March 21st Lecture: Open Air Painting

We are pleased to announce a special upcoming lecture at GCA on the origins of open air painting. The subject is especially relevant as winter gives way to spring and painters begin heading outdoors.

Join us on Monday, March 21st at 5:30pm for a lecture by Maddine Insalaco and Joe Vinson on Open Air Painting: Italian Origins and Contemporary Relevance.

LECTURE DESCRIPTION

Open Air Painting:  Italian Origins and Contemporary Relevance

The tradition of open or "plein" air painting is very old with its origins in Italy not France as is commonly believed. By the late 18^th century specific routes in the landscape surrounding Rome, the Campagna Romana, emerged that were traveled and painted by generations of international artists including Claude Lorrain, J.M. W. Turner and J.B.C.Corot.  Artists Maddine Insalaco and Joe Vinson spent several years following these historic itineraries and documented their experience in paint, photography and writing. The couple share their discoveries in a public lecture consisting of three parts:  1. Historic Origins – traces the evolution of plein air painting in Italy and its connection to modern art ; 2. Then and Now- presents sites along historic itineraries as they appear today; 3. Observations and Insights –discusses the relevance of plein air painting to artistic practice and life in general.

ARTISTS' BIO

Maddine Insalaco (MFA New York Academy of Art) and Joe Vinson (Post grad certificate School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and BA Ringling School of Art),  divide their lives between New York City and Tuscany where they have taught landscape painting since 1995.   Experts in the field of early open air painting in Italy the couple have curated museum exhibitions on the subject and worked with institutions such as the Musee des Beaux Arts in Orleans, France and the Morgan Library in New York to identify works in the respective collections.  They have lectured on its influence on modern painting in forums throughout the United States including the Palm Springs Art Museum, the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon, Sotheby’s and the National Academy of Design in New York.  Publications include Through Foreign Eyes - exhibition essay Sangallo Fortress Archeological Museum, Civita Castellana  2012;  Lost Icons of the Past:  Following Historic Painting Itineraries in Modern Italy American Artist Workshop with the Masters May 2011; Open Air Painting from Italy, a Continuing Tradition Gallery Guide Museum of Arts and Sciences, Macon 2008; On the Masters Trail: Investigating the Origins of Open-Air Painting  Plein Air Magazine 2005.  They have shown their work extensively in both solo and group exhibitions in New York, Italy, and France.  For info: www.landscapepainting.com - www.maddine insalaco.com - www.joevinson.com Telephone : 212-388-9832

Monday, March 21

5:30pm

GCA's Eleventh Street Arts

Free and open to the public

Refreshments will be served

Kathryn Engberg wins Third Structure Prix

After a break for the holidays, awards for the top drawing(s) in Instructor Colleen Barry's weekly Structure class have resumed! Because of the hiatus as well as the strength of drawings this round, cash prizes for the second place tie were also awarded. 
After each session, all the drawings get posted on one of the studio walls and Colleen judges along with a rotating group of GCA faculty. The next afternoon during a long break, core students from every year are invited to listen as Colleen (and this time she was joined by Instructor Will St. John) announce the winner and then give public critiques on each submitted drawing. Below are critiques Colleen wrote specifically for this blog.

Structure Prix winner, Kathryn Engberg

"This stunning figure drawing displays Katie's understanding of proportion, form, gesture and naturalism. The attention to anatomical detail around the sternum, clavicles and rib cage are superbly handled. The legs successfully carry the weight of the body and display sensitive contours. The portrait has a beautiful expression. Well done all around."

2nd place (tie) by Jon Brogie

"With minimal rendering this drawing successfully displays the fleshy masses of the external oblique, deltoid and quadriceps. The hatch marks are expressive and give just the right amount of information at the halftones. The proportion is accurate to the model and the gesture true to the contrapposto. The portrait is structurally sound and displays an excellent likeness of the model."

2nd place (tie) by Tsultrim Tenzin

"This drawing has successfully captured the models gesture and the feeling of her feet being firmly planted on the ground. There is a solidity to the masses that give this drawing sturdiness and weight. The portrait is sensitively handled and the torso structurally sound. Good proportion."

This is the third time the Structure Prix has been awarded in the spirit of inspiring healthy competition among peers as inspired by weekly cash prizes at the Academy Julien in Paris during the 19th Century. 

Raina Dai won the second prize in November 2015.

Kevin Müller Cisneros won the first prize in October 2015. 

THIS FRIDAY: GREGORY MORTENSON LECTURE

Please join us this Friday, February 5th for a very special lecture by GCA's own Gregory Mortenson. Gregory recently completely a magnificent group of work, and in this lecture he will share his experience in making these paintings and the stories that inspired them. 

Polka Dots 28"x22" oil on linen

In 2010, after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, American painter Gregory Mortenson traveled there to help with rebuilding of the country's schools. It was then that Gregory befriended the residents of the Hope For Life Children's Home. Join us for a discussion of his interactions in Haiti and the paintings that they inspired.  "Zion's Children" a solo exhibition of new oils paintings by Gregory Mortenson recently exhibited at Arcadia Contemporary in NYC, and will open again in the L.A. and Palm Springs Art shows in January and February. 

Friday, February 5th

5:30 pm 

GCA's Eleventh Street Arts

free and open to the public

refreshments will be served