THE ARTFUL MIND MAY 2013
ARTIST Joel Haynes Photography by Cassandra Sohn
Monthly Berkshire Artzine Since 1994
FRONT STREET GALLERY
Kate Knapp, Bridge Shadows, Housatonic, 30” x 30”
Painting Classes on Monday and Wednesday mornings 10 - 1pm at the Studio and Thursday mornings 10 - 1pm out in the field. Open to all. See new oils and black and white drawings and paintings
413-274-6607 413-429-7141 (cell) 413-528-9546 Gallery Hours: Saturday and Sunday 12-5 or by appointment FRONT STREET, downtown HOUSATONIC, MA
PO Box 181 west stockbridge, MA 01266 Kent Mikalsen sacredspace.kentmikalsen.com
Lauren Clark Fine Art presents
“Playing in the Garden that Susie Grew” Fabric, Paintings, Collage by
Susie Hardcastle Reception for Guests
Saturday May 25, 5 -7 pm
2 • May2013
The ArTful Mind
402 Park Street, Housatonic, MA 413- 274-1432 LaurenClarkFineArt.com
4 • May 2013
The ArTful Mind
ANCE SANCE R ENAII S S
TE R NTER CEN ARTS CENTER VISUAL and PERFORMING ARTS for CHILDREN, TEENS TEE EENS S and ADULTS ADULT TS NS, GRE AT B BAR BARRINGTON, RRIN R NGTON, MA A NEW LOCATION in JENIFER COMMONS, GREAT
JOIN US for 30+ NEW CLASSES, SSES, WORKSHOPS WOR RKSSHOPS and R a CAMPS! S! May 18: SPRING SOCIAL! A canvas, an instructor, instrructo or, so some ome paint,, a ppalette, learrning and and d leave withh a masterpiece! plus wine & cheese. Join us, have fun learning DGEE:: Painting Pa a ain ainting T e Berkshires Berkshire es on Location. May 25: BEYOND THE COVERED BRIDGE: The ing ho ow to t ma a o ap out a lands scap in one session from rom Explore hidden treasures while learning how map landscape nt W aterfall. terffall. SSignn up for one onne session s The Covered Bridge to the Magnificent Waterfall. or more. July 13: OPEN HOUSE! SPRING COURSE LIST: 2013
f Bookmakking ortfoli lio io
or No Experien Painting th t e Be Personal Sketchb Screen Paiint n ing (P Screen Door)) Studies in n Stil illl Life Wat atercolor and Ink Paint Wat atercolor Te Techniiques
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PHOTOGRAPH PH HY: Adult Photography Using Digital ta Tools Photography: Within hi the Frame Photoshop Basics
SUMMER MMER CAMP—either MP—either —either sign up p WEEK by WEEK EK, o or for the FULL LL SEVEN VEN WEEKS: Week ek One: July ulyy 1-July ly 5 Week TTw w wo: wo oo: July 8-July July 12 Week ek k Three: ee: July 15-July 19 Week ek k Four: F July 22-July26 Week ek Five: July 29-August 2 eeek Six: August 5-August 9
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! B SUMMER WORKSHOPS, WEEKEND AND EVENING COURSES
ER M M U S P! M A C ARTkly Sessions Wee
/16 7/1–8
THEA]S PŴ+A]+A# mF+ FŴW(+FA ŴA F::Ŵ# QbQQ ]W @ŴW8 @Ŵ8+A# S A]+m nS+]+A# FûµÞĂûÞFûµ +ûĮĻĨņ ĻßĂû ŴŢ}ßî} îµ PRE-REGISTER ONLINE, OR CALL: 413-528-9600 | RenaissanceArtsCenter.org Jenifer Commons, 420 Stockbridge Rd, Ste 11, Great Barrington, MA | 413-528-9600 | GB@renaissanceartscenter.org
6 • May 2013 The ArTful Mind
CALENDAR OF ARTFUL EVENTS museums & galleries
A.P.E GAllEry northampton, MA • 413-529-1895 Barry freedland, ‘Multi-tasking’, May 28 – June 12, 2013 BErkshirE MusEuM 39 South Street (route 7), Pittsfield, MA Bryan nash Gill: Beyond the landscape thru May 2013.
BErkshirE Art GAllEry 80 railroad St, Gt Barrington, MA • 528-2690 www.berkshireartgallery.com 19th and early 20th Century American & european art and sculpture, contemporary artists
DEB koffMAn’s Art sPAcE front St, housatonic, MA Cheryl luft: first Solo exhibit. “nature Miniatures” a unique view of our varied Berkshire environments designed just for the little gallery. Thru May. front strEEt GAllEry front St., housatonic, MA • 413-274-6607 / 413-528-9546, or cell at 413-429-7141 housatonic Gallery for students and artists. featuring watercolors by Kate Knapp (Saturday and Sunday 12-5pm or by appointment)
GooD PurPosE GAllEry 40 Main Street, lee, MA / www.goodpurpose.org Shifting Perceptions: The Art of Autism, a collaborative project, Apr 5 - May 27 John DAvis GAllEry Warren St, hudson, nY • 518-828-5907 Jake Berthot: Works on Paper: The enamel drawings Thru May 19 lAurEn clArk finE Art 402 Park St, housatonic, MA • 274-1432 www.laurenClarkfineArt.comlauren Art and framing in the heart of housatonic
MorGAn lEhMAn GAllEry 535 Wesy 22nd, St, nY, nY • art@morganlehmangallery.com nancy lorenz: new Work The STudY Project Space: Aaron Wexler May 2 - June 29, 2013
nEuMAnn finE Art 65 Cold Water St., hillsdale, nY • www.neumannfineart.com featuring the paintings of Bob Crimi and the custom made furniture of Joel Mark in the gallery's second group show. The exhibit runs thru June 2. norMAn rockWEll MusEuM 9 route 183, Stockbridge, MA • 413-298-4100 OPeninG: r.O. Blechman:The inquiring line, May 11 through June 30, 2013,; About face:norman rockwell's Portraits Through May 27, 2013; norman rockwell's "Willie Was different" Through May 27, 2013 sAMuEl Dorsky MusEuM State university of new York at new Paltz, 1 hawk drive, new Paltz, nY • 845.257.3844 The dorsky Collects: recent Acquisitions 2008-2012 Through June 23, 2013
schAntz GAllEriEs 3 elm St, Stockbridge, MA • 413-298-3044 www.schantzgalleries.com. A destination for those seeking premier artists working in glass. (11 - 5 daily)
st. frAncis GAllEry 1370 Pleasant St, rte 102, lee, MA • 413-717-5199 May 10 Opening for “What Surrounds us All”, featuring the works of landscape artists. thE GAllEry At r&f 84 Ten Broeck Ave, in midtown Kingston, nY • 845-331-3112. AlAn GOldSTein: The TreeS Are dYinG, through May 18 thE hArrison GAllEry 39 Spring Street, Williamstown, MA Gracia dayton, May 4 - 29 2013
thE ishA nElson GAllEry railroad St., Great Barrington, MA COlOr, MOVeMenT And BAlAnCe Artist david J. richardson, “Color, Movement and Balance”, Thru May.
music/theatre/film
closE EncountErs With Music “nordic lights: Grieg revival” is scheduled for Saturday, June 8, 6 PM at Ozawa hall, Tanglewood (lenox, MA). The final Close encounters with Music concert of the 2012–2013 season, brings to the fore the national composer of norway, edvard Grieg, and two of his contemporaries, German composer Johannes Brahms and norwegian playwright henrik ibsen.
festivals / events
8th AnnuAl BErkshirE intErnAtionAl filM fEstivAl (Biff) The festival, which takes place from May 30 – June 2, 2013 in Great Barrington and May 31 – June 2nd in Pittsfield, MA, will bring films, filmmakers, industry professionals and film fans together for a four-day festival celebrating independent film featuring 27 documentaries, 25 narrative features and 24 short films.
is183 Art school of thE BErkshirEs 13 Willard hill road, Stockbridge MA • 413-298-5252 / www.is183.org. The public is invited to join iS183 Art School of the Berkshires for the 2013 emerging Artist Showcase reception on Saturday, June 22 from 4pm to 6pm. This annual event celebrates the hard work and talent of iS183’s adult students and studio participants, and is an opportunity to meet the artists and purchase their work. Stairwell Gallery from June 17 to August 25, with opening reception Saturday June 22 from 4pm to 6pm. PArADisE city Arts fEstivAl May 25, 26 & 27 at the Three County fairgrounds in northampton, MA. One of America’s top-ranked shows of fine craft, paintings and sculpture, Paradise City features 260 exhibiting artists from 25 states, sensational cuisine, live music, creative activities and an outdoor sculpture garden. www.paradisecityarts.com or 800-511-9725. Meet the deadline! Send in your calendar calendar listinglistings the 10thdue of on or before the 10th of every each month prior to monthpublication! prior to production
cluB hElsinki 405 Columbia Street, hudson, nY Arnold Steinhardt & lincoln Mayorga "from 0 to 75 in 60 minutes" Saturday, May 11, 2013, at 8 pm
Proctors thEAtrE Albany, nY, Mainstage / 518-346-6204 / www.proctors.org/events/berkshire-capreg-theatre-project doubt, May 31-June 9; WAM TheATre And The MOP & BuCKeT COMPAnY presents the 3rd Annual 24hr Berkshire/Capital region Theatre Project, May 18, 8pm.
syDEllE AnD lEE BlAtt PErforMinG Arts cEntEr 36 linden Street, Pittsfield, MA. May 22 – June 8. BAShir lAZhAr by evelyn de la Cheneliere, translation by Morwyn Brebner. directed by Shakina nayfack. American premiere. This timely and beautifully written play about a french-Algerian refugee inspired the Oscar-nominated film Monsieur lazhar. St. Germain Stage at the Performances Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 4pm, Sunday at 3pm. Additional matinee Thursday, June 6 at 4pm.
thE MAhAiWE PErforMinG Arts cEntEr 14 Castle St, Gt Barrington, MA • 413-528-0100 / www.mahaiwe.org Program: Ghetto Tango: Cabaret Songs of love, Truth and defiance. Presented by: The national Yiddish Theatre-folksbiene and Congregation Ahavath Sholom. date: Sunday, May 19, 3:00 pm The ArTful Mind MAY2013 • 7
thE Artful MinD
artzine
May 2013
“Looks like the economy is improving!”
MArGuEritE BriDE sPrinG EXhiBits MArGueriTe Bride, MArChe Aux fleurS
Joel haynes on cover Photography by Cassandra Sohn
Planet Waves MAy Eric Francis.....13
Joel haynes decorative Painter & illustrator Harryet Candee ...14 simply sasha Sasha Seymour...... 17
Architecture & Arcadia Stephen Dietemann..... 17 Artist yom tov
Harryet Candee...18
choldhood of the Art hostorian Richard Britell ... 20 Contributing Writers and Monthly Columnists Eunice Agar, Richard Britell, Stephen Gerard Dietemann, Eric Francis, Sasha Seymour Photographers Lee Everett, Jane Feldman Sabine Vollmer von Falken, Cassandra Sohn Publisher Harryet Candee
Copy Editor
Marguerite Bride
Advertising and Graphic Design Harryet Candee
Box 985, Great Barrington, MA 01230
artfulmind@yahoo.com issuu.com/theartfulmindartzine 413-528-5628 All submissions for May due :: April 17, 2013 (email or call)
FYI: ©Copyright laws in effect throughout The Artful Mind for logo & all graphics including text material. Copyright laws for photographers and writers throughout The Artful Mind. Permission to reprint is required in all instances. In any case the issue does not appear on the stands as planned due to unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, advertisers will be compensated on a one to one basis. Disclaimer rights available upon request. Serving the Art community with the the intention of enhancing communication and sharing positive creativity in all aspects of our lives.
Our Art...Our Way
8• May 2013 The ArTful Mind
thE Music storE
GreAT BArrinGTOn, MA
There are few things more poorly suited to the super-seller, mass-marketing, impersonal transaction and computerized service dominated retail than music, especially in choosing a musical instrument! This is why small, independent stores like ours, The Music Store, still exist; to give the consumer the chance to play, listen and ask about the instruments in which they are interested. The Music Store, named the Best Music Store by the Berkshire record, offers fine, folk, unusual and handmade instruments for musicians and music lovers of all ages and abilities, including an extensive selection of accessories including strings, sticks, cleaners, reeds, and heads among many, many others. Acoustic, electric, classical and luthier handmade guitars including the penultimate, gorgeously voiced and darned near indestructible travel guitar - Composite Acoustic’s Cargo - nestle happily among one of the widest selection of ukuleles in the northeast. African, Middle-eastern and other ethnic instruments including drums and bells, rattles and ratchets sit beside children’s instruments. And unusual locally made instruments including dr. easy’s Sonic Boxes (wonderful acoustic and A/e Cigar Box Guitars and diddly Bows) as well as the lovely Stockbridge-made Bamboo Serenity flutes, Walking Stick and Cane flutes rub shoulders with elite luthier-handmade guitars by dana Bourgeois’s Pantheon Guitar Shop and irish luthier John Beckett as well as GreAT deals on Takamine, Breedlove, luna, recording King, loar and more. Another essential, instrument maintenance and repair is available as well. Sean Barry’s Workshop offers expert luthiery at reasonable prices for maintenance, repair and restoration, and access to a private collection of used musical instruments from the 18th century to present day. Also, unlike super-seller chain stores, we offer custom set-up and instrument warranty work free of charge on every instrument that we sell, for the life of the instrument! Musical motif gifts, sheet music and expert, friendly advice and service are also available, making The Music Store your resource for all things musical here in the lovely Berkshires, the very heart of so much music in the northeast! for brand names of new and used guitars including Composite Acoustic, Kremona, Avalon, Alvarez, Takamine, Breedlove, loar, recording King, fender as well as many other lesser known brands of guitars, international and locally made instruments, accessories and gifts of all kinds, The Music Store is the place to be this Spring. The Music Store - 87 Railroad Street, Great Barrington, Massachusetts, 01230. Open Tuesday - Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 12-5. Call us at 413-528-2460 or visit our web site: themusicstoreplus.com
SPrinG exhiBiTS
Marguerite Bride will be exhibiting in three different shows this spring. Two new landscapes will be a part of an invitational landscape show at the St. francis Gallery in South lee opening May 10. The reception will take place on Saturday, May 18 3-6 pm. The gallery will also carry many reproductions of landscapes painted in the past. Opening in late May and running through August, Bride will be exhibiting multiple new watercolors in the Poultry house Gallery at hancock Shaker Village. Other artists in this group exhibit are Joan Ciolfi, ellen Joffe-halpern, debbie Carter, Scott Taylor, ivor Parry and Mike Cohen. The reception will be held on Thursday, May 23, 4-6 pm. A regular exhibitor at the village, cards and reproductions of many of Bride’s village scenes in a variety of sizes are now being carried in the gift shop. The 2013 Pittsfield Parade Poster is now available. receive a poster for free by supporting the parade with a donation of $25 or more…all proceeds go directly into the parade fund “Signings” will be scheduled soon, which include Third Thursdays and first fridays Artswalks in Pittsfield. Visit pittsfieldparade.com to order yours and you will be supporting a great cause as well. This year’s theme: “America the Beautiful – land that i love”. in June, Bride is part of the invitational exhibit entitled: fresh; from Garden to Gallery. This show is a collaboration between Alchemy initiative and the lichtenstein Center for the Arts. The reception will be held on June 7 from 5-8 pm, part of the June first friday Artswalk at the lichtenstein at 28 renne Ave. Seventeen artists are exhibiting in all mediums... watercolor, acrylic and oils on paper, canvas, wood, glass and digital, photography, ceramics, sculpted gourds and more. When you are out and about during Pittsfield’s first fridays Artswalks, 5-8pm every month, stop by nuarts Studios and Gallery to see the latest group or solo exhibit and a visit to Bride’s new studio (#9). for the month of May, the artists of nuarts have done self-portraits called “nufaces at nuarts” … very funny, very strange. Commissions for vacation and house portraits are welcome at any time. it’s a good time to think about 2013 holiday gift giving. Over the years Bride has painted many scenes from vacations, special occasions, and favorite settings...all from clients’ own photos. These have included scenes from romantic wedding settings and honeymoon trips, Tuscan villas, vistas from fabulous hikes, exciting canoe trips, scenes from family vacations and reunions, “once in a life-time” adventures, and more. Visit her website for more details about commissioning a painting, purchasing a painting or fine art reproduction lessons and updated exhibit information; or contact the artist directly. Marguerite Bride, NUarts Studios, 311 North Street, Pittsfield, Studio #9, by appointment only. Call 413-442-7718, or 413-841-1659 (cell); website: margebride-paintings.com, email: margebride@aol.com.
conscious EXErcisE ShArOn True On PilATeS APPArATuS
is183 EMErGinG Artist shoWcAsE PhOTOGrAPh BY CASSAndrA SOhn
The public is invited to join iS183 Art School of the Berkshires for the 2013 emerging Artist Showcase reception on Saturday, June 22 from 4pm to 6pm. This annual event celebrates the hard work and talent of iS183’s adult students and studio participants, and is an opportunity to meet the artists and purchase their work. now in its third year, the emerging Artist Showcase is an exciting opportunity for iS183 students to exhibit their work onsite. The hallmark of artistic practice is exhibition, and this culminating showcase provides a valuable professional development experience for iS183 students and studio participants. iS183’s students work hard all year round, honing their skills under the guidance of the school’s faculty of professional practicing artists. The emerging Artist Showcase is a chance for students to share with each other and the community at large the result of this hard work and dedication. emerging Artist Showcase 2013 will take place in the Stairwell Gallery from June 17 to August 25, with opening reception Saturday June 22 from 4pm to 6pm. The exhibit is co-curated by artists and students Arline Shalan and Kay Castelle, and organized and installed by an all-volunteer staff. last summer’s show featured the work of thirty-six artists in a range of media including painting, drawing, collage, photography, ceramics, experimental animation and poetry, and this year’s show will be an expansion in diversity and depth. Also a reminder that the Stockbridge Artlab, our major faculty show will be up until June 3. A number of local businesses have turned into pop-up galleries to host segments of this wide ranging show. The exhibition leads visitors through a progressive walking tour of Stockbridge that in addition to The red lion inn also includes Berkshire Bank, elm Street Market, hall’s Garage, Stockbridge Coffee, Salon 7, Main Street Café, and The Stockbridge library. All Stockbridge Art lab locations are listed on the Art lab map, which are available at area businesses and all gallery locations. iS183 Art School is a not-for-profit community art school based in the interlaken village of Stockbridge, MA whose mission is to encourage people of all ages, means and skill levels to enrich their lives through hands-on experience in the visual arts. iS183 offers year-round programs in ceramics, painting, drawing, fiber arts, sculpture, animation, mixed media, photography, collage, jewelry and more for children, teens and adults—at locations throughout Berkshire County through collaborative partnerships with schools and other cultural organizations. Programs are offered daytime, evenings and weekends, for all levels—from the absolute beginner to the professional artist. IS183 Art School, PO Box 1400, 13 Willard Hill Road, Stockbridge MA 01262 Phone: 413-298-5252, www.is183.org
ShArOn True
Regular exercise is an essential component of optimal health and functioning. Conscious Exercise with Sharon True, owner of WholePerson Movement, takes exercise to a whole new level. In the personalized one-on-one workouts she creates in her Pilates studio she guides her clients to become masters of their own body movement. They learn to become conscious of the inner experience and process of doing an exercise, as well as of its precise outer form. Conscious Exercise workouts stretch and strengthen muscles, promote concentration, reduce stress, and deepen understanding of the body. Who needs Conscious Exercise? Artists whose art-making process involves doing painful repetitive movements are one group of people who can benefit from True’s Conscious Exercise approach to Pilates workouts. For them, True teaches specific therapeutic exercises that promote comfort and healing, and coaches them in finding internal support and other strategies for reducing pain when creating in their art form. More broadly, Conscious Exercise empowers people to make the most of the body they have. This includes individuals who currently enjoy active lifestyles, such as performers, athletes, gardeners, and those who love all the outdoor activities that the Berkshires has to offer, and who want to maintain or expand on their physical fitness through a challenging Pilates workout. It also includes individuals who are confronted with impediments to their enjoyment of movement, such as injury or chronic pain, stiffness, difficulties with balance and coordination, or lack of body confidence. Sharon True welcomes the opportunity to find a way to help your body function at its best, no matter what age or condition it is in now. True is a registered somatic movement therapist, certified Laban movement analyst, and a certified Pilates instructor. She has been teaching Pilates-based workouts for over 15 years, first at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires and then in her own fullyequipped Pilates studio in Great Barrington. These years of teaching, together with her commitment to continuing her own education, give clients the benefit of a vast array of experience to effectively address their goals and concerns. She is an expert partner and guide in the discovery of an exercise program that works and is a pleasure to do. Call now to start making the most of the body you have with a Conscious Exercise workout with Sharon True. Contact her at sharontrue@roadrunner.com or phone 413-528-2465, 9 AM9 PM.
DEsiGninG sAcrED sPAcE
Kent Mikalsen expands his design consultancy to include designing sacred space. living near these magnificent northeastern forests it easy to be aware of the positive effect our natural environment has on our sense of well being. We are deeply connected to the sensuous and integrating experience of nature. even in our sheltered built environments we create openings to invite nature’s light and spaciousness inside. designing our interiors we emulate her natural colors, textures and patterns. These spaces that we inhabit can significantly affect our mental, spiritual and even physical health. Clinical research has linked the positive effects of a beautifully appointed hospital room to the length of time a patient requires to heal. employing the essential elements of good design, sacred spaces are beautiful healing environments that contribute to our vibrant health and confirm our most positive aspirations. Kent is a professionally trained artist and designer with an unusually broad and experienced background in fine art, architecture, woodworking, film and entertainment design. he studied yoga and meditation for ten years while living at an ashram in rural Pennsylvania and has maintained his practice for more than thirty years. Kent Mikalsen Studio creates beautiful and healing environments for homes, businesses and institutions, designing a wide range of venues including yoga studios, hospitals, clinics, meditation rooms, chapels, memorials, pavilions and events. Kent Mikalsen Studio – 413-652-4801 or email kentmikalsen@gmail.com; sacredspace.kentmikalsen.com
The ArTful Mind MAY 2013 • 9
front strEEt GAllEry
KATe KnAPP, APPle OrChArd And ChAir
neW OilS plus BlACK And WhiTe drAWinGS And PAinTinGS... stuDEnts EXhiBition in JunE Pastels, oils, acrylics and watercolors‌..abstract and representational‌..landscapes, still lifes and portraits‌.a unique variety of painting technique and styles‌.you will be transported to another world and see things in a way you never have before‌.please come join us and experience something different. Painting classes continue on Mon Wed mornings 101:30pm at the studio and Thursday mornings out in the field and are open to all...come to one or come again if it works for you...all levels and materials welcome... Classes at front Street for those wishing to learn and those who just want to be involved in the pure enjoyment of art and who have some experience under their belt. Perfect for those seeking fresh insight into watercolors, and other mediums. Kate Knapp has been teaching for many years, and has a keen sense of each student’s artistic needs to take a step beyond! Perfect setting for setting up still lifes. lighting and space is excellent.  Peak in to see! Kate Knapp’s paintings are also on display at 510 Warren St. Gallery in hudson, nY. Please stop by to see all the many works of art by exceptional artists. Front Street Gallery – Front Street, Housatonic, MA. Gallery now open by appointment or chance...if you call my home phone 413-528-9546 or cell 413-429-7141. I can meet you there very quickly...I look forward to seeing you!
thE Art of AutisM GOOd PurPOSe GAllerY
This Art of Autism exhibit which runs until May 27, features 9 artists from the united States and one from ireland brought to the Good Purpose Gallery through the auspices of The Art of Autism, an international collaborative project that brings awareness of the creative abilities of people with autism to the general public. Two of the featured artists in the show, Trent Altman and Colm isherwood, won the 2012 united nations Award for creating two of eight Autism Stamps. These official postal stamps are launched every April as part of World Autism day. Many artists are self-taught, and despite their learning differences associated with autism, enjoying their art as a creative expression of their interior and imaginal worlds. Their work also provides a means of communicating their experience of the world in which they live. Along with viewing wonderful, expressionistic art, visitors have a chance to browse through two books published by Art of Autism project: “Artism� – shatters myths of limitations with the voices and art of those on the Autism Spectrum. it features 54 artists with autism from all around the world (some of the artists are well-known, such as Temple Grandin and donna Williams); “Shifting Perceptions� – continues to erase boundaries between “professional� and art created by those with apparent learning differences. it includes stories of love, determination and faith by 77 artists and poets. Good Purpose Gallery, 40 Main Street, Lee, MA. Visit www.goodpurpose.org for more information. Gallery Hours: 8:30-4:30 Mon, Wed, Thurs; 9-5 Fri-Sat; 9-3 Sunday.
SCOTT TAYlOr, SuMMer STreAM, 30 x 40� GOlden ACrYliC On CAnVAS
sAint frAncis GAllEry WhAT SurrOundS uS All
On May 10, Saint francis Gallery will open with a new exhibit entitled “What Surrounds us All� featuring the works of landscape artists, some previously represented by the gallery, returning with new works... and several surprises from local artists joining the gallery for the first time. This show promises to inspire...capturing the beauty of color and form that combine to create unique works that have the power to draw you into the paintings themselves...immersed in the mood, form and play of light in these artworks. for many it is the beauty of the Berkshires that inspires, for others it is their own internal landscapes. The artists with works in this invitational exhibit include linda Cimini Baker, Marguerite Bride, Terry Borrasso, Paul Greene, Jurek, Steve levine, Bruce Mcdonald, Monica Miller, leo Mazzeo, helga Orthofer, Bob Plant, franco Pellegrino, Paula Stern, Scott Taylor, John Townes, and Sharon Vidal. “What Surrounds us All� will be up till June 24th, with a reception for the artists and formal opening with music and light fare on Saturday May 18 from 3-6pm. The gallery continues to support humanitarian work in Kenya by sales of the art work and also for the first time bringing back works of art from the children of the hOreC orphanage and the Women’s Cooperative of the Kipsango slum project. St. Francis Gallery, 1370 Pleasant St., Rt. 102, South Lee, next to the Post Office and Fire Dept. Gallery Hours: Fri – Monday 11:30 am – 5:30 pm. 413-717-5199.
Great Baby Gifts! ROBeeZ
10 • May 2013
The ArTful Mind
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Soft sole leather footwear
sohn finE Art GreG GOrMAn, PhOTOGrAPhY
MASTer ArTiST SerieS
Sohn fine Art is proud to announce an exciting 2013 season, including Master Artist Series (MAS) events, exhibitions and workshops featuring award winning photographers Greg Gorman and Matuschka. Sohn fine Art will be hosting 40 year retrospectives of two award winning Master Photographers - Greg Gorman and Matuschka. April 26-July 1, works by Pulitzer Prize nominated Matuschka, who is best known for her riveting post-mastectomy self-portrait “Beauty Out of damage”, that was featured on the cover of new York Times Magazine in 1993, will be on view Sohn fine Art Gallery. The exhibition, “A Body Biography” will feature an intimate look at 40 years of work by the artist including her first self-portrait from 1971, to her chemically handtoned prints and painted photographs, as well as her edgy, “Androgony” series. A public reception will take place at Sohn fine Art Gallery on Saturday, May 18, 4:00 - 7:00. in addition, a public lecture, video, and book signing on the artist’s work and inspiration will be held at Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA on June 22, 2:30. Admission to this event is the entrance fee to the Museum $13. Tickets can be pre-bought at Berkshire Museum. Matushcka will also teach a two-day workshop “exploration of image Making and Personal expression” on June 22 & June 23 at Berkshire Museum. Sign up for this course at Sohn fine Art. July 5-September 30, Greg Gorman’s 40 Year retrospective Show currently touring Museums in europe comes to Sohn fine Art in the Berkshires. Works by 2013 PPA lifetime Achievement Award winning portrait and celebrity photographer Greg Gorman will be on view at Sohn fine Art Gallery. A public lecture will be given by the artist July 18 at 7pm at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, MA. Admission is $20 for the general public and $12 for students. Gorman will teach three one-day workshops - two one-day artist led workshops (“Mastering Portraits” and “nudes”) July 21 and 22, and one Critique day Workshop July 23. Workshops will be based in the Meadowview building at Cranwell resort, Spa & Golf Club in lenox, MA. Sign up for workshops at Sohn fine Art. Sohn fine Art’s MAS program brings world class photographers to the Berkshires to participate in exhibitions, workshops and lectures. Since its founding in 2011, students and community members have broadened their understanding and expertise in the area of photographic expression and execution through participation in MAS events. More information and registration information for these events may be found at the website. Sohn Fine Art Gallery & Giclee Printing - 6 Elm Street, Stockbridge, MA 01262, 413-298-1025, info@sohnfineart.com, www.sohnfineart.com
“There are a million people who can come up with little bits. The hard work is making those bits into something.” -Jeff Lynne
PhOTO: SuSAn Geller
lEo MAzzEo WhAt’s nEWs?
Something big, something fun, something new, but not so new and definitely not out of the blue, has been building in the creative community of the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. is it you? is it me? is it them? Well, all of the above. it is a hub of creativity and networking, an all for one, one for all affair that has been conceptualized, launched, and facilitated as the latest project by regional arts outreach and advocacy persona, leo Mazzeo. Mazzeo has been quite active on the Berkshire arts scene in recent years and has been steadily building a solid, informative, and stable reputation as someone that can be counted on to give his all and beyond for causes that he firmly believes in. This latest project builds upon previous endeavors that include co-founding, managing, and creating the initial architecture of Pittsfield’s first fridays Artswalk, managing various regional visual arts exhibition spaces, website creation and graphic design work, exhibiting his fine art oil paintings and photography, and serving on area arts organization boards. arts indie is the project being written about here and writing is the first feature that one comes across when visiting the project’s website, artsindie.com. right out front and right on the home page when you enter the url in your browser’s address bar is the arts indie blog which Mazzeo, and sometimes guest contributors, use to build public awareness of exhibitions, performances, and causes that should definitely have more public awareness, exposure, and be a stronger presence in the mind if one truly wishes to feel connected with some of the best of the culturally enriching offerings that give this area its distinctive appeal and flavor. neither high brow, low brow, or no brow, the blog pushes, pulls, and promotes subject matter that appeals to every brow in an often stubbornly fair and egalitarian way that stirs excitement and creates fulfillment, particularly for those who can rise above politically motivated inclinations, tastes, and desires. Ambitious? Yes, but folks, not always directly, have asked for something like this through their actions and expressed inclinations and well, status quo this isn’t. Want to network and meet some creative like-minded folks? Casual monthly networking meetings for creatives of all stripes are held each month on the Thursday after the first friday of the month in Pittsfield, MA at Thistle and Mirth, 44 West Street commencing at a casual 5PM and casually proceeding until a casual ending. An accompanying facebook group called Arts in Conference has been set up to facilitate com-
munity communications. Oh, and don’t expect Mazzeo to be there leading a discussion. he doesn’t. You do. This is your thing. Come in to the venue. Meet some new folks. Talk about your project. listen to others talk about theirs. have fun. need a great eye-catching, affordable website with your own .com to professionally promote your talents and skills? Mazzeo can provide that as well. his client base is steadily growing from a solid high-profile base, which includes the Berkshire Art Association, Pittsfield-based artist Scott Taylor, emerging fine art photographer denise B. Chandler, theatre arts instructor and production coordinator deirdre flynn Sullivan, and several others from the creative community. Mazzeo’s design fee is modest and he provides the client with a neat, clean, affordable website that is attractive, concise, and easy to navigate. A relatively new feature of arts indie is the Artists directory. each artist has a page on the arts indie website that includes an image of their work, a biography/artist statement/curriculum vitae, or any combination of text that the artist prefers, and the artist’s contact information, which generally includes a phone number, e-mail address, and a link to the artist’s website. The image and accompanying text are also included in an album on the arts indie facebook page. The listing and processing fee to be a part of this directory is $25/year. Because of the extensive readership of the blog and solid facebook/Twitter traffic, the directory gets a great deal of notice. Artists interested in joining the directory may visit the website for more information and/or contact Mazzeo at info@artsindie.com. Though Mazzeo is the founder and primary organizing presence behind arts indie, he sees the project as an entity of the arts community and far from a one-person effort. each piece builds upon the other and in this project, the whole is absolutely greater than the sum of its parts. For more information on the project and to discuss joining the Artists Directory, working on website and graphics creation, the monthly Arts in Conference meetings, or contributing to working on the blog, please contact Leo Mazzeo at info@artsindie.com or visit the website at artsindie.com
The ArTful Mind MAY 2013 • 11
PArADisE city Arts fEstivAl
MAY 25 - 27 in nOrThAMPTOn, MA
northampton is a splendid day trip from the Berkshires, with its city pleasures and country charm. There’s no better time to visit than Memorial day Weekend, for the spring Paradise City Arts festival. it’s a world-class arts festival right in the cultural heart of new england. A carefully selected collection of 260 artists and fine craft makers descend upon four buildings and the grounds of the historic Three County fairgrounds for three days of astounding visual arts, scrumptious food, fabulous live music and great fun. “The food soars beyond expectations,” writes Boston Magazine. The festival dining Tent is a microcosm of northampton’s vibrant restaurant scene. The area’s best chefs love to try out their newest recipes at Paradise City, tempting your tastebuds with scrumptious offerings for every palate. On the Soundstage, enjoy the new england Swing & Soul Orchestra, world renowned jazz vocalist Giacomo Gates with the Green Street Trio, and on Memorial day the great saxophonist Charles neville returns, accompanied by vocalist, guitar, drums and keyboard. The theme of “Trash Talk” can be found throughout this spring’s show. it’s an opportunity for Paradise City’s artists to turn “trash” into “treasure” as they recycle, repurpose and transform found objects into remarkable art. Speaking of recycling, the international language institute of Massachusetts (ili) helps recent immigrants and refugees recycle their skills in this country and successfully integrate into the local community. This organization is the beneficiary of Paradise City’s Silent Art Auction this May. hundreds of beautiful works have been donated by the exhibiting artists, and 100% of the proceeds benefit ili. Paradise City Arts Festival - at Northampton’s 3 County Fairgrounds, 54 Old Ferry Road off Rt. 9. From the Mass Pike, take exit 4 to I-91 North to Exit 19. For complete show and travel information, and discount admission coupons, visit www.paradisecityarts.com or call 800-511-9725.
Arts Et inDustriE BirDs, BuGs & BotAny™
it was the Age of discovery & the era of enlightenment. exploration around the world in the 17th, 18th & 19th centuries fueled a fascination with Botany, natural history & flora. emissaries fanned out across the globe gathering specimens of exotic flowers & fauna to be catalogued by preeminent naturalists & bound into grand volumes. for these great books brilliant illustrations were drawn & carved into copper plates, hand-printed & individually colored by some of the most excellent artists of all time. These magnificent original prints will be the focus of Art et industrie’s spring exhibition at the Great Barrington Train Station, entitled BirdS, BuGS & BOTAnY™. featured will be selected works from some of the greatest Botanical illustrators of the Golden Age of Botany, including early hand-colored flower engravings by Sydenham edwards for Curtis’s Botanical Magazine from the 1780’s forward, Stipple-engravings By Pierre J.f. Turpin for Chaumeton’s 1815 flore Medicale, rare contemporaneous examples by ‘The raphael of flowers’ Pierre-Joseph redouté, spectacular hand-colored orchids by John nugent fitch for robert Warner’s 1882 The Orchid Album, lavish lithographs from van houtte’s mid-19th c. flore des Serres and others. Also featured will be select original J.J. Audubon handcolored bird-prints from his 1840 Octavo edition of The Birds of America together with full-size re-creations of the original havell engravings from the rare Amsterdam edition, as well as wonderful works from Shaw & nodder’s 17901814 naturalist’s Miscellany, stunning engravings of shells, incredible early renderings of butterflies, moths, bees & spiders. All these & many more will be presented together with a selection of fine reproductions on Greeting Cards, Giclees & scarves at our newest location next to the Farmer’s Market at the Old Great Barrington Train Station. Watch this space at the Old Great Barrington Train Station for our Spring, 2013 Opening.
sABinE Photo Art
A master of the subtleties of lighting and the nuance of background, sabine’s eye for detail provides imagery to be treasured for a lifetime. Assignments are tailored to meet her client’s needs- a remembrance for a special occasion or a logo image to create an authentic professional online presence. it is to no surprise that she is a sought-after published documentary and editorial photographer with the talent of both: interviewer, provoker and image-maker. The Artful Mind showcases sabine’s work since 1994, the very beginning of the monthly Berkshire Artzine. Still young at 20 something, sabine’s studio has become a brand for contemporary, unobtrusive, relaxed photography in the european style. did you have a “sabine” experience, yet? it might be the time for you. Photographic workshops are scheduled for this spring: viEW liGht With A criticAl EyE Set out on weekends to explore the beautiful country site of the Berkshires. in this workshop participants learn how natural light can create drama, suspense and fantasy. Zoom in on your fellow students and capture their expressions. designed for serious learners who are interested in improving their artistic eye. All participants are asked to bring a digital Slr camera and a laptop with software to present their images for edit and critique sessions. event dates: June 1/2, 2013.
Photo Art and Book signing by appointment “WOOdlAnd STYle” and “ Shell ChiC “, published by Storey Publishing, author Marlene h. Marshall, all photography by sabine can be purchased from your nearby book stores. Signed fine art prints are directly available through sabine’s studio. Sabine is a member of The American Society of Media Photographers asmp. The international Center of Photography iCP and the Wedding Photojournalist Association, WPJA. For more info please contact Sabine Vollmer von Falken Photography Studio www.sabinephotoart.com, info@sabinephotoart.com tel. 413-298-4933.
JAne feldMAn Family Portraits
PhOTOGrAPhY
12 • May2013 The ArTful Mind
WWW.JAnefeldMAn.COM
JAnefeldMAnPhOTO@GMAil.COM
Planet Waves May is characterized by eclipses, the last two in a series of three that began with a lunar eclipse in scorpio on April 25. Arriving twice a year, eclipse phases are times of rapid change and development. they can be evolutionary moments, and there can be a touch of unpredictability, chaos and the sense of fate operating. check in with yourself regularly about what you’re doing, why you’re doing it and what you really want to be doing. notice what is being said and what you’re experiencing in your relationships. consider whether desire levels are truly compatible between you and the person you’re with — and factor this same question into anyone you want to be with. for attraction to work, it must be mutual. if you’re feeling jealousy, that’s a good time to sort out the difference between love and attachment. it’s all the difference in the world.
Aries (March 20-April 19)
Most of how we experience life is dependent on one thing: how we feel about ourselves. This is often considered an emotional experience, and in the end it may be. But you’re now down to one option, which is to use logic. This will get you past any impulses and snap judgments that you may be experiencing, and into a frame of mind where you can ask yourself what’s true and what’s not. Make sure you ask yourself how you know what you think you know, which will help you avoid certain biases that all people have about themselves. There seems to be something about yourself that you’re trying to let go of, and something else that you want to embrace. remember that humans are creatures of habit, and what you emphasize (by any means, whether negative or positive reinforcement) is likely to increase.
taurus
(April 19-May 20) This month’s unusual solar eclipse in your birth sign marks a special point of progress in your relationship to yourself. Taurus is famous for its black-and-white vision — that is, a struggle in seeing the gray areas in focus, and also some challenges in holding two different possibilities open at the same time. That would include two potential versions of yourself, two sets of priorities and two different sets of responses to your life. This is not about having a split personality — it’s about having a dynamic personality, which can juggle your options and engage in a productive dialog with yourself. As part of that dialog, i suggest you think in terms of methods. When you think of a goal or something you want, sketch — in pencil, and in just a few steps — a potential plan to get there.
Gemini (May 20-June 21)
Many factors are influencing the sudden sensation that you’re a ‘new person’, factors that indicate this goes deeper than a feeling or a transient phase. All your inner workings, processes and challenges actually do add up to something, and when they do, you’re free to leave them behind. Perhaps core among these is your relationship with aggression, which might be something you’ve directed at yourself from time to time, a tendency to be competitive or an opinionated quality that exceeds the bounds of what’s useful in your relationships. This seems to be the thing that you can drop the most easily, in place of a way of experiencing life that’s based on empathy and understanding. You don’t need to agree with someone to appreciate their point of view. You have something to learn from everyone.
cancer
(June 21-July 22) You’re being called upon to take up a leadership role. You’ve probably had this idea a few times lately, but now the opportunities to put it into practice are presenting themselves. There’s a creative piece to this — whomever you may gather or influence, the purpose is not really social even if it takes place in a social
May 2013
environment. What you’re doing is helping focus human energy. That includes your own energy: one test of who to spend time with can include whether you find someone inspiring and supportive of your own creative aspirations and projects. This is a time in your life when focusing your talent is one of your highest priorities. in such a time, idle socialization can be a serious diversion. Therefore, as you meet people, check that your contact with them enhances your ability to do what you love.
leo
(July 22-Aug. 23) You’re in the position of visionary, and many people are counting on you. This has a few main elements. The most significant is about values; you’re the one setting the example for what is right and true. The second is strategy. You know that there must be a method, and that means taking conscious steps to doing things in a way that solves future problems rather than creates them. The third step is presentation. You’re in the perfect spot to have the ‘pulse on public opinion’, however you may define ‘the public’. You can intuitively offer a way to show-and-tell the thing that needs to be explained, in a truly appealing way. All of this is a formula for success, though i think it’s going to be a different formula and a different kind of success from what you’ve experienced before.
virgo
(Aug. 23-Sep. 22) Though you’re a mutable (easily changeable) sign, you may be figuring out the extent to which you have some fixed beliefs that are not helping you. it’s one thing to have values to guide your life. it’s another to live in rigid belief systems that make it difficult to adapt to the realities of existence on the planet. if you find yourself struggling with anything (such as sexual guilt, confusion about someone you desire, or acting in ways that are designed specifically to please others), i suggest you consider what fixed beliefs are influencing those experiences. Some old idea of what is supposed to be right and what is supposed to be wrong is simply not working. note, those ideas come from somewhere; you didn’t make them up. But whether you continue to carry (or drag) them around is another matter — a matter of choice.
libra
(Sep. 22-Oct. 23) What you’re going through is not as big of a deal as it seems. it would help considerably if you were less judgmental of yourself, which would help you be less judgmental of others. The whole judgment thing is indeed a vicious circle, and forgiveness has to enter the picture somewhere. Your chart suggests you’re playing the role of harsh parent to yourself more than the role of trusted friend. As the month develops you will have leverage points where you can make decisions concerning how you feel about yourself. These might seem to be emotional, though there is a logical access point. Asking yourself whether something makes sense is a good place to start. i don’t mean makes sense in terms of internal logic — i mean makes sense in terms of being happier or getting what you want from life.
scorpio
(Oct. 23-nov. 22) There’s plenty you can learn from the people you care about, and even from the people who annoy you the most. You’re being confronted with a diversity of situations that are challenging you to update your ideas about relating to others. You’re seeing the results of your old ideas, and you may be seeing past versions of yourself dramatized in the actions of others. Mainly, i think that your charts are pointing directly to the value of being flexible and able to negotiate, without being a pushover. negotiation is something that should produce a workable result for both people involved in the conversation. That starts with you knowing what works for you, and listening to what others say works for them, then exploring the common ground.
sagittarius
by Eric Francis
(nov. 22-dec. 22) One way or another, healing — or the need for healing — surfaces in every relationship. Maybe that’s because love brings up everything unlike itself. Maybe it’s because we carry around so many prejudices from our past relationships, and those obscure our view of who we’re actually with. i suggest you honor the healing aspect of your relationships though without putting that on a ‘higher’ plane than celebrating life. One of our biggest collective problems is pleasure anxiety (that is, tension, guilt or other issues around simply feeling good). in that regard, sincere, wholesome pleasure counts as a form of release from pain and anxiety. Yet along the way, there will be questions, some pain might arise, and in your chart, there’s the question of what to do along that borderline where passion meets anger. devote yourself to listening and you will have all the information — and the love — you need.
capricorn (dec. 22-Jan. 20)
You don’t need to feel awkward about your sexuality. i mean, you can if you want, but you’re attractive and you’re making an impression on people. That means they’re noticing you, though you may not feel okay about that. if there was ever a time in your life not to be a slave to your hangups, this is the time. if there was a moment to commit to your growth as a sexual being, you’re standing in it right now. Get used to the fact that to some extent, this is a deeply private experience that by definition others will be finding out about. You’re at the point where your prior personality structure cannot contain the growth or the energy that’s brimming out of you now. Get used to that fact and you’ll have a whole new way to feel good about who you are.
Aquarius
(Jan. 20-feb. 19) i trust that by now you’ve figured out that there’s no point resisting progress. You’re growing, you’re maturing, and you’re being called to bigger and better things than you may have ever dreamed possible. Yet this is not a fairytale; you’re living an actual journey of maturity, which has many elements. One of them is fully embracing adult responsibility. Another is hearing the call to leadership. Yet another is recognizing that time is finite, which is another way of saying that you must use time as your ally rather than treating it as an enemy. Time is a resource, and it’s one that you have the ability to use wisely. One way to avoid wasting time is to invest your energy in who and what is present in your life now, rather than obsessing over the past. The past leads nowhere; the present will lead you into the future.
Pisces
(feb. 19-March 20) This is a passionate season and it may be especially so for you. i suggest you put your heat and light into everything you’re doing, and be fully present in your own life and in the world. You’re radiating from the inside out, and you’ve surpassed the whole ‘invisible Pisces’ thing. You don’t have to concern yourself with what results you’re going to get. do what feels right; associate with the people who feel right; and make the changes you need to make along the way. i suggest you put lots of energy into communicating what you feel, including in conversations, in writing and in creative modes like music, photography and art. This is all leading to something, though i won’t predict what. i can tell you that there will be some exciting developments later in the month that will spring from the love that you pour into your life and the world right now. Listen to the Eric Francis podcast at PlanetWaves.fm
The ArTful Mind MAY 2013 • 13
has gifts and talents that seem out of step with his time but harken back to the wisdom of his ancestors. he feels out of place and frustrated until he is called upon to play a part in a journey that ultimately saves his world - a lunar system that orbits a strange man-made sphere. There are fantasy elements having to do with intuition and magic, space ships, and even a little timetravel involved. it has been a lot of fun to work on. Where do you plan on making it available to the public to read? Joel: i’ve envisioned it as a coffee table book complete with pull out maps and blue prints. The story takes place within a rich world and the creative exploration could be endless. i’d love to see that continue to unfold. have you done others like this before? Joel: no, this is my first book. i’ve done lots of sketches, drawings, storyboards, and paintings for others, but this is the first project that has come from me.
JoEl hAynEs
deCOrATiVe PAinTer & illuSTrATOr Interview by Harryet Candee
harryet candee: you have a great accent, southern is it? Joel Haynes: i grew up in Maryville, Tennessee, right outside of Knoxville, near the Smokey Mountains. i’d like to tell you i’m a “hillbilly”, but a real “hillbilly” would tell you otherwise.
i see. But you have been here for ten years. May i ask you what brought you and your family to the Berkshires? Joel: Originally we were attracted to the area because of the Great Barrington rudolph Steiner School for our daughter where her Waldorf teacher in florida had a connection, so it all lined up. We fell in love with how beautiful it is here, it reminds me of east Tennessee. i also thought the close proximity to new York City and Boston would be good for my artistic endeavors.
can you make a decent comparison between your lives down south to your new life in new England? Joel: in all honesty i can’t make a decent comparison... it’s all the same to me. i’ve had wonderful experiences here and in the South. i guess the main difference is - it gets really cold here in the winter. What do you find in the Berkshires that might baffle you about our lifestyle here as opposed to what you are accustomed to down south? Joel: Obviously the accents are different. i think maybe i’m strange to new englanders more than they are strange to me, but in all honesty i feel more at home and closer to my neighbors and community here than anywhere i’ve ever lived.
Do you eventually want to move back to the south? or, maybe somewhere far, far away, and exotic? Joel: i’d love to have a warm place to visit in the winter months. i think we all share the tropical paradise fantasy when it’s so cold. i love the hot, humid environment of the South, but if we ever move again it will be a major change - another new experience. how has your art developed and changed since your arrival here?
14 • May 2013 The ArTful Mind
Photography by Cassandra Sohn
Joel: living in the northeast has had a profound influence on my art—especially the changing of the seasons. The colors and landscape are constantly changing, and this is very inspiring. Also, in the South there was a lot of new construction. here, i’ve had more opportunities to work with clients refurbishing beautiful old homes. As a result, every project is really unique and gives me an opportunity to exercise more creativity.
lets discuss your most current creative art projects. i am referring to your illustrations for your book. What is it all about, and, how did you come up with the concept? Joel: right now i’m working on a Sci-fi Graphic novel. Sci-fi has captured my imagination since i was a kid. My brother was obsessed with Sci-fi novels, and we made a stop action movie together after we saw “2001 A Space Odyssey”. in the final film you see more of my hand in the shots than you do the spaceship, but we didn’t care... we were just having fun. We also tried to make a sci-fi comic book, but never finished it. ever since then, i’ve wanted to create something like this. i’ve always kept a sketchbook of ideas and sci-fi visions. A few years ago, i sent one of these drawings to my brother and he was inspired to start writing a story about what i had drawn. That was the beginning of what we are creating now. i say we because Jennifer has also played a giant role in the development and creation of the story. Without her ideas and writing, this project would be a coloring book. Wait, that is not a bad idea! What specific drawing skills do you use to create the storyboards? Joel: i started out using pencil and paper... the good old-fashioned way. i was trained as a traditional illustrator, and this will always be my favorite. however, i’ve also embraced the digital medium. i love how the traditional and digital can be combined—they work wonderfully together.
can you give me a synopsis of the story? Joel: it’s basically a hero’s journey about a young man growing up in a technologically advanced society with an ancient history. he
Did you have a specific inspiration, or mentor that led you to do this project, especially at this particular time? Joel: it has really been something i’ve wanted to do since i was a kid. i’ve been inspired my whole life by movies like Star Wars, Blade runner, and The lord of the rings. i’ve always drawn things from my imagination just for fun, but my brother set something in motion when he started writing a story to go with my drawing. it has evolved organically since then. the space we work in is so vital to the output and creativity of our art work. you must love your renovated barn space with all it’s light and room to move around in— even work on different projects simultaneously! Joel: i feel that my barn has been paramount in all of my activities as an artist. it is a great space to work in. i’m always weaving in elements of my surroundings into my work. i think all artists do that.
next to your barn is your home. i noticed how warm and appealing the inside is with all the artistic contributions put into it by you and your wife. i adore your hand-painted wall designing that you have done in the living room. tell me more about this kind of art that you do for a profession, as well as for yourself. Joel: decorative painting and design has been my primary outlet for creative expression for the past 20 years or so. As a result, i’ve traveled the world, been all over the country, and been exposed to all types of people and lifestyles while doing my decorative designing. i’ve done lots of hand-painted wall patterns over the years, but the one in my dining room is probably the most elaborate. it was a design inspired by a William Morris pattern that i adapted. it was an 8-step process that began with creating 2 hand-drawn templates for the pattern. i glazed the walls, transferred the pattern using the templates and an old-world process called ‘pouncing’. i handpainted the first design using the guidelines from the pounce and then added the second layer of the pattern the same way. in the end i added another glaze to the entire thing and put in subtle details to pull it all together. it took about 2 weeks to complete. illusionary painting, “trompe l’ oeil, is also something you have gotten into and have had some very successful commissioned projects. i love the added detail you did under each of your steps along your staircase. i thought for sure it was just woodcarving done on the original staircase until i touched it— then i realized it was your work! What was your most elaborate job like this that you completed? Joel: The most elaborate job i did was in florida, and if you can believe this... i can’t tell you. Some clients want to keep things they do personal, but the most exotic job i did was in Maui, hi. i had to live there for over a year and probably used every decorative art technique possible. if you’re ever at the Grand Wailea resort in Maui, you’ll see some of my handiwork.
Joel’s start-up page of his illustrated book
Where did you study, Joel? Joel: i studied drafting in high school - it was an introduction to an engineering curriculum. however, my interests ended up going in more of a fine art direction. i got a scholarship to the ringling School of Art and design in Sarasota, fl. i ended up majoring in illustration, but i have always used those drafting skills. This really helped me understand how things work, and i’ve always had a tendency to be technical with my drawing. i am constantly looking for the sweet spot between free-form drawing and technical academics.
What would be a good example to refer to when you explain this? Joel: i use drafting a lot when laying out large-scale designs for commercial projects and design comps in general. i have done a lot of work in architectural settings and very large scale. My drafting skills have helped me easily translate 3 dimensional space into 2 dimensional drawings. Describe your most playful art that you create? the easiest, breeziest and fun. Does it make money, too? Joel: i love drawing in general, so in a sense any time i’m sketching i’m having fun. lately, i’ve been working on a series of animal drawings that blend my realistic drawing style with a variety of colors. i’m calling them Animals Squared. They are simple square pieces, and i’m creating a whole cast of animal drawings. They will be available as prints on canvas. i will have them on my website very soon, but they will be available at Seeds in Great Barrington in the meantime. So far i’m getting great feedback on these, and i’m enjoying expanding the series.
how did this come up with Animals squared? Joel: for a long time, during my technical drafting days, every time i tried to draw an animal it would end up looking almost too technical (my wife would say... creepy). it really bugged me, so i set out to draw realistic but love-able drawings of animals. eventually, i ended up getting pretty good at it, and i even did some pet portraits. This series sort of bloomed out of that endeavor. i am curious, Joel, what did you enjoy doing most when you were a kid? Joel: Well, i’ve already mentioned the love of sci-fi... but music was and is a huge part of my life and family as well. My uncle, homer haynes, was a famous rhythm guitar player in the comedy duo homer and Jethro. he was pretty well known in the 1950’s and 60’s. They were known for their humor primarily, but they were very accomplished musicians as well... this had a pretty big impact
Inside Joel’s studio, Gt. Barrington, MA.
on my family. My father is also a talented musician. in his early years he was a trumpet player. he did the dance/big band scene in the Midwest and east coast during the 50’s and 60’s. he was friends with Chet Atkins and even had a date with June Carter when they were teenagers. his style is similar to harry James. he still teaches music in east Tennessee, and has extended his musical repertoire to include many other instruments (but the trumpet is still his favorite). so, you also play and teach the drums. What takes precedence now, music or art? Joel: Visual art is my primary form of expression, but i have a dream of landing a ginormous drum gig someday. i’m keeping my drum chops intact just in case. Teaching allows me to pass on the torch for the love of the drums, but on a conceptual level a drum-art installation would be very cool... i’ll keep you posted.
oh please do! how did you begin your interest with the drums? My brother and i both started out in elementary school playing trumpet, but by the time i was in high school i wanted to play the drums. My father told me i had to buy my own set if i wanted to play. i didn’t have the money at the time, so i put together my own drum kit using Coca Cola crates. My brother was in a band, and he let me set up my makeshift drums in the corner of their practice room. One of the other band members, larry Baldwin, noticed my kit. he said, “Anyone who wants to play drums that bad needs a drum set” and he loaned me one. All i did for the rest of my high school career was play drums and draw. Are you experienced with being in a band? Joel: A few years ago i really tried to do the band thing. Great fun, but difficult to balance the family, art business, and general responsibilities. if drumming were to be my primary interest, i would pursue opportunities to play with all the great musicians in the area. This town is loaded with talent. When i do give the gigging a run
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Below: Joel loves his hat collection, photo taken by Cassandra Sohn
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JoEl hAynEs
Joel’s Napa landscape
Digitalized Pig art/illustration by Joel Haynes
again, i will gravitate to the jazz fusion/funk side of things.
Good sound. Joel, answer me this: if i was to take my very first drum lesson with you—and i know nothing about drums, what would you be teaching at the first lesson? Joel: We would talk about the kind of music that inspires you whether it has drums or not. for example, i love Baroque chamber music, it inspires me to play drums! i want my students to have fun with this and playing music that they like is important. Then we would start hitting the drums and learning some basics and getting to know the instrument. One of the most important things i try to teach in the beginning is that it’s good to go slow and get it right rather than get fancy and learn it wrong. Students are usually surprised by how fast they progress by going slow.
Joel, are you a spiritual kind of person? What is it that you believe that helps you to understand how the world and universe work? Joel: The short answer to this question is: yes, i am a spiritual person. i think that ever since i was a child and realized that i could draw, this has been a way for me to understand and connect to the world around me. i was always attracted to drawing things realistically. i think in retrospect that i was looking for truth and authenticity, and my pursuit of art has definitely led to my growth as a person. Are you an ocean lover, or a lover of the mountains? Joel: i love where the ocean meets the mountains. Some of my favorite places are Carmel, CA; Kauai, hi; and Terramina, Sicily.
you mentioned Jennifer, your wife, also being into art. Do you support her in her creative endeavors? Joel: Jennifer is inspiring! i have watched her embrace and culti-
16 • May 2013 The ArTful Mind YAY! SPrinG!
One of Joel’s hand-painted and refurbished tables
vate her art ever since i have known her. her masters in art history are a great resource and her attention to detail keeps me on my toes. i have high expectations for her endeavors, and i am willing to do whatever i can to help her along the way.
is your daughter interested in art? Joel: isabel loves both visual art and theatre. She has been filling up sketchbooks this year, and i love what she has been creating. My best advice for anyone wanting to cultivate his or her artistic talent is draw, draw, and draw... isabel has been incredibly prolific this year and i’m seeing her unique style coming through. that’s great! ...What would be a sure-fit job you wish to have in the next five to ten years? Joel: decorative art will always be an outlet for my creative expression -it’s ever changing - a new place, a new face... it keeps me on the move. lately i’ve been focusing on my childhood dream of creating my own story and vision. i want to explore the sci-fi/fantasy art, and i feel it can be supported by the industries i’m already familiar with. i already have a dream job... i just need to make my own.
What are your thoughts on freelancing? Joel: i can’t think of any other way of working. i certainly will take on a project within a company structure, but being able to start and stop at any time, work in my own space, and structure the project to fit my own personality and temperament is really special. There are plenty of brilliant artists who can work within structured boundaries, but i love knowing that i can change direction at any time... even if i don’t do it. What are your present goals and challenges? Joel: My biggest goal is to have the graphic novel up and running.
This is the outlet that encompasses all the elements of visual art that i possess. regarding my family... we’d all love to do more traveling, and i would like to continue working while doing so. Creating while on the move sounds like something i would love to do. To be honest, i would like work and play to be the same thing. Maybe it already is. Are you open to having new clients in the Berkshires? i think many people would love to commission you to work on their furniture and walls. Joel: My doors are always open to new clients. This is one of the most important parts of my business. even when i have lots of projects going on, i always make time to meet new people.
how is the development of your website coming along? can we visit? Joel: You can see a good sampling of my decorative art at hYPerlinK “http://www.joelhaynesart.com” www.joelhaynesart.com i’ve started a blog featuring my conceptual sci-fi work. You can check that out at conceptualjoel.tumblr.com Joel, please tell me, what makes you always have such a cheery attitude? What’s your secret? Joel: i have always been light hearted and looking for the bright side. laughter, compliments, playfulness, and shared experiences enlighten and inspire me. We all as humans have to face diversity sometime, but i choose to be happy and look for the best in people. One happy human being has a profound affect on all of us. Thank you Joel! Joel Haynes can be reached at 413-214-5884: His Decorative & Fine-Art web-site includes all is drawings, paintings, faux finishes and murals to view: www.joelhaynesart.com
Architecture & fiction stephen Gerard Dietemann
the rental Apartment (I will digress for a month with one of my short stories based, in part, on houses I have owned in the past)
february first was unusually warm the year the new tenants, Brenda and Sam, moved into the apartment. Colin had constructed the single bedroom apartment from the combined space of his wife’s old studio and the garage. Starting in november on one of the coldest days he could ever recall, the work had taken three full months of evenings and weekends. despite his lack of real construction experience and the uncharacteristically cold winter weather work had gone surprisingly well. he had expected his wife to resist when he suggested constructing the apartment; after all she had practically lived in the studio the first few years after they were married. even as recently as last summer she had worked out there from time to time but all she said was, “let me get all my stuff out before you get started.” Several stretched canvases and a few tubes of oil paints were still there when he started work and she had not bothered to ask him where he put them. in fact, she said nothing at all about the construction until he told her one evening at dinner that he was almost done. “We could use the money, i guess,” she said as she cleared the table. As far as he knew, she had never gone into the new apartment. Brenda and Sam moved in the same day they signed the lease. Colin puttered about the yard as they worked, watching them from the corner of his eye, but always careful to make certain they wouldn’t notice that he was watching. A few boxes, a table, a large wrought iron bed, a small dresser, a night stand, two lamps and a guitar. Brenda was, he guessed, about twenty-five and although young enough to be his daughter, he had to admit that he found her quite attractive. Sam was about the same age, tall and thin to the point of skinny, and he smiled a lot. They both laughed often, although the source of their amusement was almost always a mystery to Colin. The apartment was small but the tenants seemed pleased with it. Sometimes at night after his wife had fallen asleep Colin heard them moving around the new apartment, separated only by a few
inches of gypsum board and two-by- four’s. he heard their muffled laughter often; sometimes, he suspected, the cause was a little too much wine. Other times he imagined them lying in bed and looking out the large windows in the bedroom. Perhaps they were watching the moonrise over the creek separating the house from the vast farm fields beyond. Colin closed his eyes and tried hard to remember how the creek looked from the bedroom in the apartment. no clear image came to mind and he wished he had taken a few moments to check out the view during construction. it wasn’t until the tenants had lived in the apartment for a few months, and the late May weather was now indistinguishable from summer that he realized his wife shared his interested in the tenants. Several times he found her lingering in their small dining room after she had cleared the table. A thin plaster wall separated their dining room from the apartment’s kitchen. it was the only place in the house you could hear the tenants talking clearly, and he himself had listened to them occasionally. Once, returning unexpectedly to the dining room, his wife stood near the wall, clearly listening. Seeing him she blushed, then mumbled something about how they really should paint the dining room as soon as possible. Other times he saw her watching them as they planted a vegetable garden in the rear yard below the willow tree, the section of the yard with good sun where they had requested permission to plant a vegetable garden. in truth he found his wife’s shared interest in the tenants pleasing, glad they shared this at least. Still, in early July, when he finally asked her about it, she was clearly flustered and then blurted out, “Well it’s just that they are always so busy, those two.” A moment of uneasy silence followed, neither of them knowing what to say next. Then, unexpectedly, they both laughed. She smiled at him and he felt as if she had just returned from a long voyage. now, their shared secret out in the open, they talked together often about the tenants. “There seems to be no end to their activities,” his wife said to him one morning as they watched the young couple load a green canoe on top of their jeep. Then, as they drove off, his wife looked at him and said, “You know, Colin, we should rent a canoe this summer. After all, why should they
have all the fun? i bet it’s been almost fifteen years since we went out together in a canoe.” he was happy because he had been thinking the same thing for a while now. “Perhaps we could even rent,” she continued, “a room at the resort on lake George. Perhaps even the one we rented for a weekend twenty-five years ago, just after we were married.” “Twenty-eight years ago, actually,” he accidentally said out loud as he completed the calculations in his head. She looked up at him quizzically, but when he started to explain that they had actually gone there early in their courtship, several years before they were married, she just smiled and returned to her toast. he liked her smile. “Yes,” he said, “we should.” he recalled the sense of weightlessness he felt canoeing on the shallow creeks connecting the clear Adirondack lakes with her and how she’d turn and laugh at something along the shore, her ornate scarf and designer sunglasses so alien in that world of log cabins, moose and white pines. “it says here that August is supposed to be a warm, dry month this year,” he noted, tilting the paper toward her so she could see. She didn’t try to read where he was pointing but she smiled again. Autumn arrived like an ambush. from their den they watched the tenants strap bicycles to the back of the jeep. “Those are mountain bikes,” he told his wife, trying to be helpful. he suspected she didn’t know much about things like mountain bikes. “They can go just about anywhere, i understand.” She said, “That reminds me. i’ve got to call that resort on lake George,” as she cleared the plates from the table. When the tenants gave their notice shortly after the start of the new year, Colin placed an ad in the local paper describing an available apartment with extraordinarily beautiful views of the adjacent creek and the fields beyond. end
Stephen Dietemann is a musician, writer and architect living and working at 42 Hillside Avenue in Great Barrington. He can be reached at 413.644.9147 or at : sgddesign@gmail.com
Simply Sasha
springtime salmon and salad sides!
by Sasha Seymour
happy spring to all you Art lovers! i wanted to begin this season with a recipe made for two because after all, love is in the air! this recipe is simple to prepare but oh, how decadent it is! this is a main course meal, so if you’d like some greens to go with it you can refer back to the April 2013 issue of the Artful Mind, (the one with sally-Jane heit on the cover) and try simply sasha’s kale salad recipe! serving kale salad, salmon and new potatoes will impress even the most discriminating taste buds! Enjoy! Peace and Joy to you!
re!! s he i g n Spri ing Yay e do b l l ews I wi revi t n a aur in rest ting star e! r e he Jun
3/4 pounds New Potatoes (purple potatoes also work!) salt and pepper 1/2 cup Sour cream 1 Tbsp fresh Lemon juice 1 small Fennel bulb, sliced thin 2 6-ounce Salmon fillets, skins removed 1 1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard Chopped fresh Dill 6 Cherry Tomatoes, quartered
1. heat broiler. Place potatoes in a pot and bring to a boil. 2. reduce heat to a simmer, and sprinkle salt and pepper on them. 3. After they have cooked for 15 minutes, drain and run under cold water, and cut them into quarters. 4. Meanwhile, combine sour cream, 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp salt, and a dash of pepper in a bowl, and add the potatoes and the fennel. 5. Place the Salmon on a foil lined baking sheet. Combine the mustard and the remaining lemon juice and spread over the salmon. 6. Broil the salmon for about 6 to 8 minutes, depending on its thickness, until it is the same color throughout. 7. divide the salmon on two plates and sprinkle them with dill, and you are done! The ArTful Mind
MAY 2013 • 17
Artist
yoM tov BluMEnthAl
Interview by Harryet Candee
Photo above of Elinor and Yom Tov by Jane Feldman
Harryet Candee: Where are you right now, yom tov? Yom Tov: i am sitting in my Gallery in Safed, israel. right now, it is very quiet which is very unusual. normally i hear children playing outside, tourists stopping to see my art, horns from automobiles and buses. tell me what is life in israel like? Yom Tov: i love israel…..it’s like an aged wine. Quite the opposite of the uS…..a glass of Cool Aid. My imagination is over the top with fantasy. i’m not sure why, but it balances me out! for me, israel is the closest thing to reality. it’s rich with history and life!
Who are you as a person? i do know you were born in 1974. Yom Tov: i am Yom Tov. i live in israel with my wife….i have my own Gallery, i sell my art, i practice my religion to the best of my ability and i struggle every day to stay mentally healthy. i am an artist with a very outgoing personality. i love to be around people and talk about my art and my journey. Most people i meet love to listen to my story.
how does yoM tov, which means good day in hebrew reflect on your life and it’s meaning? Yom Tov: i had very few “good days” until i moved to israel after finding out my hebrew name. My life has changed tremendously because of it. 18 • May 2013 The ArTful Mind
zelinor, by Elinor Blumenthal What inspired you to get more involved in the practice of Judiasm? Yom Tov: My three cousins, brothers, took me for a Shabbot dinner at one of their friend’s home. At the time, they were just becoming “religious” and they wanted me to see what an orthodox Shabbos looked like. i was moved and very inspired to learn more about my religion. Today, all three cousins are Orthodox rabbis, two of which live in Jerusalem.
yom tov, tell me, what is the relationship between Judiasm and art for you? Yom Tov: There is not much of a relationship between my art and Judiasm. Art is the output and Judiasm is the input.
yom tov, do you consider yourself to be a surrealist painter? Yom Tov: i paint what i see. i don’t pick it apart. i have one particular style where i will take two complete polar opposites and put them together. look carefully at my work and you will see exactly what i mean. My painting “deep Sea divers” is an example of that. i painted it for my mother. She had asked me to paint something that would reflect the outdoors. She specifically asked for trees, water, etc. That gave me the perfect opening to put the deep sea divers coming out of a lake. “As high As A Giraffe” had orange cubes that have absolutely no meaning to anything in the painting….it’s just what i see. One of the signs on my gallery says “Weapons and Puppies”. underneath that it says “free Money!” i guess you can say that my “out of order” paintings reflect the way in which my mind jumps around. each painting is a flash of images and you would see in a dream….only i’m not dreaming, i’m living it.
What is your connection with Good Purpose Gallery in lee, MA., and how did you get to have a one-man show there this past winter? Yom Tov: My mother is a special education teacher/advocate and worked for the public school system in florida for over 28 years. Although she did spend time in a classroom teaching kids with emotional handicaps and learning disabilities, most of her work was helping parents and schools deal with special needs kids. As i have been diagnosed with learning disabilities my mother had a great connection with the Good Purpose Gallery. how do you put art into perspective as far as how your growing years were concerned? Yom Tov: My art has helped me “survive”….. i did a lot of drawing while sitting in class being absolutely bored.
how do you balance the birth of a piece, the completion of it, and with the days when you felt the destruction of a body of work was the only solution and answer to your existence? Yom Tov: i’ll never forget the art i destroyed. destroying my work was not a “solution” for anything! The work i create now is very different from the work i destroyed. My art today is a reflection of who i am today.
What have been your life long struggles, and how has art been a help toward illumination, or enlightment? Yom Tov: My dream is to be recognized as a fine artist. That said, i only want to be successful so that i can take care of myself, my wife, and one day, my children. My mind is very complicated. i don’t really have a personal connection to my art. it’s simply a means to an end. i believe that with success i will be “sane”. What was life like for you when you were about five years old? Do you have brothers and sisters? Where did you live? Describe your bedroom. Yom Tov: i have 2 younger sisters, lauren and Samantha. i was always closest to lauren as we are only 2 years apart. Sam was born when i was 11. We lived in Boca raton, florida in a large
Yom Tov, Void Solutions
Yom Tov, Pulsation Station Yom Tov, Chill Simple
home. Outside my bedroom window was a very big tree… ..that’s an entire different story. One day i’ll tell you.
By some chance, were you into science fiction when you were say, in high school, or a little before? Yom Tov: i read Zolidian and Blumentoons! i am interested in people’s dreams. Would you mind telling us about yours? Yom Tov: That’s impossible to share.
yom tov, what is in your life that you love and are deeply connected to? Yom Tov: … The most important and deepest love in my life is my wife elinor. She loves and understands me and helps to keep me focused. She is also my closest connection to Gd. She encourages me to study Torah and believe in myself. She is my greatest gift! What are your favorite foods to eat? Yom Tov: My favorite restaurant is houstons but needless to say i can’t eat there anymore.My wife is an amazing cook so what ever she makes i eat. Do you like to travel? Yom Tov: i don’t like to travel.
What true words of wisdom can you tell us that describes life in general? Yom Tov: Believe.
Do you miss the united states? Why might you miss it other than for your wonderful parents who live in the Berkshires. Yom Tov: i miss the physical “easiness”. Most of all, i miss disney World.
you make art for a reason. A reason that feeds you life. What would it be like for you if you did not have art as an outlet? What else would you be doing? Yom Tov: i wouldn’t be … Thank you, Yom Tov and Elinor! G You can find out more about Yom Tov and Elinor Blumenthal by visiting The Good Purpose Gallery in Lee, MA. Also, visit his fun website at: YOMTOV.com Yom Tov and Elinor live in Safed, Israel, Artist Colony in the Old City ... tempting to visit.
Looking forward to a more in-depth interview the next time you’re in the Berkshires. G
The ArTful Mind MAY 2013 • 19
childhood of the Art historian From
“no cure for the Medieval Mind” PArT i
by richard Britell
Buboni’s childhood: in grade school they would line us up and take us to the school doctor who examined us one at a time, as we stood in a long line in our underwear. each child presented his naked chest to the doctor’s stethoscope. he listened for a brief moment and then waved them off and gestured for the next child to come up. When it was my turn i presented myself to the doctor’s stethoscope. instead of listening for just a second, as with the other boys, he would furrow up his brow, listen intently and then ask, “have you ever had rheumatic fever?” When i said no the doctor would say something like, “odd,” and mark down something on my chart. This was an annual experience along with vision and hearing tests, all of which made me frantically anxious. We were sent for an unusual examination to be tested to see if we were colorblind. We entered a small room where there was a doctor sitting at a table. We looked at several cards on which
20 • May 2013 The ArTful Mind
were multicolored patterns. in these patterns of colored shapes one could see letters and numbers indistinctly. My color blindness test went well but the doctor made me do it over several times. finally he exclaimed, “i have never seen anything like this, you have the finest color acuity i have ever seen.” There was no talk of rheumatic fever, or anything like that, just finest acuity. finally there was something about myself that was different in a good way. This, i thought, was the key to my personality and my future. My identity must be somehow intertwined with looking at various colors, but what sort of job that was i had no idea. You would think that i would have hit upon the idea of being an artist, if i had remarkable color acuity, but there you are totally wrong. i did not come from the sort of family in which the idea of being an artist, or a writer, or a musician ever came up, and if it did it would have been greeted with derision. no, the Great depression was not a time that made parents long for their children to become poets, composers and painters. My mother was the secretary to the vice-principal in charge of discipline at the high school and so all day long she had to tell students to “Sit over there,” while they waited to be disciplined by Mr. Bell. her view of the world was very restricted and consisted of an image of a troupe of boys on their way to perdition. her only hope was that my brother and i would make it through high school and get a good job working at the Grand union supermarket. My mother was aware that there were other jobs than working in the supermarket, but hers was a world of class divisions, and the jobs the college kids got were for the rich who, she said, “talked with a hot potato in their mouth.” if my poor mother could have known how i would turn out she would be very confused; there is hardly a thing i have said or done in my adult life that would have made any sense to her. My father was no help either because he died just a year before i discovered my color acuity. his death was sudden and happened while he was working, running one of those huge linotype machines in a printing plant setting type in lead. My mother always said, “lucky thing he died when he did, it was a Godsend.” But why she said that i will tell you at some other time. right now i want to tell you about my color acuity. i could think of no occupation that would use my color acuity but i decided to work on my special talent by creating a color collection. i collected paint color samples from the paint store, and put them into pages in a scrapbook. i added various shades of the same colors as a collage, cut out from the pages of magazines. if the colors had names i tried to memorize them, and if not i would come up with my own names like “lavender mist,” or “sepia serenade.” Then, as luck would have it, our long-suffering art teacher decided to give us a homework assignment. She was not content to just pass out the crayon boxes and ask us to
make a design on manila paper while the classroom descended into pandemonium and she sat at her desk reading a book. She wanted us to do a book report on a famous artist. But i hated our art teacher and i had no intention of reading a book on an artist. i decided to create my own book, and i thought up the title right away, it was going to be called, “101 Shades Of red.” My book would be great and sell thousands of copies. The first line was, “There are a great many various shades of red.” People would not be able to put down a book like that. during the time i worked on my book about the color red i had an experience that showed me just how important my color acuity was. i saw a boy steal a pocketbook from an old woman. The police asked me for a description of the thief, and invited me to ride in the police car to try and identify the suspect. i said to the policeman, “The boy is blond, and he is wearing a black and chartreuse hunting jacket.” “Whatszat?” the policeman asked. “You know,” i replied, “light green tending toward yellow.” The policeman got on his intercom and said, “Be on the lookout for a boy in a green jacket.” Green jacket? Was the policeman an idiot? Was he deaf? i had said a chartreuse and black checked hunting jacket, and he reported a green jacket. Then i had a revelation, i had color acuity, and probably the policeman did not have color acuity, this was an example of the serious importance of my unique skill. realizing the policeman probably did not have color acuity was a great revelation to me, but it raised very serious problems for my childish mind. i realized that there is never a way to know just what another person sees when they are seeing red! And if you describe a color with words, you may satisfy yourself that your description has meaning, but you can never have any idea what is in someone else’s mind. in my book on the color red i tried to explain this problem of not knowing what someone else sees when they say that are seeing the color red. it was a hard idea to explain back when i was in grade school, but i gave it a try. i expected to flunk my book report, because i wrote a book instead of reading one, but my art teacher gave me an A+. My art teacher was very impressed with my color acuity, but she did not think i could ever be an artist, saying, “Albert, you draw like a 6-year-old, but your skill with color could be very useful if you decided to be an art critic, or perhaps an art historian.” -richard Britell
Part II - To be continued in the next issue