Last Post of the Year

I'm closing out the year on a high note with the recent press from the Denver Post and the New American Paintings issue finally hitting newsstands. Here's a just-completed small work for the "Meditative Landscape" at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center in Dunedin, Florida. This will be the last post of the year. Looking forward to 2010!

"Light for Darkness", Acrylic on Canvas on Panel, 11x14"

Emerging Artist of the Year!

Denver Post Fine Arts Critic Kyle MacMillan named me Emerging Artist of the Year! He writes,

Abels, a promising 29-year-old artist who moved to Denver in 2007, grabbed the local art scene's attention in January with a solo exhibition of paintings at Rule Gallery that exuded an alluring sense of emotional detachment and mystery. An additional boost came last spring when Heinrich awarded him a juror honorable mention at the Foothills Art Center's "Colorado Art Open."

Merry Christmas

This is a re-post of my favorite found photo for the holidays. I got this a few years ago and I've used it on Christmas cards, mix cd covers, etc.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Through the Frost

Photos by Lorna Cochrane through the frost on our windows.

A winter landscape photo by Lee Sullivan (I think) - this was found at the flea market with a bunch of other fantastic photos I scanned and you can view here.

Blossoms of Light

We went to Denver's Botanic Gardens Blossoms of Light last night and took these photos:

New Work: "Passage"

"Passage", Acrylic on Panel, 24x48"

I've been working on that face since Thanksgiving. Finished it this morning and I'm glad it is done. It will be in the upcoming show at Rule Gallery.

Upcoming Exhibition

I'm sorry I've missed a couple of days - I'm also sorry to report that my posting may be a little sparse in the next month or so because I have a show opening on February 5 and I have tons of work to do. Expect to see some of the progress here. Mark your calendars:

• February 5 - March 20, 2010
  Nathan Abels
  Natural Causes at Rule Gallery
  
  Also on view:
  Alan Kitchen, Mindy Bray, Eric Lo Presti, Alexander Binder, Jason Stopa, and Yoshitomo Saito
  
  Opening Reception:
  Friday Feb. 5, 2010, 6-9pm
  Show runs through March 20, 2010

There has to be something mysterious.

Still from My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done - an upcoming film by Herzog and David Lynch (source).

There's a interview with filmmaker Werner Herzog on Slate today (thanks for the tip C-Monster). One particularly interesting part of the interview reads,

Jacob Weisberg: I've seen you quoted as saying that you'd rather die than see an analyst. Can you elaborate?

Werner Herzog.: I think it's a mistake of the 20^th century. You could not live in a house that was illuminated to every last single corner. And human beings become uninhabitable when they are scrutinized and illuminated into their last little dark abysses. Just leave people as they are and don't touch it. I think psychoanalysis is one of the great mistakes of the 20^th century. It's one of the reasons why I would dismiss the 20^th century as a mistake. I think the 20^th century in its entirety was a mistake. Psychoanalysis is just a small brick in my argument, that I could build up.

J.W.: Filmmaking developed in the 20^th century.

W.H.: Yes, yes, some good sides as well. No doubt.

J.W.: But I'm interested in what you say about psychoanalysis. Is the concern that self-understanding would make one less of an artist, or make people less interesting in general?

W.H.: I think people become uninhabitable, as I say, and less interesting. There has to be something mysterious. Just think about being with a woman who had not, no mystery left at all. If everything was explained about a woman, it wouldn't fascinate me anymore. If I could be explained like an encyclopedia, it would be awful.

(my emphasis added)

Josh Keyes Catalog and Print

Denver's own David B. Smith Gallery just released a editioned catalog of Josh Keye's last show -it comes with a signed print. The specs are as follows:

Exhibition catalogue for 'Sprout' at the David B. Smith Gallery | May 30th - July 3rd, 2009 | + Additional Images

12" x 9.5" Landscape | 48 pages (100 lb Velvet Cover) + Fold Out | Hardcover Edition of 1000 | Essay by George Melrod

Packaged with a Pencil Signed and Embossed 8" x 10" Archival Giclee on Hahnemuhle Velvet Paper

I've been posting about Keyes' work since 2007. If you haven't seen much of his work this catalog is a great way for people outside of the city to appreciate what was surely one of the best exhibitions of Denver's year. Get it here.

Photo of the Day

originally uploaded by Daniel Gebhart de Koekkoek.

Our own small, transitory life

Lowell Birge Harrison, (1854-1929) - source.

"More unsayable than all other things are works of art, those mysterious existences, whose life endures beside our own small, transitory life."

~Rainer Maria Rilke

Found Photo of the Day

I sanded this photo down several years ago and found it today in a pile of other small photos. It has an interesting canvas-like texture to it - the back says "April 1974".

A trip to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge

We took a short trip out to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge this afternoon. It's less than half an hour drive from downtown Denver (just a little over 11 miles away) and a great stop for a leisurely afternoon walk or hike. I'm pretty familiar with the Arsenal from the air because we photograph it monthly as part of my aerial survey job, but I was impressed by the scale of the place on the ground (27 square miles!). Here's a photo of part of the arsenal from the air this summer:


On the drive towards the visitor center we were greeted by two impressive bucks and their friends:

We're pretty sure this was a bald eagle:

photos by Nathan Abels

Full Frame Documentary Festival Poster Contest

For my graphic design readers; The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is pleased to announce its first-ever poster contest, to be produced for the 13th annual festival occurring April 8-11, 2010 in Downtown Durham North Carolina.

One design will be chosen to be printed in a limited edition run to be sold at the festival. The winning designer will receive a special “Artist” Priority Pass (a $500 value) for the 2010 festival as well as hotel accommodations for the duration of the festival.

Nancy Davenport

Nancy Davenport, detail of "Christine Papin" from the "Accident Prone" series, 1996, silver print, 16X20"

Nancy Davenport, detail of "Georgia Grayson" from the "Accident Prone" Series, 1996, silver print, 16X20"

Nancy Davenport, detail of "Leo Bloom" from the "Accident Prone" series, 1996, silver print, 16X20"

More Affordable Art For Sale

I know in this economy "affordable" is a relative term, but purchasing art can be a very rewarding experience. Yesterday I listened to Denver's own "Untitled Art Show" and heard Dana Cain talk about what a joy art collecting has been for her. She says, "When I buy a piece, that piece gives a voice to a part of me - some part of my personality...and when I look at it I connect with that part of myself."

Here are a few works I've run across lately that may connect with some part of your personality:

originally uploaded by coolhandluke.

Luke Byrne, "Dream Days", 34cm x 50cm, C-print on Kodak Endura Professional paper.
Limited edition of 10.
Comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist.
$AUD 150.00

originally uploaded by coolhandluke.

Luke Byrne, "The View", 34cm x 50cm, C-print on Kodak Endura Professional paper.
Limited edition of 10.
Comes with certificate of authenticity signed by the artist.
$AUD 150.00

Paul Adams, "First Light, First Day, Bonneville Raceway, Utah"
8.5"x11" Archival Pigment Print
Limited Edition of 275
$75.00

Mike Sinclair, "Fourth of July #2, Independence, Missouri"
8"x10", archival pigment print
Edition of 200 each $20.00

A Random Connection

Every time I see the work of Yayoi Kusama (photo source) I'm reminded of a Bugs Bunny episode called "Hare Tonic":

A few shopping ideas

Jeremy Melton, "Double Mantels", gouache on paper, 14 x 11", $250.00Gabriel Liston etching, "I couldn't bear to have you die", Plate: 3x5" - Paper: 8x11"
Edition of 50
$50 here.A lined recycled coffee bean bag by Denver's own Mission Wear - just eighteen bucks! They also have bags made of recycled banners/billboards and denim. Exceptional prices for handmade bags that support a good cause.

A beautiful photography book by Alexander Binder - available for only twenty bucks here.

Scottish Deer

Deer, originally uploaded by Caro Jones.

Music of the Year - 2009

Favorite albums from 2009

There were so many great albums this year I had to extend the list:

1. Bill Callahan, Sometimes I Wish I Were an Eagle

• Perfect for driving through the desert or a late summer night in the studio with the windows open

2. Washed Out, Life of Leisure

• The best summer album of the year - warm, soft and light
  

3. Fever Ray, Fever Ray

• A brooding, icy sound by a band whose visual component is unmatched - watch this video:
  

4. Lovers, I am the West

• A solid pop album from start to finish

5. Coconut Records, Davy

• Jason Schwartzman's music - really catchy.

6. Young Coyotes, Basement and Exhale eps
7. Atlas Sound, Logos
8. Love Language, The Love Language
9. Candy Claws, In the Dream of Sea Life
10. Dark Night of the Soul (various artists)
11. Glass Ghost, Idol Omen
12. Radio Dept., David ep
13. Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavillion
14. David Bazan, Curse Your Branches
15. Dead Man's Bones, Dead Man's Bones

Honorable Mention: Jamie Long, Bat for Lashes, Edward Sharpe, jj, Lotus Plaza, Peaches

Instrumental Favorites of 2009:

1. Teeth of the Sea, Orphaned by the Ocean
2. Olafur Arnalds, Found Songs
3. Stag Hare, Black Medicine Music
4. Black Eagle Child, Seeds the Sprout in Summer
5. Yair Yona, Remember
6. Ous Mal, Viime Talvi
7. Bosques de mi Mente, Lo-Fi

Favorite albums that are not from 2008 but listened to a lot in 2008:
1. Twin Peaks soundtracks/Julee Cruise
2. Smog (lots of their albums)
3. Felt
4. Igor Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring

What's the big deal? (2008 Passing Fancy Edition)
1. Wavves

Last year's list.

Two photos

Two old photographs by yours truly. Probably 1999/2000.

Swiss Photos

I've been re-blogging quite a bit lately, which I try not to do to much of - it is nearing the end of the semester and with that and the holidays I've been pretty busy. I'm now up to 49 "followers" and I've enjoyed reading more comments on the blog lately. Here are two photos that (like a lot of what I post) are surely posted nowhere else on the net:


These photos were taken in the Swiss Alps - sent to me from a childhood pen-pal residing there.

Photo of the Day

source.

all things both simple and humble

Morandi "Natura Morta" 1956, originally uploaded by Mark Barry

"Everything is a mystery, ourselves, and all things both simple and humble."

~Giorgio Morandi

Enrique Martinez Celaya

Enrique Martinez Celaya, The Immigrant, 2005, Bronze, 93 x 24 x 17 inches

The painting below and above bronze work can be seen in the Denver Art Museum's modern and contemporary art collection.

Enrique Martinez Celaya, Distance. 2002, 100 x 78 inches, Oil and tar on canvas

The rest of his work is also quite good and worth a look (thanks for the tip Alan):

Enrique Martinez Celaya, Invierno (Winter), 2007, 116 x 150 inches, Oil and wax on canvas

Enrique Martinez Celaya, The Ice, 2008, 46 x 50 inches, oil and wax on canvas

Enrique Martinez Celaya, The Orchard, 2009, 78 x 100 inches, Oil and wax on canvas