When a good artist's coach is also an artist ...

Inner Strength by Renee Philliips

Her name is Renee Phillips- one of the best known artists coach in USA. She is known for her dedication to artists, for her complete trust in the creative process and the ones she takes under her wing, and for a direct "no sugar coated"-goal oriented approach. If you want to make it in the art business, and need her guidance, you must be prepared for a high speed ride!

I learned about Renee several years ago when a artist tenant at the Fine Arts Building, where I have my studio, had organized an informal meeting in her studio with Renee. Even though I could not make it, I began to follow her trajectory as a writer for the artists. No too long ago we connected via Linkedln  when I responded to a question she was reflecting on for one of her upcoming books (by a way: she liked my statement & decided to include it in her book-- thank you Renee!)

So now, when needing some advise, who do you think I would contact?... Renee Phillips, of course. We did talk few days ago and to my surprise she discloses her passion for jewelry making which I did know nothing about.

Her latest e-newsletter has a section on it. I went to her jewelry gallery and I liked what I saw. I want to share the link with you as I suspect you would probably like it too. Here goes: http://www.ReneePhillipsArt.com  and if you are interested in reading her jewelry blog... http://reneephillipsartjewelry.blogspot.com/

Have fun!

FOCUS 4 @ the Illinois State Museum- Chicago Gallery

           Rebecca Wolfram, Don Seiden, Mario Trejo, and Christopher Furman exhibits opened this past Friday 7th. Each of them engulfed my energy and vision with their rich and profound art works but the work of Seiden, Trejo, & Furman are the ones that really made an impact on my artist self.


I primarily went to see Don Seiden (www.donseiden.com), my mentor while at SAIC and one of my dear colleagues and art companion who interest in mental health took him to create the first art therapy program in town at SAIC back in the early 80s. His passion and raw emotional expression touches the core of human experience and existence.


I also enjoyed the work of Mario Trejo (www.mariotrejo.com) that I viewed for first time. He covers large surfaces with ink which then seems to be have been attacked by sharp objects to create a simply intricated but thoughtful imagery that resemblance a woven piece of frabric. Each piece felt to me an invitation to enter into a spiritual cosmos of some sort.


The work of Christopher Furman (www.christopherfurman.com) takes time to assimilate and/or understand. His work is a "thought-provoking kinetic theater" (Jim Zommer/director) which becomes alive with the viewer's participation- in fact, our participation is expected.


An exhibit worth to view. Stop by if having a chance. The show runs through January 6th 2012.

Visual Poetry/Mailart/Fluxux & "Write Now"

Visual Poetry/Mailart/Fluxus in conjunction with "Write Now" can be viewed at the Chicago Cultural Center- 2nd Fl Chicago Rooms. The opening reception was on 9/30/11. It was packed! 
The two exhibits combined show the talent of more than 100 artists. It is a little crowded for my taste but worth to stop by and take some time to view it.


I participated in Fluxus exhibit with a watercolor painting "Within a Thread of Light" as a response to the poem "Tools & Inventions" by Dan Godston. The poem touches a cord in me and resonates with the experience of seeing the decay of my mother's mind to Alzheimer's disease. 

Within a Thread of Light. Watercolor on Paper. Copyright 2011

Tools & Inventions by Daniel Godston

A lump of wool, light-airy, twisted with a weaver’s fingers
into thread, knitted into a sweater, heavy-warm.
Moisture swirls slowly in a cumulus cluster, woven
with condensation bursting into threaded
sheets. Nebular thoughts swirl slowly in a mind cloud,
threads braided by fingers striking a keyboard, F minor chord
with felt-covered hammers to strings in an upright,
an f key hammered to ribbon to 24-pound linen bond sheet,
the words within arm’s length but the world far away.

A computer, that boolean-driven trickster, a folded up
stepladder leaned against a wall by the periodicals section,
a braided hemp rope sliding through a pulley,
a blacksmith’s hammer striking a sheet of iron
folded over a thousand times into a samurai’s sword,
an abacus by a box of sugar-free gum at the checkout
counter, a calligrapher’s pen dipped into an ink
well write now while the page is blank and the mind is bursting
with ideas, the world within arm’s length but the words far away.