Georgia O'Keefe

Blue and Green Music, 1921, painting by Georgia O'Keeffe

It is always a wonderful thing to find that the written words of an artist you admire offer a similar depth and understanding as their art. Vincent van Gogh and Georgia O'Keeffe are my top 2 such artists. Here are some inspiring quotes from Georgia O'Keefe:

"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do."

"Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time - like to have a friend takes time."

"To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage."

Women Painting Women

My sister sent me a link to a fascinating art blog by Sadie Valeri, Diane Feissel and Alia El-Bermani called Women Painting Women. The site features figurative paintings of women by women artists, with links to each artist's own web site.

Link: http://womenpaintingwomen.blogspot.com/

Off the Page: The Comic Book and Game Art of Christopher Moeller

Following up on my earlier post about Christopher Moeller's show at 709 Penn Gallery, the show received a great review from Chuck Lanigan in this week's City Paper! He talks about the power of fantasy and imagination in a personal way.

Link: http://www.inpgh.com/

Escape Pgh - Miller Gallery

Yesterday morning we went to see the Carnegie Mellon 2010 MFA Thesis Exhibition, Escape Pgh, at the Regina Miller Gallery in the Purnell Center for the Arts at Carnegie Mellon University. It is an impressive exhibit of six MFA graduates - Brian Brown, Amanda Long, Leslie McAhren, Gian Carlos Silva de Jesus, Jonathan Trueblood, and Derk Wolmuth.

I liked it all, but what resonated with me most were Brian Brown's large-scale painted collages of narrative imagery.

In the printed program, Brown says, "When I start a painting, I start with a scene in mind that I don't want to forget. I start the telling, and the painting - like a good lie - ceases to make sense really, but maybe I'm holding your attention with charismatic confidence and bright colors."

He's got our attention. Here is a link to his flikr site: Link

To Grow, painting by Joshua Hogan

To Grow, oil on canvas by Joshua Hogan

I am so excitedly happy to have this beautiful abstract painting by renowned artist Joshua Hogan now hanging in my home!

You can see more of his work on his web site, here:

http://www.joshuahogan.com/

What is real?

Springtime in Pittsburgh! Be sure to see Tony Tasset’s sculpture installation Magnolias for Pittsburgh now while the surrounding trees are in full bloom!

Here are ten photos for out-of-towners to enjoy. Click the images to enlarge.

Here is a link to a photo I took of the magnolia tree sculptures in winter, in case you’re wondering what is real and what is art! Link

Spring Salon @ Modern Formations

(Photo of a section of the Spring Salon from Modern Formations' web site)

Friday night we went to Unblurred, a coordinated open-house for art galleries in a Pittsburgh neighborhood called Friendship that takes place on the first Friday of every month. It was a nice evening to be outside, walking from art spot to art spot.

At Modern Formations Gallery, they were having their annual Spring Salon. It's a fun show that lets the visitor be the juror. They display all the entries and let the audience vote on their favorite to win a future solo exhibition at the gallery. It is a wonderful opportunity to see a lot of different artists' work and discover new talent.

Abandoned VI by Seth Clark

Here is a link to the web site of an artist from the show that I was quite impressed with whom I've never met and whose work I had never seen before... Seth Clark. His use of collage just adds texture and points of interest, and is very well integrated with his drawings... http://sethsclark.com/index.php

Abandoned III and Abandoned VI, mixed media images of abandoned homes, are the two pieces he has in the Spring Salon. I really like them.

James D. Adams @ Mendelson Gallery

At Mendelson Gallery in Shadyside, there is a solo show by James Douglas Adams. When I was a college student, I was his intern for a semester. I assisted him in his Squirrel Hill home-studio while he was working as a portraitist. I was surprised to discover that his style has changed significantly since then. Now he is creating stylized paintings and drawings in black-and-white, blending cinema with personal reflection.

Here is a link to a thoughtful review of the exhibit written by Kurt Shaw, art critic. It includes pictures from the exhibit:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/museums/s_672383.html