What is art?

These two women seem to be comtemplating that very idea while gazing at my daughter's ceramics at her BFA exhibit at the Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD. This is one of four urns that she created for her senior thesis. (They are for sale.) sjlukas@hotmail.com

I, of course, found a photo op while there and caught this candid shot. Her work was front and center at the exhibit that took over the whole campus for a few days. To say I'm proud of her accomplishment, would be an understatement. She's always has that ability to see in 3D and create something special even as a child.

In sad news, the Ardor in the Loyalty building on Broadway closed yesterday. The owners of the building, Stonewater Partners, seem to be determined to drive most people out of the building. Across the street at the Grain Exchange, it's the same way. Raise the rents and force businesses out. It's been going this way for over a year and both buildings are almost totally vacant now. What's going on?

Anyway, back to the Ardor. It's a shame to lose one of the few non-smoking bars in the city. It was a nice restaurant, too, with old world charm. Sorry to see it go. That only leaves the City Lounge, Cudahy.

Last year, I designed a new Web site for Stonewater Partners concerning the Grain Exchange and took photos of the three buildings in that special block on Michigan. It was an exciting project while it lasted, though it never was completed. Those three old buildings are beautiful, and if you love old architecture, you should visit. I received many compliments for the work I did for them. They were happy with the photos and the Web site.

Trip to Marshfield

Didn't go to CoPA tonight. Still recovering from my trip to Marshfield. Too much to do with record keeping etc. It was a good trip, and I hope to go back again soon.

Ups and Downs

An advanced copy of Wisconsin Trails magazine arrived during the week with photos from the photo contest. I was very pleased to see my Grand Prize winning photo in print. I showed it to a few people at work, and then got back to work. Here's the link to the online version of these photos.

And of course, every time it rained this week, some wise guy at work had to say, "Hey Sue, grab your camera. It's raining!" And I have a knickname at work. Gene started calling me Paparazzi and would pose for me everytime I walked through the factory with my camera. I said, no I'm Mamarazzi. So it stuck. All in fun!

Shoji Designs also added a link on their Web site from the photos I shot for them back to my site. So I thought I'd reciprocate. Another satisfied customer!

I'm no longer in Morning Glory gallery. It wasn't a pleasant departure. If you want to know more or are planning to enter this gallery, contact me and I will tell you how I was treated.

This weekend, I'm busy setting up my new computer and preparing for the Marshfield Art Show on Sunday, May 11 at the high school. Hope to see you there.

More Good News, Bad News

This is the season when the major summer art shows select who's going to be in and who's out. Today I received notice that I didn't make it into the Oconomowoc art show. But good news, I received an advanced copy of Wisconsin Trails magazine with my Grand Prize winning photo in it. It was very exciting.

E-mail Problems

I received a good news/bad news e-mail today. Good news, you will included in the CoPA exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum on July 26. Bad news, they tried to contact me several times and e-mail was rejected. I have a phone.

Jeez, I thought I fixed all of those old sue@window2wis.com e-mail addresses. I discontinued it because I had some problems with it. My server was rejecting them and not forwarding them. My current e-mail, which you can also find on my Web site, is sjlukas@hotmail.com.

Did you have a chance to see the glassblowing demonstrations this weekend? Andy from Borealis Glass is going to be doing demonstrations and teaching at the gallery on a regular basis. I might sign up. It looks interesting.

New Students

I started two new students yesterday. They are taking a shorter course and will be my last students for awhile. Both said that they would like to become good at photography so they can sell their work. While at the Dark Star, I talked to Nick who busy glazing. He broke his toe during the week when he tried to save a piece of pottery from falling. He was making up for lost time when he couldn't work. He saved the pot, but not his toe.

We got into a conversation that we've had many times before. He thinks photography is an overcrowded art field, and most people think they are good at it so they don't buy any photography. Digital photography has really changed things for exhibiting photographers. Only the best get into the top art shows. He thought I should get out of being a photographer for that reason, even though he likes my work. It's too hard.

Or maybe this was his way of saying, when you don't get into Mt. Mary, don't call me and whine about it. He got in again.

My daughter, who is graduating with a ceramics degree next month, tells me the same thing. Photography is an overcrowded field. You should expect fewer sales than what a potter makes because of it.

A friend of mine, who is an award-winning portrait photographer, would agree with this. Since digital photography became popular, fewer seniors book portraits. She's doing other things plus photography to support herself. If you expect to make a living as a photographer, you will struggle.

But isn't that the way it's always been? Even before digital came along, getting into the best shows was hard. Photography has always been an overcrowded art field. Rejection hurts, but that's what all artists go through. I stopped doing shows for awhile when digital was becoming popular.

What do you think? Are you a photographer whose trying to sell your work? Are you a photography buyer? Do you only buy prints from film?

Home Sick Today

Yes, I picked up a bug while in Nashville. I've got so much to do at work and in the studio. I find it hard to just lay around. But it's the best way to get healthy so I'll have the energy to get to these other projects.

CoPA meeting tonight. I won't be attending due to illness. I haven't started preparing my pieces for the member exhibit on April 18. Percent of Purchase photos due to the DNR soon and another order for a canvas print. Start working on images for Marshfield show in a month.

I also would like to work on my Nashville photos and compile a photo essay on Nashville nightlife. The work will have to wait though. Here is one of my favorites from Tootsies, a honky tonk on Broadway that backs up to the Ole Opry. The music was fantastic and I'm not a country music fan. But I could appreciate the energy and skill of the musicians that performed up and down Broadway and Second Ave.