Lunar Calendar

Water Moon, found glass & acrylic on recycled wood, 9 inch diameter, $225.00

I have added a new gallery page to the site featuring a collection of circular mixed media works inspired by the lunar calendar.   Most lunar calendars are, in fact, lunisolar; such as the Chinese, Hebrew, and Hindu calendars, and most calendar systems used in antiquity. All these calendars have a variable number of months in a year. The reason for this is that a year is not evenly divisible by an exact number of lunations, so without the addition of intercalary months the seasons would drift each year.  This results in a thirteen-month year every two or three years.  I have created thirteen pieces in honor of these thirteen months.

Landfillart.org

  “Buddha Mandala” was created as part of the Landfillart project, an international effort encompassing one-thousand-forty-one artists to claim a piece of rusted metal garbage and create fine art.  I was inspired to participate in this project because of my commitment to using recycled and reclaimed materials, my love of working with communities of artists, and the challenge of transforming industrial garbage into something beautiful.  When I received my hubcap in the mail, a circular form with concentric circles within, I was moved to create a mandala. Mandala is a Sanskrit word that means “circle” in various spiritual traditions, mandalas are employed for focusing attention, as a spiritual teaching tool, for establishing sacred space, and as an aid to meditation and trance. The psychoanalyst Carl Jung saw the mandala as “a representation of the unconscious self,” and believed his paintings of mandalas enabled him to identify emotional disorders and work towards wholeness in personality. Transforming a humble hubcap into something timeless and sacred seemed the best way for me to add to this creative endeavor.  Several friends have suggested that I document and share my creative process; with this in mind I have photographed the entire journey of this piece, from conception to completion.

Mim’s Big Screen Debut

Lisa Maren Stein & Mim Weisburd in "Gillian"

I was asked by filmmaker friend Martin Rawlings-Fein to play a role in a  short for the Seven Day Film Festival.  Filmmakers are given seven days from concept to finished film.  One week to write, shoot, edit and score a short film with a group of your friends, competing with other filmmaking teams for the honor of making the best Seven Day Film in San Francisco.  We didnt win any prizes, but we had a great time. I loved the quick and dirty process of filming it in one day, and it was exhilarating to perform again, it’s been too long!

The film entitled Gillian is about a bisexual woman in a bitter relationship with her boyfriend.  Gillian is dealing with an injured knee and going to physical therapy with a kind and attentive genderqueer doctor, played by yours truly, who is a stark contrast to her boyfriend.

Mimart Swag!!!

 

Did you know Mimart designs are available on T-shirts for men women and kids, mugs, bumper stickers, mousepads, canvas bags, pins and stamps at  http://www.zazzle.com/mimart !!!

Father’s Day Altar

Altar for My Father

Altar

Altar Detail

Shock-Ra’s

Scream

Screaming Devil

Ghoul for Love

Where Do All the Souls Go?

Luvskull

Death Mask

Death Mask Detail

Death Mask Closeup

Death Mask at Waterfront

Letting Go

Heart

I lost my beloved father Robert Nathan Weisburd two years ago.  When he passed I created this altar for him in my studio, since then I have made many many Day of the Dead pieces.  My father was one of the founding members of the Park Slope Food Coop working tirelessly as their bookeeper for over 25 years.  When he retired they had to hire an entire staff to repace him!  He was the funniest person I ever met, a character who stood up to tell stories in his old school Brooklyn accent.  I spent my childhood touring the museums of New York City with him.  He never once spoke down to me.  I remember looking at a Futurist paintings by Umberto Boccioni with him at MOMA he turned to me and said ”How do you know when a painting is done” and I said “You just do.”  Since his passing I have thought of him each and every day.  

Thank you Daddy, for instilling in me a great love and appreciation for art.  Thank you for my sense of humor, my intelligence and sensitivity.  Thank you for demonstrating that hard work and dedication make dreams a reality, and that it is up each of us to create meaningful sustainable community. 

I miss and love you. Happy Father’s Day.

Mim Weisburd

Intentionality and Flights of Fancy

Taking Flight Day and Night - Mixed Media - Two 16 x 16 Panels - $295.00 for Set

 Taking Flight Day and Night is about the creative process, endlessless waxing and wanning, moving, illusive and taken to flights of fancy.  I realized long ago that I did not live in a culture that was going to support my art, and that the endless mundane necessities of  life easily pulled me away from my creative process.  That meant it was up to me to prioritize my art!  I came to the conclusion that no matter what life threw at me, my intention was to return to my art over, and over, and over again.   This intentionality pushed me to endlessly craft a life that sustained and encouraged my creativity and to surround myself with beauty and meaning.   Over the years I have learned to trust the natural cycle of creation and accept periods where for whatever reason the creative thread is lost, because in my heart I know my intention is to always, always, return to the work.   

Taking Flight Day and Night is available for purchase.  You can also buy t-shirts of this and many of my other works at my online shop http://www.zazzle.com/mimart  

Enjoy! 

Mim Weisburd

mim.art@yahoo.com

If an artist falls in a forest, do they make a sound?

"Treetop" - Digital Photography by Mim Weisburd

Since February of 2009 I have been diligently working on this blog which contains my resume, portfolio and statement as well as  entries about works in progress, collaborations, exhibits and events.   It has evolved into its own art project, where I challenge myself to put my best foot forward as a professional artist and educator while remaining accessible and vulnerable.  However, the most delightful thing about has been the overwhelming outpouring of support.  I diligently check the number of visitors daily and find it deeply gratifying  to know that every day, someone, somewhere is looking at my art!   Last month my numbers were their highest ever, reaching close to a thousand hits during May.  I have never had a thousand people come to an art opening, exhibition, open studio or other arts event.  Yet this humble site has enabled me to freely share my vision and connect with a global community of artists, enthusiasts and creative thinkers.  Art can be such a solitary pursuit, many times I’ve felt like a tree falling in a forest, making sounds that no one is listening to.  This blog has not only given me a forum to share my voice, but the opportunity to know that someone is in fact listening!   I’m grateful to you all for visiting, and hope that my creative expression keeps you coming back again and again. 

Humbly, 

Mim Weisburd

ArtSwap 2010

 I’ve joined ranks with the ever-growing art community that uses social media as a creative outlet…

Artist  David Pringle uses Twitter as a way for artists to share art and collect from their peers by coordinating an Art Swap.  Pringle describes the Art Swap as “A way to inspire others… to build our community worldwide… and encourage others to create.”  The exchange was open to artists of any medium worldwide.  Artists were instructed to send Pringle their address, wait for their secret recipient, and then ship the works on May 26, 2010.

My Collaboration with the Dead project, inspired by an artist from another time, seemed the perfect fit for the swap.  I decided to send Underwater, a piece created by hand painting a black and white Man Ray photograph, attaching it to a canvas, and coating it with a UV protective glaze.  

I can’t wait to see what comes for me in the mail!

 Interested in joining future swaps? Contact: david.pringle@mac.com

Wanna trade art with me? Contact: mim.arts@yahoo.com

Day of the Dead Gallery

I’ve added a Day of the Dead page featuring  a collection of altars, paintings and mixed media artworks inspired by the Latin American holiday Dia del los Muertos.  As an artist whose work explores the endless cycle of life, birth, death, decay and rebirth this celebration of ancestors filled with beauty, reverence, humor and ancient ritual ignites my imagination. I’m deeply influenced by folk art and spiritual traditions, and  particularly delighted by arts and crafts created by artisans to be used in their daily lives and sacred traditions. The Day of the Dead captivates me, all life ends, and what awaits is mysterious and fascinating.  The way this ceremony embraces and celebrates that mystery using art, music, ritual, dance, and storytelling is utterly compelling. I hope my homage does it justice.

Enjoy!

Mim Weisburd

Diety Altar Gallery Update

Green Tara Detail - $195.00

By far the most popular page on my blog is my Diety Altar Gallery.  Not surprising as these works are also some of the dearest to my heart.  I love creating altars to archetypal deities that represent the best in humanity;  compassion, loving kindness, mindfulness, and creation.  I also celebrate the shadow side of the human psyche; loss, destruction, and chaos. After all without the shadow how could we see the light?  Many of the altars have found new homes, and I’ve created several new pieces.   The updated gallery reflects this, all the works in it are available for purchase. 

Enjoy!

Mim Weisburd