FRESH PAINT! means Martha Burket's on summa vacation...

My friend Martha is on Summa Vacation, that means shes painting in her studio "out the island".

Back in the day we would all paint in the summa a great way to make a few bucks.   I got tired of that really quick and one summa I decided I'd hired my younger brother to paint my house.  He needed a job (ie:some money) so it sounded like a good idea.  Little did I know when I hired him it was his first and last house painting job ever.  He climbed the ladder onto the lower kitchen roof  section of the house so he could paint the side wall of the upper wing.   Set the whole gallon down on step pitched roof and bingo all I can say good about it is,  the old mill house had gutters, you know them old fashion wood ones otherwise paint would have run all down the side of the house.   The paint color was a Salmony-Peach, I always thought it a tad bit bold for house color, but turned out all right,  the roof was salvaged, you could say I was fortunate because it was water based paint and we hosed the roof down for 'bout 3 hours 'till we got the paint out of every shingle.
Lets get back to Martha... 

Martha Burkert's "August"

Well Martha doesn't paint like that, not spilling gallon buckets or painting houses, Martha's an accomplished artist and paints with oil based paints in her Yarmouth studio.  This summa she's bin-sum-bizy, getting canvases ready for the exhibit entitled Near & Far. The exhibit opens Tonight Thursday August 25th at the Elizabeth Moss Gallery in Falmouth with a meet & eat session from 5-7pm. Martha's been painting for few years and has mastered her craft, have you ever seen any of Martha's works?  I get to see them in the summer when she's in town and for me when I'm viewing them I feel strangely comfortable, like I'm in a big overstuffed comfy "bark-a-lounger".  Honestly, you know that feeling when you release a big sigh of relief, that's how I feel when viewing a Martha Burkert oil painting, relaxed and comfortable.
Martha visions for the viewer a friendly - familiar some times unfamiliar scene with bright bold colors,  I like the fact that she cranks the color or takes the Jonathan Livingston SeaGull perspective,  this is the stuff that makes viewing the canvas more fun, more interesting.  

I'm proud to say I know Martha and I'm also proud to say that in this exhibit of 11 paintings of comfy Maine  landscapes not one single lighthouse was spotted...

WHY GO SEE MARTHA BURKERT'S EXHIBIT NEAR & FAR AT THE LIZ MOSS GALLERY IN FALMOUTH



GO BECAUSE YOUR GOOD MIND NEEDS GOOD ART. ...

The Gallery Talk is made possible by the generosity of the WMPG Radio listening community.  The blog is the text version of the art rant heard every Thursday at 7am, 5 & 9:30pm on WMPG college and community radio Broadcasting from the University of Southern Maine
90.9 , 104.1 and streaming on the web at http://www.wmpg.org/  

The Factoids:
The Exhibit: Near & Far 
Featuring Artist:  Martha Burkert 
At: The Elizabeth Moss Gallery 
251 US Route 1 at the Falmouth Shopping center.
August 25th - October 9th.
. 

Blown away by Blue Wrap !

Hospital Blue Wrap

Portland's Blue Wrap Project was the brain child of Scarborough-based Partners for World Health's  Elizabeth McEllen, it is her organization that takes discarded hospital supplies that are still usable (and often have never been opened from their original packaging) and distribute them to health-care facilities in the developing world.

Blue wrap is a disposal synthetic fabric that is used by hospitals in the states to wrap medical instruments before placing them in a sterilizer. Once the items come out of the sterilizer, "the blue wrap is removed and thrown in the trash.The concept of recycle this hospital waste material into fashion and money was innovative at best but little did we know that the project would spawn an unforeseen level of excitement in Portland's creative community.
 The call to action went out and artists and designers agreed to take the recycled blue wrap material and create some form of  blue-wrap fashion items for the show.  Artists at the University of Southern Maine, the Maine College of Art, Southern Maine Community College, the University of New England, Portland Arts and Technology High School, the Quimby Colony, and several southern Maine area artists/designers participated.

BlueWrap by designer Sue Hammerland

The Portland Museum of Art hosted the fashion show and by all account was the place to be on the cold March evening.  Raising over $10,000 dollars and awareness of the need for medical equipment over seas the Blue Wrap project exceeded expectations in every category.

Now if you missed the event in March you have a chance to experience the works of  Portland's creative community at The Lewis gallery now though the end of August,  the creations from the fashion show are displayed in the exhibit " the Blue Wrap project".

Why go see the Blue Wrap Project at the Portland Library Lewis gallery?

Go because your good mind needs good art!

 

The Gallery Talk is made possible by the generosity of the WMPG Radio listening community.  The blog is the text version of the art rant heard every Thursday at 7am, 5 & 9:30pm on WMPG college and community radio Broadcasting from the University of Southern Maine
90.9 , 104.1 and streaming on the web at http://www.wmpg.org/  

PS: For more photos of all the works please click on this link to Photographer Mark Rockwood's gallery

http://www.backprint.com/bluewrapprojectrunway

The Texture of Water!

When you think of water what words do you think of?
Wet 
cool 
warm 
fluid
refreshing
Texture?



Imagine a body of water, a pond, bay or cove , quite , calm & serene .  The reflections of the water, sky & the trees constantly morphing as the surface undulates.  Ripples of colors concentrically move away from and towards your vantage. This is the world of artist & painter Sara Knock
 The accolades are many,  from fellowships with the Maine Arts Commission to a residency on the Mecca of Maine artist islands Monhegan,  Ms. Knock has honed her craft.  It is with a sharp eye and a thin brush that she severs color and contrast to create images that capture the textures, the reflective and the transparent qualities of water.

Sara Knock's "Just Water" 2011

The exhibit "Water the surface & below" opens August 4th at the Greenhut Gallery on Portland's Middle street. It contains 14 recent works that transcend  viewers to the intimate areas of Maine's coastal littoral zone.  For those who have not had the opportunity to travel to the Maine's Stonington coast and experience how gin clear water can have moments of pure azure or the color combinations of teal, ship gray, chrome-silver and violet eggplant then count your blessings as we have the opportunity to experience all that right here in Portland courtesy of Sara Knock .

   
Why go see Water the Surface & Below at the Greenhut Gallery ?


You could go because the capturing of textures & time is unique, 


but go because your good mind needs good art!

 

The Gallery Talk is made possible by the generosity of the WMPG Radio listening community.  The blog is the text version of the art rant heard every Thursday at 7am, 5 & 9:30pm on WMPG college and community radio Broadcasting from the University of Southern Maine
90.9 , 104.1 and streaming on the web at http://www.wmpg.org/  


Note: This weeks Radio Version of Gallery Talk was broadcast remote from the Calendar Islands of Casco Bay Maine.

The Art of Marriage

Gallery Talk takes a tour down a slightly different path this week as I celebrated my anniversary this week with my bride of 26 years. 

The Magnitude of my wedding anniversary caused me to ponder on the art of marriage, more exactly what art piece most closely depicts my life & marriage? 

Interesting, but scary,  the first image that popped into my mind was the famous Norwegian artist Edvard Munch's "Skirk".  The Norwegian word S-K-I-R-K is cognate with the English word Shriek but traditionally the title of this piece is translated  "The Scream"  My bride tells me I have a strange sense of humor and yes I guess I have had like many marriages moments of shear terror, but terror has not been the dominant theme. 

I would say upon reflection my marriage is more like Vincent Van Goghs "Starry Night".  The image is one of Van Goghs most popular, it features a night sky filled with swirling clouds, stars ablaze with their own luminescence, there's a bright crescent moon, everything's a bit exaggerated. The sky keeps the viewers eye moving following the swirling curves and chunky dots of stars.  Below the stars a quite town and to the left side of the painting a prominent massive dark structure, maybe it's a mountain, a tree, or bushes, anyway there it is my marriage in an art piece.   The bright moments of joy flowing in a life of unknown, the peace and tranquility of the night town, my comfort with my brides love and conviction.  The dark features of mountain or trees,  well that's the mysterious unknown.  It all kinda fits when you look further into the history.  Starry Night was painted in 1888 when Van Goghs was interned in the Arlise sanitarium, this fact just reminding me that the mystery of life and marriage are not always what it seems. 

Gallery talk is made possible by the listeners and supporters of  the WMPG radio community. 

26 years of marriage made possible by a strong women who puts up with a lot of insanity

Why go see art in your local art galleries?


Because your good mind needs good art!

 

The Gallery Talk is made possible by the generosity of the WMPG Radio listening community.  The blog is the text version of the art rant heard every Thursday at 7am, 5 & 9:30pm on WMPG college and community radio Broadcasting from the University of Southern Maine
90.9 , 104.1 and streaming on the web at http://www.wmpg.org/

The Things We Carry

I feel blessed that there is so much art in my life.
Living in the Port-city has made it so easy, like the tide new works/exhibitions come and go. Often I am amazed by what I see.

On a related note a friend celebrated a birthday the other day and remarked it's a great journey this life we live.  For me it was a reminder that life is not a single event, life is the sum total of all the events we experience.  During the 1st Friday Art walk I stopped into ED Pollacks "A Fine Thing Gallery" talk about sum total of life events, this place has so much going on,  it lives an almost schizophrenic life in multiple dimensions.

Here is a little back story on Ed Pollack,  he is an Antiquarian he's a passion for things unique and rare. In his gallery you'll find unique books, fine prints, drawings and objects d'Art that he has collected. There's so much going on in there I cannot list it all but, some of my favorites are the prints of Claire Leighton,  Rockwell Kent & Leonard Baskin. 

A long break from love by K. Bryant

Perhaps that is why I have a special interest in the current exhibition called  "The Things We Carry" prints and other works on paper. It's by a woodcut/print artist from LA , not the LA  in California the one in Maine, Kyle Bryant native of  Lewiston - Auburn.   Kyle's took his art talent south and graduated in 2008 with a BFA from the Massachusetts College of  AHT , he's been round the world, exhibited in NYC and Boston , now it's here in Portland. Kind'a like a homecoming of sorts.  Kyles perspective on art is very personal and his art explodes from his head into black and white that at times overwhelms not just in content but in awe inspiring huge format.  Many of his images like the great print artist Baskin are massive for example "A long Break From Love" with a 7' high x 4' wide size.  The drama and magnificence of the large format pieces is only trumped by the nuance and innuendo of the over lapping multiple images, the images of a unique mind.  Many will be able to relate to the exhibit "The things we carry" as the events of life's journey do tend to pile up sometimes burdening us with memories, tasks, and things.

WHY GO SEE THE THINGS WE CARRY BY KYLE BRYANT?

BECAUSE YOUR GOOD MIND NEEDS GOOD ART!

Note the exhibit runs through June 25th so get there before it's gone... 

The Gallery Talk is made possible by the generosity of the WMPG Radio listening community.  The blog is the text version of the art rant heard every Thursday at 7am, 5 & 9:30pm on WMPG college and community radio Broadcasting from the University of Southern Maine
90.9 , 104.1 and streaming on the web at http://www.wmpg.org/

First Friday Art walk Survial Guide the summer edition

The First Friday Art walk in Portland has become a thing of legend.

For the art seasoned veterans it's a rockus night out; art'n, imbibing and socializing with the like minded.  For the Art walk rookies it can be a bit daunting or perhaps a feeling like salmon schooling, no it's more like being herded down congress with purpose but without concrete goal or agenda.  Now there is something about that experience that can be appealing but for me I favor the art tour with a mission, a plan!  Saying that I have participated in more art walks than I can remember.  Actually I have participated in some so aggressively I can't remember few if any details for those who'll listen I offer these words of art walk survival.
Remember the acronym  PEFFF!
Plan

Make a plan, perhaps you want to see 5 galleries or you want to see at least this one gallery , then construct a progression of galleries that you can see incorporating the target "Must See" gallery.  There are several resources to help you: the Portland Phoenix, Thursdays Press Herald Go section or the First Friday website which lists all of the participating galleries and info on current exhibits! (click on word plan for link to map w/all the galleries)  

Early
Get there early, sounds easier said then done.  It is very hard to get into Portland at 5:00pm when the first Friday art walk starts but if you do you'll get more galleries in and have more time to mingle enjoy the vibe, chat with friends, meet new folks. All galleries open and start it up at 5:00pm and almost all go to 8:00pm, if the gallery space in in a bar (Genos great example) then they stay open much much later... fact is 3 hours goes by very fast and if you knock it down to 2 hours you've just lost a third of your art time. Try to get there early .

Brotherhood of Orangewand by Dave Wade
Dave Wade & Jim Kelly
@ Addison Wholley Gallery June 1-31st

Family

Art walk is a great opportunity to get together with your family! If they Love art fantastic, if they don't turn them onto some and go share a bite to eat after. 
Friends
Love to spend time with the folks in your circle go get some culture with them, experience the Portcity at it's warm weather finest
Fun 
Always remember it's about finding the fun in the adventure of a walking tour,  Go Girls night out or Art Boys only! What ever floats ya, bottom line take time to enjoy the journey, stop for a slice of butternut squash-feta-scallion delight at Otto's Pizza, or a craft brew at Space Gallery, make your tour a FUN tour!



There are too many galleries to see in one tour so pick an area and work it.
Here is the quick version of Portland Art Areas and don't miss venues in those areas:
Washington St-Monjoy hill (never crowded always friendly lots of surprises)
  Portland Pottery -Addison Wholley - Ben Combs Portland Glass Blowing - Willa Wirth Silver Design - Elizabeth Frasier's Studio - Front Room for food & drink
Upper Exchange-Upper Old Port (The best: art, stop and enjoy a beverage tour going)

Accusisco - Grill Room for a Screaming Viking - Trinket & Fern - Bard Coffee- Big Easy - Maine Potters Market
Congress Lower Arts District (Monument Square - High Street) (Most Popular, always crowed)
Portland Library Lewis Gallery - Whitney Art Works  - Maine College of Art galleries - The Gleason- Salt Gallery - Susan Maasch fine Art - Space Gallery - Strange Maine - (get a slice at Ottos) - Portland Museum of Art
Upper Congress Artsy District (High Street - Longfellow Square) Lots of art, food, people & music
Portland Museum of Art - Art Studios in State Theatre Building (enter 145 High Street over 40 studios) - 9-Hands - Heather Ready - Daunis Jewelry Studio -Mesa Verde for Pitchers (not Pictures)of Margaretta's - Green Hand Bookstore - Genos - end at One Longfellow for music or the Noodle house for sake & noodle!

Upper Forrest (1 block off congress, never to crowed always unique)Ed Pollocks A Fine thing - Sanctuary Tattoo

There you have a snapshot at First Friday Art touring in Portland.  Make a night of it, go out and discuss your "best of evening" art experience. 

So Why go out?  Why get some culcha in the PortCity?  

Because your good mind Needs Good Art! 






Gallery Talk receives no endorsements from WMPG, the Art Galleries or eating & Drinking establishments listed, I will admit that I have test driven these tours and they work, try them with your friends and send me the results from your evening critiques.
Also send me your suggestion for favorite tours, love to hear about'm. 

The Gallery Talk is made possible by the generosity of the WMPG Radio listening community.  The blog is the text version of the art rant heard every Thursday at 7am, 5 & 9:30pm on WMPG college and community radio Broadcasting from the University of Southern Maine
90.9 , 104.1 and streaming on the web at http://www.wmpg.org/

Landscape art dead or alive?

Is it live or dead?
To what am I referring?
The art of landscape painting, often the most prominent in many galleries, the prestigiously framed and positioned works that depict a coastal scene, a farm field, a forest. You know what I'm talking about.

Recently at a seminar over beers with friends one of Maine's most vibrant soldiers of color pronounced, those works depicting landscapes as "boring art".   I had to concur, not moments before our imbibe I was touring a gallery and almost out loud pronounced a death had occurred in the art gallery as all of the works viewed had no pulse.

Technically beautiful works, but they reminded me of a Californian 30-something at the beach bar, primped, proper, perfect but without soul! Without substance!

Racing Forms by Paul Stone

If it were not for the cold crisp Sauvignon  blanc I would have departed the gallery but save a higher power to intervene in some strange way and cause me to wandered downstairs into the basement of the gallery. It was there I discovered works with color and an impressionistic quality that was worthy of recommending a trip to see them. In a way I felt like the great French critic Emile Zola, it was in a review of the Paris Salon of 1868, the novelist and critic Zola pronounced classical landscape painting dead, “murdered by life and truth.” This, for Zola, was not a lament but rather a celebration. He had found a beat of life in the new works of the late 18th century artists Corot & Monet'.

I digress,  the Gallery located in Brunswick Maine is called the Bayview and it is proud, it's pretentious & for many prestigious, but for me in need of a jump start.  Fear not lovers of art there is hope in the works of Paul Stone,  Paul brings a beat of life with a fresh stroke of color and a dash of whimsy.

Is artistic expression murdered by life and truth in the name of making a buck?
I'm not sure, what I do know is artists have to eat, so a compromise for creation of what sells and generates income is inevitable. Is my opinion a reflection the age where nothing less that bold images bombarded at machine gun pace can hold a viewers attention?  Perhaps, but I suspect it may be my wayward mind searching for that spark of imagination, that flash of color, that beat of life in yet another landscape painting.

Why go see the work of Paul Stone in Brunswick , Maine's BAYVIEW GALLERY?

Because your good mind needs good art! 

The Gallery Talk is made possible by the generosity of the WMPG Radio listening community. The blog is the text version of the art rant heard every Thursday at 7am, 5 & 9:30pm on WMPG college and community radio
Broadcasting from the University of Southern Maine
90.9 , 104.1 and streaming on the web at http://www.wmpg.org/