It's been a slow month in terms of creating. I just finished a 16x20 landscape with two figures for a wedding gift, which was a little return to traditionalism and to the figure. And now I find myself wanting to break again from 2D media to explore sculpting. I've begun whittling Lord of the Rings chess pieces out of poplar (with a beautiful jack-knife cased in turquoise, red jasper and mother of pearl...thanks Alex). This is a project that will take at least a year, with my half being the "light" side and Alex's half being the "dark" side. And if it ends up being even longer, well that's okay. Because it will take me just as long to read the books.
But in the meantime, I've chosen a piece of Brazilian soapstone to start chiseling away at. Here it is. I have no idea how long the process will take or if I will like the results, but I'm starting.
We went down to New York to visit some galleries and mostly to see the Armory Show. It was 55 degrees and the sun was out all day, making for a pleasant walk-about. But at the day's end, after all was said and saw, this lovely photo of Miranda and my bloody mary just post-bus-drop-off seemed to be the only one I took, so it shall be posted. And, even though I didn't manage to take any photos at the Armory (I suspect this was due to the chaotic and packed setting), I did manage to leave with a few scribbles, as follows:
(Page 1) Notes: Tom LaDuke-paint swabs on foggy delicate images-multi-dimensional David Scher-King at table-oils self-breaking piece-witty-makes people feel awkward little kid with great hair trying to open installation piece of door with leg sticking out of it-gallery rep rushed to stop him-no parents around-funny Jenny Scobel-drawing of girl in pencil w/ watercolor-freckles-soft Michael Borremans-"The Ear" * had "heat"-vivid Sigurdur Gudmundsson-photos-70s-3 artists running, funny Birgir Andresson-portraits with words, silkscreens, "Portrait #15 &17"-Moscow XL Gallery-strange man guarding this section Claudia Wieser-Mystical Room-very precise giant photo of white Schnauzer-I miss Maggie Tom Sachs-woodburning piece (accompanied by a scribble of the framing of his work)
(Page 2) "No, you do not touch Art; you look at Art. You do not touch Art. (miniscule pause) Look! A burning tire!"
The latter note was a quote from a father to his ~5 year-old daughter after she attempted to touch a very textured painting. I feel that this statement sums up the event nicely. I put my notebook away after recording it.
I am not a steady person, by most linear standards. I explore the world like a herd of field mice, not like a dinosaur, though we exchange views often. But I firmly believe that one can arrive at exactly where one wants to be and should be by being and doing. And sometimes, we are many people and do many things at once. That is all.
***
Now I feel nude.
It's been a slow month in terms of creating. I just finished a 16x20 landscape with two figures for a wedding gift, which was a little return to traditionalism and to the figure. And now I find myself wanting to break again from 2D media to explore sculpting. I've begun whittling Lord of the Rings chess pieces out of poplar (with a beautiful jack-knife cased in turquoise, red jasper and mother of pearl...thanks Alex). This is a project that will take at least a year, with my half being the "light" side and Alex's half being the "dark" side. And if it ends up being even longer, well that's okay. Because it will take me just as long to read the books.
