RISCA AWARD!

I have just been notified by the RI State Council on the arts that I have won a Merit Award in 3-D for my (teabag) works. Amazing!  Simply amazing!

Queen without a Crown(s)

Well, I am so not happy about the dental dilemma.  Where to get all this money to fix my teeth?  4 crowns are a lot of dough, and I don't mean cookie....
If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to comment on the blog, or write an e-mail.

The Dreaded Dental Forms

Well, just as I suspected, my dental reports were returned with the following orders...4 crowns needed...at my own expense! I am a very poor artist..making about $200 a week.  Where do they think I am going to come up with $3600?  What a joke.  Of course, I could pull out the offending teeth but after what I paid to have them saved...!
And of course, having 4 missing teeth in my mouth is not something I want either.  I am in a terrible dilemma.

Hurry up and Wait!

I have been told by many friends who have served in the armed forces that this is the motto of our government..."Hurry up and Wait!"  I always found this to be very funny, and now I understand just how true it is. It's all good though. I am prepared to wait.  I was not planning on going into the PC until after January 1, 2011 anyway.

After receiving an update that the PC had received my medical packet, I was informed that I probably won't hear from them for a while.  Right now they are going over the paperwork for the lucky folks who will be leaving within 4 months.  4 months!!  I am not scheduled to leave until March of next year!!! I'd say I need to be VERY patient.

In the interim, there is much to do.  I have 2 huge shows coming up (one here, and one in Bucharest, Romania) and I have not yet finished all the work.  I need to finish everything before I close up my studio at the end of August..this means packing, moving, and giving stuff away.  It also means finding a place to store all the finished artwork I have accumulated in the past 10 years!  I am NOT looking forward to this.

The first show is here in Rhode Island at the local college...and afterwards the show will be traveling to Romania and beyond.  I am going with the work, spending 4 weeks in Bucharest with friends and then I am off to Amsterdam to visit with my good friend Naomi.

In between all of this I am working my tail off trying to save some money for the aforementioned trip, which, although I will be traveling on the cheap side, I still need to eat and visit a few medieval towns and castles and art museums. I am also going to try to squeeze in Istanbul since it's pretty close.

So, I'll be busy while I wait to hear from the PC.  A good thing, I imagine.

Medical Received!

I just had my Toolkit updated..medical recived!  It took just one week, whereas I was expecting it to take 2-3.  Breakneck speed as far as the Big Red Tape Machine goes. I am pleased as punch.

So...from what I have been gathering, only about 65% of nominees get actual invites into the PC...hmmm, not very high odds.  But again, given all the considerations...people backing out, not finishing up, medical problems, etc...I guess all in all I have a very good shot.

Thank you all for your input!

Percentage of Nominees that get Actual Invites....

Does anyone actually have any idea of how many nominees actually get invitations to serve in the PC? I have been reading a lot about the process along with many many personal stories and so far it seems to me that most nominees do receive an invitation. Thank you.

The Bus Stop Project

Yesterday I went out with one of my studio mates to do some street installations.  John and I decided to make good use of part of an installation that I created over a period of several months last year that never got put up, due to the politics and inefficiencies of the small town of Brockton, Massachusetts.  I won't go into that any further from here. 

The Bus Stop Project was put up at various stops around the city of Providence, in the hopes that THIS city will appreciate some well intentioned, whimsical, and somewhat meaningful art that the OTHER city decided to opt out on. Thanks John!

On another note, we had a few pairs of shoes left over and went into St. Francis Cemetery on Power Road in Pawtucket.  We happened upon some unmarked graves there that were so sad, we decided that the pairs of shoes would be a nice proxy, in the stead of any absent visitors.

   More pictures at    http://www.papergirlsstudio.com/StreetInstallations.html

Cookie and other Stuff

So many people have commented on my Cookie Dilemma...thank you all so much!  It's good to know I am not alone here.  I am taking everyone's advice seriously and will consider all options. Such caring folks! 

On another note...how long has everyone waited to hear whether or not your medical packet was received?  I know from New England to Washington DC it should only take 2 or 3 days tops.  I keep picturing 12,000
oversized packets spilling out onto the floor of the medical review office on any given day!  LOL I know it's the government we're taking about here...The Red Tape Machine....do you suppose they will at least let me know on my Toolkit?

Cheers.

Girl Time!

Spending time with Ren yesterday was really fun.  It made me realize that I really don't have much of a social life anymore!  I used to be quite the social btterefly. Now, I just work! I need to get out more, I think.

After going through the RISD show with Ren (which was a very pleasurable experience, I must say.  One cannot go to an art show and make sarcastic remarks to oneself...it's not as much fun) she treated me to a very fine lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. We shared an appetizer of Tai Lettuce Wraps (YUM!) and some lovely bread and cold drinks.  Afterwards we walked into the RI State House, only to be turned away because it was only open for a wedding party taking pictures there. Too bad.  It's a beautiful building and we both wanted to tour the inside. Thank you Ren! 

RISD MFA SHOW

Saturday was a fun day.  Met up with studio-mate Ren to go see the RISD student MFA show at the Providence Convention Center.  In all honesty I must confess that this is the first time I ever came away from one of these shows disappointed.  This is my favorite student show and never miss it.  This years graduates left me a little let down.  There were a few good pieces, however, which is a good thing.  Unfortunately, there were many many more pieces that fell into the "bad zone".

The quality of the videos let me scratching my head...as they were all rather dry and boring, except for one which I thought was amusing. The artist built a small replica of a waiting room, and the video was of a man talking, but none of his sentences ever formed.  It was funny and frustrating at the same time, leaving the viewer to want to really hear what he was talking about.

Another interesting and clever installation was of  3 cribs with video monitors in each of them.  The videos depicted to-scale sleeping/fussing/crying babies.  The viewer was invited to rock the cradles and when you did, this action would wake up the babies. When you rocked it aggressively, the babies cried even harder.  A small gentle rocking motion would slowly put the babies back to sleep.  Very interesting.

I was disappointed that few of the MFA fashion designs were shown.  Usually there is a small collection of  garments but this year there were only 3. There were also some interesting textiles. Interesting because the patterns were beautiful but the colors were quite bland.

This year I felt that the some of the Architecture students marquette's were quite nice.  Their use of materials in the modular forms were pretty cool.  I also liked the graphic design students work...all very good, and I liked that everything was for sale.  The small metals students work shined, as they do consistently every year.

I was really surprised by the lack of the old school fine arts: painting and drawing and printmaking. There were some, but a lot less than than usual. I also must confess that I found them to be lacking. There were a few ceramic pieces...most notably the earthenware bowls with the most gorgeous sketches inside and out.
The very large ceramic installations at the entrance were memorable in that they were poorly thought out and not executed very well.  As a matter of fact, I noticed that there was a tremendous lack of skill in many of the pieces throughout the show.  I wouldn't have cared if I could understand the works conceptually, but many of them seemed flat and without meaning. 

I don't know what to say.  Having been to graduate school at a state college (UConn) I though maybe it would be lacking in many respects, but in light of this show, I'd say put your money into a school that will have a better outcome.  RISD is sitting high on its reputation still...and not showing a whole lot for the cost.

Cookie Dilemma

This is Cookie.  Cookie has been with me for 15 years.  She is a one-person cat.  She has never taken a liking to anyone other than myself. She was close to Harley, but then Harley was here first. Since Harley has died, there is only me.

Dilemma:  When I go away to serve in the Peace Corps...what will happen to her?  Mom lives on the first floor and visits us now and again.  Cookie has been down with her on occasion as well, but Mom has a little kitty called Angel who is probably the sweetest kitty you will ever meet.  She is also stone deaf.  This makes her afraid of everything.

Now, Cookie is aware of Angel, but they are never left in the same place together.  I am afraid Cookie will attack Angel....she has been known to be mean on occasion. Very mean. Vicious. Seriously. SO...will Cookie be doomed to live up in our little apartment all alone for 28 months, with a daily visit from Mom to scoop and feed? As it is, since Harley died, she is alone all the time and is not happy about it. 

What I would like to do, but will not be able to do, since I am a little on the "poor" side, is fly home after my initial 3 month orientation and bring her back with me once I am given my own residence.  This is the only sane thing I can think of...but I most likely will not be able to afford the round trip to come and get her.

Cookie is not adoptable. She is also very healthy and I can't bring myself to euthanize a healthy cat.  My Mom is also a tad bit afraid of her...with good reason.  It takes a very long time for Cookie to adjust to anything.  I love my Cookie and want what's best for her.  Any one have any suggestions?

This is my dilemma.

The Beginning of the End!

Finally..at long long last, I have finished all the medical and dental work-ups. I spent the better part of last evening scanning all the documents into my desktop....THAT was a chore.  After that I have to triple check that everything was in order..."all the I's dotted and the T's crossed", as they say.  Now comes the wait.  I will hear back in 1-6 months..if you can believe it!  When I hear back, it will be either an invitation or a "fix those teeth" and "get another test for...whatever...".

It's all good though.  I do believe that the process is necessary...not only as a precaution (they don't want to send you to a country that has inadequate medical care if you have any medical issues that need maintaining.)
I also think it's a good way to weed out the folks who really shouldn't be in the PC anyway. It's a HUGE commitment..and if you can't commit to all the medical stuff and the red tape and running around...then you shouldn't be volunteering.  If you can get through it...and all the interviews and background checks and financial disclosures, etc...then, well...you know, I already said it.  It IS a lot of work, but you need to be committed...just like you need to be committed to serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

I read on their web site that there are 12,000 new applicants every year for 4,000 slots....this being said, I am thinking that after seeing the initial application and all the work there is to it, there will deter about 4,000 folks.   Then when the preliminary paperwork, including criminal background checks (fingerprinting etc.) the start of the medical and financial....that will deter the next 4,000 folks.  That leaves about 8,000 applicants. Of these, I am guessing about 2,000 change their minds, get scared, or can't leave a loved one or a pet.  So, that being said, the process is lengthy and you really got to want to make the commitment.  Which I am.

New Day, New Dentist Apointment!

Actually, the periodontist is meeting with me to fill out the gum portion of the dental paperwork.  Directly after that, it's up to Providence to drop in my ongologist to have her paperwork sections resolved. Hmmm, I think I detect the end of the road here!  If all goes as planned, I will be scanning all the documents later today and sending the paperwork out in the post by tomorrow.  Phew!  It's a crazy process.

Medical Madness

For anyone who is interested, and for those who already know, the medical/dental paperwork for the Peace Corps is insane!  Mounds of papers to be filled out, signed (absolutely no N/A's!!!) and faxed/mailed to Washington, DC to be viewed by God knows how many people. Being a woman over 50 has it's disadvantages here....for instance, the requirements are a lot more stringent.  A mammogram is needed...a colonoscopy is needed....on and on.  And EVERYONE and their mother's father's uncle's brother's niece are looking at your medical stats.  Nice.  I mean, really. Big PC problem: I had cancer 9 years ago...(I am a SURVIVOR!) and the paperwork that came for THAT is stunning.  Makes me wish I wasn't so honest....

The dental part could be more of a problem for me.  I have always taken excellent care of my teeth, but let's be honest here...when your body ages, so do your teeth.  Gums recede, fillings fall out, root canals fail etc. I may be force to have 4 crowns put in...either that, or pull the teeth! I certainly don't want to run around without teeth! Unfortunatley, I can't afford the crowns from my regualr dentists...
The running around for all the doctors visits has been stressful.  I had to see 2 doctors (Primary care and Oncology) and 2 dentists! (Primary and Periodontal) Expensive as well.  I don't have any insurance but luckily there is a wonderful little health center with an awesome medical staff helping me out. It's not free, but it is well within my budget.

Along with all the exhausting tests and exams are the inoculations.  I had to get 3 booster shots...one for Polio, one for Chicken Pox, and a nasty little number called a Tdap...this is for Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Whooping Cough).Well, it's been 17 days and I am still in screaming pain from that little honey.  Turns out, the Doc had to report this to the "Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System"...a vaccine reaction isn't pretty, and needs to be reported by law. They assured me the pain would eventually go away...

I am now on Prednizone....a steroid which has helped the pain a lot.  It's enabled me to move my arm and shoulders without screaming...which means I can sleep tonight and start my daily routine of swimming again. Also, I expect the steroids will also blow my head up to the size of a pumpkin....aah...ain't life grand?

More on this tedium later. Night all.