Seeing things as more than they are
 I love simple paintings of simple things. The artist who is most beloved for his paintings of simple objects is Morandi. This Italian artist (1890-1964) devoted his life to making still life compositions of bottles. So it was with delight and pleasure, I came across the work of Leanne Shapton, writer and painter, and former art editor of the Op Ed section of the New York Times.
Shapton did a wonderful series for the New York Times called A Month of which consists of paintings on one subject done every day for 31 days. The series consists of a range of themes from random patterns, to potted flowers, to trees, to bottles on a bathtub ledge. The image on the right is from a series called Monday Shower Songs. (Fans of Gordon Lightfoot and Johnny Cash will recognize the lyrics). These poignant paintings make me think of a contemporary take on Morandi's bottle paintings. Both these artists are using things we see every day and making us reimagine them to be beautiful abstract shapes existing in a rectangle.
In a book called Trees of Canada, Shapton used the images in a book with the same title as a point of departure for her own interpretative paintings of leaves. There is a harsh review about her book on amazon.ca that reads: "The Native Trees of Canada is a hand painted exercise that has little or no value as a reference book. The pastel water colours do not represent the true colours of what are purported to be leaves nor do they represent the proper shapes . The book may have some value to the parent or grand parent of the child that drew them." Obviously the reviewer was confused and did not understand the artist's intent. His comment reminds me of the people crying out to the guitarist in the Wallace Steven's poem Man with the Blue Guitar (a poem based on Picasso's painting, The Old Guitarist).
They said, "You have a blue guitar,
You do not play things as they are."
The man replied, "Things as they are
Are changed upon the blue guitar."
Artists, like the guitar player in the Steven's poem, change things as they are, and make us see things in a new way. Simple things such as plastic bottles or drawings of leaves, or sounds from the blue guitar are changed through the artists use of their imagination (and could one expect anything less from a guitar player who himself is the colour blue?). The ordinary is transformed into the extraordinary. So while Picasso's guitarist isn't playing things as they are, and Shapton's leaves cannot be used as a reference to understand the true shape of leaves, or Morandi's bottles do not hint at their actual content or use, these artists are making us look at simple and ordinary things in new ways and in doing so awakening our imagination. Shampoo bottles on the side of your bathtub will never look the same after Shapton's Shower Songs series.
Wendy Welch
Executive Director,
Vancouver Island School of Art
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Exhibition & Open House
When: Friday night at VISA (August 7), 6pm-8pm
Where: Slide Room Gallery and upstairs classrooms at VISAJoin us to see the work from John Luna's Painting as Practice: Idea to Exhibition workshop in the Slide Room Gallery and the drawings from Jack Southern's Language of Drawing Workshop in the upstairs classroom. Wine & beer by donation in Slide Room Gallery and various snacks. Everybody welcome. 
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Encaustic Workshop
with Neil McClelland
Starts this Monday-Friday, August 10-14
There are now TWO available spaces in this ever-popular workshop because of last minute drop-outs.
Phone or email school now and enroll! 250-350-3500 or info@vancouverislandschoolart.com
For more info
Image samples
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Text in Craft
August 9 & 10, 10am-5pm
 Text in Craft will introduce basic skills that blend drawing and embroidery while exploring more experimental approaches to stitchwork through text. This weekend workshop employs the artist manifesto as a springboard for producing creative embroidery that transcends the boundaries between the traditions of textiles, craft and visual arts . Artist manifestos address wider issues, such as the political system. The manifesto in embroidery creates an alternate to the more innocuous stitchwork found in many homes containing domestic mottos such as 'home sweet home'. Using a range of linear fibers (thread, crewel wool, embroidery thread, strings, etc.), participants will create two-dimensional works that probe key elements of art (such as line, texture, and value) while discovering the expressive and visual qualities of text. No experience necessary. Instructor: Connie MoreyTo registerBring a friend and get 50% off one registration (register by phone or in person for discount)
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Mixed Media & Collage
August 10-14, 10am-5pmThis workshop will assist and energize those who are just discovering the medium of collage, as well as those who would like to add to their knowledge and skills. We will cover different approaches to collage using found materials and photographs. Topics will include: uses of colour, unique paper surfaces, surface treatments, incorporation of drywall compound and plaster substrates, working with photographs, image transfer techniques and working with found objects and ephemera. No experience necessary. Instructor: Tony Bounsall Tuition: $435.00 (30 hrs) Tuition includes speciality materials provided by instructor. Students also provide some supplies: supply list
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Still a few more days left to check out VISA Alumni Exhibition at Winchester Galleries on Oak Bay Avenue (ends Saturday Aug 8 at 3pm)  |
Downsizing? Simplifying?
We are looking for high quality art books!
 We are having a special Art Book Sale to coincide with our next Pub Night on September 11, 7-10pm.We are looking for good quality art books that we can sell at our book sale. If you have any extra special coffee table type art books, we will use them as part of our Silent Auction. We can issue a tax receipt for 50% of the full value of the book new. Bring books to the school during opening hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm). Sorry, we cannot accept books that are water-damaged, mildewed, or that look very worn out or have pages missing or images cut out.
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For more information contact Melissa in the office |
