Chihuly at the New York Botanical Garden

If you happen to be in New York City between now and October 29th, I highly recommend you go to the New York Botanical Garden (in the Bronx) to see the CHIHULY exhibit (as well as the beautiful flowers and plants).

The exhibit includes over 20 stunning glass sculptures, installed throughout the Garden, by renowned glass sculptor/artist Dale Chihuly, whose blown glass creations have been exhibited at museums around the world.

Here are some of the amazing glass works of art featured in the New York Botanical Garden exhibit. (Click on the photo to see a larger view. Then hit the "back" button/arrow to return to the post.)

NB: It is really hard to photograph glass when the sun is shining directly overheard -- and a dozen or so people keep walking into the frame.

Teaching an old dog new tricks

I may not be an old dog (though I'm no longer young, and I have been called a bitch on occasion), but I have definitely learned some new tricks in my Colored Pencils and Portraiture class this year. Indeed, looking at the work of all the women in class, several of whom are in their 70s, as is our teacher, you realize that you are never too old to learn, or to improve.

I still have a ways to go until I get to the point where I want to frame my work and hang it in our living room. (Being a bit of a perfectionist, I am rarely 100% happy with anything I do, though I have come to embrace the concept of "good enough.") BUT, that being said, I am sufficiently proud of my progress that I want to share my latest three drawings with you. (You can view my earlier works by clicking on the ART APPRECIATION label at the bottom of this post.)

I will now be taking a break from drawing, which has been emotionally draining. But I hope to take another art class in the fall. Maybe painting.

[Click on each photo to see a larger view.]

"Portrait of Lady Agnew"
(Colored pencil copy of a John Singer Sargent painting)

"Pop Art Portrait, Handsome African-American Man"
(Colored pencil rendering of a black and white photo)

"Charcoal Study of M.C. Escher"

The power of art (my latest artwork + how a weekly drawing class saved my sanity, sort of)

I have been very S.A.D.* this winter. More so than usual. Hence the decrease in blog posts.

Part of the reason is how unseasonably cold, and gray, and snowy it has been here in the Northeast (and still is, though the snow has seemingly, finally, stopped), which makes me not want to do anything. Not like I could, what with all the snow we had.

Part of my depression is due to feeling stuck, both professionally and geographically, which I feel more accutely in winter. (Working from home is both a blessing and a curse. Nice to not have to commute, but I miss being around people. Though the cats think I am very witty and don't judge me.)

And just about anyone would (or should) feel depressed reading the news these days, which I do too much of. (Sometimes, okay, all the time, I feel like one of the few sane, or rational, people left on this Earth -- like the people who are constantly fighting off the zombies on The Walking Dead.)

But one thing has kept me (relatively) sane this past winter. And no, it's not my football, or basketball, teams, which totally SUCKED this past season. (I have put my Jets and Knicks fandom on hold, though I am still rooting for the NY Giants. Love me some Odell Beckham, Jr.)

The one thing that has helped to keep me sane, and gotten me out of the house this past winter? Art. Specifically my weekly two-hour Colored Pencils class, sponsored by our local Continuing Education department.

This somewhat frivolous activity has forced me to not only get out of the house, but it has helped me  rediscover my creative side (though I am still struggling with my writing), and given me something to feel good about. (The teacher and the women I draw with are lovely, very supportive and nurturing.)

You might say art has been my savior. (A picture is worth a thousand anti-depressants?) And although I have been known to gnash my teeth and curse during the first 30 to 60 minutes of each class (I am a bit of a perfectionist, and impatient, and drawing is hard!), the results (shown below) have been worth it, IMHO.

This last one, my "Portrait of a Little Girl," is my favorite (and, I think, best) work. Having never taken a class in portraiture, I'm particularly proud of it.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this post. I look forward to being back to my witty, not-quite-so-blue self soon.

*S.A.D. stands for both Seasonal Affective Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder, both of which I suffer from, and with.

Art. It does a brain good. (Releasing my inner artist.)

When (and where) I went to school, Art was a part of the curriculum, considered just as essential as English, Math, Science, History (or Social Studies), learning a second (or third) language, and Physical Education (aka Gym). Even at my tiny all-girls high school, they made time for Art (drawing, painting, pottery, etc.), if not every day, every other day. For which I am eternally grateful.

The Art room was a haven for many of us. There we could, for a little while, forget about the stress of Physics, or Chemistry, or Pre-Calc, or college applications -- and explore and enjoy our creative side.

How sad that over the years so many high schools have cut funding for the arts -- or no longer require students to take an art class. And how sad is it that so many of us who loved drawing or painting or doing pottery as kids no longer have the time or energy to do it as adults?

True, drawing and/or painting require a lot of time -- and patience. Things that we working parents typically don't have a lot of.

And why draw or paint when there are digital cameras or smart phones? Who needs a portrait when you can take a selfie?

Apparently, I do.

Last year, feeling incredibly frustrated with work and my life, I signed up for a beginner drawing class, though our adult continuing education program. Not having drawn anything, except doodles and birthday cards, for over 20 years, I was often frustrated. But I didn't drop out. (Though I did take a break from drawing when the class ended.)

However, I soon realized, I missed drawing. So this fall, I decided to take another drawing class, with the same teacher, a wonderful woman named Martha.

While drawing may not be as difficult as Physics, or Chemistry, or Pre-Calc (at least to me), it still requires an immense amount of concentration, patience, and practice. Things I don't have in abundance (if at all).

But when I am sitting in that window-filled, sun-drenched classroom, with my big pad of paper and my pencils and eraser, struggling to capture the image in front of me (inwardly, and outwardly, cursing), something amazing happens. Suddenly, I forget about everything else -- the boiler that's not working; the oven that has to be fixed; work; laundry; bills. And I am just in the moment.

Best of all, at the end of the day (or class), I have something to show for my efforts. Something I have made with my own two hands, that I can look at and say, "wow, I did this," and feel good about myself.

Art. It does a brain good.

Following are some of my favorite drawings from my Studio Art class. Next up: Colored Pencil Drawing.

"Sneaker"

"Flower Child"

"Cat"

"Bust of David"

"Lady Slipper Orchids"

"Still Life with Mason Jar"

"Annabelle"

"Rooster"

The artist formerly known as Pres

Some might say that the artistic stylings of the former president known as "W.," whose first art exhibit, titled "The Art of Leadership: A President's Personal Diplomacy," opened today in Dallas, are strictly bush league. And they would be correct.

But I have to admit, I kind of like George W. Bush's artwork*, particularly this painting of a rescue cat...

and this portrait of Bush's deceased Scottish terrier, Barney.

I even like some of his portraits, including this one of former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi...

And this self portrait.

(I refuse to show the shower scene. That would be psycho.)

Sure, sure, if his last name wasn't "Bush" or he hadn't been President of the United States, George W.'s artwork would probably not be shown in a gallery. But hey, I have seen much worse art shows (at actual art galleries and museums) -- and having a hobby, especially one that doesn't harm people, is always a fine idea.

Make art, not war, I say.

So what do you all think of former President Bush's artwork?

A brief history of the selfie

In November, Oxford Dictionaries named selfie the international Word of the Year.

[For those of you unfamiliar with the word selfie, it is, per Oxford Dictionaries, "a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website."]

According to Oxford Dictionaries (the people responsible for the Oxford English Dictionary), the first use of the term dates back to 2002, though the word didn't really take off until 10 years later.

I, however, would argue that selfies have been around for much longer. Much much longer.

For example, take a look at this selfie Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn did when he was 24, back in 1630.

[Hmm.... I wonder what filter he used?]

And here's a selfie Vincent van Gogh took back in 1889.

[I bet van Gogh used the Mad Artist filter.]

And here's a selfie Pablo Picasso did back in 1901, during his blue period, when he was 19 or 20...

And this crazy one he did six years later, in 1907.

Those twentysomethings, I tell ya.

And Andy Warhol was, like, the King of the Selfie.

You try getting someone to pay millions of dollars for your selfies -- and hang them in a museum.

Though getting millions of people to watch your music video titled #SELFIE? Not a problem.

Invasion of the Giant Red Plastic Snails

Is any garden safe from...

The Invasion of the Giant Red Plastic Snails?!

From my research, it appears these giant red plastic mollusks hail from Italy -- and have slowly (very slowly) been making their way around the globe, sliming New Yorkers earlier this winter.

Mighty erections

Alternate title: Another visit to the Storm King Art Center.

I love a good outdoor sculpture park. And what better way to enjoy a lovely late summer day than to stroll the grounds of Storm King at dusk?

Here are a few of my favorite photos from yesterday's visit. (You can see photos from our previous visit to Storm King, back in 2010, here.)

Click on the photo to see a larger view (as well as the name of the sculpture and artist).

[FWIW, the spouse took a most unflattering photograph of me taking the second-to-last picture, which, if you are interested, you can see on both of our Facebook pages.]

No restrooms for the wicked

This weekend, the spouse, daughter, and I went to The Happy Show at the Institute for Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, which runs through August 12.

And while the artist, Stefan Sagmeister, claims the exhibit will not make you happier (click on the photo to enlarge it)...

all three of us left the Show feeling much happier.

How can you not love a show where the artist turns a "fire extinguisher" into an "ire extinguisher"? (Click on the photo to enlarge.)

Even the bathrooms -- which bore the caption "NO Restrooms for THE WICKED" -- made us happy...

(Note: there must be a lot of wicked people going to the ICA, because we were the only ones to use the bathrooms.)

So if you happen to be going to Philadelphia, or you live in or near the City of Brotherly Love (and the Phillies and the Flyers), and you are feeling blue, go to The Happy Show. Even if it doesn't cheer you up, you won't be any poorer for the experience. The ICA is free.

Dog as art*?

Excuse me sir, How much is that (French bull)doggie in the window?

The artist did a fantastic job. So lifelike! The French bulldog actually appears to be breathing! (Click on the photo to get a larger view. Then click the back arrow to return to the post.)






















I call zees masterpiece "Dog Days of Summer." Eez very realistic, non?

(A woman passing by wondered whether the dog's name was "Art.")

*Alternate title: Let sleeping dogs lie... in art gallery windows.

It was a hot and Storm King day... (art appreciation)

the sun shone in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the maple allées (for it is in the Storm King Art Center that our scene lies), rattling the leaves, and fiercely agitating the enormous sculptures that groaned against the heat....

--With apologies to Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton

On Saturday, the spouse and I were gifted with a day off. (A good friend of J-THREE-O's invited her over for the day.) So we took the opportunity to drive to the Storm King Art Center, an outdoor sculpture park in Mountainville, New York, where temperature in the non-existent shade was 95 degrees Fahrenheit (though that may be a conservative estimate).

Despite the heat, we loved strolling through the sculpture park and gazing up at the enormous works of art.




































































(Apparently outdoor sculptors and yours truly have a thing for red.)

After baking in the heat in the name of art appreciation for nearly an hour and a half (that tram didn't arrive a minute too soon), we drove to Cornwall-on-Hudson, a picturesque town overlooking (wait for it...) the Hudson River, where we had a fabulous lunch at the River Bank Restaurant and then took a stroll, which turned into a drive, along the riverbank -- where I captured this shot of one of the prettiest or most scenic gazebos I have ever seen.
















I (heart) summer.