Sunday was the opening for the Art Connections 5 show at the George Segal Gallery; Wednesday, I picked up my paintings from the Boson Exotic show at the Rupert Ravens Gallery; and yesterday, I went down to Rutgers University, where I was part of an artists’ talk for the close of the Brodsky Center for Innovative Editions annual exhibit. Whew!
I was honored to be chosen to be a fellow at the Brodsky Center last spring and work for two intense weeks with Master Papermaker Anne Q. McKeown and her amazing assistant, Lisa Switalski. Together we created the piece Hush in an edition of 30. The entire piece is made from paper pulp and employs a variety of techniques, including stencils and silkscreen. The whole experience was exhausting and exhilarating.
The opening gave me a chance to see what the other fellows had produced, and it was fun to hear them speak about their experience as well:
The Ramones Commemorative Plates by Will Work for Good
Will Work for Good is an artist/design group based in the Washington DC metro area. The group consists of two; Kevin O’Neill and Karisa Senavitis. Together with the paper team at Brodsky, they created this edition of 20, titiled The Ramones Commemorative Plates. I think they really captured the spirit of the simple, raw energy of the group. Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee would be proud! (sniff)
Large Pie with Extra WMD by Joe Waks
Another fellow there last night was Joe Waks. He collaborated with the excessively talented Master Printmaker Randy Hemminghaus. Joe’s low-tech, ironic style came shining though on this delightful edition of 20 pizza boxes. There is plenty for the eye to enjoy on the box, but inside there’s an extra treat a 3D target-image of that last guy we had as president, complete with a set of 3D glasses!
Expletive #1 by Buzz Spector
I could go on and on and drop a lot of names of artists who were in the show, like Kiki Smith, Richard Tuttle, and Buzz Spector, but I’ll save that for another day.
Koobla custom Munny Doll and handcrafted wooden head dress by Dan Fenelon
The opening for the Art Connections 5 show at the George Segal Gallery last Sunday was great fun.
There was a huge turnout and people seemed in a particularly festive mood.
I thought the name Art Connections was appropriate for me personally at this event; I met several people that I had wanted to meet, linked up with several new friends and reconnected with many I hadn’t seen in a while.
There was great artwork to feast on as well. I like juried shows; you’re introduced to a whole bunch of new artists, and they’re usually well attended (if for no other reason than all the people who have art in the show are there!)
Dan Fenelon AKA Wavedog, had three of his funky and lovable characters at the show. Dan does amazingly colorful, intricate work that seems to draw inspiration from Aboriginal, Native American and Street Art vibes. You can check out his delightful work on his Web site at: www.wavedog.com.
Between the Lines #4 by Lisa Pressman
Lisa Pressman is an artist that I had been wanting to meet for some time. (One of those people who seems to know all the people you know, but you’ve never met.) She is a master in the art of encaustic. Her beautiful abstract paintings are at once simple and complex. The deceivingly simple looking compositions give way as you explore the depths of the surface; like an archeologists digging for treasures hidden in the layers. The surfaces are luminous, textural and meditative. Check out more of her work at: www.lisapressman.net.
Wake up, America! It’s time to get out of that after-the-holidays gloom. It’s time to party. We’ve got a new president coming in next Tuesday, and there’s cause for celebration.
I’ll be busy, too, celebrating several shows and events. If you’re in the area please stop by, I’d love to see you.
George Segal Gallery Art Connection 5
Montclair State University
January 15 to February 15, 2009 Opening Reception: January 18, 2-5 PM
Rutgers University BCIE Annual Exhibition
Dec 17, 2008 – January 23, 2009
33 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ Closing Reception: Thursday January 22, 3 – 7pm,
Artist Talks 3 – 5pm
Rupert Ravens Contemporary
Boson Exotic
Closes January
Last chance to see this exhibit,
where I have six paintings!
Domareki Art Gallery
Columbia High School Bits and Pieces
February 9 – 27, 2009
17 Parker Avenue,
Maplewood, NJ 07040
It’s a holiday tradition; taking the train with the kids into Manhattan to see the Christmas windows at Macy’s.
For those of you that haven’t had the pleasure of partaking of this spectacle; it’s a block-long series of windows that follow a storyline or theme, complete with sound; animation; and some sort of participatory factor (like buttons to push).
In the eight years we’ve lived here, we’ve seen some pretty spectacular windows a few that I thought were particularly good were “Miracle on 34th Street” and “The Polar Express.”
This year’s windows I found a little strange. The theme was a behind-the-scenes look at how Christmas magic is made; apparently by large, colorful machines cranking out holiday cheer, run by kind-of scary looking gremlins and what looked like the “Fry Kids” from McDonaldland with motorcycle helmets. Although it may not have been the best they’ve done, it was colorful, animated and interactive! Perhaps a blessing that they weren’t too mesmerizing, considering the temperature was 19 degrees!
But what really made my jaw drop in awe was this window that we walked by on our way to lunch. I felt the trip was worth it after all.
