Unscripted; An Exhibition by Thirteen Experimental Artists

Wind Changing to the East

by Leslie Avon Miller

diptych 24 x 24

acrylic and mixed media  on birch panel

Not knowing the way, I paint a space in which to breathe deeply.

 The painting becomes a stepping stone on the path, a marker of the journey. 

I feel, but I can not explain what I am learning of space, time and light. 

Artist Statement, Leslie Avon Miller

 

 Steve Aimone

The Artists Whisperer

The Artist Whisper. That’s how I think of Steve Aimone. In April of this year I spent a week in a Steve Aimone graduate work shop, working, thinking, painting, being with other artists, and getting feedback and critique from Steve. It was the second time I worked with Steve in an intensive workshop setting.

Through the Window

by Leslie Avon Miller

36 x36

Acrylic and Mixed Media on birch panel

There is something about taking the time to get away and immerse one's self in a workshop; to live and breathe in one's work in the company of other like minded individuals. The energy created is with me still, as I continue to explore my path.

The workshop is described as 

The workshops are designed to replicate the atmosphere and mindset of a graduate school fine art studio. Each artist will focus on an individual contract (or mission statement) to explore certain territory, develop a series of pieces, or explore a particular theme. Participants will introduce and refine their contract in an opening roundtable discussion. This contract serves as the genesis point for the development of work during the remainder of the retreat. 

Interactive discussions of work take place throughout the workshop, allowing artists to engage in the process of discussing one another’s working process and development. Spur of the moment, informal critiques are encouraged and facilitated. The workshop ends in a summary discussion and critique during which each artist makes a formal presentation, followed by responses from Steven Aimone, and, as time allows, other artists.
 

Leslie Avon Miller 

workshop participant

photo by Steve Aimone

Unscripted

The true work of art is born from the 'artist': a mysterious, enigmatic, and mystical creation. 

It detaches itself from him, it acquires an autonomous life, 

becomes a personality, an independent subject, animated with a spiritual breath, 

the living subject of a real existence of being.

~Wassily Kandinsky

 

Unscripted is a capstone of the work these artist have done with Steve in the last two years. 

The Old School House Arts Center is presenting ‘UNSCRIPTED’, an exhibition and sale of the newest work produced by thirteen experimental abstract artists, many of whom are FCA members. 

Over the past two years, these artists have completed a series of workshops with artist, author and instructor, Steven Aimone, MFA and this show is the culmination of their extensive work and exploration. 

Opening reception at TOSH is Wednesday, October 17 at 7pm. 

Come meet the artists and share the excitement. Show runs October 15 to November 19, 2012. 

The Old School House,122 Fern Road West, Qualicum Beach.

In conjunction with this exhibition, Vancouver Island Art Workshops is pleased to announce that Steven Aimone, MFA will give a power point slide presentation and discussion that surveys art historical examples of abstract paintings, how they work, and what kinds of expressive purposes they serve. 

Steven will conclude his presentation with a commentary and analysis of one painting from each of the participating artists. You'll leave the presentation with a greater understanding of what abstract painting is. Saturday October 27, 2012 at 2:00 PM. Only 50 tickets @ $20.00 This is a fund raising event for TOSH. info@vancouverislandartworkshops.com or call TOSH @ 250-752-6133

Many, many thanks to Mary Stewart who organizes a fabulous workshop experience, to Barbara Scott for being  so kind and generous as my host on Vancouver island, and to Lisa Danesin who took time to professionally photograph my work.  To each member of the work shop I also extend my thanks for your dedication to the arts. I appreciate you all. 

 And a special thanks to Steve for all the positive mentoring, but most of all for loving art as much as you do. 

Namaste

trying to say something

...And when they tell you life is not like this,

life is never like this, life will never be like this,

insist that the sun has always found a time and a place,

the moon too knows when and where to enter,

and you too have your stories,

and you too have your place.



~Shira Erlichman, "How to Tell a Story"

here it is studio time

pages, pages and pages

mark and scratch

carve and stamp

i follow the path to where it leads

soon there will be books

i love the sun of sweet autumn

the visit of bears and coyotes to the fruit trees

warm afternoons and crisp evenings

i want to preserve the light somehow

to remind me on dark winter nights that

the sun and moon each have their place

i want to tell each artist how much i

enjoy and revere their work

how my eyes take delight

how I read each word you write

and feel connected on the path we walk

alone but together

When the woman you live with is an artist, 

every day is a surprise. 

Clare has turned the second bedroom into a wonder cabinet, 

full of small sculptures and drawings pinned up on every inch of wall space. 

There are coils of wire and rolls of paper tucked into shelves and drawers.

The next day I come home to find that Clare 

has created a flock of paper and wire birds, 

which are hanging from the ceiling in the living room. 

A week later our bedroom windows are full of abstract blue translucent shapes 

that the sun throws across the room onto the walls, 

making a sky for the bird shapes Clare has painted there. 

It's beautiful.

The next evening I'm standing in the doorway of Clare's studio, 

watching her finish drawing 

a thicket of black lines around a little red bird. 

Suddenly I see Clare, 

in her small room, 

closed in by all her stuff, 

and I realize that she's trying to say something, 

and I know what I have to do.

~Audrey Niffengger, The Time Traveler’s Wife