Art By Iris

Rabbit Hole Art and Design Holiday Fair

2010-12-18T16:25:00.006-05:00

Few of my new mixed-media pieces will be shown there this weekend, I will have more photos of the new work next week, but for now, here is the information, if you can make it there's a party tonight at 6 with drinks and live music. It's in Dumbo, Brooklyn:

Rabbit Hole Studio and Gallery
33 Washington St,
NY 11201

More information on the blog: Rabbit Hole Art and Design Holiday Fair

Here are some photos from the show:

Beautiful artwork at affordable prices, and some craft and design in the other room (not shown here). Hope to see you there!

Without a Lot of Words

2010-03-26T10:41:00.006-05:00

Been thinking about 'the meaning' of art and being an artist a lot this past week, as part, or the aftermath of #class which I participated in last weekend (the last days of the exhibit), and reading the blog post and comments on the Winkleman blog.

At the same time trying to work/finish this painting, which is a cityscape of downtown Manhattan, not too far from the galleries in Chelsie.

So without many words and explaining , here's the painting, maybe it's finished. It's colorful so very difficult to get an accurate photo:

City 5

50X46 Inches Mixed Media Painting on Canvas

ART, MUSIC AND WORDS

2010-03-17T07:49:00.009-05:00

I'm not a person who is very comfortable with words. Writing isn't easy for me. But sometimes discussions on other blogs invoke a need to comment, so here I am writing in response to a comment-discussion on a blog I enjoy reading, Edward Winkleman's:

http://edwardwinkleman.blogspot.com/

Personally, I chose art forms that require other skills to express myself, it was music, now visual art. But these days visual artists are required to use a lot of verbiage. Every exhibit starts with a long lecture by the artist. It's like the art is not accessible without explaining it first. I feel like that often. When visiting a gallery or a show I take a look first, without hearing or reading anything. I like to see what this does to me, and often, it does very little. Then I read, or listen to the 'explanation' or interpretation and I go: ahhhhhh... I didn't get it right away (and I feel humbled - another word for: a little stupid for not getting it right away). Then I look again at the art and it all comes into place, I enjoy and appreciate it, and think: wow, that's brilliant/that's so touching...

But at the same time a part of me is still reserved, not enjoying totally, because I feel insulted, I think - this should have been clear to me right away, why isn't it speaking to me in the language of the visual, why is there a need for crutches? for words, for explaining? I mean, yes, words are fine if you want to know more, understand more, get a bigger picture, but there should also be an immediate response to the art, that is non-verbal, that doesn't need any words, that is individual, open and vast. It is the main thing that makes it VISUAL art.

I also don't like being fed with the interpretation. Once there is an explanation, there is only one way to interpret, to understand, I am forced to see it in a certain way. It's like reading a book and then seeing it in a movie, once you saw the movie there is a certain picture in your mind, you cannot imagine it as you did before, you cannot interpret it freely. Yet, cinema does leave a lot to be interpreted, a lot to think about, at least in a good movie, and a movie can be viewed on it's own, reading the book is not necessary to enjoy or 'get' it. So the analogy is not perfect, because the book and the movie are each separate art forms that stand by themselves, for themselves. I think visual art should speak for itself, on many levels, and to any person in an individual way, be open to personal interpretation. Words can be used as an enhancement, but any explanation that is longer than one paragraph, if that, which is about as long as the lyrics to a song, is redundant, too long, too complicated, too heavy. It's also great when the words can stand by themselves, have some meaning and importance even without the artwork, as in good lyrics to a song (although sometimes the lyrics in a song can be rather silly, only used as a tool to enhance or 'anchor' the music).

For example, in the work of Stephanie Sinclair of Afghan women burn victims, shown now in the Whitney Biennial - the explanation can stand in itself as a journalistic, very touching piece of information. It enhances and is being enhanced by the photographs.

Two paragraphs are printed in the exhibit, but this could easily be shortened to one, the message is striking. If you are able to look closely at the photos or just take a glimpse at them, it stays with you for a long time, and hits you on many levels, emotionally, intellectually. It is about third world countries, but also about our identity as a women, as a society (both men and women), just to name a few. It speaks to everyone who is touched by it in an individual, personal way.

I like comparing visual art to music. Now I am trying to put all my thoughts down into words, and it is not easy for me, but I am trying:

Music speaks without words, but sometimes words are used to enhance, to complete, as an additional tool. But the words are usually short, and simple. A poem, lyrics to a song.

Music can be understood and felt without words, as in instrumental music.

It can be interpreted in many ways. In fact, every person will hear and feel and respond differently to the same piece. We may both like Bach, or Bill Evans, but we will both like them in different ways. You may like the high note and I may like the unpredictable rhythm in the slowest part. Every minute may include other particles we each like, and respond to differently, feel them differently, imagine in different colors. Back in music school, one of my teachers used to mock music critics, for trying to describe music with words, phrases such as: 'the velvety clarinet melody'... 'the sparkling piano notes'... what's wrong with it you ask? for musicians all that needs to be defined with words are mainly the technical terms, such as notes, scales and rhythm, and beyond that the wordly definitions are very simple: In classical music its Italian terms such as: Allegro - fast; Con Brio - with vigor; Dolce - sweetly; Delicato - delicately; Jiojoso - joyfully; and so on, very simple terms. In Jazz there may be even less words used - musicians will define: it's a ballad, or: it's free jazz; mostly technical terms, referring to scale/form/rhythm etc.. the rest is spoken with the music itself. And the music speaks, it speaks volumes.

To me, visual art has lost it's immediacy in making a visual connection that is deep, and beyond words.

I am struggling here with words to explain why words are not necessary. I have chosen this form of art for this reason, because unlike theater, poetry, literature, screen writing, which are art forms that require the spoken or written word, I don't think words are the main tool for the visual artist, or shouldn't be one of the necessary tools.

I've spoken my mind, a lot of writing and a lot of words for me, it's such a long post, all these words... I hope I made some point here... thank you for reading!

ART FAIRS WEEKEND IN NYC, 2010!

2010-03-09T14:28:00.012-05:00

I'm happy to say I've managed to visit 5 fairs! not all that I wanted to see, that's impossible to manage unless you rush through them without enough time to browse and process what you see!
I've had some summarizing thoughts before falling asleep last night, and woke up to more thoughts after a night of vivid dreams...

So... some thoughts about the role of art and artists in history and today, which probably are nothing new to those of you who studied art history, but I would like to put them all down, for mind-organization purposes.

The way it used to have been is that the role of visual artists was to record and reflect events, reality, daily life, and also religious and political beliefs and ideas. Artist's work also had a recreational value, by providing an aesthetic pleasure or sometimes a cathartic experience to the viewer. The role of an artist was also that of a historian. The artist injected their own personal ideas and feelings in an indirect way.

These days, ever since the invention of the camera and film, the role of the visual artist has been less and less that of recording events. Today the artist is allowed and even expected to have and to express their own ideas/concepts/feelings!

The visual artist these days expresses or aspires to express him/herself via one or (most of the time) more than one of these elements:

Concept/idea
Meticulous skill or craft
Deep, emotional, conscious or sub-conscious expression
Unique aesthetic value
Gimmick

Have I forgotten any elements? please correct me if I did.

So... now to my personal quest: where does that leave me now? What does my own art express?

The BIG QUESTION!

What is life about?
Is there an answer?
Am I expected to have it?
Many artists' ideas/concepts are about ASKING a question, not answering.
What is mine? what is MY WAY, or MY QUESTION, or ANSWER?
I am not sure at this point, and I feel this has to be the next step for me. Finding this answer/question is important, it is my ARTIST STATEMENT.

THE ELEMENT OF TIME, DUALITY, AND THE OBJECT

When musicians create, they are EXPERIENCING their art through the element of TIME. The experience is TRANSFERRED to the audience through the ENERGY that is being created. Even if the music is recorded and played over a CD, the listener listens and feels the ENERGY that was created in time. There is a sort of UNIFICATION of object and subject, there is an EXPERIENCE.
The process is similar in dance, theater, cinema. Literature and poetry are similar as well, the author/poet is the story-teller who records their words in writing, the art is experienced through the element of TIME, the experience is that of UNIFICATION of the energies created by the writer, and the vibrations of the listener/reader.

In visual art, with the exclusion of performance and video art (which I would classify together with theater or cinema), and kinetic art, the process is more tricky. The visual artist creates an object, then separates from it. The experience of UNIFICATION is different. The art, once finished, exists outside of the artist, and outside of the element of CHANGE in time. It is in the HERE and NOW. The viewer may experience it over time, discovering and learning it, but the art in itself has become an OBJECT as opposed to a changing ENERGY/THOUGHT or a recording of energy/thought. It exists in the dimension of HERE and NOW, it is not changing in itself. OR IS IT? Is there really such thing as a non-changing-object? As we know today, with the discoveries of science, EVERYTHING is energy.

What do you think?

Transferring of the human experience through visual means. In the HERE and NOW. What does that even mean, what does it say? It is nothing special, nothing different, but it is what ART is about, isn't it?
All the rest have other functional purposes. Our life is about survival, recreation and meaningת I think. Art interprets those elements, of life. Art focuses on meaning and recreation. No one needs art to survive, except for the artist of course, who, if lucky, uses it to survive.

Creating an art EXPERIENCE which TRANSCENDS the object - is it possible? I think we all try it, like in the movie 9, transfer our soul to the object we are making.

I seem to get nowhere further with these thoughts, so I will leave it at that for now. I am still looking for the answer or the question, maybe I will find it in the words I've written so far, or maybe I need to work some, and produce, in order to have a sense of actually finding something.

In the mean time, here are a few images of some 'recent' work (I haven't posted in a long while), for your aesthetic enjoyment/ cathartic experience/ intellectual enlightenment (alright, just kidding, don't mean to sound pretentious ;-)...)

Well, anyway, here it is:

Cityscape #4
Mixed Media 11X8.5 Inches

Cityscape #2
Mixed Media 11X8.5 Inches

Cityscape #3
Mixed Media 11X8.5 Inches

Blue In Green In Yellow
Acrylic on Canvas
54X48 Inches (137X121 Cm)

Whimsy
48X72 Inches (121X183 Cm)

Color Me Good
30X24 Inches (76X61 Cm)
Mixed Media on Canvas

This is the City that Never Sleeps
24X36 Inches (61X91 Cm)
Mixed Media on Canvas

This time
11X8.5 Inches
pencils on paper

It's the Wind That Draws Me To You
11X8.5 Inches
pencils on paper

Bill Evans Painting as publlic radio Jazz station logo

2008-12-27T13:20:00.008-05:00

It's now official, I am honored to announce my painting "Submerged (Bill Evans)" was chosen by jazz89 KUVO Public Radio Denver as the stations design throughout 2009!

Which means the image will be used as the station's logo on everything representing it, including station T-Shirts, Letterhead, business cards, website, newsletter, wine bottles, advertising ads, and all produced KUVO related marketing materials throughout 2009!
KUVO is a 22 year old public radio station which is affiliated with NPR, has won many awards, among them the 2005 and 2006 Major Market Jazz Station of the Year! It is supported by donations, and the image of the painting will be distributed as part of the 'Thank You" gift the station gives to donors, either in the form of t-shirts, wine bottles or any other publication!
Although I live nowhere near the Denver, Colorado area, I've been enjoying listening to the station via the live web streaming on the station's website, I highly recommend listening to it if you like and enjoy Jazz and blues! Thank you, KUVO, for choosing my painting and for bringing this excellent music to the airwaves!

Happy 100th Birthday Elliot Carter

2008-12-11T11:28:00.005-05:00

Being quite removed from the music world in the past years, I ran into a Charlie Rose interview with wonderful classical composer Elliot Carter last night, on the occasion of his 100th birthday and a celebration concert in his honor tonight at Carnegie Hall. Elliot carter is considered America's leading composer, he has contributed enormously to the world of music both as a musician and as an advocate of music education. As he mentions in a BBC interview: "...It was my generation actually that started the idea of having music taught - composition taught, not only in conservatories but also in universities in the United States . We started out maybe with 30 or 40 composers at most in America . Now we have 20,000 - all as a result of my unfortunate efforts."

Watching the interview was a pleasure not only because of Carter's enlightening presence and radiance of youth, joy and wisdom at his advanced age, it was also very enlightening to me as an artist and former musician. His words helped me define many of the things that I intuitively sensed but wasn't able to pinpoint. In a way, it helped me connect the dots and come to realize why I feel the way I do about my art. Being a former musician, I sometimes feel I am 'painting music' or 'playing a painting' or 'composing art'... for me, the experience of creating art is very similar to creating the art of music. It is a non verbal language which expresses our human condition in a way that can transform and transcend, in a way that can be interpreted with words but not expressed by them. Music and art, for me, use the mind as a tool, not the other way around. Music that is great is not created by the brain, but the composer is using the brain to transfer sound into notes, or into the instrument. The same is true, in my opinion, in regards to great art, the visual experience comes from a vision of the soul, not from an intellectual thought or mind manipulations.
I am trying to explain this experience with words now, and it is not easy to do. To make it easy the best analogy would be of course love. One can certainly use the brain to induce the feeling, but not to create it. We have to find it within ourselves in order to feel it.

You can watch the Charlie Rose interview with Elliot Carter, Daniel Barenboim and James Levine, and here is another interview with Elliot Carter, wishing him a hundred more creative and inspiring years!

Cityscape #3

2008-11-21T14:58:00.013-05:00

City in Bloom
50X44 Inches (127X11cm)

Acrylic on canvas

The photo of this building was used as the theme of two mixed media paintings I've done this year, but this time I decided to paint it. The building was since finished, and now it's covered with glass walls, but to me it was more interesting while built than it is now.
I feel I will return to this building again in the future, it seems to haunt me. The way it stands alone, surrounded by blue sky. Although it's not very tall, it really stands out, even though it's located in Manhattan. It is in an area of older , smaller structures, in the west side of the city, overlooking the Hudson river. I took the original photos while riding in a car on the West Side Highway. Here are the previous mixed media, in which I used a print of the photograph:

Cityscape #1

60X46 Inches (152X117cm) mixed media on canvas

Cityscape #2
47X47 Inches (120X120cm) mixed media on canvas

On a different note, I've been tagged this week, by Sylvie Van Hulle, a wonderful artist I've met on Flickr, but since I'm new to blogging, I didn't understand what tagging means! I figured it was some kind of code, but now I know, and I will participate in the game, it will take me a few days to prepare the lists though.

Update

2008-11-17T23:06:00.014-05:00

Here's an update of several new pieces from the past weeks:
This piece took me to unexpected places, here's the final version:

Emergence
50X42 Inches acrylic on canvas

A former version, which I liked but wasn't sure of:

The photos were taken at different lighting conditions so the hue looks a little different, but other than the hue, the only main difference is in the top part.
Another piece I enjoyed making:

Road #2

58X50 Inches acrylic on canvas

It is one of those paintings where in the process I feel an expansion, working in large scale, a sort of freedom, and space. It is not the first piece I titled 'road' and I suspect it isn't the last.

Finally, a new project of making art objects out of recycled materials. This object looks like a box but it has no function as such, it is not a practical object but is meant only to be displayed for visual pleasure/inspiration/introspection and such purposes which art fulfills...

The size is about 14X8X7.5 Inches (35.5X20X19 Cm). It is made out of leftover packaging Styrofoam, left over canvas, fabric remnants, magazine cut-outs, acrylic gel and paint.

This object inspired a painting using the same theme which developed organically in the creation of the box, I wanted to see how it will look in two dimensions.

Someplace, somewhere
30X24 Inches, mixed media on canvas

Celebrate!

2008-11-10T09:59:00.012-05:00

I have been planning to do it for a while, and finally am taking the first step. Writing my thoughts about art and the art world, and as far as I can elaborate about my creative process, which is sometimes difficult for me to describe in words.

I hope a dialog or a discussion will develop, comments are very welcome!

Since I haven't been updating the blog for a while, I will start with posting recent works. First, a series which was a commission I received from someone who wanted a painting similar to a recent abstract, but in a smaller size and shape. The original painting was a 68X52 inches, and the commission was for a 36X36 Inches (3 feet by 3 feet, or 91 cm square). The challenge was mainly in creating a similar composition which originally was rectangular, into a square shape, and in addition, working small. I really love working large, especially when painting abstract. I love it when my whole body is participating in the process of creating, and painting becomes an extension of my body, the energies flowing through my hands as in a Tai-Chi or Chi Gong practice. I had to try a few versions, and this took some practice. I made 3 paintings, and after I thought I was done, decided to make one more last one. Eventually, the buyer chose that last one, which I knew she would. The original painting can be seen in an older post, but here it is again:

Two Of Us

Here are the four versions. I am quite happy with them, although I do plan to continue working on one, and perhaps take it on to a different direction altogether.

Here is the last (fourth) painting, the one that was chosen:

This one is the first version:

I like this one, but I find it very different in spirit than the original, larger painting. I tried to follow the colors and composition, but the energy came out ery different, very dynamic, somewhat forceful, while the original was more calm and playful, I think...

Here is the second version, the one I think I will change:

I happen to like it, but from feedback I received on my flickr account, this appears to be the least effective composition.

Finally, my third trial, which also looks different than the original in spirit, but I believe has it's own charm:

In the next days I will update the blog with more new works, thanks for visiting!

Iris

P.S.
More editing of the blog, as well as additional links, are to follow in the days ahead! please keep posted!

2008-08-11T21:26:00.004-05:00

On The Spot

Size: 48X48 Inches mixed media on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Untitled

Size: 48X30 Inches mixed media on canvas
Click image for a larger view

2008-08-06T04:23:00.004-05:00

People

Size: 24X24 Inches mixed media on canvas
Click image for a larger view

People Collage

Size: 18X18 Inches mixed media on canvas
Click image for a larger view

2008-07-30T01:27:00.004-05:00

Equals Infinity

Size: 72X48 Inches mixed media on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Away, in a way

Size: 24X24 Inches acrylic on canvas
Click image for a larger view

2008-07-11T19:33:00.005-05:00

Us #2

Size: 58X50 Inches acrylic on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Us

Size: 68X52 Inches acrylic on canvas
Click image for a larger view

6.7.2008

2008-06-07T06:55:00.008-05:00

Untitled

Size: 72X48Inches acrylic on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Base Chakra

Size: 60X54 Inches acrylic on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Wall Portrait Study

Size: 24X30 Inches acrylic on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Space

Size: 24X30 Inches mixed media on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Colors #4

Size: 24X24 Inches acrylic on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Air Dancing with a Double Bass

Size: 24X30 Inches acrylic on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Colors #5

Size: 12X12 Inches Mixed Media on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Masks

Size: 24X30 Inches acrylic on canvas

Click image for a larger view

Colors #3

Size: 58X50 Inches acrylic on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Untitled

Size: 47"X47" acrylic on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Slope

Size: 52X50 Inches acrylic on canvas
Click image for a larger view

3.23.08

2008-03-23T19:07:00.005-05:00

Cityscape #2

Size: 47"X47" Mixed Media on canvas
Click image for a larger view

Her

Size: 28"X22" Acrylic on canvas
Click image for a larger view

2008-03-19T17:17:00.007-05:00

Cityscape

Size: 60"X46" Mixed Media on canvas

Zen

Size: 72"X48" Acrylic on canvas

Figure #1

Size: 22"X28" Acrylic on canvas

2008-03-11T21:29:00.008-05:00

This Time

Size: 90"X52" Acrylic on canvas

Click image for a larger view in a new window

Figure Study #1

Size: 22"X28" Mixed Media on canvas

Click image for a larger view

Purple Rainbow

Size: 22"X28" Mixed Media on canvas

Click image for a larger view

2008-02-08T20:19:00.002-05:00

The World

Size: 90"X48" Acrylic on canvas

Click image for a larger view in a new window

2008-01-26T22:52:00.004-05:00

New work January 26 2008

Tree in the City

Size: 48"X52" Acrylic on canvas

Click image for a larger view in a new window

Jam Session

Size: 46"X30" Acrylic on canvas

Click image for a larger view in a new window

Blue Abstract

Size: 72"X48" Acrylic on canvas

Click image for a larger view in a new window

2008-01-17T18:10:00.002-05:00

New Work, December 2007 - January 2008

As We Are

Size: 24"X20" Mixed Media on canvas

Click image for a larger view in a new window

Life Of...

Size: 24"X20" Mixed Media on canvas

Click image for a larger view in a new window

Memories of Time

Size: 20"X24" Mixed Media on canvas

Click image for a larger view in a new window

When I Am

Size: 12"X12" Mixed Media on Wood Panel

Click image for a larger view in a new window

In Our World

Size: 12"X12" Mixed Media on Wood Panel

Click image for a larger view in a new window

Abstract Storm

Size: 46"X46" Acrylic on Canvas

Click image for a larger view in a new window

New work, October 07

2007-07-31T14:35:00.000-05:00

Untitled #5 72"X48" Acrylic on canvas