Friday, March 29, 2013

Pick Poor Robin Clean performed by The Hokum Scorchers



Listen to Luke Jordan's "Pick Poor Robin Clean" (a song from 1927). Lou Reimuller guitar/ kazoo, Amy Crehore washboard/kazoo. Recorded by The Hokum Scorchers in 1990.
The Hokum Scorchers channel on soundcloud with free downloads.
 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

More Painting Progress (Amy Crehore Studio)

Here's my progress (from yesterday) on one of the new paintings (oil on linen).
I am "playing it by ear", as they say. I want to see where the paintings take me.
The journey will unfold as I paint.
 

Monday, March 25, 2013

Scenes from old Virginia where the peanut grows

Here is an item that floats my boat!
I saw this rare, illustrated Mr. Peanut box from the 1930s online-
We have a large wooden Mr. Peanut sign at home (perhaps from this era).

Thursday, March 21, 2013

David Zwirner


Standing next to a gorgeous Neo Rauch (from what I can see of that trademark green) is dealer David Zwirner. I love so many of the artists that his gallery represents: Neo Rauch, Marcel Dzama, Yayoi Kusama, R. Crumb, Alice Neel, Michael Borremans, Lisa Yuskavage, to name a few. There is a new article about him in the New York Times Style Magazine:
 
 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

"The Tutu" painting by Amy Crehore

Here's an earlier painting of mine that is hanging on one of my walls. Oil on linen, 20" x 24". The girl was inspired by Matisse. This painting features a vintage Regal tenor guitar (one that I own) and a yawning cat. 

Monday, March 18, 2013

Gibson's Banner Guitars Were Made By Women During WWII

The workers at the Gibson guitar factory during WWII were nearly all women (photo 1944). 
In a new book, John Thomas uncovers the story of the Kalamazoo Gals and the Gibson "Banner" guitars that were built by these women during that period.
They are some of the finest guitars ever made.
LINK to book (by John Thomas)

Friday, March 15, 2013

"Please Don't Wake It Up"- performed by The Hokum Scorchers


In 1992, the Hokum Scorchers recorded the Mississippi Sheiks' "Please Don't Wake It Up" (a song from 1931). Lou Reimuller is on National guitar and I am playing a snare drum. We both sing. Have a listen.

The Art (and music) of Amy Crehore

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Paintings on Walls (Crehore)

One side of the room...
...the other side of the room.
These photos show some earlier works of mine hanging on walls:  I exhibited a couple of these paintings at the Portland Art Museum (Crosscut show) and they also won "best in show" at the Corvallis Arts Center. Others were winners in Communication Arts Annual Competions or were exhibited at the Hult Center (in OR). You can see some of my vintage ukes that were painted for my Los Angeles solo show, "Dreamgirls and Ukes" in the top photo. At least one of these paintings has never been exhibited anywhere. And so it goes..the life of an artist.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Enjoy An Interactive Armory Show 1913, Chicago

After NYC, the historic 1913 Armory show travelled to Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago has a new website feature where you can click on the gallery map and visit each room of the Armory Show of 1913. Mouse over each painting and you can read information about it.
LINK 
Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso, Gauguin, Rousseau, Maurice Denis, Jules Pascin, Augustus John and many more were included in this show. Americans saw their "modern" work for the first time and many were shocked. It is so beautiful to see these photos and take the tour.
 

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Pietro Antonio Rotari Portraits





 
Pietro Antonio Rotari was an Italian painter (1707-1762) of the Baroque period.
Here are some of his unusual portraits of young women -shyly peeking out from behind a book or a cape, dozing and crying. There is something wonderfully modern about these compositions.
Art history never ceases to amaze me. I keep on discovering.
Out with the new and in with the old.
 


Monday, March 04, 2013

Armory Arts Week ArtSlant Feature: Amy Crehore

 
Armory Week is important to me because it is the 100th Anniversary of the 1913 Armory Show in NYC. That particular show opened American eyes to a "Modern Art" movement that was happening in Europe at the time. Organized by the Association of American Painters and Sculptors, it also travelled to Chicago and Boston. ArtSlant did a special feature on me to help me celebrate and I could not be more thrilled. Check it out!
Here's the LINK.

"Song of the Sea" was painted for my L.A. solo show, "Dreamgirls and Ukes".
I have a signed, limited edition print available: LINK
Inquire about collecting my original work: amy@amycrehore.com
 

Sunday, March 03, 2013