February 2013

artla
February 2013
magazine
Cover Photo: Myron Stephens, So Sweet, Oil & Acrylic on Wood, 30 x 20 Inches
Contents
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Nicol Ragland
Valentine’s Day For The Love Of Art!
Art Calender
Art Books and Printing
Biljana Milenkovic
Birgit Piskor
Luxury at its Finest
Nada Zoric
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Page 16
Page 24
Picasso once said “Only put off until tomorrow what you are
willing to die having left undone.” I know everybody gives the
advice that we should live every day to the fullest. However,
how many of us really live by that motto? Does it take something drastic for us to really grab life with both hands and
enjoy this crazy ride? Two weeks ago I was told right before giving a lecture to a group of artists that my brother had
just passed away. He was in his forties with so much more
to give to his children, wife, and the rest of his family and
friends. The call from my father was rather poignant given
that I was speaking that night to these great entrepreneurs
about never giving up. The room was filled with passion, eagerness, and a powerful desire to succeed from the attendees. It was from these wonderful people that I drew inspiration to complete my lecture that evening. I want to thank all
of you that persevere through education and determination,
and believe in the POSSIBLE each and every day.
Heidi Gray
Co-founder
ArtLA.com, Inc.
CONTRIBUTORS
Tim Broughton
Christopher Curtis
John Scott
George Best
Warren Smith
ART DIRECTOR
Arezoo Bharthania
artla magazine
Left Photo:
Zebra Crossing, Photography, 20 x 20 Inches
Right Photo:
Chimp of the Mahale, Photography, 20 x 20 Inches
Nicol Ragland
“The sun had just come up and
the environment was very still and
peaceful. As we drove up ahead I saw
the zebra standing perfectly still, like a
statue in the middle of the road…”
Nicol Ragland tells stories. Stories
in the medium of photography. Stories
that resound with social commentary,
history, and tradition. In her travels to
the East African state of the United
Republic of Tanzania, Nicol has spent
considerable time in discovering
and documenting the struggle of the
Hadzabe people of Tanzania. This is
a small indigenous tribe (numbering
less than a thousand members) whose
relationship to the world exemplifies the
challenges and tensions that abound as
modern, 21st century systems encroach
upon a centuries old way of life.
Aside from an acute observation of
the foibles of our species in modern
times, Nicol has a penchant for
capturing animal life in its natural and
not so natural habitat. In this spirit,
Nicol is currently assembling pieces
to be featured in a special show
Have Camera,
Will Document!
entitled “Between Two Worlds.” The theme for this
exhibition has as its primary intention the aim of
raising questions about our ability to access primal
and immaterial forces within the commercial ethos
of Western industrial society. Nicol believes that
the images she intends to show will stir a vital and
confrontational animism by juxtaposing taxidermied
wild animals in the arms of domestic American
citizens provokingly situated in iconic centers of
mass commerce.
We recently sat down with Nicol to discuss her
work, experience, and inspirations in her world of
uniquely focused photography.
ArtLA.com: When did you first discover that you
had a talent with art and photography?
Nicol: I studied Environmental Science at the
University of Denver for my undergraduate program
and finished my last credits through the World
Wildlife Fund in Nepal. It was a three-month trek
of studying bird migration, seed dispersal, tree
diversity, and tourist impact. While traveling, during
my first third world experience, I came to realize
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my love of observing, learning new worlds and being altered by different lands and culture. I had collected
photography books growing up, but never took it seriously until being uprooted from my home ground. I came
back from Nepal and enrolled in the Colorado Institute of Art for Photography.
ArtLA.com: Your “Animal Series” is striking and thought provoking, were all of those shots circumstantial, or
did you have an outline in your mind about what you wanted?
Nicol: I had an outline. I’ve been shooting for the last 10 years covering various countries for several
different non-profits. In addition I have been documenting my own projects, all of which have maintained a
consistency within the conversation of the indigenous, our relationship to each other, our relationship to the
wild, the environment, and how best we can navigate our way out of our current disaster (This is my first fine
art series that is a more subversive and poetic approach).
ArtLA.com: Tell us a little about the pieces shown here, “Zebra Crossing,” and “Chimp of the Mahale?”
Nicol: The “Zebra Crossing” was in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. It is a conservation area and it is
literally a giant crater. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site. I was out taking photographs of the animals
and we were driving down the road at dawn. The sun had just come up and the environment was very still and
peaceful. As we drove up ahead I saw the zebra standing perfectly still, like a statue in the middle of the road.
We stopped and it stayed like that just long enough for me to take the picture. As for “Chimp of the Mahale,”
this was taken in the Mahale Mountains in Tanzania. This is actually the area where Jane Goodall did her study
on the chimps. There are lodges in the area where the chimps live. They are very friendly and used to humans.
That chimp was sleeping and I just lay down on the ground about 3 feet away and took that shot.
ArtLA.com: What dreams do you have for your future career?
Nicol: Through fine art photography and documentary film making, my intent is to engage viewers into
transformative action towards social justice, indigenous rights and environmental recovery.
Nicol’s show, “Between Two Worlds,” will open at The Gallery, located at 74 Market Street, Venice, CA,
90291, on March 1st 2013, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
Nicol’s information and works can be seen at www.artla.com/nicolragland.
- John Scott
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This beautiful piece depicts the Greek
myth wherein the Bird of Paradise,
when presented with pearls, returns
to life. A perfect representation of the
renewal of life and love.
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Your Valentine will be amazed at this
remarkable trompe l’oeil painting. A
fantastic painting with a cute message
and oodles of fun.
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Gadi, Golden Mist, Oil on Canvas 48 x 72 Inches
Quite simply an excellent abstract piece
that drips with love and affection.
Cheryl Kline’s superb skyscape evokes
feelings of romantic pacification in this
stunning natural representation.
A box of chocolates can be but a memory in
a matter of minutes, but this delightful piece
will send the sweetest of messages to your
honey for many years to come.
A classic shot of the icon of popular affection that
will appeal to anyone wishing to make a splash in
their relationship. This photograph was one of the
last ones ever taken of Marilyn.
Marianne Boers, Sweet, Watercolor on Paper, 27 x 33 Inches
Myron Stephens, So Sweet!, Acrylic and Oil on Wood, 30 x 20 Inches
Karen Liebowitz, Reviving The Bird, Oil on Canvas, 61 x 76 Inches
Saint Valentine’s Day, commonly known as Valentine’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is observed on
February 14 each year, and it is contemporary tradition to celebrate the day with exclamations of gifts that
are considered to be messages of love from the heart. This year we thought that it would be a great idea
to present gifts in a novel and special way. We have chosen a few delights that are currently available
from The James Gray Gallery in Santa Monica, California (310.315.9502).
Cheryl Kline, Rainbow Bridge, Oil on Canvas, 48 x 60 Inches
For The Love Of Art!
Larry Schiller, Marilyn, Platinum #3 of 15, 26 x 33 Inches
Valentine’s Day
- Warren Smith
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ART CALENDAR
February 2013
American International Fine Art Fair (Palm Beach, FL) February 5 - 10, 2013
When the American International Fine Art Fair
(AIFAF) opens its doors for an exclusive, invitation
only preview on Tuesday, February 5th, collectors
and connoisseurs from around the world will once
again experience an array of spectacular artworks
assembled in a glamorous setting at the Palm
Beach County Convention Center.
San Francisco Tribal & Textile Arts Show
(San Francisco, CA) February 7 - 10, 2013
The production team of Bill Caskey & Elizabeth
Lees developed the concept of antique shows
sharply focused on cultural and aesthetic themes
in the mid-1980’s, elevating the field to a new level.
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Art Rotterdam
(Netherlands) February 7 - 10, 2013
The images that come to us on a daily basis via
internet, television and numerous advertising
messages are so comprehensive, fast and
penetrating that it requests a response.
Contemporary artists are aware of their task to give
new purpose to the visual world surrounding you and
to touch you in a whole different way to let you reflect
and enjoy images.
ARCO Madrid Int’l Contemporary Art Fair (Madrid, Spain) February 13 - 17, 2013
The ARCO Foundation will give the Platform
Luncheon on 14 February at the Fair, where it will
continue to add new works of art to its collection,
reflecting the spirit of this event through the years.
Art Madrid International (Madrid, Spain) February 13 - 17, 2013
The eighth edition of the Contemporary Art Fair
Art Madrid with the participation of 39 galleries,
national and international, and will be open from 13
to 17 February at the new location of the Penthouse
Chamartín Station.
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Southwest Indian Art Fair (Tucson, AZ) February 23 - 24, 2013
Join us for a wonderful weekend of culture, art,
performance, and food on Arizona State Museum’s
front lawn, rain or shine. Meet 200+ Native artists,
many of them award winners. Talk with them about
their work and learn about the cultural significance
that informs, inspires, and imbues their work. Topquality, handmade art includes pottery, Hopi katsina
dolls, paintings, jewelry, baskets, rugs, blankets,
and much more. Artist demonstrations, Native food,
music, and dance performances round out the twoday celebration.
Art Wynwwod (Miami FL) February 14 - 18, 2013
Art Wynwood 2013 will feature 70 international
galleries featuring emerging, cutting edge,
contemporary and modern works and will have its
own distinct identity and design.
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair (Palm Springs, CA) February 15 - 17, 2013
Once the playground of movies, captions of industry
and world leaders, the region has evolved into a
respected art oasis in the Southern California desert
with a vibrant cultural scene devoted to the visual
arts. Kinetica Art Fair
(London, England) February 28 - March 3, 2013
The aim of Kinetica Art Fair is to present works
that exemplify universal concepts, heighten
consciousness and advance human potential;
it is through the performative and immediate
nature of the works and the viewers creative
engagement with them that a strong attunement
to the concepts are activated. Many of the works
are intuitive in the ways that they reach out to
the viewer or the viewer will activate the work
into being, a kind of living art where the viewer
and art are creating an inter-change, or physical
dialogue.
The Artist Project - Contemporary Art Fair (Toronto, Canada) February 21 - 24, 2013
The Artist Project is dedicated to supporting
the development of emerging artists.Untapped
Emerging Artists is a juried competition that
awards emerging artists a free space at the Show
and an opportunity to participate in a professionallevel art fair and showcase work to gallerists,
collectors and art enthusiasts for FREE!
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Art Books and Printing–What To Do?
How To Produce An Art Book
That Works For You.
For any artist who is serious about their career,
having a quality art book produced is an essential
element in expanding their business. Most art
professionals consider it mandatory, and even
though the quality of tablets is good, most gallery
owners take a far more favorable view when an
artist presents their work in a high quality art book.
Apart from the ease of use, the color precision, and
the general feel of holding something tangible in
their hands, they tend to consider an artist who has
produced an art book as one who takes their work
seriously. In order to discover the best ways to approach
this essential of the art business we spoke with
Rinck Heule of ArtBookprinting.com, one of the most
respected and quality driven companies offering
artists the facility to produce the product that they
need.
ArtLA.com: With the advent of the Internet an
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artist has many more choices when it comes to
producing an art book, what are the most important
things to look out for when choosing a company?
Rinck Heule: There are quite a few “digital
book printers” on line who can make one, two, or
maybe ten copies of a book. These books are not
commercially feasible of course. The unit cost is
prohibitive. But more importantly, even the latest
digital presses are no match for hi-end offset presses
when it comes to color reproduction. We only print on
offset presses.
With ArtBookprinting.com, an artist or gallery can
print a real coffee table book, printed and bound par
excellence… like the books you find in a museum
store. In fact, many of the books we create are sold
in museums and art galleries from New York to Miami
to San Francisco. We also create exhibition catalogs
with critical color accuracy. ArtLA.com: So how then can this be affordable in
a very limited edition print run?
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Rinck Heule: Working with many museums,
galleries, and individual artists we have distilled a
combination of exquisite materials and processes that
meet the needs of even the most judicious clients.
Using these standards, we find economies that
translate in affordable prices. Do we print in China?
Of course we print in China, as long as the quality
and price point is of great benefit to our clients. In
East Asia, we print on the most modern German and
Japanese presses. They allow us to set up for color
in minimal time with minimum waste, adding to the
affordability.
Producing excellent quality art books is our
business and our mission. For our clients, art is their
passion but also their business. Our typical client has
an audience that can absorb at least 300 copies of a
coffee table book or exhibition catalog. We fill in the
niche between the on-line digital printers and the large
commercial outfits. This niche is ideally suited for the
gallery and museum market.
ArtLA.com: How important is personal consultation
in producing a custom designed art book given that
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some companies have automatic software systems
on their websites?
Rinck Heule: I firmly believe that an art book
should be as individual in design as the artist it
represents. I have never believed in these design
templates at all for the art market. It is fine for a
wedding album or baby picture book, I suppose.
Designing an art book is like hanging an exhibition
- the order of the work, the color palette, and the
lighting are all important. Having said this, the design
does not have to be complex or expensive. In the
design phase, we work with clients all over the
country using a direct link called DesignLiveTM that
allows a client to actively participate in the layout via
hi-speed internet. Many of our clients choose to work
with a local designer. We provide a layout file for the
cover and dust jacket so it is easy to make everything
fit correctly.
Design and layout can be a significant part of
the budget, but it is critical to the success of a book
project. I cannot begin to tell you how many clients
I work with who spent a lot of money with a digital
printer. They ended up with a cookie-cutter book of –
what I consider– sub par quality.
Another key component is accurate color proofs.
We include a full color proof in the base price of our
proposals. The digital world has allowed the graphic
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arts tremendous benefits. The big downside is
that many people view digital images on all sorts
of monitors that are not properly calibrated. We
provide designers with tools to calibrate their
monitors to certain standard. We want our clients
to have hard, color accurate proofs that can be
matched on press. It is an essential step towards
success.
ArtLA.com: What preparation should an artist
do before contacting Artbookprinting.com?
Rinck Heule: You have to be prepared for
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and be realistic about the financial commitment of
course. We provide a custom quote on every project
and we have budget examples on our website. We work with clients ranging from the absolute
novice to the most sophisticated print buyers. Bar
none, the most important thing an artist can do is
to make sure he/she has high quality professional
photography or the original art. What works ok for
web will not suffice for art reproduction in print. Whatever word processing program you use
(WordTM is probably the most common) will work
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fine to determine the copy for each page. Just set
up a document with the same number of pages as
your book and flow the copy for each page. That is
generally all we need. MORE?
ArtLA.com: Is it possible for an artist to selfpublish?
Rinck Heule: As soon as an artist puts a piece out
there, he or she IS a publisher. To own an original
work is a privilege an artist can extend to only one
admirer of that work. He or she can offer a Giclée
print or a casting to a select few. Creating an art
book will allow an artist to offer a collection of the
best work to a larger audience. A book is a gallery
that can be visited and enjoyed over and over.
We can assist in placing books with Amazon.com
and we can prepare marketing tools, but we do not
fill the role of the publisher.
ArtLA.com: What is the typical turn-around
time from the point of the design being submitted?
Rinck Heule: Typical timeline is 3-4 months from
first contact until receipt of the book. Of course,
offshore production must allow for ocean freight
that takes 4-5 weeks. We take care of all the
details and deliver to the client’s door, but it does
require advance planning for all parties. It seems
like we more and more often ship significant
quantities via Fed Ex. That cuts it down to 4-5
days. All the production is done under one roof,
so the total production timeline is shorter. If you
plan an exhibition catalog we sometimes do not
have enough time and we print and bind art books
domestically. It is a lot more expensive and in my
opinion the quality is just not as good, but there are
times that there is no other option.
ArtLA.com: How important is the quality of
paper and other materials when producing an art
book?
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Rinck Heule: As I mentioned previously, it is
vitally important, but I can add another thought.
In the production of a short-run art book, the
cost of materials is not the largest component in
the overall budget, unlike hi-volume newspaper
inserts for instance, where a few pennies per
pound makes a large difference. I think you may
as well print on the best possible paper. A premium
coated, acid-free paper will allow for much sharper
and richer printing. I use very high quality fabrics
and warp-free boards for the covers. Our books
really stand out for quality. I want to serve the kind
of client who is looking for the best presentation of
their art.
ArtLA.com: What tips or suggestions would
you have for someone producing their first art
book?
Rinck Heule: To be published in a book is a
highlight in an artist’s career. It may sound cliché,
but I would want it to be fun. The journey is a huge
learning curve. Do not be afraid to ask questions.
Have realistic expectations. Allow yourself enough
time to do it right. Understand the total budget.
To help the process we produced a book titled
The Art of Producing an Art Book. It features
different papers, fabrics and foil swatches. It
shows how full color, hi-res print looks on different
substrates. Using this book, you can make
informed decisions on how to get the most value
for an investment in a book or catalog.
When a client is ready to move forward with a book
project, we share a complimentary copy of this
book. It has been a huge help, both for the client
and for our staff.
ArtBookprinting.com can be reached online
at http://www.artbookprinting.com/index.html, by
telephone at 800-603-2823 or by emailing Rinck
Heule at [email protected]
- George Best
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Gail Cooper
Fleet Department
16721 Ventura Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
818.461.3614
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“If you want something, you have to find a way
to get it!”
Biljana Milenkovic is an artist from Belgrade, the
capitol city of Serbia, who is fast establishing her
identity as a dramatic and thoughtful abstract
expressionist and pop art talent. Although Biljana is
still at the Belgrade Academy of Fine Arts studying
for her Masters in Fine Arts she has been exhibited
in many different galleries in Serbia, including ADA
in Belgrade (an exhibition of works by young artists
who are the creators of Serbia’s artistic and cultural
future) in 2012. Biljana’s works have been received
with much admiration, gaining a number of sales to
private collectors. Biljana has a style that is bold,
impactful, and daring with color choice and design,
believing that whenever she creates a piece she
is releasing something from her inner soul, and
presenting it for the world to see. We recently
talked with Biljana, and chatted about life as an
artist in Belgrade.
ArtLA.com: Please tell us about when you first
became interested in art?
Biljana: I was interested in art before I ever
attended school. Later, when I was in school we
were given an art project called, “The Human
Body,” and I wanted my work to be the best one,
something that nobody could compete against.
So, I told my dad to do my painting (of course,
he didn’t know that I was going to use it at my
art class). I showed it to everyone in class and
the teacher just smiled and told me it was very
beautiful. At that time, I was sure that the teacher
knew I had cheated, but her support for my work at
that moment meant a lot to me. She asked me to
do another painting but this time I did it without my
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dad’s help. From that moment, I developed a great
interest in painting, and I wanted to explore and go
further with my talent even if I was only 7-years-old.
That teacher’s decision not to punish me because
of my cheating, and her support to do it again
myself, was a key moment in my interest in drawing
and painting.
ArtLA.com: What is it like growing up and being
an art student in Belgrade?
Biljana: This year, Belgrade Faculty of Art is
celebrating its 75th Anniversary. As one of the
students, I can proudly say that I am honored to
be doing the Master Studies at this university.
Belgrade is not as big a city as London or Paris,
but it’s certainty a big city by way of its diversity
and conviviality. Here, you will find people with big
smiles on their faces, while walking in a hurry and
searching, chasing their dreams. We artists are
the same, searching for galleries and places for
our work to be seen. And that’s exactly what this
city is all about. If you want something, you have
to find a way to get it! And that same searching
and exploring for a better life makes us hungrier
to be the best at whatever we do. You will find top
Serbian artists fighting for a piece of space for their
artwork in this city. That fighting spirit of Belgrade
is what makes you always want to work harder and
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1990’s. I just wanted my painting to be sold, no
matter the price, because even just some money
would mean a lot for her. My painting was sold first,
for a lot of money actually, and the buyer was my
art teacher from my primary school. He didn’t like
me at all at school, because he thought somebody
else was painting my art. Of course, he still doesn’t
know that painting that he bought at the fundraiser
was mine. That’s something that even today makes
me smile.
ArtLA.com: Please pick one of your pieces
and describe how this was inspired.
Biljana: In my picture “Hope,” my motives were
about getting in touch with memories. I wanted to
picture different moments of happiness and joy. It’s
big canvas not because I wanted to paint more,
but to feel freedom of motion. Sometimes, I show
emotion with great gestures, with big, wide moves.
When my emotion is strong, I use more color and
darker tones. The lines are changing in time with
the rhythm of the music that is it (colors are very
important, as well as the layers). This painting has
over 50 different layers of colors.
To view more of Biljana’s art please visit www.artla.
com/biljanamilenkovic
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- Tim Broughton
Rising Star In Belgrade
Hope, Acrylic on Canvas, 60 x 70 Inches
Biljana Milenkovic
be better at your craft.
ArtLA.com: Who are your influences?
Biljana: I can’t name many artists who have
influenced me in my work, but I get great inspiration
and ideas from history of art. I am always trying to
follow artists from all around the world, to see how
they work, to get inspired. I like to take ideas from
other art directions, but to use it in my way and style.
Exploring and trying to improve my painting skills is
what I love to do. I would like to use the examples of
pop art and abstract expressionism artists as styles
that I admire and respect. One of the greatest artists
today is Yayoi Kusama, and she is certainly a person
I especially respect. Her work and dedication has
had a great influence on my paintings and my view of
art as well.
ArtLA.com: What inspires you to create art?
Biljana: I was a dancer for a very long time, but I
never thought that dance could be the main source of
my energy in painting, but it is. The dance that I did
was not an ordinary one, it’s very energetic, at first
sight aggressive It’s called Krumping (Krumping is
a street dance popularized in the United States that
is characterized by free, expressive, exaggerated,
and highly energetic movement involving the arms,
head, legs, chest, and feet). This dance is performed
by a dancer in order to show the emotions, either
sadness, happiness or even anger. That feeling is
what I wanted to transfer to my paintings. I wanted
my paintings to get just a fraction of those powerful
emotions created by this dance. Sometimes,
depending on the piece, I transfer sadness,
sometimes happiness, but intensity of expressive
style is what makes me create over and over.
ArtLA.com: What is your most memorable event
in life?
Biljana: When I painted my first oil on canvas, I
was full of fear. It was for a colony I worked at, and
painting went for an auction. All funds raised were
for a charity that raised funds for a grandmother who
had been left alone after the conflicts in Serbia in the
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Nonnie Waller’s Traditional Southern
Making Memories One Gift at a Time
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[email protected]
800.664.0919
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Birgit Piskor
Dangerous Inspirations!
“I opened my eyes realized that I was still alive and
swam up through the swirling white water. I had
sustained a back injury, our kayak was shattered
and we were easily 2 miles offshore in waters thick
with hammerhead and tiger sharks.”
Birgit Piskor is an artist whose sculptured
works invoke a sense of movement, intrigue, and
strength. Birgit is an artisan who channels the
industrial essence of concrete into shapes and
textures that defy the inherently rigid nature of the
medium. The flowing organic gypsum forms are
tactile expressions of transformation and visceral
moments of beauty. Each handcrafted sculpture is
constructed with the highest quality materials that
are both attractive to the eye and built to withstand
the passage of time. Birgit recently spoke with us
about her evolution as an artist, her influences, and
her experiences (some death-defying) that have
shaped her art and her life.
ArtLA.com: When did you first discover that you
had a talent for art and sculpture?
Birgit Piskor: As a child I was always using my
hands making things from birdhouses to wedding
dresses, but I didn’t come to my true art until later
in life. I credit the creation of my garden for the
revelation that I have a gift for sculpture creation.
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I was absolutely maniacal about my garden for 4
years. Every thought and every breath went into
its creation. One morning, I was outside enjoying a
latte looking around at a landscape that by this point
should have been just about perfect, when I realized
that something crucial was missing. That missing
something was the vitality of sculpture. So I decided
to try my hand at it. I now have an award winning,
multi-published garden that is still on the must-see list
of international visitors.
ArtLA.com: Your pieces reflect a great deal of
motion and natural energy, are these things that you
have deliberately evolved, or are they the result of
your natural artistic perspective?
Birgit Piskor: That sense of motion and energy
arises while I am working. I’m especially drawn
to making work at a larger than life scale. I love
the physical interaction with the piece. Rather than
chipping away to reveal the form, I add layer upon
layer of modified cement working on all sides of the
central armature. There is a kind magic that happens.
I rarely have a fixed image in my mind of the finished
sculpture. I generally begin with more of a visceral
impression of where I want to go. The final form
gradually emerges as a result of a sort of give and
take between the work itself and me. The process
becomes like a beautiful dance that constantly
challenges the notion of what concrete can become.
My skill at textures also gives an illusion of movement
and vitality – a visceral sense that a piece is just
about to take on another form.
ArtLA.com: How much does your environment
influence your work?
Birgit Piskor: I’m very fortunate to have traveled
to amazing places and right now I live on Canada’s
West Coast, an incredible part of the world endowed
with intense natural beauty. Nature is absolutely alive
with ravishing lines and provocative curves. With eyes
wide open, it is all so seductive, who can resist? As
the universe sprawls out to infinity, there is constant
play and creative tension – a ceaseless exciting
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Rapt Figure series #6, (with base) Concrete, organic cotton, acrylic paint, 61 x 17 x 12 Inches
expansion. This transformation is often terrifying,
yet beautiful and to me, absolutely necessary to
life. I use cement, liquid and steel to give it majesty.
As I partake in the transformation, I always
have a strong sense of my own body and tend to
see some element of the female form in virtually
everything that I observe.
ArtLA.com: What has been the most influential
experience for you, both personally and in your
work?
Birgit Piskor: The single most transformative
event of my life occurred just over a year ago
while I was in the Southern Baja in search of
inspiration for a large commission that I had just
received. On December 27, 2012, I was out whale
watching aboard a double sea kayak with Perry
Abedor, a local surfer, when a whale exploded
out of the water a few feet behind us. Terrified
and bewildered, I turned to grab the edges of the
kayak to brace myself for the shock wave. In that
moment, a second whale breached directly in front
of me. Rising and rising. Until all I could see was
the whale (no sky, no land, only whale). In that
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suspended moment, I knew I was dead. There was
no fear, no flashing of my life before me. I closed my
eyes, bowed my head, and simply surrendered. Perry,
who was sitting behind me, scrambled back as far as
he could and saw the whale twist and turn in the air
and slam down directly in the narrow space between
us. Good thing Perry moved. What I remember next
is a massive cracking sound as we were driven deep
under the surface by the force of the whale smashing
the kayak in half. I opened my eyes and realized
that I was still alive. I swam up through the swirling
white water. I had sustained a back injury, our kayak
was shattered, and we were easily 2 miles offshore
in waters thick with hammerhead and tiger sharks. It
was a harrowing 3-hour swim before we finally arrived
on shore.
ArtLA.com: What are your greatest joys and
greatest fears in life?
Birgit Piskor: As far as joy is concerned there is
nothing better than hearing a client say that they love
having one of my pieces in their homes. Recently,
a person called to tell me that the sculpture that I
had just installed for her was the best thing that she
had ever purchased for herself. She felt such joy
each time she looked at it. To make such a profound,
very human connection with another is one of my
own greatest joys. I know we hit the mark. Hence
art is always autobiographical and yet universal my
client’s pleasure meant that I was able to translate,
some fundamental aspect of humanity that resonated
with that same aspect within her. In regard to fear,
sculpture in general is not as yet widely accepted
in North America. Peoples literacy tends to still be
in the 2-dimensional world of wall art. It can be the
finest companion in any collection where people seek
solace and beauty through art. My attempt to remedy
my innovative light-weight wall sculptures that play
with light, attract attention and lighten the spirit while
being three-dimensional and solid.
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Luxury at its Finest
Delectable Luxury For Valentine’s Day
V
alentine’s Day is upon us once more and we
at ArtLA Magazine all agree that the most popular
choice of gift that anyone can give their honey are
chocolates and other edible goodies with which to
proclaim their affection. But what, you may ask, is
the most luxurious statement that one can find in
this arena of palatable presentations? We spoke
with Lisa Caldwell of Nonnie Waller’s (possibly the
epitome of edible luxury in the world) to discover the
best way to go about choosing the most luxurious
gift of this kind. In her wealth of experience in
creating some of the most impressive Valentine’s
Gifts available, Lisa definitely gave us the best
ingredients for a guaranteed recipe for success
when choosing that important gift.
ArtLA.com: Nonnie Waller’s Traditional Southern
cakes and chocolates appear to exemplify luxury.
How important are the ingredients and recipes in the
products?
Lisa Caldwell: Ingredients are the foundation for
everything we do. Good, wholesome, preservative
free ingredients (and a whole lot of love) make our
delicacies mouth-watering delicious. We scoured
the earth to the find the very best vanilla, chocolate,
dairy fresh butter, milk, and other ingredients to
ensure the quality and depth of flavor is obvious the
moment you take your first bite. We work in small
batches…we still hand crack every single egg! Our
attention to these details is what makes our heirloom
recipes come-to-life. Whether it’s one of our
Southern Style Pound Cakes, to-live-for Red Velvet
Cakes, or award winning Truffles & Chocolates, our
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ingredients are premier, luxurious, and uncommon.
We go beyond recipe ingredients too. The
“ingredients” we use in our packaging and flowers are
just as important to us. Our luscious fabrics, incredible
embellishments, and seasonally fresh flowers from
all over the world create unique and memorable gifts.
When combined, our recipes, our fresh flowers and
our packaging result in a “WoW” gift experience that
resonates emotion. Our customers tell us that sending
a Nonnie’s is a trusted way to make their recipients
feel loved and really special. ArtLA.com: How many different kinds of truffles
do you offer?
Lisa Caldwell: Our creamy Southern Sized
Truffles (at least four bites each) are available in a
variation of the following different flavors including:
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Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate,
Raspberry, Coconut, Pistachio, Marzipan,
and Hazelnut. ArtLA.com: When considering a
Valentine’s Gift, what should the purchaser
consider?
Lisa Caldwell: When selecting a
Valentine’s gift, we feel you should
move away from the ho-hum and go to a
personalized “WoW” gift luxury experience.
A Nonnie Waller’s gift is unique, delicious,
unforgettable and resonates your
sentiments beyond the obvious. Every
Nonnie’s gift arrives with your message
hand written on a luxury card. On the
day of arrival (which you designate) your
recipient receives a phone call from us
making sure everything arrived just a
beautifully as it did when it left our hands.
The perfect experience for Valentine’s is
the difference between ho-hum and WoW!
ArtLA.com: What parameters
determine the couplings in the gift
packages, for example the Couture
Longaberger™ Breakfast-in-Bed selection
has a number of different items, how are
these selected?
Lisa Caldwell: When we create the
perfect, gift we think about one thing: What
will make this experience stand out for
both the sender and the receiver? We take
sending sentiments seriously since we are
being entrusted to deliver a very important
thing…emotions. We design by creating
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in-house or in some cases using premier outside
elements that deliver our promise. For example, our
designer trio of keepsake Pillow Top Box, pound
cake and flowers is designed and crafted in-house.
Our Longaberger™ Breakfast-in-Bed combines
both internal and external elements.
ArtLA.com: Do you do custom packages if
someone wants a particular selection?
Lisa Caldwell: Yes! We offer custom service.
These ranges from say an engagement ring in your
gift to complete custom design of the packaging
and contents. The later usually require a minimum
quantity. ArtLA.com: What is the usual delivery time and
do you do rush orders?
Lisa Caldwell: When you order a Nonnie’s
gift, you select what date you want your gift
delivered (Tuesday thru Saturday). Due to the
freshness of what we do, many of our gifts are
delivered overnight only. You can order online at
nonniewallers.com or you can call one of our Gift
Consultants at 800-664-0919.
Nonnie Waller’s nonniewallers.com
800-664-0919
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Nada Zoric
A Lesson In Self-Belief.
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Children's Toys, Oil on Canvas, 36 x 48 Inches
“…Her professor approached her one day
and informed her that she would never be
successful in art. He added that she had
absolutely no idea how to paint so she should
quit immediately!”
Nada Zoric is an artist of immense finesse,
and her ability to manipulate paint in order
to project positive energy from her works,
displays an obviously natural talent that has
been harnessed by study and education. Nada
first discovered that she had artistic ability
when she was a very small child, when she
would draw and put things onto paper. She
had always seen images in her mind way
before she ever thought about applying them
to canvas. Nada was a prolific artist by the
time she was 12-years-old. One day Nada
entered a newspaper art competition and won
the second prize. From there she became a
student at the Academy of Art in Sarajevo.
Nada told us that she “finds a great deal
of comfort in all natural things. Art is a form
of language for me. I find it easy to speak the
language of art. I prefer to express myself
on canvas rather than in words.” We asked
Nada what she considered to be the most
influential experience of her life. She said
that when she was a student at the University
of Indiana her professor approached her one
day and informed her that she would never
be successful in art. He added that she had
is no exception. When it comes to creating
her watercolor landscapes she, “looks first at
composition. For example the visual perspective,
the content, the message of the vision and
also the lights, shadows and colors are very
important. I do not like to paint on sad or gloomy
days,” she said with a beaming smile. In the
studio, Nada has a different approach and
cites unique influences in the way she puts
paint to canvas. “When I am at my studio and
working with the abstract form, a vague idea will
germinate in my mind for several days before
I even contemplate putting the brush to the
canvas. Then when this swirling idea has driven
me crazy for long enough, it will suddenly all gel
together and make sense in my mind. It is then
that I will paint the idea. For example, I have six
children and when they were young I was always
picking up their toys that they would leave on
the floor. Once I was thinking about my children
for the whole day, and I had the vision of a
cacophony of toys going around in my mind like
a fever. So, I created a painting that represented
in abstract form the memory of my children and
their toys. And that painting is the one called
“Children’s Toys.” Nada Zoric’s works are being shown at the
ArtLA Gallery, 2525 Michigan Avenue, D5,
Santa Monica, CA 90404 from February 9, 2013
through March 10, 2013. The Opening Reception
will be on Saturday, February 16th, from 6:00
p.m. to 9:00 p.m. absolutely no idea how to paint, so she should quit immediately! Nada, her determination ignited by what
she considered to be a highly improper, and also inaccurate appraisal of her abilities, left the university
and went straight to her studio. She began painting and four hours later she produced “an amazing
painting.” It was about five feet by five feet. She decided to enter it into The Kentucky Speed Art Museum.
It won Honorable Mention, and the museum wanted to buy it! The work was called “Patetique” which
means sadness, although that special work brought me much happiness.” Needless to say, that particular
professor never criticized Nada’s work again!
We asked Nada what kinds of things brought happiness in her life. “It is whenever I am painting. I lose
myself in a world of joyous creation and forget any problems in the world. The colors and hues that I use
are always bright and happy. This feeling is like heaven to me. As for any worries, she responded, “my only
worry is that I will not be able to paint for some reason. It’s that simple.”
Every artist seems to have their own process when it comes to their system of working and Nada
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- Tim Broughton
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Special Thanks
City Shakes
Traditional Meets Contemporary To Promote The Arts.
City Shakes is on a mission, and
that mission is to bring the arts to
the hoi polloi in an accessible, real,
and novel way in the physical realm.
In a world that is tilting more and
more towards becoming a “virtualcentric” environment City Shakes
founders Allison Volk and Brooke
Bishop are determined to invigorate
audiences with clever adaptations of
Shakespeare’s finest curtain-raisers,
starting, appropriately enough, with a
levity infused presentation on Thursday,
February 14 of The Taming of the
Shrew. This Valentine’s Day treat will be
the perfect way for anyone to celebrate
the occasion with something fun and
different.
Allison and Brooke hit upon the
idea of forming City Shakes during
a conversation one day when they
both realized how so many people
perceive theater to be a dying art form,
noting that oftentimes ticket prices
are exceedingly high compared with
attending a movie, for example. They
also were cognizant of the fact that
a live performance always seems to
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create a stronger connection with the audience, and
that it promotes a sense of community that watching
a film in a movie theater doesn’t seem to replicate.
In deciding to feature the works of Shakespeare
in their mission to bring art and culture to the masses
Allison told us, “people are so afraid of Shakespeare!
It’s sometimes seen as a difficult, lofty text, when
really Shakespeare’s work is bawdy, ridiculous, and
clever; it’s meant for the people.” Brooke added that,
“the text is the most entertaining, immediate, visceral,
and conjuring that I know, including the stories and
the characters, not just the pretty language.”
Allison and Brooke both like the challenge of taking
something that people find intimidating and making
it easy to understand, funny, and entertaining.
They want to show people that Shakespeare is
something they can really enjoy.
This pair of energetic charitable entrepreneurs
intends to expand upon the established concept
of theater being in the truest of terms, a collage of
art forms, by utilizing more than one art form per
event. City Shakes has taken the novel and clever
approach of teaming up with The James Gray
Gallery (one of the most respected art galleries in
Southern California), located in Santa Monica’s
famed Bergamot Station Arts Center as a way
of creating something new, unique and exciting.
When asked about their interpretations and the
forthcoming presentation of The Taming of the
Shrew at The James Gray Gallery, Allison said that,
“there are many artistic elements that go into a
theater production. Usually all these other art forms
– fine art, fashion, music, etc. – are used to serve
the text and aren’t highlighted. Our events put all
these forms on equal ground, so one isn’t more
important than the other,” she added that they
were, “performing The Shrew in the James Gray
Gallery, so audience members will be surrounded
by exquisite fine art. The performance features
original music by Aaron Beaumont, and of course
there’s the actors performing Shakespeare.”
City Shakes is passionately determined is
to become a theater company that functions in
bringing the arts to many different communities in
the long term. “Brooke and I both have a fantasy
of putting on a show at the Getty – but not in
their traditional theater space, somewhere in the
actual museum itself that people aren’t expecting,”
Allison said, adding that, “we want to break out
of the traditional theater space and show people
how much fun live performance can be in a way
that surprises them (Allison also confided that
she secretly wants to do Macbeth but “hasn’t told
Brooke yet…maybe for Halloween?”).
City Scapes unique Taming of the Shrew will
be presented at the James Gray Gallery, 2525
Michigan Avenue, D4, Santa Monica, CA 90404, on
Valentine’s Day, Thursday February 14, at 7:00 p.m.
Attendance is FREE and seating reservations can
be made by sending an email to:
[email protected] - Christopher Curtis
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Thanks for viewing
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magazine
For advertising enquiries:
email Tim Broughton
at [email protected]
or call 310.586.9789
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