The Artwork and inspirations of artist Cathie Bleck

Interview of Milton Glaser for Communication Arts Magazine

2009-05-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of interviewing Milton Glaser for Communication Arts Magazine's 50th Anniversary of their magazine which released in their March/April issue. Here are some excerpts from that interview:

CB: I would like to talk about your new book Drawing is Thinking.

MG: The idea is to experience the book as a melodic line instead of as a narrative, like a comic book without the words. The idea of the book was connections to be made intuitively and subconsciously and so there is one narrative that goes throughout. One image moves to the next one in some kind of relationship. And there is a secondary thing that happens when the facing pages comment on each other.

CB: (paging through the book) Yes, you definitely go into a dream space and just let your imagination roam, being that there are no words. I really like that. This is beautiful!

MG: I came to a decision not too long ago: That in your mind, the experience of art and experience of meditation are very related; that they each free you from the incessant chatter of the brain that you can’t control and allow you to experience reality without the interference of judgment. When you meditate you basically stop judging and in the act of not judging you can find that you see clearer, because judgment is an impediment to perception. The idea in the book is to have an experience like that—where the relationships are not literary but where they are implicit...and where your brain moves them. The brain has to be moved to actions and what moves the brain to action are puzzles and difficulty. You have to activate the brain.

CB: Did you consult neuroscientists on this as well?

MG: One of my best friends is Gerald Edleman who now heads neuroscience at Scripps Institute in La Jolla, but I have been interested in how the brain works for many years. Art has a role in survival but I never was able to quite figure out what that role is and now I think it is attentiveness. The Buddhists talk about attention, which means seeing without precondition. When you are meditating you are in a state of attention. And I think in the presence of art, you also are in a state of attentiveness. That means paying attention to where you are and understanding your reality. So then you can understand why attentiveness is related to human survival—being aware of where you are and what you are doing. And if that is the case, then I thought—there is the other component: beauty.

CB: What is the role of beauty?

MG: Beauty is a trick of nature to move us toward attentiveness in the same way that sexual desire is a trick to move us toward producing children. The aesthetic seems to be in our genetic code. Nature used attentiveness.

CB: What do you think the future of beauty is?

MG: It doesn’t go away. There is an argument of what beauty is. We respond as a species; we have always responded to beauty all through history, whatever the standard was. I think that is the role of the aesthetic. Because it is all related to how the body functions; you cannot separate the mind from the body or the body from the mind.

CB: I had this revelation in the last body of work that I did that was centered around beauty, searching for beauty and preserving it.

MG: But if you don’t think beauty is the aim, it changes your perception. It seems to be that in most of the philosophy around art, beauty was the objective and I don’t think this is true. Beauty is the means by which you move towards attentiveness. And art does have its purpose and that is for survival.

Drawing illuminates the brain. It activates the brain through action. The act of drawing, moving the hand in response to a thought, is an essential part of brain development. There is a wonderful book, The Hand by Frank Wilson. Interesting facts: If you prevent a child from drawing when the child is young—just take the materials away—the brain develops differently. The brain develops in a certain way through the act of drawing in a way that allows it to be changed. The creation of the model that exists in the mind in a material form, is the same way that the Suzuki violin geniuses play by trying an imitation method. There must be something there that changes the brain. So that is why, in a physical way, not doing that, seems to me, is an impediment to certain kinds of brain development.

CB: You recommended Lewis Hyde’s book The Gift to me a few years ago. He claims that all of the arts are interrelated: music, dance, art, design, writing and even cooking, and that art pacifies culture and creates commonality with the passing on of their gifts. What purpose do you think artists play in society and what are the barriers that keep us from playing that role?

MG: One of the most profound barriers is the economic system where art has been transformed into a materialist object. John Berger said there can’t be any art in our time because it is impossible to think about without its material value, and the purpose of art is not about material value. All you ever hear is $40 million spent for Jeff Koons or somebody and then you realize, if that is the point of interest, you can’t examine art without its relationship to culture or its desire or needs. So now you can say that the interest in this pacifying role has basically been replaced by the idea of its preciousness. When the culture is saying that, it is very difficult to produce art. Fundamentally, it is always the same though, art functions to provide commonality.

CB: You have built a lot of partnerships and you collaborate quite a bit. You have been able to achieve independence as a creator while in the context of commerce and in the context of a group. What personal and professional attributes do you feel are necessary to be successful at convincing others of your ideas?

MG: It is a complicated thing. First, the work itself has to be right. It has to answer to the needs of your client. Then you also want to try to do it in terms where it is a benefit to you and the public. You have the responsibility to the people you are talking to, to do no harm and encourage them to see things in a different way when you can. Finally, reflect on your own capabilities and sense of righteousness. I found this quote that I have been using a lot over the last year from the Roman philosopher Horace: “The purpose of art is to inform and delight.” It is to inform and delight, not to persuade and delight and there is a difference between informing someone and persuading someone. Persuasion weakens people and informing them, strengthens them. It is a very profound distinction. It is also another reason why it is hard for me to work in advertising and I don’t do it very often. Ultimately, the profession is bound by its persuasive intent, but you have to think about what that means.

CB: What challenges do you foresee in regards to the protection and respect of authorship?

MG: I used to do a lecture on imitation, influence and plagiarism. And the problem is that these are all terms not easily defined. Influence we celebrate and everybody is interested in influence as part of the flow of human culture. Imitation we are ambivalent about, yet we still admire it in many cultures. For instance in the Chinese culture, if you can imitate something it is held in the same regard as the original and in other places where the material value is not the first thing that matters. It is the spiritual value that is more valued. Lewis Hyde said that art’s purpose is to create an atmosphere of generosity in terms of the recipient. A guy I studied many years ago, Albert Rudolph said works of art are containers of the energy of the maker and they can never be destroyed and what you see in art is the energy of the maker and that is what you get and that’s what you respond to. That seems a very vague definition of art but you can’t really improve on it. CA

To read the interview in full visit www.commarts.com
To view more of Milton Glaser's work visit www.miltonglaser.com

If you are in the New York City area you should check out Milton Glaser's new Exhibition : “Seeing Things” at Stony Brook University’s Avrym Gallery in Southampton. There are more than 50 works in the show with a selection of six new prints which Milton described as his Black series on display (36" x 48") as well as a a selection of smaller prints from "Drawing is Thinking." Several small works of fine art / illustration drawn from projects and personal works throughout Milton's career that are loosely associated with music, literature and the arts are also on display. In the center of the Gallery there are display cases that will contain a selection of Milton's sketchbooks highlighting observational drawings and preparatory sketches. Overall, the show is more about Milton's ability to percieve and communicate ideas with insight, playfulness, and depth of meaning through his art work and less emphasis on his graphic work with the exception of 20 posters mounted and for sale in the lobby Gallery, as well as books for sale and a keepsake poster. You may want to plan your trip out there on July 19th as there will be a film screening of “To Inform and Delight” and a Curator’s talk. The exhibition runs through Sept. 12.

The Kokeshi Show-From Folk Art to Art Toy

2009-04-20T17:16:00.001-07:00

"Sweet Slumber" at rest. I will be shipping my doll to the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles soon. The show was curated by the LATDA (Los Angeles Toy, Doll and Amusements Museum and Christina Conway) The dolls are being sold through JANM at the start of the show in July. There are over 100 international artists contributing a custom Kokeshi dolls.

The show runs from July 11 through October 4, 2009.
To View more details about this show
Click here

University Hospitals Commission

2009-04-20T00:55:00.000-07:00

This commission was captivating for the fact that parents of newborns would not be able to actually even hold their brand new babies. My art is hung right outside of the family lounge and my hope is that they will touch the art, in it's dimension and soft almost skin like quality and be able to lose themselves within the art and transport their feelings.

More pics from the Meta Gallery show : Toronto, Feb 20th opening

2009-02-15T21:52:00.000-08:00

"Aqua Regia" : Meta Gallery : Toronto : February 20 - March 29, 2009

2009-01-28T13:57:00.000-08:00

Here are two new small paintings in this show.
I will be adding more works in the next few week s

2009-01-22T22:25:00.000-08:00

More photos from The Butler Museum and Meta Gallery: Toronto shows

2008-09-29T21:33:00.001-07:00

Here is my piece in the "Mapmakers" exhibition at Meta Gallery in Toronto which is running simultaneously with The Butler show. This February I will have a solo show there and working on a few pieces for Art Basel : Murphy Books in Dec. I don't get much of a break, but really enjoying the work and getting a good deal of support from my family, friends and collectors, (love you all) so I am looking forward to
what lies ahead!
Artist's Richard Tuschman and Chris Pekoc pictured above.

Chris Pekoc is gearing up for a major traveling museum exhibition around the country, so be sure to check it out. I just went to a screening his amazing film, directed by Thomas Ball (American Splendor) and based on his catalog with the same title, "The Beauty of Damage" by Henry Adams. Very powerful, poignant, spiritual and insightful movie.

Ken Marks and Mary Lograsso

To view more pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31024735@N06/

The Opening Reception at The Butler Museum

2008-09-21T22:15:00.001-07:00

The Butler Institute of American Art is America's oldest American art museum located in Youngstown, OH, which is about an hour and a half from my home in Cleveland Hts. They have an amazing collection of art and it is a privalege to be exhibiting with them..
Me describing "Ascent". This piece was a big breakthrough for me inspired from diving experiences. I learned a lot in creating works for this show regarding scale, relief and composition.

Some of us arrived on a big bus, other friends made the big trip out to the museum, which I sincerely appreciated! Kind thanks to the Director, Lou Zona at The Butler for giving me this opportunity and to Wayne a for doing such a great job with hanging the show. My daughter Cari is the sweet girl with the long blond hair talking with Kathy Ruekberg, collector and great friend and our dear neighbor Donna Muthersbough.

My parents drove out all the way from Chicago and we had a great long visit afterwards. My cousin Mary Lou and her husband Randy drove down from Detroit too, which was a thrill to have them join us. Our daughter Cari flew in from Chicago, psychology, minor biology major at DePaul U and working as an asst. physical therapist for NovaCare. Our son James flew in from NY with his buddy Jacob Bergson, where they both study at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music (James is studying drums/percussion and Jacob piano) They played for us (The Cleveland Jazz Project is their name) afterwards joining sax player Nathan Davis (Akron U.) at our home, with the winds of hurricane Ike surrounding us. There were a lot of power outages, but luckily not our house and a tree caught fire across the street...well, our front storm door window did break, so a bit of drama but no one hurt luckily

Our youngest daughter Ana, an equally talented-if not more talented artist than me - with her pal Janet and friend Amy Nelson

Marianne Berardi, art historian, who wrote the wonderful essay in my catalog with her husband Henry Adams, also a great art historian with their sweet and smart son Tommy

I guess I got a bit serious during my lecture, anyway everyone seemed to be thinking very hard.

The Butler Institute of American Art exhibition

2008-07-18T22:58:00.000-07:00

I have been MIA for a while preparing for this next big show of new works for The Butler, a great gem of American Art in Youngstown, OH. It is about an hour from Cleveland and an hour north of Pittsburgh, so if you are in the area on September 14th it would be great to see you at the opening from 2 to 4. The show is running through October 26th. My works are gaining in size and depth-with more texture, color and explorations with the kaolin clay. It has been a long year of creating new works which range from large works on paper to small textural abstract paintings centered on the theme, "Becoming Human". Here are some details as well from "Two Worlds".

Excerpts from my talk at the NBMAA Feb 24th

2008-02-29T05:56:00.000-08:00

“Unlimited Love”
11”x8”
Ink on scratchboard
Collection of Gino Jokar, Art Toy Museum : Hollywood, CA

When contemplating how to put the concept of "love" into an image, I went back into one of my favorite books, "The Power of Myth" by Joseph Campbell. If you don't know about him, you should check out his tapes or books; one of the best philosophers of our time. I came upon a symbol from the Medieval ages of a wheel used to symbolize marriage/love. It said that if you think of a marriage or love as a wheel where one sits on the rim going up and down and not in the center hub where it is stable and not moving, then one will move through the love and marriage and life. This metaphor is so strong as we often can feel as if we are barely holding onto the wheel inrelationships of love or even life. Sometimes we grip the wheel with the utmost confidence. Think about how one grips a wheel to stay in control..sometimes we can't avoid swerving and sometimes it is a smooth ride where we barely touch the wheel. Staying on the rim, be patient, accepting that it is not always perfect but we are moving forward through the ups and downs. If we fall off of the wheel, we can always get back on. Ah, the medievalists had it right I think!

From the museum tag: I was inspired by the “Institute for Research on Unlimited Love” which studies Altruism, Compassion and Service, this piece represents the social support that has always been important to survival. Stephen G. Post, a professor of bioethics at Case Western Reserve University is the president of the institute. Dr. Post wrote a passage in my monograph “Open Spaces”. He wrote, The universal law of love is this: In the giving of self lies the unsought discovery of a better self. The moment we quietly realize that another person means even more to us than ourselves, we are reborn into a more abundant world. True happiness flows from the affirmation of others, so we never find happiness if we settle for selfishness. In the end, there is no dualism between altruism and egoism. The problem is not love of self, but only that we love ourselves wrongly. The purpose of life is to grow in love, which is to be
always leaning forward out of a life we learn from into one that is better.

Cathie Bleck : New Britain Museum of American Art : Reception + Book Signing + Lecture

2008-02-27T18:19:00.000-08:00

Kind thanks to all of you that came out for the reception on a sunny Sunday, Feb. 24th. It was a big honor and so much appreciation goes out to the director Douglas Hyland for creating a vision and a space for my solo exhibition-I cannot thank you enough. My husband George and I picked up our son James in NY city and headed up to the museum on Saturday so we could take it all in quietly the day before. On Sunday we had a huge turnout of art enthusiasts and great people from all over Connecticut and some New Yorkers, it was pretty overwhelming. My husband's grandmother, Cari Jackson now 99 years young took painting lessons for 20 years with Sandy Low, an artist and collector and one of their founding fathers of the museum. It was historic for me because of this to have my first museum show with them.
Dear friends: The incredible Artist, Barbara Kilpatrick and her husband, Dr. Chuck Bardes came over from their weekend home in Ghent. Also, the talented and gracious Diane Meier of Meier Brand, NY and her charming husband, Frank Delaney, well known Irish author and BBC, NPR broadcaster traveled from Washington, CT. My brother Jim Bleck, of Bleck Design Group and his sweet wife Jane came down from Chelmsford, MA and collector Linda Griffith, MIT super scientist came in from Cambridge. The honorable educator and fine illustrator Murray Tinkelman and his wife Carol came by to say hi as well. Also, two of North Americas finest illustrators shared the day : Cynthia Von Buhler, from Staten Island,NY and Jody Hewgill all the way from Toronto. Jody and I had traveled to Rome together last year for a show we are in still circulating in Italy on 43 of the top female illustrators in the world. Cynthia just finished up an almost year long solo show at the Staten Island Museum came with her husband, Russell. Jody was joined by her husband, the all around talented Balvis Rubess. Michael Sloan brought his wife and all of his beautiful children-sorry my talk was so crowded and you had to hang outside with the kids. Other folks included my agent from NY for 12 years Jacqueline Dedell and her husband Ira Shapiro. They have been preserving land in the Cornwall area of CT. Thanks Ira for your purchase of "Bearing Gifts"! Artist Danielle Mailer came by at the end of the talk, sorry time was too short to talk and looking forward to visiting your class this spring. Thanks also to Lynn Connelly, Cora Lyn Diebler and her partner, Aunt Margie's cousin and family and all of the good folks from The New Britain Museum of American Art!! You all made the event so memorable...kind thanks!

Photos: Established in 1903, the New Britain Museum of American Art was the first museum devoted to work by American artists. Its collection includes over 4,000 works that span the last three centuries. Ann Beha Architects built a new wing recently which blends beautifully within the setting of historic homes and Walnut Hill Park, designed by Olmsted. My son James and I outside taking it all in, me and MIT scientist and collector, Linda Griffith, the cases in the show, Toronto artists Jody Hewgill and her husband Balvis Rubess, family shot James and George (missing Cari and Ana), Director Douglas Hyland having some fun, loads of art fans and a final picture so you can see the scale of my newer works.

New Britain Museum of American Art : first solo museum exhibition

2008-01-25T21:32:00.000-08:00

I have been busy preparing for my first solo museum show entitled, "Cathie Bleck:13 years of artistic expression" It will open February 8th, 2008 and an artists reception and book signing are scheduled for Sunday, February 24th from 3-5 p.m. It is in the Hartford area of CT.

They have given me some very big cases to display my sketchbooks, limited editions and other meaningful items. Here are some pictures of my preparations for the show. I will also have over 30 paintings and studies on exhibition. The New Britain has a wonderful collection of American Art and a beautiful addition was added to the museum in the past two years. My next museum show will be at The Butler in Youngstown, OH this coming fall, opening Sept. 14 and will keep you posted.

Green Exhibition November 17th Robert Berman Gallery

2007-11-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

I made a bold move into color with the clay pigments on this piece called "Flower of the Root". You can't see much detail here but the piece attempts to approach being at the center of life and finding renewal that inspires discovery as a result of the rough root of experience. The bird draws nourishment hovering just above the future and for one moment, harmony. On the left is the past, caverns that hold personal solitude, while entangling with personal history. On the right hangs the enduring leaf of individual spirit, defining moments that require imagination, reverence and beauty.

If you want to view more images from this amazing group show go to:

http://murphydesign1.blogspot.com/

Or come visit me at the show:
Green Art Exhibition : Nov 17 : 7:30 PM : Exhibit Opening :
The Robert Berman Gallery is pleased to present GREEN, curated by Mark Murphy, an exhibition that will showcase the inspired talents of over 40 artists including: Jeff Soto, Andrew Brandou, Robert Hardgrove, Mars-1, Kathie Olivas, and many more. Artwork features an eclectic mix of visual storytelling as artists hope to reveal nature’s delicate balance with
humankind. Exhibition will be on display from 11/17-12/22, please contact www.robertbermangallery.com for more information. Sponsored by www.murphydesign.com and featuring the live music performances of SSI and the Modlins.

Robert Berman Gallery
Bergamot Station Arts Center
2525 Michigan Avenue / C2 / Santa Monica / CA / 90404

310.315.1937 / www.robertbermangallery.com

Cleveland "Hometown" Exhibitions

2007-10-25T17:23:00.000-07:00

Cathie Bleck : "Fate and Fables" Solo Exhibition and book signing for
"Open Spaces", artist limited edition monograph

Meet the artist 6-8 pm
November 1, 2007
Continues through December 3rd.

This new gallery exhibition will feature affordable works for the new collector as well as a book signing. A talk on November 15th will feature a technical primer on scratchboard and other printing techniques. Show runs November 1 thru December 3.

Free and open to the public

Loganberry Books/Annex Gallery
13915 Larchmere Blvd.
Shaker Heights, OH 44120
216-795-9800
http://www.loganberrybooks.com

also:

Intown Club, “Time Lines” : Exhibition + Book Signing
November 2nd : Opening Reception 5:30-7:30pm
By Invitation only
Exhibition continues through November 26th
To arrange an appointment to view the show, email: fern_intown@yahoo.com or call 216.621.0422
Event location : 1375 Euclid Ave., Suite 301, Cleveland, OH 44115

This show is comprised of a combination of pieces from the recent NY show, “Elemental Stories” and new works including the 2007 U.S. Earth Day commission entitled, “Nature’s Myth”. Sizes range from 2”x3” to 30”x60”.

NY "Elemental Stories" closing reception

2007-10-01T20:00:00.001-07:00

Curator for the Durst Organization : Lannie Powers

Artists : James Yang, Yuko Shimuzu, Cathie Bleck, and American Illustration : American Photography executive director Mark Heflin, and Designer Robert Priest
+New York : August 8 through September 21st, 2007, "Elemental Stories" in NY (extended) located at 4 Times Square on 42nd Street and 6th Ave. This show ran from May through June and special thanks to the Durst Organization for sponsoring the show. It featured 21 paintings and 4 etchings. Thanks for the celebration!

Exhibition schedule for 2007-2008

2007-09-15T19:23:00.000-07:00

If you are in NYC Thurs. Sept 20th I hope you can make it to my closing that night (info below). There should be a lot of wonderful friends, great art directors, collectors, artists and some family there to share in the art : food : spirits. Thanks for all of your support!

•Robert Berman Gallery + Murphy Art Books present “Green” Artist Exhibition : Opening November 17th, 2007 7pm-10pm : Exhibition continues through Dec. 20th : Robert Berman Gallery : Bergamot Station Arts Center
2525 Michigan Ave. C2 Santa Monica, CA : 90404 : 310.315.1937

•Know Exhibition and Art Books : Art Now Fair : Art Basel Miami : Murphy Art Books : December 6-9, 2007 : 10am-8pm : Claremont Hotel : 1700 Collins Ave. (17th St.), Miami Beach, FL

•New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT : Solo Exhibition February 8 through April 27, 2008

•The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH : Solo Exhibition
September 14 through October 26, 2008

It is going to be another big year of shows. After the NY show this September I plan to hole in to the studio and get a lot of new work done for The Butler show especially.

East Coast diaries 7/28-8/9, 2007

2007-09-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

This summer I ventured around the east coast with my youngest daughter Ana after spending a week at a family reunion near Bath, Maine. My whole family are talented artists so we had a gallery show of all our works from the vacation. My parents and six of my siblings made it to the reunion. My daughter Ana and I continued our travels afterwards traveling across Mass. to N. Adams where our first stop was Mass MOCA. If you have not been there yet, put it on your list of art museums to visit. All of the exhibits are curated and contemporary...13 acres of museum. We ventured down to Stockbridge, caught a Shakespere Play in the Berkshires, Norman Rockwell Museum and then made our way to the Catskills to visit friend and incredible artist, Laura Levine, where she can be found at The Mystery Spot most weekends. We stayed at Kate's Lazy Meadows, owned and operated by Kate Pierson from the B-52's, slept in an airstream trailor down by the river. The trailer was a bit cramped, but really appreciated the beautiful design of an Airstream, which is a bit like imagining what it would be like to live in a doll house or doll trailer.