Saturday, May 15, 2010

I Love Cookies

In between the exhilaration of the beginning and the triumphant culmination of the finish is the climb, and that is what makes all the difference. But, how do we make sure that our final destination is the one we want? Climb, climb, climb, ever forward onward and upward that’s how. The rungs on the ladder are not so well defined for me, or any other artist out there. It is a bit like grasping at straws. London is fantastic for artist, because there are straws flying all over the place and in so many directions you have to dodge some. I just have to be selective and grasp at the right ones. The latest in my ongoing attempts at ascension were yesterday at Exhibition 2 inside the Tate Modern (missed it), and earlier with 3 galleries looking for proposals (missed, missed, maybied) and with 2 jobs (maybied, and MADE IT). Yes, I found one of those rare straws that is strong enough to stand on. In case you were not keeping track that is 1 out of 6.

The made it, I am working at The Bankside Health Club. I know it is not art, but it is a part-time job in Central London next door to my flat (apartment) and with over 2000 members, half of which apparently are connected to art in London. But those are just the added benefits, and the main excitement behind this rung is not nearly as tantalizing. It gives me a little financial stability allowing me to reach further up the ladder for my next art venture and it is part-time so I can keep it when I start my art related part-time job at Hammersmith and West London College. More concretely it allows me to buy more supplies for making art and the most exciting effect is, now I get to spend all day at Leon and maybe get a slice of pecan pie or an organic cookie with my coffee. I love cookies.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The 1st Perfect


I FOUND IT! That perfect hangout spot for this artist vagabond. My last blog was about the beginning of the search and lamenting the task of finding that diamond among all the cubic zirconium. I wasn’t asking for much (See my Perfect Place Criteria below). Here is that diamond, followed by the runners up (I told you I am the indecisive type).

THE PERFECT PLACE CRITERIA
I. Distance from me II. Mid-volume Chatter; III. London Experience IV. Caffeine V. Comfort VI. Art Access VII. Artist-Vagrant Threshold
(BONUS. Wi-Fi)

1st Place - LEON - 7/7
(Just behind the Tate Modern)
It’s an entangled meandering road I took to arrive at the perfect place next door. Every morning when I fall out of bed I passed and ignored it. The thought of venturing far from my own front door in order to find the London Experience was and still is difficult to set aside. Here is the thing that escaped me for so long: I am not at my front door, I am in Central London, I live behind the Tate Modern one of the best museums in the world. Van Gough painted his most memorable works from inside a hospital. How could I be so blind? The overriding reason I conquered this blatant disregard for reality is the Perfect Place Criteria. Leon fulfills the Wi-Fi Bonus, hits the mark on 3 of my 7 criteria, and goes beyond expectation on the others. There artist vagrant threshold is astronomical, I have spent literally all day there. Leon traffics people from all walks of life business professionals, tourist, locals and students. As far as art access there is an arts academy near by, 4 galleries and the free Tate Modern. And of course it is directly next door to me, I love it! So, if you are in Central London and see a some odd artist hunched over a drawing, through the large pane window of a large restaurant café’ with a mixture of the hard wood seating and comfortable couch chairs. That place Leon, and that American Artist In London is me.

2nd - CIAO - 6 ½/7
(Off Charing Cross)
Only problem: Busy so they like to make room for customers

2nd - OLD POLICE STATION STUDIOS & CAFE - 6 ½/7
(Deptford, next to New Cross Station)
Only problem: Distance (but right next to a tube stop)

2nd - Café above FOYLES bookshop - 6 ½/7
(Off Charing Cross)
Only problem: Distance (but right next to a tube stop)

3rd - BENUGO 6/7
(Next to the National Theater)
Only problem: Pushy about sales