CJB's Art Notes: October = Awesome!

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