Art and the Nude

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
For the past two years on my New Year’s Eve blog entry, I have shared more erotic art than I usually dish up for you. In the line of thinking similar to that of those living in Pompeii centuries ago, it was my way of wishing you a sensuous, joyful, lush, and prosperous new year.

However, this year I have not had the time to create something along this vein. Sad, really since I believe that art is the safe place in which we can explore all aspects of our humanity. That said, I still want to wish you a thoughtful abundance for the coming year. I hope that you can become more spontaneous (I linked this word because many people misuse it) and express yourself more often.

I recently wrote a little bit about my holiday with friends on Captiva Island, Florida. I stayed in artist Robert Rauschenberg’s former beach house there, owned by his collaborating partner and long-time friend, Darryl Pottorf. In entering the place, I found myself intrigued by a composition in red, black, browns, and white. I had this strange urge to photograph myself nude in front of it. This does not really belong on my “erotic art” posting because I do not know how to explain that I was not thinking sexual thoughts when this idea came to mind. Maybe more like “Nature Girl,” I dunno. That night, I did pose for my timer, but fully clothed, boots and all…

One evening, Darryl walked me over to the painting before we headed back to his place for dinner with more friends. He explained most of the objects or shapes in the composition. This was a painting about Robert Rauschenberg (Bob) and Darryl. Darryl’s art is very personal. It made me wonder if I should lose the thought of taking nude shots with this beautifully sentimental work of art. But the idea persisted and I did not believe that I was thinking anything disrespectful. So one night towards the end of my visit, I woke up just before 3 a.m. and went to work, careful not to disturb the other occupant in the house. I was back in bed by 4 a.m. I hope you enjoy this image, but more: I wish you truly beautiful experiences from each day forward.

Links to the other New Year’s Eve posts:
• New Year’s Eve 2010: “Anthurium”
  
• New Year’s Eve 2009: “Tesoro!”
  

Robert Rauschenberg Darryl Pottorf artist

Cari Amici (dear friends),

I have been sleeping in Robert Rauschenberg’s former bedroom on Captiva Island, Florida, since Sunday night. Even better: I wake to the art of Darryl Pottorf. I wrote about Darryl when I visited him at his solo exhibition titled Links at Brenau University in October 2010. I had met Darryl and his partner Mark in Florence, Italy, in June 2010 with my friends Johnny and Simon on Via Calimala where Johnny and I created large pastel and chalk street paintings. We all clicked right away and have been friends ever since.

I wanted to share with you Darryl’s art because in truth, I had never seen anything like it before and did not know what to make of it. Sometimes I just did not get it. But when I asked Mark if I had permission to write about how I have been “converted” and share images of the beach house that Simon and I are staying in now, Mark responded that it was little surprise that I would be drawn to Darryl’s work since Darryl had been classically trained. Ah, so yes, a possible connection! Darryl Pottorf is wonderful with composition and it is the mathematics of good design that draws me in, for starters. Many times in the past, I have made the point to many emerging artists that classical training teaches you not only nature’s proportions, which sit well with our brains, but also improves the communication between your eye, your brain, and your hands. You will gain the skills to create a mark you intended, not just happen into (all “happy accidents” aside). Then you can make any style of art you wish and communicate skillfully with a visual and tactile language.

Also, there is no substitute for seeing art in a livable space. There is an amazingly enticing large red, black, and brown composition featured on the main floor of Robert Rauschenberg’s former beach house (Bob died on May 12, 2008). One evening Darryl explained to me that this work is all about Darryl and Bob. These two artists were close friends and collaborators for over 25 years. Each part of the composition refers to some memory that Darryl shared with Bob. While I was drawn to the work as I entered the room, learning about the symbolism in the shapes and objects makes it all the more enchanting. For example, the clock on the upper left is set to the exact time that Robert Rauschenberg died. The huge black circle of lace behind the bicycle is from Venice – a personal memory of the two artists who appreciated the handiwork from Italy during their many visits there.
I do not know if I will ever attach large physical objects into my own created wall art as Darryl sometimes does, but I must say that living with this art is so much easier and joyful than I ever imagined. And as I discover more and more of Darryl’s art (we will be working in his studio today), I find myself enjoying the tactile qualities of his various textures and colors and movement.
I hope you enjoy this little peek into another world. I must get back to the beach now . . . what a vacation Darryl and Mark have made possible for me!

Darryl Pottorf Links Art Exhibit

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

My life in Florence, Italy, always seems surreal to me. I am not sure why. It is just on such a different wavelength than my life in America. Of course, I tend to be a bit reclusive when I am working in Texas, not living so close to a city. In Florence, it seems sometimes that the most unusual and interesting people pass by and sometimes engage with me, especially when I am streetpainting on Via Calimala.

So, one night there about midnight last June, a couple of my colleagues and I met renowned artist Darryl Pottorf and Mark Pace. Darryl said that he was just cruisin’ along and saw the streetart, which stopped him in his tracks and he went back to get Mark and show him. My friends and I spent almost every evening hanging out and drinking with these guys during the rest of their Florentine stay. Darryl is quite the animated storyteller – and he has so many stories to tell!

I am currently in North Carolina on a trip that mixes business with family visits. My brother Steve and I recently delivered to a new client (but seasoned art collector) my bronze and stone sculpture “Against the Dying of the Light.”.

I was able to time this adventure so that I could stop by Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia, to attend the art reception for my new friend Darryl’s exhibit titled “Links.”

Darryl’s strength lies in his compositions. He has the ability to take objects and images and arrange them in such a way as to delight the eye and give a sense of order, as well as creating confusion or mystery simultaneously. Darryl spoke about the importance of the circle in his work. He likes the connectivity of it and this shape seems to give him comfort. [I found that interesting as well since I see the world in triangles, although I know that in at least one of my artist statements, I mention that if you were to take an equilateral triangle and spin it from its center, you would see a circle.]





I feel a bit … something … sharing this next with you, but it does prove how generous a person and artist that Darryl Pottorf truly is. I sat on the carpeted floor of the gallery somewhat close to Darryl so that I could get some good photos of him during his speech without blocking the view of those behind me. Darryl had been speaking about his work and his long-time collaboration with Robert Rauschenberg, even sharing some stories about what he did with his dear friend Bob’s ashes.

Imagine my shock and surprise when Darryl looked down at me and pointed me out to everyone as he retold the story about meeting my colleague Johnny McGrogan, Simon Steele, and me on the streets of Firenze. And he said -- I kid you not -- that if there were an exhibit in the next room of our works, no one would come over to see his! [This was videotaped by the university, in case you think I am exaggerating.]

Seriously, I felt the blood rushing to my face and humbled beyond words. At dinner later, I thanked Darryl for being way too generous and teased him that he was not such a good businessman because an artist should not belittle himself and speak of other artists at his own show. Darryl tilted his head a bit confused, paused, and then laughed at said that “I cannot think of a better time to do it!” I thanked him, perhaps too often. But seriously, that was pretty amazing.


My favorite piece in the show was a dark one. I show it here – the composition with the spider on the figure’s head. Darryl said that when he is angry, he makes his darkest (but still good) pieces; however, if he writes on the art the name of the person who enticed his anger, he will not exhibit the work. Haha. The spider was one of his angry works -- and an interesting composition of found objects, charcoal, and other materials.


This last image was taken of me with Mark and Darryl at a nearby restaurant, 2 Dogs, after the reception. I feel very fortunate to have met such cool people who understand art and the art business way better than I and who are pretty down-to-Earth about it all.

Click on the highlighted words here to learn more about Darryl Pottorf and his current exhibit “Links” (going on through 21 November 2010).

If you would like to see more of my images of Darryl’s show, check out my Facebook Album (not sure if you must “befriend” me first or not …)