Artist of the Month - June - The Masters

When I received my BFA, I thought for sure that I had said goodbye to Art History forever. Little did I know that, like social history, art history is bound to repeat itself. Art recycles itself through our creative subconscious the way ideas and behaviors do. We take it in and we spit it out, whether we know where it came from or not. So when there's an artist that you can really connect with, it's important to hang on to them, to absorb what makes them special, and to store it within your mind's canvas to draw from later. Even the most unlikely artists can be cause for inspiration, that force that enters into our minds and drives us to create. So this week we will visit one of Darryll's favorite artists, Flemish painter, Peter Paul Rubens.

During a trip to Madrid about two years ago, Darryll found himself wandering the halls of the Museo Nacional del Prado, home to some of the greatest, canonical art pieces of our world's history. What had initially attracted him to the museum was Goya's Black Paintings, but what kept him there was the work of Rubens. He became entranced by the mythological drama and the religious history behind the seventeenth century paintings. Since then, Rubens's work has found a place in the back, right side of Darryll's brain, where it will remain as a source of inspiration. Adding Rubens to the pool of artists that exist in Darryll's creative mind has helped him create work that is subtly evolving with time and in turn, breathing new life into what was once history.

-Chelsea

Three Years in the Art World…and Counting.

How does an Illustrator come to work with Darryll Schiff, the fine art photographer? During my career at Columbia College Chicago, I didn't know what direction my art career was heading. I thought that I'd get a low paying (ahem, unpaid) internship at some design firm until I gathered enough experience to deem me fit for some low rung position until I worked my way up the ladder. Not really the idea I had in my head of a free-sprited artist, living on her own terms. Thankfully, I constantly reminded myself that the art world can be blissfully serendipitous…you just have to keep your eyes open. Never did I think that I'd meet my future employer whilst working at a coffee shop. This was the kind of cafe where people were in and out, without even looking up. However, "artist types"…we tend to find each other. Darryll was a regular customer at the cafe who actually paid attention. He knew immediately that I was an artist because of my visible tattoos and called me out on it. We chatted about his work and mine, and eventually he then shared with me a book, called Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton. I look at that book now as sort of a symbol of our working relationship, as I would soon be thrown into the art world, trying to figure out how to thrive.

                           


Darryll mentioned that he could use some more help around his studio and although I was apparently content to be a barista for the rest of my life, I decided to leave that job and hop into the unknown, just because I made a promise to myself to take every opportunity that came my way. So, Darryll took me on as an employee. He needed help with various tasks around the studio and understandably so since his pieces are larger than life.  As he entrusted me with more responsibility, I gained confidence and we began to vibe off each other's creativity. I learned from this that it's important for artists to find each other and stick together. Although Darryll has about 30 more years of experience than I do and our artistic disciplines are very different, we often find common ground because we are both navigating this hectic and, quite honestly, counter-intuitive, art world. I've found that it's important not to work in a vacuum. Sometimes you need someone to bounce ideas off of in order to remain confident in your work. Darryll is, and always will be creating, but I like to think that we inspire each other to keep at it. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to drive to the West Loop several times a week and work in an artist's studio and, most of all, be even just a small part of his success. As I watch Darryll's art business grow, I feel more and more fulfilled and glad that I listened to my inner voice, that constantly urges me to surround myself with good people and do what I love.

-Chelsea

                                  2010

                                 2011

2012

2013

A Brief Report On My Trip to NY and the AIPAD Show

On April 5^th I flew to New York to see the AIPAD show, which is a yearly event featuring many of the top photography galleries nationwide, including a few from other countries. I wanted to get to this recap of the event sooner, but upon returning to Chicago I had a confirmation and check waiting for me for two 5’x9’ prints.  Suffice it to say, I needed to do the finishing touches and get them printed as soon as possible.

Anyhow, back to AIPAD: I started attending the event last year, mostly to see who was there, both gallery- and artist-wise. It is always good to get out and see art, and it never hurts to gauge how the work that I am doing functions alongside that of other artists. 

By the time I got into NYC on Friday and up to my room at the London Hotel, I decided I would give myself a break, meet my son for dinner, and give myself plenty of time to explore the show come Saturday.

I arrived at AIPAD just a few minutes after the doors opened, which turned out to be quite a good thing; within an hour or so the show was completely packed.  My sister Lesley, an impressive artist herself, met me there.  Overall, I have to say that the show itself was quite good.  One was immersed within an epic range of photographs dating from the 1800’s up to to very modern, innovative, contemporary work.   As expected, there were galleries that specialized in classical photographs, others in modern photos, and some who contributed a mix of everything.  

As a part of my background, I thoroughly studied the history of photography, and also taught seminars about fine art photography that incorporated pictures from the early 1800’s and onward.  Perhaps because I feel that current day photo artists bring something new and exciting to the table, they have tended to spark my curiosity a bit more than the traditional artists.  And at AIPAD, there was a lot of them to be seen, some with work that was just ok, but some of it quite fantastic.  

Two of my favorite galleries showed some excellent work.  Catherine Edelman, the best photo gallery in Chicago, displayed, among other pieces, some of John Cyr’s pictures of renowned photographers’ developer trays.  These could be very mundane pieces if handled by any other artist, but the way John works so directly with the pieces allows them to become much more than that.  Cathy sold me one of his prints of the tray that Aaron Siskind, one of my former teachers, used. I feel honored to own a little piece of artistic history.

Next was Kim Bourus’ Higher Pictures from New York.  I met Kim last year, and within minutes knew she and her gallery were important entities in the photo art world.  Higher Pictures was showing just one artist’s work, K8 Hardy, which is a series of wonderful self-portraits.

I always wonder when I go to galleries if I’m going to see work like mine.  I find that I am more of an artist than a photographer in my recent years; I use the camera like a paint brush, and just about never take a ‘straight’ picture anymore.  An artist, I feel, should have a unique vision which is apparent in my work. I have yet to encounter someone who is doing what I do, the way I do it. 

I won’t get in to more specifics than this; there is just much too much to talk about!  But I will say this, if you love photography and you love art, go to AIPAD – you won’t regret it.

Artistic Heros- April

When I was in art school, a basic question that almost all my teachers would ask us is, “who are some of your favorite artists?” Half of the class would list artists that are either dead or in a contemporary art museum somewhere, and the other half would give a feeble, “I don’t really have any”, or, “I can’t remember their names”, myself included. I didn’t think much of it then, but since graduating and working closely with Darryll and playing the “art game”, I’ve come to realize that we’re kind of told who to like in the art world. With players like Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst making millions of dollars, it’s easy to assume that, because they’re making a lot of money, their work must be all that is ART in the contemporary world. This goes the same for any artist found hanging on the walls of the Modern Wing at the Art Institute or in the art galleries of the Chelsea district in New York. Side note: how many of you have walked through those rooms thinking, “WHY?!”  Anyway, the pricetag, along with the lineage, is intimidating. Just like pop songs on the radio, they may not be the most thought provoking, intricate compositions, but they sell. Those people are doing something right. But you have to begin somewhere. I think it’s important to, as artists, start supporting each other. We don’t really have an excuse, the internet is a black hole full of information. Start researching the kind of work that makes your eyes jump back in their sockets, makes your fingers twitch with creativity, and that makes your brain melt. Next, remember those artists’ names and talk about them as much as you can because isn’t that what you’d like people to do for you and your work? I think what we need to remember about art is that it’s about the process, it’s about the story, it’s about the creator, the creator’s origins, and so forth. Ignore the price tag, you can worry about that later. Ignore the biggest names in the industry, you don’t HAVE to like them. You just choose your angle(s) and run with it. Our unsung artistic heros can be the building blocks to our own artistic endeavors, just do them a favor, and remember their names!

So without further ado, here are some of my personal art heros this week, just because they make my heart and brain feel GOOD:

Charmaine Olivia

A self-taught illustrator, painter, and photographer living in San Francisco. Her most recent paintings combine photo-realistic female subjects and make-believe and decorative surroundings.

Molly Crabapple

Another self-taught artist that makes me wonder why I even went to art school. However she is truly amazing. Check out her comical, detailed illustrations at the link

Sophie Blackall

Surprise! Another female illustrator for me. This lady creates delicate, wispy illustrations, often with a sense of humor. My favorite series is the Craig's List Missed Connections illustrations. Genius!

That's all for this week. Let us hear your current faves!

Cheers,

Chelsea

My Trip to LA

Last week, I was in Los Angeles to finish up a big piece I’ve been working on that began after a visit to the Getty Museum a year or so ago. After working on the piece in Chicago, I realized that I really had something going, and I needed more images to complete the project. The only way to get what I needed to fulfill my vision was to go back to the Getty and shoot. The piece is coming along great!

Whenever I’m in LA, there are certain things I always do. I lived there for over 20 years, and I go back several times each year to visit galleries, museums, and collectors who own some of my work. This time, I also managed to see some friends and business associates. I always make sure I go to the galleries at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. What I like about the area is that there are a number of galleries that either strictly exhibit photography, or that feature a lot of photographic artists. It’s probably the most concentrated area of galleries in California. I try to visit Peter Fetterman, Frank Pictures, Robert Berman, Shoshana Wayne, and Rose Gallery, among others. They seem to always feature a wide variety of interesting artwork; it’s a nice way to spend an afternoon.



I usually try to visit LACMA and MoCA, but I didn’t make it on this trip. I took two trips to the Getty, and those took up quite some time. The first time I went, the museum was not as crowded as it normally is. Since people are the primary subject of this particular work, the more people, the better… so it necessitated a trip back. For this work, a candid shot is preferable (as opposed to setting up and directing the subject), so you never know if the situation will unfold in front of you rapidly, or at a leisurely pace.

I often get asked whether or not I wish I still lived in LA. You cannot beat the weather, I’ll admit that. However, LA is so spread out, that for the most part, you don’t get that density and centralization that Chicago has. So in that respect, Chicago is more similar to New York City. People often describe of LA as ‘laid back’. Although the people working in LA are certainly as motivated as people in any other place, the atmosphere is definitely more relaxed… but the traffic keeps getting worse and worse. To me, Chicago is a more urban, lively, and invigorating place to live and work. I think that Chicago is a great cross between New York and Los Angeles.

-Darryll

AIPAD 2013

Darryll, who just returned home from his trip to Los Angeles, flew to New York City yesterday for the annual AIPAD Photography Show, which is one of the most celebrated international photography art events in the world. It is presented by The Association of International Photography Art Dealers, and will run from April 4-7^th, 2013. The prestigious event, which is now in its 33rd year, features over 75 of the most prevalent names in art galleries specializing in photography, will be at the historic Park Avenue Armory on the city’s Upper East Side. Shanghai, London, Antwerp, and Paris are just a few of the world cities that will be represented.

In addition to group exhibitions, there will be a number of solo shows, book signings, and numerous panel discussions to stimulate the minds of photographers and art admirers alike. This year marks Catherine Edelman's first AIPAD show as president of the organization. Her gallery, a Chicago powerhouse, has been in business for over 20 years. To hear more from Edelman's camp, check out her blog, Cyclops!

The art ranges from early 19th century photography to work from established modern and contemporary photographers. Those who prefer contemporary digital work or video installations will also have a cornucopia of aesthetic stimulation freely available to them.

I cannot wait to hear more about Darryll’s trip and the AIPAD show! Stay tuned to the blog for a follow-up article about the events of this weekend!

-Shannon

Why I work with Darryll

Hello!

My name is Shannon, and I am one of Darryll's assistants. I started working with him in December of 2012, and since then, we've been quite busy!  Although our meeting was happenstance, it has turned out to be a fantastic and worthwhile experience. Last year, I was looking for something to supplement my not-quite-full-time gallery job, and I was particularly interested in social media, marketing, and the arts. Darryll was looking for someone to brainstorm with, handle his Facebook and Twitter accounts, and assist in research, marketing, and promotional efforts. It was a perfect fit! The fact that he is an immensely talented photographer whose work I enjoy is icing on the cake. It would be impossible for me to effectively do my job if I did not truly believe that Darryll's work deserves to be recognized. In the past several months, I've learned a ton about digital photography, high quality printing processes, and the climate of Chicago's art scene. I look forward to keeping on with the work we have been doing, all the while continuing to expand my knowledge and help Darryll achieve his goals. Since we began working together, we've made some changes to his website, established a blog, built up some internet presence, met with art consultants, and, through research and on-site visits, gotten a greater feel of the Chicago gallery scene. Next up on the research agenda: New York, Los Angeles, London... who knows where else the road will take us?! I have also conducted several interviews with Darryll, which helps me better understand him as an artist, but also gives him additional insight into why he is creating, and the ideas behind his photographs. As an artist, it is not always easy to talk about oneself, but the practice certainly increases self-awareness. Working with Darryll has also been a great opportunity for me to hone my writing skills and ability to effectively conduct research. If you haven't already, scroll through the blog to see what we have been up to recently!

-Shannon