NYC in September

September 26, 2024Susan R. KirshenbaumComment

FALL ART SEASON

Tis the season…swinging from sleepy, hot summertime into an exuberant autumn, NYC wakes up and shows off. Back in NYC! What a feast! Full of fairs and friends…with tons of walking and snacking – bagels, smoked fish, pizza, diner food, deli, and a couple of truly elegant restaurants. So much people watching and seeing art. So much, too much, running up and down stairs to catch trains or catch a performer on the move at a show (Life and Trust).

We made it back to The City after canceling our June trip due to kitty health issues. That’s another story. Speaking of stories, I am writing today, on my birthday, very low key, because I feel like I’ve celebrated a ton already, and I will continue to celebrate during my upcoming adventures in Spain and London next month.

Tonight I am doing something I can’t quite imagine, so I have to try it. I’m attending “Draw and Guffaw” at Gallery-O-Rama, where 5 pieces of my work are currently featured in their figure show.

WALKING AROUND THE CITY

We visited Art on Paper, The Armory, CLIO, and Spring Break. We looked around MOMA (and dined there), Neue Gallery, and Fotografiska.

We walked The Highline and attended the launch of a brand new art space, The Williamsburg Biannual. We tramped around the Lower East Side galleries, and shopped in the West Village and SOHO.

As usual, I tried to gauge what is trending at these galleries and art fairs. Happily, there was a surprising amount of figurative work. There’s still plenty of: fabric, stitchery, sparkles, gold leaf, plus cut, collaged, and constructed paper. I was looking for and found many beautiful boxed sets of prints and altered book art. Participatory video and photography (selfies encouraged) were there in abundance. My favorite is still the Art on Paper fair, but the other shows surprised me with lots of wonderful work. I keep an eye out for art that I simply like, would consider buying, or would curate into a show…we played the game of “if you had a budget of xx, what would you buy/collect?”

We hung out with cousins, old friends from NYC in the 80s, were hosted by more old friends from our travels, and newer friends who joined us for the fairs – from SF and Pittsburgh, including The Invisibility Collective.

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY: FOTOGRAFISKA

FOR CONSIDERATION: FIGURATIVE WORKS

THINGS I LIKED THE LOOK OF

CATCH A BREATH BETWEEN

We returned last Thursday night, in time for my Art Explosion Open Studios, which started on Friday night, allowing a very short time to be with both of our cats, who have been unwell. On Saturday night, after the vet explained the situation, we had to put down our older cat (just 16), Reginald, due to sudden-seeming ravaging cancer.

Meanwhile, it was my Open Studios, and I spent time there as planned. But it all just felt pointless.

This week my artworld is gearing up (again) for Artspan Open Studios and last night was ArtLaunch. We’ll get through this, including our younger cat Nigel, who is sorely missing his lifelong buddy.

Maybe that’s why I am home writing my blog, surrounded by so many flowers, instead of out and about on my birthday.

That said, this morning I went to the annual Flower Piano event held in the SF Botanical Garden, followed by breakfast at Art’s, an old school Korean joint in the Inner Sunset.

Yesterday I popped out briefly to watch the ceremony at SFPL in the Civic Center, a dedication of a piece of public art by Lava Thomas, a large sculpture of Maya Angelou. Our friend and Invisibility Collective colleague Mary Graham also worked on this important project. There’s a photo below.

Now I have to gear up for our next trip, which is soon. No complaints! We’ll visit friends in Mallorca, Girona, and London, with a side trip to Valencia.

I’ll be back in time for SF’s Day of the Dead Altar Celebration, where I’ll build an altar with Rhiannon. Last year we honored our fathers who’d passed. Maybe this year, at least for me, I’ll pay a tribute to my cats. After all, it’s the year for childless cat people.

REMINDER TO PLEASE VOTE!

DON’T MISS THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

Show Stopper, 2358 MKT Gallery (Castro) | Closing 9/29 - I have a piece, The Birds, in this curated group show. It’s my first time showing at this gallery.

Unbound Figures: Human Vessels, Gallery-O-Rama | Closing Reception: Oct 6, 4-6pm | 1920 Polk St, SF - I have 4 large pieces hanging from the ceiling from my Banderas series, and one piece, Bed of Roses, on the wall, which is the same work used in the gallery's promo piece! This is an exciting new gallery.

SFOS Open Studios, Sept 28-29, 11-5pm | Art Explosion, 744 Alabama St, #209, SF | Artspan Exhibition at SOMARTS - During SFOS my studio will be open both Saturday and Sunday. It's packed with luscious art and a fresh batch of small items including my RedBubble merchandise. Don’t miss more of my art installed on the hall walls. I'll be giving Procreate demos, and serving up sweets and bubbly.

Root Division Benefit Auction & Exhibition | Auction: October 24, 2024 | Root Division, 1131 Mission St, San Francisco, CA - I have a piece, Stone Fruit, in Root Division's Annual Benefit Auction Exhibition! Come see the show when it's up from Oct 8-24 and support Root Division by bidding in the auction on the 24th! More info here.

Giving Flowers, ACCI Reception Oct 5, 4-6, Live Music Oct 19, 4-6, Through Nov 10 - I have a piece, Tapestry, in this juried group show in Berkeley. It’s my first time showing at this gallery.

Festival of Altars, Potrero Del Sol Park, Sat, Nov 2, 10-11pm - The invisibility Collective will create a beautiful altar again this year and I will be there all day.

NEW WORK

My Women and Nature series continues, but every now and then a man appears…or a different shape like a circle.

kirshenbaum-susanR.artists-choice-2024-whimsy.JPG

kirshenbaum-susanR.artists-choice-2024-underwater.JPG

***

Signing off for a couple of months (back 10/27/24)!

Susan

xox

Order my print on demand custom art merchandise: Srkirshenbaum.redbubble.com

Adventures in Southeast Asia

June 12, 2024Susan R. Kirshenbaum1 Comment

Waiting for the cremation procession to begin, in Ubud, Bali, April 2024.

WHY WE RETURNED

Half a life-time ago we traveled around SE Asia for several months. We made friends in Bali with folks we’ve been traveling with ever since. This was a reunion trip, of sorts. We added on Singapore, which was new to us. In the past it didn’t seem so interesting to us as travelers – too cleaned up and rigidly regulated. I’m glad we visited this time.

Bali and Java were return visits, with lots of new experiences added, as well as the expected shock and awe at all of the changes. Now there are so many cars, scooters, paved roads, foreigners (including sooo many Yoga practitioners)…And yes, much of the land and the fields are filled in. This time, our laundry wasn’t dried on the grass for all to see – in the area surrounding our rice field huts – but at a conventional laundry, smelling of strong soap.

Don’t ask me about beaches in Bali, as I’ve never been to them and never intend to. Like the Balinese, I prefer believing that the sea is filled with sea monsters and it’s best to look inland toward the mountains and rich green rice fields. I’ll head to the sea elsewhere. The hotel swimming pools were perfection.

Dripping with beauty, humor, and art, there are so many reasons to visit, get to know and understand the people, places, languages, and cultures.

This is a selection of images from dance performances, our Ubud hotel room and pool, a coastal restaurant, public art, temples and ceremonies, holy offerings, an antique shop, and that Bali-Aussie sense of humor, street vendors (heads piled high), a holy spring water ritual. We witnessed so many romantic scenes of beauty, strength, hard working, friendly people, with a sense of humor and lightness and brightness. The lush greens and cement grays are punctuated by hot colors – pink, lilac, orange. Everything is drenched, like the flourishing rice fields, in an intense, dripping wet heat.

A bagful of marigolds sits on a concrete step in Bali. The bag is a classic black and white pattern. The flowers are ready to be carefully placed around the temple for a full moon ceremony. These are decorations and offerings to the Hindu gods are ubiquitous in SE Asia (and in the San Francisco Bay Area and Mexico during Day of the Dead celebrations).

WHY BLACK AND WHITE
Everything goes back to the Balinese philosophy of balance called Rwa Bhineda. This philosophy of balance and harmony can be found everywhere in Balinese everyday life and it is symbolized in the black and white trademark textile of Bali. This textile is called saput poleng. Saput means ‘blanket’ and poleng means ‘in two tones’. In the cloth there is an equal number of alternating black and white squares. Together they symbolize the coexistence of opposites and the ultimate goal of harmony. Some of the saput poleng cloths will also include some grey or red squares. The gray squares symbolize the transition between black and white or the transition between good and evil and the red squares symbolize energy and passion.

At Threads of Life we enjoyed a textile talk by the co-owner, William. Much more than a shop, they also hosted our 3-day natural dye and batik resist workshop.

Day #1 in Ubud we were lucky to experience a once in a lifetime event – an important royal funeral cremation ceremony and procession.

THE CREMATION PROCESSION

We had a bird’s eye from a cafe’s second floor, but we occasionally dove back into the crowd for the full experience. With over 60,000 people thronging the streets to watch and/or participate, our two friends got jostled, but as in large crowds when knocked over they were pushed right back upright!

Amazing to see all the important people arrive in limos, dressed in their finest, and the crowds of tourists, some were dressed and covered in lovely, correct Balinese ceremonial attire, while others remained clueless, in skimpy clothes.

The body is ready for cremation after the procession where it’s carried through town inside the bull.

BEAUTY

I couldn’t get this word out of my head. While we were on this trip I read the book Beauty is a Wound, and highly recommend it – its historical fiction and its magical realism helped me change my own thinking to understand Indonesia’s culture a little better, including some of the differences and similarities between Java (a Muslim island, and the capital) and Bali (Hindu, and a more recent addition to Indonesia). The country was unified to speak one language. Bahasa Indonesia is the official language of Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,508 islands that is the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, with a total population of nearly 242 million. Over 300 different native languages are spoken in Indonesia..

Bali connotes different things to different people. Our trip was about art and culture. People go there for yoga and beach retreats though. So for those who believe it must be ruined by its popularity, it is not.

The traditional culture and rituals appear to be intact. The people are genuine and sweet, and their ingrained attention to beauty is ever-present. Fresh food and flower offerings and meals carefully wrapped in banana leaves are intrinsic to Indonesia. What an incredible sense of color and composition! You see it everywhere, from food and textiles to offerings and architecture. Large and small, attention to detail is still foremost.

ACTIVITIES IN BALI

We visited tiny villages, family compounds, temples, fresh water springs, artists’ studios, art residencies, local artisans, farms, museums, day and night markets, and we watched dance performances. We heard artists’ talks and demos, and we had well-informed guides at each spot. We traveled comfortably by bus, van, and even by horse and buggy.

We enjoyed many gorgeous, festive meals and tasted lots of strange new foods and drinks. I loved a vivid blue-purple tea and water, made with butterfly pea flowers. The most unusual drink I tasted was a coffee made with live coals, served street side. I explained how to make cocktails to several servers – which was an amusing way to engage. Throughout all this is was steamy hot and often rainy.

I saw this world through a veil of sweat. I don’t do well in humid heat, as you may see by my deep red face.

Our dyed pieces were hung out at the studio of Threads of Life, a large indoor/outdoor space with dye plant gardens. We had to wait for the air to oxidize our newly dyed and batiked fabric to evaluate what to do next.

DYING, BATIKING, AND WEAVING

Our Threads of Life three-day natural dying and batiking workshop started us out with three colors: red-brown (plants), black (mud), and indigo (plants). We mixed up the dyes, then dipped, dried, and dipped multiple times. This process was interspersed with tie dying (with coins, marbles, and string), then batiking – drawing with hot wax and/or using large metal stamps. We made our own textiles to take home. It was messy, difficult, and a great learning experience – all led by local men.

WEAVING IN BALI

We had the opportunity to visit a number of weavers and learn about the different techniques and types of weaving. As with most of our educational adventures we were offered the chance to experience weaving hands-on, on various types of looms. I’d experienced backstrap weaving in art school way back when, but I was remembering that on my first trip to Bali I started learning about textiles from Alida, who is a long-time textile collector.

VILLAGE VISITS

We spent several days visiting tiny, traditional Balinese and Javanese villages. We were shown around by the village leaders and guides. In one village we watched two women making food items – tempe and crunchy snacks – in their homes. In another village we were invited to play Gamelan.

We watched while artisans carved books and masks, created shadow puppets, spun thread and wove it into one-of-a-kind textiles. We had an adventure at a coconut farm, watching the process from tree climbing to cooking and serving us coconut sugar and sampling virgin coconut oil. We stirred the pot over a flame outdoors, cooking it down the old way, and it tasted delicious. We toured their orchards and gardens, sampling fruit off the trees. We were shown how to weave reeds that make the containers for offerings and food. Like so many lovely hosts we met, they cooked a meal for us too.

We observed preparations for a full moon temple ceremony with a huge array of offerings including ducks. We descended a very long, steep set of stairs to be blessed in cold rushing water from a holy spring. We visited a lovely colonial compound housing a huge collection of masks and puppets.

Charming village woman had us into her rustic home to show us how she makes these crunchy snacks.

MEETING ARTISTS

We visited an art foundation with artists-in-residence, a few exhibiting artists, an artist’s studio, a beautifully curated shop-restaurant-gallery compound, a design shop with household goods made of handmade paper, stone, metal, and fabric, and more. Our travel group included many artists and curators, a museum registrar, and a costume designer. Most folks were coming to Bali for their first time and mainly live in the Seattle area.

At the the art foundation we saw the most artistic shadow puppets I’d ever seen, being used as inspiration for a sculpture project by this artist: https://www.saatchiart.com/imams. The artist couple who we spent time with founded their own art foundation and serve in art residencies there as well. One of these artists is Mella Jaarsma, where we saw her current project ready to ship to a show: https://mellajaarsma.com/. We also attended a Balinese artist’s talk and demo, show below, at Threads of Life.

A traditional Balinese artist with his own style, gave an ink painting demo at Threads of Life.

Mella, the Dutch artist in residence (wearing black in the middle) with her finished floor cloth piece at her feet.

Artist, designer, and Japanese papermaker, speaking about their work in their showroom.

A pile of fabulously painted shadow puppets being studied at the art foundation/residency.

A village master working on his shadow puppets.

At the art residency/foundation where this artist (right) is sculpting with tanned cow hide.

NATIONAL TREASURES – TEMPLES

Borabudur and Prambanan are two of the most important historical and religious sites in the world, yet many people haven’t heard of them. We visited them 34 years ago, and again on this trip, taking us back to Java (East of Bali) and in and around the major city of Yogyakarta. We had some wonderful guides and the tourism and care of the sites has been refined, including sandals specially-woven so as not to damage these ancient sites. Our guide was extremely well informed and articulate, telling us the stories represented by these well-preserved, sophisticated stone carvings and wall paintings. We stopped at a few smaller temples nearby. Traveling with friends in the know makes a big difference from the days when we were just winging it on the cheap, without a guide and just our Lonely Planet SE Asia book.

Additional ancient temple sites we visited were Candi Mendut, Candi Pawon, Kalasan Temple, and Candi Brahma. Each site unique in its way, and all with incredible carved narratives, and sometimes painted stories. I remain a huge fan of the complex, realistic carvings at Borabador.

Our day at Prambanan was accompanied by a prolonged downpour that flooded the grounds we waded through. The original carved downspouts are proof that the temple construction was made for such intense rain storms. Umbrellas were useless. The Seattle crowd felt right at home!

BORABUDUR: Built during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty, the temple design follows Javanese Buddhist architecture, which blends the Indonesian indigenous tradition of ancestor worship and the Buddhist concept of attaining nirvāṇa.[3] The monument is a shrine to the Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. Evidence suggests that Borobudur was constructed in the 8th century and subsequently abandoned following the 14th-century decline of Hindu kingdoms in Java and the Javanese conversion to Islam.[4] Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, then the British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians.[5] Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was completed in 1983 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, followed by the monument's listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[3] Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world,[6][3] and ranks with Bagan in Myanmar and Angkor Wat in Cambodia as one of the great archeological sites of Southeast Asia. Borobudur remains popular for pilgrimage, with Buddhists in Indonesia celebrating Vesak Day at the monument. Among Indonesia's tourist attractions, Borobudur is the most-visited monument.[7]
PRAMBANAN: The temple compound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia and the second-largest in Southeast Asia after Angkor Wat.[1] The Prambanan temple is the largest Hindu temple of ancient Java, and the first building was completed in the mid-9th century. It was likely started by Rakai Pikatan and inaugurated by his successor King Lokapala. Some historians that adhere to dual dynasty theory suggest that the construction of Prambanan probably was meant as the Hindu Sanjaya dynasty's answer to the Buddhist Sailendra dynasty's Borobudur and Sewu temples nearby, and was meant to mark the return of the Hindu Sanjaya dynasty to power in Central Java after almost a century of Buddhist Sailendra dynasty domination. Nevertheless, the construction of this massive Hindu temple signified a shift of the Mataram court's patronage, from Mahayana Buddhism to Shaivite Hinduism.

SEEN ALONG THE WAY

People, signs, temples, fields, roadside shops, drivers, vehicles, vendors, cats, birds, and walls – glimpsed from a car window, from a horse carriage, or walking by, there were so many sites that grabbed my attention. Here are a handful of images including some walls I’d love to turn into paintings.

NEW FAVORITE MUSEUM

We took an excursion to Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets just outside of Ubud, a new favorite museum. It is in a cluster of elegant buildings both colonial and traditional, set amidst gorgeous grounds, with an extensive collection. These are just a few favs below. Masks are made to express. Here’s an example of the expressive masks used in Balinese dance performances, often with an open mouth area to speak through.

SINGAPORE SITES

Singapore is an ideal stop over on the way to Indonesia. I’d avoided it for fear of its strict government regulations, but I love this region. Singapore is a small, dense republic with a parliamentary system of government. It’s an interesting example of an independent sovereign state that separated from a larger country, Malaysia. Signage in SE Asia is quite strong. We saw forceful signs in both Singapore and Indonesia. But there are still old, charming, funky, arty parts of Singapore, including many wonderful murals. There are wonderful public works of art, architectural gems, a lit-up river cruise and gardens for night viewing. Cultural and religious diversity abound, so there are mosques, temples, and great food districts. There are upscale galleries and shopping.

Incredibly, we learned that most of the population live in public housing “With more than 1 million flats spread across 24 towns and 3 estates, the Singapore brand of public housing is uniquely different. The flats spell home for over 80% of Singapore's resident population, of which, about 90% own their home”.

FBD9921C-5F66-4CC5-9564-4DFB0F0968AD (1).jpeg

6B68A544-6CDF-4D1B-B671-DE6B2CABE515 (1).jpeg

VERDANT

What I enjoyed most in Singapore were the acres of public gardens, both the Orchid Garden (private) and the Botanical Garden (public). It rained hard on us there, but so what? It was intensely hot and humid and gorgeous, with dripping plants, it was simply scrumptious.

We didn’t see them in action as they don’t enjoy being out in the rain!

FELLOW TRAVELERS

There were lots of new folks to meet on this trip. As in all of our travels with Alida and Christopher, many friends are fellow arts professionals. A few of the artists who came on this trip:

Cappy Thompson is a Seattle-based painter: https://www.cappythompson.com/objects/vessels-color

Marita Dingus makes her own clothes and textile-based sculptures and dolls out of found materials: https://www.travergallery.com/artists/marita-dingus/

Kelly Lyles (we first met at Miami Art Basel) is an artist, designer, and art car star. Like Marita, we were treated to her daily art outfits: https://www.kellyspot.com/

Here we are at Borabudur - note our special sandals to help preserve the stone.

BARBIE COMES ALONG

What’s my ongoing Barbie series about and why is she with me? My on-going series Barbie on the Cusp continues to grow and change with me. Each trip since my art residency at Pacific Felt Factory with Black and White Productions under my mentor and friend Rhiannon Evans-MacFadyen (my art coach since 2016-on), I’ve since taken Barbie with me traveling.

Although Barbie started out as a vehicle to tell my story about my realistic fear of impending adulthood, she has become my buddy, partner in crime, and has helped me enlist friends and strangers to participate in our drama. I shot the picture below, while one of the folks working at our hotel art directed me.

Barbie received this gift in Java, a Vespa just her size, made of weighty metal from a stall at a temple site that also had lovely crafts, masks, and puppets.

Thank You!

…For perusing my long, image-laden blog! Just so you know, this isn’t simply a travelogue, though it is partially that. What you’re seeing here is my fuel, my inspiration, and it reflects one of the main ways I want to spend my time – and I do! Travel gives me new experiences which I can savor and translate into my art and every day life. It holds me in its sweaty palm, while I sit in the chill of a windy, cool San Francisco summer.

Please visit me this month and next at my studio. I’ll be there several June-July weekends with cava (a lovely brut bubbly), snacks, and digital demos.

Or stop by the SFWA Gallery, in the Inner Sunset, where I’m showing work in “Radiating Pride” followed in July by two pieces juried into “Illuminations” in the main gallery.

In case you didn’t hear, we’ve been caring for two senior, sick cats who continue to amaze us with their multiple lives. They are brilliant companions and earn their keep. Doing better, fingers, crossed.

And in case you didn’t know, I post much of my new work, including art in progress and life drawings, weekly. You can check out my travel photos, exciting food, gorgeous plants, and walks – all in real time. Our aforementioned cats, Nigel and Reginald, make appearances there too. Instagram is my preferred social media. I promise you will still see a lot of top-notch visuals shared there. I love you all (if you’re on this list) and I would love to hear from you.

What Else?

NYC, Spain, Open Studios, more group shows, and two biggies – The Invisibility Collective, which has evolved quite nicely, will launch a group exhibition in Dec ‘24 in SF, and, I will curate another figurative show in Sausalito, at SCA, in Jan ‘25.

A Busy Beginning of 2024

March 11, 2024Susan R. KirshenbaumComment

The year began with adventures like this one – atop an old volcano in Maui – and lots of art.

Exploring the Self

I don’t really do self-portraits, but I am keenly interested in exploring identity. At the end of 2023, a friend took a photo of me on the sofa after dinner recently, which I turned into a self-portrait.

Here’s another new piece exploring my identity. It’s an addition to my ongoing series: Women and Nature. The collage contains: a drawing of a huddled pose from a session with the model Sarah, photos I shot of an Italian shop window, an embroidered ceremonial textile (with Hebrew text), and a rose image from Golden Gate Park Rose Garden. It was juried into “Patterns, Shapes, and Textures” in Jan 2024 at SFWA Gallery.

This is my interpretation of the requested self-portrait “assignment” for my drawing group.

“Inside the Shop Window” is a newly produced piece. It’s a 48w x 24h framed metal print, in an edition 1/1.

March is Women’s History Month: Three Shows

“Flirting”, a digital original collage, is my first circular piece, a requirement of the show theme. It’s a 23x23 inch metal print, in an edition 1/1.

NCWCA: 6000 Circle Project

I was invited to show a feature piece in the NCWCA March show at Arc Gallery (SF).

In collaboration with The Calling (Artists Yasmin Lambie-Simpson, Chantelle Goldthwaite, and Sheila Metcalf-Tobin), everyone was invited to participate in the international art initiative, The 6000 Circle Project. The project focuses on the circle as a symbol of balance and unity, a never-ending container of feminine energy and light. The Calling envisions 6000 circles created by a multitude of artists from around the globe. Circles created by NCWCA members and the public are exhibited in the Arc Project Gallery through April 6. NCWCA is the first WCA chapter to kick off this global 2024 exhibition. NCWCA presents a collaborative exhibition honoring the Divine Feminine in the Project Gallery at Arc Gallery.

The Drawing Room: Women Rising

The Drawing Room’s “Women Rising” second annual group show included two venues, on both Clement Street and Valencia Street (SF). I showed my piece “Love in Shades of Blue”.

Women in pink coats must stick together. Always a great conversation starter, this pink-coated artist next to me had another idea - she handed out hundreds of adorable arty finger puppets at the receptions!

(Sorry but I don’t know her name!)

Joseph Abbati curated the Black History Month show at Senator Scott Weiner’s office. (That’s Scott next to me plus painter friends (left) May Shei and (center) Tiffany Conway.)

SEISMIC SISTERS CURATED WOMAN-MADE

I was selected by this wonderful feminist group to take part in an exciting show in a super-cool venue, Manny’s, in the SF Mission, which was new to me.

Exhibiting Artists: Nicole Dixon, Taiko Fujimura, Tiffany Conway, Nye Lyn Tho, Nathalie Kardjian, Susan R Kirshenbaum, and Krystal Lauk PLUS Reception Performers: Mia Pixley, Ash Rex, Molly James Band, and Rhodessa Jones

ABOUT SEISMIC SISTERS

Seismic Sisters elevates and celebrates feminist artists and activists who are shaking things up. We amplify the voices of new leaders and rebels who are shifting culture and changing the landscape. We also give space and r-e-s-p-e-c-t to longtime feminist activists who did the groundwork and are still powering on to create a more feminist future. From girls to grandmas, we need each other, feed each other, and work best together. Seismic Sisters is a mix of clubhouse, news site, and think tank where you come to get informed, inspired, and invigorated to go back out into the world. Our epicenter is San Francisco, but our influence will ripple out beyond the Bay Area.

A Tribute to Randall Sexton

1958-2023

On Dec 10, 2023, Randy passed away at his Benicia art studio. Very much at the height of his artistic and teaching career, this was an unbelievable shock and tragic loss for our community. Randy’s family, friends, students, teachers, artists, art models, gallerists, curators, and the art world won’t be the same without him.

1980’s vintage “art photo” of Randy on his roof in North Beach

I will miss my long-time friend. I would travel to Benicia just to draw a model with him for a few hours. Randy was great to be around – funny, smart, generous, and insightful. I feel particularly bad for friends who were in the midst of his mentorship program, and those who planned to take his international workshops, or hoped to simply spend more time with him over a meal and a beer.

His widow, Carol Neilson, has an ongoing gofundme campaign underway and she is running a studio estate sale in Benicia on Saturdays. Let me know if you’d like to connect with her.

Clearing out Randy’s beautiful studio, his art models were invited to choose a work they’d posed for to take home.

And Springtime Arrives

Sometimes there are happy art-making accidents. This is my house.

Magnolias, daffodils, camelias, rhododendrens, oh my. Another day at my favorite place – the SF Botanical Garden.

VR of me at the current fashion-themed show at the DeYoung.
I love the DeYoung Museum. I see all of their shows. It’s also conveniently right near my home. Don’t miss the fabulous Irving Penn show on now!

This was taken at the year-end Art Explosion Open Studios in my studio (#209). I love my new studio (Sept 2023) and all of our open studio events!

WHAT’S NEXT?

A big trip! I’ll be away most of April – in Bali and Java and Singapore. This is a big year for traveling again…so I’ve pulled back a bit from my many artistic obligations and leaning into adventures!

You can still find me working away in my studio at Art Explosion, 744 Alabama Street, #209, between 19th and 20th in the Mission. Stop by (text first)! I’ll be there frequently in May, July, August, October, November, and December.

We’re having a spring open studio that I’ll have to miss for our Bali trip, but please check it out! ART EXPLOSION OPEN STUDIOS: Opening Reception: Fri April 12, 7-10pm and Open Studios: April 13-14, Sat & Sun: 12-5pm. Art Explosion Studios is an Arts Organization that provides affordable art studios in San Francisco and produces art shows for its member artists. By supplying art space and exhibition opportunities, we enable our artists to explore their talent and interact with the public in a supportive and creative environment. Artists grow and thrive here to create a dynamic art scene in San Francisco.

Of course I’m planning to curate and participate in more gallery shows toward year-end and into early 2024. Look for updates about the next an Invisibility Collective biennial group exhibition and a third iteration of our Figurative Show.

This was taken at the FOG Art and Design Fair at the beginning of the year.

Look for my updates here: https://linktr.ee/SusanRKirshenbaum

I am most active on Instagram, so if you follow me there you can see my frequent event announcements, new work, travel and other fun pics.

Another plant and place I am in love with – Pride of Madeira and all the shades they grow in from pink to deep violet, as the bloom along the dock-front path to Fort Mason.

January at Sausalito Center for the Arts (SCA)

Hard work, curatorial responsibilities, a new venue, lots of fresh connections, plus a couple of short vacations…were all packed into the front end of the year.

I co-curated – with fellow artist and curator Catherine Merrill – a large figurative show at SCA in January. We were their guest curators for “Third Generation: The Bay Area Figurative Movement Today”. We selected 18 Bay Area artists to exhibit both two and three-dimensional works. Each artist was invited to show five pieces of their work and each had their own portion of the gallery.

We hosted multiple exhibition-related events. We held an opening and a closing reception with food and wine and we hosted artist and author talks. Peter Steinhart, who wrote The Undressed Art, gave an enlightening talk about why we draw. He also exhibited his drawings in the show. Peter is in my long-time weekly drawing group. There was also live music and a roving art model, the actress Becky Hirschfeld, for everyone to draw.

Patterns! I’m here with my friend, the artist May Shei, in front of her wall of art and her ten foot tall watercolor scrolls!

Exhibiting artist Sandra Speidel is shown here drawing Becky Herschfeld, our model at the closing.

Mary Graham with her paper bag series of portraits.

So much preparation and planning for this show, starting in 2022 to create a smaller version we held at the SFWA Gallery in the spring of 2023. But what a powerful and fulfilling payoff – with great exposure, attendance, sales, and wonderful feedback from the community. The space looked marvelous. Thank you, SCA!

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

Joseph Abbati, Douglas Andelin, Madelyn Covey, Jane Fisher, Mary Graham, Isidoro, Susan R. Kirshenbaum, Catherine Merrill, Stephen Namara, Diane Olivier, Sharon Paster, Fernando Reyes, Alex Rosmarin, Randall Sexton (deceased)*, May Shei, Sandra Speidel, Peter Steinhart, and Charles H. Stinson

See the article by Jonathan Farrell:

California + News and The Figurative Art Movement of The Bay Area isn’t Dead

Artist and author Peter Steinhart speaking at the closing reception.

The book was for sale at the closing talk by Peter (right).

The Artists and Curators from left to right: Me, Charles H. Stinson, Peter Steinhart, Diane Olivier, Madeline Covey, Alex Rosmarin (back row), Mary Graham, Sandra Speidel, Isadoro, and Catherine Merrill. Not pictured here: Fernando Reyes, Stephen Namara, Jane Fisher, Joseph Abbati, Doug Andelin, May Shei, and Sharon Paster (and of course, Randy).

The curators and gallery director, Shiva Pakdel, speaking to attendees.

CURATOR’S STATEMENT

The Bay Area Figurative Movement never died and continues to thrive. San Francisco Bay Area artists and models founded the Models Guild in 1946, and it’s no wonder that we still have such a healthy, lively community, chock-full of dedicated talent. Some of us even flourished during COVID and sheltering-in-place, as we continued drawing, painting, and sculpting on Zoom sessions around the world. What does our figurative community look like? We are artists and models; teachers and students; our styles are anywhere from classical to pop; our techniques are everything from digital to hand-ground pigments; and our community encompasses the very experienced and the relatively new to exhibiting. This exhibition explores a full range of styles and approaches combined with skill and craft.

Happy artists, curators, venue. Look for more shows I’ll be curating more at SCA in the near future!

Sharon Paster and her corner of the gallery.

An Art Tour attended our artists talks at SCA. The sculptor Charles H. Stinson is shown speaking.

Closing night party. Photo by Doug Kaye.

Maui in the Middle

We managed to sneak away on two short trips – to Maui and Mexico. We were invited to Maui so of course we couldn’t say no to a brief getaway in the middle of the figurative show. Life in Maui presents you with chickens wandering freely and giant turtles lounging on the beaches. It’s another world. A beachfront condo and good friends to hang out with, then it was just us – for a romantic getaway with a full moon.

Green sea turtles lounging in abundance.

I almost always bring a Barbie on my trips.
Here’s my dirty, old, chopped-hair Malibu Barbie in a hand-made crochet “vacation dress” she was gifted.

ArtWeek in Mexico City

Right after the figurative show ended, followed by a week-long stint helping our friend with Randy’s art estate sale, we hopped off to Mexico City (CDMX) for their annual Artweek. Only six nights there – but it was so dense with all the various art fairs, walking the city, exploring the galleries, visiting obscure museums, and always investigating food and flea markets…not to mention constant snacking and socializing. Upon return we had a few celebrations, including mole mezcal dinner parties and a restaurant reunion with the talented Bay Area stylist and chef of Anything’s Pastable.

Artweek reunion in the SF Mission with Stephen Wagner and Jillian Knox.

In CDMX we hung out with some Bay Area friends and we went to my cousins house, where we watched the Super Bowl and snacked on pizza while sipping mezcal.

Stephen Wagner, art coach extraordinaire, was hanging out with us at Artweek.

An evening at an historic Mexico City restaurant and a delicious mezcal margarita.

Jack, me, and Jillian Chinn at one of the art fairs held in some beautiful ruins.

On the go through the last day of multiple art fairs and wanderings.

YES. We’re planning to return to CDMX Artweek next year! And we’ll spend more time next time.

Loved this dismembered arm petting kitty sculpture

Here’s a cool use of space – completely covered by small, delicate art.

We walked by this CDMX store-front with beautifully appointed black and white theme inside and out.

We found our delicious mole paste at a stall that also sold beans, pet food, candy, and spices in our neighborhood market.

The amazing mole and mezcal dinner (1 of 2) made upon returning home.

Suddenly, September (Part 2)

September 21, 2022Susan R. KirshenbaumComment

Suddenly it’s my favorite month! Time for new beginnings. It’s also my birthday month and the Jewish New Year. It’s time to re-set and regenerate in this post-pandemic era we’re entering. Time snuck up on me. Summer is over? Not in California with off and on record high temps in our normally chilly SF summer/fall! But we’ve arrived at the Fall Equinox and now there’s a fresh scent in the air, a bit of rain in the clouds, and the grape vines are turning gold and red. So I’ll wrap up my springtime adventure in Italy.

“Christina in a Bed of Roses” is new in my ongoing digital original collage series. A new wide format, this is a life drawing of a model in San Francisco combined with my abstract paintings and photos. See these Golden Gate Park roses along with antique fabric and lace from a museum in Provence.

SPRINGTIME IN ITALY

I had never attended the Venice Biennale, and friends have been curious about my first experience there. You arty folks might want to plan your own trips to Venice if you haven’t yet. The good news is that there’s still time. You have until November.

When I traveled there, it was with a group of a dozen arty friends. Our first stop- of our one month trip - was into Venice, in mid-April. We also traveled through Northern Italy by bus and car, then into France. This trip was so dense, I had to break it into 3 bite-size chunks. I have far too many photos.

But, gosh, I sure do love art fairs. And I hope to return to the Biennale again some day soon. I want to see how this art fair differs from year to year. I love Venice with a passion, which I first discovered at 14 years old. That was when I wrote a poem called “The Rat and the Red Rose” (based on what floats by in the canals).

It seems I hit the Biennale the most perfect year for me - 2022 is the first year they honored and featured women artists.

NUTS AND BOLTS

Because friends asked…Here’s how the Venice Biennale works. It’s held every other year, but it’s been on hold due to Covid. Remember the videos of dolphins swimming in the Venice canals? Fake!

There are two main curated exhibition venues, plus many varied country pavilions, like The World’s Fair, with art exhibitions produced by one selected artist or a team. The Arsenal and the Castello are these main locations – but there are so many more art shows and installations throughout Venice. One ticket gets you into all these shows. All venues have food and water onsite so you don’t have to leave once you’re there. Like most art fairs, there’s quite a bit of standing, waiting, and walking. There are so many venues you can’t see it all.

I’ve included a few art reviews to peruse. I already sent a few friends recommendations compiled by my little travel group. My Venice pitch is that just because people go to see the Biennale in Venice doesn’t mean it isn’t totally worth seeing more of Venice and spending enough time for a leisurely visit. And traveling around N. Italy, as we did. Springtime (for your future trips) is an ideal season to travel to Europe. It’s still cool. All of my favorite spring flowers are blooming - and oh those shades of lilac to blue. Note my obsession with wisteria.

Wisteria and canals. Can’t get much is better than this.

A VENICE SLIDESHOW

Some of our group liked this intense installation a lot.

Lilli Muller's Global Supper

At The Cloisters

RECOMMENDATIONS

“Curated by Cecilia Alemani, The Milk of Dreams will take place in the Central Pavilion (Giardini) and in the Arsenale. The exhibition takes its title from a book by Surrealist painter and writer Leonora Carrington, a work in which change, transformation, and otherworldly magic alter the lives and imaginations of its characters. A guiding principle of metamorphosis informs the three themes of the exhibition: the representation of bodies and their changes; the relationship between individuals and technology; and the connection between bodies and the Earth. This showcase offers an opportunity for visitors to engage with some of today’s most wide-ranging artistic perplexities.”

Excerpted from Phillips and you can see more at https://www.phillips.com/ Here’s a little compiled list of my recommendations supplemented by my travel friends:

Giardini is one of two main buildings featuring the curated show “The Milk of Dreams”. There are 28 country pavilions on its grounds.
“My favorite exhibit was from Denmark. We walked the Earth. The realism and capturing of a moment of extreme intensity stole my attention.” https://www.designboom.com/art/danish-pavilionwe-walked-the-earth-uffe-isolotto-venice-art-biennale-04-21-2022/
“The Polish Pavilion was my favorite national display.” https://labiennale.art.pl/en/
“Don’t miss Uganda and Japan”. I’m sorry to say that I missed both. See more here: https://www.labiennale.org/en/art/2022/japan and Uganda
In the exhibit of under-represented female artists, we were excited to see the works of these women: Vera Molnar (1970s) and Hannah Levy (1990s)
“I enjoyed walking through the long building at the Arsenal much more than the Giardini…I also enjoyed the various installations found around the city and worth the boat ride out to Giudecca”.
“The big building at the Arsenal was one wonder after another. The Polish pavilion was by one artist who told the story of the Roma people in a giant embroidered and appliquéd extravaganza.”

SO MUCH TO SEE

Walking around Venice to and from the expositions in the Biennale, luscious window displays lured me into shops to buy tiny treats such as malachite powdered pigment for a painter friend.

SCALE AND PERSPECTIVE

Amazing to walk underneath the life-sized horse and human body part sculptures, suspended between buildings, just to get from Point A to Point B.

This entire pavilion was lined with narrative art tapestries depicting the stories of Roma of Poland.

An ad kiosk has rare seating and promotes Venice Biennale events.

This game gives you some idea of the experience.

OA detail of one of the country pavilions made of gorgeous iridescent mosaic tile. What was inside the building was not as exciting.

Café paradise outside the Arsenal was a good place to eat cake and observe the larger-than-life sculptures of women wearing swimsuits cast in bronze.

Great concept! He is not an art piece. Or is he?

I was thrilled by these life-sized, story telling pastels and discovering the artist, Paula Rego, who just passed away.

One of the more interesting shows we came across by chance, this work was about a favorite topic of mine, invisibility.

**SIMONE LEIGH**: This figurative work is featured throughout the US Pavilion.

Life-size elephant in a gorgeous rotunda

**IGSHAAN ADAMS:** This is a ceiling to floor wall-length tapestry. “Stitched together with fragments of locally sourced wood, plastic, beads, shells, string, and rope, they are deeply linked to commodity trading and local environs in postcolonial Africa.” More here.

**GABRIEL CHAILE:** Enormous ceramics of objects usually seen quite small fill this huge space. By Gabriel Chaile.

This is a tiny detail of a very large embroidered wall piece.

Human signage for the Louise Nevelson show.

Ceramic inspiration in this roomful of erotically painted vignettes.

**ANDRA URSUTA:** Lead crystal sculptures by Andra Ursuta. Use of unusual materials were found throughout the show.

In The Castello, there were Cat People! Here’s a cut-out from the series.

https://www.phillips.com/article/95061353/two-days-at-the-venice-biennale-2022

https://news.artnet.com/news-pro/artists-to-watch-at-the-venice-biennale-2107758

https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/aia-reviews/march-of-cyborgs-59th-venice-biennale-1234636259/

https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/exhibitions/what-to-see-at-the-venice-biennale-sonia-boyce-sami-pavilion-milk-of-dreams-b995868.html

I must pay a tribute to the numerous astounding video and multimedia experiences in Venice, and among my favorites, I loved Francis Alys: The Nature of the Game, in the Belgian Pavilion, Giardini. I don’t enjoy games myself, but what a unique perspective this film lent to the idea.

NOTE: Please forgive me for not listing all of the artists’ names for work shown in the photos. My records are messy and I need to get this blog post wrapped up with my next shows underway!

Who could not take a selfie in this graphic room of profound changing text?

Hard not to enjoy this immersive experience and not to want to take part in some way.

BEYOND VENICE

Verona , where we visited family, is a picturesque little city, rich in culture and history since Roman times.

A NEW FAVORITE MUSEUM

MUSEUM SLIDESHOW: ETTORE GUATELLI

This museum is the astonishingly dense private collection, now a foundation, belonging to a lifelong teacher with a distinctive eye toward finding, organizing, and displaying objects – often no longer used or abandoned. I wrote a blog awhile back about collecting, but I had never seen anything like this! It’s located way out in the countryside, southwest of Parma. If you’re fascinated by collections and have a chance to travel to this region known for its fine cured meats and cheeses, a visit to this museum will make its out of the way location worthwhile.

At a roadside stop for famous regional foods.

Last days of Italy – Babs waves good bye on the balcony of our room, located in a beautiful old monastery in Saluzzo.

WHAT’S NEXT?

2023: Watch for details about a show I’m curating featuring Bay Area figurative artists. Now in its third generation, The Bay Area Figurative Movement lives on!

EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS

Root Division: Exhibition & Art Auction/Reception: Thurs, Oct 20, 6-9pm, Oct 7-23,1131 Mission St, SF
SFWA Gallery: "Artist's Choice", Juried by Ashley Voss | Reception Sat., Oct 1, 2-4pm | Through Nov 4 | 647 Irving St @ 8th Ave, SF | Visit the online shop.
SFWA Gallery: "Botanicals", Juried by Anne Herbst | Through Sept 23 | 647 Irving St @ 8th Ave, SF | Visit the online shop.
Art Show International Online Gallery: Finalist Award, "4th Figurative Show, Sept-Oct 2022
ARTSPAN OPEN STUDIOS
My Open Studio Receptions: Sat-Sun, Nov 5 & 6, 11-6pm | Sobel Design Bldg, 680 8th St (btw Townsend / Brannan), Suite 230, SF
Artspan Open Studios Exhibition/Reception: Thurs, October 20 | Oct 22-Nov 13 | SOMArts, 934 Brannan St, SF
SFWA Gallery Opening Reception: "Artist's Choice" & Open Studios: Oct 1, 2-4pm | Sept 27-Nov 3 | 647 Irving St @ 8th Ave, SF
SFWA Gallery Receptions: Open Studio 12 Exhibiting Artists: Oct 29-30, 11am-6pm | SFWA: 647 Irving St @ 8th Ave, SF
SAVE THE DATES
The Bi-Annual Invisibility Collective group Show Re-Appears! Every other year our Collective – plus invited guest artists – have an exhibition at Radian Gallery (SF) in Dec-Jan. Reception Dec. 10. For more info see my website and social media posts.
SFWA Gala Benefit Fundraiser and Art Auction: Dec 7, 6-8:30pm, Salesforce Building - top floor with a 360 degree view. Details to follow on my website and social media posts.

ONGOING

See my live TV interview, Aug 17, 2022, on behalf of SFWA Gallery on KRON4 TV: LIVE! in the Bay on YouTube
Commissions and special orders available. Procreate workshops available. Studio visits by appointment Mon-Sat, 9-5pm.
Check out my ARTWEAR and various art products, including wall paper, where I am always adding new work, on the sites RedBubble and Spoonflower. We will never look alike!
Become my PATRON. See my art and photography that only patrons get to see. Every little bit helps. Join me on Patreon!
Follow me on Instagram. Not an IG user? Everything I post is shared to my Facebook art page.
BLOG PLANS
See my LAST blog post "Spain: Part 1" (This is Part 2 and yes, there will be a Part 3, France)
Send me your personal Barbie story for an upcoming Barbie blog post and website - all part of my on-going “Barbie on the Cusp” project.
I’m still fascinated by collectors. Send me your collection photos (JPG format please) for possible inclusion in another blog post about this exciting topic!

Summer Begins in Spain: Part 1

August 2, 2022Susan R. KirshenbaumComment

Spring into Summer

We Began in Italy, Slid into France, then Stayed in Spain

From the Venice Biennale in mid-April to the museums of Paris in mid-May, we traveled with a group of pals, our “travel family”. We explored obscure sites and enjoyed extravagant meals full of unusual flavors. From cheese making in Paris, to visiting odd little museums in cities and countryside, we spent our first month traveling with the group before moving onto our one-time home in Girona, Catalonia for the next month.

Part 2 and 3: These upcoming posts (in progress) will be about the first portion of our trip and feature the Biennale. In Part 1 I’m writing and showing a sampling of photos from our most recent experiences in and around Girona.

Here’s a photo of me in front of a beautiful mosaic during one of the last days of our travels with friends through Italy and France. Shot in Paris by our talented friend, Flora, this was on the Rue Jacob, in the neighborhood of Saint Germain de Pres. Scarf by Julie Paschkis.

FROM LAST TO FIRST: DAY TRIPS

Daily side trips helped us deal with the extreme heat wave in our HQ, Girona, where the temperature reached 106F plus humidity. Living in SF for decades means we are no longer used to extreme weather. Most of the time, SF’s temperature range is small, between 60-75F. I welcome the chilly summer fog today!

DAY TRIPPING

L’ESTARTIT

We took a jaunt to L’Estartit, to meet up with a friend in a chiringuito (a rough cafe with drinks and snacks right on the sand) to enjoy the end of day temperature drop and slight breeze. It’s too hot and sunny from midday into late afternoon to spend time under the sun. It’s imperative to get on the local schedule: up fairly early to do chores and shop; meals at regular times with a big lunch from 1:30-3:30 followed by an indoor siesta, then back outdoors again to the beach or in town for a pleasant evening with drinks, tapas or a light meal, and often a delicious ice cream.

In L’Estartit, a long cove beach on the Costa Brava, we met a friend at 4pm; swam at 7:30; and left at around 8:30, swinging by the grocery for supplies to have a snack at home. I bought a little kit for 5 euros consisting of cans of muscles, clams, and olives stuffed with anchovies plus a tiny bottle of Espina hot sauce. I debated about buying a bottle of cava (champagne made in Catalonia) for under 3 euros but selected a brut reserve for 6 euros.

At the beach and on the ride home, There was still plenty of light until quite late, with bold, dramatic skies and ominous rain clouds that burst every once in awhile.

The beach at L’Estartit as seen from the chiringuito.

MORE DAY TRIPS

HOSTALRIC, SANT MARTI DE LA ROCA, PALAFRUGELL, TORRELLA DE MONTGRI / PALS, LA FOSCA, SA TUNA, AND TOSSA DE MAR

It’s fun to lie on the sand and look over at the castle remains on the hillside in TOSSA DE MAR.

Walking the path along the coast at La Fosca.

A view from the window of favorite restaurant in a favorite seaside village, San Marti d’Emporda.

The beginning of the season is provides especially clear, clean water.

Eating right next to the water in Tamariu.

First time seeing the village of Hostalric with its castle and wall plus this outdoor hand painted mural.

A BENEDICTINE MONASTERY COMPLEX

For a cooler inland trip, overlooking the sea, and from far above it, Sant Pere de Rodes is a favorite site. Built as an abbey in the 10th C., this monument complex has an unusual monastery built in the 11th C, which was abandoned and fell into decline in 1798. Fortunately it has been extensively restored since our last visit a number of years ago. Then it was a walk-in and explore kind of place. Now there’s an entry fee and gift shop…but it’s worth the trade off. It looked like so much had been excavated and made safe for exploring. The site is celebrating its anniversary, from 1022-2022. Afterward we drove down the mountain to the seaside village of El Port de la Selva for beers, mussels, and seafood fideua (noodle paella).

Stairs to one of two bell towers and a restaurant.

The Catalan Romanesque style church nave with barrel vaulting is 16 meters high.

ROMAN TARRAGONA

I’ve always wanted to see this Roman port city of Tarragona, with its intact ancient walls, Amphitheatre, Roman circus, medieval churches, and more. It’s only two hours south of Girona. Afterward we watched the Russell Crowe film “Gladiator” again, which felt just right.

There’s a lively art scene in and around Tarragona. The one indication that we saw were portside galleries and art installations.

Like many Roman sites, the Amphitheatre is overlooking the coast.

Old terminal turned into an an art gallery. The local artist showing here was American.

And arty city, this is a building-height mural in Tarragona close to the port.

Looking up the stairs to the Tarragona cathedral.

At the city’s port there’s contemporary public art and art exhibits inside of old terminals.

I love travel in the springtime! In addition to the fabulous flowers in bloom, asparagus and artichokes are in season throughout the Med.

Roasted artichokes (and fresh fish) for lunch. I ate fresh artichokes as often as possible since they were in season and so well prepared.

GIRONA’S OLD QUARTER

I’m always charmed by the Onyar River that divides the City’s Old Quarter from the less ancient part of town. The rich warm tones of the buildings are reflected in the shallow water along with the big sky, multiple foot bridges, and landmark churches. Sunsets are divine.

The Roman Wall, Passeig de la Muralla, was expanded in the 14th century and renovated to be walkable in the 21st century. Now you can walk along it and see impressive views of the city and surrounding countryside.

CONNECTING OLD & NEW

Girona is an ancient city founded by the Romans. With four rivers it is a city of bridges, eleven total. The most famous is the Pont de les Peixateries Velles, constructed by Gustave Eiffel just before the Eiffel Tower in Paris. You can walk cross the Onyar River from many parts of The Old Quarter (Roman and Medieval) into the “new” Girona. Like so many ancient cities of the world, it is surrounded by a Roman Wall with a potent history. Experts believe that some sections of the wall date as far back as the first century AD.

The River Onyar’s shallow water is filled with fish, ducks, and reflections.

The river reflects the colorful buildings lining it on both sides.

The picturesque Eiffel Bridge is a pleasant way to walk across the river.

Tiny children on bikes – the youngest cycling group I’ve ever seen. Girona is a major cycling center.

A contemporary mural adorns a a very old building.

Buckwheat crepes are Brittany style and a favorite treat in Girona at La Vedette.

L’Escabech is a tiny new restaurant with super fresh seafood made in unusual ways, and run by a very young chef.

BESALU, BISBAL, BEGUR

We visited a fascinating Ceramic Museum in La Bisbal d’Emporda, at the center of the ceramics industry in the region. The museum is located in a picturesque old ceramic factory. The history of ceramic manufacturing is well demonstrated.

Besalu is known for is magical entrance over the bridge and through the city gate. You might also see the historical mikvah by the river. Catalonia had a significant Jewish population up to around 1492.

The Ceramic Museum in Bisbal is a great way to learn about the history and production of ceramics in art and building.

In Begur we happened upon the annual flower festival with streets full of people and a festive atmosphere.

Begur is dreamy at night with views for miles.

ESPOLLA & CADAQUES WITH FRIENDS

Outdoor lunch with beautiful sunlight streaming in and fabulous food made by an artist/writer pair of French friends who live in a tiny olive oil village.

In our artist friend’s apartment building in Cadaques, there’s a beautiful stairway that leads to a spectacular rooftop view.

BABS’ TRAVELS

She’s always with me, but she takes different forms. My Barbie for Europe 2022 is a new model who is more petite in build and she has a different face and figure from the conventional Barbies. So I call her Babs…she’s so European looking, no? Her Mattel model name is “Barbie Signature Looks Doll”.

Hanging out on the steps in our Girona apartment.

IN AND OUT OF BARCELONA

We fly or take the train in and out out of Barcelona, so we savor time with our old friends and feast our eyes on the city’s architectural details.

Such a pretty city. Nice to catch an uncrowded night there before summer tourist season returns in full force.

AROUND CADIZ

We met our good friend and fellow artist Diana Howard in Cadiz for a week long holiday. Diana lives in France and studies with the same zoom tutor that my husband studies with, who is based near Cadiz. They’ve been practicing their Spanish language skills all through the pandemic, which has paid off. Diana made a beautiful, informative blog post about our trip which you may enjoy reading here.

This excursion into the Deep South of Spain, was our second visit to this friendly, pleasant seaside city with a long history. Established by the Phoenicians for its port on the Atlantic it’s been a key trading post for centuries. On one of our last days there we toured a very old sherry bodega known as Osborne, to taste and learn the process. They’re best known for introducing the giant metal bulls throughout Spain, which became the symbol for much of Spain. The burro is the Catalan mascot. Advocates of Catalan nationalism have adopted the Catalan donkey as a response to the Toro de Osborne image widespread in other parts of Spain.

CATALONIA

FLEA MARKETS

I adore a good market, small or large, flea or food, air conditioned, or sweltering in the sun. When the market is in a country other than my own, it’s almost always a thrill.

HEAD FOR THE HILLS

Camprodon is a picturesque inland village we’d enjoyed a few years ago. The pandemic hasn’t been kind to it. There are so many shop closures and the streets are torn up. These small places that survive on tourism have taken a big hit the last few years. The temperature is about 10 degrees cooler than the flats and that’s a good reason to explore these off the beaten path villages.

What’s Next?

SUMMER ART SHOWS

I’m participating in a few shows right now, at SFWA, Being Human: The Figurative Show, juried by Diane Olivier; the August Group Show at City Art Coop Gallery (SF); and at O’Hanlon Art Center’s “Red”, online, juried by Jen Tough, (hear the recorded artists’ roundtable).

Join me for in-person receptions on Aug 5 at City Art Gallery, from 7-10pm and Aug 6 at SFWA, from 2-4pm. Visit my website home page for frequent updates.

ARTSPAN FALL OPEN STUDIOS

Artspan Open Studios takes place in late October - November this year. I am participating with a group at SFWA. Our Open Weekend is Oct 29-30, 11am-6pm.
My art studio will also be open - by appointment as usual - and on SOMA Open Studios weekend, Nov 5-6, from 11-6pm.
Don’t miss all of the Artspan events at SOMARTS.
On-Going!

Buy or commission my art directly through my website or in-person at my SF studio by appointment (email or text me to meet).
My art work is available on all kinds of merchandise! Visit my online shops:
- RedBubble (including my clothing, leggings, and cell phone cases)
- Spoonflower (including my textiles, wallpaper, and custom soft goods)
Show your support for my art making. Join me on Patreon!

Just Like That, 2021 Ends

January 5, 2022Susan R. KirshenbaumComment

WAS IT A YEAR IN LIMBO? OR HELL?

According to the NYT (Limbo) & Artforum (Hell), this is how we are feeling. I am an optimist and expect a better 2022. I know. We are all hoping for a better 2022. But with the current Omicron spread, ever closer to me daily. I’m feeling this new variant spreading wildly all around me. Testing, testing. And a shortage of OTC tests available.

I find that I am not just looking back at 2021, but at two years – since the beginning of the pandemic, from early 2020 through 2021. Now I understand that year one was a major first for most of us – the first pandemic in our lifetimes. I recall that at the beginning, there was some frustration with the lack of recognition and connection with the AIDS epidemic, which for me was always too close to home, having lost so many dear friends. But I think we see things in a slightly different light these days. I thought a deadly pandemic was completely terrifying, but I imagined an end in sight. Now we know better. That’s where limbo comes in, aka Purgatory. Some might say, it’s just been Hell.

For many artists like me, 2020 was a surprisingly productive year. We felt lucky and resourceful. Even unable to go to our studios, artists set up shop in garages and spare rooms. They drew and painted on zoom sessions and outdoors. We learned to truly take advantage of online resources. We posted our art online, saw exhibitions and art collections online, and attended art talks online. We enjoyed international exchanges.

When we turned the corner into 2021, it felt like dipping a toe into water and finding it still too cold to submerge. On again, off again. Hanging a show in person. Attending an opening in person. Going to our studios – yes, I held onto mine since I’d just gotten my space in March 2020. Then the changing restrictions. Sneaking in some travel, museums, galleries, and art fairs in between surges. Intermittent panic. It seems every step forward led to two steps back and that is where the year ended.

“It’s like swimming in time.” That’s how Monica Huerta, writer for Artforum described 2021 in her article this month.

In the home of interior designer Tina Blakeney on a recent December evening. Another friend who decided to leave the Bay Area in 2021. Lots of shifting going on, including leaving-the-USA conversations.

ART IN-PERSON

I have not been quite as productive this past year. I continued to show some new pieces and work in-person at two galleries, SFWA and City Art Coop in SF. But I have enjoyed other forms of re-engagement. Most significantly, I was able to return to my art group’s life drawing sessions in-person. After a year and a half of drawing each other’s faces and hands on 2x weekly Zoom sessions, it was fantastic to see folks in their 3-d flesh. This group, run by SF artist John Goodman, has been active for decades. We finally got to know each other better due to sheltering in place requirements. But we always missed our live models – a worldly set of women (mostly) with a lot of talents and chutzpah.

I unintentionally slipped away from frequent attendance at the many Zoom drawing sessions available. But I credit the discovery of these wildly diverse life drawing events getting me through 2020 and into the first half of 2021, which was our pre-vaccination phase. Life returning to more in-person interactions again, if only for intervals, was important to me.

In 2021, there were also a number of wonderful art shows and fairs to see and to participate in. I attended a handful of art shows and events in NYC last Fall, in between surges. There have also been several great local exhibitions at Bay Area Museums. But people have been intermittently Covid-scared, and crowds were often thin or places were just shut down. For one-on-one experiences this has not been an entirely a bad thing for seeing art and talking with gallerists. Recently I was (admittedly) surprised how wonderful the collections and special exhibitions were at two excellent Honolulu museums I visited in December.

Wall-sized painting from the SFMOMA current retrospective of Joan Mitchell (through Jan 17, 2022).

The last show I saw in 2022 was the Joan Mitchell Retrospective at SFMOMA. It was totally inspiring – her bold, calligraphic strokes, sense of color, and use of paint – all spectacular. If you are near SF see it before it leaves!

Earlier in December I visited this social activism art / local artists show at Honolulu Museum of Art. These artists made so many powerful statements. Seeing this digital piece below, about wages and worth, reminded me of the Bay Area artist and participant in “Seen by Unseen”, Sawyer Rose, and her monolithic installation in the “Carrying Stones Project” about women’s work inequities.

A video installation, *Wages: What are we worth?* which I saw at the Honolulu Museum of Art Artists of Hawaii exhibition by Manu Mei-Singh.

This fellow in the shadows is about to retrieve coconuts from high up in the tree. He shimmied up with his spiked boots.

A fanciful Maui cocktail with a Hello Kitty “hang ten” transfer art right on the foam plus a fresh marigold.

Honolulu window view from the “Pink Palace”.

Here I am on a wild pink chair in the “Pink Palace.”

ONTO MIST & FABRIC

I am fascinated by the diverse substrates that artists use to apply their art. For the first time I walked through a film projected onto mist in a construction just outside of The Bishop Museum on Honolulu. It was a thrilling experience.

Artist Taiji Terasaki presents KAIMANA—an outdoor, walk-through art and film installation offering a cinematic work projected onto a dramatic, interactive mist curtain.

At the Honolulu Museum of Art I walked through an exhibition of works by Hawaiian social practice artists that included an installation (photo below) of cyanotypes of seaweed applied to sheer panels and paper. I always study the hanging and application mechanisms for art that physically connects to my work.

Artists of Hawai‘i NOW, September 2021 - January 22, 2022, Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, Oahu, HI, work shown is by Gwen Arkin.

This is an explanation of the art shown above.

POETRY, NATURE, & CONSERVATION

We visited a lush, tropical nature conservancy on Maui that was home to the late, two-time U.S. poet laureate, W. S. Merwin. As a person who loves trees I appreciated seeing land being returned to its most bountiful, verdant state.

This shade of green must have been a favorite.

Everything was left just as it was the day that he died in 2019

Every object a thing of beauty and grace

A CHANGING VOCABULARY

The overall thrust of the art world feels different since the summer of 2020. It’s been activated. It’s finally color and gender conscious. Like the shift that came out of “The Summer of Love”, we experienced “The Summer of Rising Up, Fighting Back, and Exposing” in 2020. This activation fed into my group conversations with The Invisibility Collective, who were already energized. I sincerely hope we never go back to the same old inequities or the outdated terminology.

I’m glad that there’s a new language forming to accommodate this different thinking. I understand that it’s still in progress. The English language is wonderfully pliant and evolving. What are your pronouns? What will be the new word for Feminism? As I understand it, I must be a second-wave feminist (1960s-80’s) though I believe I have evolved to the latest version. I admittedly only recently learned that there’s a third, fourth, and possibly a fifth wave. Do you know of a better term to use other than adding “wave”? Do you call yourself a feminist? I do, quite simply, without the wave.

It’s exciting to experience an on-going focus on artists and arts administrators who have been ignored for too long. We are seeing artists of all shades, hues, ethnicities, and genders taking their places in the forefront of the art world. We’re witnessing a shift in top-level art administration, curation, exhibition, and media coverage. That said, I still see a need to make room at the top for more women. I see the need to pay more attention to women of a certain age who are all too often invisible.

This ring represents the diameter of a submarine! We were here during the week of Pearl Harbor Day.

MINIMAL TRAVEL

It’s so difficult to travel and freely see friends and socialize. A trip to Europe was put on hold. Circumstances keep changing. It takes a lot to keep up. So we give up and stay home safe. Sometimes when plans change new options open up. A trip to Hawaii popped up to round out my end of the year. What a quick thrill! The timing was just right before Omicron surged here. It turned out to be a total getaway – nice and slow, yet it passed by quickly as if it didn’t happen. Oddly, this unplanned trip coincided with a significant anniversary of mine. On Pearl Harbor Day, 39 years ago, I moved from San Francisco to Hawaii with the man who became my husband, Jack, two years later in NYC. We had not been back to Hawaii in over 20 years. It is still a magical place.

In addition to our year-end Hawaii trip, I took a few other short vacations – San Diego, Palm Springs, and NYC. It’s now year two of not leaving the country. This is unusual for me and I hope to make up for it in years to come.

Looking down from the memorial platform, above the sunken ships where victims of the bombing of Pearl Harbor are buried, there was a giant sea turtle.

TROPICAL FLORA

Everywhere in Hawaii there are seemingly impossible fruits, trees, plants, and flowers. Here’s tiny sampling of just looking around the landscape. So lush!

ENDINGS & BEGINNINGS

For those who follow and read my blog, you might recall that I had major shoulder surgery in my dominant arm back in May. That put a huge dent in all of my activities.

One outcome of the surgery was a “break up” with Pure Barre, after a seven year relationship, I decided it’s too stressful on my joints.

After 14 years of launching and running a book group, I shuttered that too. It had been slowly fading. I may start another group – or join an existing group. I’m open to recommendations for a local in-person Fiction Readers Group. I’m always looking for good fiction to read. Recommendations? Favorites of the year? What new things will 2022 bring? A refocus, for me, I hope!

“Midcentury Modern Woman” is one of my pieces that will be shown in Serenity at UCSF.

SFWA FINDS NEW PARTNERS

San Francisco Women Artists Gallery is going strong. We are beginning a new curatorial partnership with UCSF Center of Excellence for Women’s Health and I’m producing our first Serenity Exhibition. Opening on January 17th, there will be five different artists, three times a year at the Women’s Health Center in SF. I recently re-engaged with SFWA’s Board, returning to the role of Exhibitions Director. In our first exhibition, “I am Resilient”, the SFWA member artists are: Valerie Corbin, Marie Massey, Susan Proehl, and myself.

Both 2020 and 2021 were terribly hard on retail galleries, but we’re feeling good about membership, 2022 exhibition themes and jurors, and sales from the gallery and online. It’s easier than ever to buy art even if you rarely leave home.

Throughout 2021 I continued submitting work and get juried into many of our themed group exhibitions. Currently I’ve got a piece in the year-end exhibition “Artful Giving” juried by Priscilla Otani, partner of Arc Gallery (SF). In February I’ll be in SFWA’s “Fresh Perspectives” juried by Ceclia Chia, owner of Glass Rice Gallery (SF).

Exhibition Entry Opportunity Feb 2022:

Photography & Digital Art: We invite all SF Bay Area artists to submit their best work in either category or any combination of the two. JUROR: Diane Fenster, Award-Winning Photographic Artist, Curator, Member of the Adobe Photoshop Hall of Fame

Look down into the landscape – just as is it creates a colorful, textural picture.

“A practicing Buddhist as well as a proponent of deep ecology, Merwin lived since the late 1970s on an old pineapple plantation in Hawaii which he has painstakingly restored to its original rainforest state. Merwin was once asked what social role a poet plays—if any—in America. He commented: ‘I think there’s a kind of desperate hope built into poetry now that one really wants, hopelessly, to save the world. One is trying to say everything that can be said for the things that one loves while there’s still time. I think that’s a social role, don’t you? ... We keep expressing our anger and our love, and we hope, hopelessly perhaps, that it will have some effect. But I certainly have moved beyond the despair, or the searing, dumb vision that I felt after writing The Lice; one can’t live only in despair and anger without eventually destroying the thing one is angry in defense of. The world is still here, and there are aspects of human life that are not purely destructive, and there is a need to pay attention to the things around us while they are still around us. And you know, in a way, if you don’t pay that attention, the anger is just bitterness.’
– Poetry Foundation

INCLEMENT WEATHER

Travel is intense and exciting for so many reasons including unpredictable weather. In the wintertime in Hawaii there are severe tropical storms which can mean cyclones. You don’t enter the water. You stay indoors safe and warm and watch. The trees fall and the rocks slide. The power flickers.

There isn’t much better than a sunny day of sailing, watching whales, and seeing a show of fish all around you.

Look up into the sails. Look out and see the whales. Look underwater and see coral, sea shells, and fish.

Some of my sumi ink wash drawings made during a virtual session (Zoom) in my studio. These are from one of my series underway.

Resolved for 2022

Get away every season.

Figure out my (new) master plan for my art.

Find the residency to support #2.

Re-up my language study and work on my Spanish before my next visit to Spain.

Stick to a regular art studio schedule.

Find or create an art critique group.

Find my next exercise routine.

Call, write, and visit friends more often.

Keep walking. Learn to walk alone.

Learn plant and bird names.

Always draw and paint manually (in addition to digitally).

Keep records.

Keep up my series.

CONTINUING MY SERIES

As I enter into 2022 I plan to keep up many of my series including: Barbie on the Cusp photo series, sumi ink drawing series, digital collage series (botanicals, abstracts, and more), portraits, and printing on fabric. I’d like to tackle some new artistic challenges. See samples of my work from this past year below. Stay tuned for lots more.

A year-end field trip to Old Sacramento marked our approach to another year around the globe.

WISHING YOU A HAPPY, HEALTHY & PEACEFUL 2022

So long 2021! Good riddance.

But now we’re genuinely alarmed that we've brought Omicron with us into 2022. At the moment that I finish writing this post and hit send, it appears to be everywhere.And that puts a damper on fresh starts. Maybe we need a new year re-do, once we are out of the woods?

“Alluris in Red Swimsuit” is hanging in “Artful Giving”, the December show at SFWA Gallery.

The Collective CONTINUES

Since I founded The Invisibility Collective in 2020 we’ve lost some of our initial traction but we persevere and plan to expand in 2022. We had a thought-provoking “Seen X Unseen” Group Reunion on Zoom with artists who participated in our first exhibition at Radian Gallery (SF) in Dec 2020. It was hosted by Tony Wessling, owner of Radian. Look for a call video on our website and FB page soon.

Our conversation was in keeping with our observations on issues surrounding seeing, being seen, being heard, erasure, obliteration, ancestors, lost histories, and art that tackles social issues connected to invisibility. We discussed how our art and lives have changed from 2020 into 2021. Reunion Participants included: Mary Graham, Sophia Green, Susan R. Kirshenbaum, Rhiannon Evans McFadyen, Sawyer Rose, Samira Shaheen, Christopher Tandy, and Angela Tirrell.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic! We invite guests to our monthly meetings, too, in case you’d like to participate in a call.

Artists left to right: Angela Tirrell, Lonnie Graham, Susan R. Kirshenbaum, Sophia Green, and Rhiannon Evans McFadyen. Work shown behind left to right: Sawyer Rose, Mary Graham, Lonnie Graham, and Christopher Tandy. At Radian Gallery (SF).

NCWCA

This year I became an active member of the Northern California chapter of the national organization whose mission is to create community through art, education, and social activism.

Artwork by our chapter members is on our flag for the national conference in 2022. My piece is in the center of the third row from the top.

Originally photographed at Radian wrapped in my fabric panels, I made it into a black and white self portrait for “The Naked Truth of Arts” and later these banners became my installation at Arc Gallery.

Nathalie Fabri CURATED EXHIBITIONS

I was pleased to be included in two back-to-back exhibitions organized by Nathalie Fabri. “The Naked Truth of Arts” began on Instagram with visual artists and musicians submitting black and white selfies with their Covid stories. Later the co-curators transformed the show into a physical gallery exhibition at analog gallery (SF) with live music.

Just after “The Naked Truth of Arts” exhibition I was invited into the “Intimacy Illuminated” show, another exhibition curated by Nathalie Fabri, at Arc Project Gallery. I showed the the three hot shades of my nine foot sheer chiffon figure-laden banners. They were originally produced a year earlier for “Seen X Unseen” at Radian Gallery.

Viewers were invited to interact with the banner and swish through them, feeling and be felt. A fan moves them around and a light shines through them.

She also created The Mission Kiss painted heart and art walk project, which I took part in twice.

My pieces were in “Intimacy Illuminated” at the Arc Project Gallery in Dec 2021.

CITY ART COOP GALLERY

If you’re local, you can see my work on display in-person at City Art Coop Gallery in their Back Room. The gallery is in the heart of The Mission, on Valencia Street between 19th / 20th Streets. I’m in the annual two-month show through January 2022. I’ll be showing new work in February. I’ve exhibited several times during 2021 and so I can say that I’ve fully experienced working in a retail gallery during Covid!

Artspan Open Studios

SF Open Studios was a different series of events again this year to accommodate Covid. I held a Studio Reception one day only and welcomed guests by appointment. The virtual aspect of exhibiting and viewing art continues to be critical as in-person opportunities keep shifting. I’m happy to report that my piece, featured in the Guide and the SOMArts exhibition, “She is a Rose” was purchased, and so I contributing to the Artspan fundraiser. But it was another difficult year to have fully open studios. Hoping for a better 2022.

Here’s a wall from the 2021 Artspan exhibition at SOMArts with my piece on the far right top.

Grace of No Age

Trying to stay focused on my art practice, I decided to disengage from my role as a “goddess” and writer for the Girona-based website Grace of No Age. I still appreciate the core concept of this international blog site which disseminates articles written by women for women about aging and menopause. Their slogan, “No Pause at Menopause” is wonderfully direct. I enjoyed part of the start of this online venture and writing for the cause. You can see my most recent article here. The site is a good resource and has just expanded to include men’s issues and male menopause.

Imagery from Hawaii: Barbie 2x, an apartment building display, red bamboo trees, and a starry sky…

The Tiger Ride at Evangeline’s Costume Mansion in Old Sacramento

YEAR OF THE TIGER

Here’s what Her World says about the upcoming year. “2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger – and in Fengshui this means it’s a year made for bold action. The Tiger is known for its power, daring, and ability to do everything on a grand scale. This is markedly different from 2021’s year of the Metal Ox, which was all about hard work and pragmatism. Think about it: in 2021 the world had to plod through months of pandemic lockdowns and WFH isolation. It wasn’t glamorous or fun, but we plodded on because we knew it was necessary…”

A VISUAL TOUR OF 2021

Learn more

My last name, Kirshenbaum (Kirschenbaum), means Cherry Tree. Now I’m using everything in my life’s toolbox, the cherries and the pits.

I’m married to Jack, and we have two cats and no kids. We live high on a hill in San Francisco, CA, USA. I write, draw, paint, collage, take photos, sew, cook, entertain, design, and make things. I like to watch films, take classes, walk, dance, and travel – but most of all – I love to draw people.

Read more about me here and take a look at my latest photos below.

May 16 is the Lunar Eclipse! Here’s a photo of me (tiny) at an art show in Frank Gehry’s Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris. Photo by Tom Sparks. @srkirshenbaum #frankgehrybuilding #architecture #spraypaintart #portraitphotography #barelyvisible

Here’s a tiny snippet of the performance piece I saw a few days ago at ICA. She’s a commanding performer with strong ideas. So happy to have Mary participate in the Invisibility Collective conversations and exhibitions despite her busy CCA schedule. @mary.graham.art @ccaexhibitions @ccafinearts @icasanfrancisco #performance art #voice #callandrepeat #anscestors @anno.kim

I’m giving an Art Talk tomorrow (tickets free on Eventbrite) about my piece “Appear/Disappear” in the “Women Rising” show at The Drawing Room at 780 Valencia Street: April 5, from 4-6:30pm, featuring multiple artists. I’ll be talking about this piece which I originally created for my series “See Through Us” shown for the first time at the Invisibility Collective’s initial exhibition “Seen x Unseen” in Dec 2020 at Radian Gallery. @invisibilitycollective #appear #invisiblewomen #olderwomenrule @radiangallery @drawingroomsf @inside.outside.project @curatedstate #rootdivision @sfwa_artistsgallery @artspansf @sfcityartgallery #sfartist #digitalartist #procreateartist #ipadartist #figurativeartist #worksonfabric #lifedrawing #gesturedrawing #modeldrawing #artshow #contemporaryart #drawing #portraits #artforsalebyartist #womenartists #artgallery #artstudio #artpractice #bayareamodelsguild #portraitdrawing #digitaloriginalart #digitalcollage #redbubbleartist #spoonflowerartist #wordpairs #upsidedown

@invisibilitycollective members @srkirshenbaum and @rhiannonblackandwhite are pleased to be participating in @rootdivision 20th annual art auction and exhibition!

Don’t miss this exhibition which is strategically placed around the legion of honor and so powerful... @legionofhonor @wangechimutu #arttosee #sfartscene

When was the last time you really looked at your lettuce? 🥬

Another shooting in Minneapolis.I cannot stop crying. feeling that the world is falling apart morally. it is so easy seemingly to kill another human. To in a second wipe out a young man’s Existence And to spread pain and despair so completely easily with seemingly no resistance from so many other humans. I invite all who read this to stand in front of your houses this evening with a lit candle and say a prayer for all who have died through police brutality and racism. — Angela Tirrell, Invisibility Collective

“White / Colored” installation art in the desert by Noah Purifoy seen near Joshua Tree (by Collective Member Susan Kirshenbaum).

Invisibility Collective creates, promotes, and disseminates arresting art and ideas about those who feel invisible, those who are fighting to have a cogent voice. As a member of the Collective I make art work not only about my fellow humans, but also about creatures of the earth and sky, and the planet itself. I subscribe to the brilliant idea my painter aunt and mentor in Rome, Pucci Clerici, has lobbied for over decades: there should be a representative for planet Earth in the UN!

Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle spread featuring collective member Rhiannon Evans MacFadyen and discussing the invisible labor of artists. Images taken at Radian Gallery at the end of our group exhibition Seen × Unseen in January. @rhiannonblackandwhite @invisibilitycollective @sfchronicle @sfchronicle_datebook @sfchronicle_art @radiangallery #seenxunseen #labor #ab5 #gigwork #artistsarelaborers

Come see the show. Bernie's gallery-sitting for us. As always, masks and mittens required.

LAST CHANCE to see the unseen at Seen × Unseen, closing soon at @radiangallery ! DM us here or contact @srkirshenbaum to schedule a safely-distanced visit!

Last days! Here is a series of photos of Seen X Unseen @radiangallery until 1/25. By appointment only. DM me (susan). @rhiannonblackandwhite @mrlonniegraham @cmtandy @srkirshenbaum @mary.graham.art @cindynwndrlnd @art_as_essay @sfwa_artistsgallery @artspansf @sfcityartgallery #artgallery #sfart #sfbayarea #artistsoninstagram #artwork #contemporaryart #installationart #artonfabric #contemporaryfigurativeart #contemporary_collective #photographysouls #invisibility #seethrough #videoperformance #contemporarypainting #artexhibition #covidart

“Very” by Sawyer Rose in the Seen X Unseen exhibition- see it now in its last week! Dm me for an appointment at Radian gallery in SF (one person at a time). @radiangallery @art_as_essay @ksawyerrose @srkirshenbaum @mrlonniegraham @rhiannonblackandwhite #installationartist #sculpture #portraitphotography #storytelling #invisible #castmetalsculpture #sfartscene #sfartgallery

It’s the last week to visit! Make an appointment for a one on one visit to Radian Gallery to see “Seen X Unseen”. Work pictured here is by Angela Tirrell. @art_as_essay #contemporaryart #mixedmedia #internetinvisible #wired #sfartgallery @radiangallery #floorpieces

The collective’s “Seen X Unseen” exhibition catalogue is out! @cindyrenee4 @cmtandy @ksawyerrose @nancywillisart @art_as_essay @artbysamira007 @mrlonniegraham @bldrman @sophiagreenart @nancywillisart @art_as_essay @artbysamira007 @radiangallery #sfartist #sfartgallery #exhibitioncatalog #covidart #contemporayart #drawing #photography #mixedmedia #printmakingart #installationart #performanceart #alter #rituals #artcollective

Tomorrow ! Saturday December 19 noon -3pm pdt join us for an art talk about “Seen x Unseen” group show on zoom register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIode6hrDMoEtJLuSkKzZDnSxpG2zDnfD_y @bldrman @cmtandy @radiangallery @art_as_essay @rhiannonblackandwhite @srkirshenbaum @nancywillisart @ksawyerrose @cindynwndrlnd @artbysamira007 @mrlonniegraham @sophiagreenart @sfwa_artistsgallery @sfcityartgallery @artspansf @sfartsmonthly @sfchronicle #sfartist #sfhearts #contemporaryart #contemporarypainting #digitalart #artonfabric #installationart #contemporaryphotography #portraitphotography #portraitpainting #mixedmedia #assemblageart #sculpture #printmakersofinstagram

Catch a glimpse of this poignant first group exhibition by The Invisibility Collective and invited artists. See “Seen X Unseen” @radiangallery this month and join the artists in conversation on 12/19. @cmtandy @cindyrenee4 @srkirshenbaum @mrlonniegraham @nancywillisart @rhiannonblackandwhite @artbysamira007 @ksawyerrose @sophiagreenart #invisible #seeandbeseen #sfartshow #contemporaryart #contemporarypainting #contentcreator #galleryshows #artcollective #bicoastal #intergenerational #interdisciplinaryart #installationart #videoart #performanceart #artonfabric #groupartshow

A cluster of images from “Seen X Unseen”yesterday at our opening day. Don’t miss the his exhibition! @radiangallery #artstudio #artist #lifedrawing #modeldrawimg #figuredrawing #figurativeartist #virtualdrawing #procreate #digitalartist #drawingbyhand #sfart #sfartist #portraits #artspanartist #artforsale #womendrawingwomen #artmodel #artshowsanfrancisco #invisibility @cmtandy @nancywillisart @art_as_essay @artbysamira007 @rhiannonblackandwhite @bldrman @mary.graham.art @sophiagreenart @sfwa_artistsgallery @sfcityartgallery @artspansf #scupture #installationart #performanceart #ritualart #invisibiltity #seen #unseen

Here’s a tiny snippet of the performance piece I saw a few days ago at ICA. She’s a commanding performer with strong ideas. So happy to have Mary participate in the Invisibility Collective conversations and exhibitions despite her busy CC

Wearing my “Scent of Red” art scarf and art dress made by RedBubble, I’m posed in front of two of my works which were juried into “Hue and Me” at SFWA Gallery, in the Spring 2024.

Blog RSS

Copyright Reminder : Please do not download for any commercial or personal printing or display. If you are interested in any of these images, please fee free to contact me directly.

FALL ART SEASON

WALKING AROUND THE CITY

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY: FOTOGRAFISKA

FOR CONSIDERATION: FIGURATIVE WORKS

THINGS I LIKED THE LOOK OF

CATCH A BREATH BETWEEN

REMINDER TO PLEASE VOTE!

DON’T MISS THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

NEW WORK

WHY WE RETURNED

WHY BLACK AND WHITE

THE CREMATION PROCESSION

BEAUTY

ACTIVITIES IN BALI

DYING, BATIKING, AND WEAVING

WEAVING IN BALI

VILLAGE VISITS

MEETING ARTISTS

NATIONAL TREASURES – TEMPLES

SEEN ALONG THE WAY

NEW FAVORITE MUSEUM

SINGAPORE SITES

VERDANT

FELLOW TRAVELERS

BARBIE COMES ALONG

Thank You!

What Else?

Exploring the Self

March is Women’s History Month: Three Shows

NCWCA: 6000 Circle Project

The Drawing Room: Women Rising

SEISMIC SISTERS CURATED WOMAN-MADE

A Tribute to Randall Sexton

And Springtime Arrives

WHAT’S NEXT?

January at Sausalito Center for the Arts (SCA)

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

CURATOR’S STATEMENT

Maui in the Middle

ArtWeek in Mexico City

SPRINGTIME IN ITALY

NUTS AND BOLTS

A VENICE SLIDESHOW

RECOMMENDATIONS

SO MUCH TO SEE

SCALE AND PERSPECTIVE

MORE ARTICLES

BEYOND VENICE

A NEW FAVORITE MUSEUM

MUSEUM SLIDESHOW: ETTORE GUATELLI

WHAT’S NEXT?

EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS

ARTSPAN OPEN STUDIOS

SAVE THE DATES

ONGOING

BLOG PLANS

Spring into Summer

We Began in Italy, Slid into France, then Stayed in Spain

FROM LAST TO FIRST: DAY TRIPS

DAY TRIPPING

L’ESTARTIT

MORE DAY TRIPS

HOSTALRIC, SANT MARTI DE LA ROCA, PALAFRUGELL, TORRELLA DE MONTGRI / PALS, LA FOSCA, SA TUNA, AND TOSSA DE MAR

A BENEDICTINE MONASTERY COMPLEX

ROMAN TARRAGONA

GIRONA’S OLD QUARTER

CONNECTING OLD & NEW

BESALU, BISBAL, BEGUR

ESPOLLA & CADAQUES WITH FRIENDS

BABS’ TRAVELS

IN AND OUT OF BARCELONA

AROUND CADIZ

CATALONIA

FLEA MARKETS

HEAD FOR THE HILLS

What’s Next?

MORE BLOG POSTS

SUMMER ART SHOWS

ARTSPAN FALL OPEN STUDIOS

On-Going!