fright night

I'm not very big on scary movies and on Halloween I made the mistake(?) of watching the Strangers. Let's just say that I had the permanent shakes that night. I was so scared! Thank god I was "sleeping over" with friends because I would not have been able to sleep by myself that night. Well, the movie induced some pretty insane nightmares which I find to be entertaining. We had been watching Om Shanti Om earlier in the day and a bit the night before so there was a nice Bollywood theme to my dream. Basically I watched the brutal murder of myself - not as if I were out of my body but as if I really were getting murdered and seeing it take place from my point of view. The murderers were, of course, masked much like those in the Strangers. This took place to Bollywood-esque music and I am pretty sure there was a dance sequence as well. Katy made an appearance as the Hindu god Vishnu sitting atop a big pile of silver spoons. That made me laugh.

Aside from the scare - which did follow into the next day at my friend's house [in the middle of nowhere] my Halloween weekend was kind of low key. I did get to visit friends in Potsdam and had a pretty entertaining and insane Thursday night at the Art Attack opening at SUNY Potsdam and then out at the bars.

realization of a lifetime

Sunday. I'm graduating on Sunday. I can hardly wrap this thought around my mind. I have to leave Potsdam; move on. I am going to miss all of my friends terribly. This week has been good, emotional, but good. I think I've been holding back the sadness too much - it's going to be out of control when I finally burst. So many amazing things have happened in the past four years of my life. Potsdam changed my life. So many opportunities unfolded for adventure and growth while I was here. I have met some of the most amazing people in the world and I am truly grateful to call them friends. I couldn't have made it with out them; I wont make it without them.

Thank you, Potsdam. Thank you to my professors who have enlightened me and helped me in my time here, guided me through the hard parts and encouraged me to succeed. Thank you to my amazing friends - you know who you are - you are all amazing and will do great things. I want nothing more than to sit in my room with you until all hours of the night, sides aching in pain from laughing so much. I love you. Thank you to my family for always being behind me regardless if I've been stupid or brilliant, made bad decisions or good ones. You are my rock, my life support. I love you with all of my heart.

Potsdam, heres to you.
New York City - watch out.

I Heart Hellas

Spring break was fantastical! Greece is beautiful and I would very much like to be there instead of in Potsdam. I got to see and do lots of amazing things which I will rattle off just in case anyone is dying to know..

Day One - 22 March
Arrived in Athens. Went to Sounion to the Temple of Poseidon which was absolutely gorgeous and windy. Also, the site of the temple was inhabited by fancy chickens which we believe were actually partridges. After exploring the hotel - mainly the rooftop terrace with a view of the Acropolis - we had dinner. Took a night time walk to the Acropolis and then got some sorbet in the Plaka.

Day Two - 23 March
Visited the Corinth Canal on our way to Epidarus to see the Theater and ruins there. Mycenae with the awsomeness of the Lioness Gate, the "lair of the minotaur" which is actually a dried up spring at the bottom of a corbel vaulted staircase, and the Treasury of Atreus. I had my first taste of Mousakas for lunch. We arrived in Nafplion and walked around all the little shops and the boardwalk. After dinner we went out for some wine with Dr. Curry and then ended up back at the hotel and tried ouzo.

Day Three - 24 March
I fell at Tyrins and my camera was destroyed. I was sad. The roads in Greece are very twisty and full of hairpin turns that make people very carsick. We arrived at Olympia around the same time as the protest/riot. We missed it though. We did, however, visit the museum at Olympia and saw some pretty sweet sculpture from the Temple of Zeus and some other findings. After the museum we went into the ancient site and wandered around. Sarah and I got whistled at for posing too close to the ruins. It was worth is though. Later that afternoon it rained and there was a slight thunderstorm which is apparently quite rare in Greece. Backlava is delicious.

Day Four - 25 March
We went a little crazy on the bus today. Stopped in a seaside town for lunch after crossing the Rion-Antion Bridge [I don't remember the name of the town]. I went into the Ionian Sea! After lunch we went to a Greek Orthodox Nunnery up in the mountains. When we arrived in Delphi we went for a hike up a mountain. It was absolutely gorgeous. I bought a camera. We went to "the spot" and had some drinks and played pool.

Day Five - 26 March
Woke up at 4am. Left the hotel at 5am. Hiked up the mountain from the day before to see the sunrise. It was cloudy and therefore a crappy sunrise. It was worth it though. Still beautiful even though the sky was "bluetan". The hike would later be known as the Dismal Delphi Deathmarch. After showering and having some breakfast we took off for the ancient site of Delphi where we saw the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, the Castilian Spring, and ancient Delphi with the Temple of Apollo. Delphi is overrun with kitties. At the Delphi museum I gave my speech on the Treasury of the Siphnians then wandered. After more bus riding we ended up in Athens where we had the best dinner yet. Traditional Greek food - 13 dishes for the main course [it was like a sampler platter] and some nasty ouzo.

Day Six - 27 March
Visited the National Museum in Athens. So much awesomeness there. Went to the Acropolis and was in awe. Saw the Temple of Zeus and the Pan-Athenaic Stadium. Had another fantastic dinner which included mousaka then met up with a friend who was studying in Wales. We walked around the Plaka and had some yummy sorbet.

Day Seven - 28 March
The Athenian Trail of Tears: left at 8:30 for a quick walk to two sites - Plato's Academy and Socrates Prison in the Agora. This ended up taking forever as we got lost and it began to rain. It was pretty sucky. Around one we were finally freed, said screw it to the Agora and the Stoa of Atalos and went for a nice warm meal. After a tiny bit of shopping we went back to the hotel where the events of the day made us a little crazy. Dinner tonight was at a Taverna where there was Greek music and dancing during dinner. It was a lot of fun.

When I got back into the states I stayed in New Jersey at my Uncle Kevin's house as I had an interview in NYC. I think the interview [at Christie's Education] went well and I am expecting to hear back from them in a couple of weeks.

Now I am bogged down with papers, presentations, and paintings to get done. Oh fun.

tang on paper

[full story here]

On Friday evening select members of the Student Art Association set off on an adventure. Destination? The Haze household. Ultimate destination [to be achieved the next day]? MassMOCA, North Adams, MA. As previously mentioned, we stayed at Sarah's house outside of Albany for the weekend. It was lots of fun and good to get away from Potsdam for a couple days. The museum was crazy! I am now completely, absolutely, and utterly in love with MassMOCA and all it has to offer - along with the cute deli/cafe we dined at down the street. Exhibits were on display of work from Spencer Finch, Anslem Keifer, and Jenny Holzer. As well as an exhibit about China with work by a number of artists. Spencer Finch is a god in the world of conceptual art as far as I am concerned.


On return to Potsdam and the sad, sad end of the "F**k It Weekend" shared by the seven SAA members I was forced to live in the painting studio in order to complete the three paintings due on Wednesday. I also had to begin a new one. I ended up painting for 8 plus hours on Monday and Tuesday to get the paintings done. Although painting is, of course, not all of my life in Potsdam and on Wednesday I was graced with the opportunity to take a test in my Italian High Renaissance class. Oh joy of joys.

I'm still kind of busy as next week is going to be insane with all of the shit I've got to do. [must stop procrastinating - but hell it's so much fun] I have a paper topic and bibliography due on Monday for Greek Art. I am lecturing to my Survey of Art class Tuesday on Gothic Art - that means I actually have to know shit to teach them. Finally, on Wednesday I have a presentation in Italian High Renaissance. After that insanity I get to relax for a day and then freak out again.




* Pictures are from the SAA MassMoCA trip and are linked to flickr *

Classes have begun. This is going to be quite the semester. I feel like I have way too much free time - even on the days I have class from 9am to 6pm. Maybe it was just because it is Syllabus Day and nothing ever happens in class.

I am very excited for painting. Yay for NOT having to paint still lives for 20 hours and actually getting to paint something you like that is interesting. Also, yay for being in class with friends and getting the good spot/easels.

My art history classes should be good as well. I don't have to write a paper longer than 10 pages - 7 if I want to slack off and do the bare minimum. This is very exciting as most of my upper level art history papers have had to be 10-15/15-20 pages. [We'll see what happens in my High Renaissance class on Wednesday.]

I get to be a TA tomorrow. I have no idea what I am going to be doing - I know that I have to lead two lectures, two review sessions and grade tests, aside from that no clue. I'm setting office hours and picking my lecture topics tomorrow. This is both exciting and nerve wracking.

As for right now I have nothing to do. I can't wait until Cinema 10 starts up for this semester so my Monday nights can be filled with awesome independent films and documentaries and what not. [So long as they aren't all they really sad ones - there needs to be some funny or interesting too.]

Almost done. I can't believe how fast this semester went by.
Just under one week of fun things and then I will be back in Binghamton for a month.

Art Attack opened on Friday the 9th. The show is quite good this year. Everyone did a wonderful job on their pieces. I always have so much fun walking through Gibson Gallery this time of year because I am able to see the incredible talent of my friends and peers at Potsdam. This year was just a little more exciting though since two of my photographs were accepted into the show. It was great seeing them up on the gallery wall. I wish that all of my friends and family could come to see them because this, to me, is one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me.

Aside from Art Attack I have been being attacked by art, the artwork that I need to have completed for Monday, November 19. All of my painting are due as Monday is our last day of class for the semester (only for painting). I have been a busy bee in the studio all semester perfecting my painting technique and now, this week, I will pretty much be living there. Currently I am at work on a tree, a very big tree at just under 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide.

So, I've finally started my new painting. I was very uncertain about what I wanted to paint for the final since I could pick anything, anything I wanted. That is quite a decision since up until now we have been painting mostly still lives.
This painting is big! just under 4 ft by 3 ft. Much bigger than the others I've done

Follow up

.. to yesterday's post.

Apparently I am an aspiring photographer!
Both of the photographs I submitted for juror review for Art Attack 2007 were accepted.
(Juror was Timothy Sheesley, Director SUNY Oneonta Art Gallery, Tamarind master printer and owner of Coridor Press, Otego, NY)
Cleveland Way: Duncombe Park and Ouse Bridge will be on display in Art Attack 2007 in Gibson Gallery Nov. 9 to Dec. 9, 2007.

Am I an aspiring photographer? I shall find out tomorrow. The works selected for Art Attack 2007 will be posted at Gibson Gallery. (I entered two photographs. )

always laugh
loud

it is more like
a happy
dancing

flower after the rain

- magnetic love.

you're not hardcore unless you live hardcore

This semester is proving to be very busy. Aside from my class schedule which obviously regiments my life in Potsdam I have other obligations that make my life even more regimented. Though, there is still some time for fun.

I've started my new painting, a masters copy. I have picked to copy Henri Matisse, Woman with Hat (Madame Matisse). As soon as I have time, hopefully sometime tomorrow when I am in the studio working, I will take some pictures for flickr.

Monday nights are definitely a hi-lite of the week as they are Cinema 10 nights. The first film of the Fall 2007 season, Once, was amazing. I highly recommend it to everyone!

SES is one of my biggest obligations and sucks up most of my time with meetings every Tuesday which can end up going on for hours, Coffeehouse and committee meetings on Thursdays and shows on Friday and Saturday nights. At least I get paid when I work on the weekends. This past weekend, on Friday night, Brad Byrd performed. He is amazing and is definitely going to be one of the next big things as far as the music scene goes. He already has a nationally known record out and he has just finished an EP which is fantastic. If you are into acoustic, indie, rock then you should check him out! He's got a myspace with some good tunes on it as well as a website (www.bradbyrdmusic.com).

Friday is the beginning of October break! I'll be homeward bound on the 6:30am bus.

This past weekend I went camping with Katy and her family at their camp near Oxbow. John, Katy's brother, picked us up on Saturday morning and we got out to camp right as their mom, dad and sister, Jean did. We had a bit of breakfast before John and his dad went fishing. The girls hung around camp and "the grotto." John came running back to camp to tell us that his dad had caught a huge large mouth bass, so we went down by the river to check it out. If I remember correctly they named him Tony. Tony was 5lbs and about 22inces long. BIG, in other words. After all of that excitement, Katy and I made a back to Jean's tree chair while she took a nap. After that Katy, Jean and I attempted a canoe ride down the river. I was the one who ended up getting stuck in the mud when getting out of the canoe. After our canoe adventure it was just about dinner time so we stayed around camp for cocktail hour, ate and just hung out. When it was dark out we had a bonfire and made smores. We also did a little star gazing before going inside to watch Fierce Creatures and to pass out for the night.

Sunday morning we woke up to lots of coffee and Katy's dad made us a nice breakfast. Katy, Jean and I went on a hike into the woods to go to the giant oak. We also walked out to the bridge near the rapids/falls on the river where we played pooh sticks. When we got back to camp we had more coffee and hung out on the hammock for a while. After a nice lunch we went out with Katy's dad and John to shoot guns. I don't remember what kind of gun it was though. Even though I didn't hit the target I am pretty sure that I was the only girl to actually hit the tree the target was on! After shooting we cleaned up camp and Katy and I had to return to Potsdam.

It was lots of fun and I cant wait to go out to camp again! OH and Katy and I are going to GREECE during spring break (March 21 to 31) this year with ART in GREECE, an art history class. I am so so excited!!

This past week I got to hang out with Phil who was visiting Potsdam on his way to Regina. It was nice to see him since I obviously don't have the extra funds to get myself out to England any time soon. I took him into town and he had to fend for himself while I was in classes. He left me on Thursday to go to the airport.

On Friday afternoon I jumped into the car with Helen and we went out to Rochester, where she lives. Kes and Serena were there waiting for us. Again, it was amazing to see friends from York. The four of us hung out and caught up on whatever for the night. Saturday morning we were up and about around 7am to get out to Niagra Falls. It's about and hour and 1/2 drive from Helen's house out to Niagra, NY. We stayed on the American side for the day. First things first we got right onto the Maid of the Mist. That 20 minute boat ride was insane. It was so much fun and so beautiful. After getting slightly soaked we explored the side of the falls we were on and went up into the observation tower. By noon we had worked up an appetite and wound up getting something to eat at the HardRock Cafe which was across the street from the National Park. After lunch I wanted to see the Park and check out the observation points that put you right next to the falls. It was so fun. We walked around from one side of the American Falls to the other where the Bridal Veil Falls were as well. Also, we walked all the way down the park to the Horseshoe Falls. It was such a gorgeous day and the sun was hitting the mist on the falls in just the right way to create rainbows.

Our mini reunion ended on Sunday and I have been covered in paint since then as I have two four hour paintings due on Wednesday and I had painting class this morning for three hours. Right now I am off to WWII and then back to the painting studio where my crappy rendition of a brightly colored still life is mocking me.

Back at school! Classes and all that jazz began yesterday. So far they're good, aside from the fact that I spent way too much money on paints and supplies for my painting class. I am, however, looking forward to learning painting technique and hopefully not sucking at it.

It's so good to see everyone back here in Potsdam. Also, my friend Phil, from England, is here visiting for a few days. Kes and Serena will be joining us on Wednesday or Friday. I cant wait for the gang to be together again!

bittersweet

So, I'll be moving into my cozy single up in Potsdam for the last time. It's hard to believe, even a bit scary, to imagine that this is going to be my last year up there in the North Country. This is it, the zenith of my college experience.. or it will soon be. I have to admit that I am more than excited to get back to Potsdam since I have been away since December. I am ready to cause some trouble with some of the most amazing people in the world. I cant wait! (Classes aren't that bad either.) There is so much to look forward to this year and hopefully I will have more travel tales to regale everyone with. For now I will stick to class, my awesome extra-curricular activities, trouble making, and grad school applications. What a life I lead.