Rex & Co. (fka Laura Bo Creative)

Tag: art

  • WORD SHIT: Persistent

    Persistent

    [pərˈsistənt] adjective

    continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.

  • WORD SHIT: Stubborn

    Stubborn

    [ˈstəbərn] adjective

    having or showing dogged determination not to change one’s attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments or reasons to do so.

    Thoughts to come….

  • WORD SHIT: Audacity

    Audacity

    [ôˈdasədē,äˈdasədē] noun

    1.a willingness to take bold risks.

    2.rude or disrespectful behavior; impudence.

  • WORD SHIT: Cautious

    Cautious

    [ˈkôSHəs] adjective

    (of a person) careful to avoid potential problems or dangers.

    (of an action) characterized by the desire to avoid potential problems.

  • WORD SHIT: Comply

    Comply

    [kəmˈplī/] verb

    (of a person or group) act in accordance with a wish or command.

    See also: Compliance

  • WORD SHIT: Compliance

    Compliance

    [kəmˈplīəns] noun

    the action or fact of complying with a wish or command.

    See also: Comply

  • WORD SHIT: Efficient

    Efficient

    [əˈfiSHənt] adjective

    (especially of a system or machine) achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.

    productive of desired effects especially : capable of producing desired results with little or no waste (as of time or materials)

    These days corporate beans are hyper-focused on productivity, efficiency and growth. Upon inspection of said beans, it appears that the more corporate the bean, the less efficient the bean.

    Let me explain:

    To be continued….

  • Undefined – Fear of Labels – part 1

    Undefined – Fear of Labels – part 1

    Context. Interpretation. Understanding. Judgement. Acceptance. Definition. Perspective. Experience. Knowledge. Algorithm. Rabbit Hole. Blinders.

    “What do you do?” is a common conversational question, it can have a variety of meanings, depending on the context of the question, the tone of the questioner, and the perception of all parties involved.

    I do a lot of things. Don’t label me. Don’t put me in a box. Don’t assume you know me based on anything.

    Are you an artist? sometimes. Are you a parent? Yes. Do you work? yes. What kind of work do you do? can you be more specific?

    I can’t take a compliment, because I wasn’t raised receiving them.

    It’s different now. I finally reached a point of realization, a place of knowing that I can’t control what anyone thinks of me, and I was never here to be approved. I know myself, I know who I am, I know what I like, I know what I am good at, I know my strengths and weaknesses. I am not here to be tolerated.

    To be continued….

  • WORD SHIT: Brilliant

    Brilliant

    [ˈbrilyənt] adjective

    1.(of light or color) very bright and radiant.

    2. exceptionally clever or talented.

  • Chasing Sparks

    Chasing Sparks

    Below is a part of an application I submitted in March 2024 for a guest residency spot in the neighborhood. I didn’t get the spot. It’s all just a part of the story, and the journey…

    —
    Hi there, I’m Laura Rex. I am looking to ignite my spark again. I am a maker and a dot connector. I find it hard to say I am just one thing, hence why I am applying under the multi-disciplinary section. I am a writer, an artist, a photographer, a creator, a designer. I am a dreamer and a doer. I am a parent and recently a wife. I found the Woodward residency while I was exploring the neighborhood — escaping my home office basement on daily walks during the pandemic. Your hope that members and guests feel energized to be there is my literal dream right now.

    A quick about me, the history – I am adopted, born in Nebraska. I was raised in NYC. I attended a boarding school in Vermont for 3/4 years of high school. Went on to study Communication Studies at SUNY Oneonta and found myself working with musicians at Gibson Guitars after graduation, time spent in the showroom lead to my first publication, a handful of venue reviews for a NYC Live Music Guide. Webster Hall was one of the venues, and I became enamored with the space. From door cashier to marketing director, and what we used to call “talent wrangler”. Post Webster Hall I made the move cross country solo, and lived in LA for a brief yet amazing year. Upon returning to NYC in January 2017, I found my current spot in Ridgewood, I found work in marketing, in hospitality and lifestyle, and ended up as the Head of Food & Beverage/ Marketing Manager at the McCarren Hotel up until covid.

    Long story short. I have been home for the better part of 4 years. I was lucky to have remote work in 2020 when the pandemic hit, which allowed me to become a parent in late 2021. Opted out of maternity leave. Ran myself dry trying to keep up with a toxic job + parenting and snuffed out my own light. I finally said NO MORE a year ago, and after a half-dozen attempts at quitting I was free in August 2023. I could see the light at the end. It was so close. The kiddo was going to be starting at wBees Forest School in September*, which turned to November. Such is life. Then holidays, sickness, more life. Last week was the first time I had a quiet space at home. I am exploding with concepts, ideas, and projects. I have dozens of “work in progress” projects.

    In an effort to stay close to home & my kiddo, I would be honored to land a guest spot at Woodward Residency. A new experience, a change of scenery, connecting with others are just the little bits I need to make magic happen and spur me to move through some of the projects I have been sitting on.

    I want to do cool shit. I want to create more. I want to focus and connect more. Some projects I would love to complete during my time there: 1.“What’s that sound?” A Children’s book/ book series that explores sounds and noises. Using photos, illustrations, and some engineering to create a board book that is interactive and educational and can also be a helpful tool for those with sensory issues.

    2. Club Kid Chronicles – A Coffee style table book that shares all of my stories from my days at Webster Hall (2010-2015). Coming up on 10 years out, I wanted to finally share polaroids, interviews, stories, and essentially never before scene stuff of some of the biggest musicians that passed through.

    3. Complete draft of the script/ screenplay for the book ‘I Was A Teenage Fairy’ by Francesca Lia Block.

    4. Building a catalog/ database of digital collage elements using IRL tools and mediums. Paint, marker, torn paper, etc. All of the things I use in my own collage pieces, but digitized.

    5. A view of Ridgewood through Playmobil – a photo series of different local businesses, and community scenes recreated using playmobil toys and building custom sets.

    At the end of the 3 month residency I hope to leave with my spark ignited and a clear vision of my my creative path, maybe even something tangible to show for my time there. A pop-up event, a draft of a book, the completed design for a new community co-op, at this moment I am not quite sure, but when I get there I’ll know.

    I am not sure if this personal letter is too much, or not enough. 700 words feels hard, and I am very out of practice. I saw the application deadline post on social a few days ago, and I will not let fear and doubt hold me back from trying. I am currently in the midst of a website overhaul, most pages are hidden, but I shared over a link to some projects I have done.

    — 

  • WORD SHIT: Raw

    Raw

    [rô] adjective

    1.(of an emotion or quality) strong and undisguised.

    2.frank and realistic in the depiction of unpleasant facts or situations.

  • Word Shit: Exclusive

    Exclusive

    [ikˈsklo͞osiv,ekˈsklo͞osiv] adjective

    1.Excluding or not admitting other things.

    2.Restricted or limited to the person, group, or area concerned.

  • Word Shit: Minimize

    Minimize

    [ˈminəˌmīz] verb

    reduce (something, especially something unwanted or unpleasant) to the smallest possible amount or degree.

    represent or estimate at less than the true value or importance.

  • WORD SHIT: Exclude

    Exclude

    [ikˈsklo͞od] verb

    To deny (someone) access to or bar (someone) from a place, group, or privilege.

    to prevent or restrict the entrance of. to bar from participation, consideration, or inclusion.

  • Word Shit: Humility

    Humility

    [hyoo-mil-i-tee] noun

    the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one’s own importance, rank, etc.

  • WORD SHIT: Inspire

    Inspire

    [inˈspī(ə)r] verb

    fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.

    I believe that true inspiration comes naturally. It cannot be forced. You can’t forcibly inspire someone, there is definitely another word for that — in which I am currently blanking on. Again, definitions from various sources will provide their own perspectives, contexts, and connotations.

    To be continued…

  • WORD SHIT: Willing

    Willing

    [ˈwiliNG] adjective

    ready, eager, or prepared to do something.

    Today, someone said they were “willing to keep trying”, and within the surrounding context, this was immediately received with a negative tone. Upon looking up the definition, it made me wonder how the word willing has become so overused and/or misused that it now often seems more related to a bare minimum, least amount of effort type situation.

    Depending on where you find your version of the definition of willing, it can be read or misread as something viewed negatively, other words that came up were agreeable, and I realize the comparisons and examples used for the word willing came down to doing something of one’s own ‘will’ versus being forced or coerced into something.
    I found this interesting snippet, which is kind of what I am getting at I suppose:

    “Willing means you will do something if it is necessary or if it is asked of you, even if you don’t particularly want to“

    To be continued….

  • Crazy Bear Lady, Crazy Bird Lady.

    My Grandma was an artist, she was my father’s mother. Everyone called her eccentric. Her house was covered in plants and paintings, she had cats, and the best climbing tree in her front yard. She fed the birds and the squirrels, and pretty much all of the critters that came to visit. She also liked to “chase bears” out of the neighborhood and back into the forest. They called her the crazy bear lady, and she was the absolute BEST.

    Sometimes I forget how much I adored and admired her. She spent all day painting things and talking to the animals, it sounded like the best life to me as a kid. We lost touch shortly after I cut contact with my dad, and i wish we hadn’t. After she passed, no one told me, so all of her art went who knows where and I was lucky enough to have 3 paintings given to me, one of them was of me, and I have the matching photo.

    I love birds. I always have. As a kid I wanted my superpower to be flight, I wanted to fly. When I moved into my current apartment, I was ecstatic to have such a busy backyard. Mind you, this is Ridgewood, Queens.We had squirrels, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, the little chickadees, Starlings, Catbirds, Woodpeckers, and most recently the Crows have moved into the neighborhood, and a Hawk has made it’s home nearby (like in the trees that border my yard nearby).

    I have a special place in my heart for Cardinals and Crows. I taught my daughter to ‘call’ for the crows by calling. They always come.

    To be continued….

  • Marketing Lifecycle Metaphor – The Amoeba BB


    Customer amoeba baby – marketing lifecycle metaphor

    Marketing is not a funnel and it’s not a flywheel. It’s like a wave. It’s like a fluid amoeba. Blobby wave, I have to draw it I guess, but And it moves because people come in and out. I may have been. A customer of parenting stuff and then My baby’s not a baby.

    And then i move out of it — I’m not the target now. But maybe if there’s a baby in my life: friends, family, or whatever baby shower, I will suggest it or I will get it for them, you know. I don’t think that always gets accounted for. It’s not really a secondary target group as far as I’m concerned.

    Funnels and flywheels don’t work because you can’t control the path of the target, you can guide it, you can block it, you can try to trap it, but there are all of these “other factors” that you don’t know and/or have no control over because in the end control is an illusion.

    **