Art is Moving

On Fire in LA land! Pacific Standard Time

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:28:00 +0000

Last Thursday, I went to a really cool event in LA, which was part of the transcendent Pacific Standard Time Performance and Public Art Festival.
The performance "Disappearing Environments, by Judy Chicago and Materials Applications," took place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica in tandem with Art Los Angeles Contemporary Art Fair

What peaked my interest--
I must admit, I am really not a hard core feminist --in the 1960's sense of the word although-- I do believe in goddess worship--in social justice, and in equality for all-- even Mother Earth and all the critters that thrive upon her.
To be honest the reason that I was intrigued to see this performance with Judy Chicago was I felt it was very historic. Kind of like a marker in time, that I wanted to directly experience. And yes when I think of Judy Chicago I just think of the Dinner Party . For me it brings up Art Survey 101, in my Freshman year in Art School. Judy Chicago is part of my study and initiation into the art academia world.
Chicago even says that, "I have experienced: covert censorship, where the only work of mine allowed to see the light of day in terms of real visibility is "The Dinner Party." in the article Q&A Judy Chicago in the LA Times. I understand her frustration. but at least it put her on the map in big way.

Judy Chicago and Suzanne Lacey

During the happening Judy Chicago was very present and available doing interviews with the press and embracing old friends.

At one point this peformance artist Audrey Chan dressed up as Judy from 1960's came into the scene. I began questioning time and space.

From Chicago to Chicago: How I Became a Feminist Artist Despite Never Having Witnessed the 1970s from Audrey Chan on Vimeo. What a surprise to find out she was the Judy Chicago impersonator.

Below is what I personally captured on that eve!

Pacific Standard Time-Disappearing Environments, by Judy Chicago and Materials and Applications, a set on Flickr.

Aside, in the moment as I wanted to venture into the center of the disappearing environment and I accidentally kicked one of the flares from the installation--a small group of snobby art goers were like "oh my she is going to be set on fire." And I said what a great performance that would be.
Is life just one big-- art performance? -Lisa

Stop by Flax Art & Design! See our Show!

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:16:00 +0000

I stopped by Flax Art & Design last week to check out our Take 5: Art Break Day exhibition. It is so great that a local store goes to the effort of highlighting local art events, artists, and groups. It's a nice touch to the shopping adventure. Imagine if all stores had an art exhibition!

I wanted to share some images of the show and remind you there are only 12 more days to see it. Flax itself is worth a visit, but with our exhibition there's an opportunity to take an art break while you are shopping. Don't miss out!

Check out the FREE Art Break Table! Tons of people have already added to our "live gallery." We would love to see what you create during an art break.

Do you want to get involved with Take 5: Art Break Day 2012? We'd love to have you! Email us. artismoving[at]gmail[dot]com

Proud to be a piece of ART!

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:36:00 +0000

If any of you follow our Facebook Page, I (Lisa) am the crazy curator that posts all the art news that inspires and appeals to me. Lauren has made a gentle request that I tailor my impulsive nature and save the best news for our Blog.
Alright! I will give this a go. I saw this tonight and I love it!! for three reasons!

1. JR is an amazing artist, a real change maker!
2. I live in LA and I have seen the power of these amazing works through out the city. As well as at the amazing and ground breaking exhibition MOCA Art in Streets
And I love his commentary and revelation on this weird city!
3. This video reveals the voices behind the portraits and offers a peek into the another's world!
Love these quotes from the video
"We do not see the world as it is, we see the world as we are."
"This is a window into others lives."
"Proud to be a piece of ART!"

What are your thoughts? Do you like Jr's work? Do you think it is effective? What is your opinion on Street Art in general?

AIM Hiatus

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:15:00 +0000

Lauren and I at Art is Moving want to get you all up to speed with our Blog and Free Art Adventures.
We have been in a dormancy phase for a couple months. We are definitely a female collaboration that respects and follows the natural of cycles of life. Beginning in February we will be back in full force with our Blog and Take 5: ARTbreak Day 2012!

2012 will be the fourth year of this amazing collaboration!
Below are some images from the past year.

2011 What a Year

Art is Moving Take 5: ARTbreak Day Exhibition

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:09:00 +0000

Currently, we are having an Art is Moving Exhibit at Flax :Art and Design in San Francisco. The curated show is a selection of art that was created at our 5 Art Hubs at Take 5: ARTbreak Day 2011. It is pretty amazing that this exhibition physically unifies the communities of San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond and San Rafael all through art and its process.

Also, while viewing the work at Flax you can take your own ARTbreak and add to the collection in a living art exhibition.
If you venture to the exhibit we would love to hear your feedback!! Also, take a picture of the art you create and send it out way. Creative warning, Flax Art and Design has an amazing paper department and you might get inspired to start a new project while there.
What an Amazing way to start 2012!

Also, check out our Flickr Page were you can see all the Art from Take 5: ARTbreak Day 2011 as well as some amazing action shots from the day of the event.
Below is some more information.

Art is Moving Exhibit

January 2, 2012 – January 31, 2012

Make Art Everywhere!
What would it be like to make art accessible to everyone and at every street corner?
“The time has come to give everyone in our community an opportunity to know and experience creativity as our most powerful human capacity.” – William Cleveland

Lisa and Lauren

Art is Moving is a collaboration between artists Lisa Rasmussen and Lauren Odell Usher who are creating a movement through art making, blogging, community outreach and conversations about ART!
Lisa and Lauren believe that art is for everyone. “Our organization exists in order to push that belief as well as constantly question art, the artists role in our society, and the art world. We also believe that art should be FREE – free to make, free to see, and free to talk about. Because we believe that art is a fundamental part of a healthy society we will work in order to deliver it to every corner of the world.”

Art Break Day in Action

Lisa and Lauren took their message to the streets around the Bay Area and created Art Break Day. Kick off cities included San Francisco, San Rafael, Berkeley, Oakland and Richmond. Visualize walking into the center of a city and seeing a group of random strangers sitting around a table chatting, laughing, sharing, and getting to know one another through the act of making art together.

Art Break 2011

This exhibit is an example of how the conversation began. Sample art work created by strangers bringing communities together. We invite you to enjoy the exhibit and take a few minutes at our table to create your own artwork.

Want to get involved in ArtBreak 2012? Email Lisa and Lauren artismoving@gmail.com.

Happy Holidays, Happy Creating and Lets all have a Great One!!

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:00:00 +0000

What an exciting year it has been for people all over the planet!

Did you see Shepard Fairey's illustration for Time Magazine's latest Cover? In its annual 'Person of the Year' issue, 'The Protestor' earned the coveted title as well as the magazine cover. Amazing work Mr Fairey! "The brilliance of Fairey's image is its simultaneous evocation of the particular and the general, the individual and the archetype. On the one hand the image is a collage, just as there is no one manifesto for OWS making just one visual representation impossible. And yet in the devoted eyes of Fairey's anonymous protestor the greatest of differences lose their significance. Fairey conveys the move of a crowd putting on Guy Fawkes masks, of millions of people becoming 'the 99%." Shepard Fairey On His TIME Magazine 'Person Of The Year' Cover

Also, ART for the masses has been resurrected as powerful ally in activism. It is so inspiring to see individuals empowered through their creative voice and through their mark making at the Occupy happenings

This revival has been eloquently surmised in the article, Occupy Your Imagination by Michele Elam and Jennifer DeVere Brody "The movement’s new wave of organic creative expression revives the idea of art as necessity for an engaged citizenry. This is not self-referential art for art’s sake—this is timely art—art of and for the times—that is self-consciously responsive to immediate social concerns. Occupy has re-established art as a unique vehicle for social analysis and collective action that is as important to understanding—and potentially reshaping—the world around us as are the economic analyses and sociological studies inspired by the movement."

2011 will be remembered as the year of people power and we at Art is Moving have been in tune with the zeitgeist. Our well orchestrated social art invention of mass Free Art Making, Take 5: ARTbreak Day 2011 was a stellar success. Everyone who participated loved their experience and was really grateful to create with their community. Furthermore, the support that we received from individuals and the community was phenomenal.

We are looking forward to the new year as we will be expanding our Free Art making campaign. Exciting plans are already beginning for Take 5: ARTbreak Day 2012! We are broadening our ARTreach to Southern California and plan to have parallel sites in both NorCal and SoCal. If you would like to join our FREE Art Movment, please visit our website for more details {artbreakday.com} ABD will just get bigger and better!!

Help us on our mission to get the world to "take an art break together" and

get art into hands of everyone so they have a chance to discover the power of art!

Please give your gift today @ Take 5: ARTbreak Day .

All donations are being excepted. Also, another way you can support is to buy Art and spread the message through our t-shirt. Check out our Art is Moving Store here.

As the year is coming to close, it is time to reflect and celebrate all that was and is!! Over these past four years AIM has met some amazing and inspiring people!Thank You for your support and your vision!

Wishing you all Happy Holidays!
Happy Creating and Lets all have a Great One!!

Lauren and Lisa

I Love Dorothea Tanning-the last living Surrealist

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:52:00 +0000

I love, love this interview done by Salon magazine with Dorothea Tanning, the Oldest living surrealist tells.
I feel she said one of the greatest quotes ever "Keep your eye on your inner world and keep away from ads, idiots and movie stars." Amen!!

Thank you Dororthea for your brilliance and truth!! -Lisa

quintessential quotes

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:29:00 +0000

I am dominated by one thing, an irresistible, burning attraction towards the abstract.

Gustave Moreau
(6 April 1826 – 18 April 1898)

Eames Experience in LA La Land

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:26:00 +0000

A couple months ago on one of Don's and my Carpe Diem LA adventures, we checked out the Eames House. Don's friend, David, is a volunteer docent at the house on weekends. Otherwise, I am not sure if I would have ever heard of it.

Admission is always free and makes for a great day trip if you are in the area. A suggestion is to go on Sunday and check out the Pacific Palisades Farmers Market as well, I feel it is the best one on the West Side. Nourish your HeArt, Body, and Soul.

"Originally known as Case Study House No. 8, the Eames House was such a spatially pleasant modern residence that it became the home of the architects themselves. Charles and Ray Eames began designing the house in 1945 for the Case Study House Program in Los Angeles’ Arts and Architecture Magazine published and built these case study homes that had to focus on the use of new materials and technologies developed during World War II. The intention was for the house to be made of prefabricated materials that would not interrupt the site, be easy to build, and exhibit a modern style. The Eames House is a beautiful continuation of space. The rooms are liberating, flowing into one another even between floors through the double-height spaces. Private and public spaces are not strictly divided." AD Classics: Eames House / Charles and Ray Eames

The structure is just off the PCH and resides in the peaceful and very affluent Pacific Palisades. The grounds are so amazing. Below are some pics that I took.

The Ocean vista is extraordinary and the yard is lush and spacious. Great vibe all around!

Getting Creative: Shadows on the structure from the natural world.

Curious: In the yard there were tonka trucks. Where are they from? How old are they? What is their story?

The Eames House is interesting. For me it is a combination of Mies Van der Rohe, Piet Mondrian and Traditional Japanese Shoji Screens. It is kind of sterile, yet natural. It is a pretty cool series of boxes, I would not mind living there. :)

I have been wanting to do this post for a long time and today it was sparked by this video that I saw on the California Arts Council Facebook page. It is the latest Pacific Standard Time Video, which is a celebration of Art in L.A. 1945–1980.
Love that Ice Cube was an Architecture student and I love the holistic crossing and transcendence of debunking the stereotype that crosses all cultures.
All I can say is that Art is Art. It is simple and at its core it inspires all who are open to it.

Art in Your Pocket in Flight

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Last Monday, I was on a three half hour flight back home to LA and I was so happy to have an extra Art in Your Pocket in my bag. It felt really good to create and I really needed to express myself. I was returning home from trying time of visiting my Dad, who during my trip was diagnosed with degenerative disease. As I am a big process artist on each of my Art in Your Pocket pieces of paper I embedded words and intentions of healing and safety for my father. Then I just started automatically mark making. Upon completion of my in flight art, I felt great--empowered and balanced. I felt my Dad would be OK.

The lady across the isle was so interested in what I was doing, I decided to unconditionally give her one. She was really thankful to pass the time creating art.

Tis the season for giving!!

"I think Lisa and Lauren over at Art Is Moving are doing AMAZING work with their ARTcart and this kit is a natural progression coming out of the cart experiences. It's a way of providing the cart experiences without the cart, without having to be where they are in any given day -- like mailing the cart experience off in the post for people to have Art In Your Pocket wherever you are. " Kara Chipoletti Jones (Mother Henna)

For an unusual and original gift --think about giving an Art in Your Pocket.

It is an awesome gift for absolutely everyone. It is also an amazing partee favor and

Art in Your Pocket is a perfect way to express yourself in places were you need it the most.

To me ART is Freedom and what an extraordinary gift to give!!

Go to our Art in Your Pocket website today!!

Last order must be placed by December 13th

after that the AIYP Elves will be on an adventure till the New Year !!

-lisa

LET'S TALK ABOUT ART

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:00:00 +0000

Let's Talk about ART is a weekly running dialogue between Lauren and Lisa, the co-founders of Art is Moving. This random, casual, and open dialog exists to provide space for the two artists to speak freely about today's art world, their own art practice, and all of the other aspects of art.

Feel free to join in the conversation at anytime. We would love to read your thoughts!

12/5/2011
Hey Lauren-this is an interesting experiment taking a break :)
For the last year we have been meeting on Skipe every Monday for an hour to manifest our projects at Art is Moving. Feels kind of weird.
Hey girl ..What are you doing with your time?? :)
Check this video out I love it!! Creativity really can never, never be killed. It will always show up somewhere.

11/7/2011
Wow, time is flying! Since you are traveling today I wanted to share this lovely video with you. I think this is an amazing video project.

Travel safe!

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

10/21/2011
Great insights Lauren!! Everything is so connected in our work--our process and in the people that join in with us at our Free Art Making Happenings. It Feels like on some level we are on our higher purpose as a collaborative team. Sweetness--really amazing.
I had to show you this I Love, Love the painter Gerhard Richter. He is so inspiring... I paint on the same channel :) Makes me want to run back into the studio and create! Have a great weekend!

10/15/2011
Wow, what a hard question to answer Lisa. I would have to say that with each new festival we attend, project we think of and complete, the impact grows. Think of it as a compounding impact. I say this because with each person that is added to our list of "participants" and "appreciators" my confidence in my dreams gets stronger. It's hard to just believe in yourself without words of encouragement from your partners (thank you Lisa) and other random strangers that become friends over an art table.

10/11/2011
Hey, Lauren-- I have a question for you?
As I was driving and following your car to the amazing West End Family Fest in San Rafael on Sunday to facilitate with you the FREE ART making process to the masses--I thought of a inquiry. As Art is Moving has been in a collaboration for over three years. almost four----what single project or happening has made the most impact on you personally?

10/7/2011-lisa
Love it! love the video, love the conversation and the ART conversion. Thanks! brother Daniel for adding to the coversation! Here is another cool one I found, a great ART conversation of words, form and sounds between Ed Ruscha and Anthony (Red Hot) Kiedis. Things are happening in LA, la land!

10/06/2011 - Lauren

I can't take any credit for this. The video was sent to me from my brother, Daniel. But, you need to check this out if you haven't.

Pacific Standard Time is an unprecedented collaboration of cultural institutions across Southern California coming together to celebrate the birth of the L.A. art scene. Beginning October 2011, over 60 cultural institutions will make their contributions to this region-wide initiative encompassing every major L.A. art movement from 1945 to 1980. Celebrate the era that continues to inspire the world.

9/28/2011-lisa
It was strange because it was removed from two of my sites AIM and Art Transforms. Kind of irksome :(And a lot of people were commenting on both. I also sent Erik A a message about it and he did not answer the question--he just said the t-is available and check out my website.
Alright--lets post this puppy again and see what happens... social media experiment it is.

9/28/2011 - Lauren
I loved that poster when I saw it on our FB page. Boo to them for censoring it. I find that a bit surprising. Are you sure it wasn't removed by Erik Arraga himself or accidentally deleted? Because, it is still Erik's profile picture. I think we should test out the censorship and re-post the image and see what happens. Those words need to be spread around. What do you think? Anyway, I posting the image on our blog for all to see.

9/27/11 -lisa
This is so funny Lauren~ we were talking concisely about our experience with this last night at our weekly AIM Scipe meeting. I had to post it! It is going around on Facebook "I am Artist, that does not mean I work for free, I have bills just like you, Thank you for understanding." by Erik Arreaga
Maybe ours would say "I am Artist, that does not mean I work for free and I really need you to respect my time, Please be professional~I have bills and life just like you. Thank you for understanding."
(not cool a couple hours later this post was removed from our Art is Moving Facebook page---censorship always feels so yucky)

9/23/11-lisa
Love it! Lauren-- Great idea for a stronger video presence in AIM. How can we make this happen? Scipe? or we can we create a video when I am up there next for the SR festival. Thanks for your eternal support. Heartbreaks, shattered dreams, dusting oneself off and beginning again. I do not think we can test your theory "without struggle we could not know Bliss"--cuz we humans are always in struggle. All though when times are good, I still do really appreciate the transcendent :) Need to practice my Buddhist philosophy. "He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes." Buddha. Life the eternal reward.
Cannot wait to see pics of the storefront installation Take 5:ARTbreak Day 2011 ART!! Hope it all goes according to hoyle.
Also, very excited that Take 5:ARTbreak Day 2012 is unfolding very smoothly!!
Happy Autumnal Equinox!!
Love this quote by Blake, "In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy."

9/23/2011 - Lauren
Hey Lisa, Sorry to hear about the heartbreak! Always terrible to have to deal with that part of being an artist. But, there are good and bad to all aspects of life. Without the heartache, we wouldn't know what bliss feels like! I wanted to mention something quickly that I found this morning and thought it might be something we should think about. I know that our Take 5 video was really popular and thought we may want to think about starting up the video aspect of our project again. Check out this article about the power of video for a website. Would love to know your thoughts. (http://www.silberstudios.tv/blog/2011/09/4153/)

And, I think it's fine if good art matches a sofa, that just shouldn't be the reason you're buying it. Buy it because you HAVE to have it, and no other reason.

9/21/11-Lisa 12:41pm
Cool!
Lauren this is a weird organic process and we will see what happens. Thanks for being open to it.
Phew! yesterdays theme for me was Artist, Dreamer= HeARTbreak i.e Struggle and Dreams are dying.... it was a bad day :(
I had a really low blow in my personal prof art practice. As an artist I am so over sensitive and yesterday I had an Old Faithful of emotions spewing from my soul. It is all good~lest I feel and care way to much. Today is better :) My theme today is Artist, Dreamer= dust your self and hope to Inspire. Good news~My photograph called Hands of Creation got an award and was chosen as one of the top reps of this amazing project called The Peace Project!! I am so grateful for that!!
Also, I am excited about potentially having some of the Art from Take 5: ARTbreak Day 2011 in a vacant store front in Northgate Korea town in Oakland. I think it is a done deal the ARTcart will be at the West End Festival in San Rafael in October. Yeah AIM!
Hope you have a creative Wednesday! I am going to paint, work on ABD, refine my marketing strategy, grudgingly look for a day job, and draw some Kitty B's. Kitty Bliss's narrative theme will be "good ART should never match your sofa." Did you know that quote about ART matching your sofa came from Fred Babb? Great quote!

9/20/11 - Lauren
I am digging this new idea of yours and am curious as to where it will take us. I, sadly, have not done any art in the last couple of days. Such is the life of working to support an art career. Perhaps someday an art career will suffice in the money department. I haven't much to say as of yet because I am still recovering from Take 5. My brain is not back into the correct space to dive deeply into Art is Moving at the moment. That event really sucked it out of me. I am constantly trying to find balance and think that, at the moment, that means stepping away from going 100 MPH all the time. I do have plans for art making a bit tomorrow. But, most of my day will be soaked up with organizing all of the art supplies from Take 5. A Day in the Life has been on hold for the last few months, but I hope to complete another piece by the end of the week.

Oh, wanted to share this podcast with you since we were discussing the importance of social media during our meeting last night. (http://lab.agencyaccess.com/portals/16485/podcasts/Dialogues_Podcast_Episode_008.mp3)

Start: 9/19/11~Lisa
It was a big week for Art is Moving's ARTcart we worked the Spice of Life Festival in North Berkeley. It was a beautiful day packed with tons of folks, who were creating Art for Free from 11-7pm. We actually ran our of paper. Also, I am so excited that I sold my painting Phoenix Rising at the Terra Firma Gallery in San Rafael.( today, the painting was returned~that really hurts) YES! It looks like is going to be a great fall!! challenging fall....
As always I have a lot on my plate. Here is just a few morsels.
I need to start networking for Take 5: ARTbreak Day 2012. We will be expanding to potentially five cities in SoCal.

Check out my new work called windows in Danish "vinduer." I am half Danish and Irish, a total Viking I am. Cool, I just discovered the Google translator Translate Google with a voice and all :) I really need to get into a gallery in LA!

Lets keep this conversation going!
See you tonight on Scipe at our weekly Monday AIM meeting.
We will be chatting and reflecting heavily about Take 5: ARTbreak Day and AIM's future
Hey Lauren, what do think about my new Blog post idea? Did you do anything ARTy today?
How is your A Day in the Life Project going?~lisa

As always if you want to join the conversation, please do!!!

Which painting would you steal?

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Lauren and Tom stealing their favorite piece at Hadley Williams MFA Graduate Exhibition at JFKU

Lauren and I in Graduate School had an amazing Prof Jeremy Morgan, who taught us a great way to look at Art. In our Crit he had an effective technique to get people to start thinking and to start talking about the Art that was in front of them. What he did to break the ice and the silence was announce to us an obscure group of Art Students "folks if you were to steal one painting in this collection (the work that we would hang in front of the group to get feedback from) which would it be and why?"

Have some fun and try it. Next time you go to an art exhibition and museum ask the folks with you " if you were to steal one painting in this collection which would it be and why?" It really incites reflection, conversation and it is FUN!!!

quintessential quotes

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:48:00 +0000

The life of the consciousness is boundless. It interpenetrates the world

and is woven in all its imagery. Therefore, we must listen closely to our inner voice.

Oskar Kokoschka

Occupy an Experiment in Creativity #18

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:30:00 +0000

I really love,respect, and support the Occupy Movement. The one thing that fills me up with constant inspiration is the individual and collective Creativity, which is the heart of this movement. Specifically I have been been intrigued by the ART(The Expression) that is being created from the movement, I really think the signs that individuals are creating and holding up in public to protest, embody it all. To me the mark making and the words are really an ultimate Art Intervention, which gives voice, empowerment and expression to the beholdee and the beholder.

Signs have power-Found this one at the Mother of Dada's Art Center and Living Art Studio, Ojai, CA

As Art imitates life and vice versa with this Experiment in Creativity

I want you to create your own Occupy Art Sign and place in the public sphere to engage in your own Art Intervention.
Have Fun and Express what ever you need to Occupy
Document your ART and Experience
If you feel inspired by your Occupy Art you can also submit it to GOOD Magazine, they are holding a contest "to create a creative sign for the 99 percent."

Looking forward to seeing what transpires.

-Lisa

Happy Gratitude Day!!

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.
-G. K. Chesterton

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!

Two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we take;

the larger kind we feel for what we give.”

— Edwin Arlington Robinson

ART Local: Answer to Experiments in Creativity #17

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:59:00 +0000

Last week I was in Northwest Arkansas. which includes the towns of Bentonville, Rogers, and Fayetteville, visiting my Dad. He lives in Rogers on Beaver Lake and this was the town where I decided to complete my Experiments in Creativity #17. Although the new and grandiose Crystal Bridges Museum is only a couple miles away in Bentonville, it was really a challenge to find the Local Art Scene in Rogers, Arkansas.The population of this town is sprawling, it is around 55,000 and most folks work for the Moguls of Walmart, Tyson's (factory torture farm for chickens) and JB Hunt. As I was trying to explore the Local Art scene in Rogers, I went into the historic downtown, which has cute cafes, shops and that is where I found the lone Artist Collective and where I completed my experiment.

Step 1: Find the local art scene and document your adventure to and fro.

Poor Richards Artist Collective

Historic Downtown Rogers, Arkansas

Step 2: Pick a local artist who inspires you

Inside Poor Richards where I met Artist Damon Chatterton

Step 3: Provide us with the website, images, etc. of that artist.

Damon Chatterton is a self taught Artist, who works in Polymer Clay.

You can find more of his work at Poor Richards Art.

Here is what Damon says about his process "Polymer clay has become my sweetest vice; working the clay makes me hungry, it feels like making candy or sushi. The colors and versatility of the medium allow me to make images with Millefiori, sculpt figures or build vessels, and even hand-roll my own beads. I do not use paint to make my designs, only pure hand-worked clay."

Step 4: Create a work of art as a direct response to the artist and his/her work.

Work that I created in response to Damon's PolyClay. Spiral; Medium Sumi ink and Oil Pastel

Step 5: Tell us why you chose the artist and how the new work you created was inspired by him/her.

I choose the Damon's work because I actually met him and we had nice conversation about the Poor Richards Art Collective. I checked out his work and what I liked was that his worked was inspired by Art Nouveau and Art Deco, two movements I have always been a fan of. The piece that I created in response to his work was a Spiral mixed media piece. It was inspired by Damon's organic forms and his strong color choice of grays tones and blacks. Also, I think subconsciously I choose the archetype of the Spiral because the Artist Collective is going through a journey as after the holiday season they will be closing and they hope to open up in new place in downtown Rogers. I wish them luck, they fill a necessary and very important role in their community. I do hope in the near future with the opening of Crystal Bridges the Local Art Scene will start to flourish. Also, I know that the National Endowment of Arts has a cool community arts grant program called Our Town. Although, sadly the NEA is on the government chopping block these days and that grant might not be available very soon.
From this experiment a couple things came to my mind. I strongly feel that every town and city needs a thriving Arts Community it essential for individual expression, Civic Pride,community building, and empowerment. As Sir Ken Robinson eloquently surmises, "Creativity now is as important as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status."

Community Arts in truly my passion and in the near future, I hope to open a thriving and Transformative Community Art Center were ever I live that gives back to the community!
Also, I am looking forward to hearing about your Local Art Scene and your creative response to it! This was a fun EIC it is awesome to creatively embody your experience.-Lisa

Our NEW Online Store!

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

WE JUST OPENED OUR FIRST STORE!

We are so excited to share all of the wonderful artworks we have collected over the years with you for purchase. Below is just a small sample of what you can buy in forms of greeting cards, photographic prints, matted or framed prints, and more! Every dollar that you spend on your new work of art will go straight towards supporting Art is Moving.

Help us on our mission to get the world to "take an art break together" and get art into hands of everyone so they have a chance to discover the power of art!

We also have a collection of T-shirts for those of you who want to spread the word!

And, Lisa came up with the quote, and Lauren came up with design for this one.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support!
Lauren and Lisa
Art is Moving

A Peek @ Crystal Bridges, Museum of American Art

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:26:00 +0000

On 11/14/11, I visited the brand spanking new Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. I believe I read somewhere that Alice Walton, the founder of Crystals Bridges, intention was for the museum and its grounds to be a zone of stewardship for Art, Nature, and Knowledge, here is a peek at what I discovered at this amazing treasure.
As you approach the entrance of the museum, you are greeted by this spectacular metal tree sculpture by Roxy Paine. When you look down at the vista of Crystal Bridges designed by the stellar architect Moshe Safdie it is really a stunning example of the merging of nature, time,space, and form all nestled in the forest of the Ozarks. The day that I went it was raining, which was lovely and moody; however, I sensed that this structure and its vibe changes in time and weather. In the sunlight the copper and silver roofs probabaly sparkle in the sun and in the evening the lights must created a glow like a group of fireflies surrounding the museum.

In one of the galleries there was a Contemporary American Exhibition called the Wonder World featuring well known and emerging artists. I loved this exhibition which included such super stars as Nick Cave(Sound suit below) and John Baldessari which explored the notion of Nature and Perception.

This was a eclectic piece (below) a portrait done on an artist palette

In another which encased 19th work, I was really intrigued by (below) this portrait of a monkey whose expression was questioning the viewer, he was holding a book by Charles Darwin. I was intrigued why Walton collected this piece as Arkansas is in the Bible Belt and evolution in some sects in still being challenged.

The Indian and the Lily by George de Forest Brush, purchased December 2004 for $4.824 million

I also loved the metaphysical topics of some of the early 20th century work.

I really enjoyed my visit at Crystal Bridges it is obvious that Alice Walton collects for the love of Art and she wants everyone to experience the joy that she feels from Art, It seems with her eclectic collection she wants to open a conversation about Art.

Crystal Bridges is a successful hub of the stewardship of Art and Nature. I feel this adds a lot of potential to the community to expand their horizons--the tickets are free to attend, they have an extensive education department, and books are everywhere amongst the collections so you can sit, absorb, and do your own art investigation. Art should be for all!!

On our Flickr account you can see the rest of the photos that I took that day at Crystal Bridges, Museum of American Art, I hope to walk the Art Trail at the Museum this week, I am dying to sit in James Turrell installation and connect with the woods.

I am Artist: D. DelReverda-Jennings of Indiana

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Enjoy D's transcendent interview!

Why are you an artist?
As far as I can remember I have had some sense of who I was as a creative. I have always loved color, texture, pattern, materials, etc., and feel that it was a natural progression for me to go into the visual arts field. As a small child, even before cognitively realizing/understanding what I was actually doing, I made what could have been construed as art, although some may have begged to differ. Art is intrinsically integral to the total spectrum of my day, and has always been a constant drive and passion throughout my life. Art for me is compulsory and I must admit that I create the majority of what I do for purely selfish reasons...to please myself..my inner child, bringing to my spirit great joy and wonder...then on to share with others, where I acquire yet another marvelous feeling whenever a piece touches someone..I truly enjoy their reaction to it.

A native of Alaska, I relocated as a youth with my grandparents to Chicago, where I was raised until moving on to Indiana. Memories of being creative are many, on one occasion when I was about four, I received an unforgettable and well deserved behavioral adjustment, due to a dangerous attempt at making paper mâché bracelets out of toilet paper, water, flour and a bit of school glue, then turning on and opening the huge old monster of a gas oven to dry my lumpy creations. My grandparents, God love them, knew that I was an old soul (been here before)..a bit touched, a tad odd, slightly askew...but they reinforced, motivated, enriched and supported my creative and highly kinetic nature.

My artistic journey is influenced by the kaleidoscope of cultural nuances, personal experiences and observations and I consider the diverse Visual Arts field to be an invaluable and sacred profession. I fluidly free-lance in a number of arts disciplines throughout the Midwest as an arts administrator, facilitator, regional arts editor/journalist/author/poet. I am blessed and honored to continually receive invitations to create commissioned work, participate in juried exhibitions, invitational shows and present group art presentations.

Primarily Self-taught, I am not confined to a single medium and this challenges me as an interdisciplinary artist to go outside of the microcosm of my comfort zone. I work from a diverse repertoire, this lends to my being a prolific visual artist that has been a practicing creative for over two decades...I absolutely relish the whole of the experience and I guess that you could say that I am obsessed, due to the fact that basically everything that I do, the fields that I work in, the people that I am surrounded by, associate or hang out with and the constant desire to acquire new interests and skill are all in some area of the arts or connected in some manner. I am in love with the act of conceiving a piece of artwork, creating interesting narrative, provocative interplay and tension among the elements.

My signature figurative sculptural work is organic, extremely detailed and texturally complex, resulting in ethereal pieces evocative of ancient entities with some of the techniques relating to ethnic craft archetypal of ancient West Africa.I prefer to work in solitude while creating welded works, wall relief's, original cast work, printmaking, fetishes, totems, collage, carvings, assemblage and constructions, functional-utilitarian objets d'art, installations, public art works, clay work, mixed-media, illustration, photographic works, textiles & fiber, textural abstract compositional works, large decorative~functional "FrameMirror Work" artpieces (my own concept and design) inclusive of hand wrought, incised, highly charged, worked and reworked (chased and repousse`d) surfaces, deeply variant, tactile compositions of metalwork and often hand-tooled leather. I make compelling 2 -Dimensional narrative paintings as well as sculptural pieces which address my lineal connection to and illuminate the importance of African American, Afro-Caribbean, Caribbean Latina/o and Afro-Latin's in the context of the African-Diaspora culture and the divine feminine/Women's art of the Diaspora. I celebrate women and depict females who are in a state of self-discovery, insight and affirmation, while exploring the complexities of bi-racial/multi ethnic/multiracial-cultural identity and referencing from the spiritual and religious histories that have aesthetic traditions based in the African Diaspora.

I use identity, women's issues, stereotypical assumptions, indigenous wisdom's-folklore, ancestral memory and nature as material in the construct of my work as well as traditional and original personal symbolism, aesthetic references and reflective imagery pervasive of African, American, Native Alaskan and Taino cultures. I fashion my work utilizing a wide spectrum of media and materials ("Steel to Stone/Paint to Paper), integrating vibrant hues, organic patinas, complex surfaces and incised reliefs, hand wrought treatments and emphasized textures. I have also brought facets of my complex textural work to my exclusive artisan "Statement" design jewelry line "SEVENTH GODDESS JEWELRY DESIGN," (begun in 2010), which feature hand-hammered precious and semi-precious metals, semi-precious stones and mixed-media..that speak in bold character and substantial elements, capturing the spirit of the contemporary woman seeking unique pieces of distinction in wearable artistry that communicates luxury, style and elegance.

As Founder, Independent Curator/Administrator/Artist Consultant for the annual "FLAVA FRESH ! " juried, Art exhibition presentation series, I present the six month long, annual Indianapolis, IN., events project as part of my mission and initiative to bring about a greater awareness, appreciation, inspiration, support and exposure for visual artists; especially those undiscovered, under-represented, emerging and Artists’ of Color through a series of commercial, professional art exhibition venues. The multiple exhibition series creates a context for the artist's to develop, contributes to their creative process and offers the public an opportunity to become aware of and create interest and appreciation for artist's that they would not ordinarily have access to or knowledge of. I am blessed to have received numerous awards and honors and my work has been exhibited internationally in Canada and the Caribbean. I am honored that I have been able to become a practicing artist, to share my work with so many, and happy that I have been able to push the envelope to help others along the way as well as to be a part of the committed creatives which have assisted in helping the Indianapolis (Indy) arts & cultural scene to grow and improve.

Tell us about your exhibition "TRANSCENDENCE"? What was your vision and was it fulfilled?
"TRANSCENDENCE" was presented under the auspices/consensus of FLAVA FRESH !, a six month long series of a three exhibition venue, multicultural celebration of visual artists who create diverse works, The exhibitions and events are presented in the Indianapolis community by Urbane D'Art Inc. and yours truly partnered with major arts and related entities, in this specific instance_the Arts Council of Indianapolis. FLAVA FRESH ! is held each year as part of my mission and initiative to bring about greater awareness, appreciation, inspiration, support and exposure for visual artists; especially those undiscovered, under-represented, emerging, and Artists’ of Color through a season of commercial, professional art exhibition venues.

My vision of "TRANSCENDENCE" was conceived out of a belief that is most likely held by nearly all of humanity in that most people have contemplated through their own dreams, interpretations, hope or imaginings a vision/theory of what lies beyond the ordinary range of human perception. I chose the theme as a concept which addressed reflective investigation/expression of the human vessel_the body as a spiritual entity that possesses the potential to transcend/surpass/exceed its physical being going beyond, above and independent of the material universe and/or through the exploration of the philosophical, psychological consciousness..myth, ritual, ceremony and magic...the sensual, spiritual and the sacred...symbolism and emotional realms.

The works of over two dozen artists in the exhibition made pointed observations and posed questions concerning the complexity of human existence and our relationship with the unknown universe. The whole of the exhibition illustrated the artists’ enthusiasm in response to the theme, their chosen mediums, featured in work never before exhibited which offered inspiration and an educational focus in a variety of art disciplines, genres, styles and techniques to the public-at-large and invited the onlooker to decipher or perceive their own idea or an examination of what the work meant in relation to the topic. Guests traveled from as far away as Florida, as well as Illinois and Kentucky to attend the packed Artists' Reception of the second presentation, which was held at the relatively new Gallery 924 on the First Friday Art Tour of August 2011.

Two vehicles full of diversely creative, beautiful women artist colleagues from Columbus, Ohio came over for the day, an Indiana State Representative and his friends were also among the well heeled attendees that were on hand to make up the over 380+ individuals that visited the gallery. We are honored to have had supportive Sponsors and gratefully appreciate and acknowledge their interest and benevolence in the advancement of the visual arts culture in Indianapolis. My vision was successful in the sense that the diverse, well executed artworks were very well received by the public and press, the exhibition was big, beautiful and bold, and the opening was marvelous and one of the better attended exhibitions at the gallery. The down side is that certain human elements detracted from the spirit of the freedom of art and the nature of an artist to be an artist.

Tell us your philosophy of Art?

As a self-taught artist I intrinsically seek out things, people, environments, experiences that will help me in my desire to evolve, grow and focus on improving my knowledge, technical adeptness, observation and aesthetic skills and to convey my perceptions in whatever discipline or medium that I choose to work in. Creating art pieces are to me the gestation, enduring pregnancy and finally the celebratory birthing release of a secret/sacred part of my inner self...what I consider to be my child. It hurts deeply when I have to part with one of my sculptural pieces. My artwork is made specifically from my love and passion of creating and I feel that I am blessed with a gift that is capable of impacting many. I do not however, believe that it is critical that everyone have a formal education, technical training or the credibility of a degree in fine art in order to become a successful artist..but in today's world, an aspiring, unknown and/or emergent artist is much better off with all of the assistance and/or training that they possibly can obtain. There are thousands, if not millions of visual artists in the world, which can make for an arduous foray into the vast field, that is why I believe that the more expertise an artist has, the better off they will be in their pursuit of success. For either a formal or self-taught artist, any type of education, especially 'business expertise', in addition to artistic skills and/or types of trade skills are an asset regardless of the direction that an artist takes. What should be most important personally, is what you have to express creatively.

What is the art scene like in Indy?

INDY is an embryo within the first stage of gestation, forming itself into becoming a burgeoning creative infant in the rather reticent Midwestern arts community...it is JUST beginning to configure vital organs, becoming cognizant that with the aid of the creative class, in the near future, it will be capable of crawling. There are issues; the State is overflowing with gifted artists who are at the mercy of the traditional old guard. Sure, a chosen few make it, but for the majority of the rest...we work really hard, trying to get our work/selves out there..tryin' to make a name...just tryin' to survive and prosper artistically at what we do best in a city that is hell-bent on wanting to be the sports capital of the region/world...non-apologetically supporting the principles and the players at all costs, no matter the downturn in the economy. Which speaks to the need to begin a maturation process, to look in-depth at and utilize the artistic wealth in Indiana's own backyard and become a more diverse, inviting artistic and cultural environment. It would also appear that the consensus of the creative community would be exceptionally more progressive and inclusive, but I have often found the opposite and am sometimes shocked as to how non-inclusive Indiana can be culturally, artistically..even when participating (attempting to) in exhibitions or presenting independent exhibitions and art events.

There's also the typical school of thought by individuals on project selection committees that tend to believe that an artists' art/product from anywhere else other than Indiana are more worthy of exhibiting, gleefully doling out exorbitant sums of cash to out of state artists for commissions. There's the separate camps, elitist-insular cliques, constant 'talking down' to 'the native' artists syndrome which runs rampant through the arts world no matter where art exists, and Indy is no different, it can be hard to break through the glass/class ceiling and can truly be a difficult road on which to travel. Indiana Women artist's and Artists' of Color still struggle to be a part of the arts mainstream and the face of a sometimes backward and regressive segment of the populace often rears its ugly head to make a huge stink, (to illustrate an example,) 'ranting and insisting that artworks like Julian Opie's modern digital dancing woman figure installed along the Indianapolis', Mass Avenue Arts District looks like a beckoning prostitute???'

Really now people, it's a graphic stick figure in motion...apparently someone has way too much time on their hands, female issues and are a fry and a half short of a happy meal. Let me NOT forget to mention the big, NEW Indianapolis initiative to create and install on public property, a substantial sculpture of a ragged/downtrodden, barefoot and disheveled, submissive imaged "slave" sculpture, "E Pluribus Unum," in broken shackles (taken out of the context of an existing monument, and the only existing sculpture of a Black individual in the city), to supposedly recreate/re-contextualize an empowered "21st Century African American," on the new cash cow, "the Cultural Trail," against the wishes of the majority of the cities constituents while merrily handing over three hundred thousand dollars+ to a New York artist who will not lay a finger on the medium in the phase of it's physical creation, and who has retained a commercial marble foundry to sculpt (by CNC machine) the piece out of stone. I happen to like some of Fred Wilson's work and acknowledge his accomplishments and contributions to the world of art, but this really has little to do with the artist, it is an altogether different endeavor, and to what end?

There are undoubtedly a number of ways to honor a culture by means other than showcasing a historically oppressed and disenfranchised characterization. There is nothing positive, uplifting or empowering about slavery. What is amazing is that the organizers, (an organization of moneyed folks) continue to push for the half-naked, polarizing monument to be created and installed on this downtown, public pathway along with contemporary stylized and artistically tame pieces, in total disregard to the communities desires. What would drive someone to think that such an agenda would 'honor' African Americans? Slavery is NOT a cultural idiom__for members of academia, literate and progressive society, 'culture' does not include "slavery." The term is not of a cultural definitive nature, (*"a captive. A human being who is owned as property by another") it is history, (*an account of what has happened in the life of a people, country, etc." **Webster's New World Dictionary.) It is a part of not only of our history, but of others...an evil, malevolent atrocity and tragic injustice, "that is/was placed upon a people." The term "slave" should not even be referred to in a cultural context. Force feeding such a permanent and disparaging art piece down the throat of a community is certainly not the way to open up a dialogue about history. What is both logical and preferable would be to start anew by commissioning an Indiana or Midwestern artist to create a contemporary memorial, a positive representation, (one exemplary example being the, 'Triumph of the Human Spirit,' created by Dr. Lorenzo Pace of Chicago, IL.) and have it made out of Indiana Limestone....Art is about progress, not taking giant leaps backwards. Indy arts culture definitely has its drawbacks, it is a rare occasion to receive a review in Indy, or to get a 'mention' of your work or art event in print media or online.

Even more rare is to see an actual arts reviewer taking in an exhibit, although I have observed one writer Dan Grossman (NUVO), a number of times out and about on First Friday Art Tours and I have received a really nice mention several years back (Dreamtime: Universal Archetypes), and a pretty decent exhibition review on the recent presentation of "TRANSCENDENCE." Indy creatives are quite verbal about the fact that reputable/professional art expertise is lacking..but the towns arts crowd/arts powers that be need to realize that reviewing artwork in a city that has as the number of galleries/arts venues as we have involves a considerable amount of effort..art critics/writers must also be well compensated, they need to pay bills also! As far as a real platform in the community for the discussion of art..expert knowledge, mentors, critical review, sincere opinion, insight, narrative and writing..there are few...each of these factors are necessary ingredients for a viable arts & cultural community, and reviews are also a necessary component (support material) in a professional artists portfolio. If Indianapolis wants to ever become the greatly desired/touted, "Arts & Cultural Destination," that it purports itself to be...then it truly has to work on ridding itself of the factors that detract from obtaining that sort of national perspective Still, the Arts & Cultural scene in Indiana is slowly beginning to gain popularity with numerous brick and mortar galleries, art fairs and fests, open studio's, exhibits and annual exhibitions, First Friday's, a taste of underground and grassroots efforts, and special art events. Impermanent, pop-up/mobile gallery type of arts venues are becoming popular in Indiana, although many of these venues come and go. There's a thriving performance art scene, a long held, steadfast music and literary following, growing film and fashion scenes, collaborations between the disciplines and a number of great art spaces_ traditional and alternative as well as many art museums and arts centers for the enjoyment and engagement of audiences of just about any age or economic demographic. If you don't scratch too deeply beneath the surface, an interesting opportunity awaits those who enjoy diverse culture, fine art, artisan craft, historical connection to the arts, interaction with art creatives and those who are looking for something creatively refreshing. I remain optimistic...I LOVE Indy artists, I love what Indy is trying to become culturally...you couldn't find a better, more talented bunch anywhere. I also travel quite a bit and view a lot of art and Indy has some of the best! Indianapolis could possibly make the pipedream of becoming an Arts & Cultural destination a reality one day...quite literally all roads lead to Indy..four interstate's run right through the Midwest’s third largest city of Indianapolis, entitled the, “Crossroads of America.” BUT, we need a game changer to even begin to make that dream tangible, we need to cut out a lot of the crap that goes on....There's always room for improvement.

Who are your artistic ancestors?
My Grandparents__ who although not visual artists, were both creative, ingenious and inspiring. They exposed me to many creative/artistic/cultural outlets and associations and I am grateful to have acquired so much from them as they reinforced, influenced, enriched and supported my creative nature. Culture__ I draw from the triad and shared history of my immediate heritage and birthplace. I have no singular favorite artist in particular that I focus on, but touch upon dedicated “Creative Women” of all types, beliefs, cultures, ethnicity's, experiences...vision, all the way back to the women who painted with ochre and ash on the walls of the caves where they dwelled. I have found the community of women who create to be inspiring, empowering, filled with experiences which can offer a common spirit, provocation's, role models, expectation..liberation and conclusions with which to broaden my interests and/or quench my always ravenous curiosity.

Check out these two articles http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/11/arts/design/11ants.html?pagewanted=all and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kriston-capps/jesse-helms-the-intimidat_b_112874.html

a. Do feel the US government has the right to censor art? No. Artistic freedom should be the right of each an every citizen of this nation. The First Amendment of the Constitution gives Americans the right to free speech, if the government was to have eminence over censorship, what barometer, evaluation and/or consensus would they/we agree on and subsequently utilize to go about implementing such actions? A pervasive/expansive government that tells its population how to live/conduct their lives, are hell bent on taking those rights away from them. Would every piece of artwork in the nations public domain have to be 'rated'? Our 'rights' in America, what is considered to be the land of the 'free' would soon be eased swiftly out from under us. Albeit lies a contradiction; the only restriction that I feel that would be absolutely necessary for this country's government and it's constituents/populus to oversee, would be inclusive of any type of child pornography and related explicit or violent materials, due to the deplorable, insidious, 'morally' depraved nature relevant to obtaining such work.

b. Do you feel art has a moral purpose? Art is integral to the nucleus of culture, a purposeful human artifact. Throughout history Art has aesthetically been used as a depiction of morality, it can certainly be uplifting or empowering to a society, as well as conceivably being reproachful or harmful. Artists of all disciplines have expressed their perceptions, conceptions of morality through their artistry and they have definitely made us think throughout the ages. I believe Art and morality to be two uniquely different exponents. Morality should not be pushed at the expense of artistic freedom and one should not be measured in terms of the other.

What is the role of the artist in our society?
Artists' document the period, people, politics, society, lives, environment, style in which they exist. They delight..offer insight, educate and enlighten...we challenge and celebrate concepts, beliefs, state of being, tradition and more. Artists' transport us..reflect, reproduce, recreate reality..preserving and archiving periods of time visually for present and future generations. We as artists' inspire, empower, motivate, mentor and are monsters, misanthropes and muses...many of us expound, interpret, advocate and represent. Art is a natural part of developmental growth, even more significant is that it is the basis for all cultures and the barometer by which civilizations are measured historically. Every child should be exposed to and immersed in the arts. The arts have intangible benefits which compliment and build on the skills and cognition of children and I believe that it is critically necessary as it is an innate part of our makeup as human beings. But in today's world numerous facets of the arts are tragically becoming endangered, the lack of arts curriculum in schools in the United States are causing scholastic scores to go down as well as overall performance in classes. The only way to effect change in this matter is by affecting public policy, before we look up and find that the arts in schools are totally nonexistent. The slashing of funding for the arts has not only impacted children creatively, but a large majority of artists and arts related or cultural workers as well. It has cut significantly into my own survival as an arts facilitator and as a working artist due to there being consumer shrinkage in the marketplace. People are spending more on items of necessity and comfort, being much more frugal in the selection of luxury and entertainment choices. Visual art is the last thing on the shopping lists, if noted at all, of the poor and now unsurprisingly the middle-class.

Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?
Surviving and prospering financially as a flourishing, self-sustaining artist. Acquiring the benefit of national/international representation. Laboring creatively in a huge sun filled, open space studio/workshop which will accommodate all fazes of my work and exhibiting said work and the work of others in a terrific commercial gallery space of my own. I would like to continue to prolifically create substantial 2 and 3 dimensional art pieces in series...I have so many concepts that I would like to bring to fruition, but unfortunately lack the necessary workspace or large storage space that is needed, nor do I have the unlimited expense account to acquire the desired space, materials, media, tools and machinery that I would love to experiment and create with. There are mediums, specifically bronze that I would love to create large sculptural figurative pieces in—but the cost for works of size are prohibitive at this stage. As an interdisciplinary artist and regional arts editor/journalist/author...throughout the last sixteen years I have written about artist's of all disciplines, their work, lives as creatives and have featured them in numerous publications. With the blessing and support of a recent Indiana Arts Commission/NEA_ Individual Artist Program Grant in Literature, I have just published the first volume of an ongoing series of collective biographies, "Horizon: Indiana Artists' of Color," which will be available in 2012 at the Central, Indianapolis Marion County Public Library's, Annual February Gala presentation of the "Meet The Artists XXIV" Exhibition. I hope to develop this enterprise and have several other literary pieces in the works for publication in the oncoming years. I want to see all that has transpired within the last twelve years with my FLAVA FRESH ! exhibition presentation series initiative (formerly; Celebration Of Spirit, 1-3.), diversified into a larger, more prominent venue. Another goal is to attend/participate in several artist residencies and fulfill several fellowships that I aspire to obtain. I have always been drawn to printmaking and would love to cross over into the discipline making it a more significant part of my art making. I create some of my work utilizing printing techniques in a self-taught, limited capacity, but greatly desire to learn a number of skills/techniques, learn from and interact with printmaking masters and immerse myself in the disciplines sheer magnitude. I plan on being very successful, staying true to myself, my work and my passion! I intend to continue to challenge myself, push boundaries, develop, enhance and reinvent myself and my ongoing/new work. Just putting it all out there, ya' never know what blessed abundance that the universe will bring.

What are your ultimate goals as an artist?
Personally, I would like for my work to leave a lasting and meaningful impression in this world. Being recognized globally and reaching that point before becoming to frail to thoroughly enjoy the well earned fruits of my creative labor. I would like to expand the work within the disciplines that I create in and take them as far as I absolutely can. I would LOVE to get paid handsomely for those aforementioned fruits and definitely enjoy all of my responses to question #*8

What does art mean to you?
Given the expansive possibilities of art itself, it is enmeshed in each of our lives the world over, all day, in every way...we eat, sleep, live and dream art 24/7, 365 days a year. Art is ingrained in the total spectrum of contemporary society. It is absolutely amazing to me that in today's society, Artists are so undervalued, when just about everything other than nature, that is used by or surrounds us has been touched in some way by an artist of one kind or another. For me personally, art is a way of life..it is intuitive, exploratory, free spirit..invocation, meditation, mimesis, enjoyment, experimentation, breath, passion...devotion. Art provides perspective and communicates emotion, memory, actions..history, beliefs, environment, culture, commentary, aesthetics, issues, commonality, situation, sociological standpoint and/or sensibilities....art is in my spirit and reflects what makes my energies vibrate. It is my way of visual communicative, interpretative expression of my journey...my being, experiences, identity, celebration and dreams in tangible form, which I fashion out of a multitude of emotions, materials and media. Art is metaphor..a representation, a portrait_beautiful, sensuous, ugly, unique, evil, loving, healing...it is in addition a complex melange of all sorts of bits and pieces of me....It is ancestral, sacred, myth, magic, folklore..reality. I Thank God for blessing me with the creative gifts that I have. Art as they say, speaks to me..in love of process, creation and sharing. My artwork reflects inspiration from who and where I come from...what and who I am to become. I believe in Art, I surrender to Art..Because of Art...I am Fulfilled.

Thank you again for allowing my participation in your project. Brava & Kudos! I wish you all the best in your creative endeavors.

Abundant Blessings! ...... D. DelReverda-Jennings

Websites:
http://www.ddelreverdajennings.wordpress.com ( A Work In Progress ). http://www.indyarts.org/meetindyartists.aspx?ty=alp&lr=d&id=784 , http://www.columbuslibrary.org/cmlarts/artistdisplay.cfm?artistid=1291&searchlist=D&searchindex=N&searchtype=B&original_type=NB&hits=50

11-11-11: The Art of Beauty and Remembrance-Opening Day Celebration Crystal Bridges

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:11:00 +0000

It was a beautiful vibrant fall day in Northwest Arkansas, I was in the area visiting my Dad and I was very happy to attend the Opening Day Celebration 11-11-11 of Crystal Bridges, Museum of American Art. Here are some images of the Opening Day Celebration!!

I love this photo above of Alice Walton "student of Art and Life" founder and visionary of Crystal Bridges. Her expression is pure joy. She realized her dream! I think the more we all do this (realize our dreams) it is better for the whole universe.

Architect Moshe Safdie of Crystal Bridges

I also loved seeing Occupy Bentonville in front of the original Walmart.

Check out the whole set 11-11-11: The Art of Beauty and Remembrance-Opening Day Celebration Crystal Bridges,on Flickr.

I will be visiting Crystal Bridges, Museum of American Art this coming Monday, more pics to follow.
Hope you all enjoyed 11-11-11!
-Lisa

What does your art break look like? {Amber Guffey}

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:43:00 +0000

I love our new project, What does your art break look like? We get to peek into the lives of folks creating art all over the world. We hope this inspires others to take an art break too! Check out Amber Guffey's ARTbreak!

During lunch I like to sketch a bunch of different things. Today I was on a Pokemon kick. I was also testing out a pencil for a friend's art supply company. I draw during my lunch breaks one to two times a week.

Check out more of Amber's work here:

Website/blog - rainycanvas.com
Webcomic (Updated Sundays!) - imadeinky.com
Portfolio - be.net/guffey

Thank you so much for showing us your ARTbreak Amber!

What does your ARTbreak look like?

Send us images and tell us why you do it and how you benefit from it via email: artismoving{at}gmail{dot}com

I am an Artist: Herschel Fall-Indiana

noreply@blogger.com (Art is Moving) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:33:00 +0000

Here is the Artistic voice of Herschel Fall. Enjoy his color and form!!

Why am I an artist?
Well, that is an easy one. I can't sing LOL, no all jokes aside, It is what comes natural to me. It gives me great pleaser win I am working on a new piece of artwork.

Can you talk about the various genres you paint in? Which is your favorite and why?
I work in about 4 different genres, trying to give or create what is known as an artistic voice. As thy are different thy all so relate to each other, as my still life have my abstract in the back ground same for my flowers all so a lot of my still life have flowers in them. But the biggest similarity's is the use of the color red. I try to use it in most of my work. The color red is a very bold color and all so a very passionate color. It is what makes my work stand out from the other work around it.

Tell us about your philosophy of Art?
My philosophy of art is very simple. Art should touch people make them fill something. You should look a a piece of art a fill happy or said but is should touch you or remind you of a place in time were you wear the happiest. Like you was as a little kid wean life was simple.

What inspires you?

My work is inspired by life. Weather it being the world arounds us or by passion from us. I have a deep desire to make people fill something win thy look at my work . To give them some joy or happiness in their life. I love per se the look on a person face win thy see a piece of my artwork that makes them happy. I ones did a piece from a photo that was taking win a couple renewed there wedding vows. Thy did not know I was doing the piece until I framed it and then gave it to them thy were speechless and the look was priceless I will never for get that moment.

Who are your artistic ancestors?

Thats a good Qu. I don't think I have any that I have followed. I do have some artist that I look up to like [ Thomas KInkade, Mikki Senkerik and Michael Goddard ] But my work does not follow them, as I am completely self taught. I do follow other artist like the ones I have named but meanly to see how thy have moved there caries along which gives me some gide lines for my life as an artist .

Check out these two articles As Ants Crawl Over Crucifix, Dead Artist Is Assailed Again and Jesse Helms: The Intimidation of Art and the Art of Intimidation

After reading both of the articles I believe that this is just lane censorship ether by the church or the government. I do not believe any thing should be censorship as long as it don't violate any ones rights or hurt them. If you do not like something don't look or lesson to it. You have the right to walk a way and not view it. People tend to try to tell others what to do or create by their own Bellevue's

Do feel the US government has the right to censor art?

I don't think the government or the church has the right to censor art. If you don't like it don't look at it.

Do you feel art has a moral purpose?

I do feel we as artist do have a responsibility to art fans to give out a more positive measege. But some artist do not think so and thy have that right. But agen it comes down to if you don't like don't look

What is the role of the artist in our society?

I believe the role as an artist, in society is to bring some joy or happiness in to life's of their fans. For me I like to touch their inter being or sole. To make them fell some kind of pice or joy for just a couple of minutes. We as artist should be focus on the best side of life not the worst. But there are some artist that feel that thy have to make a statement on some of the negative side of life and that is their right to do so I just don't fell like that is were I would like my art to be remembered for.

Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?

Were do I see my self in 5 years. Well, hopefully I have meet some of my goals as an artist. LIke having my artwork in of the top art magazines. As well, as having my art in three to five different art galleries in the US. I would all so like to be making a living full time just from my artwork. I would all so like to have my work in one or two different art museums.

What are your ultimate goals as an artist?

My ultimate goal as an artist would have to be to make people happy with my artwork as well as to make a living from it. just that simple .

What does art mean to you?

Wow thats a great Qu. I believe it were we as artist have the gift to make people life just a little bit more special. It is the gift to change people life for the better

To connect with Herschel Fall go to www.tintedcanvas.com and e-mail him at a.fall@sbcglobal.net

Experiments in Creativity #17 - ART Local

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Odell Usher) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

A great way to get to know a new city is to search for the local art scene. You can go to museums, galleries, cooperatives, coffee shops, festivals, whatever suits your fancy. I have designed this next Experiment in Creativity around a trip Lisa will be taking for the next few weeks.

No worries, you don't have to be on vacation or in a new city to participate. Simpy use this Experiment in Creativity to get to know your own city a little bit better.

Here's the assignment:

Find the local art scene and document your adventure to and fro.
Pick a local artist who inspires you.
Provide us with the website, images, etc. of that artist.
Create a work of art as a direct response to the artist and his/her work.
Tell us why you chose the artist and how the new work you created was inspired by him/her.

Can't wait to see the answers in a few weeks!

What does your ART BREAK look like?

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Odell Usher) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Lisa and I are excited for a new chapter of our blog called, "What does your ART BREAK look like?" We have met so many secret artists through out the years and are so inspired by the work they create. We love the variety of ways people find to take a break, relax, zone out, and make art. This blog is meant to inspire, challenge where art can be made and who is allowed to make it and this chapter is a perfect way to spread that message. We want the whole world to take an art break and we are going to share those breaks with you one person at a time.

Let's start with Steve Brown. Lisa and I were interviewed by Steve during Take 5: Art Break Day 2011. We invited him to take an art break with us and he began to tell us about his own art break. He mentioned mailing hand painted letters to family and friends. We had to see more! We share those images and a bit from Steve about his art breaks with you below.

I make what some people call “mail art” — decorated envelopes and illustrated letters to go inside them. I decorate and illustrate the envelopes — they’re nice, 32 lb. paper — at home on the weekend and in the evening where I can make a mess. Yes, I have spilled ink on the carpet. Lately I’ve been using metallic inks of various sorts — gold, silver, copper and even shimmering green and yellow — to make designs. I paint the inks inside bits of masking tape on the envelopes, then add more decorations, such as veins on leaves, after peeling off the tape. For the letters themselves, I write on long pieces of Japanese rice paper from the local art store. I draw the illustrations first using pencil and then shade them with colored pencils. I particularly like themes from Nature, such as leaves, trees, insects, and spiders, but I’ve also drawn furniture or balloon animals or planets or landscapes and clouds, depending on the theme of the letter.

My actual “art break” comes when I go to a local café — Peet’s Coffee here in San Francisco, or Bittersweet, the hot chocolate café in Rockridge in Oakland — to write the letters. In San Francisco I write on my lunch hour, and have learned just how long a piece of rice paper I can fill in that time! If I have time after work, I go to Bittersweet and write for longer, about an hour and a half. I write two or three letters per week.

What does your art break look like?

We would love to see it and hear about it from you. Email us [artismoving{at}gmail{dot}com]

Answer - Experiments in Creativity #16

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Odell Usher) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:22:00 +0000

This EIC was a whirlwind for me. I have to say I spent most of my time up in my own mind working out how artists can communicate the necessity of taking an active role in caring for the Earth. I know the assignment was to walk out into nature and make art. I went on several walks to look for that special spot to create art, or collect natural materials to bring back to the studio, but that just wasn't working for me.

I was in New York City last week and took the opportunity of visiting a new city to really pay attention. Pay attention to not only the beauty of nature, but the functionality of it. During my several walks before my trip I was coming to the conclusion that several people don't really consider the Earth in their day to day endeavors. That she simply does not cross their minds. For me, the Earth is something I think about constantly. I have a relationship with the Earth and know that I would not be alive without her. And, most likely, she would be better off without all of us on her (at least considering how she is currently being treated).

How could I pay more attention? I decided to design a scavenger hunt for myself. I searched the city for circles and infinity signs, the symbols I feel represent the Earth and the type of relationship we should seek with her. I have to say it was an interesting exercise to do in a city that you would not consider full of nature. I came to realize every space on earth is nature. When you begin to pay attention, is when you begin to realize that everything man-made can be found in the natural world.

This assignment makes me wonder. How effective is a work of art in the middle of nowhere? Is that made simply for the artist? Or, is it so remarkable for the few that stumble upon it that their lives are forever changed. Let's compare that with a work of art in the middle of a city. Several hundreds of thousands of people may walk by it, but only a few will take notice. I realize that the initial Environmental Art genre was about the individual artist and his/her connection with the land he/she was working with. But, I don't think that is where the genre stands now.

As you can probably tell, my mind is still wrapping itself around the idea of creating a work of art that has a positive effect on the environmental movement. Think about it, if an environmental artist wants to move someone to change their behavior, there is a great deal to consider. It is essentially a campaign. And, in order for someone to support an idea they have to feel as though they can relate to it. There are some folks out there who believe in the intrinsic value of the Earth. But, for those who do not hold her to that level, a different campaign needs to be developed for them. I thought of the slogan, "She needs us to realize that we need her." while I was walking about New York.

What do you think? Does environmental art belong out in the forest or can it exist in an urban landscape or even a gallery? How can an artist create work that encourages viewers to think about the Earth in their day to day lives?