THE FIRST DUMB DIARY WEDNESDAY!!

Proof of a short attention span in the third grade...enjoy!

"April 27, 1987

Today I was playing

with Louis

he's in 2nd

grade.  Karla has lots

of boys who like

her.  I'm single.

Well, anyway, Louis

almost kissed Karla!

I didn't care really

because I was the

who held on to

her so he could

kiss her.

When we got

in the school

it was raining.

Jill says she's scared

of storms.  Seth and

I joked to her.

The teacher likes

Clarice the best.

John likes me a little

more.  Seth is going

to move to Ohio.

I'll miss him.

Now we're

watching McGivver."

The above is an actual diary entry from my third grade year, and all misspellings, and grammar mistakes are still in there...

Can't say I was very good at staying on topic even then. haha!  Ode to remembering "McGivver"!

Maya Angelou and Pablo Picasso: My Descent into Madness

MONDAY MADNESS!!!


My, my, my...the past 24 hours have been a journey of sorts.  I was recalling what Maya Angelou said in the television special of "MasterClass" on OWN.  It was an extremely inspiring hour of listening to her wise voice telling of her learning experiences in life.  One thing really stuck with me over all else, and it was the following, which I happened to repost on facebook last night...

I've absorbed this over the past month, and am beginning to feel that words are little energy entities that we send out into the universe.  Negative or Positive, they have power and consequence.  We are casting magic spells to the things and people around us by the words we use.  No matter our intent, by talking, we give those we talk about more power...along the same lines as "bad publicity is good publicity".  If people are talking about a particular thing/person, we are giving that thing/person more power.  We can see this in recent news - Lady Gaga supassing Oprah in terms of star power and influence. 

I started to think about this in terms of my art last night, and wouldn't you just know it?  I came up with a crazy idea, that yes, dwelt on the negative, but had a humorous spin.  To paint it, or not to paint it?  Sometimes ideas lose their meaning over time, and I think it's because someone else is meant to come up with that idea.  That idea was not originally for me as an end solution, and was just a part of my journey to get to the idea that IS for me.  Time and idea development will tell if I am meant to do this series that's in my head or not.  None the less,  do I really want to send more "negative" out into the world?

Then I think about some of my favorite works.  "Guernica" and "Charnel House" by Pablo Picasso instantly come to mind.  They show negative.  They show lack of humanity, chaos, and the overwhelming grotesqueness of what we can do to eachother in times of war.  However,  he did this to show that our actions have consequences, and to try to prevent further inhumane actions by those who viewed the work.  It was to show what had happened, and to send a kind of warning to the world.

Charnel House, 1945. Pablo Picasso

Guernica, 1937. Pablo Picasso

SO...because of his intentions, is it actually a positive energy that he sent out by creating these works?

I'll readily admit that anger often guides my way on what to paint next.  I use it as a guide, but I wouldn't describe my works as "angry".  I have made angry works before (during college), and then I never looked at them again.  They were more like therapy exercises than they were art I'm proud I created.  I have changed and gone away from that direct approach to angry issues - afterall, my intention was not to bring others down.

Does humor work to turn the negative into positive?  Make it appear foolish, or will that just make it more vicious?  Hmmmm....

I realize that this is not a "typical" Monday Madness entry - but I feel like my struggle to understand the complexities of positive and negative words and energies is making me go into the descent of "madness".  Mwahahahaha!! (a 'crazy' laugh in print for you).  I keep questioning and questioning!

So what are your thoughts on any or all of this?  I would really like to get some other opinions, and perspectives on this.  Thank you for reading, and I look forward to hearing what YOU think!

'Til we meet again - Cheers to the gray areas- they enlighten us!

The Night of 5/19 at the Bossanova Ballroom...

Traffic on 26, start, stop, start, stop...
Bright reflections from the colorful metal...
Burnside Bridge.

Darkened ballroom with hardwood floors,
The smell reminds me of a tattoo shop,
Will my cables work to hold the work?  Hoisting with a "Heave Ho!"
Slipping to the ground, crooked paintings...
Genius boyfriend with roll of masking tape...Thank you!

Is the coffee shop open? 
Time to change clothes,
Magenta tights and the big hair,
Now I feel at home.

Interview - "just be yourself, Krystal"...
what did I just say?  "Moving Mountains?...Unicorns and Ponies?" hahaha!
Meeting up with new found friends,
Comraderie,
The doors open.

Voices and footsteps,
People entering in at a steady pace,
Ballroom once with rehearsals, now with the performances about to take place.

Meeting people - good grief, what GREAT people!
Laughing, talking, spilt beer, and now it's officially started.

New familiar faces - thank God you're here!
So amazing to meet you!

A Shirley Temple- I'm going to behave!

A short film, love between macaroni & cheese and marshmallows,
but it's more complicated than that...smoking and prostitution.  Oh my!

A hula-hoop lady and black light - what is this all about?!...earthy music quickens...
She's amazing - cirque du soleil craziness!  Applause and "Woots"!

Guitar playing, good music, great atmosphere,
with every strum the people seem to come more alive

Talking,
Laughing,
Looking,
Discussing,
Everyone fully engaged.

Fashion show - Steam Punk - amazing, fun!
Loved the little red hat and the goggles too!

The night winding down, though the conversations are in full swing.
Saying goodbye to new friends,
Bad music over the intercom as a sign for all to go home,
Unhooking the works,
Driving with directions in hand,
Elated about the fun time,
Recalling the night's fun
with feet aching,
open highway in a full moon sky,
fresh air flying through our hair.

Quote of the night: "Where does one get an outfit like that?" - Mara

Shouting Praises to RAW:PDX and Amazing Oregonians

It has been almost 24 hours since the RAW:PDX "Incite" art show ended.  I owe a big thanks to Mike Surber and RAW for inviting me to show along with the other amazing and talented artists who exhibited and performed.  Thank you so much for everyone who came out to support the artists and this event - I am so grateful for all the interesting and great people I met through this experience!  This was the most fun I have ever had at any opening I have been a part of - I honestly can't say enough!  I didn't have a single dull moment and I believe that, true to form, I laughed or smiled the entire time.  My face definitely hurt after I left - the people I met were THAT amazing and sincerely nice.

Thank you to all for coming out to support all of us, and I hope you all had as great of time as Matthew and I did!

Dumb Diary Wednesdays Begin Next Week!

Hello! 

Not sure what I was thinking...of course I wouldn't have time to do a Dumb Diary Wednesday yesterday!  I'm still getting ready for the show and the bulk of the work needed to be done.  For those of you who may be disappointed, I'm sorry and it will be kicked off next Wednesday for sure!  If you haven't read the entry of the "Bright Side of Doom", let that be the Dumb Diary Wednesday story to give you a laugh.  :)

So yeah, getting ready for the show.  This show I'm not as high strung.  I'm getting more used to showing my work now and what I need to take.  Things will work out, they always do, and I'm not going to stress out when everything is getting done on time. 

But of course, with that said, I still have things to accomplish!  I'm going through mental list...Go to the hardware store for a few more supplies that I ran out of last night (more cable and crimps), buy some safety pins, get myself ready and the car packed.  This is some EXCITING STUFF! hahaha!

Cheers to a great night for the artists and guests of RAW:PDX!!

Recent Fun Works...

Details are posted on www.krystalbooth.com

Bright Side to Doom

Okay, so I was youtube surfing and came across this.  I watched and I have to be honest, it freaked me out.  It was so unexpected.  I was simply trying to watch Oprah tell me about her youtube channel, because I didn't even know she had one.  (But of course she does...she IS Oprah afterall. lol)

So between this, all the people talking about this next weekend, and my old diary entry, it seems I'm not able to escape the concept of the second coming of the Lord.  It is meant to be on my brain today, so here's what I came up with for... MONDAY MADNESS!!!

I tend to try to look at the bright side of things...so here it goes, my optimistic list of if the event happens this coming weekend (I don't honestly believe it will- higher powers do not go by our sense of time, but if you believe that it will happen this weekend and it does, kudos to you for being right.  I was wrong, no big deal)... 

Suppose we get to go:

1.  We do not need to try to get laundry caught up.  Hooray!

2.  No more paying rent and bills...seriously.

3.  No more worrying about my car having broken tie rods. (This happened to me once before and has scarred by sense of safety when driving ever since).

4.  The obvious one of meeting our maker face to face...or should that be "spirit to spirit"....

5.  Reuniting with loved ones, another obvious one, but worth mentioning.

6.  No more feeling like a rat in a cage or a part of a rat race, or any other cliches having to do with rats.


Suppose we are left behind:

1.  Free produce!  Of course this depends upon what time it happens on Saturday in order to take advantage of the Saturday Market stands. 

2.  Great laughs with friends about how foolish we have been!  hahaha!  "So hilarious that we are ALL left here!  I mean what are the odds?! hahhahaha!"

3.  There will be more openings for employment.  I dont' need any explanation for this one.  It's tough finding a job right now.

4.  Lines will be shorter for all you roller coaster fanatics and bank lines will be so much faster too.

5.  Really intense and exciting Bible Study Groups.  I mean, can you imagine?  There will be some really good stuff at those meetings!  We'll find out all the latest gossip and secrets while people repent- goodbye Maury Povich and Jerry Springer shows!  They will dull by comparison of the freakish stuff that we will know about our neighbors!

6.  Serious illnesses like cancer and Aids will no longer be taken so seriously, because we already know that we will be gone or tortured soon anyway.  If I was suddenly noticing a case of skin cancer on my leg or something, it would really be no big deal.  I can imagine laying on the beach thinking "So what - I have skin cancer.  What I need is another margarita!"




So, there you have it!  My lists of looking at the bright side.  My list for staying behind is pretty fun...it doesn't seem like it would be THAT bad to be left behind the first go around, aye?  Just kidding, I would be super devistated, but at least we'll have this list and several more things to comfort us while we get our shit together, right?

I hope this made you laugh and cheers to Monday Madness!  If you have any more funny ideas for the bright side of this- PLEASE post!  I want to funny stuff you can think of!  Probably will blow my list to bits!

Love to All,
Krystal 

Bringing It!

I guess I needed those couple of months to re-gain some energy and refill the well (as Julia Cameron would say).  I am now feeling revitalized about this blog and will go forward with a bit of stupid fun!  Hooray!


I am bringing back the feature of Monday Madness!  I miss it.  I don't know if anyone else does, but I do! LOL  So yes, expect a Monday Madness entry on tomorrow's blog!


Also, I my latest post included an old diary entry, which gave me an idea.  I have kept diaries since I was around 8 or 9 years old.  They have definitely stacked up over time and may give some funny material for all of us to laugh at.  I have decided that I will post an old journal entry once a week from now on!  So tah-dah!!  New blog feature we'll call "Dumb Diary Day"!


"Dumb Diary Day" will be every Wednesday - it's sometimes the day that we need a laugh the most.  It will be extremely embarrassing, but for those of you who know me, I will do anything for a laugh.  After some consideration, I'm thinking that I will conceal the names of others, so that I don't embarrass them.  I'll give them nicknames that will be used consistantly.  So cheers to "Dumb Diary Wednesdays"!! 


Happy Sunday to you and your loved ones!

Impending Doom in My Old Journal

I just found out that some people believe that the world is going to end in seven days on May 21, 2011.  This is a continuation of the 1988 ideas of when Judgement Day will occur.

I found this to be the perfect opportunity to spread some laughs and smiles, because I recorded my thoughts about this in 1988 when I was ten years old in my Hello Kitty Diary.  This entry remains to be the favorite of my best friend, Samm, who cries from laughing so hard everytime he reads it.

"Sep. 6, 1988

Dear Diary,

This morning

I went to church

with Stacy.

This Mon. Tues. Wed.

are when god

might take

all of the

Christians in

heaven and

all the bad

people stay

down here.

I'm sort of

scared & happy

at the same

time.

Up-date:  My mom won't let

me go to church with

Stacy any more because

god doesn't want church

to be like that. He

wouldn't want to

scare your

family."

So I Lied.

Supposedly, I was taking a hiatus from this blog for exactly one year. 

Then, I looked on the analytics of this blog this morning just out of curiousity- I haven't checked them since February -  and good grief, I'm letting people down!  I'm happy that so many people have checked out this blog lately, but know that because there is nothing new here, they leave quickly.

Originally, I was going to take a year just to do my thing...perhaps, not.  Besides that, I always have a difficult time being quiet for long periods of time.  So for all intensive purposes, let the writing begin again!  I am renewed enough to give it a go anyway! 

So recently I've been reading a book about Egon Shiele by Frank Whitford.

I can't say that I'm extremely far into it, but I've learned Schiele was heavily influenced by Gustav Klimt.  It doesn't take an art historian to tell you that, because they do have this similarity of line and composition.  When I was in college, I always confused them with each other.  I had no idea though that Klimt actually helped Schiele get started and into shows.  I had no idea that they knew one another that well.

Before all of you arty-smarty peeps make fun of me, I truly never studied Schiele in college.  He was not covered.  Granted, yes, I should have conducted my own research, but I was researching in a different direction back then.  I kind of ignored him along with Klimt.  It hasn't been until the past year that his work has really appealed to me, and I feel foolish for overlooking him for this long. 

His lines, his lines, how I love the lines he makes!  He makes everything look so fragile, wounded, and raw.  He makes it look like they are all just so vulnerable, and needing some compassion.  All of this just from the line.  Crazy how he captures it all like that without a ridiculous amount of detail.

I don't know if he was a jerk or not yet, but I'm betting not.  We'll see.
One thing is for sure though, I love his hair!  Kind of crazy scientist look, which is always fun!

What artists do you really get into, or like to read about?  I would love to hear who you look to for inspiration, or for stories!