Future Cities Review

lindsaylelivelt — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:26:28 +0000

Below is my review of The Tangential‘s first foray into fiction: FUTURE CITIES for Paper Darts:

Originally published at PaperDarts on 1/24/2013

It seemed fitting that I read through The Tangential’s first foray into published print while riding shotgun along the bleak highways of North Dakota. Desolate and dying dystopias filled much of the book’s pages, with little bits of hope and happiness scattered in and out of each piece.

Future Cities—which features short pieces of fiction by local literati Becky Lang, Jay Gabler, Heidi Schatz,John Jodzio, and more (like not-so-local-Portable.tv’sKat George)—is a collection of little glimpses into possibilities for the future. Each piece is unique to itself, but each fits well smooshed together under the giant umbrella of Future Cities without screaming at you “THE FUTURE IS NOW.”

The future does seem to feel a lot like now, however. There are break ups, there are new-agey penitentiaries, there are time capsules, jello, hashtags. Trivial Pursuit, Kohl’s, and Funyuns still exist, which is good. Crispin Best’s piece “I Woke Up and it Was the Future. Hi. Things Seem the Same.” does an excellent job of conveying just how similar and different things are between the present we readers know and the futures depicted throughout the collection.

Regular readers of The Tangential will notice a lack of lists, how-to’s, and much of the snark found on the site. This collection moves more into the thought-provoking types of pieces they’ve published lately (like this). That’s not to say this will disappoint the site’s wide range of fans. In fact, Gabler’s piece feels like a nice compromise between the two.

Of course the biggest difference is that this is collection is a fiction compilation, whereas the website is mainly nonfiction. This book proves that these writers can hold their own in both literary realms. The characters are relatable, and none of the prose reads awkward or seems forced. Not one writer seems to be thinly veiling themselves in their characters.

Without reading a byline, each story is pretty easy to attach to the correct author, as the writers all have their unique voice and subject matters. This makes sense, as shorter pieces get more hits online and help satisfy our general internet ADD, whereas a book allows the writers to slow it down and really come into their own with more poignant pieces and deeper themes than you might find on the interwebs.

A quick read, this book gives me hope for the future of The Tangential and what else they’ve got up their publishing or partying sleeves—if you haven’t been to one of their more recent events, I suggest you go to whatever they plan next. Worthwhile.

Guys! The Twin Cities has so much goodness going on in the literary realm that it only feels right to start off 2013 with something so well done. Pick up your very own copy of Future Cities by clicking here. You won’t be disappointed.

Beauty is Only Temporary

lindsaylelivelt — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:19:54 +0000

My new non-fiction piece was featured in the new online publication MPLSzine (the work issue)!

Huzzah! And a sneak peak below:

Beauty is Only Temporary

On Pinterest

lindsaylelivelt — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 03:09:16 +0000

Originally posted on the Dart Blog

ON PINTEREST

Pinterest is a big deal. To me, to you, and probably to your mom. It gives off these warm fuzzies and shares our collective love of puppies and green leather couches. It knows that we probably can’t afford the Givenchy bootsthat we save, and it doesn’t judge for it. The Pinterest page is, in a way, an extension of self. It is our ideal self, I suppose. The one that owns the perfect end table and the right knick knacks to top it. But it’s not just the best parts of us—it’s the worst. It is all the things we are not, all the things forgotten and not done. It’s a love/loathe relationship that makes Pinterest so universal.

Pinterest lets you both curate and create the perfect you. It’s a way to read someone without words, it’s a book with chapters you’re constantly writing, re-writing, and collecting—and that’s a pretty big deal, if you ask me. It’s not just finding perfect recipes that we want to try; it’s finding the perfect recipes that we think other people should know that we want to try.

What makes Pinterest unique from any other social media platform is that it offers a false sense of ownership without the high cost of living. With all the the clothes, shoes, and accessories pinned to boards upon boards, it’s nice to pretend that the items are our own. It introduces dozens of new artists to us with every log-in. Pinterest shows people so many new pieces of art, textiles, and designers that they might never have seen while strolling through the rest of the internets. Pinterest helps us to dream that our walls are lined with fantastic pieces of whimsy and wonder—even though most of us have landlords that would keep our deposit and then some for such holes found in the walls.

But Pinterest is also the beast that puts all of our shortcomings and downfalls on display. People see it too. Because it’s rapidly becoming a great way to spy on someone’s innermost feelings and (not so) secret desires. Way better than the Facebook wall, Pinterest has things saved that no one tweets or posts about. Your new girlfriend’s future wedding plans? Your cousin’s favorite outfits for babies (she’s not pregnant)? They’re all there. Waiting for you to lurk on each board, each little window into an individual’s desires. Pinterest is like an Instagram into the soul…or a snapshot of the psyche, maybe.

Pinterest is the digital junk drawer that we all dread cleaning out.

In many ways, Pinterest is like the virtual version of the many stacks of magazines we all have, waiting to topple if we even think of adding to the pile. It is the articles our moms clip out and save for us and the books that we haven’t got around to yet. It is the digital junk drawer that we all dread cleaning out. Pinterest has resulted in projects not created, things not done yourself, recipes not tried and good book recommendations not ever returned to. Many a Pinterest board has become a virtual graveyard of ideas laid to rest, excited captions typed. And it’s terrifying to think that it’s out there, for all the world to see.

Especially when it’s as scary/sad a pin as this:

Of course, it’s also a really fun pasttime, timewaster, inspiration-finder, party planner, etc. Let’s not get all down and out about our Pinterest boards. I mean, some of us are really getting it right.

LIKE THESE FOLKS:

Joy Cho/Oh Joy!
Paper Darts! (DUH)
Kate Spade New York
Justina Blakeney
drawdrawdraw*
Sally Franson—proof, proof, proof, more proof
Jealous Curator
sfgirlby bay/ victoria smith

Now go, pin and pine to your heart’s content. Just know that we’ll be watching.

The Gustavian Weekly

lindsaylelivelt — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 23:25:08 +0000

In my time at Gustavus Adolphus College, I became heavily involved in the on-campus newspaper. Starting as News Editor, I worked my way up to Features Editor, and ended my time there as Editor-in-Chief. Below is a list of all articles and layouts I wrote or designed throughout those three years (in reverse chronological order):

Gustavus Actually

LineUs teams with alumni performers for show

Adjustment Bureau: Adjust your plans

Assault Update

I could fall madly in bed with you

In wake of assaults, campus works to solve problems; investigation

Campus turns out for assault forum

18 Gustavus students return safely from Australia

Top of the Pops: Billboard vs. the Alternative

Be more aware of the awareness on campus

Thank you for being a friend

Nicole Meyer – A pillar of the community

At “Adz” with Sufjan

A visual and literary odyssey

Getting to know Saint Peter

Arts and Crafts

Fearless fall fashions

A Thrilling Performance

Visiting dance and theatre troupe features Gustie grad

Meet the Staff of The Gustavian Weekly

Have your cookies and eat them, too.

What we have here, is a failure to communicate

Meet the staff

Natalie Jo Baker: Livin’ the dream

Sarah Jabar: Well grounded in what’s good

Summer Music Musts

Take the long way home

RJD2 concert falls short of expectations

The many faces of Chatroulette

Evan Curtin: Balancing school and parenthood

The daily grind

Required (Leisure) Reading

A director’s insight: The Lovely Bones

Where in the World… are you living next year?

Winter Wonderland

Christmas in Christ Chapel: a liturgy of letters and carols

2009 Firethorne release party is a success

Party like its 1999

The Reitman for the job

Bringing back the essay

Film Fatale

Communication Breakdown

Harry Potter and the hormone-driven plot

Raising the B.A.R.

Bar Exam

Harvest season proves bountiful

Gustavus Ink

The Proposal: not just another romantic comedy

Cafeteria Creations

Bicycle Racing

Oren Struck breaks the college mold

The results are in … Olson and Holm Co-Presidents Elect

Weekend forecast: Cloud Cult makes it rain

Students unite for a common goal: Case in point

Catherine Keith: Shining brightly both in and out of the classroom

On campus recall: Clif and Luna bars

Nine vehicles vandalized on Halloween Weekend

New student group sparks debate on campus

Sigur Ros’ted: a show to end all shows

The Tangential

lindsaylelivelt — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 22:42:53 +0000

I occassionally write creative non-fiction pieces for Minneapolis-based writing site TheTangential.com

Below is a list of my pieces published on that site:

Everything I Really Need to Know About Life I Learned From Twitter

Pros and cons of having my roommate move out

What the Color of Your Room Says About You

Things I Do When I’m Stuck In Rush Hour Traffic

OPI Nail Polish Name Rejects

Realest Tweets of June

Realest Tweets of July

Best/Realest Tweets of the Week, 8/14-8/20/2011

Jersey Shore Finishing School

Corporate America is a Lot Like High School

Things Bey and Jay-Z Should Have Considered Before Naming Their Baby “Blue Ivy”

Pop Culture Maths

STATE (FAIR) OF THE ARTS

lindsaylelivelt — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 00:43:24 +0000

originally posted here

“Twelve Days of Fun” doesn’t even begin to cover all of the goodness that is the Minnesota State Fair. From the Midway to the Agricultural building, deep-fried pickles to macaroni on a stick, there is something for everyone. And every bit of the fair is a little work of art in its own way. The State Fair is a big grouping of Minnesota art and culture thrown together and heated to perfection, and you just can’t get any other time of the year.

The Miracle of Birth Center is pretty much a given in terms of both culture and creating cute little works of “art.” With baby farm animals being born left and right, it’s a perfect glimpse into the wonders of the world and stripped-down farm life. The food—which is so carefully crafted, created, and molded to fit on all those sticks—is itself deep-fried masterpieces. Of course, there’s the art building, which is chock full of great Minnesota artists that are way worth your time. But in case you missed it this year (how dare you), I’ve got a round up of some of the best parts of 2012′s Great Minnesota Get Together.

THE EATS

First, let’s start with the food. Also, the beverages. I hit up the cheese curds, Pronto Pups, sweet corn ice cream with caramel butter bacon toppings, Tom Thumb donuts, honey sticks, Summit on a Stick, mongolian beef tacos, the hop flight of Minnesota brews, olives on a stick, cinammon roasted almonds, and lots of free water. No matter what food or foods you pick at the fair, it all feels distinctly Minnesotan—especially if its on a stick, which almost everything is.

THE CUTE

Of course, it is not a true fair experience without spending a little bit of time with some baby animals. Or watching some new life being born right in front of you. Or checking out competitions for best sheep or lasso skills. At its heart, the State Fair is about competition and showing off, having the biggest and the best livestock, or the fattest pig, or the goat with the best gait.

THE ART-ART

But down to brass tacks: the art building had some great stuff this year. And if you’ve got Paper Darts Volume 3, you’ll recognize the work of Andy Ducett.

THE DAIRY

And let’s not forget importance of dairy at the fair. With all the milk you can drink for just $1, you can sit and bask in the buttery beauty of Princess Kay of the Milky Way to your heart’s content.

Now that the State Fair has come to a close, we’ve got nearly 365 days until the magic starts again. That’s a lot of time to dream up new stick-food cuisine, to map out your day from the Midway to the Grand Stand, and to dream of fanny packs and ill-fitted tube tops.

DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS SITCOM (AND VICE VERSA)

lindsaylelivelt — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 00:40:29 +0000

originally posted here

I am a lady who likes her TV. Likewise, I’m a lady who likes her books. I am also a lady who has been known to enjoy it when the two mediums collide, one being adapted into the other. I love waiting to see if the characters from one medium can correctly be portrayed in another, and I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember.

At age seven, I lived for The Babysitter’s Club. That series was everything awesome about what I could imagine teenage life to be: Income! Friends! Cute boys! Denim cut-off vests! And then, it was made into a movie and all my dreams were made that much more real. The books inspired the movie and the movie got me more excited to keep reading the books.

Of course, the basic idea of a book being translated into a movie or TV show is not new. But, BSC (for the cool kids) was my first real experience with it. Followed almost immediately by the Goosebumps series that I could read at night and watch after school (!). And let’s not forget the great Sweet Valley High or Little House on the Prairie before my time.

Now, there’s Twilight and The Hunger Games. There’s Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. AndDexter and The Walking Dead and The Bourne Series. All of these books adapted into film have got me wondering, why aren’t more movies or shows adapted into books?

I can remember, as a closeted science fiction nerd in junior high, I would get my dad to buy me books based onStar Wars that chronicled the adventures of Han and Leia’s children, Jaina and Jacen (and a hot redhead, as shown on this cover). ((A fact that I have never shared with anyone. You’re welcome, Internet.)) With this series, books came from the movies, literature imitated but did not duplicate cinema. Familiar characters Luke, Han, and Leia are present in, but not the main characters of, the series.

The same sort of things happened with a few popular TV shows; the story arcs and the characters of well received TV shows often got book spin-offs. Notables include: Full House, Star Trek, The X-Files, NCIS, Firefly, The O.C.,and Smallville. It seems that sci-fi/fantasy programs and programs geared towards adolescent girls are the more successful book adaptations.

With so much of modern television programming and movie magic coming from book series, are there any original shows as of late that would do well if converted into literature? Would we want them to be? I can think of any number of characters that I love and cannot seem to get enough of. But, I have to ask myself, would Mad Menbe the same without the impeccable scenic design? Or the visual candy of the wardrobe stylings? Could 30 Rockstand on its own two literary feet? I’m not sure.

A SPIN-OFF BOOK SEEMS A LOT LIKE A SPIN-OFF TV SERIES.

A spin-off book seems a lot like a spin-off TV series in that none are really all that extremely, wildly successful. That I know of? Prove me wrong, please. But the ones listed above aren’t exactly some of the greatest works of fiction.

After having everything laid out for us, are we unable or unwilling to imagine or enjoy anything more than what we have already seen? Or, I suppose the real question is,do books based on movies or television shows have less literary merit?

I don’t know. Part of me thinks that plots would have to thicken and storylines stretch to last so many pages. Mannerisms would have to be described accurately but not dryly to reflect that of what actors have already displayed. I’ve never seen it done extremely well. But I certainly would like to.

What parts of silver screen (big or small) would you love to read, if at all?

Re-upholstered Bench

lindsaylelivelt — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 02:04:21 +0000

Marimekko Re-upholstery DIY

A complete tutorial on how to re-upholster small furniture.

Written and created for AlwaysMod.com

Circle Scarf

lindsaylelivelt — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 02:01:46 +0000

Make Your Own Marimekko Circle Scarf

Complete tutorial for making and sewing your own circle scarf.

Written and created for AlwaysMod.com

Picnic Blanket

lindsaylelivelt — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 01:58:13 +0000

Make Your Own Marimekko Picnic Blanket

A complete tutorial on how to make your own picnic blanket.

written and created for AlwaysMod.com

Great Expectations for Gatsby

lindsaylelivelt — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 01:53:55 +0000

Blog post for Paper Darts Literary Magazine – Great Expectations for Gatsby

p.s. I designed the header.

There is one book of “required” reading that shaped my literary experience in high school. Assigned during my sophomore year, this book helped me to decide the path that I would take in college, and though I didn’t know it at the time, the type of person I would become later in life (book nerd and lit lover to the core). Already a lot of pressure for one little novella, The Great Gatsby has now been adapted into what looks to be the big blockbuster of the year, due out this Christmas. (Not to be confused with the 1974 film starring Robert Redford.)

Directed by Baz Luhrman, who is best known for Moulin Rouge(which I don’t like) and Romeo + Juliet (which I LOVE), there were already a lot of opinions about this film flying around in my head before the preview even debuted.

THESE ARE MY FEELINGS, THESE ARE MY QUESTIONS:

Is the actor going to match up to what I pictured while reading?
There are parts that are going to be left out. What parts are going to be left out?
Nick Carraway, how will you be portrayed? How reliable will Tobey make you appear?
Is the whole mise-en-scène going to be a little askew from the world that has already been constructed in my head? The colors had better be spot on. Somehow.
How many times am I going to feel the need to cut my hair short a la Daisy a.k.a. Carey Mulligan?
THE SHIRTS SCENE HAD BETTER BE DONE RIGHT.
Is this the year Leo finally wins an Oscar? Please, let it be.
Is the modern music going to clash too much with the time frame of the story? How futuristic does it need to get?
Please don’t let the eyes of Dr. Eckleburg be lame. Please, please, please.

BUT, THE TRAILER IS OUT, AND I’VE GOT A LOT OF THOUGHTS, A LOT OF THINGS ON MY MIND.

I swear I held my breath through the entirety of the first viewing. But, the official trailer is actually over 2:00 long, so there’s no way that’s accurate. The music and the glitz, it was all so sexy and provocative. (And please, let’s just not get started on the typography!) It was nothing like I had imagined when I read it in tenth grade. Because in tenth grade, in my head, the parties were extravagant but proper. Nothing so sensual as this. Here, in this preview, everything was wrong. And at the same time, it was all perfect.

This movie, though not my take on Gatsby, was offering me an entirely new interpretation of the text. It was a little lens into someone else’s carefully constructed Gatsby world, it’s what they saw as they read it. And they were inviting me in—John Malkovich style. Although, with so much focus on parties and alcohol and little to none on the complexity of Gatsby as a man, it is hard to imagine this film capturing the entirety of the book in roughly two and half hours (give or take).

BUT LET’S REMEMBER A FEW THINGS:

It’s only a preview, the glitz is there to get people interested—not only those who have not read the book, but especially those who have (So that they may hem and haw and create controversy and wild claims of “I’ll never see this!” but still go see the movie anyway).
It’s only a preview, the whole movie can’t possibly fit into 2:26, no matter what quality you choose to view it in.
It will never be the book you read, or the experience you had the first time you read it.

But it will be the movie you saw and the experience you had the first time you saw it. And if you can think of those things existing both separate and together at the same time—this movie living in your book world and Luhrman’s—that is the true magic of film adaptation. One informs the other, without replacing it.

Marketing Copywriter

lindsaylelivelt — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:29:37 +0000

I have experience working as a Marketing Copywriter for Our World Shops, Inc.

In this position, I am responsible for writing product descriptions, press releases, blog posts, etc. and updating content, taking product photos, managing wedding registries for the following sites:

www.FinnStyle.com
www.FinnishGifts.com
www.EllaUmbrella.com
www.AlwaysMod.com
http://blog.alwaysmod.com/
www.GlassBirds.com
www.Aalto.com
www.finnishdesign.com/

Copy written for every sentence, paragraph, page,and period on showercurtainsetc.com

Press releases: Finnish up Your Shopping List, Rain Umbrellas to Take Spring by Storm
Finnstyle Wedding Registry Mailer

come play with me

lindsaylelivelt — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:31:46 +0000

Hi! I’m Lindsay.

I’m a lady who likes to write and create and produce things that are wonderful. I’m an avid shoe wearer and a music enthusiast living in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

whisky and whimsy is my online portfolio and playground.

I graduated magna cum laude from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2011 with a degree in English with a writing emphasis. I am looking to work in editing, writing, marketing and/or designing fields and think that you should probably hire me.

want to chat?

resume

twitter

tumblr

facebook

gmail

On Fitness

lindsaylelivelt — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:27:35 +0000

On Fitness

An Education in Doing It Well

LINDSAY LELIVELT
October 6th, 2011

On the first day of Bio 100, my professor walked in and announced that we should and would love this class. “In biology,” she said, “everything is about sex.” Biology, I learned, is the study of life, ergo; life is all about sex, too. Ultimately, every decision we make relates back to sex. Not necessarily sex in the romantic soap opera sense or even the drunken MTV spring break sense, but sex in the sense of survival, continuation, and necessity. Because of this, everything we do in life revolves around fitness.

Biologically, fitness is defined as being the ability to survive and reproduce. By “reproduce,” I mean “have sex.” Lots and lots of sex. An individual’s fitness is his or her reproductive success.
It has to do with alleles (the possible arrangement or outcome of traits in DNA; e.g., “A”, which is dominant and “a”, which is recessive),
and genotypes (the actual traits existing in the DNA; e.g., Aa, Aa, AA, or aa)
and phenotypes (the expressed traits of DNA; e.g., A or a)
and sex (i.e., sex).
Lots of sex. Think punnett squares, and if you can’t because it’s been too long, I’ve got one right here for you.

PUNNETT SQUARE BY LINDSAY LELIVELT.

Let’s say the letters on the side of the box are the man and the letters on the top of the box are the woman. The four squares shown represent all the combinations of some particular gene that can occur if the two were to mate. Three out of those four times the A trait is expressed, because A is the dominant. The a trait is only outwardly expressed when there are two of them together. Let’s say this expressed trait is height. Three out of four times, the offspring will be tall. According to this theory, the taller offspring will do better in life than the short. Therefore, females are more attracted to the taller males, in hopes that this tall gene passes on to their children. The reason we are attracted to someone is inherently because we want their attractive qualities to pass on to our children.

How many children are you able to produce to ensure that continuation of your species? It’s an important concept that humans don’t really have to deal with in modern times. But other species of the animal and plant kingdoms are obsessed with it. It’s their jobs to have as much offspring as possible or it is probable that their species will go extinct. That’s why individuals with a higher fitness (i.e., those with the most offspring) are those with the most dominant and strong alleles (lots of As) to pass on. From a biological lens, if you’re a fit individual, you get a lot of tail.

In modern society, the same thing rings true. If you are fit, you’re probably getting some. Of course, fitness has a different definition in our culture than that of being successful in sexual endeavors.

But, if you are successful in such endeavors, it is more likely that you are fit—fit, of course, meaning in excellent physical condition. Buff. Jacked. Strong. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, sucker punch bad guys straight to the moon, lift large objects without breaking a sweat. You are the modern-day super hero. And with a reputation like that, yeah, you’re going to be getting some.

What is the fascination with being so physically fit? With having 0 percent body fat? Why have we as humans reprogrammed ourselves to be attracted to individuals with such svelte physiques? In men, it makes sense; as they are (biologically) seen as the protectors and providers. But in women? Physically, we are the child-bearers, the comforters, the consolers. Our bodies are made to be a little plumper, a little comfier than the bodies on the cover of women’s fitness magazines. We are not meant to be fat, mind you. But we’re not meant to have washboard abs, either. For a woman to be extremely thin, with no body fat and thighs that don’t touch, is no good for fitness. If your body can’t support and nurture a child due to extreme leanness, than you are biologically unfit. In short, if you’re too fit, you’re not fit.

So ladies, embrace your bodies; embrace your curves. The pouch, the little pooch of belly near our hips is supposed to be there. Because we’re the gender that carries the offspring, we’re supposed to have a little extra softness to nurture them. We are not meant to have chiseled biceps and calf muscles, because biologically, that does not help us to feed or support our offspring. Our curves are praised and celebrated. Don’t believe me? Turn on your radio:

The clothes she wears
the sexy ways
make an old man wish for younger days
She knows she’s built
and knows how to please
Sure enough to knock a man to his knees

She was a fast machine
She kept her motor clean
She was the best damn woman that I ever seen
She had the sightless eyes
Telling me no lies
Knocking me out with those American thighs

You can do side bends or sit ups, but please don’t lose that butt!

Women, be proud! Our bodies are wonderlands. Legs, breasts, and booties. We’ve got some nice curves to work with.

Men, contrary to popular opinion, are also under exceeding amounts of pressure to be fit to secure a sexual partner. Sex drive and libido are the main components of the pressure, but of course media and society don’t help either. Women and men all around are luring them into gyms and marathons and kickboxing tournaments to prove that they are the fittest individuals for the job. And it is appreciated. I love a man who can open a pickle jar for me, or help me move into my third floor apartment without breaking too much of a sweat. Or bulging too many muscles.

There is a difference between being fit and ripped, a distinction between bulging might and defined lines. There are the individuals who take it too far. In attempts to win the affections of the opposite sex, sometimes the line between attractive and atrocious is crossed. I’m going to be so fit. I’m gonna get jacked. I’m going out tonight, gonna get some chicks. I’m so jacked that I could run to the bar, I could bike to the bar, I could bench press the bar. So fit. Too fit. Check me out. I look good. But there’s no point in looking good if you have nothing to back it up. And that’s where we as humans differ so greatly from our fellows in the animal kingdom. We put a lot of emphasis, or at least we’re taught to, on personality, intelligence, and achievements—as well as physical attractiveness.

With all of this emphasis on being well-rounded, attractive individuals, the outliers of that bell curve are looked down upon. The outcasts, the freaks and the geeks, the crazy cat and bag ladies—these people are stereotyped and seen as unworthy of time.

Fitness is not just about being sexually active and physically active. Fitness also refers to the appropriateness of something. Fitness is a way of deciding if two or more objects go together. Does the key fit in the lock? Does this class fit in my schedule? Do I fit in on campus? Is everyone else hanging out without me?

Often loved, often loathed comedian Dane Cook talks about this kind of fitting in with his joke about “The Friend That Nobody Likes.” He says, “There is one person, in every group of friends, that nobody fucking likes. You basically keep them there, to hate their guts. When that person is not around the rest of your little base camp, your hobby is cutting that person down.”

This is a very real and true fear for many people. What if I don’t fit in? What if nobody likes me? What if my friends aren’t really my friends? A lot of stress is placed on this type of fitness. It is considered important to fit in on the scale of normalcy. To not stand out or be an outcast. To have friends and surround yourself with other people like you, who like you. To work and function properly as a part of the bigger picture, the bigger mechanism (be it societal or literal) is what we are taught from a young age as the appropriate path to follow into adulthood. Nobody wants to be the weird kid, the weird adult, the one that no one can relate to. If your hobbies and interests and weekend activities are strange, no one will want to hang out with you. More often that not, if we deviate from that path of normalcy, we are considered less desirable than those that stick to it.

Being undesirable is not a characteristic of a fit individual. Neither is being morally questionable. Being competent in both moral and societal standards are attractive qualities to have. This kind of fitness keeps one from setting buildings on fire, raping and pillaging towns, chewing with our mouths open or taking bank patrons hostage. This type of fitness keeps us from treading the line of insanity. Crazy people are rarely found attractive or desirable by the masses. Because of this, it’s likely they are lacking company in the boudoir.

MÖBIUS STRIP BY LINDSAY LELIVELT.

So where does this leave us? To be fit, you must get fit, in order to be fit, so that you are fit. Right? Right. Fitness is a living Möbius strip. A Möbius strip, as I learned in an entry-level college math course, is something that is hard to define.

It is a two-dimensional object with only one surface. You can’t tell what’s inside or what’s outside because they are the same thing. It is a multi-faceted object that lacks a clear definition of end points; a continuous loop. Your perspective changes as it does.

Fitness is much of the same. It is a word with many definitions, many angles and facets. It impacts our day-to-day lives more than we may be able to realize. To be fit is to live well, and to live well … well, you know the rest.

Originally posted here on Twin Cities Runoff!

Woody

lindsaylelivelt — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:14:43 +0000

Woody Allen linocut

relief linocut and watercolor
1/1 print spring 2011.

–

Classes taken:
Screen printing 1, 2 at Gustavus Adolphus College under Professor Bruce McClain.

Turntables

lindsaylelivelt — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:54:33 +0000

Displayed in Schaeffer Fine Arts Center, fall 2010.

handbuilt slab ceramics, linocut printing.
appetizer platter and plates.
fall 2010.

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I have experience in handbuilt and wheelthrown ceramics. I specialize in slab building with rakku clay and work to incorporate my hobbies and obsessions into what I create. From typography to confectionaries, my pieces reflect my personality and work together and are also able to stand on their own.

Classes taken:

Beginners and Advanced ceramics, 2006-2007 Robbinsdale Armstrong High School
Beginning Handbuilding, 2007 Gustavus Adolphus College
Advanced Wheelthrown, 2008 Gustavus Adolphus College
Advanced Handbuilding, 2010 Gustavus Adolphus College
Independent Study, 2011 Gustavus Adolphus College

Offered position teaching Advanced Wheelthrown ceramics at St. Peter Arts Center in St. Peter MN, summer 2011.

Instructed Beginners Handbuilding ceramics at St. Peter Arts Center in St. Peter MN, summer 2012.

morality anagrams

lindsaylelivelt — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:44:38 +0000

from exhibition in Schaeffer Gallery, Gustavus Adolphus College.

Morality Anagrams is a collection of handbuilt slab ceramics from 2010/2011. It was featured in an from exhibition in Schaeffer Gallery, Gustavus Adolphus College.

Classes taken:

Offered position teaching Advanced Wheelthrown ceramics at St. Peter Arts Center in St. Peter MN, summer 2011.

Instructed Beginners Handbuilding ceramics at St. Peter Arts Center in St. Peter MN, summer 2012.

Cupcakery

lindsaylelivelt — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:41:12 +0000

From exhibition in the Schaefer Gallery, Gustavus Adolphus College.

Cupcakes in 2, 3, and real D.
handbuilt ceramics, 2010/2011.
(and some baked goods, too).

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Classes taken:

Offered position teaching Advanced Wheelthrown ceramics at St. Peter Arts Center in St. Peter MN, summer 2011.

Instructed Beginners Handbuilding ceramics at St. Peter Arts Center in St. Peter MN, summer 2012.

Claddagh

lindsaylelivelt — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:23:58 +0000

ceramic platter, handbuilt 2007

Top Ten Reasons to Love First Avenue

lindsaylelivelt — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:55:57 +0000

First avenue (& 7th Street entry) is Minneapolis’ best place to catch live music. Why? Lemme tell you.

1- The club made famous by Prince in his glorious Purple Rain, is located on the corner of First Ave and 7th Street in the heart of downtown. It is the creme de la creme of the Minneapolis music scene. The club has great acoustics, good views no matter where you sit (or stand) and attracts the best tours to Minneapolis.

2- It’s now even better with its Depot restaurant, where you can get a bite to eat and grab tickets to an upcoming show–good food and good music, what could be better?

3- Starting April 1st, First Ave will no longer have a contract with Ticketmaster. Which means . . . no more ridiculous charges on frivolous things. There will still be a minimal charge for convenience with their new provider etix, but nothing in comparison to TicketMaster’s fees.

4- You get in for free with a friend on your birthday. Even if the show is sold out.

5- You get a free bottle of champagne on your birthday, and that’s the truth.

6- If you follow them on twitter and have a knack for musical trivia, you can get your tickets upgraded to a date table up on the top floor for free- just be the first to tweet the correct answer on the night of the show. Just check out their updates and tags of #tweettable. (must be present to win.)

7- They’ve got good bar food. Just head over to the window to the left of the stage and order up.

8- In the winter, a coat check is nice. There’s an express coat check for $10 in by the entrance, but there’s also a $3 coat check in the back. Save the seven bucks and order yourself a tall boy. (Don’t forget to tip!)

9- You can always find a friend. Somehow there’s always somebody you know at First Avenue. (Whether you want to say hello is another story.)

10- First Ave is one of the only venues to play entertainment between sets. They drop down a big old screen and project great movies to help pass the time while you wait for the headliners to tune their 32,235 guitars.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Top ten reasons to love First Avenue – Minneapolis Alternative Music | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/alternative-music-in-minneapolis/top-ten-reasons-to-love-first-avenue#ixzz1V3vu5J6e

Spread.

lindsaylelivelt — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:33:32 +0000

I learned to paint from Professor Bruce McClain at Gustavus Adolphus College, and thank God. Bruce is the best and now, thanks to him, I’m confident in saying “I’m pretty okay.” From Bruce I learned the art of Watercolor and Oil Painting, as well as skills in mixed media paintings.

Watercolor/ mixed media on Arches paper, 2010.

Everything is Imitated

lindsaylelivelt — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 20:10:40 +0000

Everything is Imitated, 1/9, 2011.
Screenprint on bristol board.

clayola

lindsaylelivelt — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 19:16:17 +0000

Classes taken:

Beginners and Advanced ceramics, 2006-2007 Robbinsdale Armstrong High School
Beginning Handbuilding, 2007 Gustavus Adolphus College
Advanced Wheelthrown, 2008 Gustavus Adolphus College
Advanced Handbuilding, 2010 Gustavus Adolphus College
Independent Study, 2011 Gustavus Adolphus College

Offered position teaching Advanced Wheelthrown ceramics at St. Peter Arts Center in St. Peter MN, summer 2011.

Handbuilt ceramic crayons 2007, inspired by the works of Bean Finneran and Pete Goldlust. Lowfire underglazes purchased at Minnesota clay.