WINTER WAXING

Kathryn Bevier paints with wax. The process is called encaustic and usually is done by melting beeswax, adding dry pigments to form a “paste” which can then be poured or “iced” over wood - sometimes, canvas - using various tools (i.e. palette knives.)  The process dates from about 1 Century B.C. and was found in Roman excavations and Egytian tombs.

These days, what with heat lamps and all, the waxy colorant can be kept vicuous and therefore, worked longer.  Also, because as it hardens, it develops volumn, it can be used almost as something between paint and sculpture - a depth not unlike tooth paste.

Why go through all this? I’m not a painter but I can guess that 1) it’s the challenge of conquering an ancient art form and 2) the surface is different from straight on paint.  Does that make it better? No…but different. And clearly, 3) the images last centuries, perhaps longer than paint mixed with more contemporary mediums (i.e. linseed oil.)

Kathryn Bevier, encaustic 

Kathryn’s paintings are installed in the second floor downtown Legacy Building,  formerly the Bausch & Lomb World Headquarters. 

(An interesting side-barr story:  Rochester tax payers invested truck loads of money to build that building during the late 1990’s to “keep the world headquarters in our city” but B&L was sold lock, stock and headquarters to … somebody… a few years ago. We tax payers got no repayment when the sale went through. I guess gambling millions on a world headquarters is risky business.)

So bottom line: go see Kathryn’s exhibit and look at encaustic painting.  She also gives classes. But go during business hours Monday through Friday. The building is locked up during the week end. (The trade off for tax $$$ investment was a “winter garden,” to be open all the time for all Rochester.  I guess that part of the contract didn’t make it into the headquarters’ sale either. The fine print….leaves taxpayers holding oh, so many empty bags.)

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Winter finally arrived here in Upstate New York. For gardeners (or dreamers!), now is when we  fantasize SPRING ACTIVITY!  I found two images that I will request from my chief gardener (that would be my husband, Chip.) We already have the stock tank/ bird bath/pond but it doesn’t look as neat as the one in this picture. The secret: the owners replant every year.

We already have trees planted in a “faux orchard” but I like that this one is scoured of any other plant life.  Obviously, the large stone sculpture is gorgeous! I’m not sure we can pull that one off but  I’m planning a way to wood chip the orchard island (Chip calls this my “scorched earth ”  landscape style.)  I’ll post pictures mid-summer.

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A tiny plug for the Rochester Civic Garden Center:  Tom (Keenan), alias The Backroads Traveler, is presenting a photographic tour of the Wall/Therapy mural project on Thursday, March 24, 7 - 8:30 (5 Castle Park).

Many of you know that I truly dislike the mural project and have little good to say about it EXCEPT Tom LOVES the mural project and he’s an  interesting person, an animated speaker and a really good photographer.  I’m sure the hour will be fun and funny and well spent.

HAPPY 2016

I am a sucker for lists - the ones that crop up this time of year:  The 10 Best Novels, The 10 Newest Color Trends, etc.  I stop and read them all, mentally underlining - nodding agreement to some and scoffing at others. 

I can’t remember ever starting such a list but here goes:

10  AESTHETICALLY GRATIFYING EXPERIENCES OF 2015

1. THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE FOUNDATION is a non-profit group whose challenge is to make the public see, understand and value landscape architecture. In May, Chip and I joined the group of mostly professional landscape people to tour the Willistown Country Estate in Chester Co., Pennsylvania, and listen to both the property owner and chief landscape designer. This was an example of grand scale artistry and environmental husbandry.  I cheer both done well.

2) WORKING WITH PATRICK DOUGHERTY ON HIS STICK SCULPTURE in Hillsboro, North Carolina. I love that this entire effort was the result of one 70 year old woman who raised the $26,000 and got the “ducks in a row” to pull this venture off. I love that the site was smack in the middle of little historic Hillsboro right off a pathway used daily by every age, and that the entire structure begins to revert to nature from the instant of construction, underscoring that art does not need to be a “forever” addition to our already chaotic environment. (The photograph is part of Doughtery's installation in the Renwick Museum.)

3) FINDING THE WORLD’S SMALLEST CHAPEL in nearby Oneida, New York.
 Nothing fancy here…just a little white building on a scum covered pond built by a father and son -  an example once again of “the triumph of individual thinking.”

4) BEEKMAN 1802 in tiny Sharon Springs, New York, is a shop that would be at home on a street in SoHo or London or Milan.  That it exists in this magically haunted off-the-beaten-path town is a miracle. Actually, it’s due to the hard work of its two owners, one who is in advertising in New York City (and commutes home to the farm) and his partner, a doctor who was once the medical advisor to Martha Stewart publications.  I’ve stopped in here three times over the past few years and each time I’ve marveled that it stays afloat and that it continues to expand and present such style! 

5) IN JANUARY, NINA GABY MADE A GUEST APPEARANCE AT MY HOUSE to introduce her new book to a few of my friends. During the 1970’s, Nina made and exhibited beautiful little handbuilt porcelain pieces; they looked like they fluttered off the pages of Adventures of Aladdin.  Then she disappeared - left art and became a nurse - left Rochester for Vermont! Through  Facebook, I was re-introduced to the older, wiser and multi-talented Nina. WHAT STYLE!  This woman has found her unique self; there is no confusing her with anybody else I know. Clearly, she doesn’t shop at Talbot’s (not that there’s anything wrong with that) or Macy’s. She is not to be pigeon holed by age or fad. She’s consistent and confident, a terrific roll model for younger - and older! - women.

This is a wonderfully restored sculpture by the folk artist Vollis Simpson (Wilson, N.C.) And this is a Christmas light display a few miles from my house. Both awesome....Ready for the follow-up list of favorite things. And of course, Clyde's house below.

O.K., I’ve listed only 5 but a pattern has emerged, don’t you think? Individual creativity and courage to “follow your bliss” as Joseph Campbell kept preaching. Know thyself……..Small delights.  Is that part of aging? I don’t need the grand gestures but want more and more surprised smiles.

Happy 2016 everybody.