Alex Katz Interview

Check out the link below.  I think this is worthwhile reading

(I'm the Alex Katz Interview Link!)

Remembering the Future

Some 25-plus years ago, Frau Hoess (former German language teacher) and I took students on a field trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  We saw a show featuring Anselm Kiefer's work.  Kiefer was then 43, a young budding artist (by standards of landing a major museum show), but his moving post-WW II Germany and holocaust inspired images warranted such promotion.  His multi-media works including paintings and sculptures with ashes, broken glass, straw, and plant material were the beginning of a lifetime of experimental  development.  By my own standards, his work places him among the best artists, exceeding all bestness, where artistic bigness and bestness live ... right up there with Sigmar Polke, Jasper Johns, and Gerhard Richter.  Although he is not as ground breaking an artist as Cezanne, Picasso, or Warhol during their generation , Kiefer will be one of the artists who mark a generation.  How fortunate we were to see that show early in Kiefer's career.  For more on Kiefer see the 5 part youtube series entitled: Remembering the Future, online.  (click me. I'm the link)

Fiber Connections

                               Maggie Carlson, Self Portrait, Watercolor, 22x30"

I recently recieved a note from a sophomore at Savannah College of Art and Design, who entered as a fashion major, but switched to fibers.  She sent some photos and a short note which follows:
 

"I am in a dye class that is very exciting my favorite class so far. We learned recipes and techniques for dying. I am also in a structure and materials course where I have been working with felting, spinning my own yarn, and crocheting."

It is clear she's excited about the experimentation and discovery stages of her work.  Finding a connection to a medium and a work process is a very motivational phenomenon.  Many Springfield students left high school as 2-D artists, yet they found interests elsewhere in 3-d mediums including glass, wood/furniture, costumes, puppets, and industrial design to name a few.  It is a wonderful thing.  I always say, "if you're not having fun [making art], you're not doing it right.

Jerry Saltz Lecture

                                    Kerra Westray, 2013, Graphite Drawing, 18x24" 

Jerry Saltz is the Senior Art Critic for The New Yorker magazine.  Before that he was art critic for the Village Voice.  In 2014 he was invited to be a guest lecturer for the Clarice Smith Distinguished Lecture Series at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.  If you have an hour and 10 minutes to watch the lecture on Youtube you will be treated to his humorous pontifications regarding how one looks at and thinks about art. [Follow me, I'm the Link]   ...If you've only got a minute or two, follow the next link for Saltz's brief street crit on Banksy. [Banksy Link]  The quality and humor of the short isn't nearly as good. In fact, it makes him look like a rogue art guide for NYC department of tourism.  Have fun.

An Artist Returns

When I was hired at Springfield I was fortunate to have mentors who developed an outstanding philosophy of teamwork, respect, and initiating a comfortable yet professional classroom climate.  Many of you fondly remember the welcoming, comfortable, and sometimes playful atmosphere the art room presented.  These teachers also modeled excellence, in developing relevant, challenging curriculum,  and created a cohesive program that built upon knowledge and skills from previous courses.  Above all, these teachers were also active working artists, which continues to be a departmental goal.

One of these mentor/teachers, Arla Patch, who most know as "Arla"  and other youngerlings remember as Mrs. Sandstrom, moved back into the area from Maine.  She has a show you can see in Doylestown, Pa.  Hopefully you'll be able to welcome her back.  See show information below.

UPDATED INFO:

If you are reading this post after Dec. 20, 2015 you missed Arla's show, but you can still view her website:

www.arlapatch.com

James Gary Miller

                                    James Miller, 2012, Mixed Media Collage, 7"x11,"


James Miller, and he preferred to be called "James," graduated from Springfield in 2013.  Within the past year he fell from a window and was in a coma until he passed away on September 19th.  He was a promising artist, a bright student, and quite a philosophical person.  It was a pleasure to have him as a student.  I always looked forward to his homework presentations.  He wouldn't give hints or clues to what he was doing, and was full of surprises.  He won the award for graphic art at the PSEA Touch the Future student competition for the illustrated book seen below.  The book is on permanent display in the high school library entrance.  For more information on James' life go to:  http://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/2015/09/30/james-gary-ellis-miller/

                            James Miller, Life, Cartoon Illustration on 8x10" Moleskine.

James Turrell's Skyspace

Right above the Mermaid Inn in Chestnut Hill, Pa. is the Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting House.  Although it is a place for worship, it is also the home of artist James Turrell's  "Skyspace."  The building was recently constructed and features a roof which slides back, allowing the sky to appear through a rectangular opening in the ceiling.

Turrell had LED lights arranged around the base of the ceiling, projecting varying hue gradations upon its eggshell white surface.  As the colors slowly fade into each other one notices the contrast between the ceiling color and the color of the sky above.  At times your perception makes you think the sky is changing its hue.  Turrell has several exhibitions like this around the country.  We are fortunate to have one so close to Springfield High School.

Now, some of you may remember the way you were taught about color contrasts.  A red rectangle of paper was placed on a white piece of paper and you were told to stare at the center or the paper.  After a brief time the rods and cones in your eyes were saturated with the color, and if you closed your eyes, you would see a greenish after image; the opposite of red.  Also, as you were staring at the color, you would notice bright glowing contrasts at the edge of the paper as your eyes shifted their gaze.  The white surface of the paper was affected by the perceived opposite afterimage.  These color contrasts are what Turrell uses to his advantage.

"Skyscape" changes as the light changes.  The meeting house is open at dawn and dusk for this event.  I saw it for the first time on a grey cloudy evening.  This allowed me to perceive warm and cool colors of grey as I stared at the rectangle of sky.  As night approached the value contrast between lit ceiling and dark sky increased.  Sunrise, sunset, and variable atmospheric conditions all change the experience.

"Skyscape" is free at the Chestnut Hill location, although donations are accepted.  Tickets can be ordered online as seating is limited.  First time viewers should consider bringing a yoga mat and small pillow.  It is an hour long event and your neck can get pretty stiff staring at the ceiling.  If you get there a half and hour early you'll get a good seat/position, though center floor will probably be occupied by a more frequent visitor.  It is a silent, meditative atmosphere, so turn off the cell phones and leave the toddlers at home.  If you snore, take along a friend to wake you.  If interested check out the links below.
http://chestnuthillskyspace.org/visit/rsvp/

https://www.quakercloud.org/cloud/chestnut-hill-friends-meeting

http://articles.philly.com/2014-04-24/news/49351165_1_the-skyspace-art-installation-james-turrell