Lake and Diebenkorn Again

I’m backlogged on my thoughts from my recent Portland trip but through no small irony, the two artists I went to Portland to see a week ago are found together again in at Bellingham’s Whatcom Museum.

When I found out there was another Diebenkorn show in the vicinity I made the two hour trek north as soon as I could .

The Whatcom Museum is a fairly tiny but pleasant museum in the very pleasant (I would even say tranquil) town of Bellingham, Washington.

Their Diebenkorn offering is: THE INTIMATE DIEBENKORN: WORKS ON PAPER, 1949-1992 a small collection of Richard’s Diebenkorn drawings spanning 40 years of his career. Sometimes it is the small works, the not so precious experiments that can give you insight into someone’s head over the larger and more seriously executed paintings. One of my favorite pieces in the show was made with a ball point pen and watercolor.

Contained within the exhibit is a small room you can sit down and watch an 1988 CBS Sunday Morning interview with Diebenkorn as well (here you go if you’re interested). The concept of interviewing an artist, especially a painter these days on television seems so foreign. Diebenkorn stated in the interview that some days he will just sit with one of the works for hours doing nothing. Yet then he will feel guilty for wasting time. Such a mild mannered soul, it is a privilege to take a moment to hear his thoughts.

What I wasn’t expecting was to cross the room into their other non-permanent exhibit to find my artist friend Eva Lake on the wall as she is part of the Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts at 25 exhibit. This is a survey of over 70 prints from their archive, showcasing the variety of artists who have worked with them through the years. A wonderful variety of print accomplishments are represented here.

Imagine my surprise when I turned a corner and saw this print titled Golden No. 2,  (2011, eight color lithograph).

I had to text her that I had unwittingly stumbled acrossed her work.

Here is Crow’s Shadow Institute’s website. They are based in Pendleton, OR and offer invitational only residencies to artists to create print work.

“Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts (CSIA) is a nonprofit organization aimed at providing opportunities for Native Americans through artistic development. With an emphasis on contemporary, fine-art printmaking, we also function as a venue to practice traditional Native American art practices — weaving, bead working and regalia making — of the Plateau region.”

Eva Lake’s print work can be found here on their site.

I also really liked Jim Denomie’s piece below as well.

These are small shows in a small museum but to me the drive was worth seeking out such rewarding content. I also spent the morning looking at Western Washington’s University campus sculpture collection, which I’ll write about soon.

Info:

The Intimate Diebenkorn: Works on Paper, 1949-1992

Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts at 25

Both shows are on on view through August 19, 2018 at the Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher Building (open Wed-Sun, 12-5p)

Now after all this driving I want to find out why Seattle has not had a recent a Diebenkorn exhibit for me.

R/T Portland

Back from a day trip to Portland to catch up on art. A decade ago I could do this without batting an eye but my much older person today is feeling the effects of driving a car for hours.

It was worth it though. I got to see some good art, caught up with friends I haven’t visited with for a long time and it turned into a general clear your head kind of outing. Hopefully more soon after I catch my breath.

 

 

Season for Lovely Drawings

Season’s Summer show is all drawings and they are gorgeous.
I’m always about the drawing, so this is a special treat.

I stopped by the opening this this afternoon to see this beautifully curated crop of work.
Bonus points, meeting the very gracious Robyn O’Neil. She kindly signed my Perspectives 150: Robyn O’Neil catalog along with a little drawing.

Robyn, don’t forget to say hi to your Mom for me. Thanks.

 

One Minute of Doubt

It’s Friday, finally the end of a very long stretch of employment work.
I don’t know why this is resonating today.

Carsten Höller, One Minute of Doubt (loop)

Carsten Höller used money from the exhibition budget to buy an old car, a Mercedes station wagon. He had the car covered with stickers that read “The Laboratory of Doubt” in different languages. With a loudspeaker fitted to its roof, he then drove through Antwerp expressing his doubts. The car became a vehicle for rumor; as an artwork it both spread rumour and expressions of doubt via the megaphone and functioned as a story that people passed on to each other.

From Ways of Curating by Hans Ulrich Obrist (discussing the Laboratorium exhibit, 1999).

In the clip referenced above is explained:

His first experiment with doubt was conducted in Antwerp, Belgium, where he drove around in a car with two loudspeakers on the roof, to spread the message of doubt. But only silence came from the speakers as Carsten Höller, in the middle of the rush hour, drove back and forth along the busiest streets – and stopped every couple of metres, unsure of where to go next.

So today we are doubtful and unsure but appreciating this story.

 

Robyn O’Neil at Season – Sunday

Robert Yoder’s Season Gallery has its Summer 2018 Exhibit opening this Sunday called Fiery Rain and Movies, Cooling Sun.

Here’s the clincher, artist Robyn O’Neil is not only in the show, she’ll be visiting Seattle to celebrate her new work.

She of the gorgeously bleak and unsettling drawings who also is hilarious to boot, as can be found by listening to her podcast and following her tweets.

I discovered her back when the Frye Museum had solo exhibit of her work back in 2006.

Here some of her beautiful work:

The Passing (detail), 2007, graphite on paper, 66” x 66”

 

Diamond Leruso, Accident Victim and Runaway Lionel, 2001, graphite on paper, 8” x 10”

 

No matter how rich our blood, this massive earth rises above and provides us no wings.
2006, graphite on paper, 
49 ½: x 34 ¾”

I’m a huge fan girl, she’s one of the few languishing over here in my links.

 

Fiery Rain and Movies, Cooling Sun also features to work of Matthew F. Fisher, Rob Matthews and Sean Pearson.
The opening reception is Sunday July 15th, 2-5p and the work can also be seen by appointment through September 30th.

Season is located at 222 NE Ravenna Blvd., Seattle, WA 98105

Deeper Than the Wall

Again I circle back to that original query I have in mind as an ongoing thesis here. What keeps someone’s hat in the game?

I went down to visit the ever articulate and generous Sharon Arnold today for a one day event at her Bridge Productions.

The three artists share the walls today are Emily Gherard, Sue Danielson and Kim Van Someren.

I’m a huge Emily Gherard fan and figured it would be ridiculous to let traffic or other nonsense as an excuse to keep me away.

Emily Gherard \ Out of Embers, 2017 acrylic, pigment, gum arabic, flash paint on panel 22 x 20 inches

Sue Danielson, both acrylic, ink, paper on panel

Kim Van Someren \ Holler 2018 drypoint, collage 14.5 x 11 inches

The work in the exhibit visually shares a quiet strength. Emily’s work shines as always and it was interesting to see a color piece that practically vibrates off the wall (Untitled (With\In No. 3)). I also have an eye on Sue Danielson’s small paintings which we’ll get more of at Bridge in September. I don’t recall seeing Kim Van Someren previously but Sharon noted I might be surprised if I revisited some of her earlier works from a few years back (which I will do). She has executed an intricate series of drypoint, collage works that have a beautiful presence on the walls.

Sharon has always curatorially stayed true to her loves and I believe it’s the integrity of that work she’s drawn to and compelled to share that is (hopefully) what keeps her going. I can’t help but think of former Seattle gallerist Francine Seders whose vision for her space and loyalty to her artists had a unique and singular presence in the Seattle art world for many years. I’m thankful for people like that.

“Bridge Productions is excited to host Deeper Than the Wall, a one-day exhibition of new works by Sue Danielson, Emily Gherard, & Kim Van Someren. Open Today (Saturday 7 July) 12-7pm.”

Breaking news – AND NOW Saturday July 14th, 12-7pm as well.

Address: 6007 12th Ave S, Seattle, Washington 98108 (Georgetown).

Always good news as well to find ample street parking.

The Flag

I always think to Diane Arbus when I consider the American flag. Maybe due to the era of when they were taken they seem more authentic to me. Maybe the earnestness in the portraits gets to me.

Yes thinking about the flag today when our political landscape is changing rapidly.

 

This one by photographer Mary Ellen Mark is perhaps more poignant.

Dennis Hopper plays with an American flag, “Apocalypse Now”, Pagsanjan, Philippines, 1976

As I felt inclined to record in the post math of 9/11, “Nostalgia is undoubtedly more comforting to the mind than reality.”