Alanna Risse:: artist blog

Big Art Sale Soon!
I’m planning on having a large online sale of artwork sometime this week. I’ve invited a friend to finally pick out her wedding/housewarming presents first, then I’ll be posting a link to my sale website, so get ready! Everything is going to be dirt cheap, some things even free. They are mostly old paintings that I need to get out of my life so that I can move on.

This weekend was spent clearing out as much stuff as I possibly could from my house and studio. I dropped off three bags to Goodwill, three large bags plus fabric to the depot for creative reuse, a whole bunch of lumber to Urban Or, and 5 bags of trash or recycling. I need to clear out all the clutter! Today I have a bag full of 12 books and cds that sold on Amazon but the darn post office is having network problems. Hopefully those I can ship out this afternoon. Less is definitely more right now.

Apple number 4 was eaten late Saturday night after much wine while watching Tropic Thunder at home with my lovely husband. It was a fuji. I’d been carrying it around all day in case I’d needed a studio snack.

Apple number 5 was eaten at work on Monday in the late morning after some morning coffee from Jackson Place Cafe, a fruitless walk to the post office (systems down) and a fun walk with coworkers back to Jackson Place Cafe. It was a fuji.

See all apple related posts.

Apple number 3 was eaten with a bowl of Müsli from Heather. The apple was a Honey Crisp. Heather gave me a large bag of Müsli when I told her Jackson Place Cafe had the best Müsli I’d ever had. The stuff she gave me is heavy and tough while the Jackson Place Cafe stuff is light and airy, like a crisp, spring day. Still I love that she gave me Müsli, we’ve barely been on speaking terms for years and the giving of cereal is a huge step in the healing of our friendship. So I will eat her Müsli and smile. The Honey Crisp was light and crisp. Very delicious. Today I am lightening the load around the house and studio, taking things to Goodwill and clearing out some furniture and unnecessary clutter the studio, so the apple fits the day.

See all apple related posts.

Jen Stark, a Miami based artist began using paper as her medium during her stay to France. She was low on cash and the paper was the cheapest coolest thing she could find at the art store. She creates both 2D and 3D pieces with colored paper.

There is an artist studio available for rent in my building. The space and building is totally awesome. You can take the T line to just 1 block from the space or there is pretty close parking most of the time, though I’ve had a little trouble finding a spot if I get there during the week between 10 and 3. The space is about 300 sq feet and is $390 a month. You’d be sharing a large suite with two other very awesome artists. The space has great light. If you are interested or know someone, you can email me for more info. Move in date is flexible.

Yosemite Place website

Apple #1
I had wrapped my first apple of 2009 in some ribbon and had every intention of eating it at midnight. We went out to dinner and instead of coming home at a reasonable hour, ended up at my friend Heather’s house where we consumed too much champagne and cigarettes. We got home sometime after 2 and collapsed in bed. I had the spins so I couldn’t sleep. I went out to the living room, spied the apple and munched it down with fervor. I ate it down to the core and left it on the coffee table like a proud statue. It was a Fuji.

Apple #2 was eaten at work, first thing in the morning, as I waited forever for my computer to start up. It had a couple of rotten spots and the skin was a little wrinkly. I have a headache and bad cramps. I ate around the rotten parts. Eating it felt more like duty than pleasure. It was a Fuji.

See all apple related posts.

I didn’t want to have a new year’s resolution this year. It seems that over the past few months, I’ve been very good at starting things that I don’t ever intend to finish. There was the 1 art article a day plan in November, and a weight loss plan, an exercise plan, a more leafy greens plan, and lately there are plans about a magazine and a book and an album and all sorts of other things that I worry are too much for me right now. I’m still trying to get used to post art college life and trying to figure out how to make an artful life for myself.

Presently, I’m doing an incredibly crappy job and all those other things seem like burdens to me rather than fun, energizing, inspiring projects. I wish it wasn’t so, but until I can get my arse into a regular art-making schedule, the idea of other projects makes me bite my nails. I want to do them all, I really do, but yeah I really need to figure out why I’m avoiding the studio right now. Well crap, I guess I know why, but none of the reasons are a good enough excuse. The real reason is that I lack motivation. No wait, the real reason is that I have been moonlighting. No wait, the real reason is that I’m a newlywed who wants to spend all her time with her new husband. No wait, the real reason is that I am a talentless hack. No wait, the real reason is that I spend all my time thinking about reasons for why I don’t go to the studio enough. Yeah see, I’ve got issues. They need to be worked out.

So, new years resolutions also seemed like a very bad idea. But last night, while lying in bed wondering if my herb tea was actually caffeinated, I came up with the perfect resolution. In 2009, I will eat 365 apples. That’s it, no other rules. These apples need to be eaten whole, but that doesn’t exclude baked apples. Apple juice alone doesn’t count. Although delicious, it is lacking in much needed fiber. I’m going to keep track of my apple consumption by keeping a page of hash marks in my Moleskine weekly planner, which fortuitously happens to have an apple computer stick on the cover. I’ll break up my apple eating goals monthly so if I fall behind, I’ll have to cram the remaining apples in at the end of the month. Might be wise to avoid me around that time. Ready! Commence apple eating!

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I got so many things for xmas, I need to write them down before I loose track.

• Hand Made Glass bowl from Heather
• Monty Python Trilogy from Tom
• Sweater from Tom
• Sweater and Skirt from Liz
• Hot water bottle with sweater from Liz
• Susan Sontag on Photography - book from George
• Chocolates from Tom
• Rothko movie from Tom
• LCD System Audio CD from Hildreth
• An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles book from Tom
• Scientific Illustration book from Tom
• The Atlas of Endangered Species from George
• Fashioning Technology from Hildreth
• The Hive from George
• A huge, beautiful book of botanical illustrations from Tom
• Faber-Castell PITT Artist Brush Pens from Tom

Tom was looking back at the year and on the top of his list for things he learned this year was: “Marriage does change things, and its worth it.” That got me counting how long we’ve been married and thinking about how it’s changed things. We’re just about to reach our 5 month mark now.

Looking back, I am so glad we had a big(ish) event. We both chose to create some artistic projects as gifts to each other and to our friends and family. This allowed us to feel like it was really our wedding and it made our journey into marriage seem more solid and tangible. Most importantly the act of our wedding bonded us as a family. I’m so glad I changed my name, even though it’s been a bit weird getting used to the new one, I feel so happy every time someone calls me by my new name. I completely understand why people keep their maiden names, but for me, it has been a good choice and I love it.

Tom and I lived together for several years before we got married. Very little has changed as far as finances, responsibilities, and home life goes, but something HAS changed. But putting words to that change is difficult. In trying to put words to my feelings of being newly wedded, I typed “How does marriage change a relationship” into Google. I was trying to see if some of the new feelings we have now for each other are common amongst newlyweds. Of Course on the discussion boards I came across, I got a great deal of very impersonal and shallow garbage. it seemed the less people had to say about their new found bliss, the more believable they seemed to me. Maybe it’s something words or images can’t do justice to. Whatever it is, it’s nice and I like it. Thanks Tom, for new journeys, and for being so hot, and for being so very good at loving me. I love you.

Regretfully I need to sell my beautiful scooter. It runs well, and I’ve had all
my tune ups through the SF Scooter Center. There is minor body damage on
one side from some lame-o who backed into it while leaving a parking space. I’ve hammered
out the ding best I could but it’s still visible. More photos available on my for sale page.

I am the original owner. The scooter was purchased new from the SF Scooter Center in 2002.

• 150cc 4-stroke engine
• 5600 miles
• brand new tires
• brand new battery
• basket on the back
• roll bars

Asking price: $1500. I live in the Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco.

Visit the Bajaj Chetak Website.

This has been a great year, full of lots of exciting events. But I’m even more excited about 2009 so I can’t wait to say goodbye to 2008. Thanks for all the fun times, 2008!

Even though there are so many irons in the fire, I feel like I have nothing to say. For the next month, I’ll be focusing on cleaning up the studio, getting rid of more stuff around the house, and trying to streamline a bit. It’s all “do” and no “talk” time around here I guess. I’ll think of some off-the-subject subjects to share with you so I don’t feel so quiet.

Hello peoples! This week has started out to be a rough one, and I’m recovering from an emotional hangover at the moment. I’m looking forward to sitting around on my arse for a little while over the extended weekend. Maybe we’ll do some mini road trips, but that will generally mostly involve me sitting on my arse in a car. I think I can handle that. But for the next day and a half I need to sit on my arse here in this cube and stay out of trouble. I think it’s going to be a long day and a half.

I really have nothing to say to you today except arse, arse arse. So I am wishing you a happy Hanukkah and Christmas and Solstice and Quanza and may your holiday dreams be bright and white and all that.

There was a huge string of emails passed around in the SFBA message boards yesterday. It seems that there is still an open issue around mandarins and honeybees but it has nothing to do with AB771. Unfortunately, I’m a little frustrated with a call to arms that was misleading and incorrect and I’m done with this issue until I can find out for myself what is really going on here around this issue. At this point, it’s just another battle of opinions with little facts available. I’m a little embarrassed and beestung that I lept into action so quickly without learning about the issue more.

PLEASE DON’T SEND ANY MORE MESSAGES TO MR. KAWAMURA ABOUT OPPOSING AB 771 BECAUSE HE IS PROBABLY GETTING PISSED OFF BY THESE OFF-BASE BEEKEEPER MESSAGES!!!!

If you mention opposing AB 771 in your letter, you will get a response back saying that AB 771 has already been passed. That is true, and it happened last year. This issue we now face has NOTHING TO DO WITH AB 771!!!

Our group has sent dozens of messages about opposing AB 771. We are looking like idiots and have probably lost our credibility. If you want to send the right message, there are some templates in this email string. BUT DON’T MENTION OPPOSING AB 771!!!!

Diane

Follow up from original poster about the mandarin/bee issue

You are correct, Diane. We are already living with AB771.
My reporting was too short and inaccurate in this respect. The fact is that the Ag Secretary is going to make a decision about the terms of the implementation, and that the citrus growers essentially have not budged on what they initially wanted to get through AB771. Any compromise, middle point (or whatever it may be called) between the two parties that are represented in the work group (beekeepers and citrus growers), represents a loss for the bees and ultimately for all of us.

Already pollinators lose forage when large monocrops cover the land, when trees get netted to forbid accessing the bloom. We cannot tell the growers what they may or may not do on their land. But when growers want to control the presence of pollinators on surrounding acreage, there is something deeply wrong.

I hope that beyond the technical error that I committed, for which I present my apologies to all, you will grasp and see the essence of what is happening. That is that we need to impress upon the Secretary of Agriculture that the issue is of great importance to all of us, and that the health of the honey bees is at stake.

Those of us who do not move bees to the citrus crops and do not grow mandarin oranges, are not represented in the coexistence group. And yet, what is being discussed there is the modalities of how to further decrease habitat for pollinators. We are all about to lose a lot more than some orange blossom honey if we do not say something right away!

Serge

I got a comment today from someone at the CDFA and now have questions about whether or not this honeybee/orange thing is still an issue. It looks like the bill (AB771) was passed this October, 2008 and there is nothing in the bill about banning honey bees from California’s mandarin orange groves. I’m assuming at this point that because a resolution could not be made, nothing about bees made it into the bill. I’m asking more questions from the person who forwarded me the original email so I’ll update you if I hear anything back. In the meantime, I’m adding a note to my previous post.

I’ll be reading through some websites tomorrow.

• sen.ca.gov end of session report
• info.sen.ca.gov from 2007
• about AB 771 on KlammathBasinCrisis.org

I emailed the person who forwarded the request for action, hopefully he can dig up some more info or point me in the right direction. I apologize if I pulled the trigger too fast before doing my own due diligence.

Comment from previous post:

Office of Public Affairs - CDFA
officeofpublicaffairs@cdfa.ca.gov | 134.186.234.249
AB 771 was signed into law on Oct. 8th, 2008 and is in current statute. The statute that was created applies to Tulare, Madera, Fresno and Kern counties. The statute does not require banning honeybees that surround citrus groves.

I love, love love these and I want, want, want one. I feel bad enough that I order coffee in a paper cup. It’s a stupid thing but I don’t like the flavor of coffee from my metal thermos. But if I had one of these, I’d at least be saving a little cardboard. Plus when I’m done, I get to carry around a little bat in my pocket all the time. Available on Etsy from batgirl93.

Yay! More lists! I love me some lists.

• Got Married
• Went to Hawaii
• Graduated with high distinction from CCA with a BFA in painting/drawing.
• Sewed my own wedding dress
• Saved a kitten
• Visited azure and jason in LA
• Got a job, quit a job, got another job.
• made a teeny, tiny bit more progress on my walk from SF to Morgan Hill
• Took a Beekeeping class
• Made a million little pipecleaner bees and tissue paper flowers for my senior show installation.
• Had a lovely spring break getaway in Calistoga
• Made a bunch of cool beach bags

The end of the year is quickly approaching and I thought instead of a resolution list, I’d make a list of things I used to do, or do less of now.

• I used to buy lunch nearly every day. Now I bring my lunch nearly every day.
• I used to have three credit cards. Now I have one.
• I used to use canned broth. Now I use homemade
• I used to go out drinking all the time and could easily spend $80 - $100 on drinks alone in one night. Now it seems I only visit bars 2-5 times a year, tops. I now enjoy a bottle of wine with a nice dinner every once in a while.
• When I lived in the south bay or santa cruz, I drove pretty much everywhere I went. Now I take the bus or walk most places.
• I used to drink a lot of soda. Now I occassionally have a soda if I’m feeling frisky.
• I used to eat fast food at least once a week. Now it’s closer to once a year.
• My diet used to be comprised mainly of starches and cheeses. Now I eat tons of fruits, vegetables, and grains.
• I used to have hangovers weekly. I still have too many, but it’s more like monthly or bi-monthly.
• I used to work long hours in front of the computer. Now most days it’s just 8 hours and some change.
• I used to hate the crust on brie. Now I don’t mind it.
• I used to think I’d probably never find a healthy, loving relationship. Now I look one in the eyes every day.
• I used to pay a gym membership. Now I get exercize the “old fashioned way”.

In an attempt to boost much needed sales this holiday season, many online retailers are offering free shipping. How’s about that? You don’t have the leave your house yet your packages will magically arrive by Christmas and you don’t have to pay extra for it. Sounds like a deal to me.

Check the Free Shipping Day website for more info and a list of participating merchants. Many places are offering free shipping right now so you don’t have to wait til the 18th.

I’m personally sizing up the Shop PBS website. Or maybe it’s time I invest in a Queen Bumble Bee costume (for Tom of course!). Other merchants of interest: Apple, Vans, Dickies, Urban Outiftters, The North Face, Kielh’s, Body Shop, Sephora, Guitar Center, Case Logic, Fog Dog Sports, etc etc.

This was reported on Oregon Live today and it made me chuckle.

A tanker truck carrying 5,000 gallons of a de-icing chemical turned over… …The truck hit ice, swerved and rolled over shortly before 10 a.m., according to early reports. Magnesium chloride acetate, which is used in de-icing formulas for roads, spilled in the crash…

If you haven’t seen it yet…

I think right now I’m going to send myself a letter that should not be received until next Christmas season. The letter will read: “Beware holiday parties, you no longer have the stomach of a 22 year old. You can’t handle it, old lady, so stick to a glass or two of wine and leave the vodka on the shelf.”
It was fun anyway, but yeah, I’m sorry Mr. duck.

I’ve got what i like to think of as an angry duck that lives somewhere around my spleen and he gets very, very angry sometimes. He starts hollering and pecking at my insides and it’s not pretty. Alcohol, sugar, delicious coffees, cheese plates, all of these things I can handle just fine in moderation, but add them up all together and the duck get angry, very very angry.

We had a holiday party at work and I was so happy to actually get to speak to other humans that I just kept ordering greyhounds. It was super fun.

Just thought you’d like to know the hormone tornado is over and I am much at peace with the world. I’ve been walking a lot, and hanging out with my totally awesome husband and feeling comfortable with my general irresponsibility. But I really should get to work now, seeing as it’s 10pm and I haven’t done a lick. I’m too antsy to be moonlighting right now. Don’t tell my husband. Oh wait, he probably noticed already.

Speaking of secrets, it seems to be the dominating topic this week. Have you noticed lately how much of the “private” has become so overly public? everything from hearing way too detailed of private cellphone conversations on the bus to way too much information being divulged on facebook or blogs. I don’t really have much to say about the subject, except I find it fascinating and have been daydreaming about having a project where I perform very personal, private arguments or conversations with another real live person in a very, very public place. Because it doesn’t seem like many people realize just how much more they are potentially complicating their lives… the funny thing is, I wonder if people would even bat an eyelash. Possibly the project would involve an attempt to see just how personal you have to get to evoke a reaction. Seriously, over the past 10 years we’ve watched tv shows about strangers thrown together in fish bowl-like situations, we know too much information about celebrity’s personal lives, even our next president is being turned into a petri dish of personal. We’re numb to it all, so talking about the std we contracted from our cheating boyfriend on a crowded bus doesn’t seem inappropriate anymore.

I realize I get pretty personal in this here blog sometimes, but I’m always checking myself to see if I’m really comfortable divulging details of my personal life… and somewhere along the way I came up with rules for myself about what was appropriate or not, as far as publishing in a public forum was concerned. Most of the time I feel comfortable saying things of a slightly personal nature because I feel I share this world with humans, and we all feeling similar things, right? And sometimes knowing someone else is going through something similar, can make you feel a little more connected to the world, I know it makes me feel more connected when I read something I can relate to.

I don’t know, who knows. All I know is, this phenomenon of sharing the very personal, very publicly, it’s new, really new. It has been developing rapidly over the last 10 years and I’m not so sure it’s always a good thing for us, you know? Maybe we should just take a deep breath before hitting that publish button. Be personal, but be consciously personal, that’s my advice for you today. And try to have a sense of humor about it all, ok? We’re all just creatures of the earth and we can’t take things too seriously or we’ll all crack up.

Be still my beating heart. This apple pie takes the cake. God, I really just said that on accident. I swear.

A new documentary is coming out called “The Return of the Honey Bees” The site is vanishingbees.com. Thanks Bill!