Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Two Versions of the Same Drawing ...
Birds of Onix.
Two Versions. Drawings on Paper from my late 80's drawing phase
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Flashbulb Memories of Air and Movement
When my partner suggested a road trip to Oklahoma,
I got on board without even thinking.
I've not done a road trip for more than a decade.
I was very excited to embark in this one.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Climate Change in Visuals ...
Intrigued by the proposition of a visual in climate change I adventured to the DePaul University Museum of Art (http://museums.depaul.edu) to view its current exhibit "Climate of Uncertainty"- an exhibit showing "the work of twelve artists who address issues of environmental degradation resulting from human activities...".
The exhibit placed me in a self reflective mode and provocatively forced me to interact, if nothing else via thought reflections and memory. An exhibit worth your time, energy, and certainly your thoughts!
Here are few artists that their work spoke to me the most:
The works that attracted me the most were those of Edward Burtynsky, a Canadian photographer, with an image from his Manufacturing series (edwardburtynsky.com)
Chris Jordan, another photographer, disrupted me with his disturbing images of young albatrosses killed by plastic waste they ingest mistakenly (chrisjordan.com). It took me to what I have observed so many times on the surface of our dear Lake Michigan ...
Sabrina Raaf (raaf.org), a Chicago- based artist, introduced me to "Grower", a robotic piece that measures the carbon dioxide levels in the gallery and translates the readings onto walls as strokes of
green pain
and this is "Grower" at work ...
The exhibit placed me in a self reflective mode and provocatively forced me to interact, if nothing else via thought reflections and memory. An exhibit worth your time, energy, and certainly your thoughts!
Here are few artists that their work spoke to me the most:
The works that attracted me the most were those of Edward Burtynsky, a Canadian photographer, with an image from his Manufacturing series (edwardburtynsky.com)
Chris Jordan, another photographer, disrupted me with his disturbing images of young albatrosses killed by plastic waste they ingest mistakenly (chrisjordan.com). It took me to what I have observed so many times on the surface of our dear Lake Michigan ...
Sabrina Raaf (raaf.org), a Chicago- based artist, introduced me to "Grower", a robotic piece that measures the carbon dioxide levels in the gallery and translates the readings onto walls as strokes of
green pain
and this is "Grower" at work ...
The black crows of Maskull Lasserre, Montreal-based artist (maskulllasserre.com), entitled "Murder" is visually shocking and quite painful to view. I found myself thinking in my dear South America soil and the deforestation of the Amazons, in Chernobyl's nuclear contamination or BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico ...
And finally Sonja Hinrichsen (sonjahinrichsen.wordpress.com) who made me a participant in her
multi-screen video projection "Three Gorges 3rd edition", which projects images of the Yangtze River onto three walls, replicating the experience of being in a boat cruise. In it "we" arrive to the hydroelectric dam ("the largest in the world"). I did not take a photo of this installation. You can view
one though downloading the exhibit catalogue here:
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Organic Expressions
"Organic Expressions"- a series of three abstract mixed media paintings on paper playing with the idea of hair.
What associations do you make? ...
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
James Mitchel Clark- Artist
On our way to Oklahoma we stopped in Carlinville (Illinois) at the home and studio of artist James Mitchell Clark- or "Mitch" for friends- and his lovely wife Rosemary
They live with three cats of which I was able to spot one as the other two look at people from hiding places
and with Boxter,a very peculiar dog who relates to people according to their body sizes- small ones (around 5' 2") are like children to whom he does not seem to be particularly fond of. Memories from long ago when abused by children seems to be activated when in the presence of children or people with small body frame. It is then better to leave him alone ...
Mitch has been in the art world for long long time -artist and art educator- and yet, he is humble with an unassuming warm attitude that wins you over as soon as you enter in contact with him
He taught ar Blackburn College for years (http://www.blackburn.edu/about_blackburn.html) and maintains his art practice and studio at his home. He has exhibited extensively within the USA, holding gallery representation for years in the South; although I got the feeling that there were more to his extensive life as an artist than what he was sharing. Mitch did not talk more about his past and present achievements.
They live with three cats of which I was able to spot one as the other two look at people from hiding places
He taught ar Blackburn College for years (http://www.blackburn.edu/about_blackburn.html) and maintains his art practice and studio at his home. He has exhibited extensively within the USA, holding gallery representation for years in the South; although I got the feeling that there were more to his extensive life as an artist than what he was sharing. Mitch did not talk more about his past and present achievements.
His studio is full of plants; it brings forward a welcoming feeling to the visiting eye, encircling you into a well of creative energy
His work has movement and playful energy; colorful as the plants in his studio or the nature surrounding his home
Standing in front of his work, I feel like slowly seeping nature from plants, to animals, to creatures of his imagination. It brings forward a nice combination of simplicity and depth that charm the viewer.
Mitch is full of color and heartfelt warmth as his work ...
Thank you Mitch!
Monday, December 10, 2012
"4 artists - 4 views". Meet the Artists
Jon Randolph (photographer) came to photography as an errant English major back in the late 50s. He worked as a still photographer for WTTW, PBS in Chicago for several years in the 1970s receiving a New York Art Directors award in 1974 for an essay on Cook County Jail. He collaborated with sound engineer Bob Dove to produce essays that mixed wild sound, music, and stills into video pieces and they were nominated for an Emmy for late night mood pieces for Nightwatch, overnite show hosted by Gene Siskel. In 1983 he became an independent photographer specializing in location work, editorial, portraiture, corporate and audio/visual work. He worked extensively for the Chicago Reader and Chicago Enterprise (business magazine). His documentary photography on Highway 61 & Ixil Triangle (Guatemala) have turned into several shows. He is currently working on a book related to his
photo documentary Highway 61.
When asked why photography, he responds "What you see is what you get! ... It gives you a sense of time ... a sense of color... You are able to make wonderful things from nothing."
www.jonrandolph.com
Mary Lou Petty (Warm Winds Design)
"After doing psychotherapy for 37 years in Chicago, I retired and returned to my '60's roots of beading jewelry. In addition, I've taken classes in lapidary arts, silversmithing, and PMC/Precious Metal Clay in Chicago and in Dubois, Wyoming, where I now reside.
Being surrounded by mountains and abundant wildlife inspires my work. The Wind River runs not too far from our house and the surrounding area is known as "the Valley of the warm winds"; thus, the name: Warm Winds Designs." www.WarmWindsDesigns.etsy.com
Beatriz Ledesma (painter)- a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina who was drawn to painting and drawing in her teen years. She obtained a MFA/MAAT from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1988)
and a doctoral degree focusing on the use of art-making
in the clinical treatment of adults (2009).
Her extensive exhibition record includes numerous solos and group shows in galleries and museums such as Chicago Cultural Center, Edna Manley College (Jamaica), Dittmar Memorial Gallery (Evanston), Paterson Museum (NJ), Latino Art Museum (CA), Museum of Contemporary Art (CO), Centro Cultural Recoleta (BA, Argentina), Gallery 79 (Brazil),
Centro Colombo Americano (Medellin, Colombia).
She enjoys working in collaboration with different art expressions and since 1992 she has curated, organized, and participated in several collaborations--"Incantation-1997 @ Links Hall Studio, "Toward Diane Arbus"- 1993 @ Randolph Street Gallery, "ARTicipate"-1992 @ Beacon Street Gallery, are few examples. In 2011, she was invited to participate in the First International Art Conference in Kingston, Jamaica presenting "Spiritual Resonances", a collaboration with jazz musician Orville Hammond.
She states about her work: "... My work is filled with the surreal and colorful language of Latin America culture & folklore, dream imagery, myths, and rituals. My alignment to surrealist concepts as well as meditation practice has increased my intuitive and nonlinear thinking. The viewer is challenged to develop a contemplative dialogue with the painting; in that viewing the painting may evoke a feeling, an emotion, or a memory ...
www.ledesmastudio.com
Adele Roman (Ramona Jewelry)
Oak Park native, Adele Roman, grew up in a large family where creativity flourished. Her mother, who attended SAIC in the 50's, is a very resourceful and creative woman who was able to pass down to her eight children, the "creative bug".
Adele seems to have always had a predominant creative side; from making cards & notes for friends to ceramic dishes and jewelry.
She states "I am happiest when I am creating something beautiful and functional. I have come to realize that things I create have a distinct purpose."
Now living in Skokie, raising two daughters, working full time, she finds making jewelry therapeutic and a perfect way to bond with her girls. She, as her mother, is passing down to her daughters the "creative bug".
Adele seems to have always had a predominant creative side; from making cards & notes for friends to ceramic dishes and jewelry.
She states "I am happiest when I am creating something beautiful and functional. I have come to realize that things I create have a distinct purpose."
Now living in Skokie, raising two daughters, working full time, she finds making jewelry therapeutic and a perfect way to bond with her girls. She, as her mother, is passing down to her daughters the "creative bug".
Monday, December 3, 2012
Holiday Open Studios Event December 14th
On Friday December 14th the entire Fine Arts Building will be celebrating the holiday season. Ledesma Studio will be presenting "4 artists - 4 views", a combination of painting, photography,
and jewelry. Hope you can join us!
December 14th, 2012
and jewelry. Hope you can join us!
 |
| Ramona Jewelry |
December 14th, 2012
5:00PM-11:30PM
410 S Michigan Ave. #609, Chicago Il 60605- 773/561-0825
 |
| Jon Randolph |
 |
| Warm Winds Designs |
 |
| Beatriz Ledesma |
Friday, November 30, 2012
Murals at Missouri State Capital ...
Spectacular! All of them on canvas that then was directly installed over the wall:
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Jefferson City & Thomas H. Benton, the artist
Last week my partner and I had the opportunity to visit Jefferson City/MO, Capitol Building. We arrived just on time for the tour set time which included only the two of us and the guide woman.
I was eager to see the much talked murals. I was unprepared though, and much to my deepest delight,
to see the amount of artwork that covers almost every inch of the building walls. All of them impressive in their own way. The one that made a huge impression on me was the House Lounge room where you view the work of Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975. American painter & muralist who was at the forefront of the Regionalist art movement)- titled "A Social History of Missouri".
When commissioned to do this work (1935), he was asked to create a mural that represented the main figures of social political life. Benton, being an activist artist, decided to work on daily issues of the time as experienced by the state of Missouri.
For years legislators tried to destroy the work by spitting on it, scratching its surface, pushing cigarettes buds onto it. They were outraged.
But at the end, the murals endured & prevailed and legislators had to accept that the murals were paid by the citizens of Missouri's money and it was there to stay.
The entire work is done on egg tempera.
I was eager to see the much talked murals. I was unprepared though, and much to my deepest delight,
to see the amount of artwork that covers almost every inch of the building walls. All of them impressive in their own way. The one that made a huge impression on me was the House Lounge room where you view the work of Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975. American painter & muralist who was at the forefront of the Regionalist art movement)- titled "A Social History of Missouri".
But at the end, the murals endured & prevailed and legislators had to accept that the murals were paid by the citizens of Missouri's money and it was there to stay.
The entire work is done on egg tempera.
Monday, November 26, 2012
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