Sunday, February 20, 2011

A Jubilee for Corita

Portland University Buckley Center Gallery has an incredible exhibit of Sister Corita Kent's prints from three private collections. The works range from her more complex serigraphs in the 1950's up to her more simple and colorful prints of the 1980's. Her artwork chronicles the turbulence of the 1960's. Call the center for location and hours at 503-943-7792. This is a rare exhibit of her artwork.

Corita's US 1985 Love Postage Stamp is probably her most familiar piece of art. During the 1960's, I became aware of Corita's graphic artwork and messages. She created serigraphs or silk screens with bright colors and hand written quotes from authors who expressed her social consciousness. Her prints make one confront the issues of civil rights, war and peace, feminism and spirituality. We deal with these same issues today. This jubilee is a wonderful celebration of her art.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Films to Captivate Any Artist

Last night at the NW Film Festival, we saw a surprise premier of a short film by Joan C. Gratz, a local animator who developed the use of clay painting in animation. Her newest film, Kubla Khan, based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem is another, worldly dream-scape. Check out this U-tube version of her film- Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase

Over Your Cities Grass will Grow
is the main film that we came to see. With dissonant and primordial music, the film explores the manufactured landscapes and monumental installations of German Sculptor Anselm Kiefer at his studio/estate in Barjac, France. It's watching the creative process in action- not pretty but fascinating.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day

Sunday, February 13, 2011

February Portland Art Collective Giveaway

Win one of Stephanie Brockway's hand-carved flaming hearts (the one with "XO" on it). Make a comment on this post- February Portland Art Collective giveaway . Good luck.

Friday, February 11, 2011

A Little Gem of a Book

Last October while in San Miguel de Allende, we visited the studio of Leigh Hyams. After meeting her, I wanted to read her book. DH bought it for me online for my birthday. It's a wonderful book full of her experience being a painter and teacher, her travels and great exercises. Every friend who has read this little gem of a book raves about it. Her passion for art inspires and challenges.
She encourages artists to use their imagination and synesthesia to draw and paint from the heart not the mind. I still want to use my pen and dominant hand (above right) or my non-dominant hand (above left). It's hard to get the essence of something with a pen. The pencil gives more weight and depth as below.
My challenge is to develop my imagination and synesthesia- the ability to draw a sense as an image crossing senses such as the center of a waterfall, the smell of coffee or the shadow of a deer. This ability to capture an abstraction of a feeling or a sense is what gives a painting or work of art its heart and soul. Something that I plan to explore this year.