Ghost is a well known graffiti artist in Bay Area. I had the pleasure of following him around one late Monday night.
Why Monday?
It's the easiest night because most people go to bed early on Monday night.
I dressed in all black so we would not get caught and I noticed you are wearing a white t-shirt. What's up with that?
Ha, ha. It's not that serious.
Why graffiti?
Why not? It's like instant gratification, Abstract art, you know. Everyone will drive past and see my work. For most artist that kind of exposure never happens. Plus, I love spray paint. it has to the hardest paint to use. It's always a challenge.
What is your work about?
Social injustice for latinos.
What is your process?
I have drawn out the idea on paper. Basic ideas. make decisions on the colors that will be used. Buy spray paint. Finally, I locate the spot. This can take a long time since it has feel right to me. Any space will not work for me. I want impact. Shock and awe.
Ever been arrested?
yeah, right after I turned 18. What a nightmare. 300 hours of community service cleaning graffiti. Some of it needed to be removed.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Maybe I will make a living as an artist like Keith Harring. Right now I am an economics major at UC Berkeley so you never know what the future holds.
So, who taught you graffiti art?
I taught myself.
I have difficulty working with spray paint, you know avoiding the dripping.
There is a certain distance you have to have between you and the wall, a light hand on the can.
Any advice for your fellow artists?
Embrace the thrill.
At the end of the interview I saw Ghost in action. It was pure Abstract Expressionism. It was beautiful to watch.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Interview with G.G
G.G is a graphic designer for a long list of book publishers. She started this line of work after graduating with a BFA degree and needing money to pay her student loans. But, what she really enjoys is painting. One of her favorite things about her work is making her own paint from oil and pigment She only works in oil and will not use plastic like arcrylic paints. She is a realist painter so the only pattern is that she typically works with a single person a urban setting kind of like Edward Hopper in New York City with the balls of Marilyn Minter.
Her process involves bloking out spaces, then an under painting and the painstaking process to make something not real very much alive. G.G paints in enamel so there is a glossy finish to it. Very slick and modern realism.
"The worst thing that happened to me as an artist was art school - being forced to paint things that you have no interest in and take classes you have no interest in. I feel I would be a more diverse artist, but in school I was stuck in my major"
G.G's advice to a struggling young artist "just keep making art even if feel blocked. Every day get in studio and do somthing artistic"
G.G has no promotional materials because she paints for herself friends
Her process involves bloking out spaces, then an under painting and the painstaking process to make something not real very much alive. G.G paints in enamel so there is a glossy finish to it. Very slick and modern realism.
"The worst thing that happened to me as an artist was art school - being forced to paint things that you have no interest in and take classes you have no interest in. I feel I would be a more diverse artist, but in school I was stuck in my major"
G.G's advice to a struggling young artist "just keep making art even if feel blocked. Every day get in studio and do somthing artistic"
G.G has no promotional materials because she paints for herself friends
Self Promotion
I passed out 3 flyers advertising the artshow that is to happen tomorrow.
Flyer one went in local pizza shop that has a community board . It went ok. I ended up talking to owner about my work and being a painter. He in turn talked to me about his drawings. He offered me a slice of pizza and a Snapple - so I spoke with him for quite a while and had a great lunch.
Flyer 2 is on the community board at the coffee shop by my house. I had to squeeze it on there because their were so many others. But, I feel like it stood out. I placed it at eye level so it could be seen. It was an uneventful visit, however, I did have a good iced coffee.
Flyer 3 I handed one to a friend (and coworker) which was a big deal for me. My two worlds of work and my Art do not cross paths that often. But, I was glad to give it to her and quite proud of my work.
Flyer one went in local pizza shop that has a community board . It went ok. I ended up talking to owner about my work and being a painter. He in turn talked to me about his drawings. He offered me a slice of pizza and a Snapple - so I spoke with him for quite a while and had a great lunch.
Flyer 2 is on the community board at the coffee shop by my house. I had to squeeze it on there because their were so many others. But, I feel like it stood out. I placed it at eye level so it could be seen. It was an uneventful visit, however, I did have a good iced coffee.
Flyer 3 I handed one to a friend (and coworker) which was a big deal for me. My two worlds of work and my Art do not cross paths that often. But, I was glad to give it to her and quite proud of my work.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Man vs Nature
My thoughts are on people. With all of these masses here in Vegas it is hard not to think about people in all their uniqueness, ugliness and beauty. The pool from 34 floors up is beautiful. People moving in the water causes a beautiful cracked glass mosaic pattern. Flashes of light quickly shine and then disappear. A big man made body of water treated with chemicals in the middle of the desert. From the 34th floor I can also see mountains and desert. Yesterday I saw how low lake Mead is. You can tell by the white calcium deposits left on the rock where the water used to be. But people must have super large pools to relax in. I cannot help but think of the environment today staring at this beautiful mountain range over a bunch of man-made crap.
At the Bellaggio Art museum I saw some Ansel Adams prints. Beautiful, breathtaking Nature. I saw the golden gate area without the bridge. It was so beautiful, the bay moved out unrestricted. Man feels a need to conquer nature. To stop a river that has flowed longer than man has been here. Build where nature once was. I do not have this need. I want to learn from nature and take nothing from its beauty. I only want Nature in my heart and mind and become inspired by it. People scare me sometimes. Flowers, animals, mountains, rivers, the oceans all beauty. God given beauty - that is in me. I am part of nature and that does not scare me at all. All of this must sound silly but it is how I feel today. I hope you can understand.
At the Bellaggio Art museum I saw some Ansel Adams prints. Beautiful, breathtaking Nature. I saw the golden gate area without the bridge. It was so beautiful, the bay moved out unrestricted. Man feels a need to conquer nature. To stop a river that has flowed longer than man has been here. Build where nature once was. I do not have this need. I want to learn from nature and take nothing from its beauty. I only want Nature in my heart and mind and become inspired by it. People scare me sometimes. Flowers, animals, mountains, rivers, the oceans all beauty. God given beauty - that is in me. I am part of nature and that does not scare me at all. All of this must sound silly but it is how I feel today. I hope you can understand.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Catcus
Wow cactus are really great, especially in mass quantities! Flowers surrounded by dangerous spikes. Vibrant purple and yellow flowers. Reds, pinks. God, nature is so beautiful. Last night I saw a beautiful sunset from my room on the 34th floor, so high above the strip. Thank you God for the beautiful colors in the desert. Oh yea, I saw a dwarf Joshua tree. So much hot fuss over a tree. Except for the age thing there are many more beautiful cacti that God made. But I will do some research on them. Perhaps everyone knows something I don't.
Oh, by the way, I am in Las Vegas.
Oh, by the way, I am in Las Vegas.
Hoover Dam
Went alone to see the Hoover Dam. Very cool. All of this concrete. A great creation from man built to feed people and generate electricity. Imagine if this had been done to the Chobe river in South Africa. It the middle of this natural wonder of the earth is a massive wonder made from man. The desert is beautiful. The rock is strong, solid. All of the sudden a plant grows out of small cracks in the rock. Life from a harsh environment. Today I was in both Arizona and Nevada. I walked over the state line. It is on Hoover Dam. All of that concrete.
I am on my way to a very old catcus garden I will talk more later...
I am on my way to a very old catcus garden I will talk more later...
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Fire
At the top of the world
looking out,
among the grass,
the trees
and fog.
There is you and only you.
You, with the fiery red hair.
The laugh,
the smile.
The you that I know not so well,
the you that I want to know, oh so well.
Inside
and out.
How your mind works
how it ticks
what makes your sense of humor
click.
Without you
here on this hill
the world looks differently.
Through a veil of red.
Curly,
on fire,
on my mind,
steeped in my life.
I long to see
a red escapee
on my bed
upon my pillow.
A reminder of you,
proof that you were here with me.
Not just another one of my hopeful fantasies.
I a world filled with sharp, red, vivid tones,
the green of the trees and grass are embarrassed to call this home.
The fire takes over the night and the beginning of the day,
leaving me with the thought
will this fire, ever
ever,
go away?
The fire.
The beautiful red
within me.
In my mind,
in my eyes.
It.
And thoughts of you
my dear,
will never die.
-C. Martin
looking out,
among the grass,
the trees
and fog.
There is you and only you.
You, with the fiery red hair.
The laugh,
the smile.
The you that I know not so well,
the you that I want to know, oh so well.
Inside
and out.
How your mind works
how it ticks
what makes your sense of humor
click.
Without you
here on this hill
the world looks differently.
Through a veil of red.
Curly,
on fire,
on my mind,
steeped in my life.
I long to see
a red escapee
on my bed
upon my pillow.
A reminder of you,
proof that you were here with me.
Not just another one of my hopeful fantasies.
I a world filled with sharp, red, vivid tones,
the green of the trees and grass are embarrassed to call this home.
The fire takes over the night and the beginning of the day,
leaving me with the thought
will this fire, ever
ever,
go away?
The fire.
The beautiful red
within me.
In my mind,
in my eyes.
It.
And thoughts of you
my dear,
will never die.
-C. Martin
MOMA
Went to the San Francisco MOMA and I had a great time! I spent most of my time in the permanent collection. What impressed me the most was the room of Clyfford Still pieces. All non objective Art, most of them very large pieces that overwhelm you. Breathtaking risks are evident on all of the canvases. Blacks so dark, brooding and rough they seem to absorb both color and the viewer. Still is one of my favorite artists so to see six or so pieces I was blown away. I also saw a Marilyn Minter piece and two Joan Mitchell works from 1960. It was a perfect day.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Cai Guo-Qiang
Art for me is pure energy. I love to paint big and seep into the canvas and crawl into color, into energy, into pure light. My new favorite artist is Cai Guo-Qiang and he takes the feeling of energy and gives it a physical form in fire and explosions. Guo-Qiang's artwork is influenced by China's cultural and political history, including its modern revolutionary history under Mao Zedong. Revolutionary culture is in the moment and quickly expendable and so is Guo-Qiang's work with gunpowder and explosives. The pieces I am speaking of are spectacular. He uses both large installation, canvas or paper to execute the artwork. For the latter the gunpowder and fuses are placed on the surface of the canvas or paper, which is placed on the floor. When lit, the fuse lines burn igniting the gunpowder which creates loud bangs, flashes of fire and then clouds of smoke. You can view the process in a video at the Guggenheim where I saw a large body of Guo-Qiangs work. The result is a textured surface that looks like an explosion. Blackened and charred arrested in a state of being expanded in a flash - incredible.
My favorite pieces are Gunpowder Panting No. 8-10 (1988), The Immensity of Heaven and Earth: Project for Extraterrestrials No. 11 (1991) and Fetus Movement: Project for Extraterrestrials No. 9 (1991).
Guo-Qiang installation work is nothing like I have ever seen. I was totally blow away. With each piece you are gazing at violence peppered with the feeling that things my be ok. If you have not already, try to get to the Guggenheim to see Guo-Qiang show. It is quite spectacular and inspirational.
Cai Guo-Qiang
I Want To Believe
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
February 22, 2008-May 28, 2008
http://www.guggenheim.org/exhibitions/exhibition_pages/cai.html
My favorite pieces are Gunpowder Panting No. 8-10 (1988), The Immensity of Heaven and Earth: Project for Extraterrestrials No. 11 (1991) and Fetus Movement: Project for Extraterrestrials No. 9 (1991).
Guo-Qiang installation work is nothing like I have ever seen. I was totally blow away. With each piece you are gazing at violence peppered with the feeling that things my be ok. If you have not already, try to get to the Guggenheim to see Guo-Qiang show. It is quite spectacular and inspirational.
Cai Guo-Qiang
I Want To Believe
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
February 22, 2008-May 28, 2008
http://www.guggenheim.org/exhibitions/exhibition_pages/cai.html
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Sorry
I apologize for being so short before, but I don't think I like being this plugged in. I mean I write in a journal, not type it. I will get better. I am confident. I will get used to it. Sigh.
Saturday
Sorry I have not written in a few days but I'm back. However, I don't feel like writing so goodbye.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Modern Art
Well it is 11:00pm and I have finished another day of class. Sigh. Tonight I had an overview of Modern Art, which is art form the late 19th and early 20th century. I was very excited for the class to start, to start seeing slides and discussing them and just learning more that I have been exposed to. However, a bonus came in the form of a handout that that tells you all of the elements to help write a decent written visual analysis of an artwork. Very exciting! You know, it describes and breaks down words like form, composition and style just to name a few. I am very happy about that and happiness for me is a blessing.
peace.
peace.
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