A day of art in Chicago

Friday my friend Coree and I made the trek to Chicago mainly to see the Ralph Eugene Meatyard exhibit. I'm a huge fan of Meatyard's work and feel a bit of a kindred spirit with him based on reading about his inspiration and process. I too find most of my inspiration through literature more than visual art. He found equal inspiration from philosophy and literature. Interesting to also find out that he often reacted in an improvisational style heavily influenced by the jazz musicians of his time. A statement I can relate to based on my own process of discovery and execution. It was great to see these images in person to not only see the beauty and sensitivity he brought to his subjects but the quality of the printing. I was amazed at the highly technical and gorgeous tonal information in every photograph.

We saw some amazing work at the Art Institute of Chicago, a few galleries and the Museum of Contemporary Photography. MoCP currently has an excellent exhibition called "Our Origins". Sixteen artists express this concept in sixteen unique representations. Once I saw Alison Carey's work on the second floor of the gallery I instantly fell in love with her vision and execution.

What a great way to spend a Friday recharging your creative batteries.

The Portrait Project: Faces of Resilience by Colleen Kassner

Colleen Kassner will be one of thirty artists participating in the Madonna and Child: Interpreted exhibit I'm curating for Gallery H20/Soup's On, this fall. Colleen currently has a beautiful exhibit of her oil painted portraits showing at Gallery Grand in the Grand Avenue Club. The Grand Avenue Club (GAC) is an independent non-profit organization created to provide Milwaukee County citizens who experience mental illness, a supportive community with an array of opportunities to help with their recovery and productivity.

Colleen had the honor this past year of being the "Artist in Residence" at the Gallery Grand through a grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation/Mary Nohl fund. This residency culminated in the creation of twenty large oil painted portraits of Grand Avenue Club members.

The first thing I notice when exiting the elevator doors directing me down the short hallway to the gallery are these hauntingly beautiful larger than life self portraits of Colleen. They show her own earlier struggle with mental illness. Each painting rich with emotion and depth of character at a particular moment in time. I enter the gallery and am greeted by Colleen as she enthusiastically introduces me to the beautiful exhibition space. Each portrait is accompanied by a brief bio of the individual represented in her work.

We have all heard of the proverb stating that "the eyes are the window to the soul". Colleen's twenty oil painted portraits express that with an immense amount of accuracy and realism. As a portrait photographer I was immediately drawn to the expressive quality and attention that she represented in the eyes of all her friends. Each portrait representing the uniqueness of the individual. The luminous quality of the skin, especially the highlights, also drew me into each and every portrait. Colleen  poignantly represents the twenty members of GAC with the love and respect she feels for both the people and the organization.

The show runs through September 23 with a closing/dedication event from 4:30-7:30, that evening. The gallery is located at 604 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI. and is open Tuesday's and Wednesday's from 10am-3pm or by appointment by calling 414-795-7108.

Artist: Maurizio Anzeri

I came across the work of Maurizio Anzeri like I do with many of the artists I discover and later admire, searching the internet. As a photographer who does a fair amount of portraiture I was drawn to his enhanced  art creations from portraits he collects from many sources including flea markets. My fascination with masks of ones identity weather it be a real mask or behavioral drew me into his layered portrait work. Anzeri takes found, often vintage, photographs and creates his embroidered patterns by sewing directly onto the anonymous portrait. He begins the process by first sketching out his pattern idea's on tracing paper placed on top of the photograph.

“Photographs from the 40s and 50s have a totally different quality from photos we’re used to today. We don’t recognize them as photographs now, they really look like watercolours or drawings. The images I use are anonymous, I find them everywhere; I’m really into flea markets and car boot sales, when you enter you have no idea what you’re going to encounter. In everything I see there is something I am interested in, but I try to look at them as plain canvas. Art history is very important to me, it’s all been done before but it’s never been done by you: if you don’t look into the past there is no chance to go into the future. The surrealist movement is important to my work, but I don’t become obsessed by it, it’s not dictating rules. I understand history in a formal respect, and think of past artists like traveling companions – making work is like going for a walk with them. At the end of the day it’s about humanity.” (excerpt from the artist's profile on Saatchi Gallery website)

When I view portraits I'm always trying to discover something about the individual(s) in the photograph. What is the photograph revealing that can help me make those judgements/discoveries? What Anzeri does with his portraits adds another dimension to this puzzle which I find very exciting. His work makes me wish you could find out more about the persons he chooses to render with his embroidery to see how close or far he comes to their real persona with his creative embellishments. Has his interpretation mimicked their persona or has he made them sexier or moodier, more introverted or extroverted? As fun as it would be to know, I think it's even more fun to imagine for yourself who that person may have been. Anzeri's work doesn't answer any questions but creates even more.

Building on the "Gestation" series

I feel this series is one that has many facets. I plan on exploring this subject for a while. Here is a sneak peek of Stage II of Gestation.

You can see earlier images from my Gestation series at my website.

Gestation taps into the emotions and connection to the creation of life. It evokes emotions of fear, delight, and surprise, as well as, reflections of one’s past, present and future. The images balance between a sense of calm and anxiety while representing a slice of life in one’s family album. Gestation is about beginnings and the challenges of life from conception to death, however long that span may be.

Katie Gingrass Gallery presents Stay Still

Ten images from my "Life in Miniature" series are included in a group show that includes artists: Blythe Church, Bob Fojut, Pat Hidson, Beth Lipman, Nancy MacDonald, Darren Maurer, Milo Mirabelli, Jeff Mulloy, Sara Mulloy and myself at the Katie Gingrass Gallery.

The exhibit opened July 1 and runs through August. Join me at the artists reception on Friday July 8th from 5-8pm. If you can't make the reception, another great opportunity to check out the show will be during Gallery Night, July 29 from 5-9pm. The Katie Gingrass Gallery is located at 241 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI. 53202 and is open Monday - Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 12-4.