Traveling with Art

So, we last left off at the Fourth Annual Encaustic Conference. With my two carry-on's packed and ready to roll I left Beverly and went to Boston for a few days while I soaked up more knowledge and history and geared up for the next adventure. I took the opportunity to walk the Freedom Trail and try my hand at riding the 'T'. With a bagel and a pack of honey nestled in my bag and a container of water and butterflies in my stomach, I excitingly left my temporary home and went on my first East coast train. Once I found the Freedom Trail, I felt like Dorothy from the 'Wizard of Oz' and I just followed the red brick road one historical story and sight after the next. I have to say that one of my favorite parts of the Freedom Trail was running into an elementary school field trip at Bunker Hill. There is nothing like sweaty talkative candy eating children, that makes me feel so nostalgic. Here is a list of the places I saw while walking along my day: The Boston Common, The State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King’s Chapel, King’s Chapel Burying Ground, Benjamin Franklin Statue/Boston Latin School, Old Corner Book Store, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall,  Paul Revere House, The Old North Church, Copp's Hill Burying Ground, Bunker Hill Monument, USS Constitution.

Onward! The next few days I hopped around and came across some very cool art.

I met up with muralist John Pugh and it was time to go to the Museum of Fine Art, Boston to be educated! Although the John Singer Sargent collection was put away, I was able to see one of his trompe l'oeil murals and a few of his masterpieces. Gogh's 'The Sower' is in Boston from The Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. It was so jaw dropping to be able to see such a huge variety of his paintings that I had not seen in person. There was also a supurb exhibition on 'The Secret of Tomb 10A: Egypt 2000BC'. The detail of the paintings and complexity of the language and stories is so inspiring.

The East Coast showers came and we went. From Boston to peachy Savannah, Georgia.

Research and development is the name of the game. When I created 'Kelp Forest' as a student at CSU, Monterey Bay, I researched and studied just as much as I painted. I researched with the Monterey Bay Aquarium at thier Research Labs, I also lived with a fellow peer who studied marine science at CSU, Monterey Bay. 

So, let's start. There is a potential project for the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). John and I went to the college and soaked up the history and checked out their painting department and scoped out potential walls for the project. I really love Savannah. I learned so much. SCAD plays a huge role in the development of the city. SCAD has over 10,000 students and has repaired about 60 dilapidated buildings that they use for classes, restaurants and selling art. I learned about Oglethorpe and Chief Tomochichi and the 24 squares which are now 22 squares. There is movie history there as well from 'Forest Gump' to 'Something To Talk About' to 'Treasure Island'. I found out that a pineapple outside a house means welcome. I learned about sailors and hospitals, trade and bricks, indoor plumbing and open arm staircases. If you are in Savannah go to Leopold's Ice Cream for a treat best ice cream since 1919. The International Seamens House has bibles in 500 different languages. I learned about the Old Pink House and the first church. Savannah is RICH with history and stories. It is so interesting to go around walking and seeing the buildings and the fresh innovative art by the students from SCAD. SCAD just opened a campus in Atlanta, and they also have opportunities for students to study abroad. Here is a glance at SCAD and Savannah. John and I did real well, he took the photographs and I took notes, great team work. Just a side note the state insect is the honey bee.

Art at SCAD

Back outside to scope out Savannah.

 

We were walking around one night and this wall jumped out at us. Is it screaming for a mural, or what?

From Savannah to Barbados for another potential mural project. It was my first time going to Barbados. For the six days I was there, I had my palm sized notebook with me everywhere I went, as a matter of fact I was starting to be introduced as a scribe. The research is one of my favorite parts. I love being introduced to new people, learning new cultures and histories. Having people who really know the landscape always makes for special moments and tapping into the core of communities.

It was very interesting to spend time in Boston and then go to Savannah and then go to Barbados, as I started to learn more about the triangular trade. It was amazing to see the bricks in Savannah and Barbados, everything is connected. The architecture was similar, and did you know, George Washington stayed in Barbados. Barbados is the only island in the Caribbean that is formed by two plates, the Caribbean and Atlantic plates, Barbados is also the farthest island to the East. Well I could go on, I took six days of notes you know. Here are some shots of the island and a good look of the wall for the potential mural for Speightstown.

Let's just get right in it, no time to waste. From land to sea, green monkeys to bread fruit, sweaty skin to fresh fish. I was lucky enough to meet many community members and really sink into the history of Barbados. Sugar cane, sugar cane, like cultures and communities all over the world Barbados is changing. Depending on what part of the island you go there are people everywhere, or you can find a beach all to your self. The people I met along the way are so wonderful and giving. Barbados is a truly unique place.

 

Artist, Feilding Babbs

From Barbados, back to sweet California. My mind is full of colors, shapes, feelings, and smells. When I got back I found out 6 of the chickens were eaten by some animal during the night, lucky for me, little Umber survived. Not too much rest here as there are deadlines and new mural projects coming in. It was a wonderful inspiring time, now, back to the studio.

The Fourth Annual Encaustic Conference

This was my first time attending the Fourth Annual Encaustic Conference. My Name is Margo, I'm from the Santa Cruz Mountains and I have been painting with wax for about three years.

This conference brings together a large variety of artists from around the world. The conference is three days and it seems every moment, every day, you are meeting someone new. Even these last moments I am still meeting artists and saying good bye to others as well.

There were a few different events to attend in the very beginning, I went to Linda's demo, wow, that was packed! It was informative, I was excited to smell the bees wax. There was a show, "Best Foot Forward" it was open to all of the artist. It was a very cool show and such variety. It is always exciting to see the vast array of work that comes from one medium. The only limit in wax is imagination and perhaps some chemical configuration as well.

Above is Paula Roland's vendor station. It was my first time seeing the execution of a mono print.

The conference started off with a welcome from Joanne and a superb lecture on the work of Jasper Johns by Dr. Roberta Bernstein. I was engaged at every word of the lecture. When a slide came up showing Johns's working in trompe l'oeil I almost lost my mind. I felt a huge surge all over my body. I was excited to see that he had worked in that style and in wax, as I have started to learn trompe l'oeil and I work in wax.  I was on such a lecture art high after that, I just wanted to explode with happiness to know that I do not have to be one or the other. I can be it all.
 

In continuing the theme of being it all, the Saturday morning panel discussion was about making a career in encaustic. There were four artist on the panel discussion, Elena De La Ville, Barbara Moody, Jane Allen Nodine, Alexandre Masino, and Eileen Goldenberg. This panel discussion opened my eyes to the variety of individual possibilities to making a career in art. Each artist makes a living in their own way, and works in wax the way it best suites their vision. It is important for me to see that, hear that, and meet artists. There is no one way, each way is as individual as the artist.

 I am usually such a picture taking extravaganza, but when the lectures and discussions started, the camera was out of sight, out of mind. Here is the list of lectures I attended: Lisa Pressman, Encaustic Studio, Rodney Thompson, Comparison of Torches, Ellen Koment, Going Large, Nancy Natale, Art Blogging, Kim Bernard, What's Your Work? and Miles Conrad, Presenting to a Gallery.

It all seems to be a blink of the eye, there we were, all the waxy artists chuck full with information, ideas, and passion. Many travel back to their homes and their studios and many stay here in Beverly taking post conference workshops, building relationships and surprisingly enough finally enjoying some Sun.

Maura Joy Lustig, Margaret Berry, and Eileen Goldenberg (above). Joanne Mattera giving the final farewell (below).

 Until next time my waxy components, until next time.

One Way Ticket

I am currently packing for my very first One-Way ticket to the East Coast of the US and beyond. Just how exactly do you pack for a undetermined time frame? I am not quite sure, but the essentials are in there along with my traveling water color case and a few brushes and my smile is ready.

My first stop will be at the Fourth Annual Encaustic Conference at the Montserrat College of Art. I am excited to see many of my wax painting friends there as well as meeting new artists who work with wax. This is my first time to the event and I know it will be quite the experience. I am looking forward to taking my "Working Large" class in wax. I have just finished my 5 panels that are 7in x 7ft. I have heard a lot about the conference and it is great to be able to have the chance to experience it as well.

After the conference I will be in Boston for a few days hopping around, I may get the chance to go to NY to see some friends and check out art.

From Boston to SCAD. In my last post I discuss about the development of my mural career. I will be working with John on the development of new murals that are on the horizon. SCAD is interested in a trompe l'oeil mural. This will be my first time scouting for a wall for the mural. This is an exciting process, as I am learning that there are walls that are more conducive for an illusion than others.

From SCAD John and I will travel to Barbados for the next future mural project. We will meet the community, taste the culture, meet the local artists and soak up the history.

In between all of this we are currently working on a mural for Skyline College. This is the first mural I have worked on with John. We painted the cartoon in one all night-morning session. This mural is teaching me a lot about the trick of the eye, learning about the blends, broken walls, and gradations. Paint is magical!




My studio will be moving to the other side of the room. I have been packing up my encaustic tools and tieing up loose ends with the wax. Although I have had a few weeks off of mural painting, I have been taking time to improve my painting skills in my studio. Practice makes perfect.





So I will say so long to my little Umber, and I know she will miss me. hahaha. I know the chicks will grow so much and maybe even be laying eggs by the time I get back to the sweet mountain. I gave little Umber a chick braclet so I would know which one she is when I get back, but I hear she may grow out of it. Bummer.