Talking about AIR

Photo by Matthew Hodge

A public speaker I am not—not by a long shot, but it's easier when I am talking about such a great program as the Artist in Residence program in our national parks and forests, and have such and engaged and interesting audience. It was a great opening reception, thanks to the folks at the Hale House, and especially the Director, Lori Urso. I had such a good time talking with everyone.

The show is up till Oct. 6, hours are Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday; 12 Noon to 4 pm.

The seal, oil/canvas, 20x24, 2012

In Hale - AIR

The problem with being up half the night with a migraine is that when you go to hang your show the next day, you will be unable to do simple math. But thankfully the very patient Lori Urso, Director of the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society which has restored and oversees the historic Hale House, was cheerful about remeasuring and teaching us her special wire looping technique. So the show was hung yesterday and fit the space just as I had hoped.

The Badlands series

Kevin and Lori hanging out

The first of my Alaska series

The lighting is not as harsh as it appears in these photos, and if I must say so myself, the show looks very nice. The work in the show is a selection of paintings from my artist residencies in our National Parks and Forests. The Hale House was the summer home of Edward Everett Hale, writer, environmentalist, and who was instrumental in the successful passage of the Weeks Act, which made possible the designation of The White Mountain National Forest, which has just started its own Artist in Residence Program. So I hope, as E.E. Hale looks into the gallery from his portrait in the next room, he will approve.

The opening is Friday night, Sept. 7, from 6:30 to 8.

The beautiful big red Hale House is located on a hill above Route 1 South, about 10 miles after you pass the Tower (map below). Look for the sign with the library symbol and turn right immediately after, since you won't see the house till you're past it. If you do pass it, there is a turn around on the left right after.

The exhibit is up till October 6, and the Hale House is worth a visit in its own right, a beautiful and peaceful place.

Click for a pdf of the invitation

View Larger Map

September shows...

Long time no post, I know, and I have no excuse, so won't give one. But I'm back with info on a couple of exhibits opening in September.

I was honored to be asked to show my National Park and Forest work in the wonderful new exhibit space in the historic Hale House in Matunuck (map).

The Hale House was the summer home of author and environmentalist Edward Everett Hale and his family of artists. EE Hale was one of the original surveyors of the White Mountains in New Hampshire and was instrumental in the passage of the Weeks Act), which enabled the creation of the White Mountain National Forest. (Which, coincidentally, just started their own AIR program)

Below is a photo of the gallery room. The other rooms in this large home high on a hill above Route 1 have been beautifully restored. The show pictured is Seeing the Sea, featuring the work of artists who have received URI's Visual Art Sea Grant. It's up till Aug. 20.

 

More details to come...

I've also been asked to participate in a group show,  Architectural Treasures of Providence at the URI Feinstein Gallery (where Shepard's used to be). I will be showing some of my church paintings and drawings. The show runs from September 3-28, with an opening reception on Gallery Night, September 20.

Filling free time

A.I.R. exhibit at Badlands NP Visitors Center. "The White Place", center

I picked up my truck last week after its rear fender surgery and it looks great. Body shops always do this psychological trick of shining the whole vehicle up real pretty. I imagine my truck was pretty nervous when they approached it with this strange substance called "wax", but I'm sure it soon relaxed and enjoyed the spa treatment. Now it's acting all frisky and a bit vain as it looks down it's hood at all the dusty cars on the road.

I also started my Physical Therapy to get me all shined up after my knee scope. So far so good. So mobility is slowly returning, not that I haven't enjoyed being housebound for a few weeks. And I've enjoyed reviving my biography reading habit, picking up two at the library today, Thomas Hart Benton and David Hockney. 

Sometimes I try to imagine that this is really my life, and I won't have to go back to my day job. It would, of course, be fantastic, but I would have to really adhere to a schedule. Too much time is lost in aimlessness. Despite that I haven't lost that feeling that I'm not getting enough done, or that there isn't enough time to do everything. For example, this blog, and my residency journals. And, of course, painting. 

The thing about painting is that it isn't something you can do and it's done. It demands time and more time as you dive deeper in. But that's ok, since for me it's the most important thing. I need to examine all the other things I think I NEED to do. Because even when I have All Day, they still don't all get done. The NY Times had a great column about "The Busy Trap" and I'm going to try to take it to heart. Not only can't I see the forest for the trees, I can't see the trees for the understory. So a little brush cleaning is in order. So I can load up those brushes in the studio.

Serpentine

Another Alaska study, this one from a view of Serpentine Glacier across the fiord from Toboggan Beach. Gouache, about 3"x6".

View Point

View Point, gouache on paper, 4"x6"

Painting at View Point

Sometimes this blog seems like a patchwork quilt, with lots of loose threads to tie up (ok, mixed metaphors, but knit together well, don't you think?). This is one of them, the finished version of a little study I started while perched on a rock at View Point, in Prince William Sound, Alaska.