Patronage

Visiting the Vancouver Art Gallery I read about the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), established to build a railway line down the West Coast. The chief of the CPR was an advocate of arts and culture, so offered free rail travel to artists exploring the country opened up by the CPR. The art form these explorations was exhibited at events organised by the CPR - they were used astourist promotions of this age in the 1800s, used to entice settlers and tourists alike.

This led to a vibrant art scene with some artists spending months with indigenous tribes, consequently being influenced by each others artistic practices. I fell in love with Lawren Harris and his ability to craft what look to me to be very contemporary lines and colours in the 1920s. Emily Carr's work was similarly attractive, she and her sister ventured to Canada in 1907, remaining part of the creative establishment. Her paintings and writings explore the exotic mystery of Canada.

Also in the gallery are fabulous ancient and contemporary indigenous works. I was fascinated to notice that the pigment in the masks from the 1800s were as vibrant as those of the modern carvers. It seems there is a relatedness between Pacific nations, I can't help but notice stylistic similarities between Canada, Hawaii and New Zealand. A fantastic use of colours, patterns, symbols and totems.

Fishing for ideas

Re-watched one of my favourite art films today about Ian Fairweather. It beautifully interweaves scenes of nature with images of his work, so that you imagine the connections between the two and maybe get some insight into his unique way of looking. After his nearly disastrous raft adventure in his early sixties, Fairweather found his home on Bribie Island. At the age of 62 he developed a new painting style that swept critics swooning in its vortex. The comment that struck me today was to do with his lack of interest in the finished work "his path to heaven was in the doing", Betty Churcher said "he painted in a trance-like state".

I was talking about this with a friend recently, about how I am so happy with the satisfaction I gain in the doing, that the result doesn't matter to me. Don't we love it when we discover an echo of ourselves in someone else. I sometimes think that's all we are on the lookout for in life - confirmation of our outlook. So I'm heartened by Fairweather's boldness and late blooming discovery of a winning style. Just a few more years.........

Blue and White

Blue on white, has a beautiful purity. It's Delft pottery, it's shibori, it's Willow porcelain, it's clouds in the sky and waves on the ocean.

Cobalt was first used in glazes by potters in Iraq and China. Early examples of these wares were found from a ship wrecked in the ninth century. Initially, these were considered garish compared to the pure whiteporcelain plates being produced. Soon though there was a flourishing trade in these goods and so we have had this aesthetic planted into our visual literacy.

attempting to master the classics

Our latest painting challenge is to copy a painter whose style we like, so that in the process of copying we may learn different techniques. One of my fellow students found the process soothing because so many decisions had already been made: colour, composition, medium and subject. Another chafed against the restrictions. I decided to try Chinese ink painting as I love the vibrancy of ink on paper.

"Flower-and-bird painting  was separated from decorative art to form an independent genre around the 9th century.  A great many artists painted in this genre during the Song dynasty and their subject matter included a rich variety of flowers, fruits, insects and fish.  Many of the scholar painters working with ink and brush used a great economy of line." This great description is from Asia-Art.net.   I did three copies of a rooster in the style of Xu Beihong (1895-1953) with varying degrees of success. I was really pleased with the feathers of my first attempt, the claws of the second and the head of the third. Displayed together they have a certain whimsy.

Resilience

I enjoy watching Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery. She seems to be a warm, compassionate person and I'm impressed with the way she allows her guest to take centre stage. Unfortunately, there are many example of hosts who have access to fantastic guests, but make the interview all about them.

Kurt Fearnley was featured this season, a thoughtful man full of fun and an evangelist for resilience. I took heed when he said "Your body is a bag of meat, you can turn it into anything. Your mind-frame and your approach to life is the most powerful thing that you have. The strongest part you have in you is your resilience, your ability to tell yourself to keep going."

With all of his stellar achievements, Kurt remains humble. To me, humility is the most attractive of the Seven Virtues. A few years ago I came across the Litany of Humility, inspired by the words of Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930). He was the Secretary of State for Pope Pius X when he crafted this litany. When I showed it to my best friend, she said she was astonished to find something from the Catholic Church she could agree with. Take a look at this excerpt (by the way calumniate means to make false or defamatory statements).

From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me.

From the desire of being loved, Deliver me.

From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me.

From the desire of being honored, Deliver me.

From the desire of being praised, Deliver me.

From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me.

From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me.

From the desire of being approved, Deliver me.

From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me.

From the fear of being despised, Deliver me.

From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me.

From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me.

From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me.

From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me.

From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me.

From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me.

The image above is a work in ink on rice paper, using this text as inspiration. To finish I inscribed a symbol of humility on the back of the paper. Apparently in some African traditions, ram's horns are appropriate because they go humbly to slaughter. My Australian farmer mates say that rams are not slaughtered because they are needed for breeding. A valid life purpose!