Artful April Recap

While I'm sad to see Artful April come to a close, I'm coming to realize that most of my monthly ambitions continue well beyond the 30 or 31 days. In some ways, the month serves as an intense study that creates a foundation that will hopefully serve me for the foreseeable future, and perhaps even a lifetime. And, in some cases, the month-long focus establishes a habit  I've also really enjoyed asking friends and new acquaintances about their favorite artists - I've learned from my friends and also learned more about them too.

April Recap:

Museums Visited (all new to me except for LACMA)

• Norton Simon
• Laguna Museum of Art
• Oceanside Museum of Art
• Japanese American National Museum
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art
• Frederick Weisman Foundation 

Art Created

• Took photographs of Penny every day for a month
• Made the project social by posting on Facebook
• Project will live on! I have guest photographers lined up for the next several months
• Finally, after years of wanting to, took a pottery wheel class

Online Explorations

• Klimt
• Neoplasticism
• Degas
• Sarah Perry
• Bal du moulin de la Galette
• Victor Hugo Zayas

Takeaway thoughts

• I loved, loved, loved taking photos of Penny. I may take her with me in the future. 
• I am even more intrigued with photography. I would love to continue: to explore, to learn, to create.
• Considering a series of photographs like those of the 60's - something you could see taken backstage with the Beatles, black and white portraits, rock and roll style.... I have images in mind. 
• I have an instant reaction to most art. I either love it immediately or I don't. 

Penny explores LACMA

April Showers

This month I had planned to focus on water conservation by taking shorter showers. But it turns out I already take short showers and I wasn't really willing to give up any more time. So, I had to research new ways to conserve water.

Best new strategy: I started flushing the toilet using a bucket of water from the shower. This is so simple! During my shower, I simply place a bucket in the shower to catch the run-off. Then, the next time I'm flushing the toilet, I pour the bucket of water into the toilet bowl. Done!

I started the month following the instructions of some websites which tell you to flush the toilet, then pour the bucket of water into the back storage basin. Totally unnessary and too many extra steps! Instead, you can pour the bucket (a standard bucket is exactly the right size) directly into the bowl, you don't have to flush the toilet since the gravity of the water initiates the flushing action on its own. Simple!

It's not exactly glamorous, but really easy and quickly became a habit.

Don't forget that being a vegetarian is one the best ways to save water - consumption of meat is an extraordinary waste of water!

Additional resources:

• http://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm
• http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/water-conservation-tips/

2013 Update: I kept up with this for almost a year, then I put the bucket away when guests came over. After the guests left, I forgot to put the bucket back out. What a ridiculously innane way to stop doing something that is easy and so good for the environemnet. And who cares if there is a bucket in the shower - maybe it can start a conversation to help spread the word. So, before writing this update, I placed the bucket back in the shower and I'm ready to start 2013 right!