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10/26/2008: "When you're stuck..."

I was trying to get out of the rain on Friday and took a detour through the Art Department on my way to review tenure files. I hadn't been through there in a really long time, and it was such a rush. All the student art work hanging on the walls, the smells, the funky sculptures and potter on stands.

I remember when I first started art school (at UAA) they had a big beautiful building full of labs...for painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, etc. Going there for the first time, I felt so excited, like my heart was going to beat out of my chest.

We could get passes to stay in the building after it closed for the night. I'd hang out with friends listening to the radio, talking, and working on pieces that were experimental, pieces that I had no idea how they'd end up.

All that came flooding back to me as I walked down that hallway. And it really got me painting again this weekend. When ever things get scary or uncertain, there has always been art. And yes, the oil is making me feel crappy again, but I don't care. I have to paint, it's worth it.

So, if anyone out there is having a creative drought...you may want to take a walk through the closest art school to you. It was more inspirational to me than the past 25 shows I've been too (except for Donna's and Rob's of course, you two ROCK!)...