Before I get to my top tweets from the past couple of weeks, I have something on my mind.
Nineteen years ago I was living in Oklahoma City when our museum doors blew open and we simultaneously heard an explosion. The days that followed are both unforgettable and seem like a lifetime ago. I hope we never forget that senseless attack on innocent people or the, sadly, additional ones we hear about every day.
It’s easy to become numb to violence, and, as sensitive artists, I hope you never do. The world needs your beauty and generous spirit more than ever.
I mention it because, on the anniversary of the bombing, I want to share an exhibition of art quilts I co-curated: The Oklahoma City Memorial Art Quilts. It opened on the 1-year anniversary and included 20 pieces: 1 for each of the 19 children killed in the bombing and the 20th to represent child-victims everywhere. The Helios Foundation (the organizers) toured it around the country for 3 years.
I’ve been able to find 10 of the quilts online and have pinned them on this Pinterest Board. I’d love to find the rest.
On with my list of curated (and annotated) tweets from the last 13 days.
Business
Use Evernote App to Manage Your Art Career | Sergio Gomez Art Blog buff.ly/1m2Xvtv
Excellent advice – I can attest to all of the suggestions: How To Make Working From Home More Productive zite.to/1gCVyMx
It’s important to connect in-person as well as online: The Personal Touch via @ArtsyShark bit.ly/1g1PGgq
“The problem with your life is that your dominoes are stacked end-to-end. There is no room for error.”: RT @chrisguillebeau: Consider the Dominoes —aonc.co/1iNsPpE <Brilliant! For when your schedule is, well, too scheduled
For those with day jobs: You Are Not Your Job zite.to/1jA9gEB
Social Media
Don’t we wish that Facebook would pick 1 ideal image size already and move on? Until then, here’s a cheat sheet: All Facebook Image Dimensions: Timeline, Posts, Ads [Infographic] – Jon Loomer Digital buff.ly/QhcDGy
How/Why a big online social thinker looks at improving his website: Home page/site makeover fr @jaybaer Good read convinceandconvert.com/convince-conve…
I’m not sure I believe it, but who am I to argue with Fast Company: The Proven Ideal Length Of Every Tweet, Facebook Post, And Headline Online zite.to/1oGA0si
Art & Artists
From the Duh files: Research Reveals Artists’ Brains May Be Structured Differently buff.ly/1f47nfb via @hyperallergic #artists
Cool graphic image/product: Make e̶x̶c̶u̶s̶e̶s̶ things. seanwes.com/2013/make-thin…via @seanwes <Love it! Thx @originalimpulse for sharing
Etsy moves into the wholesaling business: Anyone using Etsy for wholesaling? NYT video: nytimes.com/video/business…
I’m reading it now, care to join me?: New novel about sexism (no, really?) in the art worldnytimes.com/2014/03/30/boo…
She takes a stand and this post went viral: The broader economic implications of donating your artshar.es/TaRO8 via @KateVrijmoet
The answer is complicated: Dealing direct: do artists really need galleries? – The Art Newspaper buff.ly/1i1yjR7
I tweeted this cool slideshow that reminds us that making art is work:
Article outlines how major collectors save thousands in taxes (and deprive their local economies of those taxes) by shipping art somewhere else first: Buyers Find Tax Break on Art: Let It Hang Awhile in Oregon – NYTimes.com <fascinating! zite.to/P0WDXV
Inspiration
From the brilliant ideas file, she uses a timer to set a limit on feeling sorry for herself: @manimanimani I love the idea to set a timer for wallowing!
A quote from Bronle Crosby: “Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw
2 thoughts on “Tweekly for April 19, 2014”
Alison, OKC has been on my mind too. At the time it happened, I was a doctoral student researching far right extremist groups and when everyone was at first blaming Islamic extremists, I knew it was domestic terrorism. In some ways OKC horrifies me more than the World Trade Center disaster, and even the Boston bombings (even though I live close to Boston) because it WAS homegrown. I will never ever forget the significance of April 19, and I’m so glad you found some of the quilts.
the quilts are a beautiful way to create rebirth and hope into something made with your hands. something to keep a person warm, feeling cared for and protected.
so happy you were able to curate a show and now, to actually see the journey the quilts have made on their own out into the world.
i am from rockaway beach and a victim of mother nature’s recent wrath, hurricane sandy. to make some sense out of the post hurricane devastation, i wrote my second children’s book, created 22 illustrations and sold almost all of a limited set of prints at a recent fundraiser. the lovely people who bought the prints as well as the attendees have sent me pictures of where they hung the work, who they gave them to, how they reframed them, inquired about the upcoming release of the boo, – they have become more than fans.
they have become friends.
happiness from a hurricane. my most heartwarming experience as an artist.
so, for me, your end quote is perfect with just one little change: life isn’t about finding yourself. it’s about re-creating yourself.
here’s more. http://hoongyee.com/ghost-dumplings/
hoongyee