Permission to make creative leaps
I have always seen the process of finding an artistic voice as a series of "permissions". When you are learning to be an artist you assume there are certain things you are allowed to do, and others you are not. However as you develop and you experience the work of other artists, you discover that you are allowed to do much more than you could have ever let yourself imagine.
Artistic possibilities are realized by looking at other artists' work and knowing that if they can do it, so can you. A major person in my life in terms of discovering what I was allowed to do is Judy Pfaff. I first saw her work in Los Angeles in 1989. It was one of my first experiences with installation art. The work, somewhat enigmatically titled N.Y.C.-B.Q.E. (New York City - Brooklyn Queens Expressway), was a very bright and colourful piece seeming to be made of industry cast-offs (see image below). I was really taken aback by it at the time because the bold graphic colours had the look of advertising and signage, and I found myself wondering "is this what art could be?" I was completely entranced by this fairly complex "painting" that was bursting from the constraints of the wall.
I have followed Pfaff's career since that pivotal moment in 1989. She is an artist who lets the material dictate the narrative and metaphoric direction of her work, and for me this approach has always felt a very natural and intuitive way to work. Over the years Pfaff has also done printmaking and collage reliefs, so it has been interesting to observe an artist who was so completely engaged in the three-dimensional process, work in a more two-dimensional format. Her printmaking work is definitely informed by her installation sensibility, especially when she includes all components of the process including the print plates to create large-scale wall reliefs. I learned from Pfaff that an artist doesn't have to be pigeon-holed into being a installation artist, a painter, a drawer or a printmaker; an artist can be all of the above.
One of the fascinating things about installation art is that it acknowledges the space around it. Pfaff is currently in an exhibition called The Order of Things at the Barnes Foundation with Mark Dion and Fred Wilson. The Barnes Foundation is renown for its huge art collection that was arranged in a very idiosyncratic way by Albert C Barnes. He started the foundation to "promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts and horticulture." (On an aside, this place has quite an intriguing and disquieting history that can be learned about in this compelling 2006 full-length documentary called The Art of the Steal). Pfaff's range of materials and approaches seems like a perfect fit for this somewhat eccentric institution. Pfaff's website contains a comprehensive archive of articles written about her work. These writings provide an enlightening overview of Pfaff's ways of thinking and her relationship to the materials she chooses to use in her work. An excellent monograph on her work, Judy Pfaff by Irving Sandler, covers both her installation and two-dimensional work. In a 2011 lecture at Boston University, Pfaff gives an overview of her career from graduate school to the present. And more recently she gave a talk at the Garrison Art Centre. Perhaps after exploring Pfaff's work through these links, you too will find new creative directions opening up for yourself. "N.Y.C. - B.Q.E.," 1987
Painted steel, plastic laminates, fiberglass, wood, paint, lawn furniture, and awnings, 15 x 35 x 9 inches. Installation view: Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.
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Drawing as Meditation WorkshopSunday May 31, 10am-5pm
 Simple line drawing is an excellent way to relax and focus, and consequently, a perfect way to develop a daily meditation practice. This workshop covers two approaches to drawing as meditation. The first part focuses on close observation of natural forms and really learning to slow down and draw what you see. In the other component you will learn to make intricate rhythmic marks that will look like something between a doodle and a complex fabric or wallpaper design. Both methods involve 'mindfulness', where the focus is on being aware of the present moment. This workshop would be of interest to you whether or not you have experience with meditation, and if you are simply looking for a way to relax and want to experience the joy and focus that drawing can bring. No experience necessary.
Wendy Welch
Tuition: $135 (6hrs)
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VISA Diploma of Fine Arts graduate Anna Curtin will talk about the development for her work over the last few years as she transitioned from VISA to complete her MFA at the University of Gloucestershire in the UK.
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Save the date to attend Diploma Fine Arts 2015 graduate, Jessica Ziakin Cook's opening June 7 at 3:30pm
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Join us for VISA's second biannual Garden Party fundraiser. A great time will be had by all! For more details: visaturns10 website.
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Island Blue's Art Fair
 Check out Island Blue's Art Fair on Friday, May 29th at their Sidney Art Store or Saturday, May 30th at their Downtown Victoria Art Store from 10-4 for our annual Art Fair. It is a fun-filled day of product demonstrations and a great opportunity to talk directly to suppliers about their products and have some hands-on fun as you move from station to station. And there's Door Prizes! For more info: Art Fair
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Join VISA Diploma of Fine Arts graduate Celine Berry for an opening of her recent work at Gallery 1580, June 5, 6-9pm
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Xchanges Gallery
Opening June 5, 7-9pm
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Deluge Contemporary Art
Speculative Frictions June 3 to 27, 2015
Rä di Martino (Italy/UK)
Shambhavi Kaul (India/US)
Jennet Thomas (UK)
Hope Tucker (US)
A video installation exploring constructed cinematic landscapes, narratives restructured though repurposed footage/sound and tropes of speculative fiction and surrealism.
For more info: Deluge Contemporary Art
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For more information contact Melissa in the office |
