louise on the left (coast)

Last week I posted a link related to a group of Russian artists (Voina) who create street art, or performance art . I have mixed opinions regarding their work, but I do think they are interesting, or rather, I find them entertaining, which is primarily why I wrote about them. However:  The way Voina described their own pretentious and obscure artistic goals really kind of bugged me. Why?  Well, because it's not the first time I've heard artists (including writers, photographers, choral directors, etc.) complain their work isn't understood. And, the truth is: I love art.  I want all of us who create from our hearts with our unique abilities to thrive.  I really do.  But, this is 2011.  And right now all of the arts are a tough sell. Here's some advice regarding this issue: Look, it's bad enough when people don't "understand" your art, but when that lack of understanding means you also can't pay the bills, eat, and/or thrive then it'

Or, as Melissa Etheridge dubs her, "Norma Gay!" That's right, comedian Kathy Griffin, in her endless quest to become an A-lister ended up becoming an activist – an entirely different A-list – fighting alongside her many gay fans against California Proposition 8. Having been a longtime Kathy Griffin fan , learning about her new leaf as a political activist really made me sit up and take notice. Given that you’re reading this on Bilerico, I’m guessing you’re well-versed in the history of California as a gay battleground state, but gays and lesbians aren’t the only Californians pissed off about this. Many of us straight people are – I’ve been writing about this for months – and now Kathy Griffin is in the fight too. In this episode (Episode 8, Season 5) of her show “My Life On The D-List” which airs this Monday, July 27th, on Bravo , Griffin takes on a more serious tone than usual, starting off with a declaration of war, more or less, on the eve of the California Supreme Cou