New Direction For Me Concerning YouTube
The other day I wanted to listen to a lecture on the neurology and faith/ belief, yes that is what I do in my spare time. Actually it is research for yet another book. I always have a couple of book projects going. Anyway, there was a podcast that I found on YouTube and it hit me, yes there were neural connections in my own brain that began to fire and I wondered, Can I do that with my podcasts?
I have three different podcasts— the Art and Technology Podcasts covers a wide range of interests for me concerning my endeavors with bridging the gap between the traditional sculpture studio and new technology. I expect to do more podcasts on these subjects in the near future as I am going to start a new book on the topic, more on that later.
The Creative Christian Podcast and the Inspirations Generations Podcasts are two podcasts that I have been doing, 3 a month, since 2008. At first it was a dialogue between my mother, my daughter and I, as well as interviews with special guests like Ruth Graham, Dr. Gary Chapman, and Scott Hamilton. Then it changed. It always seems to reflect my life events. When mother died we covered a lot on grief and mother loss, when beginning my novel I added the Creative Christians Podcast and talked to authors and writers. The topics range from atheism to publishing with Christian publishers like Zondervan.
I was intrigued with the idea to put a podcast on YouTube. I have had a Sculptorwriter YouTube page for a few years and yesterday I put up my first podcast. Note:
- Video is much more viral than podcasts.
- My gift line God’s Word Collectibles is the sponsor of the series. Video allows me to show the work.
- With the new closed captions that are now a part of YouTube, the podcast is also searchable by search engines, which helps me with my marketing. I also love the idea that deaf people will have access to my podcasts.
- You tube offers auto transcriptions- I have wanted to transcribe all of the podcasts, but it is very difficult and time consuming and not an investment that I am willing to make right now.
So here is my first podcast that I created as a YouTube. If you would like to see how it was done and the details on using and editing your closed captions please look at the next posts titled Moving your Podcasts to YouTube- and Using and Editing Closed Captions in YouTube
Please note, when you watch this video, if you turn on closed captions- by pressing the cc on the bottom of the screen, I have only edited the first 5-7 minutes of the captions. After that… well let me just say that the automated transcriptions that YouTube closed captions provides leaves something to be desired, but it is a place to start and I am thankful for Google and YouTube for thinking of it.
Upside Down Christmas Party
It is becoming a tradition. The invitation says we have been doing this since 1993, not every year, but it is definitely becoming a regular happening of late. I suppose we are committed to doing it each year as people ask, “When is the Upside Down Party?” They want to be sure to put it on their calendar. It is true it is getting bigger and better each time. This year was no exception.
First… Why do we call it the Upside Down Party? It is named that because we hang the tree from the ceiling, and we have been doing this long before it became fashionable to do so. Yes, it is a real tree. Regular attendees know— our guests decorate the tree with anything …. on their person, in their car or found. So walking around the tree to see what has been put on it or on the garland that we have strung on the wall to accommodate the extra ornaments is very intriguing.
My favorite ornaments this year were a baby shoe with a message, a beer bottle, a receipt from the Renaissance Festival, and the destuffed dog toy that was in the yard.
Along with the tree there are other interesting and fun things to see, starting with the magical land of the Upside Down Christmas tree, which many say is transformed, contains fairies, and is like nothing they have seen before. Twinkle lights are lit ,the fire pit is going, and people are eating, and mingling all over the studio, yard and around the ponds and fire.
There was a contest for the most creative Christmas outfit (or ugly Christmas sweater) This coveted title was won by not one person but an entire family who had their own twinkle lights that blinked as they came through the party.
Another hit from the party came from Diliberto Photo & Design (www.dilibertophotoanddesign.com) who not only was showing their work, but provided a live photo booth for the event. What is a live photo booth? Think red carpet, lights and props. One guest said they felt like a star. To see all of the photographs from the live photo booth visit their Facebook Page . And take note that they are having a contest and choosing a New Year’s Eve party to shoot, it is free. Check out the details here.
There were many artists showing their work or hosting this years party, of course I was there
Bridgette Mongeon (www.creativesculpture.com)
My lovely husband didn’t show work this time, but he did host the party and deserves a mention here Mike De La Flor (www.mdcommunications.com)
Lloyd Ernstes was showing jewelry. Sorry we don’t have a website for Lloyd.
Bruce Foster (www.paperprops.com) had his pop up books that as Christina Sizemore described, are “pop up books on steroids.” His work is incredible and his newest book “Puff the Magic Dragon” has just been featured in the New York Times
Kit Allen (www.kitskids.com) was exhibiting some of his painting.
My favorite part of the night is the time when I can sit down and enjoy the fire, but that didn’t happen until very late.
I certainly don’t know how we will top this party next time. Guess we will have to see how that happens.
Graduate School Loans Are Cut By Government
Where have I been? I’m glad I have finished graduate school, but I am so sorry for those who are in the midst of their studies and have this extra financial debt. As I understand it, the debt deal that congress has come up with is cutting subsidized loans to graduate students. What exactly does that mean? There are both subsidized loans and unsubsidized loans that have been offered by the government. An unsubsidized loans begins to collect interest while the student is still in school. A subsidized loan does not collect interest until six months after the student graduates or if they stop taking a full class load. Basically the government is doing away with the subsidized loans for grad students.
Another thing that is going away, is a credit that is given to students who have made one year of on time payments.
My Life is lived Through Podcasts!
It is true. I have been podcasting for 3 years now. I have 3 different podcasts that I record.
The Creative Christian Podcast and the Inspiration Generations podcast gives me a chance to focus on different things that I am interested in, especially those that relate to my faith. Because I am also a writer I focus on writing topics in these podcasts as well.
I thought I would include links to some of my most recent podcasts
CHRISTMAS SEASON
Malcolm Guite
Poet, singer and Songwriter Malcolm Guite has podcasted with me before. In this podcast he talks about the the ” The Great O” Antiphons and Advent.
The Advent Conspiracy
I have been very interested in doing Christmas a bit differently this year and thought about how that would look. Apparently I’m not the only one as The Advent Conspiracy is a movement that is taking hold throughout the world. I enjoyed talking to Tony Biaggne about this in our 109th podcast
LOSS AND GRIEF
I recently lost my father. This was my last surviving parent and has put me into a position of being an adult orphan. When I heard the term I thought it was a stupid and strange label, but as I enter this time in my life, I realize it is a transformative time. I’m spending time with other exploring this. Alicia King is also an adult orphan and has written much about grief. In this podcast number 108 we share our experiences and talk about this transformation.
ART AND TECHNOLOGY The Art and Technology Podcasts have been on hold for a while. They were used as part of my gradate study. I do believe I will ramp up the Art and Technology podcast again after the first of the year, as I am going to focus on a new book project. More details on that later.
If you are interested in seeing the Art and Technology Podcasts you can see them on the Digital Sculpting.net website.
Panther- The Unveiling
What a great ceremony for the unveiling. They did a good job installing it and we are so glad it is done. I’m also elated that the school says it is female. We did not actually “show” the gender. Having it female adds some specialness to this project, you see it was all women who worked on it. Here I am with two of my girls who helped me on the piece- Shirley, and Allison. I call them my Towanda girls. Lots of female energy in the piece!
I was wondering what the sculpture would look like at night. I was a bit concerned that it was being lit from below and it really should be lit from above. I had to fight to keep the eyes the way that I sculpted them and I did so for this reason. The sculpture has intensity.
We did it! I can’t wait to hear what others think about the piece. Please feel free to send me your comments, or post to the blog. And go back to the beginning of this blog to check out the progress, from start to finish. Oh yes, If you pose with the sculpture send me your photographs and I’ll be sure to post them on the blog.
I would like to thank photographer Bill Petty for sending me these photographs.
Panther- I Found This Video Of The Dedication Of The Sculpture
Some Recent Work- The Panther
Thanks to Bill Petty for these photographs. This was installed last week, and there are lots of posts on this blog about how it was done. If you like you can also check out the Prairie View Blog set up for this project.
Prairie View Blog Will Be Updated
As many know I have been working on a huge project with a very tight deadline. I have created a bronze panther for Prairie View A & M University. Today it was installed and dedicated and the crazy schedule of working very, very long hours to make the deadline now ceases. I will be updating the blog with all of the details of the project. For more details check out the Prairie View Panther category on this blog or the clients blog at Prairie View A&M Panther Blog!
The blog for the process of the prairie View A & M panther project can be found at http://prairieviewpanther.blogspot.com
Panther Delivery
Some people take a “first glance” and an early photo opportunity. Then we make a panther fly. The panther is mounted on the pedestal. It is almost ready for the unveiling.
Panther- Packing a Cat
We wake up very early to get the panther ready for the trip to her home. After loading up the panther into the Uhaul we have a little bit of a problem getting the trailer out of the foundry. The wet ground from the previous rains make it difficult. But soon we are on our way.
