More Art in Paris

I haven't been to the Louvres in 30 years. I get discouraged about the entrance line up. There was a one-hour wait to get in...but I went downstairs through the Carrousel Louvre, which is basically a mall under the museum and that line was only a ten minute wait!

Of course, I stopped to see the famous La Giaconda (Mona Lisa) hung there between the two pick-pocketer reminders....how elegant.

But what I liked the best during my walk-about was a contemporary work by Italian born Michelangelo Pistoletto (1933-).

Venus of Rags, 1967.

I call it "Venus and Her Stash".

The artist regularly explores the theme of temporality and here at the Louvre establishes dialogue between the museum's masterpieces and his contemporary work.

"In the 1960's, Pistoletto used scrap materials to question the problems linked to consumerism posed by the Italian Arte Povera movement." (quote from his biography)

Pistoletto used rags that were used to
wash the mirrors at the Louvre.

He had other works on display as part of the museum's contemporary exhibit, Year 1:Earthly Paradise.

Metal Patchwork

Closest

Closer

Close

Far from home.

I am in Paris for a few days.

Love Those Hexagons

What a find!

A double-bed size quilt, vintage, from Kentucky, USA, all hand pieced and hand quilted.

The quilting is so fine that even I had trouble deciding if it was machine done or not. The stitches are so small and pretty even. The person who made this had great skill.

Too bad it has no provenance. There is no label. The little I know was told to me by the person who bought it in the States.

It is being packed in my suitcase because I am giving it to my italian "sister". She'll love it, I know. She told me she loves it...I had to send her a picture because it will take up half my suitcase and I didn't want to bring it if she didn't like it!

Postcards

I won't be seeing my neighbourhood for a while.

In about a week I go to Europe.

I don't really miss the neighbourhood much while I am away.

Does that mean it's time to sell? and move to Italy??

(postcard, 4"x6", free motion technique on photo transfer image of a cracked sidewalk)

Branding

Is your (art) business a goal or a product of your passion?

When a consumer looks at your work do they automatically think it is yours?

Do you think about branding or are you creating without a thought of the marketing side?

At the Chanel No. 5 exhibit (Paris, May 2013), branding was at the forefront of the perfume's creation.

(photo credit Sophia Reford)

Not only did Gabrielle Chanel create a new scent using chemical components never used before in perfumes, she was selling an image.

The clean lines that she is known for were visible in the construction of the bottle and the packaging.

Her rival fashion house, Elsa Schiaparelli, is in the process of being relaunched and with that comes a fresh look at the brand. Iconic designer Christian Lacroix was invited to create 18 pieces for the brand. His work was recently unveiled during Haute Couture Week in Paris.

Schiaparelli's vintage silk scarf,
a present from my daughter.

These "art" pieces are not for sale. The concept was to create an 'hommage' to Schiaparelli. It was more like a theatrical show rather than a regular 'défilé', where the designs were exhibited on mannequins placed on a carrousel and the entrance was more like a stage set of trees adorned with birds on electronic tablets.

To see a video of the dresses click here.

Landscapes

The McMichael Gallery has put together the photography of Edward Burtynsky (1955-) with that of Ansel Adam (1902-1984).

Both photograph landscape.

Adams is best known for his dramatic views of Yosemite National Park in USA- his still life, panoramic views and distant landscapes.

Burtynsky's photographs engage us to think about our relationship to nature.

Both photographers' works compliment the permanent collection of the Group of Seven -a group of  Canadian landscape painters from 1920 -1933.

The exhibit goes till September 29, 2013. Make a day of it and plan to have lunch in Kleinburg.

(photographs taken on the grounds at the McMichael Gallery by me)

Venice Installation

The Garbage Patch State, an installation by Maria Cristina Finucci.

You can see it in Venice, Italy, till November 24, 2013.

(Photos courtesy of my daughter, Sophia. Lucky her. She spent the weekend in Venice.)

Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2013

The rain did not deter visitors from touring the tents at the 52nd edition of the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition (TOAE).

I was invited to be on the jury for the Fibre category. The selection was done back in March. It was a big honour for me to be asked to give my opinion alongside textile veterans and members of their board of directors.

When I visit the expo, I usually stick to the textile exhibits but this year I paid more attention to artists doing work in other mediums.

Adam Colangelo works with copper. Each piece of metal is treated to give a different look. No paint is used.

Artist Adam Colangelo stands in front of one of his latest works
 from his Global Series.
48" x 48" 

I love the textures he creates on the copper.

They are like mini art pieces in themselves.

I stopped to see standing lamps by visual artist Julia White.

They are textile art.

detail

When lit, the texture takes on a different appearance.

One of my favourite painters at this show is Joseph Sampson. He paints the most amazing oceans! It has been a few years now that I have wanted a painting done by him of the water I see in the south of Italy. I talked to him about the idea this time. Yes, I am like that-get an idea and be pro-active about it.

Joseph Sampson stands beside some of his smaller works.

I did stop a while to admire work by Lizz Aston.

Artist Lizz Aston

I hope in the future to be able to introduce her art to some of my European colleagues interested in textile.

Lizz Aston's work

You can see past posts on TOAE by clicking here and here.

The art show goes until July 7 at Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto.