The Scar Project

I wrote an article for Examiner.com on the SCAR project. Because I feel that there's a very important message in this project, I am reposting the article here:

Vanessa from the SCAR project

THE SCAR PROJECT

The SCAR Project (Surviving Cancer, Absolute Reality) is a large scale photography exhibit dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer. David Jay, a fashion photographer, has not only helped raise awareness, he has helped women who have survived their battles with breast cancer find their strength and reclaim their beauty. Over 100 women between the ages of 10-35 have been photographed bearing their scars. The images are haunting, stark and, indeed, beautiful. Though the exhibit is not yet scheduled for Boulder, Colorado, the images can be seen online at  http://www.thescarproject.org/gallery/

David started the project when a friend of his was diagonsed with breast cancer. He felt it was a way for women who have gone through this serious battle to express themselves. He states, "For these young women, having their portrait taken seems to represent their personal victory over this terrifying disease. It helps them reclaim their femininity, their sexuality, identity and power after having been robbed of such an important part of it.”  By presenting these photographs, David Jay has reminded the public that while breast cancer awareness is increasing, coming face to face with it in images hits people on a much different level than a pink ribbon.

While the images are severe and honest, they capture raw emotion. In each subject grace, bravery, fear and acceptance is found. Though the trauma of having come through something life threatening is reflected in many of these survivors' eyes, they appear to be at peace with their bodies. Vanessa Tiemeier, one of the subjects photographed, says of David, "He has a talent of capturing your true emotion. I just look so timid and unsure, still trying to accept the physical differences. There's so much that is behind my eyes in that photo that I didn't even know was happening." For survivors, being photographed can be liberating. Recently, Jay has taken his project one step further, and has begun to shoot images of women under the age of 30 in stage four cancer. It's likely that these women will not survive. For these women, it's a way to show others what they are going through when words often can't convey all that they must endure. By keeping this project honest and true, exposing the flaws that make people unique, Jay hopes to keep spreading the word about breast cancer. Most of the women he photographs would likely be dead already had they not been checked. An early detection is key in a successful treatment.

Women from all over the country have participated and agreed to be photographed for the SCAR project. It has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in feature photography. Upcoming exhibits including one in Italy can be found on the SCAR project website at  http://www.thescarproject.org/exhibition/


"An amazing testament to strength, courage and inner beauty that transcends scoiety's standards of outer beauty. Seriously, brilliant." - Tina Carroll

Couples in Art

Vertumnus and Pomona - Camille Claudel

Artists often have a reputation for being stormy and passionate. Often this intensity is carried into their relationships. When two artists connect, tempers and personalities can collide into a violent mess of attraction and aversion. In describing her relationship with Diego Rivera, the well known painter Frida Kahlo said, "I suffered two grave accidents in my life. One in which a streetcar knocked me down...The other accident is Diego."At the same time, two artist entwined can often push each other to reach a higher level of success in their work.


One of the most tumultuous relationships in the art world was that of August Rodin and his mistress, Camille Claudel. Though Claudel was often overshadowed by Rodin, she was a highly accomplished artist, often showing her works at either the Salon des Artists Francais or the Salon d'Automne. Not all relationships between artists are as turbulent as the one between Claudel and Rodin. There are artist couples who have supported and encouraged each other in a much more peaceful way. One example of this is Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner. Despite Pollock's alcoholic tendencies and bipolar behavior, the relationship with his wife was a committed one. Though the two fought to be recognized and attempted to push for individual expression, they provided much needed encouragement to each other. In the case of Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O'Keeffe, these two were known as a power couple. They both achieved great success in their careers, influenced others and helped other artists become recognized in America.

SmithKlein Gallery carries the works of several couples who collaborate on their artwork. Fortunately, these calmer relationships seem to be ones in which the emphasis is on supporting each other, not competing.

Jeff & Susan Wise

Jeff & Susan Wise are artists who create some of the most impressive jewelry in the country. They have had several pieces in museum collections and have won many awards for their work.

Earrings- Jeff & Susan Wise

Pin- Jeff & Susan Wise

Another couple in the gallery also makes jewelry. Fullerton Bahr is the husband and wife team who have been creating their pieces for over 12 years. They are exceptional metal-smiths, using a variety of metals to create their works.

Ring- Fullerton Bahr

Pendant- Fullerton Bahr

SmithKlein Gallery also carries bronze sculptures created by Jacques and Mary Regat. This couple lives in Alaska where they sculpt their pieces. Below is a video of the two talking about a bronze sculpture they donated to a charity event in 2008.

New Day Dawning- Jacques & Mary Regat

Spook- Jacques & Mary Regat

The Van Gogh Debate

White House at Night

A recent segment on 60 minutes described the turbulent life of Vincent Van Gogh. It would make sense that the troubled artist killed himself, but there are certain things that just don't add up. Two Pulitzer-Prize winning authors have completed a 976-page biography about Van Gogh (Van Gogh: The Life) that casts enough doubt on the original theory that the depressed artist killed himself. It is now thought that Van Gogh may have been accidentally murdered. Steven Naifeh and Gregory White were convinced that suicide, the way it had been presented and accepted in the past, didn't make sense. With the help of a tremendous team of researchers and translators, the two came up with a more likely chain of events.


While it's true that Van Gogh was what some might call crazy, it is quite possible that he suffered from partial seizures. This could have been why he was so afflicted in life. He seemed to crave what he could not consistently have: companionship. Though Van Gogh's brother, Theodore, paid the painter Paul Gauguin to keep Vincent company, the relationship didn't last and was filled with much turmoil.  After a falling out between Gauguin and Van Gogh, Van Gogh began to act slightly more crazy, cutting off a large chunk of his ear. It's possible the kind of seizures Van Gogh had got worse under stress, and losing what he felt was a friendship caused him to act out. It's true that Vincent was unstable, but does this mean he committed suicide?

Despite the troubles that were obvious to those around him, especially his family, Van Gogh wrote in his journals that he considered suicide to be a sinful act. While he did address suicide and his contemplations of following through on such an extreme deed, all evidence points to a man who ultimately would make all efforts to refrain from such an act. In the end, he turned to painting to ease the pain of living in this world. He may have been afflicted, but he was able to find comfort in painting.


The plot thickens...


Many look to one of Van Gogh's last paintings as a foreboding and ominous piece that could have possibly reflected his inner conflict and the suffering he was experiencing. However, Wheat Field with Crows was not the artist's final piece. There were other less agitated paintings after that one was completed. Plus, one must consider that an intense painting does not necessarily reflect the desire to end one's life. What is clear is that Van Gogh was, indeed, shot. What's not clear is who did the shooting. The weapon was never found. Another strange piece of the puzzle is that the bullet was found in Van Gogh's abdomen, which is generally not an ideal place to shoot when committing suicide. Though forensics wasn't what it is now, there was evidence that the bullet entered at a strange angle.

Wheat Field with Crows

It's possible that Van Gogh did want to die. However, it's unlikely that he pulled the trigger. Part of the problem is that Vincent didn't always remember what happened after his crazed episodes. With the help of translators and researchers though, the mystery seems to be less cloudy. For instance, there was a shot heard by people who lived in Auvers, that probably wouldn't have been heard had the gun been fired in a wheat field, as some have claimed. If Vincent had been painting in the field, it's strange that his painting equipment was never found. The prime suspect in the crime is Rene Secretan, a teenager at the time who, with his brother, spent time with the artist. Rene was known for teasing Van Gogh, and the boy owned a pistol. In his older age, Rene claimed that he loaned the pistol to the artist, but, again, the weapon was never found. In the end, some of Vincent's last words were unclear in meaning. For example, he told the doctor, "Do not accuse anyone; it is I who wanted to kill myself," yet when he was asked if he attempted to commit suicide, his reply was that it appeared so, not an adamant yes. Did he want to protect the person who shot him, or was he unclear if he had shot himself? His illness did make him not remember everything clearly when he was in the middle of an attack. Steven Naifeh and Gregory White are convinced that Rene Secretan did accidentally shoot the artist.

While we may never know whether or not the brilliant artist died in an accidental shooting or in a suicide attempt, one thing that is both unfortunate and true is that he was never recognized as the amazing artist that he was during his lifetime.


On his death bed, Vincent's last words to his brother were, "The sadness will last forever." And yet through his paintings, he provides so much joy and peace to others.

Noon Rest

TODD REED TRUNK SHOW OCT 20-23

Todd Reed on his Jewelry

Starting Thursday October 20th, SmithKlein Gallery will be hosting a trunk show featuring the works of local jewelry artist Todd Reed. Todd is known for his use of raw diamonds. On Friday October 21st, Todd will be in the gallery from 1-6pm to answer questions and discuss his work.

Craig Kosak

SmithKlein Gallery Welcomes Craig Kosak to the gallery! Craig is an accomplished and primarily self-taught artist who has been in the art field for over 35 years. His contemporary wildlife paintings have received well deserved and positive recognition.  SmithKlein Gallery is honored to be showing his work.

The Bison of Indian Creek by Craig Kosak

The bison of Winter Creek by Craig Kosak

Artist’s Statement by Craig Kosak

Inspired by the wildlife and landscapes I encounter while travelling I return to my studio with insights about the natural world and about the human condition. Rather than faithfully documenting the flora and fauna, I strive to capture the feeling and emotions these trips provide. Each trip consists of both a journey through the outer world, and an inner journey of self discovery. These paintings are about both worlds and how they relate.

Richly textured and developed using many layers of alternately opaque and translucent paint, strong graphic composition and bold colors combine to set the stage for realistically rendered animals, objects and landscapes. The subjects are integrated with abstract elements and expressive brushwork representative of the inner emotive world. I continue working until balance between both worlds is achieved and the painting comes alive.

Stylistically, my work is grounded in realism, inspired primarily by the iconic images of painter N.C. Wyeth. I am, of course, painting about today’s world and the modern paint handling of contemporary artists John Nieto and Nathan Oliveira have had significant influence in this regard.

Glass Blowing

Glass blowing is one of the most romantic art forms in the world. Its origins date as far back as 40 BC in the region of Canaan (now Israel), however it wasn't until the 1st century AD in Italy that glassblowing really started to spread.

There are several techniques for blowing glass. The two most common are mold-blowing and free-blowing. Mold-blowing can include slumping and fusing glass. Generally hot molten glass is spread out into a wooden or metal mold. Once the glass has taken the shape of the mold, it is cooled. When the glass is cold, it will retain the shape once the mold is removed. In free-form glass blowing, the most prominent and respected technique, molten glass is gathered at the end of a blow pipe, and small puffs of air are blown into the tube. Free-form glass blowing usually requires a team of people, but talented individuals have been known to use this technique as well. The gaffer, or lead glass blower, will cap the tube once the desired shape is reached. More layers of hot glass can be added to this shape, and tools along with flat surfaces can be used to further shape the piece. Because the process is difficult to describe in words and much more beautiful to watch, I have selected a few of my favorite glass blowing videos:

Afro Celotto, one of our glass blowers is a master glass blower from Murano, Italy.

Here is another one of our artists, Kelly-Schaffermeyer, creating a vase.

And finally, because the process of reticello is difficult to explain, here is another one of our artists doing a demonstration of the technique while making a goblet. About 5 minutes into the video is where Kenny Pieper drops the second glass cup into the first. The technique is explained below.

Reticello Definition

"The Italian name for crisscrossed glass canework. Glass canes are heated, twisted in one direction, and blown into the form of a cup. The cup is set into an oven. Then, a second cup is made in the same fashion, however the glass cane is twisted in the opposite direction. The second cup is blown into the inside of the first cup. As the two cups come together, the grooves between the cane rods are sealed, causing air bubbles to lock into the crisscrossed pattern. The connected cups are then blown and formed into the final shape."

Selected images from SmithKlein Gallery:

Kenny Pieper- Blue Diva Vase

Afro Celotto- Icona

Tangent Vases by Kelly-Scheffermeyer

Woven Glass by Markow & Norris

Orchid Vase by Randy Strong

Jellyfish by Richard Satava

Be sure to chack out our website at www.smithklein.com for more glass images!