Who would’ve thought art is scribble?

As many of you know in New York City you can go just about anywhere to find any type of art that is to your appeal. Last Saturday I so happened to have the chance to visit some of the many galleries located in the lower east side. This particular gallery had stood out to me the Charles bank gallery located in 196 Bowery New York, NY 10012. It did include many artist auctioning off their pieces of art but the paintings that captivated me the most was from this Swedish artist Pär Strömberg. Born in 1972 in Örebro, Sweden and is currently teaching painting at Örebro College of Art, Sweden.

Since 1996 Pär Strömberg was inspired to paint about Sweden’s landscape as to relive its inner beauty from all types of perspectives. Something that caught my attention in his bio page was when he mentioned what painting meant to him: “Painting is not only storytelling. It is working with and executing specific ideas and emotions into layers of imagery, ” Strömberg. To the best of my understanding this is quite true when it comes to many other artists point of view while painting, I can also understand and see in this painting what he meant.

Pär Strömberg, Wormwood Waters, 2011

       One of Pär Strömberg paintings Wormwood was to be called my favorite in his collection since it was so beautiful. I felt I just wanted to be there sitting in the snow and watching it fall slowly into the now frozen lake. I was amazed by how extraordinary  the landscape was portrayed in this painting, surprisingly enough he only added few colors which made it seem more realistic. I also noticed the emotions placed into painting showed peace, relaxation, calm, refreshing. The amount of detail placed into this painting show effort which is something another artist did little of.

Allen Grubesic,Retrospect,2011

However as it turns out there always is that one artist whom takes it upon themselves to make art look differently then from what it actually is expected. Allen Grubesic  another Swedish artist born in Uppsala, Sweden,1974; who’s art work was quite amusing although it wasn’t at all that appealing to me, since it just had words and sayings. I felt like anyone is more than capable to write on a canvas while also painting the background and actually considering it “art”. In my opinion it shouldn’t even be considered art but just like Mahatma Ghandi once said: “True art takes note not merely of form but also of what lies behind”.  I Later found myself interested in what was the actual meaning of the words to his painting and was rather surprised  by the outcome.

Allen Grubesic,Retrospect,2011

He had wanted to send a message by telling people that there lies much more than just words and trying to piece everything together by just seeing it for the first time. Being judgmental causes one to not realize what the artist is really trying to tell us. “In a sense we mythologize everything around us by going beyond the explicit concepts, ideas, messages and forms in order to create a mode of communication existing outside conventional language,” says Grubesic. He couldn’t have said it any better himself but I  believe that is quite true to a certain extent, I had felt bad that I was so harsh on his paintings but I still don’t take it so seriously because art to me means having put effort and emotion into it.  But I guess I did learn a lesson that I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but by it actually means inside.

 

By:Michelle Bello

Colorful World Of Graffiti by Indie

   Indie is a graffiti artist from Washington Heights, Manhattan.

Growing up in Washington Heights I remember seeing Indie’s work everywhere I went , but the reason why I am so interested in Indie’s art work is because she doesn’t like getting paid, interviewed or anything to get her to be known worldwide. She does it to show people that anyone could do what they want if they try. Indie does not do all her art work by herself,  a lot of the people that color her outlines on walls are little kids. Indie is really focused on just being a good role model, and that’s what really inspires me.

I met her one day when I was with my older sister. I didn’t know who she was because I had never seen her before. My big sister had said “Look Christy, that’s her! That’s Indie!”. The first question I asked her was “Why do you like to paint so much?” and she replied “Because I know that everyone around here needs inspiration, and I want to be that one to give everyone all the hope they need to become something bigger than what they could ever imagine.”

Indie’s art work reflects a lot on her personality, she is very retro and just loves to be random and outrageous. Most of her art work is not even planned. She looks for places big enough where she can make a mural, after than her imagination just opens up. Another big reason why I love Indie’s graffiti art is because not only does she do it on walls, but on floors, trucks, ceilings, anywhere she thinks its unique. Its very interesting to walk, and then suddenly see a splash of color on the sidewalk, it makes anyone feel like their in another place other than the streets.

After that day I knew I wanted to bejust like Indie, her art work is not only in Washington Heights, but all around Manhattan. Her colorful pieces of are meant to stand out apart from all the gray sides of New York. To show everyone that not everything has to be so serious. Indie represents all kinds of cultures, from Hispanics, to African-Americans, to Caucasians.

Now Indie has moved to California, where she is still doing her art work but focusing more on starting a family.

-Christy Hernandez