2012-04-23T09:38:33-04:00 lifetype-1.2.10_r6971 http://www.brightstroke.com/blog/rss.php?blogId=121&profile=atom Copyright (c) tag:blogs.artspan.com,2012-04-23:33491 2012-04-23T09:38:33-04:00

Affairs with Serpents and HeroInes, River's Edge Gallery, Wyandotte, Nov 7, 2011- Jan 31, 2012 Natalie Haddad, Ph D. candidate in Modern and Contemporary Art, University of California ...

General Affairs with Serpents and HeroInes, River's Edge Gallery, Wyandotte, Nov 7, 2011- Jan 31, 2012 Natalie Haddad, Ph D. candidate in Modern and Contemporary Art, University of California San Diego, freelance art critic San Diego/Los Angeles As the body announces itself in the soft curves of a back and hips barely covered by a black shawl it refuses to give itself, as the object that makes flesh the Cartesian cogito of Man. She refuses capture. She faces away. She stands barefoot on a grassy path in the woods, legs poised to walk on her way. Anyone may follow. One of several photographs by Patricia Izzo in Affairs with Serpents and Heroines at River’s Edge Gallery, “Persephone Returns” distills something of the exhibition. Where often exhibitions focused on women challenge the oppression of the fairer sex within a male-dominated society either by cultivating an environment of exclusion and hostility toward men or by fashioning equality through sameness, Affairs invites the viewer, female or male, to cross over into its world. Drawing much inspiration from mythology and the psychical worlds of women, the show’s three artists––Izzo, Barbara Melnik Carson, and Birgit Huttemann-Holz––create a space permeated with the sediment of life, all the experiences, senses, and secrets that form the stratified landscape of each moment. The diversity of the works, along with an emphasis on time-honored techniques (Huttemann-Holz works in encaustic, Carson in clay, and Izzo paints many of her photographs) augments the sense of timelessness and free passage between mind and myth. In Izzo’s painted photograph “Bed 23 Is Going Home,” a young woman in a yellow dress sits on a narrow institutional bed, projecting a melancholy smile to the camera. The woman is the artist’s grandmother, photographed in 1944, a fact that adds to the layers of meaning in the work, but it’s not necessary background for the viewer to feel a sense of identification with the image. Another of Izzo’s photographs, of a strapless dress on a hanger, emerging from darkness and painted an electric blue (“Broken Spell”), reflects on “Bed 23” like a future or past in perpetual wait.             The subtlety of the artworks in the exhibition is disarming; they play with socially accepted associations between femininity and passivity by coaxing in the viewer with soft, lilting beauty and then revealing the full strength of the feminine gaze. It’s a gaze that dominates the gallery. Carson’s clay and found object sculptures of semi-androgynous faces with puckered red lips and large, drowsy eyes, mounted, seated on pedestals, or enclosed in boxlike “frames” with ephemera, surround the viewer like a chorus of ageless seers, and cast a spiritual net that enchants the entire space. In this context, the more worldly women and girls, particularly those in Huttemann-Holz’s paintings, assume an otherworldly air. In one work “Young Ariadne”, a girl of age ten or eleven dressed in red, with long blond hair, is the Minoan princess who crucially helped Prince Theseus overcome a minotaur and escape death in her father’s labyrinth, and later became the mortal wife of the god Dionysus. Leaning against a wall, arms stretched behind her head in a lounging pose, she gazes out and into her own reverie with enough ease to capture time in the eternity of dreams. The image suggests that both youth’s innocence and adulthood’s wisdom are mere phantasms.      A portrait of a young woman with downcast eyes and pensive face, pale skin sheathed in the billowing gown of a ballerina and bathed from behind in shadows "Serenity" could be its grown up sister. Though any conventional notion of feminism is upended by the work in Affairs, the claim, made famous by Simone de Beauvoir in The Second Sex (1949), that women are made “other” by male-dominated society, is more appropriate here than its academic origin indicates. De Beauvoir argues that women are given a false aura of mystery by men. What’s too easily lost in the statement is that oppression is the enemy, mystery is not. The women comprising Affairs––forest nymphs and goddesses, artists and viewers––invoke the strange spectral “otherness” that hides in the light of the mundane, eluding those who lack the eyes, ears, or heart for it. Long before de Beauvoir, Woman was already the province of the “other” in mythological traditions. Stories of superstition and mysticism, which corrupted the purity of Man’s idealized woman, begat tales of feminine threats, nearly always rooted in powers that required (masculine) suppression. Among the most infamous of demonized women is the daughter of the sea god and goddess Phorcys and Ceto, the Gorgon sister Medusa. Caught with Poseidon by the jealous Athena, Medusa’s punishment––snakes for hair and a gaze that turned onlookers to stone––was also her power. Even after her death at the hands of Perseus, her defeat was never quite complete: her head became the face of Athena’s shield; the goddess of war was forever represented by the chthonic mistress. In more than one work, Carson turns to the figure of Medusa. A sculpture entitled “Medusa” is a chalky white head mounted on a piece of found driftwood, from which rainbow-colored snakes emerge as wild waves of hair. Another work, “Out of Eden,” is a shard of a woman’s face––eye, nose, spirals of wire hair, and a glimpse of lips––mounted on an image of an apple and placed next to a snake. Everyone knows this story, but the work’s proximity with “Medusa,” along with Izzo’s “Persephone,” Huttemann-Holz's " Young Ariadne", and all the women so defined by these legends, cuts a seductive swath of night across the garden of the known. tag:blogs.artspan.com,2012-02-18:31931 2012-02-18T15:00:58-05:00

  Dear Friends, Artlovers and Collectors, The year 2012 started without snow and ice in Detroit. Nevertheless, did I win two times with my winter cityscape ...

General   Dear Friends, Artlovers and Collectors, The year 2012 started without snow and ice in Detroit. Nevertheless, did I win two times with my winter cityscape " Liberty ", a merger between New York and Detroit in my imagination. Liberty made first place at the annual Grosse Pointe Art Center Show: UBAN EDGE , 2012 and on a national level it was selected in the ArtSlant First Showcase Winner, 2012, online competition. The painting is still on display at the Grosse Pointe Art Center until Feb 25. Was I pleased? Na, klar! This weekend an exciting show opens at the River's Edge Gallery. "Homage" My dedication is to my uncle Werner Holz , (who opened the doors for me to the world of Fantastic Realism) and the early Renaissance painters in general. My imagery is greatly influenced by the exposure to Dutch /Flemish artists Hyronimus Bosch and Bruegel , the Italians such as Ambroggio, Botticelli, Simone Martini, da Vinci and to todays famous German master Michael Triegel . I hope you will join us this Friday. 6-10pm opening reception 3024 Biddle Ave Wyandotte, MI 48192 Warmest regards, Birgit PLEASE NOTE THE INVITATION BELOW River's Edge Gallery presents Homage At The Edge  here is link for a quick preview  http://youtu.be/VkQPQO_WqGs   OVER 50 ARTISTS SHOW APPRECIATION TO THEIR INFLUENCES ‘ Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic.” Some artists are using sculpture and some painting and some found objects made into art and some weavings and some stone. In other words, whatever gets the point across. Sometimes the point is easily seen like Bruce Gerlach’s painting of the author Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and others not so easily like Patricia Izzo’s tribute to fellow photographer Diane Arbus.  This non juried was an open call and includes well established and emerging artists as well as artists that we have never shown. It is a variety medium and approaches that you would rarely see in any art exhibit. The list of artists reads like a who’s who in the Detroit art community. Liberty 2012 Earth 2012 Fire 2012 Water 2012 tag:blogs.artspan.com,2011-10-31:27491 2011-10-31T10:47:29-04:00

"Affairs with Serpents and HeroInes" River's Edge Gallery, Wyandotte, Mi, Reception Nov 12 6-9pm I cordially invite you to the gallery reception "Affairs ...

General "Affairs with Serpents and HeroInes" River's Edge Gallery, Wyandotte, Mi, Reception Nov 12 6-9pm I cordially invite you to the gallery reception "Affairs with Serpents and HeroInes", River's Edge Gallery, Wyandotte, Mi, on Saturday, Nov 12  6-9pm. This show will feature Barbara Melnik Carson's witty and deeply psychological rooted sculptural clay and mixed media works. Patricia Izzo's delicate, often hand colored fine art photography and my encaustic figurative works that I have been working on for the last 2 years. Each artist tries in their own way to investigate the meaning of archetypal symbols, heroes and heroines in today's busy, fast flashing (media) world - our everyday life. As I discovered two years ago that the archetypal figures of myths and religions are finding their way back into my images, I was asking myself the question why ? What am I doing? Slowly an answer evolved after reading the lectures of Joseph Campbell, leading mythologist, writer and lecturer on comparative mythology and religion and my all favorite Ken Wilbert, often called the "Einstein of consciousness". I settled for the explanation/motivation: To trace the primary patterns in humanity’s cultural and spiritual evolution.   I am very thankful that River's Edge Gallery owner Patt Slack was as excited as the artists, facilitating the upcoming three women show, running from     Nov 12, 2011- Jan 31, 2012. I am looking forward to meeting you there. Your happy encaustic paintress, Birgit http://www.brightstroke.com   River's Edge Gallery 3024 Biddle Ave Wyandotte, Mi. 48192 http://www.artattheedge.com   tag:blogs.artspan.com,2011-08-08:20921 2011-08-08T09:35:48-04:00

It is July and it is hot here in Michigan! On July 22nd  the annual tri county exhibition (including our canadian friends and artists in Ontario) Our Rivers-Our Lakes @ the Grosse ...

General It is July and it is hot here in Michigan! On July 22nd  the annual tri county exhibition (including our canadian friends and artists in Ontario) Our Rivers-Our Lakes @ the Grosse Pointe Art Center opened. It is the biggest and the most well known exhibition on the annual schedule of the GPAC. Together with environmental groups the exhibition highlights our proximity to the Great Lakes and creates awareness regarding the beauty and uniqueness of the surrounding nature and naturally interconnected body of freshwater. "The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America , on the Canada – United States border . Consisting of Lakes Superior , Michigan , Huron , Erie , and Ontario , they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume behind Baikal in Russia. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] The total surface is 208,610 km 2 (80,545 sq mi), and the total volume is 22,560 km 3 (5,412 cu mi) The lakes are sometimes referred to as the North Coast or " Third Coast " by some citizens of the United States. The Great Lakes hold 21% of the world's surface fresh water." (wikipedia)       I strolled into the exhibition knowing, that one painting of mine got accepted into the show.  But I did not know,  that I won Best of Show , with my painting Up North . I was very excited, surprised and of course very pleased. If you happen to be in the area, please visit this wonderful eclectic exhibition. (July22- August 27)     Best, Birgit tag:blogs.artspan.com,2011-07-13:18601 2011-07-13T09:28:29-04:00

Last week I got the notification that I am one of 12 artists that have been chosen as winners by the Society for Art of the Imagination  in their Portrait Competition, 2011. The ...

General Last week I got the notification that I am one of 12 artists that have been chosen as winners by the Society for Art of the Imagination  in their Portrait Competition, 2011. The Society for Art of the Imagination is one of the oldest and most prestigious Societies, based in UK, London, drawing from an international pool of artists, who tackle magic realism/surrealism/imaginative realism. I am very honored and pleased. Summer is here in Michigan and my wax doesn't cool off anymore. Still, I am painting away, dancing in front of a fan. All the best, Birgit tag:blogs.artspan.com,2011-05-14:13151 2011-05-14T18:09:37-04:00

I have always loved icons. My parents took me to Greece and Italy starting at age 5. These memories and early images of art are still with me, vivid and beautiful. They come and go and ...

General I have always loved icons. My parents took me to Greece and Italy starting at age 5. These memories and early images of art are still with me, vivid and beautiful. They come and go and very often meander through my works. Is it a coincidence that I work in wax? The Fayum Portraits and the Bycantine Icons are my language, they are talking to me intensly. Beginning of this year I realized that my figurative work is a continuation, a series that adresses the female heroines in myths, religions and daily life: Portraying the past and the course of human history and culture.   I created a little movie : Icons of the Feminine , featuring my figurative works 2010-2011,1. Music : L'Arpeggiata, VIA CRUCIS Enjoy! Icons of the Feminine tag:blogs.artspan.com,2011-04-08:10081 2011-04-08T09:02:48-04:00

Stand in the Place Where you Live: A creative enterprise/exhibition celebrating the Legacy Land Conservancy's 40 Anniversary.   I am very happy to be the recipient of a stipend and ...

General Stand in the Place Where you Live: A creative enterprise/exhibition celebrating the Legacy Land Conservancy's 40 Anniversary.   I am very happy to be the recipient of a stipend and part of this wonderful project. "Over the last 40 years, Legacy Land Conservancy (formerly Washtenaw Land Trust) has helped protect over 4579 acres of forests, praries, farms, wetlands and waters. To celebrate this achievement and inspire future conservation efforts, a creative enterprise/exhibition has been commissioned. In a joint venture the Chelsea Center for the Arts and Legacy, a small group of artists will be chosen to create works about specific local public and private lands preserved through the Conservancy. Artists interpret and bring insight to our connection with the landscape and the relationship between humans and how we inhabit and change natural sites around us. Art helps us understand the idea of place and illuminates how our sense of place is connected to our ideals and identity." Each artist will be assigned to a particular site and will create works relating to that site which will be exhibited at the Chelsea Center for the Arts November 13, 2011- January 8, 2012. I am so thrilled to paint and be outside- many of the sites are not open to the public. This is so me-! I hope to get permission to document and blog about my work on my assigned site. Warmest thoughts, Birgit   Stand in the Place Where you Live: A creative enterprise/exhibition celebrating the Legacy Land Conservancy's 40th Anniversary. Over the last 40 years, Legacy Land Conservancy (formerly Washtenaw Land Trust) has helped protect over 4579 acres of forests, prairies, farms, wetlands and waters. To celebrate this achievement and inspire future conservation efforts, a creative enterprise/exhibition has been commissioned. In a joint venture between the Chelsea Center for the Arts and Legacy, a small group of artists will be chosen to create works about specific local public and private lands preserved through the Conservancy. Artists interpret and bring insight to our connection with the landscape and the relationship between humans and how we inhabit and change the natural sites around us. Art helps us understand the idea of place and illuminates how our sense of place is connected to our ideals and our identity. Artists will be chosen based on submitted works and a statement of interest in the project. Each chosen artist will be assigned to a particular site and will create works relating to that site which will be exhibited according to the guidelines. Assignments will take into account the artist’s interests and preferences. All finished work will be related to and inspired by the artist’s direct experience of these properties. It is expected that the artist will visit and may spend considerable time at the assigned site. Many of the sites are not open to the public. All areas are within 30 miles of Ann Arbor. The exhibition will be held at the Chelsea Center for the Arts (CCA) November 13, 2011-­ January 8, 2012.Stand tag:blogs.artspan.com,2011-03-29:9241 2011-03-29T08:30:42-04:00

While I was in NY exhibiting my paintings and visiting great museums and artwork- it happened! In my own backyard- a masterpiece of raw passionate ART. Epic Hole is for all creative ...

General While I was in NY exhibiting my paintings and visiting great museums and artwork- it happened! In my own backyard- a masterpiece of raw passionate ART. Epic Hole is for all creative kids all over the world- ! Of course I would not have allowed to throw the camera into the hole! But that's the beauty of art : The right move- at the right time . Congrats Philipp! Your MAMA!  -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy3lWqaRAqw Please watch the movie: camera, script, director, editor and artist: Philipp Huttemenn, 11 years old , March 2011. tag:blogs.artspan.com,2011-03-01:6441 2011-03-01T08:28:44-05:00

I signed up for the Art Expo in New York in March 25-27. This week I sent four large paintings to New York City! I am very excited. If you are around, please come and see me, or tell your ...

General I signed up for the Art Expo in New York in March 25-27. This week I sent four large paintings to New York City! I am very excited. If you are around, please come and see me, or tell your friends. I am in the SOLO Artist exhibiting area.   In the meantime I will go to my sacred place- my studio.   "Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again". Joseph Campell  Best regards, Birgit