Lately

I've been out and about quite a bit lately. Two large on-site painting projects kept me busy for several weeks. I also just wrapped up my show at the Millford mill. I really enjoyed the crowd of artists there as well as the rural scenery of the surrounding region. Clarke County has to contain some of the most idyllic farmland in the U.S. I’d like to spend some time doing some plein aire painting out there. One point that attracts me most about the particular lay of the land out there is that it contains vistas with multiple layers of depth. I tend to shy away from landscape paintings that feel ‘closed in.’ I prefer scenes where you get a sense of the context of the subject and aren’t stifled by walls or objects blocking your view from the larger picture (perhaps that says something about my view on life in general.)

After several weeks of intense painting doing murals and other things, I took some time to reabsorb some art by visiting several galleries. My first stop was to visit Heather Levy’s show at The Graham Collection. Her exhibit “The United Series” showed the connectedness we all share as humans. My favorite was a gradient of green, yellow, and blue with what seemed to be dancing figures intertwined. I met Heather when we showed together at the Nowuno Gallery.

I then visited the Cézanne in Provence exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. His color palette is still fixed in my mind. His brush strokes seemed soothing but his patterns bothered me at times. I do find his use of light to be his major genius though. His ability to direct the eye right where he wants is part of what makes him a timeless master.

On another day I visited Grant Wood’s exhibit at the Renwick followed by the Dada works at the National Gallery. The contrast between the two exhibits was rather strong to experience in one day. In Grant Wood’s pieces I saw a thousand memories of my own life. Although my life has been divided between inner city, suburbia, and rural life, I have had a great deal of influence from the latter category. Having done a great deal of farm labor as a child, I’ve had countless hours to soak up the scenery. Being strongly connected to my extended family and the older generations thereof, I have had an immersion in the culture and mindset behind the wrinkled brows Grant Wood paints so well. Knowing of his recluse life and looking at his obsessive perfection made me wonder if he might have fallen somewhere on the autism spectrum.

Dada was the complete converse of the Grant Wood exhibit. Although shocking at times and un-nerving at others, I loved the rebellion of it all. The daring to see things in new ways, the boldness to call things “art” that were not understood by the establishment. Man-Ray was clearly my favorite and I ended up having to rush through the end of the exhibit a bit because of time, so I clearly missed some things.

I did paint a little on Mother’s Day (breakfast in bed is a truly inspiring way to start the day). I miss my brushes and paints so much when I don’t get to do much of my 'own' art. I needed the time to just look at art and to soak in their colors and moods and light though at the galleries. I am hoping to get out this summer and see quite a bit. Art truly comes alive when you see it in person. I have a deep appreciation for those who ‘do art that has never been done before’ and although I strive to make each piece my own, I would never for a moment deny that to me, art bears a great sense of connection to all who have created before me and all who will create after.