The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Construction

Construction in my neighborhood never seems to stop. Here’s what’s going on my street.

The house to the north is gutted to the studs. The owners are turning the three-bedroom house into a house with two master suites. They hope to move in this fall. There is an army of workers there every day.

The owners of the house across the street are adding a covered patio along with an outdoor kitchen. More workers and more trucks arrive daily.

Two lots to the north a master suite addition along with a kitchen remodel is almost finished.

Mid-block, a six bedroom spec home ($2.2m) is under construction. The previous owners ended up divorcing after the original house was torn down. The couple fought over the lot in court but ended up selling the lot to a developer. Many workers and trucks arrive daily.

On the north end of my street, a massive 5,900 sq. ft. spec home has been under construction for five years. Workers occasionally arrive but it looks like work has stalled again on this project.

The new owners of house to the south of mine are planning a kitchen remodel. This will be the third kitchen remodel in eight years for this house. They hope to start construction in July.

The new subterranean garage for the house catty-corner to mine will start demolition tomorrow. The east end of the house will be torn down in order to excavate for the new three-car garage and heated driveway. A new family room, laundry and bathroom will be built over the garage.

On other streets, there are four whole-house renovations underway, and a new 8,500 sq. ft. house under construction.

A developer recently paid $2.1m for a 3,800 sq. ft. ranch home on a lot just shy of a half-acre. The house will be replaced by a two-story, 9,100 sq. ft. house. The surrounding neighbors are vocalizing strong opposition to the house which they feel is too big for the lot. All of the adjacent homes are sprawling mid-century ranches. The house has yet to be approved by the architectural committee or the executive board.

Construction and renovations never seems to end. It’s a way of life here.

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A Lost Weekend

I was sick all weekend with a head cold. It stated last Thursday. I took to my bed Friday afternoon spending most of the weekend there. I managed to get to the grocery store for a few provisions on Saturday. It was a weekend without art, Internet, and friends. I feel much better today but still need a few more days to fully recover.

Oddly, the cat came home on Friday night after spending two weeks in Beaver Creek at the neighbor’s second home. He was dropped off in a Louis Vuitton cat carrier. He hung around all weekend keeping me company. He left this morning looking for a new adventure.

Thankfully, I’m working from home today. I’m back in my new job. I need to be on point but my head is still in a cloud of congestion. I’m trying to concentrate on the easy tasks today. I don’t want to make a critical mistake given I’m still in a fog from the over-the-counter cold medicine.

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Simply Amazing!

I’m doing my old job this week. In an epic display of incompetence, my old boss forgot my replacement was taking a three week vacation. He did not have sufficient staff to support the work load. He had to call my director and ask to borrow me for the week. I bet he hated making that call.

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He We Go Again

Paddy gave the new guy the boot again last Thursday. It was another epic disagreement making the fights on a Real Housewives franchise look like a guided mediation. Paddy had added the guy to his car insurance and cell phone plan. The guy drove home drunk last Thursday which was the catalyst for the break up. Paddy dropped the guy from the car insurance on Friday and his cell phone plan yesterday. The guy’s few meager possessions have been moved into the garage. The guy never had a key to the house so the locks don’t have to be changed. The guy is refusing to sign a document releasing him from the lease which only goes to show he is an idiot. He doesn’t realize he’s liable for half the rent even if he moves out.

Paddy met a new guy on Friday night. They’ve hooked up several times this past weekend. I wish Paddy would wait at least ten minutes between guys. I don’t know why someone who is on point in his professional life can make a complete mess of his private life. It’s probably related to being neglected by his drug-addict parents when he was a child. Whatever the cause, I think Paddy needs to find a therapist who can help him understand why he makes such poor decisions when it comes to men.

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Duende

Image taken at Edge Gallery a few weeks ago.

I’m looking forward to the weekend. Mai Wyn is throwing a party at her gallery tonight. Also, it’s Pridefest this weekend in Denver which is expected to draw 350,000 people. It should be a fun weekend.

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He’s Only Hurting Himself

I have to interface with my old “boss” in my new position. I always thought he was incompetent, unorganized, and lacked a work ethic. Lately, he’s been extremely slow to respond to my requests, or doesn’t respond at all. This morning, a peer told me she thought my old boss was treating me unfairly and was trying to sabotage my performance in the new job. I was surprised by her comments which reinforced my belief that the man is a douche.

My current job isn’t rocket science but it is a little more demanding than my previous role. The position requires organizational skills, a little bit of smarts, some interpersonal skills, and the ability to simultaneously manage five consecutive software releases.

My prior performance was one of the reasons my new boss offered a contract when I was deemed no longer needed by my previous team lead. I try to do my best every day, be user friendly and treat everyone with respect. I expect others to do the same. It’s become apparent that a certain underperforming man must be holding some sort of grudge. Petty behavior from a man who doesn’t have a good work reputation to begin with. He’s only hurting himself.

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Nothing To Add

I’ve retreated into my thoughts after learning of the massacre in Orlando. Topics I would normally post about seen insignificant and trivial. Others have posted moving tributes and diatribes. I have nothing new to add to the conversation. I’ll be on hiatus for a few days.

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Art & Drama

Thursday night was the museum opening. Last night Paddy, Mack and I toured the gallery openings. This weekend is the Art Students League of Denver Summer Art Market. Four days of art.

Paddy and the new guy reconciled. Wonders never cease! The new guy admitted he has issues with alcohol. That’s the first step. The second step is doing something about it. The guy’s solution to the problem is to only drink beer and limit it the three. No more cocktails, shots, or wine. I’m sure it’s a winning strategy just waiting for a gold medal.

Last night, Mack walked over to my house around six. Paddy picked us up a few minutes later. Thankfully, the new guy had to work until eight and would not be joining us. After a quick Mexican dinner at El Noa Noa, we took in the opening at Michael Warren Contemporary. It’s a somewhat subdued but excellently curated presentation. The show has paintings, photographs and sculpture with a nature as a central theme.

The next stop was Goodwin Fine Art to see Patrick Marold’s new work. It’s a great show but it seems like everything was $5,000.

While we were in the gallery, Paddy’s car was sideswiped. The damage was minimal. The person left the scene and no witnesses could be found. Paddy shrugged it off. He’s planning on buying a new car in September.

We headed over to Navajo Street to check out the openings at Next and Pirate. It was a few minutes after eight. Paddy’s guy got off work and called to see where we were. Paddy told the guy to head home and would meet him there around nine-thirty.

Paddy parks the car at Pirate and the guy calls again. It’s only been fifteen minutes. Mack and I headed into the gallery.

Charles Livingston has a monumental installation at Pirate. It consists of post cards with a word punched into each card. The cards are attached to mylar sheets which hang from ceiling to floor forming two squares that are lit from within. The presentation makes one pause and wonder. It was the best art of the evening.

Next Gallery had drawings and painting by two artists but neither inspired me. While we were in the galleries the guy called again.

One final stop was made at Hinterland to see a pop-up ceramic show. It was small but excellent presentation. I think this in Hinterland’s last show. The entire block in RiNo has been sold for $10m. The building will be razed to make way for new luxury apartments. Hinterland will reopen in a few months in a yet to be determined space.

As we got back in the car the guy called again. The guy wanted to know if Paddy wanted a shot or drink waiting for him when he got home. Paddy told the guy he was on the way home. Ten minutes later the guy called again. Paddy was getting frustrated. I was frustrated too. The guy was creating tension. I told Paddy I thought the guy was manipulative and self-centered. I made it clear that I wanted Paddy to happy and share a life with someone but the guy is not the one.

Paddy dropped me off and drove Mack home. I talked to Mack about a half hour later. The guy called two more times in the short time it took Paddy to get to Mack’s apartment.

Paddy needs to give the guy the boot. Paddy allows himself to be controlled and manipulated to keep peace in the household. Paddy pays for everything. It’s not a healthy relationship.

Paddy’s mother and terminally ill step-father are moving to Denver and will be living with Paddy. That’s a story for another post. It’s chaos waiting to happen. I could write a blog just about Paddy. I still haven’t written about Paddy’s new client who is a poly amorous, one-legged dominatrix/tattoo artist. Read that last sentence again and give it a moment to sink in.

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Recognition Long Overdue

The house was packed last night for the Denver Art Museum’s opening of Women Of Abstract Expressionism. The exhibit did not disappoint. It was very well received by the crowd. Many of the blue-chip gallery owners were in attendance along with most of the people whose names adorn the donor wall.

The event started with cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres. Next up were the remarks by the museum director introducing the exhibit and acknowledging the financial supporters. The exhibit curator spoke about how she was surprised to discover no other museum has ever presented this exhibit. Then the exhibit opened.

The exhibit includes paintings by twelve artist: Helen Frankenthaler, Deborah Remington, Grace Hartigan, Perle Fine, Lee Krasner, Judith Godwin, Ethel Schwabacher, Sonia Gechtoff, Joan Mitchell, Elaine de Kooning, Jay DeFeo and Mary Abbott. The works are grouped by artist in the galleries allowing you to see the progression of their style. Most of the painting are very large so only four or five paintings fit in a gallery. My favorite works were by Judith Godwin, Elaine de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler and Grace Hartigan. Perry and I got to meet Judith Godwin just before she was photographed in front of one of her paintings. Many of the paintings are simply stunning. Their monumental size and color palette command attention as soon as you enter the gallery.

The artists painted in either San Francisco or New York in the 1940s and 1950s. The women in San Francisco were embraced by their male peers while the women in New York had a harder time being accepted by their male peers and faced reluctance by gallery owners to exhibit their works. The women were as talented as the men but it was a different time with different social norms.

Abstract Expressionism has been recognized as the first truly American modern art movement. Until now, it was considered a male dominated and driven movement. The women’s accomplishments have been underreported and the paintings undervalued. The DAM’s exhibit aims to shine the light on the women and give them the recognition they deserve. Recognition that is long overdue.

Grace Hartigan 1957 oil paint on canvas

Joan Mitchell 1953 oil paint on canvas

Elaine de Kooning 1959 oil paint on canvas

Judith Godwin 1954 oil paint on canvas

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A Gift From A Friend

Perry bought me the hard cover catalogue which accompanies the exhibition. What a show! More to come later. Here are a few pics:

Deborah Remington 1951 oil on canvass

Helen Frankenthaler 1961 oil on canvass

Judith Godwin 1956 oil on canvass

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