Friday in New York

Last Friday morning found me boarding the train to venture into New York to spend the day with the amazing Lotta Helleberg. After grabbing a cup of coffee, we began strolling through Chelsea.

Kwang Young Chun at Kim Foster Gallery

Our first stop was Kim Foster Gallery. As you walk through the door, Kwang Young Chun's work of wrapped and bound mulberry paper offers a quiet greeting.

Kwang Young Chun at Kim Foster Gallery, detail

To me, the triangular pieces wrapped in mulberry paper are basic units of information, the basic cells of a life that only exists in art, as well as in individual social events or historical facts. By attaching these pieces one by one to a two-dimensional surface, I wanted to express how basic units of information can both create harmony and conflict. This became an important milestone in my long artistic journey to express the troubles of a modern man who is driven to a devastated life by materialism, endless competition, conflict, and destruction. After almost twenty years, I was now able to communicate with my own gestures and words. Kwang Young Chun artist statement via website

Kwang Young Chun at Kim Foster Gallery, detail

Christian Faur at Kim Foster Gallery

A spot of color around the corner caught my eye and provided a surprise when I stepped 

Christian Faur at Kim Foster Gallery, detail

closer for a good look at Christian Faur's work with crayons.

Christian Faur at Kim Foster Gallery, detail

My earliest memories of making art involve the use of wax crayons. I can still remember the pleasure of opening a new box of crayons: the distinct smell of the wax, the beautifully colored tips, everything still perfect and unused. Using the first crayon from a new box always gave me a slight pain. Through a novel technique that I have developed, I again find myself working with the familiar form of the crayon.

Because of the three-dimensional nature of the crayons, the individual surface images appear to change form as one moves about the gallery space. The images completely disappear when viewed from close up, allowing one to read the horizontally sequenced crayon text and to take in the beautifully colored crayon tips -- all the while being reminded of that first box of crayons. Christian Faur via website

Christian Faur at Kim Foster Gallery

Christian Faur at Kim Foster Gallery, detail

Ambling on down the street, a flash of red in the back of a gallery catch our attention. One look at each other as if to ask "Do you want to go in?" was all it took

John McCracken at David Zwirner

for us to enter David Zwirner gallery in order to get a closer look at John McCracken's simple, yet exquisite sculptures.

My works are minimal and reduced, but also maximal. I try to make them concise, clear statements in three-dimensional form, and also to take them to a breathtaking level of beauty. –John McCracken via David Zwirner website

Minds and imaginations reeling, we made one more gallery stop (which requires a post of its own) before

enjoying a leisurely lunch at Cookshop. It was the first that either of us had eaten there, but certainly won't be the last.

If you follow Lotta on Instagram, you've seen shots of her mark making journal. Well, this is it! Not only was I lucky enough to see it, but to get to meander through its pages as well. It is a work of art in itself.

And so are Lotta's mended jeans. She was working on these when we met in DC back in December so it fun was to see them being worn. Makes me consider mending my over-worn jeans rather than cutting them up to become my journal covers.

Our last stop was the wonderland that is ABC Home. These handmade paper wrapped bundles are just one of the examples of the treasures this store holds.

All too soon, it was time for Lotta and I to go our separate ways. The return train ride provided a bit of time to reflect on the day's art; to consider why it was the more seemingly simple pieces that held me spellbound. There's an idea beginning to form. It needs time to percolate first, but it's there. And that's good.

Lost and found

While gazing out the window the other day, I thought I saw a cow fly by. On closer inspection, I realized it was only my imagination…and it was hovering right in front of me beckoning me to play. I blinked and smiled, thinking how nice it would be.

Next thing I knew, we were leapfrogging the tree tops, using spider webs as trampolines and playing hopscotch with clouds.

We lunched on fruit and cheese with the man in the moon and sipped Earl Grey tea with the queen of hearts while the fiddle serenaded us with Mary Had a Little Lamb and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

The mouse taught us how clocks work and the three little pigs discussed the best building materials while over in the corner little Jack Horner was slapping his knee laughing at a story that Alice was telling about falling down a hole.

I blinked again and was amazed to find myself still gazing out the window and wondering why so many of the fairy tales of my childhood were about little things.

I wrote this sometime between October 1997 and December 1999. It was in old notebook tucked away in the studio cabinets and was unearthed during a search for blank notebook pages to re-purpose.  I wonder just what it was that set my mind to pondering littles and fairy tales?

Lotta's most recent blog post, making time, held me spellbound and has me yearning for a time keeper such as hers, which is how the contents of the studio cabinets came to be searched.

I hope she doesn't mind that I almost immediately purchased the download-able calendar pages from MaylemMade (the printable planner bundle actually) and set to considering what I really want in a yearly planner

as well as what type of paper it should be printed on. A long time collector of blank journals...that rarely ever were marked in...I knew that the studio held enough papers to fill numerous planners.

The basic pages are printed and, once again, I'm pondering just what it is I want/need in a planner - how many blank pages vs how many lined pages? Are lined pages even needed? Pockets are a must for holding found things. Is one per month too many or not enough? They will requiring a bit of stitching to add a tad of texture.

And then there's the cover to consider. Sandra Brownlee would tell me to make the cover one that I would want to touch and hold and so it will be. But...rusted or discharged cotton...or indigo via old blue jeans collaged and stitched together? Only time will tell.

WONDER - Janet Echelman

WONDER
 

Janet Echelman, 1.8, 2015, detail

1. a cause of astonishment or admiration

Janet Echelman, 1.8, 2015, detail

2. the quality of exciting amazed admiration

Janet Echelman, 1.8, 2015, light and shadows detail

3. rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one's experience

Janet Echelman, 1.8, 2015, light and shadows detail

 

The powers that be at the Smithsonian Institute's Renwick Gallery must have had the Merriam-Webster Dictionary's definition in mind when they set about selecting artists to participate in the Renwick's grand re-opening in November 2015 - as did the artists when they set about creating their wonder inducing works.

Janet Echelman, 1.8, 2015,  light and shadows detail

I traveled to Washington, DC in early December to spend a few days with Lotta Helleberg (that's Lotta seated in the very first photo) as well as to peruse WONDER.

 

Janet Echelman, 1.8, 2015, detail

Janet Echelman

1.8, 2015 

knotted and braided fiber with programmable lighting

and wind movement above printed textile flooring 

Courtesy of Janet Echelman, Inc. 

Echelman's woven sculpture corresponds to a map of the energy released across the Pacific Ocean during the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, one of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history. The event was so powerful it shifted the earth on its axis and shortened the day March 11, 2011, by 1.8 millionths of a second, lending this work its title. Waves taller than the 100-foot length of this gallery ravaged the east coast of Japan, reminding us that what is wondrous can equally be dangerous. (accompanying statement in the Renwick)

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1.8 is the second Janet Echelman sculpture that I have had the good fortune to experience. Last June, I went to Boston for As If It Were Already Here, her installation over the Rose Kennedy Greenway. To see my post about it, click here. Both works are equally breathtaking, inspiring and whole host of other adjectives.

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Stay tuned for more posts about WONDER. I'm returning this weekend to hear Maya Lin speak at the Renwick. 

Stitching Summit 2015

Last Thursday, I traveled to southern New Jersey, stopping along the way to pick up Christine and Kelly before continuing on to meet up with Lotta and Erin for the second annual stitching summit.

The first was March 2014 and, I'm happy to report, Mother Nature smiled on this year's gathering, gracing us with lovely fall weather this time around. Of course, She smiled on us last year as well and threw in a snow day for good measure!

The house, built in the 1700's, is a charmingly quirky farmhouse that reflects Rachel's, the owner, love for the property inside and out.

An artist herself, she has the most wonderful flair

for creating unexpected moments of beauty.

 Kelly's pre-bundle

We wandered the yard, marveling at its fall coat and comparing it to our memories of a snow blanketed yard.

There were new treasures to discover

and vignettes to be amazed by.

Lotta's and Kelly's bundles

There was also a bit of work to be done

 Lotta's stitching

Christine's eco printed paper

Lotta's printmaking

 Christine's lines

but mostly there was fun to be had. The neighbors have probably complained to Rachel by now about those raucous women who sat out by the fire each night, eating and drinking while telling stories and laughing far too loudly...or not. 

It was a delightful gathering of friends and I can't wait until next time!