Napoleon's Horse

I've been dabbling with oils. This little pony appeared today, it's 11x14. For 50 bucks I'll send him your way! :)

Sunday night

wish you were here!

Visiting old haunts

I went to Muse Music in Provo this weekend. I watched my "guitar teacher" Josh (he is tuning his guitar, kneeling) perform with his band, "Until Further Notice." I think I'm supposed to make a pun about the band's name at this point, but it's too late at night to think that hard. The music was really loud and what I call "guy" music: killer guitar parts, lots of "ooohhhs" and harmonized choruses. Punchy drums. They played very well together and had a lot of energy. Muse Music has a special hold on me, Schmaltzy and Stars of Leo played there multiple times...good memories.

anything helps

hopefully i will get a job soon and won't have to stand out on the street anymore.

Central Utah Art Center Exhibit

Friday, August 13th was the opening reception for "ACTION: A Survey of Performative Works by Contemporary Utah Artists" in Ephraim, Utah. It was curated by Adam Bateman and Jason Metcalf. I was honored to be invited to participate in the show, I never really considered myself a performance or a Utah artist before, but I guess it fits. I worked on this box in Boise involving my dad in an elaborate wiring system and having my mom help me with the viewing bench. Inside the box my some of my videos were projected on a miniature movie screen, complete with popcorn-consuming-dolls as the viewing audience. Thanks to my dad, mom, and Whitney for providing me with props, as well as all my other Boise family members for giving me input about the project.

The reception was really fun, I got to reconnect with many of my BYU art friends, as well as see their fine works. The local news channel with the director of the CUAC, Jared Latimer, interviewed me about my piece for the evening news. Also, my mom, Erin, Lauren, Ruby and Galen came down for the festivities. Good times! You can read about it HERE.

Highway One

So last week was spent with Julie, Lissa, and myself riding down Highway 101 in Oregon, beginning in Astoria and terminating in Newport. People would ask about our trip and how we know each other, I didn't realize what a sweet story we had: "We are old college friends and now live all over, but we came together to do this ride on the 101." People were touched. An even sweeter bond is that we are all art teachers and we have all lived in the same blue house in Bellingham.

cannon beach antics

 I still don't understand what was going on in this picture.

 camp.

 Julie, looking cool with the ocean behind her on one of our many and frequent "snack stops."

even when you are camping, there is still time for gourmet cupcakes.

Newport Marina

Lissa and Julie, on a cold and windy evening at the beach.

Lastly, I got home from Oregon in time to celebrate my birthday with my family. I actually made the cake because after a week of no cooking or creating anything I really felt like baking a cake. It was delicious and I got to put my Bolivian quincinera girl on top of it. The best part about my birthday this year was the nieces and nephews: they blew out all my candles, opened the presents for me, and swarmed me with attention and affection. Everything really is more exciting with little ninos around. I love how excited they get about birthdays, even for their ancient 28-year-old aunties.

Sunday night shake down

Emily: I want something more tonight. I want some social interaction.
Lauren: You should blog about it.
Emily: No, I don't want to blog about how lame I am.

Blogs are a chance to create whatever version of yourself you want (the above photo portrays me in my summer attire and life on Martha's Vineyard where I'm about to drink a glass of freshly squozen lemonade, pick wild blackberries and build sandcastles on the beach with 2 gorgeous Labradors running in the waves). Blogs allow you to brand yourself; it's like making your own magazine, TV show, or line of designer furniture. Thus far I try to make myself look interesting, cool, smart and pretty, also that I do brave things. But really, we all know that I'm grouchy in the mornings, my hair is graying, I am not as slim as the pictures portray taken with a "high eye level" and at a close focus (it just shaves the edge of your body right off the picture plane) and Lissa knows I'm always the last in the water. Perhaps this goes without saying, that blogs are a chance to create an alternate version of your life.

An update from the more true to life version of myself: I am still searching for a job, I have 2 friends that live in Boise which are both out of town right now (aside from family), I have acne sometimes, and I spend a lot of time internally conflicted, yet I am receiving mountains of blessings and goodwill continually showers down on me. Side note (a plea for attention, from you- the reader): someone today at church asked if I had been riding on a motorcycle last week, I felt cool saying "yes, it was me you saw."