Web Updates!

*The NEW Christine Stoddard is almost done! By February 14th, you'll gain a whole new way to view my art, writing, and performance pieces. Until then, please check out the re-vamped, ForgetFairytales.com.

Shop for merchandise designed by Christine at https://www.cafepress.com/cstoddard

Yuppers

This website is currently on hiatus while I build The World of Christine Stoddard, the new ChristineStoddard.com. The multimedia website will feature a variety of my writings, visual art, and performances. Once it goes up, all of my other blogs will re-direct to it.

Shop for merchandise designed by Christine at https://www.cafepress.com/cstoddard

Arlington, Miami, Richmond--different places in my head

I have just returned from vacation and am back in action:

*Read my latest short stories: "The Puppeteer" and "The Glint in the Owl's Eye." They are also available for download on my Scribd page.

*Read my latest monologues: "The Sparkly Fairy," "Prince Charming's Confessions," "The Truthful Dragon," and, "If I Taught Math."

*View my latest digital collage, "Mushroom Whispers."

*Excerpts from an article I wrote about Tim Burton's use of special effects made it to the Colour Lovers website. You can read the full article Color Lovers here. Read my original article here.

*I earned my first credit from Magazine 33 this month for a music review I wrote on The Lost Satellites. You can check it out here.

*Be sure to visit Reality Check Girl Magazine, where I write two regular columns: "Letters to the Fashion Fairy" and "Notes from Art School" and occasionally contribute other pieces. Florida Today recently wrote an article about the magazine.

Shop for merchandise designed by Christine at https://www.cafepress.com/cstoddard

Snow Land

*Please check out my latest short story, "The Puppeteer," at my Associated Content page. Here's a teaser:

The garage, dank and dim that December afternoon, opened to a small yard. Pigeon brown hedges and wilted flowers peeked out from the fence encircling the gray garden. Slabs of plywood flattened the grass, hiding the fact that Peter had unintentionally sprayed most of the vegetation blue. Blue footprint-shaped stains graced the garage's doorstep and floor, leading to a skinny man and his cluttered workbench. The man hunched over a smattering of wood, paint bottles, and tools. His elbows wagged up and down as he tinkered with a screw. Peter wiggled the screwdriver until the screw plummeted on the table with a tiny clink. Peter sniffed in deeply, as if his nose sought the stench of drying paint.

"Smelling paints kills neurons, you know," Peter's mother always said. "That's why you shouldn't spend so much time in the art room after school. Besides, you always come home dirty. Get here as soon as you can. Or go to George's house. But I'm tired of trying to get paint out of your clothes."

Nodding submissively, Peter flung his blue (or red or yellow or green) hands behind his back. "Okay, Mom," he said.

"You know your father's trying to get a promotion at work. And with the boss living next door, Peter, and him seeing you everyday, well...what will he think of your father if you're always running around like a little painted savage?"

Peter stared his mother blankly.

*Thanks to everyone who came to see me perform my satirical monologue, "The Merry Princess," on Thursday!

Shop for merchandise designed by Christine at https://www.cafepress.com/cstoddard

Imminent Musty Monday

*Two of my pieces, a short story and a poem, were recently selected for the blog, Sun Shadows. The titles of my featured pieces are "Blue Shadow" and "Our Little Johnny." Please read them if you have not already!

*I have created two new "Forget Fairytales" comics for your reading pleasure. They are available on the main website, ForgetFairytales.com, and the "Forget Fairytales" blog (http://forgetfairytales.blogspot.com).

*Thanks to everyone who came out to "Muse" Cabaret on Friday! My next performance (a puppet show I wrote and designed) will be this Wednesday at Xscape Lounge in Richmond, VA. Find out more about it here.

Shop for merchandise designed by Christine at https://www.cafepress.com/cstoddard

*Here is a streaming version of my latest film, "Four Years":

Four Years from Christine Stoddard on Vimeo.

*I recently wrote a children's story, called, "Grits and a Rocking Horse." Read it at my Associated Content or download it from my Scribd page.

*In contrast, I wrote an adult story, called "Promiscuous Ocean." It's available on my Associated Content and for download on my Scribd page.

*If you're the mood for something funny, read my latest humor piece, "Brigador Spinelli, Art Gallery Owner." You can read it on my Associated Content or download it from my Scribd page.

*I will be performing my monologue, "The Merry Princess," showing two short films, and tabling at "Muse" Cabaret at Rendezvous in Richmond, VA on Dec. 11. That's THIS FRIDAY! All proceeds will benefit Safe Harbor Shelter, a non-profit that provides women and children a refuge from domestic violence. If you would like to purchase tickets, please contact me. They are only $10 each.

Shop for merchandise designed by Christine at https://www.cafepress.com/cstoddard

Snuggly beneath the burgundy blankets

*I won! I won! I won! I applied for a grant from VCUarts to create a 30-45 minutes film on Poe's life in Richmond and his influence upon the city today. The film will combine live action with animation. The deadline for the group I am leading is December 2010, so we have to get started. Here's the blurb that helped pitch the project, as well as the members of my team with their VCU department:

Though Poe lived in Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York during various times in his life, he identified himself foremost as a Virginian. Yet most literature and films concerning Poe uphold Baltimore as his "true" home city, often paying little (or no) homage to Richmond. A thirty minute film titled "The Persistence of Poe in Richmond, VA" would document what Poe accomplished during his time in the city and how his presence is still felt by Richmonders today. Through its use of live action, animation, writing, narration, music, dance, and acting, the film would demonstrate the range, power, and ability of interdisciplinary art.

Christine Stoddard, Cinema and English

David Fuchs, Kinetic Imaging

Nina Stoddard, Communication Arts

Hilary Stallings, Theatre

Erica Breig, Theatre

D.J. Granger, English

*First Friday at Richmond's monthly Artwalk event went wonderfully for me. Two of my "Forget Fairytales" comics and one of my collages were on display at Visual Arts Studio (and will continue to be through January 29, or until someone purchases them). I also went around in costume passing out flyers for two of my upcoming events: Muse Cabaret and Winter Wonderland. Thanks to everyone who complimented my work! It was great to see old acquaintances, as well as make new ones.

Shop for merchandise designed by Christine at https://www.cafepress.com/cstoddard