Email to your Congressperson ASAP- Re: Load of Crap!!!

The below post is taken (in excerpts) directly from B-more Art Blog, be sure to visit there for the FULL POST. I don't usually do this, but it's an important issue for artists. We need to protect ourselves, and our creativity!! PROTEST THIS BILL!

"Artists Call to Action - The Orphan Works Act of 2008
On April 24, Senators Pat Leahy (D-VT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), John Conyers (D-MI) and Lamar Smith (R-TX) introduced legislation (S.2913, HR 5889), which is now being referred to as the Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008. It is virtually the same bill that was presented in 2006, and subsequently rejected by Congress. But now, they are trying again...

If passed, the Act would radically alter copyright laws, taking away the automatic copyright now guaranteed to artists of all types who create any type of work. Right now, under U.S.law, you are automatically guaranteed copyright on everything you create, from the sketches in your sketchpad to your best paintings and sculptures. Under the Orphan Works Act, every creator will be required to register everything he or she creates in a private registry system, requiring a fee of course, and supposedly to make it easier for the "public" to search for works and contact the creators if they want to use the works for some purpose.

Everything created in the last 30 years will need to be registered through this as-yet nonexistent system, including those works already registered via additional fees with the copyright office. If they aren't, and some member of the public makes "due diligence" to find the creator of a work and can't find him or her, that member of the public is entitled to use the work without any limitations, and artists will have no legal recourse. That means every piece of work you have out there, especially online, would be open season for use by major publishing houses and businesses (Microsoft - who owns one of the largest online image databases - and Google have already voiced support for the bill and indicated they will use thousands of images) and everyone in between...

Under this law, you would need to register every piece of work you create, including those works that you have already registered with the Copyright Office officially, in some system that does not exist and would likely require you to pay to do so. The time and cost to do this is going to be prohibitive for visual artists. While this is meant to apply to all types of creative works, including music and literary, visual artists will be impacted the most because of the sheer volume of work we create, making it very expensive to register everything you have ever created or will create. For the visual arts, there would still be little protection for you and your work, even if it is registered, because search tools would rely on names of artists or titles of work, and not image recognition tools, which are still in their infancy of development. Under this law, if you register your work, you would have to respond to EVERY inquiry sent to you for use of the work. So in other words, if you have a work out there in a registry system, and some person contacts you and says he wants to use your work for free on his Web site or in his new catalog, you would need to take the time to officially respond to every inquiry within a specified time limit, letting him know if you do not want to have him publish your work for free. This will take a lot of time and effort that we, as professional artists, do not have...

Last week, the House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the bill, and yesterday, May 15, the Senate Judiciary Committee did as well. This means the bill will be presented to Congress, likely before the end of May. We need you to write to your representatives ASAP and let them know that you do NOT want this bill to be expedited, as it is now. Tell them we need a better solution, or tell them you don't want it at all: Just be sure to tell them something soon.

Click here for several options of pre-written and editable letters that you can fill out, and that will automatically identify and send it to your representatives when you enter your address. It's really EASY. It will take you like ten seconds. Just f'n do it."

While We're on the Brown/Pink Theme...

'Member how my to-do list last month included "take better photos?"
Slowly but surely, that's getting a big old check mark.
Thank goodness for these beautiful sunny days. Perfect for photo shoots in the back yard!

Non lo so.

Not much new round these parts this week. Working on commissions commissions commissions.
a few new ladies TANK TOPS in the works (you'll see soon. be patient with your sweaty sticky self)... a couple new painting ideas... and a whole lotta preparing for summer shows. Next up is our highly anticipated FIRST OUTDOOR SHOW of the season:


This weekend. Saturday 11-7/ Sunday 11-5. Penn's Landing, Philadelphia. Be there or be indoors and melting.

Weekend Recap

What a nice weekend we had here in Baltimore!
Here are some highlights:
-Nice weather
-whiffle ball
-bike riding
-farmer's market
-a sad (but fun) good-bye party for Christa & Dara
-a visit to Prettyboy...
-See above for sneak peek of a new painting - finally completed (though sorry, it's already spoken for).
-Cat sitting for a lovely cat
-lots of walks
-first sunburn. minor.
-new seeds planted in the garden

1, 2, 3 Art

600
2219 St. Paul Street, Baltimore
Friday, May 23
6-10 pm

Curator Evan LaLonde has gathered 600 polaroid photos from artists countrywide to give a final salute to the instant film, which will go out of production soon. :( A must-see-one-night-only-event.


Freelancer's Show
2640 Space at St. John's
2640 St. Paul Street (yup- that's where Pile Of Craft is held)
Saturday, May 24
5-10pm
See what City Paper's freelancers are doing when they're not working for the alternative weekly. You'll see art, photographer, multimedia and more. Participating artists include Sam Holden, Cool Dan Van, Ben Cricchi, Donald Ely, Daniel Krall, Emily Flake, Tom Chalkley, Michelle Gienow, Alex Fine and others. This one is TWO days only.

The three... well, i couldn't find a 3-day only ART SHOW for sunday, but I did find a THREE DAY WEEKEND!
Happy Memorial day, pals. May the rain in Baltimore clear, the charcoal light easily, and the sunscreen flow plentifully. Be well!

Also... Phil would like you to know the following...

Boston Red Sox Pitcher, John Lester, Threw a NO-HITTER on Monday against the Kansas City Royals!
Just last Wednesday I saw Lester pitch against the Orioles in a disappointing loss and never would have guessed that he'd pull out the no-hitter a few days later.
Here's the full story.
And the video:



-Phil

Things I Want on Etsy

Magnets from Block Party Press


This particular smock/frock/prairie jumper from Supayana.


A Pendant from The Broken Plate

Weekend Recap

I won't say much, except that this weekend officially cleared my head, and I'm feeling great about the week ahead. Finally, a Saturday/Sunday combination that did what it was supposed to: relax us.
These are a couple highlights from our rainy day walk down the recently re-opened (well...sort of recent) Falls Road on Saturday:


The first is part of a rOOFing sign, the second is a cool billboard...sorta Sheppard Fairey style. I'd love to find out who was behind it.

UPDATE: Lindsay is right. It's an AD for BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA. Well, at least the ad is awesome! It's probably the only part of the movie that's worthwhile!

UPDATE 2: with a little research (ie: google), i came up with someone who'd done way more thinking on the matter.
See his thoughts HERE

Surface Pattern Designs. How to.

My friend Lauren is a surface pattern designer, and I remember seeing some of her preliminary drawings for designs in college, and wondering how she handled repeating them without it looking obvious that she had traced and tiled. Well... I'm in the dark no longer. I just found this tutorial from Julia Rothman guest blogging on Design Sponge that explains everything in layman's terms. THANK YOU Julia, for clearing this seemingly obvious process up for me. I can now fulfill my dreams of making my own wallpaper.

A Friday Morning Discovery.

This is certainly not a political blog, nor do I pretend to know this from that.
This random discovery, however, really weirded me out just now, and I've had quite a bizarre week in terms of observing dishonesty and lack of integrity in people, being let down in general...and this pretty much concluded my week with an exclaimation point.

I went on hillaryclinton.com this morning, to see what her campaign is saying these days... then I wondered to myself what billclinton.com looked like. (Turns out, it's not really a webpage). but look what site you are redirected to when you type www.williamclinton.com into your address bar.

Oh, Barack....

I'm taking the day off, and avoiding the world today. I think I've had a little more of this sort of thing than I can handle in one week. Sorry so melodramatic.
I love you all for listening, and please know I'll be back Monday with bigger boots.

-rachel

Tonight Tonight Tonight!

If you happen upon Columbia tonight, or are able to switch your plans to come that way... and you happen to be a lady who loves to shop... stop by Sip&Shop and say hello! We've got a couple one-of-a-kind garments up our sleeve, not to mention a SALE basket, dresses, scarves and tshirts for all. This is a different type of event than we normally do... so come make sure it's a good one, pay $15 and get free drinks and a swag bag. Carrie Bradshaw would be proud of you, for sure.

Tonight- May 15th!
6:30-10:30pm
Hilton Garden Inn Columbia
8241 Snowden River Parkway
Columbia, MD 21045

Getting Our Act Together

We have decided to get our act together.
That's right. Here are some of the things you'll see in the coming weeks:
-New photos up on our Etsy Shop, and Website, replacing the old ones that are unflattering, boring & poorly shot...
-New designs. We need more, don't we!?
-More etsy updates.
-Wittier blog posts (maybe)
-More paintings. I actually have no excuse here.
-A name for our trusty bust/model.
-Better self-maintenance for craft fairs (would YOU purchase apparel from these grubby fashionless fools?)
okay actually, i was just posting to tell you I plan to take better photos. I think I'm just afraid of cameras, and that's why it took me so long... but fear not. May is the month of improvements. Spring cleaning, if you will.
Here we are doing NOTHING about ANYTHING at Heather's house concert on Friday. Good stuff. (Thanks, Angie for capturing our grace, elegance and attention span so well on camera)

Weekend Recap

I wrote a lot more, but then chickened out about the negative and focused on the postive. Sometimes, less is more, right?
A summary of weekend thoughts:

-I'm seriously considering cutting down on both small craft fairs and coffee (mostly small craft fairs, mostly in arlington)
-Baltimore is wonderful and other artists are the most important thing to keep close at hand.
-Phil is the best person in the world, because he didn't complain about any of the misery I dragged him to this weekend, and only required a ticket to Iron Man and a small popcorn to call it even. What a fella. His new kid's tees are selling like hotcakes :)
-Mom is still ranking #1, 26 years running. She is the master of vintage china cups, cherry coffee cake, library books, caning chairs, knitting sweaters, making jam, wearing jumpers and selling things on ebay that I wouldn't have dreamed anyone would buy.
-Annie is spectacular for many reasons (this weekend's reasons include: selling stuff for all of us in the Craft Mafia booth at Squidfire with Mikey; Helping us with our wedding rings, Helping with a secret bonus project for the wedding, AND being the featured seller on etsy!)
-considering crafting an arc if this rain keeps up...

Some things to do this Weekend

1). Squidfire Art Mart in Mt. Vernon Park! (Craft Mafia will have a booth! Come say hello!)

2). Soups On (Last weekend for soup all summer! They are closing for 3 month maternity leave next week!)

3). VA Craft-N-Istas MAYFAIR! (Red Prairie Press will have a booth. Inside Clarindon Grill, Arlington)

Site Unseen

I know what you're thinking.
"I'm not that into photography... I'm going to ignore Rachel's advice on this one, bathe myself in Natty Boh and watch TGIF on Friday, instead of going out to an art show...."

BUSTED.

Go change into something adorable, and I'll tell you why this is a show you shouldn't miss.

You know those creepy broken-windowed factory buildings you see from 95 coming into the city from DC? Don't you ever wonder what was made there... or what might be sitting forgotten in a building left abandoned like that? Mike O'Hara is a self-taught photographer who explores the...ahem..."shadier" parts of Baltimore via bicycle and captures the dilapidated pieces of the city left replacing the once-functional. In this, his first solo exhibition, he'll exhibit a series of shots he took from sneaking into said buildings and warehouses. He finds some pretty incredible stuff, and dares to touch on places that you or I might not touch with a 10 foot pole. Sound like a menace? Get him talking, and you'll think otherwise in a matter of minutes. The term "beautiful decay" would be appropriate here.... the photos don't show disgust with what's abandoned, but rather, a sincerely impressed interest for what comes from disregard.
If you don't walk out having just purchased your first photograph, you'll at least walk out feeling a little more "in" on the buildings in the Baltimore skyline that you hadn't noticed were there before. Could it have been the enormous Boh sign blinding your view?

May 9th
6-9pm
916 N. Charles Street-Baltimore, MD-21201

All Americain

To take a different tone from yesterday's post, and get back to reasons I love this city, I'd like to take a moment to congratulate it. My wonderful former neighbor in Roland Park, Max Weiss just wrote this article in the new issue of Baltimore Magazine in tribute to Video Americain- who are about to celebrate their 20th year in the Coldspring Lane branch in Roland Park. While they are still struggling with building upkeep, and making payments, they are nonetheless surviving and sticking with us. While the owners turn down the idea of holding a fundraiser, John Water's appears in the article suggesting we all stick a donation through their mail slot at night. Not a bad idea.
The end of her article mentions a moment that one of the interviewees had with a customer one night- they were watching a movie (Two for the Road with Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney) and at one point found themselves in the middle of the store, looking at each other crying. I loved hearing that, because Phil and I had a similar experience not 2 months ago. We were in the Roland Park branch and a collection of old cartoons was playing. It was a friday night, and we'd felt a little lame staying in and watching a movie, but I felt sick, and he was tired. The place was packed, and the louder the two guys at the desk laughed at the animation, the more people came into the front room and started watching. After about 30 minutes, we realized we were surrounded by twenty people, all of us absent mindedly clutching our movie selections (which ranged from a japenese horror movie, an action movie, TV shows on DVD, to Hillary Duff movies, and a french film) ignoring the room full of new releases and the traffic jam outside, and laughing together out loud at cartoons. When a good one ended, everyone clapped. Moments like that..... those are what make me love Baltimore... I just need a better memory, so I can keep those things in my head.
Congratulations, Video Americain. Thanks for getting us together (or at least out of the house), where netflix couldn't.

Wherever you go, there you are.(NC inspired Rant)

The thing about Phil and I, even with driver's licenses that prove our home address as Baltimore City, is that no one will ever believe we're urban. Not even a little. Even on my dressiest occasions (ESPECIALLY on these occasions), I regularly receive the comment "You look SO Vermont right now!"
I still wear crocs and comfortable shoes instead of heels. I have frizzy red hair and often wear braids in lieu of showering or combing. I don't wear makeup or under-wires, and I can't stand having neighbors that can see me in my yard from their windows. I say hello to strangers, though I long ago gave up on people in Baltimore saying it back.
When exactly was it then, that we became such city kids?

I think living in a city for 4 years out of school, and a couple years during school, has given me the impression that this is where artists are meant to be, and the only place we will survive. Opportunity is certainly more plentiful as a general rule, with galleries all in one place, other artists around for inspiration and trends starting and changing and thriving, music coming through. I like the energy of a city, and if i could get used to all the people, I like feeling so small and unnoticed most of the time. It makes the small achievements (getting an art show, organizing a craft fair, being in the newspaper...) seem like grand accomplishmenta, and the healthy dose of competition doesn't hurt either. Sometimes, however, I can't help but wish I lived in the middle of nowhere again, with more trees, more environmentally aware people, less crime and danger in general... it's a push and pull I've felt ever since getting to Baltimore, where I was reluctant to come, but have definitely grown to love.

My visit to Carrboro, NC this weekend for Raleigh's Handmade Market was outlandishly fun, and quite the educational experience. After living in Baltimore for four years, I've forgotten what it's like to live where people love each other, pay normal prices for healthy food, and recycle without thinking otherwise. I apologize if that seems harsh...but in the three days I was staying there, I came close to tears about half a dozen times, out of nothing but joy for being around happy people.
Coming from Baltimore, the people of Carrboro are a different breed, but most of them would do well where I'm from (Southwest New Hampshire- which, contrary to popular Baltimorian belief, is NOT in Vermont... but close) if not for the cold weather. For a community that is just shy of 20,000 residents, Carrboro has an impressive amount of culture and shouldn't be overlooked as the hippy commune it appears to be on first inspection. Probably the surrounding cities of Raleigh and Durham have something to do with this, as does the UNC Chapel Hill, which is a walk away from Carborro center. So close in fact, that I couldn't tell which was which.


In what seemed like one square mile, I visited at least two bookstores, one used, and one alternative; A handful of trendy boutiques, a homegoods store that looked straight out of NYC (Nested), An art gallery/shop similar to Atomic Pop in Hampden, which sold funky handscreened tshirts, an assortment of Japanese toys, artbooks, etc. The art on the walls wasn't that of a small town (landscapes, or still lives) It was graffiti inspired, and modern... and most of it had already sold! We passed two mexican restaurants, an italian restaurant, a gelateria/cupcake shop, a music venue and local movie rental shop, a music shop, an art center, a teahouse serving coffee, tea and wine, an art supply store, a diner... a sporting goods store, I could go on. Trees and grass surrounded everything, cars were sparse, and seemed more than anything, to be in the way of all of the people on bikes. Trails cut in and out of town and along a railroad track (still in use? I don't know), and we walked everywhere. Everywhere.

On Saturday, we hit the farmer's market on our way to Raleigh for Handmade Market (which of course, was wonderful, prosperous, and full of great people). We drank home brewed Chai tea, smelled all the plants, and ate tapioca cheese balls. They were so good, that I shelled out an extra $5 for some to bring home to Phil, but three days later when I got home, they were rock hard, and disgusting...so I recommend eating them on the premises. Delicious. The friend's I was staying with ran into families from school (they are both teachers) and exchanged news, a woman walked through calling out that a boy named George, who was wearing a yellow shirt and holding a green balloon, had been separated from his parents, and then a few panicked minutes later, we heard her call out "GEORGE HAS BEEN FOUND!" and the entire market erupted in relieved applause and cheers.

Instead of a church (which would be traditional for New England at least) Carborro town center is a food co-op, which has delicious brunch on weekends and ample seating for most of the town. We got there at 9:30 on Sunday morning, and had to wait for one of the 40+ outdoor tables. There were people all over the lawn eating with their families on blankets and lawnchairs, and a band playing. If I hadn't already been there, I would have thought it was some sort of festival, but it's just Carborro on a weekend. My friend Amalia (a transplant from New Jersey) commented on a 10 year old boy dancing hand in hand with his mom. "That's so brave!" She was right. I remember being 10. I wouldn't have been caught DEAD holding hands with my parents. (though looking back, I wonder what it is really, that makes kids feel that way). I smiled at the thought of it being just another sunday morning in this small town. It seemed like the entire community was there, not a single one of them looked anything but happy, and I must have overheard at least 5 languages being spoken around us. If this isn't a spiritually healthy and strong community, I'm not sure what is. I am absolutely being idealistic... but hey. this is my blog.

At 8:15 on Monday morning, I was at a coffee shop called Open Eye Cafe, where, if you get the shop's logo (surprise: An open eye) tatooed on your wrist, you receive free coffee for life (YES. People do it). We were outdoors again, and a man was sitting next to us writing on a legal pad. A schoolbus pulled up and stopped in traffic and honked (AhA! I thought to myself. Even in small towns, people get angry in traffic and honk!!). But the driver opened the door and beeped her horn again, shouting "Hey YOU! Get a job!!!!!" The man raised his head, cracking up in a deep belly laugh and shouted hello, calling her by name. They asked about each other's families, and she blew him a kiss, as the kids on the bus waved their arms out the windows at him and they drove off. The people behind her, and in front of her were SMILING on their way to work. It was all I could do to laugh and swallow a last throatful of fresh air and homesickness for small towns as I got in my car to drive back to (at least according to it's own park benches) "the greatest city in america" shout hello to my forever angry-at-someone neighbors, and continue mixing up (at least according to ME) some darn tasty metaphorical lemonade. We're here for now... and I'll drink to that.

The Handmade Market is produced by The Handmaidens, a North Carolina collective of nine artists and designers.
It's held in Raleigh in a place called Vintage 21...which sounds as cool as it probably is (it's a new venue this year. last year it was in an alternative church, and we hope to love it as much this year!)

Because I fly solo to this show (Phil is working his adorable butt off at the MD film festival, which opens tonight in Baltimore. He is the technical supervisor, we'll have you know), I'm so happy to have the company of my two NC friends Laura and Amalia, who graciously offer a very comfortable couch in their apartment to me in Carborro each year. Carborro is even more beautiful than Raleigh (from the 30 seconds I was in both cities last year, I was able to make this judgement accurately and with much authority, obviously). They have a huge food co-op in the center of town with an outdoor eating green, with picnic tables and delicious vegetarian brunch on the weekends. The green was covered in people eating, playing music and dancing. It felt like a bizarre version of the 60's, where everyone also has a cell phone. Carborro also has a very pretty and well maintained farmer's market, where I plan to return and purchase whatever strange puffed cheese roll madness and Chai Tea concoction I devoured last year, before heading to Raleigh. If i remember correctly, there was also a shop just outside Carborro in Chapel Hill (?) that sold only fancy popsicles. I kid you not. Tragically, it was closed.

Anyway, in conclusion:

-If you're in MD, attend the MD Film Fest (also, see HERE for more things to do this weekend)
-If you're in NC, attend The Handmade Market (Bonus- there's also a Cinqo De Mayo party outside of Handmade Market, as if you aren't already enticed).
-If you're not near either of these places, wish me luck. I have a craft fair EVERY WEEK until our wedding. All the more reason for a party... And on the positive, at least this blushing bride will be able to pay her own way!