May 2003

Hung out with trent a bit tonight at Johnny’s bar on O’ Farell…nice music, and I met some of his friends, and then on the way back in the Powell bart station there was a DC Shoes skate session going on…I don’t know the pros but it was fun to watch for a bit.

Another day at work, and I picked up my first check…I figured it would be about 600…no, sadly I won’t even have enough to make rent this month again…225.46. That’s it after working from the 19th to present. It seems like an eternity. They short changed me too…said I only worked 28 hrs. when I worked about 32…from the 19th to the 24th. In other news, I’ve now been changed from my present 9-5 (which I thought sat) to 3-11 nasty…

Good news today is I was thinking about Dan Traver, and how we ran into each other in Chicago…and who should I bump into, but Trent Stellingworth, he’s in town for the conference for Athletic Trainers.

So I’m thinking of going to try and find him at a bar tongiht…I know it’s on O’Farrel…but I can’t remember the name, as I was really in a rush to get back to work. It was one of those strange preminitions.

Also I got a call from Jim Sohm, but I wasn’t able to call him back, so I hope it’s good news regarding the SF Ballet Job. Hopefully we can speak soon…so I can get the heck out of the CompUSA situation…

And I’m called for Jury duty on Monday….I have to report to 400 McAllaster room 007…hopefully, no more after that, as I don’t want it to affect the SFB job.

I made a video with Tim Sullivan today at 9:30 in the morning…great way to start the day, but I had work from 11:00-7:30. Very stressful as usual.

Chatted with the TIzz online, glad she’s doing ok…back to the states for her soon. I wish I could have just go to NY and chill for a bit see AM’s Graduation (congrats today kid) and hang out with the folks at CU and KT, maybe the beach on the Long Island…and some real bagels…alas…SF Summers (chilly and gray today)…

No days off till Tuesday…gotta make it, and then a meeting with Comet, and *(hopefully)* the job at SF Ballet…

So today I had the second round interview, and it went really great. The building is amazing, and I’d be able to cook, garden and spend time at the Presidio. All around a wonderful experience. I am very excited, as they said I would find out if I got the job by early next week.

Compusa I’m working from tomorrow till tuesday, no break.

Tim Sullivan and I made a video today, and I’ll upload it when I have enough space on my HD to capture it. We’re doing something tomorrow too.

In other news, Josh gave me some awesome stuff from Sephora, VS by Vercace, Nautica Sport, and some new soaps and suntan lotion. RAD.

Good news, I’ve made it to the second round with the SF Ballet. I have the interview tomorrow at the new place, and I’m very excited about seeing it and perhaps making it my new home. In other news, I sent out a lot of things in the mail and got a book of stamps so I can write and send some more letters, that’s one thing that I’m gettting into more. I worked today on getting things done around the house, took out the trash swept up, drew a bit made some transfers (koi) and then went to Ethan’s Office for Denim Tuxedo. Very cool. I also got my portfolio back from Don, so we’re planning to meet on Thursday of this week.

I need to catch a break…chatted with Kira tonight and she’s digging the new flash vid…I’ll post it as soon as it’s done.

Got a call from Dougie today it totally made my day after a hard time at work. I’ve got to find something where I can utilize my skills besides at Comp USA…I feel at times like it’s a dead end job, as there’s not really anywhere I can (or would like) to move up to. I pray that this SF Ballet residence director goes through. I know I’d be really great at it, I just need them to take a risk on me and give me a shot.

I got email from DSB too which really lets me know that my friends care for me. I’m also thankful that I’m still relitively heathy. I need to get my *ss in gear though for these SGA coming up. I can actually see the growth of a *belly* It’s pretty gross. I’ve just not ever really gotten in a rhythm this year.

It’s really comfortable when your life is in the College bubble (like CU) and you can concentrate on getting your education and not worry about rent/job/etc. That’s a big thing that I’m learning since I’ve been in SF. Part of me just wants an easy life, but I am not finished with this quest yet. I am going to find myself, and a place where I can succeed creatively/artistically/athletically/socially I just want happiness; and I’m going to do everything in my power to achieve my goal.

I went over to D. Hammill’s house today for a great bbq. It was really nice to just chill out with folks and talk. Spyke is going through tough times with The lady friend…and as usual, it’s distance (or the threat thereof) that is making things crazy (it seems like that’s the biggest reason things go awry, or it’s often the start of drama anyway). I just tried to listen as best as I could.

Hope to hear from the SF Ballet tomorrow that I got a second Interview.

I’m going to try updating this again, I worked all day in the CompUSA training lab and I am headed back to work at 9am on Monday (yes the holiday) but alas, I need the money. Hopefully soon I can devote my summer to my studio practice, grants, and training.

*fingers crossed*

Oh yea…been drawing a lot again…

Today the meeting with the trustees was great, because I finally got some feel for the numbers in SFAI’s budget. I also met a fellow Cornellian (always a fun thing) and turns out Jay Pidto ‘60 was also in Phi Lam (which merged with Phi Delt) right after he was there…so we’re brothers…That was pretty sweet. I’m really looking forward to reading the strategic plan…although I fear it may lead to grumpyness…I’ll only take it in little chunks.

In other news the SF Ballet interview went really well, and I’m stoked to be part of the new housing initiative…it’s going to be a lot of fun.

So Sunday we went to Novato, Casey and I did anyway and we hit the bowls for a while, and he was working on a bunch of grab airs out of the pipe…I wish I could do that stuff, but I’m so concerned about slamming my knee again, I’m even wimping on the rock -n- roll to fakie…

I did really pump the bowl fast, and tried to get some footie, but I was zoomed in with the wide angle (don’t ever do that) without knowing…anyway, after a little lunch at Mc Donalds, (and I accidently ordered a Mc Grillrather than a reagular Mc Chicken (for an extra 2 bucks)! I won’t make that mistake again. We stopped at the headlands on the way back and just chilled at the beach for a while, watched the surfers and stuck our feet in…very, very cold.

We checked out the center for the arts there as well, and the studios are gargantuan, and my goodness, they even had industrial toilets, and a kitchen where the resident artists get FREE FOOD!!!

So Casey is applying next year…

For Comet things are coming along, I’ve started doing the preliminary drawings of the Bomb Squad, and the new decks should be out soon, I’m looking forward to rocking on one of the new beefy park decks…Word on the street is 38 inches of twin tail/carbonfibery goodness…

About the art thing…oh yea, I went to the “everything you wanted to know about art but were afraid to ask” I was late because of the accident, but basically they said the same thing as my art marketing book, that the human aspect is super important about making relationships, and sending thankyou notes etc. Also an CV that has lots of shows is really important. I am going to start that pretty soon, as K. Gardner says, I have to start selling/marketing my work…that’s an important thing for this summer….get it in gear Pete.

It’s been really crazy the last few days, with my start at CompUSA I’ve really struggled, as customer service is said to be top priority, but the function of the policies in the store make customer service very, very, very difficult simply because the way things are set up, the client must wait to get their product from the case as the managers are the only ones with the keys…

On a lighter note, the computer training is mega easy…

Hopefully I’ll get the hang of this soon, and perhaps get another job in addition.

In other news, I’ve been involved in two emergencies, two nights ago, I heard someone screaming and yelling “RAPE! RAPE!” out my window, I ran down stairs cell phone in hand, about to call 911, and the cops were already on it, and they were in custody of both the suspect and the woman being violated. It’s the first time that I’ve ever really known about the dangers of the alley behind my apt. I’ve seen people doing haroin, but that was months ago.

Today after work, I heard a large THUMP! and then screams of oh my god, and again (thank you cell phone) I was on 911 as an elderly asian woman was hit by a car, I went and helped her and had her sit on the curb, and waved down the police and they cleared the car to the side. The woman was visibly shaken up, and she had road rash on her hands…I’m thankful that I didn’t actually see the hit, as I’m sure it would be in my memory for a long time. Anyway, the police were there quickly, and it was strange, because I was on HOLD for 911…”all operators busy at this time” I hope that that doesn’t happen when cops aren’t just on the regular beat. Anyway as I left the woman thanked me, and I was glad to have helped. More than anything, I know that in large city situations (from psychology) noone will do anything, because they figure someone else will do it. I actually had to make the driver stay…she was going to leave…but I think everything worked out in the end.

I ran into a van about a week ago on my bike as he turned right infront of me…he didn’t even stop. I was shaken a bit, but not hurt…I think (hope) this woman was the same way, but when I walked her off the curb, she was shaking. Never a dull moment on Market!

So I showed work today in tony’s class..

love is like bread (only in French) was received fairly well, although I’m not sure if it should be edited or shown in its entirety. Narritive was also brought up, as well as theatricality…

The second piece with Kuai’s song I think I’m cutting off the intro of me at the door, a bit wonky at best, I kinda tacked it on today.

After class, Tony told me in private that I was in a tunnel and that there’s light in front of it…and tthat I wasn’t “crying” about it…hmmmmmm

So Friday I went to see Suzaan Boettger talk.

Excerpts of the good stuff…

“Artists explore in advance of the regulars…”

“Enterprizing artists critique, and want the recognition of their peers…”
(I’m not sure what she really meant by that, but it was interesting none the less)

Here’s a book to check out about the role of SFAI by Richard Candida Smith Utopia & Dissent in California

__not her__

“Art is what you don’t know, the rest is art history.”
-Dennis Oppenheim

New work for today:
love is like bread (only in French)…
http://www.hypermodern.net/video/love_is.html

So I haven’t been skating a whole bunch, as Kev has moved out, and he’s the one I skated with mostly. Plus I’ve really been concentrating on getting a job. I have been working with Comet for a few weeks, on just some little things, but that sould be picking up soon…

I’m looking forward to it.

*modified from an email to K. Gardner*

This past Wednesday I had the pleasure of seeing J. Baldessari talk, and he said some things and I thought this is good…

So he starts out as a painter, “I got the sneaking suspicion that there was now more to art than painting…” he burns his paintings in a crematorium, and makes a bronze plaque for himself may 1953-march 1966…and then starts on a new conceptual vain…very cleansing for sure…but a big risk.

BUT here’s where I was really floored… “Fundamentally, to be an artist, you have to make a choice…art is just a series of decisions and choices” then he continued…”what to leave in and take out” and then he showed a series of works where he blanked out books, faces, and a whole bunch of other things…and that editing *FOR* content has been with him since… Katie has told me so many times that artists make decisions…and that’s it…soooooo right, as it doesn’t matter about objects, etc…as long as the decision making process is sound…To him “language gives structural theory”, and text and image are both equal in his mind…

He was saying that Nam Jun Paik, when they taught at Cal Arts together, told him that “what’s interesting in your work is what’s not there”

Also you always say about making good ink drawings, it’s confidence…he said the same thing, and the way he deals with it is pretty simple he states “The point is to make the drawing look better than the piece of paper.”

It’s been a while, 20 days in Italy, mid review…but I’ve got a lot to say…much has been going on, and the majority of it…has to do with school. I wish I was writing more so I could keep track of how my day to day activities influence my life. This is the start again. I can remember I *used* to write every day…back on it

Anyway, I STILL don’t have a job for the summer, and I’m struggling (to put it bluntly) to make rent every month. I feel very qualified for a whole slew of jobs, but I feel at the mercy of those who would hire me. I have been trying to get a part time job at Comp USA for a long time now, and it’s driving me crazy as it’s been a month, and still no word. (except the forms, drug test, etc., etc.)

Art and life are pretty close right now…and I feel like a lot of times that being here at SFAI is not worth it, so I’m investigating my options, as I’m 25,000 in the hole for this year, and tutorials are rediculous…I’ve been blessed in that I feel like I can do anything, but that’s not why I am at school, it’s for the teachers, community, academics, and facilities.

SFAI is so much like a soap opera, that it detracts from the student experience. There are so many worries, about money, and there are so many half truths and lies. So much so (with the driama) that Ella King Torrey hung herself last week…and the school is not saying anything about it (in regards to the suicide) I’ve had to deal with similar things at CU but it’s always acknowledged, so the community can start to heal…This is a dysfunctional family…and the kids are suffering. I’ve never heard a single person, when I ask about school say that they really like it or are having fun. There was a ton of bitching at my last school, but *student experience* was usually positive. Not so here. The ship is sinking here, and I refuse to go down with it.

I’ve been to Stanford, and financially it’s a great option, my portfolio is stronger and it’s close to here so moving costs would be minimal. I’m also considering UH, UT, UCLA, UCSD…I would have to take a year off in all cases, but I think for the 25,000 it will save, as well as the teaching experience it will provide…

I’m not completely discounting SFAI yet…I still have three months to roll it over in my mind.

So I haven’t been skating a whole bunch, as Kev has moved out, and he’s the one I skated with mostly. Plus I’ve really been concentrating on getting a job. I have been working with Comet for a few weeks, on just some little things, but that should be picking up soon…

I’m looking forward to it.