The Year of Living Vicariously

I'm useless at creating Top 10 lists...I keep changing my mind and end up scrapping the whole thing after hours of research...it's annoying. But there are other excellent lists in the art blogosphere if, like me, you actually enjoy reading such efforts. In the order I found them (please do send me links to your lists if I missed you), here are a few lists of the year's best as ranked by:

1. Gallery Hopper
2. Conscientious
3. Art Soldier
4. Art Forum (not a blog, I know, but...)
5. The View From the Edge of the Universe (Atlanta-centric)
6. DC Art News (lists by readers; DC-centric)

I sat and thought about 2005 for all of three minutes...it wasn't the worst year I can remember (that dubious award goes to 2001...as shitty as any 12 months ever need to be), but 2005 was a bit like being in limbo...as we waited for the brokers and lawyers to move on the new space and held our breath waiting for Bambino's greencard. I'm not one for waiting...drives me nuts. 2006 promises to be much more active and productive.

We're heading to the Hamptons for a quiet little Bishkek-style New Year's Eve celebration...good food, friends, and no freezing while fighting other drunken idiots for a taxi. We'll see you next year.

These images of "what Mona Lisa does when the museum is closed" were emailed to me by our good friend and talented artist Max Carlos Martinez, who had them emailed to him by a long chain of other people. I tried to find the creator in order to provide a proper credit. The best I could figure is that they're connected to the rock103.com website. If you're the artist, please do let me know and we'll praise you royally for the very welcome giggles.

Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy and prosperous 2006!