Upcoming Exhibition

In case you're wondering why I haven't posted any new work - I'm actually waiting until the show opens to unveil the images. It's exciting to me to have a surprise like that....anyway here's the press release/statement I wrote up for it (I'll put up the time/duration when I get it) - I will be showing with photographer Mark Sink:

Stills, Recent Work by Nathan Abels

What: Public viewing and reception for exhibition of artwork by Nathan Abels

Who: Nathan Abels (artist)

When: Opening November 14, 2008 from ( ) pm

Show runs ( ), 2008

Regular weekly hours. Tuesday-Saturday 12-5

Where: 227 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203

About:

Stills is an exhibition of recent works by artist Nathan Abels. The paintings presented by Abels capture vignettes of the human habitat. His artwork is influenced by a sense of place, the organization of both public and private space, and finding content in places that are typically overlooked.

Nathan Abels is a transplant to Denver from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has been an active member in the Denver arts scene since arriving here in 2007 - showing in numerous solo and group shows. Abels has exhibited nationwide and continues to establish himself in Denver through his evolving work as a recent addition to Rule gallery.

Obama in Denver on Sunday

We were part of the estimated 100,000 people (that estimate seems pretty high) in Civic Center Park in downtown Denver on Sunday to see/hear Obama. We were too far back to actually see him as seen in these pictures, but it was a cool experience to hear him and be part of the action:

Obama was way up there (this is looking towards the stage)This is looking backward from where we were standing (looking back at the Capital)

here's the video from Rocky Mountain News:

Two Great Art Video Podcasts

While I've been spending most of my days in the studio, I've been keeping myself energized with some great video and audio podcasts about art. The MOMA has several audio podcasts to choose from (here). I'm really excited about these video pocasts as well:

Merrily Kerr's New York Art Tours

These short videos are great - succinct but not shallow. Merrily Kerr is thorough in her research and shares her insights while showing the viewer around the gallery. I think it is fantastic to get a short tour of NY galleries from all the way across the country. I'd highly recommend subscribing to this series (free). RSS feed here.

Vernissage TV. Well made video podcasts that include artist interviews and gallery tours. Recommended. RSS feed here.

If your mp3 device does not have video capabilities you can watch these videos on their websites - they are only a few minutes long and will be much more beneficial than watching another Sarah Palin parody on youtube.

Golden, Colorado

Painting of the Day

Daniel Richter, "Ebb", 2004, oil paint on canvas, 261 x 335 cm / 102 3/4 x 131 7/8 "

In his lecture a few weeks ago Richter referenced Socialist Realism painters for the inspiration for "Ebb":

Young Steel Workers. Post-Stalin (1961). Painted by Ivan Bevzenko (Ukraine). Oil on Canvas, 80 x 156 cm.

Lots of Work To Do

photo by Nathan Abels

I'm working on a lot of new work for my show coming up at Rule Gallery on November 14. My blogging will probably be taking a back seat for the next three weeks or so.

Like Breath on Glass

Like Breath on Glass accompanies an exhibition of the same name at The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. I just got the book in the mail yesterday and it is absolutely gorgeous. The work of the Tonalists in the late 1800s is really exquisite. It makes me look at my own paintings like I made them while wearing oven mits and a blindfold.

Eduard Steichen
Cooper's Bluff—Moonlight Strollers
1905
Oil on canvas

Human beings are like that

From The Great Dictator - a comedy film directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin. First released in October 1940:

"We all want to help one another; human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there's room for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

The way of life can be free and beautiful.

But we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The aeroplane and the radio [and tv and internet] have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women, and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people...."

New Dan McCarthy Print

New Dan McCarthy print available now. Excellent as always.

Planes in Trees

Image

via wrongdistance via here. by CHRISTOPHER FURLONG

Found Photo of the Day

(front)

(back)

This is a photo that my Mom found and has since become one of her favorites. It reads, "We are all Here But Joe and He is under the table. From Clark Oliver."

Daniel Richter at the Denver Art Museum

photo by Miguel Frutos

Last Thursday I had the privilege to hear Daniel Richter speak at the Denver Art Museum, and this week I saw his exhibition twice. I'm sure I'll see it again before it closes - if you are in the Denver area - do not miss this show. Richter was a very entertaining and inspiring speaker. When describing one of his paintings he said that it was "Me, looking out of my coffin, while being buried alive, being watched by me (with a clown face)...yeah.........suck on that." I think that gives you a little insight into his personality. He was very light-hearted and humourous - not at all what I expected given his imagery and subject matter.
In regard to this recent painting (above) Richter said, "I really thought it through - and I think there's nothing missing." He's right - what more could this painting need? It has art historical references (the Gerhard Richter-esque grid), a Batman figure made out of triangles, a skeleton sexually assulting or strangling Batman, a bird, a male sexual organ in a hourglass... there's really nothing missing.

Richter didn't begin painting in earnest until he was my age (28) and here he is thirteen years later with major museum exhibitions. Although that is quite a feat and pretty intimidating, I think it's inspiring to think that he was starting from scratch at my age and I've been painting for several years. So what I'm saying is - check back on this blog thirteen years from now and look for my first international museum survey. Ha ha. No harm in thinking big.

More Music

The most recent album by the Walkmen opens by saying, "It's back to the battle today" with a reluctant sigh. This is an album that is warm and glistening, earnest and tired, reflective and nostalgic - all without seeming like it is trying too hard. It grows with each listen in the same way a lot of albums by the National do. To me, this is a real strong contender the best album of the year. Highly recommended. Perfect for a overcast autumn day like today.

Department of Eagles - and Amelia Bauer

I've really been enjoying the new Grizzly Bear side project called Department of Eagles. The photography by Amelia Bauer is pretty nice too:

Amelia Bauer, Toile #4(Evergreens)
Amelia Bauer, Toile #2 (Willow)
Amelia Bauer, Toile #1 (Poplar)

Last Aerial Photos

You read right - these are some of the last new aerial photos I'll be posting. All good things must come to an end and I only have one more day left doing aerial survey photography. It has been a good run, and definitely influenced my art work of the last year. These two photos are of Pike's Peak - taken yesterday morning. It looks like I went out with a bang - my last flight was a dramatic look over the Cripple Creek mine at the foot of Pike's Peak. Although I won't be posting many more new aerial photos, I may dig up some old ones from time to time.

Two by Twachtman

John Henry Twachtman
"Springtime", 1884
Image via WikiCommons

John Henry Twachtman
Arques-la-Bataille
1885
Oil on canvas
Image via WikiCommons

Making the best...

of a bad situation. After a morning of serious scheduling errors, I can take some hope in this image by Lois Weinberger of vegetation on broken asphalt. Growth in brokenness.

Elk Sparring

Rocky Mountain National Park was packed yesterday. And traffic was backed up for miles because a few bull elk were sparring in the valley. We managed to get a glimpse of them in action on video. I added the music to cover up all the talking in the original video. It was cool to see this in person, although next year I think we'll go up to RMNP on a weekend that isn't Elkfest.

Elkfest 2008

Elk at Rocky Mountain National Park, photo by Nathan Abels

Today we'll be in Estes Park for our second year in a row of attending Elkfest. If we're lucky the elk will be doing their fall thing as well. It's no Johnny Appleseed Festival, but it is still pretty great.

Opening Tonight!

Everyone I Ever Knew

Please come to Bentwave Gallery- 4426 Tennyson Street- on Friday, October 3rd at 6pm. For the Opening of “Everyone I Ever Knew”- selected photographs from a new series by Anna Newell . The images will be up for all of October.

“I have stacks and stacks of photo albums that are the documentation of my life and are the result of my almost obsessive picture taking. These albums serve as visual diaries that display events and people in my life that I have recorded with my camera. For Everyone I Ever Knew I used ten years worth of snapshots to create fifteen new compositions…hoping that these diptychs will bring revived life to the old, be a vehicle for reminiscing, as well as, be a way to reconcile with a former existence.”


C&C Exhibition & Speaker Series

During the month of October (2nd to the 30th) the C&C Exhibition & Speaker Series will be showing new photographs by Aaron Jones and Jose Sanguineti. Be sure to stop by this exhibit! Aaron Jones was Space Gallery’s recent “Best In Show” winner for his photography and Jose Sanguineti will be showing his new body of work Landscapes Out West.

Denver’s City and County Building, Jury Room is located at 1437 Bannock Street on the 4th floor, Room 431 (a left off the elevators & then a right). You don’t need a jury duty summons to view the work! Please come by Monday through Friday between 12 and 6.

Recently called “… by far one of the city’s most interesting gallery spaces” by ThisWeekInDenver.com

Fall

photo by Nathan Abels

A couple of weeks ago I flew over the mountains and I could see some small pockets of aspen trees changing colors (see this post) - well just yesterday I flew over the foothills by Boulder and you could see the yellow leaves of the aspens are in full effect.

I was debating whether I've been posting too much lately about trees and nature and not enough about art, but it is fall and it's my favorite time of year to be outside. So I suppose I would be posting more about these subjects. That and all the stuff I've been working on is in-process.