rossana martinez » abstract

Your Essence

Rossana Martinez — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:24:05 +0000

The snow was beautiful last week, until I had to push a stroller with a 20-pound boy around Brooklyn. I don’t need to use the rowing machine at the gym for a while… Today there is snow falling again! I can’t wait to see those colorful flowers glowing around the tree trunks.

The last couple of weeks have been full of creativity. I found some time to draw, run outside and explore for titles. I like titles especially for abstract work. To me, titles are the little things that tell our story. They help us share ideas with others, and begin a dialogue…

Finding of the week:

“What is often overlooked in this modern world is that everything and everybody has value, that each atom in the universe does indeed have a place…”

-Aadil Palkhivala

Water

Rossana Martinez — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Findings of the week:

I found Issey Miyake Autumn/Winter 2009 show in Paris so unique. Color, fabric and bodies moving fluidly through a white geometric floor (square). A lot to like!

I’m looking forward to seeing the exhibition Georgia O’Keeffe: Abstraction. On view from September 17, 2009-January 17, 2010 at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

And would love to make a family trip to Washington, DC to see the exhibition Anne Truitt: Perception and Reflection. On view from October 8, 2009 to January 3, 2010 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The first major exhibition of her outstanding work since 1974.

While strolling around the neighborhood, I saw this nice quote by George Eliot (her real name was Mary Anne Evans, 1819-1880).

“It is never too late to become what you might have been”

Enjoy!

Fresh Air

Rossana Martinez — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:33:00 +0000

It was refreshing to read A Bold and Modern White House by Carol Vogel, and White House Art: Colors From a World of Black and White by Holland Cotter.

I’m impressed and happy to know there are abstract paintings currently on view at the White House. But I admit I would have added other media, more works by women artists, and works by Latin and Asian American artists — there are none!?

A new discovery for me was the artist Alma Thomas. Holland Cotter writes:

“If the offer were made, which artist from the White House list would I choose for my New York City apartment? I knew the answer: Alma W. Thomas.”

I agree. I absolutely loved her work and story. She began to paint when she retired from teaching at 69. At 80, she had a one-person exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art. An extremely important exhibition because it was the first one-person exhibition by a black woman at the Whitney.

My favorites: Thomas used her kitchen as a studio. And for her, color was life, and life was art. Ahh, so fresh!

Image:

Alma Thomas (1891–1978)

Watusi (Hard Edge), 1963

Acrylic on canvas, 47 5/8 x 44 1/4 inches

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden