Creativity and collaboration are my passion. Often I find it strongest in the context of my art practice, however, when I stop to pay attention, I find it spilling over into all areas of my life, and it’s delicious.
Take last night, for instance. My best friend and I were sitting under my apple tree, sampling the juicy and sweet fruit. I mentioned that I was unsure about cooking with these apples, as they weren’t very tart. (more…)
My art explorations in New Mexico are at an end, but before I fly out I’m able to visit the Tamarind Institute at the University of New Mexico. Tucked into an unassuming stucco building on Cornell Drive SE in Albuquerque, Tamarind has focused on restoring the art of lithography in the United States. It was established as a result of June Wayne’s visionary proposal submitted to the Ford Foundation in 1959.
Tamarind is dedicated to traditional lithography, a planographic process that depends upon the mutual repulsion of grease and water on a heavy slab of limestone. Once the artist has finished drawing with the greasy black pigments upon the limestone slab, an artisan printer takes over and chemically treats the stones to stabilize the image for printing. (more…)
Recently I spent a few days working with another artist on ideas for a new collaborative project. We brainstormed together and addressed technical issues surrounding the media we wish to use. It was a productive three days and we ended the session with strong jumping off points in which to proceed.
Marriam-Webster defines collaboration as: “ to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor” For most visual artists, the process of creating art with others doesn’t come naturally. Western society tends to focus on the work of the singular artist. When viewers are confronted with jointly created work they often question the authorship and analyze the precise contributions of the individual rather than take the work in as a whole. This point of view can presents a barrier to what the work is really about, and does not consider the symbiotic relationship of the artists involved. (more…)
It seems that just a few years ago only a few people knew about lenticular imaging, even though the techniques have been practiced for well over a decade.
Thomas Mark, a 40 year veteran in the industry and evangelist for the trade organization FlipSigns!, points out that the origins of this industry were shady to say the least. Snake oil salesmen and shysters used the optical illusions generated through interlacing images together to trick innocent customers into believing in a products magic abilities. Thankfully, times have changed. (more…)
The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art held the Monotype Marathon over the weekend. This intensive printmaking event is a successful annual fundraiser for the ICA.
Artists are encouraged to invite a sponsor to underwrite their participation in the event and are able to print at selected studios within the Bay Area. Sponsors donate $300 to the ICA and in return are given the opportunity to use their donation as an opening bid for prints during the silent auction held after the exhibition. This years exhibition runs July 1-19 and the silent auction takes place on the last Saturday of the exhibit.
The Marathon is a collaborative effort between the ICA and several facets that make up the arts community in the Bay Area. (more…)
