I heard about this opening of Michael Mundy from a facebook friend; on a rainy October night I decided to drop by the opening on the upper east side and found the gallery packed.  I would have more to say about the paintings, but the website where they are featured is entirely in Flash, and it’s content is much harder to extract, and there’s not much that explains any particular piece, so I’ll just reference the work I responded to the most.

I think this piece may be called “A-View” and was done in 2002 – I noticed how the textures and colors of the painting on the wall, and, that painting being a face looking out at the viewer, mixes in with the textures of the photo.   I liked the photo, which I found, visually arresting – but I can’t begin to tell you want it means.

The picture of Chuck Close doesn’t need and explanation – most people in the art world know who he is and that he was/is crippled and yet, continued to paint.   I found myself looking at all the objects in the studio.  My feeling- Chuck was fortunate to have the means to live comfortably and hire assistants so he continue to paint.

I find the picture in the foreground, on the floor, was the nicest part of the work and reminded me of two paintings, the first, Velasquez painting of the maids of honor, and the second, my own painting, done 20 years ago, partly referencing the Velasquez painting, see below:

Marshall Sponder – In the Cave, After Paris, 1988, Oil on Canvas 4′ x 4′

Maybe, that’s why I responded to some of Michael Mundy’s photographs, if one calls them that, because they reminded me, that I look back, and so does he.

The photograph below is named after Edward Hopper, and it’s obvious, why.

Having said that, I’m don’t respond to photographs as often as I do to paintings, maybe that’s a bias I have to prefer one over the other.  However, following my thoughts of yesterday’s event at Design Meetup with Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic which I attended.

I’m finding it easier to like Michael Mundy’s photographs, once I accepted that no one creates anything, the Creator did all of that, for us – all we do is discover the creation and collect, assemble and annotate the elements we think are meaningful – and there is where there be Art.

I got over to my studio at Brooklyn Artists Gym and painted a nude study – it’s not the most exciting work I’ve done – I tried the capture the dignity of this male model who I may have painted before sometime last year.

I don’t think 3 hours is enough time to complete a study – I still do all my work in one sitting – in fact I think my artwork and blogging are closely related.  I’m constantly blogging and wanting to have immediate contact and immediate feedback – which is OK for a blogger – it’s also how I feel about my artwork.  I don’t want to wait – I don’t want to spend 5 sittings glazing that’s probably not going to improve anything much for me, anyway.   I guess that’s partly why I like Oil Pastels – it’s quick – no setup – pretty good range of colors which stay the same as when you put them down ) unlike acrylic, which dries differently than when it’s applied (wet).

I tried something different and worked on a painting within a painting – a little different working on something like this – I had to finish the left and lower part before going into the rest – I decided this study was impossible to complete for me.  I don’t think I was successful with this study but it’s an interesting idea.

Before leaving tonight I stopped by the BAG Photography show  that was opening  called Look SEE::  PHOTOGRAPHS ON REFLECTION, curated by Michelle Jaslow.   A lot of good photos – many pushing the edges of photography.

Fun show – did not stay long though.