Detoxifying the studio

With my interest in all things sustainable (and how all things can be sustainable), I often have the discussion with others about keeping my studio toxin-free, or keeping it as low-toxic as possible. I grew up around the block from a Superfund site, which I believe is why I had intense respiratory problems as a child-young adult (including long term hospitalization). Therefore it is really necessary whenever I work with Oils, Acrylics, or household paint in my studio, that I have my small Austin Air-purifier always turned on. I usually use a large Austin Air-purifier for new materials (plastics, etc...) which are offgassing.

I often wonder if Fine Artists like Eva Hesse had this or had taken more precautions, would she still still be creating work today? To be sure Van Gogh died from toxic poisoning from paint.

I often tell Fine Artists that it isn't worth dying to make your work. Especially when you can use materials that are non-toxic, or where you can keep the toxicity to minimum contact.

Artist of the Month: A pixel and welcoming for Javier Knight

Last month my son, Javier Berezin Knight entered this world. I hope he will become an Artist (the humanistic, John Miller meaning of the term, Artist). This month, Javier is Artist of the month (Please note, I did not say Fine Artist, I am making an exception [a possible contradiction] this month). He has already taught me so much about this world, and has thoroughly changed my perspective on many things, including my own Fine Art production and process. Thank you very much to all of those who have already sent their very kind words, blessings, etc... to myself,  my wife, and to Javier.

Above the first paragraph is a tiny, singular pixel, graphic image (.gif). The pixel is an essential basic building block of all things on a screen, such as the one you are viewing this post/entry on. The pixel when in abundance with other pixels, can expand infinitely. Here this pixel represents the beautiful potential and infinite possibilities I wish for Javier's life. It is also just a pixel. If you would like a .pdf version of this singular pixel, please email me here.

Please note: I consider this my Graphic Design work, not Fine Art; hence the color.

Where does your Fine Art begin...

Where does your Fine Art begin, and where does your brand/propaganda/style end? Where does your brand/propaganda/style begin, and where does your Fine Art end?

Free digital drawing to the first 5 people who contact me.

You may have noticed something different in the numbers here, keep watching.
That's right, I am giving away another batch of small, unique, digital drawings.

Do you have questions about the drawings? Why would I give away a work of Fine Art that I truly believe in? Read here.

For those who already have a small drawing, you are entitled to upgrade your participation in the project: Now you will receive a large digital drawing.

Here is a recent quote about the drawing series:
"I am so excited by this... In large part because it has made me rethink the inherent nature of digital art." -Christopher X J. Jensen

So how do you get in on all this action? Just email me here, and please include your name and postal address. As stated in an earlier post: I will NEVER sell, lend, trade, give out any information sent to me.

Quotes - Fine Art, etc...

For my open studio in 2009 I sent a postal invite. It included some thoughts from myself and quotes that I feel are very relevant to today's current state of Fine Art. With some encouragement from friends, others; I am sharing the quotes from others again. I have included some other quotes as well that have been kicking around in my head recently as well.

“The frame is still with each change that fills it with  the attention. The attention is still with the frame that fills it with each change. Each change is still with the attention that fills it with the frame” -Maria Nordman

“Can you dance and think at the same time?” -Gil Scott Heron

“...Important perceptions, which go beyond common sense experience of ineffable states of consciousness, giving us access to the unfamiliar, the unknown, or those levels of knowing that cannot be translated into words. These are precisely the states of being least addressed by our culture at large.” -Melinda Wortz

“If you ask someone how their marriage is going and they say, “Sustainably,” it doesn’t have quite the same zing as “Flourishing!”  -William McDonough

“With the most primitive means the artist creates something which the most ingenious and efficient technology will never be able to create.” -Kasimir Malevich

“Perhaps the future role of the artist will be to act directly as the arbiter of qualities in our lives. Quality not as an add-on, as it is now, but as criteria in all matters of planning.” -Robert Irwin

“Let's say flotation suits me fine” -Swell

“The worst immorality is to give in, give up” -Andrea Dworkin

“Abreast with the Times” -Unknown Bulgarian (street? Fine?) Artist

Fine Artist of the Month: A Chakra Mandala graphic for Vandana Jain

Each month I am adding to an on-going series of writings and workings about Fine Artists who work, or are primarily working in the NYC area. This month I made a graphic for Vandana Jain.
























Some notes for the graphic:
Perception vs. Logos
Soft Skills
Reorganization
Rebranding
Chakra
Mandala 
Upcycle

Please note: I consider this Graphic Design, not Fine Art; hence the color.

For a .pdf version of this, email me here

For more info on Vandana Jain's work, go here.

An Exchange with Sol LeWitt

I participated in a two-part exhibition in January-March 2011, An Exchange with Sol LeWitt. It was a very personally meaningful show, since I regard some of LeWitt's work to be the greatest that the 20th century had to offer. The work was an unreleased, documentation/proposal drawing for the light/laser work, The Reddest Shift [...diagonal masters], 2010.

The catalog for the exhibition was just released and the print version is on sale here. You can also download an electronic (.pdf) version here for free.

For more on the legendary Sol LeWitt go here.