I intend to use this website to tell the story of my journey home and to find a forum for staying in touch with those of you who live on either coast. Having been away for eight years, I hope to share impressions, observations and theories about the Midwest. Most of you keep asking me what it is like here, hopefully this will provide some insight to the question.


Midwest Existentialism

-life is a series of choices, creating stress
-the stress of the world can temporarily be relieved by ingesting large quantities of fat while watching crap on tv
-few decisions are without any negative consequences so why not have sports stadiums that look like trainwrecks replace churches and temples as the dominant architecture of the city
-some things are irrational or absurd, without explanation like chili with spaghetti, greasy ice cream, Woody Allen and Soon Yi (we have a local version)
-when in doubt put your work boots on and go to work


"Notes from the Midwest Underground" is a commentary on life as this leftist single gal tries to cope living a midst a Bushwacked jockocracy. I will encourage friends and acquaintances to participate from time to time with any and all contributions. . . literary, artistic or humorous. I must caution you. I will not be excepting any bad art or mediocre photos (i.e. no nudes squatting in the creek) unless they are parodies of course.* Those of you in San Francisco, I will explain this later. I hope to get the message board up soon so everyone can participate.

In keeping with my desperate craving for cultural stimulation, I will share with you the most inspiring work out there in film, design and music.

I love the abstract architecture of Zahad Hadid. Her work for the Contemporary Art Center is a rare gift to Cincinnati but it was built in a dying urban wasteland, void of activity and a future. Did you know "Cincinnati" is the third most mispelled city in the US? It is becoming another Detroit, a segregated environment where the affluent live out in the burbs and the poor try to survive in the decrepate urban landscape.

I was lucky enough to hear Hadid speak at a design conference in San Francisco. She had such a sacred powerful presence. There were thousands of designers, tongues wagging in awe of her work and presentation. She spoke at a frightening pace, the audience could barely take it all in. I was exhaused afterward. I had the same experience when I heard Julie Taymor speak. Though her demeanor more gentle, her ideas were just as awe inspiring. She spoke of her battle with Disney, trying to maintain artistic integrity while dealing with a megacorporation.

A few months ago, I lost my dear friend Guy Hudson,what an infectious personality. He would think nothing of slugging down a Friday lunch of Guinness and lemonade, then trot on over to his favorite pub, Tosca's, for a stint of Irish coffee and a smoke, before heading out for a swingin' night on the town. He would greet me at the studio every morning, "hello luv." The light of the world is a little dimmer without him.