through it. It was Sylvia's bike, but I was the one that had been riding it this year, as mine needs mending. So now I have to replace that before I get mine fixed.
Supposedly bad things happen in threes. Let's hope this covers my account for a spell.

ArtBeat, Somerville and Poetry

2005-07-16T22:02:00.000-04:00

I've been neglecting this blog of late... busy with work, often hitting three sites a day. There's usually a couple of guys on a painting job and I'm out hanging pictures. Went through $100 worth of picture hangers one recent week.

Anyway... today ArtBeat, Somerville was held today in Davis Square. A street festival celebrating the local arts. A couple of stages presenting ALL sorts of music, Brazilian and Rock n' Roll were about all we took in. Booths up and down the streets with the local artisans flogging their wares... jewelery, clothing, painting, prints, photos, pottery... and other booths giving info from Amnesty International, The Peace Corps and that sort. A great area with kids competing on strangely modified bicycles... (pretty cool watching them go in tight circles around their own, dedicated traffic cone for one hundred laps). Food, of course... Indian, Barbeque, hot dogs and sausages, ice cream. Probably not much different than most street festivals... but this one does have a certain Somerville flair.

Meanwhile, I'd noticed on Geoff Huth's blog, that he'd be here performing some of his poetry. Not really related to the ArtBeat thing, but coinciding with the date. Occuring at the Nave Gallery in a church some decent walking distance away. I was unaware of this gallery and was glad to discover it. Also on the short list of performers was John M. Bennett, so this was a double treat.
We arrived just as they were getting done with some "round table" discussion. Soon enough the performances started led by Matt Chambers, who read poems while wearing masks of the poets... Robert Duncan, Frank O'Hara, Gertrude Stein, Ginsburg and more. Delightful concept, but he was nervous and he read a bit too fast, his voice was shot from previous performing and he had a bit of trouble with his masks. Tighten it up and it'll be great.
John M. Bennett was next. A wonderful rendition of the disassociated words and syllables that are so undecypherable on the handwritten page. Geof mentioned that he hadn't expected the inflections of voice... but for me, it sounded pretty much the way it looks.
Last was Geof Huff. He passed out booklets, so we could follow along. Starting with a poetic journey through medieval book production, followed by a stream of conscious poem about leaving Rome. On to a poem of the dreams of a fishwife as she slowly wakes up... delivered in a Celtic tone that Geoff said that he didn't notice until it came off the page. Instructions as to how to read the more graphic work. A poem illustrated by Egyptian hieroglyphics. An algebraic poem. More instructions about making parchment and ink... finishing off with a song bit that turned into a primal scream at the end.
There were less than twenty of us in the room. Sylvia and I were amoung the few not intimately related to this group. I'd hoped that we'd see Reed Altimus, as he's collaborated with both Bennett and Huth... but that didn't happen.
I'm glad we did this and it was great to meet these guys.

My Five Questions

2005-07-08T20:20:00.000-04:00

Roger Stevens said...

Here are your five questions, Jonathon.

1.Your work involves hanging artwork in people’s homes. What’s the worst assignment you’ve ever had?

By far, the worst are walls full of family pictures to be hung in the "salon" style... that is, a lot of different sized photos to be installed with some kind of logic. You don't want people facing into the corners. Sometimes there's family politics involved. (I had an interior designer once tell me that the more family pics in the public areas of a home, the more dysfunctional the family)... I keep an eye on that and find a bit of truth in it.

2.You like a pint. What’s your favourite drink? And where in the world would be your favourite place to drink it?

That would be the Guinness. Was brilliant to drink it outside at the Fiddlers Elbow in Florence... but these days, I'd rather be back on my stool at the Plough and Stars in Cambridge (MA).

3.Are you a frustrated artist?

Absotively...

4.If you weren’t an artist what would you like to be?

In retrospect, I might have been able to dance (with training, of course... which I never had). Or a Rock n' Roll singer (I've been in a few "no go" bands). Or, just for a change, something that makes money.

5.This is a boring question, I know. But what three things could you not do without if you were shipwrecked on a desert island?

That'd be the Sylvia, Guinness, and a decent newspaper... with a good puzzle.

Maine and the Plough...

2005-06-25T14:43:00.000-04:00

So I was contacted by a local gallery to see if I could deliver a painting to Northeast Harbor on Mt. Desert Island in Maine. Since Sylvia could get the time off and we'd already considered a bit of holiday time there, we decided to take advantage of the opportunity.
Mt. Desert is a good six hour drive from here... but, of course we had to pick up the painting, which was in Gloucester... adding at least an hour to our travel time. The artist was quite pleasant, had the painting all wrapped and ready... it fit nicely into the van (which I had cleared out) and we were on our way.
The drive up was fairly uneventful... a few road construction projects to slow us down. Just as we approached Augusta we were funneled into one lane for what we thought was more road work... turned out to be an articulated lorry off the road and on its side with a lot of big tow trucks and cops all scratching their heads about how to right the thing.
We arrived at our inn in Bar Harbor at six. Took a little while to find the innkeepers, but we were soon settled into a very pleasant room. Using Syl's phone (mine had "no network") I made arrangements to deliver and install the painting. We walked into town, look around and found a place for a pint (Bar Harbor Real Ale... not bad) and some dinner. A bit more walking around and back to the room for some TV and to bed.
A very nice breakfast and we were off to look for the house where I was to install the painting. Nobody knew where the address that we had was, but we found it easy enough. The caretaker was very friendly and I had the piece on the wall in about ten minutes... job done. A short tour of the rather grand house with wonderful ocean views and we were back to Bar Harbor to get tickets for a whale watch. Warm in town but freezing out at sea... I spent the whole time inside. Syl had a hood on her sweatshirt and spent more time outside. Even those who were better prepared than us (crew included) were cold. We went twent-five miles out, to a rock with a lighthouse and seal colony. Supposedly, someone got a glimpse of a whale, but there wasn't a real sighting (because of this we got vouchers for a future try). Back to the warmth of town... more Bar Harbor Real Ale and dinner. Eventually, to the room and bed.
Raining in the morning and after breakfast we head to a very small museum of Native American artifacts... and continue on a drive around the island, stopping at a small Oceanarium, which was very cool. At first I thought it was going to be a rip off as the entrance fee was $8 and it seemed really small... but the displays were terrific and the hands on look at sea creatures was brilliant (see Syl's pics). Back to town where Syl had her first lobster in the shell.
In the morning we checked out and went to the top of Cadillac Mountain for the great views (again, see Syl's pics). Then heading home... stopping at the really expensive "Big Chicken House" full of antiques/junk/books, that had been recommended. Lots of good stuff, but way too pricey.
We were keeping a log of license plates from the begining of the trip... collected 43 states and 5 Canadian provinces. I guess that we're not really having a problem with the price of petrol.
Today I received notice of a tribute show for Bern Porter at the Belfast Free Library... we passed through Belfast Maine two days ago... pity, that.

Meanwhile...
I walked into the Plough last week to be told that they'd be closing as of last Sunday. At first I thought I was being told they'd be closed Sundays (upsetting enough). But I soon realised that they were closing, full stop. Sure enough, on my return from Maine the curtains are closed, the lights are out and the door is locked. Rumors abound and I'm sure that the room will reopen reasonably soon. It's enough to drive one to drink... but where?

A Couple of Mad Days...

2005-06-02T20:07:00.000-04:00

Yesterday... the guys were out painting for an old client in Watertown... they'd all been there before and knew what had to be done. Me... I was dealing with an art presentaion for a corporate client in an highrise downtown. Load up the van at the art consultant, drive it over, unload and get it all upstairs (20th floor). Unwrap it and get it ready for the presentation. The decision makers and the presenter arrive at about the same time and we're off holding pictures against the walls in a fairly vacant space. Somewhere along this process, the powers that be decide I have to move the van from the loading dock... "I'll have to be back in here to pick it all up again in an hour!"... no good... found a metered space after only two go rounds. Back upstairs to find that the construction people had taken away our packing material...go chase that. Luckily, Christy, from the art consultantnt is helping with this. Notes are taken, the artwork is rewrapped and then it downstairs to the loading dock and I bring the van around again. Back over to the art consultants space and we unload it all. From here I go to scrape, sand and put a patch into some water damaged area for a client that's trying to sell their house.
Today... I checked in with the guys in Watertown... for the most part things were fine. Back to the water damaged bits... had it all sorted, I thought... but at the last minute, I saw that the paint was bubbling and splitting. Let it dry proper... and I went off to make a pick up and delivery to one of my earliest painting instructors. I didn't expect him to remember me after 35 years... and he didn't... but he still wanted to show me around and talk about those old days. Boston Brahmin sort... and he's been painting the same, formal, realistic still lives for all these years. Finally pulled myself away from that... back to deal with the blistering paint and seemed to find a solution.
I needed a quick trip to the Plough after all of that.

Cold and Rainy...

2005-05-25T20:02:00.000-04:00

It's been raining for days... cold, hasn't broken 11C for a week.
This is the end of May? The weekend is Memorial Day... supposedly the start of summer. Got some catching up to do... Syl works Saturday and Sunday, just got the Monday off. I'll be working a bit on Saturday, too... putting up an exhibition at Lincol Library.
The weather is messing up my schedule. A small exterior has to get done before I go on to a larger interior project (unfortunately, I wasn't able to switch them). Filled in with some little things. Tomorrow I do an installation and drive some artwork around... then back to the Cape on Friday to finish off a couple of ceilings.
Nice mail from Snap... surprised that she sent an estate sale painting that I'd admired. I'll respond in kind. A lot of mail I have to get out. Art Nahpro has given me a Flickr "pro" account, so I've gotta get more pics on.
In a bit of a mood, with the weather.
I'll try back, later...

Back From the Cape...

2005-05-07T16:37:00.000-04:00

Rick came in from western Mass. on Sunday night so we could get an early start at heading down to the Cape. He brought his guitar and we made some music to Sylvia's delight. It's been a while since we'd done that around here. On our way out, the next morning we first stopped and bought a new 24 foot ladder. We got down there a little before noon, unloaded the van and got set up to start sanding trim and finishing the washing. I headed in town for lunch and there seemed to be a lot of noise coming from the front end of the van... stopped at a service station to make an appointment to get it looked at. Back to continue with the prep... Rick sanding while I chased the mildew that we hadn't removed with the power washer. A quick stop at the pub (not the expensive one) at the end of the day, Rick bought me supper and we hung out watching TV. In the morning we took my van to get looked at and got some supplies at the paint store. Michael and Paul arrived mid morning... Michael started in on the carpentry projects and Paul started priming the trim. At noon I went back to check on the van and was told that the ball joints were shot... big money. Gotta fix it, though. Got wood for Michael to replace some rotted trim with. Rick finished up his sanding and started to stain a small area of the pool house toward the end of the day. I got a call saying the van was ready and Paul gave me a lift over. It seems fine, now. Paul went out for supper, while Rick and Michael shared a pizza. Michael didn't finish his half and saved a slice, carefully wrapping it up and putting it in the fridge. At some point Rick found it and ate it! We didn't find this out until morning, when Michael went looking for it. Michael seemed more amused about it, than pissed off. I can't say that I felt the same way.
Anyway... it went on like this for the week... Michael continued with the carpentry, Paul painted trim, Rick stained shingles and I washed areas with various chemicals in an attempt to make the body of the house as uniform as possible. Paul took a hissy fit when we asked him to get lunch for us... then didn't get us drinks. He later bought his own food to cook on the grill so he wouldn't be put in that position again. Stephen showed up on Thursday and worked on the staining with Rick. I moved from washing the body of the house to cleaning the windows from the overspray of the pressure washing and scrubbing down the vinyl bits. I never did pick up a paint brush!
One night Paul and Rick pulled out their guitars and we had some music.
We had a fox visit us in the backyard.
My phone fell out of my pocket into a bucket of cleaning solution... took it apart and dried it in the sun, seems to work okay... sometimes the buttons are a bit stubborn.
On Friday I spent about 4 hours cleaning up the house... dishes, coffee maker, sweep up, collect beer cans, pizza boxes, etc.
Interesting dynamics with this lot... I've known them all for a long time... Michael since 2nd grade (about 47 years), Rick since college (about 35 years), Steve about 20 years and Paul about 10 years. And they've all known each other via me for a long time. Just another dysfunctional family, I guess.

A Couple of Days on the Cape...

2005-04-30T19:33:00.000-04:00

Michael arrived here Wednesday morning and we put the ladder racks on the van, loaded up a 36' ladder... then discovered that Michael didn't realise that I was planning to stay overnight. He wandered back home to make amends with his girlfriend... something about forgetting her birthday. I headed to the Cape and met Paul at the house... unloaded the van and went to lunch, then to rent a power washer and get some other supplies. Cold and raining, turning into late afternoon, we decided to get things set up to start in the morning. A couple of pints at the pub then back for TV and an early night.
The machine started swell and we had most of the back scrubbed and washed by the time Michael arrived. On to the side when about 3/4 through we ran out of gas... filled it back up but couldn't get the thing going again. Took it apart, put it back together... still no go. Loaded it into the van, returned it (no charge since it crapped out) and found another. This one worked fine accross the front but started to act up around the last side. Stalling out, difficult to start and then running about 20 minutes before it crapped out again. We were cold, wet and tired but determined to finish. Finally got it done and I tried to return the thing so that we could go home. Arrived at the store with a "closed" sign on the door... but the employees just leaving.
"Can I return this power washer?"
"Nah, come back in the morning, we've just turned the alarm on."
The bastards.
Back to the house... the guys had cleaned everything up and we hung out for a bit. Michael headed back, but Paul was staying. Paul was intent on eating some big hunk of meat for supper and I wasn't... I had him drop me at an Irish pub, where they charged me $5.75 for a pint of Guinness !!! Hell, I pay $4 at the Plough and only $5 when I'm in NY... and this is off season!
Anyway, went to bed and got up the next morning... cleaned up after ourselves, returned the rig and headed home. Small job in the afternoon and I stopped in at the Plough.
Today, I did a couple of deliveries in the morning and assisted with a presentation in the afternoon. Tomorrow is an estimate in the morning... then my usual crossword puzzle at the Plough. Monday we head back down to the Cape with a bigger crew, hoping to get this thing done quick.
With a bigger crew there might be better stories...

Just Another Pain in the Arse...

2005-04-26T19:55:00.000-04:00

Well, I tried enhancing the photo... and got it pretty close to the colors of the painting... but Flicker didn't want to recognize it. Perhaps I can e-mail a better version to anyone that's interested.
All set to send the painting off, when I found that the crate I had was too small...off to get the materials to build a new crate. There's a reason why I'm a painter... The crate is sturdy enough, but rather clumsy. When I got to the shipping place the computers were down... but they got that sorted out in 20 minutes or so. Off it's gone.
Otherwise, I spent the day getting out some bills and finding a ladder rack for my van. To the Cape tomorrow to wash a house and get it ready for painting next week. We don't do many exteriors, so I'm a bit under supplied with equipment. There seem to be enough of them coming up this year to make the investment worthwhile. Good old clients that I can't say "no" to... and if this is what they're asking for we might be able to make some money.
I received a CD or DVD from Steve Random today. Haven't looked at it yet, but there's 186 pages of mail art and performances on it. Haven't heard from him in years and was surprised that he had my current address.
Anyway... look forward to stories from the Cape at weeks end.

Champagne Taste On A Beer Budget

2005-04-26T19:54:00.000-04:00

Champagne Taste On A Beer Budget
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

And It's Spring...

2005-04-19T20:29:00.000-04:00

I'm way behind, once again...
The weather gets better... walked to and from the Plough today in a tee shirt.
Plants in the garden seem to be growing by an inch a day.
After a slow winter, the phone is ringing... "Can you paint my daughters bedroom before she gets back from college?"... "Can you paint my living room in time for my daughter's graduation from high school?"
In the mean time, I'm chasing to get the ladders needed to paint a house on the cape.
Busy, but we need the money... and hopefully I'll make some.
Trying to make more Artist Trading Cards... and get the painting done for Wustum Museum in Racine, Wisconsin (I'll Flickr it before I send it).
Ah, yes... and I tried to get the van inspected for safety... an annual thing, here... and the front end isn't right... glad they caught it... having it fixed tomorrow.
Makes for rearrainging some pick up and deliveries.
Getting some GREAT ATCs... but not hearing that mine have been recieved...
Anyway... later, kids...

ATC 5[2]

2005-04-05T20:40:00.000-04:00

ATC 5[2]
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Phew...

2005-04-05T20:07:00.000-04:00

So, finally after much cursing and screaming, I've set up my Artists Trading Card file. Using Sylvia's computer... mine just wasn't happening. (Thanks for the help, Snap, it was softwear this time... not the usual, "user malfunction") This is good fun and obviously I have to produce a lot more ATCs.
Nothing special has been going on of late. The usual fits and starts of work. No big interesting jobs. We DID see a hawk the other day, perched on a fire escape, outside of an apartment we were painting... that was pretty cool. Kind of waiting for the weather to get better so that we can go to paint a summer home (exterior) on the Cape.
An opening for one of my painting instructors...from back in the old days at MassArt... Just another opening, really.
Getting pretty close to finishing the painting for the Wustum Museum summer show. If I'm real lucky, I won't be shipping it wet.
Sorry to be so dull.

Pint, er half ???

2005-03-17T20:54:00.000-05:00

Pint
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Back Again...

2005-03-17T20:27:00.003-05:00

A few weeks since my last blog...
Nothing much to blog about, really.
Well, there was another snow storm a week ago...
when I had to go out on a "presentation" with an art consultant. A little dicey getting to the clients. It kept snowing and I was worried about the trip back. Worst bit was getting out of the driveway... I had to man the shovel a few times. Once we were on the road it was better... just a few skids... The van is rear wheel drive and doesn't perform well in the snow at all. We made it.
Today was an installation at some kind of corporate office... 50 some odd prospectus sheets and annual report covers on one wall... boring as all get out. I made it happen in a couple or three hours. Grids are fairly simple.
St. Patrick's Day... and I avoided the pub. Too crowded and busy for my taste.
Posted a pint (or half) as my celebration.

Christo's Gates

2005-02-21T19:26:00.000-05:00

Christo's Gates
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Christo's Gates

2005-02-21T19:25:00.000-05:00

Christo's Gates
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Driving...

2005-02-21T18:09:00.000-05:00

Last week I did a whole lot of driving.
Monday started with the pick up of a van load of artwork in South Boston, which was then delivered to Gloucester... somebody moving studio.
Tuesday I went to Truro on Cape Cod with a very empty van to pick up two 64"x72" paintings, back to Boston to pick up another, smaller piece.
Wednesday I headed off to New York City with the above artwork. A fairly easy drive. Dropped the two big paintings at a gallery in Soho and took the smaller piece to a gallery in Chelsea. All of this went smoothly and I was done by 1:30. Put the van in a can overnight car park and checked into the Herald Square Hotel on 31st. ($80 a night for a single). It's bare bones... a bed, a TV, a chair and a bathroom. But, it's cheap, clean and safe and I've been staying there for years.
Once I'd dropped off my gear (realizing that I'd forgotten a change of shirt) I walked up to MOMA on 53rd. They'd kind of torn it down and rebuilt it and this was my first visit since it's reopened. The new galleries are brilliant but I never got a handle on the floor layout. Didn't really matter as I just meandered through it all. A bit like randomly thumbing through a modern art history text. I ran into Nina and John Nielsen, gallery owners from Boston... small world and all. Spent about 3 hours. Walked back downtown to O'Reilly's for a pint and then over to a Japanese restaurant for dinner. Back to the room for some TV and reading the current Modern Painters that I'd bought at the news stand in the Empire State Building.
Next morning I checked out, stowed my gear in a locker and headed back uptown to see the Christo "Gates" in Central Park. Pretty cool. I think that I was more impressed with the scale of the project and the quality of the construction than I was with the aesthetics. On to the Met, where I looked at an exhibition of renaissance Florentine painting... And mainly wandered. I also visited the one small room devoted to Indian miniatures, that I'd never been to before. (Between the Sackler at Harvard and the MFA we do that stuff at least as well) Back through the park got my bag out of the locker, ransomed out the van and back to Chelsea to pick up at two galleries. Drove home, arriving about 7:00.
Thursday I dropped off the artwork that I'd brought back from New York.
I actually made a little money on this venture.

At the Museum...

2005-02-12T18:36:00.000-05:00

Michael... somebody... tell me how to get the text to wrap around the picture. Obviously, I haven't got some button pushed on Flickr. Syl can't seem to find it, either (although hers works fine).
Anyway...Wednesday wasn't half as bad as I'd feared. The painting job was a small, water damaged ceiling that only took Paul and myself a couple of hours to fix. I'd emptied out the van to accommodate a big painting and that worked fine. The evening presentation, though weird, was easier than I thought. The clients were real concerned that their pre-school kids were going to wreck the art. I've never understood this way of presenting art... it's really more a form of decorating. But the pay is good and I keep my mouth shut.
Thursday I was off to the eye doctor. My glasses broke a week ago and it was time for an exam anyway. I'd been wearing an old pair that just weren't right and they were able to fix up the broken ones to get me through until the new ones are ready. Then on to install a small suite of prints in a conference room downtown. Simple, that, once someone decided what wall the work was supposed to go on.
Friday was a down day so I did paperwork, artwork and errands around the house. Off to the Plough for a wonderful afternoon of baloney.
Today, Syl and I went to the Museum of Fine Arts. A small Damien Hirst exhibit. One piece, consisting of flies pasted on the canvas really stunk (that's olfactory not aesthetic). We had lunch in the cafeteria and I found a good sized piece of glass in my pasta salad. I was actually relieved that it wasn't another broken tooth. In the gift shop we found a wonderful, big (and expensive) book of John Evans collages. Many references to mail-art friends there... had to have it.

Rick's Loft

2005-02-08T21:41:00.000-05:00

So I went out to deliver a couple of paintings to Rick in North Adams on Saturday. Two and a half hour drive...(an easy jaunt for you Texans, but a major excursion for the Brits). A nice visit... he seems fairly well set up and working. They got less snow than we did... and they're threatening more for us.
Monday was a presentation from hell... get all the big paintings out of the van in the loading dock... take them to the elevator that takes you to the second elevator that finally gets you to the floor that you need. Do the presentation, then all the moving in reverse. After all this monkey business, I went to lunch over in Brighton enroute to another errand. Got myself SERIOUSLY stuck in a snow bank. Had to buy a shovel as I didn't have one with me... a good Samaratin showed up to help me out and in the process of trying to push the van he fell and got soaked. I felt horrible... I only had $7 cash (after having purchased the shovel) and offered to go around the corner to the cash point... but he demurred and wandered off.
Today I drove into Boston just in time to run into the parade route for the Patriot's victory celebration, having won the Super Bowel. Was able to evade it. Picked up the art, delivered and installed it at place that they require me to be a USA citizen... odd that, I'm only working in common areas and have no idea what kind of hush/hush things they might do there. On the way down I saw a fleet of buses with a police escort heading in the opposite direction. Obviously the team heading up... on the way back I saw them again, back to the stadium.
Tomorrow appears to be a REAL LONG day... painting in the morning anda presentation starting at 5:00...

Rick's Loft
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

The Glow

2005-02-04T20:27:00.000-05:00

A stenciled piece that I found for Fan Mail's project...
A solid day of moving artwork on Tuesday... three galleries, delivering work, returning work. Fighting snow banks and parking bans all the way.
Wednesday... finished up a painting job.
Thursday, was pretty much a down day... worked on collages for Greenfield, put something in the post for A-1 and a card with a minimal address to dADa Vark.
Friday... another couple of deliveries... picked up artwork to take out to Rick tomorrow... 2+ hour drive each way for that. Just getting petrol and lunch out of this one... I'll take Rick to lunch...I hope he comes up with something better than a sub shop. It'll be good to see him and his new loft space... should be well settled by now...

Stencil #4
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

A Big Old Week Goes By...

2005-01-31T17:55:00.000-05:00

As you've all heard, we did in fact get a real blizzard last weekend. 24 inches in the front yard as of Sunday evening. Despite Sylvia's protestations (she was still at work), I headed out into the storm for my weekly walk to the Plough. I needed the adventure. No cars, people shoveling... Just snow, sometimes blowing into whiteout conditions. I was wearing that warm wooly hat that Sylvia had given me and got quite a few comments on it during my trek. I arrived to be the only customer for the first hour or so... nice, that. Unfortunately, I didn't have a crossword, as the paper hadn't been delivered. More people out on my return trip... for some reason a big snowstorm makes people happy and friendly. They'll look you in the eye, smile, say. "Hi"... things that don't happen on a normal kind of day.
The workweek for me was postponed for a day... I caught up on some paperwork and in the afternoon walked to the Plough again, this time with Sylvia's blessing. The snow had been cleared much better in Somerville than in Cambridge. On my return Syl showed me a newspaper clipping that Michael had sent from England, of the snow here in Somerville. That was pretty cool.
Tuesday I set Paul up on a small painting job and then drove down to Providence, RI to hang 35 or so pictures. I'd parked right outside of the tallest building in the city (29 floors), I'd asked security if I'd be all right there and the two guys looked at each other, shrugged and said, "Well, you won't get towed". Good enough for me at the time. When I got done there was a big orange sticker on my drivers door window, announcing that I'd been a bad boy, that they'd jotted down my plate number and that if I did it again, it would be noted on my permanent record (and I'd be towed).
Wednesday it snowed again... another 8 inches. I was doing a few art deliveries... picking up a big (5'x4') photograph mounted on aluminum in Newton and a 4'x4' painting in Belmont. Both to be delivered to galleries on Newbury St. in Boston. While getting out of the van in Belmont, trying to wrestle out the tape and packing material... I dropped my keys into the snow bank. 20 minutes of panicked searching finally found them.
Thursday and Friday were relatively uneventful as I worked with Paul on the painting job.
Satuday, Syl and I went out to Chinatown for dimsum, then over to the ICA (read her description of it).
Sunday... a LONG walk to the Plough... having to detour to the other side of Cambridge to collect a check.
So... there's that week... sorry to make such a task of this blog. Yes, I'm working on getting more pictures on here.

And I Thought We Were Cold Before...

2005-01-22T17:59:00.000-05:00

The last couple of mornings we've started out the day at around 1F or -17C... and heated up to 12F or -11C. Now we're getting blizzard warnings with an estimate of 18 to 24 inches of snow. Sylvia came home from work around 4:00, hopped in bed for a few winks and has to go back at 8:00... I guess people have called in sick (more likely scared of getting trapped there). It's just past 6:00 now and the roads look fairly clear... I hope that she doesn't have any trouble returning. And I'd rather have her snowed in someplace than driving.
Today I went out to Framingham to install 60 some odd paintings (including a few of my own) at a computer training center. A simple task, really, only taking about 5 hours. When Syl gets back in action we'll try to post a few installation shots.
Come morning, we'll see if I can make the weekly walk over to the Plough. There may be a few good snow scenes to post, as well. About time I got more pictures on here...

A Few Things Happening Here...

2005-01-18T16:55:00.000-05:00

Let's see.... we're freezing our butts off to start with... never got above 12F today, that's -11.1C for you metric people.
I must have really sold those 8 paintings, as I've received a check and will be installing them, along with 50 or so others on Saturday. Pretty good, I'd say... the money's already fallen in the hole... but the hole is not quite so deep and it's nice to have the work on someones wall.
The calls that are coming in are all for art delivery, installation and presentation... precious little painting/decorating work. One small job we'll start on Thursday.
Got a collaborative collage back from Greenfield the other day... I thought that this stage of it was good enough to make copies of... I've done that, but will continue to work on the piece. Working on some other projects... I'm not happy with what I've made for Edz Dylan birthday, it needs a little more attention. Gotta get something together for the Field Study Report... a list of our Mail Art blogs is my idea.
Anyway, stay warm and busy...

"Whatever Meredyth Wants"...

2005-01-08T15:13:00.000-05:00

This past week I spent a couple of days delivering artwork to Gallery NAGA, where Meredyth had been invited to be guest curator of a group show. I think that Arthur, the gallery director, came up with the title, "Whatever Meredyth Wants". Most of what I delivered was normal paintings and sculpture, but one bit was a nine foot pole with a three foot diameter base for a sculpture. The sculpture that goes on this base was created by a Japanese sculptor, Niho... who contacted me the night before the piece needed to be delivered. It consists of round units cast in translucent red resin that remind me of the bases and other parts of chess men. The units have a center hole and stack up along the pole making a totem like structure. The color and translucency have the look of raspberry Jello... though they're rigid and heavy. I would have loved to have seen them put it together. As I was delivering it, I asked her, "Why do young women always make such big, heavy things?" Which was probably sexist. That night she e-mailed to say that David, the installer, suggested that she work with feathers, next time... so she seemed to have a sense of humor about it.
Anyway, most of the rest of the week I painted with Stephen. Nothing special, there. All the while I had to keep fielding calls about the job that I'd passed off to Lowell and Paul. They were doing fine and in control, but the client kept wanting to talk to me.
Last night, Friday.... after finishing up with Stephen, I had a simple installation to do... one ten foot long painting. Arrived at the job (some dreadfull McMansion) with the painting that I'd picked up earlier in the day. Rang the bell... nothing. The art consultant arrived and she hit the bell... still nothing. As we waited in her car the client finally came up and rapped on the window. He'd been there all along but thought that his wife was home and taking care of us. Got the piece on the wall... assisted with the presentation of another piece. Clock is ticking... the opening for the Meredyth show... Finally, I'm released... traffic is miserable all the way home. I arrive and Syl says we'll never make it as there's only fourty-five minutes left for the opening. I change in a flash (after a small tantrum) and off we go... traffic cleared up, we were into a nearby parking space in ten minutes. Still a big crowd with many good friend artists and various other clients. We both agreed it was worth the extra effort.

Ah, It's the New Year and the Parties Over...

2005-01-03T19:50:00.000-05:00

I guess we got through the holidays. Back to work, today.
Yesterday, my usual walk over to the Plough... made up for not being out on New Years Eve by buying most of the room a round. Can't really afford that, but some may remember and reciprocate later on.
Today, I started Lowell and Paul on an odd job, trying to scrup out some water stains in natural wood rafters in a loft space. They were also going to paint the sprinkler pipes silver. They were into it and I wasn't, which is why I consigned the job to them. After a few errands I went to Stephen's job and painted for a few hours. My cell phone wasn't working, so off to a phone store to try and sort it out. The mall that I ended up at had about 5 places. I thought it was the battery, but nobody had the proper one. One guy told me that it was a crappy phone and I'd be better off buying a new one than investing in a battery. Did some research, but left without buying a new one. Came home and plugged the old one in and it seems to have taken the charge. I'll muddle along with this if it keeps working. Tomorrow is all art delivery... so I'll need it.
Slowly getting some mail art out. I've always been slow at it, but it seems to get worse.

Can't Think of a Title Today...

2004-12-29T19:40:00.000-05:00

So, my mail art friend, Wayhuni, from Jakarta responds to my e-mail asking if she's OK as if it was a New Years greeting and like nothing had happened in her neighborhood. Interesting, that. She is on Java rather than Sumatra but you'd think that she'd have known what my query was about.

Back to Normal ???

2004-12-27T19:19:00.000-05:00

OK, kids... Christmas is over... time to get back to the blogs and mail.
Here we all had a very nice Christmas, (even if Syl did have to work). Syl and I stopped by the Plough on Christmas eve... a small group of orphans spreading holiday cheer. We sang some carols, even though John Lincoln Wright wasn't there to lead us as he's usually done in years past. We got through it. Home, where Syl and I exchanged gifts... she gave me the hat that you can see on her blog. Fairly low key. Saturday I went up to my folks for the obligatory holiday mayhem. All the siblings with all their progeny... the nieces and nephew are all maturing too fast. An odd family tradition (that I may well have started) ensures that someone will outfit the whole gang with a cheap toy that shoots harmless projectiles. Once the gifts are opened the room becomes a free-for-all war zone as we try to knee-cap each other... or, better yet, shoot each other in the bum. This of course, leads to projectiles decorating the tree and lost under furniture. Digging around in my chair, I came up with bits of plastic that had been aimed at me from 3 different years!!! Surprisingly, we've never broken or spilled anything or sent anyone to the emergency room.
Sunday it snowed a bit, making my walk over to the Plough a bit more of an adventure. Very small group, but often that's the most fun. Home to cook the holiday meal that we never quite got around to on the holiday.
A lot more snow this morning as I got back to work. Dug out, picked up Howard and drove over to his gallery, where we met Lowell and Paul. No trouble parking right out front (unheard of on Newbury St.) Sanded, patched, sanded, primed gallery walls and started painting. We'll be done early tomorrow... which is good as the lot of us are planning to see Three Stooges films at the Brattle Theater in the afternoon. We're so decadent.

So, Christmas is coming...

2004-12-21T20:39:00.000-05:00

I've only got the faintest of ideas about what's happened this past week. I DO know that there's been Christmas shopping, Christmas lights, a Christmas tree and Christmas parties. Overwhelming... I've been working all this time, as well. A painting project with Stephen... emergency art deliveries and installations. Sylvia is much better at this than me... and she's taken care of most of the gift things. Thank you, Syl. We've had a few COLD days... cold enough so I couldn't open the driver side door of the van. Luckily I still think that I'm young and can contort from the passenger side into the drivers seat. (I'll probably pay for that, later). I got one of those nice "25" envelopes from Ruud... my outgoing mail still sits on the table, waiting for the last little enclosure. Sylvia works on Christmas (the life of a nurse)... and I'll go up to my folks by myself for a couple of hours. Anyway... Merry Christmas, all... keep in touch.

So This Is What Cell Phones Are For...

2004-12-14T19:43:00.000-05:00

Friday I ended up with a job picking up and delivering some "area rugs". One of these "area rugs" turned out to be 9'x12', big enough to carpet a complete room in most peoples houses. Upon delivery I learned that I was to be part of a team that would rearrange the furniture and install the rugs. Carpenters, a security alarm guy, the woman of the house and myself spent about an hour and a half placing these things. Moving chairs, tables, etc. from all over this very large house... testing distances from the couch to the coffee table, lining things up and when all were satisfied we put the knick knacks back in place.
Saturday, as I was doing some errands and Christmas shopping when I got a call on my cell. A gallery on Newbury Street wondered if I could possibly pick up and deliver a painting. I balked at first as I kind of had a plan for the day. a few minutes later I realised that I had an empty van and who can't use a few extra bucks this time of year... so I called back, hopped in the van and did the job. Phoned ahead as I was nearing the gallery and Jeremy came down with the picture... I double parked and we loaded it in just before the meter maid could give us a hard time. I had the piece delivered to the client within an hour of the original call. I hope that someone took note of that. Turned out that it was to a residence that I'd installed a few pieces in a week or so earlier. (hadn't met the people, working with a decorator).
Sunday was the same as always.
Started a small job with Paul for a lady down the street, on Monday. Had Lowell and Paul finish it today, while I went to work on something for Stephen. Some of these guys are going to be on thier own as the painting work slows down. I'm doing my best to find them something to do.

It Went Like This...

2004-12-08T19:39:00.000-05:00

I bundled up my paintings... I wasn't sure which ones Helen wanted for the presentation, so I took 9 that seemed to work together, figuring that she could take what she wanted and I'd hang on to the rest. She decided to present them all. I loaded up the van with all the other work that she had and drove it out to the site. I met up with Helen and Michele at the loading dock and emptied it all out... They took care of things from here. I went off to do several other jobs, including delivering some bicycles for a "Bikes not Bombs" project... I also cleaned and reinstalled hardware at the last painting job. A pint at the Plough and home. I hadn't been home long when Helen called, telling me that they were keeping 8 of the 9 paintings !!!
She got the prices from me and asked for a 10% discount... you think that I'm going to say "no" ? So far, all of this has been done with no paperwork, whatever. Helen tells me that I'll have to send an invoice but she has to send me the form. Pretty good, that. Good timing, too... as painting jobs are scarce just before the holidays.
Tuesday I had to pick up a painting on my way to gather the work that Helen hadn't sold. Loaded all that up and took it back to her office. From here it was some Christmas shopping and other errands.
Today was another day of delivery and installation. Started out by picking up some stretchers and delivering them, along with a painting that was being returned to the artist. Conley, made me come up to his studio to see his newest Indian inspired paintings. Great stuff... animals that he's stolen from Mughal miniatures. He also gifted me with a nice ceramic bowl made by one of his friends... a Christmas gift, I guess. On to Fenway Studios (the first purpose built studio building in the country) to pick up a piece that was going to an art consultants storage facility. I had a little down time and did errands on Charles Street... including checking out a small exhibit of Conley's Japanese inspired paintings. Out to Lincoln to reinstall and fix a warped painting. Then on to Weston to deliver and install a two part abstract piece that was to be simply hung on nails (not my favorite way)... I had to find the studs in the wall and the stud finder that I'd just bought was off by about an inch or so. Made two or three extra holes... but the picture covers them... Isn't that what pictures are for ? To cover the holes in the wall ???

Horseshoe #1

2004-12-03T17:54:00.000-05:00

This painting from 1994 was shown at Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, Wisconsin... probably in 1994.
It's one of the ones I'm hoping to sell on Monday.

Horseshoe #1
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Mid Week...

2004-12-01T20:04:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, more painting in the morning, with Lowell. In the afternoon I was hanging pictures again. Working with Meredyth, for this therapist couple who need some serious therapy. Rearranged a handful of pictures that I'd hung a week or so ago. Installed some new stuff. Everything is going fine untill we get to the last bit of wall... Meredyth and Mr. Therapist have a plan to put a little collection of black and white prints on it... made sense to me. Poussin as you come out of the dining room, flanked by Reginald Marsh, Rafael Soyer, other 30's prints (pretty good stuff). Mrs. Therapist was getting tired again and didn't like the plan. Abort that mission. Meredyth, wisely realises that this session is done for and we adjust a few things in the living room, while Mrs. Therapist gets ready for her next client. While Mr. Therapist and Meredyth are trying to place something in his office... Mrs. Therapist tells me that having all this artwork around scares her. As we leave, Meredyth says, "she's 50 something and she's tired? I'm 70 and there's lots of work to do here!"
Me... I just do what I'm told.
Today was a big day of moving and making sure that things were under control. Started out picking up artwork from an artist, then picking up from the Museum School... out to check on the painting job and deliver some supplies. On to rent a truck. Delivered the artists work to an art consultant, picked up a whole exhibition from a gallery and delivered that to the appropriate artist (getting drenched in the process). From here, I returned the truck and went to see a REAL nutcase client who had just (thankfully) sold her house and wanted me to do an inapproprite patch job in a water damaged ceiling. No go, there. She did get me to take away some old paint... and I yelled at her as she was adding items to the pile that she wanted me to take away. Scared her, I guess... I don't often do that, but she was going way over the top. My compensation for this was a few, dirty old frames and one of her worst artworks. Thankfully, some other guy arrived with some other business and I could escape. Delivered the piece that I'd got at the Museum School and went to help Lowell clean up.
To the Plough for a much needed pint and home.
Tomorrow you get pictures...

Weekend's Over...

2004-11-29T20:06:00.000-05:00

Saturday... a little bit of Christmas shopping. Tried to cash a check from a client, but there's still not enough money there. Took a few photos for the Stencil project from Ireland. Home by noon. Walked the dawg. Worked on my collage to Greenfield... just about ready to send. Stuffing other envelopes... nothing much.
Sunday was a nice walk over to the Plough... did the crosswords with Julian... the walk home was in the rain but I was prepared with a poncho and piece of crap umbrella that we'd bought in Italy. Again, nothing special.
Today Lowell and I started a new job. Prepped this office for an English woman who's a professor of theology at Harvard. An old client that have a few eccentricities. She and her husband have the most beautiful but minute way of writing. (He's some kind of old fashioned printing guy... also at Harvard) I swear that the notes that they leave for me are writtin with script that is only 3 mm high. We'll be priming and painting tomorrow.

The Past Few Days...

2004-11-26T18:14:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, I started Lowell and Paul on a a painting job... a couple of water damaged ceilings. From there I went to Cambridge to hang yet more pictures... about 25 this time. The woman had just had her place renovated and wanted to change the arrangement a bit. Fairly straight ahead.
Wednesday, I went to do an estimate for a painting job that won't happen until June!!!
Then on to paint a wall for a favorite client. She was out of town, but I have the key and the alarm code. Stopped in at the Plough, nothing special to report.
Thursday was Thanksgiving... Sylvia had to work and I spent a lot of time cleaning up the joint. Walked the dawg, washed the kitchen floor, a couple of loads of laundry... tried to find the surface of the dining room table. In the process I got distracted, working on a collaborative collage that I'm doing with Greenfield. Went out to photograph some stenciled street art for a project by Fan Mail. When I got back Syl was home! They'd let her off early... cool. More cleaning and all. I cooked some duck legs with vegetables for Thanksgiving dinner... thank you, duck.
Today, was out to pick up the gear from where the guys had painted the ceilings. The stuff had been put in the garage. Hit the button, opened the door, no problem. Loaded up the van. When I hit the button to close the door there was a big bang... One of the cables that holds a big spring for the door had snapped. Good thing I was out of the way, if I'd been hit by it I'd be a gonner. Tried to cash the check they'd left me but there wasn't enough money in their account. Back to hang more pictures at the place I'd been on Monday... (I've gone through $60 worth of picture hooks this week) On to the Plough, where they were putting up the Christmas lights. And home to this and the weekend... ahhh...

Hanging Pictures...

2004-11-22T19:23:00.000-05:00

It looks like my primary occupation this week will be installing artwork.
Started out today by taking the van back to the shop... some other fluid was leaking. It didn't look like coolant this time. Turns out that some hose with transmission fluid had come a bit loose. Probably knocked a bit during the radiator replacement, but no one is admitting to that. Doesn't matter as they let me go for free again. Heck, they should name thier boat after me with all the money I've given them for other repairs.
So, I went to see one client who really had no idea where she wanted things hung. She moved to a smaller house and had a big old pile of pictures. (I should really charge more when the client wants ME to decide where things should go). We sorted out the better pieces, that were more appropriate for the public areas... living room, dining room, etc. Reserving the more personal and intimate pieces for bedrooms and hallways upstairs. I hung most of our decisions for the ground floor, 16-18 pieces. The client had a meeting and I had another appointment, so I'll go back on Friday.
The next client had about 8 pieces that she pretty well knew where she wanted them placed. (she needed some reinforcement) That was fairly simple and I was out of there in an hour. Also gave an estimate for painting the master bedroom.
To the Plough for a pint with a very jocular group around the corner of the bar.
And home...

Here We Stand...

2004-11-20T21:24:00.000-05:00

Nothing much until yesterday...
I was helping an art consultant with a presentation.
She assembles the artwork on the third floor (second for the Brits).
I was carrying things down and lost a step on the stairs...
a ceramic piece, wrapped in bubble, flew out of the box I was carrying and broke.
To my rememory the first piece I've destroyed.
Not a great way to start the day.
Everything else went well. She sold tons of stuff to the client and I didn't harm any other artworks. (this is decorating... it really has nothing to do with ART)
At the end of the job, as we were settling up... I offered to pay for the piece that I'd broken. She let me off, telling me that I'm carefull, it was an accident, etc. Still made me feel like a clumsy jerk. Turns out it was a piece that she owned and was trying to flog off on the client. (purchase price $100)
Today started out with a call from the art consultant that wants to try out some of my work... 6 pieces she wants to try... a good thing.
Up to my sisters for a birthday party for her 3 year old... good to see most of the family. Syl works both Thanksgiving and Christmas so we won't be joining them then. Somehow we got onto looking at where things were made... China won. Only one piece of clothing from USA and only one from Europe... all the rest from Asia or South America or Mexico.

A 1 Memory

2004-11-16T19:43:00.000-05:00

Probably the oldest one I have.

A 1 Memory
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Where'd That Go ???

2004-11-16T18:38:00.000-05:00

I could have sworn that I posted a small blog on Sunday... well, I can't find it.
Wrote about snow (4 inches), Plough (the usual), finding 51¢ (good day) and that was about it.
Just a couple of average days at work, since then. One interesting note is I've heard that an art consultant is interested in presenting some of my paintings to a client that buys a lot of art. I haven't heard from her directly, but was told this by another artist who's work I will be transporting to this project. I've worked with here before... moving and installing artwork. That worked out fine. She asked me to send her slides and unlike my usual laziness, I did. Looks like it might have paid off. Keeping my fingers crossed for the moment. Selling art instead of putting it in the post... the silly things we do.

A Couple of Good Days...

2004-11-12T19:57:00.000-05:00

So, I went down to get the van yesterday and Vinnie says, "No charge"!!! Imagine that? I don't get these kind of breaks often.. I cherished it and it made my day. Out to paint with the guys for the day... we pretty well finished the ground floor. After work I had to go hang a picture in Newton. Big it was, 5 feet tall and at least 8 feet long. Some kind of digital photography thing mounted on some kind of plastic. The frame was over the top lot's of wood with inlaid brass Ganeshas from India. The image was a Buddhas head in the landscape and was supposedly manipulated fronm 30 photographs. It took some time to get the photo into the frame... but really no time to get the whole business on the wall... it fit brilliantly and looked great. The guy wrote me a check, without asking what I wanted and paid me about 3 times what I would have asked for. (this WAS a good day) We also made a plan for me to fix 3 water damaged ceilings. A toe hold on more work, I hope.
Today was out in Lincoln to paint... fine tuning what we'd done yesterday. The check was there, in the appropriate amount without me asking. A few little instructions... nothing that we wouldn't have done anyway. The guys were itching to go, being Friday... but they'd given me thier hours and I had to hold them to that. Michael never showed, claiming there was work he had to do at home... more likely it was because it's his birthday.
Anyway... to the Plough... where I only meant to have one pint... but Mark bought me one, then Derek came in and I thanked him for serving in the Marines (having not been around yesterday, Veterens Day) finished that and came home.

But I Just Replaced the Radiator...

2004-11-10T19:44:00.000-05:00

Up and out to Naida's (a favorite client that refers me to all her friends) for som touch ups. I could have done the lot with a Q-Tip rather than a brush. Except for one ding in the middle of a wall... my touch up looked like a bulls-eye. I'll go back and repaint the whole wall next week. Then over to see Marjorie, who is redoing a loft space and has a sand blasted wood ceiling and beams that are water stained. I doubt that I can come up with a reasonable solution for that. I found a parking space... had to make a u-turn to get to it. As I got out I realised that there was coolant everywhere...pouring out of the front of the van. I figured that I must have blown an hose, and there was enough coolant on the ground to know that I'd better not try to drive. Looked at the job. Back to the van to call AAA (same as RAC) took them an hour to get there. Meanwhile, I didn't have enough change to keep the parking meter going and I was hungry. I didn't dare walk the block to get a sandwich... the meter maid would surely get me. Luckily a newspaper blew down the street... I read it and did the crossword. Tow truck finally arrives and we go over to Vinnie's. Tell him what's up and walk home, where Syl let's me borrow her car to go out to Lincoln and help Michael. (Paul had his own car problems this morning, so he and Lowell had already bailed out). On the way out Vinnie called and said it was the radiator. Luckily it's under warranty... but that won't cover the labor. Should be ready 8:30- 9:00 in the morning. At the job, Michael had found a whole clip of 9mm bullets on top of the built in shelving. The client was quite happy to have us take them away (Michael knows someone that can use them). (there's a find for you, Swap) Painted the built in unit and the shelves. Came home to type this...

Crown...c

2004-11-09T20:16:00.000-05:00

This is the painting that I gave to Newton Art Center... Please excuse the shadow and clumsy cropping.

Crown...c
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

More Running Around...

2004-11-09T20:05:00.000-05:00

Started out the day by putting my painting in the frame and stamping the backside (should have documented that for Obscure Obverse... next time). Off to hang a picture on the door to a loo... I hate doing that... they always move around as you use the door, and she doesn't want me to use security mounts which would stabilise the piece but make big holes in the door. From here it was downtown to pick up a piece that I'll deliver on Saturday. Out to see how the guys are doing, painting... Seemed OK, but I'm sure they're not getting enough done. On to deliver the artwork below... and on to spend my afternoon installing pictures for a client in Cambridge. Some good stuff, A little Pissaro print, a Lautrec print... some junk as well... all, horribly framed. Supposedly this will be rectified and I'll have to install it all over again. Tried to convince the client that we ought to finish painting the areas that we'd started. Dunno if I got anywhere. (y'know living in a several million dollar house, with real art and claiming broke). We fitted out the living room, his office, waiting room (they're both shrinks) and started working on the hallway... when it became obvious that the client was getting tired, and confused. I'd hung three little pieces... went on to hang another, turned around and she'd replaced all the pics in the group that I'd just done. I convinced Meredyth (who I was working with) that it was time to move on, as we had another client around the corner. Went over there and did that... simple, outfit one piece and hang it. To the Plough to check in with the guys... and home to wrestle with trying to put that pic on my blog...

About Time I Posted Another Blog...

2004-11-08T19:51:00.000-05:00

Been a bit busy getting this painting finished for the Newton Art Center benefit thing. Seems like the only time I make a painting these days is when I'm asked for one. On that note, I received an invitation today, to make a painting for a show in Wisconsin. The theme is "Magnificent Extravagence: Artists and Opulence". Dunno what I'm going to do about that... I do tend to paint in an obsessive manner, though.
Work has been fairly straightforward... I've been putting in full days, rather than running around to other projects. Trying to light a fire under the guys as I think that they do produce more if I'm there working away. I'm getting a bit nrevous on the price I quoted for this one so I've gotta get us to hammer it out.
Saturday I took Syl to a library book sale that I'd seen a sign for... collecting her collage materials. She came out with a good armfull... a few that I'll try to read before she takes the knife to them.
Sunday... the usual walk to the Plough (found 7¢). Fumbling with the crossword, about 3/4 through, when Julian came in and we finished it. Walked home via the art supply store to get some gold paint for the frame of the Newton Art Center piece. Worked on the painting.
Today was another day of painting trim...home to fine tune the picture (it's due tomorrow). We're trying to get a decent photo of it to add to the blog... Syl does all that. Fighting the glare of the flash and distorted colors. She's good... it'll be close to the painting.

Things Happen...

2004-11-04T19:34:00.000-05:00

So, Bush wins... not what we wanted, but what can we do. We must be different than the rest of America, here in the northeast. Morality was the swing, they say. My sense of morality is surely different... lying and opportunistic war can't be good. Gay marriage doesn't affect anyone else. Stem cell research, abortion... shouldn't these be included in the personal decisions that the Republicans espose ??? And the economy is crap. Anyway...
Arafat is dying... don't really know what that will mean... but, it will mean something.
I put in a full day on the job... I might be fooling myself, but there seemed to be a serious increase in production. We essentially painted the ground floor/basement in a day. Not quite done, but close. Considering that it took them 5 days to paint 2 rooms and a hallway upstairs.
Syl's blog blew up or something... she had to rebuild from scratch... no idea what she's lost.

Since I Last Posted a Blog...

2004-11-01T19:24:00.000-05:00

Friday I was moving art around all day. Started by getting up a rental truck,picking up an exhibitions worth of artwork and delivering it to a gallery. Fairly simple, that. Returned the truck... took myself to lunch and went on to the next job that was a presentation with an art consultant to a residential client. Loaded up my van (the artwork is stored on the third floor (second floor for the Brits) so I got a bit of exercise. Drove to the clients home, unloaded the work, unwrapped the work, held various pieces up against the wall in numerous locations throughout the house. The art wasn't heavy but the arms get tired with the isometric workout. They bought a big pile of stuff, but it all had to be packed back up... some going to the framers and the rest back to the third floor. It was 8:30 by the time I got home. Knackered, but it was a good payday.
Saturday was errands and the start of a painting for the Newton Art Center benefit show (due next week!!!) Wish I could get the paint to dry faster.
Sunday, to the Plough... did a lousy job with my crossword. Home to dole out candy to the costumed extortionists. Helped Sylvia make some kind of chicken soup. Fell asleep on the sofa.
Today was a simple day of painting... trim (glossy work). Windows, doors, baseboards. We did two rooms and I swear that I covered more surface than the other two guys put together. I did the smaller room by myself (not that there's much diference... they each have two doors and a window) and went in to help finish the other room which has a bank of built in drawers. Anyway, that bit's done.

And the Red Sox Win the World Series...

2004-10-28T19:27:00.000-04:00

A few rather normal days of work. Started a new job, a complete interior. Looks like it will go smoothly. A bit weird as the guy sleeps all day and we have to keep the noise down until he gets up at around 3 pm. No color scheme, everything is going white. Today was a bit of running around. Picked up a stretcher (for a canvas) from a carpenter and took it to an artist. Back at the job I convinced Mike to help me with a little bit of exterior work that I needed to get out of the way. A trip to the paint store to make sure the guys would be well stocked, since I won't be there tomorrow. Met Meredyth to hang a piece but we didn't really know how it should go... (twigs, tied together to represent an abstracted running man... three pieces... head arms and legs. The museum hadn't sent the photo back and the client wasn't available so we postponed until next week. Just as well, the ladder I'd brought wasn't appropriate. Some banking and a quick stop at the Plough, where the talk was all Red Sox. I'm not really a sports guy... but I'd watched all the final games. Hey, Boston has waited 86 years for this... hard not to pay attention. We've been so close and dissapointed over the years, it's become part of the city's zeitgeist. What are we going to do, now ???

The Weekend...

2004-10-25T19:22:00.001-04:00

Saturday Syl wanted to go looking for collage material... she thought of the antique/junk shops up in Essex, so off we went. Cruised past a few yard sales that didn't look like much. Had a big old seafood lunch a Woodman's Then slogged through a couple of dusty shops where Syl found some of what she was looking for. Stopped by a wine store that was having a sale on the way home... I had to convince the cashier that port was in fact wine and deserved the 20% discount. The Red Sox won.
Sunday... my normal walk over to the Plough... Julian and I finished up both crosswords. I stayed way too long and ended up taking a cab home. The Red Sox won again.
Today was pretty low key. I started out visiting Marlene and tried to touch up a few things... dogs all over the place. I then went to meet Paul in Weston to sand a put a first coat of paint on two dressers. One pint at the Plough and I was home to sort through some photographs looking for pictures of Bern Porter for a Commemorative Issue of something. I'd just learned that he'd passed away... by chasing links via floberlob. I did find a couple that might be useful... as well as some photos of stenciled stuff to send to Fan Mail. Received my swap from Swapatorium... good stuff and a great crossed out sort of recycled letter. And on we go...

And the Week Goes By...

2004-10-22T19:30:00.000-04:00

Pretty much a normal (abnormal) week of work. Several presentations with an art consultant. Load up the van, drive it over to the client, unwrap things, hold them to the wall as the art consultant tries to flog them off to the client, wrap them back up again and return to the point of origin. One nasty installation job... they wanted the work hung by cable from a picture rail... never works as nice as one would like, the pictures always lean forward. Posh house that was... with several decorators or such worrying over the color of the cables. Lots of driving around to different job sites... delivering ladders, paint and searching for odd bits of hardware. Dealt with a painting that needed to be shipped to Arizona. After wrapping it myself I decided to give it to a shipper rather than build a crate...good that I did as the crate would have been too big for UPS or FedEx. Just an active week of work.
The Red Sox got into the World Series... and that poor girl got killed in the celebration. Stupid, that. We won... what's the point of violence ??? Glad I wasn't living in the Fenway for that. (I did live there for a year, about 5-6 years ago.Let's see what the weekend brings.

plow boys

2004-10-18T20:32:00.000-04:00

Rick was in town and was trying out his new digital camera. This unlucky lot were guinea pigs. That's me, Bill, Joe, Paul and Mark. Frightening, it is.
Rather low key weekend. Saturday spent doing the usual errands... did get some mail out to Greenfield and Swapatorium.
Sunday was a walk over to the Plough, Julian showed up and we did bothe the Times and Globe crosswords.
Today I was all over again. Picked up a painting that I'm supposed to crate and send to Arizona. Ont to look at a job and see what it needs. Checked in on Michael at his job. Went on to see Lowell and Paul and do a bit of painting. Finished up the day by assisting an art consultant with a presentation. Home by 7:00 (19:00).

plow boys red
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Kind of Blew Off Today...

2004-10-15T18:47:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we worked outside in the morning. Finish painting. Around noon I went off to hang pictures and a collection of plates. In the meanwhile it started raining and the guys packed up and left the exterior job. I went back around to collect a check. And that was about it.
This morning I got a call from Lowell, saying he wouldn't be working as he was in his studio all night. Makes me crazy, but what can you do? I had to deliver a painting so I was a bit late arriving on the jobsite, (dog house) myself. No sign of Paul, so I called him and he'd given it up complaining of a bad back. Abandoned, I was. Went in, talked to the dogs and gave my apologies. I blew it off, too. Wasn't going to get much done by myself. Did errands, bank and post office. Found the current Modern Painters magazine that I'd been looking for. Tried to find a proper carafe in the charity shops (for a still life I need to paint) no luck, there. Stopped in at the Plough, (the "office" it's sometimes called) where the guys showed up to get some pay.
And here I am...