Clatsup County Arts Summit/ Pop Up Exhibition in Gearhart, OR

Hey it is already November! Crazy.

This fall was spent in the french countryside at my studio, converting my old barn into a woodworking shop, which I am quite excited about. I left France at the beginning of the month and headed to the Oregon coast where I took part in speaking at the very first Clatsop County Arts Summit at the Seaside Convention Center. It is a newly renovated state-of-the-art facility and the summit was wonderful to be a part of: artists speaking to artists about the business of art. I met a lot of new friends whom I look forward to collaborating with in the future. My hope is that this summit will continue to grow each year as I feel it covers some essential marketing and business components and brings up pertinent questions that many artists have during the span of their careers.

Here is a link to the related article:

https://www.seasidesignal.com/summit-urges-budding-artists-to-think-strategically/article_fa770bd6-059c-11ea-846c-3b123b5eb0d2.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share&fbclid=IwAR3yZ0Sy0a-ih1uIxlFfcUSGtQG7lNmtNw5By2vPc9idelqT2ie9-vdOn3Q


I have a special connection to the Pacific Northwest, which I'm sure has to do with the fact that I grew up there. The people I come into contact with upon returning as an adult seem to have certain things in common: they tend to respect nature, and take note of the significance our natural environment plays in our existence. Maybe it's because they not only are surrounded by so much nature, but also they see how nature has a mind of its own. The strong rain and winds can kick our butts as can a herd of elk crossing the street if one steps too close.

I was fortunate to have a pop up exhibition at the Sweet Shop in Gearhart, Oregon the same week as speaking at the Arts Summit. The location right at the beach was perfect to share my body of work on water. Thanks to PR master Traci Williams, the show was a success and I was able to reunite with friends I had not seen in years. Here are a few pieces included in the exhibition. Now, back in Los Angeles, I miss Oregon already and can't wait to return!

Bread and Water: Life's simple provisions

Again I focus on water and our symbiotic relationship with our natural surroundings - how this affects our health and the condition of our planet.

I can't help but meditate on the onslaught of horrors I read in the news this week regarding the hardships of migrants worldwide. Water is a fundamental ingredient. A father and daughter drowned in the Rio Grande trying to cross the border. Insufficient amounts of water allocated to refugee camps is rampant. The discharge of raw sewage into the bodies of water near these camps are causing migrants to relocate. It is a vicious cycle. 

As I sit comfortably in my countryside studio next to the River Seine it could be easy for one to ignore the rest of the world. I feel at peace listening to the birds chirping all day and the frogs singing me to sleep at night. But the reality of this is that at some point all this could change. Or go away. Pesticides used in agriculture and intensification of land use are linked to the decline in birds throughout rural France. Nine kilometers away from my studio is a cute village called Saint-Aubin, where the drinking water is currently rated BAD due to agricultural pollutants. 

When comparing this to the conditions migrants are facing globally, it comes down to apples and oranges. However, in the big picture - humans who are in a safe place at the moment can do something to promote change. We just need to put on our thinking caps and do a bit of homework. Help is needed everywhere and every bit counts. I believe there is power in numbers.

Bread and Water series, 2019

Charcoal, Oil Paint, Stamped Slices of Bread, Graphite, Sand on Paper

Marnay sur Seine, France

Bread and Water, 2019
Charcoal, Sand, Bread Crumbs, Gold Paint, Graphite, Glue on Paper
70 cm x 100 cm
Bread print made from Pain Sans Frontieres - Bread Without Borders 

Boats in Britanny

This past fall was my first trip to Brittany, where the rocky shores of the Atlantic coast were dramatically beautiful and reminded me a bit of the Pacific Northwest. The dichotomy between the aggressively dangerous power of the ocean and its ability to heal mesmerizes me. In ancient times, the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians understood the therapeutic properties of seawater. Hippocrates, Galen, Plato and Aristotle recommended the use of hot baths to not only clean wounds but also for preventative purposes. Research states that seawater strengthens the body against viruses, low defenses, bacteria and pathogens.
Seawater in particular assists in strengthening the cellular immunity is known to play a key role in the elimination of many tumors. There are multiple benefits of being by the sea – the sound of the crashing sea waves has a healing effect on our mind and body as it induces deep states of relaxation.
That being said, the treacherous strength of the ocean fits the true meaning of Immanuel Kant's definition of the sublime. It demands our respect. About 70% of the earth's surface is covered with water of which 96% is stored in the oceans. Even human bodies are made up of about 55-70% water. Indeed, we do belong to the ocean.

This has spawned me to begin a series of paintings about man's relationship with the ocean. I am sharing my first piece here with you based on a boat cemetery I visited off the coast of Brittany, near Quiberon.

Oil on Canvas, 36" x 60"

Horns

This winter was spent in my Los Angeles studio where, amongst other pieces, I created a sculpture that will also be used as a maquette for a 12 foot future commission. Using bass wood (which is very soft) enables the hand carving to be entirely doable. (This is a bonus, as there are no power tools allowed in my building.)
It will be interesting to work with the fabrication company and learn how the process of interaction between the artist and fabricator develops. Below are a few photos of my own process during the carving stage.