art topography

I was dragged out of doors last week by dearest Tim and Amanda. I have to admit, I was cranky about leaving my nice apartment and good boyfriend and cozy blankets to GO OUT IN THE DARK AFTER WORK. Okay, so maybe I'm a recluse, so what? I did go out in the end!

We, of course, decided to see arts.

First we got our dose of "real" culture, at the Albright Knox Art Gallery (fridays are free! Even the main exhibit!). It is fun going there (I interned there as an Art Handler for a semester and got to fondle some great stuff!) still, even today.

One of our faves is this old old painting of Benjamin Franklin using a printing press (of course we like it! Of course Ben Franklin knew how to letterpress!). It was recently resurrected from who knows what by some awesome conservators, and it was fun to try to see what they touched (couldn't find any evidence, really!)



The real reason I was dragged out of my pajamas was to see the upper exhibit, which Amanda KNEW I would love. Of course she was right about that, too!

A new on view Jorge Pardo:



And one of my favorite pieces the AKAG owns, this amaaaazing Polly Apfelbaum (she makes great printwork, too!)



It's many many many small pieces of hand painted fabric, and the interesting thing is that it's meant to be dynamic to the space it is in, and depends on the art installers to decide how it's arranged! So it will never be the same way twice. Last time it was wrapped around a pole and looked down upon from a set of stairs. Awesome.

What was even better was the choice of companion to that piece in the room (it's a really big gallery room and it's interesting to see the choices they make to fill it):



Putting this Tara Donovan next to it simply opens a new world, and creates a landscape, rather than just stuff on the floor. I loved these two together.

After the gallery we decided to go less high-art (and much less 70's pop!) and went to a show by a few UB alumni including my friend Tara, who made some of the most beautiful paintings she has ever produced! I was like a proud mommy (or maybe auntie?)





I'm sorry I was killing photos left and right, I could not seem to get good light or sharp edges anywhere! I must learn how to take an acceptable photo eventually...

Anyways, I was glad I was dragged out. We ended the day driving around trying to find some good christmas light displays to take pictures of for this post, but apparently they don't really do that in the city? Or the mega-displays aren't out yet?

Pictures of lights eventually!

snow!

It's finally real snow season!

Of course, to the true Western New Yorker, this much snow is nothing. Don't even leave for work early:



I love it, I really do, it's the stuff of my childhood. And pretty much the rest of my 'hoods as well, as the snow tends to stick for approximately 9 months out of the year.

Alas, when I took these photos, it was gray and overcast (it's been doing that too much lately!) so the pics are not that much pretty.

You know, I love snow, but the car scraping....not so much. At least it's not ice yet! (cross your fingers!)

thanksgiving.

I miss my family, deeply and profoundly.

I don't like holidays, and I never have, but this year, I miss that I have to spend time with them at least for this one day.

Of course, I'll be seeing them for christmas, and I'm affording the love of my life two days with his own family that live much more than 20 minutes down the I-190. And that's good.

When I took this full time job I said I'd see my family, go home for dinner at least once a week. But a spare night has been hard to come by between two jobs, a messy apartment, and the need for rediculous amounts of sleep for my own sanity.

Sometimes I think of my life as a good, happy place. And it is. I'm glad I'm getting this time to improve myself, exercise every day, experience this job and save all I can.

But I miss my family, and need to find balance.

Have a good thanksgiving, everyone.

2010 ready.

the UB print department always holds a print sale for fun (and fund-raising), and even though I'm all graduated, I made a point to take some time off and stop by. Of course the highlight was Amanda's amazing installation in the gallery. I couldn't believe it. I wish I had had my camera to capture some of the awesomeness for you guys. I couldn't have been prouder of my bff!

I came armed with a budget, and decided on a calendar by Pistachio Press! I had had my eye on it for my cube at work (it needs some prettyness), and I had some suspicion a few editions would be at the sale. I love it, I cannot believe how clean and beautiful it is, and the amount of work in it is insane. I already hung it at my desk, even though it's not 2010 yet!



okay that's a crappy cell phone photo in my office lighting, here's some nicer pics from Rachel...

love!

animal photography

I need these prints by Sharon Montrose's Etsy site.

like...need.



Of course I love animals, but I love the color scheme and straightforward photography. Somehow, taking the animals out of their natural home and onto a stylized photo studio, they are more character than animal.

and I need them. To make my home happy.

...a set of three maybe?

backlogged market photos

Awesome fall farmers market haul from last week! I had to work this week, and sent Tim out with some cash for apples and apple products without me. So we can re-live this one instead.



look at that real live romanesco!



I really like apple season.

lunch, dinner. Backdated photos.

delicious roasted purple cauliflower! It gets even more purple when roasting. Happily from my fave local farm into my lunchbox, doesn't get much better.

Though the cauliflower wasn't eaten that night, a whole-grain cinnamon muffin dinner was instead.

2009_10_25_pb

a little while ago, I decided to make like every person in that "healthy living blogs" sidebar I have over there, and make oatmeal in an old peanut butter jar. With pumpkin, for the seasonal effect! yum!

But of course, I cannot eat breakfast calmly, at a table. Rather, on the go, because I'm always late. Though health is a priority, I've always had a hard time making breakfast a priority as well.



At least the pb jar trick is so so awesomely portable! (not re-mircowavable, however. bye bye, last half at lunchtime :( )

buf uca

well.

I do miss the boy after him being away for a few days. I didn't anticipate it to be so traumatic (okay I lie, I did...I haven't been apart from him in almost a year, and I really never want to revert to the long-distance thing ever again). I'm just getting by, doing my job, sleeping a lot, shopping for things I only sort of need just to waste time.

I did, however, like staying with my parents. It was good to have my perfectly arranged bed back, by amazing bathtub, and omgcabletv. It was good to be there, to spend time with my parents. It made me happy.

But you know, I really miss MY home. It's strange how things change, because my parent's still feels like part of my home, but my home is our little apartment, with my bf, with my roomate, with all of it's flaws and issues. I know I was feeling unhappy, but now I realize how grateful I should have been feeling that I can have all of these things, and do, and can actually afford it. That's major. So what if it's not ideal yet, and I feel lonely at work and miss my friends. It will work out, because I have a great partner to help me, amazing parents to fall back on, a fun roomate who makes me happy, a car to go places, and really, more love than I deserve sometimes.

I hope he's feeling the same way about home, because I miss him so much, and I can't stop feeling nervous that he doesn't want to come back, because I've been an absolute monster.

I miss him, and I don't like the feelings it's bringing up. I'm trying my best to stay calm, and be patient.



edit: well, I found out he's coming home tonight! I guess he does like buffalo and me! I'm stupid and overreacty. Hope all goes well.