Practicing

Drawing is so much a practice. It may be like riding a bicycle, but actually, I'm not as good at it if I don't practice. I am practicing a bit more as I look towards doing some observational work. And...feet are so much easier for me to draw that some hand studies make sense.

Both/and?

Abstract and observational painting, mark making, ink paintings, iconography, installations — what’s an artist to do when there is so much to do and so much possibility? When I’m shopping and I get stuck in making a decision, I always try out the strategy “Just get both of them.” It’s great — I get both items and then take back the one that I end up not choosing. It’s a version of “do it all.” Yet lately I have been feeling that there aren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week to bring all the ideas rattling around in my skull to fruition.

Soooo, for right now, I’m going to paint, probably looking at more metaphorical endeavors rather than the purely abstract. We will see. The piece posted here comes from a trip my husband and I took to Ireland about ten years ago. Unexpectedly, there were swans everywhere. It was so terrifically inspiring that painting swans became an obsession when I got back to my studio. The color palette was inspired directly by the dark black/brown/green water that contrasted so beautifully with the swan’s bright plumage. In the end, my favorite swans all sold. That’s the joy of having work documents though — I will always have the image with me.

Pictures of No Things

My show, “Pictures of No Things,”  opens February 2nd at Blackfish Gallery in Portland, featuring drawings and paintings created with no intended significance and that are not meant to be some thing. By resisting the notion of intentionally creating meaning, I find freedom in simply creating marks and allowing those to guide color choices and composition. Needless to say, meaning happens anyway. To paraphrase one of my teachers, as well as the Book of Common Prayer, “whenever there are two or more things, colors, objects or any combination thereof are gathered together, people will create meaning.” And that initself is a whole other blog topic!

These works on paper are composed of multiple layers of Sumi, acrylic, and India inks and watercolor. I began this particular way of working about 6 years ago alongside other projects. I particularly delight in making rich and varied surfaces with a range of mark-making tools, favorites of which include Chinese calligraphy brushes, ceramic slip, and acrylic varnish brushes.

Hard times

“Playtime” was originally exhibited in 2018 as one of three installations in my show, “Sanctuary.” In this piece, I was specifically asking about the meaning of sanctuary in the context of children and violence. Children were (and are) being shot at different borders, and while I was making the piece there was a school shooting in Eastern Washington in the tiny town of Rockford. Yet, would people connect with the installation? Were they too worn out with all the horrors? Two weeks after “Playtime” was installed, the shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School took place. There was no doubt – the issues in “Playtime” were relevant as hell.

And now, 10 years after Sandy Hook and 4 years after Parkland, and the many other school shootings in which our precious children and teachers have been lost, we continue to prize the right to shoot children over instead prizing their lives. Are we insisting that women have children just so shooters can engage in target practice? I am sickened and disheartened.

I would love to show this again right now. In the meantime, please see other details of the piece under “Installations” on my website: https://www.myrawclark.com/installations/17wannwfywh5cceqkq3nmmcrhsiw99

Ekphrastic Poetry! and The Slow Regard of Hidden Things: Video

How It Starts; girl’s baptismal dress with wood clothespin, bowl made with tissue paper mache, tissue paper, cheesecloth and graphite powder with hand-cast hydrocal Greek pillar

Gem by gem, the “Ekphrastic Poetry!” video builds at each moment, uncovering new meanings in Myra Clark’s art installation “The Slow Regard of Hidden Things.” Debby Schauffler, Jessica Lynn Skinner, and Michelle Delaine Williams plumb the language of hidden things as only poets can, reveling in the use of their art form to paint new and evocative images based on Clark's art. Also featured is Emma Waite and her virtuoso piano accompaniment of the poetry.

Watching the second video of this series, "The Slow Regard of Hidden Things and Music of Hildegard von Bingen," is also recommended for the full context of the show in relation to the ekphrastic poetry offered in this final video of the three-part series.

Be on the lookout!

Blackfish is also posting interviews of member artists every week. Mine is coming up next week, along with Lauren Carrera and Kelsey Birsa. Be on the lookout!

longing

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! It's the last week for my show, "longing", which is up at First Congregational UCC on the Park blocks downtown through Sunday, Dec 29th. Open today, Thursday and Friday from 10 - 2. On Sunday next, it is open from 9-1. The church has had its Advent adult education series with participants sitting right in the midst of the installation and using the art as a prompt to talk about the UN Declaration of Human Rights and immigration. It has been powerful for the participants, who have told me repeatedly that it has been an important experience in their own personal spiritual journeys during Advent. I have been very honored to have carried out this piece, made specifically for this church and for their adult education series.

Our Lady of Sorrows

I’m taking what I’ve learned in my iconography classes and applying it to a painting of my mother. Her life has been hard, and now, as she shares more of her story, I have been full of sadness at the challenges she has faced. Yet, through all of that, I feel the beauty and wisdom of her aging. Here, she holds a little white dog that she still misses. I had thought the dog was a figment of her imagination, then I found a photo of her and the dog from 1992! I have merged that photo with a recent one taken as we went for a walk with her in her wheelchair. The flowers are plumenaria, representing the time she lived in Hawaii and was the full-time caregiver for her husband, who had Alzheimers.

Three day life drawing marathon (like an ant)

It takes years to draw like an ant, having first tried out the idea in 2009. Last weekend, I was dimly aware that I had gained (at least in the moment) a mindless attentiveness that allowed me to meander around the drawing and take it all in while putting it all back out there. It was also an absolute head twister to utilize mark making as a vocabulary tool while hanging on by my fingernails to making the drawing itself. The experience reminded me of learning to write an essay or a poem, and since I have learned how to write, I know that I can progress even more with drawing. It’s never a done deal.

In a nutshell: the three-day life drawing marathon with Fran O’Neill was nerve wracking, challenging, agonizing and sublime.

Hope springs!

Hoping that drawing for three days (not 3 hours) on the walls (not on easels), with charcoal (big drawings, not little) with two models (not 1) from 9-5 (not from 9-noon) will help balance out all those Chocolate Easter Eggs!! Fran, you have your work cut out for you! (Register on this website to work w Fran O’Neill for 3 days of intensive drawing . #franoneill #drawingtutorial #drawingcourse #drawingintensive #drawng#pdxart #theweeknd #contemporaryart

TicToc

Immerse, refresh, take time, reinvigorate, up your game with other artists who are insane (and wise?) enough to give a weekend to sharpening their skills in the company of others. Register today! On this website! The drawing action starts this Thursday, April 26 and continues for three days, 9-5, East Creative Collective at 211 E Madison, Portland, Oregon. And yes, the amazing Fran O’Neill is our instructor. Her abstract work is phenomenal, her

drawings fabulous. www.franoneill.com.

Two weeks, 2 spaces

Fran O’Neill teaches a 3-Day Drawing Intensive from April 26-28 here in Portland. As an instructor at the Art Student League of New York and the Marathon Program of the New York Studio School, O’Neill will work with participants as they push their ability to observe and perceive the world and relate that to their drawing. Materials will focus on paper and charcoal and we’ll be working from live models. Immerse yourself and recharge your drawing! Register on this website! There’s just a few more spots left - I hope that you will join us!

Re-purposed

Feeling refreshed by my studio time today. The only thing was, I needed to regrind my ochre pigment - it was full of lumps (aka rocks in the lingo) and simply wouldn’t disolve in the egg temper, mixing so poorly that I couldn’t get close to the needed skin tones for the icon on which I am working. Very cleverly – imo but not exactly my husband’s! – I repurposed our small kitchen mortar and pestle to get the job done. Regrinding was just the ticket (thank you, Fr. Jon!), and things are going much better.

I have assured my husband that I would get a new m&p for the kitchen immediately. As I read on FB lately, artists aren’t messy, they just have all these ideas lying around. And in my case, nothing is safe from carrying out those ideas! Whoohooo!

Calling all Maniac Artists!

You know who you are - one of the ones that can't help making art and who are always pushing themselves forward. Let yourself go for three days with other serious artists and like-minded maniacs! What could be better?! Go to http://myra-clark.squarespace.com/…/3-day-drawing-intensive… for more information and to register.

Jenny Saville + Rembrandt

Here’s a review of the J. S. Show at the Modern I in Edinburgh. It captures what I found to be the sensibility of the contemporary group show I saw there. Saville is new for me - I was stunned. When her figures became  too disturbing to look at (happened quite soon), I would begin examining her marks in paint and charcoal Instead. They were disturbing too. I couldn’t get away from these monumentally scaled, nude women. Their very flesh, so malleable and yet so solid, were hard to remain with but so compelling I had to stay. Her work will stay w me a long time.

i also saw an amazing Rembrandt show the same day. I was especially swept into his ink drawings. I’m inviting him into my studio and drawing immediately. I’m just on my phone so will post more notes later. 

www. scotsman.com

Kelvingrove

Tuesday: Kelvingrove Art Museum and Gallery in Glasgow. Loved it - focused on Scottish art and artists, and it was a great intro. I only have my phone, and dang it! Cannot figure out how to get a photo in here! Hopefully there will be photos soon!

Magdalene's Tangle

Complete installation will happen tomorrow for "Mary's Tangle." The run through pointed out, as usual, the things that needed further tending. Those done, and now ready for the real thing. The people at #trinitycathedral are wonderful to work with, and I feel very grateful to be able to submit a 3D piece in what is essentially a painting and drawing exhibit. With three shows this month, I am nothing if not busy. An abundance of good things. Looking forward to installing tomorrow and then the artist talk and reception at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday at Trinity Cathedral on NW 19th and NW Everett. #eggs #marymagdalene #installationart #contemporaryartist #contemporaryart

Tons of Opportunities!!

I have three shows in July! I hope to see you at one or all of them.

June 30 - August 11

Verum Ultimum

5th Annual Living Mark Exhibit

An international open juried call

Opening June 30, 6-8

Regular Hours are T/W/Th/Sat 11-4, and by appointment as well

My piece "Pussy Got Pisssed" has been included in this exhibit, and was chosen for the cover of the show's catalog! (sumi ink, small orange latex gloves, staples on wood; 24"x24")

Verum Ultimum Art Gallery
3014 NE Ainsworth Blvd
Portland OR 97211
347-752-8915
www.verumultimumartgallery.com

July 5 - 28

Gallery 114, Thurs - Sun, noon-6

Dwelling in Possibility

Annual member exhibit

Opening July 5th, 6-9 p.m.

My piece "Tangle" will be in the show (ink on paper, 36" x 50")

Gallery 114

1100 NW Glisan

Portland, OR 97209

503-243-3356

Hours: Thursday – Saturday, 12-6pm and by appointment

July 8 - September 9

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, NW 19th and NW Everett

Mary Magdalene Re-Imagined

Juried group show

Opening and artist panel, July 8th

My installation piece, "Mary's Tangle," is part of this exhibit. Image detail is on my home page. 

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

147 NW 19th Ave

Portland, OR 97209

503-222-9811

10am – 12pm Sundays through September 9 or by appointment with Myra Clark (see “contact”)

Finale

This is a post I forgot to post in February! The show has become one of my personally most important of what I have done, and so I am offering the post now despite the date.

Responses to the show:

I had middle and high schoolers at the gallery last Friday evening, and they talked about the fragility of sanctuary, and how the only true sanctuary is in the heart. (Oh, Children). Another student, from PNCA and on a different day,  took note of my "interesting use of idolatry" at one point. I have to admit that caught me by surprise, and the ensuing discussion was super interesting and great. Love students!

This last Saturday, a woman started crying when she reached the chairs ("Playtime"). She has a 14 year old son she is trying to keep in school and wonders how she can keep working on this when schools are  no longer sanctuaries for children.

Several other people also found "Playtime" most disturbing. One person noted that in his tradition a rock would symbolize returning to the earth. Another said that in her Jewish tradition a rock was placed on a grave for remembrance. Another said it was hard not to think of the rocks as weapons given the shell casings of the other two pieces. 

"Empty Shells" has been one of the most engaging for people I have talked with. Many also like looking through the speakeasy door in "Narrow Door," like the embroidery a great deal and have a hard time with the nimbus. I feel in good company, as the piece keeps going in and out of focus for me at many levels, and the metaphors have become increasingly nuanced.

The theme of sanctuary is timely, evocative and provocative. It has become it's own exhibit; while I am the artist, the exhibit has it's own life and identity. I hope you can come and experience it.

Note: When I began these works, the school shooting in Spokane, WA, had just taken place The day I went out on the shooting range for a lesson on gun safety and shooting (I needed the experience to do the show),  Las Vegas had just occurred. When the show was up, the Parkland shooting happened. It was all far more timely than I had anticipated. The show seemed to give many people a way to dare encompass their thoughts and emotions, and to find ways to take these things to heart and somehow find healing. Again, an honor, in an unexpected way, to have offered this exhibit.