(re)mark

A painting from the Halifax series.

As you may have heard, several arts funding programs have been cancelled in the last seven days. While many in the press have condemned this decision, government leaks have been handled in such a way that indicates they feel it is electorally profitable for them to cancel these programs.

from www.carfac.ca

It had been a while that I was looking for a studio, but last month I found a place to work. It is a nice, smallish place with large windows on Pine Avenue near St Laurent Blvd (for those familiar with Montreal).

Here’s a heartwarming art story from The Economist, of all places. In 1993, two students at Frankfurt’s art school (Städelschule) each gave the caretaker a painting for his 50th birthday. Somehow, it became a tradition for students to give the caretaker and his wife a painting at graduation. By now, the couple have a superb art collection — much of it valuable, none of it for sale, with none of the acquistions based on anything but personal affection.

From The Intrepid Art Collector.

I have always liked the term ‘paradigm shift’…

I found this interesting article via the art blog bloggy :

Today, instead of a cultural crisis, we’re facing a paradigm shift. Thanks to the Internet, the monopoly of the elites and the publishing empires they represent are crumbling, and if the blinders imposed by the powers that be haven’t yet been pried off, they have at least, for the moment, been bent back. If you don’t believe in democracy, this is a problem. If you do, then this is could be the dawning of a new golden age. Anyone who visits websites like artnet.com, artforum.com, or our own brooklynrail.org, is aware of the vast amount of valuable content on the net. Within the past few years individual art bloggers have appeared. As a confirmed contrarian, committed to opposing any structure whatsoever, the idea of a venue where the only limitations are an individual’s intellect, energy, and time is very appealing. Though the list of people writing and creating forums for discussions in cyberspace is long, indeed very long, for the purposes of this article I interviewed three who have made unique innovations.

www.brooklynrail.org

I am still searching for a small studio to rent or for a larger one to share. I sometimes use oil paints but use non-toxic solvents. If you know of a place in Montreal please let me know.

Nice to see that the painting has found a nice home.

I have put 10 small works on paper online and available for purchase. They are all easy to ship and inexpensive. Click to view the gallery. You may pay online using a credit card or contact me to arrange other payment options.

I have a painting included in this week’s Saatchi Gallery Showdown.

You can Vote for it here.

In a new initiative to generate more exposure for the artists in Your Gallery and Stuart, and to spotlight their work to as wide an audience as possible, we have created SHOWDOWN.

SHOWDOWN is for all registered Your Gallery and Stuart artists to enter their works for visitors to score. The winner of the final head-to-head vote will receive £1000 and the runner up will receive £750. The winning work will go on display at the new Saatchi gallery.

This is the painting I have entered:

I suggest ArtCal for info on exhibitions happening in NYC.

My friend David Hall is having an exhibition here in Montreal. His paintings are defintely worth seeing in person.

“Shifting Ground”
Tableaux de David Hall

La galerie d’art Warren G. Flowers
4001 Boulevard de Maisonneuve ouest
Montréal, Québec

13 février au 7 mars, 2007
Vernissage: Mardi, le 20 février, 2007; 17:30 - 19:30

I am working on a new section for my portfolio web site where people will be able to purchase small works on paper. They will be easy to ship and not too expensive (and you will be able to pay online). Coming soon.

I am not sure what to call the section, Gallery? Store? Purchase? Buy? The last three seem a bit crass. Suggestions?

Recently I have been in a non-blog period. I have not been that regular with my own posts and at the same time have been reading less blogs. Do any of you have suggestions for good blogs to read? Add a comment and let me know - I would like to find some new ones to check out.

On the painting side of things I have been trying a few new things. Last week I started a portrait of J. If it improves I will post it here - but how it stands now I am not that happy with it. I used to do quite a bit of life drawing and painting from the model in my undergrad studies but have not in the last long while. It makes me realize how drawing or painting from life is a skill the requires continued practice.

This is just a quick note to recomment the videos on Vincent Romaniello’s blog. He features several artists talking about their work. The quality is very good.

My work is currently included in an online exhibition organised by The Miami Art Exchange. Click here for more information.

Miami Art Exchange Presents X Factor, a group exhibition featuring the work of local and international artists. A “Factor” is an event, circumstance, influence, or element that plays a part in bringing about a result. A factor in a case contributes to its causation or outcome.

Video Description
I wrote this tune back in 2004 when I was doing work at the mill. I ended up back there for a couple of days in November as it was being dismantled so I took some footage and cut together this video.
This is a song I wrote and made a video for.

This is a video that my friend Rob made for a song he wrote. Definitely worth the listen and the look.

I can see this photo (billboard) from my window in Old Montreal. I am really liking it - much better than the last. As you can see it is rather overcast and rainny in Montreal today. Very autumnal weather we are having.

Canadian abstract and expressionist painter Philip Iverson has died from brain cancer at the age of 41.

The Fredericton-born oil painter had worked for the past five years in Montreal, where he lived with his wife Yukari.

>> continue to CBC.ca

Barbara Roberts reports for CBC Radio. (Runs: 1:07)  

Philip Iverson, artist and friend, died yesterday here in Montreal. Philip was a very talented painter - his energy and commitment towards his work continually impressed me. He was a painter’s painter and I admired his boldness in the way that he worked. I will miss visiting his studio, going for the occasional pint and seeing the next series of paintings he was working on.

Self Portrait, Oils, Thick Paper, 4.5 x 4 feet, 1992

You may view his obituary here.

Expressionist painter Philip Iverson dies (CBC.ca)

Adagio, Oils, Acrylics, Wood, 5 x 4 feet, 2002

Visit his online portfolio.

Some of you may know that I have a day job working as a web designer. If you are looking to have a web site designed I am available for these type of projects. Are you an artist looking to have a professional looking portfolio site? Contact me if you are interested and I will give you a quote for your project as well as send you a list of web sites that I have designed.

This is a photo from the vernissage (gallery opening) of Impromptu at David Ludmer art contemporain in Montreal. (more photos).

The show features the photography of Charlotte Rosshandler, David Ludmer and Melanie Shatzky.

DLAC, 5445, av. De Gaspe, bureau 106, Montreal, 514-223-0212

I am still looking for a studio to rent/share - in Montreal (Mile-end area preferably but not necessary). Please contact me if you have any leads. Thanks!

This is a work by Los Angeles area artist Carol Es. Her blog is worth watching if you are interested in artists who blog about their work. To view details about the above work, click here.

This post is a part of a series where I highlight other artists websites.

My friend David is having a show of his photographs. The opening is March 16, from 6PM to 7:30PM.

David Ludmer, Con-struit
March 16 to April 29, Monday to Saturday, 1PM to 5PM.
DLAC, 5445 de Gaspe avenue #106, Montreal, QC, 514.223.0212

This is a good drawing taken from Éric Laplante’s web site. I like the volumentric combined with the flat.

You can view more here : portfolio site and blog.