Apex Gallery

While shopping on the West Side, I stopped in to check out an on going exhibit of photographs by Paul Strand. I had always thought of his work dealing with the portraits of immigrants, but this exhibit opened my eyes to the extent of his work in the figure and in form in general.

Black Maria Gallery

On our way to a theatre production, I stopped in on an opening at the Black Maria Gallery in Atwater. The exhibit titled the "Cult of Childhood" was on display. "The dance and mix of opposing ingredients into a squeamish cocktail will turn a cringe to a grin, allowing the playful and wicked, the cute and barbaric, the poison and sweet, the vicious and curious, the child and creep to live happily in the underbelly of childhood". Though the work of many artists were on display, I found Alex Noriega's work to combine a beauty and wimsical quality to create a decoritive yet meaningful work. His drawings are about beauty and it’s overdoses. The composition of his work and use of warm colors invite the viewer in. But upon closer inspection, not so welcoming environments surface, exemplified by smokestacks, urban landscapes and robotic machines. I enjoyed the craftsmanship in the painting and was inspired to work more detailed in my own art.

Stereo Lecture

I was able to make the seminar on stereo video that Astra recommended and met a number of stereo enthusiasts there. John Rupkalvis (818-848-9601) invents different cameras and computer apparatuses to film and view in stereo. Also I met Eric Kurland (818-623-9577) who creates mobile movies often in stereo. Both gentlemen showed ways to create the affects that I have been looking for and now I am eager to create. Ray Zone who is known for pioneering comic book stereo even defined the affect when both eyes are not seeing the same image as "retinal rivalry". I thought that was quite exciting too. Overall, I really found a great source of information and excitement at the seminar.

Lightbox Gallery

On a field trip with my graduate painting class, we went to see our instructor, Samantha Fields's, exhibit of her current work. It was very impressive to see these large canvases in a space with high ceilings. Samantha goes out into storms and photgraphs the cloud patterns and then paints them in airbrush in the studio on canvas. Her work is getting around and has become popular (prices rising!). Her next series is about wildfires!!!!!

The Male Gaze

I have started looking and researching on this topic and have found a website that is a good starting point:

www.sauer-thompson.com/.../ archives/001591.html

He shows good examples and explains them.

Andy Schwartz Collection

Andy Schwartz has been working at Cristy's for years in their photo department. In the process, he has purchased work that has made him one of the few collectors with a mass of historic photos that are rare and priceless. Some photos I have only seen in text books are hanging in his house. Cameron, Stieiglitz, Sticken, Strand, Emerson, Weston, Adams, to only mention a few. It was a real treat to see these images up close and personal at his home which he so kindly opened for our class to visit.