epic disappointment

figures for thought....

and then....


Dearest bloggers,

there are not many of you so suffice it to say I am not really that sorry that I didn't make it to any of the places I said I'd make it to and didn't. Life is insane and between my birthday, everyone else's birthday and graduating of course I am biting off more than I can chew! I have come back today to talk about a matter of proportion.. how do you feel about it? Personally I feel like figure drawing is a challenging math problem that you just want to get right. Sometimes I don't really care enough to get the proportions right because I'd rather show my style. I'd argue that none of them are succesful as finished figure drawings because personaly i find the selective nature of many figure drawings what makes them so compelling. however I find the styles of some of them very interesting. So I guess here starts the epic debate how important is proportion? Must you have an epic handle on the proportions of the body to make a beautiful human form? I keep getting arguments from both parties, and if you know what you want go for it! I think the best one I've heard so far goes like this... "Your drawing is the only way to communicate your style effectively". That said if you don't draw well no one will appreciate your style. If your composition sucks no one will appreciate either. Just for the record. I would also like to state for the record that part of the last figure is cut off, which is atrociously cropped to make it look like i cut off part of the breast.

does anyone have any arguments regarding the issue of proportion?

can we christen this blog?

Open Studio roundup

Dearest bloggers I have not forgotten you! Graduation, art and birthday shenanigans have been keeping me busy! I've been checking out open studios the past few weekends. Once I reconvene with my collection of postcards and art genius I'll post more specifics.... Being an art scenester I found a few things worth mentioning sooner than later though:
Lesley kids stuck to what they are good at and not trying to do the whole painting gig, but instead making a huge ass collaboration piece. For the record, Me, Reva Loudermilk, Steve Fraone (the great strong man arm candy of Ms Loudermilk), and Leigh Champagne contributed to the work, which will make it of incredible value one day (shame they are cutting it up to give to everyone). Must say that my small clique of talented artist types really enjoyed the mindless and therapeutic application of painting without purpose (isn't that what I do anyways? This is where I can piss off not only the art critic but also the collector and the fellow artist, whoops).
Most of the art I came accross (admittedly not much, once I attended my famed professor's shindig we found the big ass collaboration piece and refused to be pulled away from neon paint and a brush) was a disappointing turnout of weekend painters making predictable abstract and mastering sucking the soul out of the still life. However, my esteemed professor Kofi Kayiga participated, and if you made it to his home in the most desolate region of the open studio...he was probably on the phone with one of his colleagues and you may have ran away promptly. If you were so kind to digest in some good art while without being bothered while he was otherwise occupied you were in for some kind of treat. His complex abstractions are practically vibrating with feel- good vibes and abundant energy. With the way Kayiga moves the paintbrush you don't wonder why he has to be laid back in the classroom sometimes! Listening to the marketing guru- his wife, he created some of these awesome crazy painter abstract scarves. As a fellow crazy painter, I totally want a giant Kayiga Scrawled over my neck (with the way he signs his scarves and paintings I'm speaking quite literally! haha). He recounted the tale with us of how managed to go to a party and sell a grand worth of these beautiful hand made scarves in one sittings! Dearest Kayiga- we don't wonder why!

Next on the list I hung out at the Somerville Open Studios this weekend. Me and my art appreciating fellow tragic female groupie absolutely fell in love with the Mix it Print Studio. From Mathmetician turned artist to Egon Schiele and Victoria Secret mixed into a woodcut the Mix it Studio was like Disneyland for my eyes. The upstairs was just as lovely featuring some great watecolors and oils that I'll talk about next week when I redeem the postcards I hoarded and then forgot to grab back from my friend later (of course).
Another site worth mentioning is Outside the Lines Studio, just opened a retail store in Union Square. Jean Debuffet would have creamed his pants if he saw the awesomeness created by this art brut crowd. Perhaps I am biased because I'm a Saturday Studio volunteer, but this is raw art mecca. Originally opened as an alternative program for adults with developmental disabilities, this shindig tried countless ways to get these folks some meaning and happiness in their lives and guess what? Art did the trick! The real studio in Medford is giant car garage turned art camp. One look and instead of disabled, you long to say thisis no disability- this is some kind of gift. These people mean business, kid art without predictability, fine art without the fine or the pretentious pricetag to go with it. Art for the sake of art. Artist's get an 80% comission on work sold- these folks can make a living on their art! Saturday these folks are installing some large scale sculpture from the workshop in a Medford elementary school teacher's lounge. If we take pictures I'll post them, it's going to look tasty!

This weekend's itinerary also includes:
SOWA art walk- visiting Andy Woodward again, The crowned prince of 50 State Animals. Finally, a reason for the artist to learn some random facts!
BU Graphic Design Senior Show- Where my long lost love, Doria Nathanson is showcasing some of her work in hopes maybe she'll be able to laugh from her penthouse while I continue to cringe at the sight of a computer design program.
My Birthday Party- If scandal ensues and we all end up breaking open the edible body paint maybe we'll talk about it in the blog next week (just kidding!)
If you are unable to attend my birthday party but are looking for something art related to do other after SOWA 80 Border Ave in Boston- The Atlantic Works Gallery is having an opening- The Misplaced Bride... I urge you to check it out if you are feeling taking artsy to the next level after SOWA

The Whitney and couch art rebellion

Piotr Uklanski- The Year we made contact -2010

Ever meet a painting that makes your knees weak? If so, prepare to stumble into the Whitney.

After the slightly traumatic experience of yogurt lids and a beached whale of a museum I felt a little bit teased, used and disappointed (by the museum and my date ironically). Luckily I was in New York city and instead of chocolate I had really good... mind boggling...wait for it....ART!

I remember telling my MOMA buddy that I was expecting something else, to which he replies "this is modern art, I don't know why you expected anything different". When I make it to the Whitney somehow I can describe exactly what I was looking for. I'm looking for the rich variations in Rauschenberg and the ethereal staining of Rothko next to that most perfect line of Newman as soon as I open the elevator to the top floor (the Whitney was mostly closed because the biennial wasn't up yet the first time i graced the doors) there they are. That was quite an experience. Walking around made my pulse quicken and I didn't know whether I wanted to sit and stare at one painting forever or meander into every corner so I don't miss a single surprise! Like any good first date the Whitney teased me with so little open but made me desperate and anxious to meet with them yet again.

Oh and I was rewarded. The name even sends chills down my spine. This piece makes me want to throw everything out of my living room and create a shrine for it. This is art that is so good even if you COULD fit your sofa and that painting in it you would throw out the sofa before you ever thought about touching this piece. This is one of the pieces that makes you want to wander in with your sketchbook, get lost in it for hours on end and walk out in a dreary haze from trying to memorize every single passage in this piece. Not only is it tactile, but sensual, the hemp hangs like dripping paint. All at once it is organic, romantic and rich with vivid passages and lavish detail. The Year We Made Contact longs me to ask the Whitney if they accept MasterCard, Amex or would consider letting me taking out a private loan so I could have this piece all to myself.

While I decided to talk about my favorite piece at the Whitney, I urge you to pick your own because unlike the dating scene, this place keeps you A) coming back for more B) There are definitely a lot of sexy pieces, with the honesty, integrity and passion that will not leave you disappointed.

In other news today I hit up Blick Spin The Wheel Wednesdays. There's just something about spinning a wheel and getting something art related as a prize that makes it totally worth heading down there. Also I am hitting up Open Studios in Cambridge on Sunday to see my professor and favorite crazy Jamaican Man/ artistic guru Kofi Kayiga's work. His work is fantabulous! I'll talk about that next week!

how could i forget....

THE YOGURT.... The jury MAY be out on the whale, but am I really wasting my time to look at some clear Dannon yogurt tops on the wall? Some with the price tag for "variation".

Mr Orozco, what do I even SAY to modern artist's anymore?
Tune in next time when my face lights up and I remind myself of the visual feast that was the Whitney Biennial <3

Orozco @ the Moma

A few months ago I decided to check out the MOMA in NYC. I was completely convinced it would be the Mecca of all I consider to be amazing art. When I left I was just glad it was Target Free Fridays. Now before everyone goes screaming at me telling me I have no appreciation for modern art I must say that that is simply NOT the case. I understand that art is not necessarily a painting (even though I am partial to think that it is), and maybe I am partial to seeing an artist's hand in the work (think rauschenberg, Hesse, De Kooning). There is something about a stiff suit hanging on a wall that just refuses to grab my attention.
So when I saw that Gabriel Orozco retrospective at the MOMA i got a reaction other than exasperated sigh. The whale, oh the whale. The inscription wrote that when he saw the space he immediately thought of a giant whale skeleton (I mean doesn't everyone?). Any artist can relate to that. It felt like Damien Hirst, but instead of preserving, digging up the remains and then drawing all over it. I feel bad for all these animals who are being dug up and doodled all over to be called "art". I feel like if I saw this around the same time I started looking at Damien Hirst I would have dug it. I mean the scale is incredible and being able to look at a whale skeleton from all these angles at different places in the museum is pretty sweet. The shadows are also great and it's a nice use of space. However all I can take from it is another conceptual modernist with a lot of money to throw around trying to wow us with his "bling" art.

Recently I was looking in Art News and there the whale rears it's head at me again and as I read I see an article on this piece and Orozco says "I want to disappoint the expectations of someone who wants to be amazed" . That hit a chord with me because I feel like that's exactly what he did. I feel like it's amazing in a sense, but I also am completely disappointed at the same time.
I can't decide and this whale has been following me around for two months now. When I hear Orozco talk about though, it almost does make sense. However, rich guys playing with money stopped being cool when Damien Hirst made the skull with diamonds on it and then invested in his own piece of work. This guy sounds like he was a lot cooler in 1993.

I hope you got my good side?

Bridge: Oil on canvas, 45x35

This is the beginning of my current body of work. It was definitely the product of everything I had been thinking about. I find it funny when you take a break for awhile you start creating much better work than the kind that you began with. Reflection can be important in my process. Sometimes I find myself super stressed out because instead of general to specific I flourish much more on chaos, and then sorting everything out. Surprisingly I didn't have that same kind of battle with this one. It was like a painting on the tip of my tongue and i merely had to pick up a paintbrush and the image made itself. Got to love when that happens, however rare. I generally start with a mark and then see where it takes me, I make an abstract form from that, think of what I'm thinking about and then put it there. Sometimes it can become quite the debaucle.
I would also like to state for the record that I'm one of those person who likes staring at trees for long periods of time, because I don't think there is anything cooler than a tree for the most part, so sometimes there's an awful lot of trees and tree based elements in my work!

More to come! I highly suggest reading my artist statement if you're not familiar with my work. It took me forever to upload it correctly and it's pretty badass in my own imagination. I'll also confess that sometimes it's not about landscapes and memories and all that artistic bullshit that art school forces us to think about, battle with and come to terms with. Sometimes I'll just put something on canvas and think it looks pretty and I think I'll use this blog as a podium for confession when I just like how something looks. Dear bloggers, If I confess to you you CANNOT tell all the really snobby art critics that will obviously someday be judging me on the quality of my artistic integrity.