Music Monday - Spectrum Live

I know it is no longer Monday, nor exactly music (although there is some appropriate accompaniment in the Gurney one), but I thought some overviews of the weekend would be a good thing to post while I'm processing all the pictures and promo material and information I acquired whilst in Kansas City last week...

Here is James Gurney's mini-film of his adventures (in typical humorous, smart, Gurney-form):

Here is a really good article which includes many a fabulous photo: Rockville Music Magazine. 

 And here is a photo from Irene Gallo (one of the few I know I'm actually in. Mostly I just took them): 

(It's me, and Greg Manchess and Arkady Roytman fairly drooling over some Eric Fortune originals. Yum!)

So MUCH yummy, arty goodness!  Much more to come.

Succulent Saturday - Galleries and Museums...

This week I got to run into Seattle with POBL friend and awesome artist Rebecca Bush for some 'culture'-

We started off at the Roq la Rue gallery - mostly to see the mini show of Eric Fortune (which was unsurprisingly breath-taking. The guy can paint like nobody's business! Click his name above to see these pieces close up.)

Featured at this show was Glenn Barr - although I must say I was more impressed with his painting-on-wood-with-funky-frames than the actual paintings......

Rebecca is also a docent for the Seattle Art Museums and took me to see the Asian Museum, in the very lovely Volunteer Park... (if you look closely, you can see the Space Needle through the hole in the giant Asian donut sculpture. :-))

A smattering from inside:

Super cool Indian relief sculpture... (East Indian angels? Pig gods and Ganesh!)

Dragon riding anyone? (See the fabulous dragon claws in the close-up)

But my favorite Asian art is always the sculpted  horses. Their round heavy bodies and stylized faces... Love 'em!

...almost as much as the gallery-hopping-cupcakes that we treat ourselves with! :-) This time, the flavor of choice was Passionfruit-guava. Heaven!

Cupcakes and art. What could be better?

Gallery Outing! (Eric Fortune & Nicoletta Ceccoli)

Today I got to meet up with a lovely art friend of mine who lives in Seattle and together we ventured off to see the current (and entirely sold out!) show at the eclectic Roq La Rue Gallery-

(Look at this fun space- Black floors and ceilings. Indian themed cut-outs. Crystal chandeliers.)

There was an entire wall devoted to new pieces by Italian illustrator Nicoletta Ceccoli. I first saw some of her work at the Bologna Children's Fair a couple of years ago. These were even more impressive.

Every piece was like a finely finely rendered pale pastel confection of fantastical imagery... They were absolutely beautiful.

In the back corner were these large breathtaking pieces by Eric Fortune.

I've seen his pieces in print and online, but that totally does not do them justice. They are so incredibly soft, textural and nuanced in person. (We spent a long time looking). His website describes his work thusly:

Packed with emotional nuances he creates soft yet riveting lighting and atmosphere. With uncompromising patience and discipline he slowly builds up his luminous characters and worlds until they radiate life.

And so what sometimes seems to be a simple image to the viewer becomes richer and richer as he or she becomes increasingly entranced by the emotional presences within the art. A true original, Fortune is emerging as a subtle yet powerful artistic voice.

All true. He shows several of these pieces in progress on his blog. The hours and painstakingly sensitive labor that go into them are immediately apparent in person.

And you can see nice, clear shots of all the pieces in this gorgeous show here.

And to top all that huge visual treat off, we indulged in a bit of the burgeoning market of gourmet cupcakes of awesomeness! Wow! I've heard about these specialty stores-of-tastebud-delight, but I've never really been a huge cupcake fan. Until now. I tried a Mexican chocolate, and a Lavender flavored mini cake. I think I may have actually swooned...

Thanks Rebecca for an completely delicious afternoon.