I think I've found what I am looking for...
This has been the crappiest and least consequential week of blogging ever since I began this self-arrgandizing endeavor last spring, for that, I send my apologies with fresh from the oven chocolate chip cookies. It's been an odd sort of week and my sister has been in town, or more precisely, sharing my cell of a dorm room for the last 5 days. I like having her here, it's just that it's hard to sit down and formulate thoughts with an audience always present, maybe I am just self-conscious of how much time this blog sucks up and I don't like other people to see first hand how I spend every waking moment.
Tonight has put me in better spirits compared to the busy montony that ushered in the new week and the new year for that matter. My video class is picking up - the last few days have consisted of more talking about our collaborative class installation about Middlebury in January - but also Buky showing us slides and introducing us to his work. He is a phenomenonal thinker - I couldn't dream up what he's been able to envision. Basically he does a lot of installation work where from one specific perspective (or on a stationary video monitor) where you can make out a cube drawn in perspective but it's just a clever illusion and really just mirror tricks, painted surfaces, and beams. It's hard to explain, google Buky Schwartz and you'll be able to see what I am talking about.
After an afternoon lecture about his work, I was invited to join Buky, his wife, and assorted other faculty and important persons for dinner at the Donnadio's house. Again, default pet of the film department without being a major and the only student at a fancy filmish dinner. But it was a very special night where 20 people each introduced themselves, expounded their personal history, discussed their connection to Israel (if such a connection exists). Although he and his wife are not keen on the temperature or the snow, Buky said that this invitation to leave Israel right now couldn't have come at a better time. He thanked Middlebury for saving him.
Later I found myself talking about Friedman's "The Lexus and the Olive Tree" and new media with a Jewish Studies scholar (and Dean of the Faculty) and then later correctly identifying Boy George as the singer of "The Crying Game," winning me points in an overheard conversation between the provost of the college and some lady from the development office with a loud shrilly laugh. Again, I don't know why I fall into these invitations, but I like being part of this dinner circle of academics, professors, art dealers, and film people feeling somehow that I've found comfort and I know what I want to do and where I want to be. It's a special kind of life - academic things, circles of endeared colleagues geographically diverse, but sometimes gathered for big, boisterous, interesting dinners. I guess this is what I'll miss most - but it's reassuring to know that this kind of evening is awaiting me in all sorts of future incarnations. I am extremely fortunate that these people keep pulling me under their wing. It put me in a good place. Perhaps this is just another example of fortituious fate - for what other reason would so many pillars of video art / avant garde film come to Middlebury when I was serving my sentence here? Sometimes, it feels too good to be true - but maybe that means that it is just
right. I am especially glad that I get to conclude on this note, not just because it's good to get some studio experience and it's nice to "make" something that expresses how I think about this place that has been important to me, but because it gives me a vivid picture of what I am all about. In other words, it is relevant to my future and it's the best way to precede forthcoming activity.
Then I scooted off to debate, argued that Britian should return the Elgin marbles to Greece in a round that deteriorated prompty because it's jterm and things tend to crumble rather easily during this chilly and messy month, just the same it's a good case and I like it. Although I've been dragging my heels, I've decided to submit a graduation speech to the Feb committee, and I feel up to completing my draft tonight.
Despite the fact that I've been such a lazy blogger...I am otherwise pretty content with the status of things at the present moment. Jack is passing through Middlebury tomorrow and I've missed him lately, so this is yet another good thing.
posted by lmjasinski at 10:10 PM
