Excerpts from my talk at the NBMAA Feb 24th

“Unlimited Love”
11”x8”
Ink on scratchboard
price upon request

When contemplating how to put the concept of "love" into an image, I went back into one of my favorite books, "The Power of Myth" by Joseph Campbell. If you don't know about him, you should check out his tapes or books; one of the best philosophers of our time. I came upon a symbol from the Medieval ages of a wheel used to symbolize marriage/love. It said that if you think of a marriage or love as a wheel where one sits on the rim going up and down and not in the center hub where it is stable and not moving, then one will move through the love and marriage and life. This metaphor is so strong as we often can feel as if we are barely holding onto the wheel inrelationships of love or even life. Sometimes we grip the wheel with the utmost confidence. Think about how one grips a wheel to stay in control..sometimes we can't avoid swerving and sometimes it is a smooth ride where we barely touch the wheel. Staying on the rim, be patient, accepting that it is not always perfect but we are moving forward through the ups and downs. If we fall off of the wheel, we can always get back on. Ah, the medievalists had it right I think!

From the museum tag: I was inspired by the “Institute for Research on Unlimited Love” which studies Altruism, Compassion and Service, this piece represents the social support that has always been important to survival. Stephen G. Post, a professor of bioethics at Case Western Reserve University is the president of the institute. Dr. Post wrote a passage in my monograph “Open Spaces”. He wrote, The universal law of love is this: In the giving of self lies the unsought discovery of a better self. The moment we quietly realize that another person means even more to us than ourselves, we are reborn into a more abundant world. True happiness flows from the affirmation of others, so we never find happiness if we settle for selfishness. In the end, there is no dualism between altruism and egoism. The problem is not love of self, but only that we love ourselves wrongly. The purpose of life is to grow in love, which is to be
always leaning forward out of a life we learn from into one that is better.

Cathie Bleck : New Britain Museum of American Art : Reception + Book Signing + Lecture

Kind thanks to all of you that came out for the reception on a sunny Sunday, Feb. 24th. It was a big honor and so much appreciation goes out to the director Douglas Hyland for creating a vision and a space for my solo exhibition-I cannot thank you enough. My husband George and I picked up our son James in NY city and headed up to the museum on Saturday so we could take it all in quietly the day before. On Sunday we had a huge turnout of art enthusiasts and great people from all over Connecticut and some New Yorkers, it was pretty overwhelming. My husband's grandmother, Cari Jackson now 99 years young took painting lessons for 20 years with Sandy Low, an artist and collector and one of their founding fathers of the museum. It was historic for me because of this to have my first museum show with them.
Dear friends: The incredible Artist, Barbara Kilpatrick and her husband, Dr. Chuck Bardes came over from their weekend home in Ghent. Also, the talented and gracious Diane Meier of Meier Brand, NY and her charming husband, Frank Delaney, well known Irish author and BBC, NPR broadcaster traveled from Washington, CT. My brother Jim Bleck, of Bleck Design Group and his sweet wife Jane came down from Chelmsford, MA and collector Linda Griffith, MIT super scientist came in from Cambridge. The honorable educator and fine illustrator Murray Tinkelman and his wife Carol came by to say hi as well. Also, two of North Americas finest illustrators shared the day : Cynthia Von Buhler, from Staten Island,NY and Jody Hewgill all the way from Toronto. Jody and I had traveled to Rome together last year for a show we are in still circulating in Italy on 43 of the top female illustrators in the world. Cynthia just finished up an almost year long solo show at the Staten Island Museum came with her husband, Russell. Jody was joined by her husband, the all around talented Balvis Rubess. Michael Sloan brought his wife and all of his beautiful children-sorry my talk was so crowded and you had to hang outside with the kids. Other folks included my agent from NY for 12 years Jacqueline Dedell and her husband Ira Shapiro. They have been preserving land in the Cornwall area of CT. Thanks Ira for your purchase of "Bearing Gifts"! Artist Danielle Mailer came by at the end of the talk, sorry time was too short to talk and looking forward to visiting your class this spring. Thanks also to Lynn Connelly, Cora Lyn Diebler and her partner, Aunt Margie's cousin and family and all of the good folks from The New Britain Museum of American Art!! You all made the event so memorable...kind thanks!

Photos: Established in 1903, the New Britain Museum of American Art was the first museum devoted to work by American artists. Its collection includes over 4,000 works that span the last three centuries. Ann Beha Architects built a new wing recently which blends beautifully within the setting of historic homes and Walnut Hill Park, designed by Olmsted. My son James and I outside taking it all in, me and MIT scientist and collector, Linda Griffith, the cases in the show, Toronto artists Jody Hewgill and her husband Balvis Rubess, family shot James and George (missing Cari and Ana), Director Douglas Hyland having some fun, loads of art fans and a final picture so you can see the scale of my newer works.

New Britain Museum of American Art : first solo museum exhibition

I have been busy preparing for my first solo museum show entitled, "Cathie Bleck:13 years of artistic expression" It will open February 8th, 2008 and an artists reception and book signing are scheduled for Sunday, February 24th from 3-5 p.m. It is in the Hartford area of CT.

They have given me some very big cases to display my sketchbooks, limited editions and other meaningful items. Here are some pictures of my preparations for the show. I will also have over 30 paintings and studies on exhibition. The New Britain has a wonderful collection of American Art and a beautiful addition was added to the museum in the past two years. My next museum show will be at The Butler in Youngstown, OH this coming fall, opening Sept. 14 and will keep you posted.

Green Exhibition November 17th Robert Berman Gallery

I made a bold move into color with the clay pigments on this piece called "Flower of the Root". You can't see much detail here but the piece attempts to approach being at the center of life and finding renewal that inspires discovery as a result of the rough root of experience. The bird draws nourishment hovering just above the future and for one moment, harmony. On the left is the past, caverns that hold personal solitude, while entangling with personal history. On the right hangs the enduring leaf of individual spirit, defining moments that require imagination, reverence and beauty.

If you want to view more images from this amazing group show go to:

http://murphydesign1.blogspot.com/

Or come visit me at the show:
Green Art Exhibition : Nov 17 : 7:30 PM : Exhibit Opening :
The Robert Berman Gallery is pleased to present GREEN, curated by Mark Murphy, an exhibition that will showcase the inspired talents of over 40 artists including: Jeff Soto, Andrew Brandou, Robert Hardgrove, Mars-1, Kathie Olivas, and many more. Artwork features an eclectic mix of visual storytelling as artists hope to reveal nature’s delicate balance with
humankind. Exhibition will be on display from 11/17-12/22, please contact www.robertbermangallery.com for more information. Sponsored by www.murphydesign.com and featuring the live music performances of SSI and the Modlins.

Robert Berman Gallery
Bergamot Station Arts Center
2525 Michigan Avenue / C2 / Santa Monica / CA / 90404

310.315.1937 / www.robertbermangallery.com

Cleveland "Hometown" Exhibitions

Cathie Bleck : "Fate and Fables" Solo Exhibition and book signing for
"Open Spaces", artist limited edition monograph

Meet the artist 6-8 pm
November 1, 2007
Continues through December 3rd.

This new gallery exhibition will feature affordable works for the new collector as well as a book signing. A talk on November 15th will feature a technical primer on scratchboard and other printing techniques. Show runs November 1 thru December 3.

Free and open to the public

Loganberry Books/Annex Gallery
13915 Larchmere Blvd.
Shaker Heights, OH 44120
216-795-9800
http://www.loganberrybooks.com

also:

Intown Club, “Time Lines” : Exhibition + Book Signing
November 2nd : Opening Reception 5:30-7:30pm
By Invitation only
Exhibition continues through November 26th
To arrange an appointment to view the show, email: fern_intown@yahoo.com or call 216.621.0422
Event location : 1375 Euclid Ave., Suite 301, Cleveland, OH 44115

This show is comprised of a combination of pieces from the recent NY show, “Elemental Stories” and new works including the 2007 U.S. Earth Day commission entitled, “Nature’s Myth”. Sizes range from 2”x3” to 30”x60”.

NY "Elemental Stories" closing reception

Curator for the Durst Organization : Lannie Powers

Artists : James Yang, Yuko Shimuzu, Cathie Bleck, and American Illustration : American Photography executive director Mark Heflin, and Designer Robert Priest
+New York : August 8 through September 21st, 2007, "Elemental Stories" in NY (extended) located at 4 Times Square on 42nd Street and 6th Ave. This show ran from May through June and special thanks to the Durst Organization for sponsoring the show. It featured 21 paintings and 4 etchings. Thanks for the celebration!

Exhibition schedule for 2007-2008

If you are in NYC Thurs. Sept 20th I hope you can make it to my closing that night (info below). There should be a lot of wonderful friends, great art directors, collectors, artists and some family there to share in the art : food : spirits. Thanks for all of your support!

•Robert Berman Gallery + Murphy Art Books present “Green” Artist Exhibition : Opening November 17th, 2007 7pm-10pm : Exhibition continues through Dec. 20th : Robert Berman Gallery : Bergamot Station Arts Center
2525 Michigan Ave. C2 Santa Monica, CA : 90404 : 310.315.1937

•Know Exhibition and Art Books : Art Now Fair : Art Basel Miami : Murphy Art Books : December 6-9, 2007 : 10am-8pm : Claremont Hotel : 1700 Collins Ave. (17th St.), Miami Beach, FL

•New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT : Solo Exhibition February 8 through April 27, 2008

•The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH : Solo Exhibition
September 14 through October 26, 2008

It is going to be another big year of shows. After the NY show this September I plan to hole in to the studio and get a lot of new work done for The Butler show especially.