A Very Inspired Weekend Indeed

I saw two great shows over the weekend. The first was an art opening at Thomas Robertello Gallery in the fab West Loop area. Jason Robert Bell is one of my favorite living artists. Years ago (I think I probably blogged about it) he did a show featuring a paleolithic woman called Kayla and it was absolutely stunning and fascinating. This time around his new series called Metaphysical Portraits is just as amazing. In person the work is shiny and smooth yet underneath all that it's very textural. I also like his “Fireclowns”. I even love the name “fireclown”. I overheard Bell talking to someone at the opening and he mentioned that he liked drawing monsters because no one can tell you they look wrong or bad. I liked that idea very much. It’s just gorgeous and magical work that deserves to be seen. I got to meet Bell and he was very nice. Sometimes NY artists can be intimidating but he was really great. Here’s more from the press release:

Bell’s small-scale paintings and sculpture feature enigmatic entities built with layers of paint, paper collage, raw metallic pigments and colored sand trapped within epoxy. The works encase powerful figurative images under smooth glossy surfaces. These metaphysical portraits, whose imagery is the result of years of the artist’s independent research in the fields of mythology, spirituality, symbolism, and speculative thought, are fusions of primitive, modernist, and otherworldly forms producing profoundly playful and arresting imagery.

The second “inspiring” show I saw this past weekend was Jennifer Weigel’s I’m Spiritual Dammit which is a one woman memoir about her struggle to deal with her Dad’s death and to uncover her own spirituality. Her dad was sportscaster Tim Weigel who died in his mid fifties from a brain tumor.

When I saw the postcard for this show I knew there was something special about it plus the title: Climbing the Mountain of Enlightenment With a Martini in One Hand, and My Pumps in the Other...). The weather was really shitty and I was already exhausted from my errand and walking in heavy snow all day, it felt kind of like walking in sand. I even tried to cancel but I couldn't find Goldstar’s number. I even tried to coerce the theatre but they couldn't help me. So I decided to keep my ticket and just go. I guess it was fate because I was meant to see this performance. And wouldn't you know this coming weekend’s weather is going to be even worse.

One of the things that struck me the most is when she mentioned how sick her dad eventually became as he tried to work, he could barely read or write. He said to her, “but Jen I can still love”. She was very honest about their relationship. She was not apart of the perfect Chicago family. She said she didn’t get to know her Dad well until she hit 21 and could go to bars with him. I was also struck by all the "signs" she mentioned in her own life ***spoiler alert**** such as her missing portrait from her employer's Wall of Fame after she talked to a physic about quitting her job and doing what she loves. After the show she talked with everyone and I got to meet her and she could not have been more wonderful. Now I’m reading her book.

This little bit is from her site:

“I don’t want to spoil the ending of the show for anybody, but lets just say that I’m finding that the life and death are kind of the same: they’re just on different channels, so stay tuned.”

Her story or should I say "discovery" reminded me of Jill Bolt Taylor's journey. I'm a sucker for a cynic or intellectual who makes a spiritual turnaround. Something about this experience really made me value my intuition more. It's not silly, it's important. What this weekend also taught me is the importance of being a fan. You have to be a really good fan to be a good artist. It's essential.

In less important news I discovered that I actually like martinis now. Keeping with the theme of the show and all, I had a martini. The Chicago Performing Center let's you drink and watch the plays. Since I’m easing into eating less sugar. Vodka is really the only alcohol that does not contain sugar. So I will allow myself to have one once in a while. I guess I'm an adult now—spiritual, intuitive and a martini drinker.