AJC Arts Coverage Petition

The following post was lifted directly from the Atlanta Artnews blog. Sign the petition at the end of the article - its painless and serves the greater good of the Atlanta Arts Community.

To: insideajc@ajc.com (Ms.Angela Tuck)
Dear Ms. Tuck,

I just read your questions for Julia Wallace in today's paper (May,05). Thanks for taking the time to inform your readers.

I am forwarding to you another petition that is circulating. The visual arts community is very concerned about the reviews of local art events. That is, critical reviews of art exhibitions in town which are normally written by Cathy Fox.
Ms. Wallace said in your interview that there would be 'artist profiles', that is good, but we are very concerned about the actual coverage of exhbitions and having a visual artist critic that can provide a critical analysis of the art that is produced in this city. That is a very different function than 'profiles' which center around a 'story' about the artist that is featured, as opposed to a critical analysis of art. Profiles are interesting to read but perform a different function.

Major newspapers in the country have culture critics. Critics perform a unique service to a community. They create interest in the culture of that specific city, they create a dialogue between the art and the community, they bring insight and understanding to the work at hand, and they 'criticize' that is they apply their knowledge and discernment. A critic's voice is essential in any creative community.

Many of us realize the difficulties facing all newspapers today. But, as you can see by the uproar that has been caused by the recent 'restructuring' at the AJC----newspapers matter. People want their paper to be a source of intellectual information not only the fastest source of news....you can get instant news by flipping on CNN in two seconds. NEWSPAPERS CREATE A COMMUNITY.

Attached is the petition circulating for the Visual Arts critic.
Thank you for your time,
Rocio Rodriguez
Atlanta, GA

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/AJCArt/petition.html

Best foot forward

My son Will "the apprentice" has been busy painting lately. He sees a blank canvas as most artists do... opportunity. Thus his white vans didn't stay white for long. Take a look.




A popular fashion statement these have become and he has had a number of requests from teens and adults. He's currently taking orders and will gladly create a custom pair for you.

Rejection, Life and Art

Rejection. Every artist understands (or at least should understand) rejection is part of the territory that comes with the business of art. Recently I received a rejection e-mail for a contemporary unconventional portrait exhibition I had entered. The painting I submitted “A Fool’s Still Life” is perhaps my best realist work I have yet created. Not simply my opinion, this painting has won numerous awards including the Grumbacher Gold Metal at the 27th Annual South Central Art Competition in Nashville. You might call that validation. Regardless, the entry process required a statement. So I finally put into words what I have felt about this painting for some time. Hope you don’t mind me sharing.



“A Fool’s Still Life”
A self portrait by Christopher Boehm

The approach to most all of my work is simple; each painting is treated as a project, a single area of exploration and discovery. “A Fool’s Still Life,” began no differently. Objects of interest selected for their shape color texture and representation either metaphorically, symbolically or literally and arranged juxtaposed entirely for the viewer’s enjoyment. This painting began purely as an exercise in an attempt to conquer still life realism as an artist.

The beauty of realism for the artist is that careful deliberate examination of chosen subjects is required. You learn all the subtle aspects normally passed over through casual observation. On this particular work, hours were spent intimately getting to know all objects assembled. And during this time of craft a realization occurred to me. Each object chosen for some reason above and beyond had a deep personal meaning and connection to me, the artist. Mostly gifts, mementos or discarded items from close family members, nearly all offered without much ceremony or thought. These items meant more to me because of the personal connection from who, where, when, and how they were collected. The Clown (Fool) however, was acquired on one of my many antique/thrift store hunts. The significance of this item was the timing of the acquisition coincided within days of the birth of my son, seemed almost magical. This collection of items was more than a simple still life painting, in many ways it represented my life.

So what is a portrait, a mere representation of the individual? Well this painting then in many ways represents who I am. A good portion of my being is a collection of memories associated with friends and family through a journey of time together. Reading like a diary, items rendered here are closely tied to those memories. One more thing, I’m an artist and this is one of my paintings, it is what I do and who I am.

Christopher Boehm

Rejection is also part of life and I have had another more painful dose of that lately too. Like I said, with art rejection comes as part of the territory. It makes us better. You create, put your work out there and wait for the world to respond. The efforts of which may not yield the sought after results, but in most cases ultimately have positive affects on the artist. The self portrait example outlined above forced me to put my thoughts to words. I may never have done so without the attempt. So I guess with love sometimes comes rejection too, but does this type of rejection also make us better? I certainly would like to think so.

Last Gasp

67 days, impressive I think for a toy balloon to remain aloft, but to earth (my studio floor) is where she clings now. Been hanging around watching me gesso the ten (gift from Kathryn) canvases from a low vantage point. Still working my plan for them in my head, hope to share some ideas in the near future.

Day 59 - Balloon Update

Yep, it's still up there. I know, I know, "what, four more days, big deal!" Well things have changed. Still clinging tight to the ceiling, however, when I came home today I found the balloon was in my dinning room. Big deal? No, just weird as it would of had to drop its altitude by at least 20 inches to get beneath a 24 inch wide concrete ceiling support. See for yourself.




Now how could this balloon lower itself under that support? There is no breeze to speak of in here. I doubt the air pressure could change that drastically in my house to alter temporary alter it's lofty pursuit. I'm at a total loss? Unless of course it's Rachel messing with me...

Day 55 - The Saga Continues

Day 55 - Totally defying gravity and clinging to my ceiling since New Years Eve, the balloon still floats. "I thought it would have given up the ghost a week after the New Year began, shows you what I know," I was quoted as thinking. How I resisted sucking the precious gas into my lungs to speak like a munchkin for the delight of my friends and neighbors immediately following the Midnight festivities still remains a mystery in itself. Stay posted this could in fact be a worlds record.

Stretcher Strip Heaven


My good friend, Artist Kathryn to my benefit began her spring cleaning early this year. After years of moving a box full of 24" stretcher strips around her house, she decided to part with them. It was me or Goodwill, "are you kidding, sure I'll take them'!" Now, what to do with them? hmmm... I have this idea... (to be continued...)

The Long Way Home

...and finally, my latest work. Titled "The Long Way Home" This is a route I take to avoid traffic on Holcomb Bridge Rd from time to time. Beautiful stretch of road with bike/running/walking paths along the Chattahoochee River in Roswell. Oil on canvas, 40" x 30" part of a continuing series of paintings. Light breaking through a dark wooded area, creating somewhat of a tunnel vision effect.

2006 Review

Wow, been a while since my last post. A lot has happened, too much to cover. So I'll try to summarize 2006 from a personal artist accomplishment perspective. As evident form an earlier post, the figure is back in my work. This painting "Study in Contrast #1" is one of a male female pair painted specifically for a figurative group show early in the year. The style complemented "The Southside Favorite" oil on canvas of my Grandfather, Oscar Boehm.

For a drastic change in style, subject and pallet we'll look at another set of oils once again specifically painted for another group show, "The Motorcycle, Life and Lifestyle" about half way through the year. While I enjoyed the change, these two works took their toll on my patience as I probably have over 50 hours in each piece.


Commissions always keep me going and usually stray from my typical subject as well. This piece "Tanya's Apple" once again borrowed its style from some of the figurative work, but also employed some of my still life realism .



Better than half way through 2006, I once again participated in the "Trash to Treasure" benefit. My submission "Momentum, the ATL Express" by far was the most radical break from the norm for the year. Relying more on my industrial design background, there was absolutely no painting involved in this piece. Another back breaker, but well worth the effort.

And then back to a more familiar look and style to complete 2006.

Breaking the law

This is a 1 1/2 hour drawing from the same figure class/studio. Actually I broke from the group to work this piece, the model was to remain in another room while the students were to sketch her from memory. Frank wanted the students to "abstract" their drawings by blending multiple views and angles to the same drawing. I gave it a try but the light casting on the model was way to much of a draw for me, so I moved my easel into the same room and work on this drawing there.

The class did yield some interesting and well done pieces, however, I figure if I have a model to work from I should be able to "look" at the model while I'm drawing regardless of what style. Anyway, this is my attempt at an abstract figure, what do you think?

Figuratively Speaking

I like to do a little figure drawing from time to time. So I'm taking Frank Sheltons figure drawing class at The Roswell Visual Arts Center. I prefer open studio to class, but this is convenient and Frank allows me to do my own thang. Although our taste in art is probably a few miles a part, I do enjoy his enthusiasm and appreciation of artists in general.

Here are a few of my favorite drawings from class. I'm using Conte' crayons on 18" x 24" newsprint, pretty standard stuff. These are some of my 10 to 15 minute sketches. They always seem to me at least, better than my 20 to 30 minute drawings. Usually I can knock out the layout pretty quick. The shorter time periods prevent me from over working the drawing.

I feel drawing from life is quite important as is drawing in general. You can never perfect a drawing, but you can always improve your skill.

Slow Art

Sunday I went back to Oglethorpe U to see the Slow Art Exhibit again. Rachel hadn't seen it yet and was mildly upset with the fact that I'd turned down her request to go to the open (I confused this opening with another show that I really didn't care if I saw or not) only to chase down there alone one day while she was at work. I of course had absolutely no trouble dropping another five bucks to see it again (actually it was Rachel's treat ;-D ) We caught a guided geriatric tour midway when we first arrived and wished we had caught the tour from the beginning.

Slow Art, as the show was called, is supposedly part of the movement against the cult of speed engulfing American society... as someone informed me "there is a lot going on here..." I promise I will come back to both this show and topic again as this is my kind of visual art and as I do have several issues with the Slow movement and how it relates to contemporary realism. So for now...

Rhetorically Yours - cb

In the beginning

Another disaster...

...oh well, time to start painting again.