The Second Annual Art Chicas Unidas

An application, a resume, a portfolio, and a proposal was sent via snail mail to the lovely people of La Reunion TX about a month and a half ago. In fact, I was preparing all the information as I was sitting at the kitchen table in Lubbock the week I visited my boyfriend. It was raining outside and I was doing some mad-typing.

The mini-package was sent to participate in the event called Art Chicas Unidas, a chance to unite local artists with junior high and high school girls in artistic endeavors. La Reunion TX collaborated with the Dallas Art Dealers Association, the Deaf Action Center, and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas to make the event happen.

I was asked to be one of the artists involved. With a bit of trepidation and a lot of excitement, I gathered materials from the future site of LRTX and things around my house in the weeks before the event.

A day-long workshop was held with 3 other artists this past Saturday, each of us doing a different project. I had 9 girls in my group, of varying ages and varying backgrounds. We created sculptural assemblage after discussing the works of artists important to me: Eva Hesse, Anselm Kiefer, and Andy Goldsworthy, who was the inspiration for the project. The pieces were put on display and sold at an evening reception, with the money funding next year's Art Chicas Unidas, also giving the student artists an opportunity to talk about their work.

I have to say, despite the long day, the chance to work with amazing individuals, both peers and students, was fantastic.

As pictures surface from the event, I'll add them on.

Otherwise, for now, check out this link:

http://www.lareuniontx.org/

I've become a Red Raider by proxy

I have been to Lubbock three times this year thus far. This past weekend was perhaps my last (since working retail does not bode well for November/December vacations). However, not only did I dress up as Askadelia from the Tin Man series (with my partner in crime as the Tin Man himself), I became part of the football game called Texas Tech vs. Texas.

Scott and his brother live pretty much across the street from the stadium that was lined up with tailgaters beginning Thursday afternoon. By Friday, the smells of grilling meat, the shouts of glee, and the colors of scarlet and black, were becoming closer and closer to the apartment grounds until the big day.

The stadium was packed to capacity and alas, I did not have a ticket to see it live. However, with chicken wings, pizza, and beer in tow, five of us watched the game on TV. We occasionally paused to open the door and hear the shouts of the nearby stadium.

We were jumping up and down on the carpet, on the chairs, and even on each other with each tense moment. Until the last quarter, when it seemed damn near anything could have happened, Harrell's pass to Crabtree made the touchdown that made even Colt McCoy go "wha?". With one second on the clock and Tech fans already assuming the win by beginning to tear down the goal post, we waited with bated breath.

Fans cleared after two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and a squib-kick was played. Texas Tech had won.

Ironically, I don't follow that much football. I'm not a big fan of Pro and while I do like college football, my alumni team of North Texas never did much to keep me glued to my TV or waiting for a ticket at the stadium. I've been keeping track of Tech this season since the first game when they played SMU. Somehow in the process, I became a fan.

It was an amazing moment, witnessing the defeat of the number one team and catapulting the underdog team into the possibility of the Bowl Championship Series.

For now, I say paint the town scarlet and black.

Apparently, this Mean Green has become a Red Raider.