Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO

Considered one of the most important painters of the 20th century, Clyfford Still (1904–1980) was among the first generation of Abstract Expressionist artists who developed a new and powerful approach to painting in the years immediately following World War II.

After the artist’s death in 1980, the Clyfford Still Estate was sealed off from public and scholarly view. Still’s will stipulated that his estate be given in its entirety to an American city willing to establish a permanent museum dedicated solely to his work, ensuring its survival for exhibition and study. In August 2004, the City of Denver, under the leadership of then Mayor John W. Hickenlooper, was selected by Still’s wife

Clyfford Still was among the first generation of Abstract Expressionists who developed a new, powerful approach to painting in the years immediately following World War II. Still’s contemporaries included Philip Guston, Franz Kline, Willem de Kooning, Robert Motherwell, Barnett Newman, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko. Though the styles and approaches of these artists varied considerably, Abstract Expressionism is marked by abstract forms, expressive brushwork, and monumental scale, all of which were used to convey universal themes about creation, life, struggle, and death (“the human condition”), themes that took on a considerable relevance during and after World War II.

Early Clyfford Still

Clyfford Still

Clyfford Still Museum

 

American Gothic...Grant Wood... interpreted?

Artist at work - fun project

Wall Project: Volunteers are given a square to copy on the wall, over 1000 squares, which like a jigsaw, when finished, a picture will emerge.

The Preservery, Denver, CO

Farmhouse chic meets industrial grit at this RiNo warehouse turned community hub, featuring a counter-serve New American eatery and bakery whose menu is inspired in part by the products for sale at the on-site market. The full bar dispenses craft cocktails and local brews for a crowd that, come evening, gathers for the 
live music lineup. 

Preservery Cafe... lunch in RiNO Warehouse... River North

Artist at play.

RiNo District, Alley Art

Black American West Museum, we weren't lucky it was closed.

 

Excursion to Armadillo, San Luis Potosi, Mexico

Progress of the Work: 

Looking forward there was no map or goal or hint of what the San Luis Potosi Fountain Project might produce.  It was Public Art, improvement, restoration.....but how might it effect visitors to Parque Tangamanga II or the participating artists?

Looking back, the experience, working with Isaiah Zagar the Philadelphia mosaic muralist and Trish Metzner, inspired participant artists, gave them skills and a new craft to explore their own visions of artistic creation. The Isaiah Zagar seed was planted and we are now seeing an "orchard" grow. 

Multiple mosaic mural projects have sprouted, public and private, business and residential; all bring beauty, some inspire awe and the artists themselves see a palette of opportunity everywhere: To Muralized the Drab.

Some evidence: 

In San Luis Potosi the most public, yet private, is the El Mexico de Frida, restaurant facade inspired by Lolita Campbell. 

In Matehuala, the municipality commissioned Marissa Martinez to create an outdoor stage background for childrens' programs. 

The huge Zacatlan, five stage muralization of the cemetery retaining wall, over 210 yards in length, is nearing completion, a two year project that will deserve international recognition. Twelve artists are converting drab, blank stonewalls into an homage and history of Zacatlan. 

Muralization has spread to Carlsbad, California.  Monica Meir, originally from San Luis Potosi and one of the artist-participants in the Isaiah Zagar Fountain Project brought her new found skill to honor the Monarch butterfly migration and mosaic-muralized a neighborhood concrete block wall in Carlsbad, which was supported by Butterfly Farms, a non-profit. 

Recently Dick Davis spent 3 weeks in Mexico and visited the small, historic, rural town of Armadillo, outside San Luis Potosi, which is scheduled for a plaza retaining wall makeover and will be Marissa Martinez's second commission.   

Here is Dick's photo journal of a day's excursion with brief comments: 

Artists Monica Meir and Marissa Martinez

Market Day: Armadillo

Plaza retaining wall.....the new canvas.

They are building a Wall....and Mexicans are paying for it!  

(Dick could not resist this political irony.) 

 Artists, teacher and organist. Marissa, Ramberto, Monica, Juan Diaz Mesa

En route to sacred Cave