Museums and cemeteries

From the road in Big Bend National Park.

I've been going through my photos from western Texas this week so I think I will post a couple of my favorites for the next few blogs.




The bizarre beast called the Javelina near the Window Trail in Big Bend.


A interesting part of traveling is always visiting art museums in other cities. We had an afternoon in El Paso before we flew back with not quite enough time to cross the bridge into Mexico, but had planned it so we stayed in a hotel right across the street from the El Paso Art Museum.
It was a little disappointing that we seemed to be the only visitors, despite free admission, but the entire downtown area was also deserted. July is considered "off season" in El Paso because of the heat. The collections were very interesting though, and it's a large and modern museum. I especially liked the Spanish Viceroyal Collection. This is the museum's description...

The Spanish Viceroyal Collection reflects the period of the Spanish Empire in the New World. The collections of 17th through 19th centuries include paintings on panel, canvas, copper and tin. Many of these works were used as devotional images and were created by artists such as: Nicolás Enríquez, Antonío de Torres, Francisco Martínez, and Juan Sánchez Salmerón. Many works from this collection are permanently displayed in the Roderick Gallery.

Mostly iconic religious themes, the work had a dark richness of color and brushwork that was complimented by over-the-top carved and mirrored frames that suited the work perfectly. I also liked a portrait by Tom Lea, especially the bottom half where the figure is played against the landscape.

The Art Binational 2008 Binacional de Arte, a joint exhibition with the Museo de Arte Ciudad Juarez was still on exhibit. All of the artists were from western Texas and Mexico, so it was interesting to see contemporary work from a different part of the country.


Another place I like to visit when traveling is cemeteries. There was a great one in the ghost town of Terlingua. It occurs to me that I might be looking for some of the same things in cemeteries I look for in the local art museums, they both contain an attempt to express and symbolize uncomprehensible and sometimes scary life experiences.

It feels more like fall today than the first week of August and it's tempting to tackle my neglected and overgrown gardens in this coolness. But my neighbors apparently have the same idea and the lawnmower duet is at full volume either side of my house. And now it's just become an trio, as the neighbor across the street has just fired up his mower. I think after this post I'll escape to the relative quiet of my studio...especially since a weed whacker was just added to this chorus...western Texas sure was quiet.

July report

My studio calendar in July logged less x's than last month I think, meaning I was in the studio less. Most of that was due to spending 8 days in Texas and the preparation that goes with it. But I was in the studio till late last night, and now that I'm back, it's full steam ahead for my November show. Framing will be a big issue, I'd like to get some steel or iron frames made without spending too much. With about 14 medium to large paintings to frame, the cost could add up fast!

I'll post a report and some photos from my Texas trip soon. We had a great time--Western Texas and Big Bend National Park are absolutely beautiful.

Greeting from Alpine, Texas

I'm in the library in Alpine, Texas, a great place to check my email. For some reason my cell phone (Virgin Mobile) doesn't work out here, although other people seem able to use theirs.

Southern Pacific railroad runs right through Alpine, one block from our hotel, The Holland. Freight trains 100's of cars long wake us up several times each night, stopping to change crews and blowing their whistles. The vegetation out here is really bizarre, and I've already seen the wild pigs known as Javalinas.

There's no doubt we are near the border of Mexico, which makes the parties we are going to as part of the wedding festivities a lot of fun, good food and music! We're off the the wedding in Fort Davis today, tomorrow we just chill in Alpine, and then on to Big Bend.

Vacation!

I'm on vacation for two weeks and since it's in the 90's and humid, John and I are thinking we really need to escape to somewhere warmer. We're headed to western Texas for a family wedding, and then to Big Bend National Park. I guess this is my year for the southwest, which is not too hard to take. Since it's not an artist residency I won't have to pack a ton of art supplies this trip, but I am bringing watercolors and I hope to do a little work while I'm out there.

John and I checked out the Indie Art Festival in downtown Providence Saturday night. Not a whole lot of "art", but lots of music which was fun. Waterfire was going on also, so we walked along to river to the Courthouse park. I never make a point to see Waterfire anymore, but somehow always end up at at least one every year. When I do, it surprises me that it still can be impressive after seeing dozens of them. The commerce end—souvenirs, food stands, tag-along acts, gets to me sometimes. But then again, who was standing in line for a Del's? Well, me I guess, but at least I knew enough not to drink it with a straw, being the true Rhode Islander that I am. The price was outrageous though—$4.! John and I decided that the price of our state drink should be regulated, so it's the same price wherever you buy it. After that we caught Mahi Mahi at the skating rink, they were pretty good. I liked the drummer's kit, it was half electronic, half actual drums.

In the studio, I've been testing out some non-toxic alternatives to my Windsor and Newton Titanium White and Naples Yellow. Permalba White by Weber uses titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, but doesn't use the lead that W&N does, and has the AP non-toxic seal . Naples Yellow Hue by Gamblin uses iron oxide, cadmium sulfide, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in linseed oil and has this reassuring labeling:

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS: Not listed as a carcinogen by the NTP, IARC, or OSHA; no adverse long-term effects are known. No known adverse health affects to linseed oil.
Waste disposal method: Small amounts can be dried and disposed of as ordinary trash.

Compare this to the Windsor and Newton....

Warning: may be harmful if swallowed. Cancer agent based on experimental data. Exposure may cause harm to the developing fetus. Exposure may cause damage to the testes or difficulty with reproduction. Exposure may cause nervous system, kidney or bone marrow damage. Avoid using if pregnant or contemplating pregnancy. Keep out of reach of children. Contains soluble lead. This product also carries the following warning in accordance with Californian proposition 65; This product contains lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
ECOTOXICITY Dangerous to the environment. May cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.

Although I've just started using them, I don't see any real difference that would outweight the benefits of their safety. So I may have eliminated all of the hazardous materials in my paints. I did buy some metal trash cans to store my rags anyway, since I still have to use up some of the more toxic paints I already have until I can take them to the Eco-Depot.