Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Most Inspiring Mind in History

So what are we saying in that last post? Refuse to conform in your search inward!

Considering important radical thinkers in history, those who refused to follow the mainstream- Who, in history do you find most impressive, most inspiring?

Einstein, Elvis, Beethoven, da Vinci, Newton, Galileo, Darwin, Martin Luther King, Lincoln, Gandhi? Even Jesus- he didn't end up on that cross because his teachings were popular with the establishment, he ended up there because his teachings were radical for the time.

There is no wrong answer.

Have a great day!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Knowing yourself

"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn. '' -Gore Vidal

Isn't that a great quote? The most interesting people in life are those who know who they are and simply refuse to conform to the expectations that society has placed on the roles of age and gender.

I was recently telling a friend how I hate golf. I don't get it, really. All day long out there following the little white ball around. It bores me. I tried it, I tried to like it, but I simply hate it. This friend said he doesn't love it and was realizing, he doesn't even like it, yet he goes every weekend because his friends go. How many people are doing these type of things because they feel like they have to?

TV commercials and clothing ads suggest how you are supposed to spend your weekends, do you follow suit? Now I'm using golf as an example, but this can be anything. I you love golf, then do it in excess, but if you are fulfilling a pre-determined identity that has been dictated to you, stop-stop now.

Another example- a woman friend was telling me not long ago about how she avoids going to family dinners. There is this expectation for her to marry, have lots of kids and become mother of the year. That's not the lifestyle for her. She's a brilliant woman, successful, beautiful and so impressive, yet she goes to family functions and she is made to feel like she is a failure because she carries a Coach rather than a diaper bag. Why does this happen? Why do people feel the need to impose their agenda on others and worse yet, why do you allow someone else to question your life choices?

Refuse to conform, find yourself, and as Gore Vidal said in the quote above, be yourself and don't give a damn.

Have a great weekend.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Britney Spears

Britney Spears graced the cover of today's Post Gazette arts magazine and she looks absolutely stunning. After I said "wow" and did a double take, I thought to myself, good for her, I hope the tour is a huge success.

It wasn't that long ago that Britney was dealing with personal problems and the whole world was hanging on the edge of their seats, enjoying every moment. How shameful. This girl has been a first rate entertainer producing top ten records since she was 16 years old. She experienced troubled times and all of a sudden it was funny to tell jokes of her demise.

People love to see a star fall though, don't they? The media couldn't get enough, hoping her situation would worsen so they could continue to revel in her misfortune. Is that the nature of people or the nature of the media? Regardless, it looks like she is back in favor and again I say, good for her!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Who is Banksy?

I am absolutely amazed that Banksy has been able to remain anonymous. This is the graffiti artist that started with guerilla style art (vandalism) using stencils, spray paint, markers, etc. who has become quite conventional. He is now represented by a gallery, has a public relations agent and dealer, has been auctioned at Sotheby’s, has self published several books and one published by Random House. Celebrities such as Christina Aguilera and Brad Pitt are among his collectors…. that’s quite a high profile for someone who insists on remaining anonymous. He has now become a major player in the system he rebelled against for so many years.

A few tabloids and magazines have claimed to have discovered his identity, and a few people on the internet will insist that they know his true identity, but it still remains unconfirmed. All sales, contracts and transactions are done in his agent’s name, who also claims that he is not absolutely certain about the identity of Banksy.

If you are interested in looking up some of his work, check out this website: http://www.artofthestate.co.uk/banksy/banksy.htm. Here you will find a comprehensive collection of photographs of the graffiti art that has made Banksy famous, or infamous.

Artist, vandal, sellout, fraud, a single person, a group of people….. who exactly is Banksy and how will he be remembered? I can't say myself, but I would be very itnerested in hearing YOUR thoughts.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Quote of the Day

I shut my eyes in order to see.

-Paul Gauguin

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Free Yourself

Today I spoke with a friend of mine from high school. He was telling me that he has reached a point in his career where he needs a change. He wants to be a writer. It takes great courage to follow a dream, but that first step, no matter how difficult it may seem, is really the only way to free your self from... yourself.

What if Elvis decided that music wasn't in the cards? What if Van Gogh decided that as a preacher, changing his career to that of an artist was nothing more than a frivilous thought? I can go on and on here. The point is that the only way to truly find yourself and be yourself is to completely embrace your passion. Create your own reality. Andy said he wants to become a writer. Truth is, he already is a writer, and a very good one.

Here's my advice for the day: become the person you've always wanted to be. Do it today. You owe it to yourself.

Have a great weekend.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography

I am currently reading Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography. It gives great insight into his development of an artist, including the time he spent in Pittsburgh. He came to Pittsburgh to study at the Ivy School of Art (which no longer exists). In the book he tells about the time he spent in the Carnegie Museum, living in Oakland and hanging out on the University of Pittsburgh campus.

He tells all about his part time jobs and how he spent a great deal of time at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. Here is where he learned print making and consequently, this is where he had his first solo show- right here in Pittsburgh.

As I was reading about his affection for Pittsburgh and how much he enjoyed the time spent at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, I was just waiting to stumble across the name of my college mentor, Martha Fairchild. She taught Haring printmaking. I remember she had one of his original radiant baby prints framed in her office. It had a personalized autograph on it beginning with 'To Martha".

Martha had a very strong influence on me at a time when I was discovering the meaning of art. I learned a great deal from her about the true nature and spirituality of the creative process. I will always remember her saying "Believe in your Art".

Martha unexpectedly passed away in 2004. I was honored to have my art exhibited with hers in an exhibition in 2005 based on the connection between an artist and mentor, although I just considered the exhibition to be a tribute to her.

So, now you've heard my story about Keith Haring and Martha Fairchild.

Have a great night.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Celebrity Dream Team

So, all of this talk about Warhol, Basquiat and Connolly has me wondering what your choices would be for the perfect entourage. Warhol befriended Jim Morrison, Mick Jagger, Keith Haring and more. What celebrities would you love to meet? Who would be your dream team? This isn't about being glamorous, rather, who you would really love to sit down with and get to know.

I started thinking about who would be the coolest group of people to meet, to befriend. I am really interested to hear your list. I love to read about how others think.

My list.... maybe not what you would expect. The people I came up with almost immediately:
Sarah Brightman, Steve Jobs, Madonna, Sylvester Stallone (come on now, who wouldn't want to hang out with Rocky Balboa????), Paul McCartney, Derek Jeter, the Beastie Boys, Jackie Chan, Woody Allen, Masaaki Hatsumi and the Dalai Lama.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. I'm anxious to read your responses!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Chuck Connolly

All of the studio suggestions are great from décor to atmosphere, thanks for all the great input and keep the suggestions coming.

All this talk about Warhol had me thinking about Chuck Connolly. In the 80’s Connolly was selling millions of dollars worth of art, was considered a great up and coming painter who was realizing success in the New York scene and could be seen partying with people such as David Bowie and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Martin Scorcese did a film that was based on Connolly called Life Lessons. This was one of three shorts in a film created by three directors (Scorcese, Coppolla and Allen) titled New York Stories. Apparently Connolly trashed Scorcese after the film was released and fell out of favor with the Hollywood crowd. I understood Scorcese to be a fan and collector of Connelly’s work too. Connolly’s explosive personality may have burnt more bridges beyond the Scorcese alliance because his career came to a halt at that time and was blamed on his volatile personality.

HBO recently did a documentary film on him called The Art of Failure. I saw that last summer after it debuted. It’s sad to see him struggling with his art career now. Here’s a guy who used to have very successful and highly profitable exhibitions in major New York City galleries but has fallen out of favor with the art scene. He has great passion for his art, but was doing a lot of screaming, swearing and drinking throughout the documentary. I think Connolly has become his own worst enemy.

So which is better, to be like me and not know what that kind of success feels like or to be like Chuck, to have had it and lost it? That thought reminds me of Hemingway: For Whom the Bell Tolls.

I do wish Mr. Connolly luck. I’m sure he would never read my blog, but if he did, I would want him to know that I at least tried to buy one of his paintings. Unfortunately I was outbid.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

My Factory

Okay, first I'm ignoring the Barbie hair comments.

So what you are all saying is that if a studio space was available, that you would indeed frequent it. Warhol's space got a bit crazy- what would be the ground rules for this space?

It couldn't possibly be called the Factory. There was only one Warhol. Mine would simply be a studio with Factory-envy. It would need a name.

Next, art has to be produced there to justify the studio space, so two stories may be required, one for art production and one for social gatherings.

It sounds like you are insisting on a Jello pit or mud wrestling ring. Neither of which I would get near. What else is necessary? DJ booth? dance floor? Wet bar? Barista?

OK-can't imagine what responses will follow.... have fun!

Monday, March 9, 2009

The Factory

Monday night- I finally have a chance to watch the movie "Factory Girl" (watching at the moment). I know, I know... not another movie about Warhol's factory, but this one is more about the life of Edie Sedgwick than the Factory. How awesome was the factory though? For those of you who may not be familiar, The Factory was Warhol's art studio, located in Midtown, Manhattan.

The Factory, also called the Silver Factory (after he covered the walls with aluminum foil and silver paint) was far more than a studio. It became the place to be. Not only would Warhol be using the space for painting, screen printing and filming, but it also became a meeting place for famous artists and musicians such as Mick Jagger, Salvador Dali, Jim Morrison, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, etc. There was also drugs, sex, live music and groundbreaking parties- it was the 60's afterall.

The more of this movie I watch, the less I like it. It is becoming a graphic depiction of Edie Sedgwick's drug addiction. It is now reminding me of the movie "Sid and Nancy" when the drug scenes became downright disgusting.

Okay, so yet another lousy film about Warhol's Factory. Maybe that's why there's so many films- there hasn't been a good one yet! ARGGG. Anyway, how awesome it would be to rent a building, turn it into your art studio while also making it into a place for artists and musicians to come together. I would love to have a place open for all of you to visit, see the new art in progress, watch a band, listen to a great dj, etc., etc. Ah! That would be great.

Okay, gotta run, I just spilled a glass of wine on my new carpet!!!! Seriously- a month old!

Thanks again for all of these wonderful comments you are all leaving, I am just floored by your kindness. Thanks for visiting and participating.

Ciao!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Weekend ramblings, poetry readings and the opera

I hope everyone had a nice weekend. Mine was busy but relaxing. I had coffee while watching a a poetry reading (the very cool Cristina who brought me the Frank Lloyd Wright mug from an earlier post did a fantastic job). I also watched a few acoustic players sing their own material. Saturday night I was out late gambling and I'm suffering for it today. It was fun though.

Speaking of poetry readings, it's not something you see too often other than in New York City. I love when poetry readings are accompanied by musicians- add a jazz trio to a poet and you have a great combination. Pittsburgh needs someone to put together an act and get it out there- beatniks and bohemians would come out of the woodwork to attend. Count me in.

Now that I'm on the topic of Pittsburgh's cultural district, La Boheme (opera) is showing here at the end of the month. For my dear friends who haven't attended the opera, this is the one! Take my advice and go. Even if you've never listened to opera, do yourself a favor. Get tickets, walk in with a clear mind and you will walk out of there saying "wow, that was amazing".

That's about it for now, simple minded ramblings are all I have to offer you this evening. I appreciate all the wonderful comments and your participation in the blog. I do like to sit back and read what you are all thinking about. It's your blog too, I am just providing the web address, so keep it coming. And all of you stalkers who are just reading, it's time for you to join in too. You know you want to!

Have a great day. Good luck suffering through Monday morning. Talk to you soon!

Ciao.

p.s. I have a few new artworks in progress that I really love. I'm anxious to share them with you.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Super Powers

So I apparently have super powers. Which power you ask? I’m not telling.
So, to stay true to form, I wonder what super powers my favorite artists would have possessed. Warhol would have had the ability to see the future. Picasso, the ability to seduce women, Pollock had an incredible tolerance for alcohol, Van Gogh saw dead people, da Vinci was the smartest man on earth, Dali could fly, Toulouse-Lautrec was a shape shifter, Seurat had x-ray vision and even though I love his work, Roy Lichtenstein didn’t have super powers, so he dedicated himself to the production of comic book style paintings in hopes that super powers would develop. He was sadly disappointed in the end.

So what would be your super power of choice? I’m sure there are going to be some great answers!

Have a great Friday!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Mud Wrestling.... REALLY???

Okay, so the last time I checked my blog- (a matter of hours ago) there were a few comments about that cool street artist I found online, nice little chat about art happening....... but when I checked back I found girl fights and mud wrestling!!!

I do love that the blog is taking on a life of it's own and so many of you are participating. I have figured out the identity of a few of you leaving anonymous messages, by the way. You weren't so secretive when the tempers and mud were flying!

Speaking of mud- I fully endorse the proposed brawl, but I sure as hell am not participating! If you know me, you know I don't like getting dirty.

So many funny comments I would like to respond to now, but I will just start rambling. I think I'm just going to dodge the whole prize/trophy question at this time.

Anyhoo, thanks to everyone for getting so invlolved lately- I'm really enjoying the fireworks!

Peace, love and mud wrestling,

J

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

The Amazing Julian Beever

You have to see this artist's website: http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/

Julian Beever is a Belgium based street-artist who is doing these amazing chalk drawings on pavement. He has apparently been travelling through Europe creating these incredible temporary artworks since the mid 1990s.

You really have to look through his work, they are so realistic. He also does murals, but I think the chalk drawings have put him on the map.

You'll love these. This is the kind of email forward that is enjoyable to discover. Although, I have to admit, I delete most emails with FWD in the title without even looking at them. Sorry! I just can't take another Saint or old world curse seeking revenge upon me because I didn't forward the message to my 10 closest friends. Understandable, no?

Have a great day!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Thank you!

So many comments under the last post! Thank you for all the great comments. Especially the nursing ones! I think I know who a few of the Anonymous posts are, but I'm not certain.

I promise to leave a more thought provoking post when this headache subsides. 5 days now of headaches and I still look like a racoon.

Hope you are all well. I appreciate the new introductions, the emails and the time you take to read the blog.

Buon notte.