If his charcoal drawings, oil paintings and four-legged sculptures aren't enough of a hint, yes, Skip Hartzell is nuts about dogs

South Florida artist Skip Hartzell creates large paintings and works on paper that capture the essence of “dog”. His work is inspired by man’s best friend, and he is best known for his unique sculptures recognized immediately by their distinct form and style only Hartzell can produce.

Skip Hartzell Exhibition in West Palm Beach, Florida

His inspiration comes in the form of a morning walk, accompanied by a furry friend. The canine-inspired artworks that he creates are figments of his artistic imagination and creative vision. Hartzell creates directly from his emotions and instincts, his work is inspired by dogs of all shapes, sizes and varieties.

Skip Hartzell’s ‘Dog No.50’, Paper, Concrete and Resin, 13 x 6.5 Inches

“Dogs are always in the moment. Although nothing in life has held my attention longer or has been more fascinating to me than dogs, my work is about much more than that. It is about form, movement, color and texture. The dogs are a recognizable common denominator that allows me to communicate my joy of living, passions and sentiments,” explained Skip Hartzell.

Skip Hartzell’s ‘Toy Four’ (2018), Oil on Canvas, 60 x 48 Inches

“If you love dogs, you are going to love Skip Hartzell’s soulful pieces. His work is representative of caricature features of dogs,” said J. Marshall Adams, the executive director of the A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce where Hartzell has held exhibitions.

Skip Hartzell's art studio in Port Saint Lucie, Florida

Hartzell’s art studio is crawling with canine-based works. Whether he’s painting or sculpting, Hartzell’s dogs have a wonderful quality of friendliness about them, and it’s hard to keep yourself from reaching out to touch. And that’s perfectly okay with Hartzell. He’s never been one to place a rope around his artwork.

Skip Hartzell in his art studio with his dogs

“The texture is so important because the tactile experience of sculpture is so primal for me,” he says. “You grab with your hands and just start to mush things together and get your fingers on the materials, and there is just such a richness to the feel.” He says whenever he’s doing a show, he is quick to hand his sculptures to the patrons so they can enjoy the feeling, too. And whether it’s paint on canvas or sculpture, the texture is one of the most captivating and inviting parts of experiencing his artwork. Hartzell may not set out to mimic the look of someone’s beloved pet, but he says his sculptures and paintings often evoke a fond memory of a furry family member.

Skip Hartzell’s ‘Golden’, Oil on Canvas, 48 x 60 Inches

The artist has held numerous solo exhibitions at notable art galleries and prestigious art fairs such as Art Palm Beach, A.E. Backus Museum, ArtHouse 429, Paul Fisher Gallery, Aqua Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach and many more.

Skip Hartzell exhibition in Miami Beach at Aqua Art Fair during Miami Art Week

Skip Hartzell is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no kill shelters. For sales, commissions, general inquiries or future show information, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com / visit www.skiphartzell.com

‘Tribute In Light’, A Memorial Art Installation In Remembrance Of The September 11 Attacks

The ‘Tribute in Light’ is an art installation of 88 searchlights placed next to the site of the World Trade Center to create two vertical columns of light in remembrance of the September 11 attacks. It is produced annually by The Municipal Art Society of New York, a non-profit membership organization that fights for intelligent urban planning, design and preservation through education, dialogue and advocacy in New York.

The ‘Tribute in Light’ initially ran as a temporary installation from March 11 to April 14, 2002, and was launched again in 2003 to mark the second anniversary of the attack. As of 2010, it has been repeated every year on September 11. On July 23, 2012, plans were initiated for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to assume the lease for the MTA (Manhattan Transit Authority) property used during this tribute, and to begin transitioning operation of the tribute from the Municipal Art Society to the memorial foundation.

Those working on the project came up with the concept in the week following the attack. On September 13 2001, the idea was presented to executives of Consolidated Edison, the electric utility company serving New York City. Architects John Bennett and Gustavo Bonevardi of PROUN Space Studio distributed their “Project for the Immediate Reconstruction of Manhattan’s Skyline”. Artists Julian LaVerdiere and Paul Myoda, who before September 11 were working on the 91st floor of the World Trade Center north tower on a proposed light sculpture on the giant radio antenna conceived of a project called “Phantom Towers”.

They were commissioned by The New York Times Magazine to create an image of the project for its September 23 cover. In collaboration, the concept was presented to the Municipal Art Society and on September 19, 2001 the Municipal Art Society chairman wrote to Mayor Rudy Giuliani asking him “to consider placing two large searchlights near the disaster site, projecting their light straight up into the sky.”

After some consideration it was decided to contact lighting experts in the field of high intensity light displays. A Las Vegas company was chosen to help design the installation and to supply the 88 fixtures that would be needed.

Pérez Art Museum Miami Presents What Carried Us Over: Gifts from Gordon W. Bailey

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is pleased to present What Carried Us Over: Gifts from Gordon W. Bailey, an exhibition organized by PAMM's curatorial staff in concert with Gordon W. Bailey, a Los Angeles-based collector, scholar, and advocate. The exhibition will be on view from September 12, 2019 through April 25, 2020.

Sam Doyle. Ford, ca. 1970. House paint on metal. 34 x 25 inches. Collection Pérez Art Museum Miami, gift of Gordon W. Bailey. Image courtesy of Gordon W. Bailey

The title of the exhibition emphasizes the artists' impassioned commitment to their diverse practices and confirms the inclusive theme of the show which features artworks selected from 60 gifted by Bailey to PAMM since 2016. A variety of media is displayed including drawing, painting and sculpture.

A number of well-known artists from the American South are represented: Sam Doyle, Purvis Young, Sister Gertrude Morgan, Thornton Dial Sr.,  Clementine Hunter, Herbert Singleton, Roy Ferdinand, Leroy Almon, Lonnie Holley, O. L. Samuels, Mario Mesa, Minnie Evans, Sulton Rogers, Welmon Sharlhorne, Jimmy Lee Sudduth, Mose Tolliver, and Willie White. Other notable artists included are: David Choe, Daniel Pressley, Eddie Arning, Harry Lieberman, Rev. Albert Wagner, and William Dawson.

"What Carried Us Over is the first opportunity to view Mr. Bailey's donations as a whole," said PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans. "We look forward to exploring the many ways in which his gifts will filter into our permanent collection galleries in dynamic and meaningful ways."

Several highlights underscore the diversity and quality of the artworks: two house paint on roofing tin works by Sam Doyle, whose work was collected by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Our Father, a painting that considers religion and race and Ford, a poignant tribute to one of Doyle's teachers; three large-scale constructions, incorporating cast off wood and masonite, by Purvis Young, anchored by a vibrant tribute to the Miami Dolphins, add depth to PAMM's holdings of his art; an early 1940s abstract floral on paper by Minnie Evans; a painted wood bas-relief by Herbert Singleton that reclaims an old oak door; the carved and painted wood figures, Devil Family, by Sulton Rogers; a hard-hitting, admonishment, Stop, by Roy Ferdinand, illustrating the toll taken by gun violence; a mixed media work by Sister Gertrude Morgan created in 1970 on the frontispiece of the book God's Greatest Hits; an exemplary oil on canvas by the renowned Clementine Hunter, painted when she was in her nineties; and Jane Winkleman's 2007 cautionary Disaster Ahead which addresses climate change.

Bailey's substantial gift also features several multi-piece groups: three works from Lonnie Holley, including the powerful Fighting in the Midst of the Pyramids; five, painted wood bas-relief panels from Leroy Almon; seven drawings, all accomplished on repurposed paper, by Welmon Sharlhorne; and three vibrant poster board works by the inventive colorist Willie White who achieved dramatic results with common marking pens.

SaveArtSpace & ChaShaMA bring more Public Art to Brooklyn for Brooklyn Army Terminal Open Studios

Brooklyn/Detroit based public art non-profit SaveArtSpace has partnered with ChaShaMA to bring more public art to Brooklyn for Brooklyn Army Terminal Open Studios.

Artists of all ages and talents are invited to submit between August 6 and September 13, 2019. This is your opportunity to have your artwork on ad space in Brooklyn for ChasShaMa Brooklyn Army Terminal Open Studios, October, 19-20.

There is a $10 donation per image submission to participate, each donation is a tax deduction and goes to producing the public art. Each artist is encouraged to submit up to 10 images. The selected artists will be announced the week of September 16, and will be exhibited on ad space starting in October in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Curated by ChaShaMa.

All submissions will be featured on the SaveArtSpace Instagram page, with permission from the artist.

SUBMIT

Meet Renowned Sculptor & Public Artist Charlotte Franchisey, Known For Her Monumental Works In Steel And Plexiglass

Le Verre d’Eau, ‘The Glass of Water’, Steel, 12ft

Charlotte Franchisey was born in Paris, France. She earned a masters degree in art at the renowned Fine Arts, Essag, Olivier de Serres. At the age of twelve, Charlotte embraced sculpture as her means of expression and has been creating art since her childhood in Nice, Côte d’Azur. She now spends most of her time between her studios in Miami and Paris creating work for private collections, corporate clients, cities and municipalities worldwide.

Artist Charlotte Franchisey

The artist has held numerous exhibitions at notable art galleries and prestigious art fairs such as the Grand Palais in Paris, Galerie Roy Sfeir, Kavachnina Contemporary, CityLoftArt in the Miami Design District, Sculptmiami during Art Basel Miami Beach and many more.

La Piscine, ‘The Swimming Pool’, Plexiglass and Steel, 7ft

Charlotte is known for her sculptures in steel and plexiglass. “The fusion between stainless steel and plexiglass, roughness vs. softness,” using a sub-tropic palette with European linear abstract designs.

La Vague, ‘The Wave’, Plexiglass and Steel, 7.55ft

Her work has been exhibited and commissioned into important collections around the world. Charlotte has won many awards and is featured in numerous international publications. The artist has collaborated in several theatres, ballets and performances linking her work with music and dance.

Les Vignes Pourpres, ‘Purple Vines’, Plexiglass and Stainless Steel, 24.60ft

We recently had the pleasure to chat with Charlotte to learn more about her art career, earlier works, as well as her past and present projects:

Q – How did you get started on this path?

A – I started as a child. Around 8 years old, I had fun copying the drawings of Dürer, Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo by enlarging them. I tried to reproduce all the details. I was mainly interested in portraits, it was as if I was talking with them and Dürer’s rabbit. Later around the age of 12, I started created sculptures with clay of children’s heads. Then I slowly dried them in the electric oven of the kitchen. I also loved building models of boats. At 17, I went back to an art school in Paris. I did not enroll in sculpture or painting, as I did not want to be influenced by the teaching I would receive. I chose to study architecture and interior design, I received a degree in this discipline from the École Nationale Supérieure of Applied Arts and Trades of Art (School of Arts and Design), also known as Olivier de Serres and abbreviated to ENSAAMA, a post-baccalaureate teaching establishment for the decorative arts in Paris, France. My studies finished, and I began working in an architectural firm while developing my work on the opposition of bronze and paper materials, durable verses disposable. I created huge bronze books with specific themes such as Cosmos, Birth of Literature, Human Rights, etc.

Fountain, Plexiglass and Stainless Steel, 13.78ft

Q – Where does your inspiration come from, what influences you?

A – Inspiration for my monumental sculptures comes from history, geology, the life and style of the places where my sculptures are located. My approach is not the same for a piece that will be in the mountains as for one that will be at the seaside. Depending on where the sculpture will be located or who it is for, I try to understand the people, place or location, so that I can capture its history within my work.

Fleur, ‘Flower’, Plexiglass, Stainless Steel Mirror, 1.64ft

Q – What is your creative process like?

A – When I have a quieter moment, I make smaller sculptures. I can develop more quickly my ideas that drive others, it’s like an endless spiral. I also have time to draw with China ink and mixed media. I worked a lot with the Ballets de Monte-Carlo on the French Riviera. I went to their studio to draw their performances, the speed of movement has always fascinated me. Perhaps to have a balance between the slowness of the realization of a monumental sculpture and the speed of drawing or painting.

L’Equilibriste, ‘Tightrope’, Plexiglass, 1.15ft

Q – How has your practice changed or evolved over time?

A – I originally started making sculptures that were cast in bronze, like the Great Themed Books I had mentioned. A little later I had the chance to go to Carrara in Italy to work with white marble, which is very beautiful, very pure. I wanted to compare two steps; one being that with bronze we start from the void to create the sculpture, and with marble, one will seek the sculpture which is hidden in the block. Then I started looking for other materials to work with, I wanted a 21st century material, contemporary with color. I found the plexiglass, and I was immediately comfortable because plexiglass is lighter than bronze and marble, also transparent. I can have a variety of colors, and I can incorporate metals such as stainless steel, bronze, etc.

Robot, Plexiglass and Stainless Steel, 9.18ft

Q – What are you working on at the moment, What’s next on the horizon for you?

A – At the moment I am finishing several commissioned sculptures and working on new projects. I am created some pieces that will be suspended indoors with high ceilings or outdoors in green spaces. And I am currently exhibiting small sculptures in a gallery in Saint Tropez / Port Cogolin, on the French Riviera.

Local Views at PAMM: Onajide Shabaka

Onajide Shabaka, Downriver Suriname from hinderlands, 2017.Archival ink photographic print, dimensions variable. Image courtesy of the artist 

Experience a local, Miami artist at the Pérez Art Museum Miami on Thursday, August 29th from 6-6:30pm. Enjoy PAMM’s in-gallery tour program. Local Views at PAMM is where select local artists speak about a few works of art currently on view at the museum. This month, Onajide Shabaka will lead the tour. Onajide Shabaka, is an interdisciplinary cultural practitioner, and currently lives and works in Miami, Florida and whose practice is connected through historical and biographical themes related to geography that include African diaspora and Native American cultures.

Onajide Shabaka, Plantage Katwijk, 2017.Watercolor, collage on paper (artist book page), 6 x 12 in. / 15.2 x 30.5 cmImage courtesy of the artist

Local Views at PAMM gives visitors a first-hand interaction with local artists by creating conversations centered around art and the creative process. This casual 30-minute conversation takes place on the fourth Thursday of each month. Free with museum admission. First come, first served.

For Skip Hartzell, “The Dog Artist,” inspiration comes in the form of a furry friend

Renowned South Florida artist Skip Hartzell creates unique art inspired by man’s best friend. His inspiration comes in the form of a morning walk, accompanied by a furry friend. The canine-inspired artworks that he creates are figments of his artistic imagination and creative vision. Hartzell creates directly from his emotions and instincts, his work is inspired by dogs of all shapes, sizes, and varieties.

The artist creates large paintings and works on paper that capture the essence of “dog.” He is best known for his unique sculptures recognized immediately by their distinct form and style that only Hartzell can produce. His painterly expression captures each dog’s own personality with beautiful textures, line and brush strokes using mixed media to bring each dog to life. Whether he’s painting or sculpting, Hartzell’s dogs have a wonderful quality of friendliness about them, and it’s hard to keep yourself from reaching out to touch. And that’s perfectly okay with Hartzell. He’s never been one to place a rope around his artwork. 

“The texture is so important because the tactile experience of sculpture is so primal for me,” he says. “You grab with your hands and just start to mush things together and get your fingers on the materials, and there is just such a richness to the feel.” He says whenever he’s doing a show, he is quick to hand his sculptures to the patrons so they can enjoy the feeling, too. And whether it’s paint on canvas or sculpture, the texture is one of the most captivating and inviting parts of experiencing his artwork. Hartzell may not set out to mimic the look of someone’s beloved pet, but he says his sculptures and paintings often evoke a fond memory of a furry family member.

“Dogs are always in the moment. Although nothing in life has held my attention longer or has been more fascinating to me than dogs, my work is about much more than that. It is about form, movement, color, and texture. The dogs are a recognizable common denominator that allows me to communicate my joy of living, passions, and sentiments,” explained Skip Hartzell.

The artist has held numerous solo exhibitions at notable art galleries and prestigious art fairs such as Art Palm Beach, A.E. Backus Museum, ArtHouse 429, Paul Fisher Gallery, Aqua Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach and many more. Skip Hartzell is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no-kill shelters. For sales info, private commissions, general inquiries or exhibition updates, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com / visit https://www.skiphartzell.com/