Tag! I'm it.

I've been "tagged" by the lovely Liana Kabel. At first I honestly didn't even know what that meant, but after a bit of research it seems my duty to reply. (actually it just seemed like fun!) So here are six things people may not already know about me…

1. I once met Richard Simmons in an airport and he broke out into a song from "Rent" the musical, right then and there. He had just returned from seeing it in NYC. I was very embarrassed.

2. I'm really into scary movies and crime shows. CSI Las Vegas is my all-time favorite.

3. When I was young and playing with Barbies (yeah yeah I know, I still do) I made up the name "Amereze Betrin" for one of my dolls. It's a name that has stuck in my family and periodically gets discussed at family gatherings. I have NO idea how I came up with a name like that.

4. I occasionally like to eat peanut butter and miracle whip sandwiches (thanks mom). Hey, don't knock it til' you try it!

5. I'm right-handed, except when I cut with scissors. It's the only thing I do left-handed, but here comes the weird part: I can only use right-handed scissors on my left hand.

6. I have two tattoos.

David Balogh… you're it!

Ron Mueck

I wish there were a way to describe the truly life-like qualities of the sculptures by Australian born artist Ron Mueck. Every pore, every detail and difference in the texture of the skin from chin to toenail, exact and so very, well… REAL. I am utterly fascinated by his work in a way I haven't been by contemporary art in a LONG time.


We went to the Brooklyn Museum this weekend to check it out in person before the closing of the exhibition. If you haven't seen it yet, GO. It really is something you have to experience in person. The photos just don't do it justice.

The giant baby was one of my favorites. The scale of this piece definitely threw me the most. So delicate and fragile in nature, her enormousness contradicted everything we know and feel about babies. It felt as if we were all observing a 'circus freak,' and yet despite her size, she still seemed vulnerable. From certain angles, looking at her giant head made me feel like I was inches away from a real live newborn held in my arms, as if close up into its' face, captivated by the miracle of her tiny, living, breathing body. However there's a strange sensation of role-reversal, as if she were the one to look upon the tiny fragility of us, the adults standing around her. Is she staring in disbelief at our tiny, living, breathing bodies? Who is the baby, the vulnerable one, in this situation?

Of course I'm usually drawn to the slightly creepy or high discomfort factor in art (see toddlerpedes post - May 11th), but there was something about this work that affected me in a whole new way. I've always been captivated by artists and objects that challenge our sense of scale. Part of this probably comes from my experience as a child, my love of traditional doll houses as well as Barbie and all the miniature accessories of those worlds; the forks and knives, the fake fruit, the toaster… there's just something about seeing objects smaller and LARGER than we're accustomed to that is inherently fascinating and challenges the way we relate to that object. Mueck creates work that plays with a full range of scale, large and small. The "Spooning Couple" below is only 65 centimeters long - and by far the most intimate piece in the show, eliciting many emotions.

More than anything Mueck plays with our sense of what feels real.

Desperation sets in…

OK, I've been on a vigilant hunt for a day job since the beginning of January and I'm not going to lie, this has been a REAL struggle. I wish I could say that upon approaching my 28th birthday I am 100% financially independent and my business is SO successful that with it I am able to support myself entirely! Well, the fact of the matter is, with the expenses of this city, that's just not realistic for me at this point. I need a full-time job. I need to pay down some debt and I need to eat. I have attempted to get a job through many other avenues so I thought it couldn't hurt to use my blog as well to send this message out to the universe…

NEED JOB, WILL WORK.

Please, if anyone knows of any leads on a day job, (one that is even semi-quasi-remotely artistic would be FABULOUS!) please let me know. Thanks.

Thank you Detective…

I wanted to send a warm thank you to the Eclectic Detective for mentioning my work on her blog on January 11th. Blogger LisaJay does a fabulous job scouting clever and interesting design - in all it's many forms. It's a fun resource, so check it out!

Also thank you to Mark Blankenship for the shout on his blog, I totally hear that which I frequent oh, pretty much ALL the time. Check it out for the low down on what you should and should NOT be listening to in the world of pop music. Mark praised my work as well as my best friend Kate's work on December 26th. We MUST all get together someday soon in this fine city!

"Queen E."

Queen E.
sterling silver, plastic, pigmented epoxy resin
Photo © Frank Cusack

Here's a sneak peak at the image that will be included in Facéré Jewelry Art Gallery's Signs of Life Exhibition this Spring. The exhibition will feature a corresponding printed journal. Each of the nine jewelry artists selected for this exhibition will be paired with a contemporary writer who will create a short story or poem inspired by the jeweler's piece. The exhibition opens May 16, 2007.

I can't wait to read what they come up with!