our social skin

hello friends, any big plans this holiday weekend?

i'm planning on soaking up some sunshine, outside times, and friend times. cant wait.

i'm also excited because an exhibition that my classmates and i curated opens tonight at the anderson gallery. its been a crazy and interesting process curating a show in just one semester, but i must say i'm quite proud of the result and quite excited for the opening.

woohoo.

so, happy weekend, folks. lets make this one count, shall we?

xs and os.

ps. the lovely photograph, county queen, is by thomas daniel and is included in our show. if you're in the richmond area, please stop by!

lets go fly a kite

i'm loving this paul octavious photograph kite hill thats now available over at 20x200. its from the photographer's fantastic same hill, different day series, which i've been following for a bit now. so glad the folks at 20x200 made one of his works available!

it looks like the perfect summer day, no?

a sweet specimen

i came across this series 'objects of my confection' by artist

ammiel mendoza this morning and was immediately intrigued.

in a play on the traditional notions of taxonomy and natural history museum displays, mendoza says these works are a cross between her love for insects and her love for candy.

so clever.

take a looksy at ammiel's portfolio site for bigger images, as well as some other interesting projects.

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checking in

i spent the morning painting the walls of a gallery where i will soon be installing an exhibition that i co-curated with classmates. i love painting. when many things in my life have felt unpredictable and out of my control recently, i love that painting a wall is something simple and easy. its something i can control and i know it will turn out beautifully.

as a result of the meditative process of painting and this overcast weather, i've been feeling a bit introspective this afternoon. i've been thinking about the year thus far, and how we're creeping up on the half way mark.

this led me to revisit some goals i set back in january. while i think i've been making a concerted effort to accomplish numbers three and four, i realize that i've not been doing so hot in number two's department. this is because recent events have provoked a lot of feelings of wanting to give up and run away from some commitments, namely school.

ah, self awareness and accountability, sometimes you're necessary, though not always fun.

though i realize i still have some work to do, its good to be reminded of these goals. so, now i'm thinking about how to go about accomplishing them. at this point, i'm hoping summer vacation can help in the commitment to school area. in which case, maybe i'll go have a glass of water.

hello summer

after some dreary spring weather this week, today arrived with blue skies, hot temps and plenty of sunshine. it feels as though summer snuck in while we dreamed last night.

i couldn't be more ready for this weather because i have some summer fun lined up for the weekend, including a wedding, camping, playing outside, and last but not least, swimming.

it sounds silly, but swimming might be one of my most favorite of things in the entire world. there is no better feeling that floating on your back in the cool water on a hot summer day.

such bliss.

hello weekend and hello summer. so glad you've returned.

hope you get to play outside in the sunshine this weekend, friends.

xs & os.

lovely

taken by 15 year old photographer natalie nguyen. her flickr takes my breath away.

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boat + house.

i've yet to get my hands on a copy of the selby's book that came out this month, but a few weeks ago he posted a sneak peek on his blog that included a several photographs of the most beautiful houseboat.

i feel instantly in love.

apparently, she belongs to a lovely british photographer, retts wood, and floats right along in the canals of central london. so amazing.

according to the selby, of all the gorgeous homes hes photographed, this is his favorite.

i can see why.

i'd pay to visit you on rainy sundays

since its overcast and grey here today, it seemed appropriate to share one of my most favorite blogloves of the moment.

i'd pay to visit you on rainy sundays is a tumblr devoted to 'all things nice that happen in museums.'

how awesome is that? be still my heart.

its a lovely little collection full of inspiration.

and perfect for a rainy tuesday when you can't make it to the museum.

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say hallelujah

phwew. i'm back, friends.

i made it through a few pretty rough weeks of grad school madness.

had a few set backs. a bit of wounded pride.

and a few tears shed, to be honest.

but nothing that a skype chat with my dad, a glass of wine (or two, or three) and some good old fashioned laughter with friends couldn't fix.

and now. more importantly. its time for some proper summer fun.

its on, folks.

ps. fyi, pretty new oxfords like the ones in the polaroid above help with the lifting of spirits.

also, i missed you.

oh, florida

i always miss you this time of year, when the coreopsis blooms.