Wow. So the week begins with me checking my bank account statement. With an Atlanta trip coming up, several DC trips during the last few months, finishing summer projects, and school getting ready to start, i needed to know where i stand. Well, somewhere along the way I miscalculated. With the costs of material's, supplies, publicity for 3 exhibitions this summer and travel expenses, I am left with rent for this month, possibly the rest of my materials to finish up my summer projects (give or take $50), and just shy of $300...with a trip to ATL next week. immediately I just stop everything. Can't move. Can't work. Can't talk.

So I have finally put my ceramics on etsy.com for sale!!! This shop contains some of the work that I produced during my first year of grad school while studying female circumcision/female genital mutilation in Africa.
I became aware and interested in this issue while auditioning for the Vagina Monologues in undergrad. After performing, I decided to investigate further--doing a research project and seminar to teach educators about this issue.

PLEASE VIEW AND PURCHASE THIS WORK! IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THIS OUT AND TO CULTIVATE DISCUSSION!!!!!!

I'm not sure which link works best so I'll include both

suburbansoul.etsy.com and/or http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5653511

More work will be posted soon!!!!!

I ask this question because...well..I am always questioning myself. Is there something wrong with me that I'd rather teach art to a group of kids rather than in a university setting? After all, I AM in a graduate program being trained to do just that. Is there something wrong with me because I would rather pick through fashion magazines rather than "real" art mags? Where does my true passion lie, I ask myself. Art is me. But not in the way that it seems other artists take it. Am I not as passionate as I should be? Why am I bored with it? Am I bored with it? What part? Academia. Being required to read philosophy in order to be taken seriously. Being required to know about eevvveerrrryyyybody in order to be taken seriously. It's exhausting and I am not passionate about that part. I want to change peoples lives. Young lives. So again, is there something wrong with me? Something wrong that I'd rather read beauty reviews and makeup art than works of fine artists? I am jaded. I know that. I feel jaded because I know that the artworld has little to do with talent and much to do with how creative you are in setting yourself up to be seen. I want to inspire children.

So over the past couple of years I have been really struggling with sorting out the order in which I want to pursue my dreams. One: getting married to the love of my life and starting a family. Two: equipping myself with the tools necessary to make sure that dream doesn't turn into a nightmare (more school) and of course Three: being happy-doing what I want: art and service.

Knowing all of that, the logical order is definitely school first. Period. But my emotions seemed to unfailingly get the best of me resulting in arguments and break downs about why *I* have to wait and stand by and watch all of our friends get married and live happily ever after with their significant others and enjoy the pleasures and pains of marriage and parenthood. My partner is very strong, sensitive and rational (lol thank goodness), and will not give in until we both do what we need to do to make it right. Did I mention that we are both in grad school?...and by that I also mean living in different states?....

Lately my scalp has been really dry and flaky and I am really trying to figure out what will work. I want to make my own remedy using essential oils (bc I am really fascinated with them but have never experimented b4) and have no clue where to start. I just purchased some lavender and eucalyptus essential oils but am curious about what to really do with them. Does anyone have any tried and true recipes for hair using essential oils? I am going to purchase more just to have a wider selection but I need a little guidance. Thanks!!!!!!!

I may be late, but WOW! Iman Cosmetics is SOOO under-rated!!! So I've been a M.A.C. girl for all of my college years...but I was never completely satisfied with their foundations, always trying a different one to see if "maybe this one will work better." I mean, afterall, it IS M.A.C.! It's expensive as hell and the hype is insane. I have oily, acne prone skin and I can't just be foolin around with anything! (Even though I'm probably the world's biggest make up junkie) So a few months ago I purchased Iman's book "Iman, the Beauty of Color"...and I was really impressed by her break down of make up and what women of color should be looking for in foundations, color, etc.

So I set out to get me some and couldn't find it ANYWHERE! Luckily, last week while visiting my bf in D.C., I found some in Target! Then Walgreens.
And today, in Lexington, KY I found it in Ulta (a Sephora-like store that I didn't even know existed).

Let me tell you, my face has never looked so beautiful. My oily skin doesn't ruin my makeup and doesn't look super shiney. The colors are PERFECT! The lipglosses are AMAZING!

I had to go all out and act a fool in there bc the prices are so reasonable!

So I just had the most enlightening conversation with my professor. He has basically released me from doing art that does not truly show my personality. If you view my blog (mallorydover.blogspot.com), you will see paintings and sculptures that are very nice...but still are not me. I've been doing a lot of commentary on social and political aspects when it comes to African American women and their hair, Female Genital Mutilation in Africa...and just about imagining having something that you do not actually have. He was just like, you are not an angry person, you don't seem to have any political agendas....but you are the type of person that likes to do things so that people will feel good. And he said that with the "wig" pieces, I seem to be getting a little closer to doing what you ACTUALLY want to do...except, I need to really embrace the hat thing and really start constructing these different identities.
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