AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

Okay, life has once again gotten in the way. I mean, it just arches its back so that my toe catches hold and trips me up. I stumble forward and try not to fall flat on my face, and my poor creative projects wind up scattered across the vast desolate plains of frustration! I'm sure you all have lived this metaphor at one time or another. As I crawl on hands and knees and slowly gather up the bits and pieces of my writing, publishing, and graphic art that have been trashed in the name of wage-slave survival, I tell myself that I will be able to embrace it all one day and breathe new life into my work! Just keep me awy from loaded waepons in the meantime. (I'M KIDDING, OKAY?)

My good friend Sara Cooper, an emerging writer/director in NYC, is looking for a producer for her brilliant new musical "Emergency Contraception: The Musical." Already having had a couple of successful runs in NY, this one is sure to be a hit as well.

She needs:

A Producer who is able to raise $8,000 by June.
Someone who has a background producing new musicals.
Someone mature, easy to work with and RELIABLE.

Please let me know if you are interested!

I received a very kind comment today and was reminded of this article that I wrote shortly after my husband died - and how much I miss him. He was one of the most amazing human beings I've ever met. I was raised in a family that did not encourage individuality and creativity. He gave me the confidence to express myself artistically and taught me some valuable skills. Be sure to read his story, the link is below.

A Tribute To A Great Dreamer

Joe William Shed, Jr. passed away on June 18, 2005 after a lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis. I had the great joy and honor of being loved, cherished and taught by this man, who was grateful for every breath, every friend, every experience in his life. Joe was a perceptive dream interpreter and we enjoyed sharing this in our relationship. We often had the same or similar dreams. This is his story.

If anyone would care to spend yet more time staring at the screen of death,
there is a really nice article on me in the current Copper Press Magazine.
It covers both my entertainment and my art work....

http://www.copperpress.com/

It is the first feature listed there. Do take a look, won't you?
...And then tell your friends to give me some fucking work! ;-)

xxoo

Wow, Thanksgiving is less than a week away. Where did the year go? I was going to have to write about these lovely birds that sometimes stop traffic in rural Oklahoma eventually. On more than one occasion, I've had to stop to allow a whole little turkey family to cross the road.

In our country, the turkey symbolizes tradition, family and giving thanks. These large birds can provide a meal for many and are a symbol of abundance.

As a Native American animal totem animal, the turkey symbolizes sacrifice - it gives its life so that others may thrive. It is believed that if one has the turkey as a totem, the person is unselfish in giving to others.

Week of November 20th - 27th

There's a wonderful slideshow on Karen and Vicki's site where you can view each card. Just choose Ace of Cups from the pick list:

Motherpeace Slideshow

Given that the upcoming week will involve family togetherness, the home and bonds with those we care the most deeply about, it doesn't surprise me at all that this card came up this evening. The atmosphere of the card is peaceful, portraying a blue sky with few clouds, a calm, aqua ocean, a soothing fountain and two swans. The querent, naked and vulnerable, dives into the fountain head first.

Here is my first entry at AMP just to say hello and wish you all well wherever you are!

Am uploading a Dreamyfish drawing--not sure which one yet, so we'll see...

Jude

11.17.06

ps: it's a Western footballer, Neatypus obliquus (Waite) of Georgraphe Bay, W. Australia, who says, glub glub!

I am in the precarious position of being an unestablished and unemployed artist. I enjoy my freedom immensely and I work on my art every single day. I'm not always pleased with the direction I'm headed, but I've decided to trust that good work will come out and to just keep pushing. I usually have at least 10 pieces that I can be working on so if I get bored, I work on something else. I know to trust myself by the way I feel when making things and how I feel when I look at things I made in the past. I get excited and frantic. Nothing else matters at the moment. While working, there is definitely a zone, the one that athletes and musicians get into. If I don't feel that frantic, adrenaline-like feeling, something is wrong. It means that my motivations or methods are faulty. If I need a special tool or supply, I skip onto something else without regrets. I have enough ideas that I can realize with the resources at hand that I have no excuse to idle.

Dear Friends,

Welcome back to another Ljova update.

Lots to share with you this month, and they're all great things -
please take a look!

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CONTENTS:
1. Upcoming Ljova shows in London, Budapest and New York!
2. Ljova scores SPLEEN - watch it online!
3. Ljova profiled in STRINGS magazine!
4. Enso Quartet performs Ljova's music on tour!
5. Previously: Ljova with Jay-Z, Beyonce, Chris Martin and others in
London and NYC!
6. New Track - "Heat Me Up!"

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1. Upcoming Ljova shows in London, Budapest and New York!

Please mark your calendar for these special shows -

I am preparing a book on Artists and Politics in the US, I especially focus on artists' reactions to the war in Iraq. My work is based on interviews with committed artists.
I am University professor in Paris and I am currently in Los Angeles, affiliated with UCLA. I am in town until mid-December.
I am looking for artists who are politically active and/or are political in their artwork.
Please feel free to contact me and let me know if you have any question! Thank you.