ink and coffee

art is hard. life is hard. and coffee only gets you so far. suggestions?

[angelorensanzfoundation]

Hidden Places and Secret Rooms.

Check out these beautiful photographs of the many secret hiding places at the Angel Orensanz Foundation for the Arts, as well as a series of photos from the Lower East Side neighborhood. 

photo credit: Zoe V. Speas, 35mm film black and white.

[zoespeas]

Before. and after.

Oh well. Nothing lasts forever, I guess. Maybe that's the point, right?

[angelorensanzfoundation]

Happy Post-Halloween, everybody!

Did we all survive? Feeling good? Feeling strong? Excellent! 

From all of us here at the angelorensanzfoundation, thank you for a delicious season of jack-o-lanterns, candycorn, and slightly sinister silliness.

Cancelled last year as a result of the devastation of Superstorm Sandy, the New York City Halloween Parade of 2013 returned and dominated a route from Sixth Avenue and Spring Street to 16th Street. Greenwich Village was a storm of gaudiness and ghoulishness, celebrating one of the favorites of holidays and the parade’s 40th anniversary this year. 

And in case you made it to Spring St and couldn’t exit the subway because of the hoards of people gathered to watch …

…we found pictures!

Have a happy Turkey-month everybody!

Now go back to your hoards of candy and sugar yourself silly. 

Photo credit: Sachyn Mital/Gothamist

[zoespeas]

A Farewell to Banksy: A month of Political Art in New York - Angel Orensanz Foundation

Banksy's residence in New York City draws to an end, but his influence on the world of political art and culture continues long after the curtain closes.

OKAY. It's over. 

I've been gushing hardcore about Banksy and the politics involved for the past month, and it's been a pleasure.

But it's Halloween. Tomorrow's November. So here's my proper thank-you and farewell, Mr. Banksy-man-sir for an eventful month of art, politics, and all the contradictions therein. 

Click and check out the post via The Angel Orensanz Foundation blog. Happy Halloween, y'all!

[zoespeas]

NYPD Would Really Love Someone To File A Complaint Against Banksy

The NYPD cold-called the owner of a building that Banksy hit today, asking if he'd like to press charges.

Hehehe. 

I'm really enjoying following the progress of this story. 

Just to recap: 

Team Bloomberg:

 "Graffiti does ruin people's property and it's a sign of decay and loss of control," the mayor said. "Art is art, and nobody’s a bigger supporter of the arts than I am. I just think there are some places for art and there are some places [not for] art. And you running up to somebody’s property or public property and defacing it is not my definition of art. Or it may be art, but it should not be permitted. And I think that’s exactly what the law says."

  Team Awesome Cop:

"[Unless a building owner] files a complaint, then there hasn’t been a crime committed. Because graffiti is an art form, what makes it a crime is whether the person had permission to do it to the property that they did it to. So if I walk up to your house and break your window because you said to me, ‘Hey Steve, break my window,’ I can’t be arrested for criminal mischief because you gave me permission to break your window, it’s the same with graffiti it’s no different. 

Thank you, awesome cop aka retired NYPD police officer Steve Mona, who also happens to disagree with Mr. Mayor's definition of art, after all. 

So basically, nobody's complaining about the "non-art" that Banksy's throwing up all over the city. And without anybody complaining, there's nothing criminal about it. 

... oh don't worry, I'm sure it's far more complicated than I'm making it. What do I know? I'm just an actor who writes. 

[zoespeas]

Guys. This is Katy Gunn. 

Last night I had the great good fortune to see Katy perform at the Lower East Side music spot, The Living Room. I was invited there by the lovely ladies of a beautiful LES art gallery called NOoSphere (thank you Sol Kjøk and Annemarta S. Mugaas), where Katy acts as their official "musician-in-residence". 

Anyway. KATY GUNN. She's an incredibly talented, incredibly funny singer/songwriter who just happens to be a classically trained violinist. Katy performs with her brother, Fred Baker, who is able to do some pretty insane things with a Macbook and a pad. Click the link of Fred's name to check out his music video "Pocket Full of Detritus", which Katy describes as "poetry rap."

For me, Katy's music is like an amped up hybrid of Kimbra and Fiona Apple. Check it out. 

Yay for new things!

[zoespeas]

NYPD Intent On Bringing Banksy To Justice

An example of Banksy's illegal graffiti "non-art" which also happens to be a tribute to 9/11 of the Twin Towers, in TriBeca.

Okay, basically this quote from NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"Graffiti does ruin people's property and it's a sign of decay and loss of control," the mayor said. "Art is art, and nobody’s a bigger supporter of the arts than I am. I just think there are some places for art and there are some places [not for] art. And you running up to somebody’s property or public property and defacing it is not my definition of art. Or it may be art, but it should not be permitted.And I think that’s exactly what the law says."

Because what could possibly be worse than "a sign of decay" or "loss of control" when the ARTS are involved? 

Oh, look. A picture of the mayor at the Tribeca Film Festival. So I guess that counted as art. In case you were curious.

Quick BREAK-DOWN:

"Art is art." 

good, good. A little vague, but we're all on board.

"Nobody's a bigger supporter of the arts than I am." 

Mkaay...? 

"There are some places for art..." 

A museum. White walls. Little white tags. Suggested donations. We get it.

"...and there are some places not for art."

 (Anywhere else.)

"[Banksy's graffiti] is not my definition of art." 

Well, then, obviously it isn't art, if you say it isn't, Mr. Mayor. 

"Or it may be art, but it should not be permitted."

Uh, not permitted? 

...

.....

Pardon me?

"I think that's exactly what the law says."

 Well, shoot. If you've got the law on your side, not much room for argument, is there?

Hey, remember when this was a thing?

But, like really? "Not permitted" - That's the choice of words we're going for, here.

Never mind that this is probably the most wishy-washy, bending over backwards in a game of Twister in order to keep one hand on every color swatch of public opinion.

Just take a moment to let it sink in that our political leaders find it necessary to dictate to us what is and isn't art.

Above: From the banksy in new york city webpage. 

I don't know, dude. Whatever. Doesn't matter if you like the guy's work or not, just maybe consider a global history of censorship and infringement of the First Amendment before you start using phrases like "not permitted" or your "definition of art."

Ugh. Politics are gross. 

[zoespeas]

Return to NYC: The Angel Orensanz Foundation

Okay, okay, I know. I did the thing.

The disappearing for weeks at a time thing that everyone does even though they swear they'll do the opposite.

Bad blogger. Very bad blogger. Do you forgive me? If you do, I'll love you forever, I promise.

I know you can't exactly respond to this, so I will offer up the following blogpost to you in the off-chance that your response was to grant me my requested forgiveness. In which case: OHMIGODTHANKSSOMUCH!#socialmediaanxiety.

So moving right along!

The reason - excuses, excuses - for my inactivity lately has been on account of a major move, a long-awaited return to my home in New York City. The whirlwind experience began with a job interview in early September, followed by a move four days later, and my first day at work one day after that.

This is where I've been working.

What is that craziness, you ask?

That, friends, is the Angel Orensanz Foundation for the Arts, located at 172 Norfolk Street in NYC's Lower East Side. It's a hauntingly gorgeous former synagogue built in the 1840s by architect Alexander Saeltzer, who also designed the South Wing of the Public Theatre Landmark building in Manhattan.

The space operates as a museum and fine arts gallery, a center for the arts, a performance venue, and beyond. It's held performances by Philip Glass and Lady Gaga, as well as Tyne Daly, Mandy Patinkin, and workshops by Arthur Miller.

Founding artist Angel Orensanz bought the place in 1986 when it was in a state of terrible disuse and dilapidation. He intended it for a studio for his work in sculpture, painting, and installation/environmental art, but it grew into something bigger which evolved into the Arts Foundation by 1994.

His work is friggin' cool, I promise you that. Check it out at the link above for Angel Orensanz, or better yet, come visit me at 172 Norfolk Street and look around.

Right?

The thing about contemporary art...

It's hard.

Sometimes I think it's easier just to look at a painting by one of the Italian masters where it's obvious and the craft is in your face. Such heightened realism makes it impossible not to stagger a little in the presence of greatness.

I was nervous when I came to work for The Orensanz because I wasn't sure I'd appreciate the art. How was I supposed to blog about, write about, and market the arts center and the body of work of the artist who founded it if I couldn't relate to the art?

Then I saw the sketches:

These got me. Really got me. There's a whole series of them currently on display at the Foundation, in the upper clerestory level. They're haunting, inferno-esque pieces that I stare at and am immediately compelled to sit down at a sketchpad and create my own.

Much of Angel's work is incredibly detailed, vibrant with color, and on a scale that ranges from miniscule to massive. He's used our building for installation/environmental work that will have the whole floor covered in flower petals or lit with thousands of LED lights, but for some reason, it's the figure drawings that pull at me.

See, I really don't mean to promote my workplace on my blog to try and pimp it out.

I honest to God believe it's one of those treasures of New York City, one of those cornerstones of the LES culture that we can walk past every day and never notice. 

Kinda makes me wonder: what else do I walk past without seeing? 

Just thoughts n' things. 

By the way, the part 2 of my B&N 'Buy 2, Get 1 Free' series is coming soon - I'm SO FRICKIN EXCITED!

[zoespeas]

My new blog post update for the Angel Orensanz Foundation for the Arts in New York City. Explore the site and visit the home page for the foundation and for Mr. Orensanz himself!

[zoespeas]

BTGO: Part One. The Marriage Plot.

Adventures in the 'Buy 2 Get 1 free' Section of B&N

PART ONE.

BOGO, or even BTGO (buy two get one? is it a thing? should it be? okay). It's a magical thing. It's responsible for my wardrobe being twice the size that it should be. It's why I currently have two massive tankards of Nutella in the kitchen - like I said, magic.

But BOGO/BTGO involving books? As frequently seen in your friendly, neighborhood bookstore chain?

Holy mother of manuscripts.

Try as I might to stay out of B&N to keep myself inside a library, I collect books like Carrie Bradshaw collected shoes so eventually, there I am: at the wall of BTGO.

Which means -three new books for me! Which means - new blog post for you!

Number One: Presenting - THE MARRIAGE PLOT by Jeffrey Eugenides.

The BASICS.

Author: Jeffrey Eugenides.

Published: 2011.

Length: 416pp.

Synopsis: Basically - "What happens after you graduate, when the whole scaffolding of classes and the college social scene you’ve been training your personality around is suddenly taken away, and you have to grope for a new way to be in the world." - William Deresiewicz, NYTimes Book Review, 10/2011

Favorite Line: 

"She was a large, disordered woman, like a child's drawing that didn't stay within the lines." 

But let's back up to the beginning.

The book caught my attention the way most novels do - by having a funky, smart-looking cover that I'll feel good about holding between my fingers. I'll admit it; the inky, italic script and slightly parchment-esque paperback cover appealed to me as I imagined reading it with my free hand as the other gripped the handrail on the subway. I flipped through the pages. Excellent. The font was small and compact, printed on newsprint-thin paper that reminded me of the copy of a Margaret Atwood novel I read in a "Feminism and the Environment" seminar for my English major. 

So far, so good. This book is lightweight, mid-length, and makes me look like I enjoy challenging, relevant literature. Hyper self-awareness: satisfied.

"Winner of the Pulitzer Prize" ... hmm. For what? 

Jeffery Eugenides, American. Author of The Virgin Suicides (1993) and Middlesex (2002), for which he won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction...

Ahh, yes. Middlesex sounds vaguely familiar. Unfortunately it's not in the BTGO section and I'm looking for something a little lighter-hearted than "the life and self-discovery of Calliope Stephanides, an intersex person raised a girl, but hormonally a boy." I make a note of that title, though, and return to The Marriage Plot.

I check out the back of the book. 

The synopsis of Eugenides' novel advertises the story of three recently graduated students of Brown University, experiencing the drama of their coming of age in 1982. I learn that this "coming of age" topic is one that the author frequently explores in his work, which hooks me. As much as literature, art, music, and theatre are escapes from reality (as we need them to be), in fiction I tend to search for protagonists whose worlds are those with which I can find parallels to my own. Madeline, Leonard, and Mitchell are each in their early twenties, highly educated, and irrevocably lost. Madeline is even a slightly obsessed English major - hitting pretty close to home.

Sounds familiar. You're on, Mr. Eugenides. 

I purchased it as one of my three from B&N and took it home to begin reading it that night. Two weeks later, here's where I am on the other side.

"I LIKED IT. IT WAS GOOD." 

-said no English major ever who got an A on their term paper.

But it's true!

ZOE'S ONE-WORD REACTION: Satisfied.

If that's enough for you, I'm happy to give my stamp of approval and hope that you check out this book if you have the opportunity. Go forth and prosper under the happy stars of BTGO night sky. 

More specifically, however:

Now that my fingers have brushed against every one of those 416 pages, I'm satisfied with the fact that the novel delivered exactly what the producing editorial team led me to believe it would. Eugenides captures pretty damn accurately the state of the twenty-something kid just out of college. Even more helpfully, he tells his story through three characters with very different backgrounds. Madeline has money and a supportive family. Leonard's got nothing but the clothes on his back and the brains in his head. And Mitchell, while he has the support of a vaguely disapproving family, throws caution to the wind and lives out of a suitcase across Europe and ultimately lands in India for the first year of his post-collegiate life. 

Their situations are dramatic and more extreme than anything I can relate to in my own struggles to exist outside of the academic world, and yet still there's comfort to be drawn from their stories. The accuracy of Eugenides' account I attribute to the bluntness of his character sketches. Madeline, Leonard, and Mitchell are neither likable nor repulsive. They display moments of impressive maturity and courage just as frequently as they behave in ways that leave me wishing their parents spanked them more as children. By the end of the novel each of them finally take steps down the path to becoming the sort of adult they're meant to be (for now, at least). They're not awe-inspiring steps, and some of them are even steps backward. But I come away from the text with this advice: TAKE a step. Even if it is a backward one. We might have graduated college, but we're never going to leave it until we start walking.

I don't know. It's simpler than it seems. It's harder than it sounds. For me, moving in any direction means taking a risk - which is far scarier than standing still and simply passing the time. Following the narratives of three people for whom risk-taking is embraced, on a variety of levels, encouraged me in the way that it is encouraging to hear stories about former classmates who fell on their faces and survived. Self-comparison and doubt. Two things Eugenides seems to strongly encourage moving past in our own coming of age novels. Not get rid of, not ignore- but embrace and move past. 

Good read. Definitely not a beach read, but not War and Peace, either. As a milennial, I strongly suggest it to my fellow milennials.  

End of BTGO: Part One.

Next time up.  BTGO: Part Two - Twilight, for Grown-Ups.

[zoespeas]

this scone is everything.

Alice's Teacup Chapter II. 156 E 64th St, New York, NY.

[zoespeas]

a bit of night music: an introduction

Sunday. 10:15pm. Akron, Ohio.

So, hey. I'm on it. That's right, I am ON IT. The blog train has left the station and this guy, THIS GUY, jumped onto the caboose. I've tried to jump before and fallen off. Or I've missed the tracks completely. Or I got on, found a private cabin, fell asleep, and forgot entirely that I was even on a train.

BUT NOT THIS TIME. This time, it's FOR REAL. Long Train Runnin', my friends. Long. Train. Runnin'.

'Kay, anyway, hello. Hi. I'm super excited to meet you. Welcome to my blog. This is me.

I'm Zoe. I live in New York City ...

...but sometimes I live in places like this, too.

Cumberland County, VA. It's a small, small, small town. I grew up to the right of that speed limit sign. There's a house just out of frame, promise.

I work a lot of random jobs to pay the rent, but what, you may or may not ask, does Zoe do?

Well, Zoe acts...

...Zoe writes (often in dressing rooms)...

... and Zoe likes to paint.

Zoe reads, too. But how exciting is a picture of someone reading, right?

I guess we should find out. Here goes.

Zoe reads:

(Zoe also used to have long hair and be sixteen, as shown by this photograph.)

The above-listed and conveniently illustrated passions are what make me who I am, and the best thing about having these passions? I share them with a HUGE percentage of the population.

I bring them up to foreshadow the kind of the things I like to write about and to discuss and to investigate. Shared experience is the unifying factor to all art forms, and if I hope to earn the title of "artist", whatever blog I come up with should harbor and encourage that sharing.

And thus: the plan. I'm gonna go ahead and live and discover new stuff. Then imma write about the cool stuff I find and share it with you. Then you're gonna think some of it's worth exploring, and you'll share it, too, or you'll call me out on it when you think it's bogus.

No pressure, right? Totally doable. We got this, guys.

The SPEAS BLOG TRAIN is LEAVING THE STATION, everybody. And trust me, it really is a long train runnin'.

(I'm totally going to say it:)

ALL ABOARD!

    please keep reading in spite of terrible attempt at coming 'full circle' in first post.