Hooray for Groundhog Day and today’s hounds on the Daily Drool Calendar, where every day is hound dog day!
Mysteries are always a welcome addition to the ever present pile of books waiting to be read; mysteries with an art-themed storyline are almost guaranteed top-of-the-stack placement. Recent reading includes two such books: both feature a painting in the opening chapters, beyond which any similarity ends.
Landscape of Lies cover artwork
Landscape of Lies, by Peter Watson, opens with a painted scene, literally - the inside of the cover features a fold-out image of the bizarre medieval landscape that’s at the center of the narrative. The story begins with the painting as the target of a failed burglary attempt. The painting’s value is not in its fame (it’s obscure) or its beauty (it’s mediocre), but in its secrets. In essence it’s a treasure map. Each element, figure or object, placement or color, carries a symbolism that, if decoded correctly, will lead to a cache of religious artifacts hidden by monks during the rule of Henry VIII. From city galleries to ancient churchyards, the chase is on! Despite the sometimes silly dialogue and the predictable romance, the story is a clever one. Originally published in the UK in 1989 (four years before the deciphering of the DaVinci Code), this title was published by Felony & Mayhem in 2005.
Thoughtful and absorbing, described as hauntingly mysterious, The Swan Thieves, by Elizabeth Kostova, is prefaced with a description of an artist, a desolate winter scene and a lone figure: “. . . she does not turn and he finds he is glad. He needs her as she is, needs her moving away from him into the snowy tunnel of his canvas. . . She is a real woman and she is in a hurry, but now she is also fixed forever. Now she is frozen in her haste. She is a real woman and now she is a painting.”
The story begins with an attack on a painting in The National Gallery of Art. A reknowned painter, Robert Oliver, attempts to slash Leda [Leda vaincue par la Cygne], by Gilbert Thomas (1820 -1894), in the pre-Impressionist 19th century gallery. The artwork remains unscathed, but Oliver is institutionalized under the care of psychiatrist Andrew Marlow. What follows is a psychological journey of obsession, inspiration, art and romance that span countries and centuries. Gender and age issues, along with the machinations of the art world, affect both the modern day characters and Victorian lives. Fortunate to receive an advance copy of The Swan Thieves, I enjoyed reading it over the holidays. One note- do not plan on viewing Leda on visits to the National Gallery. Like the story and the characters, the painting is fictional!
Monday’s printmaking demo for Hudson Society of Artists. . . a demonstration of a relief print from sketch to ink. . . the condensed version: start to finish in an evening!
Photos by HSA member Kathleen Harrington.
Thanks to the ‘mystery’ artist for this little drawing. . .
Okay, the resolutions are going to kick in any day now. . . a bit over two weeks into the new year and still catching up on 2009. . .
but, Summit Artspace is right on schedule with the first 2010 exhibit set to open Friday! Collage X 12 features the work of a dozen artists from the Ohio Collage Society. Do the math - twelve collage artists can produce a lot of work! Installation started this afternoon.
Six down, one hundred and four to go, Shirley!!
Happy New Year!
Pink and Orange, creatures painted by Maggie and Ben for Land of the Midnight Sun at First Night Akron 2010, Summit Artspace.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Even the hibiscus overwintering in the basement decided to dress up for the holidays! With all the rushing about at ground level, this Christmas bloom almost went unnoticed.
Santa isn’t the only one checking a list as the twelfth month flies by:
ü birthdays
ü commissions
ü shopping
ü family & friends
- baking
ü decorating
ü festivities
- holiday cards
. . . ready or not, time’s up!!
For the fourteenth time, Bob Yost has invited fellow artists to participate in a weekend holiday sale at Yost Pottery. It’s an honor to be one of the thirty-four featured artisans at this show of handmade fine arts and crafts. Ceramics, jewelry, textiles, glass and graphics galore. . . find the perfect gift for someone special or a well-deserved treat for yourself!
14th Annual Bob & Friends Holiday Sale
Saturday, December 5, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, December 6, 1 - 5 p.m.
Yost Pottery
1643 Massillon Road
Akron, Ohio
Symbols and a bit of whimsy for the Celtic month of Nion. . .
Thanks to Pat S. whose descriptions of the tree alphabet and gift of The Celtic Lunar Zodiac provided a wealth of inspiration for Isaac’s Ash Tree. The Celtic tree sign for the last month of winter (February 18 to March 17) is the ash, symbolic of the power of the sea.
Visible through the branches are sea swallows, prophetic birds of the wind and water.
Wood anemones (wind flowers) herald the approach of spring. A Great Amberjack with crown, trident and coral necklace, represents Lir, the sea-god.
Seahorses, creatures of confidence and grace (and, in this depiction, relatives of the Wonder Horse), lead the way on a journey of discovery.
In Britain and Ireland the sacred ash tree is one of the primary homes of fairies and tree spirits. Common belief is that misfortune will befall anyone who destroys this tree. Locally ash trees are in jeopardy due to the arrival of emerald ash borers. May some magical misfortune befall these insects before the ash trees completely disappear from our landscape!
It’s two for one tonight: two opening receptions in one evening, making for an upstairs/downstairs event! Kaleidoscope opens on the main floor of Summit Artspace, while Artists of Rubber City presents a members only exhibition in their new gallery, the BOX, on the third floor.
Isaac’s Ash Tree will be on display with 52 other pieces by Artists of Rubber City members.
Artists of Rubber City - Work by Members
November 20, 2009 - January 3, 2010
the BOX gallery
Summit Artspace - third floor south
140 East Market Street
Akron, OH
