Onajide | artist

Quickly Moving November

// November 24th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog

I spent Thanksgiving with a friend I used to work with and his family. My ex-roommate didn’t have anything planned sohe went with me and had a good time and, certainly enjoyed the good cooking. I baked another apple ppie but, double-sized because of the number of people there. I went back there for dinner tonight too.

And, I finally broke down and bought a new Samsung 22″ monitor so that I can do my web stuff without having to have everything hidden and layered in window on top of window. They were having a three day special. I’ve got two rebates coming too.

John Water… and Jeb

// November 20th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog

The Kindness of a Stranger
By JOHN WATERS
Published: November 19, 2006

Tennessee Williams saved my life. As a 12-year-old boy in suburban Baltimore, I would look up his name in the card catalog at the library and it would read “see Librarian.” I wanted these “see Librarian” books — and I wanted them now — but in the late 1950s (and sadly even today), there was no way a warped adolescent like myself could get his hands on one. But I soon figured out that the “see Librarian” books were on a special shelf behind the counter. So when the kindly librarian was helping the “normal” kids with their book reports, I sneaked behind the checkout desk and stole the first book I ever wanted to possess on my own. “One Arm” read the forbidden cover on a short-story collection by Tennessee Williams that I later found out had once been available only in an expensive limited edition, sold under the counter in “special” bookshops before New Directions released the hardback version. And now it was mine. [via: NYTimes.com]

Our friend Jeb had the most uncanny image on his site just yesterday!

Another week passes

// November 17th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog

This week has gone by pretty quickly… certainly quicker than I realized looking at this LJ. I know I’ve been busy but, I hadn’t posted anything in a solid week. I got a phone call to contract a web site (artist) I put a bid in for back in May, 2006. Another site I had already been paid a deposit on and never received any content wanted to give me the final payment and I just said, “We need to talk about this content and get this thing moving forward.” So, it happened and both are moving. Another site (gallery) I maintain needed lots of updating but, it went fairly quickly. And, a final site (artist) needed some major updates. All the art sites are being worked on because of Art Basel Miami Beach, the high point of the art season in S. Florida. And, Art Basel Miami Beach is the most important art event in the US right now. You doubt that? Why then, would there be ten (10) satellite art fairs during those same 4 days if it were not?

Things are just about to get crazy! I need to email each of those fairs for press entries, even if I can’t attend them all. I need to get my schedule together. One problem I have is that the opening day, I have a final exam to give. *blah* Stupid final exam schedules! And, you think I’m gonna sit home and grade projects instead of being out in the streets with all that art? Hell no!

I do have a few VIP passes already! Woopee!

Back Rent

// November 10th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog

Paying back rent money is fun, ya know. Blah. But, it has to be done especially when I have guilt about owing money so, I gave my former roommate money I owed him. We had a long talk about business and me then, went out to dinner where he made with some interesting revelations about his past. Kinda funny too. When we got back to his apt. we kept our ongoing conversation going and we ended up staying up to almost 4 am. Those are his hours, not mine.

But, what were we talking about? About me and how to get Miami Art Exchange made into a successful activity and not one that just sucks up my time and energy. He’s got ideas about how to make the site work as a business and one that is profitable. I’ve mentioned that before but, we discussed the option and potential of 501c(3) non-profit incorporation. He makes me think hard, and makes my brain ache and my heart pound with tension. I’m assessing and reassessing my motives, goals, and methods of getting where I need to be.

Actually, what I need to redo is set some realistic goals. Since I got my master’s I haven’t set new goals for myself because the reminder of my goals got derailed after attaining my master’s for some reason. I’ve been struggling, fighting, all my life and sometimes I just want to enjoy life even though I can’t. Getting my MFA was a huge deal for me. Some battles are seemingly insurmountable from my singular perspective. Having somebody like Paul around is good to reinforce the fact that I’m NOT living up to the potential and level that I should be and, that I should strive for more. That’s where my goals come back into the equation.

Anyway, after struggling to draw out on paper the redesigns (layout and page views) for Miami Art Exchange, we then starting on the build-out last night and, it looks really good. Paul wants to relaunch for Art Basel Miami Beach. I think it’s going to be really difficult but, I’m working towards it.

Also, I’ll have some (older) work up on exhibit at the univ. on Saturday afternoon to evening. I don’t know how long it will be up but, it’s for the visiting faculty. Interesting it should be.

Wetlands, Los Angeles, Calif.

// November 7th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog

Wetlands, Los Angeles, Calif.
Originally uploaded by artlab.

Believe me when I say I don’t know exactly when this image was made but, I do know it was between 1965 and 1968. There are most certainly houses and roads in this place now. I’m not really sure why I took this shot but, it is vaguely familiar. It’s somewhere between Carson and Long Beach, California, near where I used to live.

Okay, why this image?

Things are seemingly a little vague right now. There are several projects in front of me that aren’t seeming to move forward. It’s frustrating. There is so much to do that fiddling with small things seems like a waste of time even though it all needs to get done. And, I’m getting pushed, if only gently, from different quarters to move forward.

My former roommate and I talked/ discussed once again some realistic ways in which to move forward with Miami Art Exchange. I’m in personal uncharted territory designing an e-commerce site from scratch so, his help is indispensible to say the least. He wants to redesign and relaunch before Art Basel Miami Beach. Impossible! My target was January, 2006, after the semester ends and I have full time to devote to it. Right now I have art in my possession that needs to be dealt with.

I also have a new public art project to design for and, the design is due 1 Jan., 2006.

Number #121

// November 4th, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog

C-121
Originally uploaded by artlab.

Everything in life points to competition and, it is highly intense these days. Talent and skills don’t get you where you want to go, you have to be aggressive, sometimes obnoxious, and often me-first in order to get life’s necessities.

I’m working on getting non-profit 501c(3) status based on what Miami Art Exchange can get in terms of governmental assistance for programming and support. The attorney called and told me it would cost about $1000US to incorporate (which is a discounted cost). That’s a lot of money for me to spend right now but, do I have faith in myself and my decision making on this? History says this will be a failed attempt at getting over the hump to legitimacy since there will not be any financial returns for a while. Why not just incorporate for profit? Because the programming support I’m seeking by doing this is to create an art award. I’ll have to have another discussion with my friend on this one. It’s more complex than I’m making it.

The Good and The Bad

// November 2nd, 2006 // No Comments » // Blog

The good is that I’m actually paying some bills and saving a bit although, there’s a bad side to that. The bad is that I’m sleeping on the floor and it’s starting to hurt my back. I need just a bit more padding under me. Gawd, prisoners have it bad sleeping on those things they sleep on. I was only arrested once and I pleaded not guilty and my case upheld. Not guilty!

With most of my stuff still in storage I feel totally helpless at times. I can’t go look for anything that I need at any particular time. My office desk is piled with books and papers, which it has never been before. I’ve said to myself several times during the past month, “I feel like I’m in a prison.”

My ex-roommate, Paul, with whom I’m still friends was really pissed off yesterday when I called him. He never curses but, he was last night. I went to his server to check on a password but, I couldn’t login. I called him to ask if he changed the password and that’s when he told me about our two former roommates, and they both worked for him, had gone and gotten web clients and put them on his server without his permission. Paul was pissed because the one that put the client on his server wouldn’t help him, Paul, to get clients when they worked together. Paul is generous but, doesn’t like being used. One other roommate, “K”, was supposedly helping Paul with computer repair because “D” got his driver’s license suspended and couldn’t take any calls. Well, “K” got Paul’s help to set up a business, mortage business, only to find out that “K” setup another business and is also trying to take Paul’s customers. Damn, that’s so low but, when “K” wanted to do some work I was doing for Paul and take some minimal money out of my pocket, it doesn’t surprise me one bit. As far as I’m concerned, I owe Paul more than I can afford to pay him so, why would I try to steal from him or take negative advantage of him? That’s just not my nature.