Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Busy Month - Found Mentor / Lots of Meetings / Thesis start up / New sowing (ground)

Since the end of my residency I have my life has been a world wind.  

January 16 - I arrived back from my residency
January 18 - I was wrongfully accused and found NOT GUILY of shoplifting
January 22 - Named godmother of my brothers child Olivia Grace Cunningham
February 1 - Started The Triumph of American Painting (every Wed - for 12 weeks)
February 9 - Opening for Jules Olitski Meridith Long Gallery 

February 10 - meet with Trenton Doyle Hancock (over Tacos)
February 11 - Patron-Plus Members Event: Film Screening of Jules Olitski: Modern Master

Film Screening of Jules Olitski: Modern Master
Alison de Lima Greene, MFAH curator of Contemporary Art and Special Projects, introduces the short documentary (22 minutes) Jules Olitski: Modern Master. Interviews with Olitski's friends and peers, as well as rarely seen footage of the artist in his studio, eloquently portray the superb achievement of a man driven to make art. Presented in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition Revelation: Major Paintings by Jules Olitski.
February 15- 16 - Flew to San Fran to meet Mark Bradford 



Met him and will visit studio in a month (Mentoring option next semester)
Saw opening in SFMoma



 

Crown Point Press
Went to Museum of the African Diaspora
http://www.moadsf.org/
Went to Contemporary Jewish Museum
YBRA (part 2 - Mark Bradford Exhibit) 

Meet with Rodney Ewing (painter/artist)
February 20 - Met with Sandra York (artist)
February 22 - Exhibit in Corpus Cristi with Lisa Qualls
February 23 - MFAH Lecture “Terrible Reality”:  The Civil War as a Living-Room War
February 24 - Lecture “Fauvism:  The Color Explosion” - David E. Brauer
February 27 - Met Otis Huband who shared all sorts of advise 
http://www.reavesart.com/images/catalogs/Hubandwebcatalogue9.pdf February 28 - Met with Anastasia Kirages  (writer/curator/photographer)
February 29 - Met with Bayeté Ross Smith
February 30 - Finally chose Bayeté Ross Smith as my mentor this semester 


After interviewing over 10 artist, I decided that Bayete would be the best fit for me this semester.  Yes this is the Bayete from Season 2 - Work of Art (The Next Great Artist)  
http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-2/bio/bayet
http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-2/photos/portfolios/bayetes-portfolio#image-102018
February 30 - Event with Trenton Doyle Hancock
http://rxart.net/projects/childrens-memorial-hermann-hospital
Since we last spoke I have finally have a theme that I can introduce to my work:
Still working out the details:
Presently excited to be defining my new trajectory
-  Effect of being wrongfully accused of shoplifting
-  African American Experience
-  3 months later being burglarized for over 200 worth of stolen
items/cloths/damage to house
-  Struggle with class issues
-  No zoning issues
-  Symbolism
-  Dreams
-  Dismantling and Deconstructing iconic symbols
-  Labels (symbols defining wealth vs. Freedom struggle)
-  Who are these products accessible to?
-  freedom?
-  Persecution vs. Freedom
-  Struggles and strength
-  Hard work = certain rewards
- reward system
-  Substructure of self worth
-  First generation American  
-  Raised under post Barbie generation
-  1950s TV in homes are now ads
-  Secret communication
-  Light = seeking/enables sight
-  popular culture


My NEW Paintings I am working on:
I just finished sowing...Painting layers to come.


Monday, February 13, 2012

Lisa qualls: "Four Lilys"

Lisa qualls: "Four Lilys": The "Four Lilys" will go up on Road Sign USA November 15th (if it is not raining in the morning)! If you live in Houston and are driving d...