by Christina Waters | Aug 18, 2010 | Art, Home |
A recent graduate of UCLA’s renowned MFA program, Ian Pines continues to explore the wickedly inventive color work and lavishly gestural oil paintings he began while still an art major at UCSC. Here’s a sample of Pines’ highly original abstract style, played out in large-scale (e.g. 6 x 8 foot) canvases, and a brief interview with the Los Angeles-based artist.
Q: Ian—your abstract paintings remind me of Philip Guston by way of Willem de Kooning. Are you aware of any particular influences in your style?
A: That’s quite the apt observation. Like de Kooning, there are bombastic color choices forcefully yet thoughtfully laid on top of each other to make homely, sad, and whimsical forms similar to Guston’s.
Francis Bacon’s witty horror, stylized violence, and macabre non-sequiturs have always been my favorite. The immediacy of his work is something I strive for. I compare my work with the COBRA movement’s (based in Copenhagen, Brussels, Amsterdam which included such artists as Karel Appel and Asger Jorn) uses of abstract expressionism in the construction of figurative forms. I am also influenced by Carroll Dunham’s work, especially of the 1990s, which places teeth and genitalia on abstract forms in order to dramatically and instantaneously anthropomorphize them. Eyes and teeth added to my compositions significantly help unify my paintings and give them a more contemporary twist.
Q: How did your MFA work at UCLA help you develop your creative instincts?
A: UCLA nurtured my creativity by channeling it into a certain rhythm (more…)
by Christina Waters | Aug 11, 2010 | Home, Wine |
There are always many good reasons to visit Soif Wine Bar. This superb and supple 2007 estate Syrah from Peay Vineyards is now among those reasons.
Loaded with leather, a central core of robust red meat and soft peppers, this big, beautiful wine floats a hint of roses and fennel in both nose and finish. Extreme persistence highlights this creation of celebrated winemaker Vanessa Wong, and the name “les Titans” derives from some large-scale redwoods on the Sonoma vineyard’s property.
The Peay “Les Titans” syrah is easily one of the finest California syrahs I’ve tasted. Now at Soif. Go there and sample.
by Christina Waters | Aug 11, 2010 | Art, Home |
Maybe it’s just me, and if so, then you can ignore this observation. But I’m beginning to think that contemporary, especially young audiences have no idea how to respond to live theater. The serious kind, as in Shakespeare.
Worse. It’s entirely possible, at least based upon what I’ve seen lately, that actors and directors themselves are drifting away from creating coherent contexts for the spectacles they mount. Let me speak plainly: given postmodernism’s trashing of history, historical background and/or consideration for any and all authorship, the state of English-language theater seems to be suffering from serious identity issues.
Audiences raised on screen-mediated ‘entertainment’ are little inclined to suspend disbelief (more…)
by Christina Waters | Aug 9, 2010 | Home, Wine |
Chemistry—a wildly energetic blend of rarely-combined white varietals, including pinot gris, chardonnay and (gasp!) riesling—is loaded with nectarines, apple and mineral essences. Even a backnote of almonds.
Utterly drinkable all by itself, this Willamette Valley blend is charming enough to sidle up to grilled halibut, goat cheese, and some of the more subtle pastas and pizzas. Katy Cater poured me a sample at Avanti last week and it was an instant “yes!” Stop by the wine bar in the Westside dining landmark and make friends with this beautifully-balanced blend.
by Christina Waters | Jul 27, 2010 | Home |
Led by Marco Barricelli and a virtuoso cast of Equity actors, this year’s Shakespeare Santa Cruz opener, Lion in Winter, started off with a roar last weekend. Astute casting and transparent directing, by Richard E.T. White, helped power this biting psychodrama to full dazzle. The effect is potent, sobering, and very funny.
Barricelli (SSC’s Artistic Director) commands the stage with his richly physical portrayal as King Henry II, yet shares the theatrical electricity with a cast of professionals. As Eleanor, aging queen-in-exile, Kandis Chappell hurls invective with laser precision, yet shimmers with all the innuendo of a scorned, still loving wife.
Henry and Eleanor’s sons are played with bravado and intelligence by John Pasha (Richard, the Lionhart; shown here), Dylan Saunders (John) and Aaron Blakely (Geoffrey). Joined by Philip the young King of France (Adam Yazbeck) whose sister Alais (Mairin Lee) is Henry’s new mistress, these outstanding actors take hold of the play’s dark domestic dynamics and never let go. (more…)
by Christina Waters | Jul 26, 2010 | Home, Wine |
Cloaked in a contrarian label are blended grapes from Contra Costa County (the theme begins to sink in…) transformed into the stuff of great ragu and Gorgonzola delivery systems by the shamanic mind of Randall Grahm.
Priced at $14, Contra sips like a much pricier wine, loaded with dark berries, earth, attitude, autumn leaves and a backbone of spine-tingling tannins. Carignane, grenache, mourvedre, petite syrah, a touch of syrah and yes, even old-vine zinfandel have made their way into the heart of this opulent, dusky creation. 13.5% alcohol and persistent attitude have made it our new house favorite.
Stop by the BD tasting room on Ingalls, ask about the eccentric green label. You’ll find out just why there’s a couch sitting in the vineyards. Think of it as Randall Grahm’s way of helping us get through these fiscal doldrums.
Fourteen bucks. Incroyable!
