Dream Vessels and A Murder of Crows

Tags

assembling, Authentic Movement, birds, broken, California, crows, dance, darkness, gallery, hope, inspiration, Murder of Crows, nature, peace, spirit, studio, Vanitas, voice, wings, witness

Dream Vessels #125: Metronome

Gathering paintings and collages and poems for an exhibit at Upstairs Art Gallery Feb. 24-Mar. 24.

Discovering connections and stories in my own artwork, how collage making laid ground for constructing Murder of Crows paintings. What Vanitas symbols can you find?

Artist reception and short poetry reading with my daughter Reba on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2-5 pm. You’re invited!

Upstairs Art Gallery, 306 Center Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448

(707) 431-4214  Open daily 11-6

www.upstairsartgallery.net  

March Featured Artist, Marsha Connell

Dream Vessels and A Murder of Crows

EXHIBIT DATES: February 25 – March 24, 2019

Artist Reception:  Sunday, March 10, 2019: 2 -5 pm  

Poetry reading with Marsha Connell and Reba Connell, 2:30-3 pm.

Thinking About Bonnard, Murder of Crows oil painting series

Press release:

The March Featured Artist, Marsha Connell,  presents works that articulate an artistic evolution initiated in collage and leading to the “Murder of Crows” still-life oil paintings.

Connell had long been a painter and sculptor when her daughter, Reba, invited her to make a collage for shared communication while she was having her junior year abroad in Israel, a year that coincided with the first Gulf War.

The collages became an unexpected healing process, fueled deeper by a dream of war preparations that suggested she bear witness.  The collage “letters without words” to her daughter grew into a series of 150 “Dream Vessels” that speak with a visual vocabulary, like Vanitas paintings, symbolically merging awareness of death and the passage of time with the beauty of life.

When words finally came, they emerged from the “dreaming in the day” dance practice of Authentic Movement.  The resulting poems were often written in the presence of the collages and arose from a similar place of finding connections among discovered fragments.  They accompany the Dream Vessels, but do not describe or explain them.

The arranging and rearranging of found images in collage-making, laid the groundwork for assembling and staging objects in the “Crow” series.  “Spirit birds” and wings play a supporting role in the collages; birds star in the still-life series.

Thinking about Hokusai, Murder of Crows oil painting series

 

“Through this work, I found a way to bring hope together with darkness.  Assembling these found images was like taking the broken pieces of the world and putting them back together.”

Both the collages and the crow paintings entice the viewer to look closer and follow a path of discovery.  The paintings are also homages to other painters, such as Thinking of Bonnard and Thinking of Emily Carr. And there is humor, Connell confided,  “The longer these crows were in my studio, the more trouble they got into!” evidenced by their activities and positions in the paintings.

Dual Businesses: Upstairs Art Gallery and Levin and Company Bookstore

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/8654233-181/dual-businesses-healdsburg-bookstore-serves?sba=AAS

Dual businesses: Healdsburg bookstore serves as grand entrance to art gallery

Levin and Company bookstore has been in business for 27 years and Upstairs Art Gallery opened six years later. While the original store was also on Center street, the move to the center of the block on the Healdsburg Plaza quadrupled their business.

The bookstore, which started selling used books, developed a committed following of loyal customers who asked it to order new books. Now, only the sidewalk cart holds used books and the store is filled with new publications.

Owner Aaron Rosewater has hung out in bookstores since he was an 11-year-old, first in the long-gone Toyon Books, where his mother Adele Levin worked, then in the store his mother started with business partner Jacquie Robb. He bought out Robb in 2001.

Adding an art gallery has complemented the bookstore. Walk through Levin and Company, head up the stairs and the conversion to art gallery begins on the walls and shelves of the stairwell carry some art objects and visual art.

The gallery began with artists from the Santa Rosa Art Guild who wanted to show their work. They saw the available space and created an artist-owned gallery.

Only 16 artists belong to the gallery at a time because of the available wall space. Each artist-owner pays monthly rent and a 20 percent commission to the gallery.

Current manager Carolyn Wilson has been in the position for seven years. The first manager was Phyllis Rapp, who just returned as a gallery artist. Over the years about 60 artists have been part of the gallery.

“It’s a perfect match — the gallery and books,” said Wilson.

Levin and Company and Upstairs Art Gallery are located at 306 Center St.

For more information visit upstairsartgallery.net or levinbooks.com.

 

 

 

 

Gallery Seven – Pastel Landscape and Still Life

Tags

California, colorist, drawing, interior landscape, landscapes, mark making, Marsha Connell, Mendocino Art Center, nature, painterly, Pepperwood Preserve, Sonoma county, still life, tabletop, upstate New York

Just published, a gallery of pastels, and their stories. Enjoy!

Gallery Seven – Pastel Landscape and Still Life.

En plein air and in the studio: Mendocino pastel workshop and more plein air news

Tags

#PACE15, California, Coastal, en plein air, Mendocino Art Center, Monterey, pastel, weekends, workshop

I’ve just returned from 5 days in Monterey at “the Woodstock of plein air painting” with 700+ painters at #PACE15, the 4th Annual Plein Air Convention and Expo. I attended lectures, demos and critiques by many accomplished artists in oil, pastel and watercolor, and painted every afternoon on the beautiful, and windy, central coast of California. I’m refreshed and re-inspired to share the joys of the plein air painting experience with others!

My Spring Retreat at Pepperwood Preserve: Landscape Painting “En Plein Air” is filled! but happily there is still space in my summer Mendocino pastel workshop, en plein air and in the studio. LIVELY PASTELS: BRIDGE BETWEEN DRAWINGS AND PAINTING. July 31–August 2, 2015 (Friday–Sunday, 9:30am–4:30pm) SU15FA513 • For all levels. You can register online @ http://www.mendocinoartcenter.org/Summer15/Connell.html
Or call 707 937-5818, ext. 10. Toll-free 800 653-3328, ext. 10

I’ll be there again for the Mendocino Art Center’s “Mendocino Open Paint Out”, September 7-12. I’m honored to have been invited as one of eight “celebrity artists”. In addition to painting every day on location, in public view with many other painters, I’ll be demonstrating pastel painting and serving as a juror to award prizes to participants. Mendocino boasts a spectacular coastal location and a charming and walkable New England style small town. It would be lovely if you could join us! http://www.mendocinoartcenter.org/pleinair

LIVELY PASTELS: BRIDGE BETWEEN DRAWINGS & PAINTING at Mendocino Art Center, July 31-August 2

Tags

August, California, Coastal, demonstrate, interior landscape, Marsha Connell, Mendocino Art Center, nature, painterly, September, tabletop, weekends

LIVELY PASTELS: BRIDGE BETWEEN DRAWINGS & PAINTING at Mendocino Art Center, July 31-August 2.

Open Studio: Sonoma County ART Trails

Tags

appointment, art, cards, Cloverdale, collages, Corrick's, crows, Dream Vessels, fields, flowers, Fulton Xrossing, gallery, hats, Icehouse Gallery, landscapes, Marsha Connell, Mt. St. Helena, Murder of Crows, music, October, oils, open studios, originals, paintings, Pepperwood Preserve, Petaluma, prints, Sally Baker, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma county, still life, studio, Vanitas, watercolor, weekends

If you’re nearby, please do stop in! Map. If far, please enjoy a virtual visit by clicking links below. I’ll be delighted to see you or hear from you!

Journey with me through landscape and still life in oil and watercolor. . . enter the inner worlds of Dream Vessels Collages.

The upstairs studio is featuring skies and waterways,
downstairs is a gallery of fields and flowers.
Hats and a Murder of Crows may appear in surprising locations.

Originals grande and petite, prints, and cards. Many new small works and an opportunity to discover “specials” in all sizes. (I’m reducing studio inventory in preparation for a move. . . details yet to be revealed. . .)

You may also view paintings year round, by appointment,
at the studio, in your home or office, and at
ART Trails Gallery at Corrick’s  637 4th Street, Santa Rosa
​
Follow my new blog Marsha Connell Studio, where you can also register for our November watercolor workshop at Pepperwood Preserve.

My paintings are in these current Sonoma County ART Trails exhibitions:
Sebastopol Center for the Arts (our new program sponsor), Corrick’s, Fulton Xrossing Gallery, Cloverdale Arts Alliance, Icehouse Gallery Petaluma.

The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life.

Dream Vessels collage created for Take Five project of the 2014 Sonoma County Jewish Film Festival.

On exhibit at Corrick’s in October and at the Rialto Theater, Sebastopol, Tuesday, October 14, during the two screenings of award-winning film, The Lady in Number 6.

GESTURE and STILLNESS Fall 2014 Watercolor Workshop

Tags

brushstrokes, colorist, gesture, Marsha Connell, painterly, paintings, Pepperwood Preserve, Sally Baker, sharply focused objects, still life, stillness, watercolor, wet in wet

with Marsha Connell and Sally Baker 

Saturday&Sunday November 8&9, 2014, 9:30am-3:30pm

Pepperwood Preserve, Santa Rosa, CA

Two painter friends
One known for expressive “painterly” landscapes, one for elegantly rendered still lifes, both passionate about color, offer their unique weekend of watercolor exploration.

You’ll explore skills including
Painting soft-edged wet-in-wet forms, building images by layering marks and shapes, painting seamless transparent washes as a meditative practice, and delineating sharply focused objects.

Approaches
From abstract to realist, from spontaneous space-shaping with a brush to methodical color-forming based on careful drawing.

Your instructors
bring many years of painting and classroom experience to guide you—Marsha at Santa Rosa Junior College and Sally at Healdsburg High School, as well as workshops and classes for students and teachers across the country.

Visit Sally and Marsha during Sonoma County Art Trails Open Studios, October 11 & 12, 18 & 19, 2014. View our paintings year round by appointment, at our studios, and at Art Trails Gallery at Corrick’s  637 4th Street, Santa Rosa, CA

Participants of diverse backgrounds are welcome.
Class is structured around group exercises and individual pursuits, both indoors and in the beautiful Pepperwood landscape. Beginners will find guidance for basic exploration. Experienced painters and repeat students will find support to develop technique and personal expression.
Materials
Use what you already own or consult our list, sent upon registration. Snacks provided. Please bring your lunch.

Sign up early!
Workshop is limited to 25 participants.
Fee: $195. Complete registration using form below. Mail checks to Marsha Connell, 2180 Beverly Way, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 or Sally Baker, My Daughter the Framer, 637 4th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404. You may phone in credit card numbers or ask questions of Sally 707-829-0396, or Marsha 707-527-7754.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

GESTURE and STILLNESS Watercolor Workshop
with Marsha Connell and Sally Baker          November 8&9, 2014, 9:30am-3:30pm

Pepperwood Preserve, Santa Rosa, CA

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Address(required)

City and Zip(required)

Phone(required)

Payment method, credit card or check(required)

Art interests and experience

Submit

GESTURE and STILLNESS Spring 2014 Watercolor Workshop

Tags

brushstrokes, colorist, gesture, Marsha Connell, painterly, paintings, Pepperwood Preserve, Sally Baker, sharply focused objects, still life, stillness, watercolor, wet in wet

with Marsha Connell and Sally Baker 

Saturday April 19, 2014, 9:30am-3:30pm

Pepperwood Preserve, Santa Rosa, CA

Two painter friends
One known for expressive “painterly” landscapes, one for elegantly rendered still lifes, both passionate about color, offer their unique weekend of watercolor exploration.

You’ll explore skills including
Painting soft-edged wet-in-wet forms, building images by layering marks and shapes, painting seamless transparent washes as a meditative practice, and delineating sharply focused objects.

Approaches
From abstract to realist, from spontaneous space-shaping with a brush to methodical color-forming based on careful drawing.

Your instructors
bring many years of painting and classroom experience to guide you—Marsha at Santa Rosa Junior College and Sally at Healdsburg High School, as well as workshops and classes for students and teachers across the country.

Visit Sally during Art at the Source, May 31 & June 1, 7 & 8 and Sally and Marsha during Art Trails Open Studios, October 11 & 12, 18 & 19, 2014.
View our paintings year round by appointment, at our studios, and at
Art Trails Gallery at Corrick’s  637 4th Street, Santa Rosa, CA

Participants of diverse backgrounds are welcome.
Class is structured around group exercises and individual pursuits, both indoors and in the beautiful Pepperwood landscape. Beginners will find guidance for basic exploration. Experienced painters and repeat students will find support to develop technique and personal expression.

Materials
Use what you already own or consult our list, sent upon registration. Snacks provided. Please bring your lunch.

Sign up early!
Workshop is limited to 25 participants.
Fee: $100. Complete registration using form below. Mail checks to Marsha Connell, 2180 Beverly Way, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 or Sally Baker, My Daughter the Framer, 637 4th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404. You may phone in credit card numbers or ask questions of Sally 707-829-0396, or Marsha 707-527-7754.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

GESTURE and STILLNESS Watercolor Workshop
with Marsha Connell and Sally Baker          November 8&9, 2014, 9:30am-3:30pm

Pepperwood Preserve, Santa Rosa, CA

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Address(required)

City and Zip(required)

Phone(required)

Payment method, credit card or check(required)

Art interests and experience

Submit

A Studio Sunday Painting Demonstration

Tags

Corrick's, demonstrate, discussing, inspiration, oils, open studios, spontaneous still life, Studio Sunday, techniques

I will demonstrate painting a “spontaneous still life” in oils during Studio Sunday at Corrick’s, May 26, 12:30-4:30pm this weekend. You are invited to stop in!

Still Life with Colander or 36 Views of Persimmons

Tags

constellations, ekphrasis, Hiroshigi, Hokusai, Japan, landscapes, luminous, Mount Fuji, persimmons, perspectives, sacred, Sally Baker, tabletop, Ukiyo-e

Still Life with Colander
or 36 Views of Persimmons

written by Marsha Connell for my good friend and collaborator Sally Baker,
for her exhibit of watercolors and ekphrasis* poetry

There was a time—200 years long—
when Japan shut its doors to travelers from the West,
to sailors and missionaries, to diplomats and artists —
Sakoku, closed country.
And Japanese citizens could not travel abroad —
to prevent disruptive influences,
for purity of culture, internal peace.

Now Japan is a very small country, a nation of islands.
Imagine the wanderlust, the cabin fever, living within
such circumscribed boundaries for a lifetime, for ten lifetimes!
Thus, elaborate ritual journeys evolved, with way stations,
pilgrimages and shrines,
measured by small distances and changing views
of sacred Mount Fuji.
And so began, too, the practice
of painting the serial journey. First Hokusai’s
woodcuts, 36 views of Mount Fuji,
then 48 views, then 100, seen, and reseen,
with fresh perspectives and characters.
He inspired Hiroshigi’s 36 views of Mount Fuji,
and 100 Famous Views of Edo.

Ukiyo-e—pleasures of the floating world.
When I see these two characters, in their brilliant orange,
green and blue, their flashy feathers like costumes of kabuki players,
or perhaps priests for a ritual, standing on a classic cobalt,
ultramarine and white textile, under the subtle
presence of stacked orange persimmons
one looming high above like Mount Fuji, peeking over
the lip of a spring green colander, pierced with dark constellations—
I wonder if Sally, ensconced at her studio table, thinks of Hokusai,
and Mount Fuji, when she travels over, under, around, through
her tabletop landscapes, painting her luminous
36, 48, 100 views of persimmons.

(ekphrasis*: the description of a work of visual art)