jg garretson

2009-09-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

2009-08-27T14:05:00.001-07:00

2009-08-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

2009-08-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

Phoebe is 7 months!

2009-06-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

2009-06-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

2009-05-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

2009-05-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

6 Months Old!

2009-05-20T16:59:00.000-07:00

2009-05-20T16:57:00.000-07:00

What a smile!

2009-03-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

and more St. John

2009-03-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

Phoebe loves the beach! She is happy in her little chair and in the arms of only mommy and daddy! Poor Grandpa!

More and more St. John

2009-03-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

2009-03-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

St. John Island Fun

2009-03-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

mixed bag with a sprinkle of St.John action (sunshine)

2009-03-14T09:08:00.000-07:00

2009-03-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

Meet L.P. -- Little Phoebe

2009-02-01T16:35:00.001-08:00

We finally captured Phoebe's smiles!!!

2009-02-01T16:28:00.000-08:00

Italy? Schmitaly- show us Phoebe you boob!

2009-01-17T08:55:00.000-08:00

Here is then and now. A little bit of our Italian honeymoon, which was glorious. One new Phoebe picture for the vested, here she was all slung out (as is often the case of late.) In the news department, -Phoebe has begun to sleep in her crib at night, we had our first dinner out without Phoebe- a decadent sushi meal THANKS NANCY!!! If you want to get the daily dose of your favorite Garretson's of Hillsdale- you must get a facebook account- join us- u have no choice. We post on our walls their ALL THE TIME- mainly because we can do it from our phones super easy. So seriously Mark- convert to the national past time, be a social network monster, its much less painful than you think.

New Year's Day Fun

2009-01-05T14:02:00.000-08:00

Christmas O' Xmas

2008-12-28T15:50:00.001-08:00

xmas gets cranky

2008-12-22T12:54:00.001-08:00

In an effort for greater transperancy I have posted a few images that will help tell both sides of the story. Our daughter is beautiful and amazing, true. She can also be cranky, and I think the grumpy Phoebe is pretty cute in her own way (especially because her tears usually end after a minute or so). Here she is in her upset fury.

december hits cute

2008-12-16T18:11:00.000-08:00

She is growing...

2008-12-04T13:23:00.001-08:00

New Phomat for birds

2008-12-04T13:15:00.001-08:00

So my most recent birds have all been created with built in perch and background. There are all for sale on my etsy site.

more recently...

2008-11-15T08:24:00.001-08:00

to be entirely honest, we have been slacking in the photo department. We have been so busy just trying to find a balance. More to come.

first bath plus more!

2008-11-08T16:37:00.000-08:00

Well its almost time for me to go back to work, the idea of leaving this little girl for 8 hours is a touch well ... scarry. I am quite hooked on this little miracle. Soon my dependance on coffee should reach an all time high.

More Phoebe the people chant, more Phoebe the people get!

2008-11-01T17:28:00.000-07:00

We are having such an incredible experience! This little girl has inflated our hearts way beyond their known capacity. Everyday has felt like a new world is swallowing us, the world of Phoebe! More pictures to come when we come home on Monday.

She is HERE!

2008-10-30T19:15:00.001-07:00

We are so thrilled to announce the birth of our little girl: Phoebe Nancy Garretson, weighing in at 8 lbs. 2 oz. and 21" in length we have ourselves a real contender. I must say her pinkness was only rivaled by her firm grip. We are way beyond smitten folks, Danielle and I enthralled with joy!

On our way to the hospital

2008-10-30T04:50:00.000-07:00

Well the day is finally here. Our little girl is joining the universe today courtesy of some nifty doctors. We are thrilled, nervous and over-joyed to say the least. I will post pics as soon as possible.

Some new birds!

2008-10-26T07:42:00.001-07:00

I have made four new birds for my etsy site. Spread the word if you feel motivated-

clay mouth work

2008-10-24T17:21:00.001-07:00

I am going to blame my dentist grandfather for this new clay work. Honestly I love drawing and sculpting imaginary mouths- they are just so open to personal meaning.

birds for sale!

2008-10-18T11:25:00.001-07:00

go to my etsy site for purchase, plus u get to find out what these birds are named,

Obsessed with throwing pots

2008-10-15T18:32:00.000-07:00

Tropiopical

2008-10-12T05:37:00.000-07:00

I just finished up this old series. It began as a series of prints I worked on by my desk between classes. I was experimenting with polyacrlyic on many of these pieces. Please let me know, I am very unsure of these. Should I put these up on my site, or keep them for myself?

More Etsy Sale Items

2008-10-11T05:03:00.000-07:00

All three of these strange artworks are currently for sale on Etsy. Check out my etsy page here. Direct artist to buyer sales, its an experiment worth trying, I will keep you posted on how it goes.

Moon of Honey

2008-10-10T16:08:00.001-07:00

Here is a taste of the art made during our honeymoon in Italy. All these pieces were portable paper works that I silkscreened (images of Mohunk ect) before we left. Then as we romped around I added italian inspired images.

JG Garretson gets ETSY!!!

2008-10-09T17:44:00.001-07:00

After realizing I will most likely need to get a second job while my wife stays home with my soon to be born child, I decided to give the ETSY art sale a try. I also need to get myself out into some galleries and spots to show and hopefully sell my work. So for now if you or others are looking for some interesting handmade art please check out my etsy site .

Back from the conference!

2008-10-09T07:12:00.001-07:00

Just back from the Art Educators of New Jersey Fall conference, and I feel completely charged up. I spent most of my time behind a booth as the Host/Hostess committee chair, but I had many an wonderful conversation about life, art and the meaning of both. I also attended 2 incredible workshops, one on Aesthetic Realism and the other on Functional and Non-Functional ceramic work (Karen Kiick definitely deserved Art educator of the year a few years back, her students work is magnificent! check out her sight.)

Last night while leaving our last baby prep class we found this beautiful praying mantis on the sidewalk, we brought it over to some mums. Disregard the news, LIFE IS AMAZING!

Baby Mural

2008-10-04T13:01:00.001-07:00

Just got a request from big brother Mark to post some pics of the new mural. I just took these pictures and the room was a bit dark for my taste, but I wanted to deliver the goods. So what do you think? Does the sunshine bird explosion work for you? Hope my daughter will enjoy it, at least until she and I can come up with something better.

Our Man Max

2008-10-03T18:04:00.001-07:00

Today's post goes out to our nephew Max. He is uber cute! So manly, so full of life and joy! He knows how to live: eat, flirt, poop and sleep. Currently he is using those chewy cheeks to smile, laugh and steal hearts right out of their chests. I also threw in a photo of the CPR dummies, just to remind everyone that anyone can choke and be in need of help, also its just so darn creepy I had to share with the universe in order to balance out all this pesky cuteness.

film flam blam

2008-09-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

Another friday night, another trip to the mall to catch some cinematic magic! This week we caught the new Palahniuk novel adaptation "choke". With Sam Rockwell at the center of this sexual addiction roller-coaster I can at least say the front seat never made me want to puke. The film is a bit like a mental patient suffering from multiple personality disorder. Part genital joke, part mommy dearest, part another self obsessed male needs to grow up movie. Its comedy hits pretty dangerously, its drama wavers in tone and the signature Palahniuk twists felt a bit taffy stretched. Dark gooey fun for the cynic at heart who also doesn't mind excessive frontal nudity of the elderly. Go see it?

Film Flam

2008-09-20T05:36:00.000-07:00

Last night Danielle and I caught Burn After Reading, the new Coen flick. Once again these potent writer director brothers grim sift through the lives of idiots. They stew in an assortment of stupidity and folly. This comedy does have its morose chewy bits as well, but all in all it is a merry go round of saps. It is far from perfect, far from the dizzying heights of high art that no country soared; regardless I laughed deep in my brain on many a occasion.

What this film lacks: consistency in acting (some players are nailing amazing realism, while others are phoning in cartoon performances), good cinematography and most important for me: Hero or Heroine. That is what brought Fargo out of its den of idiocy! Where is the character that redeems mankind? Where is the Marge Flunderson?

Instead the CIA are left as my conscience, my street sweeper, my prevailing force. This movie is better US propaganda than the National Guard ad featuring NASCAR and Kid Rock that preceded the movie itself. Never pegged the Coens as such red white and bluers.

Ultimately this is one hell of joke film, the whole thing is a giant gag: all drafted out with the final GIANT punchline at the end. For me the punchline worked quite well, I was just hoping for more than a one-liner from such a pool of talent.

Finally something to eat with your ears!

2008-09-20T04:22:00.001-07:00

It almost seems like a huge bulk of time has gone by since any new incredible music came out, sure I have been plumbing the depths of the past (left of the dial, p-funk ect.) but now something new has met my high standards! Their last album was in the top 3 of the year, and the new TV on the Radio looks to be just as inventive, layered, incredible as the last. So check out the site here, check out their tour dates (I cant go, but YOU should)!

Learn to weave up your sleave

2008-09-18T03:21:00.001-07:00

In between moving and painting and cleaning out the grime from our house I had another summer time task. My mentor (George DiBouno) has begun to instruct me in the ways of four harness loom weaving. A skill I never imagined undertaking in my life! Turns out it is a quite zen-like activity once the loom is warped (that's the stickiest part!). In order to teach this craft in trimester 2 I better jump back on the hobby horse soon my memory fades so quickly!

This post goes out to my friend Jeremy...

2008-09-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

I reworked a few of these collaborative pieces done with my great friend Jeremy Leckenbusch. Let's all think wonderful thoughts for Jeremy whose first baby is due in October. He is an extraordinary printmaker, general contractor and tax man. That's right, this strange, hard working American artist will come and shut you down if you are breaking the law! So let's keep it all on the up and up people.

Re mixing the romantical past

2008-09-13T06:19:00.001-07:00

As soon as my art studio was set up I have been twirling around in the papers of the past. Needing to build up some confidence, mojo, flowmo, ego, dirty fingernails ect I have been finishing some older artwork. There are stacks of works on paper that need that last brush stroke or pencil mark. In this little set you see the remnants of my first date with my wife. That night we took photographs using her hands and feet. The next day we drove down to Sleeside Heights to visit the ramshackle Jersey Coast. Where else would you find a three headed giraffe gate?

tunnel of loove

2008-09-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

During our honeymoon, Danielle and I trekked out to Assisi (where St. Francis of Assisi has his chapel). Whilst visiting the town we went poking around the castle. Here between the two main parts of the old castle we found this nifty tunnel.

Idiocy or Genius? Who can say?

2008-09-02T14:18:00.000-07:00

Some of us need to see the motion of the ocean to understand how anyone walks away from a nightmare. This young man shows us how sugar escapes through our hands and feet in ways unknown to many an uptight religious conservative in that old timey movie called "footloose".

Understand this slightly more through Xander's Blog.

On the verge of genius? Or is it idiocy?

2008-09-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

It was a sublime marriage of sugar, madness and Garretson finesse: it was Xander's dance marathon in our den. Right before MXS left our house (before going back to California), Xander was inspired to shake his money maker in many new and perplexing ways. This young man is a true American Hero of the mind; and with this dance he became legendary. Please check out his blog at vergeofidiocy.blogspot.com .

More of Now.

2008-08-30T18:27:00.001-07:00

Here is our home, today.

2008-08-30T18:25:00.001-07:00

Appetite for Deconstruction

2008-08-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I lost my mind while painting the house. I couldn't stand the evil dying trees surrounding the pool. So I fired up the chainsaw and chopped down a few. Unfortunately, one flew over the edge of the pool. Soon I will upload pics of the house all painted and dolled up. Keep coming back, I promise more to come.

MXS Hits NJ Hard!

2008-07-29T19:01:00.001-07:00

3/4 of the Californian Garretson contingency hit NJ last week. Here are a few points of interest for all interested: Sally has a flashlight with faces in the light, Xander is a cowboy/timelord/private-eye/sock deviator/dance innovator, Garretsons can definitely get down in a pool, Adam understands the truth behind salmon cooked on cedar, Mark has robbed me of my best shirt that demonstrates the murder of children, Alexa loves her swing.

Notes from the dirt frontier

2008-07-13T04:40:00.000-07:00

All is going well on our new home, we have so much to do! Our mom's have done so much! They have been leading the way with dexterous painting and pruning skills. On the second day I was losing my mind win paint and dirt, I had to jump in the pool. Can't wait to have the house ready for our move in, and then for our friends and family.

Have you rutted out your insides?

2008-07-13T04:31:00.000-07:00

During our tour of southern bergen county last week, Danielle and I had to visit Rutt's Hut. A famous hot dog mecca which serves the deep fried pleasure known as "Rippers". Just as insanely good as the rippers is the home made relish, truly a masterpiece. Even more meaningful to our family, this restaurant's parking lot is where my wife's father proposed to my mother-in-law. I left with heart-burn and touch or romantic glee.

I have been recruited

2008-07-13T04:23:00.000-07:00

In the animal rescue team! All summer I keep running across small creatures in situations of peril and catastrophe. It all began a few saturdays ago when my wife, my mother-in-law and myself went out to Ridgewood for pancakes. While waiting in the queue a small bird fell out of its nest and scared a woman into shrieking. After a bit of uh oh and what to do my wife was on the verge of tears. So I went to the cheese shop borrowed a ladder and wrangled that little guy back into its nest without touching it. Then a few days latter I found a turtle in the road. Danielle and I brought it to the park. Another few days pass and we find a bigger turtle in the road by the meadowlands. That turtle pissed everywhere the second I lifted him up. Who knows what little creature needs saving next?

Have you ever cried over a robot before?

2008-07-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

After some basic research and word of mouth I was excited to check out Wall-E. I brought my wife and mother-in-law for a matinee viewing this afternoon. It is my great pleasure to join the masses in glowing praise for this: THE MOVIE OF THE YEAR! The film was visually, intellectually, comically and most surprisingly emotionally a masterpiece of art. I wept on three separate occasions, howled in laughter and marveled at the incredible visual splendor. Beyond that, the film resonates with meaning and plenty of unanswered questions. So do not go see Wall-E, stay ignorant of its greatness; for then the other dreck on screens small and wide may still seem palatable to you.

Everyone gets older, all the time.

2008-07-04T05:34:00.001-07:00

My niece Mia had her 3rd birthday party last weekend. There was ice cream cake, presents, inflatable pool madness and the best coleslaw in the galaxy. You may also take a gander at Mia's new little sister Alexa, who is also aging before our eyes.

Strange Weather Stops Progress

2008-06-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

We have had a nonstop weather freak show out here. Every other day its thunder and lightning, steamy rain then sweet breeze. The current rain has stopped my barn painting all together. Sorry Mom & Dad, but the barn will have to wait till next week.

Female Garretsons Rule the East Coast!

2008-06-24T15:46:00.000-07:00

That's right faithful readers, its a female hat-trick for the Garretsons East. For your national records it's actually four little women of the Garretson persuasion. What will these young ladies accomplish? Will it be happiness, creative expression or just old fashion imperialistic domination and sublimation of other cultures? Stay tuned...

Not everything is black and white, but some things are.

2008-06-21T15:57:00.001-07:00

Here are a few examples from a recent series I worked on. The photographs were taken by Danielle on our cross country adventures, so these are a collaboration with my better half.

Father Oh Father

2008-06-20T20:33:00.001-07:00

Last weekend we celebrated Father's Day at the Garretson house. A rollicking good time was had by many participants. Here we see Teddy relaxing in the shade, to the right you see the card I made my Dad for the occasion.

The real Hot Stuff of the day was the newest Garretson in the universe: Alexa. She has a great set of toes and an adorable little face, not to be confused with the funny face I caught Mia showing next to her Grandpa; I think she was imitating a face he made while passing gas.

Mark Asked for It!

2008-06-18T04:08:00.000-07:00

Here you go big brother. This is the giant brain that sits between the two giant hands in my school; hopefully someone out there understood our metaphor.

Dream or Nightmare

2008-06-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

We finish our 2nd grade painting unit with an experiment in Surrealism and dream imagery. This painting feels like a clear nightmare to me, but after some discussion with the artist I learned that the running figure was in fact the painter's older brother: dream on young visionary!

How are you?

2008-06-12T06:56:00.000-07:00

Here we see a favorite painting of mine: Judith laying out justice! Before the slasher flick there was always the Bible. People who loved gore have always had an outlet. Next you see the tops of my classroom cabinet, I am getting a bit sad about moving on and leaving the elementary level. Finally for no good reason I have thrown in a visual diagram I used during my Research Practices within Art Education course I took last year. This research proposal involved hot dogs as metaphor; each dog represented a branch of research being funneled into the vessel which signified my findings (I think).

Homeless

2008-06-04T17:28:00.000-07:00

It has been a week and a half since we left the condo. 10,456 boxes fill our 10*25 storage unit, and we are currently residing in an ever changing locale. Soon faithful readers, soon enough we will build our permanent residence. By the most optimistic estimates we could be in our own "home" by the end of July. Fingers crossed for good luck!

Student Art Show DONE!

2008-05-27T06:55:00.001-07:00

Every year before my student art show we create a few large scale collaborative artworks. Here are two parts of one giant piece. The final result included a humongeous brain surrounded by these 5' hands.

1st Trimester Series

2008-05-26T12:25:00.001-07:00

Here are the first shots of my newest series. This is the first of three sets of nests: one for each trimester. Each set will be created with a different medium. I am about to begin the second trimester.

Old Memory

2008-05-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

What is better than the glorious triumphant theft of a hand puppet, illegal photography within a museum and a gaggle of friends on a road trip to Pittsburgh? Few things my friends! Thank you to Kevin AKA the BACONSHARK, for sending this pic to me this morning. What a great reminder of how life should be lived, with vim and vigor! Puppetry theft and misuse of artistic imagery!

welcome back, long time no new breakfast

2008-05-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

Here we see the "Dutch Baby", a glorious breakfast treat! So bountiful in its glory I recommend eating it biannually.

Danielle shot this Iphone pic right after an Espopus Omelette, who could resist goat cheese in your breakfast?

Winter ends, spring kicks in with green ferocity.

My classroom's sink can be as beautiful as a sunset.

Where have I been?

2008-01-26T06:09:00.001-08:00

Here is a photographic update of my adventures. Tremblant, Bellarye and my philosopher brother's foot on a christmas eve shoot.

A new kind of Portrait

2007-12-22T09:52:00.000-08:00

Here is some early shooting in a new series of portraits. I am not sure if I should work into the photos or let them exist as just photographs. Still mulling this over...hmmm....let me know your opinion.

2007-11-14T10:49:00.000-08:00

My mother explodes with joy when she sees her grandchildren. They bring her so much happiness! In this photo my mother displays a natural ability at gripping this unknown child.

Jayne Ellen Hartman

2007-11-14T10:28:00.000-08:00

Here is my mother. This is not a recent photo. She does not look exactly like this, but a lot of what I see in this photo is still her. Her father made a wonderful photo album for her many years ago (while he was recovering from a stroke). I recently scanned all of these photos and printed up an apple book (excellent holiday gift). During this process I noticed how much my face was inside my mother's. It is strange to look back and see yourself inside photographs that were taken years before you were born.

Newest, knew, Canoe!

2007-11-11T10:03:00.001-08:00

Here are the two newest box pieces. They both are a combination of sorts. I have chopped up some of the field pieces and worked them into the box format. Note the shape of the box is now being dictated by its contents. Things are getting more interesting for me, how about you?

Back from Baltimore

2007-11-11T09:57:00.001-08:00

Just back from Baltimore! Lots of good times with the best people. Some serious Jenga, delicious crab cakes, cupcakes, super cute babies, a joyful dog named Riley and bountiful laughter.

2007-11-06T06:44:00.000-08:00

My family celebrated my upcoming birthday last weekend. As a tribute of love and courage, my father (the man with the hand) ate a bounty of sushi for the first time (I think in his life). My brother and father excelled in the art of slamming sake, and my niece found great joy in dropping a master lock on the ground several times. It was glorious. For no apparent reason I have also posted a photo of my shadow in Newark, NJ. Let's say I did this for contrast.

2007-11-04T18:23:00.000-08:00

Two more, but the wide one is unfinished. What should go in the blank space? Lots of vellum, a big X, a vacant space in the outline of another shaman headress? What should I do?

To escape three times

2007-11-04T06:21:00.000-08:00

Here is one of my newest pieces. I am calling this series the "Boxed Series". All the works exist kind of like a tray, or the bottom of box, with various sections, squares rectangles and uneven sections. These sections reflect the desire to organize and sectionalize life, even the process of simplifying it. Enjoy!

Courage

2007-11-04T04:17:00.000-08:00

Now you have seen my feet. These oft mocked parts of myself have not remained full of shame and guilt in recent years. While in graduate school I did a few photo shoots with flowers intertwined through my toes, a celebration of the natural forms. What did I discover? I love these once horrific mutations, these mishappen, conjoined and uncomfortably large toes have their own beauty. It is through this lesson that I put my unique and beautiful feet on this blog.

2007-11-04T04:03:00.000-08:00

It is inevitable. At some point in any journey, my wife (and I) will be taking pictures of our shadows. On our first date we were doing it. My hope is that this never ever stops. This one was taken at the Art Educators of New Jersey Fall Conference.

2007-11-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

a big collaborative piece from last year's school art show

2007-11-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

while in a svannah graveyard, floating above my head was this dried up live oak leaf, hanging by almost invisible spanish moss, it spun around like a ballerina

2007-10-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

sleaside heights, nj
there really is a three headed giraffe gate, it's the entrance to a safari ride.

2007-10-31T12:04:00.000-07:00

2007-10-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

if you look at the bottom of this piece, you will find an old handmade slide, my wife sitting in full winter attire, and lots of snow.

It's Halloween (get your birdy on)

2007-10-31T05:42:00.000-07:00

Working on my blog, preparing my students for new plateaus of learning, and oh yeah, dressed as a bird. Just another wednsday at Woodside Elementary.

The Newist of New (in blue)

2007-10-31T03:49:00.000-07:00

These are some of my newest work, these photographs are WAT TOO BLUE!!! yikes I need to shoot these again

Frog Dehumidifier Awoke

2007-10-30T20:49:00.001-07:00

After watching another disturbing episode of Tell Me You Love Me, I can not sleep.
Well actually the hum of our new frog dehumidifier and the disturbing reality of all the unhappy and totally uncomunicative relationships out there, these combined factors have brought me into the kitchen to begin this blog.

While my wife gently sleeps, I have begun this blog for my new website. My oldest brother is stitching it together, and he is doing quite a bang up job. It is coming together, quite smashingly. The whole notion being thus: post art, post me, eventually show art on walls for others to see.

It has been two years since I have had a public showing of my work, a random piece or two in students shows at Columbia, but nothing solo-esque since my collaboration with SynonymUS poetry collective in the October of 2005. My art brain is hungry, for a show. I need that all so important step back, that moment to reflect and see the work in its best light, and of course the public attention.