Carrie Mae Weems

A brilliant artist whose work had me by the throat at the Cleveland Art Museum while visiting there this summer.  Enjoy.

That old chestnut: what is art? No, what is an artist? Ask your 4 year old.

I have been putting a lot of thought and work into a less pleasant but necessary part of being a gallerist in the art business:  emphasis upon business.  There is an aspect of any business, including mine, that has to do with really identifying the business, in all its details, from the finances to the glorious, fun part.     It is frankly hard work. But gratifying, as without the business stability the fun part does not get to be.  More on this soon.  I think it is an interesting process to go through, and some of it will be worth sharing.

But lets get back to the glorious part.  One thing that happens at The Gallery is that people love it a lot and come in for inspiration, often on a regular basis.  In that sense, a gallery can work like a museum.  This is both good and bad for The Gallery as a business, but for me the human being, it is wonderful.  Moving, inspiring gratitude, a validation of what we are trying to do.  I love my patrons, of whatever "type."  They make my days.  (Still:  please buy art!  I have to ask, always.  But you are always welcome, regardless.  I do mean the ask though, for those who can.)

One such regular visitor, a fine artist himself though he wrestles with the very question in the article he sent me below, offers this, by another artist:  "A Rant About Art."  By artist and writer David DuChemin.  Brief and provocative.  DuChemin takes aim straight for, and from, the heart.  Highly recommend.

This is not about children, but there is a reference in it.  And when my own youngest was a mad producer of art at age 5 (he is all growed up now, a wise young adult) he said to me, Mom, there is no bad art.  Well I don't know if I agree.  I know there is art I respond to, and art I don't.  And that is ok.  And is only part of the question explored, briefly but well, here:

http://davidduchemin.com

Best always, Amy

I Had So Much To Tell You, But Then This.

I did!  But then this crossed my path today, and made me happy.  So I want to share it with you.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/12/will-kate-painting-gift_n_3915196.html?ir=Parents&utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Transcendental In A Million Ways...

Greetings Friends.

I love to be able to blog and share my more personal thoughts about this grand new path.  Many of you know I spent years teaching philosophy, and then switched to a second career: 2 decades as a mental health therapist.  When people ask how I keep "reinventing myself" I feel odd, though the question is always well-intended.  In ancient times philosophy, psychology and art were not really considered 3 disciplines; the Greeks, for example, did not tear things apart and specialize, though perhaps now we have reason to do so.  That last is an argument for another day.

What I feel is that I have synthesized rather than reinvented.  It all comes with me into what I do now.  And the article below, for which I must credit my beloved artist Lillian Almeida, seems to capture that. The arts bring us joy, self-discipline with fun (potentially!,) can heal us and inspire us like almost nothing else.  After 20 years as a psychotherapist, I feel sometimes I am just working the other end.  The joy end, the deep reach into the self at the conscious and unconscious level, to see what unique emerges -- to see what each bright light that we each really are truly has to say.  And it is community, because always we are saying it both to ourselves and to each other.

I love my job.  I love working with artists and all the amazing people who come in every day whether to buy or for inspiration.  You all inspire me, too!  Enjoy this, it speaks worlds.  And listen to the words of the children at the end of the article.  Best to you all, Amy

http://dailynightly.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/01/18005192-principal-fires-security-guards-to-hire-art-teachers-and-transforms-elementary-school

Upcoming Very Special Event!

The Gallery at the Watershed proudly presents an unusual talk, by an artist out to make a difference by educating and building.  

On Sep. 27 at 7:30pm Yuliya Dimitrova-Ilieva will present “ The Cherga as a Metaphor for a Monument of Courage, Memory, and Life.” This research-based design project is about a design of a monument for the saviors of the Bulgarian Jews during the Holocaust. 

During WWII, Bulgaria saved ALL Jews residing in the country.  Bulgarian government officials, leaders of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and ordinary citizens prevented the deportation of the Bulgarian Jews to Nazi death camps.

Come to learn more about this little known story and Yuliya’s design.  One question to consider, WHY is this such a little known, yet tremendously important, true story?

Yuliya holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Painting from University of Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria and a Masters of Landscape Architecture degree from University of Oregon.  Yuliya won a top UO prize for this project of the heart, Spring 2013.  Important to learn about!