May 2021 Art News from Evy Okerstrom

“Discovery”
11 x14
Watercolor influenced by Wassily Kandinsky
$225
PURCHASE

Welcome to May! And thank you again for taking the time to read my “Art News.” In the December/January 2021 issue of Art and Antiques magazine was a note and review from the Editor, John Dorfman, on the current Wassily (pronounced Vassily) Kandinsky exhibit at the Guggenheim’s branch in Bilbao, Spain. He writes, “Can Art Change the World?” and “Kandinsky’s message for the 21st Century.” In the 1940’s, Kandinsky’s work was on exhibit at The Museum of Non-Objective Painting in New York (the precursor of the Guggenheim Museum). A book by Kandinsky (1866-1944) was published after his death in 1946. “Concerning the Spiritual in Art” discusses his concept of abstract art and its role for future generations. Basically, he believed in the existence of a spiritual realm that could be portrayed through pure form and color. This focus inspired him to develop his abstract art. Here is the interesting part of this story….the book contains comments from various people who came to see his art. It is very interesting to read their comments and get their opinion of abstract art at that time. 

“I am not a painter and know absolutely nothing about the technical procedures in art” ”and yet these beautiful paintings create an inward peace and tranquility of spirit such as I have never experienced before” “Lately , I have been spending part of my lunch hour each day at the museum and invariably I leave feeling at peace and in harmony”. Another person credited abstract art with helping him recover from the psychological trauma of military service in WW II. Whether art can change the world is still an open question. It is interesting to think about their reaction in 1946, and compare it with how abstract art makes us feel today. This exhibit is on view through May 23, 2021.

Take Note: I have been studying the work of the early twentieth Century artists and painting in different styles. The forms of abstract art have been my current interest. This month I have 5 new pieces at the Hub on display. I am going to preview them here for you. They are all for sale and prices are shown. Also, the Hub has an ecommerce site and 5 additional pieces are on there too. So, take a look. Here is a link to see my Artist Page at the Hub. https://thehuboncanal.org/art/artists/ All Hub Artists are listed, scroll down to my name, click on it and it will show some older work and the site.

“Daffodils in Vase”,
11 x 14,
Watercolor,
$225
PURCHASE

“KY Daffodils”
11 x 14,
Watercolor
$225

PURCHASE

“Vase of Flowers”
11 x 14,
Watercolor
$300

PURCHASE

“Still Life with Pottery”
11 x 14,
Watercolor,
$150 
PURCHASE

“Purple Flowers”
11 x 14
Watercolor, Pen & Ink
$225
PURCHASE

“Lunchtime”
11 x 14
Watercolor
$225
PURCHASE

The Fellowship Hall at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Smyrna Beach, 485 Turnbull Bay Rd, NSB, is now open for viewing; the new artwork that has been installed. The Fellowship Hall is a Community Gallery of the Artists’ Workshop of New Smyrna Beach.  If interested in visiting, please call me (Evy) at 859-699-1506 or email at eokerstrom22@gmail.com. Here are some pictures.  Enjoy!

“Woman Feeding a Gull”
11 x 14
Watercolor
$225
PURCHASE

New Class: Thursday, May 7th, 2021 “Sketching with Watercolor, Pen and Ink Class” at the Hub, from 11 to 2.  A new 4 week series begins. I am limited to 8 students. Contact me if you are interested at eokerstrom22@gmail.com. Note this will be my last class at the Hub until September 9, 2021

 

 Here is my thought of the day: written by Kandinsky on music and art: “A painter, who finds no satisfaction in mere representation, however artistic, in his longing to express his inner life, cannot but envy the ease with which music, the most non-material of the arts today, achieves this end.  He naturally seeks to apply the methods of music to his own art.”

To view my artwork please visit the Gallery. Visit Gallery