THE LOATHSOME TALE OF A HOUSEWIFE

The cake was great, the cake was grand
Nothing of this sort could have been made by my hand

I took the gift, and loved it well
But what happened that night is what I'm about to tell

The cake was made by the best looking and craftiest of cooks
One so talented in baking, and making and writing books!

She baked the cake well with the greatest of care
So that she could pass it along for her friends to share

When it arrived at my house I accepted with pride
And immediatly thought of great spots for it to hide

My home is quite peaceful on a typical day
But with this great bounty I knew I could not keep the children at bay

So I set the perimeter and appointed the general in charge
Though small in stature their determination was quite large

The children set to feasting with only their eyes
For with such bounty there was no need for shakes and fries

The night wore on and the soldiers grew weary
They moaned and complained and said life was so dreary

Until the general decided, without much thought
To challenge the men, and so they fought

The battle was frightful, and went on for far to long
And before any of them knew it the cake was all gone!

The children of the house with their whit and their whim
Had goaded the general and made a fool out of him

They smiled with delight and laughter and glee
Until off they ran giggling when they all had to pee

The general and his men failed me greatly this day
And wether or not I'll ever give them a job is hard to say

The moral of this quaint little story I write,
Is that you can try with all your strength, mind and mite,

But in the end the kids are going to get into everything!

-Kimberly Bustillos

 
Classes:
I will be teaching a six week series of classes for beginning artists this March!  They will be taught at Pandemonium in Wasilla.  For more information check out "Classes" on my website: http://artdebustillos.com/workshops
 
Exhibits and Galleries:
I will now be showing in three galleries!  I now have locations in Anchorage, Wasilla, and Palmer.  Listed below are the galleries and what collections of work I will be showing at each one.
 
Artic Rose Gallery, Anchorage, AK:
     I will be exhibiting my figurative and landscape paintings.  Work is done primarily in oil and most have custom made solid wood frames.  Artwork is part of the Painted Ladies art exhibit and can be found in our room next to the register in the gallery.  

Hot Hot Chocolate Shoppe, Palmer, AK:
    This series of paintings is the direct product of my work with music theory and color harmonies.  This collection is a fun and tasty selection of paintings focused on the chocolate shoppe and all that goes on there.  

Pandemonium Book Sellers and Cafe, Wasilla, AK:
     A fun and whimsical collection of the life and times of the toys on my toy shelves.  A thought provoking and fun display of replications of our everyday lives.  Still a work in progress at the moment, but still quite the sight to see!

Upcoming Exhibits:


Hot Hot Chocolate Shoppe
Inside the Downtown Palmer Plaza
550 S. Alaska St.
Palmer, AK

"The Art of Love"
Featuring paintings inspired by the joys and hardships of finding love.
 
February 11th and 12th from 4-8pm.
 
Pandemonium Book Sellers and Cafe:
1325 E Palmer-Wasilla Hwy
Wasilla, AK 99654
 
"The Life and Times of I.R. Cat with Specials on Snipe Hunting and Dragon Awareness"
Showcasing our daily troubles and joys as played out by the night life of my toy shelf.  With a special tribute to the fading art of Snipe Hunting and Dragon Awareness.
 
October 8th from 4-8pm.
 
 

"Magic Maui Marlinspike" 4 x 16 Oil on Panel

     Alchemy through the years of its existence has been a beacon in reasoning.  Once a person delves past the rudimentary physical basis of it the underlying concepts behind the science comes to light.  Common beliefs of alchemy such as the concept of changing lead into gold, the elixir of life and the search for a universal solvent, all laid the ground work for the phillisophical and spiritual side of the science, a human factor.  A higher meaning for those not only delving into the science of alchemy itself but going above and beyond the common ground.  Searching for more than what was laid out before the novice in terms of basic science and reasoning.  For once a you go above and beyond your common reasoning you lay the groundwork for greater things.  

       I was fortunate enough to have parents who installed such concepts into my mind at a young age.  Well, concepts along free thinking lines in general anyways.  I have to admit it wasn't until  I realized that I would never make it as an Apache scout that I decided to delve into alchemy(yes dad, you trained me well).  And of course a lot of enthusiasm from my mom's insistence that women have brains too helped out a lot.  I was fortunate because as humans in general we really only have our own experiences of logic to base our spiritual well being off of.  Good parenting ground work laid the foundations.  Along with a personal choice and desire to go above and beyond what I think I'm capable of doing is what the higher levels of alchemy is all about.  To not only test what is known, but to pursue something higher.  

     The rennisance was proof to this.  Years of the dark ages, the inquisition, witch hunts and countless wars over religious beliefs left people of Europe in a depressed state of mind.  The renaissance is usually determined as a time when western culture went backwards.  Alchemy was, as it had been for quite some time at this point, was still up and running.  Because of the threat of knowledge at this point in history alchemy was banned as "heresy" by the leading Christian rulers.  Alchemists of the time realized it was quite difficult for religion to lead the country on faith if their ideals where constantly being questioned by the science community.  So as a kind way of saying "I'd rather not be beheaded today" they backed away and continued on with their studies underground.  Waiting for the opportune time when their science, mathematics and way of thinking would be much more appreciated.  And so came the renaissance.  And what was the major factor that defined the renaissance?  Why art of course, and alchemy had quite a bit to do with it!  

Alchemy is an age old science/philosphy that has been estimated to have been in practice for over 2,500 years.  For western cultures it has been both supported and condemned by the supporters of Christianity.  It is the basis of modern chemistry, among many other sciences.  Helped pull Europe out of the dark ages.  Brought a desire and craving to understand the world around us, to pursue our own spiritual paths, and most importantly to think outside the truths that are plainly laid before.  Alchemy is as diverse as it is old.  Though it can be broken down into a concepts it is generally seen more as a lifestyle, or an enlightenment to reason.  As for me, my main interests in the subject are basic: alchemy laid the basis for art.

Coming from western culture I grew up with the impression that alchemy was some sort of dirty secret.  Knowledge that only witches and crazy people used to go along with their magic spells.    Alchemists may as well have been devil's spawn for all I knew.  So of course I did what any kid would when faced with "forbidden" knowledge and delved right in!  It wasn't long before I realized that alchemy didn't really have much to do with pagan rituals, unless of course you go of off medival train of thought (in which case I would have been burned at the stake long ago).  But instead brought up a humanly desire to experiment and question "Why?" things where the way they where.  Coming from a very fundamental religious background where many things can't be explained with reason other than faith this new way of thinking for me didn't go to well.  Which in turn, even as a young kid, I realized thats exactly why it has been so taboo over the centuries.  

Equipped with my new found desire to learn about the world around me I made great efforts to step outside the lines.  Once the doors are opened to seeing things as they really are there is no going back.  Research became my friend.  Though there are no actual "steps" to alchemy its pretty clear that chemistry and science/mathematics are somewhere up there near "most important" status to the novice.  I knew alchemy paved the way for modern chemistry.  One look at a chemist set with all its fancy tubes, vials, chemicals and so forth and I was hooked!  Newton is the most notably known scientists to really delve into the practice of alchemy.  Yes Newton, and avid alchemist most his life.  Of course by the time I became of age to take part in this awe inspiring herritage Newton had long been in the grave.  So I worked with the next best scientist for the job, Mr. Dee!  My high school science/minerology teacher.  With field trips every week and a whole array of bunsen burners, minerals, fruit flies, and chemicals at our classroom disposal it was hard not to be completely enthused.  I not only relished in sciences and mathematics during school hours but took a keen interest in the effects this knowledge has on people in general.  

This painting was inspired by a not so typical owl and a not so typical truffle.  Another painting in my series of chocolate inspired art based on music/color harmonies.  Alone I couldn't do much with either subject, the owl was a little odd, and the truffle, well its just not the usual truffle I'm used to.  But together they make tremendous art!