"Gentrification is painted alternately as a destroyer of neighborhoods or a savior of cities," says Lance Freeman in a Washington Post Article from 2016.
I have from the sidelines observed this controversial tension in my previous work. Serving artists but also promoting development. I don't have answers.
Only more questions.
Is gentrification the urban version of a food chain?
Producers and consumers: ALL are integral parts of the circle of a city's life. Can one exist without the other?
I live in a culture of good manners and southern charm. And sometimes that takes away the freedom transparency has to offer. I think about this as I compare the unspoken societal rules of respect and polite manners of small southern town living to German frankness and stoic silence - I am acquainted with both.
I believe all these behaviors, I have lived and interacted within desire simply to extend respect and kindness to the other person. Yet, still these ways of communicating intrigue me.
Where is the balance within me? this person of two cultures? Feeling at home in both but yet, also a stranger at times.
In considering this, I have taken on another 100 day project on Instagram. (not 100% sure I'll finish this one... ) But I am taking time to revisit a few basic watercolor exercises and becoming reacquainted with my palette through play.
I do find the play on words immensely intriguing as I consider the meaning of transparency in relation to these parts of the following definition . . .
1a (1) : having the property of transmitting light without appreciable scattering so that bodies lying beyond are seen clearly :
2a : free from pretense or deceit : frank b : easily detected or seen through : obvious c : readily understood
from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transparent
Something to think about.
Here are a few images from my first few days as I have explored transparency, layering and how the hues which surround a subject can impact its "personality".
The first being a color study using lemons as the subject matter. 2 layers of hansa yellow medium and then 2 layers of each of the colors explored.
Theses studies are done quickly. Mainly to see and learn what tones and colors are achieved through the layering process.
I don't necessarily like posting such quick, unfinished and messy studies. I would be lying if I didn't acknowledge that my pride feels something should look just so before putting it out there. But I think I am going to try and get past that.
A book I recently read is challenging me in many ways. It references Leonard Cohen's song Anthem:
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
That's how the light gets in
And in order to be transparent, light must get in. Wouldn't you agree?
(The transparent studies in Daniel Smith Sap and Undersea Green are studies in applying pressure to the brush stroke and the impact it has in the width of the line.)
*Ok, so only after day 6, of this project, I realized I would be unable to do the 100 days straight AFTER ALL due to upcoming travel (which may or may not have internet access) and other obligations. So for simplicity's sake, I am continuing on with the exercises as I am able, but not with the Instagram posting for the 100 straight days as I had originally planned* 4/9/17
I'm beginning to feel like a potential character in a Hitchcock film.
People have asked me where I find the subject matter for the birds I paint. And honestly, mostly they come to me! But I do have bird feeders, reside in a neighborhood with old, tall, majestic trees and slow moving creeks nearby, which helps! So Snow White, I am not...
(I also, have a few friends with an eye for artful bird encounters that will call me.)
This week has been off the charts!
It has been a week of interesting bird architecture, drama and tragedy.
Act I: This is the bluebird nest I have been watching in the box we have at home.
I monitor it daily. They were supposed to hatch on Saturday, Day 12. They didn't.
Nor did they hatch on Monday, Day 14.
Mr. & Mrs. Bluebird began moving the eggs in the nest and covering them in the days past, which I have never seen before. I was getting worried.
And then hello, this morning. This is what I found. An entire new nest built on top of the old.
I wonder if the freak snow we recently had in SC has anything to do with this doubledecker nest we now have.
I am assuming the old eggs are buried beneath? I am leaving it alone for now because both birds seem to be active and perhaps preparing for a new brood. Nevertheless, I am utterly confused by this.
And can I do this in my own world? Just stack a little covering on top and pretend the unfinished matters just stay somewhere hidden beneath all that nesting?
Act II: Most remarkably, a Shakespearean poisoning has taken place. The victims were discovered by a very young and enthusiastic naturalist.
And when I was asked - why, yes of course I want to take a few pictures of those beautiful birds!
A little life lesson here. Things that look amazing and maybe taste good are not always so good. These plants in your yard will hurt the cedar waxwing, which is what happened to these two. The cedar waxwings were simply gorging on those beautiful berries.
The plant is called Nandina or heavenly bamboo. I find the second name ironic, given the death it has caused. Nonetheless, it has promptly been removed from my own yard.
Act III: My goal for the this week was to actually complete a watercolor, but a small and swift little home intrusion has occurred.
This little wren decided to fly in the home when the door was open. The dog lost its mind and the bird flew ALL over, ALL the rooms and ALL through the hall, a few times.
Gracious.
Needless to say, not as much painting as intended has been completed this week, but quite a bit of study, drama and bird chasing has.
"Drama is life with the dull bits cut out." -Alfred Hitchcock
Window Dressing
22" x 30"
watercolor
This juvenile European Blackbird was spied outside a Birkenstock outlet store in Germany. My sister and I were on a mission to reclaim for our closets the footwear trend of Birks. I'm old enough now to realize that trends do come and go.
It makes me think of all the labels/trends we spend more money on than we should because of what we feel that thing represents. We believe we are buying quality items that we need. When I was younger, I needed Guess Jeans, Liz Clairborne bags and Clinique make-up.
And I recognize a pattern. I'm calling it window dressing.
Window dressing obviously refers to the beauty and mindfulness that goes into a window or store front display.
But it can also allude to the misrepresentation of something in order to give a more favorable view.
During a TED talk, cyborg anthropologist, Amber Case, describes that for many of us a second version of ourselves exists in these screens we hold. For example, when we are sleeping, others are interacting with our second "virtual" self such as perhaps our Facebook profiles. Two selves doing opposite things.
And that second self of ours also requires care / time / maintenance.
I'm thankful my adolescent "window dressing" was so much simpler then. There was only one me that needed to appear better than maybe I felt on the inside.
And so I am asking. How and when does one project an authentic self?
And in another facet, this article from the Wall Street Journal provides a look at the cost of a little physical window dressing in 4 women. (Please note: I am not pointing fingers or judging here . . . I spend my fair share on the lotions and potions.)
But is aging and imperfection considered such a flaw? Or can it be viewed as something unique and individual? How do I as a person define and share beauty?
These are big questions for me. The culture I live in influences me. But so have the women in my life.
The "wall paper" behind this painting is inspired by patterns seen in my German great grandmother's home. It is hand drawn and painted, requiring dedicated time and embracing imperfections.
Sadly this bird tells a moral of sorts. The young European Blackbird flew into the window of the Birkenstock store. The allure of the false reflection ultimatley harming her.
“Drawing makes you look at the world more closely. It helps you to see what you're looking at more clearly. Did you know that?"
I said nothing.
"What colour's a blackbird?" she said.
"Black"
"Typical!”
― David Almond, Skellig
This painting process is of a young European Blackbird.
I've learned that sometimes the pale unseen tender layers beneath the surface are the most beautiful ones.
My 41 year old eyes needed to do the hard work to see. See what is truly there, not what my mind wanted to tell me was there. And let me say, this bird is so much much more than simply "black".
Later today I will take on painting the background on this 22" x 30" full watercolor sheet. It's daunting at the moment but I know doing the work IS good.
So wherever your eyes are being challenged to see more clearly today, please do the work. It is good.
"Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play." -Heraclitus
The past week my time in the studio has been playful and fun. I haven't been working on commission or competition pieces. It has simply been a time for painting, cutting, glue, gold leaf and mess making.
I've also learned a little more about these Glanzbilder. I've so enjoyed placing them in these mini-paintings. They are small colorful images on paper printed originally as Chromolithographs. Historically used for decorative purposes such as in Autograph books (Poesiealbums), letters or as collectables. The illustrations tend to be romantic in nature, sometimes allegorical or oppositional in nature. The collection of these reached the height of their popularity in Germany and Austria between 1880 and 1910. The Glanzbilder used in these creations are all made in Germany. Few printers today still use original designs and the market for collecting has severely declined.
Anyway, I still think they are incredibly fun. Hope you enjoy them!
The pulls of nostalgia are so sweet and strong. And they hit at the most unexpected times. These gems below are Glanzbilder or Lackbilder. They are part of my childhood memories but something I had forgotten. This December I spied them in a favorite shop in Germany. It's a tiny stationary/magazine shop that feeds my German pen and paper obsession. When I saw these, I knew I had to buy them.
Glanzbilder are used in Poesiealbums. Poesiealbums are a form of autograph/friendship book. I had one as a child. It was white, with a kitten on the front cover. Poesiealbums were shared with your friends, relatives and teachers. They then would pen a favorite line of prose, poetry or quotation with a message to you, followed by a signature. Looking back I believe this is such an art form! When I presented mine to my elementary school American friends, I think they confused it a bit with a yearbook signature.
My German friends and family approached it differently. To them it was a place to mark how beautiful a person was to you - In a creative and literary manner, not a first person L.L.A.S note with a Ziggy drawing. I love how this album captured my personal dichotomy of growing up in two cultures. I love them both for different reasons. (For example, I wanted BOTH a bed with a German down comforter folded in half -like the German do - but also an American rainbow canopy bed set with matching bedskirt. Sadly, I could never marry the two forms of bedding effectively.)
Back to Poesiealbums - One or two of these little Glanzbilder would be added to the page, paired with words of significance. Often the Glanzbilder have a touch of glitter. Who doesn't love a bit of sparkle?
The internet tells me that these albums originally stem from the practice of recording close friends and coat of arms in family trees during the 16th century. The 18th century saw quotations and illustrations added to these notations. By the 19th century, members of literary circles began circulating notebooks of sorts to capture the same. The more commercial forms ofPoesiealbums and Glanzbilder appeared in the 20th century. This website has a few images of Poesiealbum entries.
Because this represents such timeless treasure and charm, I wanted to create a few items featuring these fascinating Glanzbilder. So I've had a very playful and experimental week. I've made cards and a series of mini gold leaf paintings. If you are interested in seeing them in person, I'm delighted that a selection of the mini paintings and cards will be available at TThomas Arts next week.
„... und reißt mir keine Blätter raus, sonst ist es mit der Freundschaft aus ...“
A few changes are taking place in my world in 2017.
The main one being, I have returned to being at home.
Here are the stats: I'm 41. My 20 year wedding anniversary is approaching and my children are 18 and 17. Here's the reality. Time isn't going backwards. It's moving and it's moving FAST!
And I felt it was time to take a pause, stop the clock, reflect, take some personal dreams off of a shelf and blow the dust off. Some may call this a mid-life crisis. I'm calling it half-time.
Charles and I have talked about this for a LONG time. And we felt this was the time. I am leaving an organization I have worked for in very good hands - with a wonderful group of people and partnerships to carry it forward.
And while I could have continued on in my role, I know that the organization is currently poised for growth and development in areas that require a new set of strengths. In the nonprofit sector, I believe it is crucial for leaders to know themselves, their capabilities and the needs of the organization.
I also know that for every yes one says, that is a no to something else.
So I am saying yes to a new adventure. For the next few months this will include a little more painting and a few additional hidden projects. (more about them in the future!)
But for today, I'll simply leave you with this little halftime performance and Ohrworm of a song.