What the..?

I thought perhaps I could use this opportunity, less than two weeks before departure to Scotland, to touch again on the whole purpose of this blog, and where I see it heading in the next several months.

I started up Artsy Abroad back in May as a way to get myself prepared and into the mode of blogging before heading off to Scotland. Its primary focus was always going to be my travels and discoveries, experiences around the city, and bits and pieces of my life and what it's like to be a student of art history in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. And that's exactly what I still intend to do. Of course, since I haven't actually been in Scotland for the last few months, this blog is obviously going to seem a bit different. But in my mind, different = totally super rad! Yes, I said rad. ;)

Don't worry! The focus will be the same. I'm still using the same, dumb 8-year old digital camera and will update in much the same way and with--hopefully--the same frequency. I hope that the change of scenery and massive change in my life's focus will inspire even better blog posts, because part of the fun of this whole blogging process is learning more about it and getting better at it as I go along.

Needless to say, I'm going to be pretty busy when I arrive in Edinburgh, and especially when classes begin. But doubtless there are going to be many other things I'll want to check out, considering I've never been to Edinburgh before! I've begun thinking about what museums and galleries there are in Edinburgh, and have filled some empty time by checking out what exhibitions are going on. I thought I'd share a few that I hope to get to eventually!

Man Ray Portraits at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Dressed to Kill: Fashion, Costume and Dress in Scottish Art at the City Art Centre

The Decorative Art Collections at Lauriston Castle

The Travelling Gallery Art Bus!

And probably a few galleries from this list from The Guardian.

_._._._

I'm so excited to check out all kinds of architecture, landmarks, neighborhoods, cafes and shops and so much more... and share them all with you. :) Thanks for following along!

Days to Edinburgh move-in: 12

Pare down and pare some more

The sun is out, the doors are open, there's fresh fruit in the kitchen and... I'm cleaning! I could say the last few months have been an extended exercise in the art of paring down.



Getting rid of things can be a tricky business. Anyone who has packed up to move, whether short or long term, knows what it's like to go through the wardrobe or the bookcases and try to figure out what's necessary to keep, and what can be gotten rid of. When it comes to space limits and the practicality of say, shipping boxes overseas (ahem, cha-ching), the reality of how much I can keep becomes apparent. I've got this to deal with:



And this:



And some more that's hidden in various places around the apartment. An eclectic collection...



There's a bit of (my own and others') artwork, too. One large one I started a few years ago and never quite finished, below. I thought I was being clever with the idea that "nothing is black and white." Commence snicker and eye roll.



My parents are loving and generous and are allowing me to keep a few boxes of things in an out-of-the-way closet in their house while I figure out where the non-essentials like my art books and vinyl records should go. It's the stuff I can't bear to get rid of because it's either very valuable, or special in some way, or sentimental. I also find that I'm entering that grey area of "student life" where I'll have a room in a flat for the next year, but after that year is up, I'll invariably be moving again -- and I haven't the foggiest idea where. It's wonderful that I don't have to give up everything I can't take with me.

Today, on my very first proper day off in weeks, I decided to go through my belongings one last time. I've become a bit of a bibliophile in the last four+ years, having worked as a bookseller at a used bookstore where the treasures were really treasures. I tend to lean in the artsy book collecting direction, which of course tends the bookcase toward a mass of oversized, beautiful, sometimes rare and altogether totally impractical books. Well, maybe not totally impractical. ;) I am bound to be an art historian after all, right? ;)



I've been through these shelves and crates before, culling as I went, but I'm down to the tough decisions, and I think I've finally made them. I'm keeping plenty of really wonderful items, but as for the other things that I may have been holding onto simply because I was accustomed to holding onto them, they're going to the used bookstore to find new homes. Some, like my beloved and ancient Salinger will not last much longer no matter what happens to it, since it's basically in pieces as it is.

  

My cat Porter was kind enough to keep a watchful eye from his overseer's spot on top of the microwave, and I'm happy to be able to spend this beautiful Friday getting some things done (and getting outside a little bit too).






He can be kind of a serious guy. But he may have been frustrated that I hadn't fed him any Fancy Feast yet today. It can make him kind of testy.

Hope everyone has a marvelous weekend!


Days to Edinburgh move-in: 36