A Favorite Book, "CVJ: Nicknames of Maite D's and Other Excerpts from Life" by Julian Schnabel, 1987

This book is FUNNY!  Julian Schnabel's early autobiography is full of laughs:  his conversations with art critic, Clement Greenburg are hysterical; his comments during a Q&A concerning 3rd generation Abstract Expressionist, Jules Olitsky, late night sessions in the studio and the beginning of the famed plate paintings are surprising and delightful.

Young Schnabel's surfing experience in Texas re-surfaces in the seemingly non sequitur imagery of his early movie, "Basquiat".  Seen through the perspective of his own personal history, footage of the surfer depicts the stages of his friend Jean-Michel Basquiat's career in a touching and chilling manner:  dropping into a great breaking wave...later riding it, then wiping out, and finally  late in the movie the empty waves roll in....

Richly illustrated with the good, the bad and ugly it is also a fun read, being blog-like in its brevity and humor.

This is "Portrait of God" by Julian Schnabel, oil and wax on tarpaulin, 9' x 12', 1981 from the series, "Mutant King Paintings", one of my favorites from the book.  It's just so weird...I never noticed, but it looks like a cross image at the bottom of the left hand figure....

I bought this book second hand in Washington, DC in 1988 for $20.   Amazon wouldn't let me write a review so I thought I'd put it up on jamesthatcherarts.   It makes me miss the '80's. 

Taking It When It Happens

I come home after dark from fishing, clean my catch and then it hits me: 
 
The painting that I’ve been chipping away at doesn’t need the whites re-worked; the darks need to be pushed!  It’s already 10:30 pm, but it was clear what to do and how to do it.  Into the night I pressed.

It was nothing heated, nothing spontaneous (except the vision while cleaning fish), and nothing passionate (except seizing the moment); just working the darks.  This brought definition to the image and broadened the tonal range.

Then I re-worked the whites.

I was in bed by 1:30 am and pleased.  Feeling like an artist again—not because of the hour (well, maybe...), not because of the results (possibly...) but because of seeing what to do and doing it.  I love having a studio at home because you don’t know when art is going to strike.

This morning I studiously avoided looking at last night’s work as I turned on the lights and straightened up.  Then…

 

YES!  It isn’t done, but it’s so much cleaner.  The next few steps are set, again clarifying the whites (bottom left corner)—who knows from there?



A Little Background

This painting is on top of a canvas from 1980--you can see some of the original painting in the right breast area (an eye).  In 1998 I took primer over the background to block out the figure, and rendered the dress in furnace cement. 

15 years later I added the border--while repainting the white last night, I noticed how good the blue painters tape looked with the warm palette.  I imagine using blue oil pastels to draw that line around the border.

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Salisbury, MD Arts and Entertainment District Endorses My Campaign!

Please Donate Today  http://www.usaprojects.org/project/new_vision_heron_mural

Stories from the New Vision Heron Mural

Story #1:     I’ve known this guy since we were teenagers.  He respected and supported me as an artist, even back in the late ‘70’s!  We’ve been Facebook friends for some time and when the New Vision Heron Mural project went live on USA Projects he really wasn’t in position to make a donation. 

And yet he did. 

He waited until the project reached 5% funding and when the USA Projects Open Match Fund began matching donations dollar-for-dollar he pulled the trigger.  He doubled his contribution.

This small donation, done cleverly, has been the most touching contribution of my campaign because of my old friend’s personal situation.  It didn’t stop him from continuing to support me and I so appreciate it!

Through this I personally understand Luke 21: 1-4!

 

 

 

  Story #2:     Family matters brought us all together last week as I continued to administer The New Vision Heron Mural throughout the visit.  This involved so much writing:  a midpoint report, Facebook links and rounds of emails!

On his final evening, my oldest brother mentioned that he had received my emails and that he would make a contribution.  We hugged and I told him how much it meant to me—I hadn’t mentioned anything directly to him, because of his strong political beliefs about government funding of arts.

The following day as we drove to the airport I talked about all the different aspects of a micro-philanthropy project, how much work it was to simply be listed with USA Projects and that feeling of accomplishment, only to realize that now the funds needed to be raised!  This is not for the lazy or faint of heart! 

A couple of days later my brother made a solid donation that sent the project over the 45% funded mark!

But the “Priceless” moment is when you realize that what you think is possible has changed.  It takes consistent and concentrated effort, and follow-through.  It requires success minded thinking through every conversation and the weeks of lulls.  It takes work and faith.

 

Again, I want to thank everyone who has donated to The New Heron Mural Project!  Your support is inspiring me to do my very best to see this aspect of the project through to its successful end, and to create a beautiful work of art.

Time is running out and there is still a long way to go!  Please donate to my project http://www.usaprojects.org/project/new_vision_heron_mural

 Contact me if you have any questions!

 

 

 

 

Midpoint Report for the New Vision Heron Mural Project

 

Three weeks remain in the New Vision Heron Mural project’s fundraiser on the USA Projects micro-philanthropy website.  It’s a process of ebb and flow, sometimes up to a week passes with no donations, and then a flurry of activity as updates and various appeals register. 

As of this writing, we have nearly $2,500 in donations and are over 40% funded!  I love these numbers and, believe me, when notices of new contributions come through it is THRILLING!  While not precisely at the halfway level of funding, we are within striking distance; and with half the time left to raise the funds I remain confident!

$5,800 must be raised by midnight, July 31^st.  Crowd funding and micro-philanthropy both work on the same “all or nothing” model where all funds need to be raised for the artist to receive any of the monies.  Your contributions are all extremely important to the success of this project!

Thank you so much to those of you who have already followed through on your desire to give!  I also want to thank those of you who have made the commitment in your heart to give and have contacted me with your pledge!  The finish line is in sight and your donations are absolutely necessary to meet this project’s goals!

I spoke with Max Verbits, an old friend and arts proponent in Salisbury, MD a short time ago.  He spoke of the city needing “Gateway Markers” and how this project spoke directly to that need, identifying the downtown area. 

Max also pointed out the significance of waterfowl (and so public waterfowl imagery) to the entire area.  Waterfowl symbolize the area culturally, historically and environmentally; and the mural’s location in Salisbury, MD, is PERFECT!  Salisbury is perched in the middle of the Atlantic Flyway—the main North-South thoroughfare for migrating birds, east of the Mississippi River!

And finally on a personal note, this week my father has died.  After 13 years of Alzheimer’s disease he departed this life…it has brought home the feelings and image of the original heron mural in ways that I had forgotten.  To be revisiting this image at this time is amazing and heart rending as that first mural was created in the wake of my first wife’s death (breast cancer).

 

As I have been regarding the heron mural, I do not see a symbol of death but an image of spirit:  bold, poised for departure; I also see it depicting those who are Strong but tested, and standing ready.  These are fine associations for a public work and for this town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

If you have not already joined this project with a contribution, please visit the project page and consider becoming part of this New Vision.

 http://www.usaprojects.org/project/new_vision_heron_mural

 

Solo Exhibit in Albany, NY

“The Pump Collection:  21^st Century” and

Selections from the “Barnwood Quilt”

The Rugged and the Fabulous

James Thatcher, of Cobleskill, NY will be displaying rugged constructions and colorful paintings at the Alacrity Frame Workshop and Gallery, 215 Lark Street in downtown Albany, NY.  The exhibit opens Friday evening, July 5^th as part of Albany’s “First Friday” arts and culture event, and will continue to Tuesday, July 30^th, 2013.

Mr. Thatcher moved to upstate New York from North Carolina in 2011.  His art career spans over three decades, with solo exhibits in many galleries and regional art centers including the Washington Project for the Arts in Washington, DC.  His work has been featured in numerous group shows including the Corcoran Museum of Art in Washington, DC, the Devos Art Museum in Marquette, MI, and the Budapest Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest, Hungary.

 Mr. Thatcher has also manufactured and marketed high end furniture in Washington, DC and has his woodwork in prestigious collections worldwide, including those of news personality Paula Zahn, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and late Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping, among many others.

The paintings at Alacrity Frame Workshop and Gallery draw from Thatcher’s experience as a graffiti artist.  He spread his iconic symbol of “A Classic Evening Pump” throughout Washington, DC in the early 80’s. 

 

 

Revisiting the subject matter 30 years later on a more domestic scale  (11” x 14” framed), Thatcher uses spray paint on primed paper, rendering various styles of fashionable and fabulous footwear.

 

 

“The Barnwood Quilt” is an ongoing series of constructions made from weathered wood.  Thatcher assembles a central square and then frames it in longer strips of the rustic material.  The seams of all the mitered corners line up when multiple squares are mounted together, creating lines that span entire walls from piece to piece. 

 

 

“These two series are visually very different, but are symbolic of male and female,” Thatcher said.  “Tension and drama exist in their coming together.”  He continued, “The social metaphor of this display is a newly discovered surprise; but these two groups of work share a formal interest in materials and processes”

James Thatcher graduated from the Corcoran College of Art and Design, Washington, DC in 1984; beginning his post-secondary education at the Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH.

New Vision for Salisbury, MD!

I just learned today that my proposal for “The New Vision Heron Mural” for Salisbury, MD was accepted by United States Artist Projects for display on their website, www.usaprojects.org!  The painting (12' high x 30' tall) will require a minimum of $5,800 dollars to produce; and this means that I have the opportunity to receive funding pledges; not just in the area where the mural is located, but with web-wide exposure for the project.  It's an opportunity for individuals to personally donate any amount from $1 up to $10,000!

Below is the first version of the New Vision, which was submitted for consideration to the Salisbury, MD Downtown Historic District during their May meeting.  At that meeting, Ms. Lee Whaley, Co-Founder of the Salisbury Arts and Entertainment District initiative, reported to me “Our presentation on the mural was positively received by all attending the hearing. Those in the audience liked the design and vibrant new colors….”

 

 

"After some discussion, the (conservative) historic commission voted favorably but they felt the colors were “too trendy and not in sync with the surrounding properties.” They voted to accept a configuration of the four herons.…”  Ms. Whaley continued, ”They are asking that the colors be limited to blue and green, the thought being that while we are located in an emerging urban city with a new, lively arts focus, they would like to see the mural reflect the colors of nature – the blue heron, sky, adjacent Wicomico River and city green space.

That is a great rationale for a color scheme!  I dove right in and worked through several iterations, and submitted this as a final draft: 

 

NICE!!!

 

Ms. Whaley and I discussed some funding options and I took a little tour online for "Funding Art Projects" which led me to USA Projects.  The site made it all sound so easy!  I started to create my proposal--all went well, except that I had to make a promotional video for the project!  Never did anything like that before!  I free-styled it, as you can tell; but just began speaking about the various aspects of the project...tough at first, but after about ten takes, I had the first 15 seconds figured out!  On to the next aspects of the proposal until, a couple hours later...:

 

 

 

So, HERE WE GO!  This promises to be an interesting process--it already is!  Stay tuned for updates, you can click "Follow" on the New Vision Heron Mural project page:  http://www.usaprojects.org/project/new_vision_heron_mural

 

Take note of the perks available for certain levels of contribution, from custom note cards, process artworks and limited edition postage stamps reminiscent of the classic "Duck Stamp"!  Fun stuff for your personal collection, and very unique!

 

You can also follow me on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/james.thatcher.1291