Revitalizing the Arts Culture

In art – like all things – it is often a small idea that leads to a monumental happening. For my gallery, this monumental happening was our most recent art show. The show titled, Social Discourse: An Arts Experience, was a juried exhibition of Michigan artists’ work. It started as an idea among local art enthusiasts and – with the help of Michigan State University – evolved into a thought-provoking exhibit.

It officially opened on May 22, with the grand opening on June 6. Despite raging storms, more than 400 people attended the grand opening reception. The show closed on Saturday, June 28 with total attendance counts exceeding 2,000.

The Social Discourse exhibit gave our Michigan artists an opportunity to use their art to ask questions and ponder answers to the most pressing issues of our time. From politics to the environment, artists stirred interest and inspired discussion.

The multi-media exhibit featured many provocative pieces. Some artists used drama, while others used humor. No matter the approach, each piece evoked emotion in the audience members.

For me this was an extremely successful show. While the numbers were impressive, the unique nature of the show – and the success of the show taking into account its unique nature – was really what stood out. The fact that such a progressive exhibit could stir so much interest in our city is inspiring. For me, this represents a first step toward the establishment of a renewed focus on arts and culture in our downtown. It is very, very exciting.

Here’s to small steps. Here’s to the big picture. Here’s to art.

Mother Nature and Her Paintbrush

In my last post I made reference to the storms that swept through our city last weekend. It got me thinking about the artistic perspective of these storms that devastated not just Lansing, but practically the entire Midwest. Trees were uprooted, homes were destroyed and lives were forever changed. Yet, somehow we will all rebuild. Nature will restore itself and the cycle will begin again. It is a beautiful process, really.

With all the ugly that Mother Nature produces, there is great beauty in every aspect of our planet. There is an artistic quality to the landscapes, bodies of water, starry skies, sunrises, sunsets – all of it. As a matter of fact, nature is often a common inspiration for artists. Whether painting landscapes in the traditional sense, creating an abstract piece or painting a picture with words, nature inspires.

So, as I look around at the neighborhoods ravaged by these storms and I turn on the news to see families who survived storms far more powerful than ours, I am hopeful. I am hopeful that artists out there will capture the tragic beauty created by Mother Nature’s brushstrokes.

Here’s to Mother Nature and the powerful paintbrush she wields. Here’s to art.

Success Amid the Storm

Last week was the grand opening reception for the art show going on right now at my gallery – a juried show that addresses timely, social issues using art. Unfortunately, as we prepared to unveil our exciting show, tornado sirens were wailing and the entire city was under severe weather warnings. Needless to say, excitement in the gallery was not in short supply.

Unfortunately, many of those who were planning to attend and had not yet arrived – some traveling from areas where the storms nearly shut down freeways – had to seek shelter somewhere other than the gallery. Such is the unpredictable nature of Mother Nature herself (another post for another time).

Regardless of the weather and its initial impact on attendance, it has been a successful show.

This show – Social Discourse: An Arts Experience – is a unique show by many standards, but is truly unique for our city. Its unique nature has attracted some that might not attend an art show. Some of the content is dark and some is of a lighter nature. However, it all makes you think. It makes you think about our world and the social issues that define us as individuals.

As I look ahead at the last two weeks of the show, I am excited for the new faces we will see and the lives this art will touch. Rain or shine, we are proud to provide a unique arts experience to our community.

Here’s to the rain that couldn’t destroy our parade. Here’s to art.

Artistic Style on the Open Road

This morning I was driving to a meeting and, while stopped at a stoplight, took a minute to take a look at all the different cars on the road. So many colors. So many styles. Some old. Some new. Some high-end labels. Some practical purchases.

For many of us, our cars are nothing more than a necessity – a way to get from point A to point B. However, for some, the car is an outlet for self-expression – an extension of personal style.

As an artist, I find two things very interesting about cars. The first is the evolution of body styles that have occurred over the last century. While engineering, aerodynamics and fuel economy have had a lot to do with this evolution, so too have the preferences and personal styles of the consumers. The second item I find interesting – the item I find most interesting, actually – is personal style itself. This is the style that is revealed not in the mini-vans used to cart the kids to soccer, but in the “dream car.”

When people escape the confines of practicality and cost, personal style and artistic preference become glaringly apparent. Whether someone dreams of fast car or simply a pricy label, a red car or a neutral beige, through their preference they reveal a lot about who they are as a person. After all, to a certain extent, even the most expensive of accessory is an extension of our own artistic taste.

Here’s to the cars that we drive and those we dream about. Here’s to art.

Home is Where the Art Is

Movie night at my house this past weekend featured the 1939 MGM classic The Wizard of Oz. What a great old movie. And when Dorothy put on those ruby slippers, clicked her heels together three times and said “there’s no place like home”, she hit the nail right on the head. I think we all agree, artist or not, there really is no place like home. For me, home is my sanctuary, a place of inspiration and creativity. I talked about this a little bit in my May 13 post, A Morning Without Art.

However, with summer upon us, the artistic inspiration of the home takes on a new meaning for me. Right now, when I look at my home and take a glimpse around my neighborhood I see colorful signs of life. Brand new shrubs. Vibrant annuals. Artistic arrangements of flowerbeds and walkways. It’s beautiful. The artistic way my neighbors and I arrange the landscapes surrounding our homes gives passers by a glimpse into who we are.

As artists, we celebrate life in art, and what better place to celebrate life than in our own backyards. It only makes sense to my our most personal place the one place that is the most clear representation of who we are as people. Home is truly where the art is. There really is no place like it…anywhere.

Here’s to summer and our backyard creations. Here’s to art.

Painting Pictures with Words

Words make everyday communication possible. We need them to express our most basic human needs. However, we often forget their artistic quality. For years, writers have been painting pictures with words. From classic literature to poetry; from the daily newspaper to our favorite magazines – an artful arrangement of a few prepositions, adjectives, nouns and verbs can grant us entrance into the lives of others (both fictional and real) and keep us connected to the world in which we live. It is truly amazing.

Every time I pick up a book or even the newspaper, I am in awe of the talented artists that both give me an escape and keep me informed. When you think about it, this blog is an extension of my artistic touch. While I am no Charlotte Bronte or Mitch Albom, the words I use to give each of you a glimpse into my life and my thoughts on art are clear examples of artistic expression.

Here’s to words and the colorful pictures they paint. Here’s to art.

Artistic Expressions of Patriotism

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I treasure long weekends. This Memorial Day weekend was no exception. Memorial Day signifies the start of the summer season and is a holiday I look forward to every year. With such a tough winter and an unusually chilly spring, the signs of summer were especially exciting this year. The aroma of fresh cut grass and caramelized barbeque sauce – it was great. Of course, in addition to kicking back with family and friends this weekend, I made sure to take a few moments to reflect on those who have served and are serving our country at home and around the world. These are the people that have made and continue to make freedom possible. While I have no trouble finding patriotic inspiration myself (my husband serves our country), I thought I would help all of you find your patriotic inspiration through art. To view artwork with a patriotic theme, you can go to the official Norman Rockwell website at http://www.normanrockwell.com/index.php and check out the Patriotic section. Or, visit http://www.metmuseum.org/special/Hassam/index.asp to experience the patriotic works of American Impressionist Childe Hassam. And if all else fails, visit your local antique store. I’m sure you’ll run across all sorts of carved, stitched, woven, hooked, whittled and molded expressions of patriotism there.

Here’s to our country and those who make freedom possible. Here’s to the artists who help us pay tribute. Here’s to art.

Art from the Heart

In my last post I briefly made reference to little kids drawing on the sidewalk with colored chalk. This gave me an idea for another subject on which to blog...Art from a Child’s Perspective, or what I like to call Art from the Heart. Recently, I read an account of a couple who took their 4-year old daughter to a museum to see an exhibit on the history of Barbie dolls. But what really caught the little girl’s eye was a painting by George de Forest Brush entitled The Blue Madonna, which she referred to as “the lady in the blue gown.” In the painting, the folds of the gown looked so real the little girl couldn’t get over the fact that the dress wasn’t three-dimensional. She couldn’t figure it out, and kept trying to look behind it. This story speaks to the fact that we really can’t know what’s going to pique a child’s interest artistically until they show us. But as long as we keep it fun and age appropriate, anything is possible. Have you revisited those drawings on your fridge lately?

Here’s to our children and the depth of their imaginations. Here’s to art.

The Art of Architecture

Do you ever look at things and imagine them as paintings? To some, that may sound a little weird, but I’m an artist and I think it is a fun activity, so humor me. Anyway, I was doing that while strolling through a rather interesting urban section of downtown Lansing the other day. And that’s when I rediscovered my love for urban streetscapes. A vibrant urban streetscape has the power to pull you into it and make you feel as if you are actually living in the painting. You can hear, smell and feel everything that’s going on. Some provide an air of romance, such as paintings of Venice, London or Amsterdam. A streetscape can teleport you into the past to recall the coffee you enjoyed in that little French café, or the time they opened the fire hydrant on 5^th Avenue so the kids could cool off on a hot summer day. The subject matter is endless. A vibrant urban streetscape is life, on pause, so you can take it all in. I think that’s pretty cool.

Here’s to life. Here’s to little kids drawing with colored chalk on the sidewalk. Here’s to art.

Asking Questions and Providing Answers Through Art

As artists we are naturally creative thinkers. When we look at the world we see something we can change – something we can make better. That is why it is only natural for there to be a certain amount of social discourse among artists.

When we see problems like the casualties of war and negative impacts of global warming, we are naturally inclined to, first, question and, second, offer our opinions and, occasionally, our solutions. Sometimes these questions and answers come in written form like poetry and novels. Other times, they can be seen on canvases and digital displays. In either case, they are our artistic representations of the wrong that we see and the right that we want to see.

The last few years have been very tumultuous years for our country and our world. The discourse in societies in nearly every corner of our planet gains momentum every day. As this happens, we are captivated by each question and each suggested answer.

This idea is the premise behind my gallery’s upcoming show. The show is titled Social Discourse: An Arts Experience. Its main purpose is to give Michigan artists – as the Lansing Art Gallery’s primary mission is to support our artists right here in Michigan – the opportunity to ask their questions and offer their answers on the current events and social issues of our time.

The art and the way it addresses the subject matter is so compelling. I realize this may seem like a plug and maybe it is. However, I truly believe the subject matter from this show is both timely and important.

As artists, our work is both an expression ourselves and a creation of something that is intended to improve the world in which we live. The questions that are being asked and answered through the artwork in this show provide a little insight into the minds of our Michigan artists and the issues that are important to them – issues that are likely important to all of us, as well.

Here’s to artists inspiring change. Here’s to art.

A Morning Without Art

Yesterday I started thinking again about what the world would be like without art. It is truly an overwhelming idea. After jotting down my thoughts I quickly realized that if I created a blog post on the subject…well, it wouldn’t be a blog post – it would be more like a short story. So I decided to put it into a more bite-size chunk. I decided to look at how art infiltrates my morning routine.

My morning starts with breakfast and a cup of coffee (it actually begins earlier, but I’ll spare you the details of my slow rise and the loud alarm that sets that process in motion). When I look at my coffee cup and breakfast plate, I think about the artist that dreamed up their structure and design. Glancing around the room, my kitchen is filled with little pieces of art. From the most basic art pieces displayed on my walls to the modern design of my appliances, I am reminded of the variety of different artists that helped make this rectangular room a piece of my home.

Without art, I would be looking at bare, white walls. The appliances, coffee cup – everything in my kitchen – would be constructed according to necessity, not design. It would be void of color, character and – most of all – it would void of any appeal.

So, when I ask the question, “what would the world be like without art,” and am met with simple answers like, “less colorful” and “slightly boring,” I recoil. I think about the little things like my morning routine that would be completely changed. I think about how these little things combine with other little things, all adding up to a great big change – a great big negative change – that would slowly drain the life from…well, life.

What would my morning be like without art? I now shiver at the thought of something so awful.

Here’s to my morning routine and the artists who make it enjoyable. Here’s to art.

Art, Life, Logos

I was looking at my coffee cup this morning and it got me thinking about logos. They are displayed prominently on almost every product we own. And no matter how we may feel about them, logos really have become an unavoidable part of life. Maybe it's not on your coffee cup, but on the corner of your laptop or on the side of a truck. They truly are everywhere. However, when I look at a logo, I see art. I see a drawing (albeit completed using a complex design program) that has been developed to express the purpose and the values of an organization.

From an artistic point of view, logos could be defined as Art Concentrate. Or Art, distilled to its most elemental form. But there is so much more. A great logo is the product of a thorough understanding of people, perceptions, culture and art while pinpointing the heart of an organization’s identity. It must follow basic design principles, be functional, represent the company and be unique.

However, what makes logos truly remarkable from an artistic perspective is the evolution they go through throughout their lifetime. Once the design process, committee meetings and focus groups are over and a new logo is finally born, its artistic success hinges on two things – commitment and time. An organization’s commitment to making this new piece of art a central component of its culture and its message are what breathe life into what is essentially a drawing. As time passes, the message and the image fuse. This is when the logo becomes an icon.

I have many favorite logos. Some are more global. Some are more local. Some are new. Some are icons that have been around for decades. What makes a logo memorable to me is its ability to be a true visual representation of an organization and its ability to stand the test of time.

Here's to my morning coffee and the great logo on my cup. Here's to art.

Making Life...Life

Welcome to my blog on art and life. Its purpose is to educate and inspire – educate people on the idea that life is filled with art and inspire all to take the time to notice the art around them.

I can’t imagine life without art. Art is such an integral part of life. It is in the cars we drive, the homes in which we live, the buildings in our downtowns, the packaging of our favorite soda – it is nearly everywhere and in everything.

Sadly, when the average person is asked to define art, their definitions are limited to art in the traditional sense. It is difficult for most to wrap their heads around the idea that art is life. Every action taken, word spoken and decision made is an expression of the individual – an artistic representation of the person. From clothing to home decorations to the look and feel of your favorite Web site – art is everywhere.

What would the world be like without art? That is a scary, scary question. Your coffee cup would be white – no logo, no picture. Actually, would it even have a shape? An artist dreamed up the structure for that cup. Your home would be a white box without design and without color. Without art, life is not only boring but also it just isn’t life.

In this blog, I will dedicate each post to the art that makes life…well, life. If you have any thoughts or ideas for future posts, please comment or e-mail. Here’s to art.