Christmas 2018

CHRISTMAS 2018

Of Every Christmas

Known to Date

I'm Hoping Your’s

Is Truly GREAT!

Merry Christmas

                  James 
             

CAI GUO-QAING 蔡國強

The work is in many ways tied to the grand traditions of science, philosophy and the arts; both eastern and western. Taoism, yin-yang, herbal medicine, acupuncture, set design and painting were all studied by the artist. Early on he was largely taught by his father. He now often imprints his images on canvas using processes akin to wood cuts, silk screens, and block print. He manipulates line, color, form and light using a process that is uniquely original; almost totally his own. The principle medium of choice for Cai Guo-Qiang is pyrotechnic, gun powder. 

Cai Guo-Qiang lays out his own stencils, patterns and actual items like plants and organics directly onto his large canvases. He then sprinkles on explosive colored powders, adds card board on top then lights a fuse. The results are astonishing.

He often does live in air shows that fit squarely into what comes to mind when we think of fireworks.  But don’t be fooled; these extravaganzas are moving, beautiful and inspiring in the spirit of the greatest art created in any medium. His challenging and rewarding presentations are magnificent.

The experience and studies of theater set design is vividly expressed in Cai’s instillation pieces. Wolves and tigers made of paper Mache, plaster, resin and painted sheep’s hide dominate many of his most famous and revered works. These shockingly realistic animals are shot with arrows, dangled from ceilings and careened into transparent fiber glass walls by the hundreds.

Among Cai’s most talked about pieces is “Inopportune: Stage One.” It was part of his extravagant exhibition at New York’s Guggenheim. Hung from the top of the magnificent Frank Lloyd Wright atrium were multiple cars; cars embellished with intermittently blinking led light rods. Each Positioned to simulate a single car flipping and rolling downward as if in a bombing or car crash. All in a word: Spectacular!

                                                                                          

             

     

                                                

Public Television has feature Cai on it’s broad cast of the BBC series “Civilizations.” This is a must see for art aficionados. The entire series is eye popping and intricate. The segment on Cai Guo-Qiang; again, spectacular! Netflix’s “Sky Ladder” is another recent illuminating documentary featuring the contemporary giant.  

One of the world’s most sought after and exceptional art world super stars; Cai Gio-Qiang continues to shock, awe and inspire in the best of ways. May his brilliant efforts and dedication to creative excellence thrive for many years to come.

        

Jacob Lawrence @ Virginia Tech

The Jacob Lawrence road show came to town in late August. “History, Labor, Life: the Prints of Jacob Lawrence” is the featured exhibit at The Moss Arts Center on Virginia Tech’s expansive campus. It is stunning in scale, quality and daring. Art is many times not what we see but what we perceive. Lawrence has come of age or perhaps the world is catching up to his incredible gifts.

Lawrence was recognized early on in his life and remained a force as an interpreter and chronicler of the African American experience. He was given to work in series; many included forty or more individual pieces. He was purchased early on by MoMA and other prominent collections. Lawrence was truly a modernist, innovator and cultural contributor. He was much akin to the European Modernist of his time, Matisse, Picasso, Leger and Modigliani. His African American compatriots Bearden, Douglas and Alston are alluded to in his virtuosic efforts too. With that being said Lawrence remained true to his vision throughout his life; all the more remarkable for an almost totally untrained master.

Narrative was a hallmark of the man’s work. He strayed from the modernist doctrines in this respect. His Migration Series, Toussaint L’Ouverture Series and War Series are represented in this exhibit along with others including his Harlem Series and John Brown Series. These are definite historical stories and close to theatrical story boards. At best; when all is spoken Lawrence considered himself a Social Realist.

A high point of the opening reception was a talk by Leslie King Hammond; activist, historian, and professor emerita at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Dr. Hammond was a close friend to Jacob Lawrence and able to give personal reflections of the man along with a deep knowledge of his life and works. She touched all the bases and added interesting and new insights. Dr. Hammond was like a fountain in a beautiful garden of color and content.

This exhibition of Jacob Lawrence prints featured over ninety individual pieces. The last exhibition I have recently seen with such a large, over whelming number of great pieces was at New York’s Metropolitan. That exhibit featured about one hundred original and exclusive drawings by the world and historically renowned; Michelangelo Buonaroti.  Rarely has something of that cultural significance and scale been mounted in South Western Virginia. The color, vibrancy, refinement and geometry of Lawrence’s work holds it ground very well. 

 I drove home still under the spell of this mammoth in scale; major exhibition. I happened to see a young man that I often see power walking around town.  I spot him in the distance; black, bold, beautiful, shirtless…red shorts against the dark grey highway making his way around a curve. The green of late summer in the surrounding foliage were working as bracketing frames. Above all this was the elegance of a luxurious cumulus clouded blue sky. This moment, this scene, I had witnessed countless times without much thought. In my eyes now I’m in the presence of and viewing a living, breathing Jacob Lawrence Painting; a transformative visionary thing.

 “My belief is that it is most important for an artist to develop an approach and philosophy about life; if he has developed this philosophy, he does not put paint on canvas, he puts himself on canvas.”

                                                                                                    Jacob Lawrence                                                          

                              

                                                                                   

The Art & Narrative of Elektra Assassin Sienkiewicz & Miller

Imagine it’s something like this; a politically visionary, mysteriously engaging action adventure that is satirically humorous while disguising itself as a romantic spy thriller. This refreshingly funny take on contemporary world events is peppered with, while including demonic possession, psycho- babble and even robotics. Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz gave this jewel of a novel to the world in the nineteen eighties. It was originally released in monthly installments   by Marvel Comics and sold in specialty shops. That was the way I initially read this graphic novel. It was brilliantly conceived and constructed at the time. It not only holds up in our contemporary political climate (the age of Trump) it soars and is on many levels definitive in tone along with being surprisingly prophetic.

Elektra was a character Frank Miller created as foil to Matt Murdock’s Dare Devil. Elektra was an extrodinarally gifted while flawed character. She was an immediate fan favorite and she was killed almost as quickly as she was introduced. Elektra was too good to remain in oblivion and the novel “Elektra Assassin” was a wonderful way to revisit the character while adding to the mythology in this work that is a prequel to the original Miller thriller. 

 THE SOVIET PREMIER HAS BEEN SIGHTED AT THE WEST WING...VOTED FOR THAT SON OF A BITCH...LIED TO US...CANT BELIEVE HE'D LET THIS HAPPEN...

I most recently reread “Elektra Assassin” in a compilation edition and it was exceptionally good. In ways even better than I remembered from my eighties encounter with the book.   At this point I couldn’t recommend it any higher. “Elektra  Assassin” is literature at it most heightened. The creators are in-league with Ian Fleming, Dashiell Hammett and Stieg Larsson. They are masters of their chosen form. Miller’s words and Sienkiewicz’s pictures make for an illuminating and grand experience. In another way of phrasing; they are ranking among the very best! 

Miller and Sienkiewicz followed up their achievement; “Electra Assassin” with another tale from the Dare Devil Mythos; “Love & War” which is centered on the chance that the heartless “King Pin” (Wilson Fisk) might actually be capable of loving something outside of his own narcissistic self-love. Could this, again be a prophetic treatise on the inner life of a ruthless businessman politician, someone at the present time, some unnamed public figure?”  But within the mean time take a look at “Electra Assassin.” It just might become a thing treasured in your own right, as you may as yet find to peruse and imagine.

    

"I don't need evidence," said the President. "I'm the President. I know what I'm talking about," he said. "I got elected didn't I?"

A local man claims to have seen the woman strike down two police officers with her bare hands, before being subdued. Local authorities refuse to draw any connection between this incident and the recent assassination which took pace in San Concepcion.

A Visit With Flat Stanley

I recently received an unusual manila envelope from my granddaughter Madison Manning in the mail. It seemed she and her teacher wanted me to participate in “The Flat Stanley Project.” From the very outset I saw this as an opportunity to assist and encourage “Maddie.” I jumped on it almost immediately. I solicited the help of my co-workers and friends (who were more than happy to assist) and we were off and running. 

You may have already been exposed to Flat Stanley. He was created by children’s author Jeff brown in the 1960’s. The otherwise normal Stanley Lambchop survived being; well, flattened by a steamroller and going on to numerous adventures. In his diminished form Stanley was able to slide under doors, hide almost anywhere and travel around the world in envelopes. This led Canadian school teacher;   Dale Hubert to envision “The Flat Stanley Project.” His intention was to foster an interest in letter writing early on for young kids. 

It has become a local and international phenomenon. Envelopes like the one I received are sent with a Stanley cutout created by the individual child and mailed with an explanatory letter. The letter includes the telling of the brief story of who Stanley is and requests that the receiver takes pictures of their time and adventures with the character. Along with the pictures, postcards and other small items a descriptive letter and the Stanley cutout are requested in return from the recipient. 

All in all; with a little help from my friends, our time with “The Flat Stanley Project” went better than well; great in fact! It was an interesting, fun and a broadening experience for those who shared.  We’ll cherish it and I’m certain my little “Maddie” did too!       

                                

Hello to you Maddie; Mrs. Ellis, the rest of your first grade class and Maddie’s Many Friends!!!

Flat Stanley (or Flat Stan as I like to call him) arrived last Thursday evening by mail in an envelope. Let me tell you he was glad to get out and stretch a little. We became immediate friends and he was ready for a ton of all new adventures. We started with a trip the next morning to Moog Components Group to show Stanly where I work and to introduce him to some of my co-workers and friends. They were as thrilled to meet Stanly as he was to meet them. We had a lot of fun! I work as an electrical test technician. We make components for airplanes, satellites, CAT scan machines, drones and a lot more. Stan seemed to be impressed.

I work as an artist too. I create paintings, sculptures and photographs. Flat Stan said he always felt like he was a work of art and wanted me to draw his portrait. I told him I would be happy to!   I’m including the finished drawing in the package. How do you guys like it? Stan asked if he could pose with some of my other art work. I thought that was a good idea and let him sit with some of the paintings and sculptures I’ve made.  Can you find him in the photo?

Maddie; he likes to do the things that you like! He climbed trees, picked flowers and sat on the front porch with the flag. He really enjoyed playing in the toy box with all the toys too. Your favorites became his favorites! We talked about a lot of things including the Presidential election. I think he is leaning towards Hillary Clinton.     

After a few days and nights Stan told me he was ready to get back to Maryland. Here he is; hopefully safe and sound. Let me know how he is doing. Tell him I miss him already! He’s a Great Guy!

Take Care Everyone!!!

Daddy  James   

Maddie’s Daddy James

  

      

 More Flat Stanley Pictures

             

       Good-Bye for Now Flat Stanley!!!

John Biggers: A Personal Favorite

When I think of great art and artists there are many “sung” names that come to my mind. Rembrandt, Picasso, O’Keefe among many, many others. All of these creators are world renowned and recognized almost universally. An artist that is not as readily known (in many ways unsung) is but surely as qualified, accomplished and special in my heart and mind; John Biggers.  

Even though Biggers is largely excluded from “The Canon” of art he is far from without noted achievements. He studied first with artist and educator Viktor Lowenfeld who helped enrich his knowledge of African and African-American art. He would go on to study with luminary artists Charles White and Elizabeth Catlett both of African-American decent. Mexican muralist Diego Rivera and his fellow the ubiquitous; Orozco would also fortunately be among his teachers and inspirations. 

Early on Biggers was included in an important exhibition at MoMA; “Young Negro Art” that was a huge boost to his career; but it was a UNESCO fellowship that would be in his own words “a positive shock…the most significant of my life's experiences." This fellowship allowed Biggers and his wife to travel to several African nations including Ghana and Nigeria. He would go on to speak about his journey to and around the African continent in this way…

"We spent most of our time in the country. People call it “Bush,” you know, that’s a name sort of like the hunter. I don’t care for that name for the country people because country people have a great traditional culture. And these cultures are all over the continent. They are beautiful. They have endured."                           

Educator John Biggers taught at Texas Southern University where he also painted murals and inspired generations of his students and patrons.  Biggers toiled, bled, sweat and wept (to paraphrase Churchill) for his art and people. His art was dedicated to the world of the African Diaspora in content and spirit. His works (paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints) that early on were much entrenched in social commentaries were later to become in content and spirit allegorical, mystical even surreal. In his late years Biggers’ creations were much more design like and geometric in look.       

In life John Biggers achieved his artistic and cultural goals and in the process the world was enriched. His works as those of every true great are their own most eloquent commentary. A portfolio of his hands mastery for your viewing and enjoyment follows: