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Something about lightness or being weightless. I started doing Yoga with renewed determination since doing cardio for more than 30 minutes is too painful due to arthritis now. Every other day half an hour with some reading in my favorite Yoga book. Chapter One of Hatha Yoga Illustrated starts with this wonderful statement. “Yoga is the human quest for remembering our true nature, our deepest selves. Since the dawn of recorded time human beings have sought to transcend the human condition, to go beyond ordinary consciousness… In every human heart lies a deep longing to connect to something bigger that oneself…” I read this paragraph while sweating on the elliptical trainer. So, I realize that this is fundamentally why I make art. I look for the “True Nature”  I am truly trying to understand the people around me, myself and how we are all connected.

My latest Painting speaks about where one stops and where one begins. Although this shows the body it goes down to our spiritual self. With the use of textures and different techniques I play transparence against flesh and abstract against real. I still see the scaring as well. I enjoyed making this painting tremendously. I hope you can see that joy in making it.

As I continue with this type of work I realize that these are survivor art.

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I do believe that human beings can adapt to an unbelievable amount of mental and physical discomfort and heartache. This work stemmed form an ironic view at religion. On a technical level this work consist of wood, paint, metal, tapestry yarn, pencils, styrofoam, and bronze leaf.

Despite of all our scars and disappointments, the universe is still beautiful and magical.

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Textures fascinate me, playing the smoothness of skin against the old crackled surface or a gelato print against that of the painted surface. In this work I look at different ways to present my little girl. The innocent joy of a toddler against the aging texture. She tells me that she is growing up and I am growing down. It is so true because everyday I have a new pain here and there, my knee, my elbow. Will she have to change my diapers in my old age? I hope not. I find myself attracted to contradictions and ambiguity.

This continue my path of mixed media, in this art work I add tapestry thread. Functional decorative…I hope you like.

Talk soon again

HouseHex

What is your addiction or addictions?

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I like the person I am today more than the one I were 4 years ago. through all life’s surprises and dramas that made me who I am, reading books have always been something that draws me, grabs me and never let go. Thank the stars that I do not smoke anymore and thank you that reading is a good addiction. Well I might be more successful in other areas if I did not read as much or if I read intellectual, scientific, or documentaries. That is why I’ve started to blog and why I’m learning to type with my thumbs on my I-pod. trying to move away from reading. I make art too, below is one of my recent works… All about growing, evolving, not a beautiful flower. I finished an illustration project for a woman that likes to write children’s stories… but books have been my companion through all this and more.

My favorite genre is of course detective type novels. And if it come in a series, then I am happier than ever. For example Colin Dexter‘s “Inspector Morse” series. This was introduced to me by the TV more than 12 years ago. I do have all the DVDs too. Then I had to look for it in book form. Another Detective series that was introduced to me through the TV is “The Wallander” series. I’m sure I’m forgetting a lot. Oh! Don’t forget about “A Touch of Frost” Love that TV series, enjoyed the books tremendously.

I also love “The Mallory” series written by Carol O’Connell. She is really a new type of Detective. beautiful, high IQ, and female. She spent part of childhood growing up on the streets where she learned excellent survival skills but no people skills. What she shares with her male counterparts are her obsession with finding the culprit, the truth. She also share their melancholy and loneliness.

What is it about a series. It has something to do with compartmentalizing objects and thoughts so that everything is easily understood, falls into place and gives one an answer. One gets familiar with the characters and that familiarity creates a sense of safety. It’s like visiting friends and knowing they have your best interest at heart.

Other book series I enjoyed: Jack Marconi Thrillers by Vincent Zandri; J Carson Black’s Laura Cardinal Series. J.R Rain’s Vampire for Hire. Jennifer Estep’s “Gin Blanco Assassin” books. Arnaldur Indridason‘s Reykjavik Murder Mysteries. Simon R Green‘s Nightside and Druid books. Carrie Vaughn‘s Kitty Norville Series. Jeffery Deaver books. Lisa Garner’s Detective DD Warren Novels.

 

 

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Man as Object: Reversing the Gaze Opening at SOMArts Main Gallery Friday, November 4th: 6-9:00 p.m. San Francisco, CA WOMEN ARTISTSLOOK AT MEN AND MASCULINITY ART EXHIBITION RE-ENVISIONS GENDER, SOCIETY AND THE POLITICS OF EXPOSURE PLEASE JOIN US… for our ART OPENING! Friday, November 4th 6-9:00 p.m. SOMArts Cultural Center Main Gallery 934 Brannan Street San Francisco. CA www.somarts.org Exhibition Dates: 11/4 – 11/30/2011  Man as Object: Reversing the Gaze is an exhibition that re-envisions gender, society and the politics of exposure. With a gallery filled with men stripped naked, this body of work exposes women’s cheeky, provocative and sometimes shocking commentaries on the opposite sex. The exhibition’s contemporary scope encompasses all the ways that women view Man-as-Object, reversing the traditional view of male artists objectifying women. Its diverse perspectives on masculinity come from straight, transsexual, transgender, lesbian and multi-cultural artists through a spectrum of media, from paintings to sculpture, installations to performance, video to social media. The show’s extensive collection of male adoration, male impersonation and male appendages may make the viewer squirm a little. But that is precisely the point. The more than 100 women artists in the exhibition unapologetically reveal how they really see men. Through this public display at SOMArts Cultural Center, the show’s organizers aim to equalize the gaze between the sexes. Featured Artists:  Juana Alicia, Nancy Buchanan, The Guerrilla Girls on Tour!, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Jill O’Brian, ORLAN, Carolee Schneeman, Silvia Sleigh,  Annie Sprinkle, Beth Stephens,  May Wilson and Melissa P. Wolf. AND Selected Artists for the Gallery and Catalog! Leslie Aguillard, Mel Ahlborn, Roberta Ahrens, Olga Alexander, Sharon Allicotti, Zina Al-Shukri, Carolyn Applegate, Juliane Backmann, Hazel Bartram-Birchenough, Joanne Beaule Ruggles, Jasmine Begeske, Erica Bendickson, Susan Bennett, A Binghamfreeman, Erika Brooks, Tracy Brown, Reena Burton, Della Calfee, Brie Castell, Claudia Chapline, Yuling Chuang, Christine Cianci, Janie Cohen, Katie Commodore, Nicole Craine, Tristan Crane, Tristan Crane, Arabella Decker, Deena des Rioux, Rosemary Giusti Dillon, Liz Dodson, Eileen Downes, Betsyann Duval, Merrilyn Duzy, Fran Eber, Roya Farassat, Sheila Finnigan, Lin Fischer, Eileen Fitz-Faulkner, Julie Fournier, Sandy Frank, Lynn Friedman, Linda Friedman Schmidt, Margaret ‘Margo’ Garces, Michal Gavish, Judy Gelles, Ingeborg Gerdes, Christine Giancola, Lisolette Gilcrest, Sarah Beth Goncarova, Pallavi Govindnathan, Chanel Matsunami Govreau, Corinne Greenberg, Gail Gurman, Karen Gutfreund, Tania Hammidi, Valerie Hallier, Sharon Hart, Laura Hartford, Trudi Chamoff Hauptman, Lidia Hasenauer, Marlene Hawthrone Thomas, Deena Haynes, Karen Henninger, Katty Ryan Hoover, Hedda Hope, Aisjah Hopkins, Sara Hopkins, Cynthia Horn, Tedda Hughes, Birgit Huttemann-Holz, Annette Isham, Patricia Izzo, Lahib Jaddo, Ellen Jantzen, Annelise Jarvis-Hansen, Elaine Jason, Tammy Kinsey & Jean Kusina, Judy Johnson-Williams, Tamarra Kaida, Ashley Kauschinger, Christy Kelly-Bentgen, Elizabeth Kendall, Ellen Kieffer, Karen Lance Klaber, Corlia Kock, Susan Kraft, Diana Krevsky, Beth Lakamp, Sarah Lapp, Lark, Allison Leach, Evie Leder, Lee Lee, Sharon Leong, Lynn Elliott Letterman, Amelia Lewis, Lory Lockwood, Kelsey Livingston, Michelle Lopez, Jacalyn Lopez Garcia, So Yoon Lym, Cat Lynch, Sita Mae, Kelsi Mannhalter, China Marks, Louise Maloof, Kristina Martino, Karen Mathews, Jeanette May, Kristine Mays, Shilo McCabe, Alysanne McGaffey, Harrigan McMahon Bowman, Erika Meriaux, Carol Morris, Amy-Elyse Neer, Jill Nonnemacher, Barbara Neri, Janice Nesser, Nancy Netherland, Molly Marie Nuzzo, Brenda Oelbaum, Beth Olds, Colleen O’Donnell, Priscilla Otani, Jacki Orr, Arla Patch, Nancy Peach, Rachael Perisho, Heather Pilapil, Karen Purdy, Xian Mei QIu, Patricia Quilichini, Nora Raggio, Cherie M Redlinger, Lynda A. N. Reyes, Trix Rosen, Judith Roth, Laura Rusnak, Carla Sanders, Loredana Sangiuliano, Clara Saprasa, Elinore Schnurr, Centa Schumacher, Judith Segall, Shizue Seigel, Sal Sidner, Sarah Sipling, Bonnie J. Smith, Priscilla Smith, Madelyn Smoak, Jenny Snyder, Julie Snyder, Elizabeth Sowell-Zak, Susan Spaniol, Colette Standish, Julie Sutherland, Erika Swinson, Yuriko Takata, Lani Tanaka, Patricia Terrell-O’Neal, Deborah Mills Thackrey, RoByn Thompson, Lynne Todaro, Linnea Tober, J Toffic, Mette Tommerup, Cristina Velazquez, Christina Renfer Vogel, Susan von Gries, Alexandra Walker, Theresa Walloga, Ruth Waters, Jennifer Weigel, Susan Weisberg, Rachel Weissberger, Carolyn Weltman, Ellen West, Corinne Whitaker, Tamara White, Melissa Wilkinson, Sheila Winner, Kathryn Wood, Carol Witten, Jan Wurm, Jenny Wrenn, Nanette Wylde, Marian Yap, Kathleen Yorba, Emily Yost,   Karen Zack,   Lucia Znamirowski EXHIBITION COMMITTEE: Tanya Augsburg, Juror Karen Gutfreund, Director Priscilla Otani, Curatorial Committee Brenda Oelbaum, Curatorial Committee Jessica Gee, Publicity. OTHER EVENTS: Friday, Nov 4 2011 6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. Opening Reception, Artwork Dedication, & Performance 6:30 P.M. Artwork Dedication of Sylvia Sleigh‘s work, Lawrence and Susan Delgado, to Mills College. 7:30 P.M. Performance artist Chanel Matsunami Govreau will performher new work Hapa Bruthas. This performance will explore Hapamale and Asian male sexuality, brotherhood, and the effects of interracial dating in Asian American communities from a mixed-Asian woman’s perspective. Sunday, Nov 13, 2011, 12:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. Peepshow Drawing Circle & PerformanceReprise of Chanel Matsunami Govreau’s performance, Hapa Bruthas.Peepshow Drawing Circle: this event features live nude male model placed in the gallery’s “hole,” which will be converted into a man-cave. The male model will be drawn by the public and all drawings will be exhibited onsite for the event, then taken home by the artists. Wednesday, Nov 30 2011, 6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. Closing Reception, Screening & Discussion Panel 6:15 & 6:30 P.M. Screening of Fuses, historic feminist film by Carolee Schneemann in SOMArts theater 7:00 P.M. Looking at Men: Then & Now, panel discussion with Annie Sprinkle, Carolee Schneemann and Tanya Augsburg.

Learn more about WCA!

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I am happy to say that there are more people like me out there. People that believe the word Feminist or Feminism doesn’t refer to an evil female incarnation of the devil. This I thought with relief after reading a post an artist friend posted on Facebook.

Citizen Kerry, Thank You. And Ann, thanks for always being an Inspiration.

My Mother, now in her seventies will die before she sees herself as a feminist, but she was working most of her life and she never stayed quiet if she disagreed with my father.

I love the grace and strength that the Austrian Feminist Marie Lang shows in the picture on the right. Lace and Brocade, leather and velvet.

I want to continue the study of Chadwick’s “Women, Art and, Society.” The Last time I wrote about it, I looked at the how the way Art History was written, played an important role on how women in History was and are still perceived by most people. Today I want to look at what Chadwick says about Marietta Robusti.

Marietta Robusti was the eldest daughter of the painter Tintoretto, She and two of her brothers joined Tintoretto’s workshop and she work for him about 15 years. She was not without talent, a fact that are reinforced by an invitation from Emperor Maximilian II and  another separate invitation by Phillip II pf Spain to join them as court painter. Unfortunately for Robusti her father forbade her to leave and instead found her a husband. She married the head of the Silversmith’s guide and to my horror died in childbirth four years later.

Because she worked in a workshop it is difficult to learn authorship of any of her work. There are accounts of a daughter in Tintoretto’s workshop whose work was of equal quality of that of Tintoretto, but Tintoretto’s Biographer described her work of lesser value with a “sentimental femininity”(p.19). Until 1920 “Portrait of and Old Man with Boy” c.1585 fell under the authorship of Tintoretto.and finally Robusti’s monogram was found on this painting. This attribution of the painting to Robusti is still questioned. As is most of the attributions to her as an artist.

Of Course Marietta Robusti also becomes the muse for her father when painters like Cogniet paint her in “Tintoretto Painting His Dead Daughter,” which then lead to more paintings and even a play and a novel where Robusti played the muse.

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Why is the “muse image” bad?

Chadwick describe it like this:”The bizarre but all too common transformation of the woman artist from a producer in her own right into a subject for representation forms a leitmotif in the history of art. Confounding subject and object, it undermines the speaking position of the individual woman artist by generalizing her. Denied her individuality, she is displaced from being a producer and becomes instead a sign for male creativity.”(p21)

I love the word “displace”. To me this displacement not only moves the female to an uncomfortable position but also the male. Limiting both genders to predetermined roles.

OK I have to stop here since its nearly time to pick up my little girl from school, plus I have an illustrating project I have to finish by next Friday…

Talk again

Corlia

“Feminism gave women and men a choice”

and that’s what its all about.

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What caught my attention today after I dropped my little girl at pre-school…

A book on “Ron Mueck” by David Hurlston. A friend of mine was surprised that I like his work because he found it unsettling. But how can I not like this. All people at some time in their life on earth must surely feel like his characters. Big, out of place and insecure. This book gives one a view into the artists reasons for making these awkward giants and the techniques he uses. It also gives one a comprehensive look at his work. This book is not yet released but I’ve put it on my wishlist. You can read more about this book on the Yale Books Blog. I like this blogpost by Miles Barolli.

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This book was lost for a while, but I finally found it underneath my bed in the master bed room. At some time during the last 3 months I thought it might be a sign to use another book but no, I’ve decided to start with this book and I am going to finish it.

Now I can continue my look into Whitney Chadwick’s “Women, Art and Society”. The first reading of the Introduction was upsetting which then lead to amusement. Upsetting because it is scary how easily History writers excluded women. Amusing because some of the reasons for reducing the level of importance that women played in Art are ridiculous. Specifically where critics held the fact Judith Leyster‘s gender against her or the notion that because she is a woman she is a sexual being and for that reason her art and work can not be as good as that of her male counterparts. (p.24)

To look at the role women played in Art History, it is important to look at how Art History emerged. Art History is a product of the Renaissance yearning to praise Italian cities and the remarkable male citizen which included “male artists” and the so-called “genius”. One of these products was Leon Battista Alberti‘s treatise “On Painting” published in 1435. Since the nineteenth century Art History has been closely linked to the establishment of authorship and the authorship of women was difficult to establish because of the cultural role they played. Women who were well-known in their time disappeared because it is difficult to find any art that can with certainty placed under their names.

Inorder to explain the problem of authorship, Chadwick look at three different artists. She looks at Mariette Robusti, a Venetian Painter from the sixteenth century. She talks about Judith Leyster, a Dutch Painter from the seventeenth cnetury. She details Edmonia Lewis, the first mixed-race American Sculptor from the nineteenth century. She considers a specific group of women artists in the circle of Jaques-Louis David from the eighteenth century.

Next time more on Marietta Robusti.

Take Care “Corlia“

PS. I’ve read something in my Bible this week which is also upsetting and proves the point that CHOICE is important. We love our men, we love our children but please give a choice…

1 Timothy 2:11-15

 ¹¹ Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.

¹² But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.

¹³ For Adam was first formed, then Eve;

¹⁴ and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression:

¹⁵ but she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.

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What Does a Feminist Look Like? from Penny Jones on Vimeo.