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Jeff Kleinsmith Show at Sparklebarn

On Saturday, May 9, Sparklebarn in Ballard debuted an incredible show of work by Jeff Kleinsmith titled Tragedy, Ecstasy So On. Jeff is VP of Creative at Sub Pop Records. He has worked for Sub Pop Records since the early nineties and has a body of art spanning the decades. He designs show posters, album covers, film posters, event posters and logos. I really love his work and highly recommend a visit to Sparklebarn to check it out.

I live on the downtown Seattle waterfront, a few blocks from the Seattle Ferry Terminal, and I love taking half hour excursions across Elliott Bay to Bainbridge Island. On the boat, I grab a coffee or a glass of wine, settle into a comfy booth, and watch the scenery go by. Once on the other side, it’s a five minute walk to the offerings of downtown Winslow. One of the first places you will come across is the art museum.

This museum has the best exhibits, it’s not too huge, and it’s free (excluding some special events). It’s open 10-5 daily. I visited with my mom last week, and they had three really great exhibits.

Created by hand by indigenous and rural communities using methods passed down through generations

All of the indigenous cultures in Mexico, still making art in the traditional ways, makes me think of what was lost in the Americas when they were colonized.  Thankfully, today there is a strong market for these crafts, for tourists and locals alike.  Frida Kahlo was a big collector of housewares, jewelry and clothing. 

Museo Soumaya in Mexico City

Have you heard of this museum?  I hadn’t, but on my 9th day in Mexico City, we walked from our apartment in the Roma to the Polanco neighborhood to check it out.  My new son-in-law had it on his list because he studied the building as an architecture student.  I had no idea what I was in for. Walking up to it was so impressive!  

“Every Child is an Artist.  The Problem is How to Remain an Artist Once We Grow Up.” -Pablo Picasso. Before we are told to stay within the lines, what colors are realistic, what proportions are correct etc., we are pure creativity.  

Of course, not all kids want to put crayon or paint to paper.  That was my young son’s idea of torture.  All through K-12 grades, he suffered through the mandatory projects (but the things he made were pretty cool). Interestingly, now in his twenties, he does surrealistic and abstract paintings on his own.  They’re good!

We have seen many beautiful ketubahs over the years, yet I never researched the history and meaning of them. In fact, I misspelled “katuba” until today! All I knew is that they are traditional, Jewish marriage contracts that couples have made to depict their personal relationship. I always appreciated the art and diversity of styles.

As most artists find out, framing can be challenging. Deciding what works best for their work and affording it can be overwhelming.

I am a cheerleader for all artists and want to help them in any way that I’m able. The main thing I can do is talk through their needs and desires, and give advice. I’ve rarely talked to an artist where cost was not an issue, because it gets tacked onto the price they charge for their art.

Artist Xavier Raymond Kelley. In 2021 a local collector started bringing us big, dynamic paintings on canvas, unlike anything we had ever seen. The closest comparison would be Basquiat, but these were unique and exciting. They also challenged our framing skills, as they were painted on canvas that was cut off the roll and painted edge to edge. This was our introduction to Xavier Kelley, who was 20 years old at the time.

Minami is a wonderful local artist we have represented for over five years and she has become our friend. She is VERY local, living on top of Queen Anne, so we frequently get to see her and her adorable dogs and her husband, Danny. I’m sure many people know and love them in our community.

I recently read this book and thought it was very enlightening. The short 1 paragraph to 3 page chapters gave his thoughts on the struggles and nature of creativity.

He starts by explaining the various resistances faced by creators, including fear of failure and fear of success. Artists need to set aside time and space, often at the detriment of relationships and other responsibilities.

Since I moved downtown two years ago my world is full of incredible murals. I live on the newly finished Seattle Waterfront where the city has made use of the expanse of building backs that are empty canvases for mural artists. I watched artists painting on tall scaffolding as I walked to work.

What Is Art?

The dictionary definition:

Art is the class of objects that meet or are subject to aesthetic criteria; objects considered beautiful, imaginative, skillful, and meaningful collectively, such as paintings, sculptures, or drawings: