Found in translation

Just 2 days and I've translated 14 "love notes" and other "unmentionable thoughts." A little bit excessive but as one of my favorite saying goes Beauty inspires obsession. It really does. I don't see an end to this anytime too soon however I do want to begin translating Korean poems/songs into colors. This will require me to come up with a much different system when assigning colors to letters than the fairly simple one I use for the English alphabet. Unlike English, the Korean version will have different colors being layered up top of eachother because a single Korean word is formed by different letters (of the Korean alphabet) "joining/building on top of" one another. I'm excited to try to find a way to translate Korean into color. I may be unsuccessful, but I will try. Keep a look out for these in the coming weeks.

For now, some more from the current series. And for the rest, go to my website.



So much like home and all this time I didn't know




I know I fucked up in the beginning

that's the plan, rule the world (you and me)

Thanks to This American Life live at Chicago Theatre last night (it was fucking fantastic by the way) I learned that I am, Dr. Horrible. I've never personally seen this internet based blog/show of Dr. Horrible, created by Joss Whedon (of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" film, "Toy Story," and much more) and starring Neil Patrick Harris. But, I like this Dr. Horrible guy, I understand him. I get why he made that freeze ray. Sigh. I would too if I had his skills. Instead, art it is.


With my freeze ray
I will find the time to
Find the words to

Tell you how
How you make
Make me feel
What’s the phrase?

Like a fool
Kind of sick
Special needs
Anyways...

Passive aggressive love notes

My own words. It's not poetry. It's unapologetically sentimental and personal. And I'm calling this series "Passive Aggressive Love Notes and Other Unmentionable Thoughts." So yes, extremely sentimental, and personal.




(Untitled)




I don't want to stare at your feet all night


The other two can be found on my website and as more are done, they will be uploaded.

us.

"A Self-Portrait with all of my friends"

White Rope

These are just some of 20+ drawings I have so far in my "White Rope" series. All of these are 6" x 9" but I am starting to work in 11" x 14" format as well.

I'm hoping to get all of these drawings up (as well as older works and other series) on my site michellejanelee.com by the end of the month. Still working on the website, not yet ready for the "official" launch. Hopefully soon.


2


11


12


13


17

(This series is dedicated to all the Brave Korean girls. Especially Daisy Yoon Choi. Thank you for this friendship and inspiration.)

Daisy Sonobe

Regina Spektor

Regina Spektor just announced the release date for her next album "Far." Mark your calendars for June 23rd. I'm revisiting her songs again now, and I just can not wait. She's the innocent little girl with a big secret on mischievous adventures. Her music is a pretty girl giggling in your ear.

She'll also be kicking off a tour, catch it. I had the pleasure of seeing her on her last tour and she is the cutest gosh darn thing I ever did see, and oh, she's a pretty damn good musician too.

The video for "Fidelity" = LOVE.

Coming for you ready or not.

Song- Girl in the Tower
Artist- Benji Hughes

I had a dream last night
About when you were mine
The streets ran red with blood
It mixed into the mud
You were a chamber maid in Spain

Swan Lake

There's a shrine everywhere.
A single red rose tied to a tree.

20 cigarettes and a bottle of water-
the thirst and the smoke
in the back of your throat. The thumb
tap and clouds of white smoke. You
couldn't have been very tall. Small hands
like mine, but softer. Straight, jet black hair,
maybe down past your shoulders. The wind
blew through it. A curtain cascading.
The ripples, the slowly rising wave.

We could've been friends. And,
this might sound crazy, maybe we
could've been more. Now hear me out.
Sometimes it takes a crazy fuck like me,
to save anyone from a crazy world like this.

I smoked four cigarettes and went
down wrong side streets. I parked and sat
listening to the same two songs.
In my room I can see the city.
A make shift curtain out of a bed sheet.
You never made it to the first floor.
I would've carried you there if I knew.

This is so generic (and I'm sorry)
but I understand. It's good bye and
nice to meet you on the same day.
This is so generic (and I'm sorry)
but I'm glad I met you.
Is it silly to ask "how are you?"
Maybe a bit tacky, but I think
I finally see you smile.
No one tells you how to die
so fuck no one can tell you how to live
after the fall. So smile all you want to.
This is so generic (and I'm sorry)
but the hard part is over.

Do you mind if I know your face?
Sorry, I'm not the best at drawing, but
I'm trying. I hear your umma* crying.
I'm sorry I freeze up now and then.

I went down the wrong side street
with a cigarette and a can of sprite-
the thirst and the smoke
in the back of my throat. The thumb
tap and clouds of white smoke. I parked
and sat, listening to the same two songs.
Outside the car window I could see the city
and a single red rose tied to a tree.
There's a shrine everywhere.



*mom in Korean

Half Nelson

Can't talk about Ryan Gosling and not bring up "Half Nelson." One of my favorite films of all time. Incredible. I don't want to talk about it too much. Just watch it. A warning- it will make you want to shrivel up in the corner of your room and just rock yourself back and forth at times... begging just to survive.

Dead Man's Bones

Dead Man's Bones is two man band composed of actors Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields (I don't know who Zach is either...) I had heard and seen the video for the song "In the Room Where you Sleep" quite awhile ago. Though I enjoyed it, it didn't grab me.

Then today I came across another song, and a video, for "Name in Stone." And it is fantastic. The song and the video both.

I appreciate the feel, the mood, the theatrics of this band. I love that they do so well carrying the somber, haunting, dramatic yet whimsical mood through every aspects of the band experience. From the sound, to visuals, to names (the band name and song names.) And of course I love that children play a part in the music.

I raise my flag out into your heart you let the winds come tear it apart


DEAD MAN'S BONES - "NAME IN STONE" from biz3 publicity on Vimeo

Falling Slowly- 2AM

"Once" is one of my favorite films of all time. The soundtrack, all the songs are deep in my heart.

I came across this video of a Korean Boy Band "2AM" covering the song "Falling Slowly."

I'm impressed. And I actually find find their Engrish cute. Go Korea! I keep finding cooler and cooler things from the Motherland and it makes me pretty damn proud.

Geoffrey Todd Smith at Western Exhibition

I've mentioned Geoffrey Todd Smith on my blog before and I am super excited to check out his show at Western Exhibition.

Tonight is the opening night but the show runs until May 30th. Good thing because I'm gonna need to make several trips to soak all of it in. By the way, he gives his pieces the best titles. I wish I could be as cool, and as good, as him.

Opening Reception: Friday, April 3, 5-8pm
Gallery Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 6pm
More info: 312.480.8390 scott@westernexhibitions.com




Geoffrey Todd Smith is Murdering the Rhythm like the RZA on Ritalin, 2009

ink and gouache on paper

20" h x 18"w




Geoffrey Todd Smith's Heart is a Deep Ocean of Secrets, 2009

ink and gouache on paper

22" h x 20"




Suicide Eye, 2008

ink and gouache on paper

31"x 29"

I had a Butterfinger Blizzard and some fries

Really into this song right now. I do prefer the album version but this is still sweet. Benji Hughes is such a badass! Hundred million ways to break a heart, and that's the one you taught me...

you're beautiful but that's not the point.

Let me be honest, the first read, I didn't care for this poem at all. In fact, I skimmed through it. I had no idea what she was saying, nor did I care. I thought, oh another smart-ass contemporary poet with her oh so clever format and casual, nonchalant, stream of consciousness-esque "Poem."

Well, something brought me back to it half an hour later. And, I understood. I nearly died. I'm afraid to read it again as I post it now. Because I know I'll have to gasp for air again.

Here I go...


Miniature Bridges, Your Mouth

what we do in the dark has no hands. no
crossover effect, no good-bye kiss after the alarm.
what we carry in, we carry out, end of story. this
doesn't even want to be love. except in minutes
when your face has the shape of my palm and I think
lungful. let want out with the cat. returns
and returns, something dutiful. persistent.
hold your breath, let it build, let go. this is practice.
I'm losing weight, a bad sign, I'm happy. serious,
you say. contained, I think. the cat comes back
with a dead bird to the doorstep, an offering. bloodless
this should be easy. a two-step to cowboys. you're beautiful
but that's not the point.

x

I know my way back perfectly well. like the back
of my hand, as it were. but look, the labyrinth walls
are high hedge and green. this also could be joy.

xx

I literally don't know your middle name. does that
matter? what systems we arrange for intimacy, small
disclosures like miniature bridges, your mouth. not
what I'd anticipated. softer. to begin with,
I should tell the truth more. I could miss you,
and that's a liability.

xxx

I am not often off-kilter. but you're so silent, even
naked, and almost absent. I hush too, why
are we here. go. want to throw things, you, the clock,
break windows until something bleeds and you finally
scream. I tell you too much; we are not
those people. or nothing--maybe I say
utilitarian fuck. how would that be. I want you
to want to fall in love with me and that's
unhealthy. wrong. leave your shoes by the door
and pretend it's about the movie. it's love
in the movies it's casablanca and toy story
and water no ice come here. pockets need
to be untucked, drawers thrown open,
nobody's safe. there, I've said it:
someone I was could have loved you.


- Marty McConnell