What's New
Saturday, March 27, 2004
AT THE GALLERIES
One of Lorraine Almeida's favorite quotations comes from Aldous Huxley. "When we look very near or very far, mankind vanishes or loses his primacy . . . "
This seems to be the guiding premise for her collection "Microcosms and Macrocosms," now showing at Gallery Route One in Point Reyes Station. Except for the hand of a skillful artist, which is always present, there is nothing in these rich drawings and paintings to echo humanity.
The show, one of three now in the gallery, will continue through May 2. A reception will be held Sunday, May 28, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Reaction to these swirls of cosmic energy, fiery orbs, and deep space will vary with the viewers. My first thought was of Van Gogh's "Starry Night," but Almeida's work goes far beyond simple abstraction.
With few exceptions, the viewer is cut loose from anything so familiar as a landscape. And the "cosmic bodies" in many cases can just as well be seen as protozoa or other primitive pond life.
"Day and Night," however, a 37 by 49-inch oil on canvas, has a sharply defined horizon, and a dark ominous sky. At first you feel that you have been comfortably returned to earth, but wait. There is a holographic disc representing the earth far off in the upper left corner of the painting. Th e painting is actually a view from another world.
The biggest painting "Sun and Moon" dominates one wall of the gallery with a silvery orb to the left and a fiery one of equal size to the right. It's an iconic painting with great impact, heightened by a subtle shift of hue and value. There are wavy, watery lines and a vibrant texture in the background which I found fascinating, both for the technical skill and the effect.
Almeida, who studied at California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland and the San Francisco Art Institute, where she earned her Masters of Fine Arts, taught for more than a decade at various schools and colleges in the Bay Area. Her work has been shown in numerous group and solo shows over the years, and she has recently curated several gallery shows in Point Reyes and Bolinas. She lives in Marshall. She is a member of Point Reyes Open Studios.
Also at the gallery is a show of recent whimsey by Inverness's Andrew Romanoff which is pure fun and a remarkable photo documentary from the Latino community called "Far from Home." I will try to comment on these shows within the next few days.
One of Lorraine Almeida's favorite quotations comes from Aldous Huxley. "When we look very near or very far, mankind vanishes or loses his primacy . . . "
This seems to be the guiding premise for her collection "Microcosms and Macrocosms," now showing at Gallery Route One in Point Reyes Station. Except for the hand of a skillful artist, which is always present, there is nothing in these rich drawings and paintings to echo humanity.
The show, one of three now in the gallery, will continue through May 2. A reception will be held Sunday, May 28, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Reaction to these swirls of cosmic energy, fiery orbs, and deep space will vary with the viewers. My first thought was of Van Gogh's "Starry Night," but Almeida's work goes far beyond simple abstraction.
With few exceptions, the viewer is cut loose from anything so familiar as a landscape. And the "cosmic bodies" in many cases can just as well be seen as protozoa or other primitive pond life.
"Day and Night," however, a 37 by 49-inch oil on canvas, has a sharply defined horizon, and a dark ominous sky. At first you feel that you have been comfortably returned to earth, but wait. There is a holographic disc representing the earth far off in the upper left corner of the painting. Th e painting is actually a view from another world.
The biggest painting "Sun and Moon" dominates one wall of the gallery with a silvery orb to the left and a fiery one of equal size to the right. It's an iconic painting with great impact, heightened by a subtle shift of hue and value. There are wavy, watery lines and a vibrant texture in the background which I found fascinating, both for the technical skill and the effect.
Almeida, who studied at California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland and the San Francisco Art Institute, where she earned her Masters of Fine Arts, taught for more than a decade at various schools and colleges in the Bay Area. Her work has been shown in numerous group and solo shows over the years, and she has recently curated several gallery shows in Point Reyes and Bolinas. She lives in Marshall. She is a member of Point Reyes Open Studios.
Also at the gallery is a show of recent whimsey by Inverness's Andrew Romanoff which is pure fun and a remarkable photo documentary from the Latino community called "Far from Home." I will try to comment on these shows within the next few days.
Thursday, March 25, 2004
TEST YOUR APHORISM
Thomas Treat of Taos, New Mexico, a retired newspaper editor wonders about "A nose for news is often bruised," and writes:
"I said it so often that it became a kind of cliche in the newsroom. In those days, I claimed authorship, but now I'm not too sure. I'm not even sure it's true anymore. Noses don't seem to be as inquisitive as they once were."
I told Mr. Treat that his saying seemed original to me, but I would ask our readers. Anyone?
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN
Thomas Treat of Taos, New Mexico, a retired newspaper editor wonders about "A nose for news is often bruised," and writes:
"I said it so often that it became a kind of cliche in the newsroom. In those days, I claimed authorship, but now I'm not too sure. I'm not even sure it's true anymore. Noses don't seem to be as inquisitive as they once were."
I told Mr. Treat that his saying seemed original to me, but I would ask our readers. Anyone?
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
MODERN LULLABY
Hush little baby, close your eyes.
This milk has not been pasturized.
Sleep little love, don't despair,
We won't use plastic underwear.
And it might help to say besides
This house is free of pesticides.
Dream little dear and never panic.
There's nothing here that's not organic.
Rick Lyttle 3/24/04
Hush little baby, close your eyes.
This milk has not been pasturized.
Sleep little love, don't despair,
We won't use plastic underwear.
And it might help to say besides
This house is free of pesticides.
Dream little dear and never panic.
There's nothing here that's not organic.
Rick Lyttle 3/24/04
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
JURIED SHOW
The Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in Santa Ana, California, received 350 entries for its May show called "Ink Under Pressure." Juror Patrick Merrill selected 65 prints, including my "Clayton" a three-plate mezzotint.
The print depicts Clayton Lewis rowing across Tomales Bay under a night sky. You'll find it in the landscape pages of this site.
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE
The Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in Santa Ana, California, received 350 entries for its May show called "Ink Under Pressure." Juror Patrick Merrill selected 65 prints, including my "Clayton" a three-plate mezzotint.
The print depicts Clayton Lewis rowing across Tomales Bay under a night sky. You'll find it in the landscape pages of this site.
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE
Monday, March 22, 2004
BAY FOG - This recent mezzotint is meant to suggest the west shore cliffs of Tamales bay as they appear through the morning mist. The 1.5 by 6-inch copper plate was printed with Paynes Gray ink on German etching paper. It is available for $75.00.
TOMALES DAWNING
Only a few ducks and the occasional head of an inquisitive harbor seal broke the water's glassy surface, but as the sky lightened the off-shore wind began. I was soon rowing into a brisk, southern breeze with a modest chop keeping rhythm on the wherry's bow.
This condition didn't last long. Opposite Inverness Store, about a mile out of home port, the wind eased. Twenty minutes later it was flat calm again – all these changes in less than an hour.
No two mornings are exactly alike on Tomales Bay, and the contrast between one day and the next can be remarkable.
Twenty four hours after the morning described above. I rowed out into a northern wind. The dawn sky was clear and bright - orange in the east and ripe peach to the north - all the promise of another hot day, but then as the sun cleared the hills, mist began rising from the bay.
The wind died. The mist thickened. Within minutes, stretches of shoreline vanished behind a gray curtain. Under a filtered sun, the bay turned oily-flat, with a seal or two popping up close in my wake. Somewhere in the shroud of fog, two raucous gulls traded insults.
SCROLL DOWN FIR MORE OF "WHAT'S NEW?"
TOMALES DAWNING
Only a few ducks and the occasional head of an inquisitive harbor seal broke the water's glassy surface, but as the sky lightened the off-shore wind began. I was soon rowing into a brisk, southern breeze with a modest chop keeping rhythm on the wherry's bow.
This condition didn't last long. Opposite Inverness Store, about a mile out of home port, the wind eased. Twenty minutes later it was flat calm again – all these changes in less than an hour.
No two mornings are exactly alike on Tomales Bay, and the contrast between one day and the next can be remarkable.
Twenty four hours after the morning described above. I rowed out into a northern wind. The dawn sky was clear and bright - orange in the east and ripe peach to the north - all the promise of another hot day, but then as the sun cleared the hills, mist began rising from the bay.
The wind died. The mist thickened. Within minutes, stretches of shoreline vanished behind a gray curtain. Under a filtered sun, the bay turned oily-flat, with a seal or two popping up close in my wake. Somewhere in the shroud of fog, two raucous gulls traded insults.
SCROLL DOWN FIR MORE OF "WHAT'S NEW?"
Sunday, March 21, 2004
TEST YOUR APHORISM
C. C. Finch of Chicago offers "War is the handmaiden of Greed" and wonders if it's been said before and is worth saying again. "It was probably one of those Roman writers, maybe Greek," He writes. Meanwhile, he can't say if my "Politics prefers privilege over character" is original or not, but adds: "Mencken would be a good bet."
C. C. Finch of Chicago offers "War is the handmaiden of Greed" and wonders if it's been said before and is worth saying again. "It was probably one of those Roman writers, maybe Greek," He writes. Meanwhile, he can't say if my "Politics prefers privilege over character" is original or not, but adds: "Mencken would be a good bet."
