Small is still in....

William Bukowski

Petite Garden I

oil on linen

12" X 9"

I am finding that the small works continue to intrigue me. I am on my fourth small work in this series and the miniature quality of the brushstrokes and different kind of concentration appeals to me. The image is still Sibley Park in mid summer. I can work out some ideas of light and color that would take much longer in a large scale. That is not to say I wouldn't jump at the chance to do a large work, it is just that this is what is happening right now.

Monet on my mind.

A recent trip to New York always gives me pause to reflect. One of my favorite paintings on the trip was Monet's large water lily painting at the Museum of Modern Art. This is such an amazing painting because of the surface and giant brushstrokes. It is a simple idea but put together with a sense of scale that goes far beyond the easel. The fact that he was in his 80s when he did this painting is completely astounding. Imagine working away at 80 years old in your warehouse studio on such a series. It really alters the definition of the artist in old age.

Emy Frentz Gallery Poetry Collaboration

The RiverCrossings Art Fair that took place in October also had an exhibition at the Emy Frentz Gallery in Mankato. Artists were asked to submit a painting and then poets would write their reaction or interpretation next to the painting. I showed a Sibley park painting from a few years ago. The show went on into November and just recently came down.

The poetry read like this:

Second Nature

Late September. The garden

has its daggers out-

bristle-armored moon flower pods,

the yucca's razor-edged lances,

phlox heads frizzy and brown.

The blazing dahlias elbowed out their neighbors.

Now they stretch across the cobblestones.

I remember summer's perfection,

the swirls of pink and lavender,

the pale green of new leaves unfolding.

The rose hips darken. Soon, everything

will be crisp and brown, and dry stems

will chatter in an early October wind.

Jana Bouma

Sibley Park Paintings featured at the Waseca Art Center.

The Waseca Art Center is showing 15 recent paintings in the Sibley Park series. The show opened on October 13 and will be on display until November 20th. The Waseca Art Center has supported my work with workshops and exhibitions over the years. They have at least 2 paintings and an etching in their permanent collection.

There was a reception last night in Waseca with a gallery talk.

It is always interesting to see your own work up in a public space. It can almost look like someone else's work and can make you feel a little off balance.

Small works.

William Bukowski

Petite Garden II

12" X 9" oil on linen

I don't know if it is the recession. But is seems appropriate to do smaller works. Same brushwork, same intensity but small scale. I just happened to have a few small pre-stretched canvases in the studio. Now, can I do a series?

Invitational Show at GAC.

The Winds of Change at the Hillstrom Museum at Gustavus Adolphus is up and running into November. It is really a great show and features nearly 50 artists from around the state of Minnesota. At the reception on October 6th they had a quartet of dancers performing with music.

There is also a review of the show in the Star tribune's online art section today.

My own painting kind of mimics the Monet, Sisley trio that are framed together in the Musee Orsay in Paris. I wanted to capture that fresh vision of Minnesota fields in a traditional sense with the non-traditional wind turbines in view.

For some reason I felt a little self conscious taking pictures with a lot of people around, so I waited for the crowd to thin.

RiverCrossing Art Fair in Motion

The Mankato area is having an art crawl this weekend. Bethany Lutheran College is a sponsor so I have an exhibition of garden paintings and

waterfalls. Instead of just standing around, I decided to paint, so I am putting the finishing touches on the last of my late summer paintings.

There have been some interesting people coming through even though it is cold and rainy.