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.

The official trailer for a short film I’m in has just been released. It looks freakin’ awesome.  Claude Cardenas is one inspired and talented individual.   If you’re in the Bay Area, you should try to make it out to the official premiere party in Oakland on April 24.

official “b.” trailer. from Claude Cardenas on Vimeo.

B. (2010)

Runtime: 22 min. 18 sec.
Rated: Not Rated (adult content, violence, drug use)
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Director: Claude Cardenas
Screenwriter: Jessica Sinema
Producer: Brian Melesky
Studio: No Dice Films
Starring: Paisley Fried, Janet Sanchez, Mary Van Note, Lynnae Yvette, Sharona Ovrahim, Kristen Takako, Steve Eddy, and Krystle Ann Poovey

Synopsis: Two girls, bored by everyday life seek an escape through colorful daydreams. Until one day when one of them swallows an apple seed, which sends them on a journey to find someone who can remove it before it grows into a baby tree inside her belly, eventually killing her.

The lovely lady over at Bows & Sparrows posted this today.  And I just had to re-post it here.  It really made me happy.

All the time I was making this I was thinking of you.

It’s been a year today since I did my first Mary Van DAAAMN! post.  To celebrate I want to say thanks to my readers with a special giveaway courtesy of Laurel’s Bench.  I remember the first night I looked through Laurel’s Bench on etsy.  I was with my friend Laura and we were oohing and aahing over the natural beauty of Laurel’s classic and yet utterly unique designs.  Her individually hand-crafted pieces are made in her home studio and she even boasts a green and eco-friendly business which is no surprise when you see the way nature inspires her pieces.  One of the pieces Laura and I loved so much was this pearl ring.  We both said it would make the most romantic wedding ring.  Please take a look at her shop and let me know what made you ooh and aah.

This giveaway is for a gorgeous mother of pearl necklace called “The Silence Between.”

All you have to do to enter is comment under this post with your email.  You can get bonus entries by:

• visiting Laurel’s Bench shop on Etsy and sharing your favorite piece in a comment
• adding Laurel’s Bench on Facebook (remember to leave a comment here letting me know you did)
• and blogging/tweeting about this giveaway.

This contest is open to all readers and will close a week from today (July 7, 2010) at midnight (PST).

Thank you all for a fun year.

Nicole and I went to the Legion of Honor last week to see the Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave exhibit. It was AMAZING!

Everything is made out of paper!  I highly recommend the exhibit, plus the Legion of Honor is just plain BEAUTIFUL!  I left the museum feeling so inspired.

I showed Nicole one of the coolest places in San Francisco: the pet cemetery!  Unfortunately they’re building a freeway overpass right above it, and it’s closed for the moment, but we enjoyed it from behind a fence.

70s maxi dress: thrifted
espadrilles: ebay
hat: Ross
heart bracelet: made by Nicole
purse: Underwing Designs

I was thrilled to see the MVN paper doll the lovely Laura of Trash Planet created.  Isn’t it the sweetest?  What an honor!

Follow Laura for more of her series of paper dolls and vintage-related posts.  Thank you Laura!