traces of absence

Blood Flows Like Time - Immediate, 22"x30" Etching by Amber Heaton
Blood Flows Like Time – Immediate, 22″x30″ – Etching by Amber Heaton
traces of absence is a show I curated at Manhattan Graphics
On view October 1 – 26 in the Project Space
Closing potluck reception + artist talks on Saturday, October 26 from 6:30-9pm.

Artists

Stephanie Werthman
J Carpenter
Amber Heaton
Marc Shanker
Amanda Thackray
Thomas Stavovy

Also on view – Recent Etchings by Douglas Collins

Saturday’s Potluck will be followed by
artist talks by Eva Nikolova + Kirsten Flaherty.
***Not to be missed!!!

flocking it

20130924-233045.jpg
Skies Over Derrida (detail).

One segment of a four piece drawing.
Tar, acrylic, thread, pencil, flocking on paper.

Part of a group show – “RAW DRAWING”
On view until Nov 3rd, 2013 @ The Drawing Rooms in Jersey City.

DRAWERS
Eileen Ferara, Elizabeth Onorato, Ibou Ndoye, Steve Singer, Margaret Weber, Sandra Desando, Maggie Ens, Mike Markman, Kim Wiseman, Greg Brickey, Jasmine Graf, Glenn Garver, Orlando Reyes, Winifred McNeill, Phil Pellicane, Nyugen E Smith, Heidi Curko, Anne Trauben, Loura van der Meule, Demetrio Alfonso, Geraldine Gaines, Cheryl Gross, Jill Scipione, Stephanie Daniels, Megan Klim.

new monotypes

These are from a new series of monotypes I’m working on. I took a two day workshop with Don Nicoulin and was moved by the immediacy of the process.  These pieces are quite different than most of my other print work. I’m experimenting with color, mark-making, and composition. It’s raw. It’s freeing. It’s like learning a new language.

exhibition in keene

Carroll House Gallery, Keene, NH
Carroll House Gallery, Keene State College Alumni Exhibition 2013
Eviscera II, detail, paper litho on stitched muslin
(left) Eviscera II, Paper litho on stitched muslin over sketchbooks, (right) Root and Branch, paper litho and letterpress
Barefoot Harmonica-Guitar musician at Carroll House opening
A Place of Home, Etchings, paper litho, silk, copper, pencil, 20 pieces

On view thru June 8, 2013 – KSC Art Alumni Exhibition curated by Rosemarie Bernardi, featuring works of Randall Merchant, Jaz Graf, Katie Houle, Eileen Longe, and Nicholas Petrow.

My work was featured in a recent article by Summer Dawn Hortillosa in The Jersey City Independent – http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2013/04/29/a-lasting-impression-artist-jaz-graf-deconstructs-materials-to-build-new-ideas/

an open book

Jaz Graf, 2013, She's an Open Book, handmade thai kozo, aged book pages, each 16"x20"
Jaz Graf, 2013, She’s an Open Book, handmade thai kozo, aged book pages, each 16″x20″

These pieces were recently exhibited at City Hall in celebration of Women’s History Month. Book pages are selected poetry by women from Immortal Poems of the English Language.

mnemonic vistas

Ecueil, 2012, 150x200cm, oil, acrylic and silkscreen on canvas by Eva Neilsen
Ecueil, 150x200cm, oil, acrylic, silkscreen on canvas by Eva Neilsen

As I was skimming Art Press Magazine, I was instantly captivated by the works of Eva Neilsen, a Paris-based artist, combining silkscreen and painting. Neilsen constructs layered images which invoke memories, play on the passage of time and existence. Desolate expanses disclose transient residues of human activity. Subtle washes of color create a shadowy sense of space.  Graphic elements of unique silkscreen prints in contrasting black and white tones compose a psychological topography. These places and structures are strangely familiar, yet peculiar.  Je suis profondément ému….

elles / ils

beres-Conversation
Conversation Piece, 2006, Etching w/chine colle, 5.5″ x 4.5″ by Ben Beres

It goes something like this: Sharon Arnold curates an all women show called Elles, exploring the female perspective in art- It was a big success. She then curates a second show, inviting only men to exhibit, called Ils Disent (masculine form meaning “they say”) – welcoming the male view of women in art. Artist, Ben Beres creates an etching of a grid of cartoon breasts each with a name under it of various female artists in the area, some of which he knows and others that he googled. It creates a stir, and the print gets taken down out of the show, due to censorship issues. This has been an interesting story to follow and watch unfold. Bravo for bringing print and feminist discourse into the spotlight.

Mamelles (detail), etching w/chin colle, 9"x12" by Ben Beres
Mamelles (detail), etching w/chine colle, 9″x12″ by Ben Beres

contemporary excavations

Fuhgitfulness, 2012, Mixed media collage on canvas,
120 x 198 inches by Mark Bradford

Calm before tomorrow’s storm. Caught a glimpse of Mark Bradford’s work at Sikkema Jenkins & Co. in Chelsea. Large scale mixed-media paintings – using a very interesting layering technique and subtractive method. A very physical approach to image-making, with collage elements, stencils, cuts, gouging, and what appears to be sanding of the surface to expose hidden hues. Elements of text become abstracted, panels look weathered and yet glisten with hints of silver and neon. Yes, I’ll take this one for my living room, please.

raw pull

A mixed media monoprint workshop with Catherine Bebout nudged me to operate outside of my comfort zone. I’m so inspired by the richness and depth in her work, particularly the “Mapping the Body Series.”  After a 4 day workshop,  experimenting with color and layering using large collograph plates, stencils and polystyrene, I pulled this. And for now, it’s just right.

elevate / emanate

As I did laundry tonight, one of my neighbors sang. He had to share with me his story about singing in church and how powerful it was today, and how moved he was. And so, I imagine myself here, at the Church of Saint Riquier in Northern France, listening to his song, and gazing up at these gorgeous paper sculptures made by Peter Gentenaar of the Netherlands.

“necessary city”

Bazooka Hulk, 2011, Etching
7 x 7 in. by Tony Fitzpatrick

Went down to New Orleans to attend the SGC International Print Conference. What a tremendous turnout! Extraordinary works on display and an assortment of visionary artists to engage with; all with contagious energy for print! The city of New Orleans itself, is a wonder, dotted with colorful characters, and together, they propel a magical scene which values and perpetuates the arts; be it jazz, poetry, visual arts, food and the like. One evening during an art crawl, I discovered the prints of Tony Fitzpatrick at Jonathan Ferrara Gallery. His pieces are tiny nuggets of goodness, which demand your attention and then quickly suck you into his twisted hilarious world. His style reminds me of high school doodles – a medley of teenage angst, silliness and imagination. Using the old four color pen, remember that?

ash

Untitled, Found paper, soot, string, 4.7 x 7 in, by James Castle

On the daily commute, I saw lots of people with ash crosses on their foreheads for Ash Wednesday. It got me thinking about James Castle, a deaf, illiterate, self-taught artist who barely ever left his home. His communication skills were limited and few in his family could understand him. His assemblages, drawings and book pieces describe his perception of the world around him. He mixed stove soot with spit on the ends of sharpened sticks to draw. There is something about the unprocessed passion delivered in the works of James Castle which remind us about the nature of art making.  <<James Castle exhibition in Paris with Marcel Storr>>

UNTITLED (Large newspaper book of drawings), post-1932 Drawn in soot and spit on found paper bound by the artist with found string 20 1/2 hand-drawn pages 17 x 11.5 inches, by James Castle

bon dia

1 of 10 prints from the Bon Dia! series, 2011, stenciled monotypes, 8"x8"

Inspired by the patterns and colors of wandering around Morocco and Spain, I created a portfolio of 10 stenciled monotype prints. I was awarded an artist residency at Can Serrat, on the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain, where this collection of work was created. I highly recommend this location for international artists of many disciplines to engage their work. The surroundings, personalities, and cuisine are all magical!

busy weekend!

Fri, Sat and Sun have been jam packed with amazing arts events! This weekend is Jersey City Artists Studio Tours. Selections from the 2010 GRAF X-change are on exhibit at the Grassroots Community Space. A visit to the NY Art Book Fair @ MOMA PS1 was intoxicating and stimulating. An impressive collection of books and fantastic network of artists / book nerds of the cool variety. I spent most of my time at the Open House and Print Exhibition at Manhattan Graphics Center. We have managed to move the print shop from downtown to midtown in one month! After all the hard work, this weekend it is time to celebrate! The new shop looks great and it was refreshing to see many new faces.

Litho area at the new MGC printshop; Faculty Exhibition 2011

remembrance

My Eviscera installation is included in “Remembrance of Things Past,” a juried show featuring the works of 50 New Jersey artists. On view September 8th, 2011 to February 15th 2012 at Gallery 14 Maple, part of the Arts Council of Morris. Opening reception on September 8th from 6-8pm. An impressive array of art, exhibited in a “green” building and located in a charming town. Not to be missed!

I was mentioned in a write up in Morristown Green! Read it here.

basket sculpture #1

My time at WSW was incredibly productive and restorative. The community of artists, instructors, staff and interns were all insightful and warm. Amazing things go on at WSW! I was honored to have Kirstin Demer, a handpapermaker and bookbinder, as my instructor. I learned how to make paper from abaca, flax and thai kozo. Exploring different techniques of working with paper pulp to create and manipulate form was a completely new addition to my skill set.  Using basket reed to construct the form/armature, I wove a sort of basket or what could possibly be a lampshade. I dipped it a couple times into the flax pulp which when dry, builds up a sort of skin-like web between the reed and open spaces also adding to the strength of the form. I then pulled sheets of paper and covered various sections. Light passing through this piece produces wonderful patterns. This is a pic of the first one I made in the preliminary stage.

basket skeleton made of reed dipped in flax pulp, approx 16"x16"x12"

weathering

Scientist and Printmaker, Janet Yagoda Shagam creates finely detailed prints with hints of the natural world, emotional turbulence and layers of process. She frequently uses multiple plates and techniques in combination to create an image. “Weathering” is a fundamental theme which she explores quite literally and conceptually. Simply extraordinary!

"Won Ton Dreams at the Tiki Lounge" multimedia print 3-plate etching (spit bite, aquatint, & softground) & monotype 11.5"x12" by Janet Yagoda Shagam

int’l print exchange – hosted by La Calaca Press

La Calaca Press and Expressions Graphics invite you to participate in the first LA CALACA PRESS International Print Exchange and Exhibition. This exchange is open to printmakers from the USA and abroad. Submit 15 hand-pulled prints, each 9″x7″ by September 15. Find out more.

ghosts

Denise Bibro Fine Art has a show coming up I’ve got to check out!

Exquisite Interruption opens June 2nd 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Featuring the abstract works of Don Kimes. Years ago, Kimes’ home had a flood, destroying a lifetime of work and photographs. He scanned these remains and printed them onto canvas or paper, then reworked the surface with layers of paint. The resulting images have a translucent and nostalgic quality, resembling a chemigram.

Don Kimes, Some Yellow for Hans, 2011, Acrylic and ink painting on digital ghost on canvas, 31 1/2"x38"

Participate in the Sketchbook Project

Art House Co-op (now located in Brooklyn) is having another Sketchbook Project series of exhibitions all over the country! $25 gets you a book and return it by Jan 31st 2012 to have your work seen by the masses! Read more about it here…