PAUL COZE - Public Works from the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum

"...the spirit perishes if untended."   ...Kandinsky

Recently I traveled to Phoenix to spend some time with an old friend.  Kathy and I have been friends since we were twelve.  We have that kind of friendship where it doesn’t matter how long it has been since we last talked, we just pick up right where we left off the last time we were together...and our conversations are always filled with lots of laughter!

I decided to go a couple of days early because I had something very important to do.  I wanted to get some pictures of any public artworks by Paul Coze that are still standing today…

Paul Coze was the artist who, in the 1960’s and early ‘70s, was responsible for giving Phoenix its very unique southwest flair through public works…his creations spoke of our Native Americans and their way of life, of modern society, our history, technology and our future.  Mr. Coze had spent much time with the tribes in Arizona, learning their customs and beliefs…he established lasting friendships with these peoples. 

Paul Coze’s artwork is rich in symbolism…it is said that he used 52 different natural elements in the making of the mural that even today hangs in Terminal #2 at the Phoenix Airport… elements such as earth from the reservations, the Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon…copper, granite and feathers, etc. Mythology also played a part in his work…his Phoenix (the bird, somewhat altered in appearance now) is still rising from the ashes at the Town and Country Shopping Center on 20^th St. and Camelback Road… 

It was 119 degrees in the shade the day that I pulled up to the gates.....

 (read the rest of the story on my blog...and see the images at: 

http://www.ninabaldwin.blogspot.com   )

Living in the Moment

"In this hurly-burly world, it can be hard to stop and take the time to truly be present — that state of mind in which we shut off the busy chatter in our heads and become aware...."

As an artist I was drawn to this opening thought posted in one of Richard McKinley's articles that make up his Pastel Pointers are featured on the Artist Network website.    I am not a pastel artist, but I thought his point was well said.  We need to let ourselves slide completely into the present of our art, to let the zen of our creating flow through us completely.    You can read the brief article in its entirety HERE.   

August 14th Program/Demo: Joe McDonnell Explaining How He Uses the Master's Technique

"Sandias" © Joe McDonnell

At the RRAA August 14th Membership Meeting starting at 6:30 pm, artist, Joe McDonnell will be giving a talk and demo on how he uses the Maroger medium-one that was used extensively by the Italian and Flemish Masters.This program is free of charge and the public is welcome-you need not be a member to attend. You can find out where the meetings are held HERE.

The Maroger mediums are made up in Italian and Flemish formulas. They were formulated from restoration samples at the Louvre Museum. They are a two part mastic and beeswax oil painting material that re-create the lighting effects, brushwork and the transparency of the shadows that give a painting depth without losing detail as practiced by the old European masters. Both are mixed right into the raw paint on the palette. The “Venetian” medium is based on the use of beeswax which artists found added a suppleness to oil paints eliminating evaporative cracking over time regardless of thickness of application. The “Flemish” medium gives the paint a “fresh, just painted” look, eliminating that “dry, flaky” final appearance due to the evaporation of the natural oils by the turpentine and eliminates the need for a final glossy varnish.

The Hahn/Wexler/Maroger technique of painting uses 6 tones or values - painting from fat to lean. This gives an added 3 dimensions that cannot be achieved by using oil paints, linseed oils and turpentine by themselves and is the secret of the Old Masters.

In 1963, a chance encounter in Paris, France brought together master artists Siegfried Hahn, Howard Wexler and aspiring artist, Joe McDonnell to form a teacher/student relationship and an enduring friendship.

Hahn and Wexler were teaching painting, drawing and watercolor to mostly U.S Air Force family members stationed in Evreux, Normandy and Paris, France during the 1950s and 1960s.

Joe became a European student of both Hahn and Wexler, who taught him to paint with the mediums re-discovered by Jacques Maroger, a French chemist and onetime director of conservation at the Louvre Museum.

Joe was also studying at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, France and when his father was reassigned stateside, Joe attended the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida. Joe spent the intervening years in both the commercial advertising field as well as keeping up his fine arts training and background. He stayed in touch with Siegfried and Howard by letter through the years, and moved to Albuquerque to study with and be a friend to both.

"I've kept my first Maroger medium painting that Howard walked me through step by step back in 1965. It was a landscape of the church in the town where I lived. He was so patient and thorough that I still remember his instructions."

2013 Annual Rio Rancho Event: Sunday is Funday™!

Come on out on August 18th, 2013 to the athletic field at Rio Rancho High School for all the super hero fun at the annual "Sunday is Funday™"!  The Rio Rancho Art Association (RRAA) will be number 55 on the map. Stop by and say hello, find out more about what we do, and become a member of RRAA!

     "The 8th Annual Tony Popper Memorial, Mayor’s Sunday is Funday™, on Sunday, August 18, 2013, from Noon to 4:30PM at the Rio Rancho High School field near the corner of Loma Colorado and Broadmoor.
This year’s theme is Super Heros, bullying stops here! Attendees will be treated to live music and entertainment, fun activities for kids of all ages, informative vendor booths, and lots of family budget friendly food. A highlight of the day will be the Mayor’s challenging, relay-style Pentathlon, pitting teams comprised of Rio Rancho community members against one another in a friendly competition.
Mayor Tom Swisstack is once again challenging the community - businesses, nonprofits, kids and seniors - to a fun pentathlon challenge consisting of athletic, relay-style events where teams will compete against one another. For information contact the Rio Rancho Kiwanis Club, Dave Heil at (505) 228-7189 or daveheil16@msn.com; Tim Sheahan 881-0777; or visit www.rioranchokiwanis.com or www.bgccnm.org.
Sunday is Funday is sponsored and coordinated by the Rio Rancho Kiwanis Club, the city of Rio Rancho Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, the Rio Rancho Boys & Girls Club and other community organizations. Proceeds, after paying event expenses, will benefit youth programs in Rio Rancho such as scholarships for parks and recreation programs, the Rio Rancho Boys & Girls Club, the Sandoval County Juvenile Justice Program, and the Boy Scouts.
Come and join the fun and have a great time participating in this funnest Rio Rancho family event."

Rio Rancho 2103 "Sunday is Funday™" Events Map

Here is the vendor list (sorry we can't make it any bigger!):

Rio Rancho 2013 "Sunday is Funday™" Vendor listing

Tree-Less Paper?? How Does That Work?

This is an excerpt from the Artisan's Art Spot Newsletter. I thought that it would be great to share it with you all in case you don't know what an extensive paper selection Artisan has (especially their Santa Fe store), not to mention a great in-house expert (T.Bird)!

We're often asked,

"What's up with tree-less paper?" 

 
"T.Bird here! You will most often find me prowling around the paper department at the back of Artisan's main store in Santa Fe.
  

The word 'paper' has recently been bent, folded and stretched almost beyond recognition! Gone are the days of paper-like products being manufactured solely from tree and plant materials. Traditional paper has been made from tree pulp and bark, mulberry fibers, linen, cotton and papyrus reeds for hundreds and in some cases thousands of years. But today's new "treeless papers" are making a big impression in the art supply market.

 

With literally hundreds of Art supports available to today's artists, it can be confusing to locate the exact product you need to create your next masterpiece.
 

I am going to introduce you to three new paper-like products which are relatively new to the market; TerraSkin, Yupo, and two types of Mylar (Duralar)
 

TerraSkin is the newest product on the market. It is made out of rock! No really! TerraSkin is made out of a combination of calcium carbonate (marble dust) and a small amount of polyethylene (a degradable plastic) as a binder. The surface of TerraSkin is smooth and has a satiny feel. It is a remarkable surface for mixed media, including graphite, charcoal, watercolor, oil, resin, encaustic, acrylic, inks and silverpoint. And since it has no grain, it cuts like butter.
 

The paper can literally be immersed in water for weeks or months with no ill effects (we actually tried this out at Artisan, immersing a pad of TerraSkin in a pitcher of water for two months!).
 

It is acid free, archival and degradable. No water or tree products are used in its manufacture. It is available in white or translucent in a variety of sizes and thicknesses. Single sheets and pads are available at Artisan, and rolls can be special ordered.
 

Yupo has been on the market for a few years now. It is made of polypropylene, a very stable plastic like product which is also acid free and archival. It has the ability to seek its own level meaning that it will not buckle or crinkle with use. Watercolorists love this product. Its nonabsorbent, ultra smooth surface allows watercolor and inks to lay on the surface but also allows them to be easily "lifted" back off for gorgeous watery effects. You can even erase watercolors from the surface by simply rinsing it off in water.  Yupo is also available at Artisan in translucent or white, single sheets, pads and rolls by special order.
 

Duralar (Mylar) has been available for many years. It was originally used by the graphics and engineering industries, but has more recently been found to be excellent for Fine Art applications. I would recommend 2 side matte Mylar for pencil, marker, ink, charcoal, paint and colored pencil. The matte Duralar is translucent and works well for layering effects. Wet Media Duralar is a clear version which is treated on both sides to accept any wet media. Duralar is available at Artisan in single sheets, rolls and pads.

Explore the possibilities. We are learning new applications for all of these products everyday! And give me a call at Artisan if you have any questions! (505) 954-4179

 

T-Bird"