Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Art

Last weekend the Lower Arroyo hosted an art installation from Newtown called "Re-Imagining the Arroyo." 

No description in the program matches our bird friend. I don't know who made it or what it's called. Please let me know if you have information. It's a wonderful piece. (see the comments)


Elizabeth Garrison deconstructs the California state flag. The bear is fuzzy. You can pet him. Did you know that California is the only state in the union that has an extinct animal on its flag? Notice the gun.

 
Poet Linda Dove shared this part of the exhibit with Elizabeth. I love how the sunlight shines through the plaque and projects the poem onto the ground. To partially quote Linda's poem, A Love Letter to California, "In the nation of red, a single star glows against sky. It says, the light must fall through traps and mix again with earth." 


We enjoyed the large pods (four of them) by Leonard Rusch. This installation was called "Acoustic Artifacts." Rusch's sound system wasn't working when we were there, but it didn't matter. Tucked beneath the trees as though they had always been there, the pods were cool and they had their own sounds.


Dangling from trees throughout the Lower Arroyo were several "Yo-Yo Men," by Cindy Jackson. John emulates this one for you.

We liked much of it, didn't like all of it. You would like different stuff than I liked. Such is art.

We talked about whether or not art is necessary. I think it is, but your necessary art is not the same as my necessary art. Does the world need Camelot & Vine? No, but I needed to write it.

So here's my segue: please come to the Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse this Thursday night, November 7, 7-9pm, for their Welcome the Holidays party. I'll be there along with authors Dianne Dixon, Michael Mullin and Allen Griffiths. It's a family party with stories, games, free wrapping, personal shoppers, a raffle and refreshments. Get your book signed! Have some punch! Win something!

The store is full of art, some necessary, some un. You decide.


24 comments:

Kalei's Best Friend said...

The world needs to experience and view a bit of everything... How else do we learn about ourselves as well as others?

Petrea Burchard said...

Well said, KBF.

Bellis said...

As always, you've got the very best photos and commentary on this event. I loved all the artwork you've shown here. Did you see that the Yo-Yo men were being given away free afterward? I thought of getting one, but they're a bit big. And I might have ended up with John by mistake (not that I'd mind. Your top sculpture, the bird man, was so brilliant I wish it could have stayed in place to enhance the Arroyo. Like you, I can't find it on the map we were given, unless it's No. 8, the two water deities?

You may not have noticed Candela by Alan Disparte nearby. It blended in with the tree it was hanging from, but when I walked there the evening before the show, I was intrigued by something shining among the leaves and found a beautiful twig candelabra. It'd be perfect for my garden, so I was wondering if Alan Disparte was selling it. On his website I saw that he sells paintings through the Saatchi gallery, so he's internationally known! Perhaps Liz will know more.

Bellis said...

I forgot to say that I also covet the bearskin rug Liz made. A lot of work had gone into Liz and Linda's piece, and it made people think. I never knew about the poor grizzly on the flag.

Petrea Burchard said...

I loved the bird, too. It doesn't sound like #8, but it doesn't sound like Candela, either. I'm sorry I didn't find that one.

Unknown said...

Not too crazy about the first two, but the poem sundial, giant wasp nest and yo-yo man were very cool.

Did John get dizzy spinning like that?

Jean Spitzer said...

Very cool.

The poem shining through is especially magical.

Petrea Burchard said...

I should have shown you the whole bird, cliff. It was tall and excellent.

Yes, John got dizzy.

I like that one, too, Jean. Besides being an innovative way to read the work, it's also a fine poem.

Unknown said...

I took another look at the first two. I believe I misinterpreted both.

Petrea Burchard said...

Maybe, maybe not. It's art, so your interpretation is valid.

Margaret said...

I really wanted to come, but I just couldn't find a way to make it work. I'm glad you had a great time. I wish I could go to your book signing. It sounds so fun, but I just don't think that is going to work either. I am drowning in work and errands and family. Should be less overwhelmed in mid December.

Katie said...

What cool art! The bird is especially awesome, as is the Rusch pod. And great photo of John as a yo-yo man. Here's to art!

Petrea Burchard said...

You've been overwhelmed all fall, Margaret. I hope you get a break sooner than December.

I'm with you, Katie!

Unknown said...

Great set of installation shots, Petrea. My favourite is the poem on the ground.

Unknown said...

Petrea, I saw the California flag deconstruction as a Soviet comment. I just gave the image a quick glance and missed your description completely the first time. I think that counts as straight up wrong.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, JM.

Cliff, I can't say that wasn't somewhere deep in my mind because when I read your words I thought, "that's familiar." Funny how similar are the elements and symbols of the two flags, if not the flags themselves.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Ha! yup, the bear is extinct and the lone star was lifted off of the Texas state flag.

Ms M said...

Fun tour of this art exhibit! I love stuff like this. The poem of shining light is particularly magical -- words become light and fire....

Have fun on Thursday.

beckynot said...

I needed "Camelot and Vine". It was a fun read.

Petrea Burchard said...

I guess having a start on your flag is the thing to do, PA.

Ms M, you would have enjoyed this immensely.

Beckynot, that's a sweet thing to say! Thank you.

Birdman said...

Looks like a whimsical place to wander about in.

Petrea Burchard said...

To me, Birdman, it's a good place for surprising art. It's not quite a natural area--there's a channel for the river, there are bridges, there's a casting pond--but there are also walking trails among the trees and scrub, where squirrels, coyotes, bobcats and rabbits run the show after dark.

TheChieftess said...

I'm a bit confused...the bear is extinct??? It's a Grizzly...there are plenty of Grizzlies...just no longer in California...I don't think that's really extinct...they just decided to move!!!

TheChieftess said...

My bad...should've checked Wikepedia on California grizzly!!!! I guess it's the sub species that's extinct!!!
I still think it's just cause they wanted to move somewhere less crowded!!!