busy busy

So.

Besides the weekly blizzards that pummel us cruelly...

I gave a lecture @ Maine Maritime Museum last week. It was great to finally see the exhibit in person. I'm thrilled to show my "Nautical Body" of artwork in such a fantastic historical museum. It was nice to get away from the studio for a little while too, and I got to visit with a friend and enjoy country-livin' for a day.

Taught two Sunday workshops so far at the Boston Center for the Arts. One more to go! The sailor's knot tying yesterday was fun for all.

http://www.bcaonline.org/visualarts/workshops.html

Pretty much just crankin away on my big harbor map/drawings and bumping up my training in the gym for my big Pacific Crest Trail hike this summer.

Millionaire's Bacon @ Scups

Progress pics

Weather has been lovely here in Boston, as you can see...

some of the bubbles I'm making on my ode to Boston harbor drawing....The Customs House, and the tower add-on on State Street. That used to be the water's edge!

Long and Central wharfs (wharves?!) and Rowe's wharf.

my cool Sunday workshops @ the BCA... come!

C'mon Boston. Get salty with me. I need a little help over here. Your story can be part of my project! And we you can try my unorthodox drawing methods. It's fun! It's free! It's this SUNDAY!

Come learn more about BCA Artist Resident Christy Georg. Her current work, Nautical Body, is inspired by the sea. She uses her exhaustive research of maritime history, culture and techniques, as well as her first-hand sailing experience, as inspiration for her artwork. During her Artist Residency, Christy will continue this theme by creating a large illustrative map that charts the evolution of the Boston Harbor from 1776 to the present. Furthermore, her map will incorporate personal stories with historical events, both of which will be given equal importance on her map.

Mapping Memories of Boston Harbor
Have you ever visited Castle Island or the Harbor Islands? Have you ever kayaked down the Charles River? Do you have relatives or friends who worked at the marina or the harbor? All are welcome to share their experiences and memories about Boston's waterfronts and rivers. You will then illustrate these stories using Christy's drawing techniques of creating new forms through collage, splicing and tracing.

Sunday, JAN 23 1 - 3:30pm Arts Resource Room, Calderwood Pavilion @ Boston Center for the Arts. 539 Tremont St.

Blackbeard's sword, found?!

Believe it or not. Here's the story that TIME posted (excerpted from: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/14/a-pirates-life-have-archaeologists-found-blackbeards-sword/?hpt=C2)

Blackbeard's Sword, Found! Archaeologists Discover Pirate Treasure Off North Carolina Coast

It's likely Edward Teach didn't need much to scare his enemies. After all, the notorious pirate better known as Blackbeard boasted a thick mass of facial hair so intimidating that it got immortalized in history.

He also numbered among the first corsairs to fly a black flag with bones on it. And, according to some accounts, he had a habit of lighting fuses beneath his hat, a halo of smoke giving the bristly sea dog a decidedly demonic aspect.

But archaeologists now suspect they've found one more clue behind the pirate's menace: what could very well be Blackbeard's sword, or at least part of it. National Geographic published photos released by a team that has for over a decade been excavating the Queen Anne's Revenge, which was Blackbeard's flagship until it ran aground in an inlet off the coast of North Carolina in 1718. These include fragments of a gilded hilt and pommel, possibly of French design (Blackbeard's ship was a retrofitted French merchant vessel). The shipwreck has been worked on since 1997. NatGeo has more pictures of objects recovered here.

Before abandoning the Queen Anne's Revenge, Blackbeard used it in a daring 1717 blockade of the port of Charleston, S.C, where he and his fleet successfully managed to obtain ransom from the British colonial government for the town and its inhabitants. But troops dispatched from Virginia would eventually catch up to him — after he had already abandoned his flaghsip — and in a fearsome sea fight Blackbeard was eventually surrounded and hacked to death. His headless body was then tossed into the ocean. The pirate may now languish in Davy Jones' Locker, but his likely blade may have been brought to light — further evidence of how Blackbeard's bite was as bad as his bark.

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/14/a-pirates-life-have-archaeologists-found-blackbeards-sword/#ixzz1B2yhoJEo

Chad Stayrook, arwork from the arctic

I came across this interesting work researching the Arctic Circle residency. What could be more up my alley than a residency on a schooner that goes into the arctic circle?

this artist was on last years October expedition, and lookee already has work out from it:

http://www.romeryounggallery.com/index2.html

I'm attracted to work with almost reckless ambition and scope. Like children building cities... sometimes it's clearly naive, and sometimes it's premature genius.

Robert Parke Harrison, Chris Larson, Janinne Harkelroad, and of COURSE Paul Etienne Lincoln

Baby Carrots

I saw this on another artist's blog today, and well.. here ya go!

Drawing Center, NY

Oh boy! My portfolio was just accepted to the Drawing Center's Viewing Program online registry!

That's a rather cool honor. Especially for a sculptor who's new to making drawings. I love seeing shots of my tattoos on there!

Boston friends! Art openings!

I was rewarded by dragging my buns out in the cold. The art openings at SOWA (South of Washington Arts... we all hate that tag...) were pretty darn good and I saw lots of old friends!

Bumped into Greg Hayes, who I met at the CAC residency in summer of '09

Camilo Alvarez, who runs Samson Projects, a hot gallery. He was on the jury for my BCA res.

Bob Oppenheim, who was involved with my solo show @ Simmons College's Trustman Gallery.

Went out for a pint with Tim Murdoch, Andrew Neuman, Steve Hollinger, and Heidi Kayser- who runs Axiom Gallery.

Isn't it nice to have great artists for friends?

kickstarter

Can I... should I.... do a Kickstarter grant to help fund my PCT hike?

http://www.kickstarter.com/discover/art?ref=footer

Giant light table!

Thanks a zillion to my friend Tim for chauffeuring me in his Truck to get supplies!

Building a big 4' x 8' light table as a tool for making my big Boston Harbor historical drawing!