This Side of a Miracle

Emilia Ortega — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:09:10 +0000

Big skies at Briones today. More photos on the Flickr.

Diversion

Emilia Ortega — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:19:40 +0000

Keeping old yogurt cups out of the waste stream.

Thin Dime Blues

Emilia Ortega — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:06:48 +0000

I’m in a long-standing winter lull. I’ve had virtually no work this month, so I’m super broke and I have tons of free time during the day. Class starts Wednesday, so I expect that will help a little, but in the meantime I’ve just been cooped up alone in the house for too many hours. It’s hard to find people who aren’t working during business hours, but the harder part is having a conversation that goes something like “Hey, do you want to hang out? I can do anything that costs zero dollars.” It’s tricky to get past the psychological pitfalls of being out of funds, but I recognize that that is where most of my problem is coming from. Working it out.

New Leaves

Emilia Ortega — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:18:11 +0000

New Leaves, a photo by Her Ladyship on Flickr.

My baby maple tree didn’t make it, so I have adopted this fig volunteer. Outlook is promising.

Tamalpais

Emilia Ortega — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:39:56 +0000

The January weather has been exceptional, even for California. Travis and I decided to take advantage of it and hiked part of the Matt Davis trail last Sunday. It was the first time I’d ever hiked in Mt. Tam State Park. The views are spectacular, of course, but so is the flora. Redwoods, oak and manzanitas in full bloom. There are scores of trails there, I look forward to exploring a few more and not getting murdered.

We Live In The Future

Emilia Ortega — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:46:01 +0000

It’s been a great year. Especially the last six months when I figured out a lot of new things, or maybe old stuff that I forgot. I wrapped up my Saturn return, which I didn’t actually acknowledge until I realized I’d come out on the other side of it. I was driving over the San Rafael Bridge, on my way to Otis Stone’s first birthday party, and I noticed that my shoulders felt a lot lighter. For the past year or two, I felt a growing number of doubts and self-criticism clipping onto my brainwaves. It happened so gradually that it felt normal. And I guess it was. But this is better.

Confidence restored, self-assured and feeling the good vibe – thus we begin the new year.

Best Projects of 2011

Emilia Ortega — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:16:17 +0000

Collage

Schwank at OODE XV

Sewing

Custom Order

Drawings

At Home

Then there was the final release of my old podcast, the artist group I started and the cameo chokers I’ve been making.

I promise to get better at taking photos of the things I make in 2012. Meaning I’ll be more consistent about taking them and I’ll try to compose better images. Happy new year, everybody.

Best Photos of 2011

Emilia Ortega — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:43:51 +0000

Sundown on Grant’s 10th birthday

Cherry blossoms popped surprisingly early in 2011

Early spring, while in a client’s yard, I got a little too focused on the old rose I was trimming and forgot to pay attention to the raggedy old retaining wall I was standing on top of. This massive bruise on my left thigh was the result. One year and many applications of arnica tincture later, you can still see the outline of this bruise on my leg.

In February I flew to Minneapolis with Andy, where we were hosted by Rachel and Fleak. This was taken in the skyway on February 13th, just before or just after I ate an unreasonably large chocolate fudge brownie ice cream sundae.

These were taken on a wet morning in Tilden Park

Flower stand at Monterey Market

Cleveland Avenue, Albany CA

On CA Hwy 1 in Davenport on the way to Santa Cruz

Amazing times in Big Sur for Ambient Madness

Leofest 2011 at Camp Creek

From the Arts and Crafts collection at the Oakland Art Museum of California

In the parking lot of In N Out in Petaluma on the way to FNF Campout

Taken at the end of a salmon fishing trip for Kim’s birthday

Plunge 2012 in Willits, CA

My favorite sign from Occupy Oakland thus far.

Taken in SF the weekend Randy was visiting

On the way out of Colorado I went through airport security alongside a women’s college volleyball team. True story.

At the Space Pharm on Thanksgiving

December 16th, 2011

This is who we are, these are our numbers.

Emilia Ortega — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 04:37:41 +0000

I feel strongly that it’s up to each individual to make their own decision about whether or not to participate in the strike. There are numerous factors to consider. Personally, I have more than a little trepidation about missing a day of work for financial reasons. However, I also feel that not taking part in the demonstration on November 2nd will undoubtedly be spun as a tacit endorsement of the status quo.

If you have to go to work, that’s totally understandable. Come out afterward. Be a body in the street and be counted. We’re doing this for you. We’re doing this for us.

Symbolism can be extraordinarily powerful.

“A human rights salute.”

Emilia Ortega — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:57:52 +0000

How on earth have I not heard the story of Tommie Smith and John Carlos before?

Holy shit, YES.

Yes.

In case there are others out there who don’t know the score, this a photo from the 1968 Olympics and these guys did this during the Star-Spangled Banner. In this post nine-eleven world when we still have to hear God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch of each and every nationally broadcast baseball game, I am deeply moved by this story. I hesitate to use the word “revolution” to describe the social unrest our country is experiencing right now, I think of it more as a rebellion. It’s Peter Finch, mad as hell. If I saw modern-day athletes do something as ballsy as this, I would weep.