November 29, 2013 More From the Pompidou- all about texture

Continuing to explore the Pompidou, we marveled at an amazing variety of art forms, the works of many European artists we did not know about as well as unfamiliar works by artists we knew. 

The many textures of Allan Kaprow’s Rearrangeable Panels, 1957-1959, immediately drew me to them.  The panels could be re-arranged in many different combinations and was one of the first works to make the exhibitor responsible for choosing the arrangement.  The piece was part of the first happening in New York.

A couple of details:

Waiting for us in a room of its own was a heart-stopper, Ghost, 2007, by Kader Attia.  The piece, shaped from leaves of aluminum foil, seemed to drain the space of air into complete stillness, yet with a faint memory of the sound of crunching aluminum.  Attia’s work concerns itself with feelings of alienation and trying to determine identity.

More wonderful textures in Magnus von Plessen’s, Trepe, 2003.  The large flat repetitive brush strokes forming flat strips allude to an architectural rendition of a staircase with lots of movement drawing the eye around the work.

Sections of this work, viewed as details, could almost be separate abstract works of their own.

November 20, 2013 A Sunday at the Georges Pompidou Center

We had located the Pompidou Center on a walking tour of Paris and found our way back there on a Sunday.  There was some kind of bicycle promotion event going on outside.  It’s size and scale fit right in with the massive escalator and metal conduits.

We skipped the Roy Lichtenstein temporary exhibit and focused on the permanent collection.  There were lots of people in the museum but, thankfully, nothing like the Louvre.

One of the most playful interactive installations we encountered was Cave by Jean Dubuffet.  Once inside, perceptions became distorted as the solid lines on the walls belied the uneven texture of the floor, creating a feeling of imbalance and teetering.  Kids loved it.

This large work by Gérard Fromanger created visual tension by juxtaposing an actual black and white photograph (painted) with drawn and painted on figures.

Homage á Topino Lebrun

You couldn’t go into Yaacov Agam’s Room but even standing outside it caused an uncomfortable feeling of vertigo.

Mario Merz’s strong saturated colors against black made a strong statement even in a room full of other paintings.

Girasole, 1960

Notable for unusual materials was Pino Pascali’s Le penne di Esopo, 1968, created from bird feather, steel wool and wood.

Transformations opening reception at aBuzz Gallery

Friday night was the opening reception of my show, Transformations, at aBuzz Gallery in the RINO arts district of Denver.  After months of work completing the most recent piece, mounting the work on stretched canvas and getting ready with all the endless details, it was really exciting to finally see the whole group of art works on the walls.  Many thanks are due to aBuzz Gallery owner, artist and marketing expert, Carol Ann Waugh, for shepherding me through the process.  Here are a few installation shots.

A few weeks ago I was surprised, thrilled and delighted to be contacted by Bill Gardner, Editor-In-Chief of Quilters Newsletter, about a video interview with them.  Bill and his videographer, Brian, were at the opening to shoot footage.  (Check back for more about that process as time goes on.)

Carol Ann Waugh, fiber artist and aBuzz Gallery owner and Bill Gardner, Editor-In-Chief, Quilters Newsletter

Brian Buss, Quilters Newsletter Videographer

It was a great evening with a chance to connect with old friends and visit with newer ones.  I really appreciated all the people who turned out for the event.

Deidre Adams, fiber artist and painter, Carol Ann Waugh, Gay

Explaining the process to friends

Regina Benson, installation artist, and Gay

Ted Potter, a local jazz guitarist, whom I’d heard play at another opening, really enhanced the evening with his intriguing, captivating playing.  Hope to hear him again in the future.

Only regret was no photo of my friend, Janet Kuczmarski, my right hand for the evening, because she was behind the camera.  Neighbors and friends, Paula and Michael Frease, helped out by serving drinks.

Three events are still to come:  First Friday, Dec. 6, 6-9 PM, Artist Talk, Dec. 7, 3-4PM, and Closing Reception, Dec. 14, 12-5PM.  If you're in the area, please stop by.

November 14, 2013 At the Louvre in October

We had been told to purchase the Paris Pass for museums before we left home and was that ever a terrific idea.  We sailed right past an enormous line of ticket buyers and had no wait at the Louvre entrance.  But this is what we awaited us inside the Pyramide.

The Louvre was mobbed and it was October!  On the map we located the paintings we really wanted to see and headed off.  This is what we found when we got to Mona.

It was impossible.  Over a hundred people were crowded in front of her, snapping pictures as fast as they could.  We waved goodbye to Mona, gave up and moved on.  One of our goals on this trip was to see as many paintings as possible by Caravaggio, one of our favorite artists.  We missed two at the Louvre but found this one, La Diseuse de bonne  aventure, 1595-1598.

Frustrated by the mobs, we left the more popular sites and went to the “new” Islamic wing of the museum.  It was quiet and peaceful there with few people.  Exhibits were beautifully displayed and well labeled.  VIdeos of various processes were also included.  This exquisitely carved ivory container was commissioned by a ruler in Cordoba, Spain, for his son.

The beautiful calligraphy and wonderful design of this fragment of a dish from Iran, 10th-11th century, made me wonder what the whole piece had looked like and admire the expertise of its creator.

There was a great deal of tile work.  This piece, Tiles with blossom spray, from Turkey, 1540-1545, with its sinuous curves was a perfect example of the level of artistry those artisans achieved.

As if one gorgeous tile were not enough, look at this section of tile wall, the wonderful rhythm of the curves and the use of repetition and balance in the composition.

November 9, 2013 More from Paris

FIrst, a correction.  The modern art museum adjacent to the Palais de Tokyo is the Musee d’Art moderne de la Ville de Paris and they did allow photography.  At the end of a long day and a lot of time in the shoe exhibit, we weren’t able to see the whole museum but here are some highlights.

In the Surrealist section  was one of Marcel Duchamp’s exquisitely crafter boxes boxes.  Note a miniature toilet alluding to his famous Readymade and the miniature Underwood typewriter cover.  Always mysterious and elusive.

Bôite en valise-1936-1968

In the same section, a painting by Giorgio de Chirico.  I love the Surrealists and he is one of my favorites.  As we traveled through the smaller places in Italy, there were several De Chircio moments: a particular configuration and angle of streets, certain shadows and the slant of the sun.  He was there in spirit.

Antigone-consolatrice 1973

Students were seated on the floor in this section listening to a docent or teacher tell them all about Surrealism.  There was much student art education going on in the museums.

Then there is the whimsy of this wonderful sculpture by Gaston Chaissac.

Totem 1963

Always on the lookout for anything textile, I saw this fabric painting or collage of cloths and napkins by Gèrard Deschamps.

Torchons et serviettes 1961

And in a more contemporary vein, this painting, huge and confronting, by A. R. Penck.

The Man, the Woman, the Lion and the Animals at the Water Hole 1989

Stay tuned for more.  Today I wrapped all my mounted textiles for their ride downtown on Wednesday.  My car is full of party supplies.  Only a few more days until the opening of my show.

November 7, 2013 Transformations and other news

My solo show, Transformations, is opening a week from tomorrow, November 15, with a reception from 6-9PM at aBuzz Gallery in the RINO district of Denver (3340 Walnut Street).  I’ll be showing my digital textiles, brightly colored abstract compositions based on ordinary photographs, altered in the computer, and heavily stitched.  Other events are:  First Friday, December 6, 6-9PM, Artist Talk, December 7, 3-4 PM, and Closing Reception, December 14, 12-5PM.  I am very excited to be showing my work at Carol Ann Waugh’s new gallery, adjacent to the Ice Cube Gallery at the Dry Ice Factory.

While in Ravenna, Italy, I received a very exciting email saying that one of my pieces, First Moment, had been juried into Art Quilt Elements 2014, an international show in Wayne, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, from March 21, 2014 to May 3 2014.

November 7, 2013 Back At Last

If you’ve been checking this blog and wondering about three weeks of silence, it’s because I’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to Paris, Rome, Venice. Florence, Mantua, Ferrara, Ravena and a night on the Adriatic coast.  The purpose of the trip was to see as much art as possible from Roman times all the way up to “cutting edge” at the Venice Biennale.  We walked countless miles, climbed well over 1000 stairs and looked at art until we couldn’t see.  I’ll be sharing photos with you over the next many weeks.  Although many museums did not permit photography, I took photos wherever and whenever allowed.

First stop was at Palais de Tokyo which was hosting an extensive exhibit of shoes by designer Roger Vivier.  After seeing the exhibit, we recommended it to a young Japanese woman, a representative of a Japanese shoe designer, staying at our hotel.  She thanked us the next day saying, “Not shoes!  ART!  The other half of the Palais de Tokyo is an excellent contemporary art museum (no photos allowed).  Here are some of the shoes and one of the drawings.

Exterior of Palais de Tokyo

Roger Vivier's art