Memory and Present Tense

If you click on the file below you'll experience a more recent draft of "Starry Night," a video short I've been working on this summer. Please feel free to send comments. I'll be tweaking it over the weekend. The drum riffs were created by a friend from BGSU the versatile Louis Simon and the french conversation is a from a collection of language CD's I've assembled over the years with the goal of improving my French. Some version of Starry Night will be on view with dozens of other video and light inspired art on September 5 at 1708 Gallery's 30th Anniversary celebration InLight on Broad St.

ps wow. its amazing... the unexpected things that happen when a file is compressed! What an excellent test and evidence that I have much more work to do.... one aspect that changes drastically is the sound mix. The vocals are much more prominent afterwards. I suspect this is something I have limited control over in iMovie 5.0.2.

music to dance to

Marionette is heading in to the studio again for the next several months with a new member: Tom Brickman. Tom has been a member of some of my favorite local bands - The Ululating Mummies when they once filled the stage at the FLOOD ZONE and the more intimate Broken Hips, to name a few. I am thrilled he'll be with one of our new fave bands, Marionette.

To celebrate their new venture Marionette is performing a free show this Thursday at 9pm at Toad's Place on the Canal Walk. The Try Hard Spring Band will also be performing - described as " a hot jazz trio with members of SPECIAL ED AND THE SHORT BUS. Think Django Rienhardt, Swing Kids, or a Woody Allen Movie with just strings."

Portraits: More Than Just a Pretty Face

"la femme Sage" portrait of Jackie Wall 2007
Amie Oliver mixed media on birch panel 20" x 20 x 1"

excerpted from VCU press release:

"Portrait Exhibition Challenges Preconceptions"

The VCUarts Anderson Gallery, Virginia Commonwealth University’s Museum of the Arts, is pleased to announce its Summer 2008 Exhibition, Portraits: More Than Just a Pretty Face, on view June 20th through August 2nd, 2008.

This thought-provoking exhibition examines how portraits—be they artworks or everyday objects—use specific visual codes to assert individual identities, cultural norms, social roles and relationships between the person portrayed and viewers. It includes artworks in a range of media and dating from various time periods, including contemporary works by internationally renowned artists Cindy Sherman and Chuck Close, celebrated regional artists Thomas A. Daniel and Theresa Pollak, and emerging artists Timothy Rusterholz and Chinonyeelu Amobi. Many of the works have been lent by private collectors, artists, or fine arts galleries and are displayed alongside works from the Anderson Gallery permanent collection. A complete check list of the artists included in the exhibition is posted below.

Such things as baseball cards, currency, and mug shots are also presented to demonstrate that “portrait codes” are used not only by artists but also by marketing professionals, bureaucratic institutions, and anyone who has taken a snapshot of friends, families, or even pets. The salient questions that are posed in the exhibition— “How does the portrait employ or manipulate visual codes; to what end? What statement does it make about the person portrayed and who’s interest does it serve?”—draw from ongoing research by Dr. Eric Garberson, Associate Professor in the VCUarts Department of Art History. They explore the history of ideas surrounding the production and reception of portraits.

The idea for the show, curated by students enrolled in the Spring 2008 VCU graduate-level Museum Studies class, began with an intellectual challenge with which museum professionals grapple: How can academic research be displayed in an accessible yet appropriately sophisticated manner? Scholars are constantly developing new theories that change the way we think about art history,” said Samantha Best, one of the student curators for the show.

“Unfortunately, these cutting-edge theories often remain in academia without being concurrently presented to the public through exhibitions. With our show, we hope to bridge the gap between contemporary art historical research and museum practice." VCUarts’ Museum Studies program prepares students to enter the museum profession with sound foundations of critical awareness and practical knowledge. From a curriculum of readings and exercises designed to challenge the student's preconceived notions of the museum's function and role in society, students emerge with a clear understanding of current museological issues. Coursework fosters creative strategizing and critical thinking skills to meet the challenges of today's museum profession. Additionally, students gain practical experience through museum internships and projects such as Portraits: More Than Just a Pretty Face, which benefits from the ongoing support of Anderson Gallery.

“We are excited to have students use our collection to explore new curatorial ideas. The collection is a vital educational resource for VCU as well as for other museums and art institutions,” explains Amy Moorefield, Assistant Director and Curator of Collections of the VCUarts Anderson Gallery. The VCUarts Anderson Gallery is free and open to the public. Its summe hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 1- 5 pm. For more information about this exhibition or the Gallery, please call 804-828-1522, or visit our website at: www.vcu.edu/arts/gallery.


CONTACT: Anne Atkinson Blend Phone: 804-828-1845 E-mail: aratkinson@vcu.edu

Artist Unknown
Chinonueelu Uchechi Amobi
Deborah ArnettRobert Arneson
Matt Ballard
Bill Bamberger
I. Beckett
P.J. Beneduce
Edouard Boubat
Felix Henri Bracquemond
Chelsea Butrum
Chan Chow
Larry Clark
Chuck Close
Douglas Colie
Sandra Cornejo
Thomas A. Daniel
Diana M. Davis
DC Comics
Robert Doisneau
Elliot Erwitt
David Freed
Joan Gaustad
Nan Goldin
Sydney Goodman
Nancy Grossman
Richard Hamilton and Paul McCartney
Alex Harris
Cate Henry
Leslie Herman
Jonathan Hirsch
Mary Holland
Jerome Hopfer
Bradley W. Johnson
Buffie Johnson
Marion Junkin
John Kelly
Erika Koch
Jeff Lassahn
John Lennon
Micah Lexier
Adrien Lommelin
George Platt Lynes
Martson Hill Editions
Olan Mills
Layne Montgomery
Yasumasa Morimura
Robert Nantueil
Carla Nelms
William Old
Amie Oliver
G.S. Ovenden
Asam Parker
Marjorie Perrin
Photographer Unknown
Jack Pierson
N. Pitau
Theresa Pollak
Paul Pontius
Ruth Clide Proffitt
J, Protas
Larry Rivers
Alex Ritchie
Katie Robinson
Timothy D. Rusterholz
Alyssa C. Salomon
Jennifer Shephard
Cindy Sherman
Hunt Slonem
Pat Steir
David Tanner
Andre Thomkins
Dennis WInston
David Wurtzel


Please check back later for additional links.

Side Streets opens tonite at the Glave Kocen Gallery

The new Glave Kocen Gallery is featuring a new exhibition of Richmond Artists, sponsored by Richmond Magazine. SIDE STREETS opens Friday, November 16 at 7pm and it features the work of the artists listed below:

Mehmet Sahin Altug,
Andras Bality,
Melissa Burgess,
Adam Ewing,
Kimberly Frost,
Steve Hedberg,
Sterling Hundley,
Matt Lively,
Laura Loe,
Robert Meganck,
Amie Oliver,
Jay Paul,
Louis Poole,
Keith Ramsey,
Fiona Ross,
Jeff Saxman,
Gordon Stettinius,
Chris Smith,
Doug Thompson,
Ed Trask,
Sarah Walor,
Steven Walker,
Robert Young

A portion of the proceeds of this exhibition will benefit ART 180.

ALSO!
Rob Tarbell will be showing his latest work "Struggles" at ADA Gallery, reception tonight from 6-8pm. Ceramic artist Fiona Ross says Rob's new porcelain sculptures are FREAKYGOOD!

I posted a variation of this on the 1708 blog this morning and it took so much friggin time to look up all the artists websites that I haven't had time to write about SPINNING INTO BUTTER which is running at the Firehouse Theatre Project through Saturday evening. It is an incredibly funny - and relevant play. It nailed academia so acutely it gave me the chills. Afterwards there was a talkback that gave us food for thought on the way home. It is one of the best plays I've seen in quite sometime. Ed Slipeck created an amazing set, the casting was flawless and Morrie Piersol did a fabulous job leading this group of thespians to success. More information on the play and the Firehouse can be found here.

Pollak Prize Quote of the Day!

"You were soooooooo good!"
- Mandy Moore, pop singer and star of HBO's Entourage
talking to Harry Kollatz, Jr, Master of Ceremonies

Last night I collected myself and the arsenal of remedies I am taking for whatever strain of crud that's been draining into my bronchial system. I knew it would be a well worth the effort since it was the tenth anniversary of the awards ceremony for the Theresa Pollak Prize for Excellence in the Arts.

Several friends and colleagues were award recipients and then of course my better half, the Harryman, was the M.C.

I sat in the back row to avoid interrupting the show with my coughing and it proved to be the best place to take in the spectacle of artists being moved by the rare opportunity to watch other Richmond artists receive accolades.

My two favorite responses to Harry's "suave"* introductions were Jerry Donato's and Johnny Hott's. When Jerry was asked if he had anything to say he simply said "no." After the standing ovation he and Joan Gaustad received for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts he was probably speechless. Joan nearly swallowed her words with emotion.

When Johnny Hott accepted his award for Excellence as a Vocalist/Instrumentalist he walked on stage with with his lovely, if tearful, six year old daughter Odessa and said he didn't know if he would be the musician he is today or be part of the Richmond music scene if it weren't for his friend Bryan. These two acceptances both brought tears to my eyes which quickly evolved to laughter with Mr. K's laser wit. He was "on" last night and it added another level of joy to a beautiful evening at the Singleton Performing Arts Center.

The complete list of the award recipients for the
Theresa Pollak Award for Excellence in the Arts:

Photography: Georgianne Stinnett
Vocalist/Instrumentalist: Johnny Hott
Fine Art: Jack Wax
Dance: Pam Turner
Enemble: Modern Groove Syndicate **
Film: Sonali Gulati
Lifetime Achievement: Gerald Donato and Joan Gaustad
Emerging Artist: Colleen Curran
Applied Arts: Karl Green
Theatre: Richmond Shakespeare Theatre
Words: Laura Browder


The artful graphic above and the description of the Pollak Prize below are from the Richmond Magazine website:

This is Theresa Pollak posing for her bat mitzvah portrait at Temple Beth Ahabah on Franklin Street in 1913. A born and raised Richmonder, she had a full life ahead of her.

Pollak established in 1928 what evolved into Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts, where she taught for 41 years. During the 1930s she founded the art program at the University of Richmond, her alma mater (she graduated from Westhampton College, now part of the University of Richmond, in 1921). Pollak’s work was often shown in exhibits and collections, and she was a lifelong student. In 1958, she enrolled in the Art Students’ League of New York and learned from abstract expressionist Hans Hofmann. Pollak died in September 2002 at the age of 103. In 1998, Richmond magazine introduced the honors named for her. Several past recipients are no longer among us: jazz violinist and educator Joe Kennedy Jr.; artist, mentor and professor Richard Carlyon; theater director Ernie McClintock and actor Mary Sue Carroll. Three Pollaks were posthumous, those for artist Esther Elizabeth Motts, editorial cartoonist Jeff MacNelly and musical enthusiast and broadcaster Eric E. Stanley. Perhaps no one honoree was more influential than Carlyon, himself a student of Pollak. He recalled in 2001, “One valuable lesson I learned from Ms. Pollak was that you can’t feign seriousness in the pursuit of art.” Or, in the words of Roger Carroll, the 2006 Vocalist honoree, “There ain’t nobody lyin’ up in here.”

*Harry's comments as described by award recipient Laura Browder
** The pianist for Modern Groove Syndicate is Mandy Moore's beau

Stephen Westfall opens at Solvent Space on Oct 12

from right to left: Liz Clark, Jessica Langley and Erik Gonzalez install Stephen Westfall's mural designs at Solvent Space.

Stephen Westfall will premiere new murals at Solvent Space this Friday, October 12. “Stephen Westfall’s Grand Opening: Mural Project.” The New York Times describes his murals as abstract twists on the classic grid and “delicately calibrated destabilizations.”

Opening reception 6pm - 8pm On display through December 1. in the Plant Zero parking lot, 0 East 4th St. 869.6051. Hours: 12 - 4 on most Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

bottom left and right: installation shots of Westfall's murals in progress













Also on view @ Plant Zero on FRIDAY evening, October 12-
Walk the Walk, my show of "portraits, sunflowers and stormy weather" and Michael Pierce at Artspace from 6 to 8pm.

I also received an invitation from Lab 307. They are having an Open House that night from 6-10pm at 307 N.26th Street.

Lab 307 houses studios for a number of recent VCU Alumni: Danielle Riede, Thomas Condon, Sarah Mizer, Jeff Vick, Sayaka Suzuki, Erica, Dyen, Kiara Pelissier, and Debbie Quick. It looks like it will be a wonderful way to start the evening before we head over to the Folk Fest. Another cool thing about attending openings at the Plant Zero complex is that many of the artists with studios on site open their spaces for guests and interested parties. Just look for the open studio invitation on their doors.

The Harshest Critic?

Zero, the resident feline at Plant Zero Art Center, shared his observations of "Walk the Walk" with me this afternoon."Purrrrfection?" Well, I doubt it, but if I knew a pet interpreter I'd love to know exactly what Zero is thinking! He's been dwelling on this particular series of paintings for more than a while...!

Opening in a gallery near you...

I haven't had time to look at a lot of other art, much less write about it, for the past month or so. I've been focusing on the completion of a new body of work! If you are in Richmond this autumn please take time to visit "Walk the Walk" at Plant Zero, Richmond, VA. As soon as this show is up I feel like I'll have the leisure of looking at other people's work with undivided attention. One show I will take time to see prior to my opening is the collection of new paintings by Sally Bowring at Reynolds Gallery. It opens Friday, Sept 14.

My show, "Walk the Walk" opens on September 28 from 7-10pm and is part of the Fourth Friday Artwalk, located at 0 E. 4th Street in Manchester. It is free and open to the public. The works on the wall will be underscored by a performance/reading on Friday, Oct 26 at 7:30pm and then on on Nov 2 the premiere of video work I've completed since the Praxis Project earlier this year. Although I've maintained a studio in Richmond since 1988 I've been diligent in arranging my life where I have been able to teach, study or work in artist residencies in Paris, Bavaria, Germany, S. Korea, Virginia and Vermont.

I like to think of "Walk the Walk" as an exhibition in three acts. Paintings, drawings and bookworks created during 2006 and 2007 will be on view in the Project Space Gallery at Plant Zero from September 28 to December 23 with a progression of acitivities occuring during the run of the show. The inspiration for this body of work originated in France in 2006 during a four month residency at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris and was followed by a one month residency at Moulin a Nef in Auvillar, France. It was in the small village near the Pyrannes that I discovered a parallel between my interest in the human figure and the French landscape.

If you would like to request high resolution jpgs of the paintings in "Walk the Walk" please request them through the comments option below.

Preview of Coming Attractions

I don't know if I'll have time to update my website before this show of new work opens on September 28. A limited edition catalogue has gone to press and is available for preview above via pdf files. Anyone out there interested in ordering one please drop me a line. "Walk the Walk" features an essay by Howard Risatti and is 27 full color pages in a limited hard cover, edition of fifty. $49. plus shipping.

Up and Coming...

Henry IV, part I

I love Agecroft Hall and have been anticipating an evening of Shakespeare on its grounds all week. It's not The Globe but one can count on a ringside seat at The Richmond Shakespeare Company's productions. "Henry IV" was no exception, though it was standing room only. At The Globe, during Shakespeare's day, the groundlings stood or sat on the ground and they might boo or throw cherry pits on stage if they were displeased with a production. The Groundlings stand Globe as in Shakespeare's day and with their payoff being a more affordable ticket price. I dodged cherry pits during a production of The Tempest at The Globe during the summer of 1999 and wish we had been able to see the TRSF version which ran from mid June through the first week of July (during much kinder weather).

Agecroft Hall, one of Richmond's greatest treasures, offers theatre audiences the opportunity to picnic in its Elizabethan Gardens prior to enjoying a plein air production of Shakespeare. It is a delectable treat since the gardens surround a romantic Tudor Estate that was created in England more than 500 years ago. It was moved and painstakingly reconstructed in Windsor Farms by Thomas C. Williams during the late 20's and is currently run by non-profit foundation and is open to the public.

Scents of herbs and the ancient boxwoods from Agecroft's gardens waft over the crowd while the cicada and crickets add a sultry tone to this TRSF's version o Henry IV. Exciting moments of this Sopranos(ish) play were abundant but we particularly enjoyed the breezy wake cast by characters running from one another. How can a family feud in 100 degree heat with the sounds of summer as a soundtrack? Humor! The cast's ability to maintain their energy and enthusiasm in the heat wearing period costume was impressive but I couldn't help but wonder if it would have been more fun for them if they were dressed in the street clothes of today, weather appropriate, of course; as the thespians of Shakespeare's day. Maybe it wouldn't be as much fun? I know one thing - if they were Shakespeare's peers they'd be drinking pints of ale in the heat since potable water was much harder to come by. I hope to see Part II of "Henry IV" next summer since it was a very lively- if sticky evening.

Double Bubble

Think Pink.

Roy Proctor compares pink to Raphael's "Madonna of the Pinks," where the Virgin Mary presents pink carnations to the infant Christ and the blushing skin of Rubens' voluptuous nudes. He also makes references to Tom Wesselmann's "Great American Nudes" series in his preview of Double Bubble at Page Bond Gallery.

Thats what I love about Roy. He's such a romantic. If this show reflected the figurative references Roy made it would have a little more meat and be a lot less fashionable. Of course it's a summer show and designed to be a fun, airy showcase for Richmond talent. It succeeds in that goal featuring work such as Ruth Bolduan's latest like the painting posted above. It is part of larger series that can be seen on the Anton Gallery website. Bolduan has a thing for red anyway so this show is an excellent showcase for her successful exploitation of rouge.

Double Bubble includes forty-two works in all media by twenty-nine artists and will be on view in Bond's recently established Main Street location until September 1st. Artists ranging from the late Theresa Pollak, founder of the art program at VCU; to Eric Sall, a recent graduate of VCU's MFA painting program, are included in this show.

Other artists of note: current and former Richmond painters Joan Ranzini, Elizabeth Lamp, Betsy Morgan, Dragana Crnjak, Lynda Ray, Amy Chan, Karen Blair, Curtis Ripley, Lauren Clay, Kristi Hager and Andras Bality; photographers William Wylie and Kristi Hager; mixed media artists Corey Drieth, Mary Scurlock, Mary Palmer, Stephen Clark, Alison Hall Cooley and Robert Walz; printmakers Susan Schwalb, Chris Palmer and Mary Heilmann; and sculptor Marc Maiorana. For a complete listing of the art in the exhibition visit the gallery website linked to the title of this post.

TRANSFORMER

Transformer, curated by Amy Moorfield, is one of the best summer shows I've seen at the Anderson since Steven High ran the gallery. It rocks! Feast is a collective of six collaborative artists: Terral Bolton, Terry Brown, Sherry Griffin, Stephanie Lundy, C.J. Hawn and Chris Norris. "Feast Hearts Mexico" is as much fun to look at as it probably was to create. The Mariachi band documented in the photographs makes me want to salsa. If Cindy Shermans's photos were this much fun to create I'd probably enjoy them more.

I wish Mark Newport were really a superheroe who happens to knit his own leotards. Richmond's obessive knitters and comic book collectors would likely find inspiration here. I did. Transformer also includes installations by McCallum & Tarry and Annie Schap and will be up through August 11.

a PREVIEW of Exposition of Self

Harry Kollatz and David Bruce discuss art, light and urban planning
mid-installation in Plant Zero's Project Space Gallery.

Harry and I spent some time at 220 Hull St yesterday viewing the proposed Master Plans for the city of Richmond. If only making these ideas manifest were as easy as taking a marker to paper...

Still - it was exciting to see so many passionate proposals put forth by the citizens of Richmond. Richard Bland was there with an ancient map of the city. His proposal includes a light rail system that would run the length of Grace Street between the two VCU campuses. It could be a great solution to the growing problems of urban transit.

We were also able to try out the newest version of the Plant Zero Cafe and we ran into a number of people we don't see as frequently during the summer. People we know are either buried in their studios are away on holiday. Andrew Havenhand was there and announced that he and Lucinda will both be teaching in Syracuse next year! It's that time of year. Everyone is gearing up for the new season.

We also met David Bruce who is finishing up an ambitious installation in the Project Space at Plant Zero. David also has experience as an urban planner and his installation is certainly the best use of space I've witnessed in the Project Space. His talent and vision are evident here. It is unfortunate he couldn't participate more fully in the master plan meetings next door since he has the voice of experience. His use of light and space of this industrial structure is elegant and succinct. It will be interesting viewing the work in artificial light on Friday when there will also be live music and the energy of a Friday night.

"Exposition of Self"* will open on Friday, July 27 from 6-9pm in the Project Space Gallery of Plant Zero. Located at 4 E. Fourth St., off Hull St in the Manchester District of Richmond. The installation runs through August 21 and is open daily. For more info one can visit any of the links above.

*We are both a little baffled by the title of this installation but as we've both been struggling with matters of public and private art and self of late - perhaps it's just us...

The Spoils of Summer at ADA

Jason Coates, Leigh Anne Chambers, Lauren Clay, Heather Deyling and Sandra Luckett are showing recent work at ADA through August 30. Several of the works here were on view in Chelsea last month at Kim Foster and the Denise Bibro Galleries. Other pieces, such as Luckett's "Mermaid" window installation, were created specifically for ADA. Her use of blueboard styrofoam as the base of this installation was an interesting choice since it references the aquamarine of sandy beaches and is also a material that finds its way to many beaches after serving time on someone's boat or holiday adventure. I loved it.

Others have commented on Coates' popular "Corn" painting and it seems to make everyone smile. It reminds me of summers in Ohio with those flying Dekalb signs floating over so many cornfields and the locals happy to leave the grey skies and salted roadways of winter behind. ADA always puts together a summer show that is worth a second viewing. I look forward to stopping by the next time I need a Lift from next door.

True Richmond

Richmond may seem like a city of Republican shoes, self-promoting lawyers, churches in every size, color and architectural style and NASCAR politics... but please consider your source before you form an opinion of this quirky Southern city.

We all shudder to remember the editorials that have been written in the local daily and we've basked in the glow of our nation's media spotlight via our domestic and cultural controversies. An opinion based on this information would be lopsided! To know the real Richmond, well, the one that captured my heart, you might want to read the Flashback column of Richmond Magazine each month. If you aren't a regular reader and pick it up on occasion before you have your teeth cleaned or cavities searched you'll have the chance to own a collection of the most memorable columns by their celebrated author, Harry Kollatz, Jr.*

This image above is a draft of the cover sent to the author by The History Press. It depicts the pyramid that is a cornerstone monument of our beloved Hollywood Cemetery. I've toured cemeteries all over Europe and the United States and Hollywood Cemetery ranks up there with some of the best with its views of the James River rapids, haunting monuments, Victorian details, lush landscaping and topography. Please don't let my enthusiasm for the cover art and its locale mislead you: True Richmond Stories is not a tourist guide or a history book. It is a collection of portraits of the profound, eccentric, backward and heroic people and places that, in summary, equal why Richmond is and always has been such a colorful place to live.

True Richmond Stories has gone to press and will be available in many bookstores in mid September. Until then you can order it here or subscribe to Harry's official blog and get a free copy!

*Harry Kollatz, Jr is my spouse and partner in art and life...

The Soulful Invasion of Carytown

Last Saturday a brass band from a Church Hill neighborhood prayer group decided they wanted to blow their instruments in Carytown. Harry happened to be there to encourage them to set up close to the NYD, the Byrd, etc. It turned into a lovely street party that truly reflected the atmosphere and spirit of our neighborhood and confirmed the many reasons we choose to live in what Harry calls WOBSOC since we don't benefit from the numerous historic designations our neighboring hoods are known for. (west of boulevard, south of cary)

We were wobbly with the spirit of the night, the love of brass and the joy everyone felt that spontaneous good things can happen on our streets on a Saturday night. I shot some video of the band and crowd that I'll try to post before the end of the weekend.
*update The United House of Prayer for All People was handing out postcards this past Friday evening as they performed in the same location in Carytown. The church which sponsors these soulful musicians (and provides their instruments!) is located at 926 Chimborazo Blvd in Richmond, VA. Sunday services are at 11 am and 7:30 pm. If anything could keep me awake on a Sunday morning it would be these guys. They aren't quite a dirge band in the New Orleans sense but they come as close as one will likely get in the state of Virginia. Harry and I would second line these guys all the way to the White House but I don't know if my fellow Virginians would know to get in line behind them. It is a very different culture.

Kissee Collection

Harry and I had the opportunity to view the Kissee Collection tonite. I love seeing art in someone's home... the context of taste and place and a consistent point of view is inspiring and rare.

John Currin's name came up. He's obviously had the chance to view substantial collections of WPA era art - which aren't common. It isn't a period of style that museums can count on for block buster exhibitions - though that could change!

I loved the fact that the collection embraced various attitudes from the period: working class heroes from the WPA projects, genre and portrait painting, advertising from the era and best of all kitsch. It is work that appears to be conservative and subdued but... it isn't.

taking time for the harryman

left: From the Angels and Infidels Series - a portrait of the Harryman from 2005. mixed media on paper 18" x 12"

Ahhh. We finished up our taxes on Friday night and managed to fit in a film or two of the James River Film Festival. We didn't have the time to enjoy the fest like we usually do. I was away last year and all the while the harryman has been working hard to finish editing the chapters of a forthcoming book.

He was particularly weary last week when the preface of the book arrived. It was written by A. Crawford who says that "To read one of his columns is to know what it is to go on long walks with him when, coming upon some abandoned warehouse, he stops to tell you what went on there in, oh, 1913." He theorizes how Harry may know these things but I must agree with him - only the harryman knows for sure. There were many, many kind words in the preface and I must say it inspired me and reminded me of the many reasons I've chosen to spend my life with this man.

We watched a series of films at 1708 on Saturday night and afterwards watched as another filmmaker projected his work on the surface of most anything that seemed interesting along that particular block of Broad St. The guys at the barber shop next door seemed uncertain but all in all it proved to be an interesting interlude before we walked back west towards Carytown. We stopped off at ChopSuey Books there was an anniversart celebration underway with a 24 hour bookman sale, live musiv, etc. Dug Utley has also moved the 12x12 art exhibition (12inch square art shown record bin style with name dividers, etc) to the gallery upstairs so I took time to view the collection. I'd love to photograph the series so I can share it with you folks... maybe next time.

a now a moment for a word from our sponsor

I am not a God fearing gal though I think there should certainly be more Godliness in the world. We're wired for it, right? That's what they say though I don't know what side of the propaganda fence is being paid for that research... Anyway... regardless of how busy we are we've always taken time out to celebrate the wonder of spring and the rebirth it signals in all of us. It is a sacred time for us if there is one. Harry and I walked across The Fan to Monument Ave to pay our respects to the season, drink wine (too much, too early!) and honor this time in our lives.

Most everyone was dressed in winter garb and several asked Harry "Who are you supposed to be?" He always wears his seersucker for Easter, regardless of the weather and the undying tradition people have of never wearing linen or seersucker before Memorial Day. The birds like it. I like it. The rest of the world, with few exceptions, looked like they were going camping. I told my husband he should have answered "Oh, I'm supposed to be Harry Kollatz, Jr."

It was a splendid afternoon. The only thing that could have made it better would have been the presence of my mother, who has used up her time card for Virginia this season... and the presence of our beloved friends the Cusacks who were transferred to Massachusettes more than a year ago... where everyone must wear goose down until the summer thaw.

We miss them. Liz, I smoked a cuban cigarillo in your honor this afternoon!