New Painting at the Weyrich Gallery

Zen Garden Blossoms, 2016. Original mixed media on panel. Image: 12x12" Available: contact Weyrich Gallery.

Today's blogpost features a new painting from my ongoing series "In a Japanese Garden." Painted in gouache on rice paper with gold metallic enhancements, the image also incorporates Chinese texts and characters.

In my research of Japanese art, history, and culture for this series, it was interesting to discover the impact and influence of Chinese culture on the development of Japanese civilization. Still today modern Japanese writing system contains several thousand Chinese characters known as kanji.

In this painting I have drawn on both cultures to create the image: The Chinese text is in the traditional vertical style of writing that the Japanese call tategaki, while the background of the blossoms uses the color blending seen in traditional Japanese woodblock prints.

The painting is available for purchase at the Weyrich Gallery located at 2935 Louisiana Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110 / 505.883-7410.

Text and Image ©2016 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.
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Exhibit Glimpse I

Artist: Louise Pryor

Left: Names of Women Artists Meditation Robe

Right: The Farmer Says Goodbye to the Farm

This is the last day of our Harwood Art Center exhibit, "Be Leaf It or Not"; and I have finally taken time to photograph the work in the show. I thought I would share these photos to give you some idea of the artists' intentions and sensibilities that have been on display for the past month.

The two artworks featured today are by Louise Pryor, one of the artists from California. Louise grew up in California, on land owned by her family for over 150 years. For many years she was a serious Zen student of Buddhist teachings.

Louise has chosen fabric as her medium. As stated in her Artist's Statement, "I explore ideas with cloth...Because my way to the universal is through the deeply personal, I choose clothing shapes from my life experience. I wore Zen meditation robes and Sacramento Valley farmers clothing for many years....The transparent and radiant cloth mirrors our transparent and radiant existence."

Both artworks are lifesize and exquisitely crafted. The Meditation Robe has individual canvas leaves sewn onto a kimono-style robe made of sheer metallic silk in a light color. Each leaf bears the name (or signature) of a women artist—some famous and many who work and create outside the mainstream of contemporary art. Nevertheless, on Louise's Robe, all are equally honored.

The Farmer's suit is constructed of the same material in a rich earth color, except the leaves are sewn within the interior of the shirt and pants. For me, this piece speaks to the physical and spiritual connection of mankind to the land which provides for all of earth's creatures.

If you would like to comment on Louise's work, you may do so by clicking the "COMMENTS" link below (Louise reads this blog, too!) Or drop me an email and I'll forward your response to her.

Thanks for taking a moment to read today's entry. Have a great weekend, and I'll see you on Monday.

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Images ©Louise Pryor, text ©Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.