Art Bears and Real Bears

"Gaurdian Bear" Photo by The Kozy Shack

What a week! Spring is finally here don't you think?

The last several days were filled with a revitalizing mix of art and friend infusion. I journeyed north to Seattle on Wednesday to install my work at NW Fine Woodworking and then breathed a contented sigh of accomplishment. After hanging 5 shows in 2 months I now plan to take a well deserved break.

I kicked it off Wednesday night by catching up with Seattle friends and going to celebrate a birthday at the Whiskey Bar, where the artwork on display stopped me in my tracks. Matt Savage brings the viewer abruptly into a seductively secret world that for me, was like stepping into one of my favorite books by Charles deLint. Animal people posture in half human half beast form. I especially loved Savage's buffalo women. I am completely inspired and smitten. I know that animal headed people have now been painted by several artists, but Savage seemed to capture the dream like quality of what coming across one of these beings may be like. Smitten.

Thursday was Pioneer Square Arts Walk where for me it was mostly about making it to see shows of friends of mine. Jessica Dodge has an incredible new painting up at SAM Gallery featuring bees, ribbon, a Buddha-like sheep and rising people titled "The Ascension of Hope". Her work always carries multiple layers of meaning and her new piece is a nice culmination of themes.

My friend Tracy Boyd's work is so unmistakable that I was pulled into Trabant Coffee house even though I didn't know beforehand she was showing there. Her ginormous new piece "Buck" took my breath away. I can't wait to tell her!

Over at CORE gallery this month is work by James Caudle where he has taken his old-timey collage style into a 6 foot painting on canvas that I absolutely fell for. Collage elements, texture and found objects bring his show "To Have and Have Not" to a whole new level for him. Quite exciting!
Also at CORE is animation artist Chris Rodgers (of Fleetfoxes video fame!) only instead of animation he has a show featuring his sculptured works. Based on the idea of the creative block he has formed literal clay blocks with birds escaping out of them. They are truly wonderful - a brilliant concept and a lovely show.

Then of course there was my own show which will be up at the NW Fine Woodworkers through the end of June. Such wonderful work up this month it is almost worth another art walk to see it all!

I finished up the night at the SAM to briefly see Nick Cave's show "Meet me at the Center of the Earth" and totally fell for the Bear suit. With images posted all over Seattle I almost felt like I didn't need to see the suits in person. I was wrong - they are fairly astounding with the pure scale and detail involved. If you've already seem them I'm sure you'd tell me that =)


(Black Bear by Moosicorn)

And then on another non-art note, yesterday with the sun finally making it's way out of it's long retreat Andy & I forged our way out to Capitol forest for a lengthy hike. It was a completely magical afternoon which was made all the more magical by coming around a bend in the trail and fining ourselves about 10 feet behind the back end of a big, black bear. Whoa. Needless to say we let him have the trail as we promptly turned around and quickly but calmly walked away. The bear truly didn't seem to notice. Thank goodness. Pretty powerful though.

Picasso Funtime

Portrait of Dora Maar
Pablo Picasso

There are many ways to cap off a week of back to back errands, appointments and obligations. Spending 4 blissful hours wandering the exhibitions and collections at the Seattle Art Museum sure is a nice one! Just as I said to my friend accompanying me, "This sure beats watching Netflix!"

The occasion was of course, to see the overly-talked about Picasso exhibit on view through the end of this weekend. And it truly did not disappoint. If you happen to like Picasso. There! I said it publicly.
There were many things I could appreciate about the show however - such as the intense retrospective aspect and seeing certain pieces come to life in person. For instance the portrait of Dora Maar pictured above was nearly electric and alive in real life.

But the real kicker of the evening for me was the company. Due to an extended visit here in Seattle on her part I got to museum walk with fellow Vermont Studio Center Residency artist Evelyn Donnelly. We had a divine time wandering the museum's collections. She hadn't been since before the renovations and I got to re-discover the museum all over again by taking notice of things and talking about collections that I had previously just walked on by. The Porcelain Room for instance totally wowed her. Never before had I really noticed how incredible the curation and design of the room was. Thanks for showing me the magic Evelyn!

And even though these are also part of the permanent collection, I only just now got all sparked off from them. Mainly due to the description of their use & meaning. I'm imagining a burgeoning series based on "Soul Washer's Discs".

Soul Washer's Discs (akrafokonmu)
Ghanaian, Asante
"Such discs protect the wearer from danger. The radiating pattern refers to the sun, which is the source of each person's kra - the spiritual essence given to a child at birth. They are worn by rulers, queen mothers and by individuals known as akrafo, or soul washers, who conduct ceremonies to purify leaders' souls."

Edelweiss
Cris Brodahl

Also on view right now in the Up Next gallery are works by Cris Brodahl. The pieces themselves were extremely striking. But also what interested me was the description of her process of situating her easel in a way that she can only work one piece at any given time, and even more importantly, only SEE that one piece she is working on. As someone who likes to surround myself with inspirational bits and snippets in the studio this concept felt so foreign. But I find myself oddly drawn.

All in all the evening gathered much inspiration. Definitely way better than sitting at home and watching Netflix. How have you filled your inspiration well lately?

Friday Night Out

On Friday night a friend took me out for an unexpected treat - a trip to the Seattle Art Museum to see their current show on Salish Art as well as a collection of 10 paintings by American master, Edward Hopper.

The Edward Hopper exhibit was interesting - he is definitely one of those artists worth seeing works in person because of the contrast of reality just not found in prints. This piece to the left, "Automat" was my favorite from the show. It brought you right under the florescent lights, out of the night.

As much as I have a long standing love for the darkness & solitude of Edward Hopper, the exhibit on Salish art by far took the show. The breadth of work the SAM had collected was incredible and truly eye-opening. Eye-opening to just how much I don't know about Salish art that is! I highly recommend it if you are anywhere near the SAM.

And the exhibit reminds me to tell you a little story of the roots of my own drawing style. When I was a Sophomore in high school, my choir took a little trip up to Victoria for a competition. During the long bus ride somewhere along the way we stopped at a light next to a plain wooden fence that was painted with this massive Orca all in a black line drawing. My sketchbook was fervently filled thereafter. The style has shifted into more of my own, but tell me - can't you tell the influence?



The icing on the cake for this lovely art filled evening was a stop off at the Triple Door, which I had never been to before, to show support for the Downtown Emergency Shelter at a benefit concert played by local artists Tiny Vipers and the Dusty 45s. Amazing good fun all the way around! Sincere thanks to Neil for getting me out of the studio for an evening. Sometimes, it's just what a girl needs.