Wednesday, August 31, 2005

"New" Work

Because I only have class two days a week, I have a lot of free time. So today, after I picked up my prints from "Seven", I decided to go through all my old prints and keep anything I thought I might want later, and chuck the rest. I know a lot of people think throwing out art is a bad idea, but trust me, these were not worth keeping. Anyway, I think I've gone through about 2000 prints, and salvaged 50. Some of these I like, some I REALLY like, and some I just think are funny and not terribly valuable, artistically speaking, but I wanted to post them nonetheless.











One More Relief Donation Organization

I realized there is a total absence of "Jewness" on the list I posted, so here is one more posting. I'm not a huge fan of religious orgs in general, but I should at least have my people represented. You can donate through the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington by going to shalomdc.org.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Hurricane Victim Support: Where to Donate

FEMA listed the following agencies as needing cash to assist hurricane victims:

· American Red Cross, 800-HELP-NOW (435-7669) English, 800-257-7575 Spanish.
· America's Second Harvest, 800-344-8070.
· Adventist Community Services, 800-381-7171.
· Catholic Charities USA, 800-919-9338.
· Christian Disaster Response, 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554.
· Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 800-848-5818.
· Church World Service, 800-297-1516.
· Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998.
· Lutheran Disaster Response, 800-638-3522.
· Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210.
· Nazarene Disaster Response, 888-256-5886.
· Operation Blessing, 800-436-6348.
· Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283.
· Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769).
· Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, 800-462-8657, Ext. 6440.
· United Methodist Committee on Relief, 800-554-8583.
-- Associated Press

(courtesy James W. Bailey from blackcatbone.blogspot.com)

The Last of the Dirty Toy Pictures....For Now








More Dirty Toys, Part Deux

As soon as I get Photoshop back, I'll post more toy pictures. I didn't realize how popular these were....

Saturday, August 27, 2005

New Direction?

Ok, so it's late and I'm frustrated. Here's the deal: the sex pictures aren't selling. I'm not surprised. That's not why I'm frustrated. If I'm not going to get a job this semester, then at least I can do something to better myself artistically and expand my horizons. I've already purchased a Holga (I took the idea from JT Kirkland, who is also supposed to post my Artist Interviewing Artist responses at some point) in hopes that I can just get some good ol' experimentation in, but I'd really like to focus more on a more commercially-friendly theme, if possible. Going back to portraiture seems like a natural move, because it seems to give me the most freedom, but I want to do something new, and I'm afraid I might not be able to do that with portraiture. I don't want to do anything trite or contrived, or old, or obviously pandering to the wallets of an overly sentimental, overly conservative, generally boring DC art market (the artists I've met are fantastic, it's the buyers that seem difficult). Plus, I want to try something new, and portraiture, well, isn't. Yes, yes, I know I can put my own stamp on things, but I'm feeling a little tapped out right now. I'm playing around with one idea in my head right now, but I want to marinate for a while, see what happens. It still seems "done". I like "street" photography, but again, it's been done. I know this is the hardest part of being an artist, trying to find inspiration to create a whole new series of completely original art that is going to change the world, but I still want to do it. So in the meantime, I will do my research, I will go to exhibits, talk to people, and see what happens. And I am of course open to suggestions.

And no, this doesn't mean the sex photos are done. I'm just running out of people to shoot. I'm hoping the new people I'm in talks with will yield lots of new pictures. All my others seem boring to me. Except for "Orgasm #2". I'm still not sure how I did that.

I asked the wonderful Mark Jenkins if there was any chance my new site could be up in time for my birthday next week, and he said yes, so it should be up soon. Expect a post and probably an email, if I know you.

I'm Home

Ahhhhh......Now I can get some artwork done.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

More Dirty Toys






Some Dirty Toys

This started as an Independent Study project this summer, for the same professor (the amazing Leena Jayaswal) that let me start the Anti-Porn project. I got an A on both, by the way.






I Still Don't Think AU is a Hotbed for Fantastic Photographers....

...but Greg Wasserstrom is quite possibly one of the best photographers I've seen in a while. I'm fairly certain I'm not biased here because I just "met" (he emailed me) him three or four days ago. I'm a fan of simplicity in art, because there is usually quite a lot of depth within that simplicity, and I think that's there in a lot of his shots. Simple, but not really. And he's younger than me! Seriously, the guy's great. Here are some of my favorties from his website, gregwasserstrom.com:






Wednesday, August 24, 2005

More Pictures to Come

Not now, partly because I'm at work and because I have sooooo much to do before I leave, but sometime soon, I will try and post the images from my Toy series. There are 30, so it might take a few posts to get all of them up. I am also in talks with a few people about some shoots when I get back, so there might be a flurry of new work in September.

And happy birthday, Amira!

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

We Are Not Amused

This. is. not. cool.




I'm not a prude. I'm not stuck up. I was even mildly amused with the whole Urban Outfitters "Everyone Loves a Jewish Girl" tee fiasco (dollar signs are apparetly the symbol for Jews). But I swear this is the last straw. I will confess I have fallen for the faux-ironic tee trend (case in point: aforementioned "Jewish Girl" tee, sans dollar signs), but this is sick. Did I miss a memo? Did someone forget to clue me in that vapidity and stupidity were "the new black"? What the hell?! I'm sorry, I am so angry, I can't even articulate how wrong this is.

I could finish this by saying something cute, like "a mind is a terrible thing to waste", but I won't. Instead, I will finish with this: Abercrombie and Fitch can take my 150 IQ and suck on it. And ladies, body over brain is a bad idea. Someday, your tits will reach your knees, and then where will you be? Stupid with saggy tits. Now THAT'S hot.

Grrrr......

Monday, August 22, 2005

Why I'm Not Posting So Often

I leave for DC on Saturday. I've had a blast out here, but I'm ready to come home. So in the meantime, I'm packing and grappling with the internal Braveheart battle scene in my head, but my schedule looks kinda swamped for the next few weeks after that. Here's what it looks like:

8/22-8/26: Pack. Finish work at the store and the gallery. Get a little mopey about starting school and leaving the boy. Again.
8/27: Wake up ridiculously early (like, 3), fly to DC. Work on a few entries to some arts competitions. Crash in bed.
8/29: First day of school. First day of last semester. First day of the rest of my life. I will essentially have class all day from 9:55 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ceramics from 9:55-12:55 Mondays and Thursdays, Pre-Reformation Devotional Art (oy) from 3:35-4:50 Mondays and Thurdays, Approaches to Art History Mondays from 5:30-8:00, and Visual Arts in the U.S. until 1890 on Thursdays from 5:30-8:00. Whee.
9/03: Boyfriend comes home from SF.
9/04: I turn 21. How convenient that my 21st is on a three-day weekend. Too bad I don't drink.
9/17: Cousin's wedding in CT. Last time I see the boy for three months. A wedding is not the best place for a "bye, see you in three months" parting.

There may be a job in there someplace, plus grad school applications, plus working on the art. Actually, I'd prefer to not get the job and just work on the art, but alas, that may not work, given that it's not financially profitable at all. At least I'm realistic. What I REALLY want is to stick my fingers in more art-flavored pies, so to speak. Just get more involved. I have the education (or at least most of it), I have some internship experience, I have a fine arts background, and I'll hopefully get some good recs. So grad school might like me. But I want to do more. Maybe volunteer at a museum (although I'd really like to volunteer at a local library, even though that's not art-related), or curate something. I don't know how I'll pull off that last one, but I could do it. I've done it before. And this time, I might have help. I feel like I know a lot of people that I'd like to have working artistic relationships with, even if I don't want to actually artistically collaborate with them. I know people can submit proposals to venues, but these things take a lot of time, and it's generally out of your control if you're lucky enough you have your proposal accepted, and frankly, I have a problem with authority and I lack patience when it comes to art. We'll see how this plays out. But, if anyone has any suggestions, I'm open.

Friday, August 19, 2005

WCP Article

Oh. My. Goodness. Really, this is surreal. I'm giddy. I don't think I've had a whole article dedicated to me, even after the whole patent thing back in 4th grade. I've been a bit worried about it, even though I know there really wasn't any chance something bad would happen. I'm not ashamed of what I do, I didn't say anything stupid that could characterize me as vapid (although I did talk quickly and was a bit scatterbrained at times, so maybe the more erudite or insightful comments were lost), and Huan Hsu was really nice, and didn't have any reason to slander me, even though he had the power to. But having once been on that side of journalism, I know about slant, and I know how hard it is to put together a story from bits. And believe me, it's wasn't a walk in the park on my end, either. I can't even explain my own art that well, let alone try and explain it to a complete stranger, then give them carte blanche to piece it together and explain it to others. But Hsu was great. I had a blast, I think the article is neat, and I'm just a tad uncomfortably euphoric right now. Without getting into a "I want to thank the little people" moment, I really do want to thank Lenny, who, from what I understand, tipped the WCP off to me, or even maybe demanded they write an article (you never know with him). I want to thank Hsu for the article and a great first time experience (everyone's first should be great), and my boyfriend, who didn't get annoyed with the incessent "Oh my God, the article comes out in ___ days" and running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I was a little nervous, yes.

The article is in the print edition of the Washington City Paper for August 19-August 25. If you go to washingtoncitypaper.com, then go to "Articles" or "Archive" or whatever it's called, then type in my last name (there aren't a lot of Wolovs around), the article should pop up.


I'm off to bed, assuming I can sleep. Whee.....

Monday, August 15, 2005

Nerve Mag

I love Nerve. A lot. And while I like a lot of what they write, I looooove the art. They have photo galleries of hundreds of semi-famous artists that are all somewhat erotic. I credit Nerve with introducing me to a lot of my favorite artists (and influences, photographers like Ondrea Barbe, Tony Ward, Terry Richardson, Sylvie Blum, and Petter Hegre. Basically, I want to be a Nerve photographer. It's really only one of the only places where my work can really be appreciated.

So you can imagine my response when I found out Nerve was having a contest for new photographers aside from their monthly themed competitions. Email them up to ten photos, your info, your bio, and your statement for free. Five finalists will be chosen and have their images featured on the site. Two will be awarded $500 and a gallery in their photo library. Not bad given that you can submit up to 10 pictures and it's all free.

So I submitted last night. Jacob and I have been trying to figure out which 10, but we did it (although I made a last minute change with one). Nerve said they wanted stunning photos, but with elements of humor, sexiness, and exhibitionism. I submitted these 10:












You can argue that I have better pictures, aesthetically, but I thought these were the most appropriate for Nerve. In any case, it's too late for me to change my entry, so no use crying over spilled milk. So cross your fingers for me.

For those of you whose curiousities I have now piqued, Nerve can be found at nerve.com. They have some photo galleries available for free, but the really fun ones, i.e. the dirtier ones, can be found in their Premium galleries, and you have to pay $7 a month to get access. You get to see other things, but I think it's worth it.

Sunday, August 14, 2005

San Fran

So I'm really, really tempted to post some non-sex pictures I've taken while out here in San Francisco. I'm not that into travel photography, unless the shots are of really interesting looking people or the colors are fantastic. This is quite possibly the best summer I have ever had (about damn time), and I feel like I should show something because of that. I probably won't. I also won't wax poetic on how wonderful the city is, it's full of art, yadda yadda yadda, but I just wanted to show one picture that isn't that artsy, isn't that compelling, isn't that reflective of the city, but for some reason, I like it. I just passed this while I was walking around the Mission District:



Don't ask me why I like it, but I do.