An Ode to Purple and Rothko
Structures #96 ©2008 16.5"x 28"
The Pulse
Seth Apter, of blog The Altered Page, has posted compilations of artists’ responses to a few of his questions. It was fun to read the answers. I asked to join in after he got going and my answers are posted in the postscript.
Purple and Rothko
Two of my answers (you can read the others on his blog):
If I could take a class from one artist from anytime in history, including today, it would be…Mark Rothko – I love his work and would love to chat with him about his take on abstract expressionism.
Today my favorite color is…Purple – always purple – deep royal purple but any of them will do. Although I don’t use it often in my artwork as I’m drawn more to earthy southwestern colors in my art. Subtle purples creep into these pieces. Maybe I’ll go home tonight and make something purple.
In response to my answers Seth sent me an email with this image (one of Rothko’s amazing paintings):
Structures #96
A few days later I made Structures #96. It will also be part of my solo show at the Lux Art Center, Fencing In or Keeping Out. Hard to miss the influence.
I also had the Structures #35 in mind, the piece recently installed at the medical facility in Cleveland. I didn’t take the idea in that piece very far and now I’m excited about seeing where it leads me.
Detail image of surface stitching on my piece:
100
Only 4 more pieces in this series and I’ll hit 100 – woohoo! I might have to plan an event of some sort.
Although I’m switching gears back to my Markings series tonight to finish up a few things for my solo show opening at Macky Auditorium Gallery in Boulder, Colorado in 2 weeks. I won’t get back to Structures pieces until late this month.
Markings Show
The Macky show is titled Markings: Repetition and Pattern. Mark your calendars now for February 23 from 2-4 for the opening if you want to see the show in person. I’m also giving an artist talk at 3pm. I’ll be posting images of all the work in the show on my blog after the show opens.
The gallery isn’t open to the public very often, just Wednesdays from 9-4, as it’s in the lobby of a theater, so I asked for an opening time on the weekend for all us working types. Thousands of people will see the show during performances so it’s an excellent venue, just not very accessible to friends.
Posted by Lisa in: Abstract Contemporary Textile Art
Tagged: lux art center, macky gallery, Purple, Rothko, solo show, structures series
I knew there was a reason I liked you. Couldn’t put my finger on it until now. :)
I’m with you on Purple. It was my favorite color since I was a child and my family loves to remind me that I pronounced it “poorpwa.” I’m thankful my husband loves poorpwa, too, although there isn’t much of it in our home.
Am also with you on Rothko. So nice to see his work in the DAM Color as Field show that just closed. However, I don’t think he would have been THAT much fun to talk with. He plays a major role in my thesis, as he was a good friend of Milton Avery, whom he considered a mentor. The Rothko Chapel in Houston, which I’ve visited 3 times, might be my favorite place on earth (although I have yet to visit the pyramids in Egypt). The film “Rothko’s Rooms” shows often on Ovation TV and is a terrific piece.
Lisa, both your work and the Rothko are stunning. Thank you. I’ve been trying an esoteric meditation practice where you visualize violet fire. I’ve had a little trouble until I saw this Rothko. Now I get it!
I am really looking forward to seeing your work at Macky.
… and I thought I liked that last one, but this one is spectacular!
Thanks Lisa for posting about the survey. So glad you could participate. Structures #96 is stunning. You may not use purple very often but based on this piece, I think you should!
I love the purple — my favorite. I’m excited to see the color that you have been working with. So much life and energy. The Rothko painting glows!
Alyson & Nikki – purple rocks. According to Crayola putting purple in a room promotes creativity and imagination. This is a fun site to see what they say about anyones favorite color: http://www.crayola.com/colorcensus/americas_favorites/index.cfm
Alyson – I saw Color as Field the thursday before it closed – I waited too long – I would have loved to go back again and again! Stunning – just stunning. I think Rothko not being that much fun might be fun in and of itself :)
Lainie – how cool – violet fire! I’m looking forward to meeting you.
Thanks Joanie and Seth.