Art for Now
We have a new president and it seems now as if anything is possible. I mostly thought it was though it’s been mighty hard to keep faith these last eight years. It’s not always a popular belief but our Barack Obama knows the power of believing and staying on course, of having big vision. I’m so thrilled that he’s going to be our next president. It does make me wonder though what the rest of us can do or should be doing at this time when our planet is in such peril. And it especially makes me wonder what we as artists should be doing because we spend so much of our time pondering, feeling, creating. What should we create?
I think about these things sometimes but mostly I just show up at my new studio and put some music on and begin. I know that whatever I do is not about making it into MOMA or some other place that sanctions art. I really do art to know my true self and put out good vibes—for me that’s the purpose of this journey. I really believe that the best we can do for our planet is live good lives, be happy and do our best. Not always easy.
I’ve started a new series of paintings just six inches square. It’s entitled You’re Not Alone, about all the connections in our lives, seen and unseen. I have about sixteen now and you can see the first few at the top of the page here. This shot was taken last week and there are more now but I haven’t had a chance to take another snapshot yet. We’ll have open studios on December 4th and I hope to have 30 or 40 paintings done by then. Some will go to the Joy Street Open Studios next weekend, November 22nd, where I’ll show with my friend, the photographer, Mark Peterson.
Having the studio is absolutely fantastic—I’m getting twice as much done as I did before, maybe more. But I’m also getting hooked into designing things for the art center like this poster for the upcoming members’ show which I did this afternoon. No complaints. The painting is by artist Alvina Lavdani and is wonderfully quirky. I love that artists work away on their art and, if they’re lucky, they find something compelling to keep them going. This painting is so full of charm and mystery. It makes me wonder—a good thing. I like paintings that leave something unsaid, something we have to fill in ourselves.
There were several choices for the poster. I wish we could do two. Susu Wing has done the most fantastic sculptures out of regular old packing tape. Just brilliant. One now graces the hallway and I’d love to put it into a poster but we didn’t get a chance to photograph it before the room behind it became filled with handcrafted items for the annual shop. It took me by total surprise when I first saw it—just plain fun. Art on the planet.
I’ll post more photos next week of my wall of paintings, better quality, I hope. Meanwhile The Saturday Morning Drawing Club continues to meet. We’ve been drawing upside down, a very good exercise for looking with care and developing a sharp eye—so necessary in art. Try it—you’ll be surprised what emerges. In my case the results are more fun and stronger than when I draw right side up. I look more carefully, that’s why. I’m beginning to see that art is really all around us. We just need to see it.
November 13th, 2008 at 5:28 am
We DO have many many connections, don’t we—more connections than disconnects, really. It’s good to share that.
The poster is wonderful and the new studio sounds incredible. Sharing a creative space enhances the process, doesn’t it. Onward we go!
November 21st, 2008 at 2:37 am
Sounds like you’re in the groove! Isn’t it great how energized and positive the mood seems with a changing of the guard? It will be interesting to see what the next months bring. I think many of us are willing and ready to roll up our sleeves and pitch in.
I love using upside down drawing in my classes, by the way. So liberating and fun and that connection between hand and eye bypassing the logical brain is so sweet and fun!
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
So energized, Mary, and every where I go everyone expresses hope. I can’t wait for inauguration day! Onwards!