Dr. Bart Wears Corduroy Without Elbow Patches as He Punctuates "'New'"

So the second lecture by Dr. Bart in St. Joseph dealt with concepts of the sublime as viewed by Schopenhauer and Nietzsche. Very nice. I prefer his first lecture on the "'New'" a little more because it has a clearer contemporary context and deals more specifically to the integration of the arts and communication in general. And it specifically called out the term "new" as an overdramatization of sorts, which Maryville definitely needed to hear. So, Bill is The grand winner.
In addition to being impressed by Dr. Bart's articles, I was impressed by his method of wearing the corduroy jacket. Brown, without elbow patches, pressed... very articulate. In fact, I don't know who ever decided elbow patches were so great. They only say: I've worn out my clothes, but if I put a big oval of fabric over it, possibly even in a contrasting color or texture to the majority of the garment, no one will ever know. I especially don't understand elbow patches for the sake of elbow patches, like on a brand new item. I feel like patches on jeans are more acceptable.
Thanks to Theresa, one of the great minds of the NWMSU Fine Arts Hall of Power, for driving us down to St. Joseph in her Cow-rolla and being my co-groupie of Bart.
Incidentally, I was told that Bart is a pretty common name in Belgium.

Hope everyone had a delightful Thanksgiving!

Dear ladies and gents,
Julie is on vacation. Actually, she is hibernating in a basement art studio. Actually, she is not hibernating, because hibernating implies sleeping, and that is definitely not happening currently. In addition to not-hibernating, Julie is fighting the urge to smoke one million cigarettes. I, I mean she, misses those beautiful cigarettes. Blast.

Her forthcoming post will be:

Dr. Bart Wears Corduroy Without Elbow Patches as He Punctuates "'New'"

Good tidings all.

5 items, oooh la la

1. My update from Nature was that all of the fields have been shaved of their corn! The hills look so silly and naked. And relieved.

2. My last day of work at the magical/evil jewelry store was Saturday. It was bittersweet to leave my coworkers. I am, however, easily getting over this sentiment of sadness as I relish in how I get to take a break from driving this week.

3. Which means I am stuck in Maryville. You can send Care packages if you feel so inclined. Aww, remember Care packages?

4. Maryville can sometimes surprise, like when we have exciting Native American Powwows. I just attended a lecture which was one such gem of an occasion: Dr. Bart Vandenabeele of Universiteit Gent in Belgium presented his delightful and thoughtful "'New' Media, Art, and Intercultural Communication" to an overflowing conference room (I sat on the floor in the front). Everything about this event rocked my Monday! I might as well have been hoop-dancing. I am going to hear him lecture again on Wednesday in St. Joseph.

5. Who knew things happened in St. Joseph?

Odometer

Can I tell you how much I have driven in the past 2.5 months? Approximately ten weeks of commuting, two two-hour trips per week, 210 miles roundtrip times ten is 2100 miles. Is that right?
By now I am an expert at loading my suitcase into the trunk with the lift-and-toss method. My car has been wonderful, my little Neon that goes to and fro! Last week I gave her two new tires (badly needed), an oil change, and new windshield wipers. What a champ! My Neon is the cutest.
So on the drive I have been watching Nature turn seasons, and that is cool considering I get an update every three days. While it is no Colorado, the landscape in NW Missouri has a certain unembellished beauty that is ripe with texture. I enjoy it. I also know the location of every hill, mini-pond, or anything interesting such as horses on highway 71. And man, have I seen my fair share of roadkill recently (it is quite a feat that I, in my pretty car, have not caused any roadkill)!

Speaking of roadkill, I learned the German word for "squirrel's tail" today and it was such a finely crafted word! What was it?

In summation, although I am in love with landscape, I can't wait to be located semi-permanently in one place. I have no idea how gypsies do it. If only there were a book about gypsies that I could read...

Career Lady Seeking Roller Skates

I got my dream job! It is for the position of Assistant Director at the Kansas City Artists Coalition, an arts non-profit and gallery. I will start training Dec. 1st-- and I graduate on Dec. 16th! And then I'll move into the position full time. I am so thrilled. I will be doing publicity, design, editing publications, installing shows, hosting gallery events and workshops, and generally assisting the Executive Director. I will also meet and work with a bunch of artists and creative folk. The Coalition is an impressive organization! Check out www.kansascityartistscoalition.org. Also, there is an opening/lecture this Tuesday, Nov. 8th if you are in KC and in the mood.

Coincidentally, around the very same time I was interviewing, my photo appeared on www.jobs4gems.com. These photos were taken at my jewelry store in rich-people land, and I feel they truly capture the evil that comes from staring at sparkly expensive things all day and listening to songs with lyrics such as "when we make love..."

When you get right down to it, I am so excited to be graduating after all this double-major hocus pocus AND to be getting a job in my field-- I just want to go roller skating!!! I am seeing about having my graduation to-do at Skateland, a beautiful collision of fun and freedom.

Torture Devices

Well, happy first of November! I am in the art building working on my printmaking whilst waiting anxiously to hear from the KCAC about the hopefulness of my future employment. I have a copper plate etching currently in a vat of acid. After the exposed metal is violently eaten away by the acid, I will remove the wax ground from the plate, ink it, and run it through the press with georgeously thick white paper. The press has approximately one millions pounds of pressure per square inch and looks like some crazy torture device with all its toothy gears. And it will flatten you like a pancake. Or like Kansas.
The plumbing issue at my apartment continues to be investigated by my new buddies, Tom and Travis Nelson of Nelson Plumbing. These lovely middle-aged townies came into my house at 7:45 this morning to look at the pipes!! I was still sleeping! I don't think they were or are on track with daylight savings. Needless to say, I was very bitchy to them as they tested the faucets and argued between themselves: which point is higher, the shower or the stool?
I am really counting on and looking forward to your musical arrangements.