Boardwalk Days part 40

 Time to get to work.  My plan for today was to experiment with color on my first test piece.  I call this an experiment as I know I still don't have all the color hues I need to complete the piece, but the best way to see what I need to order is to put down on paper what I have.  A very cold day today, but the heater in my Studio works.  

Being that the subject of this piece is a specific part of Asbury Park's famous boardwalk, it makes sense to listen to some early Bruce Springsteen as I do this, since his early albums are much about his adventures in the town.  In fact, the cover I have on the copy of this disc that I kept on my shelf in my apartment was made from a newspaper photo of the boardwalk in the old days, perhaps when he was making those early albums.  One of the songs even mentions Asbury Park in its title.  (more on this disc can be found back in November of 2019 if you want to know more)  Actually the town has been on my mind a bit lately, as I have read a few newspaper articles talking about how a new restaurant is coming to Asbury, over on Cookman, but in a space showed art in a few times.  My prints (boardwalk prints no less in both the Tri-City show, and a later Jersey Shore show) were hung in the large stairway, but now I wonder if the upstairs gallery will be another special dining room, or be used for offices.  

Anyway, I got there today, filled my water can from the bathroom sink, and got to work from my notes.  Unfortunately, I had left the 15 color kit at home, so I couldn't do everything I planned, but I was busy the whole time that one disc played.  Results can be seen below:

Neither way was it going to be complete today (and this proof from back in October wasn't useable anyway, just to see how certain colors work next to each other),  but it did let me know I was on the right track with what I had done so far.   I have to be careful here, making sure I get real colors right, and then making sure what I choose for the others goes with what is here.  I emptied my water can in the slop sink in the work room, and headed home, bringing the proof with me.

Alumni News

On a regular basis I get an Alumni magazine from my undergrad school.  Used to be in the form of an actual magazine, though these days it arrives as an email and attachment,  I'm sure a money saving change done for "my" benefit.  (same for various bills and statements I used to get and would prove my residence to a government agency who specifies these documents that I no longer get)  The cover of the latest magazine has art faculty member Marlene Jack on the front cover.  She taught ceramics during the whole time I was at William and Mary, and during the time I was an art major, but I never took her class, or remember meeting her.  To be fair, I don't think I took a ceramics class anywhere (though I did learn a bit about clay from Barbara Goodstein in the 3D class I had there, which I couldn't use the times I taught 3D at Kean as clay was forbidden in the room I was assigned, but I was required to use it when I taught the class at OCC, at which time the knowledge came in handy), and one thing Jack was known for was creating a new ceramics studio in another building, far away from Andrews Hall, where all the drawing/painting/printmaking classes were in those days.   

And since she died a few years ago, it seems unlikely I will ever have an occasion to meet her.  What this article was about was a new endowment in her name, well not exactly new, but starting to grow.  It's no RZ, but whatever it gives a ceramics student would be welcome. It's a medium that requires materials and equipment that are not cheap, much more expensive than my woodcut requirements.

So What's Next?

 That's a fair question.  I'm done printing cards now, so it's time to move on to something else.  The logical thing would be to finish the current boardwalk print, since I have a decent print of it, and all that's left is to color it.  I have no deadline for anything at the moment, but it seems like I should finish this.  In order to do that, I need to see what colors I have to work with, and what colors I need.  The last time I had to color a boardwalk print it was a few years ago, for the ones I had to reprint and color for sale.  I looked at the one copy I had, checked all the colors I had in various palettes already pre-made, looked at my last original in a frame, and figured out what I would need.  Bought the tubes online, buying extra to make sure I had the right colors, and got them.  It turned out I bought the right things, and between what I had and what I bought, I was able to do the job.  This time is a little different, as I don't have a print to copy from for colors, as this will be the first one.  And while I can choose colors for some of the things in my scene, it makes sense that I should match the colors of actual things from the scene, since this one is based on an actual place and I want it to look like that place.  It should look like the place as it looked when I did the original block drawing, but luckily I took a bunch of photos of the scene at the time I did the drawings of architecture, and posted them to my blog, so I can dig them up with any computer that has internet access.  

So that left me with seeing what I have.  I did order a bunch of tubes a few years ago, and I know what they are.  As became my custom, I did some test charts of those colors- putting a dab of the straight paint and a wash version on watercolor paper, along with the name of the color written by it.  I have some of these charts in my possession, so even if I don't have the tubes, I can see the exact colors and names.   However, one thing I didn't have was a set of 18 pans of color, unlabeled.  Pans are dried cakes of paint, in some kind of container with a lid, basically like the wet your brush kits you had as a kid, but better quality paint.  I have no idea what any of these colors would be called, a set I believe I got as a gift years ago.  I didn't think much of it at the time, but I have used that set in the making of my holiday cards recently, as well as the colored boardwalk prints I made a few years ago, and find they work well enough to deserve some kind of chart.  So yesterday I made one, unlabeled (since I still don't know what they are called), and circles of solid paint, in the same locations as the pans I have,  Below is a photo of the new test set, surrounded by the old ones I had.

I compared my old test sets to what was online, and realized that at least 3 of the colors I had in my kit before are not currently for sale anywhere.   Luckily I don't need any of those colors for this one, but I will check the other prints in the series to see if these missing colors are part of those prints. If they are, I will have to find something similar made by someone else.  But that's a problem for another time.  Meanwhile, I have other things to do.

Today was just a little warmer than it has been this week (upper 30's and no wind unlike the low 30's and windy we've had all week) so I decided to take a ride up to the Studio to take care of some business.  No major prints to work on, but a chance to do some reconnaissance, take the above photo, and to finish my fun-pak envelope to Dave, so I can get that out next week.  

Did the photo while I still had clean hands, then finished Dave's envelope. I printed part of another recent Robert Johnson print on the back of the cushioned mailer I printed on last week.  Once again, the bubble wraps inside made it tricky, so it's not the best print, but it will do.  

I threw it in the back of my car and let it dry there. It's as secure a place as any I have for this purpose, and it will be home when I am ready to put it all together.  By the way, for music I had brought a loose disc, the one my friend Doug sent me a few years ago, with albums from Hans Rotenberry and Brad Jones, and one from Alejandro Escovedo.  I have written about this back in June of 2022 if you want to know more.

My other purpose was to find out the status of our Studio sink.  Upon arrival I could see no puddle, and that's a good thing, but I could also see it was the old water heater, and that's bad.  I checked and the sink was still off.  I knew I could use the slop sink in the workroom down the hall, which would be fine for cleaning my hands and tools used today.  But before I left I stopped by the office.  I wasn't expecting to see Jeanne (her car wasn't in the lot) but I did ask Robin about it.  She knew nothing, which is what I expected for this topic, but she expected to talk to Jeanne later, and left herself a note to ask about this topic.  Since I don't have to ink or print anything right away, my decision to work on coloring seems the right one, and I'll hope my sink is functional before I do.  With that, I took my newly inked envelope and went home. 

Studio Business

 Had a few plans for what to do at my Studio visit today.  First was check on the leaky water heater and see how it was doing.  Second was to find and photograph a copy of a boardwalk print that I knew was up there, for possible sale to someone who expressed an interest. Third was to print an image on a recently purchased large envelope, for a Fun-Pak I planned to send to Dave soon.  That was enough for one day. 

I arrived and let myself into the Studio.  Looked about the same as it did when I was last there, with a small puddle coming from under the sink and around the concrete platform toward the drain, though this time it looked like it had reached the drain. No sign that any wetness had gotten to any other spaces in our room, though some of Molly's screens had been moved to other parts of the room.  And the plastic basin that was under the hose attachments to the water heater was fairly full.  But no sign that any new water was dripping into it.  Didn't know what any of this meant, so I just reported it all to the office.  Eventually I got the story, and a mop came down again to pick up the puddle.  They still weren't sure how the small puddle got onto the floor- could be a leak from the basin or the heater.  But I did learn for sure that all water had been shut off to our sink and was shown a slop sink in the workroom I could use for now.  I was also told that the building would be replacing the water heater, but it hadn't been ordered yet, so no date was given as to when this would happen.  

While my hands were still clean, I found the boardwalk image I expected to find.  It was actually on my table, along with the block that created it.  I had created two copies of the print around the same time, after getting an order for it from someone who saw a framed version in a show in the building and wanted to buy two copies.  I already had one unframed extra copy, so I ordered the right kind of Japanese paper, watercolors that I needed to complete the prints, and ended up making two nearly identical copies, colors copied from the framed version.  Let her choose the one she wanted, and this one is the other copy.  

With all that settled, I could get to work.  I put on a home burned disc, the self titled debut album from David Poe, and started rolling out some ink.  I have briefly mentioned the Poe album before, but not in detail.  I can tell you he is a singer-songwriter type, and this album is all acoustic, and I have heard an updated version of one of songs on the radio, but have no idea where it came from.   I also know it is good to make art to, which is why I have it now.  

Dave and I have been sending each other Fun-Paks for decades now.  It has origins back in Williamsburg, where a local convenience store (the Tiny Giant) had a rotating rack full of Fun-Paks, which were small inexpensive plastic bags with a cardboard header, and full of really cheap prizes, often with a theme.   Over time it evolved into anything we could find for free that the other might enjoy, whether it be for a few minutes or a lifetime.  Dave often packed them in old used envelopes, and he covered old addresses and stamps with stickers, comics, etc.  I collected a bunch of stuff over the past few months, including a give-away CD, to send him, and last week bought some padded envelopes.  I will decorate the envelope with some original artwork (allowed in our rules, and in this case a recent woodcut), though the bubble wrap inside the envelope makes printing difficult.  I was able to do what is seen below, and left it in my drying rack for now.  Can't print anything on the back side of the envelope right now, so I'll have to figure it out later.  I cleaned my hands and tools in the other sink I was shown. 

All that only took one disc, so after giving the office an update, I headed home.  On the way though, I stopped off at my speech therapy office, to give them one of my extra holiday cards and to update my information for 2025.  No one was there when I got there, but eventually Carol came back, so she got to be the one who opened the card, and she revealed that Nicol would not be in the rest of the week, so everything I was going to give her will have to wait until my next visit.  

Art Continues in 2025

 And why not?  As of now I don't have a real good reason not to make art.  I have no new diseases this year (at least not so far), so just the doctor appointments I already have, and those are fewer this year than last.  There is a slight leak of the water heater in my space, but that doesn't really affect me, and the building says they will take care of that soon, and maybe they will.  

I currently have work up on the walls in the building that holds my Studio, probably through at least some of February, so that's available to the public. As of now I am aware of one other show, but have few details, an exhibition involving at least some of my Robert Johnson prints, now in Brooklyn during the spring, but I don't know anything beyond that.  I am not the organizer, so I only know what I am told.  

As for future work, I do have a new boardwalk piece in progress, and I have a good proof on the right paper.  However, I think first I will test some colors on a practice proof, and if I like the way they turn out, try coloring that good proof. If that works out, pull another good proof and see what happens with that.  If it all works out, it will be exhibited somewhere in 2025.  And though the Nashville show is now off, I do have ideas for a few more Robert Johnson prints.  If I like how the ideas develop, I may do one or two or maybe even three more prints in that series.  This project has roots going back more than 30 years, so I can't say it's done yet.  If nothing else, I will probably print some newer and more complete copies of the Johnson prints I have for the 

Beyond all this I have no plans yet, but one thing I have learned is that in art, things come and go rapidly.  Two of the shows I had in 2024 I knew nothing about when the year began, so it's possible I will have exhibitions in 2025 I don't know about yet.  I will have to wait and see, and when I know something, I will post it here.

The Year That Was 2024

Another regular custom- a year end review of the year from my art perspective.  Perhaps not as long as my custom of eating Chinese food and watching a Twilight Zone marathon, but it's close, and that other one will happen, too. I started making notes for this when doing my annual Christmas letter, since this covers some of the same things.  But not all.

Prints- Better than last year.  By my count I finished one print, started and finished three other prints, and continued work on another one that will take me into next year.  And that doesn't include the Christmas card, which have mostly been distributed by now.  The prints that were started and finished were the latest three in the Robert Johnson series (bringing that up to a total of 6 completed) and the one I expect to finish next year is a boardwalk print started before Sandy, the block found this year, with more added over the past few months. 

Exhibitions- This number has been way down, a combination of the the effects of Covid-19 and my various illnesses, though things are starting to look up.  I was part of three exhibitions at my building in Ocean Grove, two building tenant exhibitions (both with my Johnson prints) and one of boardwalks (not new, but in frames and ready to go) mostly to fill wall space.  I did learn recently that the planned Nashville show is not likely to happen as planned, but the organizer tells me he is planning to show the prints at a print fair in Brooklyn in the spring, so this project may not be done yet.  I helped a former student by printing some woodcuts for a show she had in Asbury and as part of my payment she decided to put two of my prints in that show.  Not my first time exhibiting in Asbury Park, but any show in a commercial space is a good thing.  

Firsts- I was interviewed and taped for possible use in a local tv production about our building and artists. It hasn't aired yet, but perhaps it will in 2025.  Maybe I and my art will be a part of that.  

Teaching- Nothing is scheduled yet for the coming year.  

The Studio- A quick visit today showed me a small leak in the water heater that was installed for us when we moved in. (easier than bringing water to our space from the main water heater) It was reported and should be dealt with soon, and no damage done so far.  Mostly we use it (mostly at different times so I rarely see her) as a place to make art, which for me means sawing blocks, drawing, cutting, and printing blocks, framing completed prints for exhibitions, and some coloring.  Had a drawing session with a model there this past summer (not the first time, but the first in many years) and a place to show prints for future purchases (happened a few times last year, and may happen again in 2025).  Still feels like a good place to be.

Merry Christmas from Studio Arrabbiata

 

Merry Christmas from Studio Arrabbiata.  This year's card was done with help from Edvard Munch, who provided the inspiration.  As usual, this left me to do the actual work of acquiring materials, drawing, cutting, printing, coloring, and trimming them to fit in envelopes.  Still, couldn't have done it without him. I used to show the original in class when talking about narrative in art.  Put the slide up, ask the students what happened here, and they all had a pretty good guess.  (Santa and the tree weren't in that one) I don't have it in a book I had at home, but I do have the internet, and it wasn't hard to find. 

Some went out in the mail on Monday, some were distributed in person today, and some may go out in coming days.  But I do think I am done with printing and coloring.  That means my next time in the Studio I will likely be back to working on the current boardwalk print, but we'll see.

The Return of Robert Johnson

 I finally got word from project organizer Tom Huck as to what is going on with the planned Robert Johnson show at the Country Music Hall of Fame, with the assistance of Hatch Show Print (both in Nashville) that I have been making Robert Johnson woodcuts for these past three years.  And that word is that the show is off in its current form.  What it came down to was the various estates that own pieces of Johnson couldn't come to terms, and so the facilities decided not to do it.  

Does that mean that this project is over?  No idea.  This has been a thing we have worked on for the past three years, and Huck and I have been talking about a Johnson project going back to more than 30 years ago.  It's far from impossible that this whole thing will rise again, somewhere.  For now, there is a plan to put one of my prints in a frame and have the rest of the series there to show in a booth he is having at a big print fair in Brooklyn in the spring.  (which one would be framed- that's up to him I would think)  This kind of thing could be good exposure, both for me and for the whole concept, which seems to be popular with viewers so far.  When I know something more, I'll post it here.

Meanwhile, I may do some more Johnson prints.  I do have ideas for a few more, and these things have some popularity in terms of viewers and sales, as much as anything I have done in recent years.  I want to get the currently going boardwalk print finished first, and I now may print some fresh copies of the finished Johnson prints that I have already done,  including the lyrics.  If they are going to be seen by a new audience now, perhaps I should.  But after that, who knows?  So far, not even me.

Christmas is Coming part 9

 Weather reports were a little crazy yesterday, and the predictions didn't quite come true, so today turned out to be a relatively nice day, at least for December.  And as the title says, Christmas is coming, so those cards need to get done, especially since I have already told some people I plan to get them out before the holiday for once.  As I have said before, coloring could be done at home, but it is better in the Studio for a bunch of reasons, plus I had a need to go other places today. 

This time I remembered to bring everything with me today, and even started packing the cards last night.  For music I brought with me my rock/pop book of discs, and from that selected the Beatles two record eponymous release from 1968, best known as the White Album, which I wrote about back in January of 2020 if you want to know more about it, though how you would not know about it by now is a mystery to me.  And I put out all by unfinished cards that I consider acceptable, which numbers 9, more than enough for me for this year.  After today's session, I still had none that were completely colored (except the fully colored test/master proof, which was not up to printing standards) but all were at the same level, with all the red to brown stuff done, which is the majority of the image.  I'll probably finish the rest at home over the next few days.  I don't want to show the image here before the big day, so here's a photo I took today of the unprinted parts of the cards, which I suppose matches the color of the album cover of today's music.    

As it turned out, I only listened to sides 1 to 3 today. It's not that I don't also enjoy side 4 of the White Album, but I had 5 stops to make today before lunch, so I decided to move on after that.  I took care of what I planned at all five stops, so I consider it a successful day.

Christmas is Coming part 8

 Cloudy when I got up, but with sun promised, I decided to go up to the Studio today.  I can color at home, but I have a little more space and solitude there, so I did that.  Made sure to get the ones I printed most recently, now dry.  Brought my current watercolors as well.  No sign that Molly had been in there since the last time I was there, meaning my box was still set to CD.  I had brought a disc with me today that I hadn't listened to before, or at least not since I made it many years ago- a Jean Shepherd radio show from 1965.  One of the discs I had made from a tape for my father as a Christmas present back when I could burn discs and I had the ability to record Shepherd shows off the radio.  Again, not particularly a Christmas show or music, but at least it was from around that time of year, a December show, and he did mention shopping for Christmas as part of the show.  My mother had found it recently, with no case, and gave it to my father, who expressed an interest in listening to it.  Of course he then put it in a pile of things he probably won't ever go through, so I put it in my jazz/blues book and it came with me today.  Unfortunately, I could already see some scuffing around the edges of the recording side, and had some reason to doubt what I could hear.  Coupled with the Shepherd show ("The Human Comedy, " from 1965) was an episode of "Richard Diamond, private detective" from 1953, starring Dick Powell and written by Blake Edwards.  The end of each show didn't play, but I will eventually try it on another disc player at home.

However, it was only in taking out the cards to color that I realized that I had not brought with me the earlier cards I had colored, which included my color copy of the original painting.  Which left me to guess at what the colors were.  Some I knew, but some I didn't, so I put down the colors I was relatively sure of, and decided to save the others for a time when I had full color copy with me.  This was still the majority of the image, but I did not finish them today.  I still have time to get them out, and possibly to their destinations before Christmas itself.

As I left the building the place was emptier, but the lights were still on, I heard music playing somewhere in the building, and there were some cars in the lot, so I decided not to lock up, but just closed the outside door and headed home. 

Christmas is Coming part 7

 After looking again at the cards I had printed I came to two conclusions: some that I had liked were really not printed up to standards, and none had a clean margin all the way around the piece.  This latter problem is not really an issue for cards, as those areas right, left, and underneath will all be cut off anyway and above will be part of the back, but it could be an issue for photographing the work for this blog, as the software that would allow me to crop the piece to its edges was eliminated from the computer that had it some years ago.  As for the images themselves, I might have enough usable ones, but then again maybe not, so I decided to print up a few more, just to make sure I have enough.

So up to Ocean Grove this morning.  As I came in the front door and walked through the first floor lobby, I could see Jeanne in one of the classrooms, but she seemed to be leading some kind of tour, so I figured I'd talk to her later.  However I also noticed all the tables, with fancy tablecloths and settings that were also in the lobby, but then another staff person doing another tour explained it to her people, it was for some kind of function happening tonight.  No effect on me. I continued to the basement.

In my space I could see evidence that Molly had been there since my last time in the space- more trash in the can to the point where the lid couldn't close, and not any of it mine, volume way up on my box (I think Molly may have a hearing issue), it was set to radio instead of CD, and the note to her from the office had been moved from the floor to a table.  I couldn't guarantee that she had read it or planned to do anything it asked, but she had seen it.  I adjusted the volume on my box and put on a disc (Giant Songs from Giant Sand, a home burned copy of a compilation, and a Studio favorite- see my write-up in July if 2019 if you want to know more), and got to work.

One thing I wanted to do was a little more cutting- the printing of this block so many times had caused some of the details to fill in on some proofs.  I just recut where I saw indentations on the block, even they were now black from ink. Then I inked and printed it six more times- most in the format for cards, and one just on the same paper for photographing.  All were good prints, and suitable for any need.  Plus, they would be dry well before the holiday.  I cleaned up my ink, 

and even put a fresh trash bag in the can and took the full one out to the dumpster, despite the constant wind I was hearing the whole time  I was there.  

I went over to the office and found Jeanne there.  The extension for the show she had given us previously was through the 15th, which is this weekend, and I wanted to know if they were staying up or if I had to come in early in the week and take them down.  It turned out she wants the art to stay up a little longer- she's not sure how long, but probably at least until February, so for now I don't have to worry about it. And if people want to see the show, it's still on the 1st floor for now. 

Christmas is Coming part 6

 Still have a few weeks to go until the big day, but I think it's time to work on those cards again.  All the ones I printed are now dry, and I wanted to go to the Studio today, so I figured it would be nice to have something to work on.  Last night I got out my watercolors and did a test coloring of the first proof I took of the card block, which happened to be an unusable print (for a card), but was usable to test some colors.  Way back as an undergrad I learned the advantage of having two computers going to work on a problem (late at night, the computer labs at college were fairly empty, so it was often possible to find two vacant terminals side by side, so I could have one to update the program and compile it, and one to run whatever changes I had made), so I did that at home, with one computer playing some appropriate holiday music, and one with the image of the painting that inspired it. I brought that test card with me today, so I would know what colors to use.

This morning I drove up to the Studio, where my table would give me some room to spread out, and put my cards and paints out where I could get to them.  Upon looking at all the printed cards,  I decided that some of them were printed better than others, and maybe I need to do another print run.  Luckily, I still have plenty of time.  Meanwhile, I would color all the ones I had with me, which was 8 cards.   I set it up assembly line style, adding one color at a time to all of them, then moving on to the next color.  As is my custom, I stared with darks and red and brown colors, which in this case also made up most of image.  

Despite having spent two hours on the process, I still didn't finish all the colors on all eight I had brought with me today. What's left are mostly cool colors and a few spots of brights.  Maybe I'll do them at home the next few days, and save my next Studio visit for cutting and printing.  You don't get to see the card today, but here's a view of some to the colors I used to paint today.

For music I had two things from the past and my jazz/blues book of discs- the Mod Jazz that my friend Doug sent me a few years ago, which I associate with Christmas even if none of the songs are particularly about Christmas. (read about it in December of 2021 if you want to know more) and later Kirsty MacColl's tropical brainstorm album, a posthumous release, written about in March of 2020 if you want details.  Information about her death can be found all over the internet if you want that.  

Christmas is Coming part 5

My father asked me today how many cards I make. Simple answer- as many as I need to send one to everyone who sent me a card, plus a few for people I will see in person.  How many is that?  I'm not really sure.  Haven't received any yet, but I know who usually sends them.  Do I have enough printed?  Probably not yet, so I better go make more.  I had some time today.

So I drove up to Ocean Grove this morning, despite the cold weather.  We do have a heater in our Studio, and in time for the recent open studio, I shut down Molly's fan.  (saw nothing she was drying, so I figured it was safe, and we certainly don't need it for temperature adjustment) And even in an unheated basement (as I used to use for printing) one tends to work up a sweat in printing.  I prepared six more pieces of bristol board, a suitable material for card making. Of course the problem with something stiff like bristol board is that it doesn't stick well to ink, so keeping it from shifting on the inked block is tricky.  Don't think that was a problem today, but checking printing progress and printing delicate areas can be a problem, and at least a few from today's print session were not usable.  

What I probably need to do is start coloring (the first batch is dry enough for this) and see how they turn out.  Then see what else I have, and make a list of how many I expect to send out.  If it looks like I won't have enough, I have time to print a third batch, and finally get what I need.  Writing them out doesn't take long since I now send out a letter with the usual news, and that I distribute by email.

Today's print session was so quick I didn't even have time to take a photo of anything.  Didn't even think of it until I was done cleaning up.  You didn't miss much.  Only had time for one disc, which was from my Jazz/Blues book, New Moon Daughter by Cassandra Wilson, written about in detail back in January of 2022.  I chose it mostly because I heard a song she covered on this album done by someone else last night, the theme song for a new show.

Boardwalk Days part 39

 Early this morning I checked email and found I had one from our director at the Studio building.  It was finally the official request to keep the art up, now through the 15th of December.  Fine for me, so I sent her a reply email saying that.  Come the 15th I'll see if it's extended again, but for now I don't have to deal with it for a few more weeks. 

Another event scheduled for today up at the Jersey Shore Arts Center, the annual Holiday Market.  What it is is a bunch of vendors come in, set up tables, and hawk their wares.  Same thing happens in pubic spaces all over the region each weekend, but what makes this a little different is that we have food (at some of them) and resident artists are invited to open up their studios to the public.  In my case I wasn't sure if I was even going- last year we had no vendors down in the basement, no signs directing visitors to artist residents in the basement, I wasn't sure if I had anything to work on, and only 3 people even  made it to my space last time.  In an email update to Molly, I told her to do what she wanted, but if she couldn't make it she probably wasn't missing much.  But I woke up early, realized that I had something that hadn't been printed yet, and decided to go, if only for a little while.

As it my custom, I got there about an hour before things actually began, which meant plenty of parking in the front lot (though I also saw some cars already in the back) and time to straighten things out a bit in our space, just in case anyone wandered through.  The front door was wide open, so I didn't have to use any codes to get in and some vendors were already starting to set up their tables and things for sale.  The basement back door was wide open (I guess some were loading that way) but I got through to my space without problems.  Cleaned up a little, set up my cutting and printing station.  Realized I had not brought any discs with me today, so I would have to be satisfied with the ones I kept in the Studio.  For today that would be some Neil Young live shows, discs I think I got from John Siblik, and I keep them there as things to listen to if I forget to bring any, and because I know Molly likes them. One is acoustic, one is with Crazy Horse (so electric), though at least one song is found on both, which shows that Young's music is very versatile. I started with the acoustic set, something called Live at Massey Hall from 1971, written about back in September of 2021 if you want to know more. 

For art I was making a few slight adjustments to my block for the latest boardwalk print, made easier by the decision to ink it back in October.  Part of getting there early was to give myself time to sharpen my tools, which I wanted to do before any more cuts to the block.  I knew from last time that there were a few minor things I wanted to fix, and I expected to pull a proof today.  So first I sharpened my tools, then cut a few things on the block.  A few complex spots, and mostly some places that picked up some unintended ink.  I taped up the four big edges, then rolled it all up.  Then I pulled up the long pieces of tape and put down small ones to cover new unintended spots, and then took a proof on okawara paper. which is what I use for the edition in this series.  Then I printed it up.  Results can be seen below:

That was enough for today.  The first disc had ended, so now the electric Neil Young with Crazy Horse, this one a live show at the Fillmore East in 1970.  (although recorded in 1970, it wasn't released until 2006, as part of the same Archive series that gave us the Massey Hall album)  Only six songs, but the results were a standard album length.  He introduced the band, but not everyone who was there for the later Crazy Horse albums.  Of course, one of the songs was about people in his life, including band members, dying from heroin overdoses, so maybe that had something to do with it.  By the time that ended, I had finished my proof, and began cleaning up.  Still no vendors in the basement, and no one came to the Studio. I decided to pack up, grab some lunch on the way home, and go there.  

On my way out, I took a photo of the 1st floor, to provide a sense of what was going on.  A pretty good crowd was there.  A vendor was set up, with a table right in front of my hung prints, so I assume that people were in front of them.  How many looked at them I cannot say.  

At a table by the door they had some programs for the event, listing all the vendors and art studio that would be there today.  Not surprisingly, artist studios and vendors for floors one through three, but nothing was listed for the basement- no vendors, no artists.  Good thing I didn't plan anything special for today.