My 25 Year Art Retrospective!

In lieu of LACMA or MOCA offering a solo show, I've decided to celebrate this special event on my Facebook Page by posting some of my art made over the past 25 years. Here's the backstory:

In 1991, I had an epiphany. I mean a real moment of clarity when I was hit by an idea that was like the proverbial bolt out of the blue -- the kind of thing you've probably heard about, but can't fully appreciate unless you've experienced it. "Make art." Okay . . .

Way back when I was an 8-year-old kid, I decided to find out if I could draw, so I copied the picture of Lady from "Lady & the Tramp" that was in a matchbook cover advertisement for a mail-order "Learn to Draw" class (yes, children, those things really existed back then). When I showed the finished picture to my parents, they thought I'd copied it from a comic book. I was appropriately insulted, but had proven to myself that I could draw. Other people confirmed the assessment, even the neighborhood kids who were not easily impressed. I sent the drawing to my grandparents where it was published in their hometown newspaper along with a story about me. My first press!

But, the twists and turns of fate led me in another direction and, rather than studying art, I learned to play the piano and developed my love of music. Then, by the time I got to college, I knew I could write a solid essay, an effective opinion piece, a credible news story. I thought I'd use that talent to save the world, which was what many of us wanted to do in those troubled days of the late '60s.

Over the years, I've had a varied creative career: grantwriter for the War on Poverty, kids' TV and family feature film writer (Hanna-Barbera, Marvel, NBC, Jim Henson, Warner Bros.), now social media manager for a non-profit devoted to "artful aging" (EngAGE) and a radio show producer/host (Experience Talks). In between, I was also an occasional songwriter and a vocalist with a jazz trio. And there was that "make art" moment that resulted in my first juried show a year later, all these years of experimenting with art, and now, my creative focus today.

Most of my beginning art-making efforts were devoted to hand-coloring photographs. After working on some lovely old family photos, I asked a friend to pose so I could work on original, contemporary shots. This led to my first art sale to another friend. When she saw "Communion," she said, without hesitation, "I'll give you $200 for that, unframed!" I was stunned and delighted. I ended up making about a half-dozen original hand-colored "Communion" photos. I think there's one left.

I'm looking forward to sharing images of art I've made over the past 25 years. If I'm really organized, you'll see something added to My 25 Year Art Retrospective Facebook photo album every week on Throwback Thursday. Thanks for celebrating with me! (Pretend there's champagne!)

Here's "Communion" and a bit more info about it:

I love the delicate colors, the ethereal effects of hand-colored photographs. I made about a half-dozen original hand-colored versions of this piece, and years later enhanced the color further on the computer. I was most pleased when it was part of a group show in the early '90s at what is now Providence/St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, CA. Each participant in the group show (about a dozen of us) then had a solo show in some part of the hospital. My selection of various hand-colored photos were placed in the reception area and examining rooms of the oncology department. I hope they offered a respite for the patients.

World Art Day at The Brewery: Photos

During World Art Day at The Brewery, a steady stream of visitors to the Atrium were treated to the 30+ barrel BOTART exhibit. It was a perfect venue for their display. I snapped a few photos early on, then kicked back in the chair by "Tipitina" and chatted with fellow artists and everyone else who strolled by. Prior to the closing, two very large tour groups came to the studio as part of the special event. Appropriately, there were many people from other countries on both tours. And what an enthusiastic bunch they were! Lots of interesting conversation, and lots of wonderful comments about the art. It was a very rewarding experience. Thanks to Dale Youngman (tours), Shawn Barrett (BOTART), and Andre Miripolsky (head instigator for all that happened), as well as everyone else involved in the day. And special thanks to those of you who stopped by!

My BOTART, "Tipitina," with my digital drawing,
"Notes 101C," on the easel in back.

World Art Day at The Brewery: Sunday 4/17

I'm pleased to announce another great opportunity to visit my studio on Sunday, April 17th, when The Brewery Art Colony will open its doors for a special

World Art Day: Los Angeles 2016 Closing Event!

For the second consecutive year, the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk will reprise its leadership role in World Art Day festivities, which were held for the first time ever in the United States in the city of Los Angeles in 2015. This international event, which is led by the non-profits IAA/UNESCO, celebrates international collaboration through art. In honor of this worldwide celebration, Art Walk will host projects in the form of gallery exhibitions, pop-ups, and site-specific installations in private and public spaces. World Art Day: Los Angeles will be held over a 4-day window starting with the April 14th DTLA Art Walk and ending on Sunday, April 17th, 2016, at The Brewery Artists Colony.

There are two parts to the FREE CLOSING EVENT at The Brewery, and you are invited to attend one or both of them:

(1) From 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., a special private guided tour of several studios featuring artists Andre Miripolsky, Yvonne Beatty, Guillermo Bert, Jen Moore, Jill Sykes, Kristine Schomaker, Sean Sobczak, Teale Hatheway, Ted Meyer, and me. Limited space is available; reservations are required.

(2) From 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., the World Art Day Closing Reception at the I-5 Gallery at The Brewery, which includes a special exhibit hosted by BOTART International and the Brewery Artwalk Association. Yes, my BOTART painted wine barrel will be part of a display of over thirty barrels in the Brewery Atrium where the I-5 is located. Reservations are requested for this open-to-the-public reception to make sure everyone can be accommodated.

"Tipitina" - Photo from the BOTART exhibit
at the 2014 WestEDGE Design Fair

I hope to see you on Sunday for this very special World Art Day event!

2016 Spring Brewery Artwalk

The semi-annual Brewery Artwalk on April 2nd and 3rd was great fun once again! Thanks to everyone who stopped by the studio and special thanks to those who purchased art. The weather was perfect: clear skies and temperatures in the mid-70s. The Brewery Art Association reports that this Artwalk had even more visitors than usual -- and we usually get many thousands coming to the whole campus over the course of the weekend. Our studio had a steady stream of art enthusiasts on Saturday, and only a few quiet moments on Sunday. Kept it interesting for studiomate, Yvonne Beatty, and me! I opted to show almost exclusively digital prints on canvas, plus a few other digital print items. Studiomate Kristine Schomaker didn't open her space this time; instead she spent the weekend visiting fellow artists and taking photos. See her album here. 

my main studio wall

countertop

Me with Yvonne

with friend Betty Birney

with friend Michelle and Ziggy

Fine Arts Federation Annual Membership Show - March 4 - 24, 2016

The Fine Arts Federation Annual Membership exhibition at the Creative Arts Center Gallery in Burbank presents the work of 80 artists, the largest number that had ever been shown. I've been participating for 24 years. At the reception, there was a Western theme, so everyone got bandanas upon arrival. The decked-out buffet tables offered burgers with all the fixin's. The placed was packed with visitors, and the art ranged from paintings to ceramics to fabric art and more. Brought my Mom to check it all out. She reminded me recently that she celebrated her 93rd-and-a-half birthday. Says that after she turns 94, she's going to start celebrating her birthdays in fourths! We had a fine old time at the roundup, pardners. Show is up 'til the 24th of March.

Photos from the Armory Art Show

The EngAGE art exhibition entitled “It’s Never Too Late to Create!” at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena opened with a lovely reception on January 16th and closed this past weekend. The show featured work by eight residents of Burbank Senior Artists Colony and North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony, plus curators Maureen Kellen-Taylor (EngAGE C.O.O.) and me (EngAGE Websites/Social Media Manager). Click here to see the complete list of artists and read their bios. I hope you had a chance to stop by!

The Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena. (Photo: Tyrone Polk)

Ready for the reception. (Photo: John Semper Jr.)

(Photo: John Semper Jr.)

(Photo: John Semper Jr.)

Artist Alvin Fels with gallery visitors. (Photo: Tyrone Polk)

Artist Alvin Fels in front of one of his paintings, along with his son and gallery
visitor Andre Miripolsky, a well-known Los Angeles artist and good friend.
(Photo: Tyrone Polk)

Artist/curator Maureen Kellen-Taylor in front of her work,
with her daughter, Samantha Vargas. (Photo: Tyrone Polk)

Me, in front of my paintings, with my partner, Experience Talks producer/host
John Semper Jr. (left), and EngAGE CFO Ken Tambe. (Photo: Tyrone Polk)

"It's Never Too Late to Create!" Exhibition Opens January 16th at the Armory Center for the Arts

It's a merger of my art world and my non-profit social media world! "It's Never Too Late to Create!" features the work of eight artists who are residents in two EngAGE flagship properties [Burbank Senior Artists Colony and North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony], along with the work of co-curators Dr. Maureen Kellen-Taylor, EngAGE C.O.O., and me. We're delighted to have the opportunity to demonstrate the talents and value of mature artists. Please join us at the reception.

It’s Never Too Late to Create!

An exhibition by artists from 

Burbank Senior Artists Colony and NoHo SAC

Armory Center for the Arts

145 North Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103

January 16 – February 14, 2016

Opening Reception: January 16th from 3 to 5 p.m.

Participating EngAGEd Artists:

Maryellen Bodell – fiber art

At an early age, Maryellen Bodell learned to sew by hand from her grandmother, making doll clothes. She was intent on learning more, so the next step was mastering a treadle machine and using patterns to sew her own clothes. After graduating business college, she worked as a secretary and bookkeeper but always longed to work with fabrics. Later, she began professionally designing residential custom drapery, slipcovers, pillows, etc., and remained in that field in the Boston area until retirement. Since retiring, she focuses on wall hangings with mixed media techniques.

Walter Hurlburt – painting (oil)

Walter had a 30 year career as a sign painter and for seven years worked as a technical illustrator for Lockheed Corporation. He began painting in oils in 1995 and likes to paint in a realistic manner. He paints portraits, figures, and landscapes, and recently a series of paintings of grain elevators came from his fascination with those structures.

His paintings are in private collections in California, Arizona, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. He is a member of the Valley Artists Guild, The San Fernando Art Club, The Burbank Art Association, and the Fine Arts Federation of Burbank.

Charlene McDonald – painting (watercolor)

Charlene is an award-winning watercolorist who is a member of the Burbank Fine Arts Association, and other arts groups. She is a retired accountant, and now teaches watercolor painting.

Teddi Shattuck – painting (acrylic)

Teddi attended Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Georgia. She has also studied abroad in Cortona, Italy, and Prague in the Czech Republic. She has had solo shows R.J. Reynolds Gallery in Atlanta, and Funky Furniture Art Gallery in British Columbia. Awards include Best of Show at the Roswell Arts Festival. Her work is in the corporate collections of Marriott Marquis Hotel, IBM, Citizens Bank, Deloitte Touche, Salomon Brothers NYC, and Georgia Power.

Alvin Fels – painter (acrylic)/designer

Alvin Fels is an artist in the shoe industry. His footwear creations have been praised and enjoyed by industry insiders and the public at large for over 60 years. He attended Pratt Institute where he gained an education in Art & Design. Mr. Fels artwork goes beyond his “Pop Art Shoe Paintings”; he also creates abstract murals. His murals were publicly debuted in the windows of Neiman Marcus as the background for “Halston’s Evening Wear Collection.”

His work can be described as abstract, silly, angular, intense and thought provoking. It not only reflects his years of creating women’s footwear, but also the habits of the consumers who buy them. He is currently Design Consultant at Palos Verdes Footwear, makers of very exciting, very volatile “Grazie,” and Sbicca women’s shoes and boots.

Carolyn McElroy – collage

Collage artist Caroline McElroy credits her mother for her creative instincts and believes she first learned about form and function at her mother’s knee where she encouraged her to “grow” her talent.

McElroy’s creative development highlights include summering in Laguna Beach, CA, for several years with the artistic community that worked on the “Living Art” show and who were the founders of the original “Sawdust Festival”; spending time in the creative studio of L.A. Freak Scene guru and sculptor Vito Paulekas; spending a year in the workshop of famed Junk Sculptor Duffy of California. She also spent time working with Joel Wachs, President of The Andy Warhol Foundation For The Visual Arts; staging art shows each Spring for several years at The Southwest Museum as an instructor for the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Indian Education Program; and holding art shows in Montecito and Santa Barbara, CA.

Carolyn teaches a Collage Construction Class at the NoHo Senior Arts Colony.

Tyrone Polk – photography/graphics

Tyrone Polk describes himself as “an artist who has an addiction to vibrant colors and an interest in exploring photography.” He has an innate interest in photographing unique subjects such as graphics , landscapes, animals, and unusual sites that touch him spiritually and emotionally. Photography is very personal to him. He wants his photos to be interesting and somewhat controversial (in some cases), so that the photos speak to the person viewing them. In Tyrone’s words, “I am grateful to be part of the Art World that inspires and captures my full attention and it brings joy in my life to share my photos.”

Jean T. Ritchie – collage/monoprint

Jean T. Ritchie is an actress. As a teenager she emigrated to the west coast of the United States and over the years proceeded to undertake many roles including wife, mother, admin positions in offices, host to foreign students, served on various boards, volunteered in elementary school classes, and entrepreneur. In addition she is a recipient of awards in art works and employment positions. When she was expecting her youngest child Ms. Ritchie began with one college class towards her degree – a BFA in Art. After recently relocating to Los Angeles she continues her acting career, writes poetry, works on art projects, and makes plans to travel.

Maureen Kellen-Taylor – artist, teacher, arts administrator [EngAGE C.O.O.] – painting/mixed media

Maureen works with paint, mixed-media, fibers and environmental installations. She trained in Britain and San Francisco. She was imprinted by her early years living on the edge of a South American jungle which still influences her palette and urge to express her love of the more-than-human world. She shows her work in California and England. She also has spent many years helping people reconnect to their own creativity through teaching, writing, travel programs, and designing and establishing arts programs for both Artworks in San Francisco and EngAGE in Southern California. She has taught children in San Francisco Public Schools, and adults at South County Community College, CIIS, Burbank and Noho Senior Arts Colonies, as well as in private workshops and travel programs. Her work is in several private collections in San Francisco and the United Kingdom.

Awards: 5 one-year Artist in Residence grants from California Arts Council; California Arts Council Directors Award; Invitational Artist Residency at Boreal Art/Nature Center, Quebec Canada; Lifetime California Community College Credential for Teaching Art.

Dr. Kellen-Taylor has earned an MA in Expressive Arts Therapy and a PhD for Integral Studies in Learning and Change in Human Systems.

Cynthia Friedlob – artist [EngAGE Websites and Social Media Manager] – drawing/painting/digital art

Cynthia’s career has been devoted to the creative arts. She’s an award-winning artist who’s exhibited in gallery and museum shows across the country for over twenty-five years. Her work ranges from colorful to quiet, from energetic to meditative. It is most often inspired by music, usually jazz, but sometimes classical. She greatly admires Agnes Martin and Richard Diebenkorn, and would very much like to live in an Edward Hopper painting with Bill Evans music playing softly in the background.

Cynthia manages the websites and social media for EngAGE, Inc. She is also a host and producer of “Experience Talks,” a weekly radio show on KPFK-FM 90.7 in LA, produced by EngAGE. Previously, she was a scriptwriter and story editor for children’s television shows and family feature films, working with the legendary Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera, Stan Lee, and Jim Henson.

Cynthia is a graduate of the University of Denver with BA and MA degrees. She’s a member of the Writers Guild of America, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers).

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25% of the sale price of the art will go to the Armory to help support their many excellent programs. They were recently chosen to receive the 2015 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award — an accolade the White House calls the highest honor for after school art programs in the Nation.

EngAGE is a nonprofit that takes a whole-person approach to creative and healthy aging by providing arts, wellness, lifelong learning, community building and intergenerational programs to thousands of seniors living in affordable senior apartment communities in Southern California.