Ed Winkleman - Apprenticeships

I also forgot to mention that Ed Winkleman recently posted about apprenticeships here and started an interesting conversation on his blog. This was of course really interesting to me since a lot of what he and others started talking about, about the needs of artists early in their careers, were things I am hoping to address by being a studio assistant, and in a way, sort of an apprentice.

Studio work

This month has been busy, with little time in my studio. I have been working in a studio, though, just not my own. About a month ago I emailed Paul Klein, who I had met at an event at the Hyde Park Art Center, to ask for some assistance. He had generously let me know back when I met him that if I ever had any questions or needed help, I could ask him. So I did. The idea had recently sprung into my head, or maybe rather just came finally came together in an articulate thought, that I could gain a lot from being a studio assistant to a successful artist. I don't really know any successful artists, so that's always been the problem.

I emailed Paul and told him what I was interested in. Specifically I told him that I was looking for a successful painter that I could assist. In exchange for my assistance, I would like to learn from someone who has survived as a painter and had a successful career that I could learn from. He connected me with Wesley Kimler, a painter here in Chicago that has been a significant part of the Chicago art scene as well as having a successful career in painting for many years. Wesley and I talked on the phone and arranged for me to start the following week.

So now, twice a week, I help Wesley out in his studio- cleaning, straightening, preparing canvases and we also talk quite a bit about art, painting, and stories about the Chicago art scene.

So far I think we've been able to help each other out- me helping keep his studio in order and he providing insights that he's learned over years of experience as an artist. I'm hoping also to meet people in the art community here as well. It's been difficult or me to find a place that I "fit in" so far with the various cliques that I've been introduced here in the art scene. I haven't found terribly many people interested in developing more of an artistic network and community. I'm hoping that through Wesley, who is known for not accepting any BS and making it a priority to be in the presence of people with integrity, I can meet some artists and creative people that are perhaps can become part of a community for me.

So, from my show to becoming a studio assistant, my time has been getting used up pretty quickly and I'm making more of a point to get some focused time to work.

TO DO:
Finalize images for Will and Matt commission
Study on paper- oil
Work on Scott piece
Check deadlines for submissions
Update website

PLAYLIST:
Sheryl Crow
Tom Waits
Tom Yorke
My Morning Jacket
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Stan Getz

Pictures from Fermilab

My solo exhibition "I live in a duplex." opened on March 10, 2010 at the Fermilab Art Gallery in Batavia. Here are some pictures from Fermilab before and during the reception. It was a great opening- thank you to everyone who came and saw the show! It will be up through May 4, 2010 so there are many opportunities to check it out.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the big day: the opening of my show at Fermilab Art Gallery. My parents are flying in to Chicago today from San Diego to enjoy some of the cooler weather and attend my talk and opening. I am really excited about my talk as I always love the opportunity to talk with people about my work. It's a great opportunity for me to hear how people are responding to the work and what it makes them think about. It's interesting and also helps me to understand how people look at what I'm doing. I think it will be mostly scientists from Fermilab that will be there so I'm sure they will have their own unique perspective that may be different from an artist's.

The details once again:

Wednesday March 10, 2010
Artist Talk: 11:30-12:30pm in the gallery
Reception: 5-7pm in the gallery,

Show runs March 10 - May 4, 2010.

Fermilab Art Gallery website here.

Hauling Art

Early Monday morning, I picked up my U-haul rental to load up my paintings and bring the to Fermilab. I had them all wrapped in plastic and blankets and ready to go out the door...and down the stairs....and around the turn in the stairs...down more stairs and then out to the truck. It's that middle part about the stairs that I always forget how difficult it is to maneuver eight foot paintings around.

Here's a shot of my work getting safely strapped down in the back of the truck. I know it doesn't look like a lot, but there were 21 paintings in the truck. Yes- it was cold.