Month: June 2014

showtime in puppetland

My marionettes are finished, now I find the task at hand of photographing them and hopefully in the near future making brief 13 second clips of their escapades. But thus far I have been hampered by having only two arms; awaiting the husband to act as studio assistant.

The image that follow are those I have managed solo.IMG_5191

Detail of the Axis Mundi against a fiery backdrop of Xibalba, the underworld.

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The Axis Mundi with the head of the slain Maize God

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Maize God

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The Hero Twins strung, ready to perform.

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They are incredibly photogenic, I feel I cannot take credit for them as they seem to have come forth on their own.

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The simple-minded God of Death, he also poses in a delightful way; he is quite a funny fellow.

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When I manage to score some stage hands I will post some tableaux , until that time ,be well, Lg

 

Two New Prints Off the Press (& a mask)

Last evening after a harrowing day dealing with family drama I was able to relax with friends , have a glass of wine and make a few prints courtesy of Deborah’s lovely  and efficient little press.

A balm to my stressed soul , gratitude  to Deborah, Melanie, Kara and Kenneth for camaraderie and inspiration.  The following  two prints are the result of such fine company:

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Agnus Dei-the Meso Version

2014 (plate carved ion the feast day of St.John the Baptist)

8.5 by 11 inches

relief print on paper

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Agnus Dei

2014

9 by 12 inches

relief print on paper

I’m thrilled to be back at the press and in the company of other artists exploring ink on paper.

I’m closing with another mask, I’m working towards 100 masks, a play upon Joseph Campbell’s Hero with a Thousand Faces; one hundred Heroes is enough for me!

Be well, Lg

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#5

2014

acrylic paint on papier mâche form

The Feast Day of John the Baptist

It is ironic that I am nursing an annoying head cold on the day one of my favorite saints lost his head; puts things in a bit of perspective.

I have loved John since boyhood, his severed head had been burnt into my consciousness at a very young age. My family had visited Thomas Jefferson’s beautiful Monticello and in one of the bedrooms was a painting of that awful moment when John’s head was being presented on a platter. The image burnt in deeply, I was so confused, had Jefferson executed John ?( I was quite young ), I knew he held slaves, a grave sin, in my wild imagination it could have been true. The head represented  tragedy,sacrifice, bondage , perhaps release. It terrified and beguiled all at once. I have never lost that fascination and I have returned to the subject over and over. One of my great pleasures in discovering the Popol vuh has been the intense similarities between the Maya narrative and that of the western Christian narrative. The Maize God loses his head in a similar act of sacrifice,  difficult to not see the similarities.

The following images are just some of my interpretations of the Maize God’s severed head.

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detail from a larger composition

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detail from a watercolor, “Primavera”.

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watercolor, “Resurrection of the Father, II “.

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its relief print companion, also called “Resurrection of the Father”.

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another watercolor called “Resurrection of the Father , I”.

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another relief print “Strange Fruit”

I have just finished,  or nearly so, my last marionette , that of the head of the Maize God ; rather uncomplicated really, all it has to do is ascend.

10505389_10203779570879330_6058090575455424152_n marionette of the Maize God.

I will need to take better images of the  marionette tableau when I am feeling better, but for now, have a happy feast day of blessed Jokonaan. 

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The Anointing

I had been going through a bit of an arid period in dreamworld lately; and then suddenly an avalanche of evocative images. The following was inspired by one of them.

As Sunday was the 18th anniversary of my first date with David, the painting seems appropriate.

I’ve called it The Anointing.

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The Anointing

2014

acrylic on paper

22 by 28 inches

Kaleidoscope, opening soon

I’m delighted that some of my work has been selected for another show , right up the street  on La Brea, from where my painting Primavera is being shown at the Loft at Liz’s.

The gods are being generous for which I am grateful.

Kaleidoscope 9

EXHIBITION: KALEIDOSCOPE
DATES: July 12 – August 23, 2014
OPENING: Aritsts’ Opening Reception, Saturday, July 12, 6–8pm
GALLERY HOURS: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 5pm

 

  Couturier Gallery is please to present Kaleidoscope, a group exhibition combining emerging and established artists through a spectrum of disciplines. The show incorporates book art, ceramics, collage, paintings, printmaking and tape sculptures. The varied nature of the show creates complex connections between works that forge a rich mosaic of aesthetics, visual language and themes.  Artists include: Sandow Birk, Fausto Fernandez, Leonard Greco, Gronk, Judithe Hernandez, Noel Vargas Hernandez, John Hesketh, Jay Kvapil, Nancy Goodman Lawrence, DeLoss McGraw, Antonio Muniz, Connie Rohman, Frank Romero, Irwin Sanchez, Danny Scheible, Ana Serrano, Susan Sironi, Corey Stein, Leslie Love Stone, John Valadez and James Zver. Kaleidoscope runs from July 12 to August 23. Join us for the artists’ opening reception Saturday, July 12, 6-8pm.

 

For further information or images please contact me @ cg@couturiergallery.com.

 

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one of the three masks selected,The Hero Triplets.

 J, the wonderful fellow who runs Couturie Gallery selected several prints and some masks I have been making. I will be exhibiting alongside Judithe Hernandez , who I  really admire, I feel very honored and intimidated.

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 Resurrection of the Father

relief print on paper

2013

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Scapegoat

relief print on paper

2014

I need to drop the work off before my yoga class, so I better pack them up.

Until next time,

be well ,

Lg

Slaying Humbaba in a limited palette

I just finished a small oil painting, once again returning to a favorite pair of heroes, Gilgamesh and the wild man Enkidu.

And once again returning to their slaying of the hapless Humbaba, poor Humbaba.

IMG_5107Slaying Humbaba (in a limited palette)

2014

oil on canvas

16 by 20 inches

I initially worked with this theme after having read the Mitchell translation of Gilgamesh (some of the sexiest passages around, quite steamy). Initially I worked out a composition based upon a Syrian relief panel from the 10th cent, translating the basalt panel  into an  intaglio plate.

img_3462this being the inspiration,

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I’ve enjoyed the progression of this composition, working and reworking trinities. But now I must get back to  my OTHER Hero Twin and string my marionettes of them  as I want to make a little film. Wish me luck.

Until next time,

be well,

Lg

The Nit-wit god of Death, Mictlantecuhtli

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Standing at an unlucky 13 inches this little demon god delights me. My fourth marionette and I think my most successful . He actually functions and he came out pretty much as planned.

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Mictlantecuhtli

marionette

2014

” Sculpey” medium over wire and foil armature, acrylic paint

13 inches high

My intention had been to play off a painting I had made a few year back, The Alpha and the Omega. I think I got it.

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The Alpha and the Omega

acrylic and mixed medium on canvas

2012

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another inspiration were those crazy-assed demons that are always tormenting poor St. Anthony of the Desert.

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I’m happy with the face in the center of his chest, the gaping Hell Mouth, the cute little snake and the phallic schnozze. I’m also liking his little serpentine booties.  The gods of the Underworld were notoriously stupid, but this fellow is pretty snazzy.

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I have a deadline to meet so I will be painting a bit, but I will return to PuppetLand pronto.

Until then, be well, Lg