Old School (Part 8)

Here's the last installment of Old School. I think this is from my sophomore year of college and I enjoyed drawing flowers. The first is a large charcoal drawing on paper, followed by a smaller pen & ink drawing on Bristol board.

This has been a presentation of Old School. The end.

Old School (Part 7)

Upon entering freshman year of college, students were subjected to countless still life compositions. At the time, I was very much into Blue Period Picasso and Paul Cezanne. Here are two examples of my drawings from that time of my life.

I still don't like the feel or sound of vine charcoal on paper. It has a similar effect that nails on a chalkboard has for other people. These days, I typically will draw using a Bic pen.

New Members Show @ Atlantic Works

W.W.J.D. (What Would Jasper Do?)

Sometimes being an art nerd sometimes leads to strange impulses. The other night, I was at the liquor store and came across Ballantine Ale half-pint six packs. My art history filled brain went off like a Geiger counter. Immediately I recalled the work of Jasper Johns. When I was younger I saw a painted bronze casting of two Ballantine Ale cans in the Museum of Art in Philadelphia. It was sitting next to the casting of a Savarin coffee can with paint brushes sticking out of it.

Early on, like many artists, Jasper Johns was a starving artist. I've been there and can relate. Now with the crunch of the economy I'm feeling it again and became reminiscent.

Evidently Johns drank Ballantine. It must have been inexpensive then because it was relatively so now.

Refusing to return to my starving artist days of eating Raman noodles (only seven or eight cents a pop in an assortment of flavors), I asked myself what would Jasper have eaten around his "starving artist" days? Then I recalled a documentary about art in the 60's, focussing on the Pop art movement. In the documentary, many artists, including Johns, went to NYC's Chinatown because it was within their economic realm. After purchasing the six-pack, I went around the corner to Dragon Star to get some of the best Chinese food in Brookline (also the most food for your dollar).

Chinese food and beer go together, especially the spicy stuff. But here's a little fortune cookie of knowledge for you: Drink Ballantine quick! Not so tasty when it warms up.

Stimulate the economy: drink American beer!

New Members Show @ Atlantic Works

Opening Reception: March 5, 6-9 pm: 80 Border Street, East Boston

East Boston, March, 2009—From March 5 to March 28, 2009, Atlantic Works Gallery presents NEW MEMBERS SHOW 2009 a survey of work created by the gallery’s new artists.

In the midst of doom and gloom, more and ever more bad news, who would have thought that a group of artists (arguably some of the hardest hit people in any economic downturn) have a reason to celebrate? Well the Atlantic Works Gallery, East Boston’s gem on the waterfront is doing just that! Not BECAUSE of the economy….but IN SPITE of it!

Atlantic Works invites the public to take a break from all of the bad news and come celebrate by welcoming fifteen talented artists whose work spans a number of mediums including photorealistic and abstract painting; photo dioramas that experiment with scale; playful works that feature pies, fruits, ducks; avante garde self-portraiture with cultural and psychological sub-tones and many many other works certain to distract you from the six o’clock news!

The public is invited to attend the OPENING RECEPTION on Thursday, March 5 from 6 to 9pm and to visit the gallery during the following hours: Fridays 2 – 6pm and Saturdays 2 – 6pm. The public is also invited to attend the Atlantic Works Gallery’s monthly THIRD THURSDAY SHINDIG on Thursday, March 19 from 6 to 9pm.
To schedule a private press viewing and interview at a more convenient time, please contact Laura Rollins, 617.877.8249.

Begun in 2003, ATLANTIC WORKS GALLERY, “East Boston’s Collaborative Space for Art and Ideas,” is a member-operated gallery located on the top floor of 80 Border Street on the waterfront of East Boston. It is T-accessible (near the Maverick T stop on the Blue Line) and parking space is usually ample. For detailed directions and other information about members and past and future shows, please see atlanticworks.org

You're invited to a night with Joe Kitsch @ Via Matta

ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!

Joe Kitsch @ Via Matta

in the Enoteca

79 Park Plaza, Boston

Wednesday, March 4

7-10 PM

Hungry for some Joe Kitsch? Join me at Via Matta for a night of art and Enoteca. Complimentary hors devours. Excellent cocktails and music. Dress to impress... you may end up on TV!

Visit Via Matta's website for more information.

THROB in Boston Globe

Old School (Part 6)

There was once a time in my younger days before pictures, projectors, stencils and appropriation made its way into the making of my art work.  Believe it or not, I use to look at things and reproduce them by hand on paper! In this edition of Old School, we are going back once again back to high school...

While I was in high school, my mom enrolled me in art classes outside of regular school on weekends and summer vacation. One summer I was enrolled at Moore College of art for Life Drawing. I had already taken numerous classes where we drew still life and scenery, and being naive I thought Life Drawing was just another way to say what we've been doing already.

The professor entered the room along with another woman I assumed to be her assistant, briefly introduced herself and told us to start drawing. Looking around the room I didn't see a still life and was confused for about five seconds. The assistant disrobed, striking a pose on a platform.

"...Oh!"

THROB- Sneak Peek

Here's a sneak peek at Atlantic Works' "Throb." Hope to see you at the OPENING RECEPTION this Thursday, February 5 from 6-9 PM.