inner city in juried show

My painting Inner City has been accepted for a juried show titled 'Sanctuary through Partnership: A Collaboration Featuring Flight', which has been organised in association with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Tucson Jewish Community Center, the Tucson Museum of Art and The Drawing Studio.

As the IRC mentions on its website: The group show is the result of a year long conversation about the meaning of sanctuary for the world's most vulnerable. The theme stems from the IRC's Flight exhibit, a special portfolio of works by twelve 20th century masters like Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró and Robert Motherwell, representing their interpretation of the struggle of those who flee from their homes in search of freedom. The collection was organised by Varian Fry, an IRC representative in France during World War II, who rescued over 2000 writers, artists, intellectuals and other refugees who were being targeted by the Nazis.*

The exhibition will be held at the Tucson Jewish Community Center Fine Art Gallery, starting March 15th until April 16th, and will be placed alongside the Flight exhibit. The opening is on March 17th. Also part of the schedule is a panel discussion with artists and Jeffrey Cornish, Executive Director of the IRC on March 24th.

inner city, acrylic on canvas, 30x40" ©2013 priya vadhyar

*source: The International Rescue Committee

abstraction and the virtue of letting go

inner city, acrylics on canvas, 30x40" ©2013 priya vadhyar

For the last few months I have been taking classes at The Drawing Studio. The one that began late in October was called Xtreme Painting: Looking for Dragon Smoke, an abstracts-in-acrylics class taught by Josh Goldberg. Taught against the backdrop of Eastern philosophy, Xtreme Painting looks at the act of painting and the expression of a non-representational language.

On the first day of class, Josh asked us to stand in front of our fresh canvases without a plan and empty of thought. As we began, he asked us to be spontaneous, and let go of the idea of control. Over the weeks, we were encouraged to be unattached and non-judgmental. We were to look at the marks objectively and act according to what the painting required. Looking critically at the composition, the colour and the direction of brush strokes, while keeping the painting fresh were just some of the lessons we learned with each session. We were to be alert to accidents/ opportunities that arise, and look for clues that might suggest the next move. Over the next eight weeks, we learned to trust ourselves, see our work and let our inner abstraction find expression.

What was interesting was learning to be completely present in the act of painting without the distractions of the ego, judgement and past/future considerations. Complete involvement in any process can be a tough hill to climb if we are too eager to reach. And yet that's exactly what's required for true expression.

To learn more about this way of painting I'm now taking the second part of this class (Xtreme Painting: Riding the Dragon). Inner City is one of the paintings I've completed.

home from the gala exhibition - david andrés etching

The Drawing Studio (TDS) gala on Friday night was such fun. There was music and wine and hors d'oeuvres, people mingled, sat around the many tables in the studios, looked at the gala exhibition and made their lists. And then when numbers were being called out, people waited eagerly and then hurriedly (but politely) made their way hoping to get the artwork that spoke to them the most. By the end of the evening, everywhere were happy faces, holding the artwork they chose.

And I was one of them. The Drawing Studio generously gave me a ticket to the event (as a volunteer) and therefore the opportunity to take home an artwork. When my number was called, I went to the piece that I wanted the most - a print by David Andrés. The artwork is a solar polymer etching of a star fish titled 'Estrella Maris - Bahia San Pedro Mexico'. And here is the image of this beautiful piece full of texture and mystery - the star of the sea.

estrella maris - bahia san pedro mexico, solar polymer etching, 8x10", 2008 david andrés

(detail) estrella maris - bahia san pedro mexico, solar polymer etching, 8x10", 2008 david andrés

My artworks in the gala (see earlier post) found happy homes too. 'In the Moonlight' was selected by TDS faculty Sherry Bryant and 'On a Grey Note' was the choice of Lori Ryder, who is an artist and also the Director of Volunteers and Membership at TDS. I am glad that these two lovely ladies have my work. Thank you Sherry and Lori!

exhibition - the drawing studio gala 2013

2013 is off to a wonderful start. I'm exhibiting my work at The Drawing Studio, as part of their annual fundraiser gala titled 'The Paper Ball'. The theme of the exhibition is works on or of paper, and is a collection of 200 artworks each donated by artists mostly from the Tucson area. By selling 200 tickets to the event, The Drawing Studio will raise funds that will go towards its educational programs for the youth and the elderly and also adult scholarships.

Each ticket holder will receive a number and during the course of the evening, numbers will be drawn  randomly. When one's number is called, the ticket holder can choose one of the artworks exhibited for themselves. So each ticket holder will leave with an artwork at the end of the evening. Great concept, isn't it?

And I am one of the artists contributing to the gala. I have two paintings in the show - one is an ink painting on watercolour paper, and the second is a watersoluble graphite 'painting' on watercolour paper. For both paintings I have used molding paste on the paper to create a layer of textures and peaks.

My paintings and the rest of the exhibition is on display now and the gala event is on Friday 25th January. The event will include a silent auction of artworks by renowned Tucson artists that will also raise funds for The Drawing Studio's educational programs.

If you are interested in attending the event at The Drawing Studio, you will find information here on their website.

'in the moonlight', ink on watercolour paper, 15x21" ©2012 priya vadhyar

'on a grey note', water-soluble graphite on watercolour paper, 16x20" ©2012 priya vadhyar 

inspiration in the studio

When I am in my studio, I often look up at my wall for inspiration. Stuck on it are cuttings, pictures, small drawings, reminders and beautiful objects which revive me, push me to do more and often give me sound advice. Advice comes from some of the people who have inspired me immensely - Georgia O'Keeffe, Virginia Woolf, John Muir, Maya Angelou, Henry David Thoreau, Vincent Van Gogh.

When I am frustrated with a painting, Georgia O'Keeffe says,
"Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing." 

To be true to myself, Virginia Woolf says, "This soul, or life within us, by no means agrees with the life outside us. If one has the courage to ask her what she thinks, she is always saying the very opposite to what other people say."

That art is not separate from the rest of life, is what John Muir says, 
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe."

Courage comes to me from Maya Angelou who says,
"Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently."

Henry David Thoreau reminds me to persevere,
"Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still."

And finally, Vincent Van Gogh sternly tells me to have faith, 
"Painting is a faith, and it imposes the duty to disregard public opinion."

Who inspires you?