Visual art

Sometimes we miss the art around us. Sometimes it can be found in our own backyard. Take some time and capture the art around you.

Tags: Art, Life, Leaves, Visuals

Writing assignment

                                 I sat in the airplane, staring at the control panel. I wasn't sure what I was doing, but I figured it would all come together soon enough. It began to rain and I could feel the water dropping onto my shaved head and I realized it was only the facade of an airplane. I reached for the umbrella that was tucked away under the passenger seat. I could hear a faint sound of a cry, but I wasn't sure where it was coming from or what it was. Was this a dream? It all seemed so real. I felt around under the seat and it was a cute little puppy. I looked at his collar to see if he had a name or who he might belong too. I felt around the collar and tucked inside was a book of postage stamps. I thought that was very odd. The thunder and lightening had the dog trembling in my arms. I held on to the unbrella with one hand and then placed it over the seat and moved the dog into the passenger seat while I looked around for some clue as to what was going on. I ran my hand under the passenger seat since that is where I found the dog. I felt something round and it turned out to be a flashlight. I felt underneath the pilots seat which is where I appeared to be sitting and there was a note book with what appeared to be instructions. Smashed between the pages was a red rose and in the back of the book was a passport. It was not my passport, but I didn't recognize the photo. The thunder and lightening stopped and so did the dog. I closed the notebook and the director yelled, "Cut!"

Tags: Writing, Art, Dlonzo, Inspiration

D's way of writing

                    Many of us have the gift to write, but we don't always know how to make those words come together to create that perfect short story. There are many techniques that can be used. There is an art to writing so that means each writer will have their own way of creating something. Sometimes you can have the beginning of a story, but you don't know how to give it life. Sometimes you can have a title, but don't know how to make it breathe. Sometimes its just a matter of giving characters something to say. Every now and then I get a form of writers block. I say this because its not that I don't have the story, I just get lazy and don't feel like sitting in front of the computer or picking up a pen and writing. I have to be in that certain mood to want to create art. You can write as much or as little as you want each day. One rule that I hold true for myself is that I write for me and only me. If one or two people like it that's cool, but if not they have the write to their opinion. Try taking a few things and writing about them. I used to enter this competition that the local library would put on each year for the kids and library week or month. I can't remember which. In any case, they would give you a list of six things that had to appear in your story and the story couldn't be over 500 words. I later discovered there was a group of people that wrote stories and they couldn't be over 50 words. Now that seems like a hard thing to do. So, if you want to be a writer, see if you can come up with something using these techniques or come up with your own. Just be as original as possible. Here are eight words to get you started. An airplane, a puppy, a rose, an umbrella, a notebook, a passport, a book of stamps, and a flashlight. Give it a try and see what you come up with. Check back and see what story I create using these items.

Tags: Art, Writing, Inspiration, Dlonzo, Books, Techniques

Zeitgeist Locations

From: david999@bellsouth.net
Subject: Zeitgeist Locations

As you all hopefully know by now, Zeitgeist Multi-disciplinary Arts Center is moving out of its home in Central City, where we have been sharing a space with Barrister’s Gallery for the last eight years, at the end of February. We are in the process of finalizing the plans for both an interim and an exciting new location. 
 
IN THE INTERIM: 
 
Zeitgeist is currently planning and negotiating with Tulane University house all of our interim programming (March, April, May) in the two auditoriums they have in the School of Architect Bldg. (Richardson Memorial, 2nd Floor, main lobby). 
 
One auditorium seats 200 and has an enormous screen, about 50 feet wide and a massive digital video projection system. The other auditorium seats 100 and has fixed stadium seating, very nice. 
 
The building is right on St. Charles Avenue. Parking is free and open after 6:00 p.m. and on weekends. You don’t have to be a student to park on campus after 6:00 p.m. There is parking on St. Charles and in the front loop, plus there is a large parking lot directly behind the building that you can enter from Freret St. 
 
We will have our exotic concessions, but sorry, no alcohol. Good news: Tulane students, faculty & staff will be admitted free to all events on campus, but of course, donations are still greatly appreciated. 
 
The 4th Annual New Orleans Human Rights Film Festival will be held at Tulane and other venues city-wide April 12 – 22, 2007. The Reel Identities: LGBT Film Festival is coming to Zeitgeist in June 2007. 
 
Barrister’s Gallery/Andy Antippas is moving to a new gallery space below his home at 2331 St. Claude Ave, where he will be having monthly exhibitions starting in March 24 with Myrtle von Damitz III. Barrister’s will also regularly continue to curate its larger group exhibitions with Zeitgeist in our new space 
 
OUR NEW SPACE: 
 
Through the help of Jennifer Weishaupt and the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization, I have found an amazing space that I am extremely excited about at 2940 Canal St. & South Gayoso (half way between Jeff Davis & Broad). It is the old Molar Beauty College. It is a former public library built with money donated to the city by Andrew Carnegie. It is right across the street from Warren Easton High School and the Regional Transit Authority and one block from Chickee Wah Wah . The building is about to be renovated. I am currently negotiating a lease agreement for the entire ground floor. It will have five loft condos above it with an amazing view of the original WPA mural that is on the second floor. There is a 6 inch concrete ceiling/floor separating the spaces. Talk about sound insulation. 
 
There is a big empty lot behind the building that the owner has offered to pave, line, fence and install security lights that will accommodate up to 30 cars and create a covered private walkway from the parking lot to the front entrance. Customers will be able to exit directly into the parking lot at the end of events. 
 
It will easily seat over 100 and I will be purchasing several couches for the front rows and then have my metal, cushioned chairs up on risers. It will have a small, permanent stage. It will be handicap-accessible with both central air and heat. It will also have plenty of room for our box office/concessions as well as an expanded gift shop featuring DVDs/CDs/books/jewelry and auyurvedic/wellness supplies. I also hope to collaborate with NOVAC and L.I.F.T. Productions to have a digital video editing suite and video library and offer regular classes and workshops during the days. It will have ample gallery and installation space. 
 
Visual artist/Curator Gary Oaks will be coordinating all of our visual art exhibitions and we hope to have exhibitions bi-monthly. The space will also be available for a modest rental fee during the daytime for meetings, classes or other events. 
 
WHAT DO WE NEED: 
 
VOLUNTEERS: People are needed to help us pack and physically move all of our worldly possessions. Once the space is renovated we will also need volunteers to then move all of our belongings in and get the place situated. We will also need volunteers to help set up and man the box office & concessions each night at Tulane. Volunteers get free admission to Zeitgeist events. Please e-mail Rene at zte@bellsouth.net with your contact info if you are willing to help. 
 
STORAGE: We need a place to store all of our stacks of chairs, screens, and other worldly belonging while our new space is being renovated. Several months. If you have a secure space we can use, please let us know. We will be willing to trade storage space for free patron memberships. Please e-mail Rene at zte@bellsouth.net if you are willing to help. 
 
BOXES: We need lots of boxes, all shapes and sizes. 
 
DONATIONS: We will need to raise money for deposits as well as to purchase couches, a stage and risers; to build our new projection booth, exterior movie poster display cases, an electric sign and the other costs of moving. L.I.F.T. Productions is coming on board as our first and only corporate sponsor since Katrina. Can you help? 
 
Donations made be sent to: 
 
Zeitgeist inc 
1220 A. North Robertson 
New Orleans, LA 70116 
 
Or drop it off during the month of February to Zeitgeist on O.C. Haley Blvd. If we are not here, you can always leave it for us at Ashe (next door). 
 
Thanks, 
 
Rene Broussard 
 

Tags: Zeitgeist, Barrister, Art, Film, NOLA, Volunteers

Just in the mood to share

I decided just to check to see if anyone was still coming here and checking out what I had written. There appears to be some activity so I'll bring it back to life slowly. It would be great if someone were to tell me what they would like to create at home. That way I could get the ball rolling.

Recently, I created a mask to hang on the wall. I went to one of those Dollar stores and picked up a plain wooden plaque. You can also find these at arts and crafts stores as well. I picked it up because it was a dollar. I was going to draw or paint on it and then hang it up. As time passed on I went through my tote of art materials and I found a white mask I had purchased. I took the wooden plaque and I cut the wire that was to be used so it could hang and made it shorter as if I were putting a hook for a picture. This way the wire isn't visible. Next step was to paint or cover the wooden plaque. I didn't feel like painting so I took some colorful paper that some of the discount stores use to wrap glass, dishes and vases. I cut it to the size of the wooden plaque and glued it on. I then placed some black and white polka dot paper on top of that. I lined the mask up and saw that the dots looked like eyes. I then glued the paper on top of the other paper and then the mask on top of that giving it life. I then selected some colored paper that I thought would match and make it interesting. I cut a few scrapes and glued them in various spots. Then I fan folded several sheets and glued them in. The scraps filled in the spots where the fan fold may not have opened enough. The base of the fan folds were glued to the plaque. Some sides were glued to the plaque open and also to the mask on the sides. It doesn't matter how you arrange the fan folds as long as they are glued at the base and your creativity shines. There are many things you can do with scraps of colored paper. Come back to find out more. Thanks for stopping by, now go out and be creative.

Tags: Masks, Creativity, Art