Web Site is Down

Wonderland,   24" x 36" 

Since no one can visit my website (www.ireneabraham.com) while the server is being repaired, I thought I would add this painting of mine for contemplation.

Meanwhile, the Oceanside Museum auction was a great success. I was happy that my painting (Somewhere #1) sold and helped in the fund raising effort.  There was electricity in the air as art lovers and artists enjoyed the night of the auction at the museum.  

Oceanside Museum of Art Auction

Somewhere #1

30"x30", synthetic pigment on board

Over 80 artists are participating in this auction at the OMA (Oceanside Museum of Art),  a small but mighty museum.
The live auction will be held October 26 at the museum, but a silent auction is ongoing until then.
OMA auction
AUCTION
OMA Auction Page

Right

Someplace far away in San Diego.............................

Have some fun: Chris Burden's Metropolis II

When I visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)  I like to visit Metropolis II by Chris Burden if I manage to be there on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday when this magnificent machine is running.
This model of the big city takes me back to my Sunday afternoons spent at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago where I would be mesmerized by their miniature train set, housed in a gigantic room on the first floor.  The Chicago museum was a storehouse of models both small like the train set or Colleen Moore's Doll House, or gigantic, like the model of a human heart you could walk into and hear the heart running.
In my video of the Burden sculpture you can see the pulsating Metropolis, and also the deus ex machina, tenderly watching over the apparatus.

Being organized

How I envy this neat and tidy workshop. This is from a visit to the Museum of Flight - Restoration Center.
This Center is affiliated with the Seattle area Museum of Flight. In the Everett Center volunteers restore old airplanes. It was fascinating watching them work on these old and beloved airplanes.  We were especially drawn to an example of the first jet used for commercial travel that was being restored.  Loving hands were evident.

A new way to look at ceramics

During a visit to the Seattle Art Museum, I found this Porcelain Room.  Instead of having the porcelain on shelves in vitrines, the plates were arrayed more like assemblage, on walls.  Plates seem to be arrayed with most attention to color and form, rather than to chronological or geographical origin. The room was darkened and the porcelain ware was lit dramatically.  It was stunning to see a new way to display these old objects.
The museum is an exciting place with new ideas of looking at things popping up in many corners.  It is definitely worth a visit.

Surprise in New York

On the way to a gallery run in NYC, I happened to turn over my Metro Card and found this poem fragment.  A wonderful surprise.  Then I turned the card over again and really started to appreciate the slightly antiquated look of the red, yellow and blue card as we whooshed our way through the subway tunnel.

I have become an orchid/ washed in on the salt white beach/ Memory/ what can I make of it now/ that might please you-/ this life, already wasted / and still strewn with miracles?       from Voyager by Mary Ruefle

be very frightened

Joyce Pensato's work is being shown in a very strong solo show at the Santa Monica Museum of Art.
The museum space conveys an expansive yet somehow intimate look at this artist's work.  Taking her lead from pop cartoon icons such as Mickey, Bart and Kenny, she riffs on their connection to contemporary culture through the use of drips, dabs, and shiny black paint.
These are gigantic portraits transforming the comic figures to threatening characters that somehow retain their charm.  Prepare to be taken in a wide and yet suffocating embrace by these images.  The show, titled I KILLED KENNY is on until August 17.

Gift and re-gift

I am participating in the FIG show "Gift" that is now on view at Mesa College.  On April 3 we had a wallk through of the exhibit with presentations by the artists.  Each artist interpreted the idea of of the show differently which led to discussions on varied topics including the concept of the gift economy, the artist as gift-giver, the gift of attention, art as transformation, parenthood, nurturing, memory and gun violence.  Even with this wide range of different takes on the subject, the show was beautifully put together with all the voices playing together to make a compelling show.

Moya Devine talked about  her collage images and gift of information about issues surrounding gun violence.
****  I will be posting more photos from the show and talks.
 In the meantime check out  photos by Susan Myrland of the "Gift" Show

A walk near the beach

                         

Expect the Unexpected

                                                                         Seen at:

                       National Oregon/California Trail Center at Montpelier, Idaho

Patterns, Symbols, Codes

This is a picture from the reception on January 13, 2013 at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles.
The three artists participating were myself,  Edith Hillinger and Bruce Barton.

Edith and I gave short talks about our history and the work that was chosen for the exhibit. Unfortunately Bruce could not be there.

The show will be on exhibit until May 13.

Seeing and Doing

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My paintings based on messages in Braille are going to be used as models for student projects at the Dove library. There will be over 1000 students going through the exhibit at the Cannon Gallery and then having fun discovering drawing on Mylar.

Show at theCannon Gallery in Carlsbad

Two of my paintings from my Braille series will be on view at the William D. Cannon Gallery Biennial in Carlsbad. 
The gallery is located at
1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad, CA, 92011

This is not,  10" x 14", marker, acrylic on Mylar

Opening reception is Saturday,  January 19, 5 -8 p.m.   The show will continue until March 9.

This is a very lovely gallery that has wonderful shows.  I am always happy to see my work displayed there.