Waves of Joy

"Too Far Out" (detail) by Deco

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Making Waves is afloat at the Fuller Lodge Art Center throughout the month of August.    I have one piece in this group show, one of my most intense pieces, also one of the largest, just under 5 feet in length.     

My Original Collage, “Too Far Out” is the first of a series of large-scale series that I call “Elements”.      The second in the series is titled “My Thoughts Be True” and depicts Fire, whereas “Too Far Out” is quite clearly water.               

 I wanted to explore how objects in water appear to fracture their wholeness when they are seen just below the surface.        At the same time, I contemplated how some people in my life seemed to fracture and lose their wholeness, and begin to disappear, as if they were never there.                 

The title is drawn from the poem by Stevie Smith “Not Waving But Drowning”, which is embedded on the left side of the collage. The show opens on Friday August 2, with a festive reception, 5-7 pm; live music and good snacks are always part of receptions at Fuller Lodge.

"Too Far Out" by Deco

"Summer Storm" by Deco

​Locally, “Happy Little Clouds” at the Santa Fe Community Gallery, where I have an Original Collage “Summer Storm,” prominently displayed.  A special event is coming up in conjunction with this multi-media group show.

An octet of vocalists from
Santa Fe Desert Chorale
will be performing excerpts from Illumination, their Summer Festival program, Wednesday, July 31st, 2019, 6-7 pm in the Community Gallery.

They have invited select visual artists in the “Happy Little Clouds” exhibition to speak briefly about their work and I am delighted that I will be part of the program.

​Free to the public; space is limited and reservations are required at desertchorale.org.

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"Titania Enthralled" by Deco

​At the end of August, I will have a piece in the Shakespeare on the Wall Exhibition, in A Gallery Somewhere, in Santa Fe.

The gallery is affiliated with the newly inaugurated Swan Theater in Santa Fe, part of The International Shakespeare Center.

A framed Giclée print (full-size) of my collage “Titania Enthralled,” is included. A reception is planned for opening night, Friday, August 23, 5-7 pm. 

​This event is part of the new Santa Fe Summer Shakespeare Festival!

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The Troika, outside Manhattan, 2019

And I mustn’t forget The Fest For Beatles Fans!  (I can’t forget – I am too excited.)

As usual, the Fest will be at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, in Rosemont, near Chicago’s O’Hare airport.  I curate dozens of pieces of Fab Four Fan Art, professional and amateur, which are entered in a Beatles Art Contest. 

I will also host the Beatles Poetry Jam and help produce a play which I co-wrote with two friends, looking at the events of 1969 and the Beatles impact.

​ August 9-11, 2019

​A Splendid Time is guaranteed for all.

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Deco, from another century, doing an art demo "I See Nothing" (photo credit: Humphrey Aramis)

​Amid preparing for a complicated application for an upcoming art event, I had the occasion to go back through old files, with my earliest exhibitions – postcards, fliers, reminders of art ventures. 

One name that came up was “Urbis Orbus”, a much-loved coffee house in Wicker Park, decades before the first Starbuck’s moved in.  I had my first “real” solo show there.  Tom Handley was the owner who gave me the greenlight for the project.  After the month-long show, he bought an original, “Ascension”, my first experiment with clouds and steam in collage. I am so grateful to him for these two acts of generosity. 

​ Urbis Orbus closed shortly after my exhibit, and I lost touch with this supporter from my nascent days.  I send good vibes of gratitude to him, wherever he is!

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Love

and

Peace, 

Deco