The Art of the Art

Just in case you might have missed Arte Americas with so much going on in the city these last few days, I’ll just say, it was a great art fair. Always smaller in size and hype as compared to the Basel-madness that happens each December, this fair also tries to remain within the main theme of Latin American Art (define Latin) but don’t be fooled mixed in with the international galleries are also works from non-Latins, Caribbean artists and such,….art is art – sculptures: extra large and small, recycled plastics, suitcases, or iron, oil paintings traditional or not, mixed-media, video, photography- it’s all good. And where better to be on an over cast Sunday when you’re all danced and partied out, than to go experience an art fair.

I was fortunate enough to have been invited by a friend who’s a sculptor and is showing at the fair. And was kind enough to meet me at the entrance with the all so important, all access Exhibitor’s Badge, I’ve been around - that’s how I like to roll ; )

*We interrupt this blog

To bring you this important information

Portions of the following may or may not be factual 

These portions will be in italics”

ONCE upon a time, there was a girl who ran an art fair…

Since art fairs had become the only way to move and sell art they were very important in the lives of the rich and famous and not so famous so basically everyone loves art fairs. The golden ticket, your pass to get anywhere you wanna go at a fair, is being in possession of one of the two following IDs: the Exhibitor’s or Staff badge. The first represents the pretty much a green light to access all areas of the fair, VIP to VIP areas of VIP gatherings which pretty much means “You’re THE V-I-P” everything that is happening is because as the exhibitor you are the shit….

(Insert a foreign accent here, pick a country, any language will do and say the following with attitude, “Do you know me? I am De Rock Star of De Art World, Dr. Sodaw, SO-dah-yah? You Americans…, you must help me find the most impossible film to ever be not found for my booth by the time the fair opens, yah, like now, yah?”

She kindly replies with a smile and zero accent, “Dr. So-Duh? Yes?” “It would be my pleasure… which of the impossibly of the impossible films ever to be not found themes would you prefer? Oh my, its just that there are so many themes surrounding the impossible-ness of the impossibility at these films basic core theme of really “not being found” it just gets you to thinking, like so deep, mmmm, like that’s how I felt when I saw (insert artist or mention piece from booth that the gallery is representing) don’t you agree?  There are just so many impossible films ever to be not found to choose from, right?

Then it happens, it’s all in the eyes but you must look closely or you might miss it, the ever so slight widening in wonder and amusement or the squinting with twisted wickedness as these thoughts go through their mnd- “I’m aware of you now…and yes seems as if there is a little distain here, no, no, it’s not that it’s not you because it is you, however, it’s your show so we will act appropriately charming for right now because I will be needing assistance with the most of the impossible of impossible requests that just must be resolved for me for the next 9 days, and well who else will pay attention to me?…..So he replies, "Ahhh, yes, yes, yes and you are?…I am Dr. So-DUH, pleasure to meet you Ms. STAFF BADGE, merci, si, yes, muah, muah, muah, yah?”

Viewing art, for me, is an opportunity to enter into the world of those who posses creative talents so far beyond the average some times it’s shear madness and yet they, the artists, are not afraid of putting it out there.


 “Shit on the world- it’s because I felt like you knowing my work, I give it to the world, I can not help it, and it is a curse and a blessing sigh”

This freedom is a talent in itself, if you ask me, it stems from a mindset that is open, with a perspective that is different, whimsical. Where you and I see a blank paper and screening material the artist marries the two and magically the screen comes to life. Have you ever seen a field of poppy flowers? Now imagine a red wall covered in many paintings of individual poppy flowers somehow re-creating an imaginary poppy field – I saw it.  Or imagine a crinkled up sheet of paper, no big deal except this one is framed and is not a crinkled piece of paper at all it’s a canvas painted to look like a crinkled piece of paper- cool use of shadowing, right? When I went to see Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel at the Vatican Museum I was blown away by 1. How small the space actually is 2. The drapes that cover the walls are not drapes at all but are painted on go figure I like the proximity to the work, when you get to see the show go up and all the behind the curtain action it's awesome.

At the show I ran into another artist friend who was exhibiting with 3 separate galleries (now that’s multi-tasking). What a privilege to be to be taken on a tour of the fair and having the works explained to you first hand by an artists perspective. What he was able to  describe about his own work were the emotions and story behind the drawings to such detail... that was pretty, pretty cool so many thanks Sergio!

Can you feel the beat?

It’s that time of year again in Miami, gorgeous weather I mean really, really gorgeous weather specially designed to compliment the beats in the air and people everywhere, from everywhere, all here for the love of music at The Winter Music Conference (WMC). The conference's epi-center may be The Eden Roc Hotel on Miami Beach but the ripples of sound pumping from monsters size speakers can be felt throughout,even out in Kendall.

The conference, which started 25 years ago, is one of the largest gatherings of its kind anywhere it attracts music enthusiasts, artists, record execs and journalists from all over the world for 5 days of total debauchery um, I mean music. This year’s program guide is a 170+ page book which list the official parties, venues and DJs spinning from morning until late dawn and then it starts all over again morning till the next dawn like a giant loop of your favorite beat plus a sampling of all kinds of electronic music thrown in to keep you moving and yes, the parties are that good.

Don’t feel bad if you are not involved or have no idea about what’s going on there is literarily something happening everywhere this week. Although, I did feel bad for the grey-haired couple looking very shell shocked  sitting poolside at The Eden Roc Wednesday afternoon. They had a look on their faces as if you knew they wanted to kill their travel agent once the returned home but music is the art form for everyone it has no age limit so then again I could be wrong. To be "in" all that is needed is a WMC badge and the messenger bag everyone totes, however in this case, my friend had his badge and I just carried the bag with the attitude that I belonged ; )

“Music is spiritual”

From chanting to tribal to techno to from glow sticks to sufi spinning throughout the ages music/dance has bonded and raise the vibrations of those who part take. Its many forms can be heard in churches, at school, in monasteries, in the shower, in the car, at home, and more and more on the internet world wide and what’s happening now in the MIA, whether it’s your style/taste or not, crazy or exciting or whatever your perspective might be think about this, have you ever seen anyone be angry while they danced/sang?

Walking around the Ultra grounds with my DJ friend to check in at the venue the other day was exciting. I love getting the chance to view the pre-production phase of events; when you get to see the vision unfold and knowing about all the months of planning, coordination and hard work that has to have gone into it to getting it done- done right and better than the year before- its sooo amazing to me. Add to that the sensation of knowing that in just a few days time there would be thousands of people who would be filling up this open space for two days all having an amazing time and all in the name of music.

Come on feel the beat, pump those fists “Jersey Shore style” and SMILE!

May I have some more, please?

Saturday night I was fortunate enough to help serve Kava at The 8^th Annual Women and Culture Festival, I say fortunate because if you have ever had Kava you understand how special a drink it is. I had never been to this festival so I didn’t have a clue as to what to expect. Hidden in the middle of the colorful yet treacherous Miami neighborhood known as Little Haiti was the most amazing space which was the venue for the 3-day festival which brought together artists like JSG Boggs, Margaret Accurso, Diane Patisse, Chia O and Eva Ruiz who’s bright and thought inspiring works were displayed throughout the gallery, various kinds of musicians and music, DJs, vendors and really just some of the coolest people I’ve met in Miami in a looong time.

Yes, there are cool people all over this city however; this level of cool is special especially for a city known for its shallowness.….it just so happens that at this Saturday night affair people were conversing, yes, people were actually TALKING to each other, not just posing and people watching, what a concept! I was told that it was all because of the Moksha Family (www.mokshafamily.org) so, how does one go about to get adopted?!!!

So much talent, spirit and coolness…here’s just a sampling of a few of the people I met:

Do you know the Mufyn girl? No? Well you should and you should also know all about all of her incredible creations and designs. It starts with her dreads and just gets better from there. Definitely do not miss the multitude of original designs she so cleverly creates, you can check out her many handcrafts (www.ragamufyn.com and www.ragamufyn.blogspot.com).

Feel the need to get in touch with your higher self and refresh your soul? Then you’ll want to join the soft-spoken and enlightened Qigong master, Linda Dillon, on the rejuvenation retreat she is hosting in the rainforests of Costa Rica (www.costarica.counciloflove.com). The good doctor also recommends her anxiety-suffering clients to drink Kava; um may I get that prescription so my insurance will cover my Kavas?

And just like Marky Mark used to sing feel the vibrations with a didjeridoo! Joda (www.jodasound.com) played his continuously for so long. Can you just imagine having to blow for a long period of time but oh what a sound and guess what he’s not just a talented musician but also a healer. I am so looking forward to experience this form of vibrational healing and chakra balancing and so grateful for the time we shared discussing healings, vibrations and the power of the universe as we sat in the magic bus- good, good times and certainly not your typical Miami Saturday night, thank you Avi and Holland!

Dreaming of a cheeseburger

Juice and only juice, four times a day for seven straight days, what have I gotten myself into? I’ve taken on this wonderful offer to participate in a detox program by one of the show’s guests who was so gracious and motivating I took her up on the offer. Me - The Skittles, pizza and Gimlet girl can you imagine the challenge? As part of my quest to change my life the timing couldn’t have been symbolically better the last week of my 44^th year in this lifetime.

I’ve never attempted to do anything like this before but what drew me in was the woman behind the program I liked her words, how knowledgeable she came across on the radio and the positive vibe I perceived and I wasn’t wrong. When we met in person the first day of the program I was so impressed with her. Super positive and true desire to help others improve their lives and the love that just flows from her so effortlessly. She is a special soul with an awesome rockin’ body, did I mention she has 4 children? Every morning the group meets for a session of movement, motivation and to drink the first juice of the day together. I must say these meetings are key to staying on track.

“Don’t always believe what you think”

This group is composed of only women so there are lots of sharing and Goddess work going on. Every day we are given tons of useful information and there is also an inspiring email she sends later in the day. This all must work because I have yet to feel hungry, seriously, and I’ve even been watching the Food Network.  Although thoughts of my favorite meals have come to mind. Today we received a poem believed to have come from a student of Wayne Dyer that I must share does an empty stomach leave room for your mind to expand?

“Take Responsibly”

Chapter 1

I am on a road

There is a deep hole

I fall in

I am lost desperate

It is not my fault

It takes an eternity to find a way out

Chapter 2

I am on the same road

There is a deep hole

I pretend not to see it

I fall in again

I cannot believe I am in the same situation

But it is not my fault

It takes a long time to find a way out

Chapter 3

I am on the same road

There is deep hole

I see that it is there

I fall in again

My eyes are open

I know where I am

It is my fault

I come out immediately

Chapter 4

I am on the same road

There is a deep hole

I walk around it

Chapter 5

I walk on another road.

It was SO bound to happen

Not four hours into being on the air and I dropped an F-bomb! Woo hoo! I was actually set up into saying it but I will take the responsibility for doing it. The set up came in being asked to spell out the name of certain local bar the name starts with an “f-u-c” but is pronounced very differently. Yeah, so it was a 6^th grade joke I fell for, and?

What’s the point of being on the internet if you can’t drop the F-bomb? That’s like running an episode of Sesame Street on cable TV… oh that’s why they call him Big Bird hmm, I never knew!

Maybe it’s the New Yawker in me that finds that F-word to be one of the greatest adjectives e-vah. It just offers so much oomph whenever used. I actually own a t-shirt that says: “F you, you F-in’ F”. The shirt was brought back from NYC for me by the way. You might be asking yourself why not just write the word now why am I being such a hypocrite? Just type it what’s stopping you, right? Truth be known I don’t’ feel like it, the point has been made. There’s no need for gratuitous F-bombing on the blog so there!

I checked in with The Big Guy today, no, not Gawd, but close enough, I was curious to hear what he thought of my work so far, it’s the corporate upbringing in me that made me curious. (Note to self: fuddgetaboutit that world) The good news is “As long as you don’t puke all over the board or something thing like that will be fine” so, not much was expected of me. However, he did mention that I had exceeded expectations - there’s a compliment in there somewhere, right? Regardless I drank the juice and believe in what they have been creating for all these months plus I’m having a really great time NOW THAT”S A BONUS!

The true highlight of the day came when a fellow frequenter at my favorite Kava bar came up to tell me how much he had loved the show, “it was awesome and so funny you should be on regular radio” From his mouth to God’s ears….BULA!

Day One

The big first day arrives, I wish I could say that confidence was the general sensation but I must admit I was nervous. The situation had presented itself to me and he didn’t have a Joisey accent. He was a Red Sox fan, lived in BFE, sort of, and the big questions on my mind were “I wonder if we’ll have chemistry on air?”, “will I suck?”, “Can I even do this?” Some of the former co-hosts had shared long-standing friendships with The Host, the kind that fit together well and that come through flawlessly on the air. So, I was aware I had some big shoes to fill or at least be compared to. I reached his place super early due to my lead foot and zero traffic. After a short technical tutorial and a basic run down of possible things to talk about we were set. Ten minutes before show time I took a deep breath, grounded my self, I wanted to speak from the heart, with truth and sound some what intelligent, leaving the F-bombs out of my speech pattern for once.

“I asked the universe to speak for me.”

And with a simple click that plays the show open we were off. Nerves were gone, humor took over and two hours of talk radio flew by. It was “a great first show” with lots of encouraging calls and emails. But what made it all so great, really great, was having a co-host who was not only smart but also hilarious I was laughing for most of the show. So this is what the dwarfs meant about whistling while you work except I was laughing and it wasn’t work. This gig is all done on a volunteer basis, no $$$, just the experience to learn something new some people would call it a hobby. This hobby needed certain equipment because you would ask to borrow someone’s jockstrap would you? I wouldn’t. I ran to Best Buy cause “that’s how you do things in radio.” I’m learning….

So with my spanking brand new Sony headphones, the ones with the ¼ jack convertible to 1/8 jack especially designed for studio use, I’m off to the next show, the original show I was involved in. This show’s title is steamy and provocative the Host’s voice oozes sex so naturally she can’t help it and yet some how the talk remains elementary and clinical. “When are we gonna get naughty?” Is it at all possible to stay highbrow yet not come across as boring? Dunno, but if were all up to me, I’m with Jay Z “C’mon, give it to me, gimme that funk, that sweet, that nasty, that gushy stuff!”

Still it’s all good, fun, new experiences and more learning on how to run a board because in radio “anything can happen” so, lets see what tomorrow brings to The Monicles

A New Start

Who would have thought that coming up with a “radio name” would require so much thought.  Well, of course you have to like the name, roll it over in your head several times, say it out loud several times, think as if it’s gonna be with you for a long time….all of the above, plus making you sound cool.

I was embarking on a new path, a new journey, a new realm, for which I had only dreamed of a long time ago to be a part of.  A dream that although my own, was new even to me because lets just say it hadn’t surfaced, yet.

I recently (by chance) became involved in an internet radio program, which was evolving to find it’s own groove and in the in meantime, I was learning about internet radio. Bandwidths, re-joiners and intros, headphones, commercial logs and remembering to speak into a mike….all new stuff and although some what similar to television.

“When one door closes many more are waiting to open, just walk through them”

We are so quick to get caught up in what was and not in what is

this can be easily caused by: force of habit, not being conscience or simply having too much on our minds- a common by product of the creative/creating mode, stress. The what was is the thing that is keeping you from trying something new and discovering something you love to do.

Here is the big question: what do I do that makes me happy? and here’s another: what do I wish to do that will make me happy? 

Moving forward, progress, challenge, novelty, learning are all things/feelings that make me happy. Now the real question is: what can I do to generate those feelings?

Along comes internet radio and a group of seasoned professionals putting their years of knowledge to work for themselves, a concept I like, where the skies the limit – hey, not a bad crowd to be a part of when you’re a clean slate eager to learn the radio biz. Geez and all I have to do is come up with a cool “radio name” - no pressure, right?

So I ask the experts, friends and family for help with a radio name. There was “Moe Moe” my daughter suggested “oh that can sound too much like moo moo, not flattering”. Then there was “Moni with an “I” a Spanish take pronounced, "Mm-OH-knee” because I’m "the hot Colombian chick” sweet but um yeah “I'm from Brooklyn” and then The Host suggested using my middle name as my last name except I don’t have a middle name and so “Monica Blank?” well, ha ha was not gonna work. 

Then The Big Guy said “there’s nothing wrong with your name” and so I listened.

The idea here is to chronical the continuum of my life as the focus moves from TV to radio to my life's true purpose; the developments and lessons learned along the way, the successes, discoveries, adventures and struggles, advice and a place for the creative process these are: THE MONICLES