Notes from the Front Desk: Alex, David and Beth

Working hard at the front desk. David making leaves, me blogging. 

So, one great thing about turn-around is the chance to get to know your fellow co-workers. Thing’s around here right now are a little more relaxed. Since we don’t have patrons wandering in and out of the museum, we’re all able to hang out and chat while focusing on various projects to get done before the next exhibition. While we already spend a lot of time up here at the front desk together, it’s always nice to be able to know your fellow desk-mate even better especially during an odd time like this. Lucky for you I’ll give you a peek at what’s going on. Here’s a little insight on a few of the people who are up here handling the front of the house!

Name: Alex (The Great)

Age:  22

How long @ Center Museum:  1yr 8mo

Favorite thing about turn around: Seeing all the new art come in”  

Favorite Lunch Break Eats: Subway

Favorite thing to wear during turn around: “Umm. . . clothes? An apron.”

Project currently working on: Staining chair legs for the new learning center furniture.

Worst part of turn around: The noise

Book currently reading: Morals and Dogma, by Albert Pike

What are you doing on your 3 day weekend: Disneyland!

Favorite Color: White.

David and Alex, hanging tough at the desk.

Name: David

Age: 19 y/o

How long @ Center Museum: 2 ½ years

Favorite thing about turn around: “Looking around and seeing how everything’s changing, and what people are doing to change the exhibit, and see it progress throughout the weeks.”

Favorite lunch break eats: Subway!!

Favorite thing to wear during turn around: “Skinny Jeans”

Project currently working on: “Cutting out paper leaves.”

Worst part of turn around: “Having nothing to do. . .sometimes. I guess? Or doing repetitive tasks over and over again.. . . like cutting out leaves. ”

Book currently reading: The Black Prism, by Brent Weeks

What are you doing on your 3 day weekend? “Probably yard work. Because I need money.”

Favorite Color: Purple.

David, Alex, and Beth working on various projects.

Name: Beth

Age: 28

How long @ Center Museum: Almost a year

Favorite thing about turn around: “Getting new, unique, unexpected merchandise in the store from consignment artists.”

Favorite lunch break eats: “I’m boring… I like the bagel guy’s Lentil soup.”

Favorite thing to wear during turn around: “Chuck Taylors.”  

Project currently working on: “Re-doing museum store, and scouting for couches around San Diego to use for the new learning center”

Worst part of turn around: “Stressful, last minute preparation for exhibit.”

Book currently reading: “Essays on How to Avoid Dying. I got it from a friend. . .”

What are you doing on your 3 day weekend? “Like, nothing. My husband’s overseas. . .Carissa, do you want to get some pad-thai on Saturday?”

Favorite Color: Black

David, taking a "Man Break".

Library Thing

After my last post on Steve Martin’s new book, An Object of Beauty, I got to thinking about just how much I love to read.  Life is beautiful but sometimes you just need a little escape, which a good book can always be.  Another one of the books I am currently reading is The Participatory Museum by Nina Simon.  In it, as she is an avid reader [context clues, I do not personally know this fact], when discussing ideas behind personalized experiences through technological engines she mentions LibraryThing. LibraryThing is an online site that catalogues and recommends books to its users, like a facebook only about the books you read.  I recently started a page of my own and am really enjoying entering in all the books I can remember reading.  Each entry is a little trip down my book memory lane.  Become a LiraryThing-er yourself and see what the ‘Unsuggester’ recommends for you!  The ‘Unsuggester’ suggests books to you that based on your book profile, you would never read.   

Tara

Hate to See it Leave, But Love to Watch it Go.

Tara mentioned it before, but we are now in the full throws of turn-around time and it’s an emotional sight to see! I too enjoy this time of year and all the perks that come with it, most important being allowed to dress casually, but along with jeans and sneakers comes the heartbreak of letting go of the exhibition that everyone lived for the past 5 months.  Leveled was the first exhibition I had seen in its entirety, from start to finish, while working here at the Museum; and it was also Tara’s first exhibition as Curator here-- so there is a lot of separation anxiety going on in the museum admin offices! But, alas, Leveled had an amazing run and we are looking forward to the upcoming Patricia Patterson exhibition and all the other promising shows we are already working on for the future. I would like to formally say “Goodbye” to Leveled and “Congratulations” to its artists and Curator for such a touching exhibition. For all you old-schooler’s who came to Leveled looking for traditional paintings but were instead met by a mysterious fort and some oversized vegetables, NEVER FEAR! We have some beautiful, colorful pieces coming your way.

Here are a couple more photos of Leveled getting stripped. Enjoy. . . or be sad about it, like me.

x Carissa

Marisol's avocado, saran-wrapped and ready for the 'fridge. 

 Look at all the knowledge that was housed in Wes' fort!?

The Fort's guts. Most of its insides now out in the hallway.

Detail from Doris' installation. I think "HEART" is a good word to sum up the show.

St.Orlan vs. Bridalplasty

CNN breaks down Bridalplasty for you.

 

I don’t have a television. Actually, I have a TV, but no cable. I get only 10 channels that allow me the local news and football games. But after a night at my girlfriend’s house of watching a hilarious Twilight marathon and making moonshine, we flipped to E! and that’s when I realized why only having basic cable is a blessing—Bridalplasty! I can’t explain in words the feeling of nausea that set in, but I will say that it was significant. I couldn’t believe my eyes/ears/stomach/society, and it made me think of artist, Orlan.

Orlan used plastic surgery as a medium for her performance art pieces, and everyone thought she was completely nuts. People were outraged. But then this show comes along, in which women are competing to have this done to them before their weddings (to these men who supposedly love them the way they are) and we glorify and celebritize it? I’m not following. I’m imagining Orlan, smiling smugly at this (or totally frustrated), because I think this was exactly the type of madness she was trying to draw attention to. Anyways, I’ll let you make your own conclusions about the implications of this trainwreck. . . I’ll be at my friend’s house watching Bridalplasty.  . .Don’t judge me!

If you’re interested in further reading about Orlans work, (which you should be) here are a few interviews and articles! 

Orlan's Website 

Interesting Opinion Blog about the subject.

An Interview with Orlan.

x Carissa

I MET JUDY CHICAGO!

Okay, in reality, that’s a lie. But I did get very close! Beth, Museum Coordinator (friend), and I went down to SDMA to see Artist, Judy Chicago give a lecture about the new book she wrote with Art Historian, Frances Borzello called: Frida Kahlo:Face to Face. It was an awesome lecture and very well-attended. I think the most exciting parts were:

1. Seeing Judy in person. I’ve had a total girl-crush on her since college.  
2. Being in the midst of many other art historians who were speaking a lingo that, Beth and I agreed, we don’t hear enough anymore.
3. Viewing such a broad body of Kahlo’s work in one lecture. Chicago had studied many stages of Kahlo’s life, beginning with the most basic portraits, and followed it all the way until the end. Every struggle was represented. And Judy was very good about relating Kahlo’s work back to other women in art, both past and present.
4. Having two of my favorite artists being presented and presenting at the same time was such a treat. I was on overload. Women in art, ROCK!

To read/hear more about the book check it out here and here.

xx Carissa

Channeling Mondrian

Has your Mom ever told you your birth story? My Mom never shies away from the subject. I think she just likes to make me feel guilty. The birth story I love the most is the one my co-workers tell me regarding how I got hired here at the Center Museum. It has all the fun, feel-good elements—minus the gory details. Here’s a peek at one of the reason I got hired: my vintage, Mondrian inspired shoes! Beth, the Museum Coordinator, got me a ring to match for Christmas. It’s been the highlight of my holiday season.

Also, look out for photos of Security Guard Joe’s car that we will be painting soon, inspired by this photo below. His 1990 Geo Metro will never look better!

PS. I want to be this lady!

x Carissa