Orange Jelly on display • Enjoy your commute!

Orange Jelly is on display at Loyola University's Ralph Arnold Fine Arts Annex, 1134 W. Sheridan Rd., Chicago. It can be viewed from the street and in passing cars and is on display until August.

Orange Jelly is a an installation made from orange sweaters which have been transformed into a fungal invasion of the space. It is part of a series of works I've been making which use the form of fungi as a metaphor for liminal states of being. Fungi are liminal in that they commonly grow on dead things spanning the space between life and death and biologically they are more closely related to animals, but most people view them as plants.

I love exhibiting this peice in this gallery space because the space is liminal in that it acts as both a gallery and as public space.


View Ralph Arnold Fine Arts Annex in a larger map

My Last Day

So to day is my last day of my summer job, which has been a real roller coaster, with occasional ups and lots of downs.

When I opened my email this morning I had the most appropriate lojong in my in box, ever! It was delightful and made me laugh. Thanks ancient Buddhists! (get a lojong saying every day via: http://lojongmindtraining.com/default.aspx)

Below are three interprtations and translations of the saying in chronological order.

Don't Expect Thanks

Don't hope that others will express their gratitude in words of thanks for your own practice of dharma, your helping others, or your practicing virtue. In a word, get rid of any expectation of fame or prestige.

All these points of advice are means that will strengthen mind training and prevent it from weakening. In summary, Gyal-se Rinpoche said:

Throughout our lives we should train well in the two kinds of bodhicitta, using both meditation and postmeditation practices, and acquire the confidence of proficiency.

Make an effort to follow this instruction.

From The Great Path of Awakening : An Easily Accessible Introduction for Ordinary People by Jamgon Kongtrul, translated by Ken McLeod. Copyright 1993 by Ken McLeod.
Published by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc., Boston.

Don't Expect Applause

Don't expect others to praise you or raise toasts to you. Don't count on receiving credit for your good deeds or good practice.

From Training the Mind & Cultivating Loving-Kindness by Chogyam Trungpa , copyright 1993 by Diana Mukpo.
(Official Chogyam Trungpa Website)
Published by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc., Boston.

Don't Expect Applause

The next slogan is "Don't expect applause," which means "Don't expect thanks." This is important. When you open the door and invite all sentient beings as your guests, and not only that, but you also open the windows, and the walls even start falling down, you find yourself in the universe with no protection at all. Now you're in for it. If you think that just by doing that you are going to feel good about yourself, and you are going to be thanked right and left- no, that won't happen. More than to expect thanks, it would be helpful just to expect the unexpected; then you might be curious and inquisitive about what comes in the door. We can begin to open our hearts to others when we have no hope of getting anything back. We just do it for its own sake. On the other hand, it's good to express our gratitude to others. It's helpful to express our appreciation of others. But if we do that with the motivation of wanting them to like us, we can remember this slogan. We can thank others, but we should give up all hope of getting thanked back. Simply keep the door open without expectations.

From Start Where You Are : A Guide to Compassionate Living by Pema Chodron, Copyright 1994, Shambhala Publications.
Published by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc., Boston.

Glimpsing Center, Again.

This job this summer has tried me in almost every possible way: long hours, big disappointments, lack of control over the final product, difficult people, and self doubt. I constantly feel inadequate and like I am a disappointment to my employer archi-treasures. I don't sleep well, I am constantly worried.

My meditation practice has lapsed for up to a couple days at a time and my alcohol consumption has increased in a predictably stressful and summer way. These two things are not good for me.

But today I had a glimpse of the center I once knew.

"I can only do this job as well as I can. Any body's disappointment or agendas belong to them not me."

Waiting

We are waiting for the 20th ward Alderman to move and sand blast the planters. We are ready to paint. I am discouraged, and starting to thing about some plan-B's. The teens really want to paint. Above is the front and back designs for the planters and the colors we'll use. I'm starting to think about sidewalk sandwich boards, other types of signage or community markers. I really want to make something, and make something happen. I'm not getting paid enough not to make art.

Here is our practice one...

Summer Work

This summer I am working on this incredible community based public art project in Woodlawn.

I was hired through a not-for-profit group that facilitates community art projects, gardens, and other community space, archi-treasures as the artist for this project. I am working with 15 very bright teens. They challenge me in every way, everyday. I am learning so much about myself, and my teaching practice through them. I am also learning about them and their community.

I've been enjoying my commute to Woodlawn once I get on south Lake Shore Drive. It is really beautiful. I pass by The Republic everyday. She is wonderful.

Our project is very complex, and has many moving parts, and I would not be able to keep up with all of them with out the help of Dorothy Pytel, who is the "instigator" of this whole project, and is very organized. And also Sherry Shannon, who helps with the day to day order.

Our task is to move, decorate, and plant up to 30 large concrete planters. That sounds simple, but its not. The most challenging part is that the planters must be "adopted" by a community group or business to ensure the continued up keep of the planter. Once this project is completed the planters will serve as community markers, and will unify active members of the community together.

We are moving along and finally making much head way this week. We designed the Woodlawn logo which will be stenciled on all the planters.


We are also making much needed head way in community out reach and in designing the planters. This project has a blog: http://woodlawnyouth.blogspot.com/ Please follow along.

Everyday at work I feel totally overwhelmed, and when I get home I am exhausted, but optimistic. The biggest lesson, that I haven't learned yet is how to deal with not pleasing everybody. Every small dissatisfaction of one of the teens, or someone else feels like big failure on my part.