St Andrews Church was the venue for the East Bay Artist Guild Group Show from September 5- November 1. Located on Mary Drive in Pleasant Hill, CA the wall space is in a large contemporary building adjacent to the Church where gatherings of the congregation occur. It is fitting therefore, that our group gathered with our many varied styles and medium of art to show together in this venue. The amazing experience I had was in the hanging of the show. I had intended to go, drop off my 2 plein air oil paintings and duck out in time to avoid being roped into helping hang. Of course, in a church venue, guilt becomes the prominent emotion, so I did not get far. In fact I stayed to offer my services and support to hang the show so we all could get out in a timely manner. Well, what was so fun about this process, was that as we looked at the work, it all seemed rather disparate. Nothing seemed to mesh, or match, we started placing work around the floors of the walls to try to create some sense. It was not until all of the work was out, that we started to reorder things, re organize and start to compose the walls with the unique works. The more we pushed and pulled at the art of hanging, we arranged things according to subject, color drama, and visual weight. Soon order began to unfold and the spaces- there were 3 rooms- began to take on a new glow. It was a rather divine experience seeing all of these paintings, drawings and photographs come together in a kind of harmonic convergence. There was no rhyme or reason to the show in the beginning, no intent to make a theme or an underlying idea of symmetry. Instead it was just a free for all. Bring whatever you want to show in a church. No prices, or lists. Just art for the congregation. So when we finished, and it really did not take long, we all felt refreshed, awakened, enlightened by it even. We had created a work of art out of the decorating of the art! We had created order out of chaos, inspired by no plan other than the divine ability we have to make patterns, associations and relationships where there were once none. It was a moment of artistic truth, when we all came together and made something bigger than just our one contribution did alone. You can't really tell from the photo, but I'm pretty sure God was there, and it turned out Divine! Lefty Loosy - Righty Tighty! Here is painting that I started a few weeks after having surgery to my right shoulder in March. The right hand is the right one I paint with, so I had to use my left hand to start this piece. As I recovered, I finished it with my right! Can you tell which part was done which hand? It is from a trip to Delphi, Greece, the home of the ancient oracle at Delphi where travelers are invited to come to the oracle and “know thyself”. We ate at this exquisite and ever so charming restaurant. I loved that wagon and had to paint it! A great way to ponder oneself on a hot summer afternoon. Between that and 3 months in a sling, I have got to know myself really well. See more paintings in my Greece Series. Michelle The first two weeks in June I held my first East Bay Open Studios at my studio in Walnut Creek. I was thrilled to have a space to show my work and despite feeling a bit of a fraud since I had not painted in 4 months due to the surgery and recovery time, I was determined to have the show. The whole process was exciting, to chose the work (it all goes up, framed or not) and all the boxes of more work that didn't fit on the walls got to be nearby for instant access viewing. And then there was the fun of hanging the work one handed, with my left only, and using any and all other available body parts to help hold up hooks. My favorite thing about it was the people who came. They found the place regardless of my questionable signage, which, placed parallel to the building, rather than perpendicular, rendered it as about as effective to oncoming traffic as a pencil would be. And they came into my little haven, next to the janitor closet, around the corner, thanks to my in the building signage, every 5 feet saying " Keep Going... You're Almost There...Don't Stop Yet." Those who made it, were truly hearty souls and they honored me by coming! What was so terrific, was that each person who came through, had a different take on the the artwork. There were samplings of many works, all there for each person to look through and find something that was meaningful to them. One person actually declared a "winning painting" from my inventory. I was entirely amused, because she was the only person who showed any interest in that particular painting, and yet she was sure it was the very best one. So what I learned, was that every one is differnt and we have different experiences, associations and tastes. What resonates to us in art, is deeply personal and comes from who knows what. I learned never to judge my work again, that it was not for me to do. It is just for me to do my work, and let it have a life of its own. Once complete, the paintings become orphaned puppies, and I must let them go, and pray that they are adopted by kind loving people. :-) February 24- May 11, The show at the Diablo Valley Library was themed Earth Day, in honor of the month of May and all of its earthly glory. I chose to include this painting of Mount Diablo which I painted while gazing at the mountain one early Spring day. What I love about Mount Diablo is that is stands solid so near us in Contra Costa, like a big guardian that keeps the area grounded and safe. Funny that it was named Diablo (Devil). Sure it gets HOT around here, and that would muster images of hell and whatnot during the Summer, but in Spring, Fall and Winter, when the air is crisp and cool, that mountain is more on the Angelic side. When I painted this, it was from my favorite little perch up on Acalanes Ridge where there are trails that cross sideways along the steep golden hills. In fact, it mirrors the terrain of Diablo in the distance. And from this spot, I can see not just the infamous mountain ahead, but also the whole of Contra Costa, from Richmond, Crockett, Benicia, Pleasant Hill, on through Walnut Creek, Lafayette and on down the 680 corridor to Danville, San Ramon and on. I just love this area! The trails, the open space, the sub-urbanity of it all! How fitting was that painting for a show at DVC that services the student body of this area. But even better was when the painting sold, it was to a neighbor who walks these very hills daily. He is a dog walker, and he could spot the view the instant he saw the painting. It was familiar and it reminded him of the glory he gets to experience everyday. Its moments like those that make my day! The Metropolitan Transportation show in Oakland, March 6 - May 4, 2013, was a group show for the East Bay Artist Guild. Sadly, I was not able bodied enough to attend, as I was undergoing surgery and intense recovery from it on my right shoulder for the Months of March - June. I did not paint or get out much at all really, during that time. Nevertheless, I had my work up and chose to include this abandoned boat on China Camp Beach in Marin. The appeal for me is not just the old fancifully painted colorful hull with paint peeling as it sits idle on the beach. Nor is it the timeless feeling of the whole atmosphere at China Camp. But it is the little figure on the pier who seems to be working away as if there is plenty to do. His dingy sits nearby in the water, waiting to transport him somewhere, but I have not a clue where that might be. I just love that about transportation. It can take you any where if you are able and ready. Ironically, I spent so many months this year not able or ready to do much at all, so the forgotten beached fishing boat would have been just my speed. |
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