Schindermania!

Using the Time Well

schinders — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:22:00 +0000

Still mostly stuck at home with my foot up and not really able to sit at my stand and work for any length of time. Sigh. The first week I mostly did web stuff (if you haven’t checked out my re-vamped site, do!) and I’ve been catching up on paper work, but not making is driving me craxy!! I did the sampler for the class, and realized that while I can’t do anything large scale on the sofa, I can do small hoop work, so I’ve begun a little project comparing penises when they’re flaccid vs hard. I’ll share as I go. The first picture is for Facebook flaggers (hateful!).

The Lady’s Got Class

schinders — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:33:33 +0000

Here’s something exciting, I’m going to start teaching classes at Unincorporated Education, in June! It’s a lovely space in Hollywood, light and bright, devoted to really fun and interesting classes (from knitting to dj-ing basics!). I’m going to be teaching a “Crash Course” in embroidery once a month, starting with Sunday June 9th at 3pm – more details to come – and then in the fall I’ll be adding weekly classes!

So, while I’ve been lying here, ankle aching, I’ve made a sampler for the upcoming classes, with the basic stitches I’ll be covering… I’m sure I’ll wind up mentioning or teaching others, but these will be “core curriculum.”

Apples Sometimes Run from the Tree

schinders — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:28:31 +0000

Well it’s mother’s day. Mine is AWOL in Thailand, missed her return flight and who knows what she’s doing. But, it’s mother’s day. So here’s the portrait I did of her, and some photos from when she was young and beautiful. Also a totally wrong photo of her giving me iced coffee as a baby – don’t give the baby coffee!

Happy Mother’s Day, crazy!

Diversity!

schinders — Fri, 10 May 2013 01:28:13 +0000

I love the search terms that bring people to this blog.

If you’re in LA and free this evening, come downtown for art walk and visit me at The Hive. You can point and laugh at me trying to make my way around on crutches. Good fun for all.

It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp

schinders — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:51:02 +0000

Hey, meant to say this on May 1st, but you know, I got caught up moaning about my sprain. C’est la vie!

Here’s an image FB will not be offended by for preview purposes!

I know we did this back in February when it hit the stands (huh??) but I’m in this month’s issue of Hustler! What? Hustler? Yeah that’s right you heard me, Hustler… Oh, I see the confusion, I’m not in Hustler, my art is. I make nudie art, not pose for it (publicly).

And I have to tell you that one of my favorite conversations in my life and that I will treasure all my days was, “Dad, I’m going to be in Hustler!” “Honey, I’m so proud!”

To reiterate, I am in this month’s issue (Vol. 39, Number 12, May 2013) of Hustler.

Yauch

schinders — Sat, 04 May 2013 16:36:42 +0000

A year ago today we lost Adam Yauch. It’s been a very long, full, fast as shit year. I can’t believe it’s been a year.

You may have heard, they dedicated a park to him in Brooklyn. Like most everything to do with his death, it makes me cry. But what gave me joy today is that one of my best and oldest friends – with whom I saw the Boys perform on several tremendous occassions – took his son this morning to check it out.

They left tags and flowers, and though I wasn’t wasn’t with them, I left my heart.

RIP Adam Yauch, you brought much joy and light into our lives.

Sprained but Proud

schinders — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:02:13 +0000

I get a bit busy, and don’t share things I want to, but since I’m home with a sprained ankle, elevating and icing, and pretty unable to do much else, I’m going to try to catch up a bit.

Something I’ve been meaning and wanting to share is my fabulous experience volunteering, teaching embroidery at Aviva House, a home and high school for teen girls who are in the system. I have to say, it’s even better than I hoped it would be! Not only do I get the selfish joy of giving back – and feeling “there but for the grace of God go any of us” when I see the situations these girls are in and from – but I adore my girls!! They are smart and funny and sassy and they seem to adore me, too, although they do tell me I’m a dork (which I do not/can not deny).

There was a brunch last weekend to thank the volunteers and to display some of the works the girls have made in their classes (They have all sorts of classes, photography, comedy and improv, sewing, etc. If you’re in LA and interested in volunteering, contact me, it’s a fantastic program!). I made a bunting of the available embroideries, the ones they haven’t given away… They’re so fabulous and talented!!!

Did I mention I love my girls?

Saturday Morning Vagina

schinders — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:50:49 +0000

I’ve made a little red work vagina for my girl Shari’s upcoming series, Good Medicine – one of the characters will be stitching it!

But wait! That’s a picture of a dog covering its eyes. Yes, yes it is. It’s there so I can post this on FB with an image that won’t get me blocked. So, if you came over here, because you saw a cute dog, you should have read the title of the post! But if you came to see a red work vagina, yay! Here you go!

Happy weekend ever’body!

Live Long and Cross Stitch

schinders — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:51:33 +0000

Another great show this weekend, The Official Bad Robot Art Experience at Gallery1988 (the one west of La Brea), opening Friday night. I was there today dropping off my piece and the stuff I saw was terrific! Lots of Lost, lots of Trek, lots of JJ Abrams madness!

And here’s a sneak peek of my piece, “Live Long and Cross Stitch.” (24″x24″)

I Got Censored (Again), I Must Be Doing Something Right

schinders — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 21:00:55 +0000

I’ve been blocked by Facebook for 24 hours; I can read and see things, but I can’t post or interact until noon today. At some point yesterday, around noon, someone found my art work offensive and flagged it as “inappropriate.” Facebook summarily blocked me and warned that if I post inappropriate content again I could have my profile removed. There is no discussion, no forum, no debate, no review process, just a summary removal and blocking.

“Nom” the piece that was flagged and removed.

There are several things that bother me about this:

Anyone could flag anything for any reason, spite, glee, morality, anarchic tendencies, personal vendetta… and Facebook accepts it with no review.
I see violent images, hate speech, seriously upsetting hurt animal images, bigotry and small mindedness on Facebook all the time, but that’s acceptable.
And (and this is what really upsets me) we, as a culture, are more okay with images of violence than sexuality; that’s very sad.

I have no idea why this person blocked me, but here’s some thoughts for them. If you don’t like my art, don’t look at it. If you’re worried about your children, talk to them openly about subjects that frighten you and monitor their computer use so you can control what they see.

And so, I have removed my erotic works from Facebook. From now on I’ll post stuff here and post a link on FB. Their loss of great content.

It’s amazing that people are so worried what goes on in others’ bedrooms, they even care when it’s stitched. Sigh.

But as my father said when we discussed it yesterday, “if they’re censoring you, you must be doing something right.”