RA Smith on the Deck of the Agape

Robert Alan Smith left Ventura College where he was an art instructor for 14 years and returned to animation.  He was in his 50’s at this time and living on his boat named Agape.  His day job was working for the studios like Disney, Hannah-Barbera, Marvel, etc., it was the 1980′s.

In his free time he continued with his love of fine art painting.  I’ve tried to imagine how an artist can paint in such small quarters – without stationary footing!  He lived and painted on his 32 ft Kettenberg, a sailboat in the Ventura West Marina.  I understand this boat was actually the second one sold in that series of boats.

RA Smith on the Agape

Within this limited footprint, he lived, dined, slept and painted.  Often the easel sat on the table and he stood while applying thin layers or glazes of paint.  There were times when he could paint in the cockpit but even that was limited to a few feet of space.  I try to imagine what kind of light he painted by, considering he probably painted into the night.

When your passion is painting, an artist will use whatever they can to continue to produce.  The series he developed consisted of about 20 pieces of oil on cardboard.  The theme was entitled ‘Alpha and Omega’ and it became a very successful show proving that it is not the fancy studio, it is the inspiration in the heart of the artist that makes great art

Actually, the original title of my last show was going to be ‘Cocoon’.  The word resonated with me because when you close a door and do not have another open it’s like going into a place of rest.  It seemed to express my sentiment because I am retiring from the gallery scene in Sacramento

Two years ago I was in the 404 Gallery which closed it’s doors, followed by Midtown Framing & Gallery which I had been in for over a decade.  At that juncture I thought I would retire but within a week I was invited into the Kennedy Gallery Art Center.

For the past 12 years I’ve been in an opening night event (sometimes two or three) every month and it became the rhythm of my life.  So without the preparing and moving of art, cataloging etc, there feels like there may be a void.  I am not negative in this thinking, in fact I’m looking forward to retirement.

Recently I read that we should retire ‘to’ something, not from something – but I don’t know what shape or direction it might take.  I started and still coordinate the Annual Youth Invitational, however this year I have a team to help.  This is in the 7th year and it has been a gratifying experience to help young artists find themselves in a real gallery opening.  It has made good changes in many lives.

I’ve had the privilege to coordinate gallery shows, introduce the Guest Artist Program at Midtown Gallery and promote various artists.  I’m sure I will continue promoting, blogging and tweeting about art.  Again, I do not know the direction, but I need the time, space and rest.  I will continue to post new work on my website although at a more leisurely pace.

By the way, I was telling my daughter-in-law about my final show as we strolled and the theme title ‘Cocoon’.  It was then that my 7 year old grandson Henry chimed in, with a very authoritative tone he stated “its Chrysalis Grandma”.  And so it is!

Please join me either Preview Thursday on March 8th from 6-8 pm or 2nd Saturday March 10th from 4-9 pm at the Kennedy Gallery Art Center located at 1114 20th Street in downtown Sacramento, CA.

KC Moore

Time Machine by Harvey

I say ‘their’ very specifically because this has become an effort of three….Henry, Pamela and Cameron – Father, Mother, Son.  The story spans decades with the focal point being Henry’s infatuation of metal art.

Upon arrival I see many large metal structures about the estate; I took a picture of ‘Time Machine’ upon leaving.  It is featured in one of the several books on their art; I liked the look of bare metal against the starkness of nature in late Fall.

After a refreshing conversation including Carl Sagan and Black Holes we said our goodbyes promising to reconnect.  Upon leaving I learn that there is a trilogy written and an alleged high-profile actor considering a movie based upon Henry Harvey’s life.

Life is interesting in that I am also following a similar path about an artist I am researching, i.e. book and movie.

Time Machine -Italian

In the art book “Passion for Metal” they describe the methods and journey in the creative process.  The metal art is generally dynamic and colorful as seen in a photo of another time machine.

You can find several book published to dramatically explain the development of this wonderful art or the trilogy based upon life at:  www.harveygallery.com

The location was at his studio in Ojai “where he had all his equipment at the ready”.  The table itself was designed and constructed by Bob to accommodate his artwork.  “Big table, heavy armature to carry the squeegee, a full sheet of paper. . . .and Bob worked with a full arm, rhythmic  sweeps to apply ink – standing – then reaching over to pull squeegee across the paper” while explaining in detail every step.

She recalls that they worked all one afternoon, and states that it was seemingly effortless, a joy to him.  “I remember the rhythm with which he worked, the grace of his movement – and how the art just seemingly ‘evolved’.”

She had been studying the technique in a class at SDSU extension, Calexico with Marjorie Spencer who herself was cutting edge in the arts.  However, she says “My own experience was all boxed in – so bound by technique and rules that I missed the freedom of exploration and the ‘happening’ – which is probably what Bob wanted to help me experience.”

Today upon reflection she wishes that she had followed through and practiced, at least attempted, what he taught; but at that time “I thought life and art and silk screens would be there forever.”

Especially for Ann

This was the only piece they did, it’s a one-of-a-kind; it remains a family legacy, framed and under glass at her beach house.

What exactly is a serigraph?  http://wp.me/pVcij-ib

The Little Lost Art Movement  http://wp.me/pVcij-jz

Night Ride

I saw it first in the serigraph entitled ‘Night Ride’, a brilliant piece with vivid colors and energy.  Then I came across a pencil sketch of the same horse except it was a rocking horse.

Rocking Horse Pencil Sketch

Still later I found a block print with a young boy and a rocking horse.  We assume this is from his studies with Siqueiros in Mexico when he studied this method.

Rocking Horse Wood Block

Then another ink wash image surfaced with a boy and rocking chair – but the animation paper dates it during his career in animation.

Rocking Horse - Animation Paper

This theme became intriguing.  In accessing family stories I found yet another rocking horse – an oil painting made as a gift for his newborn niece’s bedroom in 1965, many years after the serigraph was pulled.

Ann Kingman Smith recently recalled the location where this particular oil painting lives until this day.  A favorite retreat had always been ‘the loft’ – accessible by a spiral staircase, a place for sleepovers and a preferred location for the night before Christmas.  “Here we had trundle beds and book shelves, later the computer center and an art table – but always, the featured corner wall had the oil painting of Uncle Bob’s Rocking Horse.

The children are now grown and gone she says, “but the Rocking Horse still hangs on the wall facing the window – high tree tops outside – many, many memories within.”  Original art purchased or gifted tends to remain within the family for generations, the stories are passed along with the art; a truly a wonderful family legacy.

This theme was found in decades of paintings and sketches but the story remains a mystery.

Rocking Horse Oil Painting

Early work from the time RA Smith studied at Chouinard Art Institute is available for sale.  Contact KC Moore at kc@artbykcmoore.com

Is Anybody...Out there?

Color of Jazz 4

That inspiration may be simply a holding point until I learn new skills, a new technique or have the next step presented to my consciousness.

One example is a series I did painting live at the Sacramento Jazz festival years ago.   I complete three pieces but the fourth never worked.  It sat.  Then when I was doing another series I randomly picked it up and used the paints of the new grouping with the feelings of the moment and superimposed them.  Now, at that point I could the result – years later!

When I laid the groundwork I wasn’t in the space I found at the later time.  Jazz IV is shown here, incomplete.  Later while investigation deep space with the return of pictures from the Hubble Telescope I blended the initial movement with the distant memory of Pink Floyd – Is Anybody….Out There?  True, thoughts are random but surface at perhaps opportune moments of serendipity.  This particular painting was reiterated several times before even the backdrop was ready as shown in Interim painting 1 and 2.

Interim Painting-1

Who really knows how the creative process works or produces its results.  Here is the result of jazz music, time, space exploration, tripy music and color – let the viewer ponder how, I don’t know.

Interim Painting-2

Carlisle Cooper with Antoinette Smith

In a book written about him there is a succinct description of this man:  “Carlisle Cooper speaks in a soft Southern accent, rarely raises his voice.  He is courtly and unfailingly kind; a throwback to a quite different America.”

Carlisle just turned 92 in the days prior to our visit.  Antoinette, Bob’s wife reminisced with him about many on their years of friendship.  In a videotaped interview, Carlisle repeated “ I think he’s the best artist I’ve ever met in my life” plus several other glowing remarks about him.  He particularly remembered thinking his work should be in the great museums of the world.  (The fact is, art by Robert Alan Smith actually IS in great museums like Smithsonian, Library of Congress, Metropolitan, etc.)

The background stories also lend color and depth to their four plus decade friendship.  Carlisle’s wife Brigitte (pronounced Brigéta) wrote and published “Plato: The Prophet of the Gentiles”.  She was well read and apparently it ran in the family as her brother was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics the year the Berlin Wall came down.

Sitting in his dining room, I imagined the wonderful conversations that had occurred within this circle of contemporary academics over the many years of friendship.  I found they discussed religion, philosophy, art and probably a myriad of other very interesting subjects.

After retirement, Carlisle donated many of his original painting to Ventura College, Ventura Museum and Santa Paula Art Museum.

When you see the long list of exhibitions, awards and collections of his work I believe you will start to see what a huge presence he was.

He was in the vanguard group of artists in the late 1950′s who became incredibly well known for their work in serigraphy.  It caught the attention of museums and galleries nationwide.  I’m including a photograph of one of Robert’s serigraphs being accepted in the Library of Congress.  It is one of 8 pieces they list of his work.

RA Smith Serigraph Accepted into the Library of Congress

There is currently very little information on the Western Serigraph Institute or for the entire group of his contemporaries.  Fewer yet are those alive who remember the period.  It appears this is a ‘lost’ art movement we’ve just begun to investigate.

Read the updated Fine Art Resume of Robert Alan Smith:      http://kcmgroupnetwork.com/Robert_Alan_Smith.html

Crow Flight - Serigraph by RA Smith

The trip South was researching the life of artist Robert Alan Smith.  It included photos of where he lived, produced his art and interviews with those who knew him.

RA Smith Bungalow in Ojai

Ojai is the little art community north of Los Angeles where Bob became nationally known and celebrated.  In the Ventura West Marina he met his future wife, Antoinette; they also lived in town after marriage.  We visited Ventura College where Bob taught art for 14 years.  Cambria was another art community we visited where he lived and produced art and then an afternoon in Carmel produced new marketing connections.

My travel north included some art-related connections but the remainder of the week was pleasure.  I look forward to sharing some of the glimpses we gained during this trip into the remarkable life of RA Smith.

Serigraph by Howard Bradford

Robert Alan Smith was listed among the top artists and had many personal friends who were also well-known.  One such contemporary was Howard Bradford.

Sea's Edge

Howard was listed on many of the same prestigious sites where Robert is found such as Library of Congress, Metropolitan Museum, Who’s Who, etc.  They both enrolled at Chouinard Art Institute at the end of World War II and were early members of the Western Serigraph Institute and showed their work together in many prestigious galleries.   Howard and Robert started out together in the arts early in life and as it would happen, they passed within months of one another in 2008.

Howard Bradford in Monterey

We have recently uncovered 3 original serigraphs ‘pulled’ by Howard.  One is on a personal Christmas Card.  As often happens, friends will gift art to each other and this appears to be the case.  The notation at the bottom of Sea’s Edge has a personal note from Howard to his friend.

Click here to see a video about Howard Bradford and his wife Dorothy Bowman, also an artist.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKYDZ0izF20

What is a Serigraph?  Click this link to read about this art form http://wp.me/pVcij-ib

Serigraphs of Robert Alan Smith are available for purchase; contact KC Moore at   kc@artbykcmoore.com