The Quiet Service and Wonder of Tim Lowly

Tim Lowly painting his tondos in the summer of 2010.

I had the privilege of being introduced to Tim Lowly’s work when I was ripe out of undergraduate.  CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts) (http://civa.org/) had their bi-annual conference at Biola in Los Angeles where I just was released from, so I attended.  I think I saw his work in a late night slide show, and was struck by its sincerity and tenderness.  I also had become a fan of George Tooker in undergraduate and felt Tim must have had a similar kinship.

I thought it was about time I introduce you to his work here.  He is faithful to update his website and flicker blog, so there is always new projects to see.

I like the humanity of his work as he follows the life of his disabled daughter, his wife, parents, community, and the like.  There is a wonder he evokes in his detailed renditions of a muddy pool of water, an old home, or capturing a fleeting glance.  Lowly’s paintings posses a gentleness and wisdom that seems rare in this day-and-age.

Take some time to enjoy his work:  http://www.timlowly.com/

A large image of Tim Lowly’s disabled daughter. As I recall this was called “Temma on Earth”

 

Stations of the Cross by Father Bill Moore

A view of some of the stations. A VERY unique quality of Fr. Bill’s paintings is the texture, and his desire for the viewers to touch them. He informed us that in doing so you bless the piece and the work blesses you.  The students loved that quality of the work, and I have to admit that it was quite a site at the opening watching all the paintings being stroked.  I have never seen any thing quite like it in a gallery.

We had the pleasure of having Southern California artist and priest, Father Bill Moore exhibit with us at George Fox University this past month.  For the exhibit he choose to bring a series of paintings he did on the stations of the cross.  It was a lovely exhibit.  He brought to the students the a testimony of a man whose art work is their spiritual discipline.  Check out more of Fr. Bill’s work on his website:  http://frbillmoore.com/Home_Page.html

Another gallery view.  One of the unique qualities of his vocation is that Fr. Bill’s calling now is to make art in his studio which he does 8hrs a day or more.  All proceeds from sales of his work, directly goes back to his religious order.  That all sounds pretty wonderful to me.

We had a special little space in the gallery that had a whole series of his smaller paintings. I liked to think of it as a smaller chapel of sorts within the larger space.

A view of the first four stations installed.

 

The Carvings of Christopher Wagner

I loved how his translucent figures worked with the light in the gallery.  This piece caused the most stir in the Minthorne Gallery.  One assistant who was touching up things swore she saw it move!

I was sad to see it go.  This past Saturday Christopher Wagner came to our Minthorne Art Gallery and to0k down his “Drifting Dream.”  Many a kind complement we received about the show.

Christopher’s little “Scrub Jay” sat in the window of the gallery.

Christopher is originally from the South, but now resides in Oregon, and hand carves figures and animals out of wood with a history: this was a pole, this was a chair, this was driftwood.  My students found his work, haunting, thoughtful, and symbolic.  Perhaps you will find it of interest too.  http://www.christopherbwagner.net/index.html

The pieces that drew the longest gazes were wooden pieces that Christopher stretched pig gut over creating an amber transparent surface encasing the carved wooden structures within.  As some balked at the use of pig gut (which he buys in bulk at New Seasons Market), all I could reply back was, “Come on, you eat the stuff when you scarf down a sausage, why not use it as art material!?”

 

Craig Goodworth – Liminal Ground

Two of Craig Goodworth’s root pieces installed in a gallery. He does a very nice job using natural materials and encouraging the viewer to look at them from a reverent and all together different perspective. 

So an artist friend of mine here in the Northwest Craig Goodworth, is also from the Southwest originally and did an installation in Phoenix this past Easter season in conjunction with a wonderful ministry I have known for years called Neighborhood Ministry.  There is a nice write up on his work at Christianity Today’s site here:  http://www.christianitytoday.com/thisisourcity/phoenix/you-are-where-you-live.html

Here is the video showing you some of the production of Craig’s work, “Liminal Ground”  Craig does a wonderful job creating a sacred space using art and installation as a tool to draw people together.

To see more of Craig’s work, here is his website:  http://craiggoodworthart.squarespace.com/

 

Heinz Theis is now in Oregon (well, his painting…)

The two towns of Garmisch and Partenkirchen were joined by Hitler for the winter Olympics, but still each has it’s own special charm.

So last May while in Germany I did something I’ve never done in Europe before: I bought a genuine work of art.  Now granted I’ve bought little things, but this year I wanted to buy a “real” work of art, so I was keeping my eyes peeled.

Our view from our Hotel window, this town just filled me with joy period. Maybe it was the air.

It could be in part I fell in love with the town Garmish-Partenkirchen because we were finally out of Munich (I’m not a big fan of big cities, no matter the country), and although rainy, the town has quite the charm and knocked me head-over-heels.  It was there I stumbled into what happen to be an art auction house called “Merry Old England.” http://www.caselton.de/

In the basement of Merry Old England, I found a painting by Heinz Theis (1894-1966) an artist who lived in Garmish.  Yes, I like Millet and VanGogh, and clearly Heinz did too when he painted this in the 1930′s.  According to the very helpful folks at the auction house paintings like this were very common between the wars:  the working class working in beatific settings .  I couldn’t beat the price, and although it took almost three months to get to me, it’s so good to have a little bit of Germany in my home – I am a quarter German you know, and in part getting the painting felt a little like a way to take ownership of that heritage.

Thank you Heinz for the painting, it’s looks great in a living room in Oregon.

And here’s the painting. Measuring 31″x39″ it wasn’t the easiest to get here. I liked that the alps are the view from Garmisch, where the painting was created. Heinz Theis likely won’t show up in any art history books, but there is something about having a real work of art that has a history. Its like have a nice great grandparent in the house permanently.

 

Some Darn Good Artists

Here I am at my booth in Salem. I’ll confess that I bought work from a number of my fellow artists.  Regarding the beard, well, I’ve been telling folks I like the 19th century,and have heard it called a “bull dog,” and “beefeater.”  It actually started as a joke in April and I kept it for the summer. (picture courtesy Ben Holtrop)

Well, I thought it would be good to list for you some of the wonderful folks that I got to know a bit while at the Salem art fair.  Here are some of my people:

Ryan Beard, metal sculptor:  http://www.onesunmetalwerks.com/Home.html

Here’s a piece by Ryan Beard’s  called “One Good Turn.” I actually ended up getting a piece of this work, and he bought a piece of mine. I like his use of reclaimed metal and he has a really good sense of form.

Danae Bennett-Miller, sculptor and printmaker:  http://danaemiller.com/

Danae has a wonderful sense of whimsy and use of negative space in her forms. Be sure to check out her monoprints on her website, they’re beautiful.

Ian Beyer, metal sculptor:  http://www.ianbeyermetals.com/

Humor and a very inventive use of materials (including silverware) is just one of Ian’s forte’s.  I liked that his family, like Ryan’s were helping him out in his booth.  They’re in this art making thing together- the way it should be.

Nancy Becker, glass sculptor:  http://nancybeckerstudio.com/

I’ll take ownership that I’m bias for Nancy’s work because she was my next door neighbor at the fair and was a pleasure to talk with. Well, and she creates really beautiful work!  (She creates these great little birds too, and one is now gracing my back yard.)

Steve and Bonnie Harmston, printmakers:  http://www.harmstonarts.com/

The Harmston’s create beautiful multi-layered silk screen prints. I’ll confess that I find “real” printmaking VERY refreshing in our day-and-age.  This was not made on a computer…. ahhh……

 

Maryanna Hoggart and Stones 1

I’ll take ownership that I always feel a special feeling after purchasing a piece of artwork.  It is a celebration of beauty and tipping ones hat to the goodness of life.  Several months back I dropped by Guardino Gallery in Portland (http://www.guardinogallery.com/) where I show my work to say hello.  That day, I discovered the work of Maryanna Hoggart.  Maybe it was because she is a transplant from Arizona, but there was a resonance I felt with her work.

Maryanna Hoggart: Stones I, Ink, Watercolor, Charcoal & Pastel on Paper., 10 x 14"

So I purchased the above piece because it some how spoke to me.  But have you ever gotten something and then suddenly had a realization about it?  Here was mine about this work:

You may know the example in the New Testament that a father, when asked by his son for bread, will give him bread not a stone.  Or if his son asks him for a fish, he will not give him a snake, he’ll give him a fish!  (Matt 7:9-12) But what if you did receive stones and snakes when you asked for food?  Perhaps you even kept asking because you hoped maybe once in a while you would get bread and fish.  There was a chance maybe things would change?   What I came to terms with was that over time maybe God can even redeem stones and snakes, and make them beautiful.  One can hope don’t you think? All things can be made new can’t they?

Maryanna’s piece has become a nice reminder of that, at least for me.  Here is her website where you can see more of her work:  http://www.maryannahoggatt.com/

 

It’s the small things….

Thomas Doyle, Armistice, Mixed media, 25 x 21 x 18 inches, 2011 (detail)

Thomas Doyle, Acceptable losses, Mixed media, 16 x 13.5 inches diameter, 2008

My intermediate mixed media students are launching into their last art project for the semester which involves creating a small scene or environment.  Remember as a kid making those little dioramas for history class or the like?  “Here is a scene of life in ancient Greece, complete with sheep and naked statuary.” “Here is a sculpture of the hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the wonders of the ancient world! Notice the cast resin water that looks so real.”  (I actually did that one.)  Nothing like cutting up styrofoam and going to town with plaster, glue, paint, and dried moss!  Man, I’m sure I won something with that one in fifth grade.  It was heavy.

Regardless, there are a number of artist today that are creating quite intriguing small environments that we’re looking at.  I’d highly recommend that you check out Alan Wolfson’s interpretations of urban life:  http://www.alanwolfson.net/  as well as the narrative puzzles of Thomas Doyle:  http://www.thomasdoyle.net/  Their work makes me conclude that we are people in a complex world that is darn interesting to look at.  Enjoy.

Alan Wolfson, "TOWER OF PIZZA" (1985), 14 x 17 3/8 x 17 1/4 inches

 

The King Knows How

I don’t know about you, but musicians have profoundly affected my artwork just as much, if not more than visual artists have.  There are a number of them that I have followed since right out of college and graduate school.    What has impressed me is the ones that have just simply plugged away making quality work, regardless of current trends.  Perhaps that’s the hope I have for myself as an artist as well.  I admire them greatly.

Groups such as Innocence Mission, and Over the Rhine have amazed me with their consistency and pluck, and individuals such as Eddie Reader, Richard Shindell, Luka Bloom, Patty Griffin and Julie and Buddy Miller, don’t cease to make music that shows skill of heart, lyric, and musicianship. I ran onto this video of Over The Rhine performing at a venue in Memphis that I enjoyed, thought you might as well.  Good art is a very good thing no matter what art form it may be.

 

Millions of Bits and Pieces

Mary McCleary, "What is Hidden Everywhere" mixed media collage on paper

Mary McCleary, "A Hundred Familiar Objects Which No Longer Exist" mixed media collage on paper

I met Mary McCleary years back at a conference when I got to see a broad swath of her work at an exhibition she was having in Dallas.  I immediately became a fan. It’s also a delight to meet an artist who is as kind and as approachable as her work as McCleary was.

Speaking about her today in one of my classes I thought I’d share her work with you here if you haven’t seen it.  She is a meticulous narrative painter at heart with a wonderful sense of depth, insight, and irony in her work.  Technically the pieces are just a wonder to behold, as she constructs them out of thousands of little objects: painted chips, twigs, rope and trinkets.  Check out her site that is overflowing with images of artistic integrity, tradition, and innovation at:  http://www.marymccleary.com/index.html

(Click on the photos in this post to see them larger.)

Mary McCleary, "Praising the Beauty of What is Transient" mixed media collage on paper

Mary McCleary, "Allegory of the Senses" mixed media collage on paper