Category: Art Hubs

Downtown Los Angeles-An Arts Destination

4/3/2018

It's been many years since I've lived in Los Angeles, but I was amazed on how much has changed over the past 20 years in Los Angeles's Downtown area. I decided to spend the day visiting some of Downtown LA's art museums. I really wanted to see one of LA's newest art museum, The Broad. I also wanted to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art, also located in Downtown LA. What I discovered was that Downtown Los Angeles has become a true Arts Destination in recent years! In this blog, I'll share my thoughts and experiences at these museums as well as some amazing architecture in the area.

Check out some of my other posts about Los Angeles!

The Museum of Contemporary Art is actually comprised of three locations. The first is the MOCA Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood; the second is the MOCA on Grand Avenue; and the newest location is the Geffen Contemporary. There is actually a fourth location in Nevada. Yes! Nevada. The artist, Michael Heizer's artwork titled, "Double Negative" is a work of land art located in the Moapa Valley on Mormon Mesa near Overton, Nevada and was acquired into MOCA's permanent collection in 1985. If the artist's name rings a bell, it's because I recently wrote about his other monumental piece of artwork at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; CLICK HERE TO READ THE BLOG ARTICLE. I should note that time didn't permit me to visit the Pacific Design Center, or the Geffen Contemporary (or visit Nevada), so this post will only include my visit to the MOCA on Grand Avenue. I also visited the Broad Museum (Read On & See Below.) The Geffen Contemporary is just a 15-20 minute walk from MOCA Grand and admission to one museum grants you admission to the other museum.

"Cubi III" by David Smith, Stainless Steel, 1961.

I really like Lee Krasner's artwork on so many levels. I love the emotion, and appreciate the influence Jackson Pollock had on her work, and vice versa. Krasner's oil on canvas painting shown here, "Primeval Resurgence" was on exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art Grand Avenue. Painted in 1961, it is a wonderful example of abstract expressionism. The painting attempts to define itself through the brushstrokes as a direct expression of the artist's innermost feelings. Similar to Jackson Pollock's techniques of drips and splatters, the paint in "Primeval Resurgence" includes streaks, scribbles, sprayed paint, etc. Also important to note is the large size of the painting, the fact that the paint goes to all edges of the canvas, and the focus is on a singular plane, the flat surface of the painting.

Lee Krasner's "Primeval Resurgence" Oil on Canvas, 1961.

Alberto Giacometti's "Tall Figure II" & "Tall Figure III", both bronze made in 1960.

"Monitor" Oil on Canvas, 1956, by Franz Kline

Franz Kline created gestural compositions, as shown here in these two works of art. These are wonderful examples of the bold, free-form gestures and compositions associated with abstract expressionism. I learned that while these paintings seem very improvised, Kline created these artworks after perfecting dozens of preparatory sketches for each painting.

"Black Iris" Oil on Canvas, 1961, by Franz Kline

"3 Arbes (Chataignier) Empaquets (Projet pour la Fondation Maeght-St. Paul de Vence)" Pencil, Polyethylene, ropes, twine, cardboard, paint, and wax crayon mounted on wood, 1967, by Christo.

"Pepsi-Cola Sign" Muslin soaked in plaster over wire frame, painted with enamel, 1961, by Claes Oldenburg.

"White Cigarette" Oil on Canvas, 1961, by James Rosenquist.

Andy Warhol ranks pretty high up among my favorite artists. Here is "Telephone" painted in 1961; it is Acrylic on Canvas with pencil. I love how it is such a modern take on a very old-fashioned, antique telephone. Below is Warhol's painting, "Flowers" from 1964. He created these flowers using a synthetic polymer and silkscreen inks on canvas. I'm including a close up shot of the edge of the painting because I found it kind of amusing to see the exposed staples used to secure the canvas to the stretcher bars along the side of the canvas. For my artwork, I go to great length to use back-stapled canvas, and pay particular attention to the finished gallery-wrapped edges, making sure they are neat, clean, and professional.

Jim Dine's "Drag - Johnson and Mao", Etching, 1967.

The MOCA on Grand Avenue housed an entire gallery room with Mark Rothko paintings. While I can appreciate Rothko's artwork and acknowledge its importance in art history, his paintings are not my favorite. I do love all the colors, and I also love the shapes, however, there is ambiguity, blurring of lines, that doesn't hit me the right way. Rothko wanted viewers to stand close to his paintings to see the vertically stacked bands of color seem to float upon colored grounds.

I'm a fan of Morris Louis who created many paintings similar to this one shown here titled, "Pillar of Delay" painted in 1961. Louis stained his canvases with thinned-down paint and opted to paint without the use of the traditional brush, palette, and easel. Instead, he used gravity as his instrument to create his masterpieces. He created these striped pictures by pouring streaks of diluted paint fro the top of raw, un-primed canvas to create bands or stripes of color that often overlapped each other. Looking at his artwork, you can almost feel a sense of slow motion.

In the artwork below and the detail to the right, the artist, Joseph Kosuth, used etched aluminum.

Ed Ruscha's "Fountain, Sunset, Hollywood" Acrylic on Canvas, 1999.

This large painting on two panels is by the artist, Njideka Akunyili Crosby. It's called "Garden, Thriving" and was completed in 2016. Her artwork was quite fascinating to see in person and I've included a detailed photograph of the two-panel painting. Originally from Nigeria, the artist layers photographic imagery within the chairs' fabric and the plant leaves. The images are pictures of Nigerian pop stars, models, military dictators, celebrities, and the artist's own personal photographs. To create this artwork, she uses acrylic paint, transfers, colored pencils, and collage on paper. There is so much to see in this painting, you could look at it for 10-20 minutes, or longer!

I should also mention that the mural that is wrapped around the exterior of the museum is by this same artist!

I love Jackson Pollock's work. The exhibit at the MOCA Grand was centered around the conservation process for Pollock's "Number 1, 1949". The painting was donated to the museum in 1989. I learned that over time, the painting's surface has accumulated a layer of dust, dulling the colors, discoloring the raw exposed canvas, and spoiling the unique juxtaposition of matte colors against glossy colors. During the course of the exhibition, a conservator cleans the painting on a regular basis. Although my visit was on a day that the conservator was not there, it was still fascinating to see an exhibition for the public to understand the importance of conservation. On select Thursdays, the conservator leads a Q&A session with the public from 11:30 am-12 pm and 5:30-6 pm.

Three other works by Jackson Pollock from MOCA’s permanent collection, were also on view. These were great examples of the diversity and range of materials Pollock used in his artwork from watercolor to collage.

Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California
This building is simply spectacular. Frank Ghery is one of my favorite architects and this is a perfect example of why that's the case. (In addition to all the awards he has won for his incredible architectural design). Frank Gehry was asked to devise a new home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Walt Disney Concert Hall opened in 2003. Reflecting Gehry’s longtime passion for sailing, the structure’s exterior features are expanses of stainless steel that hover above Grand Avenue. Frank Gehry has devoted his career to disrupt the very meaning of design within architecture. From the iconic Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, and now the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Frank Gehry has proven time and again the beautiful magic of his whimsical, cutting-edge design.

The Broad Museum
My visit to the Broad Museum was absolutely incredible. First the architecture of the building is superb, and second the permanent collection on view was perhaps one of the best collections of representative work from the post-modern and contemporary art periods. And on top of that, there was an incredible in-depth retrospective exhibit of Jasper Johns' artwork. There's so much to include in this blog it is crazy!

The Broad is one of the finest contemporary art museums I have ever visited. Founded by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, the museum houses more than 2,000 works of art and holds one of the most prominent collections of postwar and contemporary art worldwide.

The Broad's third floor galleries show a rotating selection of artwork and, best of all, it is free! The first floor galleries are for special exhibitions, like the Jasper Johns exhibit "Something Resembling Truth" that runs through May 13, 2018.

So let's talk about the beautifully designed building... It's often called "The Veil and the Vault" because the building has gallery space as well as an extensive storage facility. In contrast with the neighboring Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad was designed to be porous and absorptive. There are wonderful olive trees that were planted in the plaza next to the museum.

There were a number of artworks by Jeff Koons at The Broad. "Balloon Dog (Blue)" is perhaps one of his series of works that is most famous. The artwork is made of stainless steel and wights 2,000 pounds. It was created as part of his Celebration Series, a group of paintings and sculptures that memorialize rituals, icons, and images related to birthdays, holidays, and other celebratory parties or occasions.

View of Jeff Joons' "Rabbit" with Balloon Dog and inside view of the architectural framework of the building.

"Michael Jackson and Bubbles" by Jeff Koons, Porcelain, 1988.

"Tulips" by Jeff Koons

The artwork below is by the artist Mark Bradford and is titled, "Yellow Bird", 2012. It is Mixed Media Collage On Canvas. When it comes to his process, it is quite fascinating. Bradford takes papers and layers it down on canvas. He sands it down, revealing various layers. His work frequently looks like a map looking down from above. He tries to give you an idea of a place without telling you specifically where. Bradford represented the United States at the Venice Biennale and worked with women in a Venice prison to help them create products to sell to earn money.

This Silkscreen on Linen is by artist, Christopher Wool. Untitled, 2015.

"Red Room" by Keith Haring. Acrylic on Canvas, 1988.

Another work by Keith Haring. "Untitled, 1984" Acrylic on four Muslin Panels.

Jean-Michel Basquiat uses bold colors and expressive markings to show emotion and energy in his artwork. Many of his paintings are autobiographical. I learned that his painting is supposed to resemble a self-portrait and at the same time, a skull-mask.

"Untitled, 1981" by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Acrylic and Oilstick on Canvas

"Under The Table" by artist Robert Therrien is gigantic replica of his kitchen table. I learned that even the distressed parts of the table and chairs are the same. He is known for using memories from his childhood to create his artwork. Visitors often walk under the table, which conjures memories of what it was like to do so as a child.

Mark Tansey, Wake" 2003, Oil on Canvas.

The artwork below is by artist Takashi Murakami, titled "Hustle 'N' Punch By Kaikai And Kiki".

The artist uses cute characters to express the entire range of possible emotions; almost like a variety of emojis.

Roy Lichtenstein is one of my all-time favorite pop artists. He was one of the founders of Pop Art in the 1960s and used tiny dots in his artwork, similar to the printing style of comic-books. The dots were placed in such a way to create an image, imitating the way comic-books and newspapers were printed.

"Live Ammo (Bang)" 1962, Oil and Magna on Canvas, by Roy Lichtenstein

"Interior With African Mask" by Roy Lichtenstein, Oil and Magna on Canvas, 1991.

"Mirror #1" by Roy Lichtenstein, Oil and Magna on Canvas, 1969

"Reflections on 'Interior with Girl Drawing'," 1990, Oil and Magna on Canvas by Roy Lichtenstein.

In addition to borrowing or seeking inspiration from newspaper ads, commercials, and comic books, Roy Lichtenstein also was inspired by some of his favorite artists like Picasso and Mondrian. See the two images below.

"Non-Objective I" 1964, Oil and Magna on Canvas, by Roy Lichtenstein

"Femme d'Alger" 1963, Oil on Canvas, by Roy Lichtenstein

Here is a sculpture by Roy Lichtenstein, "Goldfish Bowl" created in 1977. It is painted and patinated bronze. On the right is a detailed view, showing that the sculpture is very two-dimensional, despite it looking 3-D.

"Rouen Cathedral, Set 3" 1968-69, Oil and Magna on Five Canvas Panels, by Roy Lichtensttein. These Paintings were inspired by Claude Monet's famous paintings of Rouen Cathedral. Unlike Monet, Lichtenstein did not paint the Cathedrals on-site.

I always love seeing paintings by Chuck Close. Chuck Close is known for his detailed paintings of faces, and later he was known for the deconstruction of that detailed portraiture. He explores portraiture and created this photo-realist painting called "John", painted in 1971-72. I included a detailed shot showing the incredible painting technique.

Robert Rauschenberg, "Untitled" 1963, Oil and Silkscreen on Canvas.

Edward Ruscha, "Norm's La Cienega, on Fire" 1964.

John Baldessari, "Tips for Artists Who Want to Sell" 1966-68, Acrylic on Canvas. John Baldessari never touched this painting, didn't paint it, didn't write the text. Here, it's the role of the artist as the facilitator of the artwork; creating the concept. The humor is that the view is shown the paintings message, but the message is text taken from an art magazine with tips on what art should be.

Another one of my all-time favorite artists is Andy Warhol. A short time after Marilyn Monroe died in 1962, Andy Warhol started to create silkscreen images of Marilyn. I learned that Warhol had recently just learned how to silkscreen, so this was a somewhat new process for him! In the painting above, titled, "Two Marilyns" created in 1962, Warhol captures the terrible fact of Marilyn's death, as if he was reporting the news. With silkscreens, the images deteriorate with each printing, which I believe is symbolic of her presence and then her fading into history with her death. It can also be interpreted as the volatility of fame and celebrity. I'm not sure how many versions of "Two Marilyns" were created, but I learned that the one pictured above from The Broad Museum was the 27th version of the silkscreen created.

Two of Warhol's Cambell's Soup Cans and "Single Elvis" Silkscreen ink and spray paint on linen, 1963.

"Twenty Jackies" Silkscreen Ink on Linen, 1964, by Andy Warhol.

Ellsworth Kelly worked with shapes and solid colors. The painting below, "Green Blue Red" created in 1963, uses colors and shapes to create contrast and bring attention to edges. In the above image on the left, the green rectangle and blue oval are vibrantly displayed against the red background. His composition almost goes against the principal of design of balance. Below, Kelly's oil on canvas painting, "Green Relief with Blue" was completed in 2011. It's actually two conjoined canvases and I've posted the photo of the same painting as seen from different angles. It almost acts like a 2 dimensional painting trying to be a sculpture, with different views from different angles.

Jasper Johns: "Something Resembling Truth"
A Special Exhibition at The Broad (Through May 13, 2018)

While The Broad Museum's main collection has free admission, this special exhibition required a special ticket with a timed entry. The exhibit was one of the best I've ever seen. The exhibit covered over 6 decades of artistic achievement from this iconic American artist. The comprehensive exhibit features more than 120 extraordinary paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures, by Jasper Johns and draws upon works from within The Broad's permanent collection as well as from loans from over 50 international public and private sources.

The imagery he used in his artwork were common items such as American flags, numbers, letters, targets, and light bulbs. Perhaps Johns’ most famous painting, "Flag (1954–55)" and is a fairly accurate representation of the American flag, in encaustic on collaged paper and fabric.

In the 1950s, Jasper Johns' flags, targets, letters, and numbers created a new artistic vocabulary. They were actual things that represented something. If you think about it, you can identify states on his maps, aim something at his targets, and say the "Pledge of Allegiance" to the flag. Jasper Johns was successful at using recognizable signs and symbols to make the familiar unfamiliar.

When I reflect on some of my own artwork, I too employ these same principals. Here is some of my artwork that also make you look closely at something you already know.

"American Flag" Acrylic on Canvas by Eddie Bruckner

"AABCDEEF" Acrylic on Canvas by Eddie Bruckner

"10,9,8,7,6" Acrylic on Canvas by Eddie Bruckner

"5,4,3,2,1" Acrylic on Canvas by Eddie Bruckner

The American Flad is a geometric composition that has a strong sentimental and patriotic value in society. Jasper Johns' flags ofent trick the eye, or blur the lines between perception, reality, and illusion.

"Two Flags," 1959, Acrylic on Canvas, by Jasper Johns

Detail of "Two Flags," 1959, Acrylic on Canvas, by Jasper Johns

"Three Flags," 1958, Encaustic on Canvas, by Jasper Johns. (On loan from The Whitney Museum of American Art). Shows how the size of objects impacts perception.

"White Flag," 1960, Oil and Newspaper over Lithograph, by Jasper Johns

I absolutely love this painting shown here below. The flags here are presented so that the viewer can experience an optical illusion. If you stare at the white dot for several seconds and then stare at the black dot on the gray flag below, you will experience an amazing illusion. The green, black, and orange colors generate their complementary colors of red, white, and blue in your eyes. Try it yourself! It works from the photograph here too!

"Flags," 1965, Oil on Canvas with Object, by Jasper Johns.

"Gray Alphabets," 1956, Encaustic and Collage on Canvas, by Jasper Johns

"Numbers" 1960-71, Ten Lithographs reworked with acrylic paint and oil paint, fabric, paper collage, and felt pen, by Jasper Johns

"Target" 1961, Encaustic and Collage on Canvas, by Jasper Johns

Detail of "Target" 1961, Encaustic and Collage on Canvas, by Jasper Johns

"Map" 1962-63, Encaustic and Collage on Canvas, by Jasper Johns. He used brushmarks to render the map of the United States of America, complete with abstract drips, scrapes, gestures, and a stenciled label for each state.

"Numbers" 2007 (Cast 2008), Aluminum, by Jasper Johns. This is a full-scale replica of the work that was commissioned for the NY State Theater at Lincoln Center in 1964. Below are detailed shots.

"Star" 1954, Encaustic and Collage on Canvas with Glass and Painted Wood, by Jasper Johns

"False Start" 1959, Oil on Canvas, by Jasper Johns. This painting demonstrates the shift from a more constrained approach to artwork, to a more open and gestural approach. He uses stencils (like in my paintings above!).

"Between The Clock And The Bed" 1981, Oil on Three Canvas Panels, by Jasper Johns

LEFT: "Corpse and Mirror II" 1974-75, Oil and Sand on Canvas, by Jasper Johns; and RIGHT: "Dancers on a Plane" 1980, Oil on Canvas with Painted Bronze Frame, by Jasper Johns. Detail is to the Right.

Jasper Johns began to incorporate objects and tools used in his artwork directly into the artwork's creation. Things like paintbrushes, color charts, and rulers. In the painting below, the "R" of "Red" is a neon light and wooden letters protrude outward from the canvas.

"Field Painting" 1963-64, Oil on Canvas with Objects, by Jasper Johns. Detailed, Side view is shown on the right.

"Bridge," 1997, Oil on Canvas with Objects, by Jasper Johns.

I highly recommend you to experience the Jasper John Exhibit if you can!

Also on the first floor was a very unique art installation by artist, Yayoi Kusama, titled "Infinity Mirrored Room--The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away." It is a mirror-lined room that includes LED lights that reflect endlessly in the mirrored space. It doesn't sound like much, but it is quite amazing to see. You need a separate timed ticket, which is free, and only one person can enter the room at a time for a duration of 45 seconds.

As you can see, the Broad Museum is quite an amazing experience. I highly recommend you visit The Broad in Los Angeles and experience the art scene in Downtown LA. For more information about The Broad, please visit their website: www.thebroad.org

Check out some of my other posts about Los Angeles!

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Art in Napa Valley

9/12/2017

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Last month I visited Napa Valley and had the pleasure of visiting Yountville, St. Helena, and Napa. The region of Napa Valley is known for incredible wine, so it was no surprise that it had incredible art as well.

During my visit, I visited a few wineries and did a few wine-tastings all in two days. I learned that many of the vineyards in the area have art galleries associated with them. I'll write about the artistic things that I came across, however, my blog is by no means a comprehensive listing of all the artistic offerings of this incredible region in California.

I had an amazing time at Kelham Vineyards, where I was lucky to have an incredibly delicious, gourmet dinner. Kelham Vineyards also sells a number of prints by the French artist Gerard Purvis. The artsist is best known for creating original sculptures & prints made from wine bottle foils. To my knowledge, Gerard Purvis' work can only be found in the United States at Kelham Vineyards. For more information, please visit: KelhamVineyards.com and kelhamvineyards.com/Puvis.html.

The next day, the first stop was in St. Helena at the Alpha Omega Winery, which was one of my favorites: aowinery.com. At our next stop, I enjoyed a private luncheon in Yountville at Cliff Lede, which is where I came across some very cool art. For more information about Cliff Lede, please visit: cliffledevineyards.com. Outside of the private tasting room on a beautiful terrace were these two incredible sculptures. I only wish my photos were better to really capture these sculptures. I posted the photos here:

The private tasting room, called the White Room, named after the Beatles White album, also had some very cool art in it. The lunch for our private party was served directly in the Tank Room where we saw the innovative technology used in producing their delicious wine. Looking up toward the White Room, were some beautiful paintings, which I posted here below.

That evening, I dined in Napa and had the pleasure of strolling around the town and exploring a number of public art sculptures in town. Many of the sculptures were part of the Napa Art Walk. The Napa Art Walk is a bi-annual, rotating exhibition of juried sculpture created by artists from the Western United States. For more information, please visit: www.napaartwalk.org.

Guermo en Inverno, by James Burnes, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Corten Steel, Locust.

Treasures From The Sea, by LT Mustardseed, Los Angeles, CA; Found Bicycle Parts.

Bogenbinder, by Mikey Kelly, Napa, California; Powder Coated Steel.

Bone Totem, by Eileen Fitz-Faulkner; Concrete, Steel, Fiberglass, Ceramic, Concrete Stain.

Color Molecules, by Helle Scharling-Todd; Powder Coated Steel and Glass.

Detail of Bone Totem. The Mosaic reminded me of the mosaic illusion I create in my artwork.

Detail of Color Molecules

Based in Napa is the Art Association of Napa Valley, which is a private, nonprofit arts organization that enhances life for the Napa Valley by supporting arts and culture in the area. Their website includes an artist listing, newsletters and class and event listings. Located in Downtown Napa at 1307 First Street is an art gallery that features the work of members of the Art Association Napa Valley. For more information, please visit www.artnv.org.

Retro Woman, by Gordon Huether; Mixed Media.

The Immigrants, by Elizabeth S. Kadar, 1975; Tribute to the thousands of families who settled in Napa.

The Hispanic Heritage Mural created to honor and celebrate past and contemporary advocate artists who promote social, cultural, and economic advances in Napa.

Great Eye, by Peter Boiger, 1975.

Cat Washing, by Norma Anderson, 1975.

The Yountville Art Walk was one of the highlights of my trip to Napa Valley. Known for the finest food and wine in the country, Yountville is also known for art. The Napa Valley Museum is located in Yountville. For more information, visit www.napavalleymuseum.org.

Beautiful sculptures lined the streets of Yountville. I learned that in 2010, Gordon Huether partnered with Yountville Arts to establish the Yountville Art Walk. More information about Gordon Huether can be found on his website, www.gordonhuether.com. The sculptures are for sale, with a percentage of the proceeds going to Yountville Arts Fund to support their arts-related activities, programs, and events. Based on my observation, the sculptures ranged in price from $6,000 to $60,000! Yountville was a terrific place to explore and experience some great public art. Below are some photos of just a few of the sculptures I had the pleasure of seeing during my time in Yountville.

For more information about Yountville Arts, please visit www.yountvillearts.com.

Sound Barrier, by Matt Gil; Cement and Stucco

Harmony, by P.J. Rogers

48" Orange Sphere, by Ivan McLean; Powder Coated Stainless Steel.

Trellis Way To the Sky, by Freeland Tanner; Carbon Steel.

CT 17, by Richard Starks; CorTen Steel.

Up We Go!, by Gordon Huether

Fabric of Life, by Robert Pappas; Fused Glass and Aluminum.

Marigold, by Troy Pillow; Steel.

Bountiful, by Peter Hazel; Ceramic.

Two Fish, by Peter Hazel; Ceramic Mosaic.

See this beautiful, bright yellow painted piano reminded me of the piano I painted as part of the Celebrity Series of Boston's Play Me I'm Yours StreetPianos Boston 2016 Public Art Installation. To learn more about the piano I painted, please click the link to visit: StreetPianos Boston City Hall Plaza 2016.

One of my other great discoveries was also in Yountville at the Yountville Community & Events Center. There was a special exhibit in the Gallery at the Yountville Community Center of the artist, June Altamura, who is based in Napa. I really liked the geometric feel of her abstract collage artwork as well as the vibrant and excellent color selections. I've included some photos here, but more information on June Altamura and her artwork can be found at: www.JuneAltamura.com.

There is so much to see and do in the Napa Valley Region. I barely scratched the surface of the art offerings the region has to experience, but I hope that this blog article inspires you to visit the area and explore on your own! I know that I'm already excited about the possibility of returning to the Napa Valley and exploring more the art world has to offer!

PS: If you liked this article, you might like these other articles on my artistic travels:
Kennebunkport, Maine
Los Angeles, California
New York City
New York City Street Art
Park City, Utah
Barcelona, Spain
Caribbean Art

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Worcester Street Art

9/11/2017

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I traveled to Worcester, MA as to deliver a painting of mine to the Davis Art Gallery. I have an upcoming show at the Davis Art Gallery that I'm a part of called, "Nonobjective NOW: New England Artists Explore Abstraction. I'm very excited to be included in this juried exhibit that features interpretations of nonobjective subject matter in a variety of 2D and 3D media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, photography, fiber arts, and design. The Opening Reception will be on the 22nd of September from 5-7 pm and the exhibit runs through January 5, 2018. The painting that I will exhibit is "Mosaic Color Grid: The Dance, Structure & Movement and is pictured here:

It was such a beautiful day that I thought I'd take a stroll around the area, known as the Grid District. The Davis Gallery is located within the Printers Building in the Grid District on Portland St. Just outside the doorway were a few incredible pieces of street art. The orange and blue one below is by an artist from Nepal who brings Sanskrit and graffiti art together. Check out Instagram @imagine876. Across the street were two massive murals, show in the photo to the right and also separately below. And down the street was this fun mural of a happy-face balloon!

Many of these murals were created over the past few years as part of Pow! Wow!, which is a cool mural festival and celebration of art and culture. The festival also takes place in cities and countries such as Hawaii, Taiwan, Long Beach, Israel, Singapore, Jamaica, Washington D.C., Guam, New Zealand, Germany, and more. The POW WOW! Worcester mural festival, which was just in August 2017, has added dozens of murals in Worcester in less than 10 days while also hosting a number of arts and community-centered events and programs. Although I missed taking part of the festivities, I'm glad that I got to see a few of the incredible artworks that came out of this incredible festival. Visit www.powwowworcester.com for more information.

I came across this awesome video on Pow! Wow! Israel and you can check it out here: http://powwowhawaii.com/blog/pow-wow-israel-2017-official-video/

Another of my favorites was located at this parking garage, which had two tower-like paintings on each side by artist Victor Quinonez. Check out Instagram @Marka_27. This was very cool.

By Greg Mike

Walking around, I even came across local artists displaying their artwork in the store windows in the area.

If you have the chance to visit Worcester, I encourage you to take a walk around and see all the incredible works of art available for everyone to see!

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Barcelona Art

4/18/2017

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The art of Barcelona is in one word, spectacular. I can't recall ever being on a 10 day vacation with every single day including fascinating art museums, unique architecture, and breathtaking public art. With so much art to talk about in this blog article, I've structured it into 3 parts.

Part 1: Barcelona Architecture

One cannot talk about Barcelona's architecture without mentioning Antoni Gaudi. Part of the Modernista movement of the late 19th Century, Antoni Gaudi is Barcelona's most famous architect. Almost anywhere you look in Barcelona, Gaudi had some part in its creation, from the houses, apartment buildings, churches, sidewalks, parks, and even the city benches lining the streets. In Modernism, nature was a huge element present in decorative motifs as well as present in the actual architectural structure of Gaudi's buildings. Below are some of Gaudi's masterpieces, but there are dozens of others throughout Barcelona to visit and experience.

Casa Batllo
I really enjoyed seeing Casa Batllo, which is situated on a main street in the heart of Barcelona. Mosaic is everywhere. The Chimneys of the building are works of art. The roof is representational of a dragon's back. The exterior facade demonstrates Gaudi's expert use of texture and color. Below are some photos of the exterior of the building as well as the interior. The sidewalk tiles as shown in the photos below line the streets and feature an underwater, marine-life motif.

Sagrada Familia
Gaudi's Sagrada Familia is innovative and highly symbolic. The architect's objective was to explain the teachings of the Church through sculpture and architecture. Following Gaudi's death, work on the Sagrada Familia continues to be carried out by collaborating architects and artists. The project is expected to be complete by 2026, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death.

The stained glass windows were perhaps one of the most beautiful aspects of the Sagrada Familia. The colors were so vivid and bright.

Gaudi designed this streetlamp along with a few similar ones that are located throughout Barcelona.

Park Guell
Park Guell is another one of Gaudi's masterpieces. It was build between 1900 and 1914. It was opened as a public park where Gaudi let his imagination run wild with his incredible use of mosaics throughout the park. Below are some photos of Park Guell. The mosaic work is unbelievable and reminds me very much of the mosaic illusion that I paint in many of my own paintings.

La Pedrera
La Pedrera is also known as Casa Mila. It was completed in 1912 as an apartment building. There are curved walls that seemingly defy the laws of gravity. The rooftop is amazing at night and includes all of Gaudi's architectural trademarks. Bricks in the attic create arched ceilings and are uniquely used using the log side of the brick, which also features the brick-maker's fingerprints. There are terrific wrought iron balconies and exquisite ceramic mosaics. I highly recommend visiting La Pedrera by booking a night tour, which includes a full tour of the building and a surreal visual light display on the rooftop under the stars, followed by a champagne toast and cookies!

Although my time in Barcelona didn't permit me to visit the Palau Guell, I should mention that it is an excellent example of one of Antonio Gaudi's early architectural masterpieces. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a magnificent example of domestic architecture in the context of Art Nouveau and one of the first important commissions Gaudi received at the start of his career. It is located just steps away from La Rambla, not far from La Boqueria.

Part 2: Barcelona's Art Museums and Fine Art

A Guide to Visiting Barcelona's Museums:
If you plan to visit Barcelona, I highly recommend purchasing the Barcelona Museum Pass, also known as an art passport from ArtTicket BCN, which will give you access to six Barcelona museums, including the ability to skip the lines. The Passport give you access to the Picasso Museum (Museu Picasso), the Joan Miro Museum (Fundacio Joan Miro), the National Museum of Art of Catalunya (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya), the Antoni Tapies Museum (Fundacio Antoni Tapies), the CCCB, and the MACBA. I purchased the passport online (for 30 Euros), and simply showed the ticket to the first museum I visited to receive the passport. The passport is stamped upon entry at each museum. To learn more about the ArtTicket BCN, check out their website: http://articketbcn.org/en/barcelona-museum-pass. I should also mention that it is very important to check the hours of each of the museums as they vary significantly. Most museums, with a few exceptions, are closed on Mondays. Also, all city museums are free at last one afternoon per month, so be sure to check the websites in advance for hours and special exhibition dates.

If you're interested in contemporary art, check out this website that provides a network devoted to contemporary art in Barcelona: http://www.artbarcelona.es/circuit/en/.

Picasso Museum in Barcelona
The Museu Picasso of Barcelona is a wonderful center documenting Pablo Picasso's early years of apprenticeship. With over 4,000 works of art in its permanent collection, you'll see why this museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Barcelona.

The Picasso Museum highlights the artist’s relationship with the city of Barcelona. I learned that Pablo Picasso's father was a teacher at the San Telmo Fine Art and Crafts School. and had an important influence on Picasso's future career as an artist, who demonstrated a strong interest in art from a very young age. There are some drawings and small panels in oil that give an idea of his efforts to give his own creativity free rein and explore new techniques by taking in his immediate environment.

In Barcelona, Pablo Picasso continued his art education at the La Llotja Fine Art School. The photos here show his artwork featuring Barceloneta Beach and two ports. After taking these photos, I learned that photos were not allowed, so unfortunately, I do not have photos showing the rest of the museum. This Picasso museum focused on his earlier works, and very few on display were "well-known Picasso masterpieces." The museum highlighted Picasso's creative process of some of his work of his Blue Period. Some of the highlights of the museum included Las Meninas Series. This was a series of paintings based on the Velazquez painting Las Meninas.

For more information, please visit www.museupicasso.bcn.cat.

Fundacio Joan Miro
The Joan Miro Museum (Fundacio Joan Miro) is located in the Montjuic area of Barcelona and houses the work of Joan Miro as well as temporary exhibitions of 20th and 21st Century art. The collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings displayed at the museum is one of the most comprehensive collections representing every stage of Miro's career as an artist. There are paintings related to Surrealism and works based on the Spanish Civil War. Miro's work on large canvases in the late 1970s onward demonstrate his use of large color fields and painting with free gesture.

For more information, please visit www.fmirobcn.org.

Alexander Calder donated the Font de Mercuri (The Mercury Fountain) to the museum to symbolize his friendship with Miro.

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) holds one of the most important medieval art collections in the world. The museum is housed in the spectacular Palau Nacional building that provides an incredible view of the city and the Magic Fountain. Be sure to see the Font Magica (The Magic Fountain) in action in the evenings with a spectacular music and light show!

Contemporary Art Museum
I enjoyed my visit to the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA). There was an exhibit from the Catalan artist Antoni Miralda, called "Miralda Madeinusa," which reconstructs some of the important installations from the 1970s, during his stay in the United States. His work, "Breadline" from 1977 was recreated to show a wall of colored bread that was originally displayed at the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston in 1977. The exhibit brought attention to the food lines during the Great Depression. I've included some photos of the installation below.

For more information, please visit www.macba.cat.

Fundacion Fran Daurel
Located within Poblo Espanyol is the Fundacion Fran Daurel, a small but wonderful museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art. The museum was created in 2001 by the art collector, Francisco Daurella. The museum was created to share his private art collection with the public. Photography was not allowed within the museum, but wonderful works from Dali, Picasso, Miro, and more were on exhibit! Although I didn't have time to explore, there is also a sculpture garden adjacent to the museum. Although the museum is free to enter, there is an entrance fee to Poble Espanyol. Poble Espanyol is a Spanish village attraction that recreates the streets of various geographic regions of Spain. Its storefronts house local artisans, craftspeople, and a very fun-to-watch glass blowing workshop.

Jose-Luis Pascual

Totem, by Jose-Luis Pascual

Glass Blowing Artisans at Poble Espanyol

Museums Further Afield from Barcelona:
In the town of Girona, I visited the Museum of Jewish History. The goal of the Museum is to preserve the history of the Jewish communities of Catalunya. Art at this museum included various Jewish ritual objects. Be sure to visit if you are in Girona, which is not far from Figueres, where the Dali Museum is located.

Teatre-Museu Dali: Salvadore Dali Museum
Figueres is situated in the north of Catalunya and its history is closely linked to Salvadore Dali. Salvador Dali was born in Figueres in 1904. The Teatre-Museu Dali (Theater Museum) is simply amazing! The Museum itself is the largest surrealistic object in the world.

The Teatre-Museu Dali is home to a considerable amount of the artist's work including impressionism, futurism, cubism, and surrealism. His artwork and the building itself are almost combined together. In an annex of the Teatre-Museu Dali is the Dali Joies exhibition, displaying a collection of jewelry made from gold and precious gems designed by Salvadore Dali between 1941 and 1970. Each piece is unique and characterizes the artist;s entire work: hearts, eyes, lips, animal and plant forms, religious symbols, etc. Below is a photo of one of his jewels of an eye.

Driving about a half hour away from Figueres to the beach village of Cadaques, you can visit Dali's summer home, Casa-Museu Salvador Dali.

For more information, please visit www.salvador-dali.org.

On of my favorite pieces was this one below entitled, "Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea which at a distance of 20 meters is transformed into the portrait of Abraham Lincoln (Homage to Rothko).” Gala was his wife and muse for many years.

The exterior of the museum is a work of art as well. Statues with loaves of bread on their heads. Inside the museum in the open air courtyard is a spectacular and wild work of art called, "Rainy Taxi". If you put a Euro in the slot located at the base of the artwork, it will rain inside the taxi, and an umbrella will open up on top of the artwork!

Montserrat Museum
If you travel to the town of Montserrat, be sure to visit the Montserrat Museum (Museu de Montserrat). The museum is located in the square in front of the monastery. The museum has a permanent collection of over 1,300 works of art. I was really impressed with the diversity of their collection, including modern paintings and sculptures (Picasso, Dali, Monet, Rusinol, Mir, etc.), antique oil paintings (Caravaggio, El Greco, etc.), archeological antiquities from Egypt and the Middle East, and so much more!

The museum includes paintings by Old Masters with works from the 13th Century to the 18th Century. The largest section of the museum is devoted to works from the 19th and 20th Centuries and includes a wonderful selection of Catalan painting and sculpture of the Modern period. I was very impressed with their collection of paintings by the great masters of French and international impressionism (Degas, Sisley, Monet, Pisarro, Sargent, etc.). Picasso and Dali, avant-garde artists are also well represented!

Santiago Rusinol

Joaquim Mir

Miquel Villa

Salvadore Dali, Composition With Three Figures, Neocubist Academy, 1926

Sean Scully

Part 3: Barcelona's Public Art

The streets of Barcelona are filled with art by world renowned artists. Below are just a few of these that I came across on my artistic journey.

The sculpture "Barcino." Barcino is the Roman name of Barcelona. The sculpture is by Joan Brossa, located in the Plaza Nova de Barcelona, opposite the Palau Episcopal.

A mural by Picasso located in the Plaza Nova de Barcelona.

Beautiful sculpture located right on the beach in Barceloneta

Roy Lichtenstein's Head of Barcelona, (El Cap de Barcelona), 1991–1992

This mosaic, "Mosaic del Pla de l'Os" (1976) is an incredible piece of public art located on La Rambla at the Mercat de la Boqueria. The artist intended it to welcome travelers arriving by sea. Another piece of his public art is located at the Barcelona airport, intended to welcome people arriving to the city by air. I love Miro's use of abstract shapes and primary colors.

In Parc de Joan Miro, you can find the incredible, monumental sculpture "Dona i Ocell" (Woman and Bird) that is over 70 feet high in concrete and mosaic. This was the artist's last public work created between 1981-1983. This was intended to welcome people to Barcelona traveling by land. The photo shown here was taken at night. At the time of my visit, the entire park was under construction and the sculpture was obscured by construction vehicles and fencing.

PS: If you liked this article, you might like these other articles on my artistic travels:
Los Angeles, California
New York City
New York City Street Art
Napa Valley, California
Park City, Utah
Caribbean Art

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New York City Street Art

1/11/2017

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Recently, while visiting New York City, I went on a free walking tour of Manhattan’s Street Art in the Lower East Side, Little Italy, NoLita, SoHo, and NoHo. This entire area is filled with wonderful street art! SoHo (or the area South of Houston St.) is known to be one of New York’s first permit Joint Live-Work Quarters for artists and the area was deemed a Landmark in 1973. It was a wonderful tour. I saw some incredible art and learned so much about the history of the street art in this area as well as of many famous and not-yet-famous artists.

Free Tours By Foot also has a few other art walking tours including a Bushwick Graffiti and Street Art Tour in Brooklyn, an Astoria Street Mural Walk, as well as a Williamsburg Street Art Tour. Although the tour is free, the tour guides area terrific and it’s customary to pay what you think the tour is worth at the end of the tour.

For more information about this tour, please visit: http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/new-york-tours/walking-tours/manhattan-street-art-tour/

The area of SoHo in Lower Manhattan was started as a result of imminent domain. Artists squatted in the old, run-down buildings in SoHo. It was the artists who made SoHo great. After the artists came, DJs arrived, parties took place, and the changing culture in the 1980s and the burgeoning fashion scene helped shape SoHo into what it is today.

Graffiti is about messages. A lot of street art I saw used cognitive dissonance to make a statement. Cognitive dissonance is when the artist challenges you to think about something. The artist makes you wonder what their message is all about. The artist, Kai, uses this technique in “Save Urself”. Whereas, on the other end of the spectrum, the art used in advertising and marketing ads, the message needs to be crystal clear. I learned about the term “Artivism,” meaning Art-Activism. Using a social, environmental, or political message in street art. Kai uses Artivism. One of his works is near 52 Spring St. called “Save Urself.” I learned that this is a mold that is made and is just slapped on with adhesive on a brick wall. Check out his website: http://kaiart.com/. Here are some other images of Kai's other artwork that I came across on the tour and later throughout the day! If you look at each piece closely, and give it some thought, you will discover his very clear message about society in general.

Some of the art was political in nature, like this one. But there is street art that is done with the building-owner’s permission. Another unique part of street art is the language used. People would describe how their fellow street artist friends create their art fast, incognito, and without being discovered. They’d say “You Bomb it.”, “You'd hit it.”, or “You'd strike it.” A lot of the street art was created somewhere else and then put up in a matter of seconds with adhesive, or wheat paste. Artists would also have “Style Wars”; Who can do this the biggest, the best, etc. Some artists get permission to post their art, while others do not. I learned that the artist who created "Man on Floor" was arrested for creating this. Many artists are looking to have freedom of expression.

Along with Graffitti and Street Art comes some really cool language and special terms.

“Ad Busting,” “Brandalism” (Brand-Vandalism), and Culturejamming are all fascinating terms describing some of the street art.

Another fascinating part of Street Art is called “Sticker Tagging” where artists create stickers and place them around the neighborhood.

The artist named, “Crisp” created these Brandalism street art images. Starbucks vs. Foldgers. McDonald's vs. KFC. His website is: http://www.crispstreetart.com/

There were dozens of murals that I saw on my walking tour. It was very cool to see murals that were inspired by famous artists like Roy Lichtenstein. [see the first photo above!]. The Lichtenstein inspired mural was created by the artist, “DFACE.” http://www.dface.co.uk/ Other artists also create homages or tributes to famous artists through their artwork on the walls.

Space Invader is the name of a NYC Street Artist and if you check out his website, you’ll get a fascinating look into the world of Street Art: Why and how the art is made, where it’s made and where you can find his work all over the world. Below are two examples of his artwork, which are pixelated versions of things. Check out: http://www.space-invaders.com/home/.

Shepard Fairey’s large OBEY mural below. Fairey is also known to have done the famous Obama Hope election poster of President Barack Obama. To learn more about Shepard Fairey, check out his website: https://obeygiant.com/.

What’s known as the “Keith Haring Wall”, was later turned into the Houston Bowery Foundation in the 1990s, with developer Tony Goldman involved in developing SoHo. Keith Haring made the wall infamous by painting an original mural as a gift to the community in the late 1970's. With ownership of the wall, the Goldman family felt a sense of responsibility to bring art and beauty to the public on a grand scale. On a rolling basis, the wall continues to feature the work of established and emerging street artists. The mural located in that spot during my visit was from the artist, Logan Hicks. It was a huge mural created using stencils, with 6 layers of cutouts. I learned it took 2 weeks to do the painting onsite with about 600 hours of preparation. Check out his website: http://workhorsevisuals.com/new

“Audrey on Mulberry” (Audrew Hepburn) by Tristan Eaton was commissioned by an organization called the LISA Project [see below for more info on the Lisa Project]. Check out Triston Eaton's website: http://tristaneaton.com/

The Vandal was painted by the artist, Nick Walker. http://www.theartofnickwalker.com/ This mural is part of his number series. The British artist, Nick Walker, was one of the first of the British graffiti artists. He’s a stencil artist who uses the free-ness of graffiti coupled with beautiful and intricate stenciling. Here is a photo of the mural as well as a photo showing the detail.

The artist, “Jerk Face” was in progress on this Where's Waldo mural. http://www.jerkfacenyc.com/

The artist named “WhIsBe” creates images of gummy bears and now sells prints of his work. I learned that the price of his prints started around $100 and now are being sold for around $500. Check out: http://www.whisbeworldwide.com/

Many artists look to create art at a location what they legally have permission to paint. Little Italy has a nonprofit Street Art Association called The LISA Project. The LISA project is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that brings together a diverse group of street artists to Little Italy creating Manhattan's first and only mural district. For more information as well as links to many of NYC Street Artists, please visit: http://www.lisaprojectnyc.org/. Centre-fuge transforms construction-sites, transitional spaces, and structures in under-appreciated neighborhoods into outdoor gallery spaces in New York City and also in Miami. First Street Green Art Park: Since 2008, First Street Green has converted a derelict building lot at 33 E. 1st Street in Manhattan into an open art space.

To learn more, I highly encourage you to take the Free Manhattan Street Art Walking Tour By Foot. It was a fantastic way to spend 2 hours in New York City. As I walked the streets later that day, at nearly every corner and also in-between, I found new artwork, and began to see more street art of some of my favorite street artists.

As an artist myself, it's fascinating to experience this type of art and understand its context in the New York Art Scene and on the World Art Scene. Many of these artists have made a name for themselves, been invited to participate in Museum shows, secured gallery representation, and/or have become successful in the art world. The Piano I created this past summer gave me a sense of putting art out in the public realm for all to see and experience. Walking through this area reinvigorated me and I hope to find public art projects to be involved with in the future.

In addition to the tour, you can learn more about NYC Street Art at the website: Streetsmartguide.org or http://www.3rdculturecreative.com/. The 3rd Culture Creative also has a great list of bios on many of the street artists: http://www.3rdculturecreative.com/art-street-artists-bios.html.

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When Language Meets Art

12/21/2016

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I'm currently exhibiting a painting at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in Lubbock, Texas, as part of their international juried exhibition, "When Language Meets Art." It's been a real honor to have been selected for this juried exhibit, juried by Gary Sweeney and curated by Linda Cullum of the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA). www.lhuca.org

"Close Your Eyes" Acrylic on 3 Canvas Panels by Eddie Bruckner

The "When Language Meets Art" Exhibit at LHUCA is in their Christine DeVitt Exhibition Hall, LHUCA serves as an exhibition space for local, national, and internationally known artists. This current exhibit demonstrates their commitment to bringing insightful and thought-provoking exhibitions that deepen one's understanding, appreciation, and connection with the visual arts.

Below are some photos of the my painting, "Close Your Eyes" on exhibit in at LHUCA.

One of LHUCA's programs is the First Friday Art Trail. The First Friday Art Trail is a free, self-guided public art event held predominately in the Lubbock Cultural District. The First Friday Art Trail is held from 6-9pm, rain or shine, on the first Friday of every month! This vibrant art scene brings together art-lovers, art collectors, artists, and the greater community. The art trail can be exploreed on foot or by one of the free First Friday Trolleys to experience the galleries along the downtown route. More information can be found at http://www.ffat.org/

Christian Conrad wrote about the exhibit that is on view through January 28, 2017. Christian Conrad earned his PhD in Critical Theory and Artistic Practice from Texas Tech University in 2010 and his MFA from Radford University in 2005. As a working artist, Christian creates in a variety of media, ranging from oil painting to video installation to traditional paper collage. Christian has taught several college-level courses in art at Texas Tech University, and he is currently a featured speaker with the Art History Lecture Series sponsored by the Museum of Texas Tech University Association and the Saturdays at LHUCA art lectures.

When Language Meets Art is an international juried exhibition at LHUCA that explores the connections found between language and language’s unique intersection with contemporary art. Throughout art history, the many artistic uses of language have changed significantly as the methods and meaning of art has evolved, leading into the contemporary world. Just as the complexity of art has increased over time, so too has the complexity of language, especially when incorporated into artworks. In the world of modern art, every previous iteration of how language has been used in the past can be considered relevant, adding to the diversity of arts interpretation.

One of the earliest forms of art centering on the use of language is the multicultural practice of calligraphy, used in order to visually elevate and glorify a culture’s written word. This usage of ornamentation extends into the contemporary as the power placed within words themselves can be a direct focus of art. In No Regerts by Matthew Gualco, the artist uses a contemporary version of calligraphy, but in this instance the language itself becomes obscured through the art. In practice, most individuals will read the titled phrase as “no regrets,” so the intentional misspelling then adds to the meaning of Gualco’s art piece.

The power of language can also extend back into the past, forming connections through objects and words directly rooted in history. This occurs in particular when an artist uses objects that signify a narrative linked to nostalgic feelings of the past. In Titanic by Regina Latkany, the incorporation of a piece of history--a document from the actual ship--creates a direct connection with the historical narrative of the Titanic’s tragedy. A second example of this nostalgic use of language is present in the photograph Hub Beauty Supply by John Van Beekum. Here the recording of an image with language that seems lost in time transports the viewer to a different period of history.

As art has evolved to include a diversity of new media, the usage of language continues to also be an active component of the art. An example of this can be found In the interactive installation It's time to address'er drawersby Joel Armstrong. Here the words chosen by the artist intermingle with recognizable forms that are placed on the wall of the installation space. In this the use of language becomes a component that can be rearranged in conjunction with the space of the installation.

As cultures progress, the concepts we associate as language incorporate new words and symbols not previously used. These new icons and language often become the focus of contemporary art works. In The Power of The Unspoken Word by Katrina Wright, the use of a symbol in the place of the word “power” can be seen as a function of the modern age. A second example can be found in the multi-media piece CTRL ALT DEL by Karen Gutfreund. In this work the artist uses the common keys found on keyboards that are connected to a computer. The artist also generates a contemporary meaning through the sequence of these keys and what the viewer would associate with them.

The complexity of the ideas behind the use of art and language dictates a wide diversity of approaches. When Language Meets Art showcases this variety by displaying a large mixture of art media in conjunction with the plurality of uses of language. In each instance, the work shown can be seen as a wonderful example of this intellectually productive intersection. LHUCA’s second juried exhibition showcases how aptly today’s artists are responding to the continued evolution of culture, language, and contemporary art. -Christian Conrad

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The Amazing Art of Arizona

2/21/2016

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I recently returned from a trip to Phoenix, Arizona. While there, I experienced some really terrific art in the Phoenix area, Scottsdale, and in Sedona. The beautiful photo above was taken on my iPhone in Sedona--Beautiful Place!!! In this blog article, I want to share some of my experiences and photos.

I was very pleasantly surprised to see so many pieces of public art sculpture around Scottsdale. I'm including a number of the photos. Scottsdale Public Art has earned a glowing reputation for offering cutting-edge artworks from both local and internationally-acclaimed artists that are interactive, conceptual, and awe-inspiring. For information about Scottsdale Arizona’s public art, visit the following website: http://www.scottsdalepublicart.org/
The website has a wealth of information about Scottsdale’s permanent and temporary public art. Scottsdale also has some great chips and salsa! But that’s for another blog…

I was very much looking forward to seeing the Robert Indiana sculpture, LOVE, that is similar to the one in New York City. I also believe a similar LOVE sculpture is located in Tokyo, Japan, as well as the steel one located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and many other derivative sculptures by the artist over the years. Robert Indiana is one of my favorite pop artists and I even own one sheet of the original LOVE, 8 cent US postage stamps printed in 1973. The LOVE sculpture in Scottsdale was really remarkable to see. It was great to watch people experience the LOVE Sculpture, watching people posing for photos, standing inside the letters of the sculpture, and having fun! www.RobertIndiana.com More information on Robert Indiana’s LOVE Sculpture in Scottsdale can be found at: http://www.scottsdalepublicart.org/permanent-art/love

Located right in the middle of the Arts District is a wonderful sculpture by the artist Ed Mell. The sculpture is called “Jack Knife” and although the subject is of a horse and its rider, it is very contemporary. More information on this painting can be found at: http://scottsdalepublicart.org/permanent-art/jack-knife or www.edmellgallery.com

The Scottsdale fine art galleries house works spanning from classic to contemporary, geographically or philosophically aligned with the Scottsdale Arts District. I visited the arts District in Scottsdale last Thursday for the Art Walk, which is held every Thursday night from 7-9 pm. I learned that the Art Walk has been one of Scottsdale's greatest cultural traditions where the galleries stay open late every Thursday night for gallery receptions, live music, and artist demonstrations. For more information, visit www.Scottsdalegalleries.com.

There were a few galleries that I found to be particularly interesting. One of my favorite exhibits during my time in Scottsdale was a show of new works from the artists Dave Newman, called “American Pop Revisited” at the Xanadu Gallery on Main St. in Old Town Scottsdale. Dave Newman’s pop art features iconic images of the US Dollar, Route 66, and the image of John F. Kennedy. I would definitely recommend visiting the Xanadu Gallery while in Scottsdale!

www.xanadugallery.com
http://davenewmanart.com/

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Scottsdale had a beautiful exterior sculptural element to the building with prisms.

There was a very large installation from the British artist, Bruce Munro http://www.brucemunro.co.uk/. Titled, Ferryman’s Crossing, it was made up of hundreds or perhaps thousands of individual compact discs lining the floor with lights and sounds of the ocean and water. He used light to evoke sunlight sparkling off the surface of flowing water. Bruce Munro’s Ferryman’s Crossing’s natural elements of water and sound are utilized with reflective discs to create a shimmering installation. http://www.brucemunro.co.uk/installations/ferrymans-crossing/

Later in the week, I visited the Desert Botanical Gardens for a special evening exhibit called Bruce Munro Sonoran Light at the Desert Botanical Garden, which showcased eight large scale light-based installations. It used an inventive array of materials and hundreds of miles of glowing fiber optics. Bruce Monroe's site-specific exhibition reflected his personal interpretation of the Sonoran Desert using mixed materials and light, glass, water bottles, acrylics, and pottery. As the sun goes down, the lights come up. It was wonderful to explore eight large scale light installations that use hundreds of miles of glowing fiber optic lights. Located throughout the garden, British artist Bruce Munro’s site-specific exhibition reflects his personal interpretation of the Sonoran Desert. He even lights up the mountain behind it! If you have a chance to go, I highly recommend it. Although the Desert Botanical Garden is open year-round, the installation from Bruce Munro goes until May 8, 2016 in the evening hours. Here are some photos of the Sonoran Light exhibit.

I also had the opportunity to visit Taliesin West, the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and studio in Arizona. Set on 600 acres in the foothills of North East Scottsdale, we had a terrific guided tour of the buildings, its terraces, walkways, and unique structures, seeing amazing cantilevered roofs, canvas ceilings, and tiny personal rooms in contrast with large sweeping communal spaces. Frank Lloyd Wright challenged his apprentices to live in desert shelters of their own creation as a lesson in sight appropriate construction. In fact, it’s still a requirement of the program! I was completely blown away by how beautiful the architecture was of Taliesin West, and how the site still operates as a school of architecture. The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture is still in existence today with about 20 students living and working there in the winter. Here are some photographs of the architecture. For more information, visit: zerve.com/TaliesinWest

I also visited the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix and saw a special exhibition that brought the violin to life as never before. The exhibit was called, “Stradivarius: Origins and Legacy of the Greatest Violin Maker”. As part of the exhibit, there was one video that highlighted the artistry in the making of a violin. It showed how the violin makers inlay the wood, create patterns, sculpted the wood, and used staining and coloring techniques to decorate the violin turning it into a unique work of art.

In Sedona, Arizona, the red rocks are so incredibly amazing, one can easily understand why it has inspired so many artists to paint spectacular pieces of art of the desert, the red rocks, and the Sedona mountain range. Sedona’s natural beauty serves as a magnet for artists, art lovers, and art collectors and has grown into a world-class arts destination. I was amazed with the diversity of art in all of the galleries I visited; some with art from famous artists like Alexander Calder, Joan Miro, Warhol, etc. and some amazing local artists as well. On the first Friday of each month from 5-8 pm, Sedona’s art galleries host openings and art demonstrations. The Sedona Arts Center offers art instruction year-round as well as hosts art events such as the annual Sedona Plein Air Festival and the Sedona PhotoFest. Visit www.SedonaArtsCenter.org for more information. The Sedona Arts Festival is held every October: www.SedonaArtsFestival.org

On my visit, I took an adventurous jeep ride through the mountains giving me the opportunity to take many breathtaking photos, which perhaps may inspire me as I create new paintings in the coming months. Stay tuned! I have a few ideas that I’m excited about, and will continue to update this art blog as well as my Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and Instagram accounts with my creative artwork. Be sure to follow me on all these social media platforms and tell your friends!

Overall, my visit to Arizona was made even more spectacular by all the amazing art! I look forward to your comments on my blog and ideas for other places to visit with a vibrant art scene!

PS: If you liked this article, you might like these other articles on my artistic travels:
Kennebunkport, Maine
Los Angeles, California
New York City
New York City Street Art
Napa Valley, California
Park City, Utah
Barcelona, Spain
Caribbean Art

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Miami Art Scene: Wynwood Art District

1/12/2016

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I just returned to Boston having been on a trip to Miami, where I visited some amazing art galleries and experienced a vibrant art scene that is shaping a new generation of art lovers. Now, more than ever before, Miami is increasingly being recognized as a city for its artistic innovation. Art Basel has had a tremendous influence on the Miami Art Scene over the years.

One of the highlights of my trip to Miami was my visit to the relatively new Wynwood area of Miami. Wynwood is a neighborhood in Miami that is now home to numerous art galleries, art collections, street art, and restaurants. The Art District is located approximately between NW 20th Street and 36th Street and NE 2nd Avenue to I-95. It’s an area that, back in the late 90s when I lived in Miami, I would not even think of driving my car through those streets as it wasn't safe (and it was just a few short blocks away from my wonderful apartment on Biscayne Bay). Times have changed, and the Miami Art Scene just keeps getting better and better.

It was totally by chance that my time in Miami coincided with the Wynwood Second Saturdays Art Walk. And I really lucked out!

Saturday night, thousands of people crowded the streets to have a great night out and enjoy the Miami Art Scene. All the galleries are open to the public, showing both well-known and emerging artists. I saw some amazing artwork and some not-so-amazing artwork. The whole evening was a totally unique experience. It was an art festival, a music event, a food event, a dance party, a social scene, and a whole lot of fun! It's like nothing else I’ve seen in my travels. Check out http://www.wynwoodmiami.com

It was fascinating to enter one art gallery that was featuring emerging artists and then walk into the next door and see well established artists and their highly valued art, such as Botero’s sculptures and paintings, and Victor Vasarely’s captivating optical art paintings. I visited the artist, Peter Tunney’s gallery space, called the Peter Tunney Experience. Peter Tunney does some amazing artwork; He and his pop art became well known for his use of positive text as the central, graphic element in his work. Another artist took close-up photos of my eyes and printed it out for me; the experience of getting the photograph taken and being part of the art was exciting and new. What was special was that in the photo of my eyes, you can make out the image of the artist in the center of my pupils, taking the photo, capturing that exact moment in time. And I think that it was this personal connection to the artist that made this experience unique and the visual photograph a unique piece of art.

In addition to the many galleries, street merchants, and restaurants, the area also includes “Wynwood Walls.” The entire area is developed around murals. The street art is unlike anything I've ever seen. I learned that the Wynwood Walls were conceived by the renowned community revitalizer Tony Goldman. He transformed the warehouse district of Wynwood, and used the walls as giant canvases for amazing street art. I’ve learned that the Wynwood Walls program has seen over 50 artists representing 16 countries and have covered over 80,000 square feet of walls. My friend and I had a great time taking some great pictures with the painted walls all over the place, one after the next. I’ve included some photos from Saturday night and a video highlighting the high-energy and social nature of the event.

On a more serious note, I felt that the eclectic nature of the galleries, the diversity of the crowds and the mix of artists and artwork, the mix of young and old, Miami residents and tourists, etc., all blended together in a really perfect way. There is a wonderful diversity of the artwork, the gallery space, and the people that this area attracts.

The Wynwood Art Disctrict has an incredible energy! If you’re ever in Miami, I highly recommend visiting the Wynwood area, and try to make it on one of the Second Saturday Art Walk Events. It’s a gritty, urban, and 100% unique area in Miami with excellent restaurants, galleries, shops and terrific people-watching. Oh, and by the way, I highly recommend Coyo Taco, which was delicious!

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Eddie Bruckner Fine Art