Just an amazing experience...NDT

I had the chance to meet Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson today! It was an fun experience. I wrote him about a year ago in the hope of arranging an interview with him for OLOGY, the online magazine on Omnibucket. I did this because I love astrophysics, and my friend Dave is a huge fan of his. NDT has always gotten my attention on The Jon Stewart show, NPR and The Universe. His sense of humor and great intelligence makes for a very dynamic and interesting personality. Yeah, string theory just blows my mind, but I want to know more about it if he is talking. He tends to break complex theories down to a point where the person with a more average intellect can begin to grasp it.

Today we spent around 35 minutes chatting with Dr. Tyson. He answered the many questions we threw his way. I intend to begin editing the file and creating a podcast.

Because Dr. Tyson insisted on meeting us in person or via phone, this has opened a more dynamic presentation of the interviews we conduct. We are definitely using skype for audio and eventually moving toward video interviews in the future. No more email and text! By the way, we introduced Dr Tyson to skype and he seemed to love it!! We were able to see him and he saw us, too!!

More to follow...

Call for Entries: No Right, No Wrong

This is a call for entries in the all abstract art show for Ohio artists. The deadline is May 23rd. The show is in June at the High Road Gallery. If you have any questions, give me a call.

No Right, No Wrong Entry Form

OMG - This cracks me up!!!!!

How clever...and crude...LOVE IT!

It was even banned in the UK, I think.

WCE & Other Works - In Development

I decided to put together a book with most of my 2008 works (and some from 2007/2009).










The purpose of the new book:

1. a gallery book/portfolio
2. to document what I have been working on in 2008

What will be in the book:

1. a collection of watercolor/acrylics from 2007-2009
2. some of the poetry that inspired the work
3. an explanation of my presentation process

It will be a 7"x7" book, around 150 pages. Price TBD.

I am anxious to see how this turns out!

My Final Meadow

My Final Meadow

There is so much to be seen in the blistering sun.
Sometimes the glint of your bright reflections,
Sends me into blindness.
Sometime it sends me into the shadows.

The carbon black surface of the lot,
Does nothing to absorb the intense light.
But instead sends me into darkness,
And reminds me of the time.

There is an open field.
A lesser paved place awaits.
My presence is better elsewhere.
A final chase in some other meadow.

by Peggy L. Mintun, copyright 01-09
My disdain for some things is legendary.

Dali and Warhol - But Who In The Hell Is Markoya??

The short answer = Dali's protege.

A couple of months ago I attended an online chat with Dali's protege, Louis Markoya on deviantArt. He told interesting stories about Dali and how he interacted with other artists in the 70's. There is one story about Dali and Warhol that stuck in my mind that ends with Warhol pissing all over some paintings and selling them.

Today I went to see the Warhol exhibit at the Wexner Center for the Arts here in Columbus. I actually got to see those paintings, or what I assume to be the paintings, since they listed as acrylic and urine as the materials. It was just wild to see them in person. I bought the book at the exhibit and took a little snapshot of the page where they are presented. Eight small works called Oxidation.

Here is a recap of the interview where he relates the Warhol story. I hacked it from the original transcript. A link to the original is at the end of this blog. It is worth checking out.

Interviewer: Dali kept a watchful eye on current events. What 70's artists did he find interesting and who did he get in touch with?

Markoya: Well...Warhol was nearly always around...and there are a lot of Dali references to Warhol....they had a rivalry as to their court...the people who follow them, and Warhol actually wanted me to join his....but I never liked Andy or his work..and though I was a lowly factory worker at

Interviewer: I know Dali prided himself on being the first to have painted a Coke bottle.

Markoya: Ya...Warhol had his group of wild transvestites always...I found most of them pretty frightful. There is a great little known story of Dali getting a present from Warhol...Dali had designed a work called Marilyn-Mao and used M. Monroe...Andy knew of itand gave Dali a print of his Marilyn. Dali actually put it on the floor and pissed on it....later to be one upped by Warhol as he did a whole series of piss paintings that he sold for large sums that is pissed [on]...Dali loved Warhol...but not for his art...which he did not like at all* platinus will always question "mixed media" now...

Interviewers: Indeed. He just always seemed less haughty than the rest of the Warhol clan. Oddly cerebral, but pretty damaged.

Markoya: Well we have two great examples in Dali and Warhol...Dali was driven to always become better, more, more cerebral, reaching, etc...Warhol, rarely even touched his work once he became famous...

An Audience with Louis Markoya: The Chat and More Questions.


Picture Credits: ZOMG Zoey LOVES Butter by me...a really half-assed tribute to Warhol.

Watercolor Experiments Calendar

Update: I just ordered a limited amount of calendars, which I can offer at a discount for $14.00. I ordered 13, but five are already gone.

Previous Post:

I just uploaded my new calendar for 2009. It is a selection of works from my Watercolor Experiments series. Most of these works will be shown in a show in March of 2009 at Image Optical Gallery in the Short North Gallery District here in Columbus, Ohio. I am excited to be able to exhibit the collection of works.

Personally, I know I have had a lot of artistic growth over the year, and I think the experiments show that growth. It definitely signifies my letting go and accepting fate, accepting the utter chaos that life brings, and then reeling it back into my realm of control. This decade has definitely tried to kick my ass, but I have made the best of life at every turn.

Hopefully the dA slideshow of the gallery wlll be available soon for non-beta testers and the public. It goes well with NIN, Ghosts, listening from IV to I.

The calendar is available for purchase here.

I DIG Silent Order

I have been watching Silent Order on deviantArt for years. Also known as Silent View, they are a team of fetish photographers from Germany. Yeah, I am not usually a fan of fetish, but, they do fetish with a dark and gothic and glamorous style, so it appeals to me. They have some of the best settings, as well, in what looks to be old European castles and manors.

ANDER.WELT, GEDANKEN.SCHWER and SCHOENHEITS.KOENIGIN, are only a few of their cooler galleries. ANDER.WELT is especially awesome with the movement of the fabric and the reddish tints to the sky.

They are now promising a book of their work. I hope it is out in time for my birthday next year. Obviously it will be a direct order from Germany. I doubt that Barnes and Noble will carry it. More on Silent View

GCAC - Potential

I found out yesterday that I was chosen to be in the January 8th selection for the 2009 Greater Columbus Arts Council Partnership Awards. Galleries around Central Ohio submit work from their artists to be judged by a panel of five jurors. They choose 10 artists from all of the galleries. 4 out of 5 jurors chose my work for the selection.

What happens now is I present my two works to GCAC. The jurors then view the twenty works from the 10 artists and choose three finalists. The finalist artworks are purchased and given as awards to the three top businesses who contribute to the arts in Columbus.

I am very happy that Sean Cooper, the director of OAL, sent my digital slides to the selection committee for consideration.

What an honor!

Wow...Great Editing

Wow...the person who edited this was actually able to make a song out of it, which is cool.

Adventures in the Snow

First off, let me just remind everyone that soooo many people cannot drive in the snow in Columbus, Ohio. Not to be a snow-belt elitist, but this is nothing, kids. Nothing. That said, I felt like taking a chance and going out last night, so I dragged my friends out for an adventure...no worries - they lived through it. First we went out to drop off some art work near downtown, then headed over to check out some art work at the galleries, and ended up in Burgundy Room for some tapas. Wow, was it chilly at times!! Here are some pics from the adventure...
Definitely, a blurry shot, but I like it.

Karan and Jared, my co-adventurers...posing...

...spontaneous...kinda.

Here is the piece at the OAL Gallery: It is the space-like one...

Here are the pieces at RoyGBiv. The photographer standing in the photo was there to take pictures of the little orchestra that was just to the left of me.

Lost From You Series @ RoyGBiv Gallery

You can see this painting at the RoyGBiv Gallery beginning in December in the Small Works Show.

Lost From You

Artist Statement: "It is with great sadness and regret that I need to inform you that I have no idea who you are anymore. I could look in the marshy swamp, or the dark wood, but I have a feeling you are in an abyss that is unreachable. Perhaps I will know you again some day."

12" x 36" overall.
1 - Watercolor pigment, liquid acrylic, pen and gloss varnish on a fabric-like board on a black 1" frame.
2 - Watercolor pigment, liquid acrylic, pen and gloss varnish on a clayboard on a black .5" frame.
3 - Watercolor pigment, liquid acrylic, pen and gloss varnish on a gessoboard on a black .5" frame.
$400 for the set....I would prefer not to break it up.

You can see these works at the RoyGBiv Gallery located at 997 N. HIGH ST. COLUMBUS,OH 43201-2402.

For more information about RoyGBiv Gallery, visit them here.

Space Dust @ OAL Gallery

You can see this painting at the OAL Gallery beginning in December in the Thumb Box Show.


Space Dust
Artist Statement: Trying to get lost in the cold expanse of space...and on such a small canvas. Made specifically for this show-all of the works are 6" by 6" or smaller.

6" x 6" Watercolor, liquid acrylic, silver pen and gloss varnish on 2" framed aquabord.
$50.00

The Ohio Art League Gallery is located at 954 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43215.
For more information about OAL, go to OAL.org.

Ghost Hunter

So, I found out that my nephew is a ghost hunter yesterday. He owns most of the equipment for it, less a thermal camera. Thermal cameras cost around $6 grand. His current website is on MySpace.

He has some pretty scary photos of ectoplasm. One definitely has a skull in it. He told us a story about some video he took of a possession after someone used an Ouija board. I hope that is not true.

Most of the conversation was around the activity in the house we all grew up in. Four of us saw things while we were living in the house. My mom said the woman who owns the house now is also seeing things. Here is a list of what each of us have seen:

1. Me - I saw a reflection of a woman from the kitchen. She was standing the living room by the windows.

2. Jack - Saw a bright blue light from the kitchen and utensils floating in the air.

3. Katie - Saw the woman in the living room by the window. Same woman.

4. My sister - Watched a cloud (ectoplasm?) form on top of the table in the kitchen. It spun around and around and went up into the ceiling.

5. We each have had weird things happen in the upstairs.

A little history is that a man who lived there before my family bought the house got so scared one night that he shot his pistol into the hallway. The doors still have the bullet holes.

The house has changed hands several times since my family moved out. No one stays for too long.

We do not know what the current woman is seeing. Jack wants to do an investigation. I'm not sure if she will let him/us do that.

Anyway, Karan and Jared, let me know if you are up for that.

Hot Tea...

Matte Latte from the Republic of Tea with a cinnamon teabag thrown in to spice it up. I love Republic of Tea.
Anyway, this picture is the teabags I used today sitting on a cotton canvas. I painted a different one earlier this week called St33p, after a poem I wrote a while back, last year.

Steep
Soaked up in a moment,
Every ounce of my essence,
Imbued in hot water.

Staining my surroundings,
Waiting to be consumed,
Made more palatable with saccharine fakeness,
Because you can’t take it straight.

The longer I sit, the more bitter I become,
The less diluted I am,
With knowledge of my pending disposal.
I am good for one use.

Migraines Suck

I get these crazy migraines on occasion since the surgery. Turns out the surgery is the cause of them, according the physical therapist. They are fucking debilitating. I feel awful, I puke, and then I feel awful some more. Turns out a vicodin helps. Found that out too late...by 30 minutes...and missed the NIN concert.

Stole the photo from Jared. Dude, awesome seats!!!!

June Abstract Show

I will be helping organize the Abstract Show at the High Road Gallery in June of 2009. The planning meetings will begin at the first of the year. It will be an open call for entries. Not sure of the details beyond that.

Cha$e

OK. I am watching this TV show called Cha$e on the Sci-fi channel. I have to say, I like it. It is fuckin' exciting. I dig the Secret Service like dudes, but dress those bitches like Zombies and that would be cooler.

I need a soma.

I am so inpired right now...

All I need is Zoey, my Flip, a laser pen and some techno music.

See more funny videos and Funny Videos at Today's Big Thing.

A New Calendar for 2009!

I just uploaded my new calendar for 2009. It is a selection of works from my Watercolor Experiments series. Most of these works will be shown in a show in March of 2009 at Image Optical Gallery in the Short North Gallery District here in Columbus, Ohio. I am excited to be able to exhibit the collection of works.

Personally, I know I have had a lot of artistic growth over the year, and I think the experiments show that growth. It definitely signifies my letting go and accepting fate, accepting the utter chaos that life brings, and then reeling it back into my realm of control. This decade has definitely tried to kick my ass, but I have made the best of life at every turn.

Hopefully the dA slideshow of the gallery wlll be available soon for non-beta testers and the public. It goes well with NIN, Ghosts, listening from IV to I.

The calendar is available for purchase here.

I will order a certain amount and have them available for purchase for $20.00. That way you can save on shipping. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to hand them out again this year.

I also plan to publish a portrait-oriented calendar with many of my old and new pen and ink sketches. It is for my friends who like to carry the thing around as a planner.

|=u(ki|\|g Zombies

Last year I was involved in a zombie attack at my work. Nothing serious. Currently, I am the closest thing to a zombie that I know of. I have the bones of the dead within me and they are reanimating (aka "grafting") as I write this. These bones are fortified by steel plates. So, this makes me a zombie robot. Well, people like to call me that. The hilarious thing is that I developed a character last year (developed as in drew) that was a zombie robot. I had no idea that one year later my fate would have such a coincidental twist. It's a coincidence and not irony, by the way. I have nothing against zombies or robots, much less robotic zombies.

When did my love of zombies begin? Very recently...up until two years ago, the thought of zombies freaked me out. A friend of mine had just published a book called Brainchild. He thought I would be interested in seeing it. I was not and I told him so. But, I bought it anyway (since it would be cool to own a book by a friend). Got it, read it, and had nightmares about it that night. But, I was hooked.

There was something about zombies that suddenly appealed to me. I then branched off to books released by the Permuted Press, Rebecca Brock stories, and Max Brooks books. I stared getting into Romero movies, Resident Evil movies, and all the others. I have even written some zombie stuff of my own.

It is very early in the planning, but there may be another zombie anthology by my friend. I am helping him out with this project. Although, based on our work schedules and my additional 2009 art schedule, I think it may 2010 before it happens.

About the picture: Undead vs Undead 2007. My friend Jared is a zombie. I am a vampire...well, sorceress vampire. Whatever. (I have lost 50 pounds since that picture was taken.)

Big In Japan - Wabi-Sabi

The other day an artist on dA (more about him and his project in another post) told me that I could be big in Japan. Hey, that's a band name....not a very good band, but I digress. So, this guy told me that I would be a hero in Japan because I am a disciple of wabi-sabi. I had no idea what that means and had to Google it, although, I have heard that my work has a lot of Asian influence. Which also makes sense because one of my artist friends from Scotland, whom I have a great deal of respect for, studied with an artist in Beijing.

Turns out, I probably am following wabi-sabi, even if I have not done so consciously. Wabi-Sabi is actually two separate beliefs that have been brought together recently. It is an ancient Buddhist philosophy that represents asymmetry, asperity, simplicity, modesty, intimacy, and suggest a natural process. I have always related my work to nature and often try to depict decay and imperfection. There is a beauty in that kind of natural process.

Here are a couple of links to study, if you want:
What is Wabi - Sabi?
Wabi Sabi on Wikipedia

Soup Spell

Okay, I have this weird and freakish ability to change the properties of soup...like a creamy potato or a creamy broccoli. I freaked my husband out tonight because I proved that I could thin soup just by being near it. I was eating mine and told him what happens. He said it was just my soup. His soup (the same soup) was still thick. So he traded me.

Within a minute his soup, too, was like water. He was weirded out by it.
It is a bummer because I'll be enjoying a thick, creamy soup and within moments it is thin as water. I have had this "ability" for years. I worked with a woman years back who watched me do it and told me that I was a natural witch. I'm not sure if I believe in all of that or not, but witches are suppose to be able to control the elements, right? Who knows. I am not sure what good it is...

But there must be a scientific reason as to why this happens.

Interview

Recently, I was interviewed by Andrei Pavel for Romania's Urban Arts Channel. You can check out that interview here.

Blue!!!!!!

Our state is blue!!!!!!!!!

Listening to fireworks go off in the distance. It is a time for celebration.

Barack My Vote

I was telling my husband this evening that this is the fifth presidential election that I have voted in, and I have never been so excited to vote for a person. I voted for Clinton the second time around, but my enthusiasm for him does not compare to the absolute hope and excitement I feel about voting for Obama. I believe this man can bring great change in our nation. I want to feel proud to be an American again and I think he can inspire change and lead us in a better direction. We need this country to be about the people and for the people. Not for the oil companies. Not for the drug companies. Not for the insurance companies. Corporate greed has poisoned this place. I am tired of greedy men and waring men. It is time to not be lulled by these entities and scared into needless war and suffering. I hope you get out there and vote for Barack!

Here is a little flash back with the Wazzzzup!!!!! commercial and how the guys have fared 8 years into the Bush administration. I hope what you see at the end of it is what we see tomorrow and hopefully before midnight!!

An Unwelcome Guest

My kitten was not at all happy with his little visitor taking up space on his window ledge and blocking the sun.

Show at Haiku - July 2009

I have a second solo show for 2009, in July. This one is at Haiku in Columbus' Short North Gallery District. I am very excited. Except that I accidentally closed the car door on this piece. Gah! I need to fix the thing now.

Thank You Scarlet

One month and five days ago I had a little surgery on my neck. I had two levels of my cervical spine removed and replaced with cadaver bones and metal plates. I have to tell you, it has been an experience. I am healing up fast and well.

One of my first adventures out of the house was when I drove to meet some friends for a birthday lunch. My friend, who is a little goth (not the emo kind, more like the true kind: in spirit), asked me if I had the life story of the person who donated my bones. Nah, when a person donates bones and skin, they go to a bank. It is not quite like organs (hearts, livers, kidneys) where they track them and the match has to be more concise. With bones and skin, the process does not have as high of a risk of rejection as vital organs.

But, I still think about the fact that some person died and was kind enough to leave their parts and pieces for people like me to use. So, I named that unknown person Scarlet.

Why Scarlet? Because I have had an attraction to red since the surgery. I even died my hair red. I am not sure how much of a fake identity I want to develop past that point, so we will leave it at that.

...

The Governor in Red Leather

The Governor in Red Leather...the one with $150,000 make-overs, and $17,000 per diems, when so many "Joe-Six Packs" and "Susie Soccer Moms" (uh, the fem version may not be correct...I usually quit listening after the first grossly inaccurate blanket description) wish they had an extra $17 for their meager per diem...

That governor? Why yes. And to not be outdone, McCain found his own "Joe Six pack" in "Joe the Plumber". But that is an actual man...was Joe prepared to face the kind of scrutiny he has faced as he was being used as McCain's patsy? Yeah, he is a patsy. Fuck, most Americans are, aren't they? Well, I hope it is more like they were! We have 10 more days to get enough people to wake up and realize that if they do own that descriptor, "Joe the Plumber", they are, in fact, a very average American. Republicans do not want to give you tax breaks. They want you to vote them in so they can get the tax breaks and break the rules for their rich and powerful friends. They want to continue to poison America with their greed. Oh, they will throw you a bone every once in a while and give you enough to buy a fucking TV, or invest in their corporations, once they realize they need to reel you back in. But remember to add that to your income on your next return.

Orange Coke

Okay, I just sent the following message to Coke.com. Hopefully they will do it...
"Hello. I wanted to email an idea I have for a Diet Coke flavor. Recently, when I am at Pei Wei, I add oranges to my diet coke, and it is delicious. If you could come up with an orange flavor diet coke, that would be awesome. I am sure regular Coke would be great, too, but I am diabetic. Thanks for your time."

I guess I could buy oranges and diet coke and do it myself, but that's a pain in the ass.

Update: I got an email back from Coke telling me that they cannot and will not take my suggestion because of a bunch of corporate BS that completely gets them out of ever paying me for making a suggestion. I didn't want to be paid. I wanted them to get their asses busy and make some orange Coke.

Large Impact Simulation Video

You know what bums me out about this? If it is possible to have an underground society if something like this happened, I bet they would actually save people like Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Britney Spears. Actually, who cares? Living underground for the rest of your life would suck anyway.

Are We Atill Married?

I just watched this sober...later on I will take a vicodin and see if I like it more...

Rusted World - WIP

I just finished varnishing Rusted Worlds and will assemble the piece later on today. I am excited to see the finished product. I am saving it for the March show.

Here is a little abstract photo of step two in my process on one of the blocks in this piece: