Wow!  Take some time to look at Mary McCleary's art at http://www.marymccleary.com/.

As she states on her website, "she creates collages by attaching layer upon layer of materials such as paint, paper, rag board, foil, glitter, sticks, wire, mirrors, pencils, nails, glass, painted toothpicks, string, leather, lint, small plastic toys and other objects on heavy paper, much in the way a painter builds layer upon layer of paint on canvas."

Truly complex, amazing, colorful, textured art.  Each one is a precious mosaic.  You'll have trouble turning away!

The spring Best of the Northwest Fine Art & Craft Show will be March 23-24, 2013 at Pier 91--Smith Cove Cruise Terminal in Seattle, WA.

Mark your calendar and take some time off from your busy schedule to slow down for a few hours and enjoy the creativity of over 100 artists, designers, and craftspeople.

Please check out their website for more information.

I recenty ordered a copy of Bob Hudson's short, easy to understand, and attractive little book on making a poetry chapbook. At $7.00, it is well worth it.

You may order “Making a Poetry Chapbook” by emailing Bob at
hudsbob@comcast.net or simply sending $7.00 to Bob
at:

Bob Hudson
Perkipery Press
8405 Baileau Oaks Drive NE
Ada, MI 
49031

Good luck on getting your work out there!

I love public art.  It is such a treat to walk down the street or to a park and come across something that adds delight to one's experience.  

I particularly enjoy the tactile nature of Paul Sorey's piece: the steel, the rivets, and the elegant curve that is both rough and smooth to the hand and eye.  Its shape and texture echoes the complex nature of the sea.  

His art is aptly situated, as the Ballard Locks is one of the places in the northwest that salmon travel through as they migrate from the ocean back to their hatching grounds to spawn a new cycle of life.

What are some of your favorite places of public art?

The Frye Art Museum in Seattle, WA has organized an exhibit of Nicolai Fechin's artwork--paintings and drawings from across the U.S. as well as from private lenders in Russia and the U.S.

Fechin's style is colorful, bold, and a mixture of the abstract and more realistic.  I loved his "Portrait of a Young Woman"--such intelligence and boldness of face.  With her chin resting on her hand, she meets the eyes of the viewer with a touch of a smile and directness of gaze. 

She looks like the type of person I would love to have afternoon tea with--a person who enjoys the finer things of life and probably has something both substantial and witty to share.

The exhibit is running from February 9, 2013 to May 19, 2013.  The Frye is a small gemstone of a museum.  If you can find the time, the trip is worth it.

The Taos Art Museum in Taos, New Mexico is another place to find out more about Fechin and his works.

I recently had the fortunate experience of watching Simon Schama's Power of Art.  If you are ready to watch something provocative, entertaining, and intelligent, get this DVD series. 

Simon and his masterful team use narration, storytelling, dramatic reconstruction, photography, lighting, and acting to full effect.  The series focuses on Caravaggio, Bernini, Rembrandt, David, Turner, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Rothko.

Each historically based segment is engaging and brings humanity and a deeper understanding of the lives and creations of each of these artists. It is hard not to watch the entire series in one sitting. 

The actors used in all the segments were superb, especially  Andy Serkis as Van Gogh. I was bought to tears watching the Van Gogh and Rothko segments. 

Be sure to watch the commentaries as well, they deepen your appreciation of the hard work and skill required to create such a quality series and reveal a more humorous and approachable side to Simon as he can be somewhat intimidating in his full narrative eloquence!

So if you are looking for something that engages as well as enlightens, take a look at this amazing series.

And Simon, if you read this blog, I (and I'm sure many of your fans) enthusiastically vote for more!

Time to checkout something beautiful?

Go to Spiral Muse and enjoy the beautiful art of Sally J Smith--she creates art in nature and with nature.  She reminds me of Andy Goldsworthy in terms of the exquisite beauty and delicacy of her environmentally based creations.  If you like art in this genre, you may also enjoy Tony Plant.

I recently visited three extraordinary exhibits at the Bellevue Art Museum--Nikki McClure, contemporary bamboo art, and BAM's annual fiber exhibit. 

As my friend and I stood in front of one exquisite piece after another, I felt rather overcome with the creativity and beauty surrounding me.  I turned to him and said, "They are going to have to carry me out on a stretcher!"

What recent art exhibits have you enjoyed?

There used to be a beautiful, huge, old tree where a stump now exists.  And there is an individual or maybe several who frequently create beautiful flower art on this tree stump.

I am so grateful for the love and artistry that is being shown with these flower creations on what is left of a very old tree.  It really is a wonderful honoring of the tree and the flowers as well as a gift to all of us.

What beautiful community art have you found in public spaces?