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Sandra Simonson, painting of Journey

Review last meeting:

June 8."This time, the variety of presentations , featuring delicate drawings by Rus, exciting sci fi drawings by Pascal, witty and critical cartoons by Tim Jackson, several short films by Brian Wyrick, who had lived in Berlin, and the creation of a carving of a watermelon by Rick from Cambodia. Gary worked though his diffcult life transitions with another giant canvas, which had other applications and collages featuring stages of his life journey. Claudia contributed with excellently executed dream catchers. The comments and dialog was also developed through the presence of artists Sandra and Melissa and Nora. Again, the evening was an incredible event, giving us an opportunity to learn more about each other cultural and life experiences."

May 11."A lively and diverse goup of professional and outsider artists gathered, and it was exciting to see this time water colors by Russ Mc Andrew and Hillary Jirka, a large canvas about horses and romance by Gary Price, several colorful flower paintings by Melissa Bradly, great cartoons with a punch line about current events by Tim Jackson, a great presentation about 8 large drawings for a new story with Pascal Saint Calir and also his exquisitly executed visuals of the detoriating Chrysler building as part of his work. It was also refreshing to have outsider artists pop in, who are daring and brave to come to any public group and include themselves into the dialogue, and Tosha, with her small drawing of a blond girl gave a perspective on beauty as a personal experience for inspiration. Kathryn Gauthier's paintings, and Deirdre Fox's installation at Peter Jones, included classic and contemporary themes on art. Pjotr, Alan and Greg participated and invited to their upcoming events."

April 13."A small group of dedicated artists gathered with work and refreshments and with news about  upcoming shows. Alan brought in a large piece made out of colorful bottle caps, Tim Jackson shared a variety of humorous cartoons, and I bought one of his handsigned books OBAMORAMA. Colorful flower paintings by Melissa, and a Portfolio with photographs by Chris Oberist of close ups of buidlings, body parts and nature; Claudia, Piotr and Mark shared in the discussion and Stephen Biale shared a portfolio of his graphic work."

March 9." It was great to see Claudia donate one of her abstract water color paintings to Insight Arts. Alan Emerson Hicks, Melissa, Ruyell Ho, Sonhan, a Tibetan Monk, Sandra Simonson, Hillary Jirka, Tim Jackson, Pascal Saint Clair and two Pjotrs from Poland all came and shared art for discussion. I received so much sympathy and compassion on behalf of my father and had a chance to share an excerpt of a performance with the help of Claudia. It was an enchanting evening."

Jan.12. Our International Art Party was a celebration of art, video, music and food. Ted Ehnle played a dramatic Chopin concert on piano, followed by Eric Amadju's Beilafon  and drum talk from Benin.Tim Jackson presented insightful and humorous cartoons and Alan Emerson Hicks  shared a video with dance and creation of one of his recycable works: Test Piece. Peggy Lipschuetz retrospective, a presentation of her painting to music, and Tom and several others shared their portfolios and sketch books. We also had an inspiring discussion about children behaviour in the class room, learning about art and music and also talked about the political climate of our time and how it effects our art world. "                       

"Dec.8., I was surprised to see so many friends and artists, I had invited over a long time and also artists come again, who had come in the past, Ken Kouba, Kathryn Gauthier's photograph's of her paintings, Greg Mejia, who presented an extraordinary collection of miniature landspcape paintings of the Indiana State Dunes,a vibrant portrait by Sandra Simonson, several abstract and impressionist acrylic paintings by Melissa, a large portrait by Laura Cerf, Claudia Finn's portfolio of classical black and white figure drawings, Tim Jackson's critical and humorous cartoons, Chirs Drew's silk screen T shirts, David Moscoso's acrylic painting of an abstracted male transforming from a rare orange flower from Guatemala, Marianna's lively color drawing "Celebration" celebrating dancers in masks, a theme of her performance work.Anette, Hillary and Michael Moore came also and Maritza and Celina from Insight Arts for looking and learning more about our group.

"The Nov. 10. meeting brought together a diverse group of artists: Claudia Finn, Steven Gilliam, Hillary Jirka, Jeff Baumgartner, Michael Moore, Sandra Simonson, Marianna Buchwald and meet up organizer Anette Niebelsiki.

Jeff, an  actor and painter at the flat Iron building had a dynamic and interesting style , presenting his figurative paintings in connection with his theater experience. Peter Piotr, a painter from Poland related his experience exhibiting and painting landscapes. Steven Gilliam, presented a power point presentation of his photography traveling  through the vast and montaneous landscape of Alaska, Sandra Simonson presented soft colored guache paintings of landscapes and people, Michael  presented a preliminary drawing and paintings in progress of politiical discussions.Claudia presented black and white caricature and drawing. Feedback was generous and encouraging, and we truly enjoyed the art activity before the meeting."

"Our art discussion, Oct. 14.2008 was exciting and diverse. Contributions of a mythical painting and lithography techniques demonstrated by Ken Kouba, satirical and insightful political charged cartoons by Tim Jackson, guache and etchings by Sandra Simonson, landscape photography by Jeff, photos of paintings by Guatemalan painter David Moscoso,water colors by Hillary Jirca, African Rites and Traditional dance by Eric Ahmadji from Benin, an elaborate slide presentation on the retrospective of 45 years of work of paintings and sculpture by Chinese artist Ruyell Ho at the Asian Pacific Museum in California, and also a work in progress of my new performance piece: Journey 2008"inviting many great critical comments, made for an insightful and interesting evening and a great International Art Salon."

Marianna Buchwald