The Hospital

It's Wednesday - somewhere in the middle of January. Here in New Jersey, a possible icing this afternoon is predicted. I don't mean this kind -


© PinkCupcake

Now, I wonder, is "icing" meaning "frosting" a Southern term? I heard it often in cake reference as a child in Kentucky. Not that I spent much time in cake reference, or even in cakes, mind you...



Tuesday, I happened to catch a bit of Steve Jobs presentation from MacWorld 2008. One of the things that was being promoted was the new ability to rent movies from ITunes and watch them on your Mac ( I own a MacBookPro which I purchased in '06. I will piss many off by this - not that I care- but, frankly, after the honeymoon was over - which lasted about as long as the faulty power cord - I soon found it to be one of the worst investments I have ever made (that's right Tony) though that's another story for another time), or PC should you download ITunes.

He said quite clearly and on more than one occasion during his presentation that the technology available that very day (being Tuesday I guess). That one could download the latest version of ITunes (or upgrade in my case) and begin renting films. I must admit that I was somewhat excited by the idea and, since he said it was available then and there, downloaded the upgrade and prepared to pick a film that George and I would watch that evening.

Of course, that wasn't the case. I did download the upgrade, but there were no films to rent Tuesday afternoon. Nor Tuesday evening. This caused quite a bit of confusion and disappointment for Mac users based upon the chat rooms that I checked out who were as eager as I to rent streaming films online. Though I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one experiencing the issue dreading yet another problem with my over priced MacBookPro ( tee hee...it's fun to replace with word RECALL with the words EXCHANGE PROGRAM especially when you find out about the "replacement" only on a whim since you were never contacted about the replacement from the get-go. No, only after your own inquiry, and deep site searching, only after your battery drops dead on you.) You know, it's slightly cute, in a nice way, the way Indian's pronounce "EXCHANGE PROGRAM" with their very practiced "American" accents.)



Again, I divert. Finally, Wednesday morning, I was able to see the "RENT" option on my ITunes Movies section. I knew that I was about to drive back to my home in New Jersey from the beach, and made the decision right then and there to test the new rentability later that evening.

And I did. At about 10 PM that evening, I decided to rent a move via ITunes and watch it on my laptop. I must admit, I found the whole experience very enjoyable. There was a decent selection of films, and the process was as easy as clicking a button. The film showed beautifully on my MacBookPro without any hitches. Based upon my experience last night, I would give the whole process an a A- ( the minutes for not having it ready when the were publicly stating it was ready via a live, international broadcast).

I choose an older film from the early 70's entitled "The Hospital".



It starred George C. Scott in a riveting performance. The film was billed as a comedy, but I would call it a black comedy. Really, the only comic moments were only worthy of a very slight chuckle. But, it is enjoyable. Dated ( especially in relation to the matter of sex and gender. There are situations in the film that would simply not be tolerated today) yet weirdly contemporary at the same time. Scott was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar and the film did win an Oscar for it's famed writer Paddy Chayefsky.

Here's a brief synopsis of the film -

Herbert Block is chief of medicine in a major teaching hospital. His wife has left him, he is impotent and his children have both disowned him. He is toying with the idea of suicide when patients begin dying, not from complications, but from the erroneous treatments the Hospital is giving them. People in the wrong beds are given wrong medicines, sent to operating theaters for incorrect surgery, and found in waiting rooms dead of natural causes. Barbara Drummond has come to take her comatose father back to the Sioux reservation where he operates a clinic and they each reach out to each other for emotional support, as a shadowy figure stalks the patients and staff of the hospital. Written by John Vogel {jlvogel@comcast.net}

One facet of the film that I found of interest were the numbers of cameos by actors that went on to much larger roles and acclaim later in their careers - such as

Stockard Channing, Nancy Marchand, Katherine Helmond, Robert Walden, Frances Sternhagen, and more. Very interesting indeed.

Did I mention that the lovely and talented Diana Rigg plays the female lead?

In Memorium...

What a shame....



Brad Renfro
July 25, 1982 – January 15, 2008

Self-Portrait Tuesday

Hey, wadda ya know, It's Self-Portrait Tuesday. That's me above, taken about 30 minutes ago shortly after walking in the door back from a hair cut. Well, a trim really. Just about the sides and a tapered back.

I didn't post here yesterday. It somehow slipped my mind. Not due to anything of major importance, rather, I just felt unfocused somehow yesterday. It must have been while drifitng in that haze that I forgot all about the Sprouseart Blog.

My weekend was lovely and peaceful. A few films, a few beers, two great football games, laughs with friends, a bit of reading. I remember thinking at some point yesterday that it seemed to me in retrospect that I had not had such a relaxing weekend for quite some time. Perhaps I allowed the easiness of it all to spill over into Monday.

By far the best film that I saw over the weekend was "La Vie En Rose" (also known as "La Môme" in French). The film starred Marion Cotillard and she was no less than masterful. Coincidentally, we happend to watch the film on Pay Per View the same evening that Marion won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy. Her performance really is stunning. I personally don't think that "Musical" and "Comedy" should belong in the same grouping. "La Vie En Rose", in my opinion, is really a film about or with music ( the music and life story of the incomparable Edith Piaf ). It certainly was no comedy. How is it possible to compare this soul stirring dramatic film with "Hairspray" (which is a musical and a comedy - and a throughly enjoyable one at that)?

Alas, it's not my show or award, so there's no need really to spend my energy on it. Now, in fact, since I blew off most of yesterday, it is time for me to spend my energies on more important matters, and with that, I sign off.

By the way, only 66 days left unitl the first day of Spring...

Angry Elf and REZKO

I have a very close friend who described Kucinich, after watching his performance in the debates, as an "angry elf". After reading this article,

Kucinich asks for New Hampshire recount

I tend to agree with him. Though, I may add in bitter, sore losing, paranoid, muck raking angry elf - just to name a few.



BY THE WAY .....
Just what is a REZKO?
Obama knows...so should you.

Taking the train into town

I have a busy morning in Philadelphia this AM. I'm meeting my friend Richard Kaser at on of my favorite coffee shops to discus the possibility of designing a Tarot deck for one of his upcoming books (he's written several).

Then I'm off to deliver some new work ( one of which is this)



To the fellows who carry a line of my original work in Philadelphia here.

Then, a late lunch with my wonderful friend Jerry which is always fun.

By the way, only 71 days until the first day of Spring...


photo © * Toshio *

Way to go Hillary!

CLINTON WINS NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY

Self-Portrait Tuesday

Yes. I know that I just posted a self-portrait yesterday, but this is Tuesday. I haven't posted a self-portrait for SPT in a long time. I was feeling particularly experimental with Photoshop, the one software program that I would be lost without, and came up with this...



One of the many reasons that I love Photoshop so much is that the possibilities of what can be done with it are endless. For example, that photo above, was actually taken in my attic/office with a self-timer. I promise you that my attic/office does NOT look like a lovely Italianate doorway in Venice. The lovely architecture behind me is actually from a photo that I took last October while in Venice. I simply removed myself from the attic/office ( another image from the series was posted yesterday - see post below this one) , added a drop shadow, placed myself in the doorway, added some cool filters, and viola, I've a hip image of myself relaxing in the a most lovely Venice doorway.

Of course, this is also one of the reasons that I am very circumspect with most web and print images that I find out there, especially those dealing with news or celebrities. If people knew how amazingly easy it is to alter any photograph or video with the technology available today, they would be wise to be circumspect as well. On the other hand, it's a fantastic tool for the artist!

First self-pic of the year

And here it be....

Thank You NPR...

Thank you National Public Radio for being the only news site out of the following, abcnews.com, msnbc.com, cnn.com, reuters.com and cbsnews.com, to NOT have one mention, not even a tiny one, about that useless, white trash with money, bimbo, talentless, she-skank.

I don't even have to mention her name or post her photo because I know that as soon as you read the end of the previous sentence, you knew exactly to whom I was referring.

Admit it.

By the way, 75 days until the first day of Spring.


photo © jsuler via flickr.com

Studio Day

I'm having a lovely studio day today.
Look, I'm letting my hair grow out. That means lots of curls. Isn't mid-life crisis fun?!

Iowa caucus day is here...

Well, here it is. There's nothing for me to comment on that isn't already out there either in print, on the web, television or radio until things really begin moving later this evening. I will state this however, if you happen to be a registered voter in Iowa, and you just happen to come across this blog on your web travels today, please, take the time to caucus this evening. Of course, you may caucus for whomever you wish, I would really love it if you did so for Hillary, but of course, the choice is yours. Early today, I heard a statistic that the last time Iowa held a caucus, about 150,000 folks turned out. The total population of Iowa is close to 3 million. Hmmm... I'm no statistician, but, surely, out of 3 million people, more than 150,000 can come out for about 30 minutes or so to caucus. Then again, word on the street is that the higher the number of turn out, the better the chances may be for Obama. Hmmm, perhaps, on second thought, it is better for you to stay inside where it's warm and toasty after all...

In any event, until later, here's an image of my latest art work for you to enjoy.


"Pathos"
acrylic, pen & ink, pencil, faux-finished color fields, ephemeral and
vintage photographic mixed-media collage on canvas.
6" x 12"
2007
© Michael Sprouse

The Voice of Reason

More Important Reasons to Support Hillary...

In my opinion, the populace of this wonderful country have an unfortunate history of short attention spans and even worse short term memory loss. We loose interest quickly and forget frequently. Fortunately, we now live in an age where the majority of us can have access to facts and figures with lightening quick speed if we so desire, or remember, to do so. It is with that spirit that I now post the following chart graphic as a refreshing memory that we all would do well to reacquaint ourselves with...



Just look at all of that glorious red, white, and blue. Unfortunately, there is much more red than blue, but that points out a significant point. It shows that over the last 40 plus years, the only time that we had a budget surplus was when we had Clintons in the White House! The starkness of the contrast of surplus vs. deficit is alarming is it not? Now, remember this folks!

First, let me state that there is a good reason that I say "Clintons" in the White House and that is because Hillary Clinton was highly involved in the Clinton presidency, and she and Bill are the closest of political partners. That is a fact. President Bill Clinton himself has stated as much in countless interviews as have other key members of his administration and White House staffers. Hillary was hands on. Remember how outraged conservatives were when she had an office for herself placed in the West Wing? She didn't do that so that she could have a special place to think about fancy party gowns, debate new hairstyles, and daydream about lipstick.



It's also important to remember that we also had during the 8 years of peace and prosperity under the Clintons a president that understood the transition from an industrial to a post-industrial world, and could carry out the responsible domestic and international policies to thrive in that world. The U.S. was respected throughout the world, and we had the strongest economy in our nation's history, with record gains in economic growth (116 straight months of economic growth at an average rate of 4.0 percent per year), job creation (22.5 million new jobs), income (median family income up nearly 15%), home ownership, and a historic drop in poverty (down 15%), all while overcoming the budget deficit and putting our country in the black.

Anyone now old enough to vote in this country that is not mentally incapacitated in someway can remember how great things were under a Clinton White House.

Edwards and Obama are downright wrong to imply that Hillary is part of the problem that only "change" can fix and they know it. Even if you combined the experience of the two of them together, they still would not, and could not, have the knowledge base and true experience that Hillary has after spending 8 years playing a very important role in getting this country back on track in the 1990s. It happened then and it needs to happen now! Now - more than ever.

So, the next time you hear the tired "change" mantra coming from Obama and Edwards, pick up your recent history books and reopen your mind.

By the way, there are 79 days to the first day of Spring


© Steve took it

Thanks to Hillary's Bloggers wonder post of "Four Reasons I Support Hillary" (especially enlightening for all of you parents out there) for turning me on to the chart and more.

Welcome 08

Like zillions of other bloggers, I couldn't let this day go without a visit to the Sprouseart blog. Before I get into any serious blogging however, I have to state how uncanny it is that while I sit here in our little place on the Delaware shore, outside the weather is wonderfully sunny with a crisp blue sky and an air temperature of a rather balmy 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Uncanny, really. You know, mid-Atlantic coast, Winter, January.


(photo © stellaretriever)

I was curious as to what the norm temperature for Jan. 1st is here in this part of Delaware (the nation's second smallest state). I went to my new favorite weather spot, www.wunderground.com, where I discovered that the average high for this area on this day is 45 degrees and the low 26. That means that usually on this date in this area, the temperature normally hovers somewhere between those two numbers.

Today must be a weather oddity, but a welcome one for myself. It was so lovely that I even had the front door open. However, that changed not long after a repulsive, massive, black fly entered my home making a b-line to the kitchen followed by an obnoxious, whiny, blood-sucking mosquito making a b-line to my right ankle. But, for the brief amount of time that I had had the door open, it was lovely. I sat quietly in my chair, closed my eyes, and took in the gentle breeze that comes our way courtesy of the Atlantic just about a mile up the road (it worked wonders for the sinister hangover that I awoke with this morning after, my body's retribution for a wild New Year's Eve party at our friend Michael's lovely home). The neighbor across the street was wordlessly washing his car. The only sound from the process were the soft splish-splash of his foam covered sponge entering in and out of a bucket of water. In some tree nearby a bird was chirping out a sweet tiny song. It was mixed with the distant sound of a laughing children mixed with the playful yip yap of some far away dog. It was, in fact, a lovely way to begin the new year. Sitting quietly, eyes closed, and just listening...

Now, I received a comment from my wonderful friend of 25 years, Kathryn, about one of my earlier posts regarding Obama.
Now, normally, I share the same stance as the astute Iowan who placed this sign upon their door...



But, Kathryn is a dear friend, and I want to respond to some of her valid points, in my own way..

Kathryn states:

"I think Obama has more experience "watching houses" than you are giving him credit for"

My response:

Really? I just don't see this. Obama hasn't even finished out his first term as a US Senator (though to be fair he did serve one term as a Illinois State Senator representing the 13th District in the south side neighborhood of Hyde Park in Chicago from 1996 - 02). In my opinion, that's just not good footing to begin a presidential bid. He also ran for the Senator ship unopposed for the majority of the race until the Republicans sent in Keyes, which, was frankly only done so as a token candidate with no chance in hell of wining. Here's an excerpt from a posting on www.democrats.org

In 2000 Obama was advised by fellow Democratic state senator, Donne Trotter (one of the good guys), to run against incumbent Democratic US Representative Bobby Rush (one of the questionable guys). Obama, despite a sizeable chunk of out-of-district financing, was thoroughly trounced in the primaries.

In the 2004 Senate contest, one-term Republican incumbent Peter Fitzgerald announced he would not seek re-election. The seat was to be challenged on the Democratic side by multimillionaire businessman Blair Hull (the odds on favorite), Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes, and State Senator Obama. Hull's campaign stalled due to accusations of domestic abuse. Hynes bored folks to tears and his financing was questioned. Obama won the nomination. After gaining his party's nomination Republican Jack Ryan was forced to drop out of the race when unproven sexual allegations were made public. The Republicans bussed in Allen Keyes so the seat would not go unopposed, but to no avail.

I believe this bit of history is worth bringing up because Obama has only faced one serious challenge in his political career, against Rush. All the rest have been gimmies. Obama has run a successful campaign so far, but he has by no means had his feet put to the fire. Someone needs to do it soon to see how he reacts.

So, in my opinion, not only do I find that posting completely valid on terms of him running a winnable election, I also truly believe that serving one term as a state Senator and being in the middle of his tenure as a US Senatorship gives him enough experience to take on the massive challenges facing this country right now. Compare any unbiased biographies of Clinton and Obama and hands down Clinton's years of experience being in the political arena ( 12 hands on years as first lady of Arkansa, 8 hands on years as First Lady of the country, and her tenure as a US Senator from New York) outweighs Obama's by far.

Kathryn states:

"I don't see the passive aggressive either. He simply says this is the time for him to run. Being a parent, I get where he is coming from. We have made some decisions like that in our own lives - OK I have not run for president... But we have done things that have been very disruptive to our life and our children’s life knowing that for us it was now or never."

My response:

Frankly, I think you have misinterpreted this. There is a big difference between - this is the time to run - and - if you don't vote for me, then I'll never run again. Now, I saw him in at least 3 interviews after his wife initially made that remark (passive/aggressive) and when asked whether he really wouldn't do so, he coyly avoided the answer ( passive/aggressive, and in my opinion, really an immature move, something that someone with more experience wouldn't have gone with). Plus, it's important to realize that all of this items are controlled by the candidates campaign team themselves. Michelle Obama made the comment in an upcoming edition of Vanity Fair magazine. All of these moves are calculated. It's the response that they're never sure about until it occurs. I think that the underlying message here was "now or never" but not in a nice way, more like a spoiled kid way, and frankly, I think it backfired on them, as you can see that they certainly aren't working the comment now just a few short days later.

Kathryn states:

"As to the Clinton's, frankly the country could do without the divisive drama they seem to attract. I know plenty of pain in the ass republicans who say they could get behind Obama. Isn't that what our country needs -somebody we can all look to again to LEAD? Maybe the right approach is to get rid of all of the "experience" and get people in government who will actually fix the problems instead of stir up the water some more."

My response:

I'm really surprised by this. First, in my opinion the "divisive drama" that you refer to is almost always stirred up by angry right wing republicans and the conservative media. Also, have you forgotten how wonderful things were under the Clinton administration? I don't know about you, but when THEY were in charge of the country, I was making quite a bit of steady money, I had great health insurance, I actually had some substantial savings and was able to think about retirement plans, drove a nice car powered by affordable gas and lived in a lovely home in a major city in the US where I never worried about being blown up when I would get on the metro. I have none of those things in my life now. Not a one. Should I continue with the words BALANCED BUDGET? How about strong (now undone) environmental protection laws? A more balanced Supreme Court? You imply that Clinton "will stir up the water some more"? Where is that coming from? I respectively suggest that you do some research into what great things really occurred in this country the last time the Clintons were in the White House and then rethink your response. Also, it's important to remember that Hilary wasn't just a pretty face picking out dinner china and trying on hats, she was one of the most hands on First Lady ever. You see, my whole issue with Obama is about experience. So when I read about it possibly being the time to "get rid of all of the "experience" and get people in government who will actually fix the problems" I cringe. I wouldn't ever even think about boarding a passenger jet piloted by someone with no flying experience, so why would I ever even think that I would want someone with no experience running this country at such a desperate time?!

Now when I read that you know several "pain in the ass republicans who say they could get behind Obama" I've heard talk from and have seen just as many whose mouth waters at the idea of there being a Democratic presidential candidate who happens to be an African-American with the name of Barack Hussein Obama simply because they think it's the only way they could get another Republican in the White House. Now, I don't feel that way and I don't like that way of thinking either, but unfortunately, but there are many. many folks out there ready to pounce upon that, and trust me, they will, if he becomes the candidate. Republicans are scared at the idea of Clinton, because she knows the game and knows it well. Again - experience. Also, they have been under so much scrutiny over the years by the Republican hate machine that there simply are no more dark corners to shine lights on any longer. And even if they did manage to find something or the other, the Clinton's would know exactly how to deal with it. They're like teflon, and that's exactly what we need in the White House. Again, the republicans know this and they do not want her to be the candidate. So, the next time you hear these pain in the ass repugnantcans, mention their desire to get behind Obama, you may want to consider their motivation. I think they see him as new juicy meat that they can't wait to get their teeth into. Obama has never had to deal with anything like that, Hillary has done so many times, and she still keeps wining ( she would have never been able to have won her US Senator seat, twice mind you, without republican support).

So, there is my wordy diatribe on why I am supporting Hillary Clinton, to me, it's all about proven experience. I think if more people sat down and calmly without bias went over all of the history of the candidates, they would find Clinton the absolute best candidate in the running by far. Anti-Hillary democrats need to ask themselves quite honestly what exactly is it about here that they are basing their dislike in. It's surprising how so many can't come up with a decent answer based in fact.

On that not, let me be clear that I don't dislike Obama at all, and will whole-heartedly support him if he becomes the candidate simply because we can not afford to have another one of these in the White House....



But I won't feel very confidant about it and that disillusions me greatly. I honestly don't think that he is ready for the job yet. In 8 years, absolutely, but now, the way things are? No, send the neophytes back to school and bring in the pros, because we're going to need them.

Now, major hugs and kisses, and buckets of my never ending love to you and yours Kat and my sincerest wish for a happy, healthy, peaceful and successful new year. In fact, I want to wish that to all of my readers out there. All 12 of you. Or maybe 9. I don't know.

By the way, only 80 more days to the first day of Spring.


photo © sante.boschianpest

Times Square and New Year's Eve

Place a message on a bit of confetti for New Year's Eve in Times Square....

http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey.zgi?p=WEB227AC5GHEXV

Clinton leads in Iowa

This is a nice way for me to start the day...
According to the latest Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll released today, Clinton is in the lead. You can read more about it by following the link here.

Clinton leads in Iowa

Early Spring?

Oddly enough, it's a balmy 58 degrees with rain and thunder here at the Delaware shore this morning. Of course, that's not the norm for December 29th.

I make no secret of the fact that I am a huge Hillary fan...



I don't know how much more of this buffoon



the country or the world can take.

The main reason that I'm not supporting Obama is his real lack of experience which he, and the media frankly, keep trying to downplay. It's important right now. Extremely important.

Now, this may be a weak analogy, but here goes anyway. Say I were to go away for a couple of weeks, and I had to choose between two people to watch my home and tend to my cats while I was away. Basically, I'm handing over power of my little world to someone temporarily and I have to be able to TRUST them to make the right decisions about my home while I'm away.

One potential house sitter has had quite a bit of EXPERIENCE house sitting and taking care of other people's pets. They're more mature with a no-nonsense attitude and have a long track record of house sitting and house sitting well. The other potential sitter has very little or no experience house sitting. He is a good speaker and certainly charismatic, but he keeps insisting that what I need is a change of the "old" ways. When I ask him about experience, he simply keeps stating that I should trust him to do the best job, simply because he has a fresh approach, or so he says, at house sitting. He wants me to simply trust in this fresh approach and not ask too many questions.

In fact, when I start to show a bit of indecision, rather than speak to me more about problem solving and practical experience as the first potential house sitter does, he informs me in a passive aggressive manner that if I don't choose him that I will never have another opportunity to do so, because if I don't pick him now, he will never make himself available to house sit for me again. Ever.
(Click here to read what I'm referring to)

Now, I don't know about you, but that last comment by the potential house sitter would have been viewed as childish and immature. Guess who I'm going to pick to house sit? Now what if the house that were speaking about is the White House and we're speaking about the next 4 to 8 years? And what if you were handing over control of such house with a massive sever storm brewing outside? Hmmmm...

Maybe it's not such a bad analogy after all.

Tee Hee

Winter humor...

At least I'm staying busy in the studio...

I have never been as out of the Christmas spirit as I have been this year. Ever. The economy is so miserable, despite what the Idiot In Chief says,



that we have decided not to celebrate the holiday this year. No tree, no lights, no gifts. Nothing. I'm OK with that. Of course, everyone will say that the holiday isn't about gifts. But, frankly, that's mostly bullshit. It's totally about giving and getting gifts. It's massive consumerism. If I hear one more person ask me if "I've got all my shopping done yet" I may go running and screaming into the path of the next bus. Ask yourself how many times you've been asked that, have asked that yourself, or have overheard others asking that question and then tell yourself that Xmas (at least here in the States) isn't about consumerism.

A recent friend of mine,who happens to be a wonderful artist, made a brilliant table top sculpture work that she showed me the other day. It consisted of Santa Claus being crucified on a cross. It was amazingly realistic. She told me that it was a statement about the consumerism of Christmas and I thought it was brilliant.

Of course, I no longer consider myself to be a Christian , so the whole religious aspect isn't there for me in any case at this time of year. But, I was raised a Catholic, so I do appreciate the beauty of the story of Xmas in an artistic sense at least.

What I do enjoy however are the lights. For the last few years I've considered myself a spiritualist who celebrates the "season of light". You don't need gifts for that. And also, it isn't about me getting gifts, it's about me being able to give them. Which, this year I can not. That's what sucks for me on a personal level because I love picking out special things for special people. Since I can't give gifts this year, I don't want anyone to give any to me.

So, what have I been doing rather than shopping and throwing money at a tree? I've been painting! That I love year round. And who knows, maybe someone will actually buy one or two of my works before the holiday which may tempt me to put up a light or two.

Here are my last two works. By the way, these are an AMAZING bargain at $350 each. But, desperate times you know....


"Unchanged"
acrylic, faux-finished color fields, ephemeral and vintage photographic mixed-media collage on canvas.
6" x 12"
2007
© Michael Sprouse


"What Kind of Star?"
acrylic, faux-finished color fields, ephemeral and vintage photographic mixed-media collage on canvas.
6" x 12"
2007
© Michael Sprouse

Is Traditional Painting Dead?

So, I've been up since about 5:15 AM. Frankly, that isn't unusual for me. But it didn't help my morning to run across this little article online. Check out the ( in my opinion) CRAP that was chosen for this "MYARTSPACE NEW YORK, NEW YORK 2007 COMPETITION" by clicking here... http://www.myartspace.com/contestresults/nyny07/

Now, let me get the record straight here - I didn't enter the competition, so this isn't a question of bitter grapes. This is, in my opinion, a case of "the emperor's not wearing any clothes". It never ceases to amaze me how many no talents there are out there that consider themselves to be "artists" simply because they love calling themselves that and are smitten with the "idea" of being an artist ( I've met countless numbers of them). Plus, the fact that there is always a cadre of artistically brain dead, overtly intellectualized, smug "in the know" cultural elitist ready to proclaim anything art (and purchase such) in order to keep this puerile movement afloat blows my mind!

You know, I've always found that the more you have to convince someone that something is something other than what it appears to be upon initial review, the more you need to re-examine it yourself (if it walks like a duck...).

Enough already!

Fading Monday....

It's the end of a rather long and uneventful Monday. Well, perhaps not uneventful, just not as enjoyable as the previous weekend. I'll have quite a bit to fill up this week however with meetings and studio work. Here's the last work that I finished this afternoon. It's titled "What Kind of Star"


"What Kind Of Star"
acrylic, faux-finished color fields, ephemeral and vintage photographic mixed-media collage on canvas.
6" x 12"
2007
© Michael Sprouse


So, the day wasn't unproductive by any means. But, by the time I drove the little over 2 hour drive in from the beach this AM, I just seemed a bit out of it - somewhat behind the schedule a bit. Though, the only schedule that I use is one of my own being that I am self-employed. It did seem though that by the time I made and took part in the phone calls that were on my list, read and send the emails, run errands in, around, and away from the house, the day had passed like morning fog.

In any event, perhaps I'll find the time to finish my new work that I started this afternoon after finishing the one above.

In Memorium: Dan Fogelberg

I was a huge fan of his music in the 70's and 80's and was just singing a song of his when I was working in the studio the other day. His songs and voice were so touching and heart felt. Many of them held, and still do, a very special inner-personal meaning for me. That will change somehow, I think, now that he is no longer of this plane. I had no idea that he was ill so this came as quite a surprise to me as I'm sure it will to others. A true loss on many levels...


In Memorium:
Dan Fogelberg
August 31, 1951 - December 16, 2007

Ugh...can one get by on 4 hours of sleep...

I just got my internet access back after not having such since last Sunday morning. I've also have been sleeping for only about 4 to 5 hours a night for the last week or so. Who says hallucinations can't be fun?!
At least I have been a very busy boy in the studio....



Recently completed work incorporating, acrylic paint, faux-finished color fields, ephemeral and vintage photographic mixed-media collage on canvas. Click on image until large version appears for detail.
"Pleasant Doors"
6" x 12"
2007
© Michael Sprouse

Hey, as of last week, you can now find my original works at this very hip place in Philadelphia...
Philadelphia Home Art Garden aka P.H.A.G.

Friday morning trash trucks

One of my favorite ways to be awakened on an icy early winter Friday morning is by the sounds of the giant foul smelling trash trucks rumbling up your street at 6:00 AM. This lovely sensation is only heightened by the sudden barren realization that you forgot to place your trash and recyclables by the curb the previous evening before going out with your friends to share many bottles of wine over dinner. It's fun to fling yourself out of a warm cozy bed with a fuzzy, wine colored, brain in the pre-dawn dark desperately grabbing at whatever warm things happen to be within hands reach as you try to side step the screeching cats in order to make your way out into the frostbitten morning so as to drag a behemouth of a garbage scented trash can to the curb.

At least I now get to drive with my friend Jerry to the beach so as to be able to perform in my friend's Improv Murder Mystery Troupe tonight. Right now, I'm dreading it, but the money is good. Perhaps I just need to re-adjust my attitude about the whole thing.



Ciao for now,
M

Still staying busy...

For now, at least, even quick, little posts must be better than none. Here's a new work that I completed yesterday...



And here is something totally tasteless, yet dripping with wonderful sarcastic and caustic British humour.

Busy paint boy...

Whew, I am a busy paint boy today. In fact, I have been a busy paint boy ever since arriving back from Italy. I don't have the time I want now to place a decent post here this morning as I am leaving in an hour for a job which will be followed up at 12:30 with a meeting with an interior designer who wants me to work on 2 murals. Not to mention my other artistic commissions and projects. But, I'm happy as a clam about all of it, and as my dear departed mother always used to say, "it's better than digging a ditch".

Here's one of my latest works (not the latest however as I haven't photographed that one yet).



"Young Folks"
6" x 12"
acrylic with vintage ephemeral &
photographic collage
2007
©Michael Sprouse

Back with a powerful video...

I've been a very busy boy to say the least...
Italy was phenomenal.
Thanksgiving was lovely.
And Henry Rollins is awe inspiring...

Off to Italy

I'm flying off to Rome today...how exciting!!

New season, new hairstyle

Hasn't it been a zillion days since my last visit here? Well, it's of little consequence. I find that the majority of visits here are from folks looking for images anyway. I've had an amazing last 18ish days since my last post. I can't, or won't, spend time documenting it all here, but it's been thought provoking to say the least. With that said, I'm off to Italy on Thursday and won't be back for about 2 weeks. How exciting. It's possible that I may be able to update this blog during my trip. If it is, well, then you'll know that I was able to do so. Here is a photo taken today. It's a new season, and I have a new hairstyle to go along with it. Enjoy.

In Memoriam...

In Memoriam...
Luciano Pavarotti
October 12, 1935 – September 6, 2007

Thus ends the holiday weeekend

Ah...the end of another Labor Day weekend as the sun rises on Tuesday morning. We spent the weekend entertaining one of our dearest friends (whom we affectionately call "doll-lips " most of the time - though the debate as to who first created the nickname - George or myself - rages on.) I will refer to her here as DL. Dl brought her new beau with her to the beach for George and I to meet for the first time. We all hit it off easily and had a great time.

Of course, we spent the weekend overindulging in food and drink - but we had a blast doing it. The weather was pristine (and it still is). This works out well for my ride back to NJ in a couple of hours. I'll hit the ground running there as I have one of my dearest friends coming to visit on Thursday morning for a long weekend and I have much to do between now and then. Amazingly, he and I have been friends for over 35 years. His wonderful and beautiful mother died earlier this year. She and I were close and he is brining a portion of her ashes for us to sprinkle into the ocean together.

I finally was able to watch "Pan's Labyrinth" last night with George and was mesmerized. In fact, it ended up being a weekend of "finally was able tos" or close to it, for myself. We were "finally able to" meet DL's new beau. I was finally able to finish reading the biography of Katherine Hepburn that I purchased and wrote about here almost a year ago ( you should read the book only if you are interested in the deconstruction and demythification of the classic Hepburn story). I took a bike ride with George and finally made it to the top of the great dune ( not having done so before not because of the ride but because we had never taken that route) where there is a spectacular view of the ocean. It's the largest and highest dune between Cape Cod and Lake Hatteras.


( you can see it here to the left in this wee photo)

I also waxed my car Monday afternoon. I enjoyed the process and it occurred to me while I was doing it that I haven't waxed a car for about 20 something years. I always find it worth pondering when thoughts like that arise. You're doing something benign like helping your brother to wax your father's car in the summer of 1983 and you forget about it until the next time you find yourself engaged in that action and it's 24 years later. It's a different time and place true, and space for that matter - but you're mentally brought back in time briefly. It's as if you have one foot in the past and one in the present. Fascinating.



By the way - Pan's Labyrinth is truly an amazing and beautiful film.

Now - I'm still waking up so I'm moving back to my coffee. More later.

Welcome back....

( Oh man... does anyone over the age of 30 even know what this photo is from? For that matter, does anyone over the age of 30 not know? BTW, I was addicted to this show between the ages of 10 and 12 - but then came 1978 and the rest is history...)

20 days since my last entry?! Well, as I have stated before, things slow down on some level in August. But, now August itself is passing and I feel my blogging sensibilities reawakening.

I’ve actually had a rather full past 20 days - I had a very successful solo exhibit at the Chasen gallery in Richmond (a town for which I have grow rather fond - especially after the lovely weekend I had there), made some connections with some new potential galleries closer to home, made a visit to DC for a friend’s birthday, made several new friends and acquaintances, updated the website for the style magazine that I co-publish, finished reading 2 books, began teaching myself conversational Italian due to an upcoming trip to Tuscany, started and have almost finished a portrait commission. I could go on and on.

So, you see, it’s not as if I have been sitting around for the last 20 days staring into empty-eyed into the flickering blue haze of a television screen smashing Fritos into my drooling mouth like a semi-comatose zombie.

Now, since I have brought up the subject of smashing food into one’s mouth, once again I witnessed at the grocery store yesterday when I was in the checkout line the ugly trio of ignorance paired with low-self esteem and their ugly offspring - obesity. A mother and her two daughters ( I’ll guess them to be between the ages of 8 and 11) were directly in front of me checking out. They were all huge. And of course, what food items were rolling down the lane but ChocoCrap Cereal, Heavenly HoHos, Sugar Coated Lard on a Stic, you get the picture.

I saw the obese mother toss a quick glance at the healthy food stuffs that I was placing on the belt with a look that seemed to be a mixture of disgust, envy, embarrassment and hopelessness. In the instant that I noticed her super-quick glance and expression (one thing that I have mastered over my 30 years of drawing and studying faces is the multitude and subtleties of emotions that and expressions that people - often unconsciously - exhibit on their faces - basically I can read most faces like a book), I noticed her noticing me noticing her. Confused yet? She quickly turned her attention to her daughters and made some silly comment about not squashing the bread or something like that.



How is it that this is still going on in this country? Frankly. I’m sick of the excuses that most people use. The message that I would have liked to have given that woman would be to get your act together and think about what you are doing to your children. If you want to be an obese slob, so be it. But your kids? Do you really want them to grow up feeling the way that you must feel about yourself on the inside? You KNOW that what you’re feeding them is crap. And contrary to popular opinion, expensive crap at that. If you don’t believe me. the next time you’re in the market, compare the prices between a box of CinnaCocoa Cardio-Arrest Puffs to that of a box of old fashioned oat meal (not the bullshit, sugar laden, “flavored” instant kind). The Oat Meal is a powerhouse breakfast food and it takes only 5 minutes to prepare in the microwave. Toss on some blueberries, honey and cinnamon, and your kids will devour it and you will be amazed at how healthy it is for you.

Here's a story that just ran yesterday about how in the last year alone, obesity rates have risen in this country!

OK, now I can step off of my soap box ( or high horse, I’m sure, to some of you readers) and get on with my day - meaning I’m about to go on my 4 mile power walk which I will follow up with a wonderful breakfast of oatmeal and fruit. Just don’t ask me about my plans to meet friends for happy hour and free appetizers later on today...

Birds Of A Feather...

Yesterday, after my grueling 4 mile power walk in pea soup thick 95 degree humidity, I decided that I needed to make a quick run to the grocery store for a few items. I shower, throw on some clothing appropriate for wearing in “surface of the sun” temperatures, hop into my beetle convertible and head for one of the local supermarkets.

The icy temperature inside was wonderfully refreshing and I found myself drifting through the produce section casually filling my cart with a variety of different vegetables while enjoying the super powered air conditioning. It was then my little observation which is the subject of this posting occurred. I only preface it in such a way because I think that there is every possibility that some readers my find my posting as non-politicaly correct. Hence, I want to apologize in advance for any possible offense, yet at the same time, I have no intention about changing my mind about my observation. You can decide and feel free to comment about it if you wish.

Now, back to my story. I’m lazing about the produce section when I overhear a woman’s voice mixing with that of some children discussing a shopping list. I happen to glance over in their direction as people often do in grocery stores and thus began my observation. The woman was probably in her early to mid-thirties, dark blonde, tan and extremely overweight. In fact, I would call her obese. There were two little boys with her. I’m guessing that they were brothers as they were dressed in similarly and had matching sunglasses. One was probably about 10ish and the other 8ish.

They were well behaved, normal little boys and interestingly enough, they were not overweight at all. Now, what was memorable about the kids is that they were approaching the cart with their arms filled with packages from the other isles. The youngest had his arms filled with boxes of twinkies, HoHos, cupcakes and the like. The older of the two had his arms filled with giant boxes of Fruit Loops and Crunch Berry cereals. I remember thinking suddenly that the mother was going to say something like “put that stuff back” or something to that effect. I mean, I seen kids try to place sugary crap in their mother’s carts hundreds of time and I know for a fact that I tried to do the same when I was a kid in cahoots with my siblings.



What I wasn’t expecting was the mother to act as if such behavior was normal. In fact, she asked them to make sure that they had the “flavors” that they wanted. Again, all of them were well behaved and pleasant acting. Now, it is possible that this woman could be anyone to these kids. She may have been their baby sitter, a cousin or older sister. Or, they may have been purchasing food for a camp out or a birthday party for all I know. But, for some reason it didn’t seem like that to me. It seemed, instinctively, like an obese mother allowing her kids to jump on the highway to obesity with her.


A few isles later, we ended up the same isle once more and their cart contained even more crap. Frankly, I’m sick of it. If an adult wants to stuff their body, for whatever self-loathing reasons, with processed garbage and become obese - that’s their business. But to help your children to do the same thing is simply wrong and, in my opinion, possibly abusive. I can’t imagine that in this day and age that there is any parent, particularly obese parents, who don’t know that allowing their child to eat the same copious amounts of crap that they consumed is wrong! Why not but them a pack of cigarettes and hand them the keys to your car after offering them a few stiff shots while you’re at it? I just don’t understand it.

The Inevitability of the Passing of Time

It’s almost 6:30 AM on Wednesday, August 8, 2007. There’s a light, yet steady, rain falling complete with cloud cover that has colored the morning with a much darker light than what is usually found at this early time of the day. Undeniably however, the sun has quietly begun rising seconds later each morning, now it seems, and, thus, setting seconds earlier. This can only mean one thing - the same thing it means every year - the arrival of Autumn in the air. I can sense its inevitable approach. It’s delivery announcement is proclaimed in every prematurely fallen brown and brittle leaf that occasionally spins about my ankles in a crinkly wind dance during my daily power walk through the park. Summer is slowly evaporating like a bar of amber colored glycerin hand soap. I pick it up, use it, and carry its crisp scent on my hands and even though it never seems to change its shape, every morning, there is less and less of it for my enjoyment.

The other morning, I awoke in a slight panic from that very thought. Though it was nothing other than the fading ember of a forgotten dream, the first thought that clarified in my mind as I bolted up from my pillow was that August was suddenly here and that meant that the death-knoll for Summer had begun. I could hear Autumn’s foot steps scampering across the antique wooden floor of my front porch looking for a place to disappear like an over excited child in a game of hide and seek. Though it was hidden, I knew it was there, somewhere, trying not to giggle and waiting to be discovered.

Once I accepted the onset of the season, I was content again. I have always been an adoring fan of Autumn and all of its golden splendor usually proclaiming October as my favorite month of the year. Besides, I would be fooling myself to pretend that the seasons are actually arriving quicker than before. It’s only that I don’t have as many new days ahead of me as I did 20 years ago. The psyche makes that realization deep within yet tries to mask it with rationalization about how quickly time passes. If you’re my age, or older, ask a child, a teen or someone in their early 20’s how quickly time passes for them, and you’ll know from their answer - even if they lie to you - that they can’t really relate to your ever increasing sense of the sand speeding through the hourglass. How could they? Why would they want to? It’s inevitable, cyclic, entropic, and natural.

A very close friend of mine, who is about 15 years older than I, once described to me in analogy how she felt about her perception of the ever increasing speed of the passing of time. “Imagine yourself in a little row boat on a river somewhere,” she said. “When you’re a child and up into your early twenties, you can sit in the boat all day with no current to move you at all just laughing and splashing water with your friends. But as you get older, you start to notice a slight current which grows stronger and faster with each passing year."

I believe she likened her current boat ride to that of approaching white water. My speed is a bit different, not quite as fast yet. Though, make no mistake, I can feel the current now. When I place my hand in the water, I feel it moving steadily through my fingers and I can watch the fallen leaves smoothly glide by me. And though I am able to catch most of them in my fingers, a few now are able to get past me...