Destination ImagiNation

After a couple years absence, I volunteered to help with the Destination ImagiNation program. It was great fun to work in the scoreroom with "pit boss" Adam! Got to renew old friendships with the Frys, the Laws, and one each of the Schoews and St.Clairs. The scores were finalized and printed in record time and kudos to both Adam for his amazing organization, and to Al Simons of New Hampshire DI for his fabulous scoring program. It was great fun to be around such creative people once again!   www.idodi.org

Holiday Time at Studio 116

I knew I had been blog-absent for a while, but have been so busy with art and life, I did not realize my last post was in September. My art world had a nice 'burp' of activity, then a month or two of nothingness. Hopefully this past Friday night was the beginning of a new upward spiral that will continue to gain momentum. Stop by Studio 116. I have covered the walls with new work and it looks wonderful!

The Chairman's Waltz Violin (Memoirs of a Geisha)

This is my donated piece for Virginia Beach Symphony "The Painted Violins" 2010 fundraiser.* I have been told it is one of six that will be in the live auction, and although that information was enthusiastically shared as an honor, live auctions chill me to my very being. Fun for the patrons, not so much for this artist! 

After researching past "painted violins" across the country, I found most artists cover the entire instrument with their medium. Wanting to take a different route, I chose to leave large sections of varnished wood to contrast with the painted surface. In addition, Memoirs of a Geisha, featuring hauntingly beautiful cello and violin solos, has always been a favorite of mine, and a most appropriate subject, on many levels, for my violin piece. The color scheme was inspired by the kimono worn during Sayuri's public debut with the images from the many themes that ran through the story. A special tribute is paid to Jaimie Goodwin, one of several Dance Energy artists featured on So You Think You Can Dance and one of my nieces' fellow company dancers, who I have had the pleasure of watching at many of Denise Wall's recitals and national competitions. Jaimie along with fellow dancer Hok Konishi  gave an incredible performance on SYTYCD with their Emmy Award winning "Hummingbird and Flower" number choreographed by Wade Robson to the score of The Chairman's Waltz. (view dance at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRWdIwCGjbE ) There were so many artistic possibilities with this theme, I would love to get the opportunity to do a series of variations in future projects.


The Chairman’s Waltz Violin
-Artist Lynette Kelly Crain

•  “The Chairman’s Waltz” (Memoirs of a Geisha) was a violin solo written by composer John Williams specifically for, and performed by, violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman.
• Williams’ beautiful Memoirs of a Geisha conceptual theme was composed for the cello solos (written for and performed by Yo-Yo Ma) to be the "voice" of the geisha Sayuri, while the violin solos represent Sayuri’s true love, The Chairman.
•  Choreographer Wade Robson created a jazz number to “The Chairman’s Waltz” on FOX TV’s So You Think You Can Dance 2007 competition. 
• The Emmy award winning dance by Robson, known as “Hummingbird and Flower,” featured Virginia Beach’s Jaimie Goodwin, from the acclaimed Denise Wall’s Dance Energy, and Hok Konishi. 
• A tribute to “The Chairman’s Waltz” dance is on the back of the violin.
• A profusion of cherry blossoms, found on the front and back of the violin, always appeared during the happiest encounters between Sayuri and The Chairman.
•  In many ways, Memoirs of a Geisha is a study in contrasts. The artistic theme of the violin suggests similar contrasts with paint against wood, polished against matte, angled lines against fluid.
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*The Symphonicity "The Painted Violins" Fundraiser auction will be held October 3, 2010. I will post details when they are made available. Calendars and posters will also be printed.

The winds of time!

Ten of us are creating a collaborative fantasy creature that will be exhibited in mid-2011. I brought my current project home so I could work while Hurricane Earl swirls our way. Hopefully he won't stay long and will leave us with power!

Portrait of the Artist at the Charles H Taylor Art Center

Paintings are delivered! Both images are from my amazing trip to Oz. First stop: Sydney. I took so many photos of friends and family that some of the world's most amazing landmarks were behind me. My patient travelling companions came to accept my constant photo sessions; new found family members easily recognized me as the blonde behind the camera. (Sydney Self Portrait November 2009, oil on canvas.)

With encouraging words from my Australian Navy cousin, I took SCUBA lessons at the local dive center. My first dives after completing my certification in Virginia Beach were in the Coral Sea off Agincort Reef. The light at the 80 foot dives was great for the experience, but not so great for my camera. It was, however,perfect for capturing a moment of relaxing snorkeling between dives at Turtle Bommie! (Between Dives, oil on canvas.)

Endings & Beginnings

Only four more days for my P|4 Show at the Visual Arts Center in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth. 340 High Street, Portsmouth, Virginia. By Friday, I will be packing the Expedition with paintings and filling up the home studio. I will take a few days to decide what stays there and what goes into Studio 116 at 208 East Main Street, Norfolk, VA.

Virginia Artists 2010 ends a couple days after that. Luckily, I can deliver the two new paintings for "Portrait of the Artist" to the Charles H. Taylor Art Center when I pick up the Virginia Artists entry. "Portrait" September 4- October 17, 2010. Opening Reception, September 3, 2010. 4205 Victoria

Boulevard, Hampton, Virginia

Painted Violins! I am really excited about my violin. After weeks of mulling over an idea, I decided on a multi-level conceptual theme for my violin. This is to benefit the Virginia Beach Symphony and will be a part of a travelling exhibition. Calendars and posters of the 24 violins will also be available for purchase. Opening reception October 3, 2010 at the Sandler Center, Town Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia

October will also be my one-man exhibition at the Meyera Oberndorf Central Library's Art Gallery in Virginia Beach. 4100 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA. The show runs from October 1-31, 2010.

One of my small paintings was also selected for the prestigious Peninsula Fine Arts Biennial 2010 Show. Juror Richard Hunt, Sculptor, Chicago, chose my painting, "Mister Charles," to be a part of the exhibition. October 2, 2010-January 2, 2011. Opening Reception and Awards, Friday, October 1, 2010. 101 Museum Drive, Newport News, Virginia.

Portrait of the Artist

Time to type the artist statements about the self portraits that will be in the Charles H. Taylor Art Center in Hampton, Virginia. This should be a lot more fun than the dreaded Artist Statement.

"PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST: Self-Portraits and Portraits of Artists by Tidewater Artists" at the Charles H. Taylor Art Center

September 4-October 17, 2010

Opening Reception: Friday, September 3, 7:30-9:30 PM

4205 Victoria Boulevard, Hampton, VA 23669