LADDERS AND CONSTELLATIONS

MIRO

Elizabeth Gordon  at Miro Museum in Barcelona      

         photo by Ann Suggs

 Miro is one of many artists that didn't capture my attention in college like some of the rock star artists of the era. I wasn't much enamored with Dali or Picasso or the Surrealist.  Perhaps it was because art history was so boring and taught so poorly.  I am not sure, but memorizing 200 or more slides a week, with a test at the end of the week with 25 or more unknown to place in a style and time period, wasn't my cup of tea.  Yes, I can recognize many art works and artists, but what can I tell you about their lives and what influenced them to paint in their day.  Art history should be taught in a much more interesting and connected way.  I have hear there are programs like that, just not where I attended.  There was once a program on Public Broadcasting called Connections, and it did just that, it connect political, social, environmental and commercial influences on art.  It was fascinating and the way I had wished I had been taught in art history.  
Later as an art teacher I would do more and more research on artist when I was teaching different units for my students.  A double learning took place, one for them, and another for me.  I love learning and I love research, so it was a win-win situation.  
The more I learned about Miro, Picasso, and other artists I had not studied in depth about in school, the more I wanted to know more.

Ann Suggs and Elizabeth Gordon         Barcelona   Gaudi's House

On a trip to Barcelona, I visited Gaudi's architecture that changed the way I viewed the way I thought building must be designed like.  I did not know they could look as if they were melting, and did not have to have hard angles. 

 On the same

trip, I discovered there was Miro's Museum  sitting there on a high hill overlooking the harbor and city. It such a magnificent view and reminded me so much of my home, Tampa.  It is a city on a bay as well.  I thought it would take an hour or two max to see the museum but

, I stayed there all day and left at closing.  I was blown not away by, not only, Miro's art, but also his thinking about art and creativity.

Below is a video from you tube about Juan Miro you may enjoy.

Today a friend sent me this link to a slide show walk through of Miro's museum and work.  I thought I would include that here for you.  Take a walk with Miro, look at his work, listen to his discussion of his artist process.  Look at the time he, Picasso, and Dali lived in, all working in Southern Eastern France and North East Spainish during relatively the same time period  in an area called Catalonia.  Click on this link now for your tour.  

Miro, Picasso, and Dali lived in the same area and painted at similar times.  Miro and Picasso lived through the Spanish Civil War, WWI and WWII.  At different times they fled Catalonia for Paris and then when the Nazi's occupied Paris, back to Spain.  

Guernica by Pablo Picasso                    from google image for educational purposes only

Picasso's Guernica was painted in response to the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil war. 

One of the series of Constellations by Juan Miro  
   from google educational purposes only

 The painting became an iconic statement for peace.  Miro hid in his imagery of his Constellations and Ladders references to war the times.  That is why it is so important to look at all the influences of a given era that art is produced in and what effects the artist.  In some eras it could be the invention of a new art media like acrylic paints, or the extinction of a mollusk that once thrived in Europe, or the inability of flax to grow in England.  

THE PIONEERING ART OF EVA HESSE

google image for education only
eva hesse

Eva Hesse was a well known German-Jewish American born artist who was a leader in   using  plastics, latex and fiberglass  sculpture. The exposure to the harsh chemicals, that  are now considered cancer causing,
 led to an early death at the age of 34.  Her career only lasted 10 years. 
She was born in 1936 in Hamburg, Germany.  Her parents sought to escape Nazi Germany to the Netherlands, then to England and then to the United States.  Her parents divorced and her Mother committed suicide a year later in 1946 when Eva was only 10 years old.  Eva would go on to study at Pratt, Cooper Union, Yale and The Artists Student League. 

EVA HESSE                                     from google image for education only

(Her art is often viewed in light of all the painful struggles of her life including escaping the Nazis, her parents divorce, the suicide of her Mother when she was ten, her failed marriage, and the death of her Father. Danto describes her as "coping" with emotional chaos by reinventing sculpture through her aesthetic subordination, playing with worthless material amid the industrial ruins of a defeated nation that, only tow decades earlier, would have murdered her without a second thought. She always felt she was fighting for recognition in a make dominated world. Hesse is one of a few artist who led the move from Minimalism to Postminimalism.  Danto distinguishes it from minimalism by its "mirth and jokiness" and "unmistakable whiff of eroticism"…she was influenced by, and in turn influenced, many famous artists of the 1960's through today.  For many and friends who knew her, Eva Hesse was so charismatic that her spirit remains simply unforgettable to this day.) quoted from Wikipedia biography of Eva Hesse

I am not sure where I first saw Eva Hesse's art work, but I do know I was enamored from the first.  I had never seen such experimental use of new materials of the day.  It was art and sculpture as I had never seen the like before. I think in some respects her pioneering experimentation gave me permission to step away from traditional sculpture…that it might be possible to do sculpture with any material from any source. I am sure her story and the drama of her life was appealing, but I did not learn that until much later.

 She is one of these ethereal influences that just seem to live on after their time into the future. I know my friends who love realism and art they can understand will question Eva's art, but when someone starts a movement or invents the use of materials in art it is like Edison inventing the lightbulb or Einstein the theory of relativity.  They saw a vision, broke the mold, and led the way to a new understanding of what is possible. Eva did that, and it is one of the reasons her art and memory live on today.

EVA HESSE     SCULPTURE                                     from google image for education only

NEW WORK BY ELIZABETH GORDON

NEW CLASS NEW WORK
Elizabeth Gordon

by Elizabeth Gordon

Starting an art class is alway invigorating for me.  New ideas, mingling with other artists, and possibilities that are all anew!!!
All my grown life when I could sign up for a class I would.  I love learning and growing.  Of course at times it is scary and a blank page stares out at you just daring you to put the first mark.  But that is the challenge and the joy of it all.  To challenge yourself is an important part of growing beyond where you might be now.  And one thing for sure, no matter how accomplished we are, there is always room for growth and learning. 

MIXED MEDIAN BY Elizabeth Gordon

Printmaking was my major in college and it continues to be an area that draws me even if the print only happens in the transfer once, mono print.  Text, numbers, and other pieces of graphic images that are in our everyday world become part of my imagery as well.  I am part Jungian, part Freudian, part Surrealist in translation.  The hidden meaning, the image that triggers deep psychological thought, and the thought of consciousness as a transient state are all areas that intrigue me and find place in my art.  I love subtly in, and having the viewer included in the process, nothing should be too obvious, it should only suggest and draw you in to the mystery.  And in my world each piece will have a personal meaning only to the person viewing the work, each viewer may come away with a separate truth.

MIXED MEDIA BY ELIZABETH GORDON

s

Mixed media art by elizabeth gordon  

My new class has 8 or so people and my teacher teaches the class in a way I love, like a graduate level class in which each one of us has a project that we are working on.  The teacher consults with us and helps to mentor us as we work.  It is a very nice way to work.  Betsy Lester, is an accomplished artist in her own right, teaches at the Morean Art Center and teachers art at a university.  I thought you would like to see the work I began in the first class to warm up and get back into doing my art.  Betsy wants me to concentrate on doing a large body of work for a show this summer.  She is a goal setter and that is good for me.  I could do with a great deal more goal setting.  
  

detail of mixed media piece by Elizabeth Gordon

 My work is mixed media, collage and assemblage.  In this series I am using transfers and drawing with charcoal.  I have a plan to include a triptych on three birch wood squares I bought and pre-cut in Asheville.  I also have wooden machine molds from England I plan to use in assemblage.  So in this body of work I plan to have 2d flat, 2d high relief with found objects, and sculptural assemblage.  Some of these projects I have been thinking of a long time since a visit to Montreal a couple of years ago.  I was fascinated with some tribal African sculptural heads with found objects .  And finally I have always had a love of drawing, so part of the on going development of my goal will be to include drawing with image and text.  
It is exciting to be headed in a direction, thinking of a body of work that will be in a show, each piece relating to another.  I encourage you also, what ever level of art you are in, to set a goal, to consider experimenting with 2d and 3d each relating to one another. It is almost as if each piece is in conversation with the next until the group encompasses you in idea art work by art work. 
As I develop this body of work I will share the process with  you until the final step when it arrives and is set up in the final showing this summer.  Get ready, we are going on an art journey!

FIND ANYTHING ABOUT ART AT THIS SITE

ARTCYLOCPEDIA 

from google for education only

I WOULD BOOKMARK THIS SITE IMMEDIATELY IF I WERE YOU!

If you are an art lover or artist, this is a wonderful site, just chock full of information on art, art movements and artists.  It is a must have for reference or research.  Just click on the word above and it will take you to the site.  ENJOY!

MIT OFFERS FREE COURSES ON LINE

MIT OR MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

from google image

A young friend sent me this recently and I thought I would share it with you all.  Not all of our readers are in the United States, many live all over the world.  Some of you live in remote areas and the access to libraries or schools may be limited.  I thought whether you are in the arts or not, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn and continue a life time of learning.  I have found throughout my life what ever I learn ends up coming out in my art, one way or another.  My love of archeology, paleontology, history, humanities, other cultures, science and so many things come out in my art.  All of these things we learn and study, increase our awareness of our connection to our world and ourselves.  Artists express their understanding of our times and our world and our universe.  Learning is a constant, it is never stagnant.  Information is forever changing, as well as, what we once accepted as fact.  So click on MIT FREE COURSES ON LINE and begin your journey! Remember age does not matter, and there is no time like the present.  No matter where you are reading this, you can access learning and information to instruct yourself and grow.  I wish you all the joy in the world.  I love learning and taking classes!

MOMA ON LINE COURSES

Museum of Modern Art 
Moma

Modern Museum of Art NYC

The Museum of Modern Art has an awesome on line program.  I am putting a link here for you all to check out what is offered.  Check out their teacher resource program and international support programs. Read more here

SHE WHO TELLS A STORY

PHOTOS BY MIDDLE EASTERN WOMEN ARTISTS
MFA BOSTON

From the MFA  Boston Opening                                        from google image for art advocacy only
Untitled #5
Gohar Dashti (Iranian, born in 1980) 2008

In the West we are often subjected to and form our own stereotypes of the life of Middle Eastern women.  But this exhibit that is shown thought the eyes of Middle Eastern women artists challenges those stereotypes.  Our view from the outside in can be black and white, where there are grey tones in reality. 

from google for the purpose of education only 

 Looking at some of the art coming out of the Middle East in the last few years and the emergence of women with a strong voice makes me think we are only on the tip of an iceberg with art from this area of the world.  I think these women artists have a lot to say and are gaining a foot hold and the vehicle in which to share their art and have their voices heard.  I believe they will become a strong force in the art world in the future. Look at some of the work of some of these Middle Eastern artists, and prepare to be amazed and come away with a different cultural view.

Read more from the article by clicking here……..

from google image for art advocacy and education only

ADVICE ON THE ART WORLD FOR TODAYS ARTISTS

Shana Nys Dambrot(to read more click on her name), in an article for Raw's art, offers advice on being an artist in todays market. Shana has been in the art world her whole career  as a critic, curator, and author. She has wonderful practical advice to give to artists on how to present yourself in the art world today.  I highly advise reading her article, she gives straightforward invaluable advice.
Artists are wonderful creative people, but few of us are good at selling ourselves, yet if we want to make a living of our art we must learn how to approach galleries, get our art in front of the public, and sell ourselves to others.  This article is a very practical step by step way of taking control of how to present ourselves to the art world in an effective, successful way. Click on Shana's name above and it will link you with the whole article.  You will be very happy you did, it is so simple yet effective.

JAN VORMANN

STREET ART THAT HEALS 

Jan Vormann German Street Artist                   from google for education only

Vormann will say he has no intent in this project, that it means nothing, but I think he is so wrong. It is like putting an band aide on a wound.  In its very act it is healing in nature. 
The evidence of that is that people around the world are emulating his act of healing buildings on their own.  Not with concrete or building material, but with colorful creations, usually lego block.   It is an act of creation that has taken on a life of its own, people innately want to heal things and Vormann somehow has tapped into that feeling in people all over.  
I think with the turmoil in the world, the high rate of change, the overwhelming amount of data that engulfs us daily is making  people are look for a way to take control in small ways, to heal, to find simple solutions to complex things.

The whole  local push of farm to table, buying local handmade art, and grassroots moments are all attempts to bring our world back to something we can control and we can feel.  There seems to be in all of us the need to be in a world we can control, that is simple, that is local, that is family, that is personal…perhaps that brings in out the ancient tribal memories in us all.  We reach for things that make us feel like we belong, like people who want tattoos, they are reaching back into our ancient culture to find a feeling of belonging and being.  I think Vormann's art does this without him knowing, artists act as shamans sometimes, absorbing the psychology of the time and the masses.

In Vormann's series "Dispatchwork" he identifies war damaged buildings and uses lego bricks to repair them. In Berlin and Bocchignano, Italy researches war damaged buildings and fills the gaps with brightly colored lego blocks.

MORE OF CHIHULY IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, CITY OF THE ARTS

 THE BOAT IS FILLED WITH COLORFUL BRIGHTLY COLORED BRIGHT SPHERES.  

It is set on a smooth highly reflective black glass that makes the colors almost florescent.

A visual delight beyond compare, eye candy for certain.  Treat yourself to a treat, a treasure, a master talent with creative genius.

 Video of installation of fishing floats

One of the nicest things about the St.Pete Chihuly collection is they don't discourage photos, they encourage them!  It is hard to take a bad photo, each shot is so beautiful and almost any camera or camera will pick up the light, color and contrast.

CHIHULY

Dale Chihuly Master Glass Artist
The Saint Petersburg Collection

Photo by Elizabeth Gordon

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

Dale Chihuly's(link) life is a study in overcoming odds to succeed.  He is a big bear of a man with a black eye patch over one eye. One might ask how can a glass blower continue blowing glass safely if he has lost the use of one eye? 

























And that is the basis of what led him to greater success than if an accident had not taken one eye.  Dale Chihuly was riding in  an antique car in England and one day when out for a drive he was involved in an accident that threw him against the windshield .

Photo by Elizabeth Gordon

But what if he had chosen to be defeated, to say he could not be an artist or a glass artist?  What if he had accepted his disability limited him?  I think in love of doing art and being a creator he found a way to succeed.  I think he was determined to succeed.  And in that is a lesson for all of us as artists, where there seem to be road block, choose another path, or find a way around the obstacle and continue toward your goal. 

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

COLOR 

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

DESIGN

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

 IMAGINATION

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

 TEXTURE

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

photo by Elizabeth Gordon

CREATIVITY

photos by Elizabeth Gordon

 Do not look for excuses, look for solutions and you will find your way. 

lagniappe 

Chihuly talks about his art/video

from google image for education only

New Work by Joseph Cavalieri

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE ARTISTS NEW WORK

JOSEPH CAVALIERI(link)

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION

Happy New Year to you all.  It is 2014!! 

Hard to believe, time moves so fast, but once again we have the opportunity to clear away the past and set goals for the future.
As artists we can choose many goals for ourselves, but today I heard a motivational speaker say, to have the greatest success choose one word to focus on.  So for Rabbit's Moon Studio our word will be:

                        CREATE

Think about what one word you might like to choose, write it down, post it here, put it on your fridge, write it on your calendar or draw it on your hand.  Surround yourself with your one word. Or join us, I will repost this one word all year through different post.  We will constantly focus on this one word which will find its way in to our lives in many ways!