Fall Art Scene

As the leaves change and fall to the earthly floor, the freshly white walls are adorned by the creative works of busy artists who monopolized on the sun drenched days of summer.

I am looking forward to fall showcases and the gallery walks in Bushwick scheduled for October 24, 2009. In particular will be the Brooke Moyse show at Norte Maar.

I have created a new this summer myself with walk plaques that simplify and take the color out from the immediate work and with the subtle reflection of color in the background.

Activism

Since when did activism become a four letter word. The appointment of Sonia Sotomayor as a Supreme Court Justice unleashed a floury of articles and statements about her potential as an activist and the need to be sure she will divorce her history of activism.

What word do the Republican and Conservative party use to convey their actions to change government to meet their needs? Deactivate? The meaning of deactivate is to make ineffective. I rest my case.

Chrysler buy out.

The latest move in the auto industry to stay afloat is larger companies selling off assets to a smaller company. The smaller company is gaining the assembly lines, supply chains and the dealership networks. The larger company is hoping to maintain a name brand, keeping people employed and money in the pockets of greedy men who drove these companies into the ground.

Fiat is making a bold move, when blood is on the street buy real estate, and boy are they buying. Fiat is making the moves on the smallest big divisions in North America and Europe through buying Chrysler and GM Europe. Fiat is a maker of small cars and industrial trucks, with diesel power plants. Alfa Romero is the luxury sport line owned by Fiat that has been looking for another introduction to the North American market which is the largest in the world still.

Fiat will gain access to the workforce of Germany, Eastern Europe with GM Europe and the USA, Canada with Chrysler. The automaker has the proven ability to make very stylized automobiles that evoke emotion. They hire out of design pools from Italy, Germany and Japan. The recent Fiat 500 and Alfa Romero line are testament to the characterized flow of the sheet metal and the quality of materials used to convey durability and refinement in the interiors.

Fiat will gain a foot hold in the SUV market with the Jeep and Dodge name plates. Fiat is already poised for Jeep products to be pushed stronger in the European and Asian and African markets where they offer diesel trucks.

These mergers in the auto industry will have no casualties, GM is the soul culprit in murdering Hummer, Pontiac and Saturn brand names. Industry names will continue to include Chrysler, Saab, and Opel. The corporate board tables will have new names, and those absent are leaving with pockets heaped with cash.

NYC Auto Show 2009

The automobile industry is in financial chaos which I predict with lead to innovative products that meet the 21st century aesthetic. The European consumer for years has been blessed with small competent cars that include quality, substance and style. The American industry is taking notice with the lack of volume of cars being sold that will not meet financial expectations. The answer will be quality cars with more stylized options and inspirational design to emotionally motivate buyers.

During my exploration at the NYC Auto Show 2009, the displays indicated a lack of direction still from GM and Chrysler. The Ford line and previous Ford controlled companies are meeting the needs. Ford has nailed it with the new Taurus and Lincoln line of cars. Mazda has also introduced the new 3 line. The biggest winner would be Volvo XC60. The car inspires upon first look with lines that are athletic, seductive and cutting edge, proportions that indicate a larger car but not intimidating. The interior quality is a mix of contemporary, futuristic and commonplace.

The other European companies came with a rather comfortable and reliable arsenal of small to overtly extravagant automobiles. The Mercedes line has misstepped with the new E class. The C Class is boring already in 2009, introduced in 2008. The S class is for executives and those who mimic executives. A car collector will not think of 2009 as a good year for the Germans. Audi and VW are coming on the strongest with carefully styled cars that can be easily identified in China, Europe, South America and the USA. BMW is still a daily driver for those who love to drive, but don't expect owning more than one at a time. $40,000 and starting for this company.

Honda and Toyota are making me yawn. The idea to pack more into less has come across in every aspect of design. It is like IKEA furniture, it looks great until you own it, then it is useable every day until the next design comes out, and then you buy that one. Perfect marketing for the society that will finance their own funerals.

Korean maker Hyundai and KIA are setting their aim on niche markets and to diversify. The new Hyundai Genesis is a very competent car, looks like any other car, but is luxurious and big. The KIA Rondo is my favorite pick for a family of 5. The car is sized to fit 5 and up to 7 if needed. Storage everywhere and filled with lots of safety devices. AWD would be great addition to buyers in the snow belt. The mileage is about 10 mpg better than a minivan but does lack any real storage with 7 passengers on board.

The car I would take home would be the Audi A4 Avant or Cadillac CTS Wagon. The Audi is a performer with a turbo 4, beautiful inside and out and those LED lights that cause notice. The Cadillac is an aggressive car that GM needs to market and carry over to the Pontiac line such as a G8 wagon?

Janet Duprey

Assemblywoman Janet Duprey’s support of gay marriage for me and my partner is met with a thunderous applause in my heart. She understands the issue is not religious (in a Muslim state we would be murdered) but an equality issue within a society that is built on the fundamental right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. We contribute of ourselves to society with our hard work, creativity, sweat and love. Religious beliefs have created barriers we have overcome within our own family, tolerance is two sided, homosexuals tolerate the religious doctrine and in return tolerate the open homosexual family. Janet Duprey has always met me with love, support and respect. I am filled with joy and thanks she found the strength and wisdom to find the answer to make this society in which God We Trust that much more inclusive to all Americans.

TRANSMITTED

The live (& recorded) performances at Norte Maar 83 Wyckoff Avenue (my apartment building) was a return to the broad scope of performing art and the spoken word. The group that gathered on Sunday night in the Bushwick'hood ranged from the artist to the "I don't give a f***", cell phone talkin, baby draggin art critic (who lives on Suydam and blast music from his car at 3 a.m.). I took my lunch break from work at 6 pm to watch the event. I was able to watch 3/4 of the program and then was able to watch the rest online at BushwickBK and JustinTV on the Norte Maar Transmitted webcast. It was a great night, the weather was gorgeous, cool and overcast, no rain and the perfect lighting to watch from the street. I thank Sven for watching Fern for me and making me laugh. I thank Stephen for picking up great wine for the post party and Mr. BBQ on Wyckoff Avenue for delivering such great food (even though their prices went up by a dollar). Jason put on a great show once again and continues to impress me with his creative attitude and take no prisoners approach to life. - please escape with me this weekend.

Gay Marriage and the Constitution in California

The Supreme Court in California is hearing arguments about Proposition 8 and the power of the people in California to ammend the Constitution. It appears that the judges are leaning toward upholding Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage since domestic partnership already allows the rights of homosexual couples the same as heterosexual couples in the state of California. The more important issue is the Power of the People to change their constitution and the direction of the judges to uphold the Constitution.

The emails are pouring in about protests and rallies to march. I feel these are important steps. Another solution the gay community can take is legal action and place propositions up for voters on other state ballots (like Arizona) to remove the institution of marriage from the Constitution in states that ban gay marriage.

I am not sure how effective it may be but it may give notice to those who say "why is marriage that important?" When they have to answer the question themselves when they step up to the voter box.

Another ridiculous notion is to place the rights of gay people to live in the state of California on the ballot. Let's see how the Mormon Church and Prop 8 supporters would speak in support of/ or against such a measure.

Wood , Violence and Nursing

In experimenting with found wood the initial products focused on color and texture. Now into almost a year of the process my work is losing color and abstraction in shape. I pay attention to the natural colors of the wood and the shapes made by cutting the wood and using sharp angles.

In the time I have spent in Brooklyn, the hardness of the city with the dilapidated structures in Bushwick are influencing the way I view the structure of the scuplture. I was made aware of it by the comments of an art dealer on Sunday, he said my work was violent and made him think of weapons. I had not given it much thought, but the violence of a low-income neighborhood and me entrenched in it as a nurse dealing with the wounded and sick at WHMC.

I am feeling the times of economy. I have stopped blogging on normanjabaut.com since the price tag each month was $12. Blogger is gratuit. I thank Stephen Truax for his guidance to this site. I look forward to using this site to spread the word about the fabulous and fascinating world around me. Thanks for taking the time.

Autoporn

I have a new fascination with the Ebay Motors site. I search for exotic cars and the photos listed from the auction houses are fantastic. I spend hours drooling over M3's and Mercedes SLK. I dream of winning a low mileage track car (Mazda Miata or Audi S4). I am preoccupied at the moment with the Porsche Cayman, more specifically the Ruf. (see photo.) The inspiration for me to save up the money to fill my driveway with automobiles that will enhance my life. But why read automobile journals and magazines and blogs on a daily basis since all I own at the moment is a 2003 Honda Civic with 170.00 miles. The simple answer is one important question "what should I buy?"