Calamus at 150 - Opening Tonight

Walt Whitman's 'Calamus at 150', is a group exhibition inspired by and celebrating the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Calamus edition of Leaves of Grass. This exhibit opens tonight at the Hudson Guild Gallery on W. 26th street in Chelsea and runs thru June 1st. Organized and curated by Jim Pavlicovic and Jim Furlong, this exhibit is part of several events in conjunction with the Walt Whitman Project. From the Projects website:

The "Calamus" edition of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass caused a sensation when it appeared in 1860. This exhibition celebrates the 150th anniversary of the publication of this revolutionary work of art, whose impact is still felt today in many artistic media. Leaves of Grass was revolutionary in its bold use of free verse to declare openly and loudly the wonder and physical joy of the body and its sexuality. The "Calamus" poems celebrate homoerotic love, opening cracks in the stranglehold of Victorian mores on public expression of sensuality and acknowledging it as a basis of the happy and well lived life.

My submission is a watercolor/collage painting, 22x30, entitled "Portal". To create the painting I put down a very wet pigment on 300# watercolor paper, and then layed ginko leaves and twigs onto the pigment and then covered it and let it dry. I then removed the covering to reveal the leaf textures. The collage was then added.

Here is a detail of my painting "Portal":

Floating in the Absence of Reason - Opening Tonight

Floating in the Absence of Reason is the title and theme of our ArtGroups opening exhibit tonight at M & H Art and Framing at 9 West 20th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues from 6 to 9pm. Gallery hours are Monday thru Friday 10-7 and Saturday from 10-6.

I'm exhibiting one of my Sumi ink scrolls. The scroll is 21" x 10 feet. It's a very versatile piece and can be hung either in the horizontal or vertical position, and rolled out to any length. M & H hung the scroll vertically on a wall and had it rolled out about 4'.

I have been drawing and painting these scrolls for awhile now, this is my first time exhibiting one in a gallery.

Tonight: Universal Diversity 15

ArtGroup for Gay and Lesbian artists fifteenth annual Universal Diversity exhibit is tonight at the Center.

My painting "All Dressed Up", 10 year old Keith Haring, will be in the show.

The Center is at 208 West 13th Street here in Manhattan off of 7th avenue. The reception is tonight, 24 September, between 6 and 8pm. See you there~!

ArtGroup Night

If it's the first Tuesday of the month, it's my night with ArtGroup. The Gay and Lesbian Art Group meets at the Gay Community Center here in New York City.

Tonight will be an "Open Art Forum":

Artgroup members and non members that attend the meeting are invited to bring work for all of us to see and respond to. The April meeting had the same venue and many of the artists attending brought artwork and/or photographs of work that was new or had not been seen before. It was good getting the work out of the studio and getting feedback from other artists.

I will be bringing the above card of my most recent painting with a link to my TOAST weekend experience.

ArtGroup is under the Art umbrella of All Out Arts. Since 1993, ArtGroup has hosted a variety of speakers, demonstrations from art companies and organizations, it's members over the years have presented their works individually and as a group collectively on our popular "Slide Night". Artgroup produces a e-newsletter as events and exhibits arise, and the group is a great asset and support to the Gay and Lesbian artists here in NYC.

We also exhibit several times a year at various locations. Last December/January our "Encryptions" exhibit was held at the MH Art & Framing Gallery. Our annual group show, "Universal Diversity XVI" will be in September at The Center.