Studiology

March is for Blacklight

The gallery in Occoquan will be putting up a new display on March 1st, a blacklight display. Not an entirely new concept for me, I spent a lot of time with blacklight photography. Painting is different though, and this last month I worked with fluorescent paints. The idea is to have the art piece look good in regular light, but also good in blacklight. The first piece of mine is titled "Discovery", which has tiny eyes in the background that light up with the special lights and the butterfly and clothes are also fluorescent.

Next came an altered Pez dispenser that I actually had to paint under blacklight since I couldn't see the effects otherwise.

Todays studio piece is on another Tarot card representation, this one is the Tarot card 14, or Temperance (not for blacklight). The standard Rider Waite card looks like this:

and here is my interpretation:

details include the yellow water iris, a foot on land and one in water, as well as the pouring of water:

In the Tarot deck, Temperance indicates the ability to combine spontaneity with knowledge. The word Temperance is from the Latin 'temperare', which means 'to mix' or 'to combine properly'. Indicated by one foot in the water and one on the land. Temperance combines the elements of life. In reality it combines the elements of personality, so that the person and the outer world will flow together naturally. I see it as a 'be true to yourself' card, not too much ego, not too much drama, a logical middle ground. She joins the assemblage piece "Strength" at Art A La Carte. 

 

The Inward Garden

As a book shelf was reorganized today, I found one of my journals from 2012. Some early morning notes caught my attention, it was a reflection on a garden book written by Julie Moir Messervy titled "The Inward Garden". Julie's premise for the book is defining distinct garden styles and matching them to an individuals ultimate desire for their own garden space. She believes that the first six years of one's life determines the visions or "images of paradise" that form your frame of reference. 

For Julie, her curiosity on the topic began as she watched her children explore their own space. She feels that as we grow and explore, we experience places that remind us of early feelings. It may be the small picture, some attention to detail, stones in a shallow pond or the black petals on a black tulip (one of my first memories), versus larger things like high waterfalls, or large sweeps of spring bulbs. As far back as comfort in the womb to an embrace from a parent, learning to walk, safe exploration that begins your first foray away from your parents, these are what form our comfort in the context of space around us. 

In defining these archetypes, Julie identifies seven: the sea, the cave, the harbor, the promontory, the island, the mountain, and the sky. My own journal notes listed these and experiences I could remember that most reminded me of each archetype. These were notes based on memory as a teenager and young adult, but I'm certain that even these memories are based on some link to those years before we really remember these kinds of details, that is why they are remembered.

The entire topic is fascinating and my own notes went on to ask if the garden is about fantasy or about the plants? A quote by Aristotle finished my notes: "The soul never thinks without a mental picture". I am sure that every gardener feels some degree of fantasy. It's difficult to garden without imagining results. We are forward thinkers. But what really makes you stop and feel happiness? Even if it's only a photograph of a landscape scene, or the architecture of a home? I'm talking about the overwhelming sense of place and comfort. This may be, or should be the foundation of your garden. 

Mardi Gras

Back from the dead, or so I feel, for a full two weeks I suffered. The cough, the bronchitis, it's diminishing and I feel so happy to have it behind me. Awful, awful stuff!!! 

So on this day of festivities, the beginning of Lent and the Mardi Gras, I will share the last of my trip to New Orleans for the Michael deMeng workshop. Besides the art, there was a trip to a place called "Escape My Room". Groups of (up to) eight are formed and we are tasked with solving a murder mystery and escaping our room(s). It was great fun but we were the only group that didn't make it out within our one hour time slot. Hence our photograph with some sour faces (we were so close, so close.... really!).

Another stop is called "The Music Box" and it's another worthwhile place to visit. We were treated to a private concert, the instruments are the buildings themselves. Designed and built to play music, everything from percussion, horns, and spinning objects that make various sounds, it's just incredible. My favorite may have been the "Chateau Polet" which looks like a pergola with a peak roof, various fans are built into the sides and when pullies are turned, they each make a different sound, like wind blowing but in different pitches.  This is Lois playing "The Shake House" which sounds like clapping boards, even the floor plays.

Joanne on the horns and a few of us in the telephone booth, a very large, four sided siren was mounted on the top and your words would cause it to spin and morph the sound. Just fantastic!

A trip to the New Orleans Museum of Art was such a highlight. I have seen the sculpture garden but had never entered the museum. Three hours later, it was incredible and if time had allotted I would have stayed much longer. Since I have recently taken an online class with Michael deMeng on the surrealist artists and that time period, I was happy to see originals of many he talked about. Max Ernst, Joan Mira, even Pablo Picasso.

Our costume event was a second line parade with Tarot Cards as our theme. This is always an outstanding event and for the first time, we actually had quite a few people join us and parade with us right to the end. We are lead by a police escort and The Panorama Brass Band.

I was the card "Strength", which looks like this:

The significance of the card is control, a lack of fear, the woman is holding the lion's mouth open. It's about resilience, vitality, and balance. It's the card I chose because it felt right and it's also the art piece I had started in my studio at home. My costume was a lion mask and I am in the mouth of the lion. 

I finished my assemblage piece just tonight and am very happy with it. I believe I was able to convey the calm and keep many of the colors from the original card.

Otherwise, the shenanigans of New Orleans are required. Pat O'Briens for a Hurricane and some piano music:

Spent three nights at Preservation Hall with front row seats, that my friends is "The Bomb"!

Happy Mardi Gras to my friends near and far!