23 Minute Meditation

Whenever I go downtown, I make time to drop in for a visit at the AGO, even if it's for less than an hour.

Yesterday, I decided to find an art work I liked in a quiet room and look at it for 25 minutes. Look only at that. I found a piece from Abstract Impressionism.

Interesting experiment. It is amazing what I start to see and notice. I discover more as I look at it.

I see which strokes went over the white paint, which strokes were made over the black paint. What

strokes were made under.

Some of the black seems wet.

I see that not all the white is the same white. Not all the black is the same black. I see a darker black and a lighter black.

I see the width of the brushes.

I thought about the movements, the ballet, the artist's body made while he painted.

The artist's signature is absent. I found out when I researched it later that the work is indeed signed but on the back.

photos of Franz Kline's Cupola, 1958 - 1960, first floor at the AGO, west wing.

dimension: 198.1 x 269.9cm (78 x 106 1/4 inches)

Galleries in the Dark

I toured some of the galleries at the AGO with my art class on a day when the museum is closed to the public. It was the oddest thing walking through the spaces in the dark with no one around but the few students from the Abstract Art class.

I was reminded of my favourite textile artist and friend, Judith Martin, when I my teacher spoke of the work by Canadian painter, Emily Carr.

Trees and Sky by Emily Carr

Judy has a piece that was inspired by Emily Carr's trees and weeping sky.

Emily Carr Visited Me (2005) by Judith Martin

It is heavily stitched, as many of Judy's works are.

The thing I like the best about Judy's piece is the movement in the sky. I get a shiver every time I see it. I feel a cold wind.

Altered Books

I had my last class on Abstract Art at the AGO last week.

My class mate's finished altered book

As a project, we altered books.

An example of an altered book
the teacher brought in from the
 Globe and Mail, 2010

Some finished their paper sculpture.

The same friend's altered book taken from a different angle.

I did not but it is coming along well. I plan to continue in January and will definitely post it.

Here is the inspiration for my book which I photographed in Paris yesterday. It is exactly what I want to achieve….although my work will surely evolve while I am cutting into the paper and may actually never look like this.

Shoe display at BHV department store in Paris

Here is another altered book which I found in a store window as part of their decoration.

Altered book in a window display in Paris, France.

Folds in Fabric

When I think of fabric I thing soft, pliable, flowing.

It is odd to see sculpted fabric that is static and hard but still feels soft, pliable and flowing.

I spent three hours in the Montparnasse Cemetery (Paris) yesterday taking photographs and sketching and writing.

Have you seen Patti Smith's (yes, of punk rock fame) photographs of Montparnasse Cemetery at the Art Gallery of Ontario? The exhibit is called Camera Solo. Very clever. Camera in italian means room. The exhibit shows a collection of her photographs of sites and spaces that have personal significance, her private 'room'.

Camera Solo is on in Toronto till May 19.

Faces

Self-portrait...do you have one?

Painted face in downtown Toronto

It would be a fun thing to try.

graffiti on Canada Post property,
somewhere in uptown Toronto

Street collage, Kensington Market.
Couldn't find the artist's name

Student's art from Branksome Hall
(detail of thread work)

Last week, in the midst of the crazy holiday preparation, I spent an afternoon at the Art Gallery of Ontario in the quiet, reflective atmosphere, surrounded by the art of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

Frida is best known for her self-portraits.

photograph by N. Muray

Photograph by N. Muray, 1941

And here is a real version of Frida!

My friend in her Halloween costume!!