Of Miles and Penn

Miles x Twelve

This Series of paintings beginning with “The Rose Miles” and ended with a mini-series; “Lament”, could very well be sub-titled “The Birth and Death of Miles”.  It began or was born when I went into a record shop looking to see what was being released one week in 1986. At that time albums were recorded on vinyl and displayed like works of art. Record shops were mini-galleries that I went into often just to look at covers. On that certain day I found myself walking directly into what was a portrait of Miles Davis by the emanate fashion and portrait photographer Irving Penn. 

I was shocked, amazed and thrilled by it’s starkness and directness. This incredible black and white image with no text, lettering or logo was mesmerizing. A single face filling the entire 12” by 12” span of surface was both dynamic and bold.  Without question I knew this packaging contained a great collection of music. The album was named “Tutu” for the Arch Bishop and it was in many ways Miles’ greatest feat. It is certainly as taken from within his canon among any top three list of his very best. You can choose any other personal two. “Tutu” will be there among them completing the three.



Mixed Medium Miles



I began to use this master work (Tutu) music and photography as inspiration for many of my own works to come. I started with a mono-chrome piece in what was essentially and simply rose colored. It is to date the only painting I have completed in a single day. I was starting with perfection (the Penn photo) in which everything was already there, the color and scale were my only variations. I have used my take on the Penn portrait in mixed-medium, computer graphics, animations and other paintings. Warhol had his Marilyns, Johns his flags, Rothenberg her horses. I had Miles.

There was a point in time where I felt I needed to move on to other subjects and other sources of inspiration. Picasso had painted many works featuring the character “Harlequin” during his “Rose” period. He was beginning to experiment with what would evolve into cubism and he needed to move on from the circus performers that had been so vital and healing for him. He painted an unusual work showing harlequin on his death bed watched over by family members or perhaps angels. The work was titled “The Death of Harlequin”. The last painting in my series of six black and whites titled lament loosely based on the portrait of Miles but not exactly Miles ends with a sort of death mask.



Lament

A few years ago I was exhibiting “The Rose Miles” along with a number of other works out doors. I was taking part in “The Henry Street Heritage Festival” in Roanoke Va. There were many exhibitors and vendors lining Henry Street that day; other painters, sculptors, craftsman, book sellers all showing and selling their wares. At one point a strong gust of wind began to blow. The potential for complete chaos was certainly possible. Among the multitude of objects that could have been blown from their places only my portrait of Miles was blow to the ground. It landed smack hard on the pavement with the back facing up. I walked over and picked it up hoping it hadn’t been ruined; it had not, but it was strange and even a little embarrassing. I could only question why.

The Rose Miles

This occurrence was odd and the date was September 28, 1991. Listening to the car radio on the drive home I heard; sadly, that Miles Davis had died. I don’t know but perhaps even within the same hour or even the moment of his passing my tribute had landed face down on the pavement.

Yes; Do See Green Lantern

Green Lantern; the adaptation of four generations of heroic art and narrative is showing near you in glorious 3-D. It is not to miss; especially for the “Fan Boy”. The movie as expected is a grand spectacle. The infinity of space, the universe (at least 48,735 sectors of it) unfolding in a beauty not seen since Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Yes; there were views that were that compelling. Ryan Reynolds is perfectly cast as Hal Jordan. Senestro is played flawlessly by Mark Strong. It was a treat to hear Michael Clarke-Duncan voicing the brutish yet gallant Kilowog.  Blake Lively is sufficiently lovely, driven and intelligent as Carol Ferris. It’s no coincidence that her plane is named “The Sapphire” and that a news paper head line refers to her as a “Star”.  Hal’s training by Kilowog, verbal attacks and scorn from Senestro, kindness and understanding from Tomar  Re represent his fellows well. Good, evil, romance, laughs, thrills and most compelling the inner battles that rage within Hal Jordan’s Psyche. Any really good super hero movie is not about the trappings but the spirit of adventure, triumph and the power of myth. Green lantern excels.

We know aspects of our civilization’s origins trace back to the Ancient Greeks. There are many things unique to that culture. Our present day understanding of the Greeks comes from their architecture, their crafts, their sculpture, their politics and their athleticism. The Greek ideal and philosophy is expressed deeply in all of these but the greatest measure of their society, thoughts and spirituality is found in the riches of their mythology.

Every great society has a mythology and we are not without our own. Our equalivent of the ancient myths are embodied in the many worlds and incarnations of the super hero.

Originally (the late nineteen thirties/early forties) super men and women as created by Bob Kane, Charles Moulton, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were demi-gods gifted with unlimited powers, resources, beauty and virtue. This was the “Golden Age” of comics. Just a couple decades later (the early nineteen sixties) Stan lee, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko created super people that were many times monstrous in appearance, hated by society, possessing powers they couldn’t control and the  personalities ran the gambit of types. Their real virtue was in overcoming their flaws and limitations. They succeeded by defeating the personal and societal odds against them. These super beings; heroes, were more in keeping with real life heroes. Their actions and dramas unfolding consistently closer to the real heroes of the world and the lives of the readership.  Both incarnations; the old and the new reflecting our society’s self vision at their respective times.

Green Lantern was actually one of the original super men. He first appeared in the nineteen forties and was revamped by Editor Julie Schwartz along with the creativity of John Broome and Gil Kane. This in response to a changing time and perceptions of again the nineteen sixties. The original character of Green Lantern; Alan Scott, was rooted in magic and mysticism and the new GL; Hal Jordan, was grounded in science fiction. It is a variation of the Green lantern of “The Sixties” along with the necessary updates depicted in this current film.

The Legend of the modern or “Silver Age” Green Lantern rests heavily on commitment and dedication to something greater than self as expressed in the Green Lantern oath:

IN BRIGHTESS DAY

IN DARKEST NIGHT 

NO EVIL SHALL ESCAPE MY SIGHT 

LET THOSE WHO WORSHIP EVIL’S MIGHT

BEWARE MY POWER

GREEN LANTERN’S LIGHT

All this gloriously dipicted across the silver screen along with stadium seating; surround sound, vibrant color, refreshments and air conditioning. What; you wanted more?



Kathryn Loichinger

                                                                                                                                

Kathryn  Loichinger

Within the span of a few weeks this winter I found myself in three most dissimilar locations; on Los Angeles’ sunny Wilshire Blvd., a dark alley on DC’s Capitol Hill and an even darker rural highway in Virginia’s Floyd County. Oddly all three places are capitols of a sort; the nation, entertainment and moonshine respectively. My purpose was actually the same for being at each. I was seeking and finding the unique result of human expression, ingenuity, character and spirit collectively called art. In LA the discovery  was the grand sculpture of Richard Serra, DC presented the provocative and lovely paintings of Laura Elkins and Floyd Co. hosted the most wonderful works of Kathryn  Loichinger; her photography.

Katie’s photos are special in their own right. They are uniquely original and stand out within any group exhibition as being true and the genuine article.  Her most interesting and appealing are her close ups and macro pieces. On this night she was exhibiting a series I call her “Red Leaf Photographs” and an album/book that collected a time lapse narrative. The books images were of a still life composed of different cheeses in the process of decomposing. I was reminded of recent works by Lexington’s Sally Mann a world class artist who Katie shares a similar esthetic and passion. It was also a comment on entropy and the ultimate loss of all things.

It wasn’t by chance that I was viewing Katie’s exhibit in Floyd Virginia. We had met several years ago at a local library where she worked as a librarian. She approached her library job in much the same way she approached her photography and she was not typical in that work either. She was upbeat, knowledgeable, always helpful and in a word beautiful.

Once before we had talked in any depth I found myself waiting in line behind a young boy. I remember him just standing looking at Katie dazed and bedazzled wanting to talk but not knowing what to say. She took it in stride and offered him suggestions for reading. We began to have short conversations and we found out that we were both involved in the arts. We have become mutual admirers and supporters of each other’s work over the years. Katie now works for Barnes and Noble where we continue to talk about the arts, politics fashion and just about everything. Katie’s a good person to know.

Katie continues to grow in life and experience and her work is all the richer for it. She uses the camera in much the same way the best musicians use their chosen instruments. Rather than producing and organizing the sounds of musical notes; Katie’s finely tuned instrument captures light and shadows as it exist around the forms, colors and compositions of nature. 

 If Katie’s photography could be described as a musical sound it would that of an oboe; mysterious, exotic, elusive and yet precise.   Largely self taught she is a gifted natural with a skill honed by a joyous dedication and a commitment to excellence.  

Katie’s wit and intelligence as expressed throughout her extensive portfolio seems to say: I have a secret that I’m willing to share, something delightful and alluring I want you to see.  These treasures are radiant, beautiful and bright; like Katie. 

Kathryn Loichinger