November 23, 2013

Another change of the seasons and you see it here first—we start with Vivian's lovely autumn tree colors and move quickly to Gary's barren trees and winter landscapes. Okay, it's not quite that desolate, but it was definitely cold today!

We don't think the cold snap was what kept attendance small today—we missed members who were on vacation, rehearsing, and recuperating. But we still saw some great paintings and had a wonderful time creating them. Keep watching for the last fruits and frolics of summer, Ken's cat eye abstractions and the latest in two recent series: "What Pat Wore" and "What Vivian Saw."

Two things to note: Watch for Greeta's memorial painting of a broken ceramic colander that you have probably admired in previous still lives. Sad news, but the painting is exquisite. And in other food-related news, we are not sure if it's the upcoming Thanksgiving festivities or the newest show at the Art Institute, but John's story illustration adds food and Tony paints his lovely kitchen/studio. Getting hungry? Grab a snack and enjoy our paintings below.

 

And the fun continues on our Community Painting below. It just keeps getting better as it makes another trip around the art tables. Look closely to see the shadows under the bridge and in the trees deepen. An observation car has been added, and in the sky, a balloon and an "angel cat." We're having too much fun to stop, so tune in again in two weeks to see where we go from here.

Our community painting makes the rounds again, adding more fun elements.

Artists of the Day—Today's library table featured books about Matisse and Cezanne. While we liked them both, our favorite was Cezanne. Interestingly, both of them did paintings of Leda and the Swan. No comment or moral here—just an observation.

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No class next week—We'll be off for Thanksgiving next week, but we'll be back the week after. And I'm sure we'll have plenty of paintings of our food and family festivities to share, so be sure to join us then. While we're away, if you're looking for something to do, there's Steve's choral concert and the latest exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago (read on for more news about both).

DePaul Community Chorus—Here's a chance to hear Steve and the DePaul Community Chorus in A Thankful Heart: Music for the Season of Gratitude. It's a free concert on Sunday, November 24 at 3pm at the DePaul Concert Hall at 800 W. Belden in Chicago. Find out more by clicking on the poster at right.


Art and Appetite: American Painting, Culture and Cuisine—This exhibition includes over 100 paintings, sculptures and artifacts from the 18th through the 20th centuries. There are also some cookbooks, menus and posters, all related to food! It's a great chance to see some famous and familiar paintings with a common link—they all have to do with food. But it's more than just pretty pictures—the exhibit uses food to examine culture, politics and history in America. The contents of the still life paintings reflect the wealth of consumers and the availability of exotic foods. Food makes political statements and tracks the urbanization of America. The simple Campbell soup can, for instance, figures prominently in the both the Depression and Warhol's 60s, and has something to say in both decades.


All in all, this is a very interesting exhibit. It's fascinating to see what societal clues can be found in a simple still life. This exhibition is scheduled to run through January 27, so it encompasses the whole holiday eating season! Click on the section title to learn more and drop by—before the post-holiday diets begin!

Meanwhile, we want you to know how thankful we are for you, our readers. Have a wonderful holiday and we look forward to seeing you next month!