Archive for June, 2011
An early American quilt on display at the American Folk Art Museum. I think it is "chintz" or applique
A fraktur painting by Durs Rudy Sr. (1776-1843)
Of the 7 art museums I visited in New York The American Folk Art Museum really wooed me. It had me at hello. I swooned for quilts, mosaic figure sculptures, and especially for a special exhibit of Eugene Von Bruenchenhein …. a self described poet, photographer, sculptor, painter, and philosopher. This guy got a whole floor featuring his wide variety of artistic endeavors including small sculptures he made out of painted leftover chicken bones. You have to see to believe. I wish I had pictures of this guy’s work but since it wasn’t part of the permanent collection I respectfully did not shoot.
Nek Chand - a mosaic figure made of peices of bracelets and other recycled materials
Part of why I fell head over heels is the celebration of the little guy, the unknown artist, the everyday crafter, the person who makes things. I like to make things. I am the little guy. I’m unknown. I craft. I was comfortable there; the display and atmosphere of the gallery is really nice – not hoity toity at all but colorful, modern, fun. You don’t need to wear your fancy pants in other words.
But here’s why I really lerve this place. As I walked around I overheard a tour guide explaining to her group that the museum chooses not to define “Folk Art” – which struck me as odd being they are the “American Folk Art Museum.” How do you run a museum and refuse to be clear about what it is you are museum-ing? Mysterious and intriguing. Maybe it makes some sense. People tend to think that folk art implies that the artist is not trained, not educated in art, not professional, amateur.
But that’s all very snooty don’t you think? To say that one artist
Exploring figure in space relationships on the top floor of the gallery.
is not as qualified as another to make art. Everyday people make extraordinary things all the time – and those things have different meanings to different people. I imagine some of the best things people make are never exposed to the fancy art world. And are probably better off – but thanks to this museum for showing off some things that might not get any attention otherwise.
I enjoyed the museum because the artwork spanned a long stretch of time, there was a variety of interesting things combined with focused specific shows all wrapped up in history and cultural study and framed by art-language. I’d go back again next time I’m around for sure.
Folk; a little watercolor painting by me for the love of little birdies everywhere
Above is a painting I made almost immediately after my visit to the Folk Art Museum. Although I told myself not to paint any birds while on vacation I couldn’t help myself. There are birds all over that gallery – not to mention wandering all around my feet as I walked through town. Feeling akin to my fellow folkies I felt a bird painting was in order.
I needed something new. I scrolled through albums on my phone app I came across a tiny picture of a new album by Eddie Vedder titled “Ukulele Songs“. I decided to download it because I enjoyed my share of Pearl Jam in their heyday and I thought the title of the album was funny, surely ironic, if I had known I was downloading an actual album of songs to the tune of a ukulele I would have probably stopped myself. Read more
And by underworld I mean education.
When my public school teaching gig is out for the summer I spend some weeks teaching art at a local museum. You might wonder why I would choose to spend my paid summer vacation working. Just look at my bank account. Also, when they ask you to sign up for classes it is still the school year and the idea of taking on extra work does not phase you. Then summer hits – you have a couple weeks off and spend time painting, walking, cooking, catching up on sleep…enjoying the world…. then boom – back to a classroom full of kids wondering when their next snack is going to be and asking the dreaded….what time is this over? (over and over and over….) And I wonder to myself what ever was I thinking signing up to work on my “vacation.”
It’s hard work this teaching thing. Especially if you are any good at it. There’s project planning, there’s practice, there’s material experimentation, and then there’s the kids! They are so unpredictable. Happy, sad, up, down, bathroom break, yelling, laughing, crying…. blah, blah, – bleh. Some moments I find myself looking at the clock every 8 seconds curious how long till quittin’ time and the parents retrieve their young.
Of course the flip side to this coin is that teaching can be so rewarding and fulfilling because you get to be around people who are curious and interested in what you have to say – which is more than I can say about the people in my house (just kidding family – I love you dearly). Just don’t get me wrong – I love my job very much and it helps me learn about all kinds of things including how to work with a variety of people.
So what’s with the Egypt pictures? This week I am teaching a class based on Egyptian artworks found in our museum collection. Perfect to peak kids’ interest; monsters, princesses, animals, architecture, the magical mystical afterlife…. Luckily last week I toured the Met in NYC and noticed they have endless galleries of Egyptian art. Wow. To be a teacher there would be impossibly fantastic.
Until I paint again – I will be immersed in the underworld. That place of unglamorous glory also known as the classroom.
We all know bread making is magical mystical business. I have had many failures. Finally though a sweet victory. Picture this. It was a late and gorgeous evening. Kid was asleep. Husband was working. I was “hungry bored” which means I was about to consume the entire contents of my pantry while looking at things online or I was going to focus and make something.
After just one pantry raid I came upon this recipe from a site called Tammy’s Recipes by way of random internet search. It looked easy enough so I gave it a go – although I like to be creative so I had to make a couple changes. Here’s what I did: Read more
Prelude to a Civilization; 1954 Victor Brauner Metropolitan Museum of Art
While in New York, I visited 7 art museums. Each one impressive and interesting and full of surprises. One such surprise came to me at the Metropolitan Museum of Art while wandering their modern collection. In a pretty boring downstairs gallery surrounded by other paintings hangs the painting you see above – quite larger than the others and so bright and whimsical it’s hard to miss. They cleverly placed a bench right in front of it and I felt compelled (and exhausted) enough to sketch some of the little people/creatures I could see as I rested on the bench. I ended up spending a lot of time with this painting and kind of fell in love with it. All the funny little characters are quite adorable, no?
Well, if you don’t think so, you can just stop reading now. I took some notes, snapped some pictures that you see here and went off on my way. At home, I was going through my notebook and came upon my sketches. After a quick internet search I found that there isn’t a ton of info on my new art-love, artist Victor Brauner. His wikipedia page is pretty good – but not very helpful in terms of finding more artworks. Google images doesn’t do too much good either. I guess I will have to keep looking for my mystery man.
The title of this post, “Peindre, c’est la vie, la vraie vie, ma vie” is what is inscribed on Brauner’s tombstone and means, “Painting is life, the real life, my life.” Kind of a beautiful thing to say – he died after what they call “long illness” and that inscription was pulled from his notebook. I think he lived the typical artist’s life with not many great successes, plenty of criticism, not to mention the struggle for survival through two world wars in Europe. If painting is his life than lucky him that he lives forever on the walls of the Met.
Is painting my life? Shrug. It did occur to me that my paintings will live longer than me. Speaking of paintings – here’s one I made on my trip.
Of course I will have more to say later. I’m home from my trip to NYC and am typing as I get ready to sleep in my own bed for the first time in 5 nights. The only thing on my mind right now is how good I know my bed will feel and how good it felt to tuck my kid in again. However – as I go to sleep I know my mind will reel hoping that I remember all the amazing things I was able to do in just a few days. I visited 7 museums. I walked for miles every day. I ate things I only dream of (yes, I have food dreams). But most importantly I did it by myself – which allowed for the careful time and thought I could put into the things I saw and felt. I painted 7 (or is it 9?) new paintings that I am excited and nervous to share. But now, it’s time to rest. And begin saving up for another Eat. Paint. [Somewhere]. next summer. Suggestions?
PS: I tweeted my trip – so feel free to read the backwards ramblings of my twitter feed to catch up on my adventures: www.twitter.com/eatpaintlauren
I’ll be out of town for the next few days. Feel free to tag along with me as I periodically will update via my Twitter page. Looking forward to the trip! See you later 
As if my 1980 version of Betty Crocker’s cook book wasn’t nostalgia bathed enough I recently got my hands on the 1951 edition. It’s beautifully written and illustrated with great bits of advice like, “The clever wife has a simple appetizing cocktail ready for her weary husband when he comes home at night.” I also find it interesting that the majority of the book focuses on quick breads, yeast breads, cookies, desserts, pies, and cakes. And by interesting I mean FANTASTIC! All my faves. My first baking adventure: French Breakfast Puffs – with a 2011 twist. Read more
I painted this watercolor painting yesterday as a design experiment; no pencil, erasor, etc. I love to make designs, play with color, create random shapes and textures….or maybe it isn’t so random? I like this painting, especially the purple and yellow contrast. I thought to myself…hmmm…where have I seen that before recently? Where was I mentally drooling all over a certain something with those same colors?
It’s simple. Go to my store: www.laurenalexander.etsy.com, and add things to your cart (make an Etsy account if you have to – you won’t regret it) and then when you are checking out there is a place to put in a coupon code. Type in “3Days” and 33% of your total order will come right off! PayPal will take it from there or feel free to send me a check or money order. I am having this big sale before I leave town on Sunday. Everything will ship by Saturday, June 11th!
