MAGIC AND GOOD MADNESS TO YOU

Found Reference by Cara Barer. See website here.

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." - Neil Gaiman

Still Life by Cara Barer.

ART AND THINGS

Uri Eiliaz. Read post here.

"Maybe we’re here only to say: house,

bridge, well, gate, jug, olive tree, window —

at most, pillar, tower … but to say them, remember,

oh, to say them in a way that the things themselves

never dreamed of existing so intensely."

—Rainer Maria Rilke

Assemblage by Elspeth Slayter. See blog here.


Many of us in this blog circle see the beauty in discarded objects. I am intrigued to see broken household objects re-fashioned into something that holds my attention..... something that I often find beautiful.

The Devil you Know by Katie Dell Kaufman. Website here.

Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder ........ and One person's junk is another person's treasure!

Bezabih Ayele. Photo from this link.

Leonardo Drew's work is constructed with trash which most people walk past on the street and yet it is so exciting .... even beautiful. Well, it makes MY heart race anyway!


Leonardo Drew. This photo was taken by Los Dragonnes on Flickr. See photostream here.

Assemblage by Harvee Riggs. Karin introduced me to Harvee's work. See Website here.


Assemblage by Harvee Riggs. See website here.

Assemblage by Harvee Riggs. See website here.


Assemblage by Janet Jones. See website here.

Federico Hurtado. See Flickr photostream here.

Antique and Vintage Fishing Lures. Lost Found Art. Website here.

"Look for the lovely thing
and you will find it,
It is not far --
It never will be far".

- Sara Teasdale

Rosalie Gascoigne. See website here.

Tiny Monsters, incorporating vintage furniture casters, by Elizabeth Frank. See website here.

Everything of the best to all my blogging friends and followers and wishing you peace and joy in 2011.

YELLOW BOWL

Rice Grain Porcelain by Eeva Jokinen. Website here.

YELLOW BOWL

If light pours like water

into the kitchen where I

sway

with my tired children,

if the rug beneath us

is woven with tough

flowers,

and the yellow bowl on

the table

rests with the sweet heft

of fruit, the sun-warmed

plums,

if my body curves over the

babies,

and if I am singing,

then loneliness has lost

its shape,

and this quiet is only

quiet.

- Rachel Contreni Flynn

Woman carrying bowls in Mali by Hansjoerg Klein. Flickr photo stream here.

Tiny wooden bowl from Herriott Grace, here.


Lichen Bowl by Joe Hogan. Website here.

Bowl full of Blues. Photo from Seldom Scene Photography, here.

Bowl by Lidia Serra. Website here.

A sea of little ceramic bowls by South African ceramicist, Cathy Brennon. Website here.

Exquisite little bowls by Priscilla Mouritzen. See Blog here.

Nasturtiums. Woodblock print by Cressida Campbell.

Beautiful enamel bowls by Helen Carnac. Read an interview with Helen here. Helen's blog, here.

Still life by stylist Nan Whitney. Website here.

Cambodian Amulets. Photo from Photography in Malaysia, here.

Bowl of Everything by RG

INSPIRED BY RELIGIOUS ICONS

Watching Eye by Ludmila Pawlowska. Photo from Ludmila's website here.

Since preparing for Lynne Perrella's Icon post I have been looking at contemporary art inspired by religious icons and have found some wonderful examples.

Earlier this year the Hereford Cathedral in Britain hosted an exhibition, Icons in Transformation, featuring the breathtaking art of Ludmila Pawlowska. This is an exhibition I would loved to have seen face to face.

Why by Ludmila Pawlowska. Photo from Ludmila's website.

One can see that Ludmila is particularly inspired by the eyes in ancient Russian icons as they stare out from most of these pieces.

"You see the eyes and you are hypnotised. You can’t escape them – it’s like God sees you.” says Ludmila "Do not be frightened. They are here to watch you".

Photo from this Flickr photostream, here.

"How am I inspired by almost 1000 years of tradition and what the icon stands for? What fascinates me most in the art of icons is the deep sensitivity they radiate. When I am looking at an icon I am irresistibly attracted. Looking into the eyes of Maria's icon feels like an encounter with the unknown and boundless deep. Something awakens inside me - I can just be quiet, just lose myself in it's depth, just listen .... an unexpected insight can flow through me - an impulse, a god's presence is there. Quiet but present."





Photo from this Flickr photo stream here.

When Ludmilla's mother died suddenly in 1997 she worked through her grief by turning to her art.

"Icons showed me the right way, both emotionally and for my art".

Many of the works on this exhibition reveal text.... "Letters to my mother, because I can no longer speak to her,” she explains.


Photo from Ludmila's website here.

"Faith for me is the belief in something you cannot see,” says Pawlowska “When you look at icons you feel the presence of God, and it’s that feeling I’m trying to capture in my work.”


Painting by Misty Mawn. See blog here and Etsy shop here.

Misty Mawn, an artist known to so many of us in the blogworld is another artist who is inspired by religious icons. These are such beautiful pieces and painted in the typical Misty style.



Painting by Misty Mawn. See Blog here.

Altered book by Raymond Papka. Website here.

From early childhood Raymond Papka has been fascinated by books and unusual objects. In these altered books he has incorporated the things he loves, including his fascination with religious icons.

Altered Book by Raymond Papka

Last but not least an icon inspired piece from Africa....

This piece is by Zerihun Yetmgeta, a contemporary artist from Ethiopia. Zerihun borrows symbols from the rich images of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as well as using his own iconography. Read Article here. See Zerihun's website here.

"Yesterday I saw a collection of old Russian Icons. This is truly great art. I am quite taken by iconic paintings: I have only one thought in my head, and now we run, day in and day out, to monasteries, churches and the various collections. I am inn love with their touching sympicity.... The artist's soul emerges in these icons like a mystical flower. It is through them that we should learn to understand art. The Russians have no idea what treasures they possess. I have seen artwork from the churches of many different countries, but nowhere have i met such powerful expression, such a feeling of mystery .... everywhere the same luminosity and devotion .... " - Henri Matisse after his visit to Moscow

Misty's new book Unfurling is now listed on Amazon, and Kalahari.

RUSSIAN ICONS AND LYNNE PERRELLA

All artwork in this post is created by Lynne Perrella. See website here.
Today I am honored to hand over my blog to Lynne Perrella to report on her visit to the Museum of Russian Icons in Massachusetts. To make it even more exciting Lynne is offering a generous prize for a lucky draw at the end of this post.


Without further ado it's over to Lynne.....

Our visit to the Museum of Russian Icons Massachusetts had been planned and anticipated for quite some time. Our group of ten mixed-media artists arrived for a docent tour, with plenty of time left over to wander the extensive galleries and explore the singular Collections. An earlier visit to the Museum had convinced me that this was truly an art Destination, and I looked forward to sharing the experience with some of my favorite artists, as well as an entire weekend of art-making at a nearby Inn. We had the great fortune to be guided by Laura, a young woman who is not only passionate about the artwork, but deeply knowledgeable about its history, significance and provenance. Through the words, and her patient responses to our questions, we learned about this amazing artform, the visible expression of the Russian Orthodox faith.



Whether large compelling tempera-painted depictions of the Mother of God, or the smallest jewel-encrusted pocket icon with tiny shuttered doors, to the oldest icon in the collection, an image of John the Baptist made in 1450 .... The direct, powerful soulfulness of the work prevailed, only made richer by hearing about the traditions, rituals, significance and the methods used to create each icon. Icon painters are referred to as "writers" and their secrets have been passed down from Medieval times and contemporary artists still pursue this venerated artform. So-called liturgical "calendar icons", called Minyeias, depict row-upon-row of exquisitely-detailed miniature Saints wearing their signature robes and vestments .... reportedly painted with a single-horsehair brush, as the artist diligently applied his paints "between heart beats". Under closer examination, each tiny portrait was fully developed lavishly embellished and descriptive. And although all Orthodox homes have an aptly-named "beautiful corner" with flowers, colorful cloth or shawls, and their venerated household icon; the icon tradition was also expanded to murals, panels and lavishly-painted columns, literally filling and adorning the interiors of vaulted grand cathedrals. As we walked the galleries, we encountered a procession of ancient portraits conveying fortitude, sorrow, yearning, joy, and great tenderness. One significant portrait of the Mother of God had gone through a high-tech restoration process, and it was discovered that at least three other paintings lurked beneath the surface. other icons remain in their wonderfully-imperfect state, oftentimes bowed out and irregular in shape and contour, bearing the traditional metal-crafted "cases", or faux metal cases that were imaginatively crafted with metal and glass beads. Each work provoked feelings of mystery, veneration, and awe in each of us.



Difficult to find words to acknowledge such stunning and beautifully-presented work, we were content to just walk silently through the galleries, standing side-by-side peering up into the faces of Saint George, Elijah The Prophet, Saint Paraskeva and Saint Nicholas. Considering how each image had brought incalculable solace and comfort to so many long-ago people, the intimacy of the artwork was, at times, almost overwhelming. Like the best examples of folk art and even obsessive Outsider works, each portrait possessed complexity beyond words, and yet a direct compelling gaze that seemed to say ... "I will always be here for you." The kindred experience of the exhibit provided strong connections for all of us as we spent the rest of the long weekend in a shared studio, exploring paper, copper, stitching, sketching, gluing, and painting, to name only a few of the ideas we explored. Most of all, we thought what a rare treat it was to pull away from our usual routine, and make time for art. You just might say ... The Icons made us do it!



If the idea of an art respite appeals to you, perhaps you will join me for my upcoming mixed media workshop in Taos New Mexico on February 6 - 11. The event, titled "Icons & Excess" will be an opportunity to explore this bottomless, nurturing and kindred theme. Discover lots of low-tech ideas that will enrich your usual work in painting, collage, journals and more; and learn all my favorite techniques for getting a lavish surface full of depth and patterning. Held at the San Geronimo Lodge in Taos, New mexico; the ultimate historic adobe-style southwestern Inn. Please contact me for more details.

LKPerrella@AOL.com

http://www.lkperrella.com/


Leave a comment here if you would like a chance to win the following prize in a lucky draw to be announced a week from today:

*A History of Icon Painting (a complete compendium of information about icons, replete with lots of amazing visuals).
.
*A Very limited-edition grouping of icon-themed rubber stamps designed by Lynne. (fewer than 50 of these have ever been circulated)
.
*A handmade Icon-themed embellishment tag.

All artwork in this post created by Lynne Perrella, before the visit to The Russian Icon Museum. Most pieces are included in the book Masters: Collage.

And the winner is..... Steviewren 

CIRCLE OF MEANING

So excited was I to find Olivia Parker's breathtaking images that I had to rush over to my blog and share them with you all.  See Olivia's website, here.

Pour yourself a cuppa and read Olivias thoughts here . Hurry back and tell me what you think!

"I invite those who see my pictures to participate with their own thoughts. This is not to say that whole photographs are ambiguous. I expect that each of us has a circle of meaning for each image we see. We overlap extensively for some, for others large segments remain private because of what we bring to the image from our own lives. Shadows of figures can move forward threateningly or run away. A dove- pigeon can be a symbol of peace and love, a humorous creature, or a dirty street pest depending on its context and the experience of the viewer."

"..... a schoolbook that belonged to a boy named Sam. He was trying to write but he could not resist bursting into pictures"

"When I am browsing along a gutter or entering a junk shop, and someone asks what I am looking for, I have to say that I don’t know until I see it. What I bring home may or may not end up in a photograph. If it does enter a photograph, it will be in a limited space defined by the edge of the image." - Olivia Parker

"In thinking about the way we understand both contemporary objects and old objects as well as the way people have understood objects at different points in time, I wonder at the vast changes in the human world in an instant of geologic time. In the past people primarily had to make sense out of the natural world. Increasingly there is a manmade landscape too, some of it beneficial and some of it unforeseen and chaotic. We are learning the rules of the forest, but we know little about the rules of the city dump. Reading objects, Archaeologists search for meaning in bones, earth, and stone. Today, some anthropologists try to figure us out by checking our garbage. What if each cereal box, grapefruit rind, and hub cap were perceived to have its own moving spirit?" - Olivia Parker

“I am much more interested in an old piece of burlap than a new one, for the beauty of an object is to me, in the quantity of information I can get from it, the stories it has to tell.” - Polish artist, Magdalena Abakanowicz