Hanging Out the Laundry

"Hanging Out the Laundry"

12 sculptures by Debora Alanna

Curated by Christine Clark 

Balcony Gallery
(part of Xchanges ARC,  2333 Government St).

Opening: Saturday 15 October 2011 @7 pm.

Manifest - A group of sculptures by Debora Alanna - 2011

Here's a group of sculptures I made... (Paraffin and jewler's wax on dental plaster)

Belief in Magic

Frogs dominated a creek near my childhood home. Constantly handling these creatures, I believed the myth that my countless warts resulted from this activity. My grandfather explained that wrapping a hand-spun strand of wool around the warts, and burying the fibre on the south side of the house under my bedroom window would remove the unsightly bumps. I allowed his patient hands to circle each bulge, and caringly plant the contaminated strand in a soft earth mound as I watched. Waking the next morning to wart-free hands, my wonder at the results superseded rational nay saying. My appreciation for the magical power of belief in acts of kindness prevails.

Wants and Needs

One blistery winter storm, I asked my grandfather (Avi), Thorvalder to go to the store for much needed glue to complete a school project. Either his deafness or my poor explanation of what I wanted was the reason for his return with dressmaker’s coloured transfer paper, where you could draw on the back and lines of orange, green, purple, blue, yellow or red would show up on fabric. Having braved the blizzard for my benefit, he handed me this prize with his one yellow tooth brimming with accomplished joy. My 8 –year-old heart didn’t have the will to tell him the packet of drawing sheets was not what I asked for. I am recalling this now, remembering that what you think you want is not necessarily what you need.

Light

When reading is a challenge, it sometimes feels like this...

Debora Alanna - Relationship - 6 sculptures in progress

Spring by Debora Alanna - a poem for new beginnings

1
Thunder rarely claps here
light that shone
between us, crescendoing
now a veil of retraint
Polite, the soak of mezzo forte
lightning subverted
Blue eyes rivet
curtailing conversation
to a pont.
2
A flicker
the unified sky
brushes wind
amongst park trees
held fast by crab-grass
blankets
A caw
crowing, mocking
the promise of intensity
held fast.
3
The song
his voice a fugue
mine a silent opera
opening skyward
rankling, robust
electricity unplugged
dropping rain
splatters
Thump pump
cheeks dry
retreat.
4
Rock beds
mount
obtaining lichen
little mountains
maintaining structure.
Sad silly symphony
Rest, the wind is planting
Grow slowly, gentle
plants
persevere. Behold!
That clapping sound.
Light.
5
Crow hops and flutters
the pavement pounds
from little footsteps
Crow up
flight is easy
for a crow.

Surrealestate - Mobius Artrages - International Artist List

Mobius (est. 1977), located in Boston MA "is a non-profit, artist-run organization, whose mission is to generate, shape and test experimental art." As part of the event ArtRages, 70 international artists have contributed to the exhibition SurrealEstate. I have been fortunate to be one of these contributors.

The Hermitage

The Hermitage



Alone.
Square walls close inward
slanting out light
straightening hope.


Displaced memories hover
insulating resistance to wholesome thought.


Mouldering bane
Tortuous recall
restricts grace.


Racing through pallid walls
suspended dreams grey
preserving dimness.


Reckless solo banter subjugates solace
scaring
crushing aspiration.


Company is the wayward bug
flying inward
through the gaping screen
defying regulation
to open
unprotected refuge...
insect thwarts total isolation.


Languid
work collects dusty melancholy.
Stalled: industry
Ceased.
FLY!

My reviews at Exhibit-v

 As a regular contributor to the Exhibit-v blog 'Write-ups' section, I have the privilege of interviewing artists in Victoria, BC, and learning about their art practice. Exhibit-v has posted my reviews of some work shown locally: http://exhibit-v.blogspot.com/search/label/write%20ups

Exhibit-v promotes artists in Victoria by listing current art exhibitions and art galleries. Through video clips of shows, artist interviews and commentary on the Exhibit-v blog, podcasts and Facebook exposure, this virtual compendium of media is Victoria's indispensable cultural information source. From the Exhibit-v website, you can also access the blog, as well as a calendar for openings ~ interviews for the Victoria, BC and area art community, and art enthusiasts. A great site!

Surealestate

This is my contribution to the Surrealestate show at Mobius - Artrages 2010.
Opening... 2 May 2010, Boston MA.

Exhibit-v

Exhibit-v  is how we find out what art is showing in Victoria, BC. The Exhibit-v blog,  Exhibit-v website and Exhibit-v Facebook page is our most expedient way of finding out what is going on in this Capitol's art scene.  Efren Quiroz  informs us about openings, on-going exhibits and documents the shows and artist's point of view with his videography.

The Exhibit-v website is sleek and very userfriendly platform for showcasing Victoria, BC's art and events provocatively and faithfully.

"Exhibit-v provides an extensive monthly calendar of openings,ongoing art exhibitions and the most reliable list of art galleries in the community. Video clips of exhibitions and the people attending the events, as well as interviews with artists will enhance exposure for these visual arts events."

Write-Ups! features reviews of exhibitions that are current on the Exhibit-v blog.  John Luna and Debora Alanna (that's me) as well as other TBA contributors share our insights in this ambitious and commendable on-line venture that celebrates and promotes artists in Victoria.

The Exhibit-v FB Fan page conveniently and comprehensively announces Victoria's art events, widening the public awareness of how to participate in this thiving art scene. Thank you, Efren!

Embellish4art

Debora Alanna - Some of my sculpture featured on this site... Although thi site is limited to a few sculpture works, my art practice is more diverse. Yet, I am compelled to allow this sculptural practise to 'float' to the forefront, as I find sculpture adresses the unspoken, unadulterated discovery of internal clarity.

Slide Show of Selected Sculpture...

UM LIVRO SOBRE A MORTE: Debora Alanna (355)

UM LIVRO SOBRE A MORTE: Debora Alanna (355)

This is the link to my work on the "Book About Death" blog, for the exhibition Um Livro Sobre A Morte at the MUSEU BRASILEIRO DA ESCULTURA.

"A Book About Death"

http://umlivrosobreamorte.blogspot.com/2010/01/debora-alanna-355.html#links


http://www.mube.art.br/?Expo&area=futuro&id=42

These two works have been reduced to 4" x 6" postcards and mailed to 

"A Book About Death" for the exhibition at the                                      MUBE in Brazil

Museu Brasileiro da Escultura                                            

Av. Europa, 218São Paulo - Brasil

This contribution appears on their blog:

http://umlivrosobreamorte.blogspot.com/2010/01/debora-alanna-355.html#links


http://umlivrosobreamorte.blogspot.com/

I was informed of this opportunity through the 

Davis Museum, Barcelona, Spain.

Davis Lisboa

http://www.davislisboa.com
http://www.davismuseum.com/

Corbu - Space, Light, Order

Le Corbusier (Corbu) quotes (Swiss architect and city planner, whose designs combine the functionalism of the modern movement with a bold, sculptural expressionism.  1887-1965) :
“To create architecture is to put in order. Put what in order? Function and objects.”
“The home should be the treasure chest of living.”
"Space and light and order. Those are the things that men need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep"
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Memory is eidetic, thinking back to my Corbu experience, almost 14 years ago. http://embellish4art.blogspot.com/2004/09/villa-sarabhai.html

This link (above) begins to describe a part of my soul's formation and how Corbusier had a hand in this. 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

http://issuu.com/shear/docs/24sept09_visual_portfolio_low?mode=a_p

http://www.askart.com/askart/w/robert_winslow/robert_winslow.aspx

Randy Shear of ShearDesigns, posted the third quote listed above to his Facebook page. Robert Winslow, sculptor/painter commented. I also posted a comment. These FB contributions discuss the concept of order.  I learned there is an architectural order that is referred to by Corbu, and this inherent order is beyond my capacity to emulate. I can embrace that capacity in others, especially because Corbusier, author of this quote, has provided a profound living memory through his order, his space and light that continues to structure my life. More, I am grateful for social networking to revive this memory, its impact and further develop its consequence. 

Villa Sarabhai is a "treasure chest of living". Here, Corbusier incised space through architectural order amplifying light and enabling energetic connectivity. I remember rooms merging and ceilings expanding, surprising spaces presenting opportunities for congregating and repose, eating, sleeping and reflection. Pouncing and dancing of juxtapositions that engaged and cuddled, that invited and developed a magical space of contrapuntal rhapsody. There was a comforting weight of solidity, windows of intrigue and mystifying integration of landscape that cradled the walls. Breathing with anticipation, each corner, every turn revealed an new way of thinking, allowed integrity of beauty to expand. The many artists that lived and worked in this home must have felt this, from the explosive production of art they left for Sarabhai. 

W.B. Yeats described the 'space between' in a poem I once read. The title of this poem title escapes me, however, the experience he epitomized refers to the energy that is created between people, their experience of each other, what they create by interacting, feeling, and all that people do together. Corbu's Villa Sarabhai orders space and light,  encouraging this dynamic. The intoxication, a love affair with his architecture is intensified by the order.  I don't know if I heard the cacophony of Paradise Flycatchers, Magpie Robins and Malabar Whistling Thrushes or the mimicry of Racket-tailed Drongos. I do know that teasing monkeys in the canopy of tall trees were likely oblivious to my presence. Whether Areca Nut, Mango or some other variety is of no matter. I am overjoyed to be a participant in the effervescence that Courbousier created. 

vORtEx

Poetic soul, sculptor's sensibilities, abstract thought process, sensual underpinnings, visionary meanderings... I am in a vortex of discombobulation. The equation for making art work with a monetary outcome eludes me. I need help!  Any suggestions that this universe will impart would be welcome. Please write: d_alanna@ yahoo.ca  Thank you.

Collective Works Gallery and Dogwood Initiative

I have been accepted as a guest artist for the group show at

Collective Works Gallery with Dogwood Initiative.

Above, is what I will be contributing to this show:

Friday, January 29th.

7-9 pm at 1311 Gladstone Ave.

Fernwood. Victoria, BC Canada.

Debora Alanna - Saatchi Gallery - Online

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile/Debora+Alanna/117918.htm


Here's my profile at the Saatchi online gallery. This presents an overview of my work to date. The pictures are not entirely in sequential order. The descriptions of the work may enable a further glimpse into my work practice.