Next Up!

Among whatever else I have going on in the studio, I also have a specific project in mind to work on: a book about Love Canal. It's a neighborhood in my city, Niagara Falls, NY, that was discovered to have been built on top of a toxic waste site and came to international attention in the 1970s thanks to a grass roots effort by a housewife named Lois Gibbs.

I have been fascinated by what remains on the site for many years now, and have seen it transform into an increasingly wild area spotted with the very occasional house still standing and occupied. I'm not sure exactly how I want to approach this. I'd likely let my photos speak for themselves, but considering that I do also enjoy writing, I'd also like to compose accompanying text.

I'm thinking about trying to interview the current occupants of the remaining houses. I'd really like to do that, in fact. I've been so curious about why they decided to stay all these years. Or maybe they are people who bought real estate dirt cheap and decided to risk contamination in exchange? One house I've noticed even keeps a large vegetable garden.

Incidentally, wildlife seems to be thriving there, at least the plants, trees, and birds I've seen.

Last weekend I drove around and took a few photos.

Cutter

Here is one painting that didn't make it into my show at Betty's (it didn't really fit—I had planned to make other quilt paintings and just ended up focusing more on the houses). The inspiration for it was one of the so-called "cutter" quilts I bought recently. A cutter quilt is one that has been so loved and well-used that it is falling apart in places... and they can be had for not very much money, as one might imagine. But, that status doesn't lessen the fact that their beautiful colors and patterns remain, even if some are faded or deteriorated. I obviously take a lot of liberties in my interpretation... I'm not interested in creating a realistic rendering but rather to showcase the aspects of the quilts that dazzled me so much in a more simplified, graphic manner.

This painting is 16" x 16", acrylic on canvas.



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By the way, the opening for my show at Betty's went really well. So many people came out to show support, and I got lots of great, interesting feedback. Even sold one piece, and have interest in a couple others! That's always nice. Working with Kathy Sherin, the curator, was great. She really has a wonderful eye for grouping works together and making the show feel really cohesive. Unfortunately, I totally forgot to take photos. If anyone has any I'd be grateful if you'd share!

That said, I am glad it's out of the way and will be hanging through July. Next up is my show at ArtMission in Binghamton, where I'll be showing more house paintings—the batch that are already made (including the Betty's paintings, and the ones languishing in New Hampshire) plus some new ones, too. Exciting! But I am glad to have a break from any major art activity, aside from studio work.

Speaking of which, I am starting a two-week vacation on Friday! You can bet that I will be happy to spend a good portion of that time in the studio... I can't wait.

Ghosts

Surprise!

I have been busy in the studio getting ready for my show opening on Monday... but I haven't been posting any works in progress, or finished work. Part of me is dying to share what I've been doing, but I have been feeling strangely protective of it until it's actually hanging in public.

The reason? I want it to be a surprise.

Silly, I guess. But true.

Last night one of the paintings I was working on, one of the houses titled, Wrong Place, Wrong Time, is getting really gorgeous. I found myself really falling in love as the evening went by and I got more layers on it. It's funny how the ones that are rather homely in their beginnings, and even in "adolescence", turn out to be the best works.

It's an amazing process, the development of a painting. Which is why I keep doing it.

***

I also really noticed my development as an artist in a very palpable way last night as I was working. The way I work, the colors I gravitate toward, the qualities that are important to me... all have changed quite a lot since I entered grad school. It's taken some time, but it's so interesting to me how my work has become this hybrid of the representational and the abstract. And how concise I've become with the brush. I love painting edges, or making a curve just so. I'm starting to lose the drips, which is probably a good thing. (Bingyi's comment those months ago really stuck with me, I admit it, but now... I think she was right.)

Last night I was thinking about Alex Katz and Giorgio de Chirico, not for his surrealist tendencies as much as for his architecture and light and economy.


Alex Katz.


Giorgio de Chirico.

"Ghosts" at Betty's

I am pleased to announce the opening reception for my showing of small paintings, "Ghosts", at Betty's Restaurant in Buffalo, NY, is scheduled for Monday, May 17th, 6 to 9pm.

I am fervently toiling away at this new body of work that continues the exploration of abandoned houses, though the title and theme of this exhibition expands my focus to include memorials to people (famous and not-famous) and to worn-out quilts, often referred to as "cutters".

Normally I wouldn't think to show at a restaurant, but the curator, Kathy Sherin, does a great job choosing wonderful artists to show there, and the clientele is one that is probably more interested in art than most... not to mention, Betty's serves the absolute best reception food I have ever tasted in my life. Win-win.

Teaser photos are forthcoming. I hope to see you there!

More Fifty-Two

Oh, dear. It has been forever since I last posted. I've been quite busy, more busy than ever before... but that is no good excuse, is it? Well, Calm Air All Ice's show Fifty-Two is now up in Bristol, UK, and here are a few links concerning my work in the show for you to peruse. Needless to say that there are fifty-one other artists worth checking out, as well!

For those with a little more pocket money

My mini-interview

We're open!

Thanks again to Camilla and Claire for inviting me to participate in such a fantastic show!

Fifty-Two

I am thrilled to announce that I have been invited to participate in a group show all the way over in Bristol, UK by the ladies at Calm Air All Ice, Camilla (who invited me) and Claire. It'll be up March 28 through April 3 at Room 212, and I really couldn't be more pleased to be included.

I'll likely send my Elliott Smith painting (which is already made), along with maybe one house painting and one quilt painting (each of which I will make fresh for the exhibition). I like having events for which to create work—I tend to thrive on deadlines.

In other news, I am wrapping up teaching my first class (foundation drawing) with the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online, and getting ready to start on the next one (digital image manipulation)! It's been a busy month— I've been teaching a self-portrait class to five 12- and 13-year old boys on Saturday mornings, and I taught a private bookbinding lesson to a lovely family (A mom, her daughter and daughter-in-law, and her 12-year-old granddaughter, who blew us all out of the water) last weekend! Next week, I'm finishing up with the boys but also teaching Bookbinding for Beginners at the Western New York Book Arts Center; after that, my weekends will be my own again, at least for a while. I need to catch up on some studio work!