How to Save the World...with ART

Can we save the world with art?

Lisa's post got me thinking about the power of art and how much ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW we need it. It's a bit sad that those things that we need most are usually the first things to disappear in troubled times. I know this is not the first time I have mentioned this, and it won't be the last, I promise.

It's almost as though I am trying to remind myself sometimes that being an artist is actually useful. I was driving in the car today talking to my fiance about why I wanted to be an artist. I simply had the ambition of making someone feel the same way I felt the first time I discovered art and certain artists. Art can save you. And it does it very randomly.



Ansel Adams made me want to see the world. Matthew Barney made me think about the materials I use when I make my own art work (I don't think this was his intention, but MAN did he waste a lot of plastic and other material in his 2006 SFMOMA exhibition--example below).



Sylvia Plath and Emily Dickenson helped me through high school. I felt less alone as I wrote dramatically.
Lee Friedlander saved me from photography class. I know that seems weird, seeing as he is a photographer himself, but check out Lee Friedlander: Self Portrait and you can see how he could open the eyes of a young photographer to the endless composition possibilities. He made it okay to break the rules. He made it okay to take photos the way I wanted to. Essentially he made me comfortable with my own self, my own style.

Has art ever saved you?

When I was in elementary school I was obsessed with Vincent Van Gogh. Maybe it was because his paintings took me to another world. I felt I could see into his imagination. I could also sense that he saw the world in a very peculiar way and as a child, and still, his work helps me realize that everything, even in its simplest form can be seen from a colorful lens.



So, again, can art save the world? I think it is a great place to start. I am always amazed at the revelations people come to standing in front of a piece of art. Successful art makes a viewer stand still and ponder. It may not be for very long, but in today's world, just getting someone to notice you or your art is something to be proud of. If art is successful and it does get someone to stop and stare and think outside of themselves for a moment I do think it can save us.

Lightbulb ideas are my favorite. I love when all of a sudden something hits me like a lightening bolt. It usually happens when I am looking at art.

Can you imagine what might happen if a bunch of economists or scientists dove deep into a museum tour? I think it would be beautiful. Seedmagazine.com recently published an article about this very subject. In it they stress the need for scientists to embrace art. I also just recently discovered this wonderful site, SYNAPSE, that connects artists and scientists in order to collaborate on projects! Just what we need and what I have been searching for. Thank you google! I better stop this post for now....it seems as though it could go on and on.

I think that creativity (not just necessity) is the mother of invention.

"Great Creativity in A Time of Need"

Check out Andy Hobsbawm Ted Talk he is making a call out for great creativity in our current times.


Has any one seen some amazing creativity from our current state of affairs? Climate destruction, Economic Down Fall, Humanitarian Crisis's, Abuse, Animal Extinction..... to name a few.
I imagine more than a few amazing things are brewing out there. Check out this great book A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future
Society has been dominated by the left brain for far to long -it is time for everyone to embrace and stimulate their own creativity. The amazing thing is it is in all of us sometimes latent and sometimes hyperactive. Create, create is the mantra of the universe!
Any thoughts?

The Art Lover

:
Narciso: by Roberto Matta 1981


"Buying art is the same thing as falling in love".
Nohra Haime

(my ideal)
When I worked in the commercial gallery world most of my clients were passionate and totally in love with the artwork that they had bought. I loved assisting them in the process of acquiring a Matta, Picasso, Rembrandt etc. to have in their daily lives. The interaction was a relationship found on psychic resonance and beauty. I remember one of my clients from La Jolla stated that his morning ritual upon waking was to go around to each of his art works and greet them to start his day. As artists Gail Weissman said in her interview that when people buy art it is like buying a totem."CLICK HERE" to check out Gail's interview. The art becomes a living force in their lives.
Of course there are different sides to the coin. There are some art collectors who buy for investment or status. I was on Amazon looking for a book on those who love to collect art and all the books were filled with investment and monetary value.
Check out this one it is a bit more comprehensive The Art of Buying Art
I have to admit the reason I left art sales in the commercial gallery world was I had a great conflict with the greed that permeated this world from the art dealers and art consultants that sold it. It left a bad taste in my mouth for the highest ideal of beauty was just a commodity. Maybe the art dealer Duveen's life will clarify this-.Duveen: The Story of the Most Spectacular Art Dealer of All Time
Do not get me wrong- I appreciate the gallery world and I love Art and I feel it should be acquired. Also I do and want to sell my own work, I now sell my art to folks who are moved by its presence. Art is has great VALUE! And the gallery world needs a paradigm shift of being inclusive versus exclusive.
I also had a definitive moment a couple months ago at one of my openings, the word got out that there was a big art collector in the house. When I first was introduced to him I tried my best to schmooze and the guy was a total jerk. I felt totally deflated in our conversation and I slid away with the wisdom. I would never want him or someone like him to own one of my babies. Has anyone else experienced this while trying to sell your work?
In my art world I want to build strong relationships with the art lover, not the art commodity broker. Art transcends the material.
Really.. I am a pragmatic idealist-check out this book--
Art Incorporated: The Story of Contemporary Art
The art world is weird. What happens in the marriage of beauty, monetary value, material, intellectual, and spiritual value to Art. It can easily can tainted and I think that is why some many artists get disillusioned from it all. The book above explores it all-some of the essays are disheartening, but very true. Truth is also a higher ideal.

Latest news-this collection will be up on the Christy's auction block. I wonder if Yves wrote about his collection. That is when it gets really interesting. The true art collector Yves Saint Laurent his home looks like a sacred site. He was an art lover. His life was all about aesthetics.

The above image is from the link below-- Yves Saint Laurent’s private art collection up for auction.
"CLICK HERE" to read more about it.

"CLICK HERE" for the article in the New York Times abut Yves art collection and life.

This post has gone on many tangents. Who is the art lover? I think the premise is why do people buy art? What is the primary reason? Has this got jaded with million dollar market?
Any insights about the art market? It does preserve many great works. Questions and Inquiry...
Maybe the system of capitalism is dehumanizing and art ( and its true nature) has become another one of its victims.


I think with The Red Door Gallery Lauren and I are envisioning and manifesting a new and alternative art world of inclusion and dialogue. We just need to start selling some of our artists work :)

Lastly, I think it so amazing in this century of sensory and technological overload art is still a force. What is one of your favorite pieces of art on the planet--that you love?

Photojournalism Photography and Relationship

I'm off to visit a friend who happens to be a photographer. It got me thinking about how photography is entirely about relationship. It is the relationship between the photographer and the camera, the lens and the subject matter, the viewer and memory. So many. I find it interesting though, having taken hundreds and hundreds of photos, that I often used the camera, not as a way to relate to others, but a way to separate myself from them. Have any other photographers experienced this? I used it to essentially spy on people and see how they interacted with one another.

In the video below, The photo director for National Geographic, David Griffin talks about the storytelling aspect of photography, and something called Flashbulb Memory that we all experience. It is when something out of the ordinary happens and our visual world slows down and almost goes frame by frame. It is why most of us can remember details of traumatic experiences.




Photography has so much power. It has the power to say so many things in a small rectangular frame. I think that photography gets overlooked a great deal because it is recognizable and everyone (most everyone) takes their own photographs. But, I have a feeling that if you asked someone if they had a favorite photograph they would be able to describe it to you in detail. Photography also has the power to connect us to the rest of the world. We are able, through magazines like National Geographic, see what Africa looks like, and although it is not the same as being IN Africa, a talented photographer can put you REALLY close.

What is your relationship with photography? Mine has been a rocky one (maybe I will share at a later time), but beautiful nonetheless.

Gary-Paul Prince, A conversation with an artist

Gary-Paul Prince was one of the showing artists in the Red Door's January Exhibition, Art and the Body Politick. His work created a bit of a ruckus, so Lisa and I decided to sit down and talk to him about art, his art making style and what art means to him. We spent over an hour talking to him, so here is an "edited version" as they say.

I am in the midst of working on another video that includes some of the reactions Gary-Paul received from some high school students who came to visit the gallery during the show. I hope to post that in the next few weeks.

Until then, enjoy this little view into a contemporary artist's life and work!



How does Gary-Paul's work effect you as a viewer?

Artemesia

The image " Judith Beheading Holofernes" is painted by the extraordinary painter Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1652) Her story is of tragedy and triumph Her relationship to the patriarchal art world was twisted. 'CLICK HERE" to read more about Artemisia.
Unfortunately her work is still in obscurity as a force in the 17th century, Has anything changed? I am finding that as I am doing research on relationships in the art world the patriarchal nature of it keeps on surfacing. This is also butting me against my personal wall of the contrived system and how I walk in it or not. More importantly what is coming up is the need of an artist to create and how this transcends all oppression.
Check out this interesting read as other thinkers add to the discourse of the personal and universal qualities of Artemisia.
The Artemisia Files: Artemisia Gentileschi for Feminists and Other Thinking People
I think this discussion is opening up the concept of feminism in Art. I want to revisit Lauren, Otto, and my commentary about the feminist show at the Yerba in SF. Any thoughts?
Namaste, Lisa

ART THOUGHTS : Jamie Brooks

To enter "Communiques" the installation at The Red Door is to set in motion something inevitable, which is to say that one becomes witness to a phenomena that is a result of your own actions. The artist draws the viewer into the work much like the architect uses structure to define space and help make the viewer feel situated in it. Are we invited into this space or do we feel entitled to enter it because the artist fulfills architectural conventions that make it approachable? Much like the entrance to a formal garden, she forms a "hedge" of hanging streamers from the ceiling and attaches to them postcards with photos of various imagery. But the structure of this space gives way to a shadowy, unruly subconscious world; a force of nature that hangs delicately in this formal garden. These hanging images push to the floor like a force of nature, all that what once was there, so we see what remains. What was there was something ephemeral, a
well-trodden subject in art I think, and at the center, destruction--- an epicenter of crushed eggshell that looks like something was cremated there in a blast of heat or fire. As we quite literally "walk on eggshells" because we have invited ourselves into this artwork, are we not the ones destroying its delicacy? Did we ever have the right to enter this place? Does our very appreciation of something portend its demise?


"Communiques" by Kimberly Campisano is one of many works on exhibit at The Red Door Gallery and Collective in Oakland until February 28, 2009. Hours for the gallery are Thursday - Sunday 12pm-4pm.

Art Thoughts is Art is Moving's on going series of opening the dialogue with non-artists. Jamie Brooks is a world traveler, writer, and a triathlon athlete.

A Teacher and His Student--Rodin and Camille

Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin are a classic example of the trials and tribulations of both the artist-artist relationship and the artist-teacher relationship. All of Camille's sculptural work is clearly in reference to her passion and angst towards Rodin and their crazy relationship. I believe this relationship was even more extreme as Camille was Rodin's mistress and lasted about 15 years until Camille came to the realization that she would never be able to be Rodin's wife. You could even say that the love Camille had for Rodin drove her mad as she spent the last years of her life in a mental institute.

Similarly to the women Lisa referred to in her latest post, Camille was not as recognized as much as Rodin was, and still is not.




We are all lucky that Camille was able to write her thoughts and reflections about her relationship AND being an under appreciated female artist in her memoir, Camille Claudel: A Novel.

I do think that Lisa and I have more opportunity than Camille ever did to reach the "top" as artists, but still believe our road is not paved as nicely as male artists. Why is this still happening? I don't really have a good answer for that. Fear maybe? What is a bit funny to me is that both women and artists are usually stereotyped as overly emotional yet women are not allowed to rise to the top as easily. Interesting....

I think the reason for several examples of artist-artist sort of failed relationships is easy to figure out. All you have to do is hang out with an artist when they are in an off mood. Talk about extremes! I feel sorry for whomever was in the gallery on Monday night when Lisa and I were attempting to curate our most recent show. We were not in any position to be around other people. We were focused entirely on emotions. There was not much rational thinking going on. We learned a lot about both ourselves and each other that night.

I think that when its good its REALLY good, but when its bad its REALLY bad.

Emotions are a bit of a double edged sword for artists. It is what guides us during art making, but can cause us to be loners and socially awkward. For me, I tend to take on emotions and hold on to them for a bit too long sometimes too. And I am constantly over analyzing EVERYTHING! But, it is why I make the art I make. So, I wouldn't change it...


More articles about Camille and Rodin:

Significant Others: Creativity & Intimate Partnership

Camille Claudel by Jacques Vilain

Kells Creative Musings "Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin-A Symbiotic Love Affair Gone Wrong."

A Glimpse into a few infamous artist couples lives

What is the alchemic reaction when two artists get together? I am fascinated by artist who couple together. The mixture seems to dance between creation and destruction. Below is just the beginning of my research.
Also, what has come up in my research is the male dominance in the art world. The woman in these relationships were equal and possibly better artists than their male partners, but in their life time the were just a shadow of the "Man." Cultural conditioning tends to piss me off.... Has this changed?

When Dali was 25, he met Gala, who would be his companion and lifetime inspiration. He often used her in hi art.
In 1940, Dali and Gala fled Paris after the Nazi invasion and settled in the United States. For the rest of his life, he moved between New York and a castle in Spain.
check out the Diary of a Genius an interesting book on a partial exploration of Dala and Gala's relationship.

Anna Mendieta and Carl Andre


Anna suffered a horrible death (she fell from an apartment window) was described as a suicide by Andre. He was tried for her murder but was ultimately acquitted.
Check out this interesting read on the tragic event
Naked by the Window: The Fatal Marriage of Carl Andre and Ana Mendieta

"CLICK HERE" to read an article about the book and the tragic event

Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner (Pegasus Library) another interesting art couple Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock. They were both powerful abstract painters. Why did Pollock receive all the artistic recognition?






"CLICK HERE" to read an interesting article on artist couples




What are your thoughts about these extraordinary relationships?

.... is an Art

This week has been a total growth experience for me in my artistic partnership with Lauren. We were curating a show together and our emotions took over. Is that a bad thing. Not at all, because after the riff we had a very mature and open discussion about it and transformed that negative into positive. Growth occurred!
I was so happy to check out Tony Robbins Ted Talk, which has shifted my perception of him as a sleezy infomercial guy to a pretty wise guy. For me he is talking all about what Lauren and I discovered through managing and envisioning The Red Door Gallery.
Please comment at will!!

Artists and their relationships

Wow, this month's theme can go so many ways. I love that it transitions so well from last month's "Artists and their Space."

One thing that sticks in my mind and will never go away is what a co-worker said to both Lisa and myself about 2 months ago. I am paraphrasing here, but essentially he said, "One thing I know for sure about artists is that if you aren't willing to live in their world than you can't be a part of it."

Is this true? Do I demand that much from my soon to be husband? Doesn't everyone sort of live in their own reality anyway? Am I harder to get along with because I'm an artist?

I always knew when I was younger and discovering that I would spend the rest of my life as an artist that I would NEVER have a long lasting intimate relationship with another artist. To me it seemed, and this will make Lisa laugh, that most male artists that I met were extremely self absorbed. Their egos got in the way of having a conversation. They took up too much space. I will write more about being a self absorbed artist later...but to continue with the general idea of artists in their own personal relationships...

I am certainly an emotional being and I take on a great deal of emotions all at once. I am a super empathetic being and absorb what is going on in my surroundings. I become the sufferer that I see. I guess that's how I relate to humans and other beings maybe? So, does that make me harder to maintain a relationship with? Or does it make it more chaotic and unpredictable.

Honestly, I think I'm pretty boring. I try really hard to shake what I consider bad emotions off. I let myself feel them, but I don't wallow in them. I think there is a common misconception that artists are always depressed (hence the black clothing). I can get there, but I work really hard at being self aware and knowing where my emotions are coming from.

I will say though, that a great deal of musicians that have come out of depression don't make good music anymore. Something to think about. Maybe as a society we are caught up in the idea of being dramatic, serious, emotional and feisty. We are under the impression that life is more exciting that way.

I would much rather sit on a porch in the middle of no where and watch the wind blow a piece of grass across my plane of view than have an argument with someone on the street or get mad at someone over something they said. But, that's just me.

--Lauren

The Yellow House

Van Gogh's painting of Gauguin's chair 1888-below Van Gogh's painting of his own chair 1888

Is anyone else curious about the Van Gogh's and Gauguin's relationship? Two passionate painters in one house--Any theories out there?

From October to December of 1888, Paul Gauguin shared a yellow house in the south of France with Vincent Van Gogh. Never before or since have two such towering artists occupied so small a space. They were the Odd Couple of art history--one calm, the other volatile--and the denouement of their living arrangement was explosive. Two months after Gauguin arrived in Provence, Van Gogh suffered a psychological crisis that culminated in his cutting off part of an ear. He was institutionalized for most of the rest of his short life and never saw Gauguin again. Check out this interesting book, I would have loved to be a fly on the wall--maybe I was
The Yellow House: Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Nine Turbulent Weeksin Provence

"Art makes us see, makes us think, makes us laugh, makes us feel."

Welcome to February-- Art is Moving theme for this month is art and "relationship." Throughout the month Lauren and I will explore various aspects of art and relationship.


Below is an interesting article on how art can transform our relationship with the Earth.
"CLICK HERE" to check out an article on Social action, art transform relationship with Earth

Let us know if you have an insights on this vast topic.

The merging of mind space

Check out this fascinating TED TALK
MOMA design curator Paola Antonelli previews the groundbreaking show "Design and the Elastic Mind" -- full of products and designs that reflect the way we think now.

What do you all think?