That’s entertainment

Posted: 30 January 2019 | Author: Rona Green | Filed under: Artists, Inspiration | Tags: art, books, documentaries, exhibitions, inspiration, podcasts | 6 Comments

Hope you’re good and that you are enjoying 2019!

Prints and drawings by Rona Green included in Summer Selection at Australian Galleries 2018-19

Here are a few recommendations for your consideration if you’re looking for some art related entertainment to kick off your year:

Exhibitions

Summer Selection at Australian Galleries

28 and 35 Derby Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia

Until 19 February 2019

A group exhibition of works by Australian Galleries artists

Mirka Mora: Pas De Deux – Drawings and Dolls at Heide Museum of Modern Art

7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen VIC 3105 Australia

Until 24 March 2019

An exhibition commemorating the life and work of Australian artist Mirka Mora which is nothing short of amazing.

Anna Boghiguian at Tate St Ives

St Ives, Cornwall TR26 1TG UK

8 February – 6 May 2019

This retrospective exhibition is on the dream list (if only I could transport myself to the UK à la Star Trek!).

Anna Boghiguian at Museum der Moderne Salzburg

Books − creativity / businessy stuff

Creative Habit: Learn it and use it for life by Twyla Tharp

The dancing queen of routine gives you the low down on being productive.

Art Money Success by Maria Brophy

A text book on how to get your arse into gear and make a living as an artist.

On Being An Artist by Michael Craig-Martin

A mix of memoir and instruction this is a candid, enjoyable, useful read.

Books − contemporary art and art history

Old in Art School by Nell Painter

Only recently finished this book and I savoured every word. It is a beautifully written sharing of the ups and downs encountered when choosing to take a new direction in life.

Modernists and Mavericks: Bacon, Freud, Hockney and the London Painters by Martin Gayford

Every book I’ve read written by Martin Gayford I have thoroughly relished, and this one is about some of my favourite artists making it all the more riveting.

Ninth Street Women: Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell and Helen Frankenthaler – Five Painters and the Movement That Changed Modern Art by Mary Gabriel

Abstract Expressionism has always been of interest to me (especially the work of Helen Frankenthaler), and this book is extremely enlightening.

Books − artists work

Kiki Smith: Prints, Books and Things by Wendy Weitman

Published to accompany an exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art, New York in 2003-04 − be sure to check out the accompanying website for the show.

Kerry James Marshall by Charles Gaines, Laurence Rassel and Greg Tate

A marvellous book. You can also learn more about the work of Kerry James Marshall on The Modern Art Notes Podcast (he is fantastic and delightful to listen to) – here and here.

A Printmaker’s Cookbook – Images in Relief by Dianne Fogwell

As Sasha Grishin describes it, this is a “how Fogwell did it book”. Absolutely fabulous.

Dianne Fogwell at Geelong Gallery

Documentaries

Blurred Lines: Inside the Art World directed by Barry Avrich

A tantalising / tormenting exposé depending on your vantage point!

Hairy Who and The Chicago Imagists directed by Leslie Buchbinder

Love!!! As well here is a link to a clip of artist Jim Nutt talking and painting.

Art21 series by PBS

You can purchase this series on good ol’ DVD via Amazon, etc., plus the Art21 website has tons of resources to pleasurably trawl through.

You can also watch a short doco about my work if you’ve got 22 minutes to spare.

Gladys Nilsson and Jim Nutt

Podcasts

Talking with Painters hosted by Maria Stoljar

Maria Stoljar asks Australian painters all you ever wanted to know in a relaxed conversational way, and the show notes for this podcast are excellent.

Artists Helping Artists hosted by Leslie Saeta

Almost a decade of AHA episodes to scour for ideas about art marketing as well as plenty of interviews with artists (with a particular focus on plein air painters). Leslie Saeta is always accompanied by a co-host making this an informal yet informative style podcast.

Bench Talk hosted by Tom Gerrard

As Tom Gerrard is an artist himself he is great at squeezing out as much info possible from his diverse range of creative guests.

Tom Gerrard

Instagram

Here’s just a handful of the engaging artists I follow:

@paulcomptonart

@deborahwilliamsartist

And you can follow me on Insta too – @ronagreenart

Prints by Rona Green featured in the Maroondah City Council San Carlos Art Boxes 2018-19

Cheerio!

An interview with Alexi Keywan

Posted: 23 June 2013 | Author: Rona Green | Filed under: Artists | Tags: Alexi Keywan, art, Australian Galleries, drawings, inspiration, prints | Leave a comment

Alexi Keywan, Until Tonight, etching

Alexi Keywan is a Sydney born artist who currently resides in Lismore, Australia.

Her work depicts familiar environments that she deftly instils with an intriguing eeriness.

Recently Alexi took the time to provide me with an insight into her practice and other interests.

Alexi Keywan, The Passenger No. 11, pencil on paper

Alexi Keywan, The Passenger No. 11, pen on paper

Rona: Your art practice includes printmaking, painting and drawing. What do you like about working with a variety of different materials and techniques?

Alexi: The ability to make marks and create images from each medium that are unique to themselves – they all have different ‘atmospheres’. Each medium affords me a different kind of headspace.

Alexi Keywan, Sometime, Someplace, etching

R: Who has influenced and inspired your art?

A: Initially my father, sculptor Orest Keywan.

Off the top of my head… Euan Mcleod, John Beard, Karla Dickens, Aida Tomescu, William Kentridge, John Virtue, Vija Celmins, Kiki Smith, Bernd and Hilla Becher, Ed Ruscha, Edward Hopper, Robert Motherwell, Franz Kline, James McNeil Whistler and Francisco de Goya.

Also lecturers and staff from National Art School, Sydney, particularly from the Print department (where I became a part of the furniture after seven consecutive years).

R: When you are making art do you prefer to work in silence or be listening to something?

A: Ever since I can remember, making any kind of art has enabled me to retreat from the world and create my own. I can’t imagine not having a ‘soundtrack’ to this. I think in art school I garnered a reputation as being busy and unapproachable due to the music driven print frenzies I’d get in to. At the moment it’s Frank Sinatra on the way to the studio and then something like Dirty Three or Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

Alexi Keywan, The Passenger No. 12, pencil on paper

Alexi Keywan, The Passenger No. 12, pen on paper

R: What are a few of your favourite things?

A: Solo road trips, travelling, boxing, tattooing and being tattooed, taking photos of concrete and steel.

R: Do you have a favourite gallery or museum?

A: I pretty much grew up in The Australian Museum (Orest worked there), and gallery wise it really depends on what is on.

R: What about your favourite art making material?

A: Etching copper because of the variables involved, but then on another day it could be drawing… or painting.

R: And your favourite food to eat after a big day in the studio?

A: Chocolate.

R: Snap!

Finally, congratulations Alexi on recently winning the 13^th CPM National Print Award with your etching, You Are Here.

Alexi Keywan, You Are Here, etching

Alexi will be exhibiting prints and drawings at Australian Galleries, 35 Derby Street, Collingwood, VIC, 3066, from 27 August to 15 September 2013.

You can also view Alexi in conversation with Michel Lawrence from The Stock Rooms on YouTube:

Grunt.

Posted: 27 March 2013 | Author: Rona Green | Filed under: Artists, Inspiration | Tags: animals, art, artists, rabbits | 9 Comments

‘Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.’

– John Steinbeck (1902-1968)

Greek Corinthian hare vase

Young Hare by Albrecht Durer

Rabbit by Henri Rousseau

Rabbits by Nishimura

Bugs Bunny created by Tex Avery

Harvey starring James Stewart and directed by Henry Koster

Nijntje (aka Miffy) created by Dick Bruna

Rabbit by Jeff Koons

War by Paula Rego

Rabbit looking into mirror by Shao Fan

Lightning Ridge by Adam Cullen

Discotheque Nasties by Rona Green

Corporeal

Posted: 24 February 2013 | Author: Rona Green | Filed under: Artists, Exhibitions, Rona | Tags: art, Corporeal, exhibition, Geelong Gallery, prints, Rona Green | 2 Comments

Corporeal is an exhibition of prints exploring the theme of the body by 23 Australian artists including Graeme Drendel, Di Ellis, Philip Faulks, Rodney Forbes, Sue Fraser, David Frazer, Rona Green, Rew Hanks, Kaylene Kelly, Michael Kempson, Alexi Keywan, Martin King, Deborah Klein, Terry Matassoni, Ron McBurnie, Janet Parker-Smith, Travis Paterson, Ben Rak, Heather Shimmen, Stephen Spurrier, Anne Starling, Clayton Tremlett and Scott Trevelyan – curated by Rona Green.