MAKE ART NOT EXCUSES and other mantras for living

Press for Can Planes show...TV Mallorca interview

2011-03-16T18:59:00.000+01:00

I was fortunate to be one of two women in the f.Art exhibit at Museu d'Art Contemporani exhibit to be interviewed for an evening cultural program called Itaka on the TV Mallorca channel.

The show will air Friday night, March 18, 2011 at 10:30 pm. A week later it will be available for viewing on line, I will post that link when it's up.

Also seen in this photo is artist Natasha Lébedeva. see her work here.
The paintings in the background are by Gabriela Segui.

Press for Can Planes show...Zona VIP

2011-03-16T18:31:00.001+01:00

Here's a surprise addition from the weekly magazine insert, Brisas, of the Mallorquin newspaper Ultima Hora. The coverage is of my current show at Museu d'Art Contemporani Can Planes in Sa Pobla Mallorca.
Of personal interest, the press release includes:
To my right in the top picture is friend Alice Morse, also participating in the exhibit.
On the lower left in front of my body of work is Jorge Azri amongst others. Azri creates wonderful city and seascapes.
In the center, far right is photographer Maria Magdalena Alorda Fornes who just exhibited in my Puertas Abiertas in-home open studios event March 11 - 14 in Palma de Mallorca.

It's fun to get noticed.

Upcoming Exhibition at Sadhana Studio, Palma

2011-03-06T15:48:00.000+01:00

It's an active month! Here is the announcement for the Open Studios event I am hosting in my central Palma de Mallorca apartment. I've gathered 5 artists to exhibit with me in this beautiful space. More information on the individual artists to come this week, stay in touch.

You can see the invitation details on my Facebook fanpage, Sadhana Studios.

Current Exhibition At Can Planes in Sa Pobla Mallorca

2011-03-06T15:45:00.000+01:00


Poster for Women's Art Day group exhibit.

I'm happy to announce my participation in the first of two group exhibits this month. Currently showing at Can Planes Museum of Contemporary Art in Sa Pobla, Mallorca Spain. The show will be up until April 10, 2011. Below are some views of our inauguration, last Friday March 4, 2011.

Ascension Revisited

2011-03-06T15:16:00.000+01:00

This is what happens when a commissioned piece is not delivered for a *few* months...after many haunting side-glances, I dove back into this painting. Here is what it looked like several months ago, when I first declared it complete.

detail 1

detail 2

It's finally been delivered to its new home. Thanks Joan and Miquel.

Another Barcelona find

2011-02-04T13:19:00.000+01:00

As I peck away at my work in the studio, my file of inspirational images grows and grows. So many delicious surfaces, so little time.

The walls you see here are some of the most beautiful I have seen lately in terms of the aging and deterioration of the subtle layering of colors. I am inspired to experiment with encaustic painting for the first time in many years. Encaustic refers to oil-based pigments suspended in heated beeswax.

Some of the other sites I have photographed in Barcelona have already been covered up by the construction of condominiums... how long will this one last?

I did notice on this visit that several clothing boutiques have maintained these types of surfaces within the shops. I ogled the surfaces of the high walls punctuated with steel air ducts longer than I did the 100€ jeans.

Barcelona, Barri de Gràcia Carrer de Siracusa & Torrent de la Olla

...the opposite wall.

Introducing my online shop at Etsy

2010-12-02T20:31:00.000+01:00

Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade.
Although, I joined Etsy over a year ago, I haven't really spread the word. I have been getting to know the venue and streamlining my workload so that I could best attend my shop and keep the collection displayed there up to date. I now have a variety of work posted, old and new, and in a range of styles.

Click here to see my shop. If you are unfamiliar with Etsy, take some time to browse, there is an endless selection of dedicated craftsmen selling their goods here at great prices.

In my shop I have a few older pieces, some of which have never been displayed, like this set of spine portraits:

My current work is more abstract and symbolic in nature. In my shop you can also see what happens when I apply my hand to realistic rendering, such as the old market Place of Muro drawing shown here. This and others similar in nature are for sale as prints and customs orders.

Some of my pieces are featured in various Treasuries on Etsy such as this one, and this one, and this one. Treasuries are thematic collections created by other sellers. They call it an 'ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery' - better said!

Thanks, as always, for looking.

Voyeur Heaven

2010-11-29T01:05:00.000+01:00

Hey, what's this? No, not a soccer game - but a major find in Barcelona. Let's look a little closer...

This find is unlike many I've seen, it exposes a view into entire rooms, many still furnished.
I haven't seen it in person yet. The location is at Calle de Sardenya and Calle de Ali Bei. I can't wait to go check it out myself. (I would like a hardhat for Christmas.)

There is so much to take in. I have already starting toying with the compositions in the studio.

A big thanks to Evan for noticing, and then going back with a camera!

New Plaster Reliefs: Scenes from the Lost Village 1,2,3

2010-11-01T20:02:00.003+01:00

Scenes from the Lost Village 1,2,3 October 2010

each tablet is 7.5 X 10.5 in. (20 X 27 cm)
ink, acrylic, and varnish on plaster

These plaster reliefs depict both a frontal view of a decrepit building and the areal view of an architectural dig simultaneously.

I am continually scheming to work in plaster more, so I finally brought out the box of castings I made last year to bring the tablets to fruition. The composition is created by pressing cast-off construction materials into terra cotta clay, then I make a plaster cast. The cast is then painted, carved, and sanded ad nauseum...

The Way Home: Current Exhibition

2010-10-22T16:13:00.007+02:00

Here is the window display inviting passers-by to check out a diverse sampling of my most recent mixed media works and 2 sequences of daily paintings at Mari-Lin Cafecreacions, a new bar/café/creative space appointed with retro furnishings.
On the restaurant level are several recent pieces seen in the Artefacto show just last month.
Downstairs is a charming gallery space with low ceilings perfectly suited to house the 8 X 8 inch daily painting series Continuum created in summer 2009, and Half-Time Home, winter 2010.

We opened the show on Tuesday October 19. It will be up into the first week of November.

Arrival, Wedding Gift Commission

2010-10-22T10:03:00.003+02:00

This is a recently completed piece called Arrival. It was created as a wedding gift for a pilot and his new bride. He proposed on the steps of the Old City Hall in Salem, Massachusetts. I was provided an historic map of the city, a link to their wedding registry for color and design ideas, and a look at the wedding invitations. Then I was set free. I love this kind of commission.

Thank you to Wendy for the opportunity. And best wishes to the new couple!

I decided to say goodbye...without looking back / Vaig decidir dir adèu...sens mirar enrera

2010-09-17T12:09:00.008+02:00

Vaig decidir dir adèu...sens mirar enrera / I decided to say goodbye...without looking back

2010 (160x40cm / 63x15.5in.)

left

right

This piece has been in evolution since early winter. It also contains embedded within the layers, the moving story I mentioned in a recent post.

What a find! UPDATED 29/09/10

2010-09-16T14:05:00.005+02:00

UPDATE 29/09/10: Upon sorting these papers, I found that the notebook, the weekly church bulletins, baptism forms and some other receipts date back to 1899 and sequentially up 1922! Guess I'll be scanning those and keeping the originals.

On my walk this morning I came across a broken-up piece of furniture next to a dumpster. Apparently one drawer still had some things tucked away. I gathered these wonderfully-aged church prayer and song books and a few more personal effects. The most special item: a handwritten notebook of a priest's sermons. Who needs the art supply store when you have another man's treasure? Can't wait to find a home for them in my next collages.

...I'm contemplating scanning some of these, something feels strange about cutting and gluing the originals.

Open Walls Series, reworked

2010-09-16T12:26:00.005+02:00

Here are some pieces from a group called Open Walls, currently on display at Artefacto gallery in Palma de Mallorca until October 4th.

Virtually all of the written text in this body of work was provided by anonymous contributor. He shared a 2-part story of a move from a small village in Mallorca to Barcelona, and then, his return to the island 7 years later, a changed man. The story is poignant and has provided inspiration for many recent works, not to mention that transcribing the words has helped my Catalan comprehension!

The pieces above have advanced since earlier posts, you can see the in-progress images here, and here.

Inauguration at Artefacto

2010-09-08T12:12:00.009+02:00

Last Saturday evening, the 4th of September, I celebrated the opening of my current exhibit at Artefacto Gallery in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. We will host a second reception on September 16th, as it falls on a special night for the arts here in Palma, La Nit D'Art. Every year many galleries open on the same evening so that enthusiasts can meander through the city, mingle and see the exhibits spread throughout the diverse galleries in Palma. I'm very pleased to be part of it...even though I won't be able to actually sneak out and see the other shows myself!

Here are a few images of the inauguration.

Artefacto director, Inmaculada Vara Guttierrez, gave me an introduction before opening the lovely teak doors to reveal the show.

The on-lookers include Mallorcan painter Toni-Mari Escarrer, second from the right.

Miranda Giles, painter, has recently arrived to Mallorca. Expect to see her exhibiting soon as well.

at ArteFacto: Exhibit in Palma de Mallorca Spain

2010-08-29T19:38:00.004+02:00

I will be hanging an exhibition this week at a new gallery space here in Palma. Feel free to come by if you're in the neighborhood!
The show will consist of mixed media paintings that explore the theme of destroying and buildings homes, many pieces include the moving stories contributed by friends and anonymous contacts. Thanks to you all.
The show will feature some new pieces...which I'll post those here when the show is up and running.
Look out as well for images of the opening night.

Can you guess what inspires me?

2010-08-24T20:28:00.005+02:00

This is like the "Where's Waldo of paintings...

I am preparing for an exhibition and up to my old tricks again. Namely, reworking paintings I claimed to be finished long ago. El Castillo is almost done (again); I took it out to photograph as I often do to gain some objectivity during the process. But, look how great it looks on my terrace! The likeness is uncanny.

Open Walls, Peeling paper

2010-08-10T17:31:00.009+02:00

Open Walls, V
8.5 X 10.5 inches (21 X 27 cm)
Mixed media collage on wood

Open Walls, VI
8.5 X 10.5 inches (21 X 27 cm)
Mixed media collage on wood

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been experimenting with more fragile layers of paper on top of my heavily layered walls. In works such as these, the original written story has become deeply buried in the background; papered-over, if you will.

Views of my studio

2010-08-01T21:14:00.005+02:00

Here are some views of my unusually tidy studio where I work my magic. It's in the center of Palma de Mallorca, in a building built in 1918. I've probably said this before, but working in this space is very romantic: the floors, the carved wood, the high ceilings, the cacophony of competing musicians on the pedestrian street below...

I found a giant lizard living under these IKEA shelves that I muscled around from a near-by office to the painting space (I foolishly only removed half the contents!). I didn't get a photo of Mr. Lagarto, though...not sure where he is right now, I hope he doesn't surprise me in the night!

I spent most of today changing the distribution of the furniture in the apartment. Doing so required some re-organizing of the studio. It was a good excuse to dust and vacuum and take pictures before I make a glorious disaster of things again.

Inspirational walls in the Gràcia district, Barcelona

2010-07-27T15:18:00.005+02:00

These two photographs were taken on Calle Verdi in the Gràcia district, Barcelona, this past weekend. Yummy, huh? I have seen this construction site a few times over the last month or so, and now I realize why I couldn't get it out of my visual memory: Above, it's the delicate falling paper (not to mention the wrinkle pattern left behind by the adhesive);

and here, it's the red-topped steel posts, adding rhythm and color to the composition.

Look for these inspirations in new work to come!

Paredes Abiertas III / Open Walls III

2010-07-20T12:53:00.002+02:00

Paredes Abiertas III / Open Walls III

mixed media and collage on wood
21.5 X 27 cm (21.5 X 8.5in.) 2010

Pátina

2010-07-20T12:48:00.004+02:00

Pátina

mixed media and collage on wood
60 X 80 cm (23.5 X 31.75 in.) 2010

Open Walls Series

2010-07-20T11:21:00.007+02:00

Paredes Abiertas I, II / Open Walls I, II

mixed media and collage on wood
30 X 30 cm (10.75 X 10.75 in.) 2010

Ascención (...a mi mateix) / Ascension (...to myself)

2010-07-15T13:39:00.006+02:00

Ascención (...a mi mateix) / Ascension (...to myself) 2010
mixed media on wood
100 X 70 cm / 39.5 X 27.5 inches

I haven't been blogging of late, but I have certainly been painting. Now I've got lots to post for your perusal. I'll start with a commission I just finished, above.

The paint is thinly applied in this piece with many, many layers of text from a truly inspiring Moving Story (español) written in Catalan that I received from an anonymous donor. Thank you, "Buster Keaton".
You may recognize the stairs drawn in perspective from an earlier post.
And a special thanks to Joan and Miquel for adopting this one. You two inspire me.

Unfinished Business: What to do with old, unresolved work!

2010-05-09T22:17:00.004+02:00

I have been organizing the office and studio in my new home, coming across so many unfinished pieces of artwork from series past, spanning ten years of work. Practically, this is a great way to see if there are any hidden little gems I can post in my soon-to-be-complete Etsy store.

But, finding a big collection (you see a sampling above) of work that was left unfinished has got me thinking about the nature of my work and of changing thematic gears in general. If you haven't already noticed, my style and approach is broad and varied. This has its pros and cons. I love variety and use whichever materials I feel best express a given idea. However, I do sometimes feel fragmented, not sure which project to work on some days (Hello, Gemini!). In addition, more than one gallery owner has told me my work is not 'cohesive' enough. Business and marketing aside, I know it's important to learn from the steady growth of an idea over time.

One of the reasons you can see so many different styles is directly related to stopping and starting work in the studio due to moving house or other big life changes.
As I have mentioned before, I have moved 17 times in 21 years. Thus my persistent curiosity in stories about moving, renovations, packing, nesting, etc. When I have had to pack up and relocate, then get through transition times, I would often interrupt a series of artwork. Then, when I was ready to work again, I wanted to respond immediately to my new surroundings and sensations, leaving the previous body of work 'boxed'.

These days I seek continuity. One of the mantras from Yogi Bhajan I repeat to myself daily is: Consolidate, Concentrate, Be YOU. So, in this consolidation process I am determining whether some of the unfinished artwork should be finished and presented, and some should be recycled forever. Part practicality, part 'letting-go'.

There are also only so many hours in the day, so for one month, my daily paintings site will be dedicated to finishing and posting almost-there works. It's practical, but also sort of an experiment. would like to see what the common denominator in my varied bodies of work of over the last ten years is, and then how it connects to what I am currently exploring.

Thenot's Practical Perspective

2010-04-26T14:11:00.003+02:00

What a find. A friend gave me this book years ago. I have been cleaning/reorganizing my office this weekend and it leapt out at me. I already have plans for these images...can't wait to share them with you.

Panoramic view: Loose Cables

2010-04-26T13:40:00.002+02:00

Here is the piece posted below as it looks displayed as a diptych.

New Diptych: Loose Cables (Cables sueltas)

2010-04-25T10:30:00.003+02:00

Loose Cables (Cables sueltas)

2(80 X 40 cm) mixed media on wood.

This is actually meant to be displayed in a panoramic composition. I'll hang it and photograph it that way today and post it; it will also provide a better sense of scale. It's very similar to some works I did called Reformas about two years ago when I started depicting these stripped-down building facades.

On Daily Painting: at times a humbling discipline

2010-04-21T11:08:00.004+02:00

Look what is cropping up in those cute daily paintings everyone is enjoying so much!

Yes, this newer series is bright and colorful, incorporating my daughter's drawing; surely the shift must be a harbinger of Spring?

This is true, in part. Daily paintings for me are quite auto-biographical, they can't help but be so, given the nature of the project. I paint intensely for a few hours without thinking too much. The work emerges from intuition and I have learned not to question it. I save such scrutiny for my larger works and series that I create and exhibit over time. Both bodies of work inform each other.

The other day, I caught myself trying to avoid the inevitable self-expression that emerges within the constraints of size/materials/and time. I wanted to change the subject. But I didn't really have a good reason, was I avoiding something?

Sadhana means daily discipline and in the Eastern tradition, it is often carried out in increments of 40 days, the time believed necessary to break old habits and mental blocks so that new prospects can emerge. So, this is just the challenge- push through the boredom, the awkward outcomes, uncomfortable moments to see where it leads me.

Then seemingly innocently enough, two pieces came out using writing of my daughter (who couldn't spell at the time of making the drawings) with the word 'ira" Spanish for ire, or anger, then MAD. Was this the part I was avoiding, showing the darker side of this moving story?

Stay tuned.

Molding Display: How did I miss this one?!

2010-04-17T16:29:00.003+02:00

Yesterday I spied this little treasure through a rip in a canvas-covered, tall barrier in front of a demolished building here in Palma de Mallorca. How did I miss this treat?! Must have been a shop selling such decorative moldings.

I would love to just take this whole composition and re-install it in my house as a work of art on the wall, salmon colored background included. Do the contractors have guilt pangs when they finally build over such visual delights?

Plaster relief, 3 steps forward, one step back...

2010-04-04T15:56:00.004+02:00

Taking a new look at my approach to working with plaster relief. It's been a long time, but the weather is finally good for casting again. Above is an example of some surface play. The electric hand-sander is the best art tool ever. That's why I say, 3 steps forward, one step back - I love over-working a surface, then boldly eliminating most of it in one swift pass, seeing what surprises lurk below.

What you see here is an image from the Castillo Bellver in Palma de Mallorca. The walls on the roof of the castle are covered with graffiti from prisoners from 1400 to 1900. Seeing these surfaces for the first time a few years ago has been lingering in my visual memory, along with the other aging walls that are so prevalent on my blog.
Can you imagine taking the time to carve letters with a serif!? Well, I guess they had plenty of time on their hands.

From Palma to New York City

2010-04-03T16:46:00.004+02:00

Slooowly but surely getting back into the studio.
Here's a piece I finished (?) recently as a going away gift for a friend taking an adventurous sabbatical from Palma de Mallorca to New York City for several months.

The moving story excerpts are from "Leaving Lisbon" by Evan, thank you.

In the meantime...Sadhana Yoga Palma

2010-02-22T15:57:00.004+01:00

I know, I know...Where have I been?!
Well, in addition to making art, I teach Kundalini yoga and meditation. So, in addition to the big changes of moving house and art studio- I have re-opened my new yoga center: Sadhana Yoga Palma. Above you see the space. It was originally the formal dining room in my 1918 Palma apartment. Tempting, isn't it...first class is free, come on over!

Now that the center is up and running and new students are coming in, I can get back to my other studio!
Thanks for your patience.

Across the Bridge

2010-01-09T17:54:00.003+01:00

Here is the diptych I recently completed, Across the Bridge.

It's a 'moving story' (Español) about making big changes that includes writing in English and in Spanish about both the fear and relief that comes from this process. Thanks to Kristen and Xavi for providing the story excerpts. I am always looking for new stories to illuminate, so click on the links highlighted above or instructions. Thank you

Sweet Relief, back to work!

2010-01-04T12:09:00.005+01:00

Wow. What an amazing feeling it was yesterday to finally start painting again! It has been over a month since I began the process of packing up my former residence and moving into the center of Palma de Mallorca. Here I have ample space for my art studio, a big office, and my yoga center.

The holidays are about over (are they ever really over in Spain?!) and guests are gone; so yesterday I re-aquainted myself with my materials to work on a commissioned diptych.

Words can't express the liberty that making art brings me. Ahhhh, sweet relief.

Keep looking for progress and new works on this site and a new series of Daily Paintings on my sister-site coming soon.

Light Installation at Plaça Vuit, Sa Pobla, Mallorca

2009-11-19T08:43:00.005+01:00

Last night we celebrated the grand opening of the new site of what was formerly called E-Così. Here you see the great bar at the new restaurant Plaça Vuit in Sa Pobla, Mallorca. This is opposite an artwork I created especially for the owners. Bel and Toni worked together with an incredible team to design and transform a historic building in the center of Sa Pobla.
They asked me to create special sort of painting / light installation for the site. You can see the images below. It is a theatre-like scrim depicting the Plaza España in Rome (this is an Italian restaurant).

The installation works nicely with the many beautiful light fixtures selected by Bel.

My good friends and the owners of Plaça Vuit. The name is the street address 'Plaza # 8' in Catalan. Congratulations to them and all the folks that worked their tails off over the last few months.

Shades of Grey at ArtPropelled

2009-11-13T10:42:00.004+01:00

Untitled (Hitchcock series) by Robert Natkin

Haunted by Sara Giannobile

Please hurry over to http://artpropelled.blogspot.com/ to see more of this comprehensive blog post about Shades of Grey. Robyn's site is great - I recommend you check it often. Thanks to Robyn for including one of my Expert Mover paintings in this post. Enjoy.

Opening Coverage at the Tesorería General, Palma de Mallorca

2009-11-08T17:33:00.007+01:00

I really wanted to post pictures of the opening, with lots of people milling around happily , but I have none! My designated photographer, the coordinator of the exhibition space, worked the refreshment table and in the end sent me only the picture at the end of this post of himself and I!
The pictures you see here were taken in the empty gallery earlier in the week, but you get the idea.

The good news is that it was crowded and a successful night. I really appreciate all of those who came out to celebrate with me. I did get some newspaper coverage as well. It is a possibility that I will get a review from another publication. If so I will certainly keep you posted.

Coordinator, Tomeu Pinya and I.

Exhibition Open in Palma de Mallorca: The Search for Home/La Búsqueda de Casa

2009-11-04T22:22:00.005+01:00

Just look at the sheer joy with which I work...My exhibit in the Gallery space at the Social Security Building in Palma de Mallorca is up and will be until the 13th. We will celebrate on Friday night at 8 p.m.; come by for Spanish tapas and a refreshment! I say this knowing that most of my English-speaking readership will certainly NOT be there, but a girl can dream...

Expert Mover, 1 of 8

A little sneak preview of a new series of daily paintings not yet posted over at my Dailies site. I've been a busy little bee.

Casa & Campo I/II / House & Field I/II

2009-11-02T15:57:00.003+01:00

Casa & Campo I / House & Field I

Casa & Campo II / House & Field II

Diptych: 20 X 20 inches (50 X 50 cm) each. Collage 7 mixed media on wood

This diptych is a large scale version of the 32 abstract orange Daily Paintings featured on my other blog.

New Piece: Volver a Casa / Return Home

2009-10-29T20:41:00.005+01:00

New Piece: Volver a Casa / Return Home

24 X 24 inches (61 X 61 cm)

Mixed media collage and painting

The composition of this piece is from a section of an enormous destroyed building in Inca, Mallorca. The wall paper and newspaper come from a building demolition in Sa Pobla, Mallorca. There are two bodies of text taken from moving stories contributed by Jose and Eusebia. Thank you both.

Pondering Weathered Walls

2009-10-25T10:29:00.007+01:00

I received an appreciated recognition from Robyn at: http://artpropelled.blogspot.com/
where she has gathered a collection of artists who are interested in the same rich and reminiscent surfaces of aged and decrepit walls as I. Thanks to Robyn, I have had a wonderful morning of discovering new artists that make my ex-pat world feel a bit smaller.

The photograph above is by Margaret Ryall.

I am particularly blown away by the fact that I hadn't previously stumbled across Clay Ketters, whose photographic images are almost identical to so many I have taken in Mallorca. More on him later...

The High Tower (La Torre Alta)

2009-10-13T14:22:00.006+02:00

The High Tower (El Torre Alta)

Collaboration with my 5 year old daughter, Malena, 2009

35.5 X 47 inches (90 X 120 cm)
Mixed media on wood (old Mallorquin newspaper, acrylic, graphite, ink)

New Piece: The Castle

2009-10-08T20:58:00.005+02:00

The Castle (El Castillo)

Completed October 7, 2009
35.5 X 47 inches (90 X 120 cm)
Mixed media on wood (old Mallorquin newspaper, acrylic, graphite, ink)

The title of this piece comes from the drawing in the background created by my daughter about a year ago. Lately pretty much every piece I make either has some drawing of hers or found objects collected by her incorporated into it. The composition of rooms and open door is from a destroyed building in Palma de Mallorca. The text is from a moving story written by my yoga student, Victoria.

here's a detail of the castle drawing...

Introducing my new website!

2009-09-23T08:52:00.004+02:00

PLEASE NOTE A CORRECTION BELOW IN THE URL FOR MY ENGLISH WEB SITE:

I have changed my website. Actually, there are two:

English version here: www.laurieapearsall.weebly.com
Spanish version here: www.laurieannpearsall.weebly.com

I am in the process of preparing lots of new work for a restaurant installation, an upcoming exhibition, and competitions in Mallorca. So, keep in touch of new work appearing regularly.

Very soon I will be launching my on-line store at Etsy.com. Stay tuned.

Set of Six Dailies

2009-09-07T11:38:00.003+02:00

Here is a continuation of Series 2 of the daily paintings I am currently creating. Now I will begin a transition in the color scheme...stay tuned.

looking at the individual pieces I like to get lost in the intricate little microcosms. As a set or 4, 6 or more squares, they have a very different feel: more chaotic, like a locomotive engine or watch mechanics in motion. Eager to select some and re-interpret on a much larger scale.

I feel like I am back in art school, playing with so much Cubism! Gotta admit, 'passage' is so fun...

New Piece, details

2009-09-02T17:32:00.003+02:00

These shots give a truer sense of the actual color and detail of "La vida pseudonómada".

You can see how the written stories are integrated. Some folks were hesitant to share their stories, because they didn't want their privacy compromised.

Well, as you can see, it's just between you and me ;) you'd have to be a forensic specialist to decode this story.

La Vida Pseudonómada/The Pseudo-nomadic Life

2009-09-02T16:08:00.003+02:00

La vida pseudonómada (The Pseudo-nomadic Life)

Completed September 1, 2009
35.5 X 47 inches (90 X 120 cm)
Mixed media on wood (rusted metal, collage, acrylic)

I started this piece ages ago and have finally pulled it together. It is the first piece that utilizes some of the many Moving Stories I have collected over the last 2 months. Thank you, Jose for your contribution. The original building structure is one in Inca, Mallorca. The junk was collected on the streets of Muro and the wall paper is from the site of a renovation in Sa Pobla.

I am entering this piece today in a competition at a gallery I have been salivating over; the exhibition space is a wonderfully restored historic estate and well-suited to my work. Just being in the group show would be great, but the first prize of a solo exhibit is going to be even better! Wish me luck.

Collage: Duplex / Adosado

2009-08-28T13:27:00.003+02:00

Duplex / Adosado

22 X 30 inches ( 54 X 73 cm) Collage/mixed-media on paper

Rejection Letters are junk mail

2009-08-17T18:21:00.006+02:00

The following is an excerpt from How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist: Selling Yourself without Selling Your Soul, Fifth Edition. By Caroll Michels (Owl Books)

Rejection and Success are analogous for various reasons. Both Success and rejection are capable of producing an identity crisis. Some artists who attain success find themselves stripped of goals, direction, and sense of purpose. The same holds true for artists who are rejected.
Stagnation is a by-product of rejection and success. Artists who are rejected can be diverted and blocked in their creativity. Artist who attain success can lose momentum and vision.
It is possible to be unscathed by rejection or success, and continue with new goals, directions, explorations, irrespective of other people's aesthetic judgments.
The sooner you lose an obsession with rejection, the sooner your real potential develops, and the better equipped you will be to handle success.

A tip for building immunity to rejection: Each time you receive a letter of rejection, initiate a new contact, send out another presentation package, or pick up the phone. Replace feelings of rejection with feelings of anticipation.

Caroll Michels has a website for visual artists that accompanies this book; it's full of resources: wwww.artisthelpnetwork.com

New sets of dialies

2009-08-13T18:04:00.002+02:00

Set of 4 Dailies

2009-07-30T11:11:00.004+02:00

This is a composition of 4 daily paintings, developed at first as a set, then individually. Check out the individual posts here. As I start each new daily piece, I make reference to the one that came the day before. In this way, there is a constant flow of continuity day to day.

Top left, clockwise to bottom right:

Cocina, Parquet, Rotary, and Golden Crop.

8 X 8 inches (20 X 20 cm) each panel. Collage, joss paper, rusted metal, and acrylic on wood.

Untitled Plaster Relief

2009-07-28T19:23:00.003+02:00

Untitled (as of yet)

8 X 16 inches/each
Plaster relief with acrylic; impressions made with objects found near construction sites.

These are a bit chunky for my tastes; either the contrast in the paint needs to be more subtle, or I need to carve down the relief after casting. Perhaps they are too cluttered. Back to work...

Casa de Trastos / House of Junk

2009-07-23T14:16:00.003+02:00

Casa de Trastos, or House of Junk

Plaster relief and acrylic, Composition of 8 tiles approximately 26 X 35 inches (65 X 90 cm)

Retouched plaster work!

2009-07-23T13:03:00.002+02:00

Retouched: Baldosa # 5
Plaster relief with acrylic

Repainted: Baldosa #2
Plaster relief and acrylic

Busca de contribuciones: Anécdotas de Mudanzas

2009-07-14T18:37:00.003+02:00

Fulcrum, 2009

Busca de contribuciones: Anecdotas de Mudanzas

¿Le gustaría participar en el proyecto que estoy desarrollando sobre cambios de casa? No le ocupará mucho tiempo. ¡De hecho, si quiere, podría dedicarme cinco minutos y hacerlo ahora!

Mi proyecto consiste en reunir historias, esbozos o tendencias sobre los siguientes temas:
- Mudanzas (el más conmovedor, el más estresante, el más alegre, el más difícil de realizar físicamente.... etc.)
- El proceso de empaquetar y vaciar cartónes
- La experiencía de renovar una casa.
- O conteste simplemente a la pregunta: "si usted partiese de viaje para no volver nunca más a su residencia actual, ¿QUÉ SE LLEVARIA USTED CONTIGO, Y QUÉ DEJARÍA?

Para no ponérselo demasiado complicado, puede contestarme en el idioma que Usted quiera.
Puede enviarlo por correo electrónico (laurie.pearsall@gmail.com) o enviarme un mensaje en Facebook.
Todas las contribuciones serán tratadas de forma anónima , si asi lo desea y las incorporaré a mis pinturas, sólo de forma parcialmente visible.

Su contribución significará mucho para mí. Si lo desea, puede seguir mis blogs para conocer los progresos de mi trabajo.
Gracias. Laurie

Call for Submissions: Moving Stories

2009-07-14T18:28:00.004+02:00

Chromosome, 2009

Seeking submissions: Moving Stories

I am gathering stories, lists, or stream of consciousness thoughts on the following topics:
- Moving (the most recent, most poignant, stressful, joyful, physically difficult....etc.)
- Packing +/or unpacking
- Tearing down or renovating a home
- OR answer the question: "if you were planning to take a journey, never to return to your present home, WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU, AND WHAT WOULD YOU LEAVE BEHIND?

Any language is fine.
You can post it here as a comment, send me an email (laurie.pearsall@gmail.com) or send me a message on Facebook.
All submissions are anonymous and will be incorporated into paintings, only partly visible.

Your contribution means a lot to me.
Thank you.

Cada cara su cruz OR Everyone has a cross to bear

2009-07-06T11:41:00.002+02:00

"Artists don't get down to work until the pain of working is exceeded by the pain of NOT working".

(A quote from Stephen De Staebler, taken from Art & Fear: Observations on the Joys and Perils of Artmaking; David Bayles & Ted Orland, 1993, The Image Continuum Press)

Back from the Haitus

2009-06-25T12:10:00.003+02:00

I have been off this blog for quite some time. First, focusing on my daily painting blog, but also I went to America for 3 weeks to recharge my batteries with family and friends, and visit some old an new haunts in Brooklyn and NYC. This was the first time I had traveled alone in I think 7 years. Wow. I will not gut this site with all my pictures, I have just included a tiny taste. Above you see me with artist Meg Foster
Meg was actually a student of mine in Massachusetts years ago. Check out her work, she's a gem.

I wandered to the Lower Eat Side, and around The Cooper Union where I studied my under graduate art degree. The whole community has changed. I blogged about this last August. The newest feature was the new Cooper-Hewitt Learning Space. Above is the only shot I got of the before my camera battery died. It looks sort of like a Transformer toy and you can see more angles of it, under construction here. This link has a building process web-cam.

This is a rusty bit of joy I documented in Bushwick, where I lodged with my friend Luis.

Stay tuned for the new and reworked pieces I am picking away at in the terrace studio. The blazing temperatures have returned to Mallorca. It's time to cast plaster!

The Progress of Patience

2009-03-31T12:11:00.003+02:00

This image is the Day 8 post on my Daily Painting blog. It's called Over & Over Again.

I am posting it here because this composition has given me pause. The process of completing a painting every day, for only a week so far, has been very liberating. Yet, in the studio with my bigger works I am at a bit of a loss! "What was I doing"?

In the words of the great teacher Yogi Bahjan: Patience Pays. I do know that it is good to be a little lost, in order to find the road less traveled. I am working hard at releasing the notion that I have to finish pieces by some imagined or real deadline, or that what lurks in my mind's eye matters so much. They have a life of their own.

Introducing my New Blog

2009-03-26T18:05:00.002+01:00

Here is a sneak peek at a few pieces displayed on my new sister-site Daily Paintings: Art and Sadhana
This site is dedicated to showing a new painting each day. Check it out for more information and the first three posts!

Finding the Essence

2009-03-16T15:46:00.004+01:00

All irony intended, I feel that I have hit a WALL with my recent work. Flat and impenetrable. That is not my goal. My curiosity for dismantled homes is not only a question of composition and aesthetics; but also the vibration that remains of the stories played out between the walls.

So what now? I am trying to play more...to explore the essence of the images I document and not simply replicate them with paint.

The other day I pulled out a box of collage materials gathered on my many walks around the city and the villages here in Mallorca. Above you see some examples of a bunch of collages which will serve as under-paintings.

Trust the Process

2009-03-12T12:05:00.005+01:00

I want to share with you a book I am reading for the third time...I pick it up when I know my work is stuck and I need a good teacher.

It's called 'Trust the Process: An Artist's Guide to Letting Go' by Shaun McNiff and published by Shambhala. He is actually from Beverly, Massachusetts, the city where I was born. You can read more about him here. The following is a quote that makes A LOT of sense to me in considering my approach to art-making.

"It seems that whenever I really want to do well, I am more likely to contradict these basic principles of creation (letting the unique qualities of unplanned gestures and color combinations emerge through the process of painting). If it is an especially important event, I am apt to plan too much. As I deliver the performance I realize I am following a script. There is no magic unless unplanned expressions arrive to infuse the performance with a spontaneous vitality".

The thing is, even when I don't have a specific deadline, I feel that it is 'especially important' and that I want to do well because:

a. I am recovering perfectionist;

b. I have made a lot of sacrifices to follow this path;

c. I balance so many other devotions and responsibilities, that studio time is PRECIOUS, I want to make it count.

ALAS, THESE ARE ALL EXCUSES. MAKE ART NOT EXCUSES.

The photos above were taken in La Llonja and Sa Quadrada districts in Plama de Mallorca...I've been looking closer at the walls.

Loosening up...

2009-03-04T16:31:00.002+01:00

Now that I have had a few months distance from the bulk of work I have already created using building facades as a theme, I recognize that they are far too static for my liking. I am not throwing out a line for compliments, this is a genuine critique of the work as it stands alone but also with respect to the concept, which is important to me.

I am so curious about these exposed walls as cross-sections of lifetimes spent in the formerly closed quarters. So...where is the life in the paintings? The energy, the movement...I have a tendency to 'over-work' surfaces; and in the end usually prefer my drawings and under-painting to the finished product.

So, today I tried to loosen up- let the image breathe and no be so tied to the original phot I took. I incorporated some text, some stream of consciousness writing about the seemingly haphazard approach to home reforms in many Mallorcan towns. Then it occured to me that I occasionally meet someone who lived in or next to the buildings I am painting...I AM GOING TO INTERVIEW THESE PEOPLE. Stay tuned for further development!

Iranian Calligraphy Art

2009-03-02T11:35:00.002+01:00

Bahram Hanafi Baghchejegh
Born in 21 March 1966

http://www.caroun.com/Calligraphy/Iran/BahramHanafi/BahramHanafi.html

Calligraphy & Graffiti

2009-03-02T10:45:00.004+01:00

To follow-up on my last post, here are some of my pieces form 2000 - 2002 which show my interest in calligraphy. I have always used text of some sort in my work, up until about a year ago. I have taken a break from this ritual to free my paintings from a, perhaps, too specific interpretation. Looking at this older work of mine and that of José Parlá (http://joseparla.com/home.html) I am reminded that language does not have to be read to add richness and conversation to a piece.

Artwork by José Parla

2009-03-02T10:12:00.003+01:00

http://joseparla.com/home.html
Run, don't walk to see this beautiful artwork by José Parla. Although the result is quite different, what inspires him is very similar to my current muse: urban archeology, a rythym of layers expressing individual and community experience amongst the inevitable cycle of progress and change. This is aptly described in his bio. His work is at once totally contemporary and archetypical, calling on centuries of written and creative expression. Beyond the immediate reference to graffiti and urban signage, I see delicate pages from Da Vinci's sketchbooks, Arabic text, and the ephemeral depth of Monet's waterlilies. Seeing this work has catapulted me back into the studio, it is so good to be reminded of the beauty in everything that surrounds us.

Within the 'walls' of the edifices I have been documenting, I hope to develop such an exquisite attention to surface depth and vibrance! SIGH...

An enormous thanks to Luis in Berwick Brooklyn for sharing this with me.

Menorca: Pedreres de s'Hostal

2009-02-11T09:50:00.003+01:00

Thanks to Carrie Barns, who directed me to this link via Facebook, I have discovered a visual gem not far from where I live. The Pedreres de s'Hostal is a disused quarry in Menorca Spain currently being converted into a 'post-industrial heritage park'.

Check out the link below to read more and see loads of wonderful photography of the site.

http://pruned.blogspot.com/2009/02/pedreres-de-s.html

New piece finished today!

2009-02-10T14:23:00.002+01:00

Yet another acrylic painting of a local facade...the multi-level staircases attracted me most to this composition. One curious benefit I have is that I can study the reformation process of my neighbors on both sides of the house - actually, one is building a mostly new structure and the other is reforming. The wall you see above reflects this odd kind of patchwork approach to adding-on that is rampant here.

"Let's add some stairs this weekend"!
"Ok, the stairs aren't finished, but now that I am up here, wouldn't it be nice to have a solarium"?
"Great, pass me a cinder block..."
"That nosy neighbor keeps looking over here, let's add a few bricks to this wall here..."

High Contrast in Palma de Mallorca

2009-02-10T14:14:00.003+01:00

As I continue to work on some mixed media paintings on the vast collection of façade images I have accumulated, I am eager to let loose on some black and white ink drawings- a favorite technique of mine. I started the investigations by tweaking photos in Photoshop.

Here's a result that inspires me: The effect that the humidity has on the cement of the upper levels of this torn-down building looks like bleeding, soaked black ink. Stay tuned.

Exhibition in E-Cosí, Sa Pobla, Mallorca

2009-01-14T12:56:00.005+01:00

Last night we opened a show of my new work from 2008 at E-Cosí Ristorante Italiano in Sa Pobla, Mallorca (http://e-cosi.info/48/espanol/). The collection includes a large-scale, privately commissioned piece that had yet to be displayed. The opening was well attended for short notice on a Tuesday evening. Many thanks to my friends and those who attended to celebrate with me.

Jose, Kathrin, and Alice, amongst the revelers.

Thanks to Toni for granting me the opportunity and for working the inaugration!

Palma de Mallorca, Carrer de Santiago Rusñol

2008-12-18T19:48:00.003+01:00

Are you sick of seeing these images yet? Well, I'm not - here's another goody from Palma de Mallorca. This is a rare find because it shows three adjacent walls in a city block. There was a high fixed-in-cement barrier in front of the theatre-like display so I could not photograph freely. I have included a few decen shots taken with my arm stuck through the muslin!

Don't you just love the multiple stair cases leading to...???

While I continue to paint these images, I am also now preparing thematerials to do embossed and water color versions - lighter, less dense than acrylic and modeling paste.

Muro, Mallorca...another ruin

2008-12-07T12:10:00.004+01:00

Today is another beautiful December Sunday in Mallorca. With some time alone I wandered my village to uncover neglected nooks. This particular house pictured above gives me déjàvu of snooping around the ruins behind my grandparents' house in Gloucester, MA.

My brothers and I used to go out into their back woods and trespass on the dangerous rotting staircases. The peculiar thing about these former dwellings here is that you don't need to go far to find them- they are abundant and nestled in with renovated and modern homes. Posts have been slow lately. I am pining to get into the studio. Alas, I have another job I need to finish up. Soon, soon.

Drawing or Painting?

2008-11-18T12:43:00.004+01:00

I always like to document my 'under-paintings' which are more drawings than paintings I suppose. These images are important because if I go too far with subsequent layers, I can see what I want to reclaim. I have found some wonderful black paint-pens that are more opaque than Sharpie markers and allow me to draw into my paintings. You can see the photo I took to compose this painting in an earlier post (Urban Archeology). Stay tuned for the imminent changes in this piece.

Mallorcan Façades- Abstract Interpretations...

2008-11-11T22:32:00.004+01:00

I had an intense casting day yesterday. I'm playing with facade-like compositions, but with an abstract positioning of the textures and forms.

Like the other plaster casts, the impressions here are made with discarded construction materials and other recycled objects.

The difference here though is the scale- it's tricky, but I want to cast much larger blocks then reassemble them in different compositions.

Welcome to Mallorca

2008-11-10T21:50:00.004+01:00

I haven't posted in a little while. I took a break for an upper-respiratory infection, for throwing Muro's first Halloween party, and to do some domestic improvements. However the Mallorcan sun has beckoned me back to the terrace to cast plaster tiles. I also have more paintings in the works. I will be able to share more new things very soon.

Those of you aware may be wondering what happened with my 'big deadline'...Well, after six months of hard work and cranking out the creativity, I was disqualified based on my age. I'm not going to get into this here, but, yes - it was disappointing for a few minutes (maybe an hour and a half).

All I can say is WELCOME TO MALLORCA!!!!!!!! And quote a savvy Egyptian restauranteur I know, " Mallorca is a peculiar place full of peculiar people who do peculiar things". Amen.

Anyway, I win anyway. That deadline gave me the push I needed to embark on the new body of work I have been ruminating over for a long time. I am really into it and cannot wait to share it with the public.

Urban Archeology - Arqueología Urbana

2008-10-24T10:07:00.004+02:00

Shortly after moving to Mallorca I began to document the abundant activity in the construction and destruction of properties on the island. I still observe the antique mixing with the modern, sometimes harmoniously, sometimes in conflict.

What piques my curiosity most are the façades left behind after the demolition of a neighboring building. For a few short months, one can see the imprint left on the walls of lives once lived. It is a cross-section of changing generations of ownership.
By capturing these views before they are covered for another span of time, I attempt to depict contemporary artifacts obscured by civilization and progress. I mimic this process in my works by using discarded construction materials and painting over my own paintings.

What you are reading is the written portion of a proposal I just sent out for a juried show in Palma. I have been preparing for the opportunity for 6 months. And although the competition is certainly not a punctuation mark, I feel that I have already won- deadlines are great motivators!

Arqueología Urbana

Poco después de venir a vivir a Mallorca empecé a documentar la abundante actividad en la construcción y destrucción dentro de la isla. Aún observo lo antiguo mezclándose con lo moderno, a veces armoniosamente, otras en conflicto.

Lo que pica mi curiosidad es que la mayoria de las fachadas dejaron trás de sí la demolición del edificio colindante. Durante unos pocos meses, uno puede ver la imprenta dejada en las paredes de los que una vez vivieron allí. Es una muestra representativa de los cambios generacionales de la propiedad. Al capturar estas vistas antes de que sean recubiertas por otro lapso del tiempo, intento plasmar los artefactos contemporáneos obscurecidos por la civilización y el progreso. Imito este proceso en mis obras usando materiales descartados por la construcción y cubriendo antiguas obras mías.

Piso Tres Plantas, Inca Mallorca

2008-10-21T11:11:00.003+02:00

Another battle of the paintings! Thanks to those who helped last week. I would like to include only one of these two large scale works (approx. 4 X 5.5 feet) in my proposal going off tomorrow.
What's your gut feeling? The one above (needs a few more touches) Inca 3- Story, or below, Escavation in Málaga? The bottom image is a bit washed out- try to visualize it with darker blacks. Thanks!

Fossil, Pollensa & other casts

2008-10-17T21:11:00.005+02:00

I'm looking for a quick opinion: I need to add one of these two versions to a proposal this week. Tell me- which is stronger: the brown or blue-grey version?

These are interpretations of the imprint left from a torn-down building in historic Pollensa, Mallorca. They are approximately 24 X 24 inches square - each composed of 4 plaster relief tiles cast from clay carvings I made. I have posted drawings of this image before (see August posts on Pollensa Facade).

Above and below are two individual castings (8X10in.) I finished this week as well; they are more abstract, made with remnants of building materials found on the side of the road.

A New Facade- a new series

2008-10-11T09:19:00.003+02:00

I finally darted out last night to document this beauty in Inca last evening. I had been getting nervous that it would disappear behind scaffolding and newly cast cement pillars. Alas, I got it- it's sooo good - there are lots of different tiles and marble elements remaining. The arches under the staircases add a nice design twist.

Give me a few weeks, or months to transform this inspiration into new works! Even Malena sucked in her breath when we pulled over- she really gets her mamá.

It would be interesting to find the people who used to inhabit these imaginary walls- just to let them know someone still cares!

Clean Slate

2008-10-10T17:28:00.003+02:00

High on the joy of finishing the set of "Habitaciones" paintings I just finished, I sought out more panels of the same size to continue the series...and found another sacrifice to the wheel of painting life - a very labored painting from 2002 of ferns morphing into spinal columns. I am not sure I have ever even exhibited this piece, but too late now!

Is this tendency recycling or more of an artistic Darwinism? The survival of the newest?

The other tid-bit I will mention about priming this painting over again was that the act helped me get out of a cold war with my husband. We had been sparring for a few days over typical stuff of companions, but both not yet willing to let go of our egos. The act of destroying this painting reminded me how liberating letting go can be - I remembered that there was no need to prove my righteousness, sometimes simply moving on is the best approach.

NEW WORK: First Floor, Rooms 1,2,3 &4

2008-10-10T16:46:00.005+02:00

Piso 1° Planta, Habitaciones 1, 2, 3, y 4 / First Floor Apartment, Rooms 1,2,3, and 4
(Acrylic, fiberglas patching compound, permanent marker, 41 X 51 cm/ea. 2008)

The intention of this series is that the one can arrange the individual paintings in various compositions of 'rooms' and the image still works as a whole. The first arrangement is true to the original building. This second one is mixed.

Above and below are views of two of the individual paintings. More are in the works. Imagine a cluster of 6 or 8 on the wall!

By the way, these four panels were formerly homes to paintings in the Immersion series you can see on my website. www.lauriepearsallluque.com

Escavation In Málaga, finished

2008-10-10T16:41:00.003+02:00

I posted a draft of this piece a while back - I believe it is finished now. Seeing it here, out of context, I think I will continue to try to document it, as the top half is a bit washed-out.

Tell, what are your thoughts of the wood grain combined with the imagery of masonry and cement structures? I'm curious...

Layer number ?

2008-10-03T09:17:00.004+02:00

My niece said she really liked the pieces in the last post- well, I am pleased, however you have to be fast with me because I love LAYERS. In this post you can see they have mostly been covered up.

In fact, most of the new work I am creating at the moment is painted on top of other paintings I felt were less successful or that I just got tired of looking at. This approach is cost effective and supports well the concept of urban archeology and the removal and addition of layers of 'influence'.

The temporary, yet cyclical nature of everything is what inspires me. For example, the images upon which these paintings are based need to be taken quickly, soon after I spot them from a car or train window - because very soon a new building will be erected in their place. These cross sections of a life once-lived are fleeting.

These two (above and below) are details of a larger piece.
So, next time you like a piece, you might consider making a bid before it continues on it's cycle and takes on a new life!

Pilgrim's Progress

2008-09-30T23:29:00.003+02:00

I am ten days away from an important deadline, so I am doing more painting and carving than posting these days. Alas, here are two 'underpaintings' of dismantled Mallorcan facades.

This second image is washed-out, but I can't re-shoot it as the painting has already been transformed.

Yes, I am working...

2008-09-25T09:32:00.003+02:00

I know I haven't been posting a lot, but that certainly doesn't mean I'm not working. Quite the contrary. I am so in the zone, stopping to blog seems tedious! The newest work is in full process. Including these two large scale illustrations, soon-to-be paintings, on wood panel. These are just 'tease' pics. As the work evolves, I will show more!

I think I'm getting closer

2008-09-18T09:25:00.003+02:00

Ok, the pure white of the Nevelson vibe was diminishing the subtle textures of these pieces, as they do not have very deep relief. I was missing the tones of the clay and earth. This color palette feels more right. I am looking for a fossil feel. Perhaps I still need to lower the contrast.

These samples are purely abstract, made with found construction materials and old rusted things pressed into the clay. I have just cast some larger pieces which are more literal 'illustrations' in clay of scenes photographed around Mallorca. They are still wet and not ready to paint.

Un-Graffiti

2008-09-18T07:59:00.004+02:00

Look at the interesting result when graffiti is painted and patched over at the elementary school! These are the types of images I shoot almost daily in my own brand of Mallorca's urban archeology.

Cosas del Pueblo (Village Matters)

2008-09-17T09:56:00.005+02:00

As a study in contrasts, I want to share a special experience I had last night here my village, Muro, Mallorca. Firstly, it helps to know that I am reading a book called Ghosts of Spain: Travels through Spain and its Silent Past by Giles Trimlett, given to me recently by a friend in Brooklyn. It is not only teaching me about the transition from Franco's dictatorship to modern spain, but it's also helping me better understand some of the cultural differences I face each day. Just yesterday morning I read about the code of silence kept for many years regarding the numerous civil war murders and unmarked graves. The author attempted to pry information from a grand-daughter of the former Republican leadership about the deaths of three women in her town. Rather than discuss versions of the past from a right or left political standpoint, she wanted to keep the conversation brief, calling such things 'cosas del pueblo' (village matters).

I have definitely been confronted with the insular nature of relationships and gossip from pueblo to pueblo in my 4 short years in Mallorca. I have struggled with finding people who are willing to let me in. The Mallorquin villages are so strongly knit, they not only have different accents, but even have different words for the same vocabulary in two towns only a few miles apart. So, I smirked when I read the phrase, cosas del pueblo.

At about ten p.m., we heard the familiar sound of the tambor percussion group in the street. They can be heard each Tuesday night from afar, practicing in the parking lot of the local train station. But this time the drum beats were very close - just outside our house. Jose and I realized instantly who they were for - we had just discovered that a beloved student of Jose's has been diagnosed with bone cancer at age 17. The tambor group came to his door and pulled him out of his home, slung his tambor over his shouldter as he propped himself up on crutches. The serenade was all the more poignant, as Nadal himself participated.

We put a bathrobe on Malena and rushed out to join the intimate crowd. The song ended and we hung back in the darkness to watch Nadal's classmates and fellow bandsmen embrace him one by one. With heavy hearts, we walked back home. At that moment one thought came to my mind, cosas del pueblo.

Luis' Billboard Textures

2008-09-03T12:58:00.004+02:00

Aren't these wonderful? My friend Luis went on a texture hunt around Brooklyn and sent me tons of great images. This small selection shows the layered evidence of years of billboards pasted on top of one another and torn down - it appears that they may have been sanded-down as well. YUMilicious!

A Pause (Paws)

2008-09-03T12:46:00.003+02:00

Here is Icaro, crash-testing the new patio umbrella. Since Jose and Malena have returned I have been enthralled in home life and a bit of sadness for our Siamese, seen below. I am disturbed to report that he was shot at close range on Sunday night by a deranged person with a metal BB-gun. After a few days in the kitty hospital we will be picking him up this afternoon, with plates and screws in his hind leg. Pets are beloved family members and it is one thing when random accidents occur - this situation was quite another.

More Nevelson Similarities

2008-08-27T09:35:00.001+02:00

I don't think I have posted them as of yet, but I have also been documenting the process of new construction, not just the fossils that are left after older buildings are torn down. This one above and below are actually my neighbor's property. I am working on some drawings based on these totem-like towers used for casting cement columns.

THEN! yesterday on my Louise Nevelson walk down memory lane, look what I saw...

These are zinc-plate prints. And just what I want to get from my plaster casts of the images I am collecting and drawing.
And, don't they remind you a bit of the open-boxes I have posted many times?

Lookey here! Louise Nevelson

2008-08-27T09:30:00.001+02:00

These are two quick shots of an out-of-order arrangement of the plaster cast I posted on July 15. After lots of experiments with layers of color, and a lovely visit to the MFA in Boston's Egyptian section, pure white really is the best way to go. Now I can really concentrate on developing the images and textures and letting that speak for itself.

THEN, I remembered! OF COURSE!!! I'm doing Louise Nevelson! Love it or leave it we are all just reinventing the wheel, aren't we? I used to teach a high school art project based on her assemblages, so I decided to peruse a few of her works today.

This is an embossing- I just love the absence of color apart from the contrast provided by subtle shadows.

Medicine Cabinet, step two

2008-08-26T16:20:00.003+02:00

Here it is again after the fiber-glass bathroom putty treatment. For reference to the two prior posts of this series, see August 23 and July 17.

Pollensa Facade Reassembled

2008-08-26T15:45:00.002+02:00

This is just a preliminary paste-up. It does give me a bit of a 'so now what?' feeling. My gut tells me to paste them down with more space in between and work back into the composition as a whole. I wanted it to have an upstairs/downstairs impact, but the bedrock below is too voluptuous ...oh well, back to the drawing board.

Pollensa Facade series - done!

2008-08-26T11:30:00.002+02:00

This is a teaser of a few close-up shots of the 8-part drawing I started in America. Now to cut the edges and reassemble.

These are made with magic marker, white correction tape, graphite and gesso. They are drawings of a drawing of a photo I took. the ultimate plan is to cast these as white plaster tiles...

..hope this isn't anti-climatic.

Medicine Cabinet, step one

2008-08-23T19:25:00.003+02:00

Just finished this first step of a partner piece to the one posted on July 17 ("New painting finished today, still wet"). For some reason my straight renderings always disappoint me (might as well look at the photo!), so - step two will be posted tomorrow or Monday.

Malaga Excavation- Study

2008-08-23T14:38:00.002+02:00

This is a small study (approx. 6X8 inches) on vellum with gesso and magic marker. last night I began blocking out a much larger version (approx. 6 X 4 feet) on untreated wood. Whereas in this study the negative space is white, the plan is to leave the wood grain exposed in the larger version.

I originally approached this scene because of the deteriorating tile wall, but as I came to the protective fence I saw in the foreground the roman foundation which was part of the amphitheatre across the street. Double the pleasure.

Rewriting the same book...

2008-08-22T23:39:00.004+02:00

Hasn't it been said many times that artists spend a lifetime perfecting the same idea? Although perfection is not a viable goal, I do enjoy stumbling across hints of this often unwitting continuum. Here you have excerpts from a book of a cut-and-assemble dollhouse. I came across it while cleaning Malena's closet. I purchased it around '93/'94 in preparation for my thesis exhibition at Mass Art. (See MAY posts: Art work from 1995, parts 1, 2 ,3 to see related art work)

The funny thing about coming across these (which are simply open boxes, a current obsession of mine), is that I have been looking for images of a project I did at age 16. Wendy reminded me that the 'self-portrait book' in question is similar to the unfolding concept with I work at the moment. Found the slides, but don't know how to scan them yet...

New York Stories

2008-08-21T13:07:00.004+02:00

Finally I am back in front of a fully functioning computer. Lots to post but will try to be concise. Towards the end of our trip to America, we spent a few days in NYC, where I studied art once upon a time. Above are: Gail, my brother Ross, Jen , Jose and I after brunch in Brooklyn. This was a whirlwind weekend of get-together and I do not have photos of everyone. I was able to connect, however briefly with friends I hadn't seen in 5, 10, 12 years. And meet some new friends, Doug and Suzanne O'Keefe.

Above you can see me with Kristen Alvanson, old roommate and artist who currently lives and works in Iran. Imagine my joy when she emailed to say that she would be in New York the very same weekend as I. This meeting is called "beschert"- a yiddish word for destiny (thank you, suzanne). This year numerous emails between Mallorca and Iran were punctuated by a bagel and coffee in a New York diner. Ah, such is the beauty of life.

And here is the Verranzano Bridge from Brooklyn to Staten Island, brought to us by Luis (below) by accident. I know there are no accidents (beschert!) (bless you); after all how else would I have taken this lovely photo? It was worth every minute of the great conversation and the ten dollar toll.

I met Luis when he was 15 in my first sculpture class - I was a 19 year old teacher and art student. In 2008 we are still good friends after he googled me in 2000. Jose and I are so thankful for our great weekend cruising Brooklyn and hiding from the rain bursts as Luis brought us to Coney Island to eat ganepas (a Puerto Rican fruit- don't choke on the pit!), and to the BEST thai and ice cream (with the beautiful Eden) in Brooklyn.

I haven't the heart to post additional pictures of lower manhattan. Most of the island looked like a big shopping mall to me, and it was unsettling to see mirrored-glass, high-rise dormitory buildings constructed all around Cooper Union, where I studied. So, I will only post the above image- one of the very few things that remained untouched. This mosaic saying "Cooper Square" is on the base of a lamp post next to Cooper. In the mid to late 80's an independent artist mosaic-ed a series of street lamps all around the lower east side. The site of these gave me a flicker of the nostalgia of the way things were before Starbucks came to stay.