Gonna be alright
Tim McFarlane Studio: July 2024
Hi and welcome back! It’s July, the heat is here and all I can say is thank goodness for there being AC in the studio. I’ve braved years without it in the past and had my rite of passage, so I’m surely going to enjoy it.
As it’s summer, work in the studio has shifted a little as I go about reorganizing some work here, get caught up on some administrative tasks and prep for a solo project happening this fall at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor Township, New Jersey (more on that in an upcoming newsletter edition).
ArtShow conversation
Not long ago, I had a great conversation with Philly-based artist and podcast host, Craig Stover on ArtShow. It was one half-hour that flew by, which tells you something about how good it felt. Craig had some great questions and surprised me with works that he chose from my website. He’ll choose works to discuss with each artist, but you won’t know what they are until the conversation starts. It was a nice trip down memory lane that connected with newer work nicely.
Anyway, give a look/listen when you have a moment:
Soft Poems in situ
It’s always an honor to get to see works displayed in a collector’s home. These two, Soft Poem 2 and 3, literally seem to glow here. About six from this series have found new homes, so there’s still ten left to choose from.
To see which ones are available and to get pricing information, contact the Bridgette Mayer Gallery directly: 215.413.8893 or bmayer@bmayerart.com. If you’re in Philadelphia and would like to see the works in person, stop in at 709 Walnut Street, 1st floor. BMG is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm.
Converge continues
“Converge”, the 9th Benefit Exhibition at the Bridgette Mayer Gallery continues through August 3, 2024. Proceeds from “Converge” go to benefit Help Us Adopt, a New York-based national organization that provides financial grants to assist with adoption costs and the Dina Wind Art Foundation, a Philadelphia-based foundation dedicated to providing opportunities to women artists.
Works are available in 10 x 10 inch and 24 x 24 inch sizes, and reasonably priced at $500 and $1000, respectfully. The Bridgette Mayer Gallery is located at 709 Walnut Street, 1st Floor, Philadelphia, PA and is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm.
Phone: 215.413.8893 Email: bmayer@bmayerart.com
Me and my paintings with fellow Philadelphia-based artist, James Dupree at the opening of “Converge”. James, along with myself, are two of almost 300 artists with work in the show.
Studio scene
This is a new work on paper, one of about five I’ve made recently and there might be more to come. Trying to expand on some of the newish visual language I’ve been working with over the past year or so. Something of a portal, maybe. There’s a collage effect from a distance, but it’s all just how the forms and edges wound up meeting. I was actually shocked by this piece when it was done and I can’t tell you exactly why, yet. But it was a good shock.
A new work on unstretched canvas, still in progress and still in this state. I wanted to have three of these yellow forms, but didn’t intend on the one being so elongated. I was going for something closer to the other two shapes. Regardless, here we are and when I turn the canvas, there’s a not so subtle hint of a face that I can’t unsee. I feel like it’s an analogue for all of the angst and stress so many of us are undergoing on a daily basis. I don’t know what’s going to happen with this piece, but I’m letting it be for the moment.
Exit
This past weekend, my girlfriend and I, along with a couple of friends, sought some relief from the city heat and humidity and headed down the shore. With a 15 degree difference between city and shore, there was relief, but the water was absolutely frigid, like COLD cold. I walked into the ocean up to my waist and and turned my numbing legs right around and spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach and in good company.
Want to know who’s happy with the heat + humidity? The monsteras in the back yard. I’m glad something’s thriving in this mess, haha!
That’s a wrap for this edition! There won’t be a newsletter for August, so I’ll be back in September with a summer wrap-up and a peek at what’s coming up for the fall and beyond. In the meantime, I’ll still be publishing my more frequent free-form studio blog.
I was listening to this deep house mix as I put this newsletter together and it’s a good one. I hope you enjoy it and have a great rest of your summer!