sign of the times

photo by Joi

I’ve been reading about the making of the peace sign.
​While I love basking in the laziness of a winter evening, January’s bitter temperatures have limited my outdoor walks with the dog and he has left no stuffed animal toy unturned.
The month of January flew by and I have been keeping busy with plenty of projects. I’ve been indulging in lots of comfort food and books from my personal library.
I used to scour the Borders clearance section for discounted books on art and music. Over time, I’ve curated quite a little collection of coffee table books. It’s like I have my own little bookstore with an endless supply of coffee.

film still from recent video collage

30 seconds is a long time.
​I recently finished up a video art collage project and boy, do my eyes hurt from staring at the screen for hours.
The best way I can explain my video editing process is there are multiple layers of video footage like a Crunch wrap Supreme collage. There’s a lot of stuff inside.
It’s such a thrill when people respond positively to my art. It just makes me want to keep creating magic.
Sometimes, I wish making art was like following a recipe.
If you serve a dish, you know immediately if it’s successful or not by how much is consumed.
If people love it, they ask you to make it again!

“Can you bring that dip you made from so-and-so’s party? So delicious!”
“Those cookies were amazing! I could eat them by the dozen”

But unlike a recipe, I can’t always repeat the same process with my art.
I understand why some artists take their time to create a follow-up project, album or novel.
It took author, Harper Lee, over 50 years to write her second novel after To A Mockingbird. I can’t imagine the pressure of creating a new piece after writing such an impactful story with iconic character names that are still referenced to this day.
These lyrics from the song feel like how art is consumed by the audience. It’s nice but some may not necessarily like it.

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?

​I’ve learned to let go of perfectionism and just serve up what I’ve created.
Unlike musician, Leonard Cohen, where I just learned had over 100 drafts of the song, Hallelujah.
I can’t keep a project in the creative oven for too long.
But damn, can you imagine that song any other way?! Maybe I should return to my perfectionist self.

from film, Coffee & Cigarettes, photo courtesy Asmik Ace Entertainment

Coffee and Cassettes
​As someone who grew up in the time of cafe culture, I’ve been craving the endless lingering in coffee shops, record stores and bookstores.
What I miss is the pleasant conversations that randomly took place in these spaces. A time when people would engage with each other, not their computer screens.
Currently, I’m creating a new mini-radio series called Coffee and Cassettes; a play on the wording coffee and cigarettes.
(Former smoker in the house. I am my father’s daughter.)
Coffee and Cassettes is a monthly radio episode that’s like Amoeba What’s In My Bag. The only difference is these conversations are with women and femme music enthusiasts. Whether they work in the industry or not, its about music sharing with playlists curated by the guests.
I’m having a ball chatting it up with music friends and discovering some new gems along the way!
The first episode drops later this month!

photo by Joi

Happy Birthday to the Peace Sign
An artist creates feelings not products.
Art moves you and helps you express feelings that you don’t have the words for.
With all the heaviness going on in the news, I reached for one of my books titled Peace: 50 Years of Protest.
As someone who used to doodle the peace sign on my notebooks in school, I never really knew anything about the history of this little symbol.
The peace sign was created in February 1958, by graphic designer and textile designer, Gerald Holtom. It was part of the Nuclear Disarmament campaign that would become a universal symbol for all.
There’s much more meaning within the making of art.
You can read more about the making of the peace sign here.
I also particularly enjoyed this keynote by punk rock singer, Iggy Pop, about how music is not a product, it’s a feeling.

Let's Go Skate
A new episode of Electric Radio Club will air next week, a Valentine’s Day Special!
My Valentine’s Roller Skating Party episode last year was one of my top played episodes. Until the next episode drops, enjoy this playlist that includes tracks by Soul For Real, Robyn, The Bangles, The Cure, TLC, The Replacements, The Vaccines, The White Stripes and more!