I Love Me Some Big Glass Of Half Full

"Joy, where have you been?" you may be asking.

Well, with only six classes left at Academy of Art, I decided to tackle two of them this summer. Which is pretty crazy. What is normally a 16 week course is condensed into 8 weeks. Which means two assignments due a week. And being that one of my courses is Motion Graphics 2 (basically creating cool motion graphics in AfterEffects), equals the pretty crazy part. Actually, make that very crazy.

Add to that that the BlogHer annual conference is July 18-20 (1000 attendees; sponsors such as GM, Intuit, and TNT, to name a few; and a party at Macy's in Union Square) and well, you have me working pretty much non-stop.

Again, very crazy.

The last few weeks have definitely been a good lesson in time management. I'm trying very had to balance work and school with, well, a life. I guess this is always an issue for the working American. We live in a culture that seems to get off on burning the candle at both ends. When did this cultural shift happen? Or is that what this nation has always been about?

I guess I am partly to blame for the craziness. Had I not decided to become a rave bunny in the 90s, I would have finished my undergrad at Santa Clara in my early 20s. But when I start to think about what my life would have been, my head starts to spin. How could I even know. How could I even make a guess. It's one of those Sliding Doors kinda things. I may not have ever found out that I wanted to do design; I may have never met my husband; I may have never experienced all the bizarre and wonderful things that have made me who I am today.

So, in my 30s, and after a kick-ass winding road, I'm here working my ass off.

With a little life mixed in every chance I get.

Academy of Art Spring Show - A MUST SEE!

Trip and I ventured out to the city last night (trust me - a rare event) to attend opening night of the Academy of Art Spring Show. I know I may be bias, but honestly, this is some of the most talented work I have seen in my life. We were both completely blown away - and Trip is a hard critic to please.

From the sculptured jewelry to the animation to the industrial design to the illustrations, there is definitely something for everyone. Trip was in awe over the illustration section, where simple sketch book displays were anything but simple. And I of course was green with envy with the New Media work. There were about ten computer stations set up to experience multiple projects, which was perfect for such interactive art. I was totally inspired to get in gear for next year and submit some work!

I had the pleasure of meeting two of my instructors (the Director and Assistant Director of New Media), and they encouraged me to go to the complete New Media gallery at 180 New Montgomery, as the Spring Show is only about a third of what they have on display there. If it's anything near the caliber of work I saw at the Spring Show, I'm afraid my head may explode. This gallery is also open all summer.

The Spring Show is a free exhibit, open to the public - so you really have no excuse. Give yourself plenty of time. We were there for about an hour and a half and still didn't get to really see everything (the place was mad crowded, yo).

When
May 23 – July 25, 2008
10AM TO 6PM
(closed Sundays and Holidays)

Where
Academy of Art University
601 Brannan Street (at 5th Street)
San Francisco, CA 94107

On a side note -- we parked on Townsend, and as we walked to AAU gallery we passed a couple alleys with FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC street art. We're going back to the Spring Show partly to see the show again, and partly to shoot that street art!

Launch of joypjohnson.com

Thanks to my production staff (aka my brother), the kinks have been worked out and my personal portfolio site is up and running. Check it out when you have a sec, and let me know what ya'll think.