Art Gone Wild!

Featuring-
Gallery Talk
Artist Profiles
Art Spotlight
The New Gyrl


Gallery Talk
Friday, I went to the Touchstone Gallery Opening for several artists.  Despite the rain, which thought it would keep me in the house by having a  down pour session just as I'm ready to walk out the door.  Finally, it stopped long enough for me to quickly walk to the bus stop before starting again.  Once out, it wasn't bad, as long as you weren't on the orange line going to New Carrollton.  A tree fell and service was discontinued briefly. The rain wasn't a deterrent for most people, the gallery had a nice turn out.  Upon entering, I saw a striking painting and right away  I knew it was Leslie Nolans' work. The striking red-orange and the strokes of the black and white paint that create the sitting figure also exude movement. You can feel the deepness of the introspect the figure is in. The title "Dissed" is self explanatory. This figure is dwelling in this emotion. Sometimes a painful place, and you can feel it. The heat of the anger, the feeling of defeat all come out with the drips and strokes in her work. Leslie wasn't there, maybe she exhibits on a continuous basis.  She only has one piece there, but that's all she needs.  If there were more, the opening would have been totally about her. To see more of her work, go to Touchstonegallery.com and click on Artists, find her name and click on it.

Dissed

The Gallery opening featured two artist which are profiled in my next section. Besides the great work at the Gallery, the people there were just as interesting.  I met a gentleman named William, he's an older guy who's partner passed away from cancer not too long ago.  He is a friend of WCA-DC member/artist and friend of mine, Marilyn Banner. William is full of life and vitality, he is enchanting, flirty and simply a wonderful man to talk to and get to know.  Instantly, I fell in love with his personality, his hands and arms which were veined with splotches of red/pink and peach. His skin, perfectly wrinkled in all the right places, a sculptors dream. Creating portraits are not my thing and even though I focus on the female form, there are "parts" of the male body that are intriguing to me.  To do these "parts" as studies are a change of pace regarding subject matter.  William has his own red wine, which I tasted and he read me the poem written by his friend on the bottle. He also sang a lovely song at the bar, with several listeners around. He invited me to his place in Connecticut and yes, I plan to go. He is the life of the party, and is full of conversation and laughter. Standing in front of Leslie's painting only adds to his vibrancy. We laughed and talked for quite a while, the rain steadily coming down outside was pale in comparison to sunny atmosphere inside the Gallery. 

William

There were other interesting people there too, like the bartenders who apparently volunteer or get paid minimal to be there. One young lady told me she was unemployed and needed to find cheap great jewelry.  We chatted about places and spaces out there that would cater to her needs. Wow! didn't know there was that much to say and debate about on this topic.  Another lady who was there with black pointy shoes, (looked totally uncomfortable!) and a black and grey sweater style dress. Her hair looked like it just went poof! when it met the humidity. Her lipstick worn off, she indulged in libations liberally and wondered around the gallery chatting with various people. We finally talked, and through her sloshy words, she came off as being somewhat of a art appreciator with hopes of crossing the line to into artistdom, but not quite finding an opening to cross. She talked of taking classes which gave her knowledge about art, but she couldn't divulge any of it, it was a secret. Every time she spoke, she leaned in, exhaling her wine scented breath like a dragon.  I found her hilariously fake but fun all at the same time. Maybe when she's inhaled less wine, we might have a decent conversation. I watched her walk and periodically sit (to rest those pointy toes!) throughout the small gallery.  She was an interesting case for a psychologist. 

The Opening was fun, a good time had by all.  Two artists at Touchstone are featured in the next segment, Susan Feller, former WCA-DC member, and Shelley Lowenstein, their work is on display now.

ARTIST PROFILES

SUSAN FELLER, Holding Patterns

Susan Feller, her work focuses on people, especially those in a transitional state of waiting. Her thoughts went from the elderly, with whom she has worked trying to help them establish the best mobility their bodies will allow. Many are mixed media images of hands...in waiting.  The layered effect she creates in her work, makes her images intriguing and almost sad in some respects.  One can image why this person is holding their hands the way they are, some hands tell the story of their lives past, and showing the current condition reflecting the state of their lives.

Susan's work really speaks to the human condition. How we are often in holding patterns at some point and time in our lives.  The images are captivating and definitely worth seeing.

Susan Feller

SHELLEY LOWENSTEIN, Rail Ways

Shelley's work Rail Ways highlights people in transition. They are waiting, lost in conversation, listening to music or reading a book, sitting, passing time, daydreaming. She merges her passion for traveling and her fascination for people watching. She captures people in a moment, in a familiar gesture, alone in a crowd and on the go. Similar to Susan's work in theme, Shelly's work focuses more about people in public places, who are  units unto themselves waiting to go to the next place.

I found her work to be interesting in that as a people watcher, I can see why she is chose to paint in train stations spanning the globe.  Her style creates an atmosphere that the viewer can relate to in some way. Everyone's in their own world, each person operating separately but as a unit in the vastness of the station.  She also focuses on how we as people often ignore the human condition in our rush to get to where ever we are going. Often people don't want to get involved in helping a person in need.  In a few of her paintings she addresses this issue and the title/description on the wall tells a brief story of the scene.  Shelley uses bright colors to attract the eye, capturing the people some in detail, some as a blur. Her work is exceptionally easy to view and understand.

See and read the stories behind Shelley's work at the Touchstone Gallery. 

Shelley Lowenstein

There are other artists works at the Touchstone Gallery, Located at 901 New York Ave, WDC. Gallery hours: Wed-Fri 11-6, Sat-sun 12-5. Chinatown 7th Street exit.


This exhibit runs May 30-July 1, 2012


















Artist Spotlight


These artists are Artomatic Artists. Sean Hennessey's work is  intriguing.  He lights his work from the back and its 2-D/3-D feel makes the pieces seem like they are jumping out at you. If you get a chance to go to Artomatic, stop and see his work. He is located on 9th floor, space 141.



Each piece is a clear resin with embedded images and designs. They are in a light box frame. These pieces are worth seeing in person.
























Seemen Hashem work is also 2-D/3-D style work is layered and has a light hearted feeling to it.  I really liked how each piece has been created within a frame and is multi layered with mixed media elements. The use of possible found objects, the incorporation of painted elements in the background creates an usual but interesting piece. His work is located on the 3rd floor, space 180.


The New Gyrl


There's a new chick in my world.  She's a clay piece, not a figure, but a bust of sorts (just a head). Clay pieces are my instant gratification womyn.  They are quick and easy compared to the stone.  As forgiving as clay is, there still is a time limit to work on clay before it gets too dry. This new chick is based on a an idea of creating a possible 2-d/3-d style piece. It's not meant to hang on the wall, but more emphasis is put on the face and the hair is pinched and wild! The clay is called Phoenix, which is a high fire clay. This means it can be put in a gas kiln and fired at a higher temperature than other clays.  Firing in a gas kiln also gives the clay a stone like texture with a hint of brown. All without glazing. As the clay becomes leather hard, I will begin to hollow it out, and create a bottom part to close it off.  The new chick is still being worked on, just started her Saturday. She may not be fired for a while, cause I like to make one trip to get things fired. Her name will come to me at some point.  Unlike the stone chicks, clay chicks don't cause the same level of frustration and the need to be hurled across the floor. Perhaps clay gyrls are easy so they are a little less passionate in their creation, often changing frequently before the final image emerges. This one explores the wildness of the hair, a pouting lip that needs to pout more,a younger fuller face strained with life.  The struggle between artist and medium doesn't really exist, the cracking, breaking and drying pose as a time marker for when she will be done with me. My frustrations are about symmetry and facial expression with this piece. The feel of the clay, its soft pliable texture moves easily from one place to another, it bends and folds, squishes and pulls smoothing out like plastic skin. The finger touches sensually to create the lines, with minimal tool use, which is often lost in stone carving. 

Who knows what her name will be, or her finished look. Still have a lot of work to do on her. A name may come to me when I'm stroking her wild hair, or semi-flat face. We shall see. Hope you enjoyed the post. Will talk you to death again soon with more art, artist, and artwork! Same blog time, same blog channel!