Keith Haring Steals the Show

December 10, 2019

The Haring installation at the Rubell Museum highlights a fine collection by this artist. Memorable, powerful images like the heart artwork in the long hallway, carries your eye directly to this piece. I particularly enjoyed seeing more intimate works of drawing and narrative panels. The story of the wall of drawings was entirely compelling and enlightening.

The political pieces of the Statue of Liberty and Mickey Mouse are still potent and ave meaning today.

The general public will certainly be able to relate to this reachable yet sexual artist. Knowing so many who lost their lives to AIDS in the 80’s this work exemplifies this era.

Rubbel Museum Drive by

December 10, 2019

Diverse subjects, media and overall discomfort leave an lasting impression. After seeing hundreds of artwork,s some memorable and some absolutely not, the Rubell collection can stop you in your tracks. The overall theme of its inaugural offerings are overwhelmingly figurative. The collection is vast yet carefully curated for this years art week.

I will skip by installations for the sake of quantities and share the pieces that left an impression. I also have not emphasized the overtly sexual content of the Rubell’s collection but the content here is pretty obvious. No judgement on my part but certainly the collection reflects contemporary statements.

I have tried to organize images to some extent and in some cases did note the information about the piece provided by the museum. Unfortunately I was not able to include every card but a few can clarify some questions as to date, artists names and media.

The good news is the museum is now officially open to the public. Here is some info that can help you organize your visit. Contemporary works by emerging & established artists displayed in a repurposed DEA warehouse.

Address: 1100 NW 23rd St, Miami, FL 33127

Opened: 1993

Tickets: $5–10 · rfc.museum

Phone: (305) 573-6090

Enjoy the images and let me know what you think!

The Rubell Museum 2019 Miami Art Week

December 10, 2019

With so many incredible venues to see art I scheduled the new Rubell Museum for my last day. Noteable is the fact that this is the Rubell’s new 100,000 sqft space to house their private collection. This museum contributes to the rise and serious quality of collectors in Florida and Don and Mera Rubell’s tastes influence international art collecting.

This is apparent in so many of the galleries showing work in Art Basel (Convention Center), Fairs and events throughout South Florida. Last year their smaller also remarkable space exhibited the works of under collected Black artists. With the Rubell’s stamp of approval many venues were heading their advise, showing an international array of African artists.

I was impressed with the fresh approaches to media from these artists with an explosion of paper, paint , fabric and pattern. One artist that captured my eye was Amoako Boafo, a Ghana-born artist who works and lives in Austria. Mariane Ibrahim Gallery in Chicago sold out their booth in Basel. I also noticed the works in Art Miami and I believe Pulse fairs.

The influence of Austrian artist Egon Schiele cannot be denied, particularly in the application of paint which appears to be finger painted. The elongated expressionless portraits leave a feeling of loneilness balanced though with lively, delicate patterns and strong flat color. These are simple yet powerful works!

Loved these!

The Whitney Biennial. NYC. June 2017

June 28, 2017

I was thrilled we were going to the city, New York City that is, to see Pat Metheny at the Beacon Theater and that I was going to be able to catch the Whitney Biennial on its last full weekend. On a teacher schedule, my summer holiday always began a week after the show was to close. This was a double treat as the Biennial was beginning a new tradition in the new space in Chelsea

Held every two years a selected group of curators takes two years to determine current trends in art throughout the US. Certainly, the New York/Brooklyn artists are always well represented and Los Angeles has been contributing more significant art with each new exhibition. And the rest of the show is balanced by other art being made in the mid-west and with a smattering of art from the South.

A complete list of the artists in the show may be reviewed here:

http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/2017Biennial

Selections from the permanent collection Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s collection1900-1960 opened in April 2017 and will be on display indefinitely. To experience pivotal pieces defining 20th-century art juxtaposed to the art of our moment revealed both contrasts and a deeper awareness and understanding of new art.

The Biennial tends to really piss people off because traditional work is not acknowledged in this arena. New is never easy and in this regard the show did not disappoint.

Before I post some of the selections that caught my attention and present them in contrast to earlier predecessors.

Left:  Alexander Calder.                                          Right:  Kaya — Left: Alexander Calder. Right: Kaya

Above:  Henry Koerner (1915-1991), Mirror of Life, 1946. Oil on composition board, 36 × 42in.Below: Dana Schutz, Elevator, 2017. Oil on canvas, 144 x 180 in. — Above: Henry Koerner (1915-1991), Mirror of Life, 1946. Oil on composition board, 36 × 42in.
Below: Dana Schutz, Elevator, 2017. Oil on canvas, 144 x 180 in.

Left:  Gun Trigger.  Can not find artist.                         Right:  Jasper Johns. Three Flags, 1958.                  … — Left: Gun Trigger. Can not find artist. Right: Jasper Johns. Three Flags, 1958.
Encaustic on canvas, 30 7/8 × 45 1/2 × 5 in.

Not all, but some highlights of work from the Biennial.

Dana Schutz, Elevator, 2017. Oil on canvas, 144 x 180 in. (365.8 x 457.2 cm). Collection of the artist; Petzel  Gallery, N.Y. and Contemporary Fine Arts, Berlin. — Dana Schutz, Elevator, 2017. Oil on canvas, 144 x 180 in. (365.8 x 457.2 cm). Collection of the artist; Petzel Gallery, N.Y. and Contemporary Fine Arts, Berlin.

Please visit the Whitney website to dive deeper into more information about this years biennial exhibition. http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/2017Biennial

Hybrid Strategies 2.0 opening night.

May 20, 2017

The Hybrid Strategies 2.0 exhibit featuring ten noted Broward and Palm Beach county artists opened last Thursday night (May18, 2017) in a new space in Pompano Beach. Magnetic Gallery, the vision of curator Byron Swart was created to present innovative art in yet another venue supporting the cities mission to become a cultural destination. Swart a part of The Creative’s team, is also responsible for introducing important international, national and regional artists as the curator for the gallery located inside of Pompano’s new Cultural center.

Since my departure from teaching for 39 years I have been very fortunate to become more acquainted with Pompano’s art community. An appointment to the cities Public Art Committee for the past two years has introduced me to new wonderful lovers of art who are committed to making our community enriched through Public Art. I have also been very involved with The Bailey Contemporary Art Center participating in events there, and recently had a very successful one person show of my new work. Many, many more new viewers have been introduced to my art through the Bailey. It was a wonderful partnership and I thank all at BaCA for the opportunity to exhibit my work in their fantastic space .

Art is moving to the more eastern parts of the city. Wrapped traffic signal boxes and artist painted large scale sculptures of Pompano Fish are enjoyed throughout the city and more are being commissioned. Now, thanks to the Pompano Citi Center, space has been provided in a storefront to promote local and South Florida art.

I was pleased to be invited to be a guest curator in this new huge gallery space. The result is a reset of a show I organized in 2008, exhibited at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale's gallery. That original exhibit was prophetic in that it was a new body of mixed media work as I gradually pulled away from painting with oil on canvas and was enjoying a new phase of experimentation due to health purposes.

Eight years later the artists in version 2.0 of the show have continued to make innovative mixed media art. The artists have enjoyed recognition in many areas including the Cultural Consortium Fellowship, whose art has been selected for prestigious local museum competitions and are extraordinary educators as well.

It was a pleasure to reconvene this group of talent for another look at art that opens itself to innovation and experimentation with varieties of media. The feedback I received throughout the opening night was overwhelmingly positive. The audience was engaged looking at the work.

Although very diverse in intent and approach to content and material I was very pleased with the cohesiveness of the exhibit. My belief that really good art despite its differences has inherent continuity based upon artists that continue to create works that continue to expand the vocabulary of art.

I am pleased to share images of opening night and will be sharing the actual artwork here in a later post. This is just a taste of some of the art but I would love to invite you to come to the gallery and experience the show for yourself. All works are for sale and are reasonably priced. Stop by and enjoy. The show continues through June 4.

Here are some images from the opening. Enjoy!

Mimi Botscheller Visions and Verses. Bailey Contemporary Art. Pompano Beach, FL

April 25, 2017

With the end of the show a week away I felt it was time to finally getting to post some images of the opening. I will be visiting the gallery this Wednesday at 11 am to meet with friends unable to come to the opening.

To see all of my new work together in such a beautiful space was inspiring and motivating. The reinvention of my art is now becoming cohesive and mature. While there is still much room for experimentation new processes have been explored and many new possibilities have emerged.

Thanks to all that attended the opening and Pompano's monthly Untapped event. The energy surrounding the openingwas powerful and positive, flowing freely into the gallery. My only regret was not being able to visit longer with so many friends that came to support. Giant hugs to all. And special thanks to Alexa Johnson and Steve Yarley for taking photos and documenting the event. Much appreciated.

The exhibition chronicles primarily a two year period of creating new work after recovering from issues arising from use of oil paint and improper ventilation where I worked. The problems lead to a drastic change of lifestyle which in retrospect was essential to providing the catalyst for new experimentation. I included several older pieces that represented my early interest in making mixed media art. They certainly feel like there are more ties to my older work in color and media, this work from 2006 began a journey on using my own digital images for my collages.

If you would like to read more a statement about the art and the show will be included after the images of the opening.

Here is my artist statement about the work being exhibited at the Bailey Contemporary.

Necessity is the mother of invention or re-invention in my case. This shift had been developing for several years due to a chemical sensitivity to the very art materials that gave me infinite joy. A difficult situation would inspire a new solution in order to continue to make art. Ultimately oil painting, my passion and identity as an artist, would be replaced by a new virtual world devoid of migraine headaches. I began my journey into creating digital art where my laptop became an ever-changing window to new spontaneous adventures.

The ebb and flow of my life’s circumstances, the vulnerability of my spirit and its resilience is always juxtaposed to my close relationship to nature. My current body of work explores a complex relationship with time and memory. Photoshop creates layers of virtual media with layers of context and changed perceptions of reality. It opens the possibilities of a surreal, spiritual multilevel visual experience as I re-inventing my identity as an artist.

Photography has always been a part of my creative life. The art of digital photography provides me the opportunity to indulge in my compulsive curiosity by capturing thousands of moments of beauty. I enjoy viewing the world through a lens, from the tiniest miracles of everyday life to witnessing the grand wonders of nature and urban culture during my travels.

The photographs become the starting point to recombine the images creating a completely new narrative. By not using the images in their original context challenges the primary objective of travel photography and its intension of documentation. I suggest a unique interpretation where fragments of moments have the power to create a completely new journey.

I always begin with an initially strong image embedded with the memories and emotion of the time when the image is captured. My creative process echoes my approach to media as a painter where technology allows for the possibilities of many interesting layers that contribute to the development of surface similar as if using paint. There is the space here for visual accidents in both surface and content. The composite images I make can be fascinating, creepy or amusing while evoking a subjective dreamlike imaginary world between the past and the present, nature and culture. Mixing the past and the present create new connections and transformations.

Valentin Popov Long Beach Museum of Art. Long Beach, California

April 19, 2017

Mixed media altar piece and details.

It's been a while...Selections from Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California.

February 28, 2017

While in Long Beach I always make a point of stopping by The Museum of Latin American Art. A relatively new space dedicated to both historic and contemporary Latin art, I have never been disappointed in their quality exhibits.

One bonus is the Reciprocal Museum Membership that many museums such as the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach share with The Ft Lauderdale Museum of Art. Four southern California museums, The Museum of Latin Art, The Long Beach Art Museum, Laguna Art Museum and the Orange County Art Museum in Newport Beach became destinations to explore thanks to my membership.

This trip I was traveling with my artist friend, Blima Efraim. Always a pleasure to share these rewarding visual experiences in the moment. Blima standing before the artworks and installations provide an awareness of the monumental scale of the artwork.

https://www.molaa.org

DREAMLAND a Frank Romero Retrospective is a visual delight. Highways of imagination have you traveling to a time that still feels like the present. Slices of life and politics are a collage of references unified by an extraordinary sense of color and brush marks. The combination reveals a wonderful personal journey.

From the lovely Dreamland brochure. Art as an educational experience is a mission of this museum for sure.

I am happy to share some amazing photos of Frank Romero's interesting and powerful work installed impeccably at the MOLAA Long Beach!

This gentleman seemed like he was part of the exhibit in a Norman Rockwell kind of way.

The Process:  Collages of found references are assembled and drawn.  These large scale drawings display fine detailed network of crosshatched modeling. — The Process: Collages of found references are assembled and drawn. These large scale drawings display fine detailed network of crosshatched modeling.

The drawings are ultimately developed as large scale expressionistic paintings.  His naive approach to composition draws you into what seem like random compositions. — The drawings are ultimately developed as large scale expressionistic paintings. His naive approach to composition draws you into what seem like random compositions.

A couple of details from other Romero work although painted in the 70's - 90's.

http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artist/?id=6213

Art is for me a way to learn about culture and history and personal expression. It has been a pleasure to discover the work of Frank Romero during my visit to The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, CA.

I will be sharing my art adventures here. Stay tuned for some visual treats.

Waiting for a Return of Wonder

August 25, 2016

The studio has been busy. Curators and collectors have been stopping by. I have work and lots of it.

It is interesting for me to live with work that I have made throughout periods of my life next to new work. I was a painter and have had to take a hiatus away from the materials that gave my work life in order to reinvent myself using new non toxic and digital material.

The journey continues in a new form and although the process took time it has become an integral part of how I define myself as an artist.

A look back reveals a continuation, a departure not necessarily a separation, just a shift in media. An awareness of life and natures dualities remains the preoccupation of my explorations both then and now.

This painting is resurfacing now influenced by the recent Rio Summer Olympics. I was moments away from booking a trip to Rio in the late 80's but circumstances prevented me from being able to leave. I thrust my disappointment into a drawing that evolved into this painting. A narrative of the experience was recorded as a painting.

I recently hung it our living room from its hallway storage spot. The original painting has never really been exhibited publicly, maybe once. To me, one of my strongest works.

An acquaintance requested to come by to see my work as she saw a piece in a recent exhibit. She originally was interested in a particular digital work but once she saw my paintings she began to think of places to hang the work in her home.

My original work is quite large and she had limited space and really fell in love with the art. We decided to print an archival giclee print of the work on canvas in a size that she felt comfortable with. The final piece has some limited hand painting on it just to keep the colors as true to the original as possible. The results are astounding. I call the reproduction my mini me.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJh7napjFTY/

I posted a quick photo of the original and little printed canvas in the link above. Check it out!

I have quite a few new experimental collaged prints coming here soon.

All work on the site is available with prints of artwork on request.

ECHO. The art of Leah Brown. Young at Art Museum.

August 20, 2015

A hallway draped in white sheets becomes a portal into an incredible , unexpected dream space. Upon entering, a moment to catch my breath and I find myself now in a magical forest as if transported. You have now entered into ECHO the imaginary world of artist Leah Brown on display at the Young at Art Museum in Davie, FL.

The installation is fabricated with sculpture, drapery and video projection.

The museum invites you to experience a haunting fabric landscape, enhanced with video projection, hybrid creatures made from clay, found objects, fabric and hair . The objects are cast into plaster, reinforced with fiberglass, creating a dreamlike white, shimmering wonderland.

The visual experience somewhat overwhelming is filled with pathways of fantastical images in this dream like landscape.

Reflecting illusions of pools of water surround a forest of hybrid imaginary creatures.

Bringing you closer to observe a character and Brown's attention to detail.

My extraordinary YAA host Yumina Myers related stories of the children visiting the installation and how when it comes to dreaming the kids would open up quickly, sharing their experiences. One young camper who visited the exhibit more than once told her that some of the characters in the exhibit visited her in her dream one night! She also pointed out a casting of a reclining figure that was none other than one of the museums visionary founders, Mindy Shrago.

Mirrors scaled to the size of the museums visitors echo throughout this amazing invented space. Every where I turned I was met by surreal entities.

After my guide escorted me out of the fantasy and back through the museum I can not adequately describe the myriad of displays offered to children of all ages. Adults will feel tempted to interact with different rooms in the museum which is designed to teach art through interactive exhibits. The children and adults alike will be amazed at this very special place.

Walking by Pablo Cano's creative puppets where he stages performances of his characters made from found objects.

As I made my way back to the subway room where my projector was set up and ready to go, I was inspired and happy to share my art with the kids where I orchestrated a project using a surrealists imagination. Thank you, Young at Art for providing rich art experiences for children and parents too!

http://www.youngatartmuseum.org/

Source: http://www.youngatartmuseum.org/

Jane and Wayne

June 26, 2015

It was hard to believe that twelve hours earlier we were camping on our mountain land in North Carolina, lost in the present moment of natures beauty. Arriving in the pre dawn hours the highway lights that mark the beginning of South Florida, guided us home. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy camping but our bed and air-conditioning was well appreciated.

The straight through, accelerated drive southward was to attend a very special parade at the Hollywood Circle. The event curated by the incredible Jane Hart, the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood featured the caricature puppet of Napoleon Bonaparte Broward followed by a parade of amazing creations of both native animal and birds. There was artist Wayne White, as the master of ceremony leading the way around the circle parade directing the gigantic green county name-sake, the rhythm driven by Brazilian drum beats.

http://www.southflorida.com/theater-and-arts/sf-hollywood-project-lsd-wayne-white-video2-premiumvideo.html

The end of a successful parade.  Wayne (second from left) with students and faculty from New World School of the Arts, Miami who volunteered to help create and build the creatures pose for media after a successful event.. — The end of a successful parade. Wayne (second from left) with students and faculty from New World School of the Arts, Miami who volunteered to help create and build the creatures pose for media after a successful event..

The festivities continued down the street to the art opening at the Art and Culture Center of Wayne Whites paintings in an exhibition, Art is Supposed to Hypnotize You or Something. Whites irreverent text based art is carefully painted on top of thrift store finds complete with ornate frames. The type is determined by its underpainting and floats effortlessly on top of typical thrift store art.

The gallery is painted red with improvised drawing that gave me the feeling of being in a mock formal salon that was tagged with intriguing graffiti. By contrast the space is dominated by the giant green (what appears to me to be a snake oil salesman type) Napoleon Broward. The Center has created a wonderful unique installation that would be a nice visit to escape this crazy summer heat.

Installation of the main gallery exhibit Art is Supposed to Hypnotize You or Something. — Installation of the main gallery exhibit *Art is Supposed to Hypnotize You or Something.*

Here are a couple of highlights from the show.

If I have your interest and would like to delve a little deeper into Wayne's mind I would like to encourage you to take a look and listen to him during a TED talk presentation.

And then there is Jane Hart who courageously exhibits challenging, beautiful and edgy shows that my former students always looked forward to field tripping there.

http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/best-of/2015/arts-and-entertainment/best-curator-7038961

You may be wondering what pulled me into Wayne's hilarious world. That would be the documentary Beauty is Embarrassing a film some LA friends encouraged me to watch immediately. I did and I was hooked. To my surprise not only did I know of White's work with Pee Wee's Playhouse but I was attracted to the mesmerizing word paintings years earlier at the Nada Fair during the very first Art Basel. This somewhat out of the way Fair at the Deauville Hotel in North Miami Beach always presented a fine array of both national and international art.

I've include the full version of the documentary with the hope that some will take the time to view it and I promise it will be an enlightening experience!

Discovering this film arrived at the moment I was undergoing a radical reinvention of my art due to health issues, Beauty is Embarrassing gave me the courage to move forward with whatever media and ideas my new art may lead. And most importantly to enjoy every moment!

Up Close and Personal. Recent observations from National Gallery of Art

May 13, 2015

While visiting museums I find myself on instinctual drive by mode. Every visit potentially draws me to different artworks seeking varieties of visual experiences. I had these thoughts and captured some beautiful moments in paint. The mastery of so many approaches humbles and invigorates me.

While the days of working six inches from the surface of my oil painting may be over for now I have been happy to replace this meditative approach to my digital explorations. I have been drawn to pattern and repeating forms from the days I began making images. The source may surprise you but I will save this discussion for a different conversation.

But now contemplating a return to painting (only with total outside air) and I have started drawing once again with graphite and color pencil. I will find some time when it is not unbearably hot or I will wait until fall or a cooler climate.

At dinner we all enjoyed a stimulating conversation in Old Alexandria with Shaina Rowell, a grad and pre med student about her memory research and maintaining memory. I was thinking about how memory would serve my return to painting. Research substantiates that repetition is the path to keeping and maintain previous connections. With that in mind the depth of the brain’s capacity to store information is extensive however if you don’t use it you may lose it is proven to hold some truth. We can nurture memories, repeat older tasks, remember the positive or dwell on the negative memories.

Detail from Life Voyages by Thomas Cole.  1842 — Detail from *Life Voyages* by Thomas Cole. 1842

My art training was all about the mark, the surface the design and to me most importantly the narrative (which was not as well accepted but I knew I had to be serious about it to fly). I feel like I have the opportunity to return to my roots of mark making fused with present thoughts.

Detail from Gare Saint-Lazare.  Edouard Manet.  1873.  The master of the mark. — Detail from *Gare Saint-Lazare*. Edouard Manet. 1873. The master of the mark.

This selection of images were photographed on Mother’s Day (2015) At the National Gallery in DC. I was intuitively draw to examine the mark close up revealing the texture, the layers and the drawing with the brush.

I am grateful for the opportunity to share some close up captures of amazing paintings. With limited time I cruised on auto pilot and let instinct direct my attention.

Detail from an Edgar Degas painting.  I have searched National's collection and the web and can't find this painting.  hmmm — Detail from an Edgar Degas painting. I have searched National's collection and the web and can't find this painting. hmmm

Detail from Odalisque.  Auguste Renoir  1870. — Detail from *Odalisque.* Auguste Renoir 1870.

Slightly cropped Still Life of Oranges and lemons with Blue Gloves.  1889.  A recent acquisition to the National Gallery collection. — Slightly cropped *Still Life of Oranges and lemons with Blue Gloves.* 1889. A recent acquisition to the National Gallery collection.

Detail from A Young Girl Reading.  Jean-Honore Fragonard.  1776. — Detail from *A Young Girl Reading.* Jean-Honore Fragonard. 1776.

Detail from Still Life:  Apples on Pink Tablecloth.  Henri Matisse.  1922. — Detail from Still Life: Apples on Pink Tablecloth. Henri Matisse. 1922.

Still researching title and date. Was draw right into those eyes...

Detail from Daniel in the Lion's Den.  Peter Paul Rubens.  1614 / 1616. — Detail from *Daniel in the Lion's Den.* Peter Paul Rubens. 1614 / 1616.

Detail from Head of a Young Man.  Anthony Van Dyck.  1617 / 1618. — Detail from *Head of a Young Man.* Anthony Van Dyck. 1617 / 1618.

Detail from Woman Holding a Balance.  Vermeer.  1664. — Detail from *Woman Holding a Balance.* Vermeer. 1664.

Video discussion of relevance of painting in the 21st century.

May 13, 2015

An interesting conversation about realism and its role in art today.

An Afternoon with Frida, Diego, Picasso and more...

April 8, 2015

As it was Easter Sunday I was elated to see the museum bustling with people there to see the Frida Kahlo + Diego Rivera, Mexican Modern Art at the NSU Art Museum, Ft. Lauderdale. The museum also offered a fine display of Picasso ceramics with photos of the master and drawings, the superb photography collection from the Martin Z. Margulies Collection, Miami, a few large scale Schnabel digital works with paint smeared on them and the Glakens permanent collection.

With a diverse offering the museum is a great place for educational field trips. We encountered an enthusiast docent who offered lesser know insights into Kahlo the woman her work and her relationship with Rivera and other artists of her time. The museum has strict policies for photography so only a few quick shots were possible before the guards politely informed me that photos were not permitted.

I did return to find some of the works from the show on line. With the art fresh in my mind I adjusted the images to be a true to the color as possible. I am happy to share these here.

The photos accompanying the exhibit were fantastic, an intimate glimpse into her life and art.  this one Diego and Frida.  In today's world their relationship would be labeled " complicated". — The photos accompanying the exhibit were fantastic, an intimate glimpse into her life and art. this one Diego and Frida. In today's world their relationship would be labeled " complicated".

Tehuana Self Portrait.  Oil on canvas. — Tehuana Self Portrait. Oil on canvas.

Detail of Self Portrait.  Oil on canvas.  The full size art I estimate is 40 x 30 inches — Detail of Self Portrait. Oil on canvas. The full size art I estimate is 40 x 30 inches

Before there were “selfies” there were centuries of self portraits, in fact I have a book titled 500 Self Portraits published by Phaidon I would share with my students while we discussed concepts for their self portraits. Personally I am inspired by portraits that tell a story that can be told with images, color and mark. Like Frida I have turned to self portraiture during moments where my journey was getting interesting.

Anyone familiar with my work would be aware of my fascination with exploring dualities.

I have always been drawn to Surrealism. The idea that reality can be depicted through multiple points of view has been an integral part of my entire body of work. Thoughts, emotions and representation emerge through a surrealist process of allowing for subconscious decisions while making work. One image can be interpreted on several levels, spiritual, physical and emotional. This has and continue to be the affinity I have had for Frida’s work

Large still life. Oil on canvas.

I have always felt that still life's were a form of self portraiture as long as the objects had personal meaning to the artist. Frida's later works became less focused on her physical appearance and turn to morphine influenced still lives. Every item in the work symbolically replacing the image of her face.

I always enjoy some personal artifacts that enhance the museum experience. Also shown here but not in the museum La Casa Azul. the Frida Museum in Mexico.

Sorry about the quality but the only image I had the impulse to photograph of the Picasso exhibit.  A lovely drawing that fits right in with the Frida portraits, — Sorry about the quality but the only image I had the impulse to photograph of the Picasso exhibit. A lovely drawing that fits right in with the Frida portraits,

Julian Schnabel. A digital print on canvas with paint.  Two pieces of canvas adhered to wood I would assume to create the very large scale of the work — Julian Schnabel. A digital print on canvas with paint. Two pieces of canvas adhered to wood I would assume to create the very large scale of the work

another Schnabel where you can see the scale and the materials used.

am all for experimentation with digital art and it is inspiring to see the scale can be as impressive as the large paintings in the Louvre. Somehow though technically interesting the overall effect is under-wheming, especially in the presence of smaller more emotive works.

I will leave it to my readers to make "make an assessment" of Schnabel's work. I highly respect his film making endeavors and have watched the artist evolve over time. His forward movement is respectable however it leaves me staying only for a second.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to visit Kahlo’s work right here in Ft Lauderdale. A half a century after her passing Frida continues to draw admirers of all ages, the work,s still mysterious and an enigma to most.

Inside, Out.  Portrait of the Self.  Oil on canvas.  1978.  60 x 72 inches.  Private Collection, St Louis, MO. — Inside, Out. Portrait of the Self. Oil on canvas. 1978. 60 x 72 inches. Private Collection, St Louis, MO.

Old Friends

April 2, 2015

Our electronic footprint follows us even after we pass. Posts on FB from deceased friends pages and caller id's whose names are embedded with the number remain. Taken aback when the name on the phone was a former collector who had passed suddenly a couple of years ago. I cheerfully answered assuming it would be his wife and it in fact was.

Inside, Out. Portrait of the Self is indeed an old friend that I had not seen in years. And many other important works of mine in various media have been happily placed in their home and collection. The call was to say goodbye as the home sold and my collector moving to the mid west. I was to have an opportunity to visit other old friends and photograph them before they were relocated.

This particular work has always been special. The idea came in clearly as I rode the train between Rome and Florence. It was my final quarter in a quarter abroad teaching assignment and I was heading north for the weekend to see new friends before returning to the states. I remember sketching the idea in the back of the book I was reading. A color sketch was made upon my return.

Study for Inside, Out.  Portrait of the Self.  20 x 26 inches. — Study for Inside, Out. Portrait of the Self. 20 x 26 inches.

I neglected to photograph a large scale color pencil drawing on black paper, perhaps overwhelmed but seeing so many old works, long out of my thoughts. Rather than selling some work in order to downsize Pat offered to return the work to me to do as I please. This drawing has now come home to mama.

On the advise of my wise college professor, Phil Sultz when i asked for an assignment post graduation, i was encouraged to draw and a direction of which to paint would present itself through drawing. And so I proceeded to draw for the next three years. I had access to as many color pencils I would need and time to work in-between students buying art supplies in the college art store where I worked. Only a handful of these works remain in my collection. I will save digging them up for a later post.

Today I would like to reintroduce some old friends to you.

Between Day and Dream.  1980.  Oil on canvas.  72 x 60 inches.  Private collection. — Between Day and Dream. 1980. Oil on canvas. 72 x 60 inches. Private collection.

It was so great to be able to see and photograph this painting before leaving for St. Louis. This painting was exhibited in museum competitions in Ft Lauderdale and Palm Beach and combines many of the directions I had been pursuing in my painting from the late 70's. I am enjoying the fact that it will be in Missouri, where I first truly discovered that I had a passion for art.

I have also always enjoyed working with clay. I have incorporated dimensional elements in many pieces throughout my 40+ years of making art. I am happy to have this little fun work back in my collection.

Another Performance.   1981.  Oil on clay with curtains. Framed in a shadowbox lined with linen.  Collection of the artist. — Another Performance. 1981. Oil on clay with curtains. Framed in a shadowbox lined with linen. Collection of the artist.

Even as a student I loved exploring variety of media and was encouraged to do so. The idea of Hybrid strategies is now new. The enjoyment is being able to make things. The work reflects everything I am thinking about, reading, and living and seeing.

The media may just have been what I had on hand at that moment or the beginning of a demo I began in class for my students. I do have a long history of using gouache on illustration board or as this example, on canvas.

No title. no date. Gouache on canvas. 20 x 16 inches. Private collection.

This gouache painting was applying eastern and western conventions of space and pattern. The flower as art on the wall reflected my very first artwork that I made when I came to Florida. After the flowers I returned to drawing and this brings this post full circle.

Music and Art

March 17, 2015

I have viewed the movie Inspirations featuring dancers Louise Lacavalier and Edouard Lock, architect Tadao Ando, as well as artists (the late) Roy Lichtenstein, Dale Chihuly, David Bowie and Nora Narango many, many times. It was important to me to be as engaged with the class even while seeing the same dvd's repeatedly. So I stayed and watched. After I would give out an assignment of a reaction paper to include a paragraph on "what makes you feel creative?"

There always was the gamut of answers from the mundane to extremely personal however after years of asking this same question the overall majority would state that music in one form or another was a large part of the art process.

I recently unearthed the boom box that followed me to class and the sleeve of music, a musical shrine to a moment. While working on an outdoor project of basically grunt work music was just what I needed. The sleeve provided an eclectic mix of music all to be selected while students would be drawing, painting or working on a computer during lab time.

Sound occupies a space in-between intense concentration while making a piece of art regardless of what medium is occupying your visual space. Perhaps it engages and activates both sides of the brain to work at maximum efficiency. Adding rhythm to movement is a beautiful thing.

As I flipped through my book of music I realized that each disk reflected a piece of me, sounds that move me to action, sounds that initiate the flow mode that makes time fly by. Many projects have been made with marks driven by a beat.

I can not say what makes me creative. Justing getting to work does it, as work has become second nature. Beautiful and powerful voices, hip hop to classical, music fills my void creating the space for creativity to flourish. And I ask you now, what makes you creative?

Incredible artists relate what drives them to make art.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to Work I Go

March 10, 2015

I thought it appropriate to follow my own advice today. Invigorated by an early Zumba class I headed upstairs to "work".

Making an initial digital sketch, a basic composition is considered. Being drawn to images of gestural hands bathed in disco light, a space is developed. I tend to add a figurative element to initiate a spontaneous narrative.

Mysterious masked figures of questionable gender are positioned between the hands creating a tension both visually and conceptually. Textural illusions complete the thought and add a visual dynamic of surface.

The large scale file will be printed and adhered to a 30 x 40 inch support where the surface will be archival sealed and mixed media elements will be added.

The work in the present will carry over to the days to come and a new piece will be complete. Moment by moment and decision by decision, sometimes the results are wonderful and surprising. Some work is more successful than others but the urge to make something is satisfied.

Advice to Young Artists (and mid career ones too!)

March 8, 2015

“The advice I like to give young artists, or really anybody who'll listen to me, is not to wait around for inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work. If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightning to strike you in the brain, you are not going to make an awful lot of work. All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself. Things occur to you. If you're sitting around trying to dream up a great art idea, you can sit there a long time before anything happens. But if you just get to work, something will occur to you and something else will occur to you and something else that you reject will push you in another direction. Inspiration is absolutely unnecessary and somehow deceptive. You feel like you need this great idea before you can get down to work, and I find that's almost never the case.”

Chuck Close

I prefer to work almost everyday doing something for my art. Sometimes I am working on the website, shooting more images, or simply organizing my files. Upstairs in my studio materials I have saved are calling to be used. Just being around my work stimulates new ideas. This is really all productive as well.

When the creative work begins the images seem to pop out of nowhere and an idea is born. Then process resumes and decisions are made one by one until a new piece is complete. Just starting is half the battle. After all it all starts inside and then once out in the fresh air of the studio like my garden an idea or an image begins to grow.

Somedays the inspiration is more powerful than on other days but the most important thing is to just get started and be open for different directions to emerge. There are moments where there is an idea that seems to have come as a gift from the universe, almost complete and perfect. These moments are more rare and are savored and acted upon. For when the idea does flash before you it can disappear just as quickly. That is why working all the time I am able to capture the fleeting thought and begin to give it form.

I am curious. What motivates you to work? Do you need a deadline or a show to get into the studio or do you make art all the time while a new body of work develops? Do you work in series at are determined before you begin? Or do you just go into the studio and start on something and see what develops?

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

February 23, 2015

How does your garden grow? With Kale, broccoli, basil and tomatoes all in a row. Our home has been a developing tropical garden paradise for many years now. The trees we planted are large, mature and the plants have grown from a few too many. A goal was to add more color and flowers. And thanks to the gifts of friends my orchid collection is growing and blooming.

I’ve been talking about making a vegetable garden for a while but this winter, when the humidity and climate much more motivating the garden was official. And after lovingly tending to it for several weeks I am beginning to see some great results! We’ve made tomato sauce with the fresh basil, oregano and rosemary, enjoyed home grown pineapples and the strawberries are flowering leaving a baby fruit.

It has been two years since I stopped teaching. I needed to tend my interior garden, my family garden my health garden and my art garden. What an incredible blessing to have the ability to grow my personal gardens naturally. To be able to research potential seeds from around the world and bring them home, to be able to decide which seeds to plant is a rare opportunity for growth and change.

My new orchid.  Thank you Mike Stanwyck for this amazing gift! — My new orchid. Thank you Mike Stanwyck for this amazing gift!

The seeds have been planted and the gardens are growing. I have a body of new work that can be plucked and framed. The fruits of my labor are many times challenging but always sweet.

A free (for now) alternative to Photoshop

February 19, 2015

Wow! It is Photoshop's 25th birthday! Although there has been several alternatives introduced to the market place at way cheaper prices, Photoshop still survives. While scrolling through FB where I have many, many friends in the Graphic Design industry I came across this new product. Thanks Marion S for the post.

The short video reveals this new applications abilities and they look streamlined for professionals. The best news is that right now a Beta version can be downloaded for free.

http://www.creativebloq.com/adobe/photoshop-celebrates-25th-oscars-ad-21514251

Right now this is not an embeddable link so cutting and pasting will have to suffice for now.I plan on installing this on my desktop and will review it in the near future.

To celebrate the tool that has helped shape creativity, artists from all over the world contributed their most amazing dreams-and their working files with layers. These PSDs were then animated layer by layer to create a film made in Photoshop. #Photoshop25