new series

still working on the title...

a conundrum

have you ever received something so beautiful you're not quite sure what to do with it?

my wedding dressmaker (who designed and sewed me the most amazing wedding dress i could imagine) made ben and i small leather journals personalized with our initials as a thank you for choosing her.

and i absolutely love mine.

the only problem is...it has a finite number of pages and i can't decide what is special enough to write in it.

my journal is already digital (and totally password protected).

i thought about recording ideas for shows and titles in it, but it seems too lovely for brainstorming.

what do you think? how would you use it?

just wondering

this is my paint bucket.

i really like the inside of it.

is that wierd?

quotables

"i was born in 1928. same year as mickey mouse, but he made out better - straight to hollywood, straight to the cosmetic department. i did not approve of his buying into all that crap and letting his soul get despoiled."

"it's hard to be happy. some people have the gift of pulling themselves up and out and saying there is more to life than just tragedy. and then there are those who can't, and i'm one of them. do you believe it when people say they're happy?"

~maurice sendak in an interview with mariana cook in 2009.

true confessions

i know as an artist i'm supposed to be enthralled with birds, with their symbolism of spirituality and freedom and all that jazz, but i really REALLY do not like them. at. all.

the little reveal

because the big reveal isn't ready yet. behold my 2x6' studio in our storage/laundry/art room. turns out i'm really loving working from home...and i really can't beat the 30 second commute.

speaking of work, here's my latest woodblock print - my first in 2 years. what. i had to read hunger games about six thousand times before i could get anything done. i'm not sure if i like where this print is going, but i'm excited to be printing again!

it's difficult to achieve my style without an etching press, so i'm wingin it here. it will probably look very different once i proof it.

it's tonight!

alright, technically it's tomorrow morning. but who thinks of midnight as morning?

i'm trying to temper my excitement. because i love the books so much, i want to love the movies, too. but i read this review, which is not particularly glowing so i'm trying to lower my expectations: "For some fans of the trilogy, the screen version will inevitably be disappointing, especially for those keeping inventory of the details, characters, grim thoughts and cynicism that have gone missing."

i am probably one of these fans.

i swear my life has not be as consumed with hunger games as this blog might suggest. although i DID re-read them all this week, i've also been busy busy organizing my home studio (and my home, too). it's almost in workable condition now! perhaps one of these days i will show you.

now i have a reason to watch the superbowl

a new hunger games trailer!!

looks like they're departing from the book a bit - no madge. and what's katniss doing giving the mockingjay pin to prim? and then getting it back from cinna as a secret? whaa? oh well, i'm predisposed to like it no matter what they do.

surprise!

we're in the huffington post!

AND

i'm going to be a guest artist at the workhouse!

we building 4 artists have been working hard on the "have a heart" project, creating interactive and food-centric artworks in a variety of media.

and you can help! just bring non-perishable or canned goods to fill our kitchen on or before the

second saturday reception.

(feb 11, 6-9pm, workhouse building 4)

all items will be donated to the local food pantry, food for others.

l-r: joan yi, mary gallagher stout, lynn goldstein, john gascot, and annie gedicks working on a collaborative project for have a heart.

can't make it to the reception? donate here. all proceeds will be used to purchase items for food for others.

thank you!

thanks to all who came to my last featured artist show at the workhouse! you are the best.

stay tuned for details on a home studio open house...

in a month or so...

the last one...

please join me for second saturday at the workhouse arts center!

after 3 and a half years, this will be my last show with the workhouse. please come help me say goodbye, and enjoy some great art and light hors d'oeuvres, while you're at it.

saturday, january 14 from 6-9pm

studio 406

workhouse arts center

9601 ox rd

lorton, virginia

i've done something

introducing...

the benannie republic!

related to all things annie and ben. sure to be updated approximately as much as this blog.

what? i have to go read hunger games again. (and again and again and again...)

i had a dream...

...that i was a tribute in the hunger games. it was scary.

perhaps my obsession is becoming less healthy.

please excuse me while i watch the trailer another 9 billion times.