“It’s nice to see you again too,” I grumbled as yet another dust-clotted gale threatened to shove me off the airport walkway. Who needs expensive facial treatments, I thought sardonically, when you can get sand-blasted exfoliation for free, courtesy of New Mexico’s relentless spring winds? I’d just flown into Roswell, where the gusts had become… Continue reading Roswell Revisited
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#CAA2023
Last November, I posted about the conference goals I’ve been checking off since starting the American Studies Program at William & Mary. That post focused on my experiences at the ASA annual meeting, but that’s not the only large conference I’ve been wanting to attend. Last week, I accomplished my goal of going to another… Continue reading #CAA2023
Dissertation Work, February Update
Last month I talked about the on-site visits I’d made to the VMFA‘s archive to look at the materials on their first artmobile program. Since then, I’ve been reviewing the documents I photographed and taking notes. Let’s take a look at some of the things I’ve been learning. Most generally, I’ve been learning about the… Continue reading Dissertation Work, February Update
Dawn and Dusk on the Pocket Door
Not teaching this semester means I’ve got more mental and emotional energy for art projects, including ideas I’ve had for the house. While I’ve already painted a bird or other animal in each room, I’ve also been meaning to carry out some larger concepts. For the past several months, for instance, I’ve wanted to paint… Continue reading Dawn and Dusk on the Pocket Door
Finishing (and Starting) My Dissertation Journal
Last September I experienced a milestone with my dissertation. No, I haven’t finished drafting it, far from it, but I did finish something that, to me at least, is significant: I filled the last page of my dissertation journal. Between the covers of that journal are two years’ worth of ideas, outlines, maps, and above… Continue reading Finishing (and Starting) My Dissertation Journal
Now on View: The Great Exhibition
On January 27, the Barry Art Museum opened its latest temporary exhibition in the Doll Gallery, The Great Exhibition: Bébés at the Barry. Spotlighting dolls from the permanent collection, I started working on this show as soon as Rhonda Holy Bear: Artist and Story-Keeper opened. For the past few months, when I haven’t been working… Continue reading Now on View: The Great Exhibition
Dissertation Work, January Update
This month I started working on Chapter 5, which focuses on the first iteration of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Artmobile (1953-1994). Whereas my previous chapters have looked at outreach exhibitions staged in extant buildings such as libraries and schools, or repurposed homes or commercial venues in the case of the Community Art Center… Continue reading Dissertation Work, January Update
Sketching the Yard
One of the things I love about our house is the number of large windows we have. In the living room especially, the sliding glass door and a window that reaches down to the floor provide ample views of our surroundings. The cats have spent many hours here watching birds, squirrels, and the sun itself… Continue reading Sketching the Yard
We Bought a House, One Year Later
Brandon and I recently celebrated one year of living in our house. Before we moved in, we two significant cosmetic changes: replacing the carpet with laminate, and repainting all of the interior walls. We’ve made lots of other changes since then, so today, let’s take a look at what we’ve done over the past year.… Continue reading We Bought a House, One Year Later
2022 In Review, and 2023 Previews
I don’t know about you, but 2022 has been a rather eventful year for me. Let’s go back and take a look at the previous year and get a preview of what’s to come in 2023. In terms of dissertation work, 2022 was by far my most productive year to date. I completed two on-site… Continue reading 2022 In Review, and 2023 Previews