Father’s Day Focus: Sculptor Tony Smith

Die Sculpture, by Tony Smith

Did you know that American Sculptor, Tony Smith, was not only pioneer in the development of Minimalistic Sculpture in the modern art world, but he helped shaped the artistic careers of his daughters, Kiki Smith (sculptor, printmaker) and Seton Smith (photography)?  

Starting in his 50s, Tony Smith began to create minimalistic pieces inspired by the abstract artwork of his friends: Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Clifford Still. Living most of his life in New Jersey, his home was his studio. It was here, Tony’s children were encouraged to actively participate in his creative process as he allowed both girls to help him create cardboard/toothpick models for his geometric sculptures.  

 ”My father just raised us to be his assistants,” jokes Kiki. “We were like educational experiments.” -excerpt from Artnet

This formalist study laid the foundation for both girls to assert their own ideas in the visual arts. Kiki Smith (b. 1954) is known for her provocative work, a combination of body/spiritual explorations and story-telling through sculptures, printmaking, drawing. Seton Smith (b.1955) found her way through photography, exploring themes of memory and desire.

Blue Girl, 1998 by Kiki Smith

Seton Smith, 1991

So, perhaps there is truth in the old saying, the apple doesn’t fall from the tree. For Kiki Smith and Seton Smith continue to impact the contemporary art world with their own artistic visions, initiated and nurtured by their father, Tony Smith.  

Cheers to all the great dads out there sharing their passions for life with their children. Happy Father’s Day!

Redux Studio Artist: Jennifer Ervin @ Jericho Advisors

With all the warm summer weather Charleston has been graced with lately, it seems amicable timing to revisit and savor summer memories with Redux Studio Artist,  Jen Ervin‘s solo photography exhibition, This Side of Summer, at Jericho Advisors,  207A St. Philip Street. Ervin’s work is on view  now by appointment through February, 20, 2013.

Ervin’s series explores the ethereal world of childhood and was born from time spent with her children during the long, humid summer days at their family cabin in the woods and at their home in the low country. Ervin states,

While some families play board games together, we tend to pass the time by working collaboratively on photography projects.

Ervin shot these hauntingly beautiful photographs with her 1963 Polaroid Land 100 Camera and then enlarged them the digital darkroom. The final images are mysterious and poetic  and all awaken a curiosity for the stories behind them.

Redux Fall 2012 Class Schedule

Enrollment is now open for Redux’s Fall semester with beginning to advanced courses in silver arts, drawing, photography, mixed media and more. All are affordable, timed to fit the schedules of working people and are taught by professional artists.  And don’t forget: as a member, you’ll receive 20% OFF these classes and all Redux classes and workshops! To learn more, click here. Below are class dates & times. 

Silver Arts

Beginners Jewelry  October 9, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, October 16 & 23, 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Printmaking

Private Lessons in Letter Press (couples welcome!)  9 hrs per month structured around your schedule

Block Printing Fabric Workshop  October 2, 6pm – 9pm

Screen Printing T-Shirt Class  October 3, 10, 17, 24, 6pm – 9pm 

Relief Printing Class  October 29, November 5, 12, 19, 6pm – 9pm

Screen Printing Workshop  November 27, 6pm – 10pm

Painting 

Painting with Acrylics  October 1, 8, 15, 22, 7pm – 9pm

Introduction to Oil Painting  October 3, 10, 17, 24, 6pm – 8pm

Mixed Media Painting  November 5, 12, 19, 26, 7pm – 9pm

Landscaping with Oil Pastels  November 7, 14, 21, 28, 6pm – 8pm

Drawing

Sunday Figure Drawing (drop in)  Every Sunday, 5pm -7pm 

Introduction to Drawing  September 4, 11, 18, 25, 6pm – 8pm

Colored Pencil Drawing  September 8, 15, 22, 29, 3pm – 5pm

Intro to Drawing the Figure  October 30, November 6, 13, 20, 6:30pm – 9:30pm 

Classical Figure Drawing Workshops  September 10, 17, 6:30pm – 9pm

Daytime Intuitive Figure Drawing  October 4, 11, 18, 25, November  1, 8, 11am – 2pm

Mixed Media

Picture Framing Class  September 6, 13, 20, 27, 6pm – 9pm 

Collage/Photomontage Workshop  October 6, 10am – 3pm

Matting Techniques One Night Workshop  October 29, 6pm – 9pm

Illustrating Children’s Books  November 1, 8, 15, 6pm – 9pm

Art Theory

A History of African American Printmaking: 1724 to 2000  November 29, 6pm – 8pm 

Music Theory

Intro to Music Theory and Ear Training Class  September 5, 12, 19, 26, 6pm – 7:30pm

Photography/Film

Private Lessons in Black & White Photography  9 hrs/month structured around your schedule

Digital-Video Filmmaking  October 4, 11, 18, 25, 6pm – 9pm

Splash Into Summer

Summer is officially here! Last night at approximately 7:09 pm  (EDT), Summer Solistice began in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing with it longer, sunny days. Interestingly enough, the timing of the Summer Solistice depends on when the Sun reaches it’s farthest point north of the equator which makes the date vary anywhere between June 20-22.

To celebrate this favorite of seasons, let’s visually dive into the David Hockney’s pool series to cool off. 

Hockney, A Bigger Splash, 1967. Acrylic on Canvas, Tate Gallery.

David Hockney (b. July 9, 1937) is a British contemporary artist well versed in painting, printmaking and photography. Inspired by his time spent in California, swimming pools are a favorite theme. Whether Hockney’s pool images are photographs or paintings, they often border on abstraction. Viewers are easily absorbed into the vibrant colors of his summer palette and through them, can feel the natural sensations of heat and calm. In 1967, Hockney won the John Moores Painting Prize at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool for his painting, Peter Getting Out Of Nick’s Pool.

David Hockney, John St. Clair Swimming (from Twenty Photographic Pictures), 1972. Sonnabend Collection, New York © David Hockney; photo credit Richard Schmidt

Hockney, Sun on the Pool, Composite Polaroid, 24 3/4 x 36 1/4″

In Hockney’s photomontage work, called “The Joiners”, he took Polaroids of one subject and arranged them into a grid layout.

 

Planned Parenthood Health Center presents RE:NUDE III Art Show and Sale at Redux Contemporary Art Center

Re/Nude will have its 3^rd Annual Art Show and Sale at Redux Contemporary Art Center, located at 136 St. Philip St., on March 21-24, 2012. The Premiere Night Show and Sale will be on March 21, from 6-10:30pm. Admission to the Premiere Night Show is $15 in advance or $20 at the door. The Local Honeys will provide stellar entertainment, and beer, wine, and bubbly will be served. The Public Show and Sale will take place March 22-24, from 10am-5:30pm. There is a suggested $10 donation upon entry.

Re/Nude is a benefit for the local Planned Parenthood Health Center. The title of the show is Re-Nude: Celebrate the Body. Nude figurative works, created by local artists, will be for sale. For each piece sold, there will be a 50:50 split- half going to the artist and the other half benefiting Planned Parenthood. Not only will this event support Planned Parenthood, but it also supports the creative community in Charleston, providing local artists an opportunity to show and sell their work.

Cindy Sherman @ The MoMA

If Spring Break brings you to New York, don’t miss this long-awaited show, The Cindy Sherman Retrospective, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Feb. 26 – June 11, 2012.

Sherman is known for creating work in series that focuses on issues of identity with herself as model, dressed in costume. Even though Sherman does not refer to herself as a feminist, she has raised challenging and important questions regarding the role and representation of women in society, often calling attention to stereotypes. You can view a slide show of her work on Time’s LightBox blog. 

Cindy Sherman in her NY studio.

Below is a video clip of Cindy Sherman: Characters, Art 21. Enjoy!

Matters of the Heart

Relationships of love are all encompassing. Perhaps, that is why the study of relationships (and it’s many forms) remains an inspirational and recurring theme in art. 

Lee Krasner & Jackson Pollock in their kitchen, by Martha Holmes, 1949

For many artists, love relationships are an integral part of their work. It is what passionately links their own lives to the art they make, and you can feel it when in the presence of their paintings, photographs, sculptures or drawings. In the words of Thomas Merton, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” That being said, most artists would likely agree that art is love, love is art.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, here is a group of photographs that explores art and love in relationships. 

Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O’Keeffe embraced in a kiss.

“Press Two Callas” by Imogene Cunningham, 1929

“Revolving Door” (New York), by Lee Friedlander, 1963

 

“Sue Gallo Baugher and Faye Gallo”, Twinsburg, Ohio, by Mary Ellen Mark, 1998

“The Hot Dog”, by Sally Mann, 1989

“Couple”, Romania by Henri Cartier-Bresson, 1975