Stephen Tuomala: A Permanent Gesture

Stephen Tuomala

Stephen Tuomala is showing a recent series of drawings at Fe Gallery in Lawrenceville. A permanent Gesture is a striking exhibit. The space lends itself to the large-scale work, providing enough room for the works to breathe and to be able to take the work in completely.

The works, regardless of scale, are created on bible pages. For the larger works, this means attaching the individual pages into expansive, wall-sized sheets. The smaller works are made from single interleaves and pages. Is that the correct term? When you disassemble a book, groups of printed pages are folded in half and sewn. So, you are looking at two pages on each sheet. (and aside: I find bookmaking fascinating.) I am not sure which bible edition Mr. Tuomala used for this exhibit, but the paper is beautiful and the volume must have been oversized, but not as large as a quarto volume would be.

Stephen Tuomala

As the name of the exhibit implies, the works are very gestural. The starkness of raw ink is counterbalanced by the texture of the printed word, lending subtle shadings to the deeper ink-covered areas and providing texture in the untouched areas. Mr. Tuomala shows a very expressive hand in these drawings, from the smallest to the largest. It was also intriguing to see the smaller works alongside their large-scale counterparts. Many of the smaller works looked like they could be studies, and gave a hint at the process of developing the figures for the larger works.

Stephen Tuomala

I think I'll leave this here. From the show description:

A Permanent Gesture is focused around Christian ideas of the Rapture. These large scale drawing installations depict juxtapose contemporary imagery as metaphors for the theoretical Rapture events.

From a thematic standpoint, I don't really think I can add anything to this succinct statement. There is a lot of implied violence in the works, and it supports the violence implicit in the biblical cycle of the Rapture.

The exhibit is up through March 3, and luckily the gallery has regular hours. If you really want a chance to find out more about Stephen Tuomala and the works in A Permanent Gesture, Fe is hosting a gallery talk on Thursday, February 21. There's a good chance I'll be there for the artist talk. I do have some questions.

Stephen Tuomala: A Permanent Gesture
February 1 - March 3, 2013
Artist Talk
Thursday, February 21
7-8:30pm
Fe Gallery | 4102 Butler Street, Pittsburgh PA 15201 | art@fegallery.org
Thursday – Friday: 4 – 8 pm Saturday: 12 – 6 pm Sunday: 12 – 4 pm

Box Heart Gallery's Art Inter/National

Kuzana Ogg Tulsi

In an exhibit of exceptional works, there are always a few that really stand out. Frankly, this is more a matter of personal preference than it is an objective opinion. Since I am a painter myself, I am drawn towards this media.

The Art Inter/National at Box Heart has several very good painters represented on the gallery walls. I was particularly struck by Kuzana Ogg's work (pictured above) and I am thrilled that she was selected for a focus exhibit in February for Box Heart's Artist of the Year. Both of the paintings have a beautiful surface appeal, with glazes of color superimposed over a base of uniform marks. The final work seems highly polished, with a subtle gleam. The works seem to play on the themes of uniformity and randomness, reconciling their duality by exploring their complex relationship. I very much look forward to seeing the presentation of her exhibit in February.

Mehrdad Khataei
Lost at the Pigsty no. 3

Heather Kanazawa
Reflect

The exhibit is nicely balanced between nonobjective abstractions and representational works. For instance, Mehrdad Khataei (above, left) has two drawings that are at the other end of the spectrum from Ms. Ogg's work. The works are bold, expressive, and have an incredible energy. I have a love of confident marks, I think that's why I find this work so very engaging.

As I have said, I am drawn to painting. I found Heather Kanazawa's work (above, right) rather interesting, for its color as well as its hand. The contrast of value plays very well against the orchestration of muted color that dominates the small work. There's a lot of information packed into such a small work. But the marks are completely in proportion to the scale of the work.

These are just a few highlights from an exceptional show that includes ceramics, video, drawing, painting and encaustic works. The selections come from around the globe, and around the US. Make a point to get there over the next week, before the show comes down. I am sure you'll find something to love as much as I did.

The 12th Annual Art Inter/National Exhibition... here and abroad
Box Heart Gallery
January 8 - February 2, 2013
View artwork

Urbane - Paintings by Box Heart's 2013 Artist of the Year
KUZANA OGG
February 5 - March 2, 2013
Public Reception: Saturday, February 9th: 5-8pm

Deconstruction Workers

I had mentioned last week that I was going to swing by for the opening of Penumbrae. I had a great conversation with Andre and Laurie about language, iconography and logographics with a smattering of journaling. Penumbrae is a continuing collaboration which will hopefully reach its next edition at another venue. Deconstruction Workers have mounted their own blog about the project. Their most recent post has some great installation shots of Construct 1.0. Following is a brief description from the artists about this collaborative effort --

PENUMBRAE

Deconstruction Workers (Andres Ortiz Ferrari and Laurie Trok) are opening their first collaborative installation this Saturday night at Monk’s (3634 Penn Avenue) from 7-11 PM.

Penumbrae :: Construct 1.0 explores the relationships between shadows and form by creating an environment filled with paper cutouts and stencils that ebb and flow through the space. Inspired by cave drawings, petroglyphs, and street art, the Deconstruction Workers weave iconic glyphic imagery through an endless web of contrast, evoking a primordial yet modern sacred space that changes and moves as the viewer finds their way through this other world. Filled with a parallel entanglement of lyriform sound, chaos finds its order.

Head over to Monk’s on Saturday and experience a space of partial illumination, as shadow covers, surrounds and obscures a dreamlike cosmos.

( $20 gets you a stencil of the artists’ choice when the show comes down next month! ) email ferrari.trok@gmail.com for details.

Happening in Pittsburgh this weekend

Hello everybody,
Following is a guest post from Serendipity. Enjoy!

Years ago, when Pavement was still together playing vital music, frontman Stephen Malkmus used to wear a shirt that said, "Fuck Art. Let's Dance!". While I certainly understand the sentiment (and there are plenty of options to dance now that Spring is upon us), I'd rather not see y'all get zombified by the pollen clouds. Remember that there's nothing better to get you moving later in the night than looking at original art live in person. And there are some opportunities this weekend. Take advantage of them.

Friday

You could go downtown. Really, you could if you were of such a mind. No, it's not a crawl per se, but there are a couple of openings that seem like they might be worth checking out. With Potato/Tomato: The Cover Project, Future Tenant has organized a show around a potentially interesting concept- they've asked artists to riff on other creators' work. Those folks are always so adorably post-modern, and this presentation might just cause me to venture downtown early Friday evening (6-9PM). Or then again, it might not. If you do think you might be interested, check out their page here...

But perhaps you don't want to do too much driving. Maybe the idea of fighting the Friday Rush Hour snarl is too daunting to penetrate the Golden Triangle. If so, then I got sumptin' for ya. Go to the Zombo Gallery. It's your last chance to see Breitkreutz and Copeland in March- two up-and-comers worth keeping an eye on. Did you go to the opening? Was there too much going on that night (at 6-freakin' PM?!)? Don't just do a drive-by this time. Put your poison on hold and have a look at some paintings. There will be lots of time to go out later.


Saturday

This might just be some sort of freakin' typo... but is LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Exotic Cocktails) really hosting their Annual Women's History Month Closing Party at 7-ever lovin'-AM on Saturday morning? That's hardcore. I wonder what kind of strange rituals they will be perpetrating Friday night. Regardless of when it really happens, it's reported that they will be talking about cosmetics. That's even more appropriate at such an ungodly hour.

If you do get drunk that early in the morning, you might as well schlep your wares over to the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts' Simmons Hall for the New Member Screening of the Pittsburgh Society of Artists. Bring three gallery-ready pieces and $35. Meet some ah-tists. Buck the trends.

As far as the night is concerned, I didn't find any gallery openings on Saturday. Of course there's the possibility that some swell space somewhere is having their special people over for drinks and show-and-tell, but I'm not privy to such rarefied society. So I'm considering taking my sass over to Pittsburgh Filmmakers for the Black Maria Film Festival (7:30PM- $7). For years I've made it a habit not to see films in theaters, and I've rarely challenged that resolve. But with this event there should be lots of breaks, which are essential to my viewing pleasure. I don't know what you'll see if you go, but the press release explains:

"Since 1981, the annual Black Maria Film & Video Festival, an international juried competition & award tour, has been fulfilling its mission to advocate, exhibit and reward cutting edge works from independent film and videomakers. The festival is known for its national public exhibition program, which features a variety of bold contemporary works drawn from the annual collection of 50 award winning films & videos."

Then again, maybe your tastes run more toward the lowbrow. In that case, I don't think you can afford to miss Tromatic Movie Night at the Obey House (1337 Steuben St.). That's in Crafton Heights. Where the f'n hell is Crafton Heights? It just might be real cannibals and toxic freaks that you encounter out that way. Sound like an adventure? It's $5, it starts at 6PM, and it features "Magic Hat Beer Specials And Troma Vendor". Alrite then...

Sacred Art @BoxHeart

Sherry Rusinack - Keeper of Sacred Things

This is the thirteenth edition of the Sacred Art exhibit at BoxHeart Gallery. As in shows in the past, it represents a range of expressions not only in medium but also in interpretation. The gallery's statement for the exhibit is admirable --

The Sacred Art Exhibition is an Annual Event in the Bloomfield Community. The arts enable contact with The Sacred on an intimate level. By creating, The Sacred is manifested by the hands and a new life is brought into existence. Selection for this exhibition requires that artists submit pieces that explore their personal interpretation of The Sacred. All interpretations, both traditional and nontraditional, are considered. This exhibition does not recognize any difference of authority between the traditions of the God-knowing and the artistic cultures that surround them.

This year, I was particularly struck by the starkness of several of the works. It is almost a reflection on how spirituality has ceased to be a comfort in this day and age. Not all of the works, really. But enough of them that I was left with a sense of mourning. It is, I think, a fitting statement for the times in which we find ourselves. Definitely a show the offers more questions than answers.



Diane Fleisch Hughes - Incubus

The exhibit continues through September 12. Please make an effort to get there.

Box Heart Gallery
Exhibition Dates: August 18 - September 12, 2009
4523 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
P. 412 687 8858

Closing reception 10/27 - Same Frequency

Join us on Saturday, October 27, for a closing reception for --

Same Frequency - Side II

An exhibit of paintings and mixed media works by three very different artists...who are nonetheless on the Same Frequency. More information

Jon Anderson - Paintings on Paper
Jean McClung - Mixed media on Paper and Illuminated Sculptures.
Sherry Rusinack- Mixed Media on Canvas

As an aside, Jean McClung's work will be included in the upcoming Blogger Shows at Agni and Digging Pitt Gallleries. So, join us for those receptions in November and December.

Closing reception 10/27 - Conceived Bully

Save the Date!
Opening: September 8, 6-9PM

Conceived Bully - Side I

The raw installment and tough works of urban design.
Featuring the works of --

EVIL DESIGN - Boston MA
I've heard some of the kids talkin' on the bus an' I just wanna set the record straight. Evil Design is not a band of Blood Sucking Son-Of-A-Guns that like to make babies cry, they're just some kids that like to draw pictures is all.

ExperiBreed - NYC/PGH
Cultures come and cultures go. Some we remember and some we don't know.

MAGMO - The Destroyer - Rhode Island
Magmo is here to help. Magmo is here to destroy.

More information

ExperiBreed @Digging Pitt Too

In his exhibit at Digging Pitt Too, JC one will present works from ExperiBreed, his most recent cycle of expression. Join us in September in welcoming JC one to the walls at Digging Pitt Too. More information

Conceived Bully in City Paper

Conceived Bully, curated by JC One, has been reviewed by Lissa Brennan in the City Paper. To our great delight! The exhibit really is phenomenal. Stay tuned, we have a special event in the works.

Following is an excerpt from A Digging Pitt exhibit highlights street art as a cooperative form.

Conceived Bully, on view at Digging Pitt Gallery, is an outstanding example of American urban art realized to its fullest potential. The yield of each of the three artists featured -- JC One (who also curated), MCA/Evil Design and MAGMO -- embodies the fundamentals of street art that herald urban aesthetic as a cooperative form. At once, each emerges as a distinctly individual creator while participating in a global artistic movement that gravitates more toward concrete than marble. And while all the stimulus bestowed by the relatively young traditions of their forbears is evident, that history has been digested and built upon rather than merely echoed. Read article

Conceived Bully, through October 27. Join us for the closing reception.

EVIL DESIGN - Boston MA
I've heard some of the kids talkin' on the bus an' I just wanna set the record straight. Evil Design is not a band of Blood Sucking Son-Of-A-Guns that like to make babies cry, they're just some kids that like to draw pictures is all.

JC One - NYC/PGH
Cultures come and cultures go. Some we remember and some we don't know.

MAGMO - The Destroyer - Rhode Island
Magmo is here to help. Magmo is here to destroy.

Sushi, Subs & Sake

A don't miss show. By the way, BoxHeart is one of the venues for the Creative Tour.
September 18 - October 20
Sushi, Subs & Sake
Public Reception: Saturday, September 29th: 6 PM - 9 PM
Paintings by TK Mundok and Lucas B. Miller
Free and Open to the Public.
http://www.boxheart.org/nn/Solo_Exhibitions/SushiSubsSake.html

The greatest things in life happen in an instant. A spark of love, the moment of conception, the birth of ideas, news ways to think, see, move and create. A dancer or jazz musician acknowledges and strings these instances together in an outward flow of emotion, celebrating all that has been set before them and resides within them. This too happens with painting, and is painting. But responding to these spark impulses with color, line, rhythm, and balance.

Join us for Sushi, Subs and Sake on Saturday, September 29th as we celebrate of the work of artists TK Mundok and Lucas B. Miller!

Sacred Art @BoxHeart in Pittsburgh

July 24 - August 18
The Sacred Art Exhibition
BoxHeart Gallery
4523 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
P. 412 687 8858
F. 412 687 6338

Exhibition exploring "the sacred."

Public Reception: Saturday, July 28th: 6 PM - 9 PM, free and open to the public.

The Sacred Art Exhibition is an Annual Event in the Bloomfield Community. The arts enable contact with The Sacred on an intimate level. By creating, The Sacred is manifested by the hands and a new life is brought into existence. Selection for this exhibition required that artists submit pieces that explore their personal interpretation of The Sacred. All interpretations, both traditional and nontraditional, are considered. The Sacred Art Exhibition is looking forward to a successful 11th year. Come to our community and explore this intriguing cultural event! More information

Juried Participants:
Bonnet, Cory - Painting - United States (PA)
Broderick, Donna - Textile - United States (PA)
Catale, Sharon - Textile, Mixed Media - United States (PA)
Chaison, Emily - Painting - United States (OR)
Clancy, Rose - Sculpture - United States (PA)
Constanse, Susan - Mixed Media- United States (PA)
Donnelly, Carol - Painting - United States (PA)
DiFalco, Gerard - Mixed Media - United States (PA)
Fleisch-Hughes, Diane - Painting - United States (OH)
Grant, Tatiana - Iconography - United States (CA)
Hughes-Saurina, Donna - Painting - United States (PA)
Kukic, Jasmine - Collage - Canada
Lawrence, Dhira - Painting - United States (OR)
Magalhaes, Nzuji de- Textile, Mixed Media - United States (CA)
Marze, Fran - Painting - United States (PA)
Montanaro, Marina - Drawing - Switzerland
Neapolitan, Cella - Photography - United States (TN)
Noe, Rita - Digital Photography- United States (IA)
O'Brien, Lynn - Painting - United States (OH)
Petrea, Rick - Sculpture - United States (GA)
Redmond, Jamie - Photography - United States (CA)
Ricker, Thad - Digital Painting - United States (OH)
Slepian, Marian - Sculpture - United States (NJ)
Sobye, Reinhardt - Film - Norway
Staub, Cassie - Photography - United States (PA)
Voegtle, Petra - Textile - Germany
Waterston, Elin - Textile - United States (NY)
Zinicola, Jr, Tony - Mosaic - United States (OR)

Susan Constanse
Oranje
MySpace

Addendum: Read Kurt Shaw's review here.

Road Trip at La Vie

Road Trip at La Vie
3609 Butler Street
Pittsburgh PA 15201
Paul Roden - The History of the World II: Confluence
An installation of Jennifer Howison's puppens.
Jennifer Howison
Deborah Hosking - Telephone Wires
Deborah Hosking's Road trip from LA - Pittsburgh (Spoiler: the snow scenes are Pittsburgh)
Josh Bonnett - White Out

Tuning up is one of the members of F*ck Telecorps Lite

Blogger Show Artists

>FLASH<

We have just finished putting up a blog for the upcoming Blogger exhibit. Your one-stop page for information about the show and the exhibiting artists.

We will be including links to venue information, artists web projects and more. Right now, we have assembled RSS feeds to all of the exhibiting artists' blogs.

Go check it out.

Big F***ing Thing @Digging Pitt Too

Big F***ing Thing @Digging Pitt Too
June 16, 2007 - August 18, 2007

We have the installation images from the Big F***ing Thing exhibit up. Here's a little taste. John Eastman's artist statement is available on Digging Pitt's site. Additional images of the installation and from the reception are available.

Maggy Aston - Tour the exhibit

Tour Maggy Aston: Drawings and Constructions, currently installed at Digging Pitt Gallery.

BARE III @ SPACE 101

The opening reception for BARE III was on Friday. The show looks absolutely wonderful. Thanks to the installation team for all of your hard work --

Pat Barefoot
Laura Conkle
Steve Dines
Kristen Divers
Kim Freithaler
Helen Song
Heidi Wettlaufer

This exhibit is pretty rare for a community show. The work has only the common theme of being created from the inspiration of working from a live model. Barely Brunch has been operating for several years now at the Brew House. We have been very lucky to have the space for the sessions and for having such a lovely facility for exhibiting.

Stop by SPACE 101 to check out the exhibit. We will be having an artist talk on --

Saturday, June 22 @1PM
Pat Barefoot
Rich Brown
Steve Dines
... and others

Images from the reception --
Fran Frederick and Jim McManus

Images from the exhibit--
Pat Barefoot
Ruth Renee Ickes
Rich Brown
Kristen Divers
Olwyn Best
Susan Constanse (above: Scroll II, below: Detail of Scroll II)
SPACE 101 Gallery
The Brew House Association
2100 Mary Street
Pittsburgh PA 15203
412-381-7767

Pavement in Larryville

I was walking up Butler Street on Saturday evening when I heard the unmistakable sound of Motown tunes. Pavement, which is a really terrific shoe store, was having a sidewalk barbecue. As I walked up, Midnight Train to Georgia was playing and the owner was dancing in the aisles with a willing partner.

Did I go in? Well, of course I did.

Smoky music for smoky work.

Jason J Thomas

BoxHeart in Bloomfield

It's a good exhibit. BoxHeart has work from all of their gallery artists up for this annual show. If you have a minute to swing by and check it out, do.

BoxHeart
7th Annual Anniversary Exhibition
Exhibition Dates: May 29 - June 23
4523 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
P. 412 687 8858


Brenda Stumpf
Kim Curinga
Tracy Helgeson

A brief digression--
About a week ago, I read a post on Tracy's blog that she was sending new work to BoxHeart for this exhibit. Below, Tracy's box, unpacked and repacked for the Three Rivers Arts Festival.

Allure of Japanese Glass @ Pittsburgh Glass Center until Sept. 16

Sono Kago - Chiisana Niwa (small garden)

Several promising young Japanese artists are showing their work at Pittsburgh Glass Center’s first international exhibition, Allure of Japanese Glass.

Most of the artists have never exhibited in the United States, but are well known in Japan.

“It’s our intention,” said Janet McCall, PGC program manager, “to showcase these artists, introduce some new young faces and make the public aware of the creative energy that exists in glass in Japan,”

To help raise awareness PGC is offering several Japanese-related programs and classes for free to the public, which you can find out more about at www.pittsburghglasscenter.org

Kentaro Senuma - Vase g, o, p, c, b

Tomoe Shizumi - Mizuumi

Pittsburgh Glass Center
5472 Penn Ave.
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15206
412-365-2145

BARE III @ SPACE 101

SPACE 101 Gallery
The Brew House Association
2100 Mary Street
Pittsburgh PA 15203
412-381-7767

BARE III


SPACE 101 Gallery will be exhibiting BARE III. The exhibit takes place from June 8, 2007 – June 30, 2007. A free opening reception will take place from 7:00-10:00pm on June 8.

With a strong desire for better realism, the artists of the Renaissance began an intense study of the human body. Adopted by academies throughout Europe, using models became the traditional path taken by artists throughout the ages. Drawing from the figure continues to be at the center of visual art study.

In fact, figure drawing sessions are increasing in numbers in Pittsburgh and other cities. The sessions provide a community for professional artists and dedicated enthusiasts to come together and share vision and technique. Drop in model sessions, like Barely Brunch, are an opportunity to hone sight as well as drawing.

Once each month, for several years here at The Brew House, a group of people of all ages, from all walks of life have been coming together (in rain, snow, sleet, and sunny picnic weather) to draw the figure. A retired secretary, a practicing physician, college instructors, students in transition, graphic designers, illustrators, arts administrators, and even an attorney draw, paint, and even sculpt together. Using various techniques and methods, they indulge in an age-old tradition in an attempt to hone their skills, to capture the essence of the human form, to relax, and just to enjoy themselves.

Each one has selected a few special pieces done in these sessions over the years, as well as some successful gesture drawings, shown informally in the small gallery. The Brew House Association will be exhibiting work produced during the Barely Brunch open model sessions in June 2007. The model sessions are held in various sites throughout the Brew House and are open to all ages, mediums (except photography) and skill levels. The exhibit will take place in the SPACE 101 Gallery located on Pittsburgh’s Southside.

Artists
Pat Barefoot
Olwyn Best
Rich Brown
Susan Constanse
Steve Dines
Kristen Divers
Jon Fesz
Jill Fisher
Fran Fredrick
Kim Freithaler
Karen Hartman
Silvia McGavin
Seth Rich
Nancy Schuster
Paula Simon
Jenine Smith
David L. Smith
Heidi Wettlaufer
…and others

Iconicity @ La Vie

It was my pleasure to attend the opening for Iconicity on May 26. The work was really amazing. I could probably have loaded this blog wit a ton of images, but I kept it to just a few representative and extraordinary examples.

Contact information for La Vie is at the bottom of this post.

Eric Stern - Untitled (Ecstasy, Rapture, Euphoria)
Eric Stern - Untitled (Cloud Fill)
Eric Stern - Untitled (Occurrence)
Tommy Bones - white cloud minnow
Tommy Bones - Installation image
Alex Alessi - Old Mirror
Clare Parry - Construction of Arcology
La Vie

3609 Butler Street
North of 36th
Tuesday-Saturday, 12:00-6:00p.m.

412-253-7365