Colorado

I went to Colorado last week and it was stunning! I had never been anywhere West of Indiana before, and that's not very far West. Unless you count a trip I once made to Hawaii, but I didn't stop anywhere in between. Hawaii is almost way East, come to think of it. Anyway, I visited some friends and did the tourist thing after getting a cheap flight over there, and I was so impressed! The weather was changing all the time, which I really enjoy. The mass transit was punctual and got me exactly where I needed to go. There is a great art and music scene in Boulder and Denver.
Here are a few quick pictures! Here I am (bonjour!) at the foothills of the Flatirons in Boulder, CO, which are the foothills of the Rockies, and the Rockies are are the foothills of the Gods, of course.
This is the other side of the Flatirons. It had just finished gently snowing, though it wasn't very cold out, and it was postcard-perfect. There was also a fog that sometimes obscured the view, but also made for good middleground drama with these conifers.
I also spent a little time in Denver and saw the Denver Art Museum, which has a brand new wing built by Daniel Leibeskind. It's crazy angular and slightly disorienting inside, but in a good way. I thought it helped spice the art up by showing pieces on slightly angular surfaces- a little wacky, but I saw a few things in a new way. There's also a great installation by Sandy Skoglund there. But what's that on the front steps of the museum? It looks like a broom and dustpan.
Sure enough! It is. It's hard to tell scale in this picture but the broom is about 15 feet tall. There is also this fabulous plaque on the ground, telling us that the work is a collaboration between a Dutch artist (I forget the name) and Claes Olderberg. It was one of the highlights of my trip! The landscapes were fabulous and very inspirational, the hosts of my trip were so hospitable (and excellent cooks) and the art was all new and in a totally different setting, where the vistas are grander and the skies much much wider.

Manatees and Manna Tees

Future teeshirt empire:
Manatees: everyone's favorite sea cow.
VS.
Manna Tees: everyone's favorite Jewish snack item!

There's even a double pun, after the 'more cowbell' teeshirt that is way too ubiquitous online.

I totally call a part of the profits on this shirt, should it ever be made. Copyright 2009 Midnight Shoveler Shirts, y'all! Perhaps it could even be made out of manna, like organic cotton teeshirts. Useful during fasts, and late-night snack binges. Do not attempt washing.

Fall 2009

It's fall! Raise your flags (higher, higher!) in excitement for long sleeves and cups of tea.
To celebrate: an old work not so much of a collage as an alteration of an old magazine ad, with japanese maple leaves and some scraps of tissue paper.