Seth Apter's Blog, page 75
August 26, 2014
NY, NY: III
Week three of my travels in Australia and I thought that while I am away from my home base in NYC...I would bring some of NYC back into my world. All this week I will be reposting images of art exhibitions that I have seen in New York over the years. There have been many, so this represents just a few of my favorites...
Walls, Diaries and Paintings
As many of you know, I have a love affair with graffiti. I saw an exhibition in NYC in 2011 that really spoke to me and took the art of graffiti to a new level. Walls, Diaries, and Paintings at Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery, showed the work of Miami-born, Brooklyn-based artist Jose Parla. Parla created 15 new, mixed-media works that documented urban life in such diverse cities as New York, Istanbul, Havana, and Tokyo.
Using a combination of free-form, calligraphic markings and urban graffiti, Parla has recreated the sense of excitement, danger, and vibrancy inherent in city living. He has managed to capture both a sense of history and a feeling of modern edge at the same time.
I always love when galleries are transformed and for this exhibition, the main hallway was used for a site specific installation that perfectly ushered you into the main room.
The pay phone was the perfect, authentic touch.
He captured the essence of so many international cities and many of his pieces feel as though they could have been torn off the walls of a building.
Others pieces are more abstract in nature and make use of swirling and curling calligraphic markings.
The dimensionality and layers of city life are captured in wonderful, highly textured detail.
Walls, Diaries and Paintings
As many of you know, I have a love affair with graffiti. I saw an exhibition in NYC in 2011 that really spoke to me and took the art of graffiti to a new level. Walls, Diaries, and Paintings at Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery, showed the work of Miami-born, Brooklyn-based artist Jose Parla. Parla created 15 new, mixed-media works that documented urban life in such diverse cities as New York, Istanbul, Havana, and Tokyo.
Using a combination of free-form, calligraphic markings and urban graffiti, Parla has recreated the sense of excitement, danger, and vibrancy inherent in city living. He has managed to capture both a sense of history and a feeling of modern edge at the same time.
I always love when galleries are transformed and for this exhibition, the main hallway was used for a site specific installation that perfectly ushered you into the main room.
The pay phone was the perfect, authentic touch.
He captured the essence of so many international cities and many of his pieces feel as though they could have been torn off the walls of a building.
Others pieces are more abstract in nature and make use of swirling and curling calligraphic markings.
The dimensionality and layers of city life are captured in wonderful, highly textured detail.
August 25, 2014
NY, NY: II
Week three of my travels in Australia and I thought that while I am away from my home base in NYC...I would bring some of NYC back into my world. All this week I will be reposting images of art exhibitions that I have seen in New York over the years. There have been many, so this represents just a few of my favorites...
The Power of Art
We all have the great opportunity to see endless amounts of art 24/7 online. I am tremendously lucky to also be able to see a wealth of art in person, in the museums, galleries, and auction houses in NYC. I never take this for granted.
But in truth, I am often underwhelmed. I see many works that do not move me. But every so often, an artist, an exhibit, or a single artwork knocks me over and reminds me of the true power of art. And this happened when I visited Anselm Kiefer's exhibition 'Next Year in Jerusalem' at the Gagosian Gallery in a 2010 exhibition.
Like a cabinet of curiosities, this show was literally filled floor to ceiling with fascinating, emotionally powerful, and jaw dropping objects. The exhibit knocked me over like a hurricane. This is not 'pretty' art. But it does what art does best: it made me think, it made me feel, it made me remember, and it made me once again love the power of art.
The Power of Art
We all have the great opportunity to see endless amounts of art 24/7 online. I am tremendously lucky to also be able to see a wealth of art in person, in the museums, galleries, and auction houses in NYC. I never take this for granted.
But in truth, I am often underwhelmed. I see many works that do not move me. But every so often, an artist, an exhibit, or a single artwork knocks me over and reminds me of the true power of art. And this happened when I visited Anselm Kiefer's exhibition 'Next Year in Jerusalem' at the Gagosian Gallery in a 2010 exhibition.
Like a cabinet of curiosities, this show was literally filled floor to ceiling with fascinating, emotionally powerful, and jaw dropping objects. The exhibit knocked me over like a hurricane. This is not 'pretty' art. But it does what art does best: it made me think, it made me feel, it made me remember, and it made me once again love the power of art.
August 24, 2014
NY, NY: I
Week three of my travels in Australia and I thought that while I am away from my home base in NYC...I would bring some of NYC back into my world. All this week I will be reposting images of art exhibitions that I have seen in New York over the years. There have been many, so this represents just a few of my favorites...
Waste Not, Want Not
Back in 2009, there was an incredibly fascinating and rich exhibition held at the Museum of Modern Art called Waste Not. In his first solo museum show in the United States, Beijing artist Song Dong created an installation piece consisting of the entire contents of his mother's home. Every item, most being utilitarian household objects, becomes meaningful given the context of the Chinese concept of wu jin qi yong, which translates to waste not.
As stated in the accompanying artist book "Not long ago, because of the shortage of goods, the anxiety instigated by political instability, and the traditional virtue of frugality, people saved everything for future usage, including junk and rubbish. Bits of fabric left from making clothes or dust-covered bottles and jars, brick and timber from demolished houses or yellowed magazines and posters from a bygone era --- these objects were gathered piecemeal with insistence and determination. Day after day, year after year, they gradually formed a particular kind of family property, filling the limited space of a household and setting the physical surrounding for a family's day-to-day activities"
The exhibit is set up so you are able to walk through the contents of his mother's home and view close-up the objects that represent a life.
Waste Not, Want Not
Back in 2009, there was an incredibly fascinating and rich exhibition held at the Museum of Modern Art called Waste Not. In his first solo museum show in the United States, Beijing artist Song Dong created an installation piece consisting of the entire contents of his mother's home. Every item, most being utilitarian household objects, becomes meaningful given the context of the Chinese concept of wu jin qi yong, which translates to waste not.
As stated in the accompanying artist book "Not long ago, because of the shortage of goods, the anxiety instigated by political instability, and the traditional virtue of frugality, people saved everything for future usage, including junk and rubbish. Bits of fabric left from making clothes or dust-covered bottles and jars, brick and timber from demolished houses or yellowed magazines and posters from a bygone era --- these objects were gathered piecemeal with insistence and determination. Day after day, year after year, they gradually formed a particular kind of family property, filling the limited space of a household and setting the physical surrounding for a family's day-to-day activities"
The exhibit is set up so you are able to walk through the contents of his mother's home and view close-up the objects that represent a life.
August 23, 2014
The Week Links: 13
During my time away in Australia, The Week Links posts will continue...with a twist. Rather than links to posts I discovered in the prior week, each post will have a specific theme. This way, I am able to create and schedule them before I leave. Today's theme: Interactive Art Websites (better known as procrastination tools)
Picassohead
Scribbler
DIY Jackson Pollock
Art Pad
Cornell Boxes
Kaleidoscope Painter
Bomomo
Graffiti Playdo
Myoats
August 21, 2014
Libellus
I recently posted about a new book from artist Lesley Riley called Creative Image Transfer - Any Artist, Any Style, Any Surface: 16 New Mixed-Media Projects Using TAP Transfer Artist Paper. I am pleased to have been a contributor to her book and have had an opportunity to use a product she developed called Transfer Artist Paper to TAP. This miraculous material enables you to transfer any image to nearly every surface simply with an iron.
My contribution is Libellus. Briefly, this book was made by gutting and rebinding a vintage book. I used TAP in several different ways. It was used to transfer both the background text to the book cover and the main cover image within the frame. The image is my own photograph taken on the Charles Bridge in Prague. The frame and other embellishments on the cover were made using Spellbinders dies. Additional metal elements were included and the book was further altered to add an aged feel to the cover. Full step-by step instructions are provided in Lesley's book.
That is my project on the bottom left hand corner of the cover
My contribution is Libellus. Briefly, this book was made by gutting and rebinding a vintage book. I used TAP in several different ways. It was used to transfer both the background text to the book cover and the main cover image within the frame. The image is my own photograph taken on the Charles Bridge in Prague. The frame and other embellishments on the cover were made using Spellbinders dies. Additional metal elements were included and the book was further altered to add an aged feel to the cover. Full step-by step instructions are provided in Lesley's book.
That is my project on the bottom left hand corner of the cover
August 18, 2014
Royals
My newest mixed media medallion was inspired by Spellbinders Rose Medallion pendant from their A Gilded Life Collection. Beautiful on its own, the only adjustment I made was snipping off the loop at the top of the crown.
The base for my artwork is a 4"x4" cradled wood panel they are layered with gesso, acrylic paint and acrylic glazes.
Once completed, I began to gather and create embellishments that I could stack below and within the pendant. First up was die cutting gold craft foil into a gear shape using the Spellbinders Sprightly Sprocket die set.
I then created two loop and one circle from hand painted paper that I cut using a series of dies from Spellbinders Standard Circles Large and Small.
Echoing the metal in the pendant, I chose three metal embellishments to stack, one purchased, one found, and one vintage (from a watch)
Been hooked on Spellbinders Shoot! die set and used one of the dies to cut gold craft foil. Snipping off the feather ends of the arrows makes the die cuts perfect for this piece.
My favorite part comes next: gluing all the components together and watching the completed artwork unfold.
Royals
Sold. Thank you!-------------------------------------
Supply List
Spellbinders Paper Art Supplies:
MMM-001 Spellbinders® Artisan X-plorer
GL2-005 Spellbinders® A Gilded Life Rose Medallion PendantS5-048 Spellbinders® ShapeabilitiesTM Sprightly Sprockets
S4-114 Spellbinders® NestabilitiesTM Standard Circles LargeS4-116 Spellbinders® NestabilitiesTM Standard Circles Small
IN-015 Spellbinders® ShapeabilitiesTM Shoot!
F-012 Spellbinders® Precious Metals Premium Craft Foils Assortment
Cross Promotional Partners: Golden Artists Colors, Inc. Fluid Acrylic Paint, Golden Artists Colors, Inc. Acrylic Glazing Liquid
Other: cradled wood panel, gesso, paint brush, hand painted paper, metal embellishments, adhesive, scissor, tin snips
August 16, 2014
The Week Links: 12
During my time away in Australia, The Week Links posts will continue...with a twist. Rather than links to posts I discovered in the prior week, each post will have a specific theme. This way, I am able to create and schedule them before I leave. Today's theme: artists I discovered through my Instagram feed.
Cesare Saccenti
Mae Chevrette
Albert Stern
Susan McCarrell
Steve Javiel
Brian Reaume
Ngaio Lenz
Domenick Naccarato
Destination: Sydney
When we first arrived in Australia, we spent some time in Sydney and the surrounding areas. A little R&R before the three weeks of retreats began. I immediately fell in love with the place and instantly knew that I wanted to come back at some point to explore more. And since you all cannot be here with us...I wanted to bring some of the experience to you.
The crew
Kecia, Andrea, Michael and me at the pub. Day 1 and I already tasted emu and kangaroo.
Kecia, Sallianne and me at lunch. The coffee in Australia is the best I have ever had.
Kecia stocking up. Wow...the cost of supplies is high in Australia.
Kecia and Michael, testing out the paints.
Had a visit to Keith Lo Bue's studio and met Pinncchio.
The Views
Spectacular view of Sydney Harbor, the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge from the plane.
From the ferry ride on the Harbor.
The roof of the iconic Opera House.
The Graffiti
Loving all the graffiti in the city.
This beauty was on the back of a truck.
The Wildlife
Amazing birds were everywhere. This is an ibis. Some people call them pests but I think they are cool.
Cockatoo hanging around. Saw two black cockatoos too.
Unidentified wildlife.
The crew
Kecia, Andrea, Michael and me at the pub. Day 1 and I already tasted emu and kangaroo.
Kecia, Sallianne and me at lunch. The coffee in Australia is the best I have ever had.
Kecia stocking up. Wow...the cost of supplies is high in Australia.
Kecia and Michael, testing out the paints.
Had a visit to Keith Lo Bue's studio and met Pinncchio.The Views
Spectacular view of Sydney Harbor, the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge from the plane.
From the ferry ride on the Harbor.
The roof of the iconic Opera House.The Graffiti
Loving all the graffiti in the city.
This beauty was on the back of a truck.The Wildlife
Amazing birds were everywhere. This is an ibis. Some people call them pests but I think they are cool.
Cockatoo hanging around. Saw two black cockatoos too.
Unidentified wildlife.
August 14, 2014
Email Alert
One of the wonders of the Internet is that it has connected me to an art community that has become an important part of my creative life on so many levels. Over the years I have found myself reaching out to other artists online for many reasons -- some small (thanking somebody for leaving a comment on my blog), some big (inviting an artist to be a contributor in my books), and some in between (contacting the winner of a giveaway I have hosted). It still surprises me how challenging and frustrating this can sometimes be.
Click on five random blogs that you often visit and look to see how many of them provide easy access to an email address. On occasion it can quickly be found at the top of the blog or via a contact tab. Sometimes it is only listed within the profile. Once in a while it is deep within the sidebar. Every so often the artist asks that you leave a comment on a post to contact them. All too often, an email address is nowhere to be found.
It is obviously a personal and individual decision as to whether one posts their email address, allows for an alternate way of contact, or even wishes to potentially communicate with readers of their blog at all. It may not be your intention, but when no easy contact info is provided...the message is that you do not want to be contacted. Opportunities that might come your way may just in fact take a detour if you do not provide a relatively accessible way for people to contact you.
My thoughts here are not meant as a rant but rather as a friendly reminder of the power of connections when they are made...and the loss of possibilities when they are not.
Thoughts????
August 13, 2014
It's a Secret
I am pleased to be the guest designer today for a second time for PaperArtsy.
You can find a full tutorial on the PaperArtsy blog for this page that I created in my journal.
You can find a full tutorial on the PaperArtsy blog for this page that I created in my journal.
