Painters - Krasner

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The Fly In The Ointment: Lee Krasner

Lee Krasner | Lee Krasner | Lee Krasner

Tiny Art Bought on Etsy

Little things hanging around these days.

MTPhotoJournal on Etsy

 

silvertreeart on Etsy

swellkid on Etsy

Art with a Heart at West Elm

One of the unexpected and happy results from the 2011 St. Louis City Guide that I wrote for DesignSponge* is my friendship with Darraugh. She was moving to St. Louis from Florida and because of my DesignsSponge contribution, contacted me with some questions about St. Louis. We continued emailing, she moved here, we met, and we've been friends ever since. She's got impeccable taste, is totally down-to-earth, and is just a genuinely sweet and sincere person. Her partner Bob is an awesome guy too, so we've gone on dinner dates a few times, but not nearly as often as we'd like. One of the first places the four of us went together was an annual fundraiser for Turner Center for the Arts and we were all blown away with how great it was. (More here and here.) Darraugh is the Visual Merchandising Manager at West Elm and has put together a fundraiser for the artists of Turner at West Elm. I think this is a fantastic idea and can't wait to go. Congrats to my dear friend and I hope you consider supporting Turner.

*I'm hoping someone else from St. Louis will update the guide. It is woefully out of date, but I don't have the time. Plus, I'm just not into all the hip scenes, as evident by my use of the phrase "hip scenes".

Tiny Art Collection

Starting to document all the artwork we have. It is a collection amassed from friends who are artists, professors, local artists, outsider artists, thrift scores, and my own work. The vast majority of these pieces were purchased for under $100. Not all. More on flickr. 

This painting of wild Somali asses from St. Louis artist Janice Wallace, hangs in Audrey's room. We purchased it from a local art fair.

Lindsey and I decided that in lieu of anniversary gifts we would buy a piece of artwork each year. This past year we bought a little sculpture from a show our friend Marie Bannerot McInerney had in the fall. I am so in love with it.

My brother scored this off eBay and it was my 2013 Christmas gift. It is amazing. The cat drawing above it is by Audrey.

My friend Jaime Gartelos gave me this in 2004. We were working together at Mad Art Gallery at the time. I love his work.

This sweet little outsider art piece on board was bought at a local fair. It hangs in Lindsey's bathroom.

Drawing With The Family

Last night after dinner, Audrey was whining to watch something on tv and I was just not having it. So I plopped some leftover asparagus and half an onion from my dinner prep on a big white platter. I had her grab some food out of the fridge. She picked a small butternut squash and avocado. I added the lemon. She was curious about what was happening. I told her to go get her new sketchbook and daddy's too. So then the three of us sat down and got to drawing. Listening to some vintage Michael Franks, it was so serene and weird and fun and satisfying. I am ready for more. And I feel like those two totally schooled me too.

City Garden Sunday

We took Audrey to City Garden on Sunday because it was just so sunny and gorgeous. I don' think we went last summer (criminal) and she didn't remember going the summer before. She loved it. What's not to love? Afterwards went to the Tap Room, where we hadn't been in quite some time. The menu had some fantastic updates.  Then off to The Fountain. It was a pretty glorious day.

Inspiration: Miranda July

Starting the year off slowly. Trying to be mindful and brave. For inspiration, Miranda July.

Everyone can make art and live an artful life. What holds people back from doing that?

"There’s not a lot of positive feedback, especially early on. You need people around you saying, “What happened to you today that was interesting?” You have to genuinely believe that there is something interesting and special about daily life and your experience of it. I think people feel this innately, because life is pretty amazing. But the idea that this feeling might be correct and natural and worth sharing—you’re quickly told it’s self-indulgent or selfish or just so off topic. And everything reinforces that as you get older." {via}

Advice to artists

"You give into distraction as if it is a murderer. You lay there, waiting to be killed. Today: fight for your life." {via}

From No One Belongs Here More Than You

“It is terrible to have to ask for anything ever. We wish we were something that needed nothing, like paint. But even paint needs repainting.”

If you could pull the rug out from under one problem in society, what would it be?

"Maybe it’s because I live in L.A., but I’m very aware of how much people want attention. In different ways, not just the obvious ones. Essentially they want to be re-parented, want a second shot at someone telling them they are the best thing ever. And so many other problems come out of that: intense consumerism, body stuff for women." {via}

Lost in Living

I stumbled on this trailer yesterday and cried. Powerful and spoke to me. Hope the documentary comes to St. Louis.

Lost In Living (Fundraising Trailer) from Mary Trunk on Vimeo.

Wrapping The Week

Audrey and I went to an art opening at The Foundry Arts Centre tonight with friends. It was a bit of a trek, but worth it. I've been to the space before and it is really impressive. They also have a children's gallery (and programming) so we did some drawings in there and admired the children's art work. I find so much kid's art and outsider art mesmerizing. Earlier in the week I was a juror for a local arts festival and frankly, I'd rather look at or buy kid's art or works from places like Turner Center for the Arts. Anyway...this weekend we are putting in the herb garden and working around the house, maybe going to the Botanical Garden. I can't believe only two more days of school. I wish I could take off the whole summer with Audrey before she starts kindergarten. Happy weekend.

This pancakes recipe is on our weekend menu. 

This photo exhibit was fantastic.

This letter is admirable in its conviction.

I forgot how much I love this song.

This movie looks good.

This cake maker is way cool.

This dress makes me drool.

This bubble project looks fun.

xoa

Giant Cupcake Project

Audrey's preschool is studying the giant art of Claes Oldenburg and all students were invited to create a sculpture for the spring parade. I did some online research, made a supply list, and put my super awesome babysitter on it. She and Audrey worked on the project for days and it turned out so great. Jen watches Audrey 2-1/2 days a week and we love her. She earned her MFA from Washington University in 2012 and next week she is traveling to Germany for a presentation. As much as we love having her watch Audrey, I do hope she finds a permanent teaching position. She's brainy, talented, and sweet.

This kind of happy

I wish I was this kind of happy every day. I love the thought bubble heart. And while my arms have wings, they certainly aren't this fancy. Really, nothing cheers me up like this kid.

Mary Beth McKenzie

Stumbled upon painter Mary Beth McKenzie and am loving her portraits. The Art Student League has a YouTube video of her working that is interesting if you are into technique.

"Leaving some areas less finished in a painting, or more out of focus than others, allows the imagination to finish them and gives more importance to the detailed parts."

Self Portrait of Mary Beth McKenzie

All images copyright Mary Beth McKenzie.

In a Dark Time: Roethke & Rothko

{Mark Rothko - No. 12 (Black on Dark Sienna on Purple), 1960}

In a Dark Time

In a dark time, the eye begins to see,
I meet my shadow in the deepening shade;
I hear my echo in the echoing wood--
A lord of nature weeping to a tree,
I live between the heron and the wren,
Beasts of the hill and serpents of the den.
What's madness but nobility of soul
At odds with circumstance? The day's on fire!
I know the purity of pure despair,
My shadow pinned against a sweating wall,
That place among the rocks--is it a cave,
Or winding path? The edge is what I have.

A steady storm of correspondences!
A night flowing with birds, a ragged moon,
And in broad day the midnight come again!
A man goes far to find out what he is--
Death of the self in a long, tearless night,
All natural shapes blazing unnatural light.

Dark,dark my light, and darker my desire.
My soul, like some heat-maddened summer fly,
Keeps buzzing at the sill. Which I is I?
A fallen man, I climb out of my fear.
The mind enters itself, and God the mind,
And one is One, free in the tearing wind.

-Theodore Roethke

Blue Elephant

Tiny Books at Vamp and Tramp

Just stumbled upon this Maine book artist, Rebecca Goodale. Her books and illustrations below are beautiful. Vamp and Tramp  has an entire page devoted to miniature books (books not exceeding 3 inches in width or height). I'll be exploring these links over the next several days. I love tiny books. I hadn't heard of Vamp and Tramp. They are out of Birmingham, Alabama and have some amazing fine artist books. Exciting.

Turner Center for the Arts - Part 2

 

{Martha Kump / Turner Center for the Arts}

On Friday, Audrey and I picked up this painting from Turner Center for the Arts. Lindsey and I bought it last weekend. The artist, Martha Kump, is 75 and obsessed with roller coasters and zombies. I'm in love with it. It is framed and looks so fantastic on our mantle. We also bought two pieces by artist Jon Munoz, including the elephant below. Again, I can't say enough great things about this organization.

{Jon Munoz / Turner Center for the Arts}

Wrapping The Week

What a lovey dovey house this week. My vacation did us all good. Audrey's been very curious about the planets and is doing a good job of memorizing them. We investigated them on the NASA website. This weekend, we plan to do some outdoor exploring. The maples across the street cast the most magnificent warm glow into our living room and I would love nothing more than to cozy up with some book, but the leaves, the leaves. We want to see the leaves. So road tripping, we are.  

Amazon reviews of Women in Binders

Henry Darger

Dream Wedges

A Thousand Mornings with Poet Mary Oliver

Library Love

Thanksgiving Planning

Happy Weekend
xoa

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Brinkop Park

I don't remember how I discovered Brinkop Park, in the middle of a residential area of Shrewsbury, but it is my favorite park - plenty of shady spots, hardly anyone ever there, clean restrooms, quiet and manageable. I especially love taking photos at Brinkop. The way the sidewalks intersect the playground areas, the lines on the basketball court, and those magnificent blue poles of the swingset, make all kinds of interesting divisions and planes to play with. I would like to use these as studies for future paintings.

Turner Center for the Arts

Less than two miles from my house and in existence since 2006 is Turner Center for the Arts, an open studio studio space catering to adults with disabilities. Yesterday I toured the Maplewood studios with Executive Director, Nate Larson. Nate and the organization are receiving a Kick Ass Award on October 25th, and I've been wanting to learn more about their program. To say I was blown away is an understatement.

The artists work on self-guided projects and pay a nominal fee ($10 for three hours) which is also available on a sliding scale so cost is never a barrier for someone who wants to make art. TCA just received non-profit status about eight months ago and will be devoting more efforts to fundraising and grant writing as they look to become more independent from Bridges Community Support Services, the program that helped them get their start.

Nate shared that the artists are very serious and come in with clear ideas about what they want to work on. "They have a vision," he said. "We have done some artist lead workshops in the past, but after a while our clients weren't really interested. They want to work on their own thing."

As an artist, a sister to a developmentally disabled brother, and someone who has had the opportunity to tour Creative Growth, one of the pioneering arts program for adults with cognitive and physical disabilities, seeing TCA in action was a real thrill. Nate was sincere, the artists were serious, and the program seems both well organized and well intentioned with a real focus on the encouraging and supporting the self-expression of the artists. If you haven't been, I highly encourage you to visit. And this Friday, October 5, is the opening reception for their Winter Exhibition at Union Avenue Christian Church.

To see more artwork, visit TCA's flickr photostream.

Melelani Perry, artist and bellydancer. Melelani is a profilc collage artist and recently displayed her work at the juried Art Outside Festival.

Pauline MacDonald was working diligently on a landscape.

Dave Walter is a regular artist at Turner Art Center.

Nate Larson, Executive Director, with one of several portraits he has received from TCA artists. What an awesome gift! 

What I have to offer

What I have to Offer from Eliot Rausch on Vimeo.

(Thanks, Rebecca)