'Nate' by Rachael Welch
By Marcia E. Gawecki
At the final Idyllwild Arts Faculty & Staff Art Show on Aug. 9, there was an eclectic mix of pieces. There were more paintings than pottery compared to the last show, prints from the new headmaster, some “shocking” paintings, and friendship nudity.
The three prints from Brian D. Cohen, the new headmaster of Idyllwild Arts Academy, were a perfect selection, given the natural surroundings of Idyllwild. Brian’s black-and-white etchings showed a pear-and-apple arrangement, a closeup of tree bark and a mystic silhouette of a pine tree in the distance. All showed his command of the print medium, and a keen sensitivity to nature (But they don’t photograph well!)
I especially liked his relief etching, “Tree Trunk,” although it was likely a tree from Vermont, and not Idyllwild. A teacher once told me that you could see wars in the bark of trees, if you look close enough.
'Fatherless Bride 2' by John Brosio
The two “shocker” paintings came from John Brosio. “Fatherless Bride 2,” was a medium-sized oil painting that featured a young woman in a long gown. “Carrie,” the 1976 horror movie based on Stephen King’s first novel, comes to mind.
In the movie, Sissy Spacek was doussed with pig’s blood, and appeared shocked in all the trailers, to say the least. However, in “Fatherless Bride 2,” there is the same amount of blood splattered on the young woman, with some drooling from her chin, but she has more of a “hunted” demeanor.
When several people looked at it, they marveled at Brosio’s technique, but didn’t understand the premise.
“Some artists just like to shock,” one woman said. “But he can definitely paint.”
The second of Brosio’s two paintings showed a close up of a fish head with a cigarette in its mouth. Everyone knows that fish don’t smoke, so this couldn’t be a preachy commentary about that.
“Just look at the way the head was cut off,” exclaimed Tressa, one of the attendees, pointing to the sharp diagonal.
'Stefania' by Jacqueline Ryan
Everyone was searching for the artist, who had just left.
Next to his paintings however, was a single portrait by Rachael Welch, who has taught painting many summers at Idyllwild Arts. She also works at Cafe Aroma, and showcases many of her paintings in their library/gallery.
Moreover, some of her jazz portraits have graced Cafe Aroma’s house wine labels, namely Marshall Hawkins, Barnaby Finch and lately, Casey Abrams.
Rachael’s single painting in the show had a predominately green and salmon palette. It was a portrait of “Nate.”
It wasn’t your typical portrait pose. This young man held his fingers up to his face in a sort of a “bugaboo” fashion, like he was mugging for the camera. There was also a faraway look in his eyes.
'Jackie' by Stefania Ford
“Why did she use salmon for the background color?” one woman asked her friends.
The others were trying to figure out what Nate was doing. Was he high on something? Was he playing a video game? The colors and the composition made it compelling.
Jacqueline Ryan, a painting assistant, was the one who convinced me to enter the faculty show.
“There’s never enough paintings by staff members,” she said. “Keep trying.”
However, this young woman, who just graduated from college, had a command of the medium. Her painting of a nude woman was connected to another sculpture in the show. Jacqueline told the story:
“This painting is of Stefania, the ceramics teacher,” Jacqueline explained. “She finished this sculpture of me that she started last year, so I decided to do a painting of her.”
(From top) Jazz greats Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday by Marcia E. Gawecki
“Jackie,” Stefania’s ceramic sculpture, featured a Rueben-esque kneeling nude, which captured Jacqueline’s energy. Stefania wasn’t around to comment on her piece.
She also had several organic pottery pieces on a pedestal next to her sculpture.
Next to “Stefania,” was my larger-than-life banner of Barnaby Finch, a local jazz musician who has played with some big-name jazz musicians. (I drive for Idyllwild Arts, so I’m considered a staff member.)
The banner measured about five feet across and nearly seven feet long. Cristie Scott, the gallery assistant, had to hang the banner by herself, which is quite the feat and without the slightest irritation.
Last year, the banner of Barnaby hung outside Cafe Aroma’s deck during the Jazz in the Pines event. It served as a backdrop for many jazz performances.
“It’s definitely the largest piece in the show,” Cristie said.
At first inspection, I noticed that the perspective was off. Barnaby’s head was much larger than his jawline. Most of my painting was done on my kitchen floor, so it was hard to get a perspective. Yet, I should have hung it over the porch railing before hanging it in the gallery.
'Paint the Black Hole Blacker' by David Delgado
“I want to disappear!” I thought to myself. “What was I doing showing a piece with an off perspective?”
I was grateful that Barnaby himself hadn’t showed up!
So when a young woman in a bright orange dress started dancing in front of the Barnaby banner, laughing with her friends and mugging for the camera, I was convinced that she was making fun of it.
“No, she’s just wearing a bright orange dress, and reacting to the colors of your piece,” explained Cristie.
She was right because I followed the woman around the gallery, and she wasn’t dancing in front of other pieces, including”Fatherless Bride 2.”
(From L) 'Double View Evening' and 'Tree Shadows at Sue's House' by Jessica Schiffman
All of the pieces are for sale. Part of the sale proceeds go to the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program.
This faculty show will remain on display at the Parks Exhibition Center until this Saturday, Aug. 20. The gallery will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, contact Cristie at the gallery at (951) 659-2171, ext. 2251
EDITOR’S NOTE: Technically, I should not review an art show that I have pieces in. It would never fly in a standard newspaper–conflict of interest and all that. But, for now, a biased perspective is better than none at all, right?
Copyright 2011 Idyllwild Me. All rights reserved.
Published on: Aug 13, 2011 @ 21:41
the attachments to this post:
Faculty Jessica x2
Faculty Delgado Cup
Faculty Jessica x2
Faculty Nate
Faculty Delgado Cup
Faculty Gawecki Jazz X2
Faculty Jackie
Faculty Stefania
Faculty Fatherless Bride
Faculty Nate
