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Posts Tagged ‘imagination’

random musings

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 28, 2016| 3 Comments »

It must be a sign of the times that as I flipped through Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination as illustrated by Harry Clarke, I could not help but think what a great adult coloring book these illustrations would make. Perhaps not all of the illustrations … unless you’re into zombies and the Walking Dead. But these scenes from Poe’s short story Morella …

and these from The Colloquy of Monos and Una called to me with their flower and nature imagery.  Harry Clarke (1889-1931) is perhaps more widely known for his stained glass work. Whether working with glass or with paper for his book illustrations, I wonder at the sources of his creative vision. I’m not always sure why I am inspired to do something but it sure is fun to take time to explore the possibilities. And to talk with other artists about their influences.

I can’t talk with Mr. Clarke but I am lucky enough to have access to a number of artists in my local community. Stay tuned for future updates about artists and their inspirations.

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nostalgia and gratitude at the riverside gallery

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , , , on March 28, 2016| 2 Comments »

Exvoto Family by Adriana Prat, image courtesy of the artist

Ex-voto Family by Adriana Prat, image courtesy of the artist

After an extremely successful opening reception in February, the Riverside Gallery will be extending the Words in Our Work Exhibit into early April with a closing reception scheduled for Sunday, April 10th, from 3:00-5:00 PM.  The distinctly different works of 9 fine artists are on display, all of whom weave words into their visual arts.  In February, it was my pleasure to share a conversation with one of the featured artists, Cedric Harper.  Images in this post are provided by another featured artist, Adriana Prat. Originally from Argentina and now living in Cambridge, I first met Adriana through the Riverside Gallery at the Cambridge Community Center where she is the gallery co-director as well as co-curator of this exhibit.

Exvoto Saint N by Adriana Prat, image courtesy of the artist

Ex-voto Saint N by Adriana Prat, image courtesy of the artist

Over the course of several previous exhibits, I’d come to admire the beauty of Adriana’s bright-hued paintings often in oil and acrylic. So when I walked into the Words in Our Work Exhibit I was immediately struck by the difference of these works, the ephemeral nature of layered and textured papers, floating in their frames, and throughout Adriana’s beautiful handwritten script. When I asked her about the inspiration for these works, this is what she shared:

image courtesy of the artist

Ex-Voto Cosmos by Adriana Prat, image courtesy of the artist

“The pieces installed at the WiOW show were inspired by nostalgia and gratitude.  Nostalgia because they are pieces specifically composed of “treasures” found in my studio: past paintings, materials, forgotten “souls” at some point considered inadequate, neglected or that were simply waiting for their opportunity to belong in a more introspective collection which comes up from meditations about time passing.  Things that were lost that brought much needed found to my life.”

Ex-Voto Cosmos by Adriana Prat, image courtesy of the artist

Ex-Voto House of My Dreams by Adriana Prat, image courtesy of the artist

“Why gratitude? Inspired by my attraction to ex-votos which are votive offerings made to a saint or to a divinity, in fulfillment of a vow or miracle.  I first discovered them in my beloved Mexico. My small collection of abstract “ex-votos” stretches the boundaries of the traditional narrative images telling a personal story of a miracle or favor received, and therefore rendering my own vision to express my appreciation to the world that surrounds, nurtures and inspires me.”

It is a delight to interact with Adriana, to talk about art and her unique perspectives of the world. Learn more about her at www.agprat.com.  Meet her and several other fine artists in person at the closing reception for Words in Our Work, Sunday, April 10th, 3:00-5:00 PM at the Riverside Gallery.

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albino beauty

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 12, 2016| 1 Comment »

fashion illustration by zoe langosy

In the Shadow of the Sun is a 2013 documentary directed and produced by Harry Freeland. I saw it for the first time a few weeks ago on PBS. As described on the film’s website, it was filmed over six years and tells the story of two albino people, one a successful older man and one a young boy, both living in Tanzania. The viewer learns of the myths that have come to be associated with these white people, the taunts endured, and in recent years the ritualized mutilations and murders. You also see people overcoming oppression, children striving to learn and to be seen as equal and indeed beautiful, and parents doing all they can to make their dreams reality.

While researching the film and trying to learn more about albinism, a condition that can affect people of all ethnicities, I came across recent articles about albino fashion models. There were a sequence of images of young people with an absence of melanin in their skin, ghostly, different and fiercely defiant in their attitude to be labeled as anything but beautiful. Fashion has been on my mind a great deal given the collaboration taking place with Zoe Langosy, so I sent her a random note asking, without really expecting an answer, how would an artist illustrate an albino. She sent a note back sharing she had done so as part of her honors thesis where she had produced a book, The Marriage of Fashion and Nature.

fashion illustration by zoe langosy

“It was a year long project. I decided to do a series of images depicting fashion made out of nature. At that stage, as a young student, my purpose was to create a perfect character and for this scene I just instinctively chose an albino and dressed him in a kimono made of pussy willows.”

With each image, including that of the albino is lyrical text.  While yet unpublished, following are a few glimpses of this beautiful handmade book.

Sources & Additional Reading

The Marriage of Fashion and Nature by Zoe Langosy (unpublished)

In the Shadow of the Sun (2012)

Zoe Langosy Website

 

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in the book of truth

Posted in Branches, Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on March 3, 2016| 3 Comments »

Prior to my meeting with artist Cedric Harper I had emailed him a list of questions including a query about his sculpture, The Book of Truth. When we later met in a coffee shop, I noticed in his hands two pieces of paper. One was clearly the list of questions. The other I could not identify. A short slip with handwritten script. It didn’t matter. We began talking and what a wonder that was. Read more here.  But as I started to rise that day, thinking our conversation done, he stopped me. “Cynthia, ” he said with a smile.  “You haven’t asked me yet.  You haven’t asked me about the Book of Truth. Not everybody notices that one.”

book of truth sculpture by cedric harper, image courtesy of the artist

image courtesy of the artist

I told him that I had been struck by his use of color, the creaminess of the red, the smooth white upon the branches of the trees. Most of all I was made curious by the concept.  “What’s in that book?” I asked him.  As we began to talk about this book, our conversation ended where it had began, with family.

In Kansas, he’d grown up in a family with a strong oral tradition.  Stories were told often and life lessons emphasized. Those words of wisdom heard as a child and words of wisdom collected throughout adult life infuse his book of truth.

He worked on that sculpture for quite a while.  As he so frankly shared in the previous post, when his lover died in 1994, that was a pivotal moment in his life.  “I was lost. It took 15-18 years to feel like, to know that, I had a future. Part of gaining that future was creating this box of truths, of memories and experiences lived.” He handed me the slip of paper.

We may all have our book of truth. Those words and experiences garnered throughout our lives that guide us in how we try to live each day.  I appreciate the fact that Cedric Harper was moved to turn his book into sculpture. Here are some of his truths he chooses to share:

  1. Love is the escape from everything, an abyss of mind, body and soul.
  2. Every time one experiences a lapse in common sense the result makes them start over.
  3. Faith is to believe in things that we do not see and the reward of this faith is to see in what we believe.
  4. People should fall in love with their eyes closed. Just close your eyes. Don’t look … A. Warhol
  5. If you want to know your past life, look into your present condition. If you want to know your future, look into your present action. Padmasambhava
  6. Free from desire, you realize the mystery. Caught in desire, you only see the manifestations … Lao-Tsu
  7. Power is a drink that few can refuse …
  8. There is a quake that rips the soul asunder. It is the pain of remembering.

Cedric Harper Website

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fashion plus nature equals …

Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 28, 2016| 5 Comments »

As artist Zoe Langosy and I move forward on a new collaboration, I follow her lead. And what a fabulous journey it is. I’m not the most stylish person on the block but even I know of Valentino, Alexander McQueen and a few other fashion makers out there. Zoe has introduced me to a part of the fashion world I knew little about, fashion illustration. It is amazing to me how an artist can translate the signature apparel of designers like Valentino into another medium that both promotes the original work of the designer and yet expresses the unique skills and vision of the illustrator. In this visual age there appears to be a renaissance taking place with regard to fashion illustration.  Many artists, many styles. Collage is Zoe’s medium of choice.

Creative Swatch by Zoe Langosy, pairing dress by Valentino with photographs by Cynthia Staples

I want her to write more about her creative process. How she can look at this dress by Valentino and then imagine collaging an illustration using my photos.  This is a creative swatch that she has put together to layout the pictures she intends to cut up. From top to bottom they are birch trees and grasses along the Mystic River, ice crystals on a window, and sunlight shining through an icicle.

Stay tuned for future updates!

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red flower by jordan

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 25, 2016| 3 Comments »

art by jordan

art by jordan

What brightens a long day? Arriving home to a big envelope. At first, I was thinking , “Oh, heck. What could this be?” I flip over the envelope and see the magic words. “Love Jordan.” My nephew and in the kids postcard club. He’s not even half a dozen years old yet though he almost looks like he’s twelve. I exaggerate only a bit. I’m not sure if he’s ready for a stationery kit like Maya but I told his parents to let him know that since he sent me a beautiful flower I am planning to send him a hummingbird (postcard).

More about this photo in a future post. Take care. 😉

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a gift from a young friend

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on February 22, 2016| 4 Comments »

Art by Maya

Art by Maya

Can you guess which one is me? A lovely gift from a young friend. A drawing of us out and about in the sun. She’s part of my informal Kids Postcard Club. My next step is to turn her artwork into a postcard and give her a few, along with postcard stamps, so she can share her work with friends and family near and far. We’ll see … 😉

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winter light on my butterfly mobile

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , , on February 10, 2016| 3 Comments »

A butterfly mobile. A gift given many years ago by a friend. The wings are growing a bit threadbare and dust is adding a fuzzy film. Regardless, still a lovely source of inspiration, and occasionally contemplation,  whenever it catches the light.

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a painting prompt

Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged , , , , , , on January 30, 2016| Leave a Comment »

My brother described a scene that I wish someone would paint.

He lives in Virginia, not in a rural place, but not an urban megalopolis either. A plain old city with a crumbling downtown and further out global firms building plants, and the accompanying fancy housing for their management, on lands that used to be working farms, if not outright plantations if you go back far enough.

It’s a city near the river and crisscrossed by highways but in the beginning it was the railroads that allowed this city to make its fortune, bridging north and south, a passage way for goods of all sorts.

It was on a literal bridge that the incident took place.

My brother was driving home on a nice new road. He was recounting stories of his day to me when he said, “Oh my God. You won’t believe …” I reacted thinking at first he was seeing a roadside accident. He calmed me down and then explained, “Overhead, the bridge that crosses the road, there are deer passing by in the night. They are walking on the railroad tracks on the bridge overhead fading in and out of the mist.”

A number of people pulled off the road to watch, like my brother, hoping no train would come before the animals could walk into the surrounding fields and woods. Nothing happened. Just the lingering memories of a beautiful sight.

 

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I almost see an eagle …

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , on October 6, 2015| Leave a Comment »

… bald head, wings spread wide, feathers catching the morning light.  In fact it is water racing down the asphalt hill near where I live as the workmen opened up a fire hydrant.  The convergence of several flows …

… a cool sight for me but not so entertaining for those suddenly wading through an unexpected stream.

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