Father-Daughter Outing (September 20)

Julie Mehretu, Charioteer, 2007, ink and
acrylic on linen, 60 x 84 in., Collection of
Nicolas Rohatyn and Jeanne Greenberg
Rohatyn, N.Y., © 2007 Julie Mehretu,
Courtesy The Project, PHOTO: Steven Gerlich.
Photo taken from: http://ncartmuseum.org/exhibitions/current.shtml

Last weekend, I made my monthly trip from Charlotte to visit my parents in Raleigh. I find that every time I go back there I am increasingly impressed by the great strides being made in the art community.

When I was younger, we lived in Queens, NY, and our weekend trips to the city introduced me to the Met, the MoMA, the Whitney, the Guggenheim, and countless galleries. In 1995, I can’t say that Raleigh had much to offer in comparison.

The North Carolina Museum of Art is currently showing Julie Mehretu’s exhibit, City Sitings, until November 30. According to the NCMA website, “Mehretu draws on a dynamic array of popular imagery accessible to diverse audiences—maps, urban grids, graffiti, calligraphy—and configures these into an unanticipated, irresistible personal visual vocabulary.” (Art, 2008)
Her monumental-sized works reference Miro’s combination of blocks of color and intricate line, as well as Pollock’s expressive mark-making and Matisse’s cut-outs. As a whole, they seem to be so free, gestural, and intuitive, but when you get up close, you find the surprise of tight, intricate pen work and the crisp, sharp edges of color.

What I loved most about this exhibit was the time I had to spend with my father. One of my professors once said that you could always tell the difference between the artist and the art appreciator in a gallery or museum. Those who appreciate art stand back and admire the work, while the artists get as close as they can to see how the artist made the piece. Well, my father and I were definitely the latter. We jumped back and forth debating the technique. Did she paint it? Did she cut it out? Was it all done by hand? Was it all done by her? How are there no snags from the technical pen she used? Where are the mistakes? Where’s the hand of the artist? There is nothing better than two passionate people discussing what they love.

Most people are passionate about at least one thing in their life. And my passion is art, not only the art itself, but the community as well. Whether you are a professional artist, a student, an artist-wannabe, or just an art enthusiast, we are all part of this art community. Let me know what kind of exhibits you’ve been to and the discussions you’ve had. I would love to post your stories or questions and connect our art community a little more.