Richter Richter

After seeing the documentary, Gehard Richter Painting, (which Penny so kindly helped translate for me since we were seeing a German film in Germany), we set out to see the big Richter show at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin.  
 

Installation shot of painting and mirror

Ema (Akt auf einer Treppe) - Ema (Nude on Staircase) 1966

7 stehende Scheiben - 7 Standing panes 2002

While there were of course many fantastic paintings, these works using different types of tempered glass were by far my favorite.  Lending interesting views of the work around them, these pieces distorted space and reflections in a way that was familiar but that I had not quite seen before.

11 Scheiben - 11 Panes 2004

As far as the paintings go, this little iceberg was by far my favorite.  Credited as part of the Fischer Collection, hopefully I'll get the chance to see this guy back home in San Francisco in the future.

Eisberg im Nebel - Iceberg in Mist 1982

And because two oceans are better than one...

 Seastück (See See) - Seascape (Sea Sea) 1970

Hamburger Bahnhof

If I had to name one reason why I came back to Berlin it would be this museum.  The Hamburger Bahnhof has an amazing contemporary and minimalist collection as well as a fabulous visiting exhibition schedule.  

Bruce Nauman Room With My Soul Left Out, Room that Does Not Care, permanent installation

Housed in what was one of Berlin's first train stations, the Hambuger Bahnhof is home to many works by Joseph Beuys, Bruce Nauman, Dan Flavin, Anselm Kiefer, Cy Twombly and so many more.  It's a museum I never get tired of visiting; it's also where I first encountered Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle, if memory serves.

Carle Andre

Photograph of 1960's track housing

Jürgen Albrecht Orte

Jürgen Albrecht video link.

Andrea Pichl Doublebind

 I found Ryoji Ikeda's temporary installation to be especially mesmerizing, the sound hypnotic.  Despite having to wear little slip-on booties before walking inside, the piece did not feel sterile, but rather other worldly, as if I was about to enter outer space or another dimension. 

Ryoji Ikeda DB

I tried to catch a little video to get an sense of the sound (apologies for the feedback... is it even ok to record video in a museum?  It still feels a little wrong):

Berlin

March 2 - I arrived in Berlin.  My studio and apartment are on the top floor of the building in the center.

Mountastic

Mountains have become my new obsession in my work, similar to how I use to think of rhinos or white buffalo. 

During my time out at in Port Townsend and driving down to California, I was graced with clear skies and some amazing, or mountastic, mountain views.

 Mt. Baker

The Cascades from Port Townsend

 Mt. Rainier as seen from Fort Warden

 The Olympics from Hurricane Ridge

Mountain views from I-5

Enjoying the cup of free coffee from the first rest stop that most likely inspired the adjective mountastic (photo courtesy of co-pilot Kristen Klenow).

The Hoh Rain Forest

I was very lucky to have some visitors out to Fort Warden which was extra reason for more adventure and exploration.  One afternoon, Michelle and I set out for the Hoh Rain Forest and were delighted by its magic.  I was very happy to see many of my new favorite tree - the sitka spruce.

 We were still hiking well into dusk, and with nightfall fast approaching we certainly felt the primeval spirits!

Centrum Geometry

There are so many interesting shapes and intersections to be found between the industrial bunkers of Fort Warden and the natural landscape where they are nestled.  The top image is the of the shadow of building 14 overlapping mossy pavement and a patch of grass.  Below a reduction linocut print I made at Corvidae Press using some of those same shapes.

'Round About the Peninsula

There were many pleasant moments I grew accustomed to while living in Port Townsend, like spotting black tailed deer, bald eagles and hawks...  I also had time to do a lot of cooking and made my first shepherd's pie. 

Some of the locals grow bored of the deer but since I didn't have a garden or an investment in any of the landscaping I found them to be a comforting presence in the early morning or when I'd find a few them sleeping in my front yard.

Double doors leading into the wood shop, ironically one of the few concrete, non-wooden buildings on the campus aside from all the batteries.

I also took a trip out to the coast and up to Cape Flattery, the most northwestern point in the contiguous United States.

I wondered what it would be like to be a mermaid down there... The constant waves carve caves deep back into the cliff side which will one day break off and fall into the ocean.

Wild trees along the cape trail.

Campsite out at Lake Ozette.  I don't care if car camping is not hardcore, it makes a lot of sense to me during the winter months.

Centrum Residency Studio

During my month out at Centrum, I was very fortunate to be able to make use of a very large studio right about the Corvidere Print Shop.

Here are some images of the studio and a few works in progress.

Mural preparation/contemplation

Studio!

Brothers Wilder - work in progress

Nice color coordination and compliments in a corner

Chalkboard

 

 Beginning of the mold and the final sculpture on the right

 Mural near completion


Completed artworks form the residency can be seen on my website -  www.LaurenKlenow.com

Day trip to Sequim

Looking out onto the spit

Le petite lighthouse

Please do mind the rockery

Walking up the Bluff  

 Magical pathways leading to magical beaches...

...so very Bierstadt.