Mixed media often finds solidity in GLUE:Cathy Breslaw

by Kristen Schweizer
first published on Vanguard Culture

When we hear the term “mixed media,” many merely imagine complicated collages or other fastidiously fastened objects to canvas. At least, this was my inclination. Artist Cathy Breslaw shatters expectations with installations, wall work and drawings that seemingly defy both gravity and light. Her current exhibition, Imaginings, opened yesterday at the James Allen Rose Art Gallery at Francis Parker School in San Diego.


The instantly striking piece is Dream Scape, an installation made from industrial mesh suspended from the high ceilings of the gallery above portions of fabrics and paintings on the floor. Breslaw explained she was “inspired by the natural light, space and open high ceilings of the Rose Gallery.” I, however, was struck by the impactful nature of a fabric often written off as useless. Tulle, industrial mesh: these opaque fabrics are rarely the strength of a dress or window. However, they finally find center stage as somehow both substantial and subtle within Dream Scape.


That same sentiment is throughout her wall pieces as well. Translucent mesh, dyed and layered, seem like Rothko-reminiscent watercolor murals from afar. It is only up close that the viewer realizes her intentional delicacy. The painted mesh, somehow both inspiring a ballerina’s skirt and the protective shield of a screen door, are layered deliberately. The pieces wait unwearyingly; but it is merely a holding pattern. Upon the first breath of the viewer or gesture from the room: the pieces all dance. Alive and reactive to the slightest breeze, they move like the sky and watercolor in motion. It’s impossible to see the piece the same way twice as a result. It requires the viewer to change their opinion, to see new colors within the layers.


Breslaw’s mastery is evident in the construction. More often than not I found myself searching the seams and edges for proof that these pieces were deliberate. The work is so full of life it’s easy to believe that it made itself until you take a closer look…then that the purposeful expression and shape-making becomes apparent.


The genius is echoed in comparison. As the gallery is housed within a school, student mixed media art with colored mesh is also featured. While the students’ color, enthusiasm and ideas show bravely, they prove that a true artist finds more than immediate color, patterns, and texture for her inspiration. The student art is solidly pretty – but that is all it is. Breslaw’s art is impactful in its tenuous patience; a breathless reminder of what beauty actually is.

Imaginings runs from Thursday, April 2 through May 5, open from 7:30AM to 3:30PM at James Allen Rose Art Gallery at Francis Parker School, 6501 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92111.

Roman de Salvo: Lightening at Quint Gallery

Roman de Salvo: Lightening is one of a long line of shows held at the Quint Gallery( 7547 Girard Avenue, La Jolla 92037) for this artist who is a SD Art Prize recipient. Sat. March 14, 6 to 8 pm and showing until April 4. More info Nina Makosch 858.454.3409 

We are on a role at the Quint Gallery in the next couple of months. Not only is the SD Art Prize showing at the Athenaeum Art and Music Library right now....

San Diego Art Prize 2014 at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library until May 2, 2015
Marianela de la Hoz with emerging artist Bhavna Mehta
Philipp Scholz Rittermann with emerging artist Joseph Huppert
1008 Wall St. La Jolla, 92037
More info:press@ljathenaeum.org 858.454.5872

...but the Roman de Salvo's show is followed by one by Kim MacConnell and then one by Jean Lowe who are all three previous prize recipients. 

AND...Roman de Salvo's exhibition, as you will see below and as the title suggests, contains some pieces that could be considered furniture (if you include lighting as furniture.) Both the 2015 SD Art Prize winners Wendy Maruyama and Roy McMakin (with emerging artist TBD possibly from the New Contemporaries VIII exhibition opening at May 1 at Valencia Gallery at the NTC, Liberty Station)  are artists that use furniture techniques to create their art. 

Roman is using alabaster in some of these works but they still appear as light as the light they project.  

Farm to Table Lamp, made of pepper tree roots and
branches

In Roman's first solo show at Quint called Funishings was a work called Small Fireplace,a miniature stone masonry fireplace complete with real fire. Above is Second Act, a life-size enlargement of the original Small Fireplace drawn on birch panels using a wood-burning technique.

 These spliced twig works hark back to the giant installation Roman did previously and are beautifully constructed

Here is a taste of the upcoming Kim MacConnell exhibition inspired by the artist's interest in the pictographs ofthe San Diego tribe of San Luiseño Indians and his study of the brightly painted family compounds found in Cameroon, Africa. In MacConnel’s well documented trip to Western and sub-Saharan Africa in 1989, he speaks of how he went “in search of Picasso’s ghost;” meaning he researched the African tribal masks and traditions that Picasso incorporated in his own tribal art and cubist paintings like Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.

   

SD Art Prize at The Athenaeum by Vanessa Christie

 

Photo by Roy Porello: Bhavna Mehta,front, back Joseph Huppert, Philipp Scholz Rittermann Marianela de la Hoz

Now in its 8th year, the San Diego Art Prize is an annual prize for artists in which established artists exhibit alongside emerging artists. Each years two winning artists are selected by a panel including the previous years winners, writers for the SD Art Prize Notes and the SD Art Prize committee. These established artists then select two emerging artists. This year for the first time two artists not only displayed work together but also collaborated on the artwork itself.

The established artists whose work is currently on view are Marianela De La Hoz and Philipp Scholz Rittermann. Bhavna Mehta and Joseph Huppert, are the 2014 emerging artists.

The established artist Marianela De La Hoz is paired with the emerging artist Bhavna Mehta. Marianela De La Hoz and Bhavna Mehta both make use of intricate processes in order to create art. The art they create tell stories; stories about life and death and culture.

Marinela De La Hoz paints using the old world technique of egg tempura to create darkly humorous but brightly colored surreal paintings. These works often depict children juxtaposed with the elderly, life and death side by side showing the links between the two as more real than the barrier we try to imagine.  Her intensely detailed work plays against the flattening  affect of a medium which was most commonly used in pre-Renaissance work. There exists in her work a study of contrasts the darkness of the subjects playing against brilliantine colors, modern subjects against a centuries old technique.

Bhavna Mehta, an artist who draws using a knife. Her art is influenced by her upbringing in India, in which she witnessed the women in her family embroidering, knitting, and sewing. Using a single sheet of paper her work explores the universality of connection to humanity and to the world we share. Her work tells stories, sometimes with, and sometimes without words. The words of one of her pieces on display, “I’ll Always Remember To Forget…” as sharp as any blade. Both use different forms of destruction in order to create; eggs to create egg tempura and papers original use and context removed to create art.

Philipp Scholz Rittermann is a photographer whose work spans time and place, industrial, and pristine environments. His work shows aspect of the world both natural and man-made which are otherwise misunderstood or overlooked. A recent series consists of photographs reflecting the changing world both physical and spiritual affecting contemporary China. His work is held in over one hundred public, private, and corporate collections including MoMA, the Bibliotheque Nationale, and the Anthenaeum Music and Arts Library.

Joseph Huppert is a guerilla artist who chose to work outside the museum and gallery system. He admired the words and imagery of the artist Robert Irwin and in 2007 helped him hang his work at the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego. He has subsequently begun to exhibit his work at the ICE Gallery and at Bread and Salt. His work consists of drawings of geometric imagery exploring space and light.

For the first time the established artist Philipp Scholz Rittermann and Joseph Huppert collaborated on the work on display at the Anthenaeum. Joseph Huppert used geometric forms to make changes to a landscape and Philipp Scholz Rittermann photographed the changes.

The opening reception was Friday March 27^th at the Anthenaeum and will be on view through May 2^nd 2015.

image by Roy Porello: Robert Irwin and Ann Berchtold

 

Image by Roy Porello: Patricia Frischer announcing SD Art Prize for 2015

Image by Roy Porello: audience include Aida Valencia from Valencia Gallery the host for the New Contemporaries exhibition of the SD Art Prize opening May 1 at Liberty Station

image by Roy Porello: Philipp Scholz Rittermann and Joey Huppert from the outside

image by Roy Porello: Philipp Scholz Rittermann and Joey Huppert from the inside

Bhavna Metha started this work and Marianela de la Hoz completed it

Marianela de la Hoz started this work and Bhavna Mehta completed it

The SD Art Prize winners for 2015 have been selected; Wendy Maruyama and Roy McMakin. Wendy Maruyama is best known for the often male dominated art field of furniture. Roy McMakin, also known for work with furniture runs an architecture firm. These artists will select a pair of emerging artists to exhibit alongside them.

San Diego Visual Arts Network sponsored the awards of the SD Art Prize each year. Read more about the SD Art Prize on SDVAN  and in the A+Art Blog.  San Diego Art Prize at the Athenaeum March 2015

Marianela de la Hoz with emerging artist Bhavna Mehta
Philipp Scholz Rittermann  with emerging artist Joseph Huppert

Artist Odyssey Launch Party

 

Artists To Perform Live for The Artist Odyssey Launch Party at 3RDSPACE

Four renowned artists will create and perform live at the event

On Saturday, April 18th, arts and music lovers will converge at 3RDSPACE to celebrate the launch of The Artist Odyssey’s (TAO) Kickstarter campaign and meet featured artists.  This event is free with advance RSVP or $5 at the door.

Performances and artwork at the launch party will include:

• Mimi Wada will perform her dramatic large-scale Shodo, or Japanese calligraphy, using a giant brush to create a message with the sumi-e ink as she dances across a 10’x10’ Washi scroll.
• Mixed-media artist Trinh Mai incorporates family heirlooms and found objects to create deeply-personal collages.
• Folk singer, songwriter, artist, and poet Roy Ruiz Clayton will be playing a short set and showing some of his paintings.
• Americana singer-songwriter Nena Anderson will be performing several of her songs for the audience.
• Tintypes from Jen Jansen and Giles Clement, two leaders in the resurgence of wet plate photography. Jen and Giles have captured most of the artists TAO has interviewed with the dramatic Civil War-era tintype process and 12 of the plates will be on display.

WHAT: Launch Party for The Artist Odyssey Kickstarter Campaign

WHEN: April 18th at 7-10 PM

WHERE: 3RDSPACE in University Heights: 4610 Park Blvd

COST: Free in advance with RSVP, $5 at the door (if available)

RSVP: theartistodyssey.eventbrite.com

CONTACT: Jennifer Coburn: jen@kdrpr.com or 619.838.0125

The Artist Odyssey (TAO) is an arts network that interviews artists and supports arts education. TAO’s artist documentaries put the audience in the gallery or studio with leading photographers, filmmakers, musicians, visual artists, and performing artists. Viewers will see the work and hear from the artists in their own words.   

Founder and UCSD alumnus Chris Fessenden says inspiration for TAO stemmed from being surrounded by artists. “I had a great-aunt who was a professional photographer engaged in both photojournalism and fine art photography,” he explains. “My parents were both involved in the arts and now our daughter is a budding artist.  But the biggest inspiration was being fortunate enough to observe several friends take the journey in the arts, as they grew from novice in their niche through years of struggle and exploration before finally evolving into accomplished and professional artists.  Sharing a look into that often-magical journey is our mission.”

In addition to documenting artist stories, part of TAO’s mission is to support arts education.  The interviews will include lessons that can be used by arts educators or anyone at home.  TAO’s long-term goal is to give the curriculum away for free.  In the initial phases, each subscriber will be able to pick a classroom to receive the arts curriculum for free on behalf of the subscriber.  

“Our commitment to documenting artist stories and supporting arts education stems not just from our passion for the arts.  The arts can teach people how to interact with others, how to communicate, how to feel good about themselves, and how to become thoughtful, productive members of society,” Fessenden adds.  “The creativity that the arts foster is vital across so many facets of our society - it’s far too important to neglect.”

TAO has established partnerships with several arts organizations, including UCSD  ArtPower!, San Diego Visual Arts Network, Vanguard Culture, the Bronx Artist Documentary Project, and the Filmatic Festival, among others, to collaborate on arts events, content, and arts education initiatives.  

Fine Artist Trinh Mai in her studio with TAO producer Chris Fessenden

IMAGININGS: A Solo Exhibition by Cathy Breslaw

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Now in the Rose Art Gallery

OPENING RECEPTION: THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 4-6PM

Cathy Breslaw, a Contemporary Visual Artist from southern California, is now being featured in Francis Parker School’s Rose Art Gallery.  This particular type of show has never before been seen in the school’s gallery, as parts of the installation are site specific, or created especially for our space.  Breslaw was inspired by the gallery’s high open ceilings, abundant natural light, and the possibilities created by the expansive wall spaces.

Breslaw’s artwork combines painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture.  She is heavily influenced by nature, space, light, and the ephemeral nature of time.  Much of Breslaw’s work involves the transcendence of functional, ordinary materials such has industrial mesh, plastic, and plaster, but demands curiosity and further inspection through her manipulation of the forms using light, transparency, and color.
Cathy Breslaw has been featured in over 27 solo exhibitions as well as 50 group exhibitions across the United States.  Some of the local venues she has shown in include The Oceanside Museum of Art, The Bakersfield Museum of Art, The San Jose Textile Museum, The San Diego International Airport, Gallery 825 in Los Angeles, among many more.
In conjunction with the show, students in Ms. Taylor and Ms. Enck’s 6th Grade classes, have created collaborative pieces that are exhibited alongside Breslaw’s work.  The students contemplated the artist’s work as well as notions of color, transparency, weaving, line, and embellishment.  Students whose work is now on display include: Jacqueline Crivello, Adam Rauch, Madeleine Rott, Jorge Luna, Jonathon Whitten, Laurence Miller, Isabella Walter-Meade, Joey Diamond-Pott, Jordan Stuart, Isobel Gonzalez, Madison Joyce, William Kwak, Adelyn Phillips, Spencer Ruff, Lena Luostarinen, Amanda Baker-Dunn, and Isabella Polfuss.
Most artwork displayed in the gallery is for sale, and a portion of all sales is donated to support the Arts at Parker.  Please help support our program by supporting our exhibiting artists.

ARTIST LECTURE/Q&A AT THE ROSE GALLERY: THURSDAY APRIL 23, 8-10:40AMRose Gallery Francis Parker School
6501 Linda Vista Rd. SD 92111
More info: Jaclyn Enck 858-569-7900 x4326

Visit Cathy Breslaw’s Website at http://www.cathybreslaw.com

Article by Jaclyn Enck, Gallery Curator and 3D Visual Arts Faculty

Visual Arts Department, Francis Parker School

jenck@francisparker.org

Adelman Fine Art Opening in Little Italy

Adelman Fine Art at 1980 Kettner Blvd, Ste #40 in Little Italy will be open to the public starting on Saturday March 28 and they will celebrate an official public opening with a reception at the beginning of May. This small but very well appointed gallery is located in the Broadstone Building between Grape and Fir. Marcia Adelman is the owner and the director is her charming daughter Nicole. For more info: 619-354-5969  Nicole@adelmanfineart.com

There was such a vibrant crowd at this reception with high energy and was one of the most stimulating openings we can remember.  It was too crowded to get many single images of the art, but you can see them in these group shots. The location of the gallery will serve lots of the new high rises residences in downtown San Diego.  There were lots of figures and landscapes of a high quality and hopefully suitable for sales to new urban dwellers. There were a few sculptures and a couple of lines of art jewelry as well. 

Because the space is small, they utilized the interiors of  some of the free standing wall for storage on inside walls that slide out for easy viewing. Very clever and space saving idea...bravo to the designer.

Alexis Dixon and Nicole Adelman

Alexander Rosa, Ansley Pye, Luis Magdaleno, Vida and Mark Maine

Jennifer Borba von Stauffenberg of

Olive PR Solutions, Inc., who handled the PR for this opening with an enthusiastic fan

Iris Scott - one of our favorite works

Jennifer Hannaford  - we now own a small beautiful wave painted by this artist

Jennine Emmett does for birds what Dan Adams does for dogs.

Journey to Space at Reuben H.Fleet Science Center

We were delighted to be invited to the VIP film preview of Journey to Space at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park.

The film was introduced by the fairly new CEO of the Fleet, the very charming and charismatic Steven Snyder. Originally from New York, he was funny and inspiring and is breathing life into the Fleet. He reminded us that we were at the California premier performance for what he called "a love letter to Mars' space exploration". He wants to use the the science center to excite and inspire a whole new generation of young people...one of which could actually be on that first 34 million miles flight to Mars. Recently the Fleet hosted 6th and 7th graders for a video hook up with astronauts in space...can you imagine asking your questions about space to a space man in space. What at thrill for them. And he pointed out that the space race, although now an international collaboration, is still drawing crowds. For a recent launch that was cancelled, 200 people still showed up to the Fleet's live broadcast of the event. 

He ended with a charming story about President Obama chatting to a bus driver at NASA. Obama says, "So you drive a bus for NASA..."  The driver replies, "No, I am helping put a man on Mars."

Steven Snyder

My two science geeks, John Chambers and Darwin Slindee,  after we had indulged in Tang Astronaut Martini, delicious pasta, street tacos, a great cheese board and cookies and chocolate nut bars. The Fleet treats their VIPs right. A shoot out to John Bolthouse from the Water Conservation Garden who was caught in the middle of this photo.

I have included a short trailer about the movie which was stunningly filmed and very informative. This is one of the surround Giant Dome films at the  Heikoff Theater. I especially liked the stories about re-designing the  space suits to make them more mobile and the animation of the inflatable living space that will be created for this 2 1/2 year journey. The writer/director Mark Krenzien was present to answer questions at the end of the film. We learned about this giant 300 pounds cameras which hold 1000 feet of 70 mm film for only 3 minutes of footage at a time. Patrick Stuart (i.e. Captain Picard from Star Trek) was paid a huge amount to narrate a small part of the film and worked for only 3 hours. The film was 1/3 historical footage, 1/3 newly shot film and 1/3 special animation sequences. 

The length of the film, 42 minutes, was actually determined because Dome theaters around the county like to show their film on the hour. For me this was just long enough. My throat felt like it was stretched to breaking point by the end of the show as we were near the front and leaning back in our seats.  My advice is to sit near the top of the theater to get the full affect of the dome screen. I walked away in awe and recommend this experience to everyone, especially the youngest of our San Diego science enthusiast.

 

SDAI MAS Attack: Art for Artists' Sake by Lonnie Burstein Hewitt

 It was art for artists’ sakes at Balboa Park meetup for San Diego Art Institute’s MAS Attack
La Jolla Light by Lonnie Burstein Hewitt

One of the coolest art events of the almost-spring season took place Feb. 28, 2015 at the San Diego Art Institute in Balboa Park. It was a one-night-only mass meet-up called “MAS Attack,” where 75 Los Angeles artists joined 75 San Diego-area artists to show and view their work and create new possibilities for engagement with audiences.
MAS (Mutual Appreciation Society) Attack is a concept created by LA-based Artra Curatorial, and this was its first outing in San Diego. The free event drew hundreds of attendees, including local art-lovers, who obviously enjoyed the opportunity to interact with 150 artists from around the world currently living and working in Southern California.


All photos by Maurice Hewitt

Cooper Baker, an MFA in Fine Arts now pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Music at UCSD, with a piece made from salvaged circuit boards — Maurice Hewitt

Born in Belarus, Katya Usvitsky considers NYC her grad school; her specialty is sewn assemblages. She met painter Sean Noyce in Brooklyn; they recently moved to L.A. — Maurice Hewitt

L.A. artist Lena Wolek with a piece made from porcelain and a silver fox hat she wore in her native Siberia. “I’d feel embarrassed to wear it here, but there, you can’t survive without it,” she said. “In Siberia, everything ... — Maurice Hewitt

Robert Pendleton, president of the Oceanside Museum of Art board of directors, with one of his photographs — Maurice Hewitt

North County sculptor Cheryl Tall with ‘Pygothia,’ her response to mental and environmental crises — Maurice Hewitt

Bhavna Mehta, 2014 Art Prize winner with a cut-paper piece titled, ‘I’ll bring you my sunshine and my madness’ — Maurice Hewitt

La Jolla artist Becky Guttin, with one of the pieces she creates using plants from her native Mexico — Maurice Hewitt

San Diego artist Anna Zappoli, originally from Sicily, with her painting — Maurice Hewitt

L.A. artist Max Presnell, British-born curator/director of Torrance Art Museum and co-creator of MAS Attack, with his painting — Maurice Hewitt

SDAI executive director Ginger Shulick Porcella with her artist-husband Don Porcella and his self-portrait in pipe-cleaners — Maurice Hewitt