Clarity?

I was reading something and the author complained about "obscuration". I had a sense of what that might mean, but to be sure I looked it up. I looked on the internet since that was where I was, but I could not find a definition. I Googled the word and found some pages that claimed to contain the word, but I couldn't find it in the pages or what it might mean. I finally got out the big dictionary and found it and that it means "the act of obscuring or the quality or state of being obscure." So, in this case, the word seems to mean the thing that it does. Which made me wonder, why use such a word? It reminds me of when a person will use the word "utilize." It means use, so why not use the word use? I have a feeling that we use big words to make ourselves appear smarter or more powerful or to compensate for the fact that we don't feel that way. Or maybe we want to appear mysterious so we settle for being misunderstood.

Today in Malibu

Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore 3rd Annual Art Exhibit is happening today, October 23, 2005.

It takes place at the Malibu Nature Preserve, located at 33905 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265. Hours are from noon to 5pm.

The Future Art Collectors of Los Angeles

Today I was at LACMA to pick up some of my paintings from the gallery. The paintings were rolled out to the van on a cart and as I was lifting one from the cart to slide into the van I heard a child's voice call out, "I want that one!" I looked up to see about a kazillion school kids all lined up on the walkway above looking down at us and waving and pointing while they waited in line for their tour to start.

They all started calling out with rising enthusiasm and they began making offers in exchange for artwork. They offered schoolbooks, games, and toys. One offered his hair and another offered her little brother. I kept loading artwork into the van, slowly, since I was enjoying the positive feedback, and the children started pulling money out of their pockets and waving it in the air, still trying to strike a deal.

In time I had the van loaded and the children had to go since their tour was starting....it was a lot of fun while it lasted.

Hurricane Relief at Zazzle

In response to the devastating aftermath of the recent Gulf Coast Hurricanes, Zazzle is launching a new gallery to help raise awareness and funds for those in need. By combing the donation of the artist's royalty and an additional 10% of product sales from this gallery, a total of 20% of sale proceeds will be going to designated non-profits actively engaged in the relief efforts.

Here is a link : Hurricane relief at Zazzle

Art of Human Spirit

I saw the "Art of Human Spirit" Exhibition at LA Artcore Brewery Annex. Artists included Mark Griffin, Aaron Landman, Tony Mosca, Seihu Nishijima, John Outterbridge, Kenji Shiiokava, and Matthew Thomas.

I especially enjoyed Aaron Landman's work. His previous drawings have provided the sensation of going into and moving outward simultaneously, in a bit of an Op Art way. He has carried this theme forward (literally sometimes) by adding some dimension to the work in some very tricky ways. They are playful and adventurous and intriguing.

Fires

While firefighters were getting the fires in Topanga and Thousand Oaks under control a little fire blazed up in northern Burbank. John Van Vliet got these pictures of the super scooper in action over the crest of the Verdugo Hills.