gRAPHICaNATOMY

so busy today I forgot the Art drop off for PERSAD.
I guess i won't be part of the art auction this year.
Oh well, I've been having a change of heart about art charity anyway.

"I just wanted to say thank you so much for adding a wonderful drawing in
addition to the 2 drawings I bought from you. It was a pleasant surprise. I
love your artwork. You are so creative and talented. You don't see too
many artists using the markers as another form of art expression. I love
how you used different colors in different areas of the bodies and how the
colors compliment each other. You're a genius. I can't wait to frame your
masterpieces soon. Thanks again for a surprise gift. It was so thoughtful of
you. I really appreciate it.
Best Regards, M"


It never hurts to throw in some extra drawings....

Leslie Lohman was looking for a new logo. I submitted my design:


The two "L"'s make for a picture frame. Hopefully they like it.

Labels: graphic design, lgbt, logo

Couple of showis coming up in March.
A big one, very big one at Gallery Chiz.
I'm keeping the work secret for now. But it should be good.
Very good.

I also agreed to add a piece into a show run by LUPEC in March.
Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails.
And we need to save those cocktails.
They are doing in a show in honor of Women's History Month. So the show is all women.
Some criticism has already arisen accusing this as tokenism or reverse discrimination.
I disagree, but I'll stay out of the politics because i like working with LUPEC.
But I suppose if a better solution must be found, one could do a show with a Women's art history theme and open it up to everyone. Everyone would have to do a piece about a Woman (Artist or model or what have you) that did something great but got the short shrift in her lifetime.
An idea for a future show I suppose.

I've been organizing some show for the GLCC.
It has it's challenges but it think it benefits both the art community and the GLCC.

next show is the work of Donnie Toomer.
http://www.facebook.com/events/316054185101187/
Donnie will focus on world perspectives,coping mechanisms & our self- generated realities. The desire to be wanted and accepted is an inherent part of human consciousness, but how does one shape themselves if they only encounter negativity? The work will be a culmination of Donnie's own exploring, self- depreciation and coping.
Light refreshements served.
Show runs to March 24th.

Labels: art, art pgh, lgbt

This is the grand public opening for the Talisman show. Happening at Unblurred.
This Friday Feb 3rd. 7-11pm.
Quite a few years of work went into this series.

The facebook event is here:
http://www.facebook.com/events/287158904678013/

Labels: pgh art unblurred

Brian Sherwin brought up the topic that their might be a bias against Christian subject matter in the modern art market.
And "minority religions" might get special preference.
link: http://www.facebook.com/briansherwin.artcritic/posts/10150741873709554



I've studied art in a somewhat typical American education system. I'd consider my Art education, somewhat typical for a Bachelor degree.
That means I've been exposed up the wazoo to Christian art. High school, private lessons and University taught me about Christian art more so than any other type. The Art history books I own & read now are dominated by examples of Christian art.
Even at the University level the time we spent examine and discussing Christian themed art dominated everything else. The time we spent examining Islamic artist, or Buddhist art was miniscule. I could not tell you an Islamic artist off the top of my head. I read somewhere that there are as many images of Buddha as there are Jesus, if not more. But i'd be hard pressed to name a specific Buddhist sculpture or artist.
The only religious art that comes close to the level of exposure in my education is Pagan Art, Greek mythology, sculpture and paintings.
But Christian art dominated. The greatest art created in the western culture is often Christian themed. The sculptures of David, the Sisteen Chapel ceiling, the last judgment, the last supper, the Baldichino, the domed architecture.
Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, Lenoardo, Rubens, VanGogh, Guaguin and many of the greatest artist agreed upon mad eChristian themed art. These are the standards everything and everyone else is measured to or rebelled against. Christian art dominates our art education system, research material, and museums in all of Western culture.
So perhaps I am jaded when it comes to modern Christian art because i'm so used to it. Perhaps, I am hypercritical. I tend to see the cliche's, the hypocrisy, and the politics & propaganda easier because the standard has been set so high. It takes A LOT for modern Christian art to impress me and most does not deliver.
So maybe i'm more open to Islamic or Eastern art simply because it's unexplored. It's foreign, exotic, and the undiscovered country. It may have just as much cliche, hypocrisy and propaganda but even that is new to me.
So maybe I am biased. But until art of other religions is on equal footing, it's going to happen.

One thing i have noticed is modern Pagan art is usually filed under "Fantasy" & made a 2nd class art citizen down in the ranks of illustration, comics and record covers. There is great skill in some of this Pagan art. But often it's not taken seriously and really… if you think about it…. if their spiritual beliefs are "fantasy" then couldn't you file all spiritual art as fantasy as well.

Labels: art history, christian art, education