A little food for thought today
Quote from the Online Plein Air Magazine by artist Rusty Jones
“We all have to accept ourselves for who we are and not try to chase after some other approach to painting.
There’s a point at which we have to stop listening to the voices of our teachers, forget what we have seen in art books and exhibitions, and just paint intuitively.
We have to accept that our personal statement will emerge without making a concerted effort to find it.”
Just had to share with everyone that I made it into today’s copy of “The Record“, Fort Saskatchewan’s local paper.
Here’s the article:
February 19, 2010
Opening minds to new and different aspects of artistic expression is what art galleries are supposed to be about. And this month, the Alberta Lottery Fund Art Gallery at the Dow Centennial Centre is expanding its boundaries and, for the first time, featuring work that pushes the line on abstract art. Amanda Milke, originally from Moncton, N.B., but now living in Fort Saskatchewan, approached the gallery about how to get an exhibit and was excited when she learned they would show her work this month. “I’m not really big on realism,” Milke said, who came to the city with husband Jonathan — who grew up in the Fort — about two years ago. “Some of the work I’ve done is simply my life experiences put on canvas. Other work is religiously inspired and some is just a means of venting.” Milke began painting around 15 years ago and quickly found doing still life rather boring. “That’s when I moved into abstract work,” she stated. “Some of my work are a definite departure, while others are done on the spur of the moment.” The exhibit, which runs each Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Feb. 26 as well as prior to all Shell Theatre shows, is Milke’s way of getting out into the community.”This show is fairly groundbreaking, as it is the first time the gallery has shown abstract work,” Milke said.”My hope is that it breaks the perception of what is considered art and that helps people be more open.”As for reactions to her work, Milke explained she’s had a very mixed review so far.”Everything from people saying they really don’t like it — sometimes in a little more colourful language — to one little elderly lady saying, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s wonderful,'” she said. While the exhibit ends next week, Milke’s work can still be viewed on her website.
Neat! 🙂
I’m hoping to grab a hard copy of the paper sometime today.
Cheers,
Amanda
For those curious as to what I’ve been up to lately, please visit my latest project.
Poems inspired by the passengers of the Edmonton LRT.
I’m hoping to collect enough to warrant the publishing of the collection.
Please feel free to stop in and leave a few comments.
http://poetryintransit.wordpress.com/
Cheers,
Amanda
I finally finished the collage I’ve been working on, thanks to the rubber cement I picked up last week.
It’s called “Drowning in Lies” and is 16″ x 20″ mounted on canvas.
Since you cannot clearly read the small print in the photo, I’ve included it here.
If you want to stop being: fat, ugly, alone, unpopular and rejected then all you have to do is:
lose weight, get liposuction, have your stomach stapled, purge after every meal, get lip augmentations,
get breast implants, enlarge your nipples, exercise hourly, count every calorie,
eat organic, drink mineral water, recycle, be a conservationist
don’t snack, don’t eat, use anti-wrinkle cream, remove crow’s feet and laugh lines, stop aging, get a face lift,
get a new nose, get a new chin, get an eye lift,
buy brand name: clothes, high heels, bags, makeup, jewelry, cars,
use diet pills, follow all the trends, wear the newest styles, never wear the same outfit twice,
wear makeup but look like you don’t need it, wear fake nails, wear fake eyelashes, take vitamins,
wax your bikini area, wax your legs, wax your eyebrows, wax your toes, get laser hair removal surgery,
exfoliate hourly, cleanse hourly, moisturize hourly, condition daily,
memorize the Kama Sutra, be a sexual gymnast, act like a goddess, act like a porn star, act like a diva,
act like a princess, own a life time gym membership, have a career,
get married, stay single, use birth control, have kids
and finally be unique like everyone else;
only by conforming to this routine will you become:
sexy, popular, successful, loved, respected, desired
and admired as
the pinnacle of femininity.
The above text is scattered throughout the collage and will be glued to the back of the piece for easier reading.
Cheers,
Amanda
Amanda Milke 