This is the fourth piece in my Karma Series (they seem to be getting bigger each time I do a new one!). Check out the first three here and here.
The relationship between karma and samskara has been front and center in my life over the past month or so. Big changes are underway (more info coming soon!), and I think it’s really important that I stay aware of possible samskaras (automatic responses) that can take over in stressful situations. Hopefully I’ll be able to use some of what I’ve learned through the painting process and meditating on these ideas to achieve positive results.
The North Carolina Museum of Art just posted online all the available works in their upcoming Art of the Auction event that will benefit the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation. I’m honored that one of my paintings was chosen for inclusion in the auction.
The work will be on display at the museum from May 6–20, and the live auction will be held on May 21.
Matt and I spent the weekend poking around one of our favorite springtime stomping grounds—Southeast Utah. Matt took this photo of the Colorado River near Lake Powell, with the Henry Mountains in the background. Check out more of his beautiful landscape photographs here.
This was the view of the full moon from our campsite in Lower Johns Canyon, on the edge of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Lots of amazing Native American rock art was there to be admired.
I think Kokopelli might be one of the figures featured on this rock (above, center). Kokopelli is a fertility god, according to the Hopi tribe. He’s also considered to be a trickster and represents the spirit of music. He is usually pictured playing a flute.
Mojo and Kala had a blast exploring the canyon. This was Kala’s first camping trip, and I think it agreed with her! I wish I’d gotten more photos of her romping around in the creek. She loved splashing around and sprinting through the water pools even as Mojo was quite content to watch from the sidelines.
A few weeks ago, I submitted some of my work to be considered for the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation’s inaugural Art of the Auction event. I just found out that my painting, Tangential Thinking (03), was chosen by the jury for inclusion in the auction!
There’s a special sentimental feeling I have about this opportunity, because I spent a lot of time at the North Carolina Museum of Art as a young art lover. As a design student at NC State University I would often go to the museum, choose a painting, and just sit in the gallery staring at it until I felt I understood something about it’s essence... And now one of my own pieces is going to be a part of the life of the institution. Perhaps, if I’m fortunate, one of my works will someday make it into the museum’s permanent collection.
My piece will be on view at the Auction Preview on May 6 and remain on display for two weeks leading up to the Art of the Auction event on May 21 at 7pm.
I mentioned in some of my earlier “Favorite Famous Artists” posts about Barbara Kruger and Georgia O'Keefe that I've always loved Feminist art. I especially like art that is somehow creepy or disturbing in some way (see my post on Francis Bacon). As a young artist, I loved when women artists were in your face. I wanted to be in your face, too!
Even though I’m not usually inspired by photography, there is something about Cindy Sherman’s work that grabs me, on a visceral level (which is exactly where I like it!). Her photographs are painterly, imaginative, and abstract, even though the images are (sort-of) representational. The colors and lighting are so vivid, so saturated, so dramatic. As a viewer, I really get a sense of emotion, something sinister under the surface, something surreal and dreamlike.
Maybe activist art about Feminist issues has fallen somewhat out of fashion since the 1980s, but I think it’s as relevant now as much as ever... especially with many of the services that benefit women (and children) who live in poverty on the government’s budget chopping block. Cindy Sherman’s work isn’t directly about these issues, but I think her female caricatures are so powerful and disturbing precisely because they reflect something truthful about the way women are (de)valued in our culture.
On Friday morning I went down to the Fashion District in Downtown Los Angeles to get some visual stimulation, and to see what’s new at Michael Levine’s fabric store. Whenever I’m in L.A., I like to see what’s new.
These two displays of head-wear were right next to each other on the street. I like the juxtaposition of the rainbow-colored wigs next to the rainbow umbrella (top). And there was just something funny (and a little creepy) about all those stuffed animal hats, especially on the head with drawn-on eyes (bottom).
I bought two small blue feather boas for $2.50 each. I have an idea I want to try with one of my paintings. If it works out, you’ll probably see it in a future blog post.
Western Colorado Center for the Arts Curator (and my friend) Camille Silverman said about my work, “You can feel her restraint and her letting go of control within the body of work. That’s interesting; it adds this tension and release that makes her work alive.”
This summer, I’ll be teaching a workshop at the Art Center based on processes for conceptualizing and creating abstract art. It is already open for registration and space is limited. Find out more here.
