 Meta Gallery : Toronto : Opening Reception July 9th
posted: July 5, 2010
"The Shaman's Inheritance" : 36"x55"
Inks and kaolin on clay board panel
"Phantasmagoria" : a Group Exhibition : Cathie Bleck, Ray Ceasar, Dean Chamberlain, Andrew Jones, Kris Kuksi, Paul Laffoley, Mars-1. Opens July 9 through August 25 in Toronto at Meta Gallery : Contact Jody Polishchuk for further information or aquisition 
This piece is the largest black and white piece that I have attempted in scratchboard, (also referred to as clay board in wood panel form). I started it in May this year after watching the play "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" this past May (my daughter Ana was playing Rosencrantz). The play concerns the misadventures and musings of these 2 minor characters from William Shakespeare's Hamlet who are childhood friends of the Prince, with Hamlet as background. After watching this abstract and absurd play, I began to see compasses everywhere in my head as the main characters and even Hamlet wandered about without a clear direction and eventually became hijacked by pirates leading to the innocent deaths of these fearless wanderers. It made me think of how timely the play was as it explored the search for values and human fragility. Later in that week I visited the Cleveland Museum of Art which had the great Shaw collection of Indian art. These inspirations were vital to gathering the symbols to begin my narrative. I began with a fairly complicated composition that included elements of nature, the sands of time, a reverence for American Indians strength and their intuitive nature and rugged-tough skin. Hence the helmut with scales which was originally going to be a tree trunk. The spine she grasps is a yearning for integrity. Then in June, my good friend art historian Marianne Berardi stopped in to visit and reminded me to look at Carravagio's works, especially how he used light in the piece "The Denial of Saint Peter" http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1997.167. At this juncture, I revisited the Shaman's face and the design of the helmut and also decided that the soldier now should really be more of a young woman. Somehow the compass took on the feeling of a clock as well, inspired by a design I saw on a scarf. The tendrils from the compass evolved more intuitively into moons serving as a universal symbol for eternity. Sorry for the long explanation, but several people have asked me where my ideas come from. It is often hard as you know to disect where our ideas come from and this time it was very clear to me. We are indeed living in a time of great shifts : in powers of the world, American lack of exports (the empty belly), lack of integrity, entanglement of war, and the role our children will play in the context of the aftermath of our decisions...they are truly our hope and who we are serving. I learned a great deal from working in liquid kaolin over these past few years. Once I discovered that I could paint with the kaolin I went on this quest to learn a lot about not only colored pigments but the textures I could create with them. I have returned full circle to the black and white work and plan to do a series of these over the next year. It is always difficult to show the texture of the work as it is somewhere between 2D and 3D. Here is my best attempt at photographing some dimensional details from the piece, although there is some glare. 
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Cari Jackson : Jan.7, 1909 - March 18, 2010
posted: March 19, 2010
This photo was taken of her and her husband Buck when she was 17. 
Cari Jackson (my husbands grandmother) has gone to heaven at 101 last night : Born January 7, 1909 in Vienna, Austria and departed this earth on March 18, 2010. Everyone that she met, she touched their lives in some way. I am really fortunate to have had her in mine. She was an artist amongst many of her gifts and learned to paint from Sandy Low, who built the art collection at The New Britain Museum of American Art. Katherine Hepburn lived in her neighborhood and loved her sisters cooking! She marched on Washington in her 60's and had the White House on redial. One of her gowns she designed was exhibited at the Smithsonian. She started her career as a dress designer in her mid 40's working into her 60's. Cari almost died from colon cancer at 48 but lived on gloriously for a 53 year survivor of cancer! Here are some things she wrote for us to carry forward. May she rest in peace and her spirit with us ever present.
"Always be aware of others and your surroundings." "Be prepared, in whatever you choose to do and to do it well." "Be humble." "Love one another." "Reach for the stars. Never be satisfied with the mediocre." "Learn just one new thing each day and you will stay young forever." "Time is precious and elusive. Waste it not." We made a book on her life as an artist, dress designer, immigrant who passed through Ellis Island, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and citizenship (she spearheaded a current events group in her assisted living at Mayslake Village where they discussed politics once a month and she was the moderator). http://www.blurb.com/books/648611 I wrote a blog a while back on Drawger when she turned 100. http://www.drawger.com/cathiebleck/?star Tonight Barbara Nessim : 6-8 Conde Nast Opening
posted: March 4, 2010
 The Durst Organization Presents : Barbara Nessim : Chronicles of Beauty Reception : Thurs. March 4th , 6-8pm Conde Nast Building : 4 Times Square The image is "A Current Past" a collage that is 28 ft. in height and a maquette for a permanent installation that is to be printed on aluminum, commissioned by the Eventi Hotel (opening Spring 2010 NY Chelsea). Hope to see you there and the other 400 people...If you have never met Barbara, she is an icon in the history of illustration, revolutionized Parsons Illustration Dept as chair for 11 years, by introducing computers and a history of such inspiring works that I was so influenced by in the early 80's. A very forward thinker and generous person! This Friday NYC-Pratt Manhattan :Scott Menchin Cathie Bleck Opening Reception
posted: March 3, 2010
"Nature's Myth 2" inks and kaolin clay on clay board
This Friday, March 5th I will be showing with acclaimed illustrator Scott Menchin. Hope you can come out for all or any of our event. Here are the details:
+Pratt Institute - Manhattan, Marilyn Lyons Gallery : 144 W 14th St. ( at 6th Ave.) 7th Floor : Lecture from 2-4PM, Opening Reception : March 5th, Friday 4-6 PM : Cathie Bleck and Scott Menchin, If you would like to attend, please RSVP to : mhinebro@pratt.edu or Michele Hinebrook I will have over 18 paintings and some sketchbooks along with several large scale prints of Scott's work. Scott will have many preliminary drawings from his kids books. This should be fun and hope to see you there! Society of Illustrator's Institutional Exhibition follows from 6-8pm at 128 E. 63rd Street |
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