MELISSALAND

Ah, I can’t believe this show is almost over. It’s been great fun these past few weeks - definitely one of my favorites. We have scheduled an artist talk for the closing weekend and both Robert Flynt and David Lebe will be joining us in person. Gary Schneider (and possibly Warren all the way from Greece) will be joining remotely via Skype (don’t you love technology!)

Anyway, if you would like to attend (yes!) come by the gallery this Saturday at 5 O’Clock. Promise it will be fun, these guys are great and I could listen to them talk all night long (they won’t though)

AND, if you can’t make it to the gallery, or you live far, far away….you can listen in online on WGXC, the new community-run (kick ass) radio project:

http://www.free103point9.org/communityradio/

So there. Now you have no excuse not to catch this

So, a few days ago I tweeted how I was about to spend an evening with a bag of fig newtons, one of my favorite cookies. The next day Jim Vasilow of Vasilow’s came by the gallery with the most delicious concoction for me:

CHOCOLATE COVERED FIG NEWTONS!

Heaven.

(I am very glad he only brought me two of these, because truthfully, I could have eaten many more)

Apparently, Jim’s creativity does not stop with fig newtons, you can also get chocolate-covered fortune cookies and twizzlers from his shop.

I love living in a small community where everyone not only WANTS to learn about each other, but goes out of their way to make you feel good. To me, Hudson is definitely home, and this is just one example why. I am proud to live in such a fantastic little city.

A photo of Vasilow’s back in 1923 when it first opened in Hudson

If you happen to be in Hudson, go visit Jim at Vasilow’s. Ask for the fig newtons

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Awww, don’t they look pretty!

The new Hudson Gallery Guide I designed for the 14 Warren Street galleries arrived today. Everything was wonderful till I counted and realized there were only THIRTEEN listed. Somehow, in some daze, I forgot Tom Swope’s gallery. (I also have, like 18 versions of this on my computer, I know it was listed on at least one of them…)

I’m a moron. Please go visit Tom’s cool gallery so I don’t feel like such an ass.

I think, whenever something goes wrong like this, minor or major, I’m playing this video:

That dude makes any bad day, any mistake, any worry, just melt away…….

I just finished the design for an advertisment for the 13 galleries on Warren Street in Hudson. I will probably use this as the template for the new rack card design as well…..I think I like the way it came out.

Still have to do the design for a full page ad for our gallery and need to finish the project for the Hudson Supermarket. They are in the process of completing their fabulous new look, complete with new cafe and everything. Very exciting (And finally new choices for lunch in town. Yay!)

anyway, more soon……

…a random parade

…..taken this afternoon in front of the gallery.

I walked by this massive green tarp in one of the alleys on my way to the post office this morning

It looked like it was breathing

lots of doors on John Doe’s flea market lot

this was one hanging out in the middle of everything

not quite sure if the day started yet

A Wal-Mart associate here in Hudson, New York describes how Wal-Mart has affected our town and what issues she faces as an employee. It is a heart-breaking video.

My mother has held a job as a waitress at the same restaurant for the past 30 years. Thirthy years. That number still astounds me. Thirty years at a small neighborhood, mom-n-pop restaurant. It is the exact opposite of Wal-Mart. The management was, and still is, like family to my mother (and my mom is not the only one who pulls a 30 year employment record there)

I wish there were more businesses like the restaurant my mom works for - ones that treat their employees like family.

Seth Godin has a great post about using your voice to, as he says: “get what you promote”. If you dislike Wal-Mart for treating their employees like shit - say so. If you love the local coffee shop for remembering your name, and the drink you like, every time you walk in (Nolita!!) - say so.

Seth’s post explains:

It’s simple, I think. In a world where consumers have so much power, we now have two responsibilities:

• If you don’t like what an organization stands for, work actively to spread the word and force them to change

and

• If you will miss a product, a service, a book, a site or a professional when they close up shop, stand up, speak up and bring them masses of new business.

We get what we promote.

I can’t think of a better time than now to promote the great small businesses in our towns which are struggling to stay open. Support the places you love. Tell other people about them. Let them know they are appreciated.

to see more videos like one above check out: http://www.walmartspeakout.com/

(via: the 12534)

I happened upon the website of a new hotel in London called Rough Luxe via the 2009 consumer trends listed on trendwatching. The hotel’s website states:

“So this is Rough Luxe. Half rough, half luxury. A little bit of luxury in a rough part of London. A little bit of rough in a luxurious London. Our philosophy is simple; you are staying with us in our home, so just ask.”

After wandering through their site, I found my way to the ‘Rough Luxe Network’ - their philosophy really resonated with me….

Rough-Luxe is a new way of looking at luxury as a moment in time and not only part of an object of consumption. Luxury is an enriching personal experience and not only an ownership of an expensive object. Therefore, the Rough-Luxe definition of Luxury is: time for reflection, personal encounters with people, nature, architecture and environment as well as food and social and cultural experiences linked to geographic locations. It is also, the intellectual solicitation, listening to ones own feelings as well as comparing objects and time and thinking of their hierarchy.

Rough-Luxe is about the experience, the surrounding, the intrinsic value of objects, art, culture and the people surrounding us as well as the ‘‘consumable’’ items, that you come across in a Rough-Luxe hotel or affiliated business or event.

…this philosophy reminds me of the reasons why Hudson, New York became the destination that it did for many New Yorkers. Hardly a manicured or polished city, Hudson is certainly rough around the edges - but it has a tremendous amount of soul.  Many creative types have flocked here over the years because you can feel that soul pour out of every shop and building lining the street. A simple place, yet at the same time, full of such inspiring detail. How can you not love it here?

If you want to explore Hudson a bit more, check out this Flickr group

(Photo by Peter Spear)

(photo by Sam Pratt)