Nikon's Small World Competition.

Take a look at the winners from Nikon's Small World Competition...
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/nikon-s-small-world-competition-slideshow/

India Aims to Build World's Largest Statue Amid Controversy.

Despite a $300+ Million price tag and a nation in which over a billion people live in poverty, Indian opposition leader Narendra Modi hopes to build the world's largest statue in honor of one of the country's founding fathers...take a look.
http://news.yahoo.com/indias-modi-aims-history-gandhis-worlds-tallest-statue-090452150.html

Not to Toot My Own Horn...

Not to toot my own horn...but I think the work from the last three months has been rather successful and delightfully cohesive...

That's right...all the work above (except maybe one)has been done in the last three months...and I'd bet there are even a few missing. Browse the thumbnails above and check out the link below to see the pieces in full...
Legends.

Simple Task. A New Piece.

Simple Task.
11x14"
Acrylic and Pastel on burlap in frame.

An hour or so worth of work on this piece...I think I'm going to add some more sewn/collaged aspects. I still want it to remain very...natural, maybe raw...but I also want it to be slightly more complex than your initial viewing would suggest....so that you approach thinking you are seeing an image on a surface only to realize that the surface and image are intertwined and interconnected...

The Final Banksy.

The final Banksy in his month-long residency has arrived...
http://hyperallergic.com/91224/last-nyc-banksy-is-full-of-hot-air/

Apparently this was the point of it all...what do you think?

“Banksy asserts that outside is where art should live amongst us. And rather than street art being a fad, maybe it is the last thousand years of art history is a blip when art came inside in service of the church and institutions. But art’s rightful place is on the cave walls of our communities where it can act as a public service, provoke debate, voice concerns, forge identities. The world we live in today is run — visually at least, by traffic signs, billboards, and planning committees, is that it? Don’t we want to live in a world made of art not justdecorated by it?”

Inside the Walls of the Most Densely Populated Place on Earth.

Though it was demolished in 1992, pictures from inside the walls of what came to be known as the Kowloon Walled City are as fascinating as they are heartbreaking...take a look...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2139914/A-rare-insight-Kowloon-Walled-City.html#ixzz2j7kNEAA5

MIAD Alumni Sale 2013

Glad to be participating in this event for a third year in a row. Always get some good sales and have had some good luck meeting clients...check out the link for all the info and the second link for more photos from last year's event.

http://www.miad.edu/newsroom/news/197-general-news-category/2080-student-alumni-art-design-sale

http://www.flickr.com/photos/miadcollege/sets/72157636661822646/

Flu Vaccine Myths Debunked.

But this is all probably just propaganda from big pharm, eh?
http://io9.com/im-not-a-doctor-but-im-fairly-certain-that-list-is-all-1454595772

Lost Leonardo Mural Discovered.

A mural believed to have been worked on by the world-famous Leonardo da Vinci ad his assistants has been uncovered beneath centuries of paint in an Italian Castle...take a look.
http://news.discovery.com/history/art-history/lost-da-vinci-artwork-unearthed-beneath-layers-of-paint-131028.htm

Making MKE with Daniel Fleming and the Shepherd Express.

Early bidding now open! Get prints and see the piece at the upcoming Best of Milwaukee Party on November 12!

Bid here:
http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/10757/auctions/11766/auction_items/246354

And get info for the party here:
2013 Best of Milwaukee Party

Normal People. Sketch #2

Normal People.9x12
Acrylic and Pastel on canvas.

Paper Masks. Sketch #1.

Paper Masks.
9x12
Acrylic and Pastel on canvas.

I get a lot of "You paint a lot, do you ever sleep?" and the answer is yes I paint...and yes I sleep. I think the thing many people don't realize is that my painting acts very much as a form of sketching...a form or relaxation...and it doesn't feel like work to me. I don't usually approach a piece with a drawn out plan...I rarely know exactly where I'm heading...and sometimes I have no idea where to go at the outset...much like a sketch. Instead of worrying about it and separating my "big ideas" from my "practice" I let the big ideas emerge FROM the practice. While many artists have a sketchbook, lesser work, and then their major pieces...I tend to work them all in together. Sometimes a small piece will come out as a favorite...sometimes a large piece will serve as a stepping stone to be covered later...

So while I do paint pretty much every night for multiple hours, also realize that my painting sessions are not cliched hours of emotional turmoil from which I may or may not recover, they are usually quite relaxed and pleasant hours of investigation, mark-making, and introspection...

"Don't you have any time for fun?"

Why yes...and I use it for painting. I wouldn't be doing it so much if I didn't find it the most enjoyable thing I can do.

The Marina Abramovic Retirement Fund.

One of the funnier art-related blogs I've come across...What did people do before the internet?
The Marina Abramovic Retirement Fund.

Delightful Tumblr aims to fund Marina Abramović's retirement

New Work at the Park Lafayette Tower.

New Work at the Park Lafayette Tower, North Lobby.

Van Gogh Sunflowers to be Reunited.

For the first time in 65 years, two of Van Gogh's famed sunflower paintings will be reunited in London...Take a look...
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/28/van-gogh-sunflowers-national-gallery-exhibition-london

Yachts of the Starchitects.

What happens when you let world-famous architects take on super-yachts?
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2013/oct/29/superyachts-architects-design-zaha-hadid-norman-foster

Diamond-Backed Rattling Snakes. A Closer Look.

A couple new views on my most recent piece...a new painting with snakes on an all-in-one old projector screen and stand. Contact now to see the piece or for pricing and inquiries.
Check out the first post here: http://marionart23.blogspot.com/2013/10/timberland-rattling-snakes.html

Identity by William Zuback at Frank Juarez Gallery.

"The single most important thing I wish people knew is my struggle, and how far I've come since then. I battled with alcohol and drug addiction, suicide; my own attempts and family members' attempts, and my first love killed himself two years ago. Depression, bi-polar, and anxiety disorders are littered throughout my family. My best friend was just diagnosed with HIV. I don't leave my house sometimes for weeks due to agoraphobia, but if you knew how far I've come, you would think me a superhero."

Identity Opening Reception this Saturday.

Event Page.

http://frankjuarezgallery.com

Press...

Banksy Is A Failure.

An interesting article on Banksy, Street Art, his recent residency in New York and Basquiat...
http://thefederalist.com/2013/10/27/banksy/

Here's my comment...

"His audience likes the images they believe he paints of them: as childlike idealists fighting against villains, but how do they fight?"

I think that was my favorite line...and brings up an interesting point about an artist and audience who seem to agree on various political points, yet don't seem to move past the words..

If someone as readily visible, liked, and easily understood as Banksy can't get people to do anything other than take a "selfie" and chuckle at how Zinged the upper class just got...are his messages really meaningful or just another "cool" cause for us first-world-problemers to hang our hats on? Are they meant to change people's minds or just to express his thoughts (what's his goal)? Is the resulting failure one of the artist's own doing or of the viewer, failing to act or be affected by quality art?

You can say the same about much of the art around...but Banksy's work in particular makes a point to "say something" to the viewer...something that has become "HEY I FOUND A BANKSY!" rather than the actual message....

So while I am not as critical of Banksy as the author, I do see a much more interesting conversation being created through this take than the usual "Banksy...cool.." that is usually following his work around..

Small Structure, Big Ideas.

An interesting look at a project that brings world-class architecture and culture to a small Austrian town...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/27/architect-designed-bus-stops_n_4157259.html?utm_hp_ref=arts

Does Having a Show of African-American Artists Marginalize or Celebrate African-American Artists?

It's a question I asked while walking through the recent 30 Americans exhibit at the Milwaukee Museum of Art, and a question that many others seem to be asking as well...A major artist removes her work from a show asking if specified group shows marginalize the artists...take a look...
http://www.artnews.com/2013/10/25/piper-pulls-out-of-black-performance-art-show/

Abandon Ship!

Great photos of Shipwrecks past...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/26/shipwreck-photos_n_4159543.html?utm_hp_ref=arts

To Big to Sail? Cruise Ships May Be Risking Safety for Size.

One of the largest cruise ships in 1985 was 46,000 tons...the largest cruise ship today is 225,000 tons. Have cruise ships gotten too big to sail?
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/too-big-sail-cruise-ships-213913940.html

Open Canvas 2013.

Don't miss your chance to own some great work, get an inside look into how the work's created and support a great cause all at once....

I'm taking part in my third straight Open Canvas event and hope to, once again, see a great turnout and great results from the artists...

Hockney Takes on IPad.

David Hockney takes on the Ipad in his new exhibit...
http://news.yahoo.com/ipad-art-gains-recognition-hockney-exhibit-142603289.html

Stranger Than Fiction. Real Life Serial Killers Worse than any Horror Villain.

In the spirit of Halloween, let's take a look at some real-life serial killers that are worse than any fictional horror villain. Viewer discretion...
http://www.cracked.com/article_20652_6-real-serial-killers-more-terrifying-than-any-horror-movie.html/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fanpage&utm_campaign=new+article&wa_ibsrc=fanpage

Bansky Doesn't Like New WTC.

Banksy's newest piece pokes fun at his recent attempt at getting an article in the New York Times, an article which revealed some major displeasure with the new WTC...
http://nypost.com/2013/10/27/banksy-rips-new-york-times-for-rejected-op-ed/

New Species Found in Australia.

Scientists have discovered a "lost world" in Australia full of new species...take a look...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10408499/Scientists-discover-new-species-in-Lost-World-in-Australia.html

Lou Reed Dies at 71.

Rock Icon Lou Reed has died...
http://music.yahoo.com/news/lou-reed-velvet-underground-leader-rock-pioneer-dead-171511963-rolling-stone.html

Diamond-Backed Rattling Snakes.

Diamond-Backed Rattling Snakes.
40x50"
Acrylic and Pastel on projector screen.

Japan, Fukushima Rocked by 7.3 Earthquake.

Take a look as the story develops...
http://abc6onyourside.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wsyx_73magnitude-quake-rocks-japan-27036.shtml

Civility. Close Look.

Take a closer look at my recent piece...

Pointing Fingers in the ACA Hearing.

If you decided not to watch the hearing on the ACA, I don't blame you. I listened to a good hour or so and turned it off as I felt my IQ receding...

Here's a summary of what was said 30 times in a row..."I think the ACA is a great/terrible law. It will make things great/terrible. Your website sucks. The Republicans/Democrats are stupid."...depending on your political party, choose the appropriate word...

And for a summary of what the contractors said... "It wasn't me!"

The highlight...if there can be a highlight...would have to be New Jersey Democrat rep Frak Pallone shouting "I will not yield to this monkey court!"as he said the whole hearing was unnecessary.

now here's an article if you need more explanation.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/10/24/health_law_website_contractors_deflect_criticism_at_hearing.html

Old Work.

Ran into a bunch of old work while looking through pics from my printmaking class...not sure where most of these ran off to but...o well...enjoy the trip down memory lane...