JStangroom

Not Much Attention Here

2008-11-09T18:23:00.000-05:00

So, close to a month goes by...
and during that time:
the water pump on the van quit.
I produced a painting for the New Art Center.
I assisted with several presentations and installations
of artwork at local hospitals and office buildings.
I painted various rooms and some exterior work
for residential clients.
I regularly kept a stool warm at the Plough & Stars.

It's frightening that work seems to be slowing down...
hasn't happened to me in a long time.

We'll see if I can pay the phone bill tomorrow...

This Isn't Going So Well

2008-10-15T18:45:00.000-04:00

So... it appears that no one is reading this.
I suppose that it doesn't matter in the long run.
It's been a terrible few weeks since i last entered a piece.
The worst of it being Sylvia getting mugged.
She was down at the Mystic River taking pictures of the ducks, when a guy decided to rip off her camera bag. She held on to it, yelling...but the guy was big and strong, dragged her for a bit before she let go. A bit scraped up but no real harm... except for the emotional. Nothing too serious was stolen and she's sorted that out and is pretty much back to normal mostly these days. Two 12'x5' pieces today, plus 10 security mounts. This was at a Hope House... a place where out patient cancer patients can stay. I really wish I could donate my time, but I can't, though I think I'm being sponsored.

Today was Tuesday

2008-09-30T21:00:00.000-04:00

Well, we lost our favorite bartender on Sunday...
Dave was given the sack.
Not really sure why...
Although he WAS in tough shape Sunday,
but it must have been more than that.
He is missed and they haven't found a replacement for him.
Must be tough for someone that was so sure of his
competance in the hospitality industry.
(His loyal clientel believes in his competance, too.)
Not a great time to be out of work and I hope he finds something soon.
He should, he's a good man.
Of course, once he does it may require a few "field trips"
to visit him, but most of us regulars don't travel far.

Otherwise, today I installed a show on Newbury St. and stopped in at Gallery NAGA
where they were assembling the furniture that I DIDN'T transport from California.
I arrived just in time to donate some needed muscle, as the pieces were large.

Now it appears that the brake lights on my van aren't working...
changed all the bulbs, tried to check the fuses. No help.
Gotta figure a way to put it in the shop and still get to work.

I'm still just reporting...

Saturday...

2008-09-27T18:47:00.000-04:00

So there wasa problem with the check...
seems they couldn't verify the signature.
I'm hoping that was a Saturday thing and I can make it work on Monday.
Gotta pay Paul, the rent and all else.
Actually, I've got quite a few checks... all drawn on distant banks.
Just can't get the cash when I need it.

So after too much time at the bank it was errands for a bit.
Then on to Lynnet's to outfit a few canvases for hanging...
and she wants me to paint her studio. More work... a good thing.

On to the Plough for some cheerfullness.

Rainy Friday

2008-09-26T19:33:00.000-04:00

So it was a two hour drive to Cape Cod this morning...
Raining and a miserable drive. I arrived at the appointed place at the appointed hour. Having been given very little information. A half an hour later my contact drove right past me, entered the gated community and then called asking where I was... (I'd already tried to call her). Finally got that sorted and went to work. Fifteen or so small pictures... nothing worth putting a hole in the wall for. I was done in an hour and a half. Driving back the rain got worse and halfway home my windshield wipers stopped. Made for some interesting driving... after about fifteen minutes of driving nearly blind and me trying to get the wipers to work again, they finally came on. The check from the library gig came through, but I was too late to get to the bank. In the morning. Still raing but the wipers seem to be working.

Saturdays Errands

2008-09-20T18:36:00.000-04:00

Let's see...
A few trips downstairs for laundry, typed out a bill, post office, bank and package store. Then we were off to the Farmer's market at Union Square, the grocery store and dry cleaners. Home to put away the loot, then off to Allston. Lunch at a Vietnamese place. Across the street to the thrift store... no sweaters (jumpers) for me... all too big. Sylvia found a couple of items for herself and we bought two cheap chairs for the front porch (since we're not smoking indoors we needed something a bit civilized, but wouldn't matter if it was stolen). Home again, then I'm off to the Plough...
Three artists drawing on beer mats... tales of bicycle thievery, sick kids and junked cars. Closing at 5:30 for a private function (Passim's 65th... but Passim doesn't have a liquor license and they only do vegetarian... Passim started as Club 47 and early on had Joan Baez, Dylan and that sort on the stage). The regulars at the Plough held on until we were literally run out. Actually, I think we all stayed longer than we'd planned, in order to be run out.
Still just reporting.

Back Again

2008-09-16T20:05:00.000-04:00

I guess that I haven't posted in so long that I've forgotten how it works.
But, I seem to be onto something, now. (we'll see if it works)

I guess, to back up a bit... We had a lovely visit from Hazel, Archie and Michael back in August. And aside from their luggage not arriving until a day late, we had a nice time playing tourists. Without Sylvia to help guide, I felt a bit clumsy. But I got them to a classic New England junk shop (the White Elephant in Essex) which they enjoyed... too bad we couldn't have travelled on to an even BIGGER one in Newburyport. But we ran back for Syl who'd been waiting for the luggage.
I took them to the Plough and Stars, but again I was clumsy. I introduced them to all and sundry... our beloved, Dave (the barman) spotted us a round. But I failed to get them involved in the conversation/banter. Granted... there weren't many in the room and HAM are quiet and shy (not regular pub flies)... I should have done better.

Anyway... the goal is to become a little more poetic/creative with my writing (no evidence of it here)... I'm TOO literal. I think it would be better if I play more, rather than simply report.

I Don't Know how I Got This Far

2007-04-03T20:07:00.000-04:00

Ah, the Art World...

2007-01-20T20:26:00.000-05:00

Today started out slow, I didn't sleep well last night.
Spent a little time painting in the morning and then it was off on an emergency art delivery (perhaps I should mount flashing lights on the roof of the van).
I got the call just yesterday, "can you deliver two pieces to Hamilton and pick one up in Rockport tomorrow?" (about 3 hours of pick up, driving and delivery) I say "yes" because I'm broke. No real excitement... can't get a late lunch in Rockport because everything is closed for the season.
Back into town to attend Stephen Mishol's opening. Good to see him, we used to work together. (he's gone on to teach at UMass Lowell) Found out that Todd McKie also had a reception up the street so I went and said "Hi" to him. Jeremy Foss (one of my art shool instructors) was there with a few paintings on the wall... so spent a few minutes with him. Pressed the flesh with a few other artist aquaintences... one small plastic glass of the cheap wine for me. I did my round of letting people know that I still exist, (and yes, I'm still painting and making art). I buggered out and went home, where I painted for a few more hours.
Dreadful time trying to e-mail an image to Stephen. It got done.
You can probably Google these names to get an idea of what I was looking at.

Another Colorful Project

2007-01-19T19:56:00.000-05:00

Over the holidays we were lucky enough to work for a furniture artist. Bold color statements on this one... The kitchen was an orange/yellow with dark green trim and the stairway (three floors of it) was acouple of pale yellows on the walls with a pale green trim and accents of deep blues on the front door and stair treads. Actually the stairs were to receive a brilliant runner with a multi colored diamond pattern. I haven't seen that installed yet, but can guess that it's fantastic.
Otherwise, we've done some less interesting jobs and I've been coming home and painting for a couple of hours every evening. Art installation/presentation is keeping me running around the city. The art people seem to be selling stuff, so I'm trying to get my own artwork in order so perhaps they can flog it off to the unsuspecting for me.
Michael Leigh, jump started this with his comments. I hope that it inspires me to write more often.

Short Week

2006-11-22T19:20:00.000-05:00

It's a short work week with Thanksgiving and all...
Started with a delivery of stretchers to Emily Evelith (the painter of donuts)... simple task, that. Then on to work with the guys at an old farm house in Milton.
A brilliant house that's been neglected... we're setting it right. It's a bit of an effort and the client was shocked at the initial bill for labor. Mildew everywhere, learned that the place was vacant for two years with no heat... explains that. We're really making the place look right. It's the kind of job I really like... where we can take something that's sort of a wreck and bring it back to it's glory.
Looked at a potential job this morning via Derek... turns out that I have mutual acquaintances with this client. We'll get the job. It's significant and could get us up to Christmas. Lowell goes home to his wife in Toronto on the 12th, Paul thinks he has some other projects...manpower could be an issue. Michael's around and Rick seems hungry...We can do this.
Thanksgiving tomorrow... I'm making the squash. Sylvia works. I'll be over to Mickey's with a good bunch of friends and bring a care package back to Syl.

About time

2006-11-19T18:52:00.000-05:00

Well, anyone reading this knows that we had a a great time in the UK.
Yes, I was ill for a good part of the trip... I believe that Michael and Hazel were afraid that I was going to die in their front room. Met with Artnaphro, who thinks he walked our legs off (we'd already walked from Marylebone) stayed with the Leigh/Jones lot (Good old friends that we love SO much) then to Cardiff for a walk around with Mord, brilliant, that. On to stay with Big Al and Cheryl, who hosted us brilliantly (being strangers)... I spent half the time in the loo... I'm OK now.
So... I'm on the way to the Plough this morning (as usuall on a a Sunday), nice walk for me. As I head out I notice that there's someone in Sylvia's car. We chased him out... he looked back at me as if I'd wrecked his day. I walked on...spent too much time at the Plough, but the love there is remarkable...

So, We're off to the UK...

2006-09-04T20:24:00.000-04:00

Amazing, the amount of details we have to tie up in order to go away for 10 days.
Change some money... frightening that...2$ to 1£ !!!!
Set up my painting guys for the 2 weeks.
Packing and sorting out the homestead.So... we're ready to go...
Meeting Paul (ARTNAPHRO) at the National Portrait Gallery, stay a couple of nights with Michael, Hazel and Archie in Cheshire, then down to see Big Al Davies in Wales.
Should be a good trip.
I'm going to have to get back into the blog of things once we're back...
Tell about our trip and recommence to tell the everyday...

Cousins

2006-08-17T20:18:00.000-04:00

Cousins
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Rip & Sibs

2006-08-17T20:16:00.000-04:00

Rip & Sibs
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Dad's Birthday

2006-08-17T19:38:00.000-04:00

So, last weekend we celebrated Dad's 80th Birthday... his real birthdate is 26 July, but this is when we could get the most of us together. Fourty some odd of us showed up. Some cousins who I hadn't seen in twenty years... found out that some of them have been lurking my blog and Frickr. Dad was surprised (actually we all were) that some travelled from as far away as Maine (that's his sister, Evelyn). Nice to get reaquainted. Dooley and Diane (brother and sister-in-law), Diane making more food than we could possibly eat and Dooley forever trying to expand and tame the property. In an earlier incarnation the house was once the town "Poor Farm". Someday we might have to reinstablish that...

Painting, then...

2006-08-14T21:20:00.000-04:00

I'm having an awful time trying to post on this blog... after an hour of typing, it all goes away.
Anyway... here's one of the paintings I've been doing. The red lines were painted over an unfinished canvas, given to me be a friend. No thought, just make the lines. From there I discovered / created the images.
Kind of fun, actually.
Sylvia hasn't sent me the pics from my Dads Birthday Party... we'll try that tomorrow night...

P1010030
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

P1010221

2006-08-03T21:32:00.000-04:00

P1010221
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Finally we go see DADA at MOMA

2006-08-03T19:52:00.000-04:00

Friday the 14th... We're all to meet in the lobby of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)at 10:00. So, I'm up early enough to pack my gear back up and check out of the hotel...putting my stuff in a locker, to collect later. Subway uptown (might as well use the card I'd purchased) with enough time for a coffee and a paper. Arriving at MoMa, I see Jas Felter in the queue. He shows me his international museum pass and I'm very impressed. Meanwhile, Joel arrives, with a bunch of others and starts doing a head count, collecting money, trying to get us the group rate. At one point he starts to panic that we won't have a big enough group and tells us to recruit members for our group. Wasn't necessary. He gives us a pep talk, just before we go in... "Don't talk too long about an object... Give others a chance to talk..." And after a photo shoot, we go in and all head in our own directions... no group at all. We do bump into each other as we look it over, but we're on our own. Good to see the real stuff... Duchamp, Schwitters (that was great), Picabia, Ernst, Hannah Hoch collages and dolls, that you don't see often. I'd seen more than half the stuff before, but it was grand to see the lot together. We were to meet up back in the lobby at 2:00... gave me time to take in the rest of the museum. Marilyn Rosenberg directed us to a burger joint down the street and we commandeered enough table space. Lunch, more photos and a few pass around art projects. After that, we were on our own for a while... some went back to MoMA. Me I walked up to a gallery that had a Flickr Self Portrait project going. Sorry, I can't find the details at the moment. The gallery had about a dozen computers set up to access the portraits posted. You could view them by "Gallery favorites" "Public Favorites"... I'm really sorry that I can't find the link. So... downton again. Early again, and I'm back Fanellis. Got into a conversation with the guy next to me and the bartender... I'm about to bugger out when the bartender GRABS the glass from my hand! He tops it up for me! I'm not used to this wonderful treatment.
So it's on to Katz's... the crew is showing up. The usual picture taking and all. Until Mark Bloch shows up... with just two sheets printed up, this time. One, he gives to me, (how did I get into this ???). Entitled "Rãge"... a tirade against an unamed (but known) participant. I told Mark that he shouldn't deliver the other copy. But, then I had to kiss everyone goodbye... in order to get my self and make the bus. Ran into Anna Boschi on the street and kissed her goodbye as well.
10:00 0'clock bus out and I was home by 2:00.
Gawd it was good fun....

P1010200

2006-08-02T20:33:00.000-04:00

P1010200
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

The Second Day in NYC

2006-08-02T19:24:00.000-04:00

That would be Thursday, 13 July.
I woke up rather late and had coffee and read a paper around the corner at Starbucks.
The Special Viewing of Ray Johnson collages had been cancelled, so I wasn't expected anywhere until 6:00pm. Wandered around the neighborhood, waiting for noon as I was treating myself to a Sushi lunch. After lunch, I went back to the hotel and got suitably dressed for the Bill Wilson "Black Tie reception". Over to Chelsea and the galleries, where I saw a couple of hundred Group Shows (it was the dead of summer). Surprised to find two Boston artists that I know in the mix. Nothing bowled me over, but it was good to see what was out there. Stopped in at Printed Matter Bookstore... kind of interesting... kind of interesting, I decided that I don't really have a clue as to what it's all about. Stopped for a beer at an outdoor place before I headed over to Wilson's. Ran into John Held Jr. and BuZ Blurr and we arrived together.
Bill Wilson has this wonderful old house... 3 floors+. Ray Johnson and his mother, May Wilson artwork throughout. The downstairs sitting room is crammed with books and artwork. The upstairs Kitchen has been remodled and the crowd of 35 or so of us was spread throughout. CrackerJack Kid arrived... he hadn't been at Katz's the night before... the same with Jo Ann Hill from the UK. Joel Cohen and Honoria made a great pasta dish and we ate, drank and we socialised. Catching up with old friends and meeting new.
At some point Mark Bloch arrives with copies of PANMAG 53, which he'd produced over night. Eight pages with color. He was defining and copywriting his "Storãge" concept. I was impressed.
We continued on with lots of photo taking and chatter.
When it was time to go, Mark offered me a ride to near my hotel. (what's he want a car on Manhatten for?) He was still pissed off about John Held Jr. and I listened to it for mercifully short drive.
I stooped in at O'Reilly's and had a beer before I went to bed...
More to come

Joel, Neosho and Mark

2006-08-01T21:52:00.000-04:00

P1010181
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

NY DADA

2006-08-01T20:17:00.000-04:00

OK, I can take a hint...
Joel Cohen (The Sticker Dude) had given me a heads up about this Mail-Art meeting.
There was a list of events... John Held Jr., BuZ Blurr, Gaglione, Geert DeDecker and a host of others were going to be there... I signed on.
12 July- I shouldered my bags and walked the couple of miles to Central Square to catch the Red Line to South Station, to catch my bus. Smooth trip down until we were on Manhatten, where it took an hour to get to the Port Authority. As soon as I got off the bus, the skies opened up and I was drenched by the time I made the 5 block walk to my hotel, regardless of the umbrella. (The Herald Square Hotel... cheap, safe... but bare bones).
Checked in, dried off and headed downtown on foot. I made the 30 odd blocks in 45 minutes, checking in with Sylvia as I walked (cell phones CAN be usefull). I was early, so I had a beer at Fanelli's in SoHo. Over to Katz's where the group was starting to assemble. Held, BuZ, Sticker Dude were there and we started to reaquaint. People kept arriving. I finally got some food (this is the land of the $15 sandwich... I went with the $3 Hot Dogs) and sat down properly. To my left was a woman that looked vaguely familiar...turned out to be Anna Bosci from Italy. We'd never corresponded much, but years ago, someone assigned me her name to make a mail art piece about and I had.
As the evening wore on, others arrived... notably Mark Bloch. I commended him on writing about Carlo Pittore. BuZ was taking pictures with a digital camera for his cut out project. A good time was had by all..
As the evening wor down, I found myself on the sidewalk with Held and Bloch. Held is telling us that he sold all of his Mail-Art catalogs to the Getty Museum for an
outrageous sum. Bloch says he's defined a new art form... Storãge. Held says, "That's good, I'll use that".
The night's over... Bloch and I are walking in the same direction. He's mad. "John Held Jr. is stealing my term"...
We parted ways and I went uptown on the subway... back to my room, where I swear I could touch all walls from one standing position.
More to come.

More to come

The Hat Sisters 3

2006-02-19T20:13:00.000-05:00

Mickey and me in fuzzy hats on a snowy night at Sally O'Brien's.

The Hat Sisters 3
Originally uploaded by jstangroom.

Winter... Sort of...

2006-02-19T19:20:00.000-05:00

So last weekend they told us we had a blizzard. None of us think that and we guess that the weather people just need something to do. Walked to the "People's" as usual, during the snow, last Sunday... on to Sally O'Brien's to watch and hear our friends make music.
The snow is gone but it's turned cold... layers I'm wearing for the walk.
Otherwise, they're trying to work me to death...