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| Silent Spring 24x30 now at Riverwalk Theatre |
A few years ago, well ok, one decade ago we were planning a
major life change. This was no simple change. It was a job requiring a move
from the house we built ourselves where we raised our children. That is a big
time change.
We, Helene and I, made detailed plans with timelines. We
were in full moving mode but we had to first face the most challenging task moving
families face: the stuff we collected over the years. We sorted through box
after box of “important papers”,
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| Sunrise Mist 16x20 now at Shiawassee Art Center |
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| Birch Sunset 20x16 at Riverwalk Theatre |
That questioning phrase has been haunting us after our big
move and is still more haunting as we sort through and move the stuff from our elders
through their final years. Just what are
the criteria we use to keep or discard? We have so many variables for each
situation.
Now the same scenario appears with the Art. We have been asking
artist colleagues how they build a strong body of work, as in how does the
artist judge their own work to present to the viewing audience? If we get into
a deep philosophical discussion, the usual response is strained because their
emotional involvement is from the heart and soul, a very deep place.
Some responses are confidently vague: --- You just know ---If
the piece still speaks to you--- if the piece is show worthy. Show worthy, wow.
I think show worthy means if the work is still strong after the moment when we
first knew it was good and the artist is happy to have had a hand in its
creation.
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| Spring Marsh Song 36x36 at Shiawassee Arts Center |
We the creators of our artistic vision, in building a
cohesive and enduring body of work, should be in touch with our future
audiences and muse over the phrase, ---how shall the past be remembered---?
News on Joel Ellis Art: As of this writing, nearly 50
diverse Joel Ellis paintings are on display in the Michigan area. To enjoy paintings live, please check out these venues during April and May:
The beautiful Shiawassee Art Center, Owosso, Michigan,
206 Curwood Castle Dr. now celebrating 45 years! Joel Ellis Art, March 14 to
April 23 in the Hebert and Docent Galleries, open new hours Monday-Friday 12-5,
Saturday and Sunday 12-4, Free admission.
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| Flower Glow 16x20 at Riverwalk Theatre |
Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive, Lansing Michigan, the
lobby is designed especially as an art gallery, now exhibiting 24 Joel Ellis
favorites.
A grand thank you to primary artist-helpers during the set-up
of both of these venues, Tom Tomasek at
Shiawassee and Jackie Borszich at Riverwalk Theatre. Thank you for all your
help with these
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| Jackie Borszich helping to set up Joel Ellis show at Riverwalk Theatre standing with Lascaux Nights |
And Thank you to friends and colleagues who read the blogs or visit the art at public sites, we are greatly appreciative of your patronage.
Joel
