Check-in with Jim Dine

As a bonus to the 2011 North American Print Biennial,  Framingham State University hosted a dialogue with renown artist Jim Dine and MFA curator Clifford Ackley.  It was an opportunity I couldn't resist so I rounded up a co-pilot (artist Kim Wysocki, who didn't hesitate even a second upon my impromptu invitation) and headed up the Mass. pike.  We snagged two seats in the 5th row and enjoyed the wave of Dine's honest and humorous outlook on his own art making process.

Some quotable phrases that impressed us (captured as best as I could):
"To be a painter is a lonely life.  Printmaking is collaborative, I use printmakers as trained artists, they enrich my life."

"I'd be nothing without drawing.  It took a long time to harness hand and heart, to get it to do what I wanted it to do. Drawing from the model taught me to look harder, to focus and concentrate."

"Pinocchio became a receptacle for the emotions one has about making art - the voyage he's on is about being human.  Much like an artist trying to bring things to life."  "I started out feeling like Pinocchio and ended up as Giepetto."

Ackley (L) and Dine (R) in dialogue with Dine's images in background.

We  furthered our "art adventure" by attending the opening for the Print Biennial at the nearby Danforth Museum. We were delighted to meet the museum's Executive Director Katherine French and author  Lois Tarlow, who recently wrote an inspiring article on French in this month's edition of Art New England, check it out.  The Print Biennial is through May 1, 2011, and well worth the trip.  http://www.danforthmuseum.org/

Show opening and you're invited!

 Habitat, Fragmentation, and Growth,  opening reception next Sat. 3/5 :

Please join us on Saturday afternoon, March 5th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for an opening reception at the University of Connecticut's Stamford Art Gallery located at One University Place, Stamford, CT. This exciting two person show entitled Habitat, Fragmentation, and Growth.  The show combines sculpture and painting to explore the visceral reaction to the synthesis and deconstruction of life.

Lure of white and grey

With milder temperatures I decided to walk the West Hartford reservoir.  This time I pocketed my point-n-shoot camera, upgrading from the cell phone, but still intimidated by the DSLR sitting in the box at home.  When I look for inspiration from landscape, I view the images with an eye towards the design elements (line, shape, form, color, texture).  Wouldn't these make amazing large abstract paintings??!!  My brushes must be quivering up in my studio!

I've walked by this knot of trees soooo many times and finally had the chance to capture it today.  The bright overcast sky made picture-taking a breeze! 

Back to the water/ice mix, with a bit of sky for frosting.  Anyone recently see "ART" at the Playhouse on Park in West Hartford?  This could be that white painting!

Ice Crust

So with the launching of my blog, I'm heading outside to find the extraordinary in the elements.  Air and water are the contending forces of the day.  Puddles, snow mounds, ice patches, wind.   Here are my photos from a brief walk with my (unsophisticated) cell phone camera.