lack of sleep

when chess was up, that was a big chunk of time each day, but since then have been editing some of the video footage, hoping to be included in a curated show soon - right now it's only a possibility, but want to do what i can to make it happen. so, several nights haven't gone to bed as early as usual.

however, tonight the rendering means a bit of waiting time, so i wrote a couple of emails, did the dishes, and just opened the box to examine my new camera. the battery is charging now, so will be able to take pictures again. it doesn't feel as solid as my last one. i keep buying the canon powershots until i drop them one too many times. actually you pretty much have to drop them right on the lens to break them (twice now) or from a high-up place, like a stepladder (once). but this one, even though it's a little uglier, and maybe not as sturdy-feeling, has a time-lapse movie shooting mode, where it will take one frame per second (or half-second) for up to two hours. super-handy for me, so i can forgive it for being a bit on the bulky side and more plastic.

sarah schmerler and i were talking about the genesis of the project, last spring, and i mentioned that it was partly an homage to yoko ono. turned out sarah had interviewed yoko for the time out article which prompted me to go see her retrospective at the japan society some years ago. since she lives about twenty blocks away, i sent her an invitation (both to paint as part of the project and also to come see the piece last week). never expected to hear from her, just wanted her to know that she had an impact on my life, but she sent me a super-nice (very brief) note, and picture of her birthday cake, which was decorated with large (presumably edible) chess pieces. i haven't even responded to some really good friends who wrote back something after i sent out my new year's greeting/video, and then i get a hand-written note from a hero - makes me know i have a lot to learn.

there's a surreal quality to editing video footage, i bet most artists who use video feel this. because you shot the footage, you were already there. so you know exactly what you're going to see. that means you're experiencing repetition. then, during editing, you'll play the same few seconds several times, and the next few seconds, and so on. got me thinking more about the differences between painting and video. decided video is much more needy and possessive. video wants to keep hearing the same bedtime story over and over. also video is tyrannical in that you are forced to experience it through time at its pace. a painting you can glance at for a second or sit in front of for hours.

really wanted to go to dorkbot tonight but so glad i got the first version of chess footage edited. rendering now and should be able to sleep plenty tomorrow night.

there are about five projects i want to start. i'm having a hard time picking one (or two or three). applications (for opportunities to show, for grants, for residencies) too - there are several things i'd like to apply for, but don't think i can get the materials together for all of them in time.

kisokaido is already well underway, there, that's one decision.

goodnight.