change.room.2217

Changing in a public bathroom sounds as bad as it is.  I usually use the handicap stall since it's larger and sometimes has more places to hang garments.  Yeah...it's not that great.

With that said, I am happy to announce that the university I work at, IUPUI, has a changing room with lockers and a couch to sit on.  We are a lucky bunch!  I've always day-dreamed that the University of Texas would have at least a folding screen that art models could change behind.  I remember changing behind a chalkboard which was a half-baked idea: it only covered my breasts.  Changing in a storage room at ACC is not much better.  Students accidentally come to get supplies while you change.  And again, not everyone has this modesty of changing, but for those who do they should be covered, for lack of better words. 

I have no power in Austin, you do though. 

Image via Lassco, for much cheaper versions try these.

Japanese Moon Viewing Parties

I don't know exactly what to think.  I'm teaching my friend to become an art model.  No, I'm not trying to convert anyone - just help.  Someone needs some spare cash and wants to feel better in her body I'm all for it!  In fact, art modeling was the important factor for my own self-image.  You see yourself in circus mirrors when you look at different renderings.  Or as a kind, wise man once said: reflections in a pond.  Only you can gaze at the moon.  You don't need the reflections.  Take them for what they are and you will know peace.  It's a full moon tonight.  If you're still up you should take a look...it's pretty.


photo via Andrew Calder

Earth Hour 2010

We've made it my dears! It's another year and I didn't forget Earth Hour this year! Cheers!

Okay...so what is Earth Hour? Well, it's an hour that the whole world turns off it's lights. Sadly it's not one fall swoop of the switch. Each time zone turns off its lights at 8:30pm. I'm hoping that the pub I'm going to tonight joins in.

The point? We rely so much on electricity - try an hour without it. Last year I had a week without internet to much the same effect. It's kinda crazy how much we need it. So give it a try. You can use it as an excuse to cuddle up. Have fun!

2010

Bjork - Triumph Of The Heart

Sungjae | MySpace Video

2010 got off to a nice start. The kindness of strangers. Please don't take it for granted. We could be Dallas easily, but we're not yet. Austin's charm still lingers - we talk to strangers. Thank God. Could be my wide-eyed optimism, but knowing your neighbors holds a certain beauty. You are not alone in your little apartment complex. Yes, yes, there are those who will make your life a living hell, but don't use them as an excuse to not knock on your new neighbor's door. They could be nice. Perhaps.

I have no images that relate to this topic. Sorry Mr. Rogers is banned from my site, but I do have a video of all the wonderful drunkeness and incoherence of a 5am New Year's blog post. Enjoy and remember to knock loudly wouldja?

At Christmas you tell the truth.

Thank you. This goes out to all the artists whether they are struggling or not, thank you. It's Christmas, and at Christmas you tell the truth: life wouldn't be worth living without song, beautiful pictures, and handmade dresses and afghans. This is my life I'm talking about. I read on Jennifer Balkan's mirror a quote, "Art is like sex; an individual can survive without it, but a civilization cannot." So I am thankful for you all, just as you are kind and full of gratitude for people who sit around all day. :smile:

I don't know how to say it - it's your life. Just know that sometimes your art can get a girl through a hellish workday. Just a few minutes looking at a beautiful print can bring her soul back to her. Please don't put your art away...on a shelf, next year when I have time, when the kids are grown. Make time. You can do it. You can balance the mundane with the inspirational. I believe in you.

United Nations Day

Today is United Nations Day. We have about two hours left of it in my time zone.

All I can think of is Ms. Eleanor Roosevelt. An amazing woman whose name might fall on one of my girls. Right now she seems kind of like a super heroine to me, cuz she wrote a column entitled 'My Day' every day. My God, I'm proud of myself when I can get this up twice a week! I'm sorry, lemme get back to Ms. Eleanor. She was appointed one of the first five American delegates for the United Nations General Assembly by President Harry Truman. Through Eleanor's leadership the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was ratified by the United Nations, and at that time she received a standing ovation from the delegates.

This blog is about beauty. Yes, mostly modeling but beauty as a whole. There will be posts on Keep Austin Beautiful in the future. I admire Eleanor for all the inner beauty and grit she possessed. She still amazes me. Perhaps I can get this blog up three times a week.

Happy United Nations Day! Now get some sleep!

What matters.

I call him Beautiful, cuz he is inside and out. He says the same for the same reasons. It's wonderful, to wake up in the morning eyes half-open and hear, "You're so beautiful, darlin." Makes me feel wonderful...knowing my face could get hit by a tractor and he'd still say, "Mornin' beautiful!" Brings me to tears knowing I got a love like that.

So beauty, elusive beauty. Women hurt their feet with painfully high heels, extend their necks with brass rings, corsets have come back into fashion, and just little things like plucking our eye brows and shaving. Why? A guy would get beaten up if he shaved his legs and armpits, and that's half of what we do, sometimes. We feel confident when we're beautiful. I at least feel better knowing I have makeup on even when I realize there is a minute difference.

I think Cindy Crawford had the best motto: put on makeup for five minutes and get on with your life! She likened makeup to clothes [that only women wear], to go without makeup is to go naked. Clothes bring confidence. I am an oddity with my viewpoint on that, but it's true with most people. I believe this elusive, physical beauty is important to our self-confidence, but worry about it for only 10 minutes in the morning. No more. There is shitloads to be done in the world...and there's a guy out there who loves you and could care less.

girls, girls, girls

Oh Mother! Where are we now? San Francisco, honey.

Madonna's song 'What It Feels Like for a Girl' barely touches on what it is to be a girl. It describes a girl who is barely there. A girl who, for lack of better words, behaves and abides by the status quo. A status quo that Madonna herself would never adhere to, because she is strong. I bring this up, cuz we're in the city of men wanting to be women and vice versa. For now I am going to focus on MTF because I know what it is to be a woman, and revel in it.

I love putting on makeup and sewing beautiful clothes for myself. My apartment is a temple to Gianni Versace although my closet has a ways to go before it has his style. Really, I was trying to avoid that play on words. I realize that I'm just one girl, and that's it. This does not apply to all females around the globe. Good feminists will acknowledge that, bad ones will talk about their life and apply that structure to women who don't have safe drinking water let alone a college degree.

But what I really wonder is...why do humans look down on men who are effeminate? The intro to 'What It Feels Like' is a sample from Ian McEwan's Cement Garden. Julie, or rather Ian, is the first person to so concisely put the whole genre of homophobia into clarity. We, women, are the second sex at least in a man's point of view. Excuse me, most men secretly think this. Anyone who acts like a woman is instantly degraded. Do you disagree?

Why else would cocksucker (what I as a woman do all the time) be an insult? The third sex, I wish it weren't this way, but we are talking about popular culture and my opinion is small compared to it. The third sex, transgender or transexuals is lower than women. When I was looking for pictures of Christina Aguilera's 'Beautiful,' I found drag queen tagged to her photo. We all know that is an insult. One that her video, 'Beautiful,' challenges.

"We are beautiful no matter what they say...words won't bring us down."

Be yourself no matter what that entails. Damn that's easy to write, but so hard to put into practice. Just know that there are places you can be yourself. The world is huge and there are safe havens in different cities. Thank you San Francisco, and thank you Harvey Milk.

without

Hey, I'm back. I've been without internet for about two weeks. It's a bit odd for me. I bet it would be odd for anyone in urban America to go without internet for a half a month. Just makes me think of Earth Hour. Have you heard of it? It's an hour where the whole world turns off the lights.

I remember making my father participate in it last year. He wanted to go to a movie, but I insisted that we play chess by candlelight. I felt a bit mean, but it made us realize how dependent we are on electricity. If you like, participate in it next year. It's March 28th of each year.

Seneca Falls Convention: July 19th and 20th, 1848

Collective memory makes a society. I almost forgot that today was the anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention. But I am here to redeem myself. It's usually an 'f' word to be a feminist nowadays, but really I would be shaming those who gave me the basic right to vote, and to own property among other things. I am happily a feminist who studied Feminist Theory at Oxford. So in honor of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, the writers of the Declaration of Sentiments, I will present you the Art Models Basic Rights tomorrow. The Seneca Falls Convention lasted two days, and this will too. Just know that this crucial event to women's rights began today. Please comment with what you think should be included. It's vain to think I can do this by myself. I want to be Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the radical who thought women's suffrage should be included in the document. Who will you be?

"Where would Rembrandt be without his models?"

Today I went to my nephew's first birthday party.  It was lovely to see the young lad, happy and gurgling.  He didn't fuss whatsoever, and apparently he didn't have a nap.  Props to the birthday boy! 

I saw a lot of my family on my sister's side.  I met her grandmother, Ginny, and her husband "Doc."  My mom was there along with my step-father so this was a family event.  After talking with my own grandmother I realized how embarrassed my family can become with me openly talking about my profession.  I know to some of you it's a "No, duh?" kind of statement...but really...do we all have to be shameful about our bodies? I'm not asking everyone to run around naked, but at least have a bit of respect when someone is nude.  The only reason that I do model is because I get that respect in the art world.  But as far as the outside world, when someone is naked it's bad.  Naughty.  Licentious.  Sexuality and sensuality are certainly conjured up when someone is naked...but do we have to look down on them? I respect strippers and know that not all of them are stupid or strung out.  Some own property or used the job financially to start their own business. 

So I'm an art model.  Apparently the classiest nude profession there is.  I kept my words checked and told everyone who asked that I was a model and I worked at a fabric shop.  All true to an extent.  I made sure to say 'model' so my parents wouldn't be embarrassed.  All nudity was in the wraps.  Then Ginny told me how proud she was that I was organizing models.  I had to tell her the uncensored truth.  She told me I sounded like I was apologizing for my profession.  I was.  It was so sweet when she looked up at my step-father and remarked, "Where would Rembrandt be without his models?"  It was nice.  My step-father didn't have a coherent retort.  Thank you, Ginny.  You just made my week.  I wish there were more of you out there in that generation.  I'm glad I make you proud.

Give thanks to those who protest.

I told you in the last post that I was deathly ill. Nah, just a fever and a cold. Anyway, I've had bundles of time to read. Right now it's Women's History that I'm reading about. I'm so thankful for the women and men who advocated rights I sometimes take for granted.

In Paris, models are protesting a ban on what is called a 'cornet.' Basically, the French government is making their tips illegal. In that spirit I want to thank all who protest for their rights. I personally am thankful for the Austin art models who brought our wages up to $15/hour. Thank you.

Please read these news articles of models in Paris and earlier in Italy fighting for their rights and recognition. We deserve it. Speaking of which, if anyone else has problems with getting paid by Austin Community College, please email me. Alone I just sound annoying, but together we could make a difference.