The Heard Museum and the History of Indian School

Recently I visited the Heard Museum in Phoenix Arizona and saw the exhibit

Remembering Our Indian School Days: The Boarding School Experience”

an exhibit that pulls at your heart.
This is a righteous part of American History and the belief that we could decide what is best for others.

I located a NY Times Article, ironnically dated July 5th, 1896, which about the Phoenix Indian School. In reading it you see that “Spin” is not a new invention.

The original Phoenix Indian School Campus is not far from the Heard. The school is no longer functioning and is undergoing renovations and one day I guess it will become a museum.

The photo on the right has me ask the question, when you are forced to be other then who you are, what happens to your creativity?

Artist-in-Residence grants 2009

Künstlerhäuser Worpswede

The Künstlerhäuser Worpswede are one of the largest residencies in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Among former grant holders are many well-known international artists such as Emmett Williams, Koeken Ergun, Yuri Leiderman, Dan Perjovschi, Katharina Sieverding or Egill Saebjoernsson.

The Künstlerhäuser Worpswede are supported by the Barkenhoff Stiftung, Worpswede, and the private initiative Atelierhaus e. V., which collectively make the studios available. Besides the regular presentation of works produced in the studios both within and outside Worpswede, there are also, on a discursive level, artists’ discussions, workshops and symposia on artists’ support, which take place at the Barkenhoff.
The grant body is also supported by the state of Lower Saxony through the award of a monthly grant of 1.400 Euro.
A restriction concerning age or nationality does not exist.
Selection is made by a specialised jury in the fine arts and sound art respectively.

Applications for the 2009 residencies in the fields of fine arts and sound art for a duration of up to 6 months are requested as of now. The deadline is July 10th 2008 (date of postmark).

Contact

Künstlerhäuser Worpswede
attn. Mr. Bernd Milla
Bergstrasse 1
D - 27726 Worpswede
Germany
Phone: 0049-4792-1380
Fax:
Contact: Bernd Milla
ausschreibung2009@artistresidency.net

Applications

Painting what you Know

Here are three artist who have inspired and influence me. I occasionally will see something in my paintings that reminds me of the many artist that I admire.

	Reginald Marsh
	Jacob Lawrence
	Richard Diebenkorn

Getting back to Work

It seems like everything is a distraction. Distraction of my own doing I after admit. I just started to feel comfortable painting again. I’ve started to work on some larger panels and feel I should finish something by the end of this week on early next week.

Confronting Issues’ that Matter

This does not have a direct relationship to art but one of the things that I get to do is to attend fund raising events. They are often events where people talk about the good deeds that their organization performs on behalf of young mothers, boys or girls at risk etc. Rarely have I been to an event where those who are the beneficiaries were so clearly present and vocal about the difference that this organization has made in their lives. This morning I attended a breakfast for “Girls for a Change” where girls talked about their young lives and the issues they face and what really matters to them. Their issues are those that we all know about and yet when hearing from these very young people that the support given to “Girls for a Change” has given their lives renewed purpose and direction I wonder why is it that we are not doing more. There was a direct appeal for funding, no gimmicks, no raffles, no expensive dinner, no internationally know speaker motivating us, just the beneficiaries, the young girls who need the help. Here is a link to a short video that makes the case for supporting this group better then I can.

Surprise Visitor

Charles Mance who is loving, generous and honest guy, surprised me this past weekend with a Arizona visit.

I’ve not seen Charles in about ten years and it was great to see him again, catch up on what he’s been doing and to hear about mutual friends, that I’ve not seen since leaving California.

It is always a joy to reconnect with a good friend. This was exceptionally joyful.

Playing who is the Best Game

After spending weeks following sports, you come away feeling that there is a top ten to every subject. Who are the top ten “Point Guards” to ever play the game. Who are the best Golfer to ever, who is or was the best putter, who the best sports announcer. It seems fitting and at the same time unrealistic to declare best ever in sports. This concept I believe does not lend itself to the creative arts. I don’t see art as being at all competitive, it’s more about what you like or appreciate.

Because I’ve spent so much time following basketball I’ve not worked on many painting of my own. So I will share a number of artist, who’s work I feel has been important to me. (Key words “to me”).

All three of these artist for today’s post were introduced to me by Harvey Dinnerstein. I feel that they have influence how I see my paintings.

I believe “The Tate” has the largest collection of Gwen John’s painting. On my only trip to London, I was disappointed to see that they only had one painting on exhibit, having just pulled a complete showing of her work a week or two before.

When Isabel Bishop passed away, there was a small and brief exhibit of her work in New York. I did not know much about here but loved her work. There is a small work of here at the Phoenix Art Museum, and always look for it when I visit the museum.

Mary Beth McKenzie, teaches at the Art Students League of New York. When I was living in New York, she had a one person show and has a good book (if you can find) “A Painterly Approach”.

Gwen Johns	Isabel Bishop	Mary Beth McKenzie

Well I just completed something. This is an unauthorized painting of Cybel that I did from memory. This is a lot easier to do then you might think. I recognize my family in my paintings all the time and spend days trying to loose the resemblance.

It’s Almost Done, "March Madness", Until Next March

Growing up in the south Bronx, before the projects, before the politically correct “inner-city” everyone played basketball, it was cheap and all you needed was a ball and a pair of Ked’s or Converse sneakers and you where good to go. The dream then was about being noticed in your neighborhood as someone who could play and be chosen for a team. The dream now is about being noticed and getting paid a few million per year.

We Never Had Muscle

This painting is what I and most of my buddies would look like now on the “B” court. I took some liberties and removed some of the stomach mass that has accumulated over the years and added muscle tone in the arms, where none ever existed.

It’s Ladies Night.

Tonight is ladies night, which features young women who are taller and more talented then anyone I ever knew.