Resolutions for 2010

As Angela mentioned the other day, there are just 6 weeks left in the year. I’ve loved my apple project so I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the next resolution. I loved the photographic aspect of the project and I think I’ll continue doing the sky Photos, but I have two other projects in mind that don’t really involve photography, although… I bet I could work it in. Yes, for documentation purposes, and for the shear joy of it, I’ll document things in photographs.

So, this year’s resolutions are to make 365 “visual” sketches, AND to make 52 “audio” sketches. The visual sketches will be very easy for me. I’m keeping the parameters loose so that there is no room for failure. I don’t have to do one a day, I just need to make sure I’ve done 365 by the end of 2010. I can make any sort of gesture and call it a sketch. it doesn’t have to be on paper, it doesn’t have to involve traditional drawing materials, it just has to be “visual.” I’ve been doing some tests, just to make sure this whole idea will work, and I feel very confident I can do this.

The audio sketches are going to be a challenge. I’m going to make sure I make it easy on myself, but I do want to make some multitrack recordings so that’s why I’ve decided to stick with 52 instead of 365. I did a little test yesterday with my Glockenspiel and tambourine. It was really fun but I have bad rhythm so it took several takes and it’s still pretty sloppy. But it’s a sketch right? I would like them to be interesting enough to feel proud to share them, but the first priority to is make them. I’ll share them anyway but don’t expect too much. They don’t have to me made by musical instruments, I can record environmental sounds. I don’t need to do one a week, I just need to have 52 done by the end of 2010. I’m hoping at the end of the year I have a library of little snippets of textural sounds, short little sounds, fragments of songs, vocal play, and chunks of repetitive musical arrangements. “Arrangements” is probably a strong word here. I’d like them to be 30 seconds long but I think I’ll be lenient on that rule.

I have to give credit where credit is due. My friend Earl sent me a smarmy email regarding my apple project and said he was thinking of playing a single power chord every day for a year. He was just poking fun at me but his idea stuck in my head. I thought, “why can’t I make audio sketches?” And so I will. Thanks Earl, I totally ripped off your idea.

My heart aches over the fact that Tom and I don’t make much music together. I know exactly why that is. I lack confidence, I feel awkward when I try to play around him. I used to play bass, I was never Bootsy Collins, but I was confident there for a while, I’d like that feeling back. I think spending a few minutes every day, making some sort of noise is going to help me. I’m hoping it drives and inspires me to spend more time in Tom’s studio. I’m hoping by the end of the year I can feel like I could write a song.

I’m getting serious about these daily projects. They’ve gotten under my skin. I love them.

So Santa, here are a few things you can get me this year. I’ve been very good. Some will help me with my resolutions, some will help me… um… bake fresh cherry pies which will give me energy to continue with my projects.

• Portable Midi Interface
• Charles Burchfield book
• Dremel 1550 T2 Versa Tip Multipurpose Tool Kit
• More Art 21 DVDs
• Some sort of final solution office/sewing chair with no arms.
• Fine Glitter in lots of colors
• Cherry Chomper