Art Blog: Herb and Dorothy

Can you imagine our world if there were more people like Herb and Dorothy Vogel? Their entire lives have been devoted to supporting art and artists. They are not rich people. In fact, Herb worked much of his life at the post office. Dorothy was a librarian. In the movie, “Herb and Dorothy”, she tells of how they paid the bills with her paycheck and they saved Herb’s salary to buy art. Over the decades, they amassed a huge collection of contemporary art.

I think the most interesting part of their story is they never took advantage of the art or artists. During the art boom of the 80’s, it would have been so easy for them to pack some of their stuff up, auction it off, and live the high life. They did not. Instead, they took their job as “caretakers” of the cultural treasures even so far as to cover some work hanging in their one bedroom apartment with blankets. They didn’t want to take the chance of anything to get faded or damaged by light. In fact, they never sold any of the work. They are now in the process of GIVING it away to the National Gallery of Art.
It is rare to find people who are just as passionate about art as artists can be. They are such phenomenal people. They are like art “patron” saints.

If you get the chance, try to see the movie “Herb and Dorothy”. The video gives you the opportunity to feel the NY art scene over past decades. Also while watching the Vogel’s going to openings, studios, or sitting at their kitchen table, you realize they are not only wonderful art collectors, they seem to be such delightful human beings.
We need more people like this in the world!



“Herb and Dorothy”
Arthouse Films
Click pic to see movie trailer

Art Blog: Creativity in Forms

I am absolutely exhausted. I have already been repeatedly reminded this week that the feeling of being overwhelmed is just that: a feeling. I had planned on starting work on my teaching portfolio Monday. Instead, on Saturday I started sorting, making piles, scanning, setting up pages, and printing until I ran out of ink two times. A trip to Office Depot and a couple hundred dollars later, I was back on track. I am so glad I started it a bit early. I was overwhelmed by the sight of all the work. Where do I start? It was like the question: HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT? The answer: ONE BITE AT A TIME!

After working all day Sunday and Monday, I got it together. I am not finished but at least, it has taken shape. I put it aside today because I had to get my FACE IT 5 online exhibition up and loaded on the web. Again, I felt overwhelmed this morning. Then I took one bite and then another and then….eleven hours later, I am almost done. I just have to get the artists to follow through and proof. Then tomorrow, I will put the final touches on the web pages and put it online at midnight. Then………… I will get back to my portfolio work and the zillion other projects I have going.

Am I an APRIL FOOL?

No, I am no fool. I just love being creative. I realized today that our creativity takes so many forms. When I started working on designing the FACE IT 5 show, I sat and thought, “What do I want it to look like?” It is like making an artwork. The only difference is you are using HTML instead of paint or wood or whatever. The same kind of thing happens when I make portfolio pages or any kind of graphics work. It is so similar to when I create a painting. I start with a blank canvas (the page) and create a composition with a message.

One thing I know for sure is no matter what the form, creativity takes a lot of time, effort, and energy. Like I said, I am exhausted. I haven’t picked up a brush today, but thinking, typing, arranging, and rearranging has beaten me today. Also, the stress of having to get things done by deadlines is very tiring too.
I am so glad I am on vacation(?) LOL LOL

Here is a sneak peek of our FACE IT 5 exhibition.



“AWARE”

Jason Barre

YEP, Jason is one of the artists! However, you will have to wait to “click on pic”. The show is top secret until April 1st!!

Art Blog: Admit it!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I didn’t buy another ART book for the rest of my life, I would have enough to read into eternity!! Yeah. Yeah. I bet some of you are just like me. OK. Let’s take a poll. Raise your hand if you have shelves or stacks of art books which are new or gently handled; you have looked at the art (pictures), but you have never read the entire text? Ahhhhhhh…let me see here.

As I look around cyberspace, I see a number of you raising your hands!!!
Aa-huh! I thought so.

I love having resources. Now in the age of the internet, this is kind of scary. I was born to GOOGLE. However, there is something about having an actual book in your hand. I look at all my books all the time. I just don’t read them FULLY. This bothers me. Therefore, I am going to start a new habit. I am going to try to do this at LEAST once a month. I was going say “once a week”, but that is just too stringent. To (really) read one book per month is a great goal. That is:

I am going to take one of my art books and actually READ it from cover to cover. Yes. I am going to commit to this right now.

So where do I start? I think my first read through will be………….gosh. There is so many to choose from…………….Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. OK. I have it!

Utopia Parkway: The Life and Work of Joseph Cornell (Hardcover)

I started reading this book when I got it, but never finished it. So this will be my book of the MONTH. I will have an April 19th deadline. I can do that! I love Joseph Cornell. I love reading about the lives of artists. This should be a good read!!

Hey, why don’t you join me? Pick one book from your collection and read it this month. It sure can’t hurt and it might even inspire you.

That is my hope!!

Art Blog: Art Life: MISSING LINK

As I attempt to slice and dice, stir, shake, mold, and reform my art life, I haven’t been able to put my finger on the real issue. Why is this year is so different? Why do I feel so blasé just about everything? I am on auto pilot right now. Don’t get me wrong. I have been trying every method in the book to revive, rejuvenate, and break through the mud ceiling I feel hanging over my head. At least, I have kept moving and been creative in some forms. However, there has been a deep, lurking, ominous, dread cloaked over me in recent months. I haven’t been able to shake it or even figure out how I can rid myself of this “Black Muse”, as I call it.

I am patient though. My age has taught me things will be revealed as time goes on. I put a post up on Twitter yesterday that stated: “This is either going to end up being my BEST year or the WORST year of my life.” Only time will tell. However, yesterday I got a clue as to one of my challenges right now. I saw a post on Twitter about the newest Eva Lake podcast. I will admit, I have not paused and taken time to read blogs, look at artist websites, or listen to podcasts lately. Things have been too frantic and weird for me these past months. Despite this, I went to the website and downloaded the radio interview. This week, she highlighted the “proof: women:art:science exhibition” at beppu wiarda gallery in Portland, OR.

As I started to listen, I leaned closer to the computer. I sat there as if to lap up every word. I realized I was displaying the behavior of a person dying of thirst. I have been starving for artistic mental stimulation. I ended up listening to the interview four times!

I realized this is just one of my “issues” right now. I have isolated myself so much and feel so disconnected to any art community, I am longing for something to think about ART WISE. I don’t mean where to show or how to market or any of that blah, blah, blah that seems to be the mantra these days. I am speaking about WHY we make art in the first place. I am not a “pretty picture” type of artist. My work is about thinking and human emotion. I need some kind of sustenance to cheer me on my artistic way.

I want to thank Eva for helping me realize this. I want to thank her for handing me a piece of very delicious art bread with a glassful of vintage art wine.
Thank you for the art meal!


Click pic to go to KBOO Art Focus

Listen to the latest podcast. It will fill your art tummy!

Art Blog: FAVORITE Artists

We all have favorite artists. For those of us who are artists, we have one or many artists who have inspired or have a body of work we would love to emulate or assimilate. I know I have my favorites. I have a whole folder on my computer full of them. Whenever, I see an artwork that is breathtaking to me, I put a copy in this folder. Sometimes, I go through all the works and wonder, what is the common thread?

I have such eclectic tastes and attractions when it comes to art, it is difficult to figure out what the attraction really is. I have often tried to switch to my left brain analytical skills to figure out “What is the common denominator?” I haven’t figured out the answer yet.

I think my MOST favorite artist has to be Rauschenberg. WHY? I have tried to figure it out. I think part of it is his method of work. I love that his work LOOKS like he is a multitasker. I am that way too. The color of his work is so pure and in your face, it grabs me. Also, I love the Johns/Rausch stories that I heard as a young adult. I wanted to live vicariously through those days in Manhattan. I just don’t know why I love his work so much except no matter what he made, it has spoken to me. I guess that is what makes a masterpiece. It has to be a personal experience which provides some kind of life revelation. His work always does that for me.
What about you?
Who is your favorite artist and WHY?


“Why Rausch?”