Well friends, I have survived a week and one day of work here in Logan, Utah. I am pleased to report that I am doing MUCH better than I was last week. Not all that much has changed, but I feel more comfortable in my surroundings and position at UFOC. Also, I am looking ahead to and feeling good about eventually working on shows other than
Showboat. It's getting a little dull . . . but hopefully we'll finish the portals by the beginning of next week.
I chatted with my TD a little bit today and I feel more comfortable after learning that instead of eight shows, we are only doing four major ones. The other four are more like concerts than theatrical events. I don't know what that means really (I guess they're like, musical reviews?) but the bottom line is that we don't have to paint them, or at least, the painting will be minimal. He also told me that there is a grad student from Brandeis University coming to paint. ::WOW:: For anyone who doesn't know about Brandeis, they have this professor nick-named The Human Printer because he starts backdrops in the top left-hand corner and finishes bottom-right and signs his name. Or so I've heard. Anyway, he's one of the top scenic painters in the nation. And, so, I look forward to being a student to his student.
So. Logan's pretty wet and not too hot and I'm okay with it weather-wise so far . . . and there are even trees. Real ones . . . not like the weird ones that inhabit Provo. I won't be singing this same tune when I'm in southern Utah in August where I'm sure it'll reach 110 every day and the only trees around will be cacti. Blech. The scene shop at Tuacahn better have RELIABLE air conditioning or I'm quitting. I should make them put that in my contract.
I don't really have a social life since I never see my roommates. One moved out on Saturday and the other will be out this week. Then I will have absolute solitude. A four-bedroom apartment all to myself. I'm mostly here by myself already and it's nice . . . sort of . . . but ultimately pretty lonely. Two of us painters have been working in this building they have set up off-site for painting (and I mean that in the loosest of terms) so I haven't worked in the scene shop or gotten to know anyone else except for this one other painter.
Let's just say I am looking forward to the rest of the crew getting here in a week or so and also looking forward to getting back to the scene shop to work on the larger less-mobile pieces of scenery. I do better when working either solo or in groups of four or five or more. Working solo is good because I set my own pace, don't have to participate in any conversation, and I can choose my own music. Large groups are good because you can get lots done, the music is generally eclectic and good, and there are lots of people around to interact with. Or, you can just do your own thing and be by yourself but still in the group. Small groups or pairs are the worst. You only have like, one person to talk to and often one or all feel obligated to continue conversation when there is nothing interesting being said.
So things are kind of slow. Right now is a really good time to email me because I will write you back promptly and extensively. Part of the reason this post is so freaking long is because I had lots of time to write it and go off on tangents. Oh, and I signed up for an independent study course online . . . 19th Century Art. Should be really rad. I know, I know . . . it sounds boring . . . but I'm really excited about it. The 1800s were a gigantic turning point for the arts with the invention of photography and other technologies that made painting portable and more available. Not to mention changes in the art of theatre . . . but I don't think the class will be address much in the performative arts. Anyway, the textbook is coming in the mail this week and as soon as it gets here, I'm totally digging in.
But, until I begin my class, I have actually been passing my time by reading a novel. Yeah, you heard me. Reading! Fiction! For pleasure! It's pretty great. I read during lunch breaks and it's nice to have something to do other than just sit, eat a sandwhich, and not work. I have several other books (most of the others are nonfiction and one is, predictably, a bio) I'm also hoping to get to this summer as well. So far, my pace and consistancy in finding reading time are good.
And, I added a couple pictures of life so far to my flickr account . . . which, by the way, is now PRO. Wheee! All the Ashland pictures are viewable again.
