Out of the Blue

It's been a pretty warm summer here, and sometimes when its this warm reggae music seems like a good idea. I found this blog today called "Distinctly Jamacian Sounds" and they post some great mixes of light-hearted hot weather music. Their heading reads, "Jamaican music from the 1950's until the mid 1980's - Everything from mento to early dancehall reggae and all the stages in between!" Check it out and try the "Mento Extravaganza" mix - highly recommended. Even if you don't typically listen to reggae, this mix may change your mind - a great mix of reggae, jazz, and other retro goodness.

New Sliding Door Gallery Exhibition Coming Together

I just made the sign for the gallery (on an old painting) and I'm getting some flyers/posters printed soon. Here's the poster:
We got a lot of exciting work for the show and it should prove to be a great First Friday - I will have work in this show and the "Transmute" show at Object+Thought here in Denver.

New Blog Press: the SCOOP

"Rethinking the silhouette " at the SCOOP features a couple of my paintings from the 'other' heading on Nathanabels.com - Thanks again SCOOP!

There are several of these works available through shopscad.

Robert Rauschenberg's "Mud Muse"

"Mud Muse", Robert Rauschenberg, 1971

In preparation for an upcoming trip to Yellowstone I was reminded of the piece by Robert Rauchenberg called "Mud Muse." According to Rebekah J. Kowal, "The piece consisted of a big aluminum tank of mud-9 x 12 feet-that oozes, plops, bubbles and slaps in response to the sounds of its own earthy noises. Rauschenberg explained that it was intended to simulate the "paint pots" at Yellowstone National Park, the churning pits of molten earth caused by subterranean heat geysers. " Click on image for youtube video of the strange piece.

Found Friday

I love it when photos have writing on them. The photo book I found last weekend had a lot of writing on the photos. This one has a pretty common 1,2,3,4 below the ladies to identify them.

New Exhibition and Upcoming Events

I will be part of a group show coming up in a couple of weeks at Object + Thought curated by interns at Plus Gallery : opening August 3rd.

Also on August 3rd will be the opening of the juried show "Rethought, Reworked, and Re-Painted" at Sliding Door in conjunction with Berndt Savig's new work. Friday the 3rd will prove to be an art-ful, action packed night. Be sure to come out if you're in Denver. I will be posting images and updates on these exhibitions on this blog and the blog on Sliding Door Gallery's website.

New Aerial Photographs

I'm particularly fond of that last one with the circled RV's. There's more at my flickr album of aerial photography. Photos copyright Nathan Abels, 2007.

New Blog Press

"We take good care of our bird"

Katie Runnels, 2006, Acrylic on panel, beeswax, oil

A very nice plug from a SCAD friend of mine at her blog. Check out the work of Katie Runnels on her blog or on her new flickr site. You can count on Katie for a wealth of style, creativity and a lyrical or light-hearted handling of many mediums including sculpture, encaustic, painting, and collage. She also has a new etsy store.

Before and After

(before)(after)

This is a little piece I painted over an landscape print I found at a flea market. I changed the mountain peaks into candles and called it "Big Rock Candle Mountain". It's for the "Rethought, Reworked and Re-Painted" juried show at Sliding Door Gallery.

Found Photos: Sunday Edition

I found this book of photos at the extremely hot flea market today. There are some nice photo-booth and/or portrait studio photos on these pages. I will try to get back in the habit of posting these on Fridays.

New Grant Barnhart Paintings and Recommended Listening

Grant Barnhart aka Tra Selhtrow

Grant Barnhart aka Tra Selhtrow

A few new pieces on the website for Grant Barnhart. Excellent work as usual. If you missed it the first time I posted about him, check out the "Tra Selhtrow" moniker to order a signed and editioned print. Very affordable and aesthetically pleasing work. He's even making t-shirts and jackets now.

Recommended Listening:

J. Tillman, "Cancer and Delirium"

Highly recommended low-key, quiet album by a prolific and talented artist. I've had the pleasure of following his career for several years now. He released a couple of cds in limited editions which have recently been re-released for wider audiences. If you have a porch available - put this album on and kick back with a sweet tea and soak it all in. There are mp3s available on the "Cancer and Delirium" above linked site if you would like to get a sample.

New Sliding Door Gallery.Com

I redesigned the new Sliding Door Gallery.com using a blogger site called wordpress. Check it out:

Dioramas

Charles Matton, "Hotel Hall", 2004 mixed media box construction, 86 x 29 x 24 inches with stand

Joe Fig, "Ryan McGinness: 3/23/06" 11x11x9.5", 2006

Joe Fig, "Julie Mehretu: 4/18/06" 11x11x9.5", 2006

Fig and Matton have both created dioramas based on artists' studios, but Matton's work often has more atmosphere and deliberate lighting, whereas Fig's pieces seem more matter-of-fact.

Today's post is inspired by the artwork for the new Interpol cd that comes out today and a recent post at moonriver based on dioramas and related work. I guess I've been pretty interested in the subject or medium for awhile now, given the amount of posts I've devoted to similar subject matter. Early on, I posted about the work of Michael Samuels, who builds interesting island seascapes and parking lots on table tops.

Michael Samuels, "Rescue Me"

I recently posted Callum Morton's small scale Billboards,

Callum Morton, "Screen #5 Outer Limits", 2006wood, acrylic paint and aluminium 93 × 110 × 45.5cm table 75 x 180 x 90 cm

and prior to that I featured the photography of Joeph O. Holmes.

And lastly, check out this genius combination of a potted plant and a miniature city park scene:

Mountains: Work of Scott Wenner and Photo Accompaniment

Scott Wenner
"There's a Fire on the Mountain", Ink & Acrylic
Scott Wenner, "Denali", Ink & Acrylic

These unusual mountain-scapes were found via Notcot.

In mountain related news, I have a few new photos from yesterday's trip to Rocky Mountain National Park:

As some of you may have noticed - my posts have been decreasing the last couple weeks with the stress of the exhibition. Now that the show is up, I should have a little more time to devote to finding new inspirations and producing interesting posts. A breath of 12000 ft. elevation moutain air yesterday was a good way to clear the mind.

Sneak Peek; Nathan Abels, "Last Seen" Exhibition

OPENING TONIGHT!
6-10 PM
Sliding Door Gallery
554 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, Colorado
80204

New Drawing

(Untitled) Graphite on Paper, 22x30"

This is the drawing I was posting progress pictures about. I'll be posting installation views of the exhibition which opens Friday very soon.

A few new Aerial Photographs

I took this image yesterday - it almost looks like another planet - click image for more.

Sculptures by Andrea Offermann

"Discovery 2 - Frog Island" Andrea Offermann

Mixed media2 x 1.5 inches

"Discovery 3 - Settlement" Andrea Offermann

Mixed media3 x 6 inches

"Discovery 1 - Rest" Andrea Offermann

Mixed media6 x 3 / 1 x1.5 inches inches

These interesting little land-form sculptures by Andrea Offermann are intriguing. Click on photos for larger version - there are multiple view points of the same piece. These have a lot of imagination while still seeming orderly with her use of loose painterly forms and the juxtoposition of the topo lines and map tacks. Check out the link above - she has a lot of work available for purchase at very reasonable prices.