The Getty Museum

 

Probably one of the most renown architectural achievements in the world, the Getty Museum in Los Angeles sits a half a mile from a house I lived in when I went to UCLA. Long before the museum was built, I would go on runs through the sage and scrub foothills, climbing to hilltops that provided commanding views of the LA horizon. So when they announced they were going to build the museum in this same landscape  I knew so well, I was very curious how the building would relate to the land.  One stroke of genius was to keep all the cars away from the main buildings by using a tram to take people up the hill.  It makes you realize how rare it is to experience a building in our age, completely separated from the automobile. This Museum reminds me of the acropolis in Greece in the way that it occupies the high ground and sits Olympus like above the fray of everyday life.

Gold Mist Tree

 

This painting started with

A splatter of black paint

I saw a tree in the splat

From then on, it was a tree.

New Physical Alchemy

New Assemblage gallery added

 

Kubada Pagoda and River Maiden Symmetry, 2006, As they look on the wall

So what is Physical Alchemy?  When I was doing lots of the Digital Alchemy pieces I would often find myself in complex discussions with viewers trying to explain the layering process I used in the digital work. At some point I thought. 'I should just do a physical example of what I'm talking about as a visual aid. Little did I know I'd get so enamoured of the process. Traditionally pieces like this can be called mixed media, or more aptly, Assemblage. This is my least delved in genre by number of pieces, partially because they are very involved and take a while to do. This might be why they are often the most satisfying pieces when they're done. I've added a Physical Alchemy Gallery in paintings section.

I am acutely aware of the fact that I don't have an undo button when I'm working on these pieces, or if I do it usually involves industrial sanding, hammer work and maybe starting over from way back in the process.  No easy bifurcations here. One piece in the gallery, Chinese Summer, sat on my desktop for maybe three months in loose pieces, while I tried to figure out if I had the right combination of elements, color, proportion.  It's hard because once I get into the actual 'gluing and screwing it down' I end up improvising and changing, so I have to 'leave room' for that process as well. I've got a few half baked versions in this genre in the basement and in the garage, awaiting the sandblaster and inspiration.

 
If you think I'm kidding about the sandblaster, I've actually got one and it's great for distressing and deconstructing surfaces. In fact I'm threatening to get it out and set it up again.

Smoke Sentinel

I worked  in the yard all day,  shaping the 1 acre bio-organic sculpture that is our garden. I don't have much energy to blog but want to share this painting with you. Somehow it's connected to the days events.

 

We had a glorious afternoon up here in the pacific northwest. Yesterday was rainy and today was a slow clearing of clouds until the afternoon glowed with the crystal clear sunshine that warms the heart. My girls roasted marshmallows on the burn pile and the smell of wood smoke infused the yard. When the breeze sent the smoke in certain directions it gave depth and drama to the trees and hills of the garden. I guess I'll have to do a garden gallery soon. Inspired I grabbed the camera and began shooting the girls and the garden through the veils of smoke. Can't wait to see the images. Since there old fashioned color reversal film shots, I have to wait for a trip to the lab.