Two Inspirations

i'm just back from the 4th Annual Encaustic Conference held at Montserrat College in Beverly, MA, just north of Boston. This was my third conference as a presenter and participant and each year this conference gets better and better-congratulations to Joanne and the college staff. over 240 artists from the US, Canada and S. America, speakers and even vendors created an informative, exciting and inspiring atmosphere. those of you who were on the fence this year about going-sign up next year. asap i will be posting the notes from my demo on transfers and will also add my notes from my previous demo-warp, weft and wax.

a sad note-German artist extraordinaire Sigmar Polke died last thursday at the age of 69 from cancer. if you don't know his work you should-he is considered one of the most influential artists of the last 40 years and worked with all types of media probably even encaustic-an artist alchemist, an inspiration.

Rubber soles

now that it finally feels like summer put your rubber soled shoes on and take a hike to the met's roof garden and enjoy big bamboo. and since you have the required shoes you can walk up into this installation created by the Starn Twins, usually known for their photography. will be reporting next from the 4th Encaustic Conference, see you there.

Will it Melt?

a red Rothko, an Andy self- portrait & and a Johns flag are all estimated to be selling in the multi-million dollar range in current auctions. Johns's flag (1960-1966-i work like this too), estimate 10-15 million is described as "...a particularly vibrant image, painted in Mr. Johns signature encaustic, an ancient technique in which pigment in suspended in wax, giving each brush stroke a distinct materiality." does your work display a distinct materiality? and how are your sales doing? the economy seems to be approving-at least around here-but all these problems in europe, in the gulf, i just don't know. many people will watch the auctions to grade the art market. and does it help the rest of us encaustic painters when a Johns encaustic painting goes for record prices? somehow i don't think anyone at Christie's is going to ask "will it melt".

Take a Seat, Don't Speak

art exhibits don't often get much press or TV coverage but you've probably heard about this one. look but don't touch. OMG! you have to walk between two people who are naked! but you really don't-there is another doorway but that's how the media hype works. and they loved to report on the 30 year MOMA member who lost his membership after not keeping his hands to himself. there is the hype then there is the art. what one sees first is a woman in black, sitting still at a table in MOMA's huge atrium surrounded by movie lights. she is looking at the person across from her not moving or speaking. and that person could be you if you have the patience to stand in line and agree to be videotaped. "The Artist is Present", Marina Abramovic's retrospective through May 31 is thought provoking, difficult and perhaps too much all at once. but have a look, take a seat-be present. it makes you think.

coming up-the Starn Twins bamboo construction on the MET's roof. guided tours will be possible but don't wear your heels!

4707

love. power. valentine's day & lunar new year (4707) both on the same day-2/14/10. happy new year but watch out-year of the tiger. the whitney biennial opens next week. maybe a good way to start the new year. i say maybe after reading roberta smith's article in the ny times on sunday. it is subtitled "this season new york's museums rarely transcend the sea of sameness".

i am exhibiting along with 14 other artists from across the country in fahrenheit 180 at the ann street gallery in newburgh, ny. this encaustic exhibition is open from 2/27-3/28. of note is laura moriarty's work that pushes the possibilities of this medium. for more info go to www.annstreetgallery.org

so happy, healthy new year to all and many days fueled by the creative process.

2010 Opportunities

two very different opportunities for 2010 have just been posted:

for the encaustic curious or user the 4th annual encaustic conference will be held in beverly, ma, just north of boston on june 11-13. talks, demos, vendors, panel discussions, etc. for all levels. i am pleased to be giving a demo on transfers. for info:

www.montserratencausticconference.blogspot.com

for the creative expression of feelings for those who fight cancer, are cancer survivors or care givers the 2010 lilly oncology on canvas competition is online at their website. of course, everyone who participates is a winner but the formal awards-in various categories-are monies donated to the cancer charity of the winners choice. after previewing in nyc, the exhibition tours the u.s. to raise awareness and hope.

"art should be like that mirror which reveals to us our own face" borges

and our own fate

Subjects: British

i am always on the lookout for shows that feature artists from other countries. the Neuberger Museum of Art, part of SUNY, in Purchase, NY (right across the Ct border) has a good one titled British Subjects:Identity and Self-Fashioning 1967-2009. the show focuses upon several themes: how Britain has been changing as a country; different ways of expressing the self; and the eternal question "Who am I?". these themes are further broken down into categories such as family pictures, self-portraits by another and staged selves. many different media and techniques are used and there is informative text to go with the work. the show ends on december 13.

while there take a look at the new acquisitions show in the back room. some names i didn't recognize but many are familiar and there is one of the Starn twins photo/encaustic works along with one of their distressed/taped photos. usually i find most of their work pretty engaging but not that particular one-see what you think.