I judged the "Reflections" art contest at my son's school this morning......my head hurts....
Artistic talent is a gift......The talent I experienced today was breathtaking. I felt like some feel when a loved one dies....why is the world not stopping? Why are these children not heralded from the roof tops of every town! The amount of talent was nauseating. Children 8,9,10 years old capturing this years theme of "Beauty Is" in ways that some adults cannot grasp.
My favorite from and 8 year old was "Beauty is Love" in which she composed an incredible blue themed composition (oil crayons) featuring two white swans intertwined. In her description she wrote of the beauty in love through nature. Her swans were perfect structual swans...amazing.
Another 10 year old saw beauty in color and illustrated it with an amazing watercolor composition of artists materials. The compositional mastery was better then adults I've seen.
There were two writer participants who captured the theme using illustrative words in their compostions and poetry saying beauty is caring.... I just fell over, literally....I had to put my head on the table.
I've found my passion and vocation in life. These brilliant artists will not be overshadowed by academics. Academics are important, but as a support for their talent.....not the other way around!! How many artist have been lost...or lost their vocations because their talent was not deemed "worthy" by teachers, society, peers, or family. I remember reading about a boy who was constantly picked on in school. Teased as the class idiot. His self-esteem was so damaged he took a losing path and ended in jail. Turns out he is a brilliant artist. Something he demonstrated his whole life. How can this happen? How can teachers , parents, those influential adults not notice creative talent? What are academics for??? Academics are a foundation for the higher inspirations of art and literature.
Better yet...art can be a catalyst for teaching foundational academics. I helped in my son's classroom yesterday, and the students who were staring into space because they were asked to "write a description" of something were motivated by me telling them, don't just describe this.....put your passion and love into it. Do you love sports? Write about that! Animals? Make your character love animals !! They came alive when they realized they could put their own interest and passions into their project. It added an important dimension, a connection with themselves, who they are into their academics. How many of us sat in class in basically in an out of body experience because we were so bored by what was shoved into our minds and souls with NO attachement into who WE were as individuals.
All this emphasis on math and science....for what??? To make money??? What good is money if it can't be used for inspiration !! If there are no artist to inspire, what's your money gonna buy???
This group today will not go un-noticed ......I will make sure of that ! Stay tuned.......
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Ruth Mayer Gallery, Laguna Beach
Recently my husband and I wandered in to Ruth Mayer's gallery in Laguna Beach. I have always been a fan of hers. I saw her years ago painting the carousel in South Coast Plaza. I've admired her work, especially her sea scapes for years. She is located right on Pacific Coast Highway in the heart of Laguna Beach.
The day we visited, we were gifted by her presence in her gallery. She is an elegant, beautiful woman with a true artists air and whimsy whith a touch of mystery. We were fortunate to engage her in conversation where she explained her amazing painting of New York City. www.ruthmayer.com/index_main.htm
For those of you who don't know the story(I believe it was on the news), she painted the NYC skyline and put an angel around the Twin Towers. She felt akward about the angel and decided to take it out but didn't feel a peace, she felt a voice tell her to leave it in, which she did. A little over a year later, the Twin Towers fell. She tells us one of her patrons as well as one of her works were in the Tower.
The painting is hauntingly beautiful in that you must know the angel is there to really see it. If you weren't looking, you probably wouldn't notice. It is a large piece which adds to it's dramatic effect.
She engages us in more convesation in which she explains how everyday is an adventure and brings blessings if we will only open our eyes to it. I left her presence with a renewed sense of hope,wonderment,and appreciation.....of ...well... just living. Today I will stay present, open my eyes to what life brings me... instead of cursing the day because I don't have what I want out of life.
The day we visited, we were gifted by her presence in her gallery. She is an elegant, beautiful woman with a true artists air and whimsy whith a touch of mystery. We were fortunate to engage her in conversation where she explained her amazing painting of New York City. www.ruthmayer.com/index_main.htm
For those of you who don't know the story(I believe it was on the news), she painted the NYC skyline and put an angel around the Twin Towers. She felt akward about the angel and decided to take it out but didn't feel a peace, she felt a voice tell her to leave it in, which she did. A little over a year later, the Twin Towers fell. She tells us one of her patrons as well as one of her works were in the Tower.
The painting is hauntingly beautiful in that you must know the angel is there to really see it. If you weren't looking, you probably wouldn't notice. It is a large piece which adds to it's dramatic effect.
She engages us in more convesation in which she explains how everyday is an adventure and brings blessings if we will only open our eyes to it. I left her presence with a renewed sense of hope,wonderment,and appreciation.....of ...well... just living. Today I will stay present, open my eyes to what life brings me... instead of cursing the day because I don't have what I want out of life.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The Irvine Museum
Today I visited the Irvine Museum. It is a gem of a museum located on Von Karmen near the airport. It's present exhibition Selections from the Irvine Museum feature paintings, primarily landscapes, from the early part of the 20th century.
What's charming about these paintings is some offer a glimpse of South Orange County before development. Crystal Cove with only a couple of homes on it. Saddleback Mountain surrounded by a beautiful valley instead of homes and commerce. For someone whose grown up in Southern California most of her life, it was especially impactful and brings a sense of nostalgia.
Of note, George Gardner Symon's Southern California Coast captures Laguna Beach like no other artist I've seen. He captures the light, the energy, the synergy, the overall feeling looking at the coast brings.
The exhibition runs through February 13, 2010. I highly recommend seeing it. http://www.irvinemuseum.org/
What's charming about these paintings is some offer a glimpse of South Orange County before development. Crystal Cove with only a couple of homes on it. Saddleback Mountain surrounded by a beautiful valley instead of homes and commerce. For someone whose grown up in Southern California most of her life, it was especially impactful and brings a sense of nostalgia.
Of note, George Gardner Symon's Southern California Coast captures Laguna Beach like no other artist I've seen. He captures the light, the energy, the synergy, the overall feeling looking at the coast brings.
The exhibition runs through February 13, 2010. I highly recommend seeing it. http://www.irvinemuseum.org/
Monday, October 12, 2009
Finding Wilderness in Irvine
Yesterday, my family consisting of my husband and three children set off for a wilderness adventure. Inspired by Ken Burn's series on National Parks featuring quotes by John Muir encouraging one to "climb the mountains and get their glad tidings, natures peace will flow into you as sunshine flow into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." We ventured to what we affectionately dubbed Mount Irvine and Mount Woodbridge. It's the two hills you see coming off the 405 exit at Jeffrey Pkwy.
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We parked in the Ralph's parking lot at University Town Center, (where IHop is) walked across the street in front of a busy Strawberry Hill, and hit the bike path. As we walked down the path, dodging cyclists, and paralleling barbed wire fence, I suddenly felt the vulnerablness those who have not prepared adequately for a trip feel. How do we get in there? We decided to keep walking while my husband looked for the Nature Center phone number for instructions on how to enter. We could see trails, yet were seperated by barbed wire. We kept walking when we found a little path right by the large sign advertising new homes. There the barbed wire fence turned into one that wasn't, and we climbed through.
It was surprising how tentative going into the "wilderness" was. We are next to Jeffrey Blvd., cars whizzing by. We would never be out of sight of Jeffrey. We had cell phones, a backpack with water, good shoes, sunblock and hats. And yet we hesitated. Muir said, "I went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." What would we find going "in"? What were we afraid of? Presently, it was snakes, so the boys each took a stick to hack at the grass. Mustering our guts while singing the theme song to Indiana Jones, we all ran into the "wilderness." We felt exhilerated because we were, well, just there.
It's soothing leaving the roar of Jeffrey and watching the cars get smaller and quieter as we ascended the hill. We laughed, we joked, the boys fought over sticks, we went off the beaten path and when we reached the top of the hill , looking out over Irvine, my seven year old spontaneously raised his hands and yelled, "Thank you God!" At that moment , I believe God could not have been more pleased . The pinnacle of His creation looked out upon His landscape and pronounced, "It is good". Just as I am pleased when my kids are proud of me for something I do. I believe God is pleased when we express gratitude to him for what He does. Now I know what John Muir meant regarding "glad tidings".
Giddy from our "mountaintop" experience we decided to climb the other hill which had a rocky top. Our trek gave us many surprises like a wild patch of ghourds, wildflowers, cougar tracks, and colors that rival the autumn leaves back east. This hill was a little more challenging as the chapparelle scraped our naked legs, but we were undettered. As we reached the summit, perched precariously on rocks, the boys decided to fight each other. The rocks were the kind they could easily lose their their balance, fall off and basically die. It was a great time to discuss self control and wilderness safety.
I found a geologocial survey marker and while turning excitedly to show the others, I was just in time to watch my daughter lose her balance while using her cell phone. She slipped and gashed her leg on a rock. "Natures peace" was eluding us at that moment (note: rock climbing and texting at the same time can be hazardous.) While she's yelling expletives and crying, a fellow sojourner happened to appear on the top of the hill with us. I wondered if she was a Good Samaritan hearing distress and raced up the hill to help, or an incognito park ranger doing the same thing. We felt compelled to explain our daughters injury to illustrate why our normally sweet girl is spewing expletives all over the valley, but the only thing she was interested in was finding another way down the hill. So much for my romantic notions of a Good Samaritain.
I quickly wrapped my daughter's leg with my sweatshirt (note: take first aid kit on next hike) and negotiated another less rocky way down the hill. Following a path that eventually led us back to our barbed wire fence, we saw a family in the distance walking down the sidewalk. They saw us on the hill as they were driving and were inspired to "climb the mountain and get their glad tidings" too. We met at the fence, gave them tips on how to get in and they generously held up the barbed wire fence while we wriggled under it like army commandos. We bid them happy adventures as we entered civilization again, refreshed. and thrilled with our day. We drove down the street and promptly rewarded ourselves with milkshakes and iced coffees from the nearby McDonalds.
Muir was right, peace did flow into us like sunshine, and for a couple of hours , even with the boys fighting and my daughters gashed leg, our cares dropped like autumn leaves. Going out into nature really is "going in". Into a place where nature surprises at every turn and wonder can make "cares fall off like autumn leaves". Just like John Muir said.
We parked in the Ralph's parking lot at University Town Center, (where IHop is) walked across the street in front of a busy Strawberry Hill, and hit the bike path. As we walked down the path, dodging cyclists, and paralleling barbed wire fence, I suddenly felt the vulnerablness those who have not prepared adequately for a trip feel. How do we get in there? We decided to keep walking while my husband looked for the Nature Center phone number for instructions on how to enter. We could see trails, yet were seperated by barbed wire. We kept walking when we found a little path right by the large sign advertising new homes. There the barbed wire fence turned into one that wasn't, and we climbed through.
It was surprising how tentative going into the "wilderness" was. We are next to Jeffrey Blvd., cars whizzing by. We would never be out of sight of Jeffrey. We had cell phones, a backpack with water, good shoes, sunblock and hats. And yet we hesitated. Muir said, "I went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." What would we find going "in"? What were we afraid of? Presently, it was snakes, so the boys each took a stick to hack at the grass. Mustering our guts while singing the theme song to Indiana Jones, we all ran into the "wilderness." We felt exhilerated because we were, well, just there.
It's soothing leaving the roar of Jeffrey and watching the cars get smaller and quieter as we ascended the hill. We laughed, we joked, the boys fought over sticks, we went off the beaten path and when we reached the top of the hill , looking out over Irvine, my seven year old spontaneously raised his hands and yelled, "Thank you God!" At that moment , I believe God could not have been more pleased . The pinnacle of His creation looked out upon His landscape and pronounced, "It is good". Just as I am pleased when my kids are proud of me for something I do. I believe God is pleased when we express gratitude to him for what He does. Now I know what John Muir meant regarding "glad tidings".
Giddy from our "mountaintop" experience we decided to climb the other hill which had a rocky top. Our trek gave us many surprises like a wild patch of ghourds, wildflowers, cougar tracks, and colors that rival the autumn leaves back east. This hill was a little more challenging as the chapparelle scraped our naked legs, but we were undettered. As we reached the summit, perched precariously on rocks, the boys decided to fight each other. The rocks were the kind they could easily lose their their balance, fall off and basically die. It was a great time to discuss self control and wilderness safety.
I found a geologocial survey marker and while turning excitedly to show the others, I was just in time to watch my daughter lose her balance while using her cell phone. She slipped and gashed her leg on a rock. "Natures peace" was eluding us at that moment (note: rock climbing and texting at the same time can be hazardous.) While she's yelling expletives and crying, a fellow sojourner happened to appear on the top of the hill with us. I wondered if she was a Good Samaritan hearing distress and raced up the hill to help, or an incognito park ranger doing the same thing. We felt compelled to explain our daughters injury to illustrate why our normally sweet girl is spewing expletives all over the valley, but the only thing she was interested in was finding another way down the hill. So much for my romantic notions of a Good Samaritain.
I quickly wrapped my daughter's leg with my sweatshirt (note: take first aid kit on next hike) and negotiated another less rocky way down the hill. Following a path that eventually led us back to our barbed wire fence, we saw a family in the distance walking down the sidewalk. They saw us on the hill as they were driving and were inspired to "climb the mountain and get their glad tidings" too. We met at the fence, gave them tips on how to get in and they generously held up the barbed wire fence while we wriggled under it like army commandos. We bid them happy adventures as we entered civilization again, refreshed. and thrilled with our day. We drove down the street and promptly rewarded ourselves with milkshakes and iced coffees from the nearby McDonalds.
Muir was right, peace did flow into us like sunshine, and for a couple of hours , even with the boys fighting and my daughters gashed leg, our cares dropped like autumn leaves. Going out into nature really is "going in". Into a place where nature surprises at every turn and wonder can make "cares fall off like autumn leaves". Just like John Muir said.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Thomas Moran and the National Parks
Ken Burn's beautiful PBS series on the National Park System featured several artist who were instrumental in creating the National Parks. One of them was Thomas Moran. His painting Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is breathtaking and should be seen by everyone when they are in DC. You can view it here.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Moran_-_Grand_Canyon_of_the_Yellowstone.jpg
Moran's drawings and paintings touched people and helped them rally behind saving this "wonderland".
Moran's paintings deomonstrate that artist can create the essence of wonder on a two dimensional platform. Moran was never concerned with topographical accuracy, he was more concerned with capturing the essence, the beauty, the mystery of his landscapes. He concentrated on compacting color and elements to create a strong center to impact the viewer , and create an emotional response.
When one views this painting, one can understand how he singlehandedly created a desire in the country to save and to visit Yellowstone.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Moran_-_Grand_Canyon_of_the_Yellowstone.jpg
Moran's drawings and paintings touched people and helped them rally behind saving this "wonderland".
Moran's paintings deomonstrate that artist can create the essence of wonder on a two dimensional platform. Moran was never concerned with topographical accuracy, he was more concerned with capturing the essence, the beauty, the mystery of his landscapes. He concentrated on compacting color and elements to create a strong center to impact the viewer , and create an emotional response.
When one views this painting, one can understand how he singlehandedly created a desire in the country to save and to visit Yellowstone.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Art and Divine Inspiration
Recently, I saw a wonderful episode on Oprah where she interviewed Michael Jackson. In it he made a profound statement which she passed over but I replayed 3 times. He believed art is a bridge between the human and the divine.
I wish Oprah would have delved into his thoughts on that subject more inquisitively because I believe this was the essence of the man and thus the essence of his art.
I heard the wonderful author of Eat,Love,Pray, -Elizabeth Gilbert talk recently about this concept of divine inspiration. She gave a brilliant TED talk where she eloquently showed how humanity before the Age of Enlightenment believed heavily in divine inspiration. Before man came to believe himself as God, mankind, and especially artists believed inspiration was bestowed, or given divinely, instead of manufactured out of ones self.
See her speech www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genious.html This knowledge encouraged her by taking pressure off herself to perform. One is either endowed by the gods or not.
She is not alone in this thought. All the great artist believed in inspiration by the Divine. Rodin said, "Great works of art say all that can be said about man and they convey that there is something more that cannot be known. Every masterpiece has this quality of mystery."
At the same time, success, as well as genius, is usually based on preparation. David Ogilvy, that savvy and successful advertising genius stated, "Discipline is the heart of creativity". In other words, luck favors the prepared. Michelangelo said, "If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all."
So if discipline is the heart of creativity, where does the divine come in? I believe the answer lies in ones passion. Hard work born out of passion equals inspiration. All of the great artists love what they do, and usually have a natural talent for it. The challenge is identifying and pursuing ones passion.
However, when one is in survival mode, pursuing passion is not a priority. It's one of the reasons art programs are so important in public education. Art nourishes the soul which is just as important as the body.
As art programs get pushed more and more to the wayside and the economy makes it harder for artists to focus on their craft, art appreciation in the school system and as a society needs to be nurtured. Perhaps then more artisans can be developed, and subsequently we as a society can be divinely inspired.
Janet Carlen
I wish Oprah would have delved into his thoughts on that subject more inquisitively because I believe this was the essence of the man and thus the essence of his art.
I heard the wonderful author of Eat,Love,Pray, -Elizabeth Gilbert talk recently about this concept of divine inspiration. She gave a brilliant TED talk where she eloquently showed how humanity before the Age of Enlightenment believed heavily in divine inspiration. Before man came to believe himself as God, mankind, and especially artists believed inspiration was bestowed, or given divinely, instead of manufactured out of ones self.
See her speech www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genious.html This knowledge encouraged her by taking pressure off herself to perform. One is either endowed by the gods or not.
She is not alone in this thought. All the great artist believed in inspiration by the Divine. Rodin said, "Great works of art say all that can be said about man and they convey that there is something more that cannot be known. Every masterpiece has this quality of mystery."
At the same time, success, as well as genius, is usually based on preparation. David Ogilvy, that savvy and successful advertising genius stated, "Discipline is the heart of creativity". In other words, luck favors the prepared. Michelangelo said, "If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all."
So if discipline is the heart of creativity, where does the divine come in? I believe the answer lies in ones passion. Hard work born out of passion equals inspiration. All of the great artists love what they do, and usually have a natural talent for it. The challenge is identifying and pursuing ones passion.
However, when one is in survival mode, pursuing passion is not a priority. It's one of the reasons art programs are so important in public education. Art nourishes the soul which is just as important as the body.
As art programs get pushed more and more to the wayside and the economy makes it harder for artists to focus on their craft, art appreciation in the school system and as a society needs to be nurtured. Perhaps then more artisans can be developed, and subsequently we as a society can be divinely inspired.
Janet Carlen
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The Real Value of Art
Museums, galleries, and art shows are priceless for they contain a priceless commodity.
….…. Inspiration……
Inspiration for your life, inspiration for your mind, inspiration for your soul.
Art can hold a clue to who you are. It can be the gateway to your soul; it can create questions within you, as well as holding answers regarding your life’s work and vocation. Does a landscape move you to the point of tears? Perhaps within you is a deep love of nature. Do paintings of underwater animals make you stop and stare; perhaps the answers you’ve been looking lie within the sea. Sculpture can be a caveat into the transcendent. One cannot help but be moved by Camille Claudelle's The Mature Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mature_Age
Art can articulate and make you understand your emotions. There is a thrill when in the embodiment of an object or painting, an artist has captured your feelings or creates in you emotion you didn’t know existed.
You may find as you walk through a few art venues you are not inspired at all, but then, one day, you’ll walk into one of these places and before you is something that touches your soul, your mind, touches the deepest part of you.
How much money would you pay to be inspired? And yet, for a small fee or free, a museum, gallery, or art show can hold life changing inspiration.
This is the value of art. The venues that display it, care for it, and share it with the public should be valued as well. The purpose of this blog is to share with you those venues that contain this life giving inspiration and to encourage you to take your children to visit art venues as well. I will be exploring those art venues that are especially kid friendly and give some tips that can encourage art appreciation in your and your children.
Janet Carlen
….…. Inspiration……
Inspiration for your life, inspiration for your mind, inspiration for your soul.
Art can hold a clue to who you are. It can be the gateway to your soul; it can create questions within you, as well as holding answers regarding your life’s work and vocation. Does a landscape move you to the point of tears? Perhaps within you is a deep love of nature. Do paintings of underwater animals make you stop and stare; perhaps the answers you’ve been looking lie within the sea. Sculpture can be a caveat into the transcendent. One cannot help but be moved by Camille Claudelle's The Mature Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mature_Age
Art can articulate and make you understand your emotions. There is a thrill when in the embodiment of an object or painting, an artist has captured your feelings or creates in you emotion you didn’t know existed.
You may find as you walk through a few art venues you are not inspired at all, but then, one day, you’ll walk into one of these places and before you is something that touches your soul, your mind, touches the deepest part of you.
How much money would you pay to be inspired? And yet, for a small fee or free, a museum, gallery, or art show can hold life changing inspiration.
This is the value of art. The venues that display it, care for it, and share it with the public should be valued as well. The purpose of this blog is to share with you those venues that contain this life giving inspiration and to encourage you to take your children to visit art venues as well. I will be exploring those art venues that are especially kid friendly and give some tips that can encourage art appreciation in your and your children.
Janet Carlen
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