or Musing may be more accurate.

Well December is upon us, and the weather has definitely changed to say "brrr, it's winter"... hats and scarves and sweaters. My favorite time of year really, the fall for sure... love the changing of the leaves, the rain, the morning frost...

When I put away any thoughts about the day job (and lately they tend to crowd out my creative imagination) and any thoughts about how to survive in our crazy world, I tend to imagine a studio space with large walls and light, and time to paint again.

That is still present in my life, and I recently found myself re-energized by taking a quick hike into NYCity to roam and wonder.

Today I felt a pang of longing for artists; the energy they bring.  I thought about how it would be to have a "feeding of soul" venue to once again be part of a thriving artist circle.  Long gone are the days of Mills College, critiques and even my colleagues' monthly "get-togethers".  We've all gone our way, and those of us that have to have a day job to survive seem to be on the outer perimeter just trying to find time to create.  That's where I am.

Social networking also creates a "mock" but real circle of friends, and I began to wonder if there was a concrete way to share work in progress, encouraging and critiquing work for those of us, like myself, that tend to be isolated from a real artist community.
Of course, nothing beats showing up in a coffee shop or a colleague's studio space with work in hand, showing and discussing. 

Just thinking aloud about it, thought of a potential critique space, but would anyone participate?  Would people share work in progress, share honest opinions about what they felt worked with a piece and what didn't?  Be able to talk about their process or about what they were trying to convey?  I feel very rusty at this point.

In the digital social environment, I'm sure something like this exists.  I'll take a look around.  Part of me wants to create a space for this, because it's my need.  But I fear it would be my own monologue. 

Several of my social networking friends have spaces that can create dialogue, are we too busy to do this?  Food for thought I suppose. 

I'm needing a jumping off place, a place to be re-energized and once again feel back in the fold of creative group.

Maybe there are others like me, needing collaboration, needing to fuel creative inspiration.  Maybe not.

Not that there needs to be another page on facebook or the web, but truly, I'm at a loss right now how to fit it in, in a busy week, and really feel the need.  A critique forum, or a way to really share others work, past artists and mentors, or those that inspire us, images, writing, music, all venues that go into creativity.

I think I'd like it to be a collaborative venture and would be open to discussion from all artists; after all, creativity comes in so many ways.  Process, unfinished work, coming back to work and being re-ignited to bring new life to it... well..    I'm meandering in my thoughts...

Basically I miss the intellectual stimulation and other sets of eyes on work, and sparking new directions. 

Lately I've been getting this from going to museums and seeing work in shows.. all part of the creative venture too.. I think I just want immersement (is this a word?) in my work again and am having trouble setting aside all other worldly things.  Seeing I need a sabbatical and a residency of some sort to break this cycle.  My NYC trip really gave me insight into the energy I still have to create.  And yet, back into the rut of everyday grind, I find myself just trying to escape it (the grind).  

Tonight is the first night again, I will pick up the tools and scribble something.
I guess that's all I can do for now.

Okay, so I broke my truce to be silent the rest of today, Labor Day, 2012. 

I just heard from a friend that called me an "addict" to Facebook.  Putting posting and commenting (especially about politics) first before my basic needs, like eating and painting.

Well, sure, I'm an addict by nature.  But no, I've been pretty calm over the past 4 years, weening myself from CSPAN due to the overwhelming frustration of continuous obstruction from the Republican side of the House.  I just had more on my plate locally in "my own backyard" so to speak, politically, over the past 2 years and have opted to be quiet.

This particular friend had not seen my rants about Bush over the past 12 years... prior to him taking office and during the ugly 8 years he was there, plus the lead up to Obama taking office when we had the ridiculously inept candidates of McCain and Palin.  Remember those days?

Well, they're back in disguise and backed fully by the same culprits we had in the days of Bush.  Rove and now Koch Brothers are swinging full tilt into moving their candidate in, and as I recently saw on the Jon Stewart clip, probably to pave the way for the younger Jeb Bush in 2016 if Mitt doesn't make it.

I write today because I read more and more about the insidious process we are obliged to follow because that's all we have.  The election.  The election that is now more than ever funded by corporate interests.  NO one has to tell me it's on BOTH sides.  I know that.

But I write more about how we as a society tend to throw away everything if it doesn't work in an instant.  Yes, even candidates and Presidents.

When you look at the bigger picture, you can see that none of what we've been going through this past 4 years with Obama is really HIS doing.  NO, it's more about what came before him.  The upswing of the economy was an aberration with the Internet and the fast money and the banks loaning frivolously and without regard to law really.  Of course he had responsibility for changing things, and he has done more than people give him credit for.

War, (at least Iraq)  was really unnecessary, went into full swing and fed the corporate gluttons that were Bush's friends.

Then the economy dumped.

Obama came in with his plate so full, that not only did he have to sift through the shit he was handed but to work with a Congress that from the get-go wanted him to fail.  All you have to do is google that.

So of course we all have struggled for the past 4 years.  Never in my wildest dreams would I believe it to be as widespread as it has become.  The poor are now also those that make nearly 40K a year, really? 

And we again mustn't forget that all the while, CEO's and corporate and top public officials are still making top salaries.  Not to mention Healthcare Insurance mucky mucks.

I've decided not to source any of my comments today, I've said a lot over the years, I've said a lot this weekend on my page, siting different articles and opinions. 

I basically write to say, taking out  the person in office today will lead to a bigger black hole.  More of what we saw the 8 years prior to Obama, and worse.

Those of you who know me more than a face online, know that unions are under attack.  That is a direct reflection of corporate $$$$ in politics and their agenda.  Break down unions, bring wages and benefits down, to feed their pocketbook and keep labor from having any power.

After watching what happened in Wisconsin, all over the nation and in my own state and county government, it's a big big movement.  Don't let anyone tell you different.  Koch Brothers funded Wisconsin's governor, and you bet they're in the mix all over the country.  It's no secret what's behind Romney camp, they just try to hide it.

I think what's most sad though is Ann Romney's speech:
Ann Romney at the RNC 





Kat Geiselman hits it on the head for me:

Ann Romney May Love Me, but I don't Love Her

What concerns me most is I don't feel she represents ME as a woman.  A white woman.  It's creepy, but I feel nervous that she would work to roll back any freedoms women have come to have over the past 50 years.  Kate mentions too that she feels she is genuine, but watching the video, I didn't feel so.

I love you WOMEN!!  uhmmm yeah, ok.  Sorry, my cynicism was up.

Kate mentions this in particular in her article: 

"It incenses me when womanhood is reduced to maternity and marital status. But what’s spooky about Ann Romney is that she is utterly sincere. Her view of the women she “loves” is just that narrow. I believe she empathizes with the stories she has heard about struggling families. I even believe she has struggled. But her view of the world -- and modern womanhood in particular -- is chillingly limited, and is echoed profoundly in her party’s rhetoric. Yet she doesn’t even hear what she’s saying."

Read Kate's article in full, she says it better than I ever could.  I had some of her same questions.

So it's time to dig in and chant again for the Democratic ticket even though I've been silent mostly, and also not altogether happy with some of Obama's policy.

Obama is the only choice this election cycle.  I'm marching with Labor.
Unions Member on Obama: "He Did Save Our Jobs"

Well, a little late but that's life lately, doing my spring cleaning in the heat of Summer.

Taking a well well deserved break from as much cyberspace as I can, and while I will miss all the virtual friends I have, I would be remiss in not paying attention to my LIFE in the immediate state it's in.

It needs some attention.  Painting yes, but reading and writing and making stories come alive, all the while fostering some REAL relationships here in my immediate surroundings, even if it's just the dragonflies or the butterflies, my intention is to ween myself off the daily time I'm on the computer.  Between work and home I am online nearly 10 hours a day??? can that be true? yes... sadly.

I am beyond ready for a solo retreat of sorts, self imposed, to be with music and my creativity.  All is going in LIFE... it's LIFE for goodness sake... ups and downs, turns and twists.  I'm making a LEFT turn and saying it's time for a rest.

I am available via email, but truly want to let the posting subside.  I am excited to be digging into my childhood stories and tales I want to illustrate and write, and I'm also preparing for a show of NEW work next Summer.  This is my beginning.  A solid holiday.

Have a great rest of your Summer and say hello to the warm Indian Summer we will most likely see in September... au revoir... I'm off to continue to learn two languages.. both of which I will be using in my work going forward... new ideas, new work, and rest is where I'm headed...

Smiles to all,

Robbin

From my letters series:.




And another from the inspiring Shel Silverstein: (you can see more of these at my art page on facebook)

Shel has inspired me for a long time.. his poetry books I've given as gifts and read to my children and hope to read them to my grandchildren... His book published posthumously, "Everything On It  is another I've collected.  Reading his poems this time I felt an urge to paint.  Two of his works:  Masks, and Spider are the impetus of this quick watercolor drawing..

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Robbin-Milne-Open-Studios-.html?soid=1110014336056&aid=dVpPSugIV3k



  Sat/Sun June 2-3 & June 9-10  11-6pm 
Join us for our opening reception party on June 2
From 5-10pm we will be serving refreshments!
Enjoy music and more!
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Robbin

 

Today on my way home from obtaining my temporary sales permit for my Open Studio coming up the first 2 weeks of June, I listened to KPFA, alternative/progressive radio out of Berkeley, CA.

Being they are in a fund drive, I heard snippets of Jeremy Scahill, investigative journalist at the Nation, and before that a correspondent for the US radio and TV program "Democracy Now!"... author of Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army.

I have long been appalled at the use of drones in the Military, back in the Bush days, and Jeremy, at a Drone conference/summit,  was speaking out about the continued secrecy and movement in that direction during the Obama administration.  His speech at this summit is on youtube, 4 parts.  The pieces I heard were striking, and chilling.  You can hear the snippets at the link I provided at Jeremy's name above or find his vids here: Part 1 of the Drone Summit held in Washington DC

http://youtu.be/aH2VE709WPk





The collateral deaths that occur are what's most concerning, and also the training of our youth to be immune and numb to killing in assassination type fashion.

I have always thought of myself as a Left Democrat.  I mean always, even before I knew what politics was even about, I always heard my father and mother speak of labor issues and domestic policy in the way it made sense to me, I've never questioned too deeply that was the party I affiliated with.  I still vote Democratic.  But over the past 4 years and specifically in the past year and a half, I've had my eyes open to politics in many other ways and now I don't feel I call myself a democrat.

I tend to identify with Progressive in my thinking and now feel almost obligated to speak out for those issues that I find oppressive even if it's the Dem party presenting them.

http://youtu.be/elMjk3uXXjE






As Jeremy states, "I'm a journalist", I say, I'm an artist, a person with a voice.  I do believe all of us should take a deep look at what we truly feel about issues and begin to take steps to bring our values and ethics to our individual areas of deep interest and beliefs. 

As I listened to the excerpt today, Jeremy spoke of "transparency"... I cursed the radio as I drove, that word is so over used today in business, politics and the world... I screamed, if I hear that word "transparency" one more time, I may puke...

Seriously... what is transparency?
In politics and business it's freaking lies... it's a guise that we are being truthful, open and allowing all to see the layers right??
That is so bogus!

Transparency is a light fluid, coat of glaze or wash of color over yet another layer of paint.. wow.. ok.. well.. I just am very tired of the lies this country, world, all the way into business and even workplaces and dynamics within workplaces...

I know this weekend is Memorial Day Weekend, and I have a son in the Marines... probably not great timing for this post.. but Thank you all, those still out there and those gone,  for fighting for our freedom of speech!... Seriously, we need to use our freedom of speech and risk, and stop allowing the fear that we won't have a job or we might not be liked if we speak our truth.  Second strike of drones in Pakistan... wow...

Listen, really take stock, yes.. get livid and angry, start caring for once.. oh, can I say be respectful?? .. I think I need at least 2-3 weeks of vacation away from it all... but it isn't happening.. so into the paint i sink... more time to paint... yes.