LUNES, EL SIETE DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
A stunning Persian bowl with (I think) Kufic characters from the Seattle Art Museum. This was one of the objects that really grabbed my attention and made me feel like doing some more ceramics. Also, seeing Charles Krafft's studio got me worked up to make some more objects based on my paintings, especially since I've recently been worknig on some more monochromatic retablos.
I'm hoping I'll get the opportunity to do a bit more throwing on the wheel too...

LUNES, EL SEIS DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
Back in Las Vegas now and started a couple of new paintings.

VIERNES, EL TRES DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
Yesterday we met up with Charles Krafft again and got to look at his work and studio, then headed into Pioneer Square for First Thursday.
I'm holding a railway nail-pierced mickey mouse-type glove by Krafft on the left, two seri-o's flanked by smiley-o's (JK Russ, Krafft,me and Maseyk); Krafft's mould storage room.

JUEVES, EL DOS DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
We visited SAM today and got to see a couple of special exhibitions, including Kurt, a survey of artists responding to the legacy of Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and an exhibition of Warhol polaroids and films. The highlighs for me though were the 'old works' in the permanent collection (see images below) and the Ensor/Baselitz print exhibition. (no photos allowed)

(left to right) St Ulrich with bible and fish; me, Kendra and Paul in from the museum- you can see the big Jonathan Borofsky hammering man; a ceramic charger int he Italian Room, St Augustine by Murillo and de la Tour's St Sebastian.

MIERCOLES, EL UNO DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ

Yesterday we traveled north up to La Conner, a small settlement on the Skagit river. At the Museum of Northwest Art we met up with Charles Krafft and photographer Bradford Bohonus who was documenting 'Fishtown and the Skagit River' exhibition, curated by Kathleen Moles. Fishtown was a small settlement of artists and writers a few mile outside of La Conner. Here's some info on it here
(Photo by JK Russ)

MARTES, EL TRIENTE Y UNO DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ

We went downtown to look at the stores at the Pike Market between Pike and Pine streets. I came across a Mexican store that had contemporary ceramics and postcards. The owner very graciously showed me a couple of ex-votos from Mexico that she had in stock. K bought eight small milagro pieces, a couple of arms and legs, a house and some cattle. Seattle is rife with second-hand bookstores. I may have to give into my temptations just a couple of times.
(photo courtesy of JK Russ)

LUNES, EL TRIENTE DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ
Walking with Krafft, Maseyk, Sparks and Russ to catch the bus to the Bellevue Museum BAM Throwdown 2010. In the background, you can see the stadiums that are seen from the south in Friday's photo.
(photo courtesy of JK Russ)

DOMINGO, EL VEINTINUEVE DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ
On Sat night, K and I went to the Morris Graves Anniversary Seance as part of the Mystic Sons of Morris Graves House 93, Seattle Lodge. It was hosted by Charles Krafft (left) and featured a medium who channelled Graves who gave us this message on the right.
(all photos courtesy of Edd Cox)

SABATO, EL VEINTIOCHO DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ
An installation photo (by JK Russ) of the Morris Graves Anniversary Centennary Exhibition at Rock de Ment Gallery in Pioneer Square, Seattle.
My small drawing (bottom right) is now in a private collection in Seattle)

VIERNES, EL VEINTISIETE DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ
Arriving in Seattle, just south of the city. looking over towards the stadiums and downtown.
(Photo by JK Russ)

JUEVES, EL VEINTISEIS DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ
We're heading up to Seattle early this morning for just over a week so posts will be intermittent.
I'll get to see my drawing and all the other work people created for the Morris Graves Centennial Exhibition.

MIERCOLES, EL VEINTICINCO DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ

The last couple of days have been pretty hectic with looking for cars and sorting out an apartment. Monday and yesterday we managed to find a car we wanted, get it to our friend Steven who's a mechanic, commit to the purchase then arrange insurance. That was Monday. Yesterday we had our insurance OK'ed, we picked up the car, paid for it, had the title notarised, dropped the previous owner back at his work, headed for a smog check, got a VIN inspection (the car was registered out-of-state) then stood in line at the DMV for an hour to get an appointment to check our credit and organise a new clean title and new numberplates (a bit painful, but we managed) then straight back to Steven to have the oil changed and another look over the motor.
Phew.
So we now have a running (touch wood) 1998 Nevada-registered Volvo Cross Country V70 turbo automatic station wagon.

DOMINGO, EL VEINTIDOS DE AGOSTO, VENITE-DIEZ
Three Tony Cragg sculptures in the atrium of the Aria (I think...). I can't stand the barriers and from standing there looking at them for about 4 minutes, they proved totally pointless. About 3 people walked past - they touched, knocked on, and stroked the works.
Photos by JK Russ.

SABATO, EL VEINTIUNO DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ
The new City Centre casino has plenty of art around the building, also you can get a guide from Centerpiece Gallery just down by the Mandarin Oriental, to the south of City Centre.
By the Elvis Theatre is a huge painting by Julian Schnabel, titled Zeus, 1992. Because of it's size, there aren't too many places to put it so it's a bit cramped where it is, but great to see, nonetheless. Also in the collection is a large canoe sculpture by Nancy Graves, a fantastic Frank Stella mid sixties geometric shaped canvas in at the reservatino desk and three Tony Cragg sculptures in the atrium.

VIERNES, EL VEINTE DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ
Yesterday, JK and I went to the new City Centre on the strip to look at part of their art collection. City Centre is pretty new, with parts of it still in completion. The two man high-rises instantly reminded me of walking into the town square of Bologna in 2004. I'll post other pics of some of the art tomorrow.

JUEVES, EL DEICINUEVE DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ
An installation shot of part of the Calendar Girls set at the Rayner Brothers Gallery in Whanganui, New Zealand. You can view all twelve calendar artworks on their website here and see the rest of the installation photographs here.
From left to right: Maiangi Waitai, Anthony Behrens, JK Russ, Peter Ireland, Mark Rayner, Matt Couper, Andrea Gardner, Paul Maseyk and Mark Braunias.
Each work is for sale and calendars are available for purchase at NZD$19.95 each.

MARTES, EL DIECISIETE DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ

I received an email yesterday informing me that my painting, 'Half and Half' has been accepted as a finalist for the 19th Annual Wallace Art Awards 2010. Although a 'finalist', the works are sent up to Auckland for a second judging round, where a selection is made to decide which works go in the touring exhibition, which is shown in Auckland at the Pah homstead, then at The New Dowse in Lower Hutt, near Wellington. The other works go into a Salon des Refuses, also at the PAh homestead. Over the past 12 years, my work have alternated between being rejected, being in the touring show and the Salon des Refuses. I even won a runner-up prize in 2008, which was a great surprise.
We'll just have to wait and see what happens this time.

LUNES, EL DIECISEIS DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ
One blog I look at religiously every morning is Anonymous Works. Anonymous by name and nature, this mysterious blogger posts quirky object every day, gleaned from past and present auction, web-based antiques stores. Highly recommended!

DOMINGO, EL DIECICINCO DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ
Here's a link to a Radio New Zealand mp3 interview with US/Christchurch-based artist, writer and teacher, Roger Boyce (you can view his blog here). I don't know Boyce, nor have met him, but have a couple of friends that have been taught by him.
I do like the way the paintings set up quirky narratives individually and as a whole and I'm always drawn to works that talk of painting and the artworld and what it is to be a painter.

VIERNES, EL TRECE DE AGOSTO, VEINTE-DIEZ

a photograph of new Rob McLeod paintings straight from the studio: (L to R) 'Constructed Chief, Collaged Cowboy and Bandit Tweety' oil on corrugated cardboard and plywood, articulated pieces. To see more of Rob's work: http://www.paulnache.com/artists/rob-mcleod.aspx