Artist Passion :: Mia Tavonatti

Fresh from her big win at at ArtPrize, 2011 — First Prize for her 9′ x 13′ stained glass mosaic, CRUCIFIXION — artist, MiaTavonatti has launched a new project that will be taking off soon after the first of the Year – 2012.

Power of Words Project is a national mural project launching in Laguna Beach, California that honors the power of one-word mantras that can unite communities.This is how excited Mia is about her new project ::

Mia Tavonatti -- Healing the Wall before Commencement of the Power of Words Mural Project

I assisted her last week in filming her project promo and could see she was well on her way to grounding her vision in reality – and her team has already set things in motion. The premise is simple. Words are powerful. And when a community engages to nominate, vote and amplify one word that holds the promise of their collective future – magic happens.

If you had the power to choose one word that defined the vision you hold for the future of your community, what would it be?

In 4 days – from the writing of this post  — count-down here — nomination and voting begins in the City of Laguna Beach, California. Once the word is chosen, a mural will be designed and executed by artists and students – led by Mia, with the purpose of uniting the community around this Word.

While the Power of Words Mural is being executed in Laguna Beach, Mia’s team will be reaching out to other communities across the nation. With Mia’s over-arching message in tact — Art Unites and UpLifts.

The Power of Words Project will be partially funded by Mia Tavonatti’s non-profit, The Svelata Foundation for the Arts, as well as through funds raised by individual participating communities.

This is a collaborative effort depending upon who wants to partner with The Power of Words Project to enliven and unite their community. There will be a lot of this ::

A lot of this ... Synchronicity

Which will generate a lot of this ::

Creating Meaningful Experiences Together

To participate – connect – follow progress of, etc … link The Power of Words Project and sign into the mailing list.

Enjoy and Keep on Creating ~

Stacey C.

Subtle Communication of an Artist :: Mark Rothko

I came across this quote and it hit me right through the heart of memory ~~

“I’m not an abstractionist. I’m not interested in the relationship of color or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on.”  ~~ Mark Rothko

I remember, way back in the day, sitting in my modern art history class and learning for the first time about abstract art and color field expert ~ Mark Rothko. I was instantly taken by his work even though I was sitting in the back of the class trying to find a place for my eyes to land on the Rothko image floating upon the antiquated projection screen. Despite the delivery, it was obvious the image was a transcendent work of art and a subtle yet powerful communication of artistic intent.

Image of Rothko's color field painting that became known as his signature 'multiform" works

He was one of the few artists whose work I deeply and instantly resonated with – beyond words. In that moment, this neophyte art history student “got it” without realizing it. It was my professor’s feedback to my inquiry that let me know Rothko’s communication was received by me through time, space and projected image.

It is academia that analyzes, parses, contextualizes, categorizes into ~isms, and attempts to put into words what most artists simply attempt to convey through their chosen mode of communication – in this case – color, a brush and canvas. Somehow, if we can break it down, and concretize the work, it gives it more gravitas and context. Coming to these works later in his career means Rothko progressed through his earlier experimentation and evolution of his craft from figurative – mythological subjects, to abstract, to the influence of his surrealist beginnings. He did not like to be classified as an abstract expressionist, but instead identified more with religion, emotion, and social issues.

After posting the above quote to my facebook page, I received a very soul-ful interaction from a fellow Rothko enthusiast ~

“While true I’m sure, he masterfully used color, form and luminous underpainting which emitted light from within the canvas. Thus, he created temples for his soul from his soul.”                                                                                                                                           ~~Ken Guglielmo

And I added, for our souls ~~  because sometimes amidst the rush of academic opinion and opining, it is good to remember that many artists paint for the sake of communicating, soul to soul for whomever has “eyes to see.”  The above quote is telling … Rothko was not interested in analysis and intellectualism. He had honed the intention of his craft to pure human expression and a subtle form of communication – that which can only be grasped through emotion, through the senses, and that out-of-mind place that simply “is.”

At the end of the day, most artists I speak with simply want to connect and communicate with you through their chosen medium ~ so truly, keep finding artist whose work speaks to you ~ and connect with them.

You can read more about Rothko at The Art Story.

Enjoy

Artist as Innovator

This is a super-WOW  TED talk by artist Shea Humbrey! In this video :: “How I Became 100 Artists,” Shea describes how he staged his version of a Biennale featuring 100 individual artists from around the world, each with unique bios, aesthetics, processes and techniques.

Shea Hembrey’s inspiration to create 100 Artists quite simply because he became uninspired by all that he saw at the Venice Biennale during a visit.

In art, Hembrey looks for what he calls the 3-H’s :: Head, Heart, Hand. Does it peak an intellectual curiosity? Is it created with obvious passion? Is it greatly crafted work? Personally, I always seek this kind of resonance with art and often leave galleries and exhibitions on the nonplussed side. If I can sense the artist’s craftsmanship in a visceral way,  if the artist’s passion exudes from the artwork, if the artwork sparks my intellectual curiosity, then I’m engaged. Usually just one of the H’s will peak my interest, but all three is an alchemical experience.

I recently heard quoted 19th century philosopher and essayist John Ruskin, that speaks to this very issue:

“Fine Art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart (of man) go together.”

Enjoy this Inspiring TED Talk by artist Shea Hembrey and let me know what you think!

Art and People and Artist

I always say “art is good” news. When your message is art, it makes people feel good, attracts crowds, creates curiosity, inspires, and  connects people more meaningfully to one another – at best.

Artist, Dave Zaboski ~ recently participated in the Live Painting exhibition at the 2011 Lightening in a Bottle Festival and has this time-lapsed video of the new and gorgeous Temple Dancer to show for it.

I love the power of the archetypal image of artist at canvas as the center of the universe, while people enter, linger and exit ~ thereby creating a uniquely layered human-art experience. The alchemical combination of art and people and artist is transformative and is of high service to the human experience – even in its profound simplicity.

The artist who has surrendered to his or her calling with an awareness of their place among humanity exudes a palpable generosity that uplifts those who enter their sphere. Thanks Dave!

You can see more of Dave Zaboski’s work (he is an accomplished artist, teacher, illustrator and graphic artist) at The Divine Line.

The time for something extraordinary is now. The time for us to stop hiding our magnificence is now. Its time to live into what you came here for. This moment we share, me through writing this, through the images on this site, and you wherever you are now reading these words, seeing these images, truly is all we have. Let it in. Again and again. ~ Dave Zaboski

Enjoy This and Be Inspired!

!Women Art Revolution

I came across this movie review in the New York Times about the Women Art Revolution by Lynn Hershman Leeson and it looks like all kinds of fun. It depicts the burgeoning creative force of the of the early feminist art movement featuring our classic trail blazers – Judy Chicago – Miriam Schapiro – Betye Saar – to name just a few.

The !W.A.R. documentary is opening this week in New York – screening schedule here plus more about the evolution of this documentary. Can’t wait to catch it in Los Angeles this month!

Over time, the tenacity and courage of these pioneering women artists resulted in what many historians now feel is the most significant art movement of the late 20th century.