Commissioned by a client for her inspiration in her office. She defined this Urdu/Arabic word as meaning peace, bliss, contentment, when all is right with the world, and something she seeks. I hadn’t heard this word before and I like knowing there are words yet to be discovered to describe well being.
Stratoz and I went to the fine exhibit Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art at the Allentown Art Museum(through 10/02/16). Walking into the gallery, my eye immediately went to this painting, Radiante, by Abstract Expressionist artist Olga Albizu(1924-2005).
It looked familiar, and reading the tag, I discovered that her paintings are on several jazz album covers from RCA and Verve Records, including one of our favorites, Getz/Gilberto with Jobim(1964). This made Bossa Nova known in the US, and featured Stan Getz, American Saxophonist, collaborating with Brazilian Guitarist João Gilberto, and composer Antônio Carlos Jobim. Astrud Gilberto sang the now famous The Girl from Ipanema.
I enjoyed how the music I love paired with art filled with abstract color energy. Olga Albizu studied art with Esteban Vicente in Puerto Rico, and then won a fellowship to study in New York in 1948. She was a student of Abstract Expressionist Hans Hoffman.
I wanted to know how Albizu’s work came to be on album covers, and finally found some auction notes through Christie’s, written by Abby McEwen, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland, College Park.
Albizu’s associations with RCA were also of a practical kind: she supported herself from time to time through secretarial jobs there, and through a remarkable connection – an assistant to the head of the record division, who displayed her work in the office – at least ten of her paintings were chosen for contemporary album covers. Albizu’s financial and professional struggles as a woman artist were, unsurprisingly, of a piece with her time; like peers from Carmen Herrera to Joan Mitchell and Elaine de Kooning, she lacked institutional support and regular exhibition opportunities.
I am fascinated with how many internet articles mentioned that her paintings were on album covers and how buried the actual practical connection was. The confluence of people and ideas can be vivid when we are the midst of it, and become obscure as years go on. American jazz, Brazilian rhythms, Abstract Expressionism, and Puerto Rican artists, all converging in New York City.
Stratoz took care of me with a photo of this Gazania flower for my Orange Tuesday. Gazania are from the Aster family and originally from South Africa. They like the sun, and open when it shines bright and then close up at night, looking as if they are dead. Also known as Treasure Flower, they are indeed like little pouches that contain the coin of vibrant color.
Cathy Vaughn of Tracery157, from a previous Orange Tuesday, suggested her friend Ruchi Gupta from Birds at Noon Ceramics. The quotation is from Amit Ray:
When the sun of compassion arises, darkness evaporates and the singing birds come from nowhere.
Margaret Olley caught my attention with her orange tones which occurred again and again in her still life paintings. Orange walls, orange objects, oranges. To my delight I discovered she had an orange dining room, and often painted there, as well as a yellow living room and a green kitchen.
A switch plate to be set into a newly painted orange kitchen backsplash was a commission made for my orange-loving heart and suited to the geometrics of Art Deco. Switch plates and their kin, outlet covers, and the various combinations they come in make for numerous configurations. Each type has its own character. This one had a single toggle, or single-gang switch, combined with a double outlet for plugs. Of course it was different than the others I’ve made!
Switchplate as Mosaic Tapestry with Millefiori(single toggle)
Art Deco Inspired Switchplate(double toggle)
Add another combination to the repertoire and send me an email if you are searching for your own light switch or outlet cover.
The January Cure has come around again, and Stratoz and I are giving our house some attention. Besides cleaning tasks, there is the task of buying flowers weekly, and the color is a lift in the winter. Another task is to sit in a place you don’t usually sit, and observe the new view for 10 minutes. Taking this photo I noticed that the turtle is swimming in blue water. How did I not notice that before? How much of our homes do we actually see? How much of our lives?
What is your word for 2016? Nutmeg Designs has words. If your word is not there, just order the one with the same number of letters. Leave us a note in the comments field of your order. And if you want Times New Roman font like the ones above, let us know that too. We always check in about colors and details before we begin. In 6-8 weeks, we will send you a word to resonate for the rest of the year.
After creating a Create for a client the first week of the year, I chose Create as my word for 2016. A reminder to go into the studio for rejuvenation.
One of the most rewarding aspects of creating art is having it become part of a family’s traditions. In November, Nutmeg Designs received a message requesting a thoughtful commission.
. . .I am writing to you because the gifting of your beautiful your Mosaic Trivets have become a sweet and meaningful tradition in our family! My sister Lauren found your site, and commissioned a Log Cabin Mosaic Trivet for my wedding in our wedding colors, and just a few months ago did the same for my brother when he got married! So now she and her husband are the only ones without a trivet of their own, and I would love to gift them with one of your trivets for Christmas if that is possible. . .
A very grateful recipient of a Nutmeg gift
The brother requested his sister’s wedding colors and sent photos of the shades of moss green, coral orange and sand. It was a delight to bring it full circle to Lauren, who ordered the first two trivets. The first is below, in oranges and reds.
The second was in deep lovely blues and eggplant purple.
