Last night I got a message on Facebook: “Are you the Julie Lomoe with an MFA from Columbia? If so, I own one of your paintings, and I adore it.”
I didn’t recognize her name, but that doesn’t mean I never met her. I was active in the SoHo art scene in the late Sixties and early Seventies, and much of that time passed in a tumultuous blur. I wrote her back, of course, adding a “friend” request and asking her to tell me who she is and which painting she owns.
I’m increasingly amazed at the connections the internet stirs up. Sometimes they’re weird or even fictional. A couple of years ago, when Googling myself, I came across a post by someone in England describing “a painting by Julie Lomoe”. As I recall, the title was something like “Soldier in Winter.” The only problem was that I’d never done a painting even remotely like that, and I have no idea how or where the guy came up with my name. But I guess that’s the way legends are created.
Now I’m creating a new online persona, and I’m finding the process is more complex and multilayered than any static work of art I’ve ever created with paint on canvas or words on paper. In my Nia* class at the YMCA** today, and later on the weight machines, I was inundated by thoughts of blogging – possible topics, new categories and pages, people to contact or check out online. The ideas swirling through my head were so engrossing, I was practically oblivious to the influx of half a dozen unfamiliar but hunky young men in the weight room (the college semester’s obviously over!)
Now what was I saying? Oh yes, about blogging. After the Y, I dropped by Staples to pick up a spiffy new bound journal, a small one that’ll fit easily in my handbag so I can jot down all those ephemeral ideas before they evaporate. And I’ve vowed to stop beating myself up about “not writing” – I’m writing every day online, and I’ll be back into visual art as well once I have time to delve more deeply into the intricacies of web design.
For those other writers out there who may be guilt-tripping about the time they’re spending online – my unsolicited advice is to get over it. This strange new world is every bit as creative as writing a novel.
*If you want a marvellous workout that’s spiritually and musically engrossing, check out the Nia website. There may be a class near you. It’s the only exercise form I’ve ever been able to stick with for more than a couple of weeks.
**Speaking of the YMCA, for those of you in the Albany area, the Village People will be playing an Alive at Five concert at the park beside the Hudson River on July 2nd. All together now, hands in the air – Y M C A!
K. A. Laity says
I wholeheartedly agree! I think the mesh of writings that form the internet fascinating as well; my grad class last semester focused on examining the way we “perform” on the web, how our stories unfurl in conscious and unconscious ways — and yes, with false information. Fascinating!
Enid Wilson says
Like your journal idea. Then you won’t miss any inspiration and can use gap time more efficiently. Will you show some of your painting on the blog? Did your mystery novel contain some art thieves?
Sexy romance by Enid Wilson
Karen Walker says
Can’t believe you do NIA. I studied with Debbie and Carlos (creators of NIA) when I lived in Portland. Unfortunately, I can’t do it because of various and sundry bodily injuries. I still miss it!!
Karen Walker
http://www.karenfollowingthewhispers.blogspot.com
alan chin says
It is amazing the relationships you stuble upon on the net. It is such a wonderful tool for bring the world together.
Therese says
For me, writing blog entries fed my off-line poetry writing, and my off-line poetry writing fed my blog entries ; and both fed my real life ; and my real life fed both the virtual and imaginative identities. It’s a feedback loop, for sure.
Elle Parker says
I love your idea that being online IS being creative and that writers shouldn’t feel bad about it. So often we get admonished for “wasting” our time, and it’s nice to hear a different take on it.
Elle Parker
http://elleparkerbooks.blogspot.com/
Destineers says
The power of the internet never ceases to amaze me. It shortens the distance between old friends, allows you to attend a virtual conference, networking and making new friends and industry contacts, allows for instanteous research right at your fingertips. It allows you to share your work with the cyber masses and further allows you the opportunity to get feedback on your work. Technology is amazing.
Nancy
http://nasharpe.blogspot.com
Alexis Grant says
I can relate to coming up with ideas during class. I always say I do some of my best thinking while running! And I actually write in my head sometimes — repeating words over and over so I won’t forget the way I phrased them — while I exercise. It’s a different kind of creativity!
Jane Kennedy Sutton says
I’ve often felt guilty about the amount of time I spend on line. I like your way of looking at it. From now on I am going to think of it as creative exercise. Thanks, I now have one less regular guilt trip to take!
Jane Kennedy Sutton
http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/
Patricia Stoltey says
I think this was your best blog since the B.A.D. Challenge started, Julie. It had humor, solid information, and interesting info about you as artist. Loved it!
Patricia
http://patriciastoltey.blogspot.com
julielomoe says
Thanks so much for the feedback, Patricia. It’s especially welcome since I’m sitting here wracking my brain to come up with a brief blog so as not to break my streak of consecutive days. And I still haven’t resolved the question of how much to talk about my past.
Karen Brees says
You never know what’s going to trigger the creative impulse. Everything is happening faster and faster, and the wealth of opportunities available online now staggers the mind – and primes the imagination.