Myra Clark + Art @myraclark - Tumblr Blog

April 1 - May 28

Blackfish Gallery and the Newport Art Center present

“Creative Diversity Abides”

A group show of the Blackfish artist collective

Runyan Gallery, Newport Visual Arts Center, Newport OR

777 NW Beach Drive, Nye Beach, Newport

#newportartcenter #oregonartist #portlandartist #oregoncoast #artcollector

Our Lady of Sorrows

I’m taking what I’ve learned in my iconography classes and applying it to a picture of my mother. She has told me many stories about her childhood as her cognitive functions have started to decline, and I have been full of sadness at the challenges and hardships of her life. Yet, through all of that, I feel the beauty and wisdom of her aging. Here, she holds a little white dog that she still misses. I had thought the dog was a figment of her imagination, then I found a photo of her and the dog from 1992! I have merged that photo with a recent one taken as we went for a walk with her in her wheelchair. The flowers are plumenaria, representing the time she lived in Hawaii and was the full time caregiver for her husband, who had Alzheimers.

Three day life drawing marathon (like an ant)

It takes years to draw like an ant, having first tried out the idea in 2009. Last weekend, I was dimly aware that I had gained (at least in the moment) a mindless attentiveness that allowed me to meander around the drawing and take it all in while putting it all back out there. It was also an absolute head twister to utilize mark making as a vocabulary tool while hanging on by my fingernails to making the drawing itself. The experience reminded me of learning to write an essay or a poem, and since I have learned how to write, I know that I can progress even more with drawing. It’s never a done deal.

In a nutshell: the three-day life drawing marathon with Fran O’Neill was nerve wracking, challenging, agonizing and sublime.

Hope springs!

Hoping that drawing for three days (not 3 hours) on the walls (not on easels), with charcoal (big drawings, not little) with two models (not 1) from 9-5 (not from 9-noon) will help balance out all those Chocolate Easter Eggs!! Fran, you have your work cut out for you! (Register on this website to work w Fran O’Neill for 3 days of intensive drawing . #franoneill #drawingtutorial #drawingcourse #drawingintensive #drawng#pdxart #theweeknd #contemporaryart

TicToc

Immerse, refresh, take time, reinvigorate, up your game with other artists who are insane (and wise?) enough to give a weekend to sharpening their skills in the company of others. Register today! On this website! The drawing action starts this Thursday, April 26 and continues for three days, 9-5, East Creative Collective at 211 E Madison, Portland, Oregon. And yes, the amazing Fran O’Neill is our instructor. Her abstract work is phenomenal, but drawings fabulous. www.franoneill.com.

Re-purposed

Feeling refreshed by my studio time today. The only thing was, I needed to regrind my ochre pigment - it was full of lumps (aka rocks in the lingo) and simply wouldn’t disolve in the egg temper, mixing so poorly that I couldn’t get close to the needed skin tones for the icon on which I am working. Very cleverly – imo but not exactly my husband’s! – I repurposed our small kitchen mortar and pestle to get the job done. Regrinding was just the ticket (thank you, Fr. Jon!), and things are going much better.

I have assured my husband that I would get a new m&p for the kitchen immediately. As I read on FB lately, artists aren’t messy, they just have all these ideas lying around. And in my case, nothing is safe from carrying out those ideas! Whoohooo!

Calling all Maniac Artists!

You know who you are - you are one of the ones that can't help making art and who are always pushing themselves1 Let yourself go for three days with other serious maniac artists - what could be better? Go to http://myra-clark.squarespace.com/…/3-day-drawing-intensive… for more information and to register.

Jenny Saville + Rembrandt

Here’s a review of the J. S. Show at the Modern I in Edinburgh. It captures what I found to be the sensibility of the contemporary group show I saw there. Saville is new for me - I was stunned. When her figures became too disturbing to look at (happened quite soon), I would begin examining her marks in paint and charcoal Instead. They were disturbing too. I couldn’t get away from these monumentally scaled, nude women. Their very flesh, so malleable and yet so solid were hard to remain with, but so compelling you had to stay. Her work will stay w me a long time.

i also saw an amazing Rembrandt show the same day. I was especially gathered into his ink drawings. I’m inviting him into my studio and drawing immediately. I’m just on my phone so will post more notes later.

www. scotsman.com

Kelvingrove

Tuesday: Kelvingrove Art Museum and Gallery in Glasgow. Loved it - focused on Scottish art and artists, and it was a great intro. I only have my phone, and dang it! Cannot figure out how to get a photo in here! Hopefully there will be photos soon!

Tons

I have three shows in July! I hope to see you at one or all of them.

June 30 - August 11

Verum Ultimum

5th Annual Living Mark Exhibit

An international open juried call

Opening June 30, 6-8

My piece "Pussy Got Pisssed" has been included in this exhibit, and was chosen for the cover of the show's catalog! (sumi ink, small orange latex gloves, staples on wood; 24"x24")

July 5 - 28

Gallery 114, Thurs - Sun, noon-6

Dwelling in Possibility

Annual member exhibit

Opening July 5th, 6-9 p.m.

My piece "Tangle" will be in the show (ink on paper, 36" x 50")

July 8 - September 9

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, NW 19th and NW Everett

Mary Magdalene Re-Imagined

Juried group show

Opening and artist panel, July 8th

My installation piece, "Mary's Tangle," is part of this exhibit. Once again, I am using eggs, a pedestal, and a mandorla (an almond-shaped nimbus, usually used to indicate the glory of a saint) to nudge the viewer into thinking about what we actually know about Mary Magdalene through scripture. (Hint: scholarship does not support stories that she was poor or of a disreputable reputation).

Finale

Responses to the show:

I had middle and high schoolers at the gallery last Friday evening, and they talked about the fragility of sanctuary, and how the only true sanctuary is in the heart. (Oh, Children). Another student, from PNCA and on a different day, took note of my "interesting use of idolatry" at one point. I have to admit that caught me by surprise, and the ensuing discussion was super interesting and great. Love students!

This last Saturday, a woman started crying when she reached the chairs ("Playtime"). She has a 14 year old son she is trying to keep in school and wonders how she can keep working on this when schools are no longer sanctuaries for children.

Several other people found the chairs ("Playtime") most disturbing. One person noted that in his tradition a rock would symbolize returning to the earth. Another said that in her Jewish tradition a rock was placed on a grave for remembrance. Another said it was hard not to think of the rocks as weapons given the shell casings of the other two pieces.

"Empty Shells" has been one of the most engaging for people I have talked with. Many also like looking through the speakeasy door in "Narrow Door," like the embroidery a great deal and have a hard time with the nimbus. I feel in good company, as the piece keeps going in and out of focus for me at many levels, and the metaphors have become increasingly nuanced.

The theme of sanctuary is timely, evocative and provocative. It has become it's own exhibit; while I am the artist, the exhibit has it's own life and identity. I hope you can come and experience it.

From the Corner of Your Eye

There is something foundational about making these papers. I use words or phrases and ink, writing them over and over again, this time with different colors (although Sumi ink is always a given). My mind is free to meditate on the words, wander over other thoughts. I have been listening to Russian liturgical music again - I was introduced to this 41 years ago when I was first married and in NYC, as that was all my husband had in his collection - along with Gregorian chant, classical music, and opera. For a blues, rock and roll and jazz listener, this was a real switch. I grew to love all of it. This is from the St. Vladimir's Seminary Choir, "The Great and Holy Saturday." The phrase is "For as many have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ, unto the ages of ages, amen, alleluia." Who knows why this came up as the one to do, but it is a way to be mindful, playful, and doing something post-show - for which I am grateful. Easing back in, a process that reminds me of looking at a star that you can't see except from the corner of your eye.

Finis (or not?)

Farewell to my installations ("Narrow Door," "Playtime" and "Empty Shells"), as well as Lauren Carrera's wonderful creation "The Revelation: Everything That Rises Must Converge." Sigh - everything has now come down from the exhibit. Yes, it may re-emerge at other sites, but at Gallery 114 it had its own site specific identity. Once work is installed, it becomes its own thing, it goes its own way, never to be the same again if there is change in site, situation or context.

I focused on the tension in sanctuary. In response, people brought me stories, metaphors, memories, pain and joys of their own. It meant a great deal to me that there was such a deep exchange between the gift of art that I was giving (or the gift of being a channel for these creations), and the reflection, remembering and for some, healing that came up. There was the experience of disruption and also the possibility of regeneration. Truly, the space became sacred. I was very honored, and deeply moved throughout the time of this show.

Clark & Carrera Artist Reception Thursday, February 22, 4-6pm at Gallery 114

The give and take with visitors during the Sanctuary show and what we have shared with each other has been an enormous gift. Rarely have I experienced such revelations from those who have come to see my work.

Please come by for a glass of wine and some chocolate tomorrow (Thursday) with Lauren Carrera and myself from 4p.mm -6p.m. at Gallery 114 (1100 NW Glisan). We will be there to informally talk about our work with you and to answer any questions. Appreciations if you can help spread the word as well.

Sanctuary Events

Gallery 114 • 1100 NW Glisan, Portland, OR. 97209 • 503-243-3356 http://www.gallery114pdx.com/ • Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 12-6pm or by appointment

Thursday, February 1, 6-9 p.m.

Opening Reception Thursday, February 1, 6-9 p.m.

February 3, Saturday, 4-5 p.m.

Featuring a short screening of clips from her award winning documentary “Finding Bosnia,” Ivana Horvat explores how different her childhood would have been had she and her family not left war-torn Sarajevo. This interactive presentation will prompt consideration of war and identity as it explores the questions it raises about the notion of sanctuary.

February 11, Sunday, 1-2 p.m.

Variations on themes of sanctuary and revelation in poetry and prose: Readings by writers Liz Harlan-Ferlo, Brian Manning, Jane Salisbury, Deborah Schauffler, Robin Schauffler, and Peter Young.

February 22, Thursday, 4-6 p.m.

An informal meet and greet with artists Myra Clark and Lauren Carrera. Refreshments served.

A New and Wonderful Home

During a colleague's show at Gallery 114 (the collective of which I am a part) there were several people considering purchasing her paintings. One couple also asked me if I had anything they could see, so I brought up a piece on my computer, and also emailed some other images. Last night, I took the piece they were interested in over to their house and we looked at frames and placement of the art. They loved it, put a deposit down on the work and I'm going ahead with the framing for them. It was the first time I have been asked to visit someone's home and to be part of all the decisions about framing and placement. I felt so honored, and so happy with the process.

I think that's how it's done, how a gallery makes things happen. So very pleased to be part of Gallery 114.

Cheers,

Myra

Hats!

December 6, 2017

Here's a shout-out to my mom, who at 88 years old has spent the past year knitting hats for community members to receive in December. These are people who come to the Friday Night Dinner that Grace Memorial hosts every week; many people who come are without housing and living outside. Community members all receive holiday gift bags during December with basic items like hats, gloves, scarves, toothpaste, etc. Warm hats make a big difference - it is really getting cold out. My mom has done this for the past three years.

Choosing the yarn, the patterns and the style - even the size. This is her creativity and art. I am so proud that she continues to use her gifts and skills to make a difference.

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