Roz Wound Up

"The Louvre and the Masterpiece" at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Left: Ingres' portrait of the Duke d'Orleans. From Europedia.com. This is an incredible painting that must be seen to be believed. The blending of the paint is perfection. The tension in the thumb of his glove-holding hand is intense. The reflected light on the gloved hand is incredibly delicate and substantial. The epaulets sparkle with volume and substantiality. And the pants—I can't even tell you about the pants. Ingres paints the weight; the drape is perfect. And don't get me started about the skintones and the hair. Stand in front of this painting and you will feel the breath of Ingres on your neck as you view this painting, telling you, "See what I see; see what is."

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is hosting a portion of the LouvreAtlanta show: The Louvre and the Masterpiece. The show runs through Januay 10, 2010. Tickets are required and available on line.

The good news is that this Ingres painting is in the exhibit. Also included is a student work of Leonardo da Vinci's—an incredible, in-your-face-of-course-I-can-do-that-exercise that will bring tears to your eyes (drapery!). An incredible, closely cropped (and modern in aspect) Christ Carrying the Cross by Lorenzo Lotto (circa 1480-1556) will make you stop and stare (there are two perfect tears and the you can smell the wood sap from the freshly cut cross).

Sadly there are horrible omissions from the complete show. The Dürer prints, two gouache paintings by Alexandre-Isidore Leroy de Barde (one of a shell collection and one of a rock collection, both equisite examples of artistic control in this medium) are among many other gorgeous pieces omitted from this installation—you will have to make due, again with seeing them in print, in the catalog (which is lovely and only about $35, hardcover).

Be appeased by the presence of Vermeer's The Astronomer, every inch a glowing testament to the role of light in our lives. Go plan your visit now.

"None of the Above" Collating Event

Above: a video look through my packet of art which I brought home. If the embedded video doesn't work see it on YouTube.

Last night I participated in the "None of the Above" collating event at MCBA which was in conjunction with the show of that title—still on display until November 8, 2009. Visit and check out the show in person if you live in the area. There are great pieces from about 143 artists in the gallery, as well as items from private collections providing an historical perspective. Artwork came from artists all over the world.

MCBA Visual Journal Collective October Meeting and an Art Show Reminder

Above: This is the first page spread from that "weirdo" journal I'm going to be telling you about. But not today. Anyway, this book has built in tabs, you can see one in the gutter. I sketched Gert with a Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and then slathered on the gouache. It's so fun to use gouache on a toned paper like this Magnani Annigoni Designo. Well I really thought Gert deserved her tail, but I didn't want to go onto the next page. I attached a scrap of Fabriano Tiziano that just happened to be lying in the scrap pile and also happened to be a tan. Then I finished my sketch. The type talking about "Gert's tail" (with a typo—no space between "the" and "pre-existing") was applied in Photoshop to draw your attention to the flap. Joyce Lyon…More about this fabulous artist below. Click on the image to view an enlargement.

The year is winding down for the MCBA Visual Journal Collective. We have two meetings left. Monday, October 19 is one of them!

Please come and join with other visual journal keepers to discuss Favorite Tools and Media. This is a great way for beginning artists to learn about supplies and gather usage tips. It's a perfect venue for veteran journal artists to pass on insights. We did this at one of our first meetings in the fall of 2008 and it was also a great way for people to connect with sketching buddies.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. It's free and open to anyone who keeps (or wants to start keeping) a visual journal. For this meeting simply bring your three favorite tools to show and tell about. If you have examples of how you used them in your journal, bring that journal along too. (Depending on attendance numbers we each may only share one item, but prepare for 3 just in case someone before you nabs your favorite!)

In Other News: Joyce Lyon's New Show Opens October 25

As you can see from this journal spread I received a show announcement postcard for local artist Joyce Lyon's new show of her stunning graphite drawings. (These are huge pieces, in the 3 x 4 foot range and more.)

Otricoli Drawings runs from October 23 to November 20 at the Traffic Zone Gallery, 250 Third Ave. N., Minneapolis. The opening reception is on Friday, October 23, 6 to 9 p.m. Joyce makes the kind of drawings you can look at for hours and hours and still find fresh nuances. Indulge yourself and go and see this show.

I couldn't find any new info about the show up yet. But you can read about Joyce's 2008 show here. She is rerpresented by the Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis and you can view additional images on their site as well.

The Altered Book Visual Journal Round Robin is Finished

Above: Page spread I did in a "Day of the Dead" themed book. I have lots of skeleton rubberstamps, even some day of the dead images, but I rarely do anything related to this holiday. I took a playful approach, poking at my own obsessiveness and got out some of the many custom rubber stamps I made of Dottie, using my illustrations, and started stamping a mandala, interspersed with some bone stamps (these two long stamps are from Leavenworth Jackson). I don't know who made the rubberstamp of the dog pawprint in the stamping area. I added the inside portion of Dottie's memorial card on the verso page—that is an actual paw print from Dottie. The book the originating participant selected is a large one: about 11 x 14 inches. It was found on a remainders table, a misprinted book with many blank pages. Click on the image to view an enlargment.

It seems that almost all, if not all, the books have been passed around to all the participants in the MCBA Visual Journal Collective's first group project—the Altered Book Visual Journal Round Robin. A couple books are with their final artist and for all intents and purposes the project is over, or will be at our October meeting when those working on their last pages return the books to their owners!

I've asked all the participant's to bring their books to the November 16 meeting. It will be our last meeting for the year. We will be discussing calligraphy, but we will also take some time to savor the collection of books, filled with journal art, that the participants created. (One fabric artist and journal keeper also made journal bags for each of the journals!) You might want to mark your calendar and come and see the collection that night. (I'll take some photos too.)

Calling all Minnesota Artists: Minneapolis Institute of Arts Foot in the Door Show

Above: journal sketch using Stabilo Tones on page spread of Gutenberg Paper (13 x 8 inches approx.). This isn't related to today's post, it's just a continuation of my on-going discussion of Stabilo Tones. This started as a quick gesture sketch of a bird too small to see clearly, made with the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen. Then Stabilo Tones were applied. I started sketching at the head and when I finished my brush pen sketch I knew the head was too small so I enlarged it. The Stabilo Tones cover the first head's lines. See yesterday's post for more details on how I use these soluble wax pencils. Click on the image to view an enlargement.

My friend and indefatigable artist Mimi Holmes sent me a notice about this upcoming show. If you're in Minnesota—do it, have some fun, exhibit in the MIA.

Tip from Mimi—What I learned last time: there are a lot less sculptural works; and, making it smaller than 12 x 12" for a 2-D piece allows it to show up better on the wall.   Have fun!

Here's the information:

Calling all Minnesota Artists!
Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP)
Opening Reception: Thursday Feb 18, 2010

Foot in the Door is an open exhibition for all Minnesota artists, which takes place every ten years at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Since 1980, Foot in the Door has celebrated the diversity and enthusiasm of Minnesota's visual arts community. Submit your work and be part of the state's largest art exhibition.

Who Qualifies: Anyone living in Minnesota who considers him or herself and artist. Limit one (1) artwork per artist.
What Qualifies: Any visual media that can fit completely into a 12-inch square box. Check the MAEP website for more information about A/V submissions.

Art drop-off and registration
Thursday, Feb. 4: 10:30 am–4:30 pm
Friday, Feb 5: 10:30 am–4:30 pm
Saturday, Feb 6: 10:30 am–4:30 pm
Sunday, Feb 7: 11:30 am–4:30 pm

For details and registration information, visit the MAEP website.

Current Exhibits and Events: The Phipps and Intermedia Arts

Two member announcements from last night's MCBA Visual Journal Collective meeting:

Theresa Harsma exhibition of bookbinding explorations is up now through October 25 at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wisconsin. This is a lovely center about 30 minutes from the Minneapolis—St. Paul center, on a straight shot on 94. There is no reason to think this gallery is too distant. The postcard for her show shows a lovely deconstructed book of textures and surfaces. If you go around lunch time there is a wonderful Carribean cafe on 2nd Street in Hudson just up the hill from the Phipps. Great food! And even though I can't recall the name you can't miss it.

Ken and Roberta Avidor will be showing and talking about their visual journals at Intermedia Arts as part of "Give and Take" on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Susan Hensel Gallery ART CALL

I just found out about an art call for the Susan Hensel Gallery. The note to me said "Minneapolis" in the title so I'm assuming it is for local artists. If you are not local and have related artworks please contact Susan Hensel at susan@susanhenseldesign.com.

The gallery is seeking artwork for all traditions and attitudes that deals with the concept of faith.

The notice goes on to say:

This year's working idea is sabbath. What does it mean to you to keep a sabbath, to rest? Is it a Sunday thing, a Friday thing, or something else? What part does rest play in a spiritual life? in any life? If those questions don't appeal...send me something else! All kinds of submissions will be considered. All media, even installation and video. (Submit for 2009 by September 20, 2009. Projected show dates: November 6–December 28, 2009. Thank You.)

Because the deadline is so close I have copied the additional information from the prospectus here. I couldn't find it on the website to provide a direct link for you. It has been copied here just as it was received. Please contact the gallery with questions.

The Midwest Biennial Reception is Tomorrow!

If you missed the Minnesota State Fair (or even if you didn't), I just found out there's another chance to see in person my favorite painting from the Minnesota State Fair Fine Art Exhibition (which is not pictured in my post, but you can read about my preferences here).

Wintertime, by James Penfield (see it on his website: click on "paintings," then click the first icon in second row of painting icons) is included in the Midwest Biennial. To find out more about the show, use the link provided below. And note that the reception is tomorrow. If you are in the area go check it out!

The Midwest Biennial invites everyone to join us for the Midwest Biennial Artist’s Reception which will be held on Saturday, September 12th, from 5 – 8 PM when we will announce the winners of the Midwest Biennial. The Artist’s Reception is free and open to the public. The Midwest Biennial’s Wausau Exhibition is located at 622 N. 3rd Street, in the heart of the Arts District in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin. [information quoted from the Midwest Biennial Website]

Penfield graciously provided some background information on the piece I love so much:

I'm about to embark on a series all on wood, in the same style as the boar, with acrylics, pencil and India ink, the theme dealing with the current state of our country, world, and its potential impact on society in the future.  Full-bodied exaggerations of predictions. 

I love working with a wide range of medium to produce effects in which I haven't seen before. I love experimenting...I've found that wood offers such a controllable, yet completely chaotic organic surface to manipulate and work with, thus providing almost a second level of creation which occurs on or within that surface. Its like you apply your idea to the wood and the wood applies its idea to the medium. I try and apply this kind of mentality to most of my commercial work (I do need to update my "commercial" section on my website), blending both fine art and graphic elements together, providing, like the boar, new interpretations of reality that can be readily available to the public (I mostly work with musicians, providing CD cover artwork). I'd like to expand on this idea and potentially explore design more in the near future. 

I am fascinated by the idea of the "chaotic organic surface" which applies its own idea back to the medium. This type of tension and exchange is evident in the work and certainly draws me to it. I love this type of energetic interplay and risk taking. I look forward to watching out for the new interpretations Penfield creates in this series.

If you get a chance to attend the opening, or visit the exhibit at another time, I would love to hear from you about it—this crazy cold has me trapped at home. Also, Penfield's painting will be for sale at this event!

Minnesota State Fair Fine Art Show

Above: Painter Don Bajus standing next to his 2009 State Fair entry "Time Travel 1510 Rome, Michelangelo and Me," in the exhibition hall. (That's Don, in the painting, walking up the scaffolding at the right and reaching out to Michelangelo. I love the assistant at the left putting up fresh plaster to work the fresco in.) Click on the image to view an enlargement.

You'll remember that I was able to attend a pre-view of the 2009 State Fair Fine Art Exhibition. Well I still haven't got my thoughts together on all that I saw there, and now with the distraction of Fair attendance and sketching, I may never, but I did want to encourage you to see Don's painting in person.

Crop Art Show

Above: Click on the above invitation to view an enlargement.

That's right, besides seeing the current crop art at the Minnesota State Fair, you can see crop art from past Minnesota State Fairs at Foiled Again Hair Salon.

This retrospective show, Over 40 Years of State Fair Seed Art, runs from today through October 17. Join the artists at an opening reception on Friday, September 4, 6 to 9 p.m. (I hear there might be food-on-a-stick!) You'll be able to view stunning works of art created entirely with glue and seeds. You'll see the first blue-ribbon winning piece of crop art and contenders from the intervening years.

Mark you calendars now for the reception Friday, September 4, 6 to 9 p.m.