This exhibit at the Riffe Gallery in Columbus only goes on another week, so if you’re local it’s worth stopping in. Especially if you want to see some paintings from Ohio artists that are bright, detailed, and in some ways atypical of what I expected from watercolors. Here are a few examples:
Geronimo, by Fran Mangino, 2022
Lady with a Pink Hat, by Thomas Mayer, 2021
Springtime in the Flats by Mike McEnroe, 2022
Here’s a link to the gallery page, including some additional images and info on the (rather restricted) gallery hours. The exhibit has paintings from members of the Ohio Watercolor Society and is a juried exhibition.
Visited the Pizzuti Collection today to see their photography exhibition, “I Hear America Singing: Contemporary Photography from America”. It’s a small exhibit but worthwhile if you’re in the area. The images that particularly struck me related to humans and our impact on the environment and nature, particularly in the American West.
Fascinating to me was that this exhibit was originally created and presented at the national fine art gallery in Amman, Jordan, where it would have explored the themes of diversity within America and our relationship with the land. Here is a link to a description of the exhibition from Ashley Lumb, curator.
Also, it’s such a pleasure to be able to go to art galleries and exhibitions again!
Desert Housing Block, Las Vegas, Nevada by Alex MacLeanThe Wall, by Griselda San Martin
I was really impressed by the work of Alex MacLean, Griselda San Martin and Michael Lundgren. Also enjoyed Lucas Foglia’s “Frontcountry” series. I’ve included links to their websites below.
It’s one of my favorite places, so on my recent trip to California (my first since the start of Covid in 2020) of course I had to revisit the beautiful Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades. Here are a few random images of art that impressed me inside the building — something different, since I usually focus on the gardens and beautiful views.
An archer made of glazed brick from the reign of Darius I, 522-486 BC. He was one of many decorating the walls of the palace at Susa in Iran. Beautiful colors!
Persian Guard from Persepolis in Iran. 486-465 BC
Awesome and dramatic marble sculpture of Mithras standing on the back of a bull and sacrificing it with a dagger. This Roman sculpture dates from AD 150-200.Great view of the Outer Peristyle Garden and pool from second floor balcony. It was HOT the day I was there, 95 degrees by noon, and I really wanted to sit in that pool for a while.
The Getty Villa is smaller and more serene than the big Getty Center museum in Los Angeles. Here’s a link to their website for info about visiting. If you’re in the area it’s worth a visit!
It reminded me of our visit to Amsterdam last year, when we saw an exhibition of Banksy works at the Moco museum. (We went there right after our visit to the Van Gogh museum, so it was a huge perspective shift!) These two images particularly stuck with me:
I’m back from a trip to Los Angeles, tired but without coronavirus I hope (crosses fingers for luck). While there I was lucky enough to go on a DTLA Walking Tour of some of the murals in the LA Arts District. Here are just a few samples I really enjoyed!
Actually, this one is from Santa Monica! It’s by Ruben Rojas and Cloe Hakakian.
Not very many words in this post — just pictures of awesome street murals in Portland, Oregon’s Alberta Arts District. We visited there last week and were fortunate enough to escape the rain. I’m going to attempt to credit the artists correctly if I can find the info online. There’s a lot more street art in Portland if you ever visit, and even a map online through Portland Street Art Alliance. Enjoy!
Mural by Pablo Gonzalez
“Six Strong”, by Michelle McCausey, Darci Johnson, Una Kim, Corie Hinton, Heidi Elise Wirz, Lucid Rose
Here are just a few images from the Cincinnati Art Museum yesterday. The exhibit is called No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man. It’s spread out through galleries in different sections of the museum, so it’s interspersed with the regular collection. I thought this turned out really well.
My favorite was an installation called “Gamelatron Bidadari” by Aaron Taylor Kuffner. I couldn’t do it justice with a photo, since the sound is an essential part of the experience. It’s a peaceful, lovely piece — if you go, be sure to find this one!
One part of “Deep Thought” by HYBYCOZO
One part of “Deep Thought” by HYBYCOZO
Thorax, Ambassador of the Insects by Tyler FuQua (Awesome tights, by the way, Thorax!)
I love art museums. In the Los Angeles area, I’ve been to the Getty Center and the beautiful Getty Villa, the Norton Simon Museum, the Huntington Library Art Collection, the Bergamot Station arts complex and more. This time I visited the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). We only made it through a small section of the museum, but I found some personal favorites.
Of course everyone who visits takes pictures of “Urban Light” by Chris Burden. Here are some of the 202 street lights that make up the installation. They turn on at dusk, but they’re still wonderful during the day.
Here is a beautiful Archangel Raphael from 17th century Naples:
And some pop art by Idelle Weber, a fun piece called “Jump Rope”.
More pop art, a fun wooden sculpture by Joel Shapiro called “Dancing Man”. I also like “A Lawn Being Sprinkled” by David Hockney behind the dancing man.
My sister particularly liked this one. It’s called “Balloon Monkey (Orange)” by Jeff Koons, and it’s located outside the Ahmanson Building at LACMA. It sits in a reflecting pool, apparently at least partly to keep people from touching it. (I’ve linked an article below about the reflecting pool.)
Here’s a little more info about some of the pieces and artists above:
San Antonio is full of little touches of art. Here are a few examples I saw as we wandered around the River Walk and the Alamo area.
The first two were New Deal-era projects. The artist, Ethel Wilson Harris, was supervisor of the Arts and Crafts division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in San Antonio in 1939. These mosaics were completed in 1941.
Tile mural at the Navarro Street Bridge on the River Walk, San Antonio
Tile mural, San Antonio River Walk, north of East Commerce Street near North St Mary’s Street
More tiles decorated the trolley station columns at East Commerce street near Alamo Plaza. There are a total of 44 tiles by artist Ann Adams, completed in 2000.
Ann Adams tile, San Antonio trolley station
Ann Adams tile, San Antonio trolley station
Another mosaic was tucked away in a little alcove on the River Walk. I haven’t been able to find the name of the artist.
Mosaic on the San Antonio River Walk, artist unknown.
There are a lot more of these, if you’re ever in San Antonio and want to explore. Here are a couple of links to further info:
Author Anne Marie Lutz 