Mary Van Notes

I’ve had this video on private for 3 years now. Mostly because it shows me crying like a baby. I also regret my behavior that evening, but, you know, I made the video. And it truly is an expression of how I felt at that moment. It’s also one of the only videos that showcase my Grandma being her lovable self, she passed away January 3, 2009. I miss her so much.  Anyway, here it is, back from the dead:

Special thanks to Mary at Pretty Good Things for introducing me to hat designer Piers Atkinson. Straight up joy is what these hats are.

Atkinson had me at “The Rorschach.”

It makes me want to do a few things.
1) Make some hats!
2) Wear some hats!
and/or 3) Buy an awesome hat! I’ve got my eye on one of Mary’s designs: DAMMMMNIT! Someone bought it already. I wanted to rock that deer!

I saw a call for entries for artist grants in the SF Weekly several weeks ago.  Having had my first experience applying for a grant last year, I thought, why not?  I enjoy applying for artist grants, seen as stand-up comedy is such an under-recognized art form.  I guess I just want to feel validated.  I want to be like, Yeah!  I’m an artist!

I was totally humbled and amazed to be picked as a finalist for the SF Weekly Masterminds 2010.  I was in the same group as some incredibly talented people: dancers, fashion designers, painters, sculptors, real art people!  SF Weekly wrote me up and sent an awesome photographer, Eartha L. Goodwin, to take some shots of me.  We had a lot of fun.  Here are some of those shots:

all photos by Eartha L. Goodwin

I went to Artopia, the event benefiting the grants and also celebrating the local artists/finalists.  There were 12 finalists and only 3 get the grants.  I walked in and it was pretty amazing–a lot of people.  I brought a DVD to show my video Papercuts, but I couldn’t find the lady in charge.  I walked in the gallery and each artist had their art displayed, a little plaque with their name on it and the artist’s statement.  There was no plaque for me, no space.  I didn’t feel like a part of the show.   I told my date, “Yeah, there’s no way I’m getting this thing.  I’m not even showcased here.”  We sat and cuddled up for most of the event, he said, “Let’s just get your check and leave.”  I laughed, “There’s no way I’m getting it.”

The cover of the SF Weekly (I’m one twelfth of the cover, the purple part) and my legs! photo by Hanna Quevedo via here

Me and my handsome date. photo by Hanna Quevedo via here

The editor announced the first winner.  He was introducing the next award, “And the next winner is a comedian…” WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!!?!?!?!   I couldn’t fucking believe it.   I had an instant perma-grin that lasted the rest of the evening.   I hugged the SF Weekly people and almost cried.  Wow.  It meant so much to me to be a finalist, and then to win a grant… wow.  It was such an honor.

This is what SF Weekly said about me, “Van Note’s film shorts reminded us of Andy Samberg’s digital shorts for SNL, but darker. Like all good comedians, she makes us laugh by being brutally honest. She’s crude and vulnerable at the same time. And she’s hella funny.” (from here)

So thank you, SF Weekly.  I will never forget it.  With the money I plan on living for as long as I can, truly focusing on my art.  I plan on working on my one-person show and a screenplay adaptation of my first novel. I’m stoked.

Saturday, March 20th will be a big day.  I’ll be waking up bright and early to head over to Fremont with a couple friends of mine who are sharing a table at the Craft Happy indie-craft showcase.  If you’re in the Bay Area, please come over and visit us!  There will be all kinds of craftsters there, and I’ll have all my MVN zines on hand, as well as a pretty awesome MVN custom craft that I’ll be busting my buns to make up until the very last minute.

And then that evening I’ll be heading out to Swankety Swank.   I was asked to model for issue 2 of SwankSpeak! a zine which will be available that night.  It’s an event full of art, fashion, magic, tarot, music, you name it!  This is the flier for the event, a photo of me by the fantastic Eartha Goodwin:

7pm-11pm at Swankety Swank, 289 Divisadero St.
Check out the event details here.  And I hope to God one of the outfits I wore for the shoot is still available, because I hella want that shit!

And after that, I plan on drinking it up with Ameen Belbahri, celebrating his birthday.  End a big day with an ice cold pint of brew with some awesome people.  Yes, indeed.  It’ll be a good day.