What Art Is/ What Art Isn’t

There are a lot of things you can put on the “what art is” side of things, and probably fewer things can be listed on the side of the equation of what art isn’t. But let’s see where we go with this, and for the sake of argument, let’s stick with the visual arts.

Art is evocative. If it’s not, it might be decorative. Art is political, art is apolitical. Art is about stillness, it’s also about motion. Art can be useful, it can be totally useless. We like it, we don’t like it. Art is created with passion; art is created out of boredom. Like beauty, what art is, is in the eye of the beholder, but art certainly doesn’t have to be beautiful. For some, art is about attention to detail, for others it is about freedom from detail. Art is loud, it’s also quiet. Art is personal, art is public.

Art is often self-indulgent, or it can be generous. It can speak the painful truth, or hide our secrets. Art is wild, but sometimes soothing. Art can project the future, or celebrate the past. Art can be blind to consequences, or bring them to the forefront of our thoughts. Art feeds our soul. This mixed-media painting by artist James Mall, titled "Fiery" has me asking questions.

What art is not: Art is not hatred, art is not indifference. Art is not a vacuum. What is your definition of art? --Ruth Mitchell

(c) 2006 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved

Aha Art Moments

I am once again actutely reminded of one of the joys of art by a bizarre incident that happend in my front yard just a few minutes ago. A huge bird swooped in, not twenty feet from my window. Then right behind him a pesky Blue Jay followed. The little bird was harrassing the big bird, which I'm pretty certain was a Red-tailed Hawk, or possibly an immature Eagle (there is a nest in the neighborhood). The large predator bird could have eaten the little bird in one swallow, but he seemed to tolerate the pest. Perhaps he had just raided the smaller bird's nest.

It was one of those hold-your-breath aha moments that didn't last 20 seconds, just enough time for the Blue Jay to take a couple of swipes. Some artists go after and are able to capture those slices of moments. Such as what artist Priscilla Humay does with her skyscapes.

These art works are typically images or sculpture that convey motion or emotion. You know them when you see them. If you have a favorite image that conveys that aha moment, let's hear from you.--Ruth Mitchell

(c) 2006 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved

Frog Blog

The first time I saw one of Tim Cotterill’s frogs, I noticed it. His enamel-fired bronze sculptures are colorful, kinetic, and just down right intriguing. Cotterill is able to take, what I think is a rather homely looking animal (here come the emails), and turn it into a mean, lean leaping-machine. His sculptures are very popular and are collected by celebrities and just plain folk worldwide.

Now let’s take a leap of another kind here. Zarks, a gallery in Eureka Springs, Arkansas is sponsoring a Treasure Hunt during the town’s month long May Festival of the Arts. Rumor has it that on Saturday, May 6th, “The Frogman,” will make his 3rd annual visit to Zarks. He is supposed to make his entrance that evening on the “Anaconda,” a ten passenger stretch motorcycle, following his appearance in the “Artrageous Parade.” The treasure hunt involves frog owners and their frogs only. So if you don’t have a Tim Cotterill frog, gecko, or Koi sculpture, then you can purchase one to participate of course. Did I mention that Eureka has a world famous frog museum? But that’s a leap of another kind.

Still another leap—art as advocate. While Cotterill only espouses to be having fun, and trying to spread a little joy, he is actually acting as a conservationist by giving frogs such great press. It was documented a number of years ago that the earth’s frog population was undergoing some serious challenges. Because some of the hormones found in frogs are similar, and in some cases identical, to human hormones, frog species have been the object of numerous studies and some say this decline in the frog population could signal trouble for the human race. The National Geographic Society has awarded grants to study this in more depth. --Ruth Mitchell

(c) 2006 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved

The Dogs and the Dolphins

From ancient times, the benifits of living in the moment have been expounded upon by philsophers, religions, and other disciplines.

Many creative producers and artists will tell you that time dissappears when they are in "the creative zone." It has recently been brought to my attention through a most radical book, called "Cesar's Way," by Cesar Millan, star of National Geographic's Dog Whisperer, and dog psychologist to the stars, that dogs, man's ultimate best friend, only live in the now.

It was one of those Wow! slap your forhead kind of moments for me. Forget all this conditioned response stuff that Pavlov made so famous. My little 10 pound daschund was only living in the moment when he left me that surprise package in the middle of the night on the path to the bathroom.

According to Cesar, we must become the pack leader and provide excercise, disipline and affection in that order if we want to gain the confidence of our four-legged friends. He also declares that American dogs are more indulged and thus more neurotic than dogs in other countries.

When I put Millan's advice to the test, it became apparent that he was right about a lot of things, and so I began to ponder that perhaps, as he declares, dogs, and the rest of the animal kingdom are merely living in the now. They don't worry about the past, and certainly don't consider the future.

Upon the advice of some popular books, and some other spiritual advisors, I have often tried to live my life in the now. It's quite easy when I'm in the creative zone, and much more difficult when I have time on my hands. As humans, I guess we're much more neurotic than our neighbors in the animal kingdom but then again, I don't see the the dogs or even the dolphins making art. I guess there are some benefits to this cognitive thought.

(c) 2006 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved

Faces - Instant Publishing Morphs Art

It's quite clever, an idea fueled by the internet and the digital phenomena. The Gallery of Ontario is sponsoring an interactive exhibit, whereby anyone on the internet can submit photos for possible inclusion in their "In Your Face" exhibit, which oepns July 1. It's part of the AGO's initiative as part of Toronto's Live with Culture celebration.

In Your Face will allow everyone to become a creative part of the Gallery's future. Portraits submitted may be included in a computer kiosk slideshow presentation coinciding with the "In Your Face" exhibit. There will not be any physical prints made of the Flickr group portrait submissions. A Flickr photostream will also be incorporated into the at AGO's web site.

Portraits will be credited with the information supplied in the associated Flickr record. Have some fun and join in by sharing your original, art portraits. All submissions should be in by June 1, 2006.

(c) 2006 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved

The Still Life

Stillness…. it’s a foreign concept to many of us that live in a society that worships instant gratification and thrives on the frenetic pace of modern life at times as loud and directionless as a NASCAR event.

Picture a large body of water without a ripple on it, and breathe deeply. The only sound you hear is that of your lungs filling with air. That’s stillness. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to view a truly great “still life” by one of the Old Masters you too have known the power of stillness. In his book “The Power of Now,” Eckhart Tolle author encourages stillness for attaining a spiritual connection.

16th and 17thh Century painters, especially Dutch painters such as Vermeer and Steen, became entranced by the “still life” genre. It was often accomplished by taking fruit, vessels or flowers and other objects of everyday life, and painting them using light and color to make ordinary objects take on extraordinary life. At the same time other Dutch painters, were painting the sea, angry, perilous and almighty.

Contemporary artists are still exploring the subtleties of the "still life". Watercolorist Laurin McCracken has been greatly influenced by the 16th Century Flemish painters. His work has been lauded by publications such as American Artist, and merited McCracken one of the quickest entries into Signature Membership of the National Watercolor Society. His advancement after just two years of membership is extraordinary considering it typically takes artists years of submitting work before they get selected for this distinction.

McCracken captured this Signature distinction for his painting “Glamis Castle Rose,” done in the Dutch and Flemish 16th century style. And while he is known for his “still lifes,” his career has been anything but still. “I see things in a high level of detail, and I’m willing to put the time into capture it in my watercolors. McCracken has studied with Gwen Bragg at the Art League School in Alexandria, Virginia and with Alain Gavin at the Art Institute of Chicago. His paintings hang in corporate and private collections, including McGraw-Hill's Corporate Collection and the Urban Land Institute. He also has photographs in the Graphics Arts Collection, Princeton University. He is now moving into teaching himself, having recently conducted a workshop in Pasadena, Calif. for American Artist magazine, a publication which featured him in its 2005 fall issue. To view more of this amazing artist's work visit buyoutsidethebox.com.

(c) 2006 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved

Jour & Nuit -- Haute Couture Meets Practical (well sort of)

On that same trip to Miami, I found myself sitting next to a very interesting young lady one night at dinner, Hillary Chan Latos, creator of the fabulous Jour & Nuit designer label shoes. She seemed to be so young to be so on her way to the top. A fashion writer for the very hip New York magazine Soma, she has created the most exciting thing in shoes, since, well shoes were invented. It all happened when she was packing for her trip to cover the Cannes Film Festival. I’ve been there so many times myself. The shoes take up all the room in your suitcase. What’s a lady to do?

That’s when this young dynamo came up with the idea of shoes that had interchangeable straps and buckles, even heels that can change in height. Wow what genius! Only a woman could have thought of this. Hillary has an MBA she told me, she's hired a consultant and is having the shoes manufactured in Italy of course. The line launches this spring. Look for all the movie stars to be wearing them soon.

(c) 2006 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved

Vizcaya - A National Treasure

Art as political statement/Art as status symbol/Art as utilitarian—
these concepts are all embodied in the exquisite estate on the shores of Biscayne Bay.

I had passed hurriedly by Vizcaya once before, knowing immediately without seeing much and knowing even less about this National Historic Landmark that I wanted to visit this mysterious place. Then hurricane Wilma showed up, just a few short weeks after Katrina hit New Orleans. Everyone was freaked about the storm, and so I had to leave Miami, hurriedly before getting the chance to visit Vizcaya.

Recently I returned to Miami to do a story for Romantic Destinations magazine. Lorie Juliano with Sonesta Hotels had brought us here. Sonesta by the way has an incredible art collection program that I'll write about later. It was on this trip that I had the opportunity to visit Vizcaya, an incredible Italian-style villa built by Chicago industrialist James Deering, Vice President of International Harvester.

Upon walking through the door, my irrational interest in this place was revealed to me. A product of the Industrial Age and subsequent Roaring 20s, one of the most colorful eras of our history, Vizcaya, was completed in 1916. It lies on the Bay of Biscayne not far from Coconut Grove, where Deering’s father, William also had a home.

Deering employed the assistance of three men, who played an important part in creating Vizcaya. Paul Chalfin was a painter from New York who served as artistic designer, F. Burrall Hoffman was the architect, and Diego Suarez of Columbia created the stunning grounds, which once included 180 acres.

The industrialist's winter home was designed to appear as if it were a 400-year-old Italian estate that had been occupied and renovated by several generations of families. With 34 exquisitely decorated rooms evoking time periods from the 15th through 19th century, the house is filled with antiquities and art. Included in some of the oldest items in the house are storage benches, uncomfortable looking pieces of furniture that immediately convene the thought that the people who made them were not busy sitting around ruminating on their work.

Because of the salt air and the occasional appearance of hurricanes such as Wilma, and the incredible collection of European antiquities at Vizcaya, the open courtyard has been discreetly enclosed to allow protection from the elements.

A little known fact about the house is that it has a middle level with 12 rooms for the servants and service. This is going to be opened up to the public soon. One of the most fascinating aspects of the house is the stone barge which serves as a breakwater, but extends the art and beauty of the estate into Biscayne Bay.

James Deering moved in on Christmas day and spent his winters at Vizcaya until he died in 1925, nearly a year before the Stock Market Crash and Great Depression.

Miami-Dade County purchased the house in 1952, which ultimately preserved the estate intact, though it has lost much of the original acreage. The priceless collection of antiques was donated by Deering’s family.

It’s no wonder President Bill Clinton selected the estate for the historic Summit of the Americas in 1994 when 34 leaders of the Western Hemisphere met there. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan met with Pope John Paul II and in 1991; her majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England toured the estate.

So it is from the utilitarian or "art of need" that took a jouney to "art as status symbol" and progressing to "art as political statement" that makes Vizcaya more than just a beautiful old estate once built to look old and now fulfilling that prophecy. Go see it soon.


--Ruth Mitchell

"Curvilinear" by Andrew Neighbour

Andrew Neighbour is at the forefront of exploring a new world where digital art meets classical realist painting and drawing. For more about this artist and many others visit buyoutsidethebox.

Collecting Art - Mistaking One Thing for Another

In the past year, there has been a lot of fervor over a bird known as the Ivory Billed Woodpecker. This once thought-to-be-extinct bird, North America's largest woodpecker, as was reported by National Public Radio's Morning Edition, was declared to be alive and well in a swamp in eastern Arkansas known as the Big Woods because of seven confirmed sightings. Not much else has been reported since last April, and one wonders if the scientists are purposely staying low key to protect the endangered bird, or if the whole thing was an embarrassing mistake.
An avid bird watcher, I am familiar with the Pileated Woodpecker, which is very similar in size and markings to the Ivory Billed Woodpecker, and quite often mistaken for the perhaps extinct bird. A pair of these majestic, yet secretive birds recently appeared not ten feet away from where I stood. It was exhilarating, but I knew enough to know that these birds were not to be mistaken for the legendary "Lord God Bird," a moniker for the Ivory Billed because supposedly that's what you said when you saw the massive bird. Those new to collecting art are often worried about making beginner's mistakes, such as mistaking one thing for another, and thus getting ripped off. But unless you are jumping into collecting the works of the Old Masters, there's very little you can do wrong if you follow your own heart. People buy art for different reasons. I once read an article about good investments, and the author quoted statistics that said you would have done seven times better had you invested in Barbie Dolls than if you had invested in the stock market of a set period of time. I know, I know.... art can be an excellent investment, but those people that bought Barbie Dolls instead of stocks were following their passion and enjoying every minute of it. Collecting art should be the same. It was like when I saw that beautiful pair of woodpeckers. My heart raced, but I didn't jump up out of my chair and rush to call the Audubon society before I pulled out my Peterson's Field Guide to Birds and verify my identification. I was happy in the revelation that the birds were beautiful and satisfied with the sighting. It wasn't necessary to me that I had seen a pair of Pileateds instead of the Ivory Bill, because what I did see was extraordinary sighting on its own, and I was satisfied with what I had. When buying art, first of all ask yourself the obvious question. Do you like the art? If your answer is yes, then the most important question has been answered. Some artists are better than others, some are better at self-promotion, but when it boils down to it, art is subjective. If you like an artist's work and a lot of other people do to, and that artist becomes well known, then you do have a better chance for selling your art at a higher price than what you paid for it. However, when you purchase you need to also ask yourself. Am I buying this as an investment, or do I want to hang it on my living room wall, or both? The more an artist exhibits in galleries and museums, the more likely that artist is going to become well-known and thus collectible. And if that same artist dies young, or for some reason stops producing, then the value of that artist's work can even skyrocket if that's a risk you are willing to take. If you're looking to put your money into a sound investment, we recommend you develop a relationship with a financial advisor who doesn't recommend art collecting as some of them now do. If you want to enjoy life, and have art that enhances your life, then we say buy what you like and enjoy. An excellent source of information on collecting art is "Collecting the New : Museums and Contemporary Art" by Bruce Altshuler. Do you have a favorite book on collecting art? We'd like to hear from you.

To shop for some great art online visit our website buyoutsidethebox.com
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Where Does Inspiration Come From?

For anyone that has ever made their living in a creative field, you know better than anyone that you rely on inspiration to bring your ideas to fruition. We all find inspiration in different places, but what are those?

For me I can go to certain wells, and almost never come up without a drink of water. Below are ten inspiring ideas for inspiration, not necessarily in order of importance; shared freely to provide a forum for which others can also share their ideas. Because one of the most inspirational things I can do is listen and look at what others are doing. A painting, music or a good book are all things that can stimulate my creativity.

1. My creativity is not based on a nebulous breath of air. I have become disciplined over the years, and I pretty much am driven by the same nine to five clock and calendar that most of the work force is driven by. Truthfully I quite often don't take more than a ten minute lunch break or a walk around the yard. There is an aside to this however, I work in the environment that I have created for myself, I'm not stuck in a soul-sucking cubicle somewhere.

2. Nature is my number one inspiration. Nature is more than inspirational, it is spiritual, and while I'm not a big outdoors person in the sense of the word that I need to hike five miles every day, I just need to see and touch nature daily.

3. A specified time and place works, but playing hooky can be just as inspirational as discipline, especially when I get a touch of spring fever. In contract to the discipline described above, distraction from a work schedule can do wonders to inspire me also. As long as I don't overdue it, guilt (especially derived from guilt over not spending enough time working can send me into a hole devoid of inspiration.)

4. I don't sing in the shower, because I really suck at singing, but this is a relaxing place to let ideas flow, and plan my day. I guess you could call this singing of a sort.

5. Trite as it sounds; my dogs provide me with infinite inspiration. They have a lot of personality and tons of unconditional love. I could write an infinite number of children's books on their antics alone.

6. Loving myself. Don't laugh. If I'm down on myself, I'm not open to creative possibilities. Loving who I am gives me the confidence to try, even if it means failing.

7. Allowing myself the obvious which is that I might fail. I might succeed. I might have fun. I might become famous. I probably won't get rich, but if I did it would be okay, I'd buy something frivolous and give large inappropriate gifts to people just to surprise them.

8. Paying my bills is actually a great motivator for me, but I can see where thinking about that would shrink the muse for many.

9. I allow myself to disappear into my work for hours, and not worry about where it is going or what the end product will be, because low and behold, that's kind of like trying to complete a crossword puzzle without the clues. On the flip side of this notion, having goals is good; just don't stymie your muse with too many details.

10. I spend a number of hours in the evening doing mindless things. So what inspires you? That's what we want to know.