Mistint - An Artist's Diary

JR Has a Wish

2011-03-04T13:55:00.000-08:00

JR is an artist who pastes photos on the walls of the world, making thought-provoking art available to everyone--including those who may not ever have the chance to step into a museum. It also represents people who are hugely under represented.

JR is winner of the 2011 TED prize, and in this TED talk explains his work, and his wish:

I wish for you to stand up for what you care about by participating in a global art project, and together we’ll turn the world…INSIDE OUT.

Ten Indian Artists to Watch

2011-01-25T12:56:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

2011-01-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

Yummy! Apricot Jam Session

2010-06-30T14:21:00.001-07:00

Canning in Rockridge
Originally uploaded by melonybravmann

I'm so lucky!

I won a silent auction and got to learn how to make apricot jam at a lovely woman's stunning home in Rockridge this weekend. She would not admit to being a teacher (her husband is a professor). Nevertheless, she managed to instruct even the most complex aspects of canning with ease.

As part of my effort to live more fully and more aesthetically, this project brought plenty of joy and color to my weekend.

Antidepressants for the Eyes

2010-06-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

They happen frequently, they are pretty much unavoidable, and they are sometimes the reason for that icky, funky feeling that makes me want to retreat back to my bed for another eight hours…M O N D A Y S. Yep, some of them are just a downer. Since I’m rarely afforded the luxury of skipping Monday altogether, I need a happiness tonic to get me through.

Occasionally, that means a super awesome cup of coffee and my favorite shoes (converse). Other times, a good joke will make everything better. But today I need to look at some visual antidepressants, and that’s what I found this morning.

First, Mati (pronounced Matey) Rose McDonough’s newsletter appeared in my inbox this morning all full of summer joy and sweetness. Before summer is over, my baby's room is getting a couple of her prints. You can buy her work on etsy, and she is represented by Lilla Rogers Studio.

Then I hopped over to Little Paper Planes for a bliss fix. Julianna Swaney’s fairytale images put me in a kid state of mind, that seems to reverse signs of sadness and aging.

I also really enjoyed seeing Iris Schwarz , and her old-fashioned, chic little drawings.

That (OK, that and a cup of coffee) was enough to motivate me through the fog.

There’s much more out there - joyful, feel good, but not Hallmark sappy artwork - to help turn a frown upside down in a way that won't make you feel taken advantage of. Maybe I’ll start an regular Antidepressant Monday posting to keep us all in good spirits.

Smile!

AIGA Portfolio Reviews at CCA SF Campus

2010-06-06T07:39:00.001-07:00

AIGA Portfolio Reviews at CCA SF Campus
Originally uploaded by melonybravmann
Multitudes of designers converged on CCA’s San Francisco Campus yesterday: Most of them young students and recent graduates laying their egos aside and their portfolios on the table, in hopes of improving the way they present themselves to the world, and more importantly, to potential employers. A range of willing reviewers from the professional world of design accepted free lunch in exchange for their time to provide portfolio feedback. Oh, and the after party was a nice perk, too.
As a reviewer, I saw an interesting range of work from the students who sat down at my table. From first year undergrads to recent grads, the styles and focus varied greatly, but my job was easy – everything was good from “my” designers. Maybe it’s that there is more follow-through than there was when I was in school. Yes, we hand-bound books, but ours looked a little rougher around the edges. These student books had a finished, polished quality – but not so polished that it looked machine-made. The maturity in that completion was impressive.
Seeing the work of young designers up close and hearing about their processes brought me back to the core of what interests me: Working directly with creatives, and being close to the professional optimism and immediate creative passion that defines artists just starting out.
And when I told them to never take jobs that aren’t true to their philosophy, I felt just a wee tinge of hypocrisy emerging. After all, I’ve always “gone where the work is” instead of analyzing my motivations and my clients and employers.
It was a lesson in self-reflection.

Brian Skerry's Ocean Horror

2010-06-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

This is so incredibly eye opening, and an excellent example of how art can make a difference. I had to share it with you. I'm stunned...

The Daily: This Week's Drawings

2010-04-23T15:47:00.000-07:00

Time Out: Weekend of Art

2010-04-19T11:05:00.000-07:00

Powell St. BART Station, ©2010, melony bravmann

I spent this weekend in SF walking around looking at things.

First went over to MoMA's 75th Anniversary Exhibit.

I felt down after seeing Larry Sultan's memorial corner:

SF MoMA 75th Anniversary, image ©2010, melony bravmann
Then curious about image ownership after viewing "5,377,183 Suns from flickr" by Penelope Umbrico:

SF MoMA 75th Anniversary, image ©2010, melony bravmann
And even more curious about the value of an object after seeing Felix Gonzalez-Torres "Untitled" (This is the 5th or 6th time I've seen this work, and it still astounds):

SF MoMA 75th Anniversary, Courtesy SF MoMA

Fell in love with Leslie Shows, complex and surprising "Two Ways to Organize":

SF MoMA 75th Anniversary, Courtesy SF MoMA

Later I headed over to Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

Checked out "Death's Boutique", an investigation of death by LA Artists, Kara Tanaka and Marco Rios:

YBCA Death's Boutique, Image Courtesy YBCA

Felt overwhelmed by Renée Green's exhibit, a sort of fictionalized reality of one person's existence. (The nice and informative guard told me I'd need to come back at least 7 times to see it all, and if I wanted I could probably use my same ticket):

YBCA Renée Green, Image Courtesy YBCA.

Enjoyed the thoughtful personal cultural investigation of Taravat Talepasand:

YBCA Traditions Are As Followed, Image Courtesy YBCA

And closed with interest, curiosity, and some sadness again after seeing the Global Lives project:

Got a membership at YBCA (great deal for a family package!), and headed home all exhausted and inspired.

How I Cope With Early Morning Meetings

2010-04-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

When things get busy at work, we sometimes start meetings at around 6:00 in the morning and it’s not unheard-of to finish the work day at 10:00 in the evening. I’m sure you can imagine, a schedule like this can be not only exhausting but also deadening to creativity.
In order to feel alert and engaged--and to be honest to feel as though life is worth living--I need creative input and a creative outlet every single day. I do my best to apply creative thinking and processes to my work. (Yes, even corporate meetings can be creative!) But that’s not enough.
When I need an early morning boost, I put on my favorite shoes.

Make a lovely cup of café au lait (complete with a cloth napkin and silver spoon).

And in-between calls, catch a quick TED. (I guess this blog is becoming TED Central…I can’t seem to point my browser away from it!)
Here’s a cute one that teaches that beauty is all around us.

Be a Leader

2010-04-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

It's my philosophy that if you have a problem with something, or if you identify a gap in the world, you should take the initiative and

DO

SOMETHING

ABOUT

IT.

So, please... stop complaining and start a movement.

Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids

2010-04-06T12:22:00.000-07:00

A prolific short story writer and blogger since age seven, Adora Svitak (now 12) speaks around the United States to adults and children as an advocate for literacy.

"Maybe you've had grand plans before, but stopped yourself thinking: That's impossible or that costs too much or that won't benefit me. For better or worse, we kids aren't hampered as much when it comes to thinking about reasons why not to do things."

Heading to First Thursday Tonight

2010-04-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

I'll be in SF viewing First Thursday shows tonight, and looking forward to reporting back on what's there. I never have enough time to get to all the shows I want to see, so I must pick and choose before I venture out.

This time, I have made a commitment to a friend so will probably spend most of my time at Wirtz Gallery's show: Raymond Saunders and castaneda/reiman. Both artists are well worth an entire evening's focus.

If time allows: I'm a huge fan of Jack Fischer Gallery showing Lucy Gaylord-Lindholm and Gallery Paule Anglim showing Rigo 23 and Brian D. Tripp. Both are right nearby, so it won't be a huge stretch.

Open Letter to Readers: Tell Me Why You Visit

2010-03-21T22:31:00.000-07:00

Hi blog readers,
My blog counter tells me that I have readers from all over the world, which is pretty exciting in my book! (Don't worry, I don't know WHO my readers are, only what country they are from. So if you prefer to be a private blog reader, you are.)
I'm curious about what brings you here. Are some entries more interesting than others? What would make you want to come back and read more?
Leave a comment and let me know your preferences; likes, dislikes, and especially if there is anything you'd like to see more of. I'd love to hear from you.
Melony

The Daily: Retenez bien: love

2010-03-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

Acrylic, pencil, sharpie, packing tape, collage on paper. 6.5 x 10"

Art Bucket: Out From Under My Rock, Johansson Projects

2010-03-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

Art Bucket is a feature dedicated to art people, art places, and art things that I’ve heard about but haven’t yet seen. I’ll post, research, and make a commitment to see each in-person, ASAP. I bet that after you read Art Bucket, you too will be inspired to seek-out new art.

Our friend Jeff reviewed Oakland gallery, Johansson Projects on Yelp. Sadly, I’ve been living under a rock and haven’t been there yet. Jeff describes Johansson Projects as the best gallery in the bay area, and from the looks of it, he’s right.

Mockery Monday: Hitler Learns Jeffrey Dietch Appointed as MOCA Director

2010-03-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

This is a giggle-worthy satire, for all the art insiders who wonder deep in their souls how Hitler would have reacted to the news that Jeffrey Deitch was named Director of Los Angeles MOCA, instead of himself.

Little side comment: This is poingnant because Hitler was a frustrated, talentless artist who, in addition to millions of horrible murders and other crimes, also oppressed modern artists. It's just kind of satisfying to see a skit that portrays him as a failed wannabe contemporary museum director.

Dietch's new appointment is expected to be a challenging one, since during the past few years, after loads successful, ground breaking exhibits, they experienced board problems and nearly folded (read more about it here). But he is passionate about art, and a pragmatic business man who appears to have what it takes to lift MOCA out of its slump. I look forward to seeing where it goes.

***This satire is adapted from the 2004 German movie, Downfall.

What Are You Reading?

2010-03-11T15:46:00.000-08:00

I've been reading Twyla Tharp, The Creative Habit, which applies to everyone from artists to CEOs. Its about practical and philosophical ways to harness creative impulse in whatever way applies to your life.

Each chapter is followed by a series of related exercises to help you put your ideas in motion. Must admit, I'm just reading now. I will try the exercises after I've finished the book.

What are you reading?

If you think you can't draw

2010-03-10T16:00:00.000-08:00

This is for all the people in my life who have told me "I can't draw a stick figure," or "I can't draw a line." These artists show how easy it is to communicate with the simplest of images.

Reposting via VizThink via David Barnes. Great finds!

Shows I liked Best: First Thursday San Francisco

2010-03-05T14:01:00.000-08:00

Bernardo RomanPalau

Interiors Image: Jack Fischer Gallery

Mildred Howard/Leo Bersamina

The Keeper, 2010, assemblage, 57” x 18” x 18” Image: Gallery Paule Anglim

Californio, 2010, gouache and egg tempera on paper, 8” x 10” Image: Gallery Paule Anglim

Squeak Carnwath’s Alchemy

2010-03-03T16:21:00.000-08:00

I am not the subject of the show, the paintings are. I'm really clear that the paintings are the things that exist, that I try to be as much a speck as possible, and kind of be a witness.

--Squeak Carnwath
Quote from JD Beltran’s review of Squeak Carnwath's recent Oakland Museum show

In my early art school years, I came across Squeak Carnwath’s paintings at an exhibit in Los Angeles. They spoke directly to me: The depth and precision of the paint, and the materiality of the canvases. As objects they were compelling to absorb visually, and they also contained multiple layers of examination and communication. Filled with sometimes contradictory imagery including everyday objects, religious iconography, and words, they formed feelings like longing, memories – and told stories. Squeak became my painting hero, but I didn't know why yet.

When Squeak came to CCAC’s grad program as a visiting artist, I was of course there.

But once I was there it was not so simple; she held hard-hitting critiques, though that was not uncommon in CCAC's grad program. The real challenge for me was when she went beyond art making and theory, and probed our own personal everyday lives and psyche. According to Squeak, her objective is "to get folks to really think about their art and yell with their own voices...or whisper... what ever is most true for them."

She probably doesn’t know this and didn’t intend it - I felt exposed and intimidated. I guess what I tapped into wasn't what I wanted to see. In the early half of that year, I nearly gave up painting because I believed at the time that I could not possibly possess what it takes to be the kind of artist I wanted to be. But that's part of the transformation of art school.

What ultimately emerged because of Squeak was greater certainty and love for the physical thing that is painting, and for the act that goes into laying down color and medium bit by bit. Before her, painting was a vehicle for information and ideas, and thought that is still true it is also something more. After her class, it was its own thing. That idea may seem obvious, but at the time it was not on my radar. And also, a deep questioning of the reason for making what I'm making. It transformed the way I made art. Now everything I do refers back to that.

It is probably why I can not let painting go, and begin to live a life that resembles something normal.

You can see Squeak’s work right now – along with Hung Liu and Inez Storer at Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek, and upcoming shows in Redding and Berkeley. Check her website for details.

The Daily

2010-03-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

This year, I've committed to making at least one drawing a day. This process is about creating a habit, since I believe that creativity has more to do with work and habit than genius and obsession.

When I first started making daily 6.5 x 10 inch drawings, it was surprisingly hard to get started each day. Which is funny because it's something I actually enjoy doing. Whereas, for example, doing laundry and scrubbing toilets has become a no-brainer. I agonized over the placement of things so much that I was paralyzed. And the question that's killed my art since grad school popped into my head countless times: "...but what is the meaning behind this?"

In January I posted work by Nuria Mora, and when researching her work came across a statement she made about art making. Something along the lines of, "Being an artist is easy. Going down in a mine is hard work." I'm paraphrasing because I can't find the exact quote now, but that's the gist of it. That statement has stuck with me and it's freeing because it means I don't have to agonize over what I am doing. It's just art, and it's a pretty pleasurable activity.

Here are a few recent Daily drawings. I hope you enjoy them.

gouache, sharpie, acrylic, collage on paper 6.5" x 10" ©2010 mb

gouache, collage on paper 6.5" x 10" ©2010 mb

gouache, collage on paper 6.5" x 10" ©2010 mb

acrylic, sharpie, collage on paper 6.5" x 10" ©2010 mb

Why Free Spirits and Fast Food Education Don't Mix

2010-03-01T11:12:00.000-08:00

My oldest kid is a free spirit, and we have often have to rein her in to get things done, like getting dressed for school in the morning or finishing breakfast. If left to her own devices, by bedtime she'd still be sitting at the breakfast table reading the box of Cheerios, and comparing the amount of milk in her bowl to the amount her sister got.

Still, I'm a little frustrated by the checkboxes on my kid's progress reports. The ones that say "Needs Improvement" in areas of self direction and focus. There's no allowance in our system for the way she learns. She's pretty brilliant (if I do say so myself), but she can't sit in a molded plastic chair and do 30 math problems in three minutes. She could do it on the floor while standing on her hands and even make up a song while solving the problems, but she can't sit at a table with four other kids and write the answers on a letter-sized piece of paper.

When she sees that the girl sitting across from her is working faster, she loses all capacity to concentrate. And don't even get me started about the fact that there are 25 students in the class competing for attention and instruction. It's just not an environment that matches kids to learning. (I don't have data to support this, but watching the class when I volunteer, I'm guessing that not 10% of the 2nd grade class learns well in this environment.)

It's no secret that I'm a proponent of following your passion. Sir Ken Robinson recently wrote The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything. This 2009 talk at the Hammer Museum explores ways to connect peoples' natural aptitudes with their personal passions to achieve at their highest levels.

He says that we've been sold the fast food level of quality assurance in public schools. For example, kids are grouped by age, as though there is nothing more important that they have in common than their date of manufacture. And I love his comment about No Child Left Behind. It's "proof that Americans understand irony."

Wouldn't it be great if schools could teach to the student and not to a standard set by bureaucracies, and we could therefore raise competent kids who excel at the stuff they are good at?

The Daily

2010-02-25T15:24:00.000-08:00

This year, I've committed to making at least one drawing a day. This process is about creating a habit, since I believe that creativity has more to do with work and habit than genius and obsession. It's also about figuring out where I am as an artist, since for the past several years—until now—I've been focused elsewhere.

Artistically and otherwise, I'm fascinated with things like failure and impermanence as facts of life, as opportunities to live more fully, and as paths to success. Perfectionism may come naturally to me, but it is deadly, so I play with the contrasts of perfection and error. Also interesting to me are the ways we tell our stories through archaeology, history, philosophy, religion and mythology. There are lots of other contrasts in there to play around with.

I am most free when I don't over-think my work. I welcome mistakes so I can use my failures to create something else that is richer and works better.

I use any and every material I can get my hands on. Crayons and sharpies exist alongside watercolor and acrylic. A piece of red string and a discarded toy may be just the ticket. If I find something on a walk that describes exactly what I'm trying to say, it might end up attached to a painting I made in 2001, or maybe I'll tie a ribbon around it and give it a name.

I celebrate urban aesthetics; my paintings are best when they are multi-layered and a little gritty. In fact, the patina of age (yellowing, fading, or cracks in the surface) makes a painting better in my eyes. I leave evidence of experimentation and relics of errors because these marks tell a more interesting story.

Here are a few Daily drawings from February:

Larry Sultan Dies at 63

2010-02-23T10:33:00.000-08:00

...we have no calculus to unravel relations between what a picture shows and what it explains.

--Kenneth Baker, SF Chronicle

Larry was a teacher who knew how to wade through fluff. He saw beyond the surface, identified artistic or photographic intent, and clearly let us know where we missed or hit the mark. As an artist, he had the rare ability to be both personal and conceptual. I'll miss him a lot.

NY Times Article

Photography is there to construct the idea of us as a great family and we go on vacations and take these pictures and then we look at them later and we say, 'Isn't this a great family?' So photography is instrumental in creating family not only as a memento, a souvenir, but also a kind of mythology.

Larry Sultan