NYC/ Queens/ L.I. Tour #5- Scribbling Can Be Art!

On my first day in the Big Apple I hit both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA. I didn't take any photos at the Met, although I did see a killer show of Rembrandt works and other Dutch Masters from the museum's permanent collection, including some very famous Vermeers that were awesome to gaze upon. (Remind me to do an entry on this genre painting in the exhibit by an artist named Jan Steen: "The Dissolute Household"-- it was a hoot.)

I also saw some hot Greek and Roman statues. They've completely expanded that section since my last visit.

However, it was at the new MoMA that my breath was taken away by the beauty of the art and the new exhibition spaces. I wish this museum were in San Francisco. Cezannes and Picassos and Matisses--famous ones! I wanted to stay all day and soak them in.

My camera is new and I forgot how to turn off the flash, or else I would have taken photos inside. I wanted to take one of this famous Pollack drip painting, with hordes of people milling in front of it, but the guards were admonishing others for taking flash pictures.... I stumbled on this other painting by Cy Twombly-- I'm not really familiar with his work. This one is called "Leda and the Swan;" it's huge, and it restores my faith in the concept of SCRIBBLING AS ART. My photo came out sucky-- this image is off the museum's website.

Painting: Cy Twombly. (American, born 1928). Leda and the Swan. Rome 1962. Oil, pencil, and crayon on canvas, 6' 3" x 6' 6 3/4" (190.5 x 200 cm). Acquired through the Lillie P. Bliss Bequest and The Sidney and Harriet Janis Collection (both by exchange). © 2007 Cy Twombly

Sad Abstract Expressionist Clown: Revisited

A detail of the painting, using my new Canon PowerShot SD1000... (too bad I'm not being paid for product placement!) I can finally show my brushstrokes and gradations of color as they're meant to be seen.

Our painting class is going to have a group show in the cafe/exhibit area down at Fort Mason, Building B. My instructor told me this morning that he will give me an entire case to myself to display several paintings! I am really excited. This glamorous exhibit space is further enhanced by the morning smell of frying bacon from the nearby takeout concessions area. It's the hip and happening place to spot *Emerging Artists* -- that is, artists emerging out of a vaporous cloud of overcooked bacon...

Blonde Tech Issues-- Making Progress!

A downloaded and resized image from my new digital camera.

YAY!!!!!!!!!

St. Francis Update

The press conference where my artwork appeared was held last Thursday. Unfortunately, our charismatic and pro-big business mayor Gavin Newsom, who has never spent a day in his life wondering how he was going to pay for his next meal, decided to hold a competing press conference at a location away from City Hall and drew all the major media away with him! He was making headlines all last week regarding his plans to make police sweeps of a tourist neighborhood downtown and hand out more citations against the homeless, while throwing out some misleading statistics about how he's helping to get these people off the streets.

Dirty politics, to be sure.

I have liked Newsom because of his outspoken support of Gay Marriage, but I had turned a blind eye to other policies of his that clearly do not favor the underpriviledged and disenfranchised. I am torn now about how I feel about him. He's up for re-election (hence, another crackdown on a convenient scapegoat: homeless people). I want to vote for someone else.

Two other liberal city supervisors did come to our press conference and spoke with passion about the work of Sister Bernie (seen in photo standing next to St. Francis) and her colleagues.

Anyway, the display looked great and my art looked great-- a flaw or two bugged me, but overall it was a very successful project. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to do it and to meet these folks.

There were several inspiring speakers at the event and in the end Religious Witness With Homeless People got enough media coverage to make it all worthwhile. They got their message out: that criminalizing homelessness and spending tax dollars on citations and arrests is an ineffective and non-compassionate response to this problem.

Gratitude

The Religious Witness With Homeless People organization's press conference is this morning, with my 7 1/2'-tall painted portrait of St. Francis being displayed as part of the exhibited material. The event will take place at City Hall.

I'm wondering if Mayor Newsom will be there? Homeless issues are in the headlines right now, as there are renewed efforts by the mayor and his aides to involve the police in sweeping tourist areas of pesky homeless people and issue summonses for public intoxication and other "crimes."

Religious Witness with Homeless People believes that only the most threatening or abusive homeless people should be handled this way, and that the majority would be better served by social work outreach efforts to help connect them with social services. A more effective, less costly and more compassionate response.

In a major effort to keep myself from ever having to live on the street: I got my Artist/ Performer business cards printed up, and also (FINALLY!!) bought a really cute little Canon digital camera.

Thank you God/ Goddess/ Universe/ Tao/ Spirit!

Abundance

The Sad, Abstract Expressionist Clown Reaches Out to Grasp a Flower
Oil on Canvas, 20" x 24"
2007

Revving up this blog again. I am getting some very strong, clear messages these days that my Right Livelihood lies in the direction of making and selling my artwork. Accepting commissions. Working in a wide range of styles and sizes. Working through fear. Expressing gratitude for all the creative opportunities that are manifesting in my life.

Tomorrow: Religious Witness for the Homeless Press Conference, with my 7 1/2'-tall St. Francis painting displayed!