Well, I haven't posted in a while because I have been extremely busy. But to make up for it, I'll post about what's going on:
First off, this week is the Texas Contemporary Arts Fair at the George R. Brown Convention Center, where there will be all kinds of art on display for everyone to digest.
The opening night reception is Thursday night, so Justine and I will be attending and I hope to meet some really cool people and talk shop. I will be volunteering for Winter Street Studios and Spring Street Studios' booth on Friday morning, from 11am until 2pm, to help promote our facilities and all the great tenants.
Next, I've been planning my first trip to the Esalen Institute! Esalen is a retreat near Big Sur, California that hosts workshops in a beautiful, coastal environment that boasts natural hot springs and a self-sustaining farm.
I'll be attending the 20th Annual Mythological Toolbox Toolbox Playshop put on by the Joseph Campbell Foundation. Joseph Campbell used to celebrate his birthdays at Esalen with a group of friends; since his death, those friends have continued to meet each year, on his birthday, to exchange ideas, share stories, and build relationships with like-minded individuals.
I am very excited about this trip, I have wanted to attend for a few years now, and I become giddy every time I start thinking about it. I want to do a series of drawings while I'm there. It could be The Esalen Series or something to that effect. Right now, it seems as though March is so far away, but I'm sure that if I stay busy, it will be here in no time.
Finally, what has had me busy this week in particular has been my application for the 2013 New Mythos Research Grant: New Mythos II, the benefactor of which is the OPUS Archive and Research Center at the Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, California.
After thinking about different ideas about what to do - specifically - for my project/proposal, I finally got the idea this Monday past. When it all became clear in my mind, I knew I had a shot at getting one of the grants they are offering. So I may, next year, be going out to California twice, as part of the grant's requirements is to spend a minimum of 40 hours in the research center. Forty hours looking over the notes of Joseph Campbell, James Hillman, Marija Gimbutas, and other great minds? No problem!
So, for the remainder of this week and part of next week, I'll be focusing on getting my grant proposal together and producing a final draft. Once I have the final draft, I will be able to show it to a few people in the field in order to get a confidential Letter of Recommendation, which I will need with my submission. I'm sure, that with a proposal that is put together well, and a short, passionate pitch, I'll be able to get a letter from one of those people on my short but distinguished list.
Anyway, that's what I've been up to lately. Just thought I would drop-in and let you guys know! Hope to see you around sometime soon! Have a great day!