AI WEIWEI and his WOODEN STOOLS

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

AI WEIWEI and his WOODEN STOOLS

Over a period of twenty years, 5,929 wooden stools from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing(1644-1911) dynasties were collected from villages across northern China.
I was overwhelmed seeing them and realizing their humble beginnings
and the lives they represent.

This exhibit, at the Jeffrey Deitch Gallery also has 12 ZODIAC works each comprised of thousands of LEGO bricks. We'll say goodbye to the Year of the Dog with this one....

...and hello to The Year of the Pig!

Those of you who have read Lisa See's book, THE TEA GIRL of HUMMINGBIRD LANE
will be amazed at this TON of TEA made from one ton of compressed Pu'er tea. (It smells wonderful!)
Note the wallpaper, THE ANIMAL THAT LOOKS LIKE a LLAMA BUT is REALLY an ALPACA. The design is a series of surveillance cameras speaking to the new normal in our world.

The overarching raison d'être of Ai Weiwei's work is a reaction to the tens of millions displaced by war, famine and climate crises with the message that humanity is one.
This exhibit closes January 5th.
Along with this, you don't want to miss the Ai Weiwei installation LIFE CYCLE at the MAURICE and PAUL MARCIANO ART FOUNDATION on Wilshire Boulevard.

You've be awe struck seeing LIFE CYCLE...

To quote the movie Cinderella, "have courage and be kind."

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Introduction

There is no avoiding the pull of the internet, the blogs, the YouTube imaginings. It's as if we're all 'On the Road' with Jack Kerouac each in our own world of meanderings. When we tell someone to 'get a life' it might be a bit difficult when you're dragged into other people's 24/7.

I've come to realize two foundational principals, there are no accidents and everyone has a purpose. More and more I'm desiring everyone to come into a full realization of their purpose as we all find our way on this little jewel of a planet.

For me, as a professional 'Western style artist', I stumbled into Chinese Brush Painting after a trip in 1980 to Monet's home/garden. Seeing all of his collection of Japanese woodblock prints was an ahh haa moment for me and when I returned to the States I started painting in the Chinese manner and never looked back. The first year was extremely painful for me as I felt that I should be able to master the technique since I was a 'trained' artist. Not a chance ... that just gets in your way.

Now, after teaching close to 3,000 students and having my book 'The Ch'i of the Brush' published by Watson Guptill, I can say that every one of my students does better their first day than I did my first year! Why? Because I insist that they leave their critical parent outside and just enjoy the journey, respecting the work that they do. I never let anyone throw anything away because that just ingrains frustration and defeat.

We really only begin to learn when we stop and figure out how to 'save' a painting. It works every time.I am so proud of my students, their receptivity and eagerness to express themselves is a continuing blessing for me.So, back to finding your purpose. Perhaps it starts with realizing 'it's not about me'. It so easy to want our needs met and to filter everything thru this attitude. When we realize that we're here to be of benefit to every life that we touch the universe really provides the ways and means.

The best part is that it's really exciting to not have yourself on your mind all the time!I'm re-reading a wonderful book about authenticity and in my next meandering I'll tell you about it. In the meantime I'd love to hear about your journey and am here to answer any and all questions about Chinese Brush Painting.