Monday, January 29, 2007
Mountain Dancing at The Sherman 1-28-07
Our Good Friends at The Sherman Theatre in Stroudsburg, PA presented The 10th Anniversary Mountain Dance Concert. The afternoon was filled with some wonderfully entertaining dance presentations by The Performing Arts Center of Conyungham, PA, The Re-cored Dance Company, The Tap Ties Company, The PA Dance Network, The PADV Repertory Ensemble, The University Dance Company of ESU, and What’s on Tap of Sparta, NJ. The pieces were engaging to the eye and proved to be very powerful on the intellect. Our Good Friends Cheryl Yost and Richard Berkowitz (of The Sherman Theatre), Fran Henry, Arline M. Smeltz, and Pat Gaughan were part of a small but delighted audience who attended the event. The Sherman Theatre’s next show will be The David Bromberg Big Band Show on January 31st, 2007. Please contact Our Good Friends at The Sherman Theatre at 570-420-2808 for more information. You’ll find numerous photographs at The Forwardian Arts Society Dance Gallery at 360.yahoo.com/pauladam.
Winterfest 2007
Our Good Friends at The Sherman Theatre in Stroudsburg, PA presented Our Good Friends The Lost Ramblers along with The Blue Roots Bluegrass Band and Like Father, Like Son as part of The 2007 Winterfest which celebrated Bluegrass Music throughout the Pocono area. Although Winterfest has been in existence for several years, the evening’s performance proved to be a historical event as it was the first time The Sherman Theatre participated. It was a great evening filled with plenty of Bluegrass music to keep everyone tapping their toes. Our Good Friends Fran Henry, Gary Lambert, Arline M. Smeltz, and Michael Wetmore were part of a small but enthusiastic audience who attended the event. The Sherman Theatre’s next show will be The David Bromberg Big Band Show on January 31st, 2007. Please contact Our Good Friends at The Sherman Theatre at 570-420-2808 for more information. You’ll find numerous photographs at The Forwardian Arts Society Music JFM 07 Gallery at 360.yahoo.com/pauladam.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
"The Hands" by Alex Castro
Note: You are about to read an article written by Our Good Friend Alex Castro. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us as we’re sure he’ll appreciate any comments on his endeavors. You’ll find pictures relating to the article at 360.yahoo.com/pauladam
These hands were inspired by a photo I saw in National Geographic article on the Afghanistan culture. The jewelry and ornaments worned by Afghanistan women fascinated me. This oil painting was created some 30 years ago when I was a young artist studying the great masters and trying to fine myself in the arts as well as trying to evolve my own unique style of painting!
I was drawn to the Grisaille approach to painting, used extensively by the great masters because I was comfortable establishing my black & white and gray tone values on paper with conte and charcoal. This technique allowed me to transfer these skills to canvas and enabled me to work out all my light and shadow work before glazing on the color in a transparent glaze like medium. When working in gray tones, it was uncanny to see how lifeless hands, came to life once the color was applied. It was almost like giving them a transfusion causing them to spring to life!
Often times it's by making artistic mistakes that we grow creatively. This was the case with this painting. I did not realize that in many ways the process of painting is similar to constructing a house, building with the heavier materials at the lower levels. Violating this principle simply collapses the house. In a painting it just cracks! I also did not take into consideration the contraction and expansion factor of my medium. As a result, the work was stopped and lessons learned some 30 years ago..!!
This Grisaille technique is not for everyone. It is quite complicated. For example the ground on the canvas has to be made none absorbent with rabbit skin glue and litharge that has to be handled with care!
The oil used has to be washed in advance to purify and separate it. This process could take weeks. The making of the esoteric black oil, must be done with care. Some of the mediums used have bees wax mixed in and other ingredients, which is another separate process that gives the brush, stroke an impasto effect. Most of the mediums in this technique have to be made from scratch. All of this before you can paint one brush stroke..!! I have tried some of the shelf brand mediums but in my opinion have not yielded the same results.
In my opinion it's worth the trouble for several reasons. First, it places you on the ground level of this system of painting with total hands on involvement. This experience and knowledge goes beyond superficial painting on canvas. Secondly, the softness and optical depth of transparences is unparalleled in canvas work and has withstood the test of time! And very importantly, the results are simply magnificent, and as the masters discovered last for ever!
Note: The Hands oil on canvas , by Alex Castro work in progress , painted over 30 years ago and looks as fresh as is it were painted yesterday! I plan to teach these concepts and techniques employed by the great master in one of my up coming workshops in the near future!
These hands were inspired by a photo I saw in National Geographic article on the Afghanistan culture. The jewelry and ornaments worned by Afghanistan women fascinated me. This oil painting was created some 30 years ago when I was a young artist studying the great masters and trying to fine myself in the arts as well as trying to evolve my own unique style of painting!
I was drawn to the Grisaille approach to painting, used extensively by the great masters because I was comfortable establishing my black & white and gray tone values on paper with conte and charcoal. This technique allowed me to transfer these skills to canvas and enabled me to work out all my light and shadow work before glazing on the color in a transparent glaze like medium. When working in gray tones, it was uncanny to see how lifeless hands, came to life once the color was applied. It was almost like giving them a transfusion causing them to spring to life!
Often times it's by making artistic mistakes that we grow creatively. This was the case with this painting. I did not realize that in many ways the process of painting is similar to constructing a house, building with the heavier materials at the lower levels. Violating this principle simply collapses the house. In a painting it just cracks! I also did not take into consideration the contraction and expansion factor of my medium. As a result, the work was stopped and lessons learned some 30 years ago..!!
This Grisaille technique is not for everyone. It is quite complicated. For example the ground on the canvas has to be made none absorbent with rabbit skin glue and litharge that has to be handled with care!
The oil used has to be washed in advance to purify and separate it. This process could take weeks. The making of the esoteric black oil, must be done with care. Some of the mediums used have bees wax mixed in and other ingredients, which is another separate process that gives the brush, stroke an impasto effect. Most of the mediums in this technique have to be made from scratch. All of this before you can paint one brush stroke..!! I have tried some of the shelf brand mediums but in my opinion have not yielded the same results.
In my opinion it's worth the trouble for several reasons. First, it places you on the ground level of this system of painting with total hands on involvement. This experience and knowledge goes beyond superficial painting on canvas. Secondly, the softness and optical depth of transparences is unparalleled in canvas work and has withstood the test of time! And very importantly, the results are simply magnificent, and as the masters discovered last for ever!
Note: The Hands oil on canvas , by Alex Castro work in progress , painted over 30 years ago and looks as fresh as is it were painted yesterday! I plan to teach these concepts and techniques employed by the great master in one of my up coming workshops in the near future!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Poetic Eats 01-21-07
Our Good Friends at The Kirkridge Retreat Center in Bangor, PA held a poetic potluck dinner for poetry lovers throughout the area. The intimate setting before a roaring fireplace enticed the words and emotions associated with the meaningful expressions which touch the soul. Our Good Friends Nancy Scheirer and Jean Richardson (both of Kirkridge), Mike Wetmore (of SYLP-H (Support Your Local Poet-Hooray), and Arline M. Smeltz were among those who shared their love for wonderful poetry, good food, and enchanting fellowship. Please contact Our Good Friends at The Kirkridge Retreat Center at 610-599-4604 for more information. You’ll find numerous photographs at The Forwardian Arts Society Literature Gallery at 360.yahoo.com/pauladam.
A Psychic CLU 01-21-07
Our Good Friends at White Winged Angel Promotions presented a holistic fair/expo at The CLU Club in East Stroudsburg, PA. The atmosphere was filled with a relaxed energy which enhanced the intimate environment. Wonderful opportunities to communicate with those who were seen and unseen were abundant. Our Good Friends Marcey Wilder (of White Winged Angel Promotions), Theresa Popiolek (of Celestial Creations), and Erin Koczur shared their wonderful talents along with Our New Friends Diane Whitmore and Joy Mattei. Please contact Our Good Friends at White Winged Angel Promotions at wwangel@ptd.net for more information. You’ll find numerous photographs at The Forwardian Arts Society Friends Gallery at 360.yahoo.com/pauladam.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Poem: ALL THAT IS GLORIOUS AROUND US by Barbara Crooker
(title of an exhibit on The Hudson River School)
is not, for me, these grand vistas, sublime peaks, mist-filled overlooks,towering clouds, but doing errands on a day of driving rain, staying dry inside the silver skin of the car, 160,000 miles, still running just fine.Or later, sitting in a café warmed by the steam from white chicken chili, two cupsof dark coffee, watching the red and gold leaves race down the street, confetti from autumn's bright parade. And I think of how my mother struggles to breathe,how few good days she has now, how we never think about the glories of breath, oxygen cascading down our throats to the lungs, simple as the journey of water over rock. It is the nature of stone/ to be satisfied/ writes Mary Oliver, It is the natureof water/ to want to be somewhere else, rushing down a rocky tor or high escarpment, the panoramic landscape boundless behind it. But everything glorious is around us already:black and blue graffiti shining in the rain's bright glaze, the small rainbows of oil on the pavement, where the last car to park has left its mark on the glistening street, this radiant world.
is not, for me, these grand vistas, sublime peaks, mist-filled overlooks,towering clouds, but doing errands on a day of driving rain, staying dry inside the silver skin of the car, 160,000 miles, still running just fine.Or later, sitting in a café warmed by the steam from white chicken chili, two cupsof dark coffee, watching the red and gold leaves race down the street, confetti from autumn's bright parade. And I think of how my mother struggles to breathe,how few good days she has now, how we never think about the glories of breath, oxygen cascading down our throats to the lungs, simple as the journey of water over rock. It is the nature of stone/ to be satisfied/ writes Mary Oliver, It is the natureof water/ to want to be somewhere else, rushing down a rocky tor or high escarpment, the panoramic landscape boundless behind it. But everything glorious is around us already:black and blue graffiti shining in the rain's bright glaze, the small rainbows of oil on the pavement, where the last car to park has left its mark on the glistening street, this radiant world.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Poem: Welcome, death by Silvia Brandon Pérez
And so it is confirmed:
the latest, not least mourned
because of death so near
the year's end
has found a final rest
amid the noise and excrescence
of putrid war; three thousand
of our gallant young
NAME NOT RELEASED YET
which but means
the mother does not know,
the spouse or sister, father,
will receive
that fateful phone call,
the one all lovers of a fighter
dread to hear,
Dear Sir or Madam, we regret
your child or spouse or loved one
is now dead; we'll ship
all the remains aboard
a busy plane, they will unload it
at the end, after all passengers
have disembarked; we would not want
our passengers disturbed,
he/she was brave in dying
as in life; you may not know
the reason death was found so far away
from home and hearth and love
because a nation's greed or apathy,
our bloodied hands, with military fervor
must salute the master of disgrace,
heil conquering hero,
welcome, death.
the latest, not least mourned
because of death so near
the year's end
has found a final rest
amid the noise and excrescence
of putrid war; three thousand
of our gallant young
NAME NOT RELEASED YET
which but means
the mother does not know,
the spouse or sister, father,
will receive
that fateful phone call,
the one all lovers of a fighter
dread to hear,
Dear Sir or Madam, we regret
your child or spouse or loved one
is now dead; we'll ship
all the remains aboard
a busy plane, they will unload it
at the end, after all passengers
have disembarked; we would not want
our passengers disturbed,
he/she was brave in dying
as in life; you may not know
the reason death was found so far away
from home and hearth and love
because a nation's greed or apathy,
our bloodied hands, with military fervor
must salute the master of disgrace,
heil conquering hero,
welcome, death.
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