© kristine asta helgason
Tuesday morning, Enterprise picked us up and the process of renting a Chevy Aveo was quick and painless (not a great car, but cheap). We drove to Pasadena to visit Art Center’s South Campus where I had an appointment to look at the graduate studios. It was just a tour, not an interview or anything, but I’m very excited. I contemplated not writing about this process in case I’m not accepted, but as I’ve been reading biographies and attending artist talks, many great artists don’t get into a lot of grad programs. I’m working on being less shameful and embracing the learning experience of trying things when I’m not sure how well I’m going to do.
Anyway, I had a great impression of Art Center. I almost dismissed it as more of a design school but the visit with the coordinator really made me feel that the fine arts graduate program is different than the others. He was so helpful and nice and all of my questions were answered exactly as I’d hoped. The facilities seem really great and Pasadena isn’t too far from Silverlake (where Tim & I hope to live next fall).
We got a little lost and eventually just headed back to Silverlake instead of walking around Old Town. In Silverlake we stopped at Reform School on Sunset. I was so tempted to buy nearly everything, particularly, Kim Gordon’s Chronicles and a huge Moleskine sketchbook, but instead I left with plans to beg for the Backyard Tipi for Christmas 2010. (I know, I know, it says it’s for kids, but in person, it looks big enough for my 5’3″ self.)
Tuesday night, Justin and Lincoln met us at the hotel and we went to the Red Lion and then the Cha Cha Lounge and drank an appropriate amount of cheap drinks for two great bars and took photobooth pictures in which I sat in the front so my head consumes the majority of each shot. Oops.
We booked the room for an extra night on Wednesday. Too much of the day was spent driving down the dreaded Santa Monica Boulevard but Family proved to be worth it as usual. I bought Letters to a Young Artist by Peter Nesbett (don’t be put off by the cover, it was great and I read it in a day) and The Fall of the Studio: Artists at Work by Wouter Davidts, which I have yet to read. I was excited to see that an alum from my college is selling his self published artist book there– photographer and founder of Hassla Books, David Schoerner. His new book of photographs is being released in April, and you can glimpse at it and preorder here.
Thursday morning we went to Dragonfly Dulou in Los Feliz. I wish they had stores like this near me when I was a child! I bought some toys for my nephews and niece but resisted the organic playdough (easily made at home) and Dwell Studio for Baby products that I tried to justify as my sister is pregnant for the fourth (!) time.
During our last few days with Tim’s friends in the valley, we did more of the aforementioned drinking and lazing about and music-listening, as well as made a trip to Malibu which turned out to be foggy and visited Justin and Jess’ moms at the Americana in Glendale where they rented a place for a few nights. I could easily get sucked into the experience of the Americana had I enough money and closet space, but I can’t imagine why anyone would purchase a condo there. It’s overwhelming with capitalism, crowds, and the constant need to be entertained by something or someone else. Let’s just say I really enjoyed sitting in our friends’ backyard reading in the sun.
