Jim Morphesis at Biola

study of meat, J. Morphesis

Dramatic, compelling, powerful and passionate; these are words often used to describe the work of Los Angeles artist Jim Morphesis. Morphesis made his reputation from his intense paintings of the male torso, derived from the image of the crucifixion, an omnipresent element in his art to this day. The artist was raised Greek Orthodox and often attended church with his grandmother. 

His work can be seen in numerous museum collections including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.*

Works on paper, studies and major works including pieces from his "meat" series are on display at Biola University Art Gallery thru Nov. 20th. 

Jim will be lecturing on his work, at the Biola on Wednesday, Nov. 5th @ 7:00pm. Contact the Art Dept.

(562)903.4807 for location.

*info from Kennebeck Fine Art

creativity and embarrassment

performance, J.U.

Every creative act involves a leap into the void. The leap has to occur at the right moment and yet the time for the leap is never prescribed. In the midst of a leap, there are no guarantees. To leap can often cause acute embarrassment. Embarrassment is a partner in the creative act - a key collaborator. If your work does not sufficiently embarrass you, then very likely no one will be touched by it. 

Anne Bogart, A Director Prepares: Seven Essays on Art and Theatre

Songs of Ascension

Songs of Ascension is the most recent work of Meredith Monk and Ann Hamilton. It is currently being preformed at the REDCAT, Disney/Calarts Theater in Los Angeles. I took my painting class to see Thursday nights performance. I was not prepared for what happened.

When the approximately 90min. program ended and the performance group cleared the sparse stage several of us sat speechless, in fact, breathless. Thoughts of anticipation, utterance, the liturgical, and dare I even say, the sublime. One of the students said that her body understood what had happened the last 90 mins. but the language had not yet arrived. 

As we drove back to the university we drifted back and forth between animated talk of "already / not yet" and a grinning silence. After I dropped everyone off at school and was driving home I found myself driving in silence and listening to the sound of my breathing. 

Yearnings in matter

The yearning to know What cannot be known, to comprehend the Incomprehensible, to touch and taste the Unapproachable, arises from the image of God in the nature of man.    A.W.Tozer

Painting, according to Jean-Luc Marion, is a central topic of concern for philosophy, particularly phenomenology. For the question of painting is a privileged case of the phenomenon; the painting becomes an index for investigating the conditions of appearance - or what Marion describes as "phenomenality" in general.

What matters about matter?

Estes showing at Biola University

Merion Estes, Strange Fruit

LA painter Merion Estes will be showing recent work at Biola University.

 Opening reception is Tuesday, Sept. 23, 7:00 - 9:00pm

Estes will be lecturing on her work and her thirty-five year career in the LA art community on 

Tuesday, Oct 7th, 7-8:00pm

All events are open to the public, for details call the Biola University Art Department 562.903.4807

out walking

Leslie Shows

I just started reading John Leax's, Out Walking, reflections on our place in the natural world. Leax is the poet-in-residence at Houghton College. I have been a fan of his for quite awhile. I have always appreciated his quite but purposed approach to issues of artistic craft, practice, and the role of an artist in community. Out Walking is a series of reflections on the relationship of humans to the places we occupy. Leax consistently moves from the personal to the public, from the specific to the universal. He is a storyteller at heart and by these potent little stories he challenges us to shape or reshape our ways of thinking and ways of doing. 

"The fate of all creatures now depends on humanity's willingness to restrain itself, to commit itself to maintain places where humans pass through. 

Consider an analogy. As part of the marriage ceremony, a couple promises, before God and gathered witnesses, to be faithful to each other until separated by death. This promise is not demanded by sentiment; it is demanded because everyone present at the marriage know the truth of human nature. Both bride and groom will change. Ambitions, new dreams, other bodies will attract them. Their only hope for success will be the reach of their vow.

We must marry the earth. We must promise to cherish and serve it )love it as ourselves) until death releases us from our responsibility. Our lives will change. We will be tempted. Apart from such a marriage, a commitment to limit our use of the earth before we know or imagine all possible uses, the earth and all of us on it are lost, for that commitment is our only just expression of hope." - John Leax

Short Memories

Chris Jordan, Intolerable Beauty

Kim Stringfellow, Greetings from the Salton Sea

On Wednesday evening when the Republican nominee for Vice President, Sarah Palin, proudly and boldly proclaimed, "Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to lay more pipelines... build more nuclear plants ... create jobs with clean coal ..." I was reminded what a ferocious and bloated appetite we Americans have and what short memories. We have been poor keepers of the garden.