CJB's Art Notes

Guten Rutsch!

2011-12-30T11:39:00.001+01:00

Happy New Year!

I hope this finds you enjoying the festivities of welcoming 2012, the year of the Water Dragon! The following post recaps the past month, details some new works, art-related experiences, our visits to Munich, exhibitions in Berlin, and our enjoyment of the Weihnachtsmarkts while visiting with family and friends.

To begin with, my first open studios as an artist in residence at GlogauAIR took place on Dec. 16 & 17. I showed oil paintings as well as works on paper, and we had a lively turnout, especially on the opening day. Several Berlin Fulbrighters and new friends came by, and I met some interesting visitors at the event, which also featured the work of other artists in residence including performance, video, collage, photography, painting, sculpture and combinations thereof. Here is a selection of works I exhibited.

To see more, visit my updated website: http://www.caetlynnbooth.com/.

Winter Sonnenflecken, 8" x 12"

Alle sehen universum, 10" x 13"

Licht von unten 1, 10" x 13"

Licht von unten 2, 10" x 13"

Licht von unten 3, 10" x 13"

These images show the progression of After AE, The Conversion, after an Elsheimer titled "The Conversion of Saul."

After a recent visit to Munich to view works by Elsheimer in person, especially the painting "Flight into Egypt" and to meet with Dr. Dekiert at the Alte Pinakothek, I received a copy of Von Neuen Sternen, the catalog that accompanied a recent exhibition centering on this very painting. It's written in German only, so I am excited about the challenge of translating to better understand contemporary discourse about this important work. I will write more about my meeting with Dr. Dekiert later in this post.

I have also recently acquired more reading material relating to Elsheimer including Lives of Adam Elsheimer featuring the translation of statements that other artists made about Elsheimer while he was alive or just after his death. A short but interesting read as a window into his life, although it's striking just how little was recorded in the writing of his contemporaries and peers, who expressed so much praise for his work.

Lastly, because I enjoyed reading Camera Lucida by Barthes, I've also started reading Mythologies. More about my take on this book will come in my next post, but already the unusual position Barthes' strikes creates an interesting perspective for considering the definition and place of mythology, and the assumptions that come from taking this relationship for granted in the creation of meaning and how this becomes lived expression. Published in 1957, I'm interested to see where this inquiry leads, and how some of the ideas presented can be further understood through contemporary culture.

I also recently went to a lecture given by W.J.T. Mitchell at C/O Berlin ("Check Out Berlin"). The lecture accompanied the exhibition Bilder von Terror (Images of Terror), so as you can see below, there were several images of the attack on the World Trade Center as well as works that involve the brutality and violence of war. Again, a Thomas Hirshhorn work (not represented here), also spoke to the brutality of images when used irresponsibly as gornography, depicting the mutilated bodies from recent conflicts. His sloppy use of found images that he puts his name to without qualification is disappointing.

The lecture was interesting and political, especially because of the upcoming presidential election in the U.S., and because of the power and politics of images used for war. Food for thought.

Photo credit: Tyson Washburn

Besides Berlin, we've spent time in Munich recently. The train ride is always interesting.

Photo credit: Tyson Washburn

Sunset at the train station, waiting for our transfer.

Our trip in November was mostly "business." Of our three full days there, I spent two of them entirely at the Alte Pinakothek looking at Elsheimer's versions of the "The Flight into Egypt" and "The Burning of Troy," and meeting with Dr. Dekiert.

Here it is! So amazing to see in person.

I took several photos, made sketches and took notes, but have only included a couple here. This is a detail from "The Burning of Troy." In it's entirety, I especially think the use of multiple contrasting points of light in the composition to create space and form is very interesting.

My meeting with Dr. Dekiert was great, and he was very generous with his time in answering the questions I had. We discussed AE's work in the context of other art and artists of the period, and Dr. Dekiert's perspective as an art historian helped to fill in some important gaps. In his opinion, AE was very much of his moment, influenced by changes in the schools of scientific thought taking place in the early 17th century. AE ran in highly educated circles in Rome, and these new ways of thinking lead to new ways of seeing, evident in works such as "Flight into Egypt" with the Milky Way and several constellations represented in combination with religious narrative. We also talked about AE's unusual inventiveness, breaks with tradition, how he evoked mood, the materials and format he worked in, and the intimate scale and viewing practices of the time for these works--they were cabinet paintings put into thick frames, intended to taken out and held while being looked at.

For consistency in approach for this project, I have been making a sketch and taking detailed notes about the aspects of each painting that interests me most. It's been a very informative process to identify these kinds of attributes, and then invent my own process to make something similar happen in my painting. The page from my journal above is an example of this, about the painting "Landschaft mit badender Nymphe" located at the Gemäldegalerie here in Berlin.

Here are some other paintings and painting details from the Alte Pinakothek collection in Munich:

There are several very large alter paintings with uniquely shaped panels.

This detail is from a large alter painting by Hans Holbein d. A.

Detail from Albrecht Altdorfer's amazing battle scene "The Battle of Issus/Alexander" 1529

Fra Angelico, 1440

The Rubens collection is the most impressive I've seen. This is "The Last Judgement." It's 6 meters high, and the scale of the museum was built specifically for this painting. It's been in the same gallery since the museum opened in the 1830s.

I really enjoyed seeing all the smaller painted sketches that Rubens made before the larger paintings were executed by his workshop.

In several of the smaller galleries on the second floor of the Alte Pinakothek, a contemporary photograph by the artist Sabine Hornig is displayed alongside paintings that are much older. I found it to be an intriguing and fitting curatorial break from the norm.

Here is another example of a photograph displayed with paintings from the 16th & 17th centuries. The photograph speaks to the many layers of older works, but also the aspects you're confronted with as a viewer--that of looking through glass, only to find reflective surfaces that complicate the reading of pictorial space in both interesting and frustrating ways. I thought it was a successful and important step to connecting art of antiquity with a contemporary vision.

By Claude Lorraine, and artist who Elsheimer influenced

We also popped over to the Neue Pinakothek. Here are a few paintings/details from the collection:

Van Gogh detail

Cezanne's first painting featuring Mont Sainte-Victoire

Thanks to Jeff, for his hospitality in Munich! We had an insider's welcome, and a great visit.

And then back in Berlin at the Hamburger Hof Museum, we enjoyed "Cloud Cities" by Tomás Saraceno:

The scale of the galleries and quality of the exhibitions of some of the 20th century's most well-known figures is impressive:

Warhols galore!

And a room of Kiefers

The most surprising and fascinating exhibition was by an artist I wasn't aware of before. Several galleries were dedicated to Paul Laffoley's exhibition "Secret Universe II":

Due to the length of this post so far, I've left out several images I would have liked to include otherwise. To view these images and more, including the Residenz, Treasury, reliquaries, BMW Museum, contemporary exhibitions, and other images from my brother's and Emily's visit, check out my Flickr account: LINK

My brother and Emily during their visit! We've had a great time together for the holidays between activities in Munich and Berlin, cooking Christmas meals, going to Weihnachtsmarkts, and celebrating the New Years Berlin-style (loud, and all night long).

In closing, here are some images from the Weihnachtsmarkts--amazing light festivals focusing on food, drink, merriment and arts & crafts for gifts. The Charlottenburg Schloss, near our apartment, put on one of the best light shows in addition to creating an intimate festive environment:

Photo credit: Michael F. Gerlach

We especially appreciated the lights because the sun sets at 4:30pm this time of the year!

Photo credit: B. Sabrowski

Our favorite Glühwein station.

Until next time, Zum Vohl und Guten Rutsch! I toast to your good fortune in the New Year with honey-Mead! (from the Mittelaltermarkt).

XO Caetlynn

November Farben

2011-11-27T17:25:00.000+01:00

Here it is; my newest post from the city that proclaims itself "Poor but Sexy!" This one includes the announcement of open studios at GlogauAIR, images of recent oil paintings, books, highlights from several adventures, restaurant reviews, and observations: art and otherwise.

These are some paintings I've made recently that are inspired by Adam Elsheimer's work. If you're in Berlin, come visit me during the December open studios event put on by the residency where I have my studio.

Here's the info:

GlogauAIR - OPEN STUDIOS

December, 2011
16th Fri 19 - 24h
17th Sat 15 - 21h

Location: Glogauerstr., 16, 10999 Berlin – Germany

The following are more detailed images of new paintings:

After AE: Moon Crop, 8" x 10"

After AE: Reflected Moon Crop, 8" x 10"

Detail of two paintings on paper, made from observation of the cover of the exhibition catalog of AE's work in 2006. I have since visited Munich to view the original, and am working from my notes about Flight into Egypt, the painting that inspired me to write the proposal for this project.

Lidlaufgang, 8" x 10"

Dämmerung an der Spree, 10" x 8"

We also traveled to Munich a couple of weeks ago, but I will dedicate a separate post to that soon. It's a 6 hour train ride, so I took the opportunity to read You Are Not A Gadget by Jaron Lanier. This humanist manifesto was extremely interesting, not only for the ideas presented, but because of the timeliness of everything Lanier discusses (published in 2010). I will also note that I appreciated the attention to detail in the design of the physical object of the book itself, and it was gratifying to handle while reading because of the raised texture that followed the pattern on the jacket, the careful selection of font and half-tone printing, and the overall design. Some quotes from Lanier's manifesto that I think are striking include:

pg. 5 "Being a person is not a pat formula, but a quest, a mystery, a leap of faith."

pg. 17 "The central mistake of recent digital culture is to chop up a network of individuals so finely that you end up with a mush."

pg. 23 "Someone who has been immersed in orthodoxy needs to experience a figure-ground reversal in order to gain perspective."

pg. 28 "Information is alienated experience."

pg. 83 "If you want to know what's really going on in a society or ideology, follow the money. If money is flowing to advertising instead of musicians, journalists, and artists, then a society is more concerned with manipulation than truth or beauty."

Lanier's tone as an author and style of writing reads very much of the information age in the associations he makes, the variety of references he draws from, and in the synthesis and delivery of information. This is a must read, especially for anyone interested in macroscopic technology theory.

I've also started reading the collection of essays compiled by W.J.T. Mitchell titled Landscape and Power (1st ed. 1994, 2nd ed. 2002). I read a couple of these essays when contextualizing my graduate thesis paintings in writing, but I wanted to give this text more time and thought. Although the theory and criticism presented reads as a little dated now, it is very interesting in how it looks at the history and the concept of landscape with a critical eye, and in how the agenda of theory and criticism in the mid-nineties can be examined through these works. I will write more about what I find as I continue to read this compilation.

Besides painting and reading, the following images were taken during recent adventures around the city:

Los Angeles Zoo, only 9680 km that way! Photo by Imran Shafi

The zoo is in the Tiergarten, and we went when fall colors were in full effect.

The mountain goats were especially amazing to watch as they catapulted themselves up and down the faces of the jutting man-made rock mountain replicating the terrain they would inhabit in the wild.

Without planning it, we went into the big cat building during feeding time. A few feet separated us from these large predators. These cages are the indoor/feeding areas, but the cats have outdoor environments that they also access.

The owls were also amazing to see at such close proximity. The aviary was extensive.

Speaking of night owls, NYC should share the title of "The City that Never Sleeps" with Berlin. In celebrating Tyson's birthday, we felt the flow of the night, and the lifestyle that it supports here.

On our quest for an American-style burger, we found ourselves at White Trash Fast Food, a modish tattoo-parlor, restaurant and music venue that celebrates a kitschy, romanticized version of "White Trash" that had a lot more class than the term conjures in the US.

The ambiance of "White Trash"

And the burgers were pretty good, too!

The following night, we combined forces with our friend Joe Lake, whose birthday is a couple days before Tyson's, to do it up right. We started at the Polish bar Mysliwska in Kreuzberg, a fun place with a good DJ spinning records and tasty Mojitos. By about 3am, some of the party was hungry, so we left to get the most delicious Schwarmas at Maroush. By now it's 4am, so on to Roses, the fury-pink-walled gay bar that is a Kreuzberg institution. Needless to say, the sun is rising as we're getting home. With bars that stay open all night, and public transportation that runs 24/7, it's easier than you would think to find yourself staying out all night. The U-Bahn at 6am on a Sunday is well-populated, although more subdued than earlier in the morning.

Photo on left: from Mysliwska's website; photo on right from Qype review of Roses

Sunrise in Charlottenburg walking home from the U-Bahn.

Also this month, there have been some nice surprises in the gallery scene, such as Marc Handelman's recent show at Reception here in Berlin. Luckily we were able to make it to the opening!

It was great to see Marc, Jessica, and to meet their little one!

A couple of paintings from Marc's show, Continuous Grounds.

I'm also investigating other galleries in the area. We went to see Ingo Mittelstaedt's show Chromas at Galerie Koal--it was a good one.

Two photographs by Ingo Mittelstaedt from the exhibit.

I've also been spending most Thursday evenings at the Gemäldegalerie, looking at "Old Masters," and revisiting the three works in the collection by Elsheimer.

Adam Elsheimer, Hansaltärchen mit sechs Szenen aus dem Leben Mariae, 1597/98

After Adam Elsheimer (the original was lost, this is a copy by an unknown artist),

Landschaft mit badender Nymphe, 1605

Adam Elsheimer, Die Heilige Familie mit dem Johannesknaben un Engeln, 1599

Painting detail

Surface reflection, painting detail

The following are some images taken while wandering around our neighborhood...

Interactive public art

Recently we found an amazing Vietnamese restaurant in Charlottenburg on Wilmersdorfer Str. called Saigon-Today. Next store is this fun Friseur.

Outside the Deutsche Oper

A recent find at the Charlottenburg Flea Markt. A pipe case without the pipe.

Other optical textures observed recently...

Building folding iPad...

At the Holocaust Memorial, or Memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe. Near Potsdamer Platz.

Our friend and fellow Fulbrighter, Chrissy Matzen, was staying with us for the past week, so we've been going to many of Berlin's cultural hotspots together. On the right, amazing Greek columns and statue at the Pergamon Museum.

From the Middle East collection at the Pergamon. These gates date from the 6th century BC and are made of glazed ceramic clay tiles. From Babylon, unlike anything else I've ever seen.

Detail of the Babylonian entrance

Carved shell

Ancient Assyrian tablet, necklace of glass beads

Carved stone cats that would have guarded the entrance to a temple

Bracketing lips with gloved hands, with spotlight. Photo by Tyson Washburn

In closing, it has been an exciting month where the rubber has started to meet the road. Although Berlin still feels new, I'm beginning to feel more at home--instead of floating, I'm starting to get some traction in the studio, and in navigating this place more as second-nature instead of as outsider.

As always, more images can be viewed at my Flickr account.

Wishing everyone health and happiness for the holidays,
XO Caetlynn

Berlin: Beginnings

2011-10-30T10:48:00.000+01:00

We've been residents of Berlin for a month now, and the following post details some new works, observations, books, the new studio, recent adventures, exhibitions, and updates.

I thought I'd start with works on paper made at home while I've been acquiring all the materials needed to get my studio up and running for making oil paintings. So these are recent watercolor/gouaches:

Venn Kreuzung, 8" x 12"

Vereinigung von zwei Mengen, 8" x 12"

Dunkel Universum, 10" x 13"

Dunkle Universum des Gartens, 10" x 13"

Sonne auf Feuer, 10" x 13"

Zentrale Kohle 1, 10" x 13"

Zentrale Kohle 2, 10" x 13"

Zentrale Kohle 3, 10" x 13"

We've also been enjoying the wildlife living in our neighborhood whose wily antics are so much fun to watch.

The Magpie and the Hooded Crow.

Over the past couple of weeks (after receiving our boxes of books and winter clothes), I've been reading some texts of interest. I've been combing through the catalog of Elsheimer's work, deepening my familiarity to the narrative subject matter and thinking about the approach I'll take for making paintings inspired by my contact with his work.

And, I've finally read two books that I've been meaning to for the longest time: Roland Barthes' Camera Lucida and Susan Sontag's On Photography. I'm not sure how it's taken me this long to read either of these seminal works, but I found both to be thought-provoking in the best way and extremely pertinent to making paintings. A couple of my favorite quotes from Camera Lucida have to do with the contrast between studium and punctum: Pg. 27 “The studium is of the order of liking, not of loving; it mobilizes a half desire, a demi-volition; it is the same sort of vague, slippery, irresponsible interest one takes in the people, the entertainments, the books, the clothes one finds ‘all right.’" And then: Pg. 59 “The punctum, then, is a kind of subtle beyond—as if the image launched desire beyond what it permits us to see: not only toward “the rest” of the nakedness, not only toward the fantasy of a praxis, but toward the absolute excellence of a being, body and soul together.”

Sontag's text especially, opened so many cans of worms for thinking about the function of images that my thoughts keep returning at unexpected times to key concepts that I agree or disagree with. Sontag's discussion of the social possibilities from the ubiquity and pervasiveness of the photographic image, and by implication, images of all kinds, is really interesting, and has a keen prescience for systems of images such as Facebook. In a more ominous statement, Sontag speaks to the internet and our current socio-political situation with the declaration: Pg. 178 "Cameras define reality in the two ways essential to the workings of an advanced industrial society: as a spectacle (for the masses) and as an object of surveillance (for the rulers). The production of images also furnishes a ruling ideology. Social change is replaced by a change in images. The freedom to consume a plurality of images and goods is equated with freedom itself. The narrowing of the free political choice to free economic consumption requires the unlimited production and consumption of images."

Finally, I'm reading Mira Schor's Wet (thank you for the recommendation Eileen!). Schor maintains the importance and relevance of painting by examining specific examples through lenses of criticism and feminism. While I have differing views on some of the points she raises, this lively compilation of articles is very accessible and refreshing, and I appreciate her dedication to the cause.

Now on to the neighborhood where my studio will be located until March of 2012.

This is Kreuzberg, and the street where my studio is located.

Here's an interior shot of my studio. This week I've finally gotten into a regular painting routine now that I have materials. Images of oil paintings coming soon...

Recently Tyson and went on a little trip to Berlin's equivolent of Home Depot, called OBI. Along the way, we came across this...has it really been 20 years???

I like the friendly tone.

Looking up at OBI.

OBI. A couple times I forgot I wasn't at a Home Depot.

A very popular and fun thing to do is see Berlin by water. Fellow Fulbrighter and artist Imran Shafi invited me to join him for a ship tour as part of his orientation activities for UdK. Here are some images from this fun adventure:

Schiff Ahoy!!!

Imran and the Fernsehturm. You're awesome Imran!

Recently we met up with my former classmate from Rutgers, Marketa! We went to a philosophy lecture with Boyan Manchev at the Neuer Berliner Kunstverein (n.b.k.). The lecture content was a bit obscure and presented in a fairly unorganized format, but some interesting tidbits squeaked into clarity here and there. And it was great to see Marketa!

Installation by Thomas Hirschhorn at n.b.k. - I think it's interesting as a photo, but the installation in person seemed cliched and poorly executed / The image on the right is taken from part of Berlin Festival of Lights, and yes, that's Tetris being played on the side of the building!

The following are more images from the Festival of Lights:

The Berliner Dom completely illuminated with projected light.

The pedestrian walkway in the median on Unter den Linden.

And our own little permanent light show in Charlottenburg, spot-lighting of the Rathaus.

The following are more images taken recently:

Painting at home...

The Schloss at sunset... (photo by Tyson Washburn)

der Wand und die Welt

We've also visited some amazing museum exhibitions lately. The Hokusai retrospective at the Martin-Gropius-Bau was really great and very comprehensive:

We also saw Helmut Newton: Polaroids at the Photography Museum:

Newton's prolific vision was really inspiring to see.

And the Gesichter der Renaissance at the Bode Museum was incredibly good, and very hard to get into due to its popularity. Here are three of my favs, although there were many, many other works in the show that were fascinating, existing so peculiarly within and without of the time-frame in which they were painted:

Luca Signorelli (1445/50 – 1523), Portrait of an Elderly Man, Medium Tempera on poplar Place of Origin Siena (?) Date ca. 1490

Andrea d'Assisi called L'Ingegno (doc. ca. 1484 – ca. 1521), Portrait of a Boy, Material Oil and tempera on wood Dimensions 50 x 35,5 cm Date ca. 1495 – 1500

Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519), Lady with an Ermine, (Portrait of Cecilia Gallerani) Medium Oil and tempera on wood Dimensions 54,7 x 40,5 cm Date 1489/90

Some other works from the Bode collection: a carving with an interesting format, and an Egyptian gravestone from the 5-6th century

Two dragon details from carvings depicting St. George and the Dragon

Two building scenes in marquetry

On the left: a bas-relief in marble, seemingly a tribute to painting; on the right, a late 16th century diorama with a painted backdrop, carved figures and painted found branches

I keep getting caught off-guard by the colors of the sunsets here.

In other news, I was an “Alumna Spotlight,” and Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers featured a piece on my project: http://www.masongross.rutgers.edu/visual-arts/caetlynn-booth-fulbright

Lastly, I put in my bid to be considered for a second year of funding to stay here in Berlin by applying for a DAAD scholarship. Wish me luck!

XO Caetlynn

P.S. More images can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/caetlynn/sets/72157628003424620/http://www.flickr.com/photos/caetlynn/sets/72157628003424620/

Marburg to Berlin!

2011-10-12T00:59:00.001+02:00

We’re settling into our new apartment, and are so happy to be here, getting to know the city that will be our home for the next 10 months. We’ve already been having so much fun accessing the cultural depth of this amazing location.

I’ll begin by posting images of more paintings on paper I made while in Marburg:

Vor dem Sturm

Trichter Berg

Traum Sonnenuntergang 5

Traum Sonnenuntergang 7

Traum Sonnenuntergang 4

Traum Sonnenuntergang 3

Marburg, you were good to us!!! And now, some views from our final days there.....

Sunset from our porch in Marburg

On the left: Scorpio; on the right: Aries.... Ty & I

We went for several walks in the woods behind the Studentendorf where we saw Mr. Slug...

And Mr. Camouflaged Woodland Frog...

There he is!

Nighttime in the Marktplatz in Marburg

The Fulbright Kommission organized some amazing adventures, among them a trip to a very important museum. The following images are from the Museum of the Inner-German Border or the Grenzlandmuseum, with very interesting educational exhibits about the wall that ran between West and East Germany:

Historical photos of the triple-wall used to keep people on either side.

Drawing of the general idea.

And looking out the window at the bucolic countryside that the wall divided.

Photo of a historical photo.

Light show through time of the metamorphosis of present-day Germany through all of its 20th century re-iterations.

For seeing across the border...

Separated family-members...

The exhibition continues outside.

Tyson with the old.

A preserved tower on the hill, designed to be easily built or taken down within a few hours.

A section of the wall, but without the accompanying "No Man's Land" zones of land-mines, sand pits, trip-wire machine guns and hungry German Shepards.

And now back to the enchanted forests where the Brother's Grimm roamed:

The woods behind the Studentendorf on our way to the Kaiser-Wilhelm Tur.

Here we are at the top, miraculously color-coordinated...!

And behind us, the tower.

And now, a view from the top of the tower!

Back in Marburg, I always enjoyed this building for its carved heads...

Carved spectacles! A dark view.

Also organized by Fulbright was a night of cooking with a professional chef, to prepare together a real German meal! We got to take a cookbook home with the recipes!

Chopping parsley for the cold trout salad we were fixing. Yum!

Having fun in the kitchen!

It was teamwork that lead to a delicious meal!

Our trout salad and a vegetarian option too!

Time to make spätzle!

And for dessert, Pflaumen mit Sahne.

Also during our last week, we were honored to hear presentations by our Level 2 classmates, telling in their own (German) words a Grimm's Brothers fairytale of their choosing.

"The Elves and the Shoemaker" by Rachel

"Little Red-Riding Hood" by Marianna

"The White Snake" by Drew

And lunch at the castle restaurant as a reward!

Here we all are together, everyone from the Marburg classes!

And now, Berlin!

On our first real day in Berlin, roller-bladers testing the main road through the Tiergarten the day before the annual marathon.

It was amazing weather the first two weeks--an awesome welcome and chance to do a lot of walking!

The Brandenburger Tor

With Tyson ('s shadow), Alisa and JJ

It's OK for trees to be in the middle of the path in the Tiergarten.

On the Spree, a block from our apartment!

The Charlottenburg Schloss, 10 minutes from our place!

Love the gardens...

And accompanying fauna.

Very fuzzy.

A few shots of our apartment...

And then on to something more grandiose...

Inside the Berliner Dom...

And looking at the city from its heights...

We love you too, Berlin!

This week has been filled with “getting oriented” at Freie Universität and elsewhere. I got the keys to my studio, and am beginning to acquire materials to start working. Other than taking a language course, I will be spending a lot of time in the studio and at museums and galleries this year.

In other news, Rutgers Magazine recently featured a short piece on my project: LINK

More soon as I start to dig into my project! As always, to view more photos, visit my flickr account.

XO Caetlynn

Marburg Continued

2011-09-11T13:50:00.000+02:00

Since arriving, our schedule has been pretty full, but I’ve managed to make a few travel paintings, watercolor/gouaches on paper. I’ve been painting from memory as well working from sketches made from observation. As you’ll see, many are re-interpretive explorations into extrapolating an idea or investigation over several re-iterations. Here is a selection:

Traum Sonnenuntergang #1

Traum Sonnenuntergang #2

Schwarz-Weiß Club #1

Sprache Dunst

Schwarz-Weiß Club #2

Schwarz-Weiß Club #3

The weekend before last, not only did we go on a city tour of Frankfurt with our Fulbright group, we stayed the night in Frankfurt and spent the next day in Mainz with Michael, Torsten and Birgit!!! Michael and Torsten are former roommates of mine from UC Davis that were, at the time, on DAAD scholarships from Germany for their graduate work. It was so nice to see them again and to catch up! Michael graciously gave us a day-long walking tour of Mainz, where he’s lived for the past two years.

Frankfurt, banking district

Stadtverwaldtung

Altenikoliakirche

Yummy looking local pastries

Inside the great hall in the Stadtverwaldtung

We then made out way to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's family house, also in Frankfurt:

Copper cooking tins in the kitchen

Carved mirror frame

Goethe's ink-stained Schreibtisch

Dramatic and beautiful Frankfurt

Awesome find in our hotel room! Title "Sunny-side." The best!!!

Frankfurt train station

Buildings in Mainz (the capital of the state Rhineland-Palatinate)

Tyson, Michael, Torsten and Birgit in Mainz!

Here we are at the Mainz wine festival!

Back in Marburg, and as part of our Culture Course, we went on a special tour under the castle:

Just this past weekend, we made a return trip to the Landgrave Schloss museum to see some amazing relics and antiquities. The following is an image sampling of our adventure finding treasure:

Inside the Schloss courtyard

Pyramid of figurines from the 19th century

Cast-iron heater from 1579

Carved chair

Carved pipes

Pipe-packing devices

Detail of carved pipes

Marquetry on a chest of drawers--note the circular cross-sections

Hunting chandelier

Ashield from the 13th century--several displayed here

Stained glass

Carvings for a church

Detail from a painted carving

Castle cathedral, painted as it would have been in the 14th century

Castle cathedral

"Transparency" at the castle--part of a new exhibit that looks beneath the surface

Looking at decorative shields at the Schloss cathedral

Lionhead Trinkwasser

And then we visited the very regional/small town museum affiliated with the university in Marburg. Here are some quirky details from paintings we found there:

Painting detail--check out those melons

Painting detail

Tyson's favorite painting

By Tyson Washburn, sunset from the hill behind us

Signing out for now,
XO CJB

CA to Marburg

2011-09-05T12:58:00.000+02:00

Guten Tag from Marburg, Germany! We’ve been here for almost 4 weeks now, living in the Philipps-Universität Marburg Studentendorf and attending German language classes 5-days a week. Upon arrival, Tyson and I were picked up from the train station, as were the other 28 Fulbrighters currently staying in Marburg, by the international Fulbright coordinator and his crew. Over the preceding days, we were introduced to each other and invited to several celebratory orientation meals and events, an introduction to the flavor of the region and the community we’ll provide for each other, scattered throughout the country, in the coming year.

Before leaving the U.S., we had a stop-over in the North Bay to visit with relatives. Here are some images from our short stay there:

Visiting with the Washburn's in Santa Cruz

Visiting with my Brother in Napa

Fun boat ride on the Napa River in my Brother's new (old) boat!

Brother as tour guide

Dad and Emily on the bow of the boat

Oysters at Bouchon Bistro, Yountville

Lunch at Bouchon Bistro, Yountville

Tyson in front of Lewis DeSoto's Imperial at the Napa Valley Museum

From the airplane

The view from our dorm apartment at the Studentendorf, our first night

The lower front of our building. The Schwarz-Weiss Club is on the 2nd floor.

After getting settled in Marburg, our language and culture classes began, and we started investigating this college town that is our current home.

Waiting for the bus at the Stadthalle

Fulbright orientation at the CNMS building in Marburg

Welcome dinner at the restaurant beneath the Schloss

30 feasting Fulbrighters

About to walk down the stairs from the castle to the Uberstadt

View from our porch

From our kitchen in the Studentendorf on the hill

The Studentendorf as seen from the Schloss

Walking to the bus stop through the forest behind the Studentendorf

The other Fulbrighters in the program represent a wide range of talents and areas of study from Chemistry, to International Finance, to Neuroscience, to Music Composition, to Biology, to Art History, to Journalism, to the History of Architecture, and many others. There will be around 8 others living and accomplishing their projects in Berlin, and we’ve already been talking about Thanksgiving plans and other ways we’ll stay connected.

Fulbrighters enjoying Auflauf und Bier in the Uberstadt

Fulbrighter BBQ at Jose's place in the Uberstadt

Walking home from the Uberstadt

In addition to classes, we have been going on tours and weekend excursions around the area. One of the first tours was of the St. Elisabeth’s Kirche. This church is especially important because it was the first Gothic church in Germany, built between 1235 and 1283, influenced by French cathedrals such as those in Reims and Amiens. During the tour, our guide said something that really resonated: “A cathedral as a place of worship is theology expressed through architecture.” I see parallels between this idea and painting; one could say, “A painting as a portal to the human experience is spirituality expressed through a 2-dimensional medium.”

Looking up in the Elisabeth Kirche

Stone carvings at the pulpit

The East Choir on the left, Landgrave's Choir on the right. The aisles are the same height as the knave, a characteristic that set a precedent for German Gothic cathedrals.

Saint Mary's altar with Pietà

Stained glass windows

St. Elisabeth's Shrine

Tombs of the Landgraves

Detail: Stained glass windows

Outside the Elisabeth Kirche, very near to where our classes are held

After the church tour, we made our way through the Uberstadt to the Marburger Schloss, or Landgrave Castle, on top of the hill. Here are some images from the town and up at the castle:

Half-timber houses in the Uberstadt

Looking down the street in the Uberstadt

Uberstadt roofs from the Schloss

At the Landgrave Schloss!

Trinkwasser from the Boar's snout

Marburg night

{This post features a focused selection of images. Click here to view more images on Flickr.}

Until soon,
XO CJB

Destination: Germany

2011-08-05T01:34:00.051+02:00

This will be my last post from the US for a while—for the next 11 months, I will be in Germany as a Fulbright Scholar. I will be posting often as I work on the painting project I will be completing in Berlin. My writing will focus on my experiences, progress and insights, so stay tuned for all the juicy details!

Since my last post, a lot has been going on, so I thought I’d give a recap before we leave for Germany in a few days. Over the summer, I participated in a couple of group shows in NYC and at a space in Catskill. The following are installation images from the exhibition at White Box:

My classmates installing their work

Anna Bushman removing tape while making her wall installation

Erik, Tom, Katherine and Gabbe in front of Tom's painting (left), and Katherine's (right)

Gabbe and Katherine

During installation... from left, works by Gabbe Grodin, myself, John Amelchenko and Erin Dunn (sculpture)

Photo credit: J Somers Photography, LLC
Deck Symmetry (left), Looking at Deck Symmetry (right)

Photo credit: J Somers Photography, LLC
Collaboration between Gabbe Grodin, Megan Flaherty and Alan Prazniak

Photo credit: J Somers Photography, LLC
Erin Dunn, Eileen Behnke and Gabbe Grodin

Photo credit: J Somers Photography, LLC
When the doors opened...

During the run of the show, the Napa Register interviewed me about my work and my upcoming project abroad. Here’s the link to the article: LINK

I’ve also recently updated images and information on my website: www.caetlynnbooth.com

In May, I graduated with my MFA in Visual Arts from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Here are some images of my studio space before I left. I was so happy to attend this program, and gained invaluable experiences there.

Some other pics of good times in New Brunswick during my last semester…

Birthday gathering at Clydz

Some of my classmates at a picnic at the park

The audience for a performance directed by Patricia Brace

The performance...

Liv and Katherine performing

Night on Busch campus

Tyson in the distance

Bonfire at LAB

In mid-May, we went back to CA for a visit—my first time back in almost a year! Here are some images from that trip…

At the airport

Tyson and his sister Taryn in Napa at our Bon-Voyage party

Party fun!

The river walk in south Napa

Visiting with Cali, Rob and Sara

Tyson, helping at James Cole Winery

Mysterious winery shot

Ben & Tyson

See no evil, tasting something evil

Suspicious...

And happy

The sky...

After breakfast with Kristina at Buttercream Bakery!

Wayne Theibaud and wine-tasting at St. Supery

Domicile Tendencies at Chandra Cerrito Contemporary in Oakland, work by Stephen Whisler

Tyson's work in the show (on the right)

After CA, I went in for scheduled surgery for a herniated disc, something that had been causing a lot of pain and limiting my activities. The process of recovery was challenging but essential, aided by Don Quixote, Art & Physics, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Snow Crash along with a backlog of New Yorkers. A big thank you to my husband, family and friends for your strength, love and support.

And now, we’ve moved out of our apartment in New Jersey and all of our belongings are in a 6’ x 12’ storage unit in Pennsylvania…!

When we first arrive in Germany, we’ll be staying in Marburg for a 6-week language intensive. Later in September, we’ll arrive in Berlin and plan to live in the Kreuzberg, the neighborhood where I’ll have a studio as an artist in residence.

That’s all for now, so if you’re in Germany over the next year, please let me know!

XO Caetlynn

Graduation and Other News!

2011-04-25T03:46:00.039+02:00

I’m happy spring is finally making its entrance! The sunshine and warmth are very welcomed friends as I prepare to transition from graduate school. The rest of my thesis exhibition went well, and I received a lot of good feedback from visiting critics, professors, and peers. Most of these paintings are now on my website: www.caetlynnbooth.com. Now that I’ve completed my thesis exhibition Night Vision, and thesis paper, I’m planning the next stages, including moving out of the studio I’ve had now for almost 2 years. My classmates also completed great projects, and I’ve included some installation shots from the second round thesis exhibition below.

by John Amelchenko

by Gabbe Grodin

by Katherine DeGaetani

by Erik Schoonebeek

Photographs by Megan Flaherty, sculpture by Erik Schoonebeek

I am sad to be saying good-bye to the community that’s developed while in the Visual Arts program at Mason Gross, but I know I’ll stay connected to my colleagues in other ways, and am excited for the new adventures on the horizon.

Speaking of new horizons, Tyson and I got hitched!!! I have been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for a post-graduate research and painting project! Tyson will be joining me, and my project will involve studying the paintings of the German artist Adam Elsheimer and creating a body of paintings inspired by his work. I am very excited to represent the U.S. as a scholar in the visual arts in Berlin, Germany, for a 10-month period. Because Tyson works remotely, he will be able to accompany me on this amazing opportunity to live in one of the most important centers for art in the world.

At the New Brunswick courthouse

With our witnesses, Sandra and Tom

Gerry Beegan, who I teach BFA Thesis with, stopped by for a celebratory beverage!

At Harvest Moon

My classmates are awesome!!!!

We will have a ceremony with, and for, family and friends next year upon our return.

Flight out of Egypt by Adam Elsheimer, the artist whose work I will be researching

Also, my work has been juried into New American Paintings again this year! Make sure to check out the current April/May issue #93, where my work is featured.

Part of my layout in the current issue of New American Paintings

Cover of the issue my work is currently featured in

In February, I was the recipient of an Honorable Mention in the Visual Arts from the College Art Association, and attended the annual conference, this year at the New York Hilton. I attended a grant-writing workshop for artists, an art history session on Symbolism, a session on Dark Matters of the Art World, and a session on Art-making as New Knowledge. All were extremely interesting, and I plan to attend the next conference in L.A. in 2012—a great chance to network and hear new ideas about conceiving of the visual arts landscape, history and criticism.

Recently, a few of my paintings were included in the show “Touching Base,” curated by Robin Hill, at the Pence Show in Davis, CA. Although I was unable to attend the exhibit, I’ve heard from those who could make it that they really enjoyed it! The show was covered by The Sacramento Bee: LINK
And thoughtfully reviewed by The California Aggie: LINK

Due to the timing of all these exciting upcoming experiences, I will be coming back to CA at the beginning of May for a much-needed visit with family and friends, to celebrate my graduation, and to connect once again with the soil of my origin before heading off to foreign lands.

Although I haven’t had as much time recently in the studio as I would like, here are some images of my most recent paintings. Over spring break, I was fortunate to have Keith’s invitation to use his woodshop again, and the three of us assembled over 20 panels that I’ll be using for upcoming paintings. Again, I am indebted to Keith and Tyson for their generosity of time and manpower!

Looking at Deck Symmetry, 2011, 24" x 24"

Material Light, 2011, 12" x 12"

Emanation (hillside), 2011, 12" x 24"

I had to include this awesome poster made by Michael Shoudt for visiting artist, Peter Saul.

Now, as this semester approaches its end, a couple of other shows are currently being realized—that of the graduating BFA seniors that I’ve been working with while teaching BFA Thesis & Exhibition. It has been rewarding to work with these talented undergrads as they’ve determined and executed their own projects this year. Between critiques, planning group meetings, thesis paper feedback, and discussions about transitioning out of life in university, I have really gotten to know these students, and wish them the very best on the new journeys they will be embarking upon. Below are some images from the ambitious exhibitions they have put on.

Images from "Inner Space" BFA Show I

From left to right: Diana Whitener, Maria Giancola, James Falciano

by Michael Tewodros

by Byron Escobar

by Melissa Torro

Images from "Drawing a _______________" BFA Show II

From left to right: Dan Morowitz, Ilana Cloud

From left to right: Drew Ritger, Sasha Flimlin, Jenny Chang

by Pavol Olsavsky

by Tiffany Dodson

Finally, I want to let you know about an upcoming show in NYC that my classmates and I will be having at White Box. The dates of the show will be May 18 to June 7, 2011. The opening reception is Friday, May 20th from 6-8pm. Please come if you can!

Until next time,
XO CJB

MFA Thesis Exhibition 2011

2011-02-14T20:22:00.028+01:00

The following are images from my thesis exhibition as well as some of the work of my classmates who are also in the first thesis show (there will be a second show with 8 other graduating MFA's later this month). This post is image-heavy and text-lite... Enjoy!

My work installed in the Mason Gross Galleries in New Brunswick (the show is up through 2/16)

Bridge, Oil on panel, 52" x 120" (diptych)

Circular Current, Oil on linen, 110" x 50" (diptych)

Wall with smaller paintings from 12" x 12" to 20" x 20"

Fortress, Oil on linen, 48" x 100"

Fortress detail

Raritan Night Scene detail

Parking Sunrises detail

Looking through three galleries

Installation by Betsy VanLangen

By Betsy VanLangen

Installation (detail) by Erin Dunn

Installation and video by Erin Dunn

Paintings and sculpture by Alan Prazniak

Painting and sculpture by Alan Prazniak

Transition detail between galleries, Eileen Behnke (left), Alan Prazniak (right)

Painting by Eileen Behnke

Installation shot, paintings by Eileen Behnke (left, right), Alan Prazniak (center)

Paintings by Thomas Raggio

Paintings by Thomas Raggio

Video and mixed media installation by Anna Bushman

Video and mixed media installation by Anna Bushman

Happy Eve of the New Year!

2010-12-27T22:56:00.038+01:00

This post covers the last couple of months and highlights my latest work’s trajectory in anticipation of the coming year and my thesis exhibition beginning at the end of January.

The fall semester of my second year as a graduate student went by quickly, but was full of a variety of experiences including co-teaching BFA Thesis Exhibition with Design Professor and Undergraduate Director, Gerry Beegan. This class spans two semesters and includes senior BFA students in all areas of the Visual Arts including Design, and over the fall semester we gave students a new opportunity within the class structure: BFA seniors had the chance to get some curating and installation experience with the BFA Annual: Water for practical experience in preparing for their thesis exhibitions in the coming spring. Coordinating 70 students so that they had an equal chance to participate and work in teams to create a mock layout of the show; install the exhibition of more than 140 works within the 4 hour class period; and then when the show came to a close, to de-install and patch and paint the walls, again within the 4 hour class period, was amazing to witness and orchestrate. The show was in tandem with the campus-wide theme of water, and the ambitious Water exhibition at the Zimmerli Museum on campus. The BFA version was quite a success, and awards were given to several works in the show, juried by Donna Gustafson, the curator of the Zimmerli Museum.

Photo by Maria Giancola

In addition to teaching, I took three fantastic classes during the fall: Painting and Studio Problems with painter Stephen Westfall, Current Issues in Art Practice with painter Suzanne Joelson, and Art Criticism with poet and art critic John Yau.

During the semester, Tyson and I enjoyed hosting my parents for a visit to NJ and NYC—a first for my dad! We made sure they had the delicious Indian food experience of Delhi Garden in Edison, a visit to Princeton with lunch at Triumph Brewery, as well as a trip to the shore and a tour of the campus. We had a family gathering in Pennsylvania at Nancy and Keith’s—we all really enjoyed visiting with everyone in one room! We went to the Met and Central Park, MoMA, Grand Central Station, Times Square and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge among other adventures. We look forward to the next visit!

Tyson and my parents on top of the Met with the Starn Twin's "Big Bambú"

Bamboo overlooking Central Park

The web of bamboo, recycled to an oyster farm after it came down!

Tyson and my mom having fun with art at the Met

For Tyson’s birthday in November, we hosted a BBQ Chicken & Waffles, breakfast for lunch party. I whipped out the Belgian waffle-maker and Tyson covered the BBQ to welcome several of my classmates and Tyson’s cousin Travis. I don’t have any pictures, but here’s a memory watercolor/gouache of the trees in our back yard that day. The weather was perfect.

For Thanksgiving, Tyson and I cooked chicken and gravy with stuffing, mashed potatoes, fresh cranberry sauce, and Brussels sprouts with bacon. Luckily my classmate Travis Coatney was able to join us to help us feast! The following weekend, we visited with my relatives for Thanksgiving #2 in Allentown, PA--a delicious meal hosted by Barb and Art Hoffman. The next day, my wood-working relative Keith Sandberg invited me to his woodshop for the day, and we worked together to build the stretchers and panels for my thesis exhibition. It was amazing!!! I'm now busy stretching and prepping in between painting.

An end of the semester highlight was afternoon tea with painter Lois Dodd. Here are a couple of her paintings that I admire and a shot from our visit with her.

Lois Dodd, Night Sky Loft, 1973

Lois Dodd, Night House, 1975

From left to right: Caetlynn Booth, Liv Aanrud, Eileen Behnke, Lois Dodd. Photo by Gabbe Grodin

I’m also happy to say that I completed my application and the interview for a Fulbright Scholarship to Berlin for 2011-12—now I’m waiting to hear if I’ve been accepted, and will find out for sure in May. Gulp!

Other good news to report is that I’ve received a 2011 CAA Professional-Development Honorable Mention in the Visual Arts. I had applied for the fellowship, and although I wasn’t selected for that award, they award five Fellowships and five Honorable Mentions, so I am happy with this success. I will be featured in the next CAA News and am looking forward to attending the conference in NYC in February.

In addition, my work has been selected for publication in New American Paintings again this year, this time juried by Randi Hopkins, Associate Curator at The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. I will keep you posted about when this issue will be released in the spring of 2011.

And now, a visual update of recent paintings…

Panels built in Keith's woodshop, 24" x 120" each

In progress...

The Bridge diptych on panel, finished 48" x 120"

Two paintings I made yesterday, referencing the Bridge diptych

The larger painting: Sunrise Container, oil on linen, 45" x 92." I may show these paintings together...

Deck Symmetry, oil on linen, 16" x 16"

Top Deck Emanation, oil on linen, 12" x 12"

Transformers, oil on panel, 12" x 24"

Exterior's Interior, oil on panel, 12" x 12"

The Maze, oil on linen, 72" x 48"

Sunset with Two Trees and Pampas, watercolor & gouache on paper, 20" x 14"

Sunset with Four Trees and Pampas, watercolor & gouache on paper, 14" x 20"

Treetop with Roofpeak, watercolor and gouache on paper, 14" x 20"

Studio Portrait, watercolor and gouache on paper, 14" x 20"

To view my latest work and a selection of paintings from the past few years: www.caetlynnbooth.com

Over this winter break, I am busy painting and getting ready for my thesis exhibition that I install at the end of January. Unfortunately, the thesis exhibition schedule meant that I couldn’t make a visit to CA this winter, but I am getting some really good work done. I’m also doing a lot of reading and writing for my thesis paper, due a little later in the spring. I’m enjoying researching and further contextualizing the work I’ve been making.

We just had our first real snow-storm (blizzard) of the season. Here are a few snow-shots. Hope to see you soon in 2011!
XO

Looking down from the 3rd fl. at White Cloud in the parking lot the night of the storm...

Our neighbors shoveling the sidewalk

Our neighborhood

More snow all over everything!!!

Summer 2010

2010-08-30T15:06:00.002+02:00

This summer has been an amazing one—almost too much to report, but I’ll try.

I taught for Rutgers in the first and third summer sessions, first Art Appreciation online for non-majors, and most recently, Drawing Fundamentals. Both classes were a lot of fun to teach but kept me busy between weekly essays on the one hand and drawing exercises from 2-point perspective to figure drawing on the other! Now I’m preparing to co-teach the BFA Thesis Exhibition with Gerry Beegan, and it promises to be exciting with the BFA Annual (Water themed), and then in the spring, the BFA Thesis exhibitions. I’m also preparing for the school year myself, and will report on the classes I’ll be taking in the next post.

If you’re in the area, I hope you have a chance to see either or both of the following shows!

WLCM BCK at Mason Gross Galleries is an exhibition that I’m in and helped to organize. Here’s the info:

an exhibition featuring work by
Mason Gross School of the Arts Visual Arts Department Faculty,
Staff, and returning second-year M.F.A. students.

September 1-17
reception Sept. 1, 4-6 p.m.

gallery hours:
Monday-Friday: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
extended hours on Wednesdays until 6 p.m.
Saturdays: noon - 4 p.m.

participants:

Liv Aanrud / John Almelchenko / Eileen Behnke / Caetlynn Booth / Anna Bushman / Damian Catera / Katherine DeGaetani / Erin Dunn / Megan Flaherty / Gabbe Grodin / Chris Guerra / Catherine Haggarty / Annie Hogan / Suzanne Joelson / Marketa Klicova / Gary Kuehn / Julie Langsam / Allison Lindblom / Ardele Lister / Toby MacLennan / Barb Madsen / Tony Masso / Anne McKeown / Traci Molloy / Diane Neumaier / Raphael Ortiz / Kate Pollard / Alan Prazniak / Tom Raggio / Martha Rosler / Erik Schoonebeek / Patrick Strzelec / Richard Tuttle / Betsy VanLangen / Timothy Warner / Tyson Washburn / Stephen Westfall / Shane Whilden / Wendy White / Bryan Whitney / John Yau

And the other show I’m currently in, juried by Mary Birmingham, Curator of the Hunterdon Museum. Here’s the info for this exhibition:

Featured painting, Porch Dynamics 2009

SICA’s 7th Annual Juried Exhibition
Exhibition: September 4 - November 13, 2010
Reception: September 12, 3 - 6 PM
Location: SICA, 20 Third Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740

It’s been a while since my last update, so I have several new works to show you. I’m continuing with a night palette, and have been exploring working with chromatic blacks. I’ve also been digging deeper into my subjects to hone my focus. Maintaining the immediacy of the material quality is also a current goal, so almost all of the following paintings were made while the paint was continuously wet.

Temple, Oil on linen, 30" x 90"

Checkpoint, Oil on linen on panel, 16" x 48"

Reflection before Projection, Oil on paper, 24" x 45"

Family of Verticals, Oil on wood panel, 16" x 12"

In Bloom (at night), Oil on wood panel, 12" x 16"

Climb, Oil on wood panel, 12" x 12"

Point of Entry, Oil on linen, 18" x 18"

Dark Gel, Oil on paper, 45" x 12"

Midnight in Marfa, before

Midnight in Marfa, after (stretched onto several smaller canvases)

Current studio shot.

In between everything else, Tyson and moved at the beginning of August to an awesome apartment. Here are some pics of our new home. We love it!

New orchid.

New kitchen.

New second floor deck!

Earlier this summer, I made a trip to CA to reunite with Tyson at the close of his residency at the Headlands, and to get some good time in with fam & friends. Here are some awesome times recorded “on film.”

Hotel Mirabelle where we stayed in The Mission, our old neighborhood.

Tyson pointing to his room at the Headlands while he was staying there as a resident artist.

View from the Headlands.

Another view from the Headlands. (that's the Pacific out there!)

Headlands hillside.

After staying in San Francisco for four days, we headed to visit our dear friends Amber & Teejay in Davis (near Sacramento).

Inspiring.

Evidence of inspiration.

Hanging out at their awesome cottage.

Yeah!

We also headed down to Santa Cruz to visit with Tyson's relatives.

Look what I found on Tyson's grandma-Nona's sofa.

And then on to Napa to visit my family! Here we are at Mumm, where my bro's girlfriend Emily works.

Very nice weather.

There's Emily!

And some wine-tasting at James Cole, where our good friend Ben works.

Ben!

Ben, Tyson, and my bro Alan in the barrel room at James Cole.

And taking a look at the vintage vehicle in the tank room...

We also had the privilege of joining Amy & Peter at their West Coast wedding celebration! Here we are at Gargiulo Winery.

Amy & Peter's peeps.

Speeches about the happy couple!

Amy & Peter...

Beautiful!

At the celebration.

Lovely Io and Ann.

Summer has been amazing, delightful, challenging, inspiring, productive, and so much more. Thanks to my friends and family for all the good times!!!

And now, my primary objective is to finish up my Fulbright application (to Berlin for 2011-12), and start the semester right!

Best wishes to Everyone near & far,
XO Caetlynn

Spring has Sprung!

2010-05-24T03:10:00.043+02:00

It’s been too long! Now that the semester is over, I thought I’d catch up on recent activities in New-Jersey-land and elsewhere.

If you haven’t already bought yourself a copy, New American Paintings, Issue #87, is on bookshelves now, featuring yours truly. LINK I hope you have a chance to check it out!

Fellow graduating classmates recently had their show Off the Map, at White Box in NYC. The show’s down now, but I was so happy for them to debut their work together in NY at the same place, same time! Way to go classmates and way to go Visual Arts Department and Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers for getting behind this important opportunity and making it happen for graduating MFAs. LINK

For the MFA open studios on April 24th, my classmates and I all participated in making a box set of 20 works on paper. Here is a sampling of my “Stumpies.”

It was a great event, and with reviews the day before, twice as good a reason to clean up the studio! Here are a few pics from that day, and the after party at the infamous and highly local, Court Tavern.

Kristyna and Lisa enjoying the lounge...

Post open studios discussions...

Dan, John and Jamian...

Lorah, Jessica, Lety and Liv!

Jessica, Lety, and something really interesting that Matt's saying.

Megan, Andy and Matt Posey.

Earlier this spring, I was also so happy to coordinate Amy’s work for a show in Project Space 227. Here are some images of her work looking great.

Yay Amy!

And here are a few images of some of my latest paintings in oil.

Landing, Oil on linen, 36" x 90"

Star Rising, Oil on linen, 70" x 40"

Emanation (Ginko), Oil on linen, 70" x 50"

Double Eclipse, Oil on paper, 12" x 45"

This past weekend my graduating classmates passed the torch of the title of “Second Years” to my class. We had a clothing swap, a delicious BBQ, music, dancing and a bonfire. What could be better? Although, we will miss you tremendously Paul, Lety, Colin, Matt Posey, Brian Campbell, Jessica, Andy, Matt Marchand,Viktor, Brian Bulfer, Dale, Misti, Avi, Allan, Melissa.

Clothing swap, photo by Gabbe Grodin

Alan at the Q, photo by Gabbe Grodin

Eileen and Paul bite, photo by Gabbe Grodin

Erik in blue, photo by Gabbe Grodin

Liv in the clothing swap, photo by Gabbe Grodin

Bonfire, photo by Gabbe Grodin

Back in California, Tyson has been having a great time at his residency at the Headlands. He’s been staying there for the whole month of May, making friends with other artists in residency over delicious meals and good times. The group show he’s in opened on May 16th, and is up until June 6th. Here are some images of the work he’s been making.

Tyson and I have been planning my visit to California in June, and will be staying in the Mission for a few days to soak up some sunshine in our “old neighborhood.” We miss you, Mission.

Yay Foreign Cinema!
Yay Mission Pie!
Yay Pizzeria Delfina!

We’ll also be in Napa and Santa Cruz to visit friends and family before heading back home, (finally reunited!) to NJ. Can’t wait!!!!!

Some really good news is that I’ve been awarded a full Teaching Assistantship for next year, and will be co-teaching the BFA Thesis Exhibition class. In addition, I’ve decided to apply for a Fulbright Scholarship to Berlin for 2011-12, and I am working hard to put together the best application I can—it’s been a great challenge, and good exercise so far—and of course I hope I get it!!!

Yours, keeping truly busy in grad school,
Caetlynn

Welcome, New Decade

2010-02-14T15:45:00.044+01:00

Now three weeks into the Spring semester, I’m back into the groove again after Winter break and returning from California (Tyson-less for the next few months while he completes his residency at the Headlands).

Here are a few images from Tyson’s sister Taryn’s visit over Winter break, and from my short week “back home”…

Taryn's first visit to NYC--we had to walk through Central Park

And visit the Met...

Detail from Bronzino's Portrait of a Young Man

Our first stop in California, at Tyson's parents house in the Santa Cruz Mountains...

Tyson and his dad Carl looking at some brush that they later cleared that day

A walk into the woods on the property lead to a pleasant surprise

Chantrelles! (Which were made into delicious mushroom risotto later that night)

Tyson with his parents, and our bundle of mushroom booty!

Looking at another type of mushroom (not for eating)

View looking toward the valley and Santa Cruz

More forest walking through the neighbor's property

And then we journeyed North to Napa...

Looking at my brother's '71 Blazer project

Tyson, Emily & my bro Alan

We also stopped by Sabine and Stephen's to check out the progress on their remodel. Amazing, and a delicious breakfast!

Dinner gathering at my parent's house with friends and family

Going for a walk along the river in South Napa

With my very good friend Amber...

And her boyfriend Teejay--he and Tyson have really taken a liking to each other...

So sad to think of parting...

In addition to visiting family and friends in CA in January, I was able to spend some time putting together a new website. Check it out!
www.caetlynnbooth.com

I’m also excited to tell you the good news—I’ve been accepted into New American Paintings MFA Issue 87, scheduled to be released April 13, 2010. Look for it soon in a magazine shop near you!
http://www.newamericanpaintings.com/

Since being back, I’ve finished a few more new paintings, and am really excited about what feels like a breakthrough in approach to the subject matter I’m working with. The two most recent paintings I think especially speak to this (the first two in the series below).

Oil on canvas, 45" x 12"

Sunrise, Oil on canvas, 10" x 22"

Texas Night Pile, Oil on linen, 90" x 30"

Oil on canvas, 18" x 8"

The following were painted on location during a twilight excursion with Jessica Bottalico

Thaw, Oil on panel, 5" x 8"

I couldn't even see the paint I was mixing by this point

Oil on panel, 10" x 14"

Studio panorama

This semester, I’m taking classes with Diane Neumaier, Marc Handelman, Tom Nozkowski, and Martha Rosler, plus the Visiting Artist lecture series. Between working with these great artists/mentors as well as reading about very interesting ideas, such as the views of Lotringer and Virilio in “The Accident of Art,” I am participant to a very rich environment. It’s the best!

I’ve also been getting into NYC, and recommend the following shows (even though they're about to close!):
Ryan Schneider at Priska C. Juschka Fine Art
Jack Tworkov at Mitchell, Innes & Nash
Inka Essenhigh at 303 Gallery
Joe Pflieger at Monya Rowe

Also, my very good friend Amy Lincoln will have her work up in Project Space 229 for the first week in March. The opening will coincide with the MFA Thesis Show II, so if you can, join us for the opening reception on March 3 from 5-7pm at the Mason Gross Galleries!
Link

I will leave you with a couple images from the snowstorm that just hit. Wow, that’s a lot of snow!!!

Until next time,
XO Caetlynn

Happy New Year!

2009-12-26T03:11:00.002+01:00

As you prepare to say good-bye to one decade, and hello to another, I hope you enjoy taking a look at what I've been up to recently. The following are a selection of images from the First Year MFA Exhibition. I tried to include some of my classmate's work that I thought would translate well at this scale (sorry to those I didn't include!).

Here's the roll call.

At the opening reception.

By Erin Dunn.

By Gabbe Grodin.

By Tom Raggio.

By Alan Prazniak.

By Eileen Behnke.

By Summer Baldwin.

By Erik Schoonebeek.

By Liv Aanrud.

It's been quite exciting as I've dug into grad school. After having my first year review, and several interesting studio visits with visiting artists such as James Hyde and Sarah Oppenheimer, I've been understanding what I make in new ways. This process is helping me gain perspective and focus as I explore new ways of working and plan my next projects. Here are a few of my most recent paintings:

Night Park Study, oil on canvas, 45" x 12"

Tree at Night, oil on panel, 16" x 12"

Dark Road, oil on canvas, 36" x 24"

Studies after a painting by Albert Pinkham Ryder.

Sketches & works on paper temporarily propped up in my studio.

My professor Marc Handelman organized a day of artist talks/studio visits. Here are a few photos from that day.

Studio visit with Marc Handelman.

Studio visit with Jessica Dickinson.

Studio visit with Dana Schutz.

In addition to studio visits with my class, Tyson & I went into the city recently to see some great exhibits at the Met, including the Samurai exhibit with lots of expertly crafted blades; Georgia O'Keeffe at the Whitney; David Hockney at Pace; and Gerhardt Richter at Marian Goodman.

Besides visiting NYC on a frequent basis for art, Tyson and I have also been visiting with Amy & Kevin ( Laundromat ) and recently we went to a Holiday Party hosted by Ethan and Leah. Such great times!!!

Images from the train ride from NYC back to Highland Park.

NJ...

More NJ...

And I couldn't resist taking pictures of our first real snow!!! This is just outside our apartment the evening the storm hit.

And the morning after!

White cloud blanketed in whiteness.

Tyson throwing snow at me.

Snow in the forest.

Vultures feeding on something in the snow...deer maybe?

The river partly frozen.

Happy Holidays!

Lobstie making a snow angel...

Our Christmas swag, doubling as a wall-mounted tree.

In conclusion, we've had a lot of fun celebrating the holidays with my classmates (we recently had a progressive party that included three different hosts and locations), as well as friends in the area. But it is difficult being so far away from family and friends in California--the holidays just aren't the same without you guys back home. We will be coming back for a short visit in mid-January right before the spring semester begins for me. Tyson will be staying on in California for 6 months for his residency at the Headlands Center for the Arts, and I will be returning for a busy semester of school as well as teaching a painting class (water media) through the extension program at Mason Gross. So, a lot of interesting new paths for exploration for both Tyson and I!

Until the next time, wishing you and yours all the best for what the New Year holds,
XO

October = Awesome!

2009-10-24T06:30:00.025+02:00

Much has happened over the past five weeks. Before writing too much about anything else, I have to tell you about the First Year MFA Exhibition of which I am a participant:

First Year MFA Exhibition
Reception: 5-7pm, Thursday, November 19th
Location: Mason Gross Galleries, 33 Livingston Av, New Brunswick, NJ
Map: link
The show runs November 12-December 11, 2009

Here are my latest paintings, two of which will be in the show.

Night Park, oil on canvas (diptych) 32"H x 120"W

Twilight on Mill Valley, oil on canvas (diptych) 24” H x 96” W

Porch Dynamics, oil on canvas, 20.5” H x 40” W

Between my classes, working in the studio, working at the Brodsky Center, and the random delicious Paella party with my classmates, I am keeping quite busy! Luckily, I've had a chance to visit some new places and do some exploring too.

Earlier in October, Tyson and I drove over to visit with Nancy (my mom's cousin) and Keith in Doylestown PA. We had a delicious brunch at their house, and then went to see Fonthill, the Michener Museum and the Mercer Museum. A very interesting look into the life and work of a local artist and the legacy he left the community.

Fonthill castle, built by Henry Mercer

The Mercer Museum, also built by Henry Mercer

We also had a visit from Tyson's Aunt Gail later in the month, who made a day trip down to New Brunswick while visiting her son Travis (Tyson's cousin) in NYC. We greatly enjoyed brunch with her at Old Man Rafferty's, and then gave her the tour.

I've been out and about checking out shows recently, and have enjoyed openings at the Laundromat (Kevin Curran and Amy Lincoln's art space in Bushwick), Yvonne Jacquette at Mary Ryan Gallery , Josephine Halvorson at Monya Rowe Gallery
and Tim Eitel's Invisible Forces at PaceWildenstein especially.

I'm reading a couple of books right now, recommended by professors, both of which are really good: "Because I Was Flesh: The Autobiography of Edward Dahlberg" and "Landscape and Power" by W.J.T. Mitchell.

The Brodsky Center hosted a "spooktacular" Halloween party, and then this past week, participated in book fairs in Chelsea and Philadelphia. The EAB Fair in Chelsea was a lot of fun to help out at--I met some interesting people, and saw a lot of contemporary print and book art. Good times! Here are some images from the opening night party, and night photography I did along the way home.

Kristyna (Assistant printer), Randy (Master printer), Dennis (Director of Marketing) and Ann (Paper maker) at the Brodsky Center booth at the EAB Fair

Walking along 10th Av.

Almost makes me want to play Grand Theft Auto...

Shooting out the window on the way home (Thanks for the ride, Sandra!)

From the minivan window

Well, until the next time!
XO Caetlynn

September: A Fast Month Passing

2009-10-04T18:34:00.021+02:00

As has probably been your experience as well, much has transpired during the past month. This is an update describing some of my adventures, as well as how I have been spending my time since school began in early September. I hope you enjoy reading and looking. XO Caetlynn

Before I had made new canvases to work with, I decided to explore ink and watercolor on paper. I made the images above during mid-September.

This diptych is my first painting in oil (other than a portrait of my classmate, Paul DeMuro that I finished for a group show at Nexus in Philadelphia--sorry, no image right now!)

Being a graduate student at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers is awesome! My classmates and professors are amazing, as is my studio (pictured above), the resources, the proximity to NYC, etc.... I'm biking to school every day, and my work study assignment is at the Brodsky Center for Innovative Editions ( www.brodskycenter.org ). I'm really enjoying helping with art marketing at the BCIE--and it's very conveniently located in the same building as my studio and all my classes. This semester I'm taking four classes, three that focus on painting and group and individual studio visits with my classmates and professors, and a Visiting Artist class. Two weeks ago, the visiting artist was Josephine Halvorson , a Brooklyn artist whose paintings are worth taking a look at. She gave an inspiring presentation about her work and philosophy, and provided me with some great feedback about my own work.

I thought I'd throw this image in as an example of some of the lovable bits and pieces at the Civic Square Building where all this magic is taking place.

This is the view when exiting the building at night--the hotel across the street in downtown New Brunswick.

One of the best things about living in Central Jersey is the NJ Transit line that drops you at Penn Station in NYC in 45 mins. if catch the express. (There are some other things too, but this is pretty high on the priority list). The following are some photos taken at The New Museum during a recent visit.

Tyson. Head on.

Tyson. From above.

Tyson. From below.

And the Met!!! The following are a small sampling of some paintings that caught my eye recently.

Unfortunately I don't have the journal with me that would reveal the name of this artist, but I loved this strange arctic composition.

And this detail of "The Heart of the Andes" by Frederick Church--intimate dappled view of nature's nooks & crannies.

Unknown artist.

Who paints better than El Greco? In my opinion, no one.

NYC. On our way to NYMOMA to see the James Ensor show. Fantastic.

On another note, recently, classmates Jessica Bottalico and Alan Prazniak and I ventured into the wilderness of the park along the Raritan River for a night drawing session. The following are photos captured along the way.

View of New Brunswick at night.

---
But I won't pretend that the transition has all been easy. Both Tyson and I have had many nostalgic moments about the home we left in SF (below are pictures from our back porch), and long to see our many friends and relatives again soon, hopefully for the holidays.

Lastly, yesterday, Tyson and I went into NY to galleries in Chelsea. We saw too much to mention everything (like 20!!!), but one of the best was Amy Stein at ClampArt . Check it.

I will try to post at least once a month, and am working on some larger paintings now, so will include them in the next one, as well as reviews of more gallery shows that strike my fancy. Until next time, XO CJB

From Tyson's Camera

2009-09-01T05:47:00.033+02:00

Here are a few more images from along the way during our road trip...

SoCal

Through the desert

Making our way to Marfa

Marfa, TX

More Texas...

Driving is fun!!! (3,600 miles in total)

8-2 SF to LA

2009-08-26T00:11:00.003+02:00

Today is the first in our journey across the country. We finish clearing everything out of our apartment and do the last bit of cleaning--grab a coffee at Mission Pie--and then the road has our name written all over it. We head South on I-5, our destination: Laguna Niguel, and the family home of Tyson's former dorm-roomie, Micheil.

We arrive, and are welcomed with open arms to join in a big family meal. After dinner, Micheil takes us down to the harbor where his sailboat is docked (Micheil's home), and he motors us out for a quick foray into the waters beyond the jetty. We see seals sitting on the floating buoys, and the moon is almost full. A stark nightscape indeed. We drive back to the family home and get a good night's rest.

8-3 LA to AZ

2009-08-26T00:02:00.007+02:00

Today we leave Micheil and family in Laguna Niguel for AZ, stopping at Joshua Tree along the way. Other than JT and the amazing skyline throughout AZ, most notable was the temperature--usually around 110-115 degrees--and driving without A/C the whole way....something not to avoid checking before the next trip!

Skull rock

8-4 Tombstone, AZ to TX

2009-08-25T23:32:00.007+02:00

Today we awoke to a very sunny morning in Benson, AZ, and got to see bunnies--cute little bunnies with white cotton tails--nibbling on grass and playing with each other (including hopping over one another and chasing each other in circles!!!). Sorry, no photos. After packing up, we stop by Tombstone and visit a cool cemetery featuring the gravesites of cowboys who mostly seemed to meet untimely deaths by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Next, we drive through NM and Las Cruces, and then down into El Paso and along the Rio Grande.

We watch a beautiful sunset as we drive into the night to make it to Marfa before morning.

8-5 Marfa, TX

2009-08-25T22:52:00.026+02:00

Today we awake in Marfa at the Thunderbird Hotel. We go to the Chinati Foundation for a tour of the collection. It's a beautiful day to see everything the site has to offer. Here's a taste of our experience...

Installation by Donald Judd

Sculpture by John Chamberlain

My favorite poem by Carl Andre

Dan Flavin installation

Sculpture by Roni Horn

After Chinati, we go for a dip in the hotel pool, and around sunset, head over to El Paisano for some freshly squeezed margaritas, and to watch the spiders on the patio come out to spin their webs. After dinner, a little night adventure (see below)

8-6 Texas, Texas, Texas!

2009-08-25T01:29:00.007+02:00

Today we leave Marfa for the wild expanse of the rest of Texas. Are we out of Texas yet? 10 hours later... No, not yet!

Yes, that is Prada in Marfa.

Yes, that is a drug surveillance blimp.

Yes, that is the longest train I've ever seen.

8-7 Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee

2009-08-25T01:25:00.003+02:00

This painting, featured at the Meteor museum in Texas about sums it up for a 3-state day.

8-8 Memphis, TN

2009-08-25T01:13:00.010+02:00

We awoke today at the La Quinta off Poplar St. in Memphis. After a continental breakfast at the hotel (featuring waffles!), we headed to Graceland to tour the glories of Elvis. An amazing memorial and tribute to the king of R&R. I recommend visiting, if possible--words & pictures cannot describe it. After the 3 hour experience at Graceland, we head back to the hotel for a little air conditioning (weather outside is 96 degrees, and 80% humidity), and then make our way to Corky's for dry rub BBQ Memphis-style & some banana puddin'. Yuuuummm-eeeee!

8-10 Chattanooga, TN

2009-08-25T00:54:00.015+02:00

Today we went to the Chattanooga aquarium with our hosts Marion & Tom Griscom (infamous parents of Tom Griscom the younger of SF, CA). It was above and beyond one of the best I've been to. After all the wild-life, we went to the restaurant Blue Plate for lunch (I had poultry, not seafood). Marion then took us on a driving tour of Chattanooga, and we picked up some local Sweetwater beer to have with dinner--they brew out of Atlanta, and make a tasty IPA! Dinner company included Marion & Tom, Becky & Will, and Wallace the cat.

Ever wonder where Beluga caviar comes from? Here's the pretty culprit: the Beluga sturgeon.

8-11 Virginia

2009-08-25T00:46:00.007+02:00

Today we left Chattanooga, TN, and the beautiful home of Marion & Tom Griscom, for Virginia. Driving up through the Blue Ridge Mountains was pretty spectacular (as evidenced by the photos below). We stayed at a Days Inn, and went to a local diner named "Hollywood's" near Roanoke. Pretty tasty Cajun Meatloaf...

8-13 WDC

2009-08-25T00:23:00.011+02:00

We're staying with Tyson's childhood family friend and her husband (Jenn Barr Weiss & Adam Weiss) in Alexandria, and while they're at work, metro into DC for the day. We start at the newly remodeled National Portrait Gallery. Among the classics in American art history, there's a great show of work by Alec Soth....(see image above).

Then we head over to the Hirshhorn (where I interned so many years ago). Some interesting work, but honestly, the curating was not as good as back in 2001. And then, the Air & Space Museum to see some really big rockets. Here are some pix from along the way.

8-14 DC to Highland Park, NJ

2009-08-25T00:04:00.004+02:00

Today, we wake up in Alexandria, get our things together, and hit the road for our new home in Highland Park. We pass through Philly on our way, and arrive around 5pm at 2 Woodbridge Av. Here we are in our new place ("camping" until the moving truck arrives).

So it begins...

2009-08-22T23:58:00.000+02:00

Now that I'm one week old in New Jersey, I've decided it's time to start a digital journal to keep track of and share adventures and interesting tidbits. I will try to post images of the work I make while in graduate school, and post updates as frequently as I can. So check back for updates!
-CJB