A book I read

A few years ago, I bought a book called The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed", by Seth Apter. I thought the cover was pretty. And the artists seemed legit.

The book itself is an interesting array of questions posed to various mixed media artists, and their answers along with many images of their art. The layout is such that you don't feel compelled to read it cover-to-cover, but instead flip and peruse at your leisure. Despite the low-pressure style of the book, I've been trying to actually read it in a linear fashion lately, and to really look at the art in the process. It's a fun project, and I have now jumped to the internet to enhance the experience.

What I mean by this is I'm starting to look up the artists online, starting with Orly Avineri. When I discover artists I'd like to follow, I'll add them to the "My Blog List" section in the right side-bar.

I'm only just getting started, and this blog post is a way of committing to this activity in an effort to learn more about contemporary artists working in different spheres of influence.

Website for the Columbian Artist Group

Here is the website for The Columbian Artist Group. It includes an In Memory page, where a blurb of George appears. Enjoy!

Personally, I need to submit something different for my bio, and hope to do that soon...

Where does Art live? (Artisan Works; Rochester, NY)

I thought it might be fun to philosophize on this, despite the post being about six years overdue; given that I didn't start the blog until 2009, however, I don't think it'll be much of an issue...

In February of 2008, I flew to Rochester, NY to visit a friend. She took me to Artisan Works, which asks the question: "Where does Art live?". Instead of being some fussy gallery where it's nearly impossible to see a painting in any sort of real world context, Art Works sort of lets it all hang out. It's a collection of old warehouses that are all connected (including a fire house, if memory serves me right!) and it is part studio, part gallery, part museum, part auto shop, part opera house, part café, part grandma's attic. Art is EVERYWHERE, in many places stashed seemingly at random so that the art blends in with the surroundings and you never quite know what's for sale. In a way, it's wonderful. It's part cacophony, part breath of fresh air.

I think "Where does Art live?" is an excellent question because typically when we see art for sale, we don't get to know where it lives or has lived; instead, it's almost like it's on stage, performing... acting the part of "art for sale", which tends to feel a bit sterile. We don't get a true sense of the work in a live context because galleries and most other show spaces are so clean and proper that the art on the wall starts to lose its luster. (I would say coffee shops are an occasional exception.) While it's true one could argue that art hanging in a gallery, free of context, allows the viewer to project their interpretation of where the art should live, I would counter argue that removing all context except the smooth gallery wall also hides a lot of the energy of the piece. It may be that seeing a piece of art where it lives (such as an artist's studio) provides the wrong context for a potential buyer, but I think that most people would be able to project beyond the current context and imagine the art living with them. If the piece is strong enough and evokes enough passion in the viewer, it won't matter how dingy the "living" conditions are, which should in turn be a powerful indicator of the success of the work of art!

My friend and I walked the entire perimeter of the place, looking at the art, watching movie demos in mini-theaters, talking to the artists who were in their studios (including the fire house!), and trying not to trip over things. If you ever find yourself in Rochester, NY, it's worth going and taking a look. And yes, there was someone singing opera in one of the rooms...

I have no clue as to the title of the piece in this photo or the name of the artist, unfortunately. All I know is that it's just doing its thing, living...

Painting of Me Done by Joseph Lorusso

Oh my. This is certainly exciting. Here's the painting of me, done by Joseph Lorusso.

Joseph Lorusso

I just have to brag. I posed for Joseph Lorusso on Saturday. He's doing the paintings in time for an exhibition this coming Friday. How exciting...

Artist's Muse

The artist Joseph Lorusso wants to paint me. It would be an honor!! I think I'll try contacting him... NOW!

I met him about a month ago in Kansas City when I was checking out an extension of First Friday in the West Bottoms. My artist friend Cid and I went in there to check out his work; Cid introduced herself as his studio neighbor and he took one look at me and said I looked interesting, could he paint me. I need to be an artist's muse again, it turns out...

This painting is called Late Night Rendezvous.

I'm 99.99% Sure This Is Me

This painting is by Robert Von. I'm almost positive this painting is of me. Hopefully I will find out soon!!

In addition to his website (posted to the right on this blog), I recently found out about this showcase, posted by his son, of his more recent work. I think there are at least five paintings of me on there. And, no, image 6 on the first page is not me. I asked him!

This Post Is for Eric Burris: Robert Larin

A piece by a Canadian jeweler from the 70s(?); I think it had jewels embedded at one point, although really they are not necessary for the success of the piece. I love this piece of jewelry. There are no other words!

I am posting this for my friend Eric Burris, someone I had not seen for almost seven years until tonight. He is a great jewelry artist that probably remembers this piece from back in the day!!

Tangerine Tara (I couldn't help myself!!)

A painting of me by Phil Whalen, owned by his brother Michael. This is from the days back when I used to work as a nude model.

It's a beautiful work, regardless of the subject...

See Me Tell Me (Street Art)

More New Yorkers!!! On Thursday evening, I listened to New York street artist Amy Young give a talk at the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art at Kansas State University. The talk was called "Faces from Manhattan" and it was fascinating. I had thought about grafitti as art for years, but had never contemplated street art before, especially not "sticker bombs" that cover subways, public mailboxes, and lamp posts. She had some things to stay that were very interesting anthropologically and sociologically speaking, in addition to artistically speaking.

This photo here is of two of her tiny works of art. She makes them, folios them, and then sprinkles them throughout the New York subway system for people to find and take home and later comment about on her blog. I collected these two pieces from her visit and I still need to go on her blog and tell my "story."

The one on the left is a "Monster" (23 of 50) with a blinking light that she handed out. The other one is a "Street Saint" (26 of 50) and I had to go on a treasure hunt through campus to find it stuck (via magnet) to a huge humming a/c unit. It was indeed like finding a little treasure; I was not expecting to be so excited upon finding it.

During her talk, Amy discussed several contemporary street artists, including the artist JR (who I had heard about from watching a Ted Talk about his work last year). It is incredible stuff!

After the talk, I attended a meet and greet with the artist and her husband at the house of some friends of mine. Of course I took the opportunity to shamelessly promote myself by showing off some photos of my paintings and handing out my business card. I think they liked my stuff!!

Another Artist, Gone from this World

Rest in Peace, Robert Vaughn (branded as Robert Von). I posed for him for the better part of a year a few years back. I don't know that he made many pieces of work based on me, but I do know that these works-in-progress were of me. (The painting in the background to the right is not me, although it looks like it could be!)

All the Wares

With work by Dyesel.

Sunday Conversation with Tara

Oh George... Sigh...

This was my Christmas present from George last year (a 2D work from a 3D artist!). It can pretty much be rotated in any direction and still make sense (but not make any sense at the same time). We laughed at the piece together when he gave it to me, but never actually discussed it; perhaps we should have, perhaps we didn't need to. All I know is that I love it and it seriously disturbs me at the same time! It seems to be a metaphor of all of our interactions over the 9 years we knew each other, and all the interactions we never had as well. They can be summed up pretty well in the title he gave the piece: Sunday Conversation with Tara. We constantly waxed poetic about all facets of life (otherwise known as blowing smoke up the other's ass), and this is the memory he leaves of that.

I loved Sunday conversation and coffee with George. Erm, I still do.