Kids' Stuff

When I was 8 years old, these were my lifelong goals: have a "greatest hits" album and be a famous artist. At the time, I was listening to a lot of Frankie Valli (received from Santa, as requested) and Mary Cassatt was my favorite artist. I dreamed of living in France and Whitney Houston was teaching me to sing via her self-titled album.  I wrote my first song, "Baby Blue," and recorded it over and over again, labeling each tape "Nikki Rice's Greatest Hits."

A few years later, I discovered Dr. Demento and decided being a radio host wouldn't be so bad, nor would being an author. I was still into the fame game, but maturing, and I was already beginning to understand the difference between high art and low art. The low was much more appealing to me. I understood the concept of sex far too well, and I read a lot of Judy Blume. I recorded obscene radio shows with my closest friends and wondered why all the boys were calling them and not me. I was in love with writing on my typewriter, which I found to be much more sincere than writing on my computer.

From there I got into making radio shows, watching Beavis & Butthead, and cracking obscene jokes in the company of my closest friends... jokes no one but me fully understood.  I loved watching game shows and playing Gin with my grandma.  I discovered Alanis Morissette and Pearl Jam, but listened to Weird Al just as much.  When I was slightly older, I became obsessed with showing all of my friends my two favorite movies - it was like a rite of passage I inflicted upon all of them - Teen Witch and Welcome to the Dollhouse. If you got those movies, you got me.

And then I found Erykah Badu, and she changed my life. I started singing soul and wearing ankhs. I believed that if I was nice to others, good things would come to me. I asked for a Bible and a cross necklace for Christmas and I got them both. I wore the cross (made of real gold and diamonds) only once or twice, but read my Bible every night. I ended up skimming over a lot, and it just didn't make sense to me as anything more than a moral tale that was 100's of pages too long.

I wanted to live in Vegas. It was my favorite place in the whole world and I talked about it with anyone who would listen. I knew Fremont Street before it was an "experience" and I was so familiar with the city that my parents let me take a cab around town, unaccompanied, starting at the age of 12. I felt like that town "got me," and when I came home I was pompous and self-absorbed and insecure as fuuuuck. I was the last person I knew to get their first kiss, and I stopped competing for top grades because I knew I could never be the best (therefore, why be anything?). I tried out for a choir solo and got it. It was the greatest accomplishment of my life, up until that point in time.

Then I became depressed, went to therapy, went on medication, and met a boy. The rest is history.

I miss THIS.

Since I've last written, I moved out of the apartment I was sharing with Sarah and into a new one with another roomie who ended up leaving halfway through the lease. And, luckily for me, Sarah moved into this new place with me a couple weeks ago. Due to this shifting of space and roommates, a lot of reorganization has been needed on my part. So, I have spent many hours sorting through scattered masses of notes, diaries, travel journals, and other random scrawlings. This, of course, led to countless hours of procrastination in between, during which I decided to reread many of my online blog entries from the past couple of years. Spending so much time reviewing this blog (and all the writings that could have been a part of it) has made me realize something: I miss personal blogging. A LOT.

Why did I quit?

I suppose because I've been trying to turn my online efforts toward more professionally productive avenues, such as building my artist's website (nriceart.com) and a Tumblr account (nriceart.tumblr.com) to go with it. There were business cards to be made, artworks to be photographed, and even a QR code to be created that needed to lead my contacts to a self-made mobile site. With all of this artistic ammunition in hand, I attended my first SGC printmaking conference in New Orleans.

"It's For The Best" Litho by N.Rice (2012)

But that conference took place in March, and since then, outside of creating some awesome new prints, I was just doing a lot of Facebooking. (I also traveled to Amsterdam, started working on music with a new band, and dealt with all sorts of man-drama in my personal life... all quite noteworthy ways to spend one's time, but those stories are for another day.)

And so I'm back!! I'm turning 30 in 13 days, am about to start my LAST year of art school (yes, I will actually have a degree soon, and after only 12 years of on-again-off-again college attendance), and I'm not about to miss out on documenting the achievements and horrors that are sure to befall me over the next year. Riding on the cusp of thirty has me doing all sorts of reflecting, analyzing, obsessing, and promising myself changes in lifestyle and thought patterns. I need to share it all somewhere, or my life may as well be a tree falling in the forest, with no one to hear it.

So, can we take the next hour and talk about me?

"Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward." - Soren Kierkegaard

I know I'm supposed to be working on posting my travel journal, and that's exactly what I'm NOT doing right now... but trust that this post IS related to my recent transatlantic journey.

I have made it my summer goal, and perhaps a late New Year's resolution, to try as many new things as possible this year. I've long considered myself to be an adventurous, spontaneous individual, and in this year of 2010, I am striving to prove that to myself everyday. And so, I am beginning a list of "firsts." Maybe you'll do the same?

• first trip to Greece (May 26, 2010)
• swam in the sea (May 2010)
• ate a whole, uncooked tomato and LOVED it (June 2010)
• went down a water slide (June 31, 2010)
• tried liver pate (July 2010)

Admittedly, these things may not look so exciting now that I've got them laid out in front of me, but THEY ARE... I've been terrified of fish, oceans, and the sea for my entire life, so when I took a  swim with Chryssa in Greece, it was an amazing step in my life. By the end of my vacation, I was loving every second I had in those refreshing waves. I've also always been really weird about food - I didn't eat any vegetables, aside from corn and potatoes, until I was well into my twenties - so eating a whole tomato or trying something uncommon like liver pate is a big deal for me.

What I'm getting at is this: no matter how insignificant a new experience may seem to be, it's still new, and it's still a chance to hop outside your comfort zone; a chance to break down a boundary. Most of our boundaries are self-imposed, and each time you crack one of them, even in a small way, you are giving yourself more room to grow.

Fewer boundaries = more room to play = a happier life. It makes sense, yes?

Greece 2010 Travel Journal: May 31, 2010

Three days since my last entry, and there is already much to catch up on...

On Friday evening, Chryssa and I decided to stay around the house and relax. I tried to go to bed early, but my legs and feet were very tingly and achy from the long travel and a lack of sleep. I laid awake in bed for hours, anxiety-ridden over the thought of experiencing foot or leg trauma on yet another vacation.

Shortly after I fell asleep, Spero barged through my door and turned on the light, ready to hang out and take some shots. We sat and talked for a long time about the things he misses about the U.S. We talked about the difference between respect and fear, and how to recognize where you are loved, and in which way. It was a nice time.

Chryssa and I spent all day Saturday at the sea, and it was wonderful! We drank juice and coffee under an umbrella at a beach cafe, and I am developing a lovely tan. We also went to birthday party at Landi's friend Maria's house. Maria is from Chile. Her family was very welcoming to me. She and Landi used to belong to a group for foreign wives in Greece, and they told me great stories of old time. I am at the beach with them now.

Chryssa, Spero, and I have been out drinking every night, and it's been fun to "party" again. I have a different control over alcohol these days, so it's been all pleasant experiences. I've met so many people that I'm having a hard time remembering their names. I need to work on this. One of my favorite people I've met is Ilias, a friendly, young gay man who works with Spero. He has a opinion on everything, but is not pushy. He is a dancer and a theater student, and seems wise beyond his years. I also really liked the girl Spero invited out last night - Xara. She was a blast, and we became quick friends. She works at a hotel on a vacation beach in a nearby town, and I think we will visit there for a night. Ilias would also like to take us on a mini-vacation.

There is so much more to tell, but I've written enough for today. Maybe I will write more at the beach tomorrow. Kalinihta! Good night!

P.S. Spero hurt his knee "80's dancing" the other night, so he is a bit incapacitated. :(

Greece 2010 Travel Journal: May 28, 2010

I am sitting on the balcony and just finished doing my make-up. Spero, Chryssa, and I are going out to coffee at a cafe called Exis before Spero has to go to work

Kalamata is gorgeous, and full of tiny privately owned shops. It is laid out very differently than any American city I've seen; you walk through small alleys to find the entrances of buildings, and all the streets are paved with different types of stone. You can easily walk everywhere, and many people have scooters or motorcycles.

Yesterday, the three of us went to a cafe called Bar Fly and had frappe, then beer. Spero went to work, then Chryssa and I went to meet her friend, Danny Kargas, at his graphic design office. After we met Danny, who is very outgoing and friendly, we went to visit Spero at the bar where he works, called Vino Banco. It is a cozy place, very classy, with warm lighting. We drank and laughed until early in the morning. I met many people, and drunkenly practiced the few Greek phrases I have learned so far: "thank you," "fuck you," and "I'm hungry." Haha! Starting with the basics...

It was wonderful to spend time with Spero. I knew I had missed him, but didn't realize just how much until we had the chance to hang out yesterday. I am glad to be able to see an old friend, and to meet new ones. I hope to spend some time with Nike, as well. Though she is busy with the baby, we plan to have coffee and maybe go clubbing soon.

Greece 2010 Travel Journal: May 27, 2010

Arrived in Kalamáta at Chryssa's house around 11:00 p.m. last night. I'm extremely tired from traveling, but also too excited to sleep! We flew from Chicago to Zürich, then from Zürich to Athens, then rode two buses to Kalamáta, then took a cab to Chryssa's house [where her brother, Speros, and sister, Nike, live]. Amazingly, I did manage to nap a bit over the course of the last 24 hours of travel.

We had dinner with Landi [Chryssa's mom], Nike, Aggelos, and little Panayiotis [Nike's baby]. He is adorable! We tried to stay up to say hi to Speros, too, but I am going to pass out at any moment. So far, Greece is beautiful and amazing. I can't wait to see more of it tomorrow!

Presenting! Greece 2010 Travel Journal

 
As most of you know, I recently spent four weeks in Greece, with my friend Chryssa and her family. While I was there, I kept a journal, and I've finally found the time to transfer it here to my blog. It was an amazing trip, and I know that my meager writings won't do justice in describing the thrills and happiness that I felt each day that I was there, but I do hope that they will give you a glimpse into the experiences that I had...

Countdown to relaxation:

May Madness

Someone is ringing the ghetto doorbell outside - honk honk honk honk - seriously? Just get out of you car and go to the door, jerk face. Grr.

School's out for summer, my roommate has moved out, and I'm leaving for Greece in less than three weeks. Also, I will be moving out of my apartment before I leave for vacation, and I'm a little sad about letting it go. Even though the electricity and plumbing are shit (I can't run a toaster and a coffee machine at the same time without the power going out, and every time I take a shower water leaks into my neighbors' bedroom), I do like this place a lot. Not only that, but since I moved in a little less than a year ago, I've managed to acquire approximately 80-100 new owl collectibles, and probably about 60-80 new VHS tapes. Moving is gonna be an overwhelming process. As it always is.

In other news, Wienerslav has been asked to play another show at The House on May 19th, opening up for a Virginia band called The Judy Chops. We are also going to get together to record a couple songs on Monday and make ourselves a MySpace page to showcase our tunes. Keep your ears open!

And though I haven't had a moment to make any crafts for the Etsy shop I mentioned a couple months ago, my friend and fellow blogger Chrissy has, and her items are posted and ready for sale! Check them out at The Tawdry Owl on Etsy. And while you're there, check out my brother's shop, too.

Last but not least, here are some photos of my final sculpture project. I'm really pleased with how it turned out, and I wish it would have been finished early enough to be in the show with my other works. Too bad. Maybe I will be able to show it sometime in the future...

"Better Version of Me"

Nikki Rice

May 2010

Living This Life

April has been a month spent immersed in art and music, just as I prefer. On the 8th, both of my bands, Eat Your Heart Out! and Wienerslav, played a benefit concert called Rock Against Rape (see my previous post for info). It was fantastic! About $1000 was collected for the local non-profit agency Safe Passage. Then, on the 22nd, Wienerslav played another show with some amazing musicians - most notably, Jason and the Punknecks. The bill was filled with high energy country-punk-blues bands that I felt honored to play amongst.

I don't have any future shows scheduled yet, but am looking to book one for my birthday, at the end of the summer. And hopefully a few in between, once I get back from my summer vacation to Greece. Yes, I'm going to Greece!!! For a whole month! Could I be any luckier?

In other news, two of my sculpture pieces were featured in NIU's 2010 Graduate and Undergraduate Sculpture Show at the Pleasant Street Gallery in DeKalb. It was my first time having any of my art in a gallery, and what a wonderful feeling it was. Being back in school is opening up so many opportunities for me to explore and share my artwork. I could go on and on about this, but the real world duties of laundry washing and final exams are calling to me. Until I find more time to write all I want to, here are some photos of the sculptures I had in the show. (Sorry, the photos are only iPhone quality.)

"The Mytho-Mechanics of Sexual Biology"
Nikki Rice
February 2010 

"Breathing in/Breathing out (Homage to Marina & Ulay)"
Nikki Rice
April 2010
* Click here for info on original piece being reference.

Spring Break

I'm currently on spring break from school, and just got home from an awesome road trip with my friends Chrissy and Liam. We went to Myrtle Beach, S.C. Our vacation was spent visiting a great local bar (Duffy's/The Bowery), eating at delicious little restaurants where we could smoke INDOORS, hanging at the beach, visiting the Ripley's Aquarium and other attractions, and meeting odd characters.

This is where I should go into detail about our trip, but I feel like I've got too much to catch up on in my blogging after not writing for a month. So, instead, you'll just have to use your imagination as to what went on in S.C. Here's a slide show of some of my favorite trip photos to help get you started:

Last week, I played an open mic with my new band, Wienerslav (name subject to change in near future), at The House Cafe in DeKalb. We were offered to open up a show on April 22nd and I'm quite stoked. The last time I played a show was about a year ago, with my other band, Eat Your Heart Out!. I will also be playing a "Rock Against Rape" show with both of my bands on April 8th. Music has been one of my major foci for the last couple months, and I feel like it's paying off. It feels great to be performing again.

I've also been SWAMPED with schoolwork this semester. My studio art classes (2-D Art and Beginning Sculpture) are keeping me very busy. I've been juggling like crazy to keep my schedule in order, and I'm not an innately organized person, so it's been a bit rough. I did scratch a couple important items off my to-do list yesterday: replaced my social security card that's been lost for almost two years, and got new copies of my birth certificate with which I can apply for a passport. (I'm going to Greece in June with my friend Chryssa, and I'm incredibly excited.) Next on my list is paying off a few parking tickets I've gotten lately... boo and hiss. Luckily, they're for small amounts and didn't cost much more than parking in the pay lot at school would have. But still, BUMMER.

Well, I'm off for now... going to call up Chryssa and Alexandra and see if we can make a little coffee time today. Cheers, all.

A list of awesome things that happened in the last week:

1. My parents renewed their vows on a cruise ship, and brought me back a bunch of cool presents from Barbados. Congrats, Mom and Dad!

2. Bought a hideous on-the-hanger dress at Target that looked way sexy on-the-me.

3. Got my first sculpture assignment, and it's highly interpretable.

4. Learned to play Hank Williams' "Hey, Good Looking" on the keyboard (as well as a few random 90's techno songs).

5. Chryssa dyed my white trash roots back to beautiful blond.

6. Used velcro rollers in my hair for the first time, and, thanks to some helpful amateur YouTube how-to videos, got wonderful results. The video below was the most useful for me. I will try to put up a full instructional post of my own in the next couple days, as I'm assuming that using rollers to curl hair is as big of a mystery to many other people as it was for me.

7. Ate a phenomenal falafel pita at Pita Pete's with Jaime and James, and some damn good Qdoba with Chryssa and Alex; friends and food - need I say more about why these experiences were so exceptional?

8. Got a bunch of canvas and other art supplies from the VCBeast.

9. Spent lots of time with people I love.

10. Received an exciting X-mas gift: a beautiful polka dot corsette!

11. Made plans for the upcoming weekend that are guaranteed to bring me many smiles, much laughter, and maybe even some butterflies in my tummy.

Life is spectacular right now. I wish I could feel this way all the time. I know people say that you can't appreciate the good without the bad, but I find that really hard to believe. And, even if this is true, I think the amount of "bad" I've experienced thus far will keep me appreciating "good" for the rest of my life. Bring it on.