August from Irene - John Willenbecher

 

This gorgeous pointed pen work came from Irene. She said she incorporated ideas from a recent class with Rachael Yallop called Double Stroke Capitals. Irene said the second line is tricky - trying to get the spacing right and the length just right.  She also included this pinwheel which she said is a work in progress. As with most things - they probably get better if you do hours and hours of practice. IMHO, both are lovely - and it's something I would not even attempt. Although, I had an idea for doing concentric circles with a compass as well as dividing lines to make it easier to do the pinwheel. I wonder if I'll remember to try that idea.

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Your add-on for today is a charming interview with an artist who has lived in a loft in NYC for decades, John Willenbecher. While he is not well known, he was able to make a living as an artist. His work appeals to me on a few levels. If you have time to kill or you like mid- 20th century art you might enjoy the interview. It led me to the gallery that represents him - and the list of the gallery's artists included Ray Johnson, the father of mail art. I haven't mentioned him in a long time, so maybe it's time to mention him again. I might remember to do that someday.

Link to interview with John Willenbecher

I liked this description of the gallery:

Side Room Gallery is a curatorial and archival project by Gilles Heno-Coe whose program showcases emerging and mid-career contemporary artists as well as overlooked and historically important figures deserving broader recognition.

LINK to the gallery

Willenbecker was influenced by Louise Nevelson and Joseph Cornell.