maurag.com

I just learned how to use a brush again. Seemed appropriate.

I’ve been known to hole up and do nothing but work for months on end. It’s easy to do when you are running two business’. But I’ve been trying hard to remember, and practice, balance. The art shows are an easy for me. But this year I’ve already managed to go to two sporting events and read two books. Granted, I was given the tickets I was thinking about work the entire time, but you have to start somewhere right?

Thank you Halle, for modeling for this fantastic product shot. (and no..I don’t recommend either book. GREAT covers though right?!)

Just got back from an opening at BlackBook Gallery.  Was a collection of original paintings by Lindsay St. Antoine and some collaborative pieces from her and her partner Ravi Zupa who I’ve admired for as long as I’ve seen his work. The show is called Nothing Teaches Needs. From the first show at Indy Ink 2 or 3 years ago I’ve been a fan of Ravi’s. He’s incredible. Was interesting to see he and his loves collaborative pieces. Good stuff. Go check it out while you can.

Here are some more pieces by Ravi that should blow you away. They do me.

His site: Parts And Labor Union

I’m sure it’s all over the internet, but I just saw it..thanks to my brother. And Wooster.

Here is who I really went to see at that show that I stumbled on Jenny Morgan at..the infamous Corvo Bros. I only know half and I don’t know if I’m supposed to give away the secret of who he really is (shh…he’s not really a Corvo Bro..maybe he was adopted or something, but he’s not really a Corvo) but I will say, he’s one of the most talented filmmakers, photographers and all around nice guys that I know. Go check it out if you get a chance, it’s currently at the Center for Visual Art.

Corvo Bros

Went to a show last week on a snowy night in support of a friends opening. (I’ll post his stuff next) Kinda fell in love with an artist I didn’t know before that night. Jenny Morgan. Pretty awesome. These are iPhone photos I took while people were giving me the suspicious eye so they aren’t very good, probably shaky from my nervous photo spying. Go check her site out to see some photos that weren’t taken with a guilty conscience.

Jenny Morgan

Field Notes: Red Blooded from Coudal Partners on Vimeo.

YES, it is an ad. Yes it is still awesome.

Another one from the archives. No idea where I found it, but it’s a cool window. I like it.

Under the knife she went. Nervously I dropped her off vowing she hadn’t had food or water since 8pm the night before. Handing over the leash to the attendant who smiled and promised she would be ok and that I could call at noon to check her status I left with thoughts of anesthesia overdoses or slipped scalpels to the eyeball. Fear unwarranted. Dr. Adams and the Maxfund Wellness Center took care of business. 8 hours later, as I stood in the lobby waiting for her return to me, listening to her mournful cries in the back room that had started upon my first spoken words to the receptionist, I felt so thankful and excited to have her back safely to me.  Within moments of her entrance to the lobby, pulling the attendant, she was her usual leaping, crying, barking, sprinting, obnoxiously overexcited, disobedient self. Now to survive the next 14 days of her defiance against the limitations of her cone. Hank has already had his neck broken, but that’s another story.

I went to a different vet to get a 2nd opinion on some ailments of the Monkey.  We went to the MaxFund Wellness Center, which was not nearly as fancy as my usual veterinary care center. Nestled in the hood, it’s a bare bones clinic with bars on the windows and no scheduled appointments, so one could possibly wait in the lobby, staring at the pieces of paper scotched taped to the walls declaring one must pay at time of service and listing the reasons why it’s cruel to let your cat wander the streets, for hours. The exam rooms are solemn and show signs of wear. There are no fresh baked cookies or fish tanks in the lobby, only some photos of Max and some scattered sheets about dental care. And a painted rock. That must have been a barter payment. I was skeptical. Until Dr. Adams came in. She had a nose piercing. And the most gentle kind way of examining, explaining, caring, and finally just taking care of business in a way that I actually felt for once like she cared about my pet, and not how much she could bill me at the end of the session. Clear estimates, clear choices, clear results while I waited and the best part, no guilt.   No shaming glances when I stated I needed to think about the estimate. No push to clean the teeth that had just been cleaned, no attempts to remove things that didn’t need to be removed. Just plain good care. I called later that day and scheduled her surgery.