Is It Art?

I sit on the board for the Girdwood Center of Visual Art and this question comes up often. We will have a artist interested in joining the co-op gallery and will present their art for review. Here is where it gets complicated. Is it art or is it craft? I probably tend to be one of the toughest judges. It's important to me to stay true to what a gallery represents, ART! Not that a craft item can't be creative or interesting. But being 'craft' it belongs in a gift shop or the like. But who decides?

Here is a bigger question, who decided Jackson Pollack was an amazing artist? NOT ME! For those of you without an art background who have ever looked at his work and thought,"Isn't that just splattered paint?" The answer is YES! If you have every looked at his paintings and thought, " I think I could do that." The answer is YES you could! Would I complain if someone who controls the art world looked at my work and said, "By Jove it's brilliant!" Of course not. Maybe Jackson did the same thing. Did he go to bed and night and snicker that his splattered paint became worth millions...maybe.

Attached is a photo of work that confuses my definition of art and craft. This was created by Lance Lekander. I love his work and even have one of his serigraphs hanging in my house. Lance is without a doubt an artist. His work is clearly art. But recently he began making these creatures. The first one I saw in a gallery and HAD to have my very own monster. I called Lance and placed my order for a Portugal Fishermonster. A few weeks later I had Chique to call my own. Chique and Sal ( the fish) greet me every morning from the bookcase in my bedroom. In it's simplest definition it's a stuffed animal right? But it is so creative! Is it art? Shouldn't it be craft? I am glad I don't have to sit on a jury for that one because I would be tainted by my love for Lance's work and his amazing creative ideas. I do know that if Lance and Pollack were in a paint off Pollack would have to leave shame faced and Chique and I would be smiling in the stands.

A Different Kind of Creative

My funny bone has been completely entertained and my internal jogging has my inners in tip top shape. Why? I just saw the Broadway musical Spamalot.

It is a musical based off the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The Sunday Times said it, "Raises silliness to an art form". It's true! It really was creativity at it's best. The set designs were incredible, the costumes mesmerizing, songs witty and the actors....well they were just amazing! To be able to sing well AND dance AND have comedic timing is an impressive combination.

When the forest guarded by the Knights that say NI unfolded I was in awe of the trees. I wish I had thought to draw trees that way! It appeared some of the trees were stitched in a net curtain with others being tree dimensional that the actors could move about through. A special instrument was created and used only in Spamalot and special 'mud' makeup also was created just for this musical. After the show we went for dessert with a couple that had joined us and replayed all our favorite moments. I don't think I am going to leave my easel and brushes and head to Broadway but I would be in creative company if I did!

Pondering and Pedaling

Monday my friend Noah and I planned a last run on the ski hills. On arriving at the trail head I found grey slushy snow with mud peaking through. Not idea skiing. So Thursday my bike, complete with studded tires, hit the bike path.

One ( there are really so many) wonderful thing about riding your bike is the time you can let your mind wander. Jumping from a song you heard recently to what you're going to make for dinner to what paint color a leaf you just past would be. I often find an art dilemma or a creative impasse will resolve itself as I pedal along. Among the wanderings of my mind suddenly the perfect solution to my current art problem will surface. In fact, yesterday I made a hand signal to turn right and saw my shadow on the pavement. My mittened hand made me laugh. Then I thought, why haven't I ever painted Signore Greve and Celli winter biking? I could see them humming along with snow covered mountains regal in the background. (the picture shows a summer scene I did a few years back) OH OH I know, Signore Greve with skis strapped to his back on the way to the ski hill! Him in a ball topped ski hat and Celli with his own scarf fluttering in the winter air. Idea after idea flowed.

I came back to reality quickly as the trail got more and more challenging to navigate. The creek had overflowed on the trail and a series of mini ice bergs, soft snow and chilly water required full concentration. I am sad to say I wasn't dry when I got to my destination but I was creatively inspired!

To be brilliant

We were hanging out on Saturday night when a knock rang at our door. We don't live in an area where people just drop in so the knock was curious. I opened the door to see my neighbor Amrit. Apparently her husband had a bad cold complete with wracking cough. They wouldn't be able to use their symphony tickets. She didn't want to waste them and offered up a free night of live music. Who can refuse that?

The first movement was amazing! Like jaw dropping, wow I can't believe it amazing. Certainly you expect to be moved and refreshed after a night of violins and cellos but this was incredible. This was my introduction to Arturo Marquez a renowned Mexican composer. That is his photo to the left. This piece is so popular it is called the second national anthem in Mexico. On the way home I said to Steve, "I wonder what it is like to be brilliant."

Reading up on Marquez I discovered Danzon No. 2 was written in 1993 after a trip to Malinalco with painter Andres Fonseca. Art and music do come together so perfectly. Maybe the two of them in sharing ideas and inspiration both came up with their own brilliant creation. Marquez certainly did. Maybe on those days when my creative energy seems dried up and drawing a circle seems impossible I need to find a musician to hang with. I do know Danzon No. 2 will be on my ipod.

What's Your Favorite?

I have a calendar in my studio that Steve got for me. Everyday you slide out a page to reveal the next day behind it. It features a nice 4 inch by 4 inch photo of a famous piece of art with the date in small letters on the top. Why have all that month and day text getting in the way. Some days I will turn the card to the current day and know it is going to be a great art day based on the photo. The other day Steve caught me up to date on my calendar ( show week got me behind a few days) and said, " Oh, my favorite painting is coming up on Monday." Hmmm, what is Steve's favorite painting? The conversation went like this:

Oh "The Execution of Lady Jane Grey?"

No, but that is a fantastic painting.

Hmmm, OH "Bathers At Asnieres"!

Oh, that is a great painting but no.

"Paris Street ;Rainy day"?

No, again amazing painting but that isn't it.

This went on for several more minutes before I gave up. When he revealed it was Seurat's "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" I was surprised. Now don't misunderstand, that is a jaw dropping painting. I guess I was a bit shamed face I didn't know. If you have never seen the painting the people are pretty much life size and the painting was done in pointillism, a thousand dots of paint coming together to create this scene with hidden references and political statements. It is at the Chicago Art Institute and is worth planning a good 20 minutes sitting on the bench in front of it taking it all in. If you are of my generation and remember the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" there is a key scene in that movie featuring that painting in the Art Institute. Our conversation continued for about an hour as I pulled out my art books with the sun streaming through the windows. We discussed all the great art we have had the privilege of seeing in this country as well as Europe. I did feel bad that I didn't know his favorite painting but when you think about all the wonderful work created and being created it's no wonder I didn't. What is my favorite painting? Let's grab a pot of tea and I'll tell you.

Success!

We had a great show on Friday. Jean Shadrach and Gail Flotre were busy as bees cleaning brushes, gently directing people how to get the affect they wanted and encouraging those a little resistant to try their hand at painting. Bamboo was drawn and redrawn with Jean patiently instructing people, " Hold the brush like there is an egg in your palm and a rock balanced on the top of your hand". Many people left holding their attempts at Sumi-e painting. Some were quite impressive. I encouraged one participant to consider getting mat and framing her creation. She loved to paint in school but as life was filled with children and work her art supplies got put away and eventually forgotten. The desire was still there and the skill was still there too. That was the goal of this show, to get people to have their own creative moment. Like the mother and two teenage daughters who insisted they had NO talent. Gail convinced them to try silk painting and the result was a beautiful plate with a perfectly shaped and blended pear and apple. Now I am realistic and don't expect our art visitors to quit their jobs and take up the label of starving artist. But I hope that for a brief moment on C street Friday night people forgot about bills and obligations and saw only the art, their art developing before their eyes.