Gladys Yurchak's Famous Philly Barn Dance

As part of a new way to waste time, I've decided to produce a YouTube video series. In this series, I will casually explore characters as a way to prepare for more formal videos and performances. These characters primarily derive from art world figures and are mixed through the filters of my ... one could say... twisted imagination.

The series is called Gladys Yurchak's Famous Philly Barn Dance and features such characters as Bartlett Pearson (host of "Contemporary Notions of Glory, Passion & Meaning: Inside the Artist's Studio with Bartlett Pearson"), Gloria Perez (well-known curator for the prestigious Galleries at Tawaskawigwam County Community College) and various other made-up artists, collectors and critics. In a sketch-style format, these characters will interact in various situations including interviews, foibles and misadventures, all hosted by Gladys Yurchak (me.)

You see, I got this new camera -- a tiny digital camcorder that allows me to cheaply (and quickly) produce decent video for the web. Since I want to make videos all the time (and not just when one of the HDV cameras is available from the cage at Moore) but I don't have $5,000 laying around for a decent camera, I thought this cheapie deal would be perfect. This way, I can make video whenever, wherever, and use almost any computer (even the Toxic Avenger, my tempermental HP monster) to edit and upload. Plus, it runs on regular AA batteries and fits in my pocket like a cell phone. Sure, it's not a SteadyCam, but when you're producing for the web, who needs that insane level of quality?

CRITS!

Life right now: Hectic
Why: Finals

Lately, I've been spending all of my time running around finishing up last minute tasks for final exams and crits. Last week, I finished up three of my crits/finals, and after today, I'll be done my last two exams, which leaves my departmental crit on Thursday. I'm panicking, frankly, but I'm assured that it's all going to be ok like it always is. We'll see.

Last First Friday of Aught-Eight

After a long afternoon of gallery-hopping and right before a long evening of the same, sometimes it's nice just to sit in Sarah Mooney's apartment and talk to her cat, Simone, while she's in the shower. Or, at least, it is this time.

First Friday, so far, for me has been some very quiet visits to the Bridgette Meyer and Locks Galleries, then a pretty hysterical pop-in to the Society Hill Synogogue for the opening of "Cypher," an exhibition of drawings by the Moore Fine Art Seniors. Angel and I got a good laugh and ate a few too many blackberries, then I headed out to Vox, but I guess they weren't ready yet. Being in the neighborhood, I hopped in to see Sarah, and now we're waiting to go to Olde City.

Later tonight, I'll be off to Drexel for the Drexel Football Team's Bathtub Party Day Comedy Improv Show. It's the last one of the term, so it should be a good time. And, it's free, so ... yeah.

Simone was just washing herself.