Walking into Ray Smith's studio, we were immediately bombarded by an overload of visual imagery and various media applications. His early roots and Mexican heritage are abundantly influential upon viewing his "Exquisite Corpse", which are largely influenced by Picasso's "Guernica". Though his application was abstracted in this series of images, he executes a variety of styles using a variety of medium.
The idea of "freshness" in artwork that we've been discussing and bringing up in much of what we've been seeing was abundantly apparent in Smith's body of work. 
Something that I was especially appreciative of was his light hearted, although seriously invested, approach to making art. He describes his process as having many "happy accidents" and not adhering to any one way of working. The element of surprise and adaptability is critical in his way of making art. Smith's assertion of "duality" was another important mien to his approach. In growing up in Mexico and the United States, it is clear, especially in his artwork, that he feels a pull between two very different cultures. One important facet discussed during our time with Ray involves the self versus the other--how people see us is not how we see, or want to see ourselves. His collection of work shows his interesting, smart, and often comical approach and contribution to contemporary art. Our time with him was extremely valuable and our exchange was much appreciated. We hope to catch up with him again soon!
As well, today we had a chance to stop by the very hip and happening opening going on at Sloan Fine Art. This opening exhibited "Elektra" by Kristen Schiele and "The Forest for the Trees" by Clare Grill.
This well attended event had a great energy which likely exuded from the very exuberant works. "Elektra" contained works that were multimedia and played with a warped perspective, texture and using the device of color, drew in the viewer to another realm. Schiele's plentiful imagery was certainly a site for the eyes and a feast for the mind.
In a side room of the gallery was a quite impressive collection of paintings by Clare Grill. Her work was playful, and addressed certain thoughts or ideas that are socially prevalent, however subliminal. All too often, people read too deeply into comments that others have made to us or misconstrued a scenario (often artwork too) into a situation that is unrecognizable or something that it is not. We play mind games with ourselves that psych us out or turn us off so that things are over before they began, leaving us with roads untravelled and chances not taken. Nonetheless, it's human action, and to me, "The Forest For the Trees" makes the statement that we should sometimes just see things for what they are, reenforcing the famous quote from Freud that, "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." *This show is very thought provoking and definitely worth a look if you have the chance to amble down to 128 Rivington.
Good news jet setters: If you have an international flight leaving soon, you'll likely be cleared for take-off. Bon voyage!
That's all for now!
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