Okay, OKAY...I've been hiding a little(lot)! I've been overwhelmed!At first, I was overwhelmed with relief and a new sense of national pride by Obama's election...I still am. I didn't go to Grant Park, much to my family's chagrin. I went to my friend's house, so I could watch the returns, the speeches, and the responses, and quickly make an escape plan, if necessary(I have been through 2 Bush elections, haven't we all?). I did cry when Pennsylvania went to Obama. I didn't know how else to react, except with pride and fruition. Obama was going to win. The US was going to elect the right candidate, hands down. Like many, I had respected McCain for his service to our country, and his constant push. He was the Republican I liked. He seemed invested in his country and his experience. I was glad he was the Republican candidate...until he chose Palin as shock treatment and a really flimsy attempt to garner the support of the Hillary camp. Guess what...I'm a Hillary camp lady. I voted her into the NY senate, and I voted for her in the primary. I've followed her career for a very long time. Granted, when I voted for her in the primary, I was in Illinois, and it could be seen as a gesture but It wasn't. Obama was going to sweep Illinois, and I was proud of that. I was also proud to vote for Hillary. I guess I wasn't voting to win-I was actually voting from my heart and, were I not in Illinois, I may have paused longer.As I told my friends later, "Hey, I get to vote for Hillary now, and Obama in November," and then would give a quick recap of Hillary as what we have already known from her political career, when questioned. What a real freedom!FINALLY!To discuss candidates. Either way, we would win.I've never felt that way in an election. Anyway, the biggest offenseof McCain was choosing Palin as his running mate in a gender grab. It still is, as she now has national spotlight and is calling on the media for having more scrutiny on her than Caroline Kennedy. I actually feel sympathy for her, now that she is not at the healm of the second hand. She's not going quietly, and I don't fault her for that. However, blaming the media for not being as tough on Caroline Kennedy, who is vying for a senate seat, as opposed to the vice presidency of the nation, seems petty and grasping.Again, I don't blame Palin. I think it's telling of who she is and what she wants, which is simple. Something bigger than what she has. I'm reminded how relieved that she didn't win the election.Because the world is fucked right now, and I'm so relieved to have both Obama and Clinton to make the decisions that need to be made. I hope I keep agreeing with them.

None of this has anything to do with art.

I've been making some.

I've been working on the CD art for the upcoming Striding Lion album...The first is the wingspan for the interior of the CD case

Next is the cover-collage is clearly the deal here

And my thesis is still coming along. The title is "Loss is Expected" and focuses on that uncomfortable/euphoric time of transition that leads all of us to our next step, no matter how ambiguous or succinct it may be. My inspiration spans a few years and a couple cities. I've designed it as a walk-in pinball machine/photo booth/journal of experiences. It's an extremely personal piece, but much of that personal exploration has been found in a public aesthetic, so it makes sense in an awkward, weird and accessible vein...at least that's the plan. We will see how it goes