TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

  

VIEWING ALL POSTS FOR: FEBRUARY 2002

Tuesday, February 26, 2002

9:41 AM
Posted by jodi rose

Wish I could shake this haze of depression descending on me. It's boring me now. Feel a bit hopeless, I'm putting heaps of stuff 'out there' and not getting much back in. Maybe a bit of an anti-climax sending off ISEA proposal, and apple and jal and vietnam air yesterday. The waiting time. It's really good having J doing the web-site for/with me, cause at least that makes me keep working. Wondering if it really is that important that I record bridge cables - I mean, how f#*%ing ridiculous. Who came up with this lunacy??? And I guess the answer is, well it's important to me, so it IS valid and relevant as an occupation. A calling. I could go off on my anti-useful rave here, about how we need to create gaps in the fabric of cultural production, that doing something incredibly useless and silly (apparently), actually serves a really important purpose in society and culture, as it allows us to be human. Take time off from being utilitarian cogs in the wheels of capital and industry, play, imagine, be curious and let that curiosity and sense of fun guide you. Thank you to the Australian Government for subsidising my project with our great welfare system. I really am looking for full-time work. This is full-time work! This is a life-time of work, even if it's play. I'm sure once it starts taking place in various arts venues the work will be invested with some kind of cultural capital. And if not, it's a beautiful piece of whimsy. If not, I have to go and get a real job again. Ugh no, not that, Anything but that. Ok that's reason enough to keep working! Save me from the hell of gainful employment!

Sunday, February 24, 2002

9:21 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Had the weekend off, forcibly after drinking way too much vodka with Julaine and Torben and Jasmine. Good to hang out and have fun with old friends after working alone all week. They knew some people in Kobe and Amsterdam - can never have too many contacts. Can't wait to be out in the world, on bridges, meeting fellow acoustic lunatics. Very fuzzy sore head after - not used to such indulgence. Had to have naps all day.
Went to the new Bronte café Fideli with ma, saw an old Bronte local, and chatted to her, then Ben & Sole came in - who I never see even though I'm staying in their lush upstairs flat. Very cool, talked excitably and ate delicious food - pumpkin arancini, beetroot salad, rhubarb and apple pie, lime tart - then Maurice came and did magic tricks for us. Fabulous. Hopi dropped by, said Hi to her - like being in your lounge-room but with a really great chef.
Just had an e-mail from Dr Clemens, who is writing some theory for me, saying the whole project is hilarious. At least it's amusing someone other than myself!
Feeling much more optimistic today - had a dark few days last week thinking, well what was I thinking? This is ridiculous, as if I'm going to pull it off.
Had to go swimming twice a day to get a break from my head. Pretty fantastic being able to float away my angst in Bronte pool, swishing about in the surf at dusk. Was hanging out there tonight when a small drama unfolded. After the police drove up, noticed everyone was standing in a circle around the usually busy oval - then a chopper flew in with the distinctive red and yellow paintwork of the Lifeguard Surf Rescue. The top of the chopper blades looked just like a lifeguard's hat - cute. A bunch of SAS guys jumped out in blue uniforms with harnesses and yellow hard hats and ran down to the beach. Looked like someone had been badly dumped by the surf, hoped they didn't have severe spinal injury. The emergency crew loaded the person onto the back of the helicopter and airlifted them out. Very dramatic, everyone was standing around watching, fascinated. Except the two boys who decided to streak, and ran across the oval naked, whooping with glee. The cops turned laconically to watch then went back to monitoring the situation with the helicopter.
Ben sorted me out today with an exhaustive list of exactly what I am allowed to pack - he wants to see me embark with an international carry-on sized suitcase, my crumpler bag with gear and a small backpack for personal stuff. Will do my best, cause it's best not to be lugging around more crap than necessary, and I do like to help people realise their dreams. Have to take PJ, and Beth, and Sparklehorse, and Donna, and Kid Loco, and Mouse on Mars. Can't survive without good music that stretches my head and heart. But I am allowed to go shopping and buy some clothes in Vietnam and jeans in USA, just have to under-pack. Need to start applying for visas and getting vaccinations. Nasty. And the dentist tomorrow. Double Nasty.
Spoke to my absolutely delicious friend today, he totally chills me out, even at 1200 miles. Such an amazing tranquillity, soaks up everything and very calmly replies to my most inane and ridiculous questions. Melts my heart every time, alchemically. Like it's being tuned to a higher frequency, clearer and more vibrant somehow. Very lucky to have such incredibly fantastic people in my life, they are all absolutely to be thankful for.
Lots of work tomorrow, sending out proposals to airlines, and apple and ISEA. Wish me luck!!!!! Good night for now.

Wednesday, February 20, 2002

10:39 PM
Posted by jodi rose

So cool. Much happier tonight. CRUMPLER the funkiest bags in the world www.crumpler.com.au are giving me a way cool bag to put equipment in. They totally rock! The right people get it and they know the magic is there.
Like the luscious Kim from SUGA making me singing bridges lollies. I am the luckiest girl in the world. Yeah, I know the sages warn against too much elation, as much as wallowing in despair but it feels too good to try and be wise. Equilibrium's overrated anyway. Give me the highs and lows any-day. It's fabulous to have a sponsor on board who isn't one of my friends. Of course, my friends are all astute business people who know a fantastic idea when they see it, but still. Makes it seem a lot more possible when someone out there in the world is willing to take a punt on some crazy lunatic art idea.
Did some work editing the proposal today and threw in some marketing jargon from the "Business Case for Cultural Investment" guide. 'Enhanced international image', and 'broaden brand perception' are my favourites. All true, of course, but such ludicrous terminology.
Need to finalise the copy for my web-site, then all this may start to make sense.
Took a few hours off today, went to the café and had wildberries with yoghurt (amazing deep crimson colour, looked very luscious on the white) and a spirulina shake - need keep this energy level up somehow but ended up reading about Scandinavian design. Have this fascination with Finland, there is something calling me. Loved the Moomin books growing up, re-read a few recently and they were beautiful and demented and enthralling. So sexy all that Nordic design, the simple curves and cute shapes, very adventurous and creative. Shame about the 3 months of total darkness every year. At the next table was a very well known Australian lipstick empress, discussing with her friend the problems of being a successful woman dating men who were less powerful or wealthy. She looked amazing in her leopard-print top and trademark deep red lips, with white trainers spoiling the glamour slightly. The friend gave a staggering divorce stastic of marriages which break up because the woman is earning more than the man. And a story about a friend who had been dumped by her lover after making him into the successful whatever he had become.
So maybe it's ok being a struggling artist. No, not struggling so much as nascent. Semi-emerging. Flowering. Budding. I like that. Jodi Rose, budding artist. At least there's no issue finding men more successful than I am. But all that is going to change. You just wait until those bridges get singing. It's all relative. Besides I'm hardly an ermine and pearls kinda girl. Champagne YES, caviar NO Belgian chocolates YES, oysters NO. Diamonds well maybe. Actually, NO I'd much rather have meteors and falling stars.

Tuesday, February 19, 2002

9:43 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Well. Just got my first rejection. Trying not to take it personally, but feeling a little deflated. At least all the other people who haven't responded yet may actually be considering it. In full it read "Thanks Jodi, but this isn't something we'd likely be involved in". Lack of imagination and vision is incurable. Need to hear something good about the idea now.
That's better - spoke to the lovely Richard and he said "Someone's gonna say no. But only the wrong people. The right people will say YES!" Bloody gorgeous, see why I adore him. He was out shovelling cement tonight. Lordy, life it just keeps going.
Am not going to succumb to the 'maybe this is all crap' virus.
TWA 86 " A striking success" is my t-shirt today. Now I have no idea what airline TWA is, or was, but it's good to know that at some point they were indeed, a striking success. And hey, everyone's got to start somewhere. That's why I'm sending out so many proposals, so at least a few will get something positive back.
If not well at least will have a great website and a few months holiday in Sydney with my very much loved old friends. But let's not get maudlin. Time to walk away from the computer - I was doing so well, just logged on for a moment and here we are again.
No no no there is a whole universe out there. Go and look at the stars girl. Dream of beautiful sounds and beautiful boys.
Good night lusciousness.

Monday, February 18, 2002

10:42 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Man I'm tired. It's exhausting being this obsessed with something. Realised this work is all about the process. Getting involved with life, being open and curious in the world, stretching out, staying flexible & chilled & being engaged with life.
Saw the first page of my web-site today, very cool. It's wild having all these disparate ideas and writings come together. Funny how being online makes it all seem more solid. Essence of Jodi on the internet.
Feel much closer to going than I was when decided this is what I'm doing, but it still feels a long way off. Very determined and obsessive so no doubt will get it together and be in Vietnam by the end of March. Can't wait to go hang out with those lush blue cables, in the Mekong Delta. Life is elsewhere. No, it's here today. That's good.
Thought that was another possum. Had one in the house last night, came in through my skylight window and it was trying to escape through the kitchen but the window was closed. I'm such a wimp, screamed and stood on the couch while it ran past me out the balcony doors. Luckily had my gorgeous friend Richard on the phone to help me through the ordeal. He's a beautiful delicious lunatic soul brother. You've got to have magic people in your life, or what's the point? Last time I saw him, we lay on the floor giggling after way too much red wine and luscious berry pavlova, all the way from Mt Gambier courtesy of the lovely Kim's mum. He might paint a bridge for me, very fortunate to have such wild creative amazing people in my life.
Revel in it, cause the plastic bags and empty envelopes are gonna linger when you die. Helped ma clean out her dad's flat on Sunday, he died in August last year. Sad how the remains of someones life are so banal. I guess that's why we try and do more. But experiences, not things, are what you need to have. Getting all fucking existential and romantic. "She dreamed of a wild dangerous life tinged with anarchy"

Saturday, February 16, 2002

10:20 AM
Posted by jodi rose

YES! Sent off first sponsorship request, friday right on time! Crumpler who make very very very funky bags asked for one to put my equipment in. The guy I spoke to Will sounded into the idea. Wait and see. Finally spoke to airlines and got contact names to send stuff too, apple and sony are a bit freaky they have sponsorship committees with info lines and a 3-4 week wait. Oh well, can only ask I guess. And besides its such a fabulous unique idea, why would anyone say no? Feeling positive today.
Lots of admin to do this week, setting up database of potential sponsors, finish editing the text for my website.
Woke up and went for a swim yesterday morning - gorgeous way to shake off sleep. The sky clear and open, ocean blue and sparkly. Delicious floating around in the rockpool, just before high tide with the waves breaking on the rockledge and gently washing through the pool. Tide is out really far this week, the beach has a steep slope down to the water and all the rocks usually covered by sand are exposed. Have to soak up every moment of bliss while I'm staying in this amazing place. Very fortunate, and who knows were I'll end up. Balcony looks out on the gully, I can lie in bed and watch the stars through skylight, beach is 2 minute away. Heaven.
Getting lots of work done too, cause the computers here and it's so easy to not leave the house. Time to sign off and get on with the day, have a lush one.

Thursday, February 14, 2002

4:22 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Today is a "no work" day. Happy Valentine's to all you lovers. Very chilled out from yoga this morning, only got as far as the cafe at the bottom of the steps afterwards, and had to hang out there watching the waves at Tamarama. It's a hard job this being a temporary nomadic filament in the web of life. Then had to go shlep around Bondi Junction to buy food for my new flat - whan I say 'my' it refers to current occupancy rather than ownership of any kind. Although it is the property two of my oldest most gorgeous friends and they will always be here, gods and goddesses willing.
Deadline for this week is to send proposals out by Friday - shit that's tomorrow - to people I've already contacted. Really need to build up some momentum. Maybe time to put the letter together now.
So much for not working, it's an obsession. The world needs to hear its bridges singing. And I am here on earth to make sure that happens. Delusional? Maybe.
Ok, definitely. But it's our delusions that make us.... whatever it is that one can become. What we are. Who we are. Played out in large and small scale upon an unsuspecting world, which occasionally colludes with us to validate our internal beliefs. Ok, yes it's probably time to stop now. I'll come back later when have something to say.YAY! sparklehorse. Those boys get me through many a melancholy moment.

Wednesday, February 13, 2002

10:24 PM
Posted by jodi rose

I'm still trying to decide on a name for this project. Cable cacophony, bridges of
babel, secret voice of bridges, take it to the bridge, musique concrete and steel,
sonic architecture, bridge of sound, international symphony of bridges.It's
anyone's guess right now what it will end up being.
So much work to do before I get anywhere near the next bridge. Keeping the
outline clear and simple is driving me spare - so much junk in my head.
Checked out the Isea and Ars Electronica sites today - now that's an incentive
to get cracking! It would be sooooooo cool to go to either or hopefully both and
play the bridges near Nagoya and the lush Voest bridge in Linz. Which already
has its own sensors on the cables. Must find out what the resonant frequency
actually IS. Maybe I can get hold of a recording of the tests.
Anyway, guess it's time to call it a day and go interact with some humans. Doing
serious hermiting the last few weeks - it's been so good to get started with this
project coming together, becoming totally obsessed. Ah well, bon appetit!

Wednesday, February 13, 2002

10:22 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Home now a bit drunk from dinner with Julaine. Found the BEST gelato in the world at pompeii - creme caramel, baci, zabaiglione mmmmmmmmmm