NEWS PROJECTS ABOUT CONTACT CLIENTS 07 01 08 It's July and not sweltering. How is that possible? I've been really psyched on Pilsen lately. Anyone who still lives in Wicker Park or Logan Square needs to move. Even the NYT knows whats up (click here). 06 27 08 Tonight we're having a show at the store! NEW LOCATION: 1744 W 18th Street, Chicago, IL 60608. Uneven Universe, Treetops, Slave Trade and Steve Young! 8pm! $5! I've been working on a new video. It's going well. I've got a couple of shows coming up and grant applications... I've won nothing yet, but soon, I can feel it. I've been dealing with the gnarly situation surrounding the move and it's made me considerably more mature. I've been accosted on the phone three times and in the street once. Summer is finally here and it feels great. I'm about to go to Los Angeles to return to CSSSA. I've been perfecting my cool teacher look and preparing canned advice. I've got a Theodore Roosevelt quote that I've been waiting to use. I'll be living in Newhall, with no car, and I know this means I won't be having many visitors. If anyone finds it in their heart to drive out and see me, I'll be very pleased. LOVE, Martine 06 15 08 FYI I'm a crotchety old woman these days. 06 08 08 I'm trying to get back in the habit of seeing movies in the theater. I went to the Music Box with Karly and Marco to see Mister Lonely. It was an interesting film. I only hated two things: the writing and the lack of Michael Jackson. There is a giant Thriller-shaped hole in the film. Grolsch also made a cameo.They are trying really hard to market themselves as an "art beer." It's fine though, Golden Age is sponsored by Grolsch as well. Moving the store really sucks. I've been so exhausted. Somehow I thought it was only going to take a day. It's also been really expensive, another thing I didn't account for. I've been engaging in a lot of wishful thinking lately. I finally got a Blackberry! Add me on Blackberry Messenger if you have one, martine@ifeellike.org, I luv 2 chat. MS 06 02 08 It is 3:30am and my neighbors are blasting Sade. WTF. I hope they aren't having sex or something. I went to see Sex and the City today. It was OK. I'm glad I saw it. It confirmed that life is totally fucked. This is what people want? I hope not. I don't want to be anything like that. 05 28 08 This past week has been one of the most memorable yet. My best friend (excluding Marco) moved to New York. I've been so happy for him, I forgot to be sad about it. Then on Monday, Marco and I were sitting in the kitchen talking about him and we started crying. It was quite a surprise. I don't think I've ever had anyone move away that I cared about. The end of an era, I guess. 05 19 08 I'm being threatened by a bunch of assholes. I called a lawyer today and it felt gooood. 05 13 08 Gossip Girl was so weak last night! Especially after last week's episode. Total LETDOWN. 05 05 08 I've taken to commenting on Kanye West's blog. His ghostblogger loves art and design. I mostly ask questions about how I can get a job like that. I could ghostblog for Gwen Stefani or Rhianna or anyone really... 05 01 08 And just so I'm not a total downer: I have discovered Todoist, which is helping me get it together in a serious way. I recommend it to all rippers/rulers/young guns. Marco and I are obsessed with it. This afternoon I had a giant beer mug of black tea that is keeping me up. Life is good. Life is good. Life is good. 04 30 08 My external hard drive died tonight. I think it died a few days ago actually. Marco called to tell me it had been making a really odd noise and asked if I wanted him to turn it off. It had been off for a bit, but tonight I was trying to write something and I felt like I'd forgotten how to do that, I keep making outlines. I wanted to look at something I'd written before. I turned on my hard drive and it just kept clicking. It's okay. I mean, I'm upset about it, but what can I do? Plus, even if I could've recovered it, I probably can't anymore. I took it apart and then I froze it... So much for buying myself a blackberry for ye olde birthday. I've got to buy an infite number of hard drives just in case one of them fails. Like the backup of the backup of the backup and on and on. Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. I don't understand why, WHY when I needed you most, you would leave me. - MS 04 22 08 Is it Earth Day today? I don't care enough to Google it. Was anyone else's broadcast of Gossip Girl totally ruined last night? CW Chicago needs to get their shit together. The main audio track was missing for about 35% of the show. Of course the commercials were fine... Happy Birthday Karen! 04 15 08 Vincent Uribe was visiting two weeks ago and spear-headed my antenna purchase. As a result I have been watching a lot of television. I also bought a universal remote. I'm back to my old Law & Order habit. I've also been watching BBC News, Top Model, Tyra, The Fresh Prince, and Gossip Girl (sleeper hit for me). It's escapism, but it feels so nice. I've been incredibly busy and it doesn't stop. Exercising, reading, learning Spanish, and whatever else I do while I'm not working on stuff is not relaxing. Tomorrow I am going to St. Louis to visit my Grandpa. He is having surgery on a cancerous growth. My mom flew out and I'm meeting her there. I'm going to spend the bus ride listening to Ask For It: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want on my Ipod. I got it at the library last week. Totally ruling. Lesson 1: Everything is Negotiable. Love, Martine 04 01 08 Man, I am wiped. This week was sooo long. Thanks to all Dark Fair participants, NY friends (especially Megan Plunkett), and all the Chicago friends that came to show their support. More later... 03 17 08 Tomorrow I’m getting my wisdom teeth taken out by Dr. John Domanico. I’m scared. As I said before, I hate going to the dentist. I think it’s unnecessary torture. Apparently, my wisdom teeth are growing in at an angle. Dr. Blaine said that this will cause me tremendous pain, and I have to get them taken out a-s-a-p. I don’t know. It is strange for me to take the train home afterwards? Cabs are so expensive. I hope there’s no swelling. I have a meeting the next day. It would be very inconvenient if I can’t speak clearly. God, I’m so nervous I want to cry. LOVE, Martine 03 09 08 Daylight savings time! I'm not turned around one bit. It's only an hour. I put up my first video on youtube today. It's a tour of my apartment intended for the eyes of my sister. We didn't have a couch the last time she visited. We didn't have a lot of things then. The scary thing is an hour after I'd posted it 22 people had already looked at it, and none of them were my sister. I finally went to American Surplus & Science. They had a lot of cool jars and other junk. I bought a piece of glass. Tomorrow: dentist appointment. I hate the dentist. Wish me luck. <3 ms 03 03 08 I saw the Gordon Matta-Clark show at the MCA. It is not “amazing.” It was disappointing like most retrospectives are. They are usually good, like “ Now I’ve seen it. Now I can talk about it.” I had a nice time though. It was a surprise visit and I stayed for a while. Jeni Spota was in the 12x12. I don’t know her very well, but I remember her saying she was obsessed with Pasolini. I read the wall text and it said her paintings are all from a scene in one of his films and I kind of went “Okay, I get it.” I like them, small and heavy. I don’t know anything about Pasolini. What’s his deal? The recent acquisitions were interesting, lots of new stuff. On Saturday (at the Ed Ruscha symposium*) Dave Hickey said that museums missed Pop Art and have since tried to make sure to not miss anything. Good luck museums. Even though it was out of my budget I picked up a Fischli/Weiss catalog on my way out. TOTALLY WORTH IT. I’ve been dreaming about them. One night ‘How to Work Better’ was told to me by an oracle. It sounded so mystical. I awoke feeling like I’d figured things out, like I knew something. I decided to put it up on my wall next to the ‘7 Habits.’ Maybe it will help. * The symposium “Ed Ruscha and Photography” was endurance style 10:30 am – 4:30pm. They talked so much about Los Angeles it kind of killed me. I think I’ve talked more/heard more about Los Angeles in Chicago then I ever did there. Love, Martine 02 18 08 I'm addicted to life-hacking (GTD). I'm also addicted to comparing the IPhone, Blackberry, and BlackJack as if I were actually going to buy one. And I'm addicted to Good Earth's Sweet & Spicy Tea. Those are my vices. <3 ms 02 11 08 The medical bills that have been looming over me (and my bank account) for over a year now may be miraculously forgiven due to an error on UIC's part. My fingers are crossed. In the meantime I'm trying to stay out of the hospital. ms 02 08 08 I wanted to talk about one of my business idols, Craig Newmark.
You may not recognize him, but I'm sure that you're familiar with his list. A while back I listened to an interview with him on the Tavis Smiley show (here). He is like one of the most positive dudes. He is thankful to his community. He only takes credit for the simple idea of having a website to share events, he says people took it from there. He acknowledges that the success of his website comes from the USERS! When asked why he doesn't charge more for apartment listings, he responds, “…After you make a comfortable living, how much more do you need?” Craig's List is a major part of my life. It is in my bookmarks toolbar. I visit it almost daily! I got my microwave cart from CL, I got my all-in-one printer from CL, and the computer in the store came from CL. Not to mention jobs... Marco and I had a crazy experience buying pirated software on the Southside through CL. We met Brandon in a McDonald's parking lot, exchanged money for a couple of CD-R's, and went our separate ways. The software didn't work, so I emailed him, we met AGAIN, and this time his girlfriend came along. After we get our new discs, he asks us if we can give his girlfriend Shelly a ride to the bank at 140th (we were at 90th). I look at Marco and say to the Brandon, "Well, it's up to HIM..." I meant this as a no, but Marco says, "Y e a h. That should be fine." I forgot to mention that they are obvious speed freaks, with all the acne and fast-talking and general trashiness. Marco, Shelly, and I get into the Alero and begin driving. Shelly starts talking to us about her life. She lives with her mom, she's been at an institute (one of those colleges that has commercials) for ten years, she met Brandon a few months ago at a bar, and on and on. I was laughing because I was nervous. Marco was silent. We get to 140th and still no bank. Marco looks back at Shelly. She says, "Just keep going, it's somewhere around here." I'm still laughing. We find the bank at 151st. Marco pulls up to the curb to let Shelly out of the car. "I'll be right back," she says before she shuts the door, "just pull into the parking lot." "Wait, we're taking you back?" Marco asks with genuine surprise. Shelly leans back into the car, "I mean, I thought... I guess it's okay. Maybe I could call my mom... Brandon would've taken me but his car's in the shop." "We can wait," Marco says quietly. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I ask Marco as soon as I see Shelly enter the bank. "What do you mean? I thought YOU wanted to give her a ride." He says. We realize that my hint had been to subtle. We also acknowledge that Brandon and Shelly are speed freaks and that we need to wash the car inside and out. "Well, do you want to give her a ride back?" I ask. "No." He says firmly. "Let's leave." "This is so fucked, this is so fucked." Marco says as we head home. We leave Shelly at the Northern Trust Bank on 151st street. I imagined her running out as we were taking off. Brandon called me a few times after we'd driven away. Naturally, I did not answer. I did however leave him a brief message apologizing, saying it was "kind of weird," and thanking him for the software. I've also met cool people on CL, as not to deter you from joining the CL community. A really awesome woman bought a dvd player from me just the other night, she knew about the store too. She recognized my email address. I'd been trying to get rid of that dvd player for 3 years! <3 ms 02 06 08 My friend Elizabeth Jaeger has been telling me for months about the gluten-free Rye-less Rye Bread at Trader Joe's. I had never been able to find it. We usually go grocery shopping on Sunday night or Wednesday night, which are possibly the worst times to go. Everything is picked. To the point where there is no tofu or any other "staple." We are in the process of changing our shopping days, but these were the only nights we had available. However, this past Sunday, miraculously, as I surveyed the bread aisle I spotted one lonely loaf of Rye-less Rye. I grabbed it immediately. I hesitated for a moment because it was double the price of my usual loaf, but I decided that you get what you pay for and I bought it. And I love it. It's so good. Marco didn't think it was that great, so maybe I'm hyping it a bit, but on a scale of -5 to 5, I'd say it's at least a two, and that is BIG. For the record, I'm not receiving any money from Trader Joe's, but I totally should be. Also, yesterday we went to the No Age and Liars show at the Metro. It was fun. It was nice to see Dean and Randy and talk for a bit. They played some new songs. It was good. I've only seen them three times, but each time I feel like "this is what i'm supposed to be listening to." It's very relevant to me. It's punk enough and art enough, and that's where I am right now. Tomorrow is my sister's birthday! She will be seventeen. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL! LOVE, Martine 01 30 08 Here is a really (dark) picture of me in the gallery when I realized that I matched the Gaylen Gerber exhibition.
This week I read the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, and I am way into it. I'm now reading Pictures of Nothing by Kirk Varnedoe, which is pretty interesting. I made a goal to read two books a week, so if you have any suggestions please email me. I'm partial to non-fiction. I went back to the gym yesterday after a brief hiatus. I had been attempting to put my membership on hold because it was too cold. I should've said that I was going out of town or something, because the customer service woman did not think that was a valid reason. I switched from the elliptical to the stationary bike and that was a powerful move. Plus, I bought some trendy flared yoga pants so people will stop staring at me when I wear my normal grey leggings. Marco said that they look like underwear and he is often surprised to see me wear them in public.I thought they looked okay, but now I've given in to peer pressure. LOVE, Martine 01 21 08 HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wow, 2008. I think it's going to be a pretty amazing year. I've been doing MAJOR goal-setting/life-planning. It's been good to talk to my sister too. She is so posi. She believes in "The Secret" and anytime I begin to speak negatively or with uncertainty, she barks "BELIEVE IT ACHIEVE IT RECEIVE IT!" She says, "Don't tell me you may or may not be going to Europe this summer. You're going!" She is 17, but she knows what's up. I'm excited for the future. I've got some big ideas, big plans, just wait. LOVE, Martine P.S. Click HERE for pictures! Lot of new ones! 12 15 07 Last night I had a panic attack for the first time in about a year. It was terrible. It starts with a very fatal feeling in my chest. I looked on the internet for some calming techniques. I tried to smile really big and repeat positive thoughts to myself. I said "We're good people and we're doing good things." I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth. I thought about how I could take control of the situation. I leave for Los Angeles on Wednesday and there are a lot of loose ends to tie up. I'm only going to be gone for two and a half weeks, but it seems like a long time. A long time to let my baby (the store) sit unattended. A long time to not be working. I paid off my credit card bill because I don't want to start the new year with any debt. I feel good about it. I'm a good person and I'm doing good things. Last week I went to Miami for the art fairs. It was weird. Miami is place I'd never want to live or go to for any other reason. It's a total scam. It cost $17 to sit in a chair. I bought my first piece of art. It's important to support the things/people you care about financially. I bought a xerox print by Nick Relph & Oliver Payne. This is what my life is looking like right now.
Okay, now imagine if I had a "smartphone" and how nutso I would be. Love, Martine 12 02 07 On Friday night I went to a Hall & Oates concert at the UIC Pavilion with my friend Maura (www.hot-tamales.net). At first it was not that awesome because they were promoting a Christmas album and playing all seasonal tunes, but the crowd was very vocal about their dismay. People kept screaming " WE WANT SARA SMILE," or "MANEATER," or "RICH GIRL." I screamed "Maneater." Maura screamed "Sara Smile." Daryl Hall responded that he had just been on Howard Stern and that he wouldn't take shit from anybody. A few women took the opportunity to profess their love for him. I felt bad for Oates. He is kind of clearly second best. While the Christmas songs were playing I was getting caught up in all of the sentimentalism of the performance. I had never been to a concert of that scale. I kept watching the lights, and Daryl's hair which was being blown so perfectly by a well-concealed fan. I starting thinking about Christmas and all that that entails. It felt odd to be conscious of the melodrama, and still let it carry me away. I talked to Marco about it, and he'd had a similar experience at a Cher concert a few years ago. The words, "do you believe in life after love" mean a lot to him. (I don't mean that as a joke at all.) After all the Christmas stuff they took a brief intermission and returned with the jams. I was amazed by "Sara Smile." I'd never heard it before, now I am obsessed with it. Yesterday I got stuck in a YouTube daze and watched like a thousand different versions of it. I think Brian McKnight's is my second favorite. I also watched a thousand versions of "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday." Usher's acapella version (dedicated to Aaliyah) is particularly moving. I also watched the 1997 VMA performance when Diddy, Sting, 112, Faith Evans and a choir sang "I'll Be Missing You," which fully made me cry. I've been trying to stay positive and not let winter get me down. It's not that cold yet, but it is dark, and I work in an office/gallery with no windows. It can be totally depressing, but I'm determined to keep at it, and not hibernate like usual. I made a lot of goals last week and I feel like I can accomplish them. My deadline is July. Ask me how I'm doing in July. I did not apply to grad school, but I knew I wasn't going to. There's just no reason to, not yet anyway. Other than that, Megan Plunkett and I are going to Miami this week for Art Basel. I've been trying to convince Sean to go because he gets free flights, but he is far too practical for such a luxury. If I had free flights I would be everywhere always. Maybe not, earlier this year I took about 5 or 6 flights in like three weeks and it sucked so much. My plan for Miami is to soak up the sun, go to parties, and get free stuff, and see the art (of course). One of my goals is to update this more often. I think it's good to write down what is going on in my life, because it's really been getting away from me lately. Before I know it I'll be 40, with two kids, a three car garage. LOVE, Martine 10 11 07 It's pretty hard for me to update. I have no idea why. We all know it's definitely not because I'm never on the internet. I'm always on the internet. ALWAYS. To recap the past month or so: - I am an Office Assistant at the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. It is like being on a tv show, and I both loathe and love that about it. Imagine all the stock office clichés. - The store is fully operational. We had two opening parties, soft and hard, respectively. You should stop by if you are ever in Chicago. www.goldenagestore.com. Our next appearance will be at the Old Gold Harvest Bazaar, October 19th 6p-10p & 20th 11a-6p, 2022 North Humboldt Boulevard Chicago, Illinois 60647. Hopefully our table will be right next to Lauren Anderson. Also, perhaps an in-store later this month. Check out the site for Golden Age news. - CSSSA was fun, but draining. Weird to come back as a teacher, I kind of hated it when I was sixteen. I lived in Valencia for a month, and I don't understand how people do it, brutal. - Marco, Paul and I had a show at the Green Gallery in Milwaukee, entitled, YOU CAN DEPEND ON THE SUNRISE. (Click here for pictures.) It opened last friday and was great. This is what John Riepenhoff had to say, "Artists Paul Cowan, Marco Kane, and Martine Syms' clean fresh minimal Don't miss these three sincere artists' new world of modernism, text, You can also check out my new media piece on the web, www.typingservice.org - Megan Plunkett came to visit and we met Kanye West (see below), other than that we walked a lot. - It's getting cold again. We took the air conditioner out and pulled down the "winter" boxes. ouch! - I decided that I am never going to intern anywhere ever again. Although, I've had the best internships a girl could ask for. I'm too broke to work for free. - I'm less broke! Hurray! Working working working night and day... maybe soon I can buy a Blackberry, or at least a Razr, my phone is so pathetic. - My parents bought me some new shoes! - I don't have health insurance anymore :( - I am re-watching Six Feet Under on dvd and it is the best show ever made. HANDS DOWN! - I joined the gym. A guy named Atiba sold me my membership and gave me my introductory training session. It is the World's Gym and now it is mine. I've only gone twice so far, but it's only been two weeks. I'm going to go tonight. I am so weak. I can barely lift like 30 pounds. If I were mugged I would be dead meat. I'm trying to get stronger, and "work out my J.Lo" as Atiba says. - I'm working at the Rowley Kennerk Gallery in a more official capacity, after a brief hiatus. In fact, I'm there now. So I guess it's safe to say that I'm hardly working. - I want to learn a language, but I missed registration at Harold Washington, so now I've been trying to find private lessons on Craigslist, but it's not going so well. I want to learn either Spanish or French. And before you say French is a dead/dying language, remember all of those African countries that speak French. - I think I might be going to NY in November, maybe not. I don't know. I'm trying not to use my credit card. - Okay, that's enough for now. Check out the pictures page. I am majorly updating it because my mom bought a new camera over the summer. I am so spoiled. <3 MS 08 29 07
Megan Plunkett and I met Kanye West this weekend. I gave him my resume. Other people cried. Later, we walked by the lakefront and discussed his STAR POWER. Love, Martine 07 09 07 I'm stuck in the airport in Las Vegas. Earlier I sat next to the two most disgusting waste of life people on the planet. I'm sure of it. They were both promoters and they were shitfaced. They kept talking about "partying" while I was trying to read Ulysses. Totally bogus. 07 05 07 I'm really bummed right now, but rather than bitch about it, I'm going to STAY UP and think about happier times. Such as two weekends ago when I held a bear.
Also, I get back to Los Angeles on Monday. I will be there for a month, but I'm going to be working at CSSSA. It's an all day every day type thing, so I can't really hang out a lot, but I'm going to try to. Love, Martine 06 16 07 Last week I went to Kansas City and it was pretty much as awesome as Sean always says it is. We went to this weird bar called the Lava Room, and accidentally walked into the Hatebreed after-party. The next day we drove into Lawrence to visit my buddy Michael. In Larry Town we went to this club called Bottle Rocket (or something like that) where I saw the guy from Rooney macking with two blond girls, and I heard the absolute worst mash-ups ever in the history of the world played by the worst dj in the world. I couldn't even dance to them. Justin Timberlake + Postal Service? WHAT? After re-reading this, I realize you may be wondering, "What is so awesome about Kansas City?" Okay, picture this: it's summer, you drove there with your best friends (9 hours, it could've taken 7, but you guys stopped a million times at every semi-interesting truck stop), 'Young Turks' played on the radio four times and the chorus is pretty much the anthem of your life right now, you get there and EVERYONE is there to greet you major hangout style on the front porch with high-lifes and hugs, you spend the week sneaking in to hot tubs, lounging in the park, walking around a new city, eating home-cooked meals, and making friends. Doesn't that sound great? Anywayz, lot of love to the Cowan family and Brenna/Becky/etc. for letting us lurk. The store business is going well. Add us on myspace. www.myspace.com/goldenagestore. 05 26 07 Today I ate four quesadillas. 05 13 07 HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY SYL! Last Saturday was my birthday, and we moved into our new apartment. It is awesome. No more living in squalor, college is over. I graduate on May 20. I'm a professional now. OH YEAH, me, MKB, plus good friends, have a store in Pilsen, it's called GOLDEN AGE. It is not open yet, but will be soon. This means, if you have something to sell get in touch with me, we want it all. Love, Martine 04 11 07 It snowed today and I nearly cried. IT'S APRIL. I called my sister and she was at the beach. I miss California. MKB and I found an almost perfect apartment today. Then we came home and ignored each other. The search continues... I wrote a book. It's on lulu. It's pretty short. You should buy one if you have some disposable income. I could barely buy it. I had to charge that shit. I need some magical way to pay rent for June. I'm hoping that I'll win the graduating fellowship, but aren't we all. It would be nice to continue lurking. And if by some slim chance the dude from Soul Veg who sold me a bootleg dvd of Soul Train Volume I is reading...that dvd is broken, and I'd really appreciate another one. Love, Martine 03 21 07 Lots and lots of boring stuff going on in my life mostly, like you know, living, and loving, and living, and learning. Today I learned that teamwork is HARD. I need positive energy and positive attitudes. Corey Dieckman, Brendan Fowler, Kevin Shea, and Ethan Swan were in town this week and it was amazing. It was sort of like early spring break 07. I finished a new publication. If you are interested in receiving it please email me. Other than that, Snackparty is playing a show on Tuesday (see below) and the screening series (see below). Love, Martine 03 08 07 I love not working! How will I ever go back? Anywayz, I've got some pictures from the first show. Don't we all look like we know what we're doing? Next show is March 27, at Elegant Mr. Gallery 1355 N. Milwaukee. If you get lost, just wander around the southern end of Wicker Park until to you hear my voice. I promise it will be fantastic. We are on the look-out for a new apartment, and we are still looking for a space for the store, so if you know of anything.... I have the complete schedule for our screening series. Please, please, please come. My future depends on it. FRESH MODE: EXPLORING THE FOUR PILLARS OF HIP HOP - March 29 to April 1 Thursday, March 29, 7pm Friday, March 30, 7pm Saturday, March 31, 7pm Sunday, April 1, 1pm I wish I could go to the Ian Svenonius reading/screening at the Mountain in Los Angeles. SOMEONE FLY ME OUT. (Or Ian come to Chicago!) Love, Martine
03 05 07 Last day of work! Last night I talked to my father and he did a great job of making me more worried about quitting my job. I am pretty sure it was a good decision. I barely make any money and (sometimes, not like right now when I am surfing the net) I have to do a lot of work. How can I lose? I am already way below the poverty line. Besides, I have a million brilliant ideas that need to be realized and I cannot realize them in the office. PLUS, I think we are moving in April which is another shitty thing because it is right at the end of the semester and costs $$$. I'm trying to keep a PMA. The Snackparty show was pretty hilarious. The place was full of scene-y hardcore kids from Chicago suburbs. My favorite group of people. Our first song is really depressing on purpose and the crowd reaction was priceless. We had a lot of mic problems, and apparently some other band took our mics to "keep them safe." Problem is kids live far away in Schamburg or Gurnee or something (these are the only suburbs I know. ikea and six flags respectively) and we are basically car-less. HARSH. Best news of the week: I went to the Athenian Candle Co. (Jackson/Halsted. It is so rad please visit.) to buy a mini-portrait of Christ and a copy of Mr. Tips, and after I paid the guy poured oil in my hands and blessed me. At first I thought it was a curse because things were going terribly, but everything picked up nicely by the evening. ALSO: Warning to all sewing enthusiasts/"crafters"/etc. who have cats, if your cat swallows some thread it gets caught in their intestines and rips them apart. This is happening to Brad and Alyssa's cat Mabel. It's really sad. She is dying. Love, Martine 03 01 07 Is anyone really good at websites? I'm trying to make a form using formmail, and something keeps fucking up. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I will send you something cool. I'm still sick! Can you believe it. I've got one weak ass immune system. Luckily, in this day and age there is no reason for me to leave the house. Except for band practice (don't worry guys I'll be there). I was checking my reports yesterday and it seems Max Scoppettone has been googling himself and giving me hits. THANKS MAX! What else? I paid off my credit card bill, my hair is really nappy, I smell bad, I didn't go to class today, I lost my notebook with all of my great ideas in it, and we looked at a storefront yesterday. I think that is about it. Oh yes, and Dan Gleason sent me about six YouTube videos I still haven't gotten around to watching. I love your videos Dan, I will watch them. I promise! Love, Martine 02 26 07 I've got a cold because I didn't bring enough layers to Milwaukee and it started snowing. LAME. The show was good though. I am proud of us all. Good job Paul and Mali! I showed a video and heard that it was a bit "wilder" than the rest of the work in the show. Sounds good to me. Yesterday was spent in bed, contemplating life, watching The Real World Las Vegas on dvd, and periodically taking vitamin C tablets. I decided how I am going to make money, but I don't want it to get all blown out quite yet. I am at work labeling envelopes for a faculty mailing. There are about 500 +/- faculty members, and this task is my least favorite. ALSO: Snackparty's very first show at: 02 19 07 I put in my two weeks today. It will be sad to see the free copies go, and no more shit talking with the ole co-workers, and no more free lunches courtesy of the Art Institute. Come March 5th I am unemployed. Fear not my friends. I'm a survivor and I'll keep on surviving. It is a nice thirty-five degrees today and I wore my short shorts. JK, but I did only wear two layers. YES! Karen G. was in town this weekend. Sadly, we didn't see much of each other, but we did manage to catch lunch at MyThai (wack).The weekend was action packed. First, I finished my video almost. I want to transfer it to film but that is EXPENSIVE ($350/minute, yikes!). Second, Lauren found the complete series of Real World Season 9 Las Vegas, at the Free Store and dutifully handed it to me. Third, Ryan Lieu had an amazing one-night-only exhibition at 40000. Fourth, Metal Fest at Peoples Projects. Fifth, El Topo at the Music Box, this film is bonkers. Plus, Oli Watt at Roots & Culture, and Benefit Party for the Skeleton News. I think Marco has pictures. Right now I am on lunch eating hummus and watching soaps with the other sassy black women who work at the school. Tonight! Super-8 blow ups... 02 14 07 I slept in today. I was having a dream about visiting the Sohm Archive in Stuttgart, Germany. NERDY! Love, Martine 02 11 07 Today was the first SNACK PARTY practice. We wrote one song. I sing and play organ on it. We have a show on March 3rd. We are going to pass out snacks, maybe. I'm on the verge of some serious art documentation, after which I will post all of my new work. This week I was really productive. I did a color test on the optical printer, I got my films ready for offset, and I worked on my video. I am proud of myself. In other news, I am trying to find a way to hang out professionally. Love, Martine 02 04 07 It is terribly, terribly cold. Tomorrow there is a high of six degrees. I am trying to have warm thoughts. Yesterday we were in Milwaukee and it was even colder! The walk from the front door to the car was unbearable. I could feel my jeans freeze. Other than that Milwaukee was pretty rad. We went to an opening at the Green Gallery. Paul Cowan is opening a store! and a gallery! It is called Roy G. Biv. I have a film in the inaugural show. The opening is February 23rd. Today is Super Bowl Sunday. The Bears are playing. I went to school earlier to work on some stuff and encountered many BEARS-clad individuals on my way there. I don't know who they are playing, I only hear about sports on the bus. That is how I learned that the Sox were the "working man's team." Love, Martine 01 31 07 There is a lot of new news to tell. First, in three months I will be entering The Real World. I can’t wait. No more teachers dirty looks, you know what I mean. Also, I am not moving back to Los Angeles. Sorry to break your hearts. Chicago needs me. In August I am opening a store with my BFF. Things to be sold: artist publications, music, apparel, etc. kind of grab-bag style. I’m excited and you should be too. I will need help and I will probably be asking you for some assistance. It will be greatly appreciated and duly noted. MKB and I curated a film series about HIP HOP for the Chicago Cultural Center, it happens March 29 – April 1, and if you are in the area you should go to it, it’s free. I will post a link once it goes up on the Cultural Center website. I re-did the site because it was too hard for me to update, I just want to type, and click a button. I’ve got to keep my readers (The Syms Family) in the know. I added some photographs from my tour of Europe, and will add my new masterpieces soon, I swear. In other, sad, unfortunate news: my camera broke. SERIOUS BUMMER and blow to my picture taking. Love, Martine P.S. If you want to see the old news it’s here. |
