Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts..., painting, Sewing | Tags: 13 Forest, arlington, art, artist, boston, graduation, Massachusetts, preschool, visual art
So, I recently started exercising. I know. Don’t laugh. I truly forgot what sore muscles feel like. Actually, I forgot what muscles feel like altogether, so the whole thing is pretty shocking, to say the least. I haven’t succumbed to the lure of Ben Gay, though. When I was in high school, the heady aroma of Ben Gay would waft throughout the school in the week of “sports camp” leading up to the start of the Fall season. I’d rather hobble than smell that stuff again. (God forbid you rub your eye with some of that on your hand….YEEOUCH.) In order to nurse myself back to health, I’ve decided to just lie on the couch whilst eating an ice cream sandwich. You know…just like the pros do.
Besides moaning about my aching, yet seemingly nonexistent muscles, I did get out to see some art. This is lucky, as my own artwork continues to plod along at a glacial pace. I didn’t venture far, mind you. My hobbling limited the scope of my search. I decided that I would FINALLY go to 13 Forest Gallery here in Arlington, MA. (It’s kind of ridiculous/embarrassing that I had not been in before.) I met Marc Gurton, the owner, who was super friendly and has selected some really amazing artists to represent. Right now, they have a show titled, “Tangent,” which features the work of Mary O’Malley and Rebecca Roberts. Here are some views of the show:
13 Forest Gallery featuring Mary O’Malley and Rebecca Roberts
And another view:
13 Forest Gallery featuring Mary O’Malley and Rebecca Roberts
O’Malley creates intricate drawings with metallic ink and gouache typically on black paper. They are beautiful. The repetitive and abstract qualities makes me think of Islamic art, while the gilded palette makes me think of an illuminated manuscript. They have an opulent, yet understated quality about them. Very impressive.
Roberts creates gorgeous abstract fabric paintings in a mix of both bold and subtle hues. She not only plays with beautiful color palettes, but the texture of the fabric also varies. My favorite pieces were those with a color field surrounded by an unsymmetrical white background. Two of those pieces are in the photo above on the right side.
Here are some better shots of their work:
Mary O’Malley, Relic #10, Ink and Gouache on Paper, 16″ x 13″
The reflection is obviously not doing the work justice. But you can see the gorgeous palette and beautiful detail.
Rebecca Roberts, Pfeiffer Falls, Sewn Cotton Fabric, 18″ x 20″
This is one where an irregularly shaped field of color sits within a minimal, white background. I love it!
Anyone local to Arlington, MA should stop by to see the show. IN FACT, TONIGHT (June 21) BOTH ARTISTS ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING AT THE GALLERY. There is a reception from 7-9pm. Go see what they have to say! (And please tell me what they say, as I don’t think that I can make it.)
Today is my son’s LAST DAY at preschool. He has gone to that school since he was four months old. (No joke.) So, we’re taking him out for a “graduation dinner.” to celebrate. This is also to ease the fact that he is NOT happy about leaving. Actually, he’s not happy about change of any sort, unless you mean adding a new toy to his collection. THEN, he embraces change completely and with zeal. Also, he’ll “embrace” the change in my purse, and add it to his ever expanding piggybank if I’m not paying attention. Naturally, if I ask him where the money is from…he’ll tell me that he “found it.” I guess that’s sort of true…
Actually, the whole concept of “truth” still does not register with him. He’s only 5, so I hope that there’s time to learn. Sometimes, he’ll blatantly lie about something. I’ll ask him, “Did you and Grandma get some ice cream today?” His response is an emphatic, “NO!” However, when I say that I’m going to call Grandma just to check, he changes his response to, “Wellllll, at least I don’t THINK that I had any ice cream…I don’t reaaaally remember.” He even scratches his chin quizzically for effect.
Hmmm.
I’m hoping that this does not indicate some future life of crime for him, but just a phase of development that he hasn’t quite reached yet…kind of like facial hair. Now, if the facial hair comes in BEFORE his understanding of “the truth”, THEN I will be concerned. Actually, there’s probably some correlation between the onset of facial hair and a regressive trend to actually forget what it means to tell the truth. Like, “No Mom, I didn’t take your ironing board and use it as a skateboard ramp. I don’t know where those wheel marks came from.”
HMMMMM.
I’ve decided to stop worrying about all of that now and just go ice my sore muscles with another ice cream sandwich…
Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: art, artist, drawing. pencil, graphite, home depot, preschool, still life
Why that title, you ask?
Recently…I went to Home Depot to look at more “tools” for my drawings. In some ways…I dislike going to the Depot, or any hardware store, when I am looking for things NOT for construction, but for art. So, here I was…in the Depot…choosing some items PURELY based upon their appearance. I managed to deflect a “Can I help you find what you’re looking for?” by saying “yes”, and asking where there might be some wheeled carts (I’d love to get one from my little etching press). The guy brought me to the carts, and we started to talk about what the cart was for. So, he found out that I do “art”, and asked, “what kind of art?”. This is the start of a conversation that I typically like to avoid. I told him, “drawing”…hoping that this was good enough. But no. “What do you draw?”, he asked. Okay. NOW what? I hummed and hawed…trying to think of something to say…but then I just gave up and told the truth…”I draw still-lifes with tools and fruit, specifically, pears.” He agreed that I am indeed a nutcase. Luckily, his brother is an artist, so he was somewhat open to the idiosyncracies of art. Part of the reason that I avoid this subject is not only because I’ll be judged as koo-koo for buying stuff for art, not construction…but also because I do NOT want to be judged as the “silly” female with my “artsy” pursuits. Dislike.
THEN, I get to the checkout line. I happen to be buying a band saw blade, a bunch of screws, and wooden coat hangers. When the checkout guy started to ring up the blade, he said, “I see that the wives are shopping for the husbands today!”
No. Really? You’re joking, right? Don’t they teach you anything in employee training????
“Noooo…ALL of these items are for ME.”, I responded. He was really a nice guy, so I gently berated him for such a sexist remark. Why couldn’t he have just said, “Did you find everything that you needed today?”??? It turns out that he had an 18 yr old daughter. I wonder what kind of stuff he tells her at home?
In the world of architecture…the balance between men and women feels quite even. (There is an unfortunate imbalance when you get into the world of “interiors”, as this often tips towards women.) But, in engineering and construction…it is still mostly a man’s world. Not always…but mostly. This obviously saddens me…but I hope that someday those fields will be more diverse. I have been in meetings where the head of facilities at a university will make some joke about “wives”, and I sit there…as the project architect…and just smile. Great. I am likely to be the only “wife” at that ten person meeting…so, does that make me “one of the boys”, or one of the silly “wives”? Who knows.
Anyone who tells you that sexism is a thing of the past is probably part of the problem.
Sorry about that rant! Because I haven’t been working as an architect for the past year and a half…I’ve forgotten about things like this. I just got a reminder this week…
So, my son has brought home another priceless creation from preschool:
Isn’t that GREAT? WHAT IS IT????
[OMG…I have AGAIN accidentally posted when I wasn’t done….SORRY!!!]
I asked him what it was, and it’s some kind of nozzle. I forgot the adjectives that go with the “nozzle” that he described…but I love it. I love these toilet paper tube creations. Priceless. I will be sad when they stop. Perhaps he’ll be like his mom, and they’ll never stop.
VERY slow week for my own work. Latest drawing:
So, here’s the bandsaw blade. See? I rarely use my Home Depot purchases for their intended purpose. So be it.
Now, I have to run off to the grocery store to make dinner for a friend who just had a baby. I have no idea what to make. Such pressure!!!!! What if the kids hate it? What if the whole family hates it? Sigh. Perhaps ordering pizza for them is not really very thoughtful…rats. I’ll have to concoct something NON-VEGAN that will hopefully dazzle them with my culinary skills…
I don’t tend to put pressure on myself much.
(kidding)
slightly wonky 