A 6th Year Wedding Anniversary Gift: A Political Collage

My gift to Adam for your 6th year anniversary was this 8 by 11 inch collage that I made during one of my collage classes.

Decluttering a former me

I’ve been spending the last two weeks seriously cleaning and organizing my apartment and studio. Major decluttering and Martha Stewart-ing. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from 2009, is that I can be happy with less and more really does complicate things. So I’m trying to simplify and have less clutter around. Throw or give away stuff we don’t use or don’t need so we can cherish the stuff we do love. As each day of this project rolls along I feel lighter and happier despite the crappy cold weather outside so if you’re feeling blue because of winter try throwing out a few moldy mementos of a former you and you might start feeling better too.

What can I say? I’m a sucker for an optimist.

We didn’t plan on watching Obama’s state of union address tonite because we were doing out to eat for my birthday dinner and weren’t sure what time we’d be back. I usually never watch the state of union addresses by any of the past presidents because I don’t care about speeches I care about actions. Don’t say, just do, right? Bush said all sort of crap and did whatever he wanted and see what happened? Disaster!

While we were eating dinner at this mexican restaurant, the tv’s that were usually reserved for sports were turned so we could watch and hear Obama’s speech. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. I watched and listened to the entire speech. I was just enthralled and inspired once again by Obama and his vision for the future. What can I say? I’m a sucker for an optimist.

Reservoir Dogs Film interpreted by a four year old

While rifling through my old documents, I came across this drawing that my younger brother Calvin drew when he was four years old of one of the most violent scenes in one of the most violent movies to come out in the 90s. And Calvin who is 20 years old now is one of coolest, most mellow, and the most non-violent, person I know.

My 31st Birthday!

I like having goals and I usually have them written down or they float around in my head sometimes for days, months, even years. I’m a loud mouth about them so I put pressure on myself to accomplish them. A few of them are unspoken because they are embarrassing if I don’t accomplish them.  I know I should have posted this when I turned 30, but hey better late than never. But here are the things I wanted to accomplish when I was ages 21-24 before I turned 30 and what really happened.

1) Move out of my parent’s house CHECK

I moved right out of my parent’s house into USC housing into off-student housing into Adam’s apartment. I was pretty lucky in that department since I always had nice roommates.

2) Get my Master’s Degree HALF CHECK

Yes, I did get post-graduate degree from Parsons in graphic design, but when I set this goal. I wanted to get a masters degree in visual anthropology. What?!? Yup, visual anthropology. I’m not even sure that field even exists anymore. I even thought about going into public policy. Yikes.

3) Learn art CHECK

Yes, I’ve definitely accomplished this. I started taking art classes at a community art center in St. Petersburg, Florida while Adam and I lived in Florida.

4 ) Find my career path CHECK.

Yes, this went very very very well too.

5) Visit Europe and Asia HALF CHECK

Yes, I was able to go but I went with my parents who footed most of the bill. So that’s why I gave this a half check.

7) Find the right mate CHECK

I went through a few bad relationships in my early twenties and vowed to never go for bad boys again. So I wrote down about 10 things I wanted  in a man on a index card. A few months later, I met Adam and he fit the bill exactly. So I actually ended up finding my soul mate, not just the right mate. And I have been looking for this damn index card so I could post it up on this blog but I can’t find it. Urgh.

8 Get a tattoo FOUR CHECKS

Four checks for four tattoos.

9) Buy land CHECK

I knew I would officially be an adult as soon as I owned land. We bought our first house in Tampa, Florida about 6 years ago. It’s the cute little bungalow below. We still own it but it’s maintained by a rental company.  And we now live in our Queens co-op apartment that we bought about two years.

10) Move to San Franciso CHECK

I initially thought we would to SF from Los Angeles. But instead we moved to Tampa, Florida. We were able to live in San Francisco for about 6 months for a photo gig we had and we didn’t like it. It was too sleepy a city. Things close at 8pm. Yuck!

11) Move to New York City CHECK.

We came to NYC November 2004 to find an apartment and signed a lease starting December 2004. We packed  up our stuff in Florida and the moving truck arrived January 2005 in Sunnyside, Queens.

12) Be a member of a local artist collective CHECK

I was a member of the screenprinting collective located in LIC. I don’t want to mention the name because they have since moved to Brooklyn. Yes, I am player hatin’.

13) Find my own studio space CHECK

I started out in a closet size space but have now moved to a 500 sq ft loft studio in LIC.

14) Find a mentor in NYC CHECK

My former color theory teacher from Parson, Kelli, had become my mentor and friend.

15) Become financially stable on my own NO CHECK!

Unfortunately this is the one goal I have never been able to accomplish ever at any time in my twenties. Poor Adam has been footing the bill the entire time!  I joke. I’ve been able to bring in money, just not consistently like he has.  So this is the major goal for my thirties.

Mix Magazine

Parsons AAS Graphic Design Program was recently featured in the latest issue of London’s Mix Magazine, published by international color consulting firm, Global Color Research, devoted to international trends. Mix had following to say about the program:  “Each year, the AAS Graphic Design Program at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City publishes a collection of works by the most exceptional students, revealing future trends in design education”.

AAS Graphic Design Work 2007, Volume 1 was designed by:
Ingrid Carozzi ‘09 and Yasemin Emory ‘07

AAS Graphic Design Work 2008, Volume 2 was designed by:
Brian McDermott ‘09, and Shelly Suzuki ‘08

Additional graduates’ work featured in the article:
Laura Cline, Ciara Elend, Yfat Eyal, Tim Geesman, Amanda Huber, Ariel Lapidus, Diana Lim,Jessica Peralta, Judith Rytz

Photography by Maurice Sherman, Faculty

Hatch Show Print poster collage

Last year, Adam and I went to Nashville, Tennessee to visit the famous letterpress shop Hatch Show Print. It’s one of oldest shops in America. While we were there, I bought about 20 posters advertising random events like music festivals, museum openings, shopping events, etc. I wasn’t sure what I would do with them but I knew I would eventually do something with them.

And then it happened this past Monday, I was inspired to make this poster collage. I looked at my blank 30″ by 40″ canvas that had sitting in our apartment for a few years gathering dust and I knew what to do with it. I cut up 10 posters into 3″ by 4″ cards and glued them to the canvas. And now it’s hanging in our den/2nd bedroom.

Winter 2010 Art Class Schedule

WINTER SCHEDULE OF AVAILABLE CLASSES – January to February 2010

INTRO TO BLOCK PRINTING ON PAPER $60
- Sunday, January 3rd, 5pm-8pm
- Sunday, February 7th, 5pm-8pm

INTERMEDIATE: MULTIPLE COLOR BLOCK PRINTING ON PAPER $60
- Sunday, January 10th, 5pm-8pm
- Sunday, February 14th, 5pm-8pm

INTRO TO COLLAGE $60
- Sunday, January  17th,  5pm-8pm
- Sunday, February 21st, 5pm-8pm

CRASH COURSE IN ART HISTORY $40
- Sunday, January 24th, 5pm-8pm
- Sunday, February 28th, 5pm-8pm

UNDERSTANDING COLOR $60
- Sunday, January 31st, 5pm-8pm

No art experience necessary.
Minimun 2 people per class. Maximum 5 people.
Ages 18 and up.
Refunds up to 7 days before class. After 7 days, NO REFUNDS, $20 fee to reschedule.

Location: Ciara Elend Design Studio
1031 Jackson Avenue, First Floor, LIC, Queens

I quit smoking. 16 days so far and let’s keep it going.

I quit smoking cold turkey. I’ve been 16 days smoke free. I don’t ever want to pick up smoking again because I don’t ever want to have to quit again. It would take a spot on my lung to force me to quit a third time. I like smoking that much even though I know it’s so bad for me. Sigh. My name is Ciara and I’m a smokaholic.

Ciara Couture Women’s Boyfriend Hoodie

WOMEN’S BOYFRIEND HOODIE Only $25!

The smooth 100% pima cotton fabric shapes to your body to show off your curves, while the classic design makes you feel like it came right out of your boyfriend’s closet. Nothing looks sexier than comfortable effortless style. Wear this and, if he’s not you’re boyfriend already, he’ll want to be. Piece dyed, satin garment wash makes this garmet super soft to the touch. Will shrink slightly in the wash.