Illinois based artist MITCH CLARK in Marfa, TX

Mitch Clark, professor emeritus at Blackburn College, and a resident of Illinois, has shown his latest series of paintings at the Drive-In Gallery at 510 W. San Antonio in Marfa, Tx (an old gas station).

The show , which ran till the end of 2013, was a dance of vibrant colorful energy that moved you through the room as swimming in water.

Jon and I had the opportunity to be at the opening

to celebrate with him this wonderful and exhuberant body of work- his latest! Few picks below.

                                                                                  Mitch talks about teaching, the arts community in Fort Worth 

during the 1950s and ’60s, and the Dallas Museum of Art, as well as his own work. 

Here is the link to the radio interview

http://marfapublicradio.org/blog/talk-at-ten/artist-mitch-clark-exhibiting-in-marfa/ 

The Metaphone- Urban Instrument- Music by the Light- France

A short concert and very pleasant to the ear:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAiT__GRTR4&feature=player_embedded

You can read more about this musical project here:

http://beforeitsnews.com/green-living/2013/11/this-solar-powered-concert-hall-doubles-as-a-musical-instrument-2450494.html

Sleeping Twice a Night ...

According to Jeremy D. Johnson our current belief that we need 8 hours of sleep is a modern creation.
In an informative article Johnson makes the case that in the old times- very old times like in the 18th century- humans used to sleep twice a night and that those sections were used to read, pray, have sex, or even socialize with neighbors...

http://disinfo.com/2013/08/how-our-ancestors-used-to-sleep-twice-a-night-and-highlighting-the-problem-of-present-shock/

Cuban Photographer Abelardo Morell: On Photography, Life, and Dancing

Morell presented his work at the Museum of the Art Institute of Chicago. I viewed his work then and I became captivated by his imagination, use of materials and of light on his subjects. Hope you enjoy his work as well.

Chicago Timelapse Project - Windy City Nights Video

A two years project that ended up in a wonderful video on the lights of Chicago. I just feel like sharing it with you all.
Chicago Timelapse Project - Windy City Nights from Max Wilson on Vimeo.

Pulaski International School of Chicago- MURAL PROJECT

Matthew Tolzman, photographer of Ben & Fushi Violins Co., has two wonderful kids enrolled at Pulaski International School of Chicago (http://www.pulaskischool.org) and he is also a musician
and an activist.
I know Matthew for many years as he is the photographer of my work. I always admire the passion he has for learning and education. He is one of those parents that you want to have in the classroom
if you happen to be a teacher- always ready to help, be involved, providing creative ideas, open minded, and a very kind man.
Few months ago, he and his brother Nathan, who is also a musician, embarked in a creative project: painting a mural, an idea he has shared with me since last year. The project basically was to create a mural based on the 10IB learner profile attributes:

IB learners strive to be:

• inquirers
• knowledgeable
• thinkers
• communicators
• principled
• open-minded
• caring
• risk-takers
• balanced
• reflective

I asked him to send me some info on the mural which final image I found on FB. And that is what he wrote:

 "I approached the art teacher and asked if she could have students draw the attributes for inspiration for the mural. My brother and I sketched out a rough design and took it to the students. The students that helped us were 3rd graders at the time. Now they are 5th graders. They were really great. They gave us some more suggestions and saw things in the sketch that we didn't even see! It was a tremendous experience hearing the kids talk about art that they inspired..."

The mural has no name yet but he wanted to hang it and let the kids have a chance to look at it first. "My plan is for the 5th graders to come up with a name for it."

GREAT JOB!

A World Heritage Site Railway Route through the Swiss Alps

WOW!!! WOW!!! I was blown away by the photographs of this railway. I bet you will be too.

http://twistedsifter.com/2013/11/rhaetian-railway-albula-bernina-landscapes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twistedsifter+%28TwistedSifter+%29

An Slice of White

A Slice of White. Oil on Masonite. 6" x 6"
BL.Copyright 2013
$75

 

Inspiring Music for Inner Balance-Gayathri manthram

Rock & Roll in Photos at the Chicago Cultural Center

Last week Friday 25th I was at the opening of Paul Natkin's show at the Cultural Center. A photo show that chronicles the work of this Chicago living music photographer. It is titled "Shutter to Think; The Rock & Roll Lens of Paul Natkin"- an exhibit produced by Elmhurst Historical Museum and curated by Lance Tawzer. The presentation equals the quality of Paul's photos. In talking with Tawzer I learned that he had the opportunity to showcase the work of photographers from another part of the country but made a conscious decision to look for someone rooted in Chicago and he added "I was looking for someone authentic..." The show is excellent and deserves many views. I already saw it twice and I will probably stop again and again to savor it slowly.
Here are some picks I took with my iphone:

Thinking about Holiday Gifts?... What about a print from an original piece of artwork?...

My Rag Doll

The memory of this painting is about a rag doll I had when I was a child. I believe my parents gave it to me as a present. I loved that doll!; it went with me everywhere. 

As every rag doll, with time deteriorates & becomes dirty. My rag doll was not an exception. That fact did not concern me but it did to my mother who, every time we were going on an outing, she tried to convince me to leave the doll behind. 

On our way to visit my aunt Nelly's house we had to take the train. There was one day ... the three of us were on the platform- my mother, me, and my doll. The train came. As we were stepping in the doors suddenly closed catching my hand (that held the doll) in between the doors. My mother was horrified and wanted me to drop the doll so the doors can closed properly and I can be safe. I was not about to chance my tune. I told my mother that the doll was coming with me, I was willing to have my hand in between the doors holding to the doll till we got to the next station. My mother then stood there with me, anxiously looking & holding my other hand, and probably praying in silence. 

The next station came. The doors opened. My mother immediately pull me toward a sit where the three of us sat in silence for the rest of the ride. 

I was six years old. I am past 50 now and I still remember that moment ...

My Rag Doll. Oil on Canvas. 11" x 14". $650

WITCHES & WICKED BODIES

WITCHES seems to be in the minds of everyone -consciously or not. There is a sort of fascination with them as we are fascinated with the eternal question quest "is there a heaven & hell?... god & devil..."
Witches and fairies transport the human imagination to realm of power, the struggle with the unknown. The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art's new exhibit taps into it with the exhibit "Witches & Wicked Bodies"
You can read more about and view wonderful images of artwork here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/26/witches-wicked-bodies_n_3805204.html?ir=Arts&utm_campaign=082613&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Alert-arts&utm_content=Title

What drawing is for you? ...

Everybody Can Draw!- A lecture by Sue Gussow, Professor Emerita (The Cooper Union School) speaking in Copenhagen, Denmark in March 2010

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