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Another shot of the newest painting over the Opal Creative Space fireplace:
Future Capacity
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Precap: a typically hyper-active week ahead. Some highlights include Patricia Fripp's visit for an event on Saturday morning and afternoon, followed by an SBRS has a show at the P&G in Woodinville Saturday evening.
We also have plans to have Patricia over for a Friday Night private pre-show social and run-through.
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Saturday Recap: guitar calisthenics and sitting for three this morning, followed by coffee and conversation at Stumptown about Photosynth, history, and the nature of the universe. Then, an afternoon of errands followed by a long long evening of painting and parallel work on a new song. The new song evolved while various sections were drying.
My American Idol song entry is also complete, a few days before the deadline, so considering a second entry.
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Evening Work: third in the 3' x 3' Knotwork series, completed painting Future Capacity.
At a certain point in the first rendition of this painting, the silver lines were not turning out as consistently inconsistent as I wished so at the bold suggestion of my wife, I took a palette knife and scraped away all the hunks of silver paint, wiped it into the already detailed crimson background, and started from scratch.
I let what was left of the old silver dry and then put down a brand new thick layer of crimson background, now it's second. Then, I began the painstaking process of beginning the silver lines for a second time.
Sometimes, you just have to scrap the current investment and begin again.
And at times, this pays off. In this case, I'm satisfied with the result despite the extremely late night it cost.
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A couple of more shots of the new paintings over the Opal Creative Space fireplace:
Future Craft
Future Community
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Happy twenty-three year birthday, Guitar Craft.
LCG Performance Team, circa 1989: Curt Golden, Hernan Nunez, Tobin Buttram, Victor McSurely, Pietro Russino, Debra Gavalas-Kahan, Tony Geballe, Ralph Gorga, Martin Schwutke, Paul Richards, Betina Nunez, Steve Jolemore, Steve Ball, Dean Jensen, Hideyo Moriya
Photo taken in the Claymont Octagon by Jane Marsching.
Sending best wishes out to Robert, Tony, Curt, Herni, Ferni, Martin, Christian, Tobin, Trey, Debra, Victor, Peitro, Jon, Ralph, Paul, Bert, Hidi, Dean, Jax, Bob, Travis, Travis, Derek, Adam, Dave, Randy, Mark, Bill, Bill, Peter, Rick, Patricia, Nigel, Sanford, Paul, Lee, David, Brock, Heather, Chris, Horacio, Martin, Claudio, Pablo, Guille, Luciano, Marcello, Sandra, Sama, and Maria Gabriela.
We've been going in and out of style, but this photo is guaranteed to raise a smile.
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Celebration: a week of anniversaries. For starters, eight months ago today, Sofie Regina Lillian Ball was born. Time, she flies.
Sofie rides again
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Recap: the paint is dry, and two out of three of an imperfect pair is completed:
Future Craft
Future Community
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Easter Afternoon Update:
a) Happy Easter everyone!
b) Tony Levin is fast on the draw and "in" for contributing a bass track to the Airport Exercise later this week.
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Recap: Guitar Calisthenics and Sitting for four, followed by inspiring coffee conversations at Stumptown. Ran into Zune pal Thamer and introduced him to MS Photosynth pal, David Lavallee. Then, acoustic rehearsal for three.
Lately, I'm finding Chord Circulations to be the most useful part of our group calisthenics work.
What is a 'Chord Circulation?'
One person begins playing a pulsating single note in a pre-determined meter, say 8 beats per bar. After eight beats, the second person chooses a note to harmonize with the first while the first person continues playing their note. After eight more beats of player 1 and 2 in the circle playing their notes in harmony, the third player joins in choosing a third note that harmonizes with the first two. After eight more beats of the existing improvised triad, the fourth person plays a fourth note.
At this point, there is a pulsing four note chord being played that could not have been predicted or written by any individual in the group -- the group has literally chosen what chord is being played.
Then, the first person chooses a new note -- and the chord, by definition, changes. After eight beats, the second person changes their new note,.. and with each note change, every X beats, a new chord is created. Every eight beats (or what ever the meter chosen is) the chord changes, and a group-improvised chord progression unfolds, one note at a time.
What I find so useful is that to do this well -- that is, to make it sound good --each person must be able to hear the specific notes, intervals, and 'functions' of the notes that each of the other players is playing, and then intentionally move to a new note that is consonant with the other notes being played.
This involves a kind of three dimensional listening: a) what note am I playing and what is its function in the chord? b) what notes are the others around me playing and what are their functions? c) what note should I play next that will harmonize with the other notes being played?
You have to know both where you are and where to go to keep the current and the next chord in sequence 'on track' -- whatever that track may be as it unfolds.
This morning, some remarkable chord sequences flew by during our Chord Circulation.
Variations for experts:
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Evening work: a) delivered Salsa Chicken and rice to some friends who have a three week old baby girl, b) completed the new blue painting, c) experiments with video creation tools.
Pre-sleep reflection: considering music collaboration project for Duncan's The Boy from the Sun. We're going to invite Jon Anderson to contribute to the music. With a busy year of Yes reunions, timing may not be perfect. But we're going to make the invitation.
Decision: I've invited Tony Levin to contribute a bass track to the Airport Exercise for the upcoming Sketch Box release.
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Photo of the Day
Expressive Sofie: get this sock off my foot NOW!
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More from the recent Duncan Weller-recorded video from our special open Roadshow rehearsal a couple of weeks ago. Tonight, another raw clip for public consumption:
hollow
fake Mona Lisa
long luscious lies
french kiss Medusa
look in her eyestrashed empty bedroom
cracked plaster wall
cold as a vacuum
dark as a holeall is fallen, nothing left to decide
I am sorry, nothing left to disguise
all is borrowed, nothing here is mine
I am hollow, nothing left down inside
I'm hollow, all hollowred ruby slippers
blue velvet gown
pass my last supper
I'm going downall is fallen, nothing left to decide
I am sorry, nothing left to divide
all is borrowed, nothing here is mine
I am hollow, nothing left down inside
I'm hollow, all hollow
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Photo of the Day
Sofie and Dad in Hats
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Recap: Last week, my Dad's Mom and Sofie Regina Lillian Ball's great grandma Lillian passed away, so we all got on a plane for an unexpected family reunion.
Here is Grandma Lillian in 1936:
God Bless Grandma Lillian, 1913-2008
From the official obituary:
Mrs. Lillian J. (Ball) Lovell, age 94 years of Newaygo, passed away on Thursday morning, March 13, 2008 at Transitional Health Services of Fremont. She was born on May 25, 1913, and raised in the Byron Center, Michigan area.
After graduation from Byron Center High School, she married Harold James Ball and was a bookkeeper in the meat and grocery business for many years. She began working at Geukes Meat Market and later in the family business, Harold's IGA Store in Newaygo, Michigan, after they moved with their four children in 1949. She was preceded in death by Harold Ball and Lee Lovell.
Lillian was a member of Newaygo United Methodist Church, taught Sunday School Youth classes and played piano for the church services. She served as a Girl Scout Leader and also held terms on the Newaygo Library Board and served on the local election board.
As a young homemaker, Lillian had a large garden, loved to sew, crochet, and had a green thumb for flowering plants.
Survivors include her children, Donna (Warren) Isberg of Grand Rapids, MI., Betty (Jerry) Burnside of Fremont, MI., Harold E. (Fran) Ball of Duluth, GA., and Susan Bull of Fremont, MI. Her grandchildren include Merrie Isberg, Jennifer (Mark) Schropp, Diane Burnside, Julie Lupa, Kathryn Ball, Steve (Regina) Ball, Kimberly (Robert) Ruppel, John K. (Deirdre) Bull, and Anthony (Visda) Bull. She is also survived by many great grandchildren. The Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, March 16, 2008 at the Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home in Fremont with Pastor Patricia Bromberek officiating. Interment will be in Newaygo Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1-2 PM on Sunday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Newaygo United Methodist Church, 101 State Street, Newaygo, Michigan 49337.
Of course, many many photos were taken. A few highlights:
Lillian's Children: Susan, Betty, Donna, and Harold
Two Generations of Grandchildren: Andrea, Julie, Katie, Regina, and Sofie
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A page from one of the many family photo albums we studied just after the funeral:
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We're home now, recovering gently from the trip. It was great to see everyone and this side of the family has been overdue for a family reunion.
After this whirlwind trip, I'm thinking I should grow a beard like my great great Uncle LL Hickox. My cousin Tony already has a significant head-start:
Tony, John, Kim, and Bob
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