My friends Adam and Jennie are soon going to have twins. That means two of everything! Including art! I made two pictures for their walls, figuring that while they change the diapers from two sets of bums. Mama and Papa can amuse themselves when they glance at these pictures. And when the babes are old enough so that they’re no longer babes, they can read the pictures themselves. And hopefully, be amused; that or weirded out by the strange sense of humor exhibited.

Which reminds me, true to form, I’m about 5-8 years late in catching on to the brilliance of They Might Be Giants‘ songs for kids (everything from vowels to science). these two guys (both named John) are completely and brilliantly wacko. If I was a musician with the need to be completely authentic, entertaining and poignant, I would want to be like these giuys. If I could make visual work for kids that approximates the humor, cleverness and all around joie de vivre, I would be a happy little artist. It might be time for me to write a fan letter.

In other news, my work with kids is headed into the last stretch, wildly galloping towards the finish line of getting all sessions and programs done by the end of the public school year. and then it will be summer in NYC - hot, sticky, and asphalty. And I will be devoting 100% (okay maybe 90%) energy to finishing the picture book for Jacana. I plan on attaching a fan to my shoulder. That or somehow devise a way to work while sitting in the fridge.

And news from my ‘hood is this: other than the arrival of the ice cream trucks and the outdoor checker games, something new is coming to Washington Heights. El Sistema, the dynamic music education/social change program started in Venezuela, will start a Northen Manhattan branch with the target being my neighborhood. As Mayor Bloomberg proposes to exterminate significant amounts of funding for school (and citywide cultural institution) arts programs, El Sistema is a welcome rush of clean air. I went to a celebratory concert this week at the small, tone Lutheran church down the street. Inside. 25 of some of NYC’s top classical musicians played several pieces with vigor and passion - and without remuneration. They played for the love of music - a central tenet to El Sistema’s work of providing music education to the children of poor communities. So I’m a bit giddy these week, reveling in the fact that art and music WILL persist, with or without funding. It’s that necessary. So take that, Oh Budget Slashers…